iOS 11.3 Release Notes Appear to Have Leaked With No Mention of Messages on iCloud or AirPlay 2

ios 11French developer Pierre Blazquez today shared what he claims are the final iOS 11.3 release notes, supposedly obtained from Apple's servers. His tweet contains images of the release notes in English for the United States.

Apple blog Mac4Ever shared the release notes in French, which we've translated and embedded below in English.

While there aren't too many surprises, it's worth noting that Messages on iCloud is not listed, despite being enabled in the latest iOS 11.3 and macOS 10.13.4 betas. Apple did say the feature is included in the betas "for testing and evaluation purposes," so it was never entirely clear if it would be ready for the final release.


AirPlay 2 is also not listed, although the protocol was removed from the later beta versions of iOS 11.3 and tvOS 11.3. Messages on iCloud and AirPlay 2 were also not listed in macOS 10.13.4 release notes leaked last week.

Beyond that, the release notes seemingly confirm Apple's new Battery Health feature on iPhones will still be considered a beta feature in the iOS 11.3 public release, Advanced Mobile Location support where available, App Store review sorting, and improved charging management for always-plugged-in iPads.

As expected, there are also new accessibility features, a wide range of stability improvements and bug fixes, and other enhancements:

Augmented Reality

  • ARKit 1.5 allows developers to place virtual objects on vertical surfaces like walls and doors in addition to horizontal surfaces

  • Adds support for detecting and incorporating images like movie posters or artwork into AR experiences

  • Supports a higher resolution real-world camera view when using AR experiences

iPhone Battery Health (Beta)

  • Displays information on iPhone maximum battery capacity and peak performance capability

  • Indicates if the performance management feature that dynamically manages maximum performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns is on and includes the option to disable it

  • Recommends if a battery needs to be replaced

  • For more information on batteries and performance, visit this website: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208387

iPad charge management

  • Maintains battery status when the iPad is plugged in for extended periods of time, such as when used in a kiosk or point-of-sale system, or stored in a charging cart.

Animoji

  • Four new Animoji available on the iPhone X: lion, bear, dragon and skull.

Privacy

  • When an Apple feature asks to use your personal information, an icon now appears with a link to access detailed information about how your data will be used and protected.

Business Chat (Beta) — US Only

  • Communicate with companies to easily ask questions, schedule appointments, and make purchases inside the built-in Messages app on iPhone and iPad

Health Records (Beta) — US Only

  • Access health records and view lab results, immunizations, and more in a consolidated timeline in the Health app

Apple Music

  • Provides a new experience in video clips, including a Revised Video Clips section featuring exclusive video playlists.

  • Find friends with similar tastes through Apple Music's improved suggestions, which list the genres that the users and mutual friends follow.

News

  • The main titles now always appear first in "For You."

  • Watch the best videos selected by News editors.

App Store

  • Four options now allow you to sort the customer reviews on the product pages: the most useful, the most favorable, the most critical or the most recent.

  • The Updates tab now shows the version of the app and the size of the file.

Safari

  • Promotes the protection of privacy by notifying usernames and passwords until they have been selected in a web form field.

  • Presents warnings in the smart search field when the user interacts with password entry forms or credit card data on unencrypted web pages.

  • Automatic filling of usernames and passwords is now available in apps' web views.

  • By default, articles shared via Mail from Safari are now formatted using Reader mode, if the drive is available.

  • In Favorites, folders now have icons for the bookmarks they contain.

Keyboards

  • Adds two Shuangpin keyboard layouts.

  • Supports connected physical keyboards using Turkish F layout.

  • Improves Chinese and Japanese keyboards for better accessibility on devices with a 4.7-inch or 5.5-inch screen.

  • Allows you to return to the keyboard with a simple touch after the dictation.

  • Fixes a problem that could cause the capitalization of the first letter of some words by the automatic correction feature.

  • Fixes an issue on the iPad Pro that prevented the iPad Smart Keyboard from working after connecting to a captive Wi-Fi hotspot.

  • Fixes a problem that could cause undesirable activation of the digital layout on the Thai keyboard in landscape mode.

Accessibility

  • The App Store now supports accessibility options "Bold Text" and "Large Font" for customizing the display.

  • Smart Reversal now supports images on the web and in Mail messages.

  • Enhances the RTT experience and supports RTT service for T-Mobile.

  • Improves app selection on the iPad for VoiceOver users and selection control.

  • Corrects a problem with the incorrect description of the Bluetooth status icon and the Bluetooth icon by VoiceOver.

  • Fixes a problem that may prevent the end of call button from appearing in the Phone app when using VoiceOver.

  • Fixes an issue preventing access to an app's built-in ranking with VoiceOver.

  • Fixes a problem that may cause distorted audio playback when using real-time listening.

Other Enhancements and Fixes

  • Supports AML technology, which provides more accurate location data to emergency services during an emergency call (in countries where this technology is available).

  • Supports software authentication, which provides developers with a new way to create and activate HomeKit-compatible accessories.

  • Podcasts now plays episodes with a single tap, and you can tap Details to learn more about each one.

  • Improves search performance for users with long notes in Contacts.

  • Improves the performance of Handoff and the universal clipboard when both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

  • Fixes a problem that may prevent incoming calls from activating the screen.

  • Fixes a problem that may prevent or prevent voicemail playback.

  • Fixes an issue that prevents opening a web link in Messages.

  • Fixes a problem that may prevent users from returning to Mail after previewing an attachment to a message.

  • Fixes a problem that could cause the deleted screen to reappear on the locked screen.

  • Fixes a problem that can cause the time and notifications to disappear on the locked screen.

