Apple has rolled out iOS 17.1, the latest iteration of its iPhone operating system. This update, which has been in beta testing for a while, introduces the ability to continue AirDrop transfers over a cellular connection if the devices move out of Wi-Fi range. It was a feature that was announced at Apple’s developer conference in June but was not included in the main iOS 17 release last month.
The iOS 17.1 update includes some other minor adjustments and additions. It adds a “Favorites” feature to Apple Music, enabling users to add songs, albums, playlists, and artists to their library, providing feedback on music preferences to the app’s recommendation algorithms. Additionally, it refines the settings menu for the StandBy feature, allowing more control over the phone’s display turn-off timing when used in this smart display mode.
For UK users, Apple Wallet now integrates with the country’s Open Banking API, allowing customers to view their bank balance for supported accounts in the Apple Wallet app. This update also addresses the iPhone 12’s regulatory issues in France, where the device was temporarily banned due to radiation exposure limit violations.
Other adjustments include expanding the availability of the flashlight indicator in the Dynamic Island (previously available only on the iPhone 15 Pro but now accessible on all Dynamic Island-equipped devices) and the option to select a specific album for Photo Shuffle to draw images from.
To download the update, users can navigate to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the provided instructions. Keep in mind that iOS software updates may not be available to everyone right away, so some users might need to wait before downloading. A notification icon will appear on the Settings app when the update becomes available.
