Apple today released iOS 16.3, the third major update to the iOS 16 operating system that first came out in September. iOS 16.3 comes over a month after the release of iOS 16.2, an update that added the Freeform app, Apple Music Sing, Advanced Data Protection and more.

‌iOS‌ 16.3 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over the air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. It may take a few minutes for the updates to spread to all users due to high demand. Apple has also released iOS 15.7.3 for iPhone users who have older devices, with the update offering security improvements.

Today’s update introduces Security Keys for Apple ID, enabling physical two-factor authentication that replaces the digital two-factor authentication used for ‌Apple ID‌ logins. There’s a new Unity wallpaper, along with support for the second-generation HomePod.

Apple tweaked Emergency SOS to prevent accidental emergency calls. You can still activate Emergency SOS when you hold down the side button with the volume up or nerve button, but a call will not be made until the buttons are released.

A number of bug fixes are also included, with Apple addressing an issue that could cause horizontal lines to temporarily appear on the iPhone 14 Pro Max, a bug that could result in the Home Lock Screen widget not displaying the status of the Home app correctly, and Siri -bugs related to music requests and CarPlay. Apple’s full release for the update is below:

This update includes the following improvements and bug fixes:

  • New Unity wallpaper honors black history and culture to celebrate Black History Month
  • Apple ID Security Keys allow users to strengthen the security of their account by requiring a physical security key as part of the sign-in process for two-factor authentication on new devices
  • Support for HomePod (2nd generation)
  • SOS emergency calls now require the side button with the volume up or nerv button to be held down and then released to prevent accidental emergency calls
  • Fixes an issue in Freeform where some strokes created with Apple Pencil or your finger might not appear on shared boards
  • Fixes an issue where the background may appear black on the lock screen
  • Fixes an issue where horizontal lines may temporarily appear when waking the iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • Fixes an issue where the Home Lock Screen widget does not display the Home app status correctly
  • Fixes an issue where Siri might not respond correctly to music requests
  • Addresses issues where Siri requests in CarPlay may not be understood correctly

More information about all the features of ‌iOS 16‌ can be found in our summary. Apple has also released an iOS 15.7.3 security update available for those still running iOS 15, as well as an iOS 12.5.7 update for those with an even older device.

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