Apple Seeds Second Betas of iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 to Developers

Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta updates coming two weeks Apple released the first iOS and iPadOS 14.5 betas.

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iOS and iPadOS 14.5 can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the proper profile has been installed on an iPhone or iPad.

iOS 14.5 is the biggest update to iOS 14 to date, introducing several significant new features. First and foremost, Apple is making it easier to unlock an iPhone when you're wearing a face mask with a new "Unlock with Apple Watch" feature.


This opt-in option lets you use an unlocked and authenticated Apple Watch as a secondary authentication method to unlock an ‌iPhone‌ alongside Face ID. With this feature, you no longer have to enter a passcode or remove your mask to unlock your ‌iPhone‌. Both an ‌iPhone‌ running iOS 14.5 and an Apple Watch are required to use this, and the Apple Watch cannot authenticate Apple Pay purchases, App Store purchases, or unlock third-party apps that use ‌Face ID‌.

iphone apple watch unlock
The update also brings worldwide support for 5G in Dual-SIM mode on ‌iPhone‌ 12 models, so if you use multiple lines, both can now connect at 5G speeds. Prior to now, Dual-SIM mode was limited to LTE networks.

iPhone 12 5G Dual Carrier Feature orange
With watchOS 7.4, iOS and iPadOS 14.5 include AirPlay 2 support for Apple Fitness+, so Apple Fitness+ subscribers can start a workout on an ‌iPhone‌ or iPAd and then AirPlay it to a compatible smart TV or set-top box. ‌AirPlay‌ 2 supports audio and video, but it does not display on-screen workout metrics.

Apple fitness plus feature
PlayStation 5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers are supported on the ‌iPhone‌ and the ‌iPad‌ with iOS 14.5, and code suggests that Apple is going to add joint account support for the Apple Card in the near future.

play station dualsense controller
iOS 14.5 includes a Waze-like crowdsourcing feature for reporting accidents, hazards, and speed checks along a route in Maps when getting directions.

apple maps report accident
There's a new "Report" button available in the Apple Maps app that lets you tap to report an accident, hazard, or speed trap at your location in the ‌Apple Maps‌ app, which is a feature that mapping app Waze offers for crowdsourcing accidents and other info. This is available directly on the ‌iPhone‌ and in CarPlay.

iOS and iPadOS 14.5 add a new feature for choosing a default streaming music service to use with Siri. So if you prefer Spotify over Apple Music, for example, you can now choose Spotify as the default app to use with ‌Siri‌ and all ‌Siri‌ song requests will go through Spotify without the need to add "on Spotify" to the end of ‌Siri‌ requests.

siri music app default
iOS 14.5 is the update where Apple will begin requiring developers to comply with its App Tracking Transparency rules. Going forward, developers will need to ask for and receive your permission to access your random advertising identifier and track your activity across apps and websites.

app tracking transparency prompt ios 14
Apple has made design tweaks to the Apple News and Podcasts apps, plus there are new print and sort options in Reminders. There are new settings for emergency alerts, a horizontal loading screen on the ‌iPad‌, and tons of other smaller feature tweaks that are outlined in our full iOS 14.5 features guide.

Related Forum: iOS 14

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Top Rated Comments

Mega ST Avatar
58 months ago
I very much like this Apple initiative to improve privacy and I hope this is just the beginning.
Too many websites are harvesting all data they can get including third party e-mail addresses and such. This has totally gone out of control.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
58 months ago

I would love to install this, but I rely on my phone for youtube work as I am a content creator.
Any idea how stable it is? Unlocking with the watch seems like a dream.
It’s been very stable for me, and I’m using an MDM that often causes problems in beta. The watch unlocking is pretty awesome - I often find myself just swiping up on my phone and I forget that I’m wearing a mask because it simply unlocks. If not for my watch vibrating to tell me, I’d never notice the feature, because “it just works.”
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nutmac Avatar
58 months ago
iOS 14.5 beta 1 was incredibly stable for me. The only issue I ran into has been Peacock app quitting upon launch.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
VermontsFinest Avatar
58 months ago

Lets start with wireless charging on iphone 12 it doesn't work!
No issues here
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Braderunner Avatar
58 months ago

Lets start with wireless charging on iphone 12 it doesn't work!
Mine has been charging fine with a MagSafe charger, except the animation was missing. Not really a thing, but, it's still missing with this update. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
58 months ago
I can't wait for the official release. Lots of good stuff is coming.

Hopefully we hear more about joint Apple Cards soon.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)