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iOS 17.4 Release Date: Tips & Tricks

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Apple’s confirmed a new iOS 17.4 update for iPhone and some iPhone users should start preparing for the release right now.

iOS 17.4 is the fourth milestone update for Apple’s iOS 17 operating system. It will bring a mix of new features and under-the-hood improvements to the iPhone.

The iOS 17.4 release date will land soon. Apple hasn’t confirmed an exact date, but it has confirmed the release window.

In this guide we’ll outline some tips, and tricks, that will come in handy as we close in on the next big update for iOS 17 and the iPhone.

Prepare for the Installation

If you plan on installing the iOS 17.4 update right away, you should use this time to prepare yourself, and your device, for the installation.

Again, iOS 17.4 is a milestone release and it will likely require a sizable download. If you don’t have enough storage available on your iPhone, iOS will temporarily remove downloadable parts of applications installed on your phone. This may not be enough and you’ll then be forced to manually delete files.

If you’re running out of internal storage, use this time to do some cleanup. Go into your iPhone’s storage and delete files (photos, apps, etc) you no longer need. This will help make room for the software. It may also improve your iPhone’s performance.

Data loss issues are fairly rare, but you’ll definitely want to err on the side of caution and backup all of your data before you move your iPhone from its current version of iOS to iOS 17.4.

If you want to install iOS 17.4 when it arrives, your iPhone will need a solid charge. Make sure your phone has at least a 50% charge or find a charger and plug it in.

Finally, make sure you have your Apple ID and other logins handy. There’s always a chance the installation logs you out of apps and services so you’ll want to have those on hand so you can get right back to using them.

Get Familiar with iOS 17.4

You should get familiar with iOS 17.4 before downloading the software. This way, you won’t be caught off-guard by the changes on board.

We’ve published a guide that will walk you through all of the changes on board the firmware. Again, the update will bring a mix of new features, bug fixes, and security patches to iPhone users.

We’ve also released a detailed iOS 17 guide that will take you through many of the latest changes on board the current version of the operating system.

If you want to take it a step further, you might download the iOS 17.4 beta on your iPhone and go hands-on with all of the changes before the final release.

Most People Should Avoid the Beta

Installing the iOS 17.4 beta on your iPhone might be tempting, but most people should keep their device on stable iOS 17 software.

The beta will help Apple fix bugs and performance issues before they become major headaches for millions of iPhone users around the world.

While it’s certainly fun to try out new features before they’re released to the public, iOS beta software can be extremely problematic.

The iOS 17.4 beta is causing problems for testers and you could run into some of the very same issues if you decide to install it on your iPhone.

While you might be able to fix some issues on your own, other bugs and performance issues will probably require a fix from Apple in a future software update down the road.

If you rely on your iPhone to get through the day, you’ll want to stay put on whatever version of iOS your device is currently running.

Monitor Feedback from the Beta

If you decide to keep your daily driver on stable iOS 17 software, make sure you monitor feedback from iOS 17.4 beta testers.

Monitoring feedback will alert you to potential problems and it will also reveal potential benefits coming with Apple’s new software.

More importantly, it might help you decide if you want to install iOS 17.4 on your iPhone right away or keep your device on stable software.

We’ve seen feedback emerge on sites like YouTube, Reddit, Twitter, and the MacRumors forums so check those sites if you’re curious about the software’s performance in the buildup to the official release.

iOS 17.4 Release Time

Apple typically pushes new iOS software updates out in and around 10AM Pacific. That will likely be the case for the final version of iOS 17.4.

We sometimes see iOS updates roll out 5-10 minutes after 10AM so there’s no need to panic if the software doesn’t popup in your iPhone’s Settings app right away.

Here’s what that looks like for other time zones in the United States:

  • Eastern – 1 PM
  • Central – 12 PM
  • Mountain – 11AM

Keep all of this in mind if you plan to install the final version of iOS 17.4 right away.

iOS 17.4 Download Size

Most milestone upgrade’s require a significant chunk of space and, again, we expect the final version of iOS 17.4 to command a large download.

We may see long download times, especially right after Apple pushes the software live. The installation process could take quite a bit of time as well.

Once you pull iOS 17.4 from Apple’s servers, you might notice a prompt asking you to “Install” the software right now or “Later.” While most of you will probably want to install it right away, others might benefit from scheduling the installation.

If you do decide to schedule it, you can choose to install it while you’re sleeping or you can have your device remind you to install it at a later date when you’ve got some free time.

If you do decide to install the iOS 17.4 update overnight, you’ll have to plug your iPhone into a power source.

Prepare for iOS 17.4 Problems

The iOS 17.4 beta is plagued by problems. This will be the case through the duration of the beta testing process. Some of these problems might make it into the final version as well.

Common problems include abnormal battery drain, Bluetooth issues, Wi-Fi problems, app instability, UI lag, crashes, and Exchange issues.

These problems appear after every single iOS release and there’s a good chance we’ll see them all popup immediately after the stable version of iOS 17.4 is released.

It’ll be difficult to predict what kind of performance you’ll get on your iPhone so you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared to tackle any issues you encounter on day one and beyond.

We’ve released a list of fixes for common iOS 17 problems. If you don’t consider yourself an expert, you’ll want to bookmark those fixes.

We’ve also released guides to fixing bad iOS 17 battery life and iOS 17 performance.

You’ll also want to bookmark the Apple Support page on the company’s website. You should also get familiar with Apple’s Discussion forums.

Learn How to Downgrade

If the iOS 17.4 update starts causing problems on your iPhone, and you can’t seem to fix the issue(s), you may have to downgrade back to stable software.

If you already know how to downgrade, you’re good to go. If you aren’t familiar with the downgrade process, you’ll want to get familiar with it right now. That way, you aren’t scrambling if the software starts acting up on your iPhone.

Keep Your Apps Updated

If you want the best possible experience on iOS 17.4, make sure you keep your apps updated. Updates will help stabilize the new software’s performance and help your device make a smooth transition to new software.

Before you download an app update, make sure you read reviews from users. These reviews will alert you to potential benefits and problems with the latest version.

Take Your Time with iOS 17.4

iOS 17.4 is an exciting upgrade and some of you might be tempted to install the firmware right when it drops this fall.

For some of you, particularly users dealing with iOS 17 problems, this might be the best decision. That said, some of you will be better off waiting a few hours, a few days or, in some extreme cases, a few weeks before installing iOS 17.4.

There are plenty of reasons to skip new iOS 17 software updates on day one so make sure you take your time.

Avoid iOS 17.4 If You’re Jailbroken

Avoid the iOS 17.4 beta if you still jailbreak your phone.

If you’re hoping for an iOS 17.4 jailbreak, don’t hold your breath. Jailbreak developers could surprise us, but we aren’t expecting a release.

If you still jailbreak your devices, you’ll need to stay put on an older version of iOS.

4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 17.4 & 11 Reasons You Should

Install iOS 17.4 for Better Security

Install iOS 17.4 for Better Security

If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 17.4 update right away.

iOS 17.4 has four security patches on board. These will help keep your device and its data protected from harm. 

The update also delivers 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."

If you missed iOS 17.3 or older, you'll get the security patches from updates you missed when you upgrade to iOS 17.4. 

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 update as well.

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