Apple Releases iOS 7 With UI Redesign, iTunes Radio, New Notification Center, Multitasking Screen and More

Apple has just released iOS 7 to the public, making the download available to users of recent iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch models. Users can obtain the update either by connecting their devices to iTunes and clicking the "Check for Update" button or checking for over-the-air updates on their devices via Settings -> General -> Software Update. It may, however, take a few minutes for the update to propagate to all users.

Our iOS 7 roundup has a good primer for users wanting to know what's new in iOS 7, and Apple also has several marketing pages showcasing the new design and new features in the operating system.


iOS 7 adds more than 200 new features, the biggest being a top-to-bottom redesign of the user interface. Other new features include Control Center, a panel that slides up from the bottom of any screen that allows settings like Bluetooth and AirPort to be toggled on and off, a number of new camera features, a new multitasking screen, AirDrop, iTunes Radio and more.

Nothing we’ve ever created has been designed just to look beautiful. That’s approaching the opportunity from the wrong end. Instead, as we reconsidered iOS, our purpose was to create an experience that was simpler, more useful, and more enjoyable — while building on the things people love about iOS. Ultimately, redesigning the way it works led us to redesign the way it looks. Because good design is design that’s in service of the experience.

iOS 7 is compatible with the iPhone 4 and later, iPad 2 and later, iPad mini, and fifth-generation iPod touch. It will also ship on the iPhone 5c and 5s, which will be available for sale on Friday. The release arrives as golden master build 11A470a.

Update: Apple also released iOS 7.0.1 just for the iPhone 5c and 5s to fix a few bugs ahead of their public launch on Friday. That version has a build number of 11A466.

Update 2: Many readers are reporting issues with the over-the-air iOS update mechanism, suggesting Apple's servers may be overwhelmed with traffic.

Update 3: Apple has also released the final version of Xcode 5.0.

Related Forum: iOS 7

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 17 air dummy unbox therapy

iPhone 17 Air's Extreme Thinness Demoed in New Video

Tuesday April 22, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an all-new super thin iPhone this year, debuting it alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We've seen pictures of dummy models, cases, and renders with the design, but Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy today showed off newer dummy models that give us a better idea of just how thin the "iPhone 17 Air" will be. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ...
ipad air windows 11 arm

M2 iPad Air Runs Windows 11 ARM via Emulation, Thanks to EU Rules

Tuesday April 22, 2025 5:01 am PDT by
A developer has demonstrated Windows 11 ARM running on an M2 iPad Air using emulation, which has become much easier since the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations came into effect. As spotted by Windows Latest, NTDev shared an instance of the emulation on social media and posted a video on YouTube (embedded below) demonstrating it in action. The achievement relies on new EU regulatory...
iphone 17 dummies sonny dickson

iPhone 17 Air Almost as Thin as Its Buttons, New Images Show

Thursday April 24, 2025 2:14 am PDT by
If you missed the video showing dummy models of Apple's all-new super thin iPhone 17 Air that's expected later this year, Sonny Dickson this morning shared some further images of the device in close alignment with the other dummy models in the iPhone 17 lineup, indicating just how thin it is likely to be in comparison. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be around 5.5mm thick – with a thicker ...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
iOS 18

iOS 18.5 Includes Only a Few Changes So Far

Monday April 21, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 18.5 to developers today, and so far the software update includes only a few minor changes. The changes are in the Mail and Settings apps. In the Mail app, you can now easily turn off contact photos directly within the app, by tapping on the circle with three dots in the top-right corner. In the Settings app, AppleCare+ coverage information is more...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 13 New Features

Wednesday April 23, 2025 8:31 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...

Top Rated Comments

AT06 Avatar
151 months ago
TIP:

If you're downloading, NO-ONE CARES
Score: 90 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mad Mac Maniac Avatar
151 months ago
Does anybody care that I'm downloading now?? No?? Ok, nevermind then
Score: 56 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleFan115 Avatar
151 months ago
When is iOS 7 coming out?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sparkyms Avatar
151 months ago
Can you imagine the guy at Apple screaming 'WE NEED MORE POWER?'.

I can and it has me slightly amused.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SkippyThorson Avatar
151 months ago
Greatest day of my life.

:( Sorry to hear that.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonasdamn Avatar
151 months ago
oh bitch "Software update failed… An error occured downloading iOS 7.0"
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)