iOS 17: Seven Features That Might Be Coming to the iPhone This Fall

With less than two months to go until the Worldwide Developers Conference, rumors about Apple's next-generation version of iOS have been picking up. iOS 17 isn't expected to have a major headline feature like iOS 16's Lock Screen, but there are some notable refinements in the works.

iOS 17 on Phone Feature
In fact, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who often provides reliable details on Apple's plans, says that iOS 17 will include "several of users' most requested features," which sounds very enticing. We've since heard hints of what might be coming from a MacRumors forum source that's been reliable in the past, so we thought we'd highlight some of the additions that we might see.

Control Center Revamp

We've had a dedicated Control Center since iOS 7, but it hasn't seen notable updates since iOS 11. That could change in iOS 17, with Apple rumored to be planning to overhaul the Control Center.

control center
The Control Center could get a new look, and it could be more customizable, with users able to select what's shown with more granularity and pick where controls are located for a streamlined interface that's tailored to each person's needs.

More Dynamic Island Functionality

Apple introduced the Dynamic Island with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, and with this year's iPhone 15 lineup, all models are expected to feature the Dynamic Island instead of the notch.

iPhone 14 Pro Sports Scores Dynamic Island
Right now, the ‌Dynamic Island‌ can display timers, sports scores, incoming phone calls, low battery alerts, Apple Pay confirmations, charging status, Maps directions, and more, but it is still limited in what it can do, especially for third-party apps.

While we don't have a lot of detail, Apple is allegedly planning to add more functionality to the ‌Dynamic Island‌ to make it more useful. Siri, for example, might transition to the ‌Dynamic Island‌. When you activate ‌Siri‌, the ‌Siri‌ icon could be displayed in the ‌Dynamic Island‌ rather than at the bottom of the screen, which would make ‌Siri‌ less obtrusive.

Much Needed Performance Improvements

Before there were a range of quality of life features planned for iOS 17, Gurman claimed that it would be a "tuneup" update focused on fixing bugs and improving performance. Apple still seems to be focused on boosting performance, efficiency, and stability.

Apple is said to be focusing on long-term support for older devices, which suggests that work is being done on making iOS 17 a bug-free update even on iPhones that don't have the latest hardware.

Active Widgets

Apple is "testing" an active widget experience for the Home Screen and Today View on the ‌iPhone‌, but this apparently isn't a feature that's a sure thing for iOS 17.

iOS 17 Widgets
Active widgets would be widgets that are more interactive, doing more than simply displaying information or letting you tap into an app. Active widgets could include one-tap buttons, sliders, and more, making widgets more dynamic.

Better Search

New versions of iOS often come with improvements to Search and Spotlight, and it sounds like iOS 17 will be no exception. There's been a lot of attention on ChatGPT and other chatbot experiences that use AI trained on web content, but we're not expecting anything quite that advanced from Apple.

photos search spotlight
Rumors about improved search have not been specific, but in the past, Apple has worked to streamline search results, locate text in photos and videos, and allow users to search for specific subjects in images. Improvements to all of these features could be coming, along with new search capabilities.

One area that's in dire need of improvement is Apple's in-app search, like the search function for the Settings app. The Settings app often does not provide reliable results for the setting that's being sought, so hopefully this will be under the search improvement umbrella.

Alternate App Stores

European regulations will soon require Apple to support sideloading and alternate app stores, giving customers in Europe a way to access apps outside of the App Store.

iOS App Store General Feature Clorange
Apple is working on including this functionality in iOS 17, but unfortunately, it's only expected to be available for customers living in the European Union. If laws in other countries change, these capabilities could eventually expand, so it will be interesting to see how Apple ultimately handles sideloading.

We can expect Apple to have security checks for sideloaded apps similar to the Mac Gatekeeper function that prevents non-trusted software from being installed, and it's not going to be a way for developers to skirt fees. Apple still plans to charge developers for access to iOS, though the fees may be lower than the 15 to 30 percent that Apple collects now.

Apple has until March 2024 to comply with the new European laws, so while sideloading does not have to be in the first versions of iOS 17 that go out to the public, it does have to be implemented at some point during the iOS 17 development period.

A New CarPlay Experience

At WWDC 2022, Apple showed off a next-generation version of CarPlay that's expected to be implemented in 2023. It includes support for multiple displays in a vehicle, so the CarPlay experience can be implemented on the infotainment system, instrument cluster, and more.

next generation carplay multi display
Instrument cluster integration is a new feature that will give ‌CarPlay‌ more control over the vehicle's functions, and it will integrate with the speedometer, odometer, fuel gage, and more. Vehicle climate controls will be accessible directly through ‌CarPlay‌ so you won't have to exit out of the ‌CarPlay‌ system to adjust the heat or the AC, and Apple is also planning to add a series of useful widgets that will display information like trip duration, fuel economy, weather, HomeKit devices, and other details that you might want to have while driving.

