iOS 17.2: Apple brings a major update for new and older iPhones

Software update
Apple releases iOS 17.2 – bringing a completely new app to devices

Apple is gradually delivering everything that was presented at WWDC 2023 in June. With iOS 17.2, a completely new app comes to the devices – and numerous improvements with it.

At this year’s WWDC developer conference, Apple showed off numerous innovations for the iPhone that had not yet found their way onto the devices. With the publication of This is now changing with iOS 17.2, as two new functions await users – along with numerous smaller changes.

The most striking innovation is the so-called “Journal App”. This allows users to quickly and easily keep a digital diary and, according to Apple, “reflect and express gratitude,” which is said to have a positive effect on their own well-being. The app makes suggestions, reminds you of pending entries and, as befits a diary, can be protected with a password or biometric data.

Apple brings new features specifically for the iPhone 15 Pro

Owners of an iPhone 15 Pro also have two other major advantages: With iOS 17.2, the side action button will be expanded to include a translation function, enabling easy communication with people in a different language. Ultimately, it is quick access to the translate app, which can be practical when traveling if you don’t always need the full functionality of the software. Using the action button you can quickly record and play back individual sentences in another language without having to open the app.

Anyone who owns the latest Pro device will also have the option of recording spatial videos with the update. The three-dimensional recordings can later be played on the Apple Vision Pro and are intended to take viewers back to the respective situation. If you want to use the new recording mode, you must first activate it in the system settings. On an iPhone and other devices, spatial videos appear as regular, two-dimensional videos.

The update also improves the telephoto camera’s focusing speed for certain shots.

Old devices should also install the iOS update

Further changes affect the Messages app, which is now intended to make it easier to catch up on missed messages and offers more options for the so-called Memojis.

iOS 17.2 also fixes some bugs and adds new features to older devices. For example, iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models now support chargers with the wireless Qi2 standard, and an issue that prevented wireless charging in certain vehicles has now been resolved.

There are also some new features for users of the standard weather app, as Apple has improved the precipitation forecast and added new widgets with iOS 17.2. There is also an interactive lunar calendar.

The full list of changes in iOS 17.2 is available herethe slightly shorter summary for iPadOS 17.2 here. With iOS and iPad OS 17.2, Apple has also closed numerous security gaps. You can find the relevant documentation here.

As part of the release of iOS 17.2, Apple is also delivering updates for other platforms such as macOS, tvOS and watchOS.

The updates are available now and can be installed in the usual way. To do this, simply go under Settings on the menu item Generallythen up Software update and follow the instructions. For MacOS, the update can also be initiated via the system settings.