iOS 17.6.1 ― Bug Fixes, Changes, and Improvements

[Banglazed]

iOS 17.6.1

Release Date ― August 7, 2024
Build Numbers ― 21G93
Darwin Kernel Version ―

This update includes important bug fixes and addresses an issue that prevents enabling or disabling Advanced Data Protection.

iOS 17.6 RC Release Notes


New Features & Changes
New Issues
Remaining Issues
Resolved Issues

Additional Notes

• Developers and testers can report bugs using the Feedback app. If you don't have the public or developer profiles installed, you can still open the app by entering the following URL in Safari:
  

  applefeedback://

• iOS 17 Preview
• iOS 17 Features (PDF)
• iOS 17 Press Release
• iOS 17 Release Notes
• iOS 17 Release Notes for Enterprise
• iOS Beta Release Notes
• iOS Security Updates

Spoiler: How to Install beta via OTA/IPSW [Guide]

How to install beta via OTA?

1. Enable Beta Updates (Settings>General>Software Updates>Beta Updates)
2. Check and sign into the right Apple ID to access beta
3. Select which beta you would like to receive (Public/Developer)
4. Hit "Back" and pull down to refresh
5. Do an encrypted backup or iCloud backup before installing the beta from release build
6. Install the beta

If you no longer wish to receive beta updates:

1. Turn off the Beta Updates (you can also sign out of your Apple ID to unlink your developer account)
2. Wait for the next public release or follow the guide below to install the IPSW release build

Troubleshoot: Sometimes, the beta update will not show so you may need to enable/disable Airplane Mode or restart your device before rechecking for update.

How to install beta via IPSW on Mac?

1. You will need to install either Xcode beta or MobileDevice.pkg which can be extracted from the Xcode beta (tap with two finger or right click to Show Package Content>Contents>Resources>Packages>MobileDevice.pkg - this will work on older Macs that do not support the latest macOS or Xcode beta)
2. Do an encrypted backup in Finder in case you need to restore your device
3. Hold down Option + Check for Update and select the appropriate IPSW file for your device (whether you're updating to a newer/beta firmware, reinstalling the same firmware or downgrading to previous firmware while retaining all your data) downloaded from Apple using your free developer account. Note: You must have an active internet connection as it will check the IPSW signing status before it will proceed with the update.
4. Enter your iPhone passcode once prompted to proceed.

Notes/Tips:

• Always keep a backup in case you need to restore your data if you restore your device
• It may be better to close all apps before installing the updates and/or turn off your device for about a minute or restart a few minutes after your device is updated
• You can also manually select the IPSW if you are restoring your device using Option + Restore iPhone. Restore will wipe all your personal data which you will need to restore your backup either using iCloud backup or Finder/iTunes backup
• You do not need to install the MobileDevice.pkg from each Xcode beta version unless Finder does not recognize the new iOS beta
• There is no MobileDevice.pkg equivalent to iTunes for PC which would require a new iTunes to support new/beta iOS
• If you receive a new iPhone, you can connect to Mac to update or restore your device to the latest iOS before setting up your device.
• You can also use the Recovery Mode/DFU to update or restore your device by manually selecting IPSW

Spoiler: Modem Firmware

• iPhone 15/Plus/Pro/Max: 1.70.02
• iPhone 14/Plus/Pro/Max: 2.60.02
• iPhone 13/mini/Pro/Max/SE (3rd gen): 3.50.04
• iPhone 12/mini/Pro/Max: 4.50.06
• iPhone 11/Pro/Max/SE (2nd gen)/iPad Air (4th gen): 5.00.00
• iPhone XR/XS/Max: 6.00.00

Spoiler: Carrier Version

Australia

• Optus - 51.0
• Telstra - 55.0
• Vodafone AU - 51.0

Belgium

• BASE - 33.0
• Orange B - 58
• Proximus - 45.0
• Telenet - 44.1

Brazil (updated 17.5 RC)

• Claro Brasil - 58.1
• Vivo - 58.0
• TIM -
• Oi -

Canada

• Bell - 58.0
• Fido - 56.0
• Fizz - 53.0
• Freedom/Shaw Mobile - 54.8.6
• Mint Mobile - 58.0
• Public Mobile - 54.8.4
• Rogers - 58.0
• Telus - 54.8.8
• Videotron - 53.0
• Virgin Mobile - 50.0

Denmark

• 3 DK - 46.7.11
• TDC 58.0
• Telia 58.0

France

• Bouygues Telecom - 40.0
• Orange France - 58.0

Germany

• Vodafone.de - 58.0
• Telekom.de - 56.0
• O2-DE - 58.0

Greece:

• Cosmote - 38.0

Guatemala

• TIGO GT - 49.0

India

• Airtel - 54.10
• Jio - 54.10.2 (iPhone) and 54.8.4 (iPad)
• Vi India (Vodafone Idea) - 54.0