  • Fixes an issue that prevents parents from using Face ID for approving purchase authorization requests.

  • Fixes a problem that could prevent updating of the current weather conditions in Weather.

  • Fixes a problem that could prevent the synchronization of contacts with a vehicle directory when connected via Bluetooth.

  • Fixes a problem that may prevent an audio app from playing content in a vehicle while it was in the background.

iOS 11.3 remains in beta testing, but a public release appears to be imminent, as the software update was seeded for the new iPad yesterday.

Apple recently confirmed that there will be an iOS 11.4 software update, perhaps including Messages on iCloud and AirPlay 2.

Related Forum: iOS 11

Popular Stories

Apple Shopping Event 2025

Apple Announces 2025 Black Friday Event, Here's What You Can Get

Thursday November 20, 2025 6:28 am PST by
Apple's annual four-day Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event is returning on Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1 in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand, and others. During the shopping event, customers can get an Apple gift card with...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday November 19, 2025 4:00 am PST 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 at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 3

Monday November 17, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
Apple provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming iOS 26.2 update, and there are still new features that are being added with each beta that we get. We've rounded up all of the changes that Apple made in beta 3. AirDrop Apple added new AirDrop functionality, providing a way for two people to share files temporarily without having to add one another as contacts. iOS 26.2...
applecare apple care banner

Apple Brings New AppleCare+ Options to India

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:42 am PST by
Apple today announced an expansion of AppleCare+ coverage in India, with new options for monthly and annual plans, and the addition of Theft and Loss for iPhone for the first time. Options for monthly and annual AppleCare+ plans in India provide more choice and flexibility, allowing users to keep coverage for as long as they require. Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product...
ipad mini 7 feature red and blue

iPad Mini 8: Four Major New Features to Expect

Wednesday November 19, 2025 7:50 am PST by
Apple's eighth-generation iPad mini is highly likely to arrive next year, offering a significant refresh of the device with at least four major new features. OLED Display The next-generation version of the iPad mini could feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple Watch in 2015, ...
iPhone 17 Pro and Air N1 Feature

iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16 Wi-Fi Speeds: New Study Reveals the Winner

Tuesday November 18, 2025 10:53 am PST by
A new study has revealed that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air achieve significantly faster average Wi-Fi speeds compared to the iPhone 16 series, thanks to Apple's custom-designed N1 chip. The study was conducted by Ookla, the company behind the popular Speedtest website and app. It said the results are based on global, crowdsourced Speedtest user data...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These New Features to Your iPhone

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:50 am PST by
iOS 26.2 is currently in beta testing. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics for Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date. Keep reading...
Apple Wallet ID Illinois

iPhone Driver's License Feature Launching in Illinois

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:47 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Starting this Wednesday, November 19, the feature will be available to residents of Illinois. The announcement confirmed that the...
macbook black friday

The Best Early Black Friday Mac Deals

Tuesday November 18, 2025 7:32 am PST by
We're getting closer to Black Friday, which lands next week on Friday, November 28. In the lead-up to the shopping holiday, we're tracking a few lowest-ever prices on Apple's most popular Macs, including the M4 MacBook Air and brand new M5 MacBook Pro. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment,...
watchos 26 workout app

Apple Watch Users Claim Workout App Is Now Worse in Every Way

Thursday November 20, 2025 7:01 am PST by
Apple Watch owners have been voicing their frustration online over changes to the Workout app that Apple introduced in watchOS 26, with many finding the redesigned interface makes starting exercises difficult and exasperating. When Apple launched watchOS 26 in September, the Workout app went from large, easily tapped workout tiles to a scrolling, corner-button interface. Instead of tapping a ...

Top Rated Comments

mcfly88 Avatar
100 months ago
iOS 12: Everything we promised you a year ago!
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OldSchoolMacGuy Avatar
100 months ago
How dare they! I was promised nothing and I'm upset I didn't get it!
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Elijahg Avatar
100 months ago
How dare something not present in the betas not be there in the final release!
How dare they promise Airplay 2 "soon" at WWDC 2017 and still not have it released a year later. Oh and it actually was present for a while.

Not sure what the aim of this major point release release is really considering everything significant has been dropped. It should be in a minor point release IMO (i.e. 11.2.6).
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
moabal Avatar
100 months ago
iCloud iMessage was the only thing I wanted in iOS 11. If it won't be in 11.3 that would suck.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OldSchoolMacGuy Avatar
100 months ago
What is sad is that iOS12 will probably be what iOS11 should have been. It feels like each year the software gets buggier and buggier which is horrible considering they have a massive amount of beta customers now participating that should give crash data which leads to quicker stable releases.
The problem is that 99% of beta users don't bother reporting an issue. If they do experience it, they head to a forum like Reddit or MR and complain. That does NOTHING to help Apple. Apple needs real data. They can't fix an issue they don't know exists. The beta has a super simple app built right in for reporting those issues and yet people don't use it.

Far too many also assume someone else will report it for them. It's like passing an accident and assuming someone else will call it in but then no one does because everyone just assumed someone else did it and they don't bother to do so themselves. Apple also needs to see MULTIPLE reports. The more the better. If they get 1 report, it's not a priority and may just be a one off. If they get 10, maybe there's something to look into. If they get 100 then it's an issue and if they get 1000 or 10000, then it becomes a far larger issue and gets priority.

Remember how big "Bendgate" was? People acted like everyone had a phone that was bent. In reality, less than 12 people had reported it actually happening to them. That shows how we assume problems are bigger than they really are. The same happens with these bugs.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dominiongamma Avatar
100 months ago
iMessages was introduced last June! And we are approaching iOS 12 in June, sad!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)