Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories?
No, thank you Accept
X
WWDC: Everything We ExpectRemote Working in ParadiseBest Mineral SunscreensBest Solar CompaniesCNET CouponsMeal Subscription vs. TakeoutBest Satellite Internet ProvidersCurrent Mortgage Rates

iOS 16.4 Is Almost Here. You Should Still Download iOS 16.3.1 Now

The iOS 16.3.1 update comes with a number of fixes, including one for an issue that might be used to hack your phone.

zach-mcauliffe
zach-mcauliffe
Zachary McAuliffe Staff writer
Zach began writing for CNET in November, 2021 after writing for a broadcast news station in his hometown, Cincinnati, for five years. You can usually find him reading and drinking coffee or watching a TV series with his wife and their dog.
Expertise Web hosting, operating systems, applications and software Credentials
  • Apple software beta tester, "Helps make our computers and phones work!" - Zach's grandparents
See full bio
Zachary McAuliffe
2 min read
iPhone 14 Pro

Security fixes and more land on your iPhone with the latest iOS update.

 James Martin/CNET

Apple has released beta versions of iOS 16.4 to testers, so Apple will likely release that update to the public soon. But you should still download iOS 16.3.1 as soon as possible.

Apple released iOS 16.3.1 on Feb. 13, a few weeks after the release of iOS 16.3. Though iOS 16.3 included new features like security keys for Apple ID and support for the second-generation HomePod, the latest update fixes some issues that iPhone users might've run into recently, including a bug that Apple said might be actively exploited.

Here's what's included in Apple's iOS 16.3.1 update.

What's in iOS 16.3.1

The latest iOS update includes bug fixes and security updates that address issues with iCloud, Siri, Find My and crash detection.

CNET Tech Tips logo

Apple's security notes say this latest update patches an iPhone bug that may've been actively exploited. Apple writes that the bug may lead to arbitrary code execution, and the bug affects iPhone 8 models and later. According to Okta, arbitrary code execution could allow hackers to steal your data.

The update could also fix an iCloud issue some users ran into after the release of iOS 16.3. Some users on Reddit and Twitter have said they haven't been able to back up to iCloud since the release of the previous update.

Another issue that iOS 16.3.1 could address has to do with crash detection on iPhone 14 and 14 Pro models. Crash detection has helped alert first responders to some car crashes, but it has also been triggered when some users ride roller coasters with their phones. 

Here's what Apple says is fixed with iOS 16.3.1.

  • iCloud settings may be unresponsive or incorrectly display if apps are using iCloud.
  • Siri requests for Find My may not work.
  • Crash detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models.

For more, check out all the features you missed in iOS 16.3, what iOS 16.4 beta features testers can try now

and how you can sign up to test Apple's iOS beta software.

thumb2
Watch this: iOS 16: Powerful Features You May Have Missed