iOS 17.5 Features: What's New in iOS 17.5 (2024)

Monday May 13, 2024 4:44 PM PDT by Juli Clover

Apple recently released iOS 17.5, the newest version of iOS. It brings some major changes to the iPhone if you're in the European Union, and some smaller updates if you're not.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

In this article, we've rounded up everything new in iOS 17.5.

App Downloads From Websites (EU Only)

iOS 17.5 brings support for web-based app distribution in the European Union, letting developers offer their apps for download directly on their websites. ‌iPhone‌ users can download iOS apps from supported websites without using the App Store.

As with the iOS 17.4 changes that added alternative app marketplaces, this functionality is limited to the ‌iPhone‌ and can only be used in the EU. Developers need to be a member of the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more and must have more than one million first installs on iOS in the prior year to offer an app for download.

All apps downloaded from websites onto iPhones must submit to Apple's notarization process, and while there is no commission to pay to Apple, Apple does charge a 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee. Though this is only available on the ‌iPhone‌ right now, Apple will bring the same functionality to the iPad later this year.

Apple News+

Apple News+ now has an offline mode that provides access to the Today feed and the News+ tab even without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection.

‌Apple News‌+ includes a new daily word game called Quartiles. The game requires players to combine tiles to form words and earn points. Quartiles is limited to customers who have a paid ‌Apple News‌+ subscription.

The scoreboard feature for ‌Apple News‌+ Puzzles includes new player data for Crossword, Mini Crossword, and Quartiles. Players can see their stats and streaks over time, similar to how The New York Times gaming app works.

Third-Party Item Tracker Alerts

iOS 17.5 adds support for third-party item trackers, a feature that Apple has been working on since last year.

Apple and Google developed a cross-platform solution for unwanted tracking alerts, and iOS 17.5 will let ‌iPhone‌ users know when a third-party tracker is nearby. "You can disable this item and stop it from sharing its location with the owner. To do this, follow the instructions provided on a website by the manufacturer of this item," reads code in the update.

Apple's release notes say that Cross-Platform Tracking Detection has been designed to provide notifications to users if a compatible Bluetooth tracker they do not own is moving with them, regardless of what operating system the device is paired with.

Google launched its Android-based Find My Device network in April, timed with the initial rollout of Cross-Platform Tracking Detection.

Repair State

iOS 17.5 includes a repair state option that lets an ‌iPhone‌ be sent in for service without deactivating Find My and Activation Lock.

A new "Remove This Device" option is available in ‌Find My‌, and using it with an ‌iPhone‌ puts the device into a repair state mode. Sending a device for repair has historically required turning off ‌Find My‌, which is a way for Apple to ensure that the person requesting a repair owns the ‌iPhone‌.

The repair state option leaves ‌Find My‌ turned on, and the ‌iPhone‌ continues to be trackable with the ‌Find My‌ app while it is being repaired. An ‌iPhone‌ put into a repair state lists that it is "Ready for Repair" in the ‌Find My‌ device section, and the ‌iPhone‌ remains functional while in the repair state.

The Podcasts widget that can be added to the Home Screen or the Lock screen now features a background that changes depending on the art of the podcast that's being played.

Mobile Device Management

MDM solutions are able to enforce a beta version during automated device enrollment. Automated device enrollment is designed to simplify initial device setup.

Code Changes

There were some code changes that we found in the iOS 17.5 beta that reference an ‌iPad‌ battery health feature that could possibly be available on the latest iPads. Battery health is not listed as an iPadOS 17.5 feature, so it is not clear if it is a feature that is available or something coming at a later date.

An ‌iPad‌ Battery Health menu would likely show maximum remaining capacity and charge cycle count, similar to the Battery Health menu on ‌iPhone‌.

There were also references to a "Block All Participants" option for group FaceTime calls, possibly for blocking spam, but it also has not been implemented.

More on iOS 17

A full rundown on all of the features that are available in iOS 17 can be found in our iOS 17 roundup.

Related Roundups: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

63 comments

Top Rated Comments

Squirrrrel

4 days ago at 11:29 pm

For our iOS users they have to download it directly from the App Store some of those users do not have an Apple account so they’re not able to participate.
This will be a useful feature as soon as it comes to the states for these types of users that don’t have App Store accounts.

I'm sorry, but this makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. All you need to make an Apple ID account is your personal e-mail. You don't need an Apple e-mail to have an Apple ID to download and install apps. It's free to create one and free to use. They need to learn how to use their phones. Telegram works on literally every platform and there's no reason for anyone not being able to participate. Your point is invalid because of this simple misunderstanding. How are your "iOS" users on an iPhone with no Apple account? That makes their iPhone a rectangle that can make phone calls and not much else. That is the silliest thing I've ever heard.

Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Squirrrrel

5 days ago at 09:20 pm

Why not use google messages app that is built on RCS standard ?
serious question.

You mean the "standard" that only works on a handful of devices and even among those handful of devices still has issues? That makes absolutely no sense.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Jimmy Bubbles

5 days ago at 05:53 pm

Did Apple ever add in the ability to add the stopwatch to the lock screen that they removed at the last minute in one of the previous updates?

Nothing like a stopwatch that’s just 4 taps away, amirite?

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Maclver

5 days ago at 05:01 pm

Feel like this update could have been a 17.4.X update. Granted this is probably the last major 17.X update for iOS 17.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Chazak

4 days ago at 01:37 am

With respect to the cross-tracking, will a thief with an iPhone be notified there is a tracker moving with them? If so, they could look for the tracker secreted in the item they stole, find it and remove it making the trail go cold.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

zapmymac

4 days ago at 11:25 pm

Lately our small groups have exceeded the 20 members text message limitation on android phones so we have moved to telegram which allows much more.
On the android platform you’re allowed to download from other sources including the developer so users do not need to have a Google play account to install their app.
For our iOS users they have to download it directly from the App Store some of those users do not have an Apple account so they’re not able to participate.
This will be a useful feature as soon as it comes to the states for these types of users that don’t have App Store accounts.

An Apple ID is free to make, free to use. You just need a valid email address. You also do NOT need a credit card. Should an app cost something, you can add a iTunes/Apple Everything gift card, and load it with $5 (for example)

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Read All Comments