iOS 17.4 is currently in beta testing and is expected to be released to everyone this week. It comes with a number of major changes to the App Store and the EU iPhone ecosystem. There are new emojis, an upgrade to CarPlay, improvements to Siri, and much more.
Head below as we recap everything new in iOS 17.4, whether you live in the EU or elsewhere.
When will Apple release iOS 17.4?
iOS 17.4 is scheduled to be released in the first week of March. Usually, Apple doesn't give us any hint about when a new version of iOS will be released, but things are a little different this time. This is because iOS 17.4 includes the necessary changes to the iPhone and App Store required by the EU Digital Markets Act.
Apple's deadline to comply with the Digital Markets Act is March 6. This means Apple has to release iOS 17.4 on or before March 6.
New features in iOS 17.4
Changes to the EU App Store
One of the biggest changes included in iOS 17.4 is support for alternative app markets for the first time. With this update, companies like Epic Games will be able to create their own app marketplaces for iPhone users.
More changes in the European Union:
- Support for browser engines other than WebKit
- A new pop-up message in Safari asks users to choose a default browser
- Support alternative payment methods for in-app purchases
- Ability to set NFC apps and virtual wallet for Apple Pay
Here's a summary of our full coverage of the changes coming as part of iOS 17.4 in response to the Digital Markets Act:
Improved stolen device protection
iOS 17.4 includes a change to protect stolen devices. Now, users can choose to always require a security delay when changing security settings. Previously, the only option was to activate the delay when you were away from familiar locations.
Transcripts in Apple Podcasts
By far my favorite change in iOS 17.4 is text support in Apple Podcasts. These transcripts are automatically generated by Apple and are available shortly after the episode is published. The interface is similar to Apple Music's real-time lyrics feature. There is support for text searching, clicking on specific words and jumping to that part of the episode, and much more.
The Now Playing bar at the bottom of the Apple Podcasts app has also been redesigned with iOS 17.4, matching the Now Playing bar style in Apple Music.
New emojis
There are seven brand new emojis included in iOS 17.4:
- Shake head horizontally
- Shake head vertically
- phoenix bird
- Lime
- Brown mushrooms
- Broken chain
The image above gives a preview of these new emojis, courtesy Our friends at Emojipedia. There are also changes to the family emoji included in iOS 17.4 as well, such as new groups of family members.
Upgrade Siri
Siri has been upgraded in iOS 17.4 with support for reading messages in additional languages, not just the custom language Siri uses for all other tasks.
The new option is available in Settings > Siri & Search > Messaging with Siri. Under the Read Messages section, there's an Add New Language… button that prompts you for a set of language options.
Vision Pro
watchOS 10.4 and iOS 17.4 include a new toggle for Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 users that can disable Double Tap when you're wearing Vision Pro. The new setting is specifically to avoid conflict between Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro when gesturing.
New welcome screen
When you reboot to iOS 17.4 for the first time, you'll see a new personalized welcome screen with your profile picture.
Battery health changes
In the Settings app, Apple has made changes to the Battery menu that makes it easier to see if your iPhone's battery health is “normal.” At the same time, Apple also announced that the iPhone 15 batteries are actually performing better than initially expected.
Carplay upgrade
iOS 17.4 includes an upgrade for cars equipped with dual-screen CarPlay. Here's how Apple describes the CarPlay update in iOS 17.4:
In iOS 17.4, with CarPlay supported vehicles, Apple Maps will offer a new instrument cluster experience with information about upcoming maneuvers. Users will be able to switch the desired display type between the main screen and the instrument cluster screen by tapping the map configuration button at the top right of the main maps screen.
See the changes in action here.
Web applications on the home screen
While Apple initially said iOS 17.4 would remove support for web apps on the home screen in the EU, it has since reversed course.
Apple says web apps on the home screen will continue to exist as they did before iOS 17.4 in the EU. “This support means that Home Screen web apps continue to build directly on WebKit and its security architecture, and are consistent with the security and privacy model of native apps on iOS,” Apple explains.
More iOS 17.4 tidbits
- In the Podcasts and Music apps, Apple has renamed the Listen Now tabs to Home tabs instead.
- In Safari, the address bar is slightly wider than it was in iOS 17.3.
- In the Settings app, there's a new Selectable Area label in the General > About menu.
- The ability to say “Siri” instead of “Hey Siri” has expanded to Germany.
It is contained
What are you most excited to experience in iOS 17.4? Let us know in the comments.
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