Apple Releases First Public Betas of iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3 - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Releases First Public Betas of iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3

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 Forum: iOS 16

Popular Stories

iphone duo

Apple Announces Foldable 'iPhone Duo'

Wednesday September 9, 2026 10:56 am PDT by
Apple today announced the "iPhone Duo," a new kind of iPhone featuring two screens and a foldable inner display. The two halves of the iPhone Duo connect into a single continuous frame with the same aspect ratio across both displays, and Apple said the transition between open and closed is designed to feel fluid. When fully open, Apple says it is the thinnest iPhone ever made, with an...
Surprise and Shine Live Coverage Article

Apple Event Live Blog: iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and More

Wednesday September 9, 2026 9:10 am PDT by
Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event kicks off today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where we're expecting to see the foldable iPhone Duo, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models, new AirPods 5 earphones, and perhaps some other announcements. Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV app across various platforms. We...
iOS 27 Feature Dark

Apple Announces iOS 27 Release Date

Wednesday September 9, 2026 10:46 am PDT by
At its event today unveiling the iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and more, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released later this month. iOS 27 has already been available as a developer beta since June and as a public beta since July, and Apple today said that the update will be released for all users with a compatible iPhone model on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 is...

Top Rated Comments

49 months ago
all apple users are beta testers of iOS whether they are in the program or not.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
49 months ago

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 Avatar
49 months ago

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)
49 months ago
The problem is, FIDO security keys can be seized by the state.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
49 months ago

The problem is, FIDO security keys can be seized by the state.
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)
FelixDerKater Avatar
49 months ago
16.2 GM was a mess for stability. Hopefully this fixes some of that.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)