Ireland

• Eir - 33.5
• Vodafone IE - 38.0

Mexico

• AT&T - 57.0
• Telcel - 57.6

Morocco

• Orange - 50.0

Netherlands

• KPN - 58.1
• Vodafone NL - 45.0

Poland

• T-Mobile -
• Orange - 49.6.3 (Voice & SMS)
• Play - 31.0

Portugal

• Vodafone P - 40.0

Romania

• Orange RO - 55.0

Slovakia

• Orange SK - 57.6

Southeast Asia

• Singapore Singtel -
• Philippines Globe - 58.0
• Philippines Globe (iPad) - 38.0
• Philippines Smart - 58.0
• Thailand AIS - 53.0
• Thailand DTAC - 53.0
• Malaysia Umobile - 33.0
• Malaysia Maxis -33.0
• Malaysia Digi -
• Malaysia celcom -
• Hong Kong - 32.0
• Taiwan -

Spain

• Orange ES - 58.0.1
• DIGI ES - 54.8.4
• Vodafone ES - 54.8.8
• Movistar - 58.0

Sweden

• Comviq -
• Tre - 31.0

Switzerland

• Salt - 58.0
• Sunrise - 57.0
• Swisscom - 58.0

Turkey

• Turkcell (Lifecell) - 36.5.5
• Vodafone TR - 32.0
• Turk Telekom - 32.0

United Kingdom

• EE - 58.0
• BT-UK (EE MVNO)-
• Three - 58.0
• iD Mobile (Three MVNO) - 58.0
• O2-UK -
• Giffgaff (O2 MVNO) -
• Sky (O2 MVNO) -
• Vodafone UK -
• Virgin Mobile (EE MVNO) -
• Lebara (Vodafone MVNO) -

United States

• AT&T - 58.1
• Boost - 57.0
• Cricket - 58.0
• FirstNet - 55.0
• FirstNet (iPad) - 41.7.6
• Metro (TMO MVNO) - 58.0
• Spectrum (VZW MVNO) - 58.0
• T-Mobile - 58.1
• TracFone/Straight Talk/Walmart Family Mobile - 58.0
• U.S. Cellular - 46.7.24
• Ultra/Mint Mobile (TMO MVNO) - 58.0
• Verizon - 58.0.1
• Verizon (iPad) - 41.0
• Visible (VZW MVNO) - 51.0.1
• Xfinity Mobile - 57.6.1

Finland

• DNA - 57.6

Other

• Docomo - 32.5.10
• AlwaysOnline -

Historical beta release chart

iOS Version History Chart

iOS version history chart

www.thinkybits.com

 

[UliBaer]

Wow, let's see! 👍

 

[gwang73]

IPSW's available now.

 

[UliBaer]

249 MB on SE 2020 and 411 MB on 12 Pro - from 17.6 final.

 

[Blue Hawk]

iOS 17.6 was bad for me. Battery life, performance, heat. I hope this is better.

 

[Reeneman]

iOS 17.6 was bad for me. Battery life, performance, heat. I hope this is better.

For sure as always, a little point update will impact battery life heavily…

 

[Tomas1988]

Well, I think this is the last update for iOS 17
we can rejoice
we can keep crying or we can remember a long adventure called iOS17

 

[Chuckeee]

Why was this update not labeled as a Security Response?

 

[Reeneman]

Why was this update not labeled as a Security Response?

info@apple.com

No honestly, not sure but we haven’t seen these small security response updates in a while now. Probably some of these fixes going way to deep and such updates with a larger download and restart of the system are needed.
Would be interesting to hear something from Apple about this.

 

[Populus]

Well, I think this is the last update for iOS 17
we can rejoice
we can keep crying or we can remember a long adventure called iOS17

For me iOS 17 has been a refinement over iOS 16, with interactive widgets and off-line maps as interesting new features. But not a major change that would justify the worse battery life compared to iOS 16.

We will see how the iOS 18 journey develops over the next year! In my opinion there are more QoL and aesthetic changes that can drive more updates, aside from the star feature: Apple Intelligence. And maybe all of those can justify losing a bit more of battery life.

 

[Reeneman]

Well, I think this is the last update for iOS 17
we can rejoice
we can keep crying or we can remember a long adventure called iOS17

It was a solid OS but I have a hard time to remember one single new feature I was really excited about.
Interactive widgets finally but still barely supported, contact poster… otherwise not much. Better keyboard hasn’t been so much better.

 

[Populus]

I’m debating wether to download iOS 17.6 ISPW and install it while it’s being signed, or just install 17.6.1

There’s no feedback about it. That usually means it’s not giving problems but I’d rather wait a bit longer…

Hopefully iAppleBytes will upload the battery test tomorrow…

EDIT: I am reading quite a few posts on reddit saying 17.6.1 causes a big cellular data consumption even on idle, and getting their iPhones hot because of this. Others talk about losing signal reception so… I guess it is time to download the 17.6 IPSW and do a complete restore on all my devices. And wait to read more experiences about 17.6.1

I guess it is safe to download the IPSW file from IPSW.me, but, I think someone explained me a better way to connect to Apple’s servers through terminal and download them…

 

[Reeneman]

It’s insane how much a little point update for security reasons causing people getting crazy over this.

