After two weeks, Apple released iOS 17 Beta 2 alongside iPadOS 17 Beta 2, macOS Sonoma Beta 2, watchOS Beta 2, tvOS 17 Beta 2, visionOS Beta 1, and Studio Display 17 Beta 2. iOS 17 Beta 1 had a lot of bugs, so let’s check what improvements have been made. This update for the beta is approximately 1.44GB, and here is the changelog for this update.
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Despite Apple stating that this is a Developer Beta, the company is unifying its beta after removing the Developer Beta account requirements, where users need to pay for the beta. However, we don’t recommend users install this beta on their primary device.
Changelog for iOS 17 Beta 2
iOS beta previews upcoming apps, features, and technologies early. Please back up your iPhone before installing the beta. For more information, please visit one of the following programs:
- Apple Beta Software Program at beta.apple.com
- Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com
What’s New in iOS 17.0 (21A5268h)
As this has an “h” in the last, there were many betas before the company released the public beta as expected. Before proceeding, we would like to mention that performance has been improved, and battery life isn’t great compared to iOS 16, but it is better than Beta 1.
- Modem Firmware Update: Version 2.04.00. If you have been experiencing any issues with the network, those could be resolved.
- Live Wallpaper: It now works for some users, but some still face issues.
- Software Update Page Update: No arrow for Automatic Update and Beta Update indicates to go forward.
- It also has an Update Now button instead of Download and Installs Text.
- It now says “iOS 17 Beta 2” instead of “iOS 17 Developer Beta”.
- The company also added an option to Update Tonight, where you can schedule the update in which iOS 17 Beta 2 will be installed when the device is locked and has enough battery.
- If you are disconnected from the network, it shows a prompt saying, “Unable to download at this time. The update requires a Wi-Fi, 3G, or faster network connection to download”.
- NameDrop: The company is finally rolling out this brand-new feature with iOS 17 Beta 2. It allows you to transfer contact information from one iPhone to another by holding the iPhones next to each other, which works through AirDrop. So, do enable AirDrop, Everyone. It works without needing to unlock your smartphone and works instantly.
- AirDrop: You can now share any media or content by bringing your iPhone near another iPhone. This is quite similar to NameDrop.
- Fix Apple Music: Previous users faced music app crashes when they enabled crossfade. It has been fixed with an option to crossfade, which you can tweak by opening Settings > Music. It can adjust the crossfade duration anywhere from 1s to 12s. Also, there is Discoverable by Nearby Contacts, related to the CarPlay feature, where others can add music and change the song on CarPlay.
- New Clock Widget: There is a new Clock III, transparent style.
- New Widgets for Apple Music: There are new widget sizes for Recommendations and Top Charts.
- New CarPlay Wallpaper for iOS 17: There is a New CarPlay Wallpaper for iOS 17. You can download those wallpapers from here.
- Fix Shortcut Widgets on Lockscreen: Beta 1 took you straight to the Shortcut app, but now it launches straight to the lock screen. It also opens the application.
- Siri: Haptic feedback for activating Siri using the Power Button has changed for some users.
- Send Message: If you use Siri to send a message, you now have the option to select which app you want to use to send the message, including apps like Messages, Telegram, Gmail, and WhatsApp.
- Podcast: There are new glyph icons for the Library Tab and a UI/UX smoothness fix.
- The first time after opening the Podcast app, it now shares a splash screen where it says “Improved Playback Controls,” “New Up Next Design,” and “Connect Your Subscriptions.”
- Clock: The alarm text changed to Alarms, and also changed the Timer with Timers because users can set multiple timers with iOS 17. There is also an edit button to delete multiple timers, Recent Timers. While using multiple timers, it also shows the original timer you set.
- Health: The Health App has a new Mental Wellbeing section under Browser in the Health App, and the State of Mind has been updated. This also has a calendar icon on top to check the history of your mood.
- Notes: There are new UI changes. There is a new drop-down button instead of a triple-dot menu of options. As the attachment display changes, it displays as “View as” with “Small,” “Medium,” and “Large,” which is completely inverted from the previous version. Also, for the attachment size, it says “Small” and “Large” instead of “Set all to Small” and “Set all to Large.”
- Standby: There is a new option to show notifications. However, critical notifications will still be enabled even if the notification is turned off. Also, there is a new Night Mode menu. Options include Night Mode and Motion to Wake to better customize.
- iPhone Storage: It expands the bar. The text also shows more information about your data.
- Privacy and Security Settings: Within the Location section, a new option is “MicroLocation.” It is still unclear what this feature does, but it is most likely related to NameDrop functionality.
- Accessibility Settings: There is a new option under Haptic called “Fast” in addition to “Default” and “Slow”. This is quite similar to the 3D touch experience.
- Safari Settings: A new profile option includes Dark/Light Mode and colour options.
- Under Tabs, there is a new profile icon from which you can switch to Tab Groups and Profiles.
- Voice Mail: It now says “Waiting” and has added the ability to transcribe when the caller speaks in real-time, but it’s quite buggy.
- Contact Poster: There are some new UI changes. Text is not bold anymore, and the Options UI, which was previously rectangular, is now more squared off. Also, it is more stable.
- iMessage: This has also been improved. Stickers now work for everyone. The “Check In” option now says “Data” instead of “Shared Data”. Also, the option for Check-in Data has “Limited” and “Full” instead of “Currently location only” and “All locations visited”.
- When you first open your iMessage after updating to iOS Beta 2, it says, “Talk instead of typing”.
- Settings: There is a new Fitness section which was previously unavailable. Here, you have Siri & Search, Notifications, and Live Activities options.
- Control Center Bug Fix: There is a bug fix for the AirPlay menu, location on dynamic, and sleep focus mode, which no longer crashes. Also, the battery drain has been fixed.
- You can read more about the iOS & iPadOS Beta 2 Release notes to learn about new special features for Vision Pro. Also, AirPods have features like Personalized Volume and Conversation Awareness. There are plenty more betas to come before the final release this fall. However, there are still a few bugs, which will most likely be fixed in Beta 3.
- Lockscreen Wallpaper takes a lot of time to load or doesn’t load.
- Phone application: Recent tabs have been stretched out, there is more space between contacts.
- Settings under Privacy: There is a Reset Identifier option, but its title says “privacy-about-privacy-title”.
- Crossfade: Despite major fixes, this feature is not working as expected.
- Keyboard Disappears in Notes app: This bug was also in iOS 17 Beta 1 and has not been fixed. iOS Beta 3 is expected to be released around July 4th, and the Public Beta may be released on July 10th. Things can change.
