Apple Releases First Public Betas of iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3

Thursday December 15, 2022 9:13 am PST by Juli Clover

Apple today seeded the first beta of upcoming iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3 updates to public beta testers, providing the new software to the general public for the first time. The public betas come one day after Apple provided the beta to developers.

iOS 16
Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's free beta testing program can download the ‌iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3‌ betas over the air after installing the proper certificate from the Public Beta website.

So far, iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3 appear to be more minor updates than the iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 releases. The software includes support for physical Security Keys for adding an additional layer of protection to an Apple ID.

With this feature, a physical FIDO certified security key can be used in lieu of device authentication when signing into an ‌Apple ID‌ on iCloud or a new device.

The update also includes a more streamlined process for transferring a song to a HomePod from an iPhone and vice versa, with Apple providing additional detail on how it works. No other major changes have been found in the beta as of yet.

Related Roundups: iOS 16, iPadOS 16

Related Forum: iOS 16

Top Rated Comments

macsorcery

10 months ago

all apple users are beta testers of iOS whether they are in the program or not.

Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)

JimmyHook

The problem is, FIDO security keys can be seized by the state.

Hopefully they 2-factor them. Key + Biometrics or Key + Password/Passcode

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Realityck

16.2 GM was a mess for stability. Hopefully this fixes some of that.

IPadOS 16.2 RC didn't cause really anything that I saw using it on a iPad mini 6 standalone. iPadOS 16.3 beta 1 has been running fine for hours. Sure there are likely some issues, but stability hasn't been a factor.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

0924487

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

CarAnalogy

So can you. There are stories of people imprisoned held indefinitely in contempt of court for refusing to give up passwords.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)