iOS 14.5 Brings App Tracking Controls and Apple Watch Unlocking to iPhones
Apple's iOS 14.5 update introduces major new features for iPhone users, most notably requiring apps to ask permission before tracking your activity across other companies' apps and websites. The update also allows users to unlock their phones with an Apple Watch while wearing a mask.
Apple releases iOS 14.5 as the most significant update to its mobile operating system since the original iOS 14 debut. The update stands out from typical routine tweaks by introducing high-profile features that immediately change how users interact with their iPhones on a daily basis.
The most notable addition is App Tracking Transparency, a privacy feature that forces apps to explicitly ask for permission before tracking user data across other applications and websites. Beyond privacy controls, iOS 14.5 allows users to unlock their iPhone using a paired Apple Watch while wearing a face mask, eliminating the need to enter a passcode.
The software update also brings expanded Siri voice options, support for Apple's new AirTag item trackers, and minor interface enhancements throughout the system. Users with compatible devices can install the stable update right now, with the software running smoothly on both newer models and older devices like the original iPhone SE.