Note: Apple doesn’t seem to have released the new update over the air yet. It is, however, available as a download from Apple’s developer center.
Note 2: Apple has removed beta 3 from the developer center and returned to beta 2.
Apple today released the third betas of upcoming iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta updates coming two weeks after Apple released its second iOS and iPadOS 14.5 betas release.
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iOS and iPadOS 14.5 can be downloaded via Apple Developer Center or over the air after the correct profile has been installed on an iPhone or iPad.
IOS 14.5 is the biggest update to iOS 14 so far, introducing several important new features. First and foremost, Apple is making it easier to unlock an iPhone when wearing a face mask with a new “Unlock with Apple Watch” feature.
This optional option allows you to use an unlocked and authenticated Apple Watch as a secondary authentication method to unlock iPhone along with Face ID. With this feature, you don’t have to enter a passcode or disable your mask to unlock your iPhone. Both iPhone running iOS 14.5 and Apple Watch must use this, and the Apple Watch cannot unlock Apple Pay, purchase an App Store, or unlock third-party apps that use Face ID.
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The update will also support worldwide for 5G in Dual-SIM mode on iPhone 12 models, so if you use multiple lines, both can now connect at 5G speeds. Previously, Dual-SIM mode was limited to LTE networks.
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With watchOS 7.4, iOS and iPadOS 14.5 include AirPlay 2 support for Apple Fitness +, so Apple Fitness + subscribers can start working on iPhone or iPAd and then AirPlay it to smart TV compatible or set top box. AirPlay 2 supports audio and video, but does not display on-screen metadata.
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PlayStation 5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers are supported on the iPhone and iPad with iOS 14.5, and code suggests that Apple is going to add account support to the Apple Card soon .
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IOS 14.5 includes a crowdsourcing feature similar to Waze for reporting accidents, hazards, and distance surveys on a route in Maps when instructed.
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The Apple Maps app has a new “Report” button that lets you tap to report an accident, danger, or distance trap at your location in the Apple Maps app, a feature of the Waze mapping app. offers. This is available directly on the iPhone and in CarPlay.
The iOS 14.5 beta features several new emoji characters, with Apple introducing a heart on fire, heart-repairing, face-blowing, a face with spinning eyes, a face in clouds, along with various options sex for bearded people. There are also new twin emojis that have a new skin tone mix.
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Apple removed the blood from the emoji syringe, updated the emoji Headphone to look more like the AirPods Max rather than a standard set of headphones, and added a helmet to the rock climbing emoji.
The iOS 14.5 beta addresses the green tint issue that some iPhone owners have been suffering from, with Apple confirming that the beta has “optimizations” to help with the issue.
“IOS and iPadOS 14.5 beta 2 include optimization to reduce the appearance of dim glow that can appear at lower brightness levels with a black background,” read Apple’s iOS 14.5 beta notes. For some users, there are improvements thanks to the optimizations, but for others, the issue still seems to be there, so Apple may have more work to do.
IOS and iPadOS 14.5 are adding a new feature for selecting a standard streaming music service for use with Siri. So if you prefer Spotify over Apple Music, for example, you can now select Spotify as the default app for use with Siri and all Siri song requests through Spotify without the need for “on Spotify” will be deleted. terminated iarrtasanSiri requests.
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IOS 14.5 is the update where Apple will start asking developers to adhere to their Transparency Tracking App rules. Going forward, developers need to request and obtain your permission to access your random ad identifier and track your activity across apps and websites.
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Apple has made design tweaks to the Apple News and Podcasts apps, as well as new print and type options in Memories. There are new settings for emergency alerts, a flat loading screen on the iPad, and a ton of other smaller feature tweaks that are explained in our full iOS 14.5 feature guide. Apple says iOS and iPadOS 14.5 will be released in the spring, so we can expect a launch date sometime after March 20th.