 

[Populus]

It’s insane how much a little point update for security reasons causing people getting crazy over this.

It is because in the past, some apparently insignificant minor updates caused battery life go from great to bad. And from the research I’ve been following for 17.6 since it was a beta, it is apparently quite good. We don’t know anything about 17.6.1, I’m not updating to iOS/iPadOS 18 until next year when it is polished and stable and efficient… So I want to stay with the best version of iOS 17.

If this was about iOS 17.2.1 or 18.1.1, I wouldn’t care because I never update so early in the iOS cycle (thanks to the impossibility of downgrading), but this is the version I’m going to run on all my devices for many months, and I don usually buy new iPhones or iPads every year or every two years, these are the last LCD devices and I must baby their software and batteries, especially on the iPad where they usually refuse to replace it until it is really, really bad.

So… that’s why we make such a fuss about it. Mainly, because Apple stops signing previous versions that may work better or cause less battery drain or overheating.

 

[Reeneman]

I don’t know. People are obsessed with battery life in my opinion. This is a very small bugfixes update that most likely doesn’t change anything heavily related to battery life.
And it’s way too early to judge about it with the update just being released yesterday.

 

[Populus]

I don’t know. People are obsessed with battery life in my opinion. This is a very small bugfixes update that most likely doesn’t change anything heavily related to battery life.
And it’s way too early to judge about it with the update just being released yesterday.

Right, it’s early to know. And maybe it is a good idea to install it if it fixes other bugs than the one explicitly mentioned (that doesn’t affect me).

 

[Reeneman]

Right, it’s early to know. And maybe it is a good idea to install it if it fixes other bugs than the one explicitly mentioned (that doesn’t affect me).

It seems to be an important security update. Apple haven’t mentioned all fixes so far as usual with those types of fixes. It wasn’t an iOS 17 specific update with iOS 16 receiving the update as well.

 

[jazzzyJeff]

Right, it’s early to know. And maybe it is a good idea to install it if it fixes other bugs than the one explicitly mentioned (that doesn’t affect me).

My 13 Pro works flawlessly with dual SIM and no cellular or heating issues. Turning off "share across devices" for Screen Time and Focus fixed the standby battery drain from 17.6.

OTA if that matters.

 

[Populus]

My 13 Pro works flawlessly with dual SIM and no cellular or heating issues. Turning off "share across devices" for Screen Time and Focus fixed the standby battery drain from 17.6.

OTA if that matters.

Many thanks pal!

I don’t use Screen Time, but I do use Sleep focus mode and I have it synced across my devices… maybe it’s a good idea to disable the synchronization because, honestly, I only need sleep mode on my iPhone. My iPad has the notifications always muted so…

 

[jazzzyJeff]

Many thanks pal!

I don’t use Screen Time, but I do use Sleep focus mode and I have it synced across my devices… maybe it’s a good idea to disable the synchronization because, honestly, I only need sleep mode on my iPhone. My iPad has the notifications always muted so…

Battery life has honestly been better since 17.5. Was down a bit with 17.5.1 but improved with 17.6 with no change on 17.6.1 while the phone’s actually being used.
Only issue was standby drain which took me awhile to fig out and now I’m a happy camper again.

 

[Reverend Benny]

Same here, iPhone 14 and 13 Pro, no issues.
Haven't had any reports from the 100 phones that are running it at work (SE2 and SE3, 13 and 14), but most of them received it yesterday morning so don't think people would have a chance to even charge it once or use it a full day yet.

I initially got great battery numbers on 17.6, but when returning back to my regular pattern it wasn't that big a difference. I did experience somewhat better battery-time, but it seem to be related on what type of WiFi i was connected to. 5G was improved, somewhat on my 13 pro with less battery drain.

Will check and see if this could be related to a FW update I did on my WAX615 AP I am running at home.
17.6.1 is minor so don't think that would have had any effect on things.

 

[Steven SANH]

For sure as always, a little point update will impact battery life heavily…

Why does a "little point update" impact battery life heavily? I have a 14PM and am quite happy with 17.5.1. I'm getting excellent battery life so am apprehensive to update to any 17.6x upgrades. I may hang in there until 18 comes out for a few weeks.

 

[Populus]

Why does a "little point update" impact battery life heavily? I have a 14PM and am quite happy with 17.5.1. I'm getting excellent battery life so am apprehensive to update to any 17.6x upgrades. I may hang in there until 18 comes out for a few weeks.

I think he was being sarcastic. So, he probably meant the contrary.

 

[jazzzyJeff]

Why does a "little point update" impact battery life heavily? I have a 14PM and am quite happy with 17.5.1. I'm getting excellent battery life so am apprehensive to update to any 17.6x upgrades. I may hang in there until 18 comes out for a few weeks.

You're expecting better battery life on brand new iOS 18 with so many new features over iOS 17 that's been refined over a year?

 

[Reverend Benny]

17.6 contained a load of security patches, don't see any reason not to update. iOS 15 and 16 a similar pile of updates released at the same time.