Millions of iPhone owners are getting a huge free upgrade today – how to request it

APPLE has rolled out a huge new update for all iPhone owners – and it’s packed with freebies.
The new iOS 16.2 update is released today and is completely free to download.
It’s currently available all over the world, so go to Settings > General > Software update to find it.
The big news is that Apple has released a brand new app called Freeform.
This is basically a giant whiteboard that you can share with friends and work on together.
“Freeform opens up endless possibilities for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to collaborate visually,” said Apple’s Bob Borchers, speaking about the latest iOS update.


“With an infinite canvas, support for uploading a wide range of files, iCloud integration, and collaboration features, Freeform creates a shared brainstorming space that users can take anywhere.”
Apple Music users can also now access a new Karaoke mode.
It’s called Apple Music Sing and introduces two new features to the Spotify rival.
Songs now have a Sing slider that allows you to turn down or even almost mute the vocals in a song.
You can control this simply by tapping the mic on a Sing-approved song.
The other element of the feature is real-time texts.
Instead of displaying lyrics line by line, Sing Tracks highlights lyrics by syllable.
This should help you sing along even if you are unfamiliar with the song.
If a song has backing vocals, they are shown in a smaller font between the main lines.
And on a duet track, the song splits the lyrics on the left and right sides of the screen depending on who’s singing.
The new iOS 16.2 also adds support for emergency SOS via satellite in the UK.
The feature works on all iPhone 14 models and allows you to call emergency services without a phone signal or WiFi.
Use is completely free for two years from the first activation of your iPhone 14.
“Emergency SOS via satellite can help you connect to emergency services in exceptional circumstances when no other way to reach emergency services is available,” Apple said.
“If you call or text emergency services and can’t connect because you’re outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, your iPhone will try to connect you via satellite with the help you need. “
There are some other minor tweaks included in the update.
For example, you can now hide your wallpaper or notifications when always-on display is enabled on iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The sleep widget now lets you view your most recent data, and there’s also a new medication widget.
Searching in messages is now better, allowing you to find photos based on their content (such as a dog, car, person, or text).
And crash detection on iPhone 14 models has been optimized.
Here is a list of all devices supported by iOS 16 (and iOS 16.2):
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 plus
- iPhone 14 pro
- iPhone 14 pro max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 pro
- iPhone 13 Pro max
- iphone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 pro
- iPhone 12 pro max
- iphone 11
- iPhone 11 pro
- iPhone 11 Pro max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8plus
- iPhone SE (2nd generation or newer)
Before any major iPhone update, you should back up your phone.
That’s because it’s easy to go wrong with an update and you don’t want to lose your valuable data like photos or videos.
To do this, simply go to the iCloud settings on your iPhone and turn on the “iCloud Backup” feature.


Alternatively, connect your phone to iTunes and select the “Back Up Now” option.
Then go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone to update.
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https://www.thesun.ie/tech/9901651/iphone-ios-16-2-update-changes/ Millions of iPhone owners are getting a huge free upgrade today – how to request it