For the first time in 46 days, Apple has released a new software update for both the iPhone and iPad. The new updates, iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5, should be available on all compatible devices right now. Whether you’ve already updated, or whether you’re just learning about the update for the first time, here’s what you can expect.
According to the release notes for the new software, there are three main changes to expect on iPhone, and one for iPad. First up, on iPhone, you’ll find that Wallet now lets you send and request money from your Apple Cash card (the digital card that accumulates the cash back from your Apple Card). This is a welcome extension to iMessage’s Apple Pay feature, which lets you send money to and request money from other iMessage users. Now, you should be able to do so from the Apple Cash card itself in Wallet, so you’ll know from the get-go how much Apple Cash money you have on hand.
Next, we have an update for Apple Podcasts. The company added a new setting in iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5 that limits the number of episodes saved to your iPhone or iPad while automatically deleting older titles. This change is necessary, if not a bit late: Apple’s big Podcasts redesign last year made it all too common for settings to get scrambled, resulting in way too many episode saving to your device. Hard drives filled up, data management out the window: madness. Hopefully, this new update mitigates this issue somewhat.
Last up, we have an iPhone bug fix: Apple has fixed an issue where home automations might fail if they were triggered by people arriving or leaving. Walking into or leaving your home is a big sell for setting up home automations, as doing one or the other can allow you to automatically adjust things like lighting, air conditioning, and home security, so Apple squashing this bug is definitely a good thing.
Still, this update is undeniably minor. We aren’t getting new emoji, flashy new features, or major bug fixes for other issues you might be dealing with. Don’t fret: Apple is set to announce iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 at next month’s WWDC event, which will be sure to feature big changes to your iPhone and iPad. Or at least, more changes than 15.5 provides.
How to update your iPhone and iPad to 15.5
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As of this writing, the update should be available on all compatible devices. That includes iPhone 6S and newer, iPod touch (7th generation), iPad (5th generation) and newer, iPad Air 2 and newer, iPad Pro mini 4 and newer, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation) and newer, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, and iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation) and newer.
To update, head to Settings > General > Software Update, then wait for iOS or iPadOS to check for new software. When it appears, follow the on-screen instructions to download and install 15.5 to your device.