5 Things to Know About the iOS 17.1 Update [u]

Apple’s pulled its iOS 17.1 update out of beta testing and iPhone users can download the software right now.

iOS 17.1 replaces the company’s iOS 17.0.3 firmware as the most up-to-date version of iOS 17. The software is available for all iOS 17-powered iPhones.

The iOS 17.1 update is a milestone upgrade and it delivers new features, enhancements, bug fixes, and security patches. Some features are exclusive to specific iPhone models.

iOS 17.1 is a substantial upgrade for all iPhone models and most users should install the software today.

11/2 Update: Apple recently stopped signing on iOS 17.0.3, the previous version of iOS 17, and we’ve updated this article to reflect that change. 

In this guide we’ll outline iOS 17.1’s changes, offer some thoughts about the software’s performance, go over the current list of iOS 17.1 problems, highlight the iOS 17 jailbreak status, and more.

We’ll start with a quick look at iOS 17.1’s performance.

iOS 17.1 Review

If your iPhone’s currently running Apple’s iOS 17.1 software, you’ll see the smallest iOS 17.1 download size. It’s around 1GB. Unless your iPhone is running low on storage, you won’t have to make room for the download.

The iOS 17.1 download size depends on your iPhone model and the version of iOS it’s currently running. If your device is running a really old version of iOS, you will see a larger download. That’s because iOS 17.1 brings the changes from iOS updates you skipped.

As for the installation, it took about eight minutes to complete on an iPhone 12 Pro. Mileage will vary, but it should take around the same for most iPhone models.

For more about the iOS 17.1 download and installation, take a look at our walkthrough.

We’ve been using iOS 17.1 on an iPhone 12 Pro for several days now and we haven’t noticed any major differences since launch. Here’s what we’ve learned about the software’s performance:

Battery Life & Connectivity

• iOS 17.1 battery life is stable right now and 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 17.1 feels as fast as iOS 17.0.3 did and we haven’t noticed abnormal lag, lockups, or freezes

We’ve run into a very annoying Spotlight issue on the iPhone 12 Pro, but the problem doesn’t appear widespread and we’ve been unable to replicate it on other iPhones in our possession.

If you’re dealing with bugs and/or performance issues on iOS 17.0.3, or an older version of iOS, you should install the iOS 17.1 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 17.1 right now.

iOS 17.1 Problems

iOS 17.1 went through an extensive testing process, but the firmware is causing problems for iPhone users.

The current list of iOS 17.1 problems includes Wi-Fi issues, random reboots, abnormal battery drain, Bluetooth issues, installation issues, Exchange issues, and problems with first and third-party apps.

If you run into a problem with iOS 17.1, 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 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 17.1 starts causing problems.

You can’t downgrade to iOS 17.0.3 or any iOS software older than iOS 17.0.2 because Apple’s closed off the path back to those versions.

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

iOS 17.1 Features

Apple’s milestone updates (x.x) almost always bring new features, enhancements, security patches, and bug fixes to iPhone users and that’s exactly what iOS 17.1 brings to the iPhone.

Here’s the full iOS 17.1 change log, courtesy of Apple:

AirDrop

• Content continues to transfer over the internet when you step out of AirDrop range

StandBy

• New options to control when the display turns off (iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max)

Music

• Favorites expanded to include songs, albums, and playlists, and you can filter to display your favorites in the library
• New cover art collection offers designs that change colors to reflect the music in your playlist
• Song suggestions appear at the bottom of every playlist, making it easy to add music that matches the vibe of your playlist

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• Option to choose a specific album to use with Photo Shuffle on the Lock Screen
• Home key support for Matter locks
• Improved reliability of Screen Time settings syncing across devices
• Fixes an issue that may cause the Significant Location privacy setting to reset when transferring an Apple Watch or pairing it for the first time
• Resolves an issue where the names of incoming callers may not appear when you are on another call
• Addresses an issue where custom and purchased ringtones may not appear as options for your text tone
• Fixes an issue that may cause the keyboard to be less responsive
• Crash detection optimizations (all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models)
• Fixes an issue that may cause display image persistence

iOS 17.1 also has 18 security patches on board and you can read more about them over on Apple’s security site.

In an update on its website, Apple says iOS 17.1 includes “an update for iPhone 12 for users in France to accommodate this specific test protocol that requires reduced power when off-body on a static surface.”

Additionally, the company says the iPhone 12 will “no longer increase the allowed power when the off-body state is detected, such as while it is sitting on a table.”

It adds that “in coverage areas where cellular signal is low, this change in antenna transmit power may result in slightly lower cellular performance in certain off-body use cases” and that the vast majority of users won’t notice an impact.

Unfortunately, the software doesn’t fix two annoying bugs: An issue where iPhones are randomly shutting off at night and an issue where iPhones can’t connect to Wi-Fi.

iOS 17.1 Jailbreak

If you still jailbreak, make sure you avoid the iOS 17.1 update

We don’t expect developers to release a tool that’s compatible with iOS 17 or iOS 17.1 today. If you still jailbreak your iPhone(s), keep an eye out for new information in the weeks ahead.

What’s Next

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

If you can’t or don’t want to 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 17.2 update, have a look at our walkthrough. And for more about the iOS 17.2 release date, check out our guide.

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