XDA Developers

iOS 15

Readers like you help support XDA Developers. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More.

latest

Restore Apple Watch with iPhone
How to restore a bricked Apple Watch using your iPhone

You can't connect your Apple Watch to a computer to restore its firmware. Here's how to reinstall watchOS wirelessly using your iPhone instead.

4
By 

Apple products are famous for the tight ecosystem that ties them together. What many users don't know, though, is that you can use your excellent iPhone to restore a bricked Apple Watch. This spares you the need to head to an Apple Store for repairs, since the latest Apple Watches don't have a port, and you won't be able to connect them to a computer. The process is simple and occurs wirelessly. All you have to do is follow the steps we've detailed below.

How to set up Face ID with a mask

IOS 15.4 added the ability to set up Face ID to recognize you with a mask. Read more in our tutorial on how to do so!

4
By 

Biometrics are a great way to get into your smartphone, as they're convenient, unique to you, and pretty secure. In the case of the iPhone, it makes use of Face ID to log in to your phone, and additional hardware is used to ensure that it's safe and secure. There's a pretty major flaw, though, and that's when you're wearing a mask. Obviously, a mask covers a lot of your face, and it can be difficult to quickly and easily unlock your iPhone if you have one on. Apple originally got around that by allowing you to unlock your phone when wearing an Apple Watch and scanning the top half of your face, but iOS 15.4 took that a step further and introduced Face ID support while wearing a mask.

Apple Watch icon on iOS 15 wallpaper
How to mute voice feedback during Apple Watch workouts

A recent update has enabled voice feedback during Apple Watch workouts. Here's how to mute them to avoid interrupting your music.

4
By 

The Apple Watch is a great device for plenty of reasons, including fitness. However, this device also packs some annoyances that interrupt users' flow. For example, when you're working out, Siri pauses the music or audio you're playing to announce certain milestones, such as every kilometer you cross during a running session. While some people appreciate this feature, many find it distracting. The good news is that you can turn it off completely by following the steps below.

Apple releases iOS 15.7 and macOS Monterey 12.6 with bug fixes

Apple has released a few new updates today, offering the latest iOS 16, along with bug fixes for iOS 15 and also macOS Monterey.

4
By 

Along with iOS 16, Apple has also released a new update for iOS 15, with iOS 15.7. Apple hasn't released details about the update, only stating that it provides important security updates. This most likely indicates that it will only offer minor bug fixes. The update is now available over-the-air and comes in at 372.6MB. Along with the new iOS updates, Apple also released an update for macOS Monterey with version 12.6. While the download is substantial, coming in at 1.59GB, it also only makes mention of important security updates meaning that it will only supply minor bug fixes.

Apple releases iOS 15.6.1 and macOS Monterey 12.5.1 to the public, here's what's new

Apple has released iOS 15.6.1 and macOS Monterey 12.5.1 to the public. These updates are now available to all users around the world.

4
By 

Apple revealed iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura during the main keynote of WWDC22. Since then, the company has been focusing less on iOS 15 and macOS Monterey -- as it shifts its attention to the upcoming major OS releases. At this point, the Cupertino firm is fixing leftover bugs, making last-minute tweaks, and patching security vulnerabilities.

Apple releases iOS 15.6 to the public, here's what's new

Following weeks of beta testing with developers and enrolled public testers, the stable build of iOS 15.6 is now available to everyone.

4
By 

During WWDC22, Apple previewed iOS 16, macOS Ventura, and other updated versions of its operating systems. Since then, the company has been beta testing these builds with enrolled developers and enthusiasts. This is to ensure that they're as smooth as possible when the Cupertino firm releases them to everyone this upcoming fall. In the meantime, though, Apple has been working on the final versions of iOS 15. As the tech overlord shifts its focus to iOS 16, it has been working on minor releases for last year's version. After all, the company has to polish the experience and get rid of leftover bugs before it abandons the OS. iOS 15.6 is one of the final updates to iOS 15. Apple had been testing it for the past few weeks, and now the stable build is available to everyone.

Apple releases iOS 15.6 beta 2 to registered developers, here's what's new

Apple has released iOS 15.6 beta 2 to registered developers around the world. Here's everything new included in this updated build.

4
By 

WWDC22 is less than a week away, and we're soon getting the first official peek at iOS 16 and macOS 13! Nonetheless, Apple still isn't done with iOS 15 just yet. The company is now testing iOS 15.6 beta with registered developers and enrolled users. And just like iOS 15.5, it doesn't bring plenty of exciting additions to the table. After all, the company tends to shift its focus on the upcoming major release at this time of the year. Apple is probably fixing leftover bugs and making last-minute tweaks during this phase. iOS 15.6 beta 2 is now available to download for those enrolled in the company's developer beta program. Public testers should be able to get their hands on this build within the upcoming 24 hours or so. Here's everything new iOS 15.6 introduces.

Apple Account Card on iOS 15.5
Apple Account Card is rolling out on iOS 15.5, replaces the ancient iTunes Pass

Apple is now rolling out its Account Card to the iPhone Wallet for users on iOS 15.5 or a newer operating system version.

