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Although iOS 14 has been available since last fall, Apple continues to add new features to its mobile software. The next update, iOS 14.5, is currently in beta form. Apple has already seeded this beta for developers, giving them a strict timeline to implement the new application tracking transparency requirements in their applications. A public beta version of iOS 14.5 is also available.
Privacy transparency highlights the upcoming release, but we’ve found more iOS 14.5 features worth mentioning. Among these, Apple added a way to use Face ID to unlock your iPhone while wearing a skin. This solution uses the Apple Watch to authenticate you biometrically.
We hope that many users will update to iOS 14.5 once it is final. Apple recently shared that iOS 14 is installed on 80% of all active iPhones and 86% of iPhones introduced in the last four years.
We have examined the beta version of iOS 14.5 to find the most important additions, but this is not a final list. It is also possible that Apple will continue to add or modify features before the final release of iOS 14.5 in a few weeks.
IOS 14.5 release date
You can now download iOS 14.5 as a public beta, which means a formal release date is coming soon. If you want to try the beta version, we recommend that you do so on a secondary device. We expect the final version of iOS 14.5 to be released sometime this month.
IOS 14.5 public beta
We have a step-by-step guide to downloading the iOS 14.5 public beta. However, we recommend that you do not use your primary phone; It is better for a secondary device to test the new functions. Please note that you will need to register on the Apple Beta Software Program page to test the public beta of iOS 14.5.
Unlock with Apple Watch with iOS 14.5
We all learned the shortcomings of Face ID when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Face masks confused the Face ID sensors, which means that for the last year or so, we’ve had to manually unlock our iPhones. Fortunately, Apple has found a workaround, although it has a big caveat: you need an Apple Watch.
Unlocking with Apple Watch is exactly what it sounds like. With Apple’s wearable device, you can bypass Face ID to unlock your iPhone. It requires both devices to be very close to each other; otherwise, you will need to unlock the phone manually. The Apple Watch must also be unlocked for this to work.
Once you have iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4, you can head over to Settings below Face ID and password. Note that you cannot use Unlock with Apple Watch to authenticate Apple Pay or App Store purchases. These will still require your face or password.
App tracking transparency in iOS 14.5
iOS 14.5 adds new app tracking transparency policies, a major change Apple has been planning to implement since it first announced iOS last summer. App developers, such as Facebook, will need to ask for your permission to access your advertising ID. That identification allows them to track you through apps and websites.
Some of these privacy features already exist in iOS 14, but 14.5 serves as a deadline for app developers to implement the new policy before apps are removed from the App Store.
When everything is live, a new pop-up will appear asking if you want the app to track you. Apple once again aims for sheer simplicity. It is a huge step forward for privacy and we are excited to see it happen.
Apple Maps crowdsourcing crashes (and speed controls) in iOS 14.5
In iOS 14.5, Apple Maps is set to copy a popular Waze key feature. You will use real drivers to collaborate on traffic accidents, speed traps and other traffic hazards, just like your main competitors. There will be a dedicated button in Maps to report something, available both on the phone and in CarPlay: simple, but effective.
Setting your default music app in iOS 14.5
iOS 14 lets you choose your own default browser and email apps, a change that should have been made a long time ago. Continuing that momentum, Apple is loosening your control a bit more by letting you choose your own default music streaming app.
When you ask Siri to play a song, it can be opened in any app you set up, including Spotify. This means that you no longer have to specify in which application you want the song to be played. Siri will only use the one you have set as the default.
PS5 and Xbox Series X Controller Compatibility | S on iOS 14.5
While both the PS5 and Xbox Series X remain in short supply, you can still get your hands on one of the new controllers quite easily. If you have one, either a PlayStation 5 DualSense or Xbox Series X controller | Yes, you will be able to pair it with your iPhone on iOS 14.5.
Apple Fitness Plus AirPlay 2 support on iOS 14.5
iOS 14.5 enables AirPlay 2 support for Apple Fitness Plus, which means you can stream your workouts to any AirPlay 2 compatible display.
Please note that Apple Watch metrics will not appear on the larger screen. You should see these data points on your iPhone or iPad.
Support for Dual-SIM 5G on iOS 14.5
Dual SIM iPhone users can use 5G globally on iOS 14.5 with the iPhone 12 series. Dual-SIM means you can have two separate lines of service on one device. This is ideal for people who keep their work and personal lines separate, or for international travel.
When iOS 14.5 arrives, both SIMs will have access to full 5G speeds.
Find my app in iOS 14.5
Starting with iOS 14.5, iPhone users will be able to locate their PowerBeats Pro headphones using Apple’s Find My app. The wireless earbuds join several other products that support the Find My app, including iPhone, MacBooks, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Users will be able to activate a sound to play from the PowerBeats Pro to locate the buttons.
IOS 14.5 Outlook
There’s a lot more that we don’t cover here, but this update will include a lot of tweaks and new additions. Apple plans to make this launch a big one and we are excited for it to arrive on our iPhones and iPads.
If you don’t want to wait for the final version of iOS 14.5, you can get the public beta right now, as long as you sign up for Apple’s beta program. It’s easy – just head over to Apple’s beta page in a browser on the device you want to install the beta on. From there, you enroll your iPhone in the program, using your Apple ID to log in. Then follow the onscreen instructions to download a beta profile and install it on your phone.
A common caveat: While the beta version of iOS 14.5 is fairly stable, it is still a beta version, which means that problems can arise. If you’re heavily reliant on your phone during the day, you may not want to subject it to the vagaries of beta software. If that’s the case, wait until the final version of iOS 14.5 comes out.
