If you own an Apple device, it probably needs an operating system update. That includes iPhone, Mac, iPad Apple Watch … even Vision Pro. The hefty list of security-focused upgrades released Monday by Apple includes iOS 17.6, macOS Sonoma 14.6 and more.
They patch a list of more than two dozen vulnerabilities detailed on Apple’s security update page.
Stay up to date with latest iOS 17.6, macOS Sonoma 14.6 updates
Apple is juggling so many balls right now. It has iOS 18, iOS 18.1, macOS 15, macOS 15.1 and a lot more in beta testing simultaneously, all of which are scheduled to launch this autumn.
Still, it hasn’t abandoned the operating system versions that are already on people’s iPhones, Macs, iPads and Apple Watches. So it released iOS 17.6, macOS Sonoma 14.6, iPadOS 17.6, watchOS 10.6, tvOS 17.6 and visionOS 1.3 on Monday.
macOS Sonoma 14.6 is a standout, as it adds dual external display support to the M3 MacBook Pro.
But for the most part, there are not major upgrades, as demonstrated by the release notes for iOS 17.6 and iPadOS 17.6. They say, “This update provides important bug fixes and security updates and is recommended for all users.”
While most of the new versions offer no new features, they shouldn’t be ignored. Bug fixes and security updates are important. And according to Apple’s support page, today’s updates fix a wide variety of problems. They include:
- An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences
- Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to unexpected app termination
- Processing an image may lead to a denial-of-service
- An attacker may be able to view restricted content from the lock screen
- An attacker with physical access may be able to use Siri to access sensitive user data
Some of those sound pretty frightening, and the list is longer than usual. So maybe don’t put off this upgrade.
How to install these patches
iPhone and iPad users can install the new iOS and iPadOS versions directly by opening the Settings app and going to General > Software Update. Alternatively, you can update your devices by connecting them to a Mac (or to a PC running iTunes).
To download the macOS Sonoma update, go to Apple menu > About This Mac. Then click Software Update. Alternatively, you can install the new version from the App Store. (Note: At the time of this writing, Apple had not yet updated the version of macOS in the App Store. But it should happen soon.)
The watchOS update can be installed directly onto an Apple Watch, as long as the wearable is connected to Wi-Fi. From the Settings app just navigate to General > Software Update. Or you can install it from an iPhone by opening the Apple Watch app and going to My Watch > General > Software Update.
