Apple has released iOS 16.5, the fifth and possibly the last major update to the iOS 16 operating system. This update brings some minor new features, bug fixes, and security improvements for iPhone users. If you haven’t updated your iPhone yet, here’s everything you need to know about iOS 16.5.

New Features

  • Pride Celebration wallpaper: Apple has added a new Lock Screen wallpaper to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture. The wallpaper features a colorful gradient that matches the new Pride Apple Watch band and watches face that Apple also launched this week. You can find the new wallpaper in Settings > Wallpaper > Choose a New Wallpaper > Stills.

  • Sports tab in Apple News: Apple News now has a dedicated Sports tab that gives you easy access to stories, scores, standings, and more for the teams and leagues you follow. You can also tap on score and schedule cards to get more details about specific games. To customize your Sports tab, go to Apple News > Following > Manage Notifications > Sports Notifications.

  • Siri screen recording: iOS 16.5 originally included a new Siri command for starting and stopping a screen recording, but Apple removed this feature in subsequent iOS 16.5 betas, and it’s not included in the final version of the update. It’s unclear why Apple decided to scrap this feature, but it may return in a future update.

Bug Fixes

iOS 16.5 fixes some issues that affected Spotlight, Podcasts in CarPlay, Screen Time settings, and more. Here are some of the bug fixes included in iOS 16.5:

  • Fixes an issue where Spotlight may become unresponsive.

  • Addresses an issue where Podcasts in CarPlay may not load content.

  • Fixes an issue where Screen Time settings may reset or not sync across all devices.

  • Resolves an issue where Bluetooth devices could sometimes disconnect or send audio to a different device during an active call.

  • Fixes an issue where iPhone may experience reduced performance during startup

Security Improvements

iOS 16.5 also includes several security improvements that protect your iPhone from malicious attacks and vulnerabilities. Some of the security improvements include:

  • A fix for a WebKit vulnerability that could allow arbitrary code execution when processing maliciously crafted web content.

  • A fix for a CoreGraphics vulnerability that could allow arbitrary code execution when processing a maliciously crafted PDF.

  • A fix for a FontParser vulnerability that could allow arbitrary code execution when processing a maliciously crafted font file.

  • A fix for a Kernel vulnerability that could allow an application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.

You can find the full list of security improvements in iOS 16.5 on Apple’s website.

Want to see Detailed Information on iOS 16/16.5  

How to Update

To update your iPhone to iOS 16.5, go to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the instructions. Make sure your iPhone has enough battery life and is connected to a Wi-Fi network before updating.

iOS 16.5 is likely the last major update to iOS 16 before Apple announces iOS 17 at WWDC in June. However, Apple may continue to release minor updates to iOS 16 throughout the summer.