4
By 

Gift cards are a great way to give someone the liberty to buy what they need. By offering them an Apple Gift card, they get to choose between Macs, iPads, iPhones, services and digital goods, etc. For a long time, the Cupertino tech giant supported an iTunes Pass that lived in the Wallet app. This allowed users to spend from its balance in Apple Stores by scanning its QR code. The company is now finally retiring the iTunes Pass in favor of the Apple Account Card. Similarly, you can find the new card in Wallet, but it works without needing to scan a code. Instead, you can just tap your iPhone or Apple Watch on the NFC reader -- as you'd normally do with Apple Pay.

Apple iPhone SE 3 (2022) vs Apple iPhone 11 (2019)
Apple iPhone SE 3 (2022) vs Apple iPhone 11 (2019): Which iPhone should you buy?

This is the Apple iPhone SE 3 vs Apple iPhone 11: two phones featuring different blends of modern and dated specifications.

4
By 

Deciding which smartphone to buy next can be confusing — even if you're on a limited budget. The brands, models, and specifications are endless. Apple released the iPhone 11 back in 2019. It's a solid phone — relatively speaking — despite having a somewhat old processor. The iPhone SE 3, on the other hand, is a 2022 phone which features mighty internals that are packed in an outdated chassis. This is the iPhone SE 3 vs iPhone 11 — two phones that offer different blends of modern and dated elements that cater to various customers. If you buy the iPhone SE 3, don't forget to protect it with a case and check out our list of best chargers. Similarly, if you go for the iPhone 11, grab a case to make sure it's well-protected.

Apple releases first developer betas of iOS 15.6 and macOS 12.5

Following the release of iOS 15.5 and macOS 12.4 earlier this week, Apple has now seeded the first betas of iOS 15.6 and macOS 12.5.

4
By 

WWDC22 is around the corner, and we're expecting to see the previews of iOS 16 and macOS 13 during the main keynote. However, Apple is not done with iOS 15 and macOS Monterey just yet. Following the release of iOS 15.5 and macOS 12.4 to the public earlier this week, the company has now seeded the first developer betas of the upcoming iOS 15.6 and macOS 12.5.

Apple releases iOS 15.5 and macOS 12.4 to the public, here's what's new

Following weeks of beta testing, Apple has finally released iOS 15.5 and macOS 12.4 to the public. Here's everything new in these updates.

4
By 

Following weeks of beta testing with developers and public testers, Apple has released the stable builds of iOS 15.5 and macOS 12.4 to everyone. These updates are rolling out right now to all users globally -- as long as their devices are compatible. Unlike iOS 15.4, iOS 15.5 doesn't include many changes. It's a minor version that aims to fix leftover iOS 15 bugs and tweak some elements -- before the company moves on to iOS 16. Similarly, macOS 12.4 also doesn't bring a lot of excitement to the table. Here's everything new in iOS 15.5 and macOS 12.4.

New Apple Podcasts features
Apple Podcasts to introduce clean-up tools, delegated delivery, and more

Apple Podcasts will soon introduce new storage management tools, delegated delivery support, and annual subscription tweaks.

4
By 

The Apple Podcasts app has been around for a very long time. Notably, though, it has failed to keep up with the annual iOS updates. With every major OS release, Apple's negligence of this app becomes more apparent. This is especially obvious when you compare it to the company's Music app. The streaming service has a relatively solid application with a modern-looking player. The Podcasts app, on the other hand, sticks to an outdated player from years ago. Fortunately, the Cupertino tech giant seems to be focusing more on the Podcasts app lately. The company is preparing a number of significant additions that users will get to utilize on their iPhones, iPads, and Macs. These include new storage management tools, delegated delivery support, and annual subscription tweaks.

Apple seeds iOS 15.5 Release Candidate to developers, here's what's new

Apple has seeded iOS 15.5 Release Candidate to enrolled developers around the world. Here's everything new included in this updated version.

4
By 

After the introduction of iOS 15.4Â in March, Apple is now working on the upcoming version of iOS 15. The company has just released iOS 15.5 Release Candidate (RC) to registered developers worldwide. iOS 15.5 could possibly be the last major update to iOS 15 -- as the company has announced WWDC22. As a result, Apple is likely shifting its focus to iOS 16 at this phase. iOS 15.4 introduced plenty of new additions, including new emoji, Face ID support when masked, and much more. Expectedly, iOS 15.5 isn't as rich because this version is potentially just fixing leftover bugs and making final tweaks. Here's everything new in iOS 15.5 beta.

iPhone Home Screen with arrow pointing at Apple Music
Apple Music is forcing itself on iPhone docks by kicking out other apps

Apple Music is forcing itself on iPhone docks when installing it from the App Store by booting other apps users had placed there.

