iOS 17.1 is out now with overdue fixes, new features, and critical security updates

More than a week after the release of iOS 17, Apple started public testing of the first big update. The first iOS 17.1 beta landed for developers on September 27, 2023.

Several big iOS 17 features are scheduled for release this fall, so they’ll come in these updates. Collaborative playlists in Apple Music, the new Journal app, PDF form autofill, NameDrop to Apple Watch, and more are all on the way. What’s more, Apple often makes some interface tweaks and adds minor unannounced features in these updates, so the first few iOS 17 updates are worth keeping an eye on.

iOS 17.1 Release Notes

The official Apple release notes are as follows:

AirDrop

• Content continues to transfer over the internet when you step out of AirDrop range

StandBy

• New options to control when the display turns off (iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max)

Music

• Favorites expanded to include songs, albums, and playlists, and you can filter to display your favorites in the library
• New cover art collection offers designs that change colors to reflect the music in your playlist
• Song suggestions appear at the bottom of every playlist, making it easy to add music that matches the vibe of your playlist

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:

• Option to choose a specific album to use with Photo Shuffle on the Lock Screen
• Home key support for Matter locks
• Improved reliability of Screen Time settings syncing across devices
• Fixes an issue that may cause the Significant Location privacy setting to reset when transferring an Apple Watch or pairing it for the first time
• Resolves an issue where the names of incoming callers may not appear when you are on another call
• Addresses an issue where custom and purchased ringtones may not appear as options for your text tone
• Fixes an issue that may cause the keyboard to be less responsive
• Crash detection optimizations (all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models)
• Fixes an issue that may cause display image persistence

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

iOS 17.1: New features

AirDrop over the Internet: You can now continue an AirDrop transfer over Wi-Fi over cellular if you fall out of Bluetooth range.

Favorites in Apple Music: Apple Music subscribers can favorite (identified as a star icon) songs, artists, albums, and playlists in Music.

Playlist customization in Apple Music: iOS 17.1 brings a handful of playlist artwork options that can be added to new and existing playlists.

StandBy: Apple has added a new “Display” tab inside the StandBy settings, bringing some new customization options.

Flashlight in Dynamic Island: Originally exclusive to the iPhone 15, the iPhone 14 will now display an icon when the flashlight is on.

iOS 17.1: Security updates

iOS 17.1 includes more than a dozen security updates to several apps, including Contacts, Find My, Photos, and Weather, as well as a variety of WebKit, Kernel, and CoreAnimation fixes.

iOS 17.1: Fixes

Along with new features, iOS 17,1 fixes several nagging issues with the iPhone 15 and older models, including the widespread OLED “burn-in issues that had some people swapping out their iPhones.

iOS 17.1: How to install

To install iOS 17.1, simply follow these steps. Note that it can take an hour or two before the update shows up on every iPhone globally, so be patient if you don’t see it right away.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Software Update.
4. If you see more than one software update option available, choose the one that you want to install.
5. Tap Download and Install, or Install Now if your iPhone has already downloaded the update.