Which iOS 16 features aren’t available for older iPhones?

While iOS 16 was confirmed to launch on September 12, bringing a redesigned Lock Screen, better safety features and other exciting goodies, some older iPhones won't have access to certain improvements.

It makes sense for the most part - the chips inside some iPhones will simply struggle with what's available in the latest iOS version, while some are missing the hardware required to make use of certain features, such as better Portrait photos for example.

As iOS 16 supports iPhone 8 and iPhone SE 2 and above, you'll be able to create your own lock screens with no issues, but you may find that some image editing features will be absent.

With this in mind, we've rounded up what's not available for certain iPhones, which may tempt you to start looking at the iPhone 14 or the iPhone 13.

iPhone with a notch

Battery icon

An image showing the battery percentage in the iOS 16 beta

(Image credit: MacRumors)

This is a unique omission from certain iPhones, as it only involves any iPhone that features a notch, due to the reduced space it gives to the top of the display.

Since the debut of the iPhone X and the notch in 2017, the only way to view your battery percentage was through Control Center, by swiping down from the top-right corner.

However, in iOS 16, there's a new setting that enables the number to show from within the battery symbol.

iPhone 8 and up

Joy Con support

A neon red Joy-Con on a table in the foreground, with a Nintendo Switch screen and blue Joy-Con lying on the table in the background, slightly out of focus

(Image credit: Enrique Vidal Flores via Unsplash)

If you've got some spare Nintendo Joy Cons laying around, you can now pair them to your iPhone for games that support controllers.

iPhone XS and up

Lift subject from background

iOS 16 Lift subject from background

(Image credit: Apple)

Arguably another feature that's as important as the redesigned lock screen in iOS 16, allowing you to hold down a subject in a photo, and you can drag it to another app.

Editing a photo with this feature can be a big time saver if you only need your pet to use in another image for example, but it's only available for owners with an iPhone XS and above.

Dictation emojis

iOS 15.4 Emoji

(Image credit: TechRadar)

A straightforward feature - if you need to insert an emoji with your voice, in iOS 16 it's finally possible, but only with an iPhone XS and above.

iPhone 11 and up

Live Captions

FaceTime

(Image credit: Apple)

A new accessibility feature enables live captions on a FaceTime call, so someone with hearing impairments will be able to read what the recipient is saying to them.

iPhone 12 and up

Detections

Accessibility on iOS

(Image credit: Apple)

Another new accessibility feature where the LIDAR sensor is used in an iPhone 12 Pro and above, this is where it will scan and detect objects and people for those with visual impairments.

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iOS 16 launch live blog – when is it out, what does it have?

You've most likely been following the news of iOS 16 since it was announced back in June at WWDC 2022, and later today the latest update for your iPhone will be available, as long as you have an iPhone 8 and above.

However, as you may be waiting for the Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro if you've already pre-ordered, iOS 16 will already give your lock screen a refresh for starters.

With this in mind, we'll be live throughout the day to keep track of when the latest update will arrive, and which apps may be taking advantage of iOS 16 too.

Today’s best iPhone 14 deals:

Hello, and welcome to the live blog of iOS 16's launch. I'm Daryl, Software Writer at TechRadar, and I'll be keeping you up to date throughout the day on iOS 16 and more.

iOS 16 Lock Screen

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

If anything, the lock screen is one of the biggest changes in iOS in recent years. Our US Editor in Chief Lance Ulanoff spoke to Apple SVP of Engineering Craig Federighi back in June all about it.

Selfie on iPhone 8 Plus

(Image credit: Future)

While iOS 16 will run on an iPhone 8 and above, that doesn't mean you'll get all the features available to someone on an iPhone 14.

With this in mind, I've written up exactly what won't be available on certain iPhones running iOS 16.

Obscura 3 widget on iOS 16

(Image credit: Obscura)

If you've used Obscura 3 lately, we've got good news for you once iOS 16 arrives. 

While it's available on the App Store for $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$7.99, a new update is releasing very soon which will bring a widget to the redesigned lock screen, allowing you to launch the app in a much faster fashion.

Twitter user FloWritesCode sent this to us:

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We couldn't agree more. While I still think it's slightly odd to have no way to change the flashlight and camera icons on the lock screen, it's great to have alternative ways to open other apps, or have glanceable information.

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Twitter Circle can finally help me tweet Spice Girls facts to a chosen few

Twitter has switched on a feature called Circle for all of its users, allowing you to tweet to up to 150 followers without feeling the shame of everyone finding out some facts that may be best kept to yourself.

