Apple’s iOS 14.5 is now available to everyone using an iPhone. You can update your iPhone or iPad by going to the Settings app, choosing General, then choosing Software Update.
Apple Watch Unlock
The biggest change in iOS 14.5 is a new feature that allows you to unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch when you’re wearing a face mask. This feature also requires watch OS 7.4, which is also rolling out to Apple Watch users today. To enable this feature, go to the Settings app on your iPhone, choose Face ID and Passcode, then look for the new “Unlock with Apple Watch” toggle.
After you update and enable this feature, your iPhone will unlock automatically with your Apple Watch the next time you wear a face mask. When your iPhone unlocks, you’ll receive a haptic feedback notification on your Apple Watch telling you that your iPhone was unlocked by the Apple Watch. There is also the option to quickly “Lock iPhone” directly from that Apple Watch notification.
App Tracking Transparency
iOS 14.5 also includes the new App Tracking Transparency feature. This requires that applications ask permission from users before tracking them across other apps and websites. For example, when you open the Facebook app, you’ll see a prompt that says the app would like to track you across other apps and services. There will be two options from which to choose: “Ask App not to Track” or “Allow.”
In the “Privacy” section of the Settings app, you will also be able to see a list of applications that have requested permission to track you and make changes as you see fit.
Apple News updates
iOS 14.5 brings new features to the Apple News application, including an all-new Search tab and a redesigned Apple News+ experience.
Redesigned News+ tab enables Apple News+ subscribers to quickly find, download, and manage magazine and newspaper issues. All-new Search experience that helps you find relevant topics, channels, and stories
Siri improvements
iOS 14.5 also makes several notable improvements to the Siri virtual assistant. First and foremost, there is a new Siri intelligence feature that helps the virtual assistant adapt to your preferring music application. Apple has explained that because there’s no specific setting in iOS where users can configure a “default” music service, this feature is designed specifically as a Siri intelligence feature.
This means that when you ask Siri to play a song for the first time after installing iOS 14.5, Siri will ask you which app you want to use. After tapping one of the options, it will become the default for all future commands. This works for apps like Spotify, Pandora, and Amazon Music.
New emoji
iOS 14.5 also adds over 200 new emoji for iPhone and iPad users. The new emoji come from the Emoji 13.1 specification that was certified back in 2020.
- Support for separate skin tones for each individual in all variations of the couple kissing emoji and couple with heart emoji
- New face emojis, heart emojis, woman with a beard emoji
Podcast app updates
Ahead of Apple Podcasts Subscriptions launching sometime in May, iOS 14.5 makes a handful of other improvements to the Podcasts application.
- Podcasts Show Pages are redesigned to make it easier to start listening
- Option to save and download episodes, automatically adding them to your Library for quick access
- Download behavior and notification settings can be customized on a show-by-show basis
- Top Charts and popular categories in Search help you discover new shows
Other features
- AirTag support
- Horizontal boot screen on the iPad
- Updates to the Music app, including swipe gestures, a lyrics sharing feature, and more
- AirPlay 2 support for Fitness+ workouts
- Waze-like features in Apple Maps
- PS5 / Xbox Series X controller support
- Apple introduces battery recalibration tool for iPhone with iOS 14.5
- Dual SIM support enables 5G connectivity on the line that’s using cellular data on iPhone 12 models
- Apple Music: Share your favorite lyrics using Messages, Facebook, and Instagram Stories, and subscribers can play the snippet in Messages without leaving the conversation
- Apple Music: City charts showcase what’s popular in over 100 cities from all over the world
- Reminders: Ability to sort reminders by Title, Priority, Due Date, or Creation date. New Print option as well.
Bug fixes
Apple also says that iOS 14.5 includes a host of bug fixes and performance improvements.
- Messages at the bottom of the thread may be hidden by the keyboard under certain circumstances
- Deleted messages may still appear in Spotlight search
- Messages may persistently fail to send texts in some threads
- Mail would not load new emails for some users until restarting the device
- Call blocking and identification section may not appear in Phone settings
- iCloud Tabs may not appear in Safari
- iCloud Keychain could be prevented from turning off
- Reminders created via Siri may be unintentionally set for early morning hours
- Optimization to reduce the appearance of a dim glow that may appear at reduced brightness levels with black backgrounds on iPhone 12 models
- AirPods audio routing to incorrect device for Automatic Switching
- AirPods Automatic Switching notifications might be missing or duplicated
Supported devices
iPhone
iPhone 6S
iPhone 6S Plus
iPhone SE (1st generation)
iPhone 7
iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone 8
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone X
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
iPod Touch
iPod Touch (7th generation)