Apple just released iOS 14.2 for iPhone, which introduces multiple fun new features and changes. There are 117 new emoji, such as a seal, ninja, bubble tea, and smiling face with tear. Eight new wallpapers can also be found, each containing a light and dark mode variant. HomePod's new Intercom feature appears too. And those are just a few of the things to look out for.
The release came just before 10 a.m. PDT on Thursday, Nov. 5, six days after the iOS 14.2 RC (release candidate), which Apple pushed out to iOS developers and public beta testers. An RC, formally known as a GM (golden master), is the same version as the official update but released to beta testers ahead of time to identify any potential bugs or issues.
- Don't Miss: 12 New Features & Changes in iOS 14.2 for iPhone
iOS 14.2 includes the following improvements for your iPhone:
- Over 100 new emoji, including animals, food, faces, household objects, musical instruments, gender-inclusive emoji, and more
- Eight new wallpapers in both light and dark mode versions
- Magnifier can detect people nearby, and report their distance using the LiDAR sensor included in iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max
- Support for iPhone 12 Leather Sleeve with MagSafe
- Optimized battery charging for AirPods to slow the rate of battery aging by reducing the time your AirPods spends fully charged
- Headphone audio level notifications to alert you when audio level could impact your hearing
- New AirPlay controls to stream entertainment throughout your home
- Intercom support with HomePod and HomePod mini using iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and CarPlay
- Ability to connect HomePod to Apple TV 4K for stereo, surround sound, and Dolby Atmos audio
- Option to provide statistics about Exposure Notifications, without identifying you, to participating Public Health Authorities
This release also fixes the following issues:
- Apps could be out of order on the Home Screen dock
- Camera viewfinder may appear black when launched
- The keyboard on the Lock Screen could miss touches when trying to enter the passcode
- Reminders could default to times in the past
- Photos widget may not display content
- Weather widget could display the high temperature in Celsius when set to Fahrenheit
- Next-hour precipitation chart description in Weather could incorrectly indicate when precipitation stops
- Voice Memos recordings are interrupted by incoming calls
- The screen could be black during Netflix video playback
- Apple Cash could fail to send or receive money when asked via Siri
- Apple Watch app may unexpectedly close when opened
- Workout GPS routes or Health data are prevented from syncing between Apple Watch and iPhone for some users
- Audio is incorrectly labeled as "Not Playing" in the CarPlay Dashboard
- Devices could be prevented from charging wirelessly
- Exposure Notifications is disabled when restoring iPhone from iCloud Backup or transferring data to a new iPhone using iPhone Migration
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: support.apple.com/kb/HT201222
The company also released iOS 12.4.9 for older iPhone models that can't run iOS 13 or iOS 14. Namely, those would be the iPhone 5S, 6, and 6 Plus, as well as the iPod touch (6th generation), iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, and iPad Air. This update doesn't include any of the above new features and changes but does add security patches.
How to Update Your iPhone to the Latest Version of iOS
To run iOS 14.2, your iPhone needs to be compatible with iOS 14. If so, open Settings –> General –> Software Updates, then follow the on-screen instructions to download and install iOS 14.2. Remember, your iPhone needs to be charged to at least 50% to begin installing. If you have "Automatic Updates" enabled, you can simply let your iPhone update overnight.
Cover image by Apple/YouTube
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