We've all most likely been in a situation where we want to share some content that only a select few will understand – it's similar to a private joke that you and your partner could only laugh at. Twitter Circle is exactly that, which has been in testing since May.

While Elon Musk is relentlessly finding ways to get out of his deal to buy the company, it hasn't stopped the team at Twitter to look at ways to make tweeting easier for its users.

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Slowly rolling out to everyone on Android and iOS, it's a simple affair to create a Twitter Circle. Regardless of whether someone follows you or not, you can add anyone into the circle when you're about to compose a tweet, by pressing the 'Everyone' button.

The Circle option should appear if it hasn't already, and you can start adding those chosen users to read your guilty pleasures.

Already this is a feature that I know I'll be using. In the past I've been tweeting plenty of Sonic facts, Simpsons memes or Spice Girls facts to my followers, whether they want to read it on their Twitter timeline or not. But now I can treat a certain group with all of these.

Did you know that the third album from the Spice Girls was allegedly going to be a live album of previous and new songs for 1999 before Geri 'Ginger Spice' Halliwell left the group? Now you do – expect that and more to be in my Twitter Circle soon.

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Facebook update finally lets you create your own feeds on iOS and Android

Meta has announced an update to its Facebook app on iOS and Android, where a feeds tab will appear at the top of the app, allowing you to filter the feed for your friends, your Pages, or anything else.

As confirmed in a post by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, you can also add certain friends and pages to a new 'Favorites' list, allowing you to cut back from the memes and other bits of content you find yourself scrolling through subconsciously.

Whether you're on iOS or Android, you'll see this tab at the top or the bottom of the app where you can create these lists. There's also a 'Home' list in this tab, which shows you an overview of the latest posts when you launch the app.

This looks as though it's another concerted effort to give users on Facebook more control over what they see on the social platform, and it's further proof of Meta doubling down on helping users view what they want.


Analysis: Giving you more control over what you see

Friend Feed in tabs on Facebook app

(Image credit: Meta)

Customization in Facebook's app has been something that's been difficult to do. For too long, Meta has believed that users should trust its algorithm to curate the content it thinks you would like to see.

Recently, there have been ways to view your feed with the latest posts, or top posts, but that's all you've been able to do. With these new tabs, it's encouraging to see that there's more power being given to users to essentially create their own feeds, but Meta has made it clear that there will be ads in these regardless.

But after so long of users wanting these features, it may be a small price to pay to catch up with your friends in an easier-to-read feed.

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‘Move to iOS’ can now migrate your entire WhatsApp history from Android to iPhone

After being in testing, the ability to transfer your full WhatsApp chat history from an Android phone to an iPhone is available in an update to Apple's Move to iOS app.

This means that all of your photos, videos, voice messages, and chat history since you installed WhatsApp can now be moved over, alongside being able to do the same vice-versa.

It's a feature that's been long-requested by users, as before, you would have had to manually transfer your content to an iPhone, or use a third-party app on a laptop. However, Apple and Meta have clearly found a way to make this work on Move to iOS, free to download on the Google Play Store. It's going to mean much less of a headache when someone wants to switch from an iPhone to Android, or vice versa.


Analysis: A feature long awaited

WhatsApp

(Image credit: Pexels/Anton)

In what almost feels like another life, I used to work at a phone store where I'd help to set up and transfer customers' data from their old phones to a new one, and WhatsApp was always a challenge to make sure everything transferred from one device to the other.

There were times when I'd have to transfer individual files from one Android device to another through Bluetooth, or if it was from Android to iOS, I'd try to transfer the media, but admit defeat that transferring the chat history was next to impossible.

Thanks to this update for Move to iOS, that's no longer a problem. It's now just an additional step in the app when you're transferring your contacts and other personal data.

WhatsApp has stated in a post that you must have your Android phone updated to version 5 at least, and your new iPhone at iOS 15.5, alongside the latest WhatsApp version on your Android device.

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iOS 16 beta 2 arrives with more improvements for Messages and backups

Apple released updates to the developer betas of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9 this week (June 22), where there's been some bug fixes and refinements for the new features it announced at WWDC.

While Stage Manager in iPadOS 16 has seen some improvements, by way of making it easier to resize windows, and being able to hide the dock, the Messages app is taking older software versions into account when editing messages.

There'll be two messages sent - one being the original, and the other the newly edited message.

There's also the ability to create backups over iCloud using your cellular data plan, but as other users are awaiting the public beta release of iOS 16 (along with other platform releases), we suspect the wait won't be much longer.


Analysis: when could iOS 16 public beta arrive?

iOS 16 Lock Screen

(Image credit: Apple)

Beta releases from Apple usually arrive two-three weeks after a previous version, whether that's a minor release such as iOS 15.6, or the tentpole releases of iOS 16.

At the time of writing, it's been two weeks since WWDC and when the first developer betas arrived. We usually see the public betas show up when beta 3 does. By then, there'll be a bunch of feedback given by developers who have been using the earlier releases, and all that has been applied to the features across the new software.

For example, WWDC 2021 was June 7, with the public beta arriving three weeks later, earlier than Apple's date of July. While the iOS 14 public beta arrived on July 8, just under three weeks after WWDC 2020 was hosted remotely.

This is why we suspect the public beta of iOS 16 and other updates will arrive around the week beginning July 4. That way, they're released after the federal holiday break, and users can get into how the new updates will benefit them, albeit with caution.

Regardless, these are still early, in-development versions of what will be on the majority of iPhones by the time 2022 wraps up. So be aware that you may encounter bugs and other issues if you do decide to install the public betas...when they arrive.

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Don’t do what I did and leave an iPhone out in the sun

I live in the United Kingdom, and when a heatwave arrives, it can get surprisingly hot and humid for a country that's not known for its heat, and my iPhone bore the brunt of this recently.

The small garden at my house gets the bulk of the sun across the day, so there's constant heat and sunshine as I listen to podcasts or scroll through Twitter or TikTok.

However, as I was working on my MacBook Pro in the garden, I had forgotten that my iPhone was taking the full force of the sun on the glass table beside me, and the music suddenly stopped. I thought I was getting a call, and it wasn't until I held the phone that the temperature warning was shown.

Granted, it's not just an iPhone that can suffer under extreme heat - there are Android devices and Windows laptops that also need to be operated under a cooler temperature. But when moments like these happen, there's a useful method to keep in mind to save the sun from damaging your electronics - something that I'll be doing next time.

How to keep your device cool like I didn't

Man staring into the sun

(Image credit: NASA)

Apple states that a good temperature for an iPhone is around 32° to 95° Fahrenheit / 0° - 35° Celsius. It's safe to assume that my iPhone was warm already due to the apps I was using at the time, and the heat from the sun only made this worse for the device.

First of all, don't do what I did and suddenly place it on a shelf in the fridge. While this will certainly cool the device, it could take it too far in the opposite direction, or lead to condensation and water vapor build up inside.

Instead, turn off the device and take it out of a case if it's in one. Put it in a cool area that's got plenty of airflow, and simply wait.

We use our smartphones every day in some way, and while we manage them through their software to keep apps working well, for example, it also helps to keep them at the right temperature.

While we're currently in warmer weather in the UK, across the world there are other places that will be heading towards that as the months pass. So make sure you keep your device at a cool temperature, and never put it in the fridge as I did.

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Apple’s heard your screams: iOS 16 will complete captchas for you

If you've come across a captcha that's stopped you from logging in to your email or another site, iOS 16 will be able to do this for you with some additional code for servers hosting websites and apps.

If you're not familiar, captchas are small popups that appear when you log in to a website. It may ask you once or twice to select six boats from nine pictures, and if you pass, you're allowed into your account. But these have annoyed many people over the years, mainly due to it being an overly complex problem that's seen as overkill to verify an account.

According to a developer video from Apple, iOS 16 is getting another small feature that can get rid of these frustrations on your iPhone. It also makes a big impact for those with accessibility needs, as this feature will let them into their account without having to solve a puzzle if they have hearing or visual impairments.

Apple is touting Private Access Tokens for this feature, which will be sent to the server of the website as a way of authentication, letting the site know that the user has passed a security check thanks to iCloud. While you can enable this by going to Settings > AppleID > Privacy and Security > Automatic Verification, Apple hasn't confirmed whether this will be coming to macOS Ventura.


Analysis: One small useful feature at a time

iOS 16 captcha replacement details

(Image credit: Apple)

Captchas are part of a legacy that needs to disappear forever on the internet. Other examples such as figuring out a maths problem, or placing a monkey's arm the correct way, are other ridiculous security methods that don't make sense to anyone.

Take banking apps for example. For some purchases, you'll need to log in to your banking app to approve a payment, then go back to the shopping app or site in question to complete the order. There's no captcha, and it just uses your face or finger (or PIN) to authenticate the purchase.

