Five Things To Know About Apple’s New iOS 14.5 Update

Apple has finally released iOS 14.5 with lots of new features and improvements after a beta testing period.

1. Unlock Your iPhone With Apple Watch When Wearing a Mask

Unlocking iPhones While Wearing a Face Mask: Now Easier, If You Have iOS 14.5 and an Apple Watch

The most significant improvement in iOS 14.5 is the addition of a new feature that lets you unlock your iPhone using your Apple Watch while wearing a face mask. This feature includes watchOS 7.4, which is currently being rolled out to Apple Watch users.

To switch this feature on, go to your iPhone’s Settings app, select Face ID and Passcode, and then search for the new “Unlock with Apple Watch” toggle.

So how to unlock your iPhone with Apple watch?

When you update and activate this feature, the next time you wear a face mask, your iPhone will unlock automatically with your Apple Watch. You’ll get a haptic feedback notification on your Apple Watch when your iPhone unlocks, indicating that your iPhone was activated by the Apple Watch. There’s also the option to “Lock iPhone” right from the Apple Watch notification.

2. App Tracking Transparency

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The new App Tracking Transparency functionality is included in iOS 14.5 as well. This requires users permission before monitoring them through several apps and websites.

When you open the Facebook app, for example, you’ll see a prompt that says the app wants to monitor you through applications and services. There will be two choices to choose from: “Ask App not to Monitor” or “Allow.”

You can also see a list of applications that have requested permission to monitor you in the “Privacy” section of the Settings app and make adjustments as required.

3. New Emoji

Emoji and Memoji Updates: Apple's New Designs and Upgrades

For iPhone and iPad users, iOS 14.5 includes over 200 new emoji, and they are available across iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, tvOS 14.5, watchOS 7.4, and macOS 11.3. The new emoji are based on the Emoji 13.1 standard, which was approved in 2020.

Additional emoji include characters for face exhaling, face with spiral eyes, face in clouds, hearts on fire, mending heart, and woman with a beard, variants for common emoji including couples kissing etc.

4. AirTag

Here’s the part of iOS 14.5 that directly impacts AirTag, the new key finder from Apple.

Find My gets an update to add support for AirTag, which lets you track the location of various belongings fitted with Apple’s new device. iPhone 11 and 12 users will be able to use Precision Finding, a tracking feature that works with the Ultra Wideband sensor in those phones to guide you more precisely to a missing item.

5. Choose A New Voice For Siri

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In the latest iOS 14.5, Siri will no longer default to a female voice. Instead, you will be prompted to choose the voice you prefer for the digital assistant. The OS will include two new voice options for English speakers.

Additionally, Siri will soon have the ability to call 911 for you, with a prompt of, “Hey Siri, call emergency.” You’ll see a three-second countdown, giving you the option to cancel the request.