iOS 10.3 Update Released [IPSW Download Links]

Mar 27, 2017 - 35 Comments

iOS 10.3 update

Apple has released the final version of iOS 10.3 to users of iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Any device capable of running a prior iOS 10 release can install the iOS 10.3 update.

iOS 10.3 brings with it a variety of bug fixes, feature enhancements, and improvements, as well as the introduction of the new APFS new file system. Separately, tvOS 10.2 and watchOS 3.2 are also available as updates.

The most significant new feature addition to iOS 10.3 is probably the Find My AirPods feature, which offers users a way to help locate a missing wireless AirPod. The transition to the APFS file system is also fairly significant, and it adds a variety of benefits to app developers, aims to improve performance and file handling, expand file system capabilities, and also aims to improve encryption on iOS devices. Other minor adjustments are bug fixes to iOS are also included, the full release notes of iOS 10.3 are below for the curious.

How to Update and Install iOS 10.3 on iPhone, iPad

The simplest way to install iOS 10.3 update is to use the Software Update mechanism in iOS:

  1. Back up the iPhone or iPad before beginning, either to iTunes or iCloud, or both
  2. Open the “Settings” app in iOS and go to “General”
  3. Choose “Software Update”
  4. When iOS 10.3 appears, choose to “Download & Install”

iOS 10.3 update download

The device will download iOS 10.3 and then reboot to complete the update.

Always backup iOS devices before installing system software updates. Because iOS 10.3 changes the device file system to APFS, it is particularly important to backup your iPhone or iPad before installing this iOS update. Do not skip making a backup, avoiding a backup could lead to data loss.

iOS 10.3 IPSW Direct Download Links

Some users may wish to use IPSW files to update iOS to 10.3, those can be downloaded directly from Apple using the following links:

Using IPSW requires iTunes and a computer, as well as a USB cable.

iOS 10.3 Release Notes

Release notes accompanying iOS 10.3 are as follows:

iOS 10.3 introduces new features including the ability to locate AirPods using Find my iPhone and more ways to use Siri with payment, ride booking and automaker apps.

Find My iPhone
– View the current or last known location of your AirPods
– Play a sound on one or both AirPods to help you find them

Siri
– Support for paying and checking status of bills with payment apps
– Support for scheduling with ride booking apps
– Support for checking car fuel level, lock status, turning on lights and activating horn with automaker apps
– Cricket sports scores and statistics for Indian Premier League and International Cricket Council

CarPlay
– Shortcuts in the status bar for easy access to last used apps
– Apple Music Now Playing screen gives access to Up Next and the currently playing song’s album
– Daily curated playlists and new music categories in Apple Music

Other improvements and fixes
– Rent once and watch your iTunes movies across your devices
– New Settings unified view for your Apple ID account information, settings and devices
– Hourly weather in Maps using 3D Touch on the displayed current temperature
– Support for searching “parked car” in Maps
– Calendar adds the ability to delete an unwanted invite and report it as junk
– Home app support to trigger scenes using accessories with switches and buttons
– Home app support for accessory battery level status
– Podcasts support for 3D Touch and Today widget to access recently updated shows
– Podcast shows or episodes are shareable to Messages with full playback support
– Fixes an issue that could prevent Maps from displaying your current location after resetting Location & Privacy
– VoiceOver stability improvements for Phone, Safari and Mail

tvOS 10.2, watchOS 3.2, MacOS Sierra 10.12.4 Updates Available too

Apple has also issued minor updates to tvOS and watchOS, both available through the devices respective Software Update mechanism.

Additionally, Mac users will find macOS Sierra 10.12.4 available to download on their computers.

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Posted by: Paul Horowitz in iPad, iPhone, News

35 Comments

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  1. dk2149 says:

    Guys help me, I have downloaded IOS 10.3.1 for iPhone6{iPhone_4.7_10.3.1_14E304_Restore } here but when I try to open it on iTunes I can not see the IPSW file only the DMG file. So what can I do? I need help

  2. Simon says:

    stuck in an endless cycle of “can’t approve this iPhone”…
    any ideas welcome!

  3. Jochen2d says:

    The IPSW-link for the iPhone 5C seems to wrong!

  4. Carl says:

    No thanks. I hate updating iOS, my iPhone has so too much important data on it to gamble another unnecessary update, yet Apple is always trying to jam an update on me that is never helpful.

  5. Jim Roberts says:

    Last sentence should read “…with several clicks through General also,…” Have no idea why “General” keeps getting dropped.

  6. Jim Roberts says:

    Two things: 1) why in the hell would you even buy the mediocre AirPods, especially at their inflated price? Also the “tracking” only shows where they were the last time they connected, as they have no GPS of their own. 2) The back up (and iCloud) has moved. It’s in your profile at the top of the Settings. You can get to it with several clicks through also, but going through the profile is more direct.

    • Jim Roberts says:

      Last sentence should read “…with several clicks through also,…”

    • Luis says:

      I agree, the airpods are too expensive. iPhone 7 gen users are better off using either the lightning earpods supplied with the iphone or any other regular headphones with the 3.5 mm to lightning adapter, also supplied with the iphone.

