5 Things to Know About the iOS 17.1.1 Update [u]

Apple’s pushed a new iOS 17.1.1 update to iPhone users in an effort to fix some of the more glaring bugs affecting the operating system.

iOS 17.1.1 is now available to download if you own a compatible iPhone model. All iOS 17-powered iPhones are compatible with iOS 17.1.1.

The iOS 17.1.1 update is a point upgrade which means it’s smaller than its predecessor (iOS 17.1) and the software that will probably replace it (iOS 17.2).

While small, the firmware is an important release and most iPhone users will want to install it today or at some point in the near future.

11/15 Update: Apple has closed the downgrade path back to iOS 17.1 and we’ve updated our guide to reflect the change.

With that in mind, we want to take you through iOS 17.1.1’s changes, offer some thoughts about the software’s performance, highlight the iOS 17.1.1 problems plaguing the iPhone, and more.

We’ll start with a quick look at iOS 17.1.1’s performance.

iOS 17.1.1 Review

If your iPhone’s currently running iOS 17.1, you’ll see the smallest iOS 17.1.1 download size. It’s a 314MB download for the iPhone 12 Pro. Unless your iPhone is running low on storage, you won’t have to make room for the download.

The iOS 17.1.1 download size depends on your iPhone model and the version of iOS it’s currently running.

If your phone is running a really old version of iOS, you’ll see a larger download. In some cases, much larger. That’s because the iOS 17.1.1 update includes the changes from any iOS updates you skipped.

As for the installation, it took about eight minutes to complete on an iPhone 12 Pro that was previous running iOS 17.1. If your iPhone is running older software, it may take longer.

For more about the iOS 17.1.1 download and installation, take a look at our walkthrough.

We’ve been using iOS 17.1.1 on an iPhone 12 Pro for several days now and the software is performing well thus far. Here’s what we’ve learned about the software’s performance:

iOS 17.1.1 Battery Life & Connectivity

• iOS 17.1.1 battery life is stable right now
• 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 17.1.1 feels fast and we haven’t noticed abnormal lag

If you’ve been dealing with bugs and/or performance issues on iOS 17.1, or an older version of iOS, you should install the iOS 17.1.1 update on your iPhone today.

If you need help making a decision about the upgrade, check out our reasons to, and not to, install iOS 17.1.1 right now.

iOS 17.1.1 Problems

We haven’t noticed any major issues with the software, but the firmware is causing problems for iPhone users. Some problems are brand new, others have carried over from previous versions of iOS 17.

The current list of iOS 17.1.1 problems includes abnormal battery drain, Bluetooth issues, installation issues, Exchange issues, and problems with first and third-party apps.

If you run into a problem with the software, take 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 tips that could help fix battery life issues.

Apple recently stopped signing on iOS 17.1 which means you can’t drop your iPhone’s software back to older software if iOS 17.1.1 starts causing problems. Keep this is mind if you haven’t upgraded yet.

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

iOS 17.1.1: What’s New

Apple’s point updates (iOS x.x.x) typically focus on fixing problems within the operating system and that’s exactly what iOS 17.1.1 brings to the table.

iOS 17.1.1 fixes two problems:

• In rare circumstances, Apple Pay and other NFC features may become unavailable on iPhone 15 models after wireless charging in certain cars
• Weather Lock Screen widget may not correctly display snow

iOS 17.1.1 doesn’t have any new security patches on board.

iOS 17.1.1 Jailbreak

If you still jailbreak, make sure you avoid the iOS 17.1.1 update

We don’t expect developers to release a public jailbreak tool that’s compatible with iOS 17, or iOS 17.1.1, today. If you still jailbreak your iPhone(s), keep an eye out for new information in the weeks ahead.

What’s Next

Apple’s currently working on a new iOS 17.2 update and the software should arrive later this year, probably in December ahead of the holidays.

If you can’t or don’t want to wait that long, you can download a pre-release version of iOS 17.2 onto your iPhone via Apple’s beta program.

For more about the iOS 17.2 update, have a look at our walkthrough. And for more about the iOS 17.2 release date, check out our guide.

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.

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