Two weeks after releasing the second developer beta, Apple today seeded the third betas of the impending iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 updates to developers for testing.
The iOS and iPadOS 16 profiles are available for registered developers to download from the Apple Developer Center. Once installed, the betas are made available over the air. Install iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 on a secondary device because this is an early beta that might have issues.
With the release of iOS 16, the Lock Screen has been updated and now enables a higher level of personalization and customization thanks to widgets, redesigned notifications, and customizable fonts and colors. Similar to watch faces, multiple Lock Screens are supported and can be connected to Focus modes.
Focus is simpler to set up and more adjustable than before, and Focus filters are available to remove distracting items from apps. The Messages app now has options for modifying iMessages, sending them again after being sent, and marking them as unread. It also enables SharePlay, which is similar to FaceTime.
The expanded search capabilities of the Mail app come with functions like undo send, schedule send, and follow up, which let you set a reminder to check in on an email if you haven’t heard back. Apple is trying to replace passwords with Passkeys, a more biometrically secure method of logging into accounts, and Safari allows shared tab groups.
Users can more quickly exchange images with family members via iCloud Photo Library, and video can feature Live Text. In Visual Lookup, there is a useful new tool for quickly removing the topic from a background.
The Home app has been completely redesigned with a new style, Maps now enables multi-stop routing, Apple Pay Later allows you to split up purchase payments, and dictation has been improved. For more Mac-like multitasking on the iPad, the update introduces a new Stage Manager tool, although it’s only available on M1 iPads.
A complete list of all the new features in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 is available in our dedicated roundup, along with a ton of additional new features.