Now that iOS 17 has become available to anyone with a new iPhone, Apple is shifting its attention to the minor releases that will follow. After all, iOS 17.0 doesn't introduce all of the features and changes the company previewed during WWDC23. Instead, the firm will gradually roll them out through smaller updates that launch throughout the upcoming months. These anticipated introductions include the Apple Journal app, collaborative playlists in Apple Music, and more. iOS 17.1 beta 2 is now available to developers, and it could potentially pack some of these features. Below you will find a list of everything new in this version.

What's new in iOS 17.1 beta 2

iOS 17.0 ringtones added back

Following their removal in iOS 17.1 beta 1, iOS 17.0's new ringtones have returned in iOS 17.1 beta 2. The new tones work across ringtones, alarms, notification alerts, and more.

Support for Double Tap on compatible watches

Those with an Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2 running at least watchOS 10.1 beta 2 can now customize the Double Tap feature in the Watch app on iOS 17.1 beta 2.

New StandBy settings

iOS 17.1 beta 2 also introduces new options for the StandBy mode. You can now customize whether the display turns off automatically, after 20 seconds, or never.

We're currently testing iOS 17.1 beta 2 and digging through it to uncover the other fresh additions and tweaks it may offer. We will update this article if we spot any other noticeable or significant changes, so make sure to visit and refresh this page later on. In the meantime, you may want to read Apple's official release notes, where the company tends to highlight the modifications, bugs, and fixes included in certain build.

Beta 1

Favorites in Apple Music

iOS 17.1 beta 1 introduces a new favoriting system in the Apple Music app, allowing users to quickly star a song from the Now Playing screen and other locations. Users can then filter their library based on their favorites, and the algorithm also uses it to provide more relevant recommendations.

Smarter playlists

Apple Music on iOS 17.1 beta 1 also suggests similar songs that users can add to an existing playlist, based on the current track list's genre and vibe.

AirDrop using internet

With iOS 17.1 beta 1, users can rely on the internet to upload and download the rest of the files they're trying to AirDrop if the two iPhones are no longer in close proximity.

Bank account details in Wallet

Eligible users can link their bank accounts to the Wallet app on iOS 17.1 beta 1 to see their balance, previous transactions, and other relevant details.

iOS 17.0 ringtones removed

With the initial iOS 17.0 release, Apple introduced dozens of new ringtones and alerts. It appears that iOS 17.1 beta 1 removes these tones for the time being. It's still unclear whether Apple will reintroduce them in a future build or not.

How to install the update

Assuming you're already enrolled in Apple's developer program, you can follow the steps below to download and install the latest beta build.

1. Launch the Settings app on your compatible iPhone.
2. Head to the General section.
3. Tap on Software Update.
4. Give the page a few second to refresh. If the update doesn't appear, force-quit the Settings app and go through the aforementioned steps again.
5. Once the update appears, hit the Download and Install button.
6. You may be asked to Agree to the terms of service. Do so after reading them carefully and thoroughly.
7. The update will then start downloading.
8. Once it finishes downloading, it will take a few minutes to prepare.
9. When the preparation is over, it'll install the update if your battery has enough power.
10. Make sure to keep your iPhone connected to a power source at all times until the update finishes installation.
11. You're now running the latest iOS beta version on your iPhone.