Apple has now released its new iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6 software updates for public consumption, bringing a few new noteworthy features to the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Apple Releases iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6
Apple began testing the iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6 updates with its registered developers and public beta testers on April 23, 2021. The new software launched publicly today, with over-the-air updates available through the Settings app on your device.
Aside from these, Apple also released the watchOS 7.5 software for the Apple Watch along with the tvOS 14.6 update for the Apple TV HD, Apple TV 4K, HomePod, and HomePod mini.
The Key Features in iOS and iPadOS 14.6
iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6 include a few features that weren't ready for iOS 14.0.
With the new Apple Card Family feature, one can share an Apple Card with up to five people via Apple's Family Sharing feature. This lets families build credit together, as well as manage their spending with optional limits and more.
You can also show your appreciation to your favorite creators by subscribing to their shows in the Podcasts app. Subscriptions are available for select channels and individual shows.
The AirTag, Apple's personal item tracker, will now show the owner's partially masked phone number on Apple's Found website after tapped with an iPhone or NFC-equipped Android handset. As a bonus, you can now provide a Lost Mode email address instead of a phone number for the AirTag and other compatible accessories added to the Find My app.
Lastly, folks who use VoiceOver (Apple's built-in screen reader) shall be pleased to learn that it's now possible to unlock their iPhone or iPad after a restart using only their voice.
How to See iOS and iPadOS 14.6 Changelogs
To view the changelog listing all the new features and fixes in iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6, select the option Learn More when checking for updates in Settings.
Alternatively, consult the following Apple support documents:
Information on bug fixes and the security content of these updates is on Apple's website.
How to Get and Install iOS and iPadOS 14.6
Apple lets you install software updates wirelessly without having to configure anything.
To update the software powering your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to the most recent version, go to Settings > General, then tap Software Update. If you see a message letting you know that a new update is available, choose Download and Install to continue.
Once downloaded to your device, you'll need to tap Install to apply the update immediately. If you'd like the operating system to automatically install the downloaded update overnight, choose Later and then Install Tonight.
If asked, enter your device passcode. Be sure to plug your device into power and connect to the internet with Wi-Fi to download and install the update.
If Download iOS Updates and Install iOS Updates are both turned on in Settings > General > Software Update > Customize Automatic Updates, your device will automatically check for and download new updates, then update itself automatically overnight while charging.
Over-the-air software updates preserve all user settings, content and apps.
In other words, don't you worry a thing about losing everything or having to back up your device beforehand. Regardless, it's always a good idea to create a full backup of your iPhone or iPad in the Finder on your Mac or in iCloud as a just-in-case fallback.