Free iPhone upgrade coming to millions of Apple fans – with huge bonus for anyone with stolen phone
APPLE is preparing to hand out a huge free upgrade to iPhone owners.
It’s going to change your iPhone in some very tempting ways – and we already have the details.
That’s because Apple is now trialling the iOS 17.3 update in beta, which means some users are trying it out right now.
The update is expected to land in January – or possibly February – and will introduce several handy changes.
One of the big improvements is something called Stolen Device Protection.
It’s aimed to limit the damage from “shoulder-surfing” thefts.
That’s when someone spies on you entering your passcode, and then steals your iPhone – giving them access to almost every corner of the handset and your digital life.
If you turn Stolen Device Protection, it will make changes to the security settings on your iPhone.
Apple’s explanation in the beta software explains: “This new feature adds an additional layer of security in the unlikely case that someone has stolen your phone and also obtained your passcode.”
For instance, you’ll need to use Face ID to access your saved passwords.
And the same will be true for turning off the Lost Mode, erasing your device, and applying for a new Apple Card.
The thief won’t be able to simply type in your passcode.
Apple will also add a “security delay” to changing some settings like your Apple ID password as part of the feature.
But this won’t be the case if you’re in a familiar location like your home or workplace.
Extra features
That’s not the only upgrade coming in iOS 17.3
Apple is also adding a new Collaborative Playlist feature to Apple Music.
This means multiple people can add songs to a shared playlist.
They’ll also be able to remove songs and change the order of the playlist.
And members of the playlist will be able to add emoji reactions to additions in the playlist.
The original playlist owner will be able to kick out members at any time.
How to join the iOS beta
If you don’t want to wait for the general update, you can try it out early by joining the iOS beta.
First, note that a beta is test software, so you might experience very serious bugs.
Although iOS beta releases are generally fairly stable, there’s no guarantee your data will be safe.
So it’s best to install betas on spare iPhones if you have them, or at the very least ensure that your data is all backed up.
Once you’re set, go to beta.apple.com and sign up for the iOS beta.
Then restart your iPhone and go to Settings > General > Software Update.
If a beta release is available, tap the Beta Updates panel.
Then you can select the beta that you want to download and install.
Remember that not all iPhones can upgrade to iOS 17.
You’ll need an iPhone XR/XS or newer to get the latest software.