Apple’s iOS 16.3 replace is on the market now, and it brings new options, bug fixes and security updates on your iPhone. The replace was launched alongside updates for different Apple software program, too, like iPadOS, Safari and former variations of iOS. The newest iOS replace arrives a few month after the discharge of iOS 16.2.
Here are the brand new options touchdown on your iPhone with iOS 16.3.
Support for the second-gen HomePod
Apple’s iOS 16.3 software program will assist the second-generation HomePod, which is ready to be launched on Feb. 3 for $299 (£299, AU$479). Apple introduced the discharge of the brand new HomePod 4 days earlier than the most recent iOS software program was made accessible.
New Unity wallpaper for Black History Month

Screenshot by Zach McAuliffe/CNET
The newest iOS replace features a new iPhone wallpaper as a part of Apple’s Black Unity Collection. The assortment celebrates Black History Month with a special-edition Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Loop, a mosaic watch face and the brand new iPhone wallpaper. Apple additionally plans to launch a collection of Black History Month content material for Apple TV, Fitness Plus, Music, Maps, Books, Podcasts and the App Store as a part of the gathering.
New methods to make use of Emergency SOS through satellite tv for pc
Emergency SOS through satellite tv for pc was launched at Apple’s occasion in September. In iOS 16.3, the Call with Hold choice has been changed with Call with Hold and Release. If you allow Call with Hold and Release, you’ll be able to maintain the facet button and a quantity button to provoke a countdown and an alarm. After the countdown, you launch the buttons and your iPhone will name emergency companies on its personal. Before with Call with Hold, urgent the facet button and a quantity button would first deliver up the Emergency SOS name slider. If you continued to carry the buttons, a countdown began and an alarm would go off. After the countdown ended, your cellphone would make an emergency name.

Security keys add extra safety to your gadget.
Screenshot by Zach McAuliffe/CNET
There’s additionally an choice to Call Quietly in Emergency SOS. By enabling this feature, once you attempt to make an emergency SOS name, your cellphone will not begin flashing or making an alarm sound.
Security keys come to Apple ID
Users can now use third-party safety keys as a substitute of two-factor authentication for his or her Apple ID.
Security keys are rather a lot like keys to your own home. You nonetheless use passwords, however this additional layer of safety may help defend you in opposition to phishing scams and hackers.
“Hardware security keys are very, very secure,” Diya Jolly, chief product officer of authentication service firm Okta, instructed CNET’s Stephen Shankland.
Apple’s safety keys function solely works with FIDO Alliance-certified safety keys.
Here is the checklist of recent options and adjustments included in iOS 16.3.
- New Unity wallpaper honors Black historical past and tradition in celebration of Black History Month.
- Security Keys for Apple ID permit customers to strengthen the safety of their account by requiring a bodily safety key as a part of the 2 issue authentication register course of on new units.
- Support for HomePod (second era).
- Emergency SOS calls now require holding the facet button with the up or down quantity button after which releasing in an effort to stop inadvertent emergency calls.
- Fixes a problem in Freeform the place some drawing strokes created with Apple Pencil or your finger might not seem on shared boards.
- Addresses a problem the place the wallpaper might seem black on the Lock Screen.
- Fixes a problem the place horizontal strains might briefly seem whereas waking up iPhone 14 Pro Max.
- Fixes a problem the place the Home Lock Screen widget doesn’t precisely show Home app standing.
- Addresses a problem the place Siri might not reply correctly to music requests
- Resolves points the place Siri requests in AutomobilePlay might not be understood accurately.
For extra iOS 16 information, try the brand new options in iOS 16.2 and iOS 16.1. Here’s how one can signal as much as check Apple’s iOS beta software program, too.