This is Apple's take on what banking apps are already doing, and it's a step in the right direction. However, what could make this a slam-dunk for users is that the code can be applied to a server that hosts a bunch of websites, such as Cloudflare and Fastly. This means that the addition of this feature could apply to all of the sites a server hosts in one swoop, hastening the decline of captchas.

Again, this is another small feature from iOS 16 that's going to make a big difference to many, especially those with visual impairments, and it makes us wonder what else could be coming from Apple to get rid of more irritants that we come across on the web.

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iOS 16 tells you what your cash is worth around the world without a Google search

Users are still uncovering little tweaks to the latest iPhone update in iOS 16, with easier ways to find out bits of information, such as currency, temperature, being some recent finds.

According to Federico Vittici, you can drop in a temperature or currency value and an underline will appear in a message or a calendar entry. If you press on this, other types of currencies or temperatures will appear to help save you time if you need to quickly convert them.

It adds weight to Apple's claims that there's a focus on productivity and personalization this year, and it's the small features that will go a long way for many users.


Analysis: Letting the little features make a big impact

Compared to the tentpole features for certain updates, the smaller features that aren't mentioned can make a big difference, and this is just one example from Apple across the years.

Take the trackpad feature that debuted in iOS 10, for example. Press down on the keyboard in an iPhone, and it transforms into a mouse that would enable you to move the cursor to correct misspelled words.

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This conversion feature is yet another little tool that will help a lot of users. Before this, you would have to rely on other apps or a query on Google or DuckDuckGo that would give you the answer.

Instead, it's cutting down the steps to bring you the information right away, and from within the app you're using on your iPhone.

Once the public beta arrives in July, which will allow more users to try out iOS 16, we may see similar features arrive, which will hopefully continue to make our iPhones easier to use.

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Sorry Apple, this DIY iPhone stand will finally give me a great webcam for my Mac

Unfortunately, Apple's webcams on its Mac computers have been a running joke in recent years due to their low quality, but a DIY stand looks to finally improve this once macOS Ventura is released.

Though we've seen improvements in the front cameras in Apple's iPhones in recent years, with features like filters, Portrait mode and more added, the lower quality on the Mac has remained the same.

This was put to the forefront when its Studio Display was released in March. While a software update tried to fix the bugs of webcam streams being blurry, it didn't seem to improve the quality much.

However, there's a new 3D-printed stand that can enable Continuity Camera in macOS Ventura, which uses your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac, and I can't wait to use it for my MacBook Pro.

Not long to wait

Joining a call through FaceTime links in macOS 12 Monterey

(Image credit: Apple)

While I've been loving using a Mac again after going iPad-only for several years, one takeaway from this change is how much of a step-down the webcam in the Mac is, compared to the FaceTime camera in the iPad Pro.

If I was in a Zoom or Skype call for example, the recipient would see me in high-quality, even with filters applied. But on the Mac, everything looks grainy, and while I thought it may be because the lens was smudged, I've since conceded that it's purely down to the webcam itself.

Which is why I'm looking forward to Continuity Camera in macOS Ventura. This one feature makes me look forward to the macOS update, as it lets me snap my iPhone to the back of the MacBook Pro, and use it for those important video calls each week.

But Jonathan Wight has already solved the issue of making us wonder when the accessory for clamping the iPhone to the Mac will arrive, thanks to his 3D-printed solution.

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I don't have a 3D printer, but there are some friends who do own one. With the public beta arriving in July according to Apple, it's tempting to install macOS Ventura, have the above printed out for me, and see how well the feature works.

On one hand, the new feature is an admission by Apple that they can't improve the Mac webcams fast enough, so this is the next best thing. But on the other hand, your iPhone has another use while you're working on your Mac other than charging.

Regardless of what the reasoning was behind Continuity Camera, it's one feature I'm looking forward to trying out, almost as much as the new lock screen in iOS 16. But do keep in mind, that this will only work with iPhone models with MagSafe, which allows peripherals to magnetically connect to the smartphone to charge, become a holder, and now, a camera.

If you're wanting to try this out and you have an older iPhone, there are some good deals for an iPhone 13 to make sure you're ready for Continuity Camera once macOS Ventura arrives later this year.

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iPadOS 16 is a brilliant update… but only on the latest iPads?

At Apple's WWDC conference on June 6, iPadOS 16 was announced with a focus on desktop-class features, something that users have been asking for, for years with the iPad.

The main feature from this was Stage Manager, which enables an iPad to use up to four apps at once, and you can resize these apps in any size you want, finally bringing windowed apps to the tablet.

