In June, Apple announced iOS 17 with a wide range of new features and changes for the iPhone. After more than three months of beta testing, the free software update will be released this Monday, September 18, for iPhone XS and later.
Below, we’ve rounded up 10 key features coming to iPhone with iOS 17, with more coming later this year. The update should be released to users around 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET on Monday, and once available, it can be installed from the Settings app under General → Software Update.
Emergency
StandBy is a new full-screen view that Apple says provides clear information designed to be viewed from a distance while the iPhone is on its side and charging. The customizable interface can display a clock in different styles, a calendar, favorite photos, weather forecast, music playback controls, widgets and more.
Designed for charging your iPhone on a nightstand, kitchen counter or table, StandBy supports Live Activity, Siri, incoming calls and larger notifications. This feature also works with iPhone 14 Pro’s always-on display.
Contact posters
iOS 17 allows users to create a personalized contact poster that appears during an incoming phone call on another person’s iPhone. The poster can contain a photo or Memoji, and the font and background color can also be customized. This feature is available in the built-in Phone app and will also be available for third-party calling apps.
NameDrop
NameDrop allows users to easily share contact information by bringing their iPhones close together. Both individuals can choose specific phone numbers or email addresses to share and can also share their contact posters.
Live voicemail
Live Voicemail provides a real-time on-screen transcription when someone leaves a voice message. If the user considers voicemail important, they can pick up the call while the caller leaves a message. Apple says that calls identified by operators as spam are not transcribed and will instead be rejected immediately.
Swipe to reply in iMessage
In the Messages app, users can now swipe right on any message to send an embedded reply.
Interactive widgets
Interactive widgets are now available on iPhone via the Home screen, Lock screen and the new StandBy view. Apple gave a few examples of what the interactive widgets could be used for, including marking a reminder as complete, playing or pausing a song or podcast, and controlling accessories in the Home app, and with updates to third-party apps, many more options will be available. with support in the coming months.
Until now, home screen widgets offered limited functionality, as Apple did not allow developers to include scrolling, buttons, or animations.
Improved autocorrect
Apple says iOS 17 includes a state-of-the-art language model for word prediction that will significantly improve autocorrect on the iPhone. As you type, on-device machine learning will intelligently correct mistakes with greater accuracy than ever before. In addition, users will now receive predictive text suggestions as they type, allowing them to add words or entire sentences by tapping the space bar.
Autocorrect has an updated design in iOS 17 that briefly underlines the autocorrected word. Clicking on an underlined word will reveal the original typed word, making it easy to undo a change quickly. The system also learns the user’s typing habits over time and avoids some of the corrections that Apple’s head of software engineering, Craig Federighi, says are designed for “those times when you just want to type a dirty word.”
Apple Maps offline
Apple Maps is catching up to Google Maps’ key feature on iOS 17 with the ability to download maps for offline use. Apple says users can download a specific map area and access turn-by-turn navigation, see an estimated time of arrival, find places and more when the iPhone isn’t connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network.
Drawer for stickers
The new sticker drawer in iOS 17 provides access to all stickers, including Live Stickers, emoji, Memoji and iMessage sticker packs in one place. Live stickers can be created by touching and holding an object in a photo, such as a cat or dog.
“Hey Siri” Short for Siri
Apple has simplified the voice command to invoke Siri on the iPhone and other Apple devices, including the iPad, Mac, HomePod and the latest AirPods Pro. Instead of “Hey Siri,” users can now simply say “Siri” to activate the voice assistant and can issue multiple commands in a row without having to say “Siri” again.
For more features, read our detailed information Summary of iOS 17.
