List of best features of iOS 17

Here are the best features introduced by Apple with the latest iOS 17.

The iOS 17 update for the iPhone offers several new features, some of which are particularly useful. Users who have downloaded the new update for Apple smartphones (and who, therefore, have an iOS 17 compatible iPhone) will have already experienced the additions to the Messages and Contacts apps, interactive widgets, Stand-by mode, live voicemail and Siri improvements. Let’s see, then, what the best iOS 17 features are, but first we suggest you take a look at our guide on how to install iOS 17 on iPhone, as it is a related topic.

What is NameDrop and how it works

NameDrop is one of the best iOS 17 features. It aims to speed up the sharing of contact information between two different iPhones. So if you’ve met a classmate you haven’t seen in a while and he or she also owns an Apple smartphone, you can simply bring the two devices together to quickly exchange phone numbers, email addresses and more, such as sharing content or launching SharePlay to watch a movie. Not only that, but NameDrop also works between an iPhone and an Apple Watch.

For it to work, the two devices must have iOS 17 installed and they must also be kept close to each other: it is advisable to place one smartphone on top of the other. To use NameDrop on the iPhone, simply follow these steps:

1. Unlock both iPhones
2. Swipe down on both from the top right-hand corner to open the Control Centre. If this is the third-generation iPhone SE, the Control Centre opens with a swipe from bottom to top
3. Tap and hold the cellular data icon (second icon, next to aeroplane mode)
4. On the new screen, click on AirDrop
5. Select the entry All for 10 minutes
6. Bring the two iPhones together
7. You will see a nice animation with light effects at the top of both iPhones
8. Where created, posters of the two contacts will appear
9. Choose share or receive contact to move contact details including email address, phone number, contact poster and other information from one smartphone to the other
10. Click Finish to conclude.

What it is and how to activate and customise contact posters

Related to what we have just talked about are contact posters, i.e. images or emoji to personalise your contact details with specific people.

These special images will appear full screen on the recipient’s iPhone with every call. This is, in any case, a kind of ‘extension’ of the customisation introduced by Apple on the lock screen. And in accordance with this, it is possible to customise contact posters with colours, fonts and much more.

And speaking of stickers, with iOS 17, stickers are now integrated into the keyboard, so they can be added to all apps that support them where you can type: think, for example, emails.

How to create contact posters on the iPhone

Let’s see, then, how to create contact posters on iPhone with iOS 17:

1. After updating iPhone to iOS 17, open the Phone app to update your name and photo
2. Alternatively, open the Phone app and click on My tab in the Contacts tab
3. Click on Photo and Poster Contacts
4. Enter your First Name and Last Name
5. Enable name and photo sharing
6. Under Share automatically, tap on Edit and click on Create new
7. Choose what to share (photo taken with Camera, Monogram, image or Memoji)
8. Customise the screen with colours and fonts to your liking
9. Click Update
10. Click on Finish
11. Click on Use to confirm

How to delete contact posters on iPhone

To delete iPhone contact posters, open the Phone app and proceed as follows:

1. Navigate to Contacts
2. Click on My Card
3. Click on Contacts Photos and Posters and tap on Edit
4. Click on the trash icon to delete the customisation.

What it is and how to activate Standby Mode

With iOS 17, the iPhone turns into a smart display, with the time always in view and notifications received as soon as the smartphone is put on charge and placed horizontally. In this way, the device turns into a real bedside alarm clock, capable of showing you a picture, widgets or the time.

Let’s see how to activate Standby mode on the iPhone with iOS 17:

1. All you need is to install iOS 17, activate StandBy and place the phone horizontally on a stand, with wireless or wired charging enabled.
2. Open the Settings app
3. Click on StandBy
4. Move the switch to the right to activate the function

From the same section you can customise the function: we suggest you read our dedicated in-depth review.

What’s new in Messages iOS 17

The Messages app has also undergone some improvements, most notably an expandable menu for viewing, rearranging and deleting messages according to your needs.

Also not to be underestimated are Search Filters, which allows you to search anything from a contact even faster, and Catch Up, which shows the last unread messages in a specific conversation.

In addition, iOS 17 allows Live Photos to be turned into stickers and customised with some nice effects, so the stickers can be sent within the Messages app. Features that complete the app include:

• All good: to automatically send a reassuring message to chosen contacts when you get home
• Voice message transcription: voice messages are automatically transcribed, also in Italian
• New + button: to quickly see all the content you can share, even from other apps
• First unread message: if there are a lot of new messages (e.g. in a group chat), an arrow takes you back to the first unread message
• New sticker panel: gathers all stickers, such as Live stickers, emoji, Memoji and downloaded packs. Stickers are synchronised via iCloud, so you can use them on both Mac and iPad.

What’s new in FaceTime iOS 17

We talked about it here, and briefly go over another of the best iOS 17 features.

The new update introduced by Apple includes the possibility of leaving a video message in situations where the recipient does not answer the incoming call: the latter will receive a notification.

In addition, FaceTime becomes compatible with Apple TV 4K, so it will be possible to initiate FaceTime calls directly from Apple TV 4K or make a call from the iPhone and then transfer it to the TV.

How to enable iPhone Screen Distance on iOS 17

The iOS 17 update introduces a dedicated health feature. Taking advantage of the dedicated facial recognition camera system, the smartphone will determine the distance between the eyes and the screen, reminding the user to hold the device further away if the distance is too close. To enable this function, it is necessary to:

1. Open the Settings app
2. Scroll down to the Time of Use menu
3. Click on Screen Distance
4. Click on Continue and you’re done.

How to automatically delete OTP codes on the iPhone

Thanks to iOS 17, it is possible to automatically delete 2FA codes and OTP passwords received via message, to be entered on sites and apps as two-factor authentication methods.

Basically, once the code is received via message, iOS 17 will automatically delete it from the Messages and Mail app. To activate this feature, simply:

1. Go into Settings
2. Enter the Password section
3. Use Touch ID or Face ID if necessary to continue
4. Tap on Password Options
5. Under Verification Codes, move the switch to the right to Automatically delete.