Another benefit to this also enables external display support, so you can use up to eight apps at once, with four on each display, and using the left pane in Stage Manager, you can easily switch between the apps you want to focus on.

However, as good as this feature sounds, the catch to this is that it's only available on iPads with the M1 chip, except for the newest iPad mini.

M1 or bust?

Since the M1 iPad Pro was announced in April 2021, users were confused as to, why. Why was an Apple Silicon chip that was available in the Mac, coming over to the tablet when the software barely took advantage of it?

Some were hoping for WWDC in 2021 to take advantage of the M1 iPad Pro, but the most significant change in iPadOS 15 was widgets on the home screen.

As the months passed, the iPad Air and iPad mini would also gain the M1 chip, and users were wondering if there was any point to this, when the software clearly wasn't taking advantage of what the chip offers.

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But we got our answer with iPadOS 16, as it clearly enables Stage Manager to elevate the tablet into a machine that can extend to another display, and use the new multitasking features.

However, the other side of this brings issues to those who have an iPad without an M1 chip inside.

If you have an iPad Air (5th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), or iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation), you can use Stage Manager, but if you don't, you're still restricted to the multitasking that we've had since iPadOS 13.

Alongside this, if you've recently bought an iPad mini with the M1 chip, you still don't reap the benefits of Stage Manager, but due to its 8.1-inch screen, it's understandable, but only just.

While this does extend the ability of the iPad, the feature is more than capable of being able to work on earlier iPad Pro models, such as the 2018 redesign that brought FaceID and an all-screen look to the line.

Limiting this to the latest iPads would mean that users will need to consider what they use their tablet for, and whether Stage Manager is the deal-breaker in them upgrading to a newer iPad, or waiting to see if Apple concedes and allows the feature to be used on some older models.

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macOS 13 Ventura announced: new features, everything you need to know

At WWDC 2022, Apple announced macOS 13  Ventura, its newest update to the Mac, and the successor to macOS 12 Monterey.

Alongside the M2 chip becoming official, Apple confirmed that macOS 13 Ventura is coming in late 2022, with a developer beta available to download from June 6, alongside a public beta arriving in July.

The weather app moves over to macOS alongside iPadOS 16, with a redesigned System Preferences, a new way of multitasking thanks to Stage Manager, and more.

macoS 13: Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The latest big update for macOS
  • When does it come out? Late 2022, public beta arrives in July
  • How much does it cost? It's free

Supported Macs

macOS Ventura supported Macs

(Image credit: Apple)

More Macs are being restricted to older versions of macOS, with Ventura being able to be used on Macs that were released from 2017 onwards.

macOS 13 Features

macOS Ventura System Preferences

(Image credit: TechRadar)

System Preferences finally sees a redesign for the first time on the Mac, making it easier to find those settings when you need to.

Stage Manager is an evolution of Continuity and multitasking that's also on iPadOS 16, which allows you to sort apps into groups, which can be accessed on the left of the desktop.

You can drag and drop files in a much easier way here too, by going to this sidebar and the app will appear in the center, making it easier for you to drag it into a specific place in the app.

Photos see some improvements, with the ability to use Apple Music in Photo Memories, where you can add a track into one of these albums instead.

Weather and Clock comes to macOS

Apps that have been on iOS since the start, are arriving on macOS Ventura. However, the redesigned Weather app is the focus here, first arriving in iOS 15.

The same app has moved over to Ventura and iPadOS 16, with the same weather animations and useful information that can now be viewed on your Mac.

Alongside this, you can ask Siri to set alarms for the Clocks app, or set one yourself. There's also new widgets for both that you can add to the sidebar in macOS.

Accessibility

Alongside the previously announced features of door detection and live captions in a FaceTime call, Ventura brings some new accessibility features, such as 'buddy controller'. This will allow a user to use multiple controllers as one, making it easier to access the buttons for certain games.

Voice Control also sees improvements in teaching it new words by spelling them out loud. macOS Ventura will listen to this, and store it in its dictionary for future use.

There's also typing out live captions for a FaceTime call, or a third-party conferencing app on the Mac. This can make it easier to help communicate over a call in Ventura.

Mail

Screenshots from WWDC 2022

(Image credit: Future)

Inspired by Messages in iOS 16, you can choose to have some emails remind you again in an hour, to help with your workflow.

Scheduled send finally arrives, alongside follow-up replies, mirroring features found in Google's mail service.

Search is also seeing big improvements in Mail, with instant results from one letter being inputted.

