Apple Releases iOS 17.1 and iPadOS 17.1 With AirDrop Over Internet, Music Favorites Options and More

Wednesday October 25, 2023 10:10 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today released iOS 17.1 and iPadOS 17.1, the first major updates to the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 operating system updates that came out in September.

iOS 17
iOS 17.1 and iPadOS 17.1 arrive as build 21B80 for the iPhone 15 lineup and 21B74 for all other compatible devices, and they can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

In the new updates, Apple has added support for continuing a large AirDrop file transfer over the internet when out of AirDrop range. The Apple Music app includes options to favorite songs, albums, and playlists, and there are now song suggestions at the end of every playlist.

Though not mentioned in the notes, Apple says the update "fixes" iPhone 12 radiation levels in France by disabling a feature that boosts cellular signal when the iPhone is not held by a person, and it improves Screen Time syncing across devices. There are several bug fixes, with iOS 17.1 addressing an issue that could cause display image persistence and a bug that could cause the Significant Location setting to reset when transferring or pairing an Apple Watch for the first time.

On the iPad, the iPadOS 17 update adds support for the USB-C Apple Pencil that was announced last week. Apple's full release notes for the update are below.

AirDrop
- Content continues to transfer over the internet when you step out of AirDrop range

StandBy
- New options to control when the display turns off (iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max)

Music
- Favorites expanded to include songs, albums, and playlists, and you can filter to display your favorites in the library
- New cover art collection offers designs that change colors to reflect the music in your playlist
- Song suggestions appear at the bottom of every playlist, making it easy to add music that matches the vibe of your playlist

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
- Option to choose a specific album to use with Photo Shuffle on the Lock Screen
- Home key support for Matter locks
- Improved reliability of Screen Time settings syncing across devices
- Fixes an issue that may cause the Significant Location privacy setting to reset when transferring an Apple Watch or pairing it for the first time
- Resolves an issue where the names of incoming callers may not appear when you are on another call
- Addresses an issue where custom and purchased ringtones may not appear as options for your text tone
- Fixes an issue that may cause the keyboard to be less responsive
- Crash detection optimizations (all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models)
- Fixes an issue that may cause display image persistence

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

In addition to iOS 17.1, Apple has also released iOS 16.7.2 and iOS 15.8 with many of the same security fixes for those still running older versions of iOS.

More information on the new features in the iOS 17 update can be found in our iOS 17 roundup.

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue

Friday October 30, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol

In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week, and later obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue. If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures....

• 271 comments

Everything New Your iPhone Can Do on iOS 27

14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2

Friday October 30, 2026 12:42 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple released iOS 27.2 on October 26, bringing enhancements to Siri AI, adding Suggestions in Messages, and sneaking in a string of smaller additions across Photos, Podcasts, Games, Apple TV, and FaceTime. iOS 27.2 is available to download to your device now via Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update. Note that some features may not be available in all regions or on all iPhone models....

• 24 comments

Apple Avoids Showing Pinched Fingers on iPad Mini Page in South Korea

Thursday October 29, 2026 11:52 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

In the U.S. and most other countries, Apple's website shows the new iPad mini being held by pinched fingers, but this is not the case in South Korea. The new iPad mini shown with pinched fingers on Apple's website in the U.S. On its South Korean website, Apple simply shows an image of the iPad mini on its own. The new iPad mini shown without pinched fingers on Apple's website in South Korea ...

• 94 comments

Top Rated Comments

Red Oak

40 months ago

Is this when I complain on MR that Apple is not doing enough or working harder, as I sit on my couch at home pretending to code?

Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

yabeweb

Do people that don’t see it always have to let us know? Just wait a bit and try again…. It will be there sooner than you can post here :D

Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Apple_Robert

I don't see anything but a bunch of other nerds saying they don't see anything.

edited to add: I see it now.
edited to add part 2: the obligatory "downloading now" response.

vegetassj4

I can't wait for next week, when they release 17.1.1 that resolves and issue that may cause the iPhone to ...... under certain circumstances when standing on your left foot, while pointing your right pinky WSW.

Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

CarAnalogy

How is it possible that on every single one of these posts "don't see it" is the entirety of the upvoted comments?
Just give it a second. Go try using an Android phone and then come back thankful it even shows up on the same day.

That said, can someone confirm the build number? Yes this is the second most common comment. But I'm assuming it was the same as the RC. Went ahead and installed that because the keyboard lag was annoying me.

Edit: it is 21B74 same as the RC

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Danilamak

FINALLY YOU CAN USE IPAD AS A SPEAKER WHEN CONNECTED TO DISPLAY