Apple is gearing up to release the highly anticipated iOS 18.3.1 update, expected to arrive in the coming weeks. This mysterious update is likely to include a range of essential security patches and bug fixes, building on the improvements made in iOS 18.3, which launched at the end of January.
While details remain under wraps, iOS 18.3.1 is expected to address several key issues, continuing Apple‘s commitment to enhancing user security and system performance. With iOS 18.3 already providing crucial security updates, users can look forward to further optimisations with this upcoming release.
What could the new update include?
The upcoming iOS 18.3.1 update is expected to bring crucial security fixes, addressing any vulnerabilities that may have already been exploited in cyberattacks. The previous release, iOS 18.3, included 29 essential fixes, notably addressing a critical flaw in CoreMedia, tracked as CVE-2025-24085. This flaw could potentially allow malicious applications to escalate privileges.
In addition to the iPhone update, a similar patch for Mac and iPad issues has gained attention recently. If you haven’t yet updated your devices, now is the time to apply the latest security fixes to ensure they remain secure.
While Apple’s iOS 18.3 update has largely been smooth, with the iPhone 16 performing well, iOS 18.3.1 could introduce some minor issues.
Users have reported connectivity problems with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, glitches in the camera app, and instances of the Apple Mail app freezing. Additionally, some are facing difficulties when switching between light and dark mode, increased battery drain, and app crashes. These issues, along with Control Centre problems, appear to be more prevalent on iPhone 15 Pro models.
In iOS 18.3, Apple temporarily disabled its Intelligence notification summaries for news and entertainment apps due to inaccurate summaries. It remains unclear whether these will be reactivated in iOS 18.3.1 or in a future update.
When will the new update come out?
Apple is likely to release iOS 18.3.1 in mid to late February 2025, based on its typical update schedule. The update is expected to follow closely behind iOS 18.3, which was launched on January 27.
As is customary, Apple usually rolls out smaller updates a couple of weeks after major releases to address unresolved bugs and enhance performance. This pattern was evident last year when iOS 17.3 debuted on January 22, 2024, and iOS 17.3.1 arrived just two weeks later on February 8. With that in mind, iOS 18.3.1’s arrival could be just around the corner.
What about iOS 18.4?
iOS 18.3.1 will land between two significant updates: iOS 18.3 and the upcoming iOS 18.4, which is slated for release in the spring. One of the key features of iOS 18.4 will be an enhanced version of Siri, offering impressive new capabilities.
The upgraded Siri will be able to recognise and interact with what’s displayed on your screen. For example, if someone sends you their details via text, Siri will automatically add them to your contact card, whether it’s a phone number or address.
Additionally, the digital assistant will handle multiple tasks at once, such as sending photos or pulