Apple

5 Things to Know About the iOS 17.0.3 Update

Published

6 months ago

10/12/2023

Apple’s pushed a new iOS 17 upgrade to iPhone users and the iOS 17.0.3 update delivers a much needed fix and patches for security issues.

iOS 17.0.3 replaces iOS 17.0.2 as the most up-to-date version of iOS 17 and the software is available for all iPhone models capable of running of iOS 17.

The iOS 17.0.3 update is a small point upgrade and it’s focused on improving the operating system. It doesn’t have any known features on board. That being said, most iPhone users should install the software today.

Updated on October 12th update with additional comments about iOS 17.0.3’s performance. This post was first published on Wednesday, October 4th.

Table of Contents

In this guide we’ll outline iOS 17.0.3’s changes, offer some thoughts about the software’s performance, go over the current list of iOS 17.0.3 problems, highlight the iOS 17 jailbreak status, and more.

We’ll start with a quick look at iOS 17.0.3’s performance.

iOS 17.0.3 Review

If your iPhone’s currently running iOS 17.0.2, you’ll see the smallest iOS 17.0.3 download size. It’s around 345 megabytes. Unless your iPhone is extremely low on storage, you won’t have to make room for the download.

The precise iOS 17.0.3 download size depends on your iPhone model and the version of iOS it’s currently running. If your iPhone is running a really old version of iOS, you will see a larger download. That’s because iOS 17.0.3 brings the changes from any iOS updates you skipped.

The iOS 17.0.3 installation process shouldn’t take too long and it’ll go much faster than the initial iOS 17 download and installation.

For more about the iOS 17.0.3 download and installation, check out our walkthrough.

We’ve been using iOS 17.0.3 on an iPhone 12 Pro for several days now and here’s what we’ve learned about the software’s performance:

Battery Life & Connectivity

iOS 17.0.3 battery life is stable right now, we haven’t noticed any abnormal drain
Wi-Fi connectivity is fast and reliable
Bluetooth is working normally
GPS and cellular data are also working properly

App Performance

Third-party apps including Netflix, Twitter, Slack, Gmail, Chrome, and Spotify are all working fine
First party apps like Safari, Podcasts, and Calendar are also running well

Speed

iOS 17.0.3 feels as fast as iOS 17.0.2 did and we haven’t noticed abnormal lag, lockups, or freezes

If you’re dealing with bugs and/or performance issues on iOS 17.0.2 or an older version of iOS, you should install the iOS 17.0.3 update on your iPhone today.

If you need help making a decision about an upgrade, check out our reasons to, and not to, install iOS 17.0.3 right now.

iOS 17.0.3 Problems

iOS 17.0.3 went through testing behind the scenes, but the software is causing problems for some iPhone users.

We haven’t run into any major problems with the software, but some iPhone users have. Some of these problems are exclusive to iOS 17.0.3 while others have carried over from older versions of iOS.

The current list of iOS 17.0.3 problems includes abnormal battery drain, Bluetooth issues, Wi-Fi issues, installation issues, Exchange issues, and problems with first and third-party apps.

If you run into a problem with iOS 17.0.3, have a look at our list of fixes for the most common iOS 17 problems. We’ve also released tips that could help you improve your phone’s performance and some tips that could help fix battery life issues.

Apple’s currently signing on iOS 17.0.2 which means you can drop your iPhone’s software back to older software if iOS 17.0.3 starts causing problems.

You can’t downgrade to iOS software older than iOS 17.0.2 because Apple’s closed off the path back to older versions of iOS 17 and iOS 16.

For more about the downgrade process, check out our guide.

iOS 17.0.3: What’s New

Again, iOS 17.0.3 is a small point release that’s focused on fixing issues lurking within the operating system.

Apple says the update provides a fix for an issue that may cause the iPhone to run warmer than expected. This is a fix for iPhone 15 overheating issues that have dominated headlines for a few weeks.

In addition, the software brings two security patches which you can read about over on Apple’s security site.

iOS 17 Jailbreak

If you still jailbreak, avoid the iOS 17.0.3 update.

We don’t expect developers to release a tool that’s compatible with iOS 17 today or at any point in the near future. If you still jailbreak, keep an eye out for new information in the weeks ahead.

What’s Next

Apple’s currently working on a new iOS 17.1 update and the software will arrive later this year. We expect the software to arrive sometime late October or early November.

If you can’t wait that long, you can download a pre-release version of the software onto your iPhone via Apple’s beta program.

For more about the iOS 17.1 update, have a look at our walkthrough. And for more about the iOS 17.1 release date, check out our guide.

4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 17.4.1 & 11 Reasons You Should

Install iOS 17.4.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 17.4.1 update right away.

The iOS 17.4.1 update includes two security patches. These patches will help keep your device and its data protected from harm. And that makes iOS 17.4.1 an important upgrade.

If you missed iOS 17.4 and older software, you'll get the security patches from updates you missed when you upgrade to iOS 17.4.1.

iOS 17.4 had four security patches on board.

The update also delivered quantum security protection for iMessage. The company says the upgrade gives iMessage "the strongest security properties of any at-scale messaging protocol in the world."

The iOS 17.3 update brought 15 new security patches to iPhone. The software also added Stolen Device Protection to iPhone.

It increases the security of your iPhone and Apple ID by requiring Face ID or Touch ID to gain access to passwords, make purchases in Safari, and more. This is useful if someone gets access to your iPhone and its passcode.

iOS 17.2 delivered 10 new security patches to iPhone. If you wish to find out more, you can head on over to Apple's security site for the details.

iOS 17.2 also included iMessage Contact Key Verification which improves the security of iMessage. The company also fixed an exploit that let the Flipper Zero multi-tool lock up iPhones.

iOS 17.1.2 had two security patches on board. Both were related to WebKit. If you want to learn more, you can do so right here.

iOS 17.1 brought 18 security fixes to iPhone. It addressed issues within Weather, Status Bar, WebKit, and more.

iOS 17.0.3 brought two patches for two security issues Apple identified within the software. If you want to read about the patches, head here.

iOS 17.0.1 delivered three important patches to iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website.

As for iOS 17 itself, it brought 40+ new security patches with it. A staggering number to say the least. If you want to learn more about them, head over to Apple.

In addition to those patches, iOS 17 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including improvements to Communication Safety beyond Messages.

It now includes content sent by AirDrop, Contact Posters in the Phone app, FaceTime, and the systemwide photo picker. You now have an option to blur out sensitive photos and videos before you choose to view them.

There's also an expanded Lockdown Mode which will help protect you against cyber attacks.

Apple's also improved sharing permissions and you now have more control over what you share with the apps on your device.

The company also notes that starting in iOS 17, Voice Memos encrypts the titles of recordings stored in iCloud, in addition to the recordings themselves.

If you skipped older versions of iOS, you'll get the security patches from those updates with your iOS 17.4.1 update as well.