iOS 14.5 & iPadOS 14.5 Update Released, Download Now

Apple has released iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 for iPhone and iPad. The updates include a handful of new features, new emoji icons, and other improvements, and are therefor recommended to install for all iPhone and iPad users running prior versions of 14.x.

Separately, Apple has also released updates for macOS Big Sur 11.3, small updates for macOS Catalina and Mojave, and updates for watchOS 7.4 and tvOS 14.5.

iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 includes two new Siri voice options, removes gender and accent specifications for Siri voices, and no longer defaults to being a female voice in the USA. Additionally, iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 includes support for Playstation 5 and Xbox X game controllers, a new feature allowing users to unlock an iPhone using Apple Watch, dual SIM card support for 5G cellular networks, some additional privacy features, and a handful of other smaller features and changes. You’ll also find new Emoji available, including a woman with a beard, numerous skin color choices for couple emojis, syringe, a sick coughing face, dazed face, heart on fire, and a bandaged heart.

How to Download & Update iOS 14.5 / iPadOS 14.5

Be sure to backup iPhone or iPad to iCloud, iTunes, or Finder before installing system software updates on your devices. Failure to backup can lead to data loss.

The easiest way to download the latest iOS / iPadOS update is via the Settings app.

1. Open the “Settings” app on iPhone or iPad
2. Go to “General”
3. Go to “Software Update”
4. Select “Download and Install” for iOS 14.5 / iPadOS 14.5

Installing the update will require the device to reboot. You’ll also need to be sure the device is either plugged in, or over 55% battery capacity charge available.

Users can also update to the latest iOS / iPadOS versions through a computer, by connecting their iPhone or iPad to a Mac or Windows PC and updating through Finder or iTunes, respectively.

Advanced users can also decide to update system software manually by using IPSW firmware files for their specific devices.

iOS 14.5 & iPadOS 14.5 ISPW Direct Download Links

iOS 14.5 IPSW

• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XR
• iPhone X
• iPhone 8
• iPhone 8 Plus
• iPhone 7
• iPhone 7 Plus
• iPhone 6s
• iPhone 6s Plus
• iPhone SE – 2nd generation 2020 model
• iPhone SE – 1st generation
• iPod touch – 7th generation

iPadOS 14.5 IPSW

• 12.9″ iPad Pro – 5th gen M1 (2021)
• 12.9″ iPad Pro – 4th generation (2020)
• 12.9″ iPad Pro – 3rd generation (2018)
• 12.9″ iPad Pro – 2nd generation
• 12.9″ iPad Pro – 1st generation
• 11″ iPad Pro – 3rd generation M1 (2021)
• 11″ iPad Pro – 2nd generation (2020)
• 11″ iPad Pro – 1st generation (2018)
• 10.5″ iPad Pro
• 9.7″ iPad Pro
• iPad Air – 4th generation
• iPad Air – 3rd generation
• iPad Air – 2nd generation
• iPad – 5th generation
• iPad – 6th generation
• 10.2″ iPad – 7th generation
• 10.2″ iPad – 8th generation
• iPad mini – 5th generation
• iPad mini 4

iOS 14.5 / iPadOS 14.5 Release Notes

Release notes accompanying iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 are as follows:

Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch
– Ability to unlock your ‌iPhone‌ X and later with Apple Watch Series 3 and later when you attempt to use Face ID while wearing a face mask

AirTag and Find My
– Support for AirTag to keep track of and find your important items like your keys, wallet, backpack and more, privately and securely in the Find My app
– Precision Finding uses visual, audible, and haptic feedback to guide you directly to your nearby AirTag using Ultra Wideband provided by the U1 chip on iPhone 11 and ‌iPhone 12‌ models
– AirTag can be located by playing a sound via the built-in speaker
– The ‌Find My‌ network with hundreds of millions of devices can help you find your AirTag, even when it isn’t nearby
– Lost Mode notifies you when your AirTag is found, and you can enter a phone number where you can be contacted

Emoji
– Support for separate skin tones for each individual in all variations of the couple kissing emoji and couple with heart emoji
– New face emojis, heart emojis, woman with a beard emoji

