iOS 17.3 released: What’s new, and why you should update right now

Apple has finally released the next iOS update after numerous beta builds and lots of testing. The new software comes as a roughly 700MB OTA update and brings some much-awaited features.

These include Stolen Device Protection, Collaborative Playlists and more. Here’s everything you need to know about the new update.

Stolen Device Protection

Apple has been working on a new feature that protects your iPhone, and more importantly, your Apple ID, in the event of your phone being stolen.

Previously, a stolen phone would be wide open to attackers if they also managed to figure out your passcode, allowing them to lock you out of your own Apple ID completely.

ALSO READ: Apple iPhones get harder to steal thanks to new iOS 17.3 feature

The new feature changes that, making biometric authentication (FaceID) mandatory while changing the passcode, which means attackers will still need your face to change your Apple ID password.

Collaborative Playlists

With iOS 17.3, users will finally be able to share playlists with friends and family. All members in a Collaborative Playlist will be able to add or remove songs, as well as shuffle their order.

The feature is great for gatherings and road-trips, where all members now have equal control over the playlist.

Emoji reactions are also available to collaborative playlists, allowing other members to react to the songs you’ve selected, making the experience even more fun.

Other features

The update also brings other features including AirPlay 2 support in some hotels, allowing users to directly screen content from their devices to a TV, without any logins.

ALSO READ: New Apple iPad Air, iPad Pro, MacBooks could launch by April 2024

Crash detection also gets more optimised on iPhone 14 series devices, and the Settings app now gets a dedicated section for AppleCare, where users can check the validity of their AppleCare+ plans.

Why you should update to iOS 17.3

Even if you don’t care much about Collaborative Playlists or better AirPlay support in hotels, iOS 17.3 is an important update for its Stolen Device Protection feature.

This alone is a good enough reason to upgrade, as it serves as a one-stop solution to protect your Apple ID from attackers, even if they manage to sneakily catch your iPhone passcode in a cinema or a crowded theatre.

We recommend downloading and installing the update immediately, and heading to Settings right after to enable the new feature. You can search for Stolen Device Protection in the Settings app if you can’t find it.