Apple released iOS 17.1 on October 27, 2023, bringing a number of new features and bug fixes to the iPhone. This update is the first major update to iOS 17, which was released in September 2023.
Key highlights:
- AirDrop over cellular data
- Updates to standby mode on iPhone 14 Pro & 15 Pro
- Favorite songs, albums, and playlists in music
- Playlist song suggestions
- Playlist image updates
- Dynamic island shows flashlight status on iPhone 14 Pro
- Crash detection optimizations
- Keyboard lag fix
- Perceived screen burn fix
- Custom ringtone support restored
- Screen time sync fix
AirDrop over cellular data:
One of the most notable new features in iOS 17.1 is AirDrop support over cellular data. This means that you can now AirDrop files to other iPhones even if you don’t have a Wi-Fi connection. To use AirDrop over cellular data, simply open the Control Center and tap on the AirDrop button. Then, select “Everyone” from the list of options.
Updates to standby mode on iPhone 14 Pro & 15 Pro:
iOS 17.1 also brings some updates to standby mode on the iPhone 14 Pro and 15 Pro. These updates include:
- The ability to turn off the Always-On Display
- The ability to choose between automatic, 20 seconds, or never for the screen off time
Favorite songs, albums, and playlists in music:
The Apple Music app in iOS 17.1 has also been updated with a new feature called “Favorites.” This feature allows you to favorite songs, albums, and playlists. To favorite a song, album, or playlist, simply tap on the heart icon next to it. You can then view your favorites by going to the “Library” tab and tapping on the “Favorites” section.
Playlist song suggestions:
iOS 17.1 also adds a new feature to the Apple Music app called “Playlist Song Suggestions.” This feature suggests songs that you might like to add to your playlists based on your listening history. To view playlist song suggestions, go to the “Library” tab and tap on the “+” button next to any playlist.
Playlist image updates:
iOS 17.1 also brings some updates to playlist images in the Apple Music app. These updates include:
- The ability to set custom playlist images
- The ability to choose from a variety of new playlist images
Dynamic island shows flashlight status on iPhone 14 Pro:
The Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro now shows the flashlight status when it is turned on. This means that you can quickly see if the flashlight is turned on without having to open the Control Center.
Crash detection optimizations:
iOS 17.1 also includes crash detection optimizations for the iPhone 14 and 15. These optimizations are designed to improve the accuracy of crash detection and reduce false positives.
Keyboard lag fix:
iOS 17.1 also fixes a bug that was causing the keyboard to lag on some iPhones. This fix should make the keyboard more responsive and easier to use.
Perceived screen burn fix:
iOS 17.1 also fixes a perceived screen burn issue that was affecting some iPhones. This issue was caused by a bug in the Always-On Display. The fix should make the screen look more uniform and reduce the appearance of screen burn.
Custom ringtone support restored:
iOS 17.1 also restores the ability to set custom ringtones on the iPhone. This feature was removed in iOS 17, but it has been restored in iOS 17.1. To set a custom ringtone, go to the Settings app and tap on “Sounds & Haptics.” Then, tap on “Ringtone” and select the ringtone that you want to use.
Screen time sync fix:
iOS 17.1 also fixes a bug that was preventing screen time data from syncing across all of your devices. This fix should make it easier to track your screen time usage across multiple devices.
iOS 17.1 is a minor update, but it brings a number of new features and bug fixes to the iPhone. The most notable new features in iOS 17.1 are AirDrop support over cellular data, updates to standby mode on the iPhone 14 Pro and 15 Pro, favorites in the Apple