Siri
– ‌Siri‌ now includes more diverse voice options
– Incoming calls can be announced with ‌Siri‌, including who is calling, when you’re wearing your ‌AirPods‌ or compatible Beats headphones, and you can answer hands-free
– Group FaceTime calls are supported by asking ‌Siri‌ to ‌FaceTime‌ a list of contacts or a group name from Messages
– Emergency contacts can be called by asking ‌Siri‌

Privacy
– App Tracking Transparency lets you control which apps are allowed to track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites for ads or sharing with data brokers

Apple Music
– Share your favorite lyrics using Messages, Facebook, and Instagram Stories, and subscribers can play the snippet in Messages without leaving the conversation
– City charts showcase what’s popular in over 100 cities from all over the world

Podcasts
– Podcasts Show Pages are redesigned to make it easier to start listening
– Option to save and download episodes, automatically adding them to your Library for quick access
– Download behavior and notification settings can be customized on a show-by-show basis
– Top Charts and popular categories in Search help you discover new shows

5G improvements
– Dual SIM support enables 5G connectivity on the line that’s using cellular data on ‌iPhone 12‌ models
– Smart Data Mode improvements further optimize your experience on 5G networks for better battery life and data usage on ‌iPhone 12‌ models
– 5G international roaming enabled on supported carriers on ‌iPhone 12‌ models

News
– Redesigned News+ tab enables Apple News+ subscribers to quickly find, download, and manage magazine and newspaper issues
– All-new Search experience that helps you find relevant topics, channels, and stories

Maps
– Accidents, hazards, or speed checks along your route can be reported by telling ‌Siri‌ on your ‌iPhone‌ or on CarPlay
– Estimated time of arrival (ETA) can be shared when cycling or walking, in addition to driving, by asking ‌Siri‌ or tapping on the route card at the bottom of the screen, then tapping Share ETA

Reminders
– Ability to sort reminders by Title, Priority, Due Date, or Creation date
– Option to print your reminder lists

Translate
– Translation playback speed can be adjusted by long pressing the play button

Gaming
– Xbox Series X S Wireless Controller or Sony PS5 DualSenseTM Wireless Controller support
Fitness+
– Ability to stream audio and video content from Apple Fitness+ workouts to ‌AirPlay‌ 2-enabled TVs and devices

CarPlay
– ETA in ‌Apple Maps‌ can be easily shared while driving with new ‌Siri‌ or keyboard controls in ‌CarPlay‌

This release also fixes the following issues:
– Messages at the bottom of the thread may be hidden by the keyboard under certain circumstances
– Deleted messages may still appear in Spotlight search
– Messages may persistently fail to send texts in some threads
– Mail would not load new emails for some users until restarting the device
– Call blocking and identification section may not appear in Phone settings
– iCloud Tabs may not appear in Safari
– ‌iCloud‌ Keychain could be prevented from turning off
– Reminders created via ‌Siri‌ may be unintentionally set for early morning hours
– Battery health reporting system will recalibrate maximum battery capacity and peak performance capability on ‌iPhone 11‌ models to address inaccurate estimates of battery health reporting for some users (https://support.apple.com/HT212247)
– Optimization to reduce the appearance of a dim glow that may appear at reduced brightness levels with black backgrounds on ‌iPhone 12‌ models
– ‌AirPods‌ audio routing to incorrect device for Automatic Switching
– ‌AirPods‌ Automatic Switching notifications might be missing or duplicated
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

watchOS 7.4 Release Notes

watchOS 7.4 was also released today and is available to download for compatible Apple Watch devices. Release notes for watchOS 7.4 are as follows:

watchOS 7.4 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:

– Ability to unlock your ‌iPhone‌ X and later with Apple Watch when you attempt to use Face ID while wearing a face mask
– Option to classify Bluetooth device type in Settings for correct identification of headphones for audio notifications
– Ability to stream audio and video content from Apple Fitness+ workouts to ‌AirPlay‌ 2-enabled TVs and devices
– Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Australia and Vietnam
– Support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in Australia and Vietnam

Aside from iOS and iPadOS, Apple has also released the MacOS Big Sur 11.3 update for Mac users running Big Sur, alongside Safari updates to macOS Catalina and macOS Mojave, updates to watchOS for Apple Watch, and an update for Apple TV’s tvOS 14.5.