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5 Things to Know About the iOS 10.2.1 Update

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Today we want to walk you through the most important things you need to know about the iOS 10.2.1 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch as we push into the month of April.

Last year, Apple put its iOS 10.2.1 update into beta for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. After several weeks of testing, the company decided the iOS 10.2.1 update was ready for primetime.

The iOS 10.2.1 update has been available for several weeks now and it still reigns as the the most up-to-date version of iOS 10. That said, its days are numbered and we could see its replacement roll out in the near future.

iOS 10.2.1 is a maintenance release which means it’s much smaller than a milestone update like iOS 10.2 was or iOS 10.3 will be. That doesn’t make it any less important.

The iOS 10.2.1 update delivers bug fixes and security patches for potential exploits. If you value your security you probably want to install iOS 10.2.1 in the near future.

Today we’re taking an updated look at the iOS 10.2.1 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Here are the most important things you need to know as we push toward the next big iOS 10 release.

iOS 10.2.1 Review

The iOS 10.2.1 update has been out for several weeks. And for several weeks, we’ve been poking and prodding the update in order to give you feedback about the update’s performance.

Tiny updates like iOS 10.2.1 can have a huge impact on performance so it’s important to dig into feedback before you install.

We’ve taken a look at the iOS 10.2.1 update for the iPhone 7, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6, iPhone 5, and a few different iPads.

These roundups offer a glimpse at iOS 10.2.1’s performance in key areas like battery life, connectivity and speed. If you’re on the fence about iOS 10.2.1, and you own one of those devices, dig into that feedback. It should help.

We’ve also put together a list of reasons to, and not to, install the iOS 10.2.1 update right now. If you’re having an excellent experience on iOS 10.2 or below, we highly recommend digging into those reasons before making a move.

The iOS 10.2.1 update has greatly reduced unexpected shutdown issues plaguing the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6.

The update reportedly has reduced the issue by 80% on the iPhone 6s and 70% on the iPhone 6. The company also says its “added the ability for the phone to restart without needing to connect to power, if a user still encounters an unexpected shutdown.”

This ability is available on the iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone 6. It will come to the iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6 in Apple’s next iOS update.

If you own an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6 and you’ve experienced this issue, you should think about installing the iOS 10.2.1 update today.

iOS 10.2.1 Problems

The iOS 10.2.1 update went through a fairly lengthy beta but various problems slipped have through the cracks into the final release.

iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users continue to complain about an assortment of iOS 10.2.1 bugs and performance issues including issues with apps, battery life, connectivity, lag, random reboots, installation issues, and more.

Fortunately, these are fairly common and most can be solved from the comfort of a computer chair at work or the office. If you’re seeing an issue with one of these, or something else, take a look at our list of fixes.

Unfortunately, it looks like there’s at least one major bug lurking on board some versions of the iOS 10.2.1 update.

The widespread “30% battery bug” that’s been affecting owners of older iPhones (iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus owners aren’t seeing the issue) is still an issue. The issue has been around since October, shortly after Apple released iOS 10.

It’s unclear if Apple’s next iOS 10 update, iOS 10.3, will solve the issue once and for all.

You Can’t Downgrade from iOS 10.2.1

If you download iOS 10.2.1 you won’t be able to get off it (unless you jump to Apple’s new iOS 10 beta) until Apple rolls out a new iOS 10 update. And that release could be weeks from now.

Apple’s no longer signing off on iOS 10.2 which means you can’t take advantage of a loophole and drop back down if you decide that you hate the iOS 10.2.1 update’s performance on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

You can’t drop down to anything older than iOS 10.2 either. Apple’s no longer signing off on any iOS updates older than iOS 10.2.1.

Now that a downgrade is no longer available you’ll want to be absolutely sure about your version of the iOS 10.2.1 update.

If you’re hesitant, you might be better off waiting for Apple’s next version of iOS 10 which is expected to arrive this month alongside new iPads.

For more on the downgrade process, take a look at our roundup. It’ll walk you through everything you need to know for next time.

iOS 10.2.1 Jailbreak

Jailbreak developers recently released an iOS 10 jailbreak tool that works with iOS 10.2 and below. It’s not compatible with the iOS 10.2.1 update.

It’s not clear if jailbreak developers will release a public jailbreak tool for iOS 10.2.1. It could happen tomorrow, it could happen months from now. We simply don’t know.

There’s some chatter about a new iOS 10.2 jailbreak but we haven’t heard about anything concrete for iOS 10.2.1

If you want to jailbreak your device (the iOS 10.2/iOS 10.1.1 jailbreaks are only available for select devices) you need to avoid the iOS 10.2.1 update. And if you’re already on iOS 10.2.1 you’ll just have to cross your fingers and wait.

What’s Next

A new iOS 10 update is currently in testing ahead of an imminent release date.

Find My AirPods is a new feature in iOS 10.3

iOS 10.3 will deliver a new Find My AirPods feature.