4
By 

Apple has been in the antitrust and monopolistic practices spotlight in the recent years. The company is being heavily criticized and even sued for its guidelines that hinder fair competition. As a result, the Cupertino tech giant has been reevaluating some of its approaches. For example, it recently introduced the Self Service Repair program. Additionally, a past version of iOS brought default app support and the ability to delete some Apple apps on iPhones and iPods. However, the company seemingly hasn't properly addressed the way it handles reinstalling first-party apps from the App Store. A new report indicates that even the most recent version of iOS 15 includes an unusual behavior. When a user reinstalls the deleted Apple Music app from the App Store, it's defaulting to its initial position in the dock -- kicking out other apps in the process.

Apple releases iOS 15.5 beta 4 to registered developers, here's what's new

Apple has seeded iOS 15.5 beta 4 to enrolled developers around the world. Here's everything new included in this updated version.

4
By 

After the introduction of iOS 15.4Â in March, Apple is now working on the upcoming version of iOS 15. The company has just released iOS 15.5 beta 4 to registered developers worldwide. iOS 15.5 could possibly be the last major update to iOS 15 -- as the company has announced WWDC22. As a result, Apple is likely shifting its focus to iOS 16 at this phase. iOS 15.4 introduced plenty of new additions, including new emoji, Face ID support when masked, and much more. Expectedly, iOS 15.5 isn't as rich because this version is potentially just fixing leftover bugs and making final tweaks. Here's everything new in iOS 15.5 beta.

Apple releases iOS 15.5 beta 3 to registered developers, here's what's new

Apple has released iOS 15.5 beta 3 to registered developers worldwide. Here's everything new included in this updated build.

4
By 

After the introduction of iOS 15.4Â last month, Apple is now working on the upcoming version of iOS 15. The company has just released iOS 15.5 beta 3 to registered developers across the world. iOS 15.5 could potentially be the last major update to iOS 15 -- as the company has announced WWDC22. As a result, Apple is likely shifting its attention to iOS 16 at this phase. iOS 15.4 introduced plenty of new additions, including new emoji, Face ID support when masked, and much more. Expectedly, iOS 15.5 isn't as rich because this version is potentially just fixing leftover bugs and making final tweaks. Here's everything new in iOS 15.5 beta.

Apple releases iOS 15.5 beta 2 to registered developers, here's what's new

Apple has released iOS 15.5 beta 2 to registered developers worldwide. Here's everything new included in this updated build.

4
By 

Following the release of iOS 15.4 in March, Apple is now working on the upcoming version of iOS 15. The company has just released iOS 15.5 beta 2 to registered developers worldwide. iOS 15.5 could potentially be the last major update to iOS 15 -- as the company has announced WWDC22. As a result, Apple is likely shifting its focus to iOS 16 at this point. iOS 15.4 introduced plenty of new additions, including new emoji, Face ID support when masked, and much more. Expectedly, iOS 15.5 isn't as packed because this version is potentially just fixing leftover bugs and making final tweaks. Here's everything new in iOS 15.5 beta.

MacBook Air Apple TV iPad Pro iPhone Apple Watch
Apple releases the first developer betas of iOS 15.5 and macOS 12.4

Apple has released the first developer betas of iOS 15.5 and macOS Monterey 12.4. These could be the last major versions pre-WWDC22.

4
By 

Following the release of iOS 15.4 and macOS Monterey 12.3 last month, Apple has now seeded the first developer betas of iOS 15.5 and macOS Monterey 12.4. These versions could be the last major ones for iOS 15 and macOS Monterey -- as WWDC22 is around the corner. At this point, the company is likely smoothing out leftover bugs, while it shifts its attention to the upcoming iOS 16 and macOS 13.

Apple has released iOS 15.4.1 to the public with bug fixes

Apple has seeded iOS 15.4.1, following the release of iOS 15.4 earlier this month. This update brings bug and security patches.

4
By 

Apple has released iOS 15.4.1 to the public worldwide. This update brings security patches and bug fixes, and we advise all users to update their devices to this version. The company had seeded iOS 15.4 earlier this month, introducing new emoji, Face ID support when masked, and filtering options in the Podcasts app. It's common for the Cupertino tech giant to release a x.x.1 update following a major version bump. That's because with freshly introduced features we often end up with new bugs and glitches.

YouTube TV logo
The YouTube TV app now supports picture-in-picture on iOS 15

The YouTube TV app now supports picture-in-picture mode on iPhones and iPads running iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 or a later version.

4
By 

Picture-in-picture (PiP) is a relatively old multitasking feature. It allows users to view a playing video in a small, floating window that they can drag around the screen -- while doing other tasks on the same device. Unsurprisingly, Apple was late to the party and didn't implement this handy addition on iPhones until iOS 14. Ultimately, better late than never. Despite the fact that iOS 14 has been available to developers for almost two years now, some companies are still taking their sweet time to implement the PiP API. For example, Google is still testing PiP support for the main YouTube app with Premium users. Surprisingly, the YouTube TV app on iOS has just gained support for this handy addition. For some reason, though, it requires iOS 15 or a later version -- rather than iOS 14.

See more articles +