What’s new in iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5?
Apple has now released several beta versions of iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 iOS and macOS for developers to test and the software is nearing release to the general public.
It’s not a huge update, but there are some welcome enhancements. Here are the new features coming to your iPhone or iPad.
What’s new in iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5?
Registered developers can download the profile for the first developer betas from the Apple Developer Center. Future beta versions are then available over the air.
Face ID works with masks
You can now unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask – but the feature only works on iPhone (not iPad) and it requires an Apple Watch. Your watch essentially unlocks your iPhone when you try to use Face ID while wearing a mask that’s covering both your mouth and nose.
Note: Your Apple Watch must be on your wrist and unlocked.
Tracking controls
Apple said developers are now required to get your permission before tracking you, and you can see or change which apps you have given permission in Settings.
Siri update
You can now ask Siri to call your emergency contacts.
Game controller support
While running iOS/iPadOS 14.5, your iPhone and iPad can support the latest Xbox and Playstation game controllers.
Scribble language expansion
Apple said it expanded the handwriting recognition and Scribble features on iPad to support Portuguese, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. That means, with an Apple Pencil, you can write by hand in these languages in any text field, as well as easily select, cut, and paste text into another doc as typed text.
Anything else?
Also, Apple included “improvements” to additional features, such as Share ETA in CarPlay and 5G global DualSIM support.
Apple has also announced next-hour precipitation – a feature that launched in the US with iOS 14 – to the UK and Ireland. Available in the Weather app and in the Weather widget, the feature is essentially a new chart that shows a minute-by-minute forecast of rain or snow over the next hour.
When can you get iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5?
Once developers test the betas, Apple will iron out any bugs and officially release the software to the public. That should happen in the next few weeks, possibly during April.
