Apple Launches iOS 16.2: New Features, App Changes, More

Apple users can now download iOS 16's most recent update for 2022.

Following a beta testing period, iOS 16.2 is now widely available and brings numerous new features to Apple's iPhone operating system. According to MacRumors, headlining the new iOS 16.2 updates is the new Freeform app for cross-device brainstorming and a karaoke function for Apple Music.

Additionally, Gadget Hacks reports that there will be an Apple News integration for the Weather app, a new upgrade to Dynamic Island that is exclusively available to iPhone 14 Pro customers, and a medication widget for the Lock Screen are all new additions to iOS 16.

Apple iOS 16.2 New Features Overview

Apple Music Sing

• You can now sing along to millions of songs with Apple Music Sing, a new karaoke-like function on the lyrics screen in the Apple Music app.
• Users can utilize the ability to turn down the vocals of a song and then sing instead.

Advanced-Data Protection

• The Advanced Data Protection feature extends end-to-end encryption to a variety of new iCloud data categories, such as backups of messages, photographs, notes, reminders, voice memos, and more.

Freeform App

• You can add sticky notes, text boxes, shapes, photographs, movies, links, PDFs, and more to the app's limitless canvas.

Two New Lock Screen Widgets

• Sleep Widget: You may check your most recent sleep session and sleep stages using the Sleep widget.
• Medication Widget: You can easily access your medication schedule using the Medications widget.

New Always-On Display Options

• On the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, the background and alerts can now be hidden in always-on display mode. This causes the Lock Screen to appear solid black and minimalist in always-on mode, much like Android.

Live Activities for Sports Scores via Apple TV App

• On the Lock Screen of iPhone 14 Pro models, in the Dynamic Island, users of the iPhone may quickly check the live scores of MLB, NBA, and Premier League games thanks to the feature.

New Home App Architecture

• According to Apple, the new architecture enhances the app's responsiveness, effectiveness, and dependability for managing smart home accessories. Following iOS 16.1, the Home app now supports Matter attachments.

Apple iOS 16.2 General Fixes and Improvements

In addition to the new app features, the new update also brings several fixes to the user interface and overall user experience.

According to BGR, here is the list of fixes and changes:

• Improved search in Messages allows you to find photos based on their content, like a dog, car, person, or text
• Turn Off Hide IP Address setting enables iCloud Private Relay users to disable the service for a specific site in Safari temporarily.
• News articles in Weather display information relevant to the weather in that location.
• Participant Cursors in Notes allow you to see live indicators as others make updates in a shared note.
• AirDrop now automatically reverts to Contacts Only after 10 minutes to prevent unwanted requests to receive content.
• Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models.
• Fixes an issue that causes some notes not to sync with iCloud after updates are made.
• SharePlay support in Game Center lets you play multiplayer games with the people you are on a FaceTime call with.
• iOS 16.2 enables support for 5G networks in India on the iPhone 12 and newer, starting with carriers Airtel and Reliance Jio.