iOS 16.5: Update Released For iPhone Users With Urgent Fixes And Innovations

Today’s release of iOS 16. 5 is the latest whole-point software update before Apple moves on to iOS 17, which will be unveiled at WWDC on Monday, June 5. Here’s what’s in the latest update and how you can get it.

May 20 update below. This post was first published on May 18, 2023. May 20 update.

More details have emerged about iOS 16. 5 and Apple has now released the first developers’ beta for iOS 16. 6.

Already! Apple doesn’t muck about. The security issues in iOS 16. 5 are numerous, as Apple revealed in a support document .

In total, there are more than three dozen of them, which seems to underscore the urgency of this update. As fellow Forbes Contributor Davey Winder notes here , these include three zero-day exploits, which Davey explains in detail, though two were fixed in the iOS 16. 4.

1 (a) Rapid Security Response earlier this month. Also, check out Gordon Kelly’s essential guide to whether you should get the new software or not. Gordon explains the zero-days in accessible terms and will update his guide as more evidence appears.

One headlining issue that’s come to light so far is that the USB 3 camera adapter which connects to the iPhone’s Lightning socket is not working for several users, as reported by MacRumors . This is not a widely used accessory, so it’s unlikely to be a widespread issue, but I’ll let Gordon tell you if it’s an important development. Meantime, yes, iOS 16.

6 is already available to developers. Initial reports suggest that the update may include iMessage Contact Key Verification, designed to provide “users with even stronger ways to protect their data”, as Apple says . It’s not for everybody.

Apple says, “users who face extraordinary digital threats — such as journalists, human rights activists, and members of government — can choose to further verify that they are messaging only with the people they intend. ” This is one of the last features promised for iOS 16, and iOS 16. 6 looks like being perhaps the very last update before iOS 17 begins—unless there are bug squishes or Rapid Security Responses, of course.

In the initial release, the feature doesn’t appear to be working, so it may be that Apple is merely laying the foundations at this stage. If you have an iPhone released in late 2017 or later, you’re golden. Apple iOS 16.

5 runs on all iPhones from the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X onwards, and this update includes features relevant to all those handsets. Updating is straightforward: open the Settings app on the device, choose General, then Software Update. Next, click on Download and Install, and it’ll all be sorted for you.

You can take Pride in this new release. That’s because there’s a new Pride Celebration wallpaper . This is new.

Apple releases a Pride Apple Watch band each year, sometimes two, with several related Watch faces, but an iPhone wallpaper is a change. Perhaps this seemed like the year to do it, thanks to the iOS 16 capability to have multiple lock screens on the go. It’s a fetching and colorful look.

Apple News app now has a Sports tab so that you can easily access information related to your favorite teams and leagues, while My Sports score and schedule cards in the same app will take you to game pages, which is handy. This update fixes a Podcasts issue with CarPlay not loading content and sorting out an issue where Spotlight froze. The third fix is about Screen Time and relates to a situation where settings did not reset or sync as they should.

Apple’s changelog follows: This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes: Some features may not be available in all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: support. apple.

com/kb/HT201222.