Safari

WWDC screenshot

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Apple's web browser is seeing its tab groups improved, with Shared Tab Groups enabling your friends and family to view your tabs, or add and remove tabs. This could be useful if you're shopping for a holiday or a keyboard for example.

Passkeys is coming to individual websites and apps, where you can sign in to your password manager using your iPhone on a device that's not yours.

There's also website settings that can sync across your Apple devices, where page zooming and automatic Reader view settings will also show on your iPhone for that specific web page if you choose to. 

Freeform

WWDC screenshot

(Image credit: TechRadar)

This is a new app that was teased by Apple as launching later this year, where you can brainstorm ideas with other invited users on a blank canvas, which will work across a Mac, an iPad and an iPhone.

You can insert images, PDF files, videos and also preview what you're going to send, to make sure that your content is relevant to the topic at hand.

Gaming

Screenshots from WWDC 2022

(Image credit: Future)

A surprise from Apple, where Metal, its graphics technology for Macs and Apple Silicon, arrives with its third version, with it seeing the arrival of ray-tracing to the Mac, called MetalFX Upscaling.

This means support for games, such as No Mans Sky, Resident Evil Village, and more that are coming to the Mac in late 2022.

Camera Continuity

Screenshots from WWDC 2022

(Image credit: Future)

Sherlocking an app we spoke of in May, you can use your iPhone as a camera for your Mac in Ventura.

Using an accessory, you can place your iPhone on the top of your Mac, and it will automatically detect the new camera, allowing you to use it with FaceTime.

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iOS 16 is coming soon – release date, new features and supported devices

Apple unveiled iOS 16 at WWDC 2022 back in June - the latest operating system for iPhone and the successor to iOS 15, but the release date of September 12 was confirmed at Apple's 'Far Out' event on September 7.

It's a release that brings improvements to many apps, from a redesigned Home app for your smart appliances to better privacy features, and a big focus on the lock screen, with new fonts, colors and themes to choose from.

There's also satellite calling coming to the iPhone 14 models, a feature coming in November.

The public beta arrived on July 11, with the finished version arriving the same week as iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, for iPhone 8 devices and above.

iOS 16: Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The next big update for iOS
  • When does it come out? September 12
  • How much does it cost? It's free
  • Which phones are supported? Anyone with an iPhone 8 and newer will be able to update to iOS 16, which means if you have an iPhone 7 or older you're out of luck.

iOS 16 Latest Updates

September 7: Apple's 'Far Out' event confirmed that iOS 16 arrives on September 12.

July 11: The public beta is available to download for anyone with an iPhone 8 and above. 

June 14: Will lossless audio come to the AirPods Pro 2? The technological groundwork ought to be in iOS 16, and so far, no one has stumbled across any evidence of it.

June 13: In an exclusive interview with TechRadar, Apple's Craig Federighi and VP of Design Alan Dye take us inside Apple's remake of the Lock Screen -- an 'act of love,' Federighi said. 

June 11: iOS 16 will be a bumper release this time, with many improvements to features across the operating system, on a scale arguably not seen since iOS 8. Here are the 7 best new features in iOS 16.

June 7: Support for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and Joy-Cons have been discovered in the latest iOS 16 developer beta. With a public beta near, you can soon try Nintendo's controllers on your iPhone for yourself.

More of the latest iOS 16 tidbits ▼

June 7: Which phones support iOS 16? TechRadar has a complete list of phones compatible with the new OS.

June 7: iOS 16 will bring fundamental changes to the Messages app. Editing and deleting messages after you sent them is now a thing -- meaning autocorrect is now dead.

May 30:  As we get nearer to WWDC, rumors suggest iOS 16 will get a few significant new features, including improvements to your iPhone's lock screen. It could be the most radical iPhone update in years.

May 15: It’s increasingly sounding like iOS 16 will include new apps and major changes, with the latest leak pointing to new ways of interacting with widgets, and even some new Apple apps.

iOS 16 Release Date

Apple confirmed at its 'Far Out' on September 7, where it announced the iPhone 14, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra and AirPods Pro 2, that iOS 16 arrives to iPhone 8 devices and above on September 12.

iOS 16 Features

iOS 16 Overview

(Image credit: TechRadar)

There are all sorts of new and improved features coming with iOS 16, and we've detailed the key ones below.

Customizable lock screens

Various aspects of iOS 16 shown on iPhones

(Image credit: Apple)

With iOS 16, you'll be able to customize your lock screen by tapping in any area to change the text font and colors.

Complications (which are essentially widgets) can also be enabled here, a feature lifted from the Apple Watch. You'll be able to add three of these to your lock screen, while the Now Playing screen is being moved towards the bottom for easier access with your thumb.