Earlier this year Apple released an iOS 10.3 update into beta for developers and anyone with a working Apple ID.

Unlike iOS 10.2.1, iOS 10.3 is a large milestone update which means it comes with more than just bug fixes and security patches.

The iOS 10.3 update, in its current state, features numerous changes to iOS 10. These include performance improvements, a Find My AirPods feature located in the Find My iPhone app, some huge improvements to CarPlay, Apple File System (AFPS), and a whole lot more.

Apple is still testing the iOS 10.3 update which means we could see more changes added before the update’s official release date.

The iOS 10.3 beta is the only way to get off iOS 10.2.1 at this point and the beta’s features certainly make it a tempting install ahead of the official release.

That said, there are some reasons to avoid the iOS 10.3 beta. For one, the update is causing problems for us and many others. Early iOS software can be unstable.

Apple hasn’t confirmed an iOS 10.3 release date but it will arrive sometime before the end of April.

3 Reasons Not to Install iOS 10.3.3 & 9 Reasons You Should

Install iOS 10.3.3 If You Want Better Security

Install iOS 10.3.3 If You Want Better Security

If you value your security, you'll want to seriously consider downloading the iOS 10.3.3 update on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

iOS 10.3.3 brings 24 security patches addressing vulnerabilities plaguing Contacts, Messages, Notifications, and Safari.

It also includes a patch for a potentially dangerous Wi-Fi exploit dubbed "Broadpwn." That patch alone is a great reason to install iOS 10.3.3 right now or in the immediate future. 

If you failed to download previous versions of iOS, your iOS 10.3.3 update will bring even more security features.

If you passed on iOS 10.3.2, iOS 10.3.3 will deliver 23 additional security patches for potentially dangerous issues. 

If you skipped iOS 10.3.1, your iOS 10.3.3 update will bring its lone security patch. If you skipped iOS 10.3, iOS 10.3.3 will bring its monster list of patches to your device.

The iOS 10.3 update delivered over 60 known patches for potential exploits. That's substantial, even for a milestone upgrade.

If you skipped the iOS 10.2.1 update and/or the iOS 10.2 update, iOS 10.3.3 brings their security patches with it. The iOS 10.2.1 update had 14 important patches on board. You can see them all right here

If you failed to install Apple's iOS 9.3.5 update, iOS 10.3.3 will also bring the three crucial security patches it delivered last year. These patch up serious security problems that could potentially expose your calls, contacts, texts, and emails.

These patches enhance the security on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch making them ideal for those of you who store sensitive files/data on your device. 

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Terry Stewart

    01/28/2017 at 3:14 pm

    Apples quality suffered severely since Steve Jobs passed away. Steve Jobs would never have allowed a lot of the crap that Apple now puts out to get out into the public I am already gearing up to switch to android, no phone should ever shut off at 47%

  2. D A Kaye

    01/30/2017 at 3:02 pm

    The content of this article could have said in less than 50 words.

  3. Rocky Murasing

    02/14/2017 at 10:24 pm

    Please make a list of devices with iOS 10.2 that can be jailbroken. Thanks.

  4. S

    02/23/2017 at 9:04 pm

    You don’t mention that iOS 19.2.2 brings a brightness issue to iPhone 6 etc.
    It solved the battery issues but now it dims at 74% and even more st 49%!!
    So apple think they can just dim my screen now not caring what situation I’m in!

  5. Phill

    05/04/2017 at 4:50 am

    I own a I phone 5 and starting to get very frustrated with it.
    I know off two people that have done the 10.2.1 upgrade and one has locked up and unable to do anything with it seized and the other phone the battery power has basically died to nothing.
    So I don,t even want to risk my phone doing that and the hassle trying to sort it out but then you have a person at the I phone shop telling you that you need to install the 10.2.1 and when i asked this person that i just want to stop the harassing and very annoying and wont let up just about every time a touch the phone for the 10.2.1 upgrade Install Now,Later.Remind me later Im over this complete bullshit.
    The guy at the I phone shop said there was nothing i can do to stop the never ending reminder of the 10.2.1 unless you do the upgrade so i have basically said your lost a client and probable many more due to this complete bullshit as you can see im not impressed at all any more.
    I will be going the Samsung to give them a go I don,t like being held to ransom from these complete and utter dickheads wake up and stop harassing people with this shit we will contact you if we want this upgrade or what every you want to call it.
    I would call it a total cluster 10.2.1 downgrade and strongly sounds to me as a wast of time and guess what to buy a new phone not happy at all lost all respect for I phones now and the future.
    You may as well have a nice day to whoever reads this stuff because just about every time I try making a phone call or a text or anything that I look at on this phone Im up shit creek messing around with the 10.2.1 reminder rubbish hounding me annoying me harassing me im very very pissed.

  6. John Mukupa

    05/13/2017 at 1:12 am

    Iso 10.2.1 has failed to download automatically and manually
    Saying am not connected to Internet when in fact using wifi even using data it has failed

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