  7. Sebby says:

    Lots of vitriol on here, and for once I disagree with it. Not only is it beneficial for updates to contain only those important, under-the-hood changes necessary for continued evolution (remember Snow Leopard?) but for the longest time Apple haven’t been doing this, resulting in lots of upset people upgrading for all the right reasons only to be slapped in the face by some undesirable change.

    In the present instance the switch to APFS has gone absolutely smoothly and I am very, very pleased by how much else hasn’t been changed, broken, ruined, debilitated, etc. There are plenty of things, already, to complain about. This isn’t one of them.

  8. John Owens says:

    Same here, fast uneventful install.

  9. NickO says:

    Installed on my iPhone and IPad, no problems, fast uneventful install–as always.

  10. Gorbnar says:

    Yippee Kai Yay!

  11. Pat Hunt says:

    Downloaded 10.11.6 today and immediately Safari began to misbehave. Every time I set about dragging something from a website to iMac desktop the app crashes. I am sorry I bothered. Should have waited. Other users beware. Now I am using Chrome with no issue at all.

  12. Maureen Francea says:

    What is an AirPod?

    • no way says:

      Apples stupid BT ear buds, their excuse to not have a standard 1/8″ output anymore forcing consumers to buy these , listen to poor quality BT boradcast music, and lose one so they have to buy another pair, because I bet the farm you can’t buy just one!!!!

      • John Owens says:

        And you always have to remember to charge them.
        How long before these get thrown in the drawer or garbage can and what about when the batts go bad ?
        dumb idea.

        • no way says:

          Agreed, and even dumber to ELIMINATE the industry standard 1/8″ TRS headphone output.

          • Carl says:

            The iPhone 7 is my least favorite iPhone, I actually do not like it and wish I did not buy it. It’s has less features, there is no benefit to losing the headphone jack at all.

            I tell everyone to buy an iPhone 6S if they ask me my opinion, the iPhone 7 feels like a general downgrade to me after using it since the launch day.

        • Luis says:

          Well the airpods are not absolutely necessary to buy. The iphone 7 did come with earpods in the box like all previous iphones, only now they have a lightning connector instead of a 3.5 mm audio plug. And it also came with a 3.5 to lightning adapter in the box for those who had bought other headphones and still want to use them.

          • martin says:

            Can’t charge and listen at the same time. That’s a fundamental design flaw. There is no benefit to anybody losing the headphone output. It’s all about making more money for Apple by pushing the consumer down the bespoke EarPods route.

            It will backfire on Apple in my humble opinion.

            It’s the same with MacBooks. Most people would rather keep the inputs than have a really thin device. Again, Apple always think they know best.

          • Aj says:

            The result of losing the headphone jack is that I no longer listen to any music on my iPhone 7, whereas I used to listen to a ton of music on prior iPhones. Every audio input I have requires AUX, every speaker and car has AUX. None have Bluetooth (which is lower quality anyway).

            I now listen to music only at home on my computer, was that the result Apple intended? I thought the iPhone was supposed to be an iPod replacement? So much for that idea.

            Literally zero benefit to losing headphone jack, none. It’s a downgrade.

      • Luis says:

        No, that’s just not true. Consumers won’t be forced to buy the expensive airpods just because they have no 3.5 mm headphone jack, they have other cheaper alternatives that clearly you don’t know about.

        Every iphone 7 and 7 plus included in the box a pair of regular corded earpods that now have a lightning connector on the end instead of the old 3.5 mm (1/8″) plug. And also included in the box was a little 3.5 mm to lightning adapter so anybody who had bought other headphones before, could continue to use them with the new iphone. There would be no strict need to pay the $169 for the airpods.

  13. David says:

    Installed and no probs here. Why install… ? It’s not all about more more more features… bug fixes are always welcome on my devices. Lord knows there are more than we need.

  14. Erin DuLuc says:

    No new features, no improvements. Why bother with this one?

    If an update goes wrong there is a lot to lose, yet there is nothing to gain.

    • arnst says:

      I read your email

    • no way says:

      More than “alot” there is NO way to revert once you update, what a stupid, stupid plan that is.

      I NEVER do updates from Apple when they are released, I and am typically 1 version back on iOS, although Apple is so quick to suspend app update compatibility that is becoming more difficult.

      Meanwhile my barely 3 year old mini v1 I paid over half a grand for is legacy. Never again will I give Apple money for these toss away bobbles.

      • martin says:

        There’s always a way to revert back. Take a back up and restore if you don’t like the new version.

        • Luis says:

          But reverting that way, as far as I’ve heard (I’ve never downgraded a device of mine), is only possible for a few days until Apple stops signing the previous version. After that, it is no longer possible to re-install an older iOS version and you have to stick to the latest.

    • User says:

      https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207617

      85 reasons to bother.

      Not only are the “bad” guys interested in your data, so are the “good” guys at the alphabet agencies.

      • no way says:

        1 reason not to that trumps all, NO WAY TO REVERT IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT OR IT DOESN’T WORK PROPERLY!!!!!

        • Luis says:

          I understand that it is actually possible to revert by restoring (back up your data before), but only for a few days until Apple stops signing iOS 10.2.1.

  15. Ogles of Kansas says:

    I will skip this one for a few weeks and let the problems sort out….

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