You won't be limited to just one lock screen either. Similar to creating a watch face on your Apple Watch, you can swipe between different lock screens, so you can have access to different widgets based on your needs.

Focus

Screenshots showing Focus on iOS 16

Tim Cook on stage at WWDC  (Image credit: Apple)

Focus mode is also getting some updates, and some of these tie into the lock screen, as the lock screen that's shown can automatically be switched based on the Focus profile you have.

For example, a 'Meeting' focus profile could make your lock screen change wallpaper and offer a row of widgets showing details of that event.

You can also use 'Focus Filters' to block out tabs in Safari, accounts in Mail, events in Calendar, and more, to help you manage your workflow.

Notifications

WWDC 2022

(Image credit: Apple)

Notifications are also getting improvements, with 'Live Activities', which are essentially pinned widget-like notifications that allow you to check the score of a game, track the progress of a food delivery, and more.

Notifications also have a new design, aimed at making them visually pop, and feature new animations - rolling in from the bottom of the lock screen so they're easy to see at a glance while staying out of the way.

And you can choose to view notifications in an expanded list view, a stacked view, or a hidden view.

Messages

WWDC 2022

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple has added several new features to Messages. 'Undo send' has arrived for one, allowing you to delete a message for up to 15 minutes after you've sent it – for example if you realize you've sent it to the wrong person. Similarly, you can also edit messages in the first 15 minutes. Note though that this only works for iPhone to iPhone messages.

SharePlay is also coming to the app, so you can play a movie in Disney Plus for example, and share it with someone via Messages.

Dictation has also been improved, as it now lets users move fluidly between voice and touch inputs, so you can type to add text or move the cursor without having to stop Dictation.

You can also recover messages up to 30 days after deleting them, send an invitation to collaborate on a project in Messages, and get alerts when someone makes an edit in a collaboration.

Accessibility

Hinted at by Apple in May, several new accessibility features are heading to iOS 16, such as door detection, which helps you locate doors, read signs around them, and get instructions for opening them.

There's also the option to view live captions in a FaceTime call, control your Apple Watch from your iPhone, hang up phone calls with Siri, and more.

Live text is seeing improvements as well – you can copy and paste text in video, alongside being able to copy and translate text.

Wallet

A screenshot showing Wallet on iOS 16

(Image credit: Apple)

Wallet is seeing privacy improvements, with in-app ID verification being enabled for third-party apps.

Tap to pay on iPhone is also arriving for iOS 16, removing the need for any point of sale terminals. Plus, you can view receipts and track orders directly from Wallet.

There's also Apple Pay Later, which splits purchases into four interest-free payments spread over six weeks, and Order Tracking, which lets you see the latest information on your Apple Pay orders.

Maps

WWDC 2022

(Image credit: Apple)

Maps will finally enable you to store recent trips in the app, and you can send them from a Mac or iPad device.

You can also add multiple stops on a route, and while on a journey you can ask Siri to add another destination, hands-free, in case another errand pops up, while 'Look Around', Apple's take on Google Street View, is being opened up to third-party apps.

Plus, you can see transit fares, and - without leaving Maps - you can add transit cards to Wallet, replenish your card, and see low balances.

Sports

iOS 16 is seeing a big push on sports, with Apple News getting a new My Sports section to let you view schedules, standings and scores for your favorite teams. 

Live updates for sporting events can also be added to the lock screen, so if you're not able to tune in you'll still be kept up to date with the score.

Family Sharing

Screenshots showing Family Sharing on iOS 16

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple's Family Sharing feature enables you and your family to share an account, for example to view photos and videos, and so that parents can approve purchases made by minors.

In iOS 16, it will easier for parents to set age-appropriate restrictions on content, and parents or guardians will be able to respond to Screen Time requests in Messages.

A quick start feature for iPad will let you sync settings that you've configured on your iPhone to an iPad simply by moving your phone close to the tablet, and there's also a Family Checklist feature, making it easier for you to be confident that all of the content on an iPhone is secure and child-safe.

The ability to share photos and videos over iCloud has been widely requested, and iCloud Shared Photo Library will allow up to six people to share a library. Users will be able to send photos to the Shared Library using a new toggle in the Camera app, and will receive intelligent suggestions to share photos that include other users of a shared library.

Safety Check

WWDC 2022

(Image credit: Apple)

A new privacy tool called Safety Check has been introduced to help those at risk from violence or harassment by partners.

