Apple Seeds Second Betas of iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3 to Developers

Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the new betas coming a month after the introduction of the first betas.

iOS 16
Registered developers can download the iOS 16‌.3 and iPadOS 16.3 profiles from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, the beta will be available over the air.

iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3 add support for physical Security Keys that can be used as added protection for an Apple ID. Any FIDO Certified physical security key can be linked to an ‌Apple ID‌ to be used for authentication when logging into a new device or otherwise accessing an ‌Apple ID‌.

Security Keys replace the digital verification codes sent to an Apple device when using an ‌Apple ID‌, and Apple says that the physical key provides strong protection against phishing and unauthorized account access. Note that two physical security keys are required when using this feature as there needs to be a backup in case one is lost. Losing a security key would revoke access to an ‌Apple ID‌, as Apple cannot override the protection.

In addition to Security Keys, the beta also adds more instruction for transferring music from an iPhone over to a HomePod using handoff. No other new features have been discovered at this time.

Related Roundups: iOS 16, iPadOS 16
Related Forum: iOS 16

Top Rated Comments

Bl0ckHe1d Avatar
20 weeks ago
Any fix to the Homekit and Matter nightmare?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
20 weeks ago
Ahhh! After 3 long weeks. It's finally here. Thank you! Rock n Roll iOS 16.3 Beta 2! ;)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fatTribble Avatar
20 weeks ago
Can’t say the features are useful to me, but hopefully 16.3 will fix some 16.2 sluggishness.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hovscorpion12 Avatar
20 weeks ago
The security key feature is my most excited feature
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Realityck Avatar
20 weeks ago
Released today

* iOS 16.3 beta 2 (20D5035i) - January 10, 2023
* iPadOS 16.3 beta 2 (20D5035i) -January 10, 2023
* macOS 13.2 beta 2 (22D5038i) - January 10, 2023
* watchOS 9.3 beta 2 (20S5637h) - January 10, 2023
* tvOS 16.3 beta 2 (20K5637g) - January 10, 2023
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Realityck Avatar
20 weeks ago
Installing the iPadOS 16.3 beta 2 currently. Being this long a gap I expect some changes/fixes.

There are no new release notes for this beta 2 software update.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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