iOS 17 Is Out Now. Here Are the Best New Features. (2024)

iOS 17, the latest version of Apple’s iPhone operating system, is now available to download.

It comes with a host of new features, including StandBy Mode, custom stickers, the ability to set multiple timers (yes, finally), and more.

We’ve been testing the public beta of iOS 17 ahead of its public release, and these are the features you should check out after upgrading.

How to upgrade to iOS 17

Open the Settings app, scroll down and tap General, and then select Software Update. If your iPhone is ready for an update, you’ll see an option to upgrade to iOS 17. Keep in mind that although iOS 17 is launching today, it may not be immediately available for everyone. If you have a phone older than the iPhone XR or XS, you won’t be able to install iOS 17; the first-generation iPhone SE is also left out.

If you can’t get to upgrading immediately, it doesn’t hurt to wait a few days to upgrade in case Apple finds some bugs to work out.

iOS 17 features to try first

Autocorrect will learn that you never mean “ducking”

How often have you typed a curse word, whether by accident or not, only for your iPhone to “helpfully” replace it with a less impactful word? In iOS 17, autocorrect will learn that you actually meant that expletive and remember it for future use. We found that this feature worked well in the iOS beta. And whenever autocorrect still insists that you “don’t give a shirt,” you can tap an on-screen undo button to revert the corrected text to what you actually typed.

Check in when you’re home safe

The new Check In feature in Messages automatically alerts people of your choice that you’ve arrived safely at the destination you select. If your iPhone detects that you’re no longer moving toward your destination, your loved one or friend receives your route, your cell connectivity, and your phone’s battery level. We weren’t able to test this personal-safety feature in the iOS 17 beta, but we plan to test it and update this article with more information about how effectively it works.

Set multiple timers

Yes, for the first time ever, you can set multiple timers to run at the same time on an iPhone. Just start a timer in the Clock app as before, and then tap the + sign at the top right to add a new one. You can label each timer so that you don’t get confused as to what they’re counting down to, just as you can with various alarms.

StandBy Mode transforms your iPhone

When you flip your phone horizontally while it’s charging, it enters the new StandBy Mode, which turns your iPhone into a clock, a calendar, a digital photo frame, or an information center with widget smart stacks. StandBy Mode includes several clock faces, and the display cleverly shifts to red at night to be less intrusive. iPhones now also associate your preferred StandBy Mode settings with specific MagSafe docks, so you can have a clock when you put your iPhone on a MagSafe charger in the bedroom, for example, and a digital photo frame in the den.

We think StandBy Mode is a clever way for your idle iPhone to be useful, but it’s easier to use when the phone is mounted on a MagSafe dock, and it works only if you have an iPhone with an always-on display (namely, the iPhone 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, 15 Pro, or 15 Pro Max). We also noticed that notifications are quite large in StandBy Mode, so you’ll probably want to switch off notification previews if you don’t want anyone else in the room reading them.

Go wild with stickers

In one of several improvements to the Messages app, iOS 17 now gives you quick access to all your stickers—including those from third-party apps. You can create new stickers from your own photos by tapping and holding on a person (or multiple people, or pets) in a photo and send them in texts as is or with added interactive effects for a bit of pizzazz. Stickers are also available outside of Messages, giving you more opportunities to add your personal flair. While using the iOS 17 beta, we noticed that stickers weren’t always appropriately sized in third-party apps, and the interactive elements of the custom sticker effects didn’t function, but we’ll test this feature more fully when the official version of iOS 17 rolls out.

Add video effects with gestures

iOS now includes eight effects, including rain, confetti, and hearts, as reactions in video calls. You can trigger them from a menu or via hand gestures in front of the iPhone’s front-facing camera; for example, if you hold up a double peace sign, confetti will rain down behind your face (much to the delight of the person on the other end of the line). These effects are available in FaceTime and third-party apps such as Zoom, but you need an iPhone 12 or newer to take advantage of the gesture controls.

The gestures work shockingly well, and the effects are delightful. Although our iPhone had no problem detecting our gestures, we did have to position ourselves so that both hands were visible on screen.

Voicemails get visual

Incoming voicemails are now transcribed in real time and appear as text on your iPhone lock screen, giving you the chance to decide whether to pick up a call. We weren’t able to test this feature in the iOS 17 beta, but we will soon.

If you FaceTime someone who doesn’t pick up, you can leave them a video message. FaceTime gives you a quick countdown to start recording and lets you do it over if you flub it. We were surprised to find that video reaction gestures work on video voicemails, as well.

Group chats get better in Messages

It’s easy to lose the thread in large and long-running group chats. Apple tackles that problem with inline replies for Messages, which allow you to reply to a specific message with a swipe. Improved search now allows for multiple filters, helping you find what you need among all the responses. Audio messages sent in Messages also come with transcriptions, making that feature more accessible and helpful when you can’t listen to a voice message.

NameDrop your contact info

You can now bring your iPhone close to another iPhone to instantly share your contact details with a new friend. You can also create a personalized contact poster to share, which is a little more visual than just your name and phone number. In our experience with the beta, sharing contact information—including the new contact posters—was seamless. After you place two iPhones together, the option to share your contact poster immediately pops up. (If you ever used the Bump app back in the day, you’ll find NameDrop to be a similar experience.)

Safari gets more private

Apple has made privacy an increasingly large part of its updates and its marketing, so it’s no surprise that iOS 17 has new features intended to keep you and your data safe. Safari now lets you create multiple profiles to keep your browsing habits separate. Private Browsing tabs in Safari also require reauthorization after 15 minutes, which keeps your private tabs hidden when you hand your phone to someone else. That latter feature is especially useful, but you have to enable it in Settings, so don’t just assume that your tabs are safe.

Coming soon: Large-file sharing, Journal app, and more

We’re excited to test a few features not included in the initial iOS 17 release. If you already use Apple’s Notes app to jot down Big Feelings, the new Journal app, which prompts you to reflect on your day and record your thoughts, might appeal to you. The company says that data entered will be secured with end-to-end encryption to keep out prying eyes. In addition, promised improvements to AirDrop will allow you to continue your file transfers even after you’ve moved out of range. We’ll be looking at both features once they’re available.

Even aside from all the new features, it’s generally a good idea to keep all your devices up to date with the latest software. There’s always a risk that a new OS will have some unforeseen bugs, but we believe that new features—especially privacy and security improvements—are a particularly compelling reason to upgrade.

This article was edited by Caitlin McGarry and Jason Chen.