Users can quickly revoke all access to Messages and other accounts that they’ve granted to a partner, and an emergency reset feature helps users to easily sign out of iCloud on all their other devices, reset privacy permissions, and limit messaging to just the device in their hand. Users can also stop sharing their location with this tool.

It also lets you generally check and manage which people and apps you've given access to your information.

Home App is redesigned

A screenshot showing the Home app on iOS 16

(Image credit: Apple)

In conjunction with the incoming new Matter smart home standard, the Home app is getting a redesign to make it easier to manage your smart appliances and rooms.

You'll be able to see all your rooms in a single view, alongside categories for lights, climate, security and more. You can tap on a category to see more detailed status information, and view up to four security cameras at once.

You can also add smart home widgets to the lock screen, allowing you to view the status of your home at a glance, and quickly access smart home controls.

Spatial Audio

You can use your iPhone's TrueDepth Camera to create a personal Spatial Audio profile for your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, for what Apple calls "an even more precise and immersive listening experience".

Fitness

Screenshot from Apple's WWDC 2022 keynote

(Image credit: Future)

Apple's Fitness app is being made available to all iPhone users, even if they don't have an Apple Watch to help them track their fitness. The app will use the motion sensors of your iPhone along with step and distance tracking, and workouts from third-party apps, to help you achieve your daily Move goal and estimate your calorie burn.

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iOS 16 could be the most radical iPhone update in years

As we get nearer to WWDC, rumors are starting to appear with one of Apple's upcoming updates, with iOS 16 looking to get a few significant new features, including improvements to your iPhone's lock screen.

According to Mark Gurman's 'Power On' newsletter (paywalled), there's going to be further improvements to notifications, Messages and Health apps, alongside some help with iPad multitasking.

However, the significant takeaway here is the lock screen seeing a redesign. Since the debut of iOS in 2007, we haven't seen major changes to this, except for a Camera shortcut and a 'Today' notification where it gives you a brief overview of your day. Yet we may see interactive widgets soon, alongside a further benefit for iPhone 14 users, where an always-on screen will be able to constantly show notifications, thanks to a new display.

As iOS 15 was arguably a release that stepped back from major features and focused on existing ones, it looks as though iOS 16 is going to go full steam ahead in new features that are going to change how you manage your content.


Analysis: Lock screen has been overdue for a facelift

Reminders iOS Widgets

(Image credit: Apple)

Granted, seeing further improvements to Messages and Health will be welcome, although it would be good to see Health appear as its own app on iPad and Apple Watch.

Multitasking on iPad has clearly been a tough nut to crack by Apple, as we've seen up to three different ways in managing three windows, but the iPhone's lock screen is something that's been left by the wayside.

While notifications have been redesigned and improved with iOS 12, and a 'Today' view was added with iOS 15 where it would show you the day's weather, there's not been anything substantial for the lock screen itself.

However, with widgets redesigning our iOS home screens, there's an opportunity for the lock screen to see the same level of change with widgets and other aspects. Notifications that look similar on an Apple Watch, which can show even when the iPhone 14 is in low-power mode, would be a useful addition.

Regardless, it looks as though almost any user that will be able to run iOS 16 will be able to see a big upgrade even before they've accessed their home screen.

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Facebook’s dark mode feature has disappeared for some people – but why?

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Facebook has had dark mode available as an option for desktop, iOS and Android users since 2020, but some users are posting that they're now unable to switch the feature on.

The color scheme can be more manageable on the eyes when scrolling through your newsfeed or a set of videos, especially at night.

Other apps from Meta have also benefited from dark modes such as Instagram and WhatsApp, but Facebook seems to switch the feature off from time to time.

We've reached out to Facebook for comment to find out why it's been switched off for certain users.

How to check if you have dark mode

Facebook dark mode in iOS

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Dark mode can be difficult to find on iOS or Android, as it's not as visible as other features. On the main screen, go to the 'Menu' icon on the navigation bar, then Settings & Privacy, scroll down to Preferences, and Dark Mode should be there.

Facebook dark mode on desktop

(Image credit: TechRadar)

However, for the desktop it's an easier affair by simply going to the arrow on the top right, selecting 'Display and Accessibility', and switching on dark mode.

There hasn't been an explanation from Meta as to why it's decided to switch off the feature for some, nor is there a reason regardless to do it. It's a useful feature, and it won't be a strain on the company or the apps it offers, so the deactivation is a baffling decision.

For the time being, we recommend removing the app from your Android or iOS device, reinstalling it, and see whether that makes dark mode return as an option.

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