Read More

There are even more features rumored for iOS 17, including changes to the always-on display, support for the upcoming AR/VR headset, Health app refinements, and additional Focus Mode filters. We keep track of all of the rumored changes to iOS 17 in our dedicated iOS 17 roundup, so it's worth bookmarking and checking in every now and then to see the latest.

Release Date

Apple will provide iOS 17 to developers after the WWDC keynote event on June 5, and that will give us the first look at the new features. Public beta testers will likely get access a month or so later in July, and then the software will launch in September alongside new ‌iPhone‌ models.

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
macbook pro blue green

When Will Apple Release the M5 MacBook Pro?

Wednesday March 26, 2025 4:53 pm PDT by
Apple regularly refreshes the MacBook Pro models, and a new version that uses M5 series chips is in the works. Apple just finished refreshing most of the Mac lineup with M4 chips, and now it's time for the M5. Rumors suggest that we could see the first M5 MacBook Pro models this fall. Design There have been no rumors of a design update for the M5 MacBook Pro models that are coming this...
iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Expected Next Week - Here Are the Release Notes

Friday March 28, 2025 2:01 pm PDT by
With the second release candidate of iOS 18.4 that Apple seeded out today, the company finally provided us with release notes that give a full rundown on what to expect. There's an Apple Vision Pro app, new Apple Intelligence features for notifications and additional language support, plus an Apple News Food feature for Apple News+ subscribers, and several updates that should improve the...
Facebook Feature

Facebook's New iPhone App Feature Turns the Clock Back to 2007

Thursday March 27, 2025 1:59 pm PDT by
In the mid-to-late 2000s, Facebook was all about staying connected with friends and family. However, as the social media platform added new features and grew over time, that core experience began to get drowned out. That changes starting now, according to Meta, which today introduced a new feature that will "bring back the joy" of classic Facebook. Specifically, Meta has redesigned the...
iOS 18 4 Ambient Music Control Center

How to Use iOS 18.4's New Ambient Music Feature in Control Center

Thursday March 27, 2025 7:45 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 18.4 update for the iPhone adds an Ambient Music feature to Control Center. Below, we take a closer look at how it works. iOS 18.4 is currently in beta, so the Ambient Music feature is not widely available yet. The update will likely be released to the general public next week. To use the feature on iOS 18.4, open Control Center and tap on the plus sign in the top-left...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1

'iPhone Fold' to Feature Metallic Glass Hinge That Resists Deformation

Thursday March 27, 2025 4:21 am PDT by
Last week, we covered a report claiming that Apple's book-style foldable iPhone (or "iPhone Fold," as we are provisionally calling it here) will use liquid metal hinges to improve durability and help minimize screen creasing. Today, a Chinese leaker provided more details on the properties of this hinge material that help to clarify why Apple chose it for its first foldable device. According...
Magic Mouse Green

What to Expect From the Magic Mouse 3

Saturday March 29, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Apple is reportedly working on a new Magic Mouse. Below, we recap what to expect. The two key rumors for the Magic Mouse 3 so far include a relocated charging port, along with a more ergonomic design. It was briefly rumored that the Magic Mouse 3 would also feature voice control, but that was misinterpreted information. Relocated Charging Port While the Magic Mouse switched from...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Six Things to Know About Apple's Upcoming Foldable iPhone

Friday March 28, 2025 3:54 pm PDT by
We've been hearing rumors about a foldable iPhone for almost a decade now, but it looks like we might finally see the device come to fruition in 2026. We're going to be waiting many more months for the foldable iPhone, but so far we're hearing good things. Apple wants to make it creaseless. It's taken Apple multiple years to design a foldable iPhone that it's satisfied with because Apple ...
Apple Lumon Terminal Pro

Apple's Mac Site Features Fictional 'Lumon Terminal Pro'

Wednesday March 26, 2025 12:19 pm PDT by
Apple is going all out with promotions for the popular Severance Apple TV+ show today, and as of right now, you'll find a new "Lumon Terminal Pro" listed on Apple's Mac site. The Lumon Terminal Pro is designed to look similar to the machines that Severance employees like Mark S. and Helly R. use for macrodata refinement. The Terminal features a blue keyboard, a small display with wide...

Top Rated Comments

xxray Avatar
26 months ago
I’m in desperate need of better battery life as a feature.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
3rdiguy Avatar
26 months ago
I would love it if they brought back landscape orientation Home Screen
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
patent10021 Avatar
26 months ago
No Blu-ray?
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BC2009 Avatar
26 months ago
I would like them to fix that bug where the touch screen stops responding to touch for a while or until I lock the phone with the side button and unlock it again.

Nothing like spending 5 minutes on hold with an automated phone system and have it ask you to press 1 or 2 to be connected to the right person and you cannot press either so it hangs up on you and you have to start over again.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Dee Avatar
26 months ago
Its crazy how hyped we become this time of the year, just to ultimately deal with one year of bug fixes from September to June.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
antiprotest Avatar
26 months ago
Sometimes if I could do split screen on the iPhone even if only for a few minutes it would make certain operations much easier. But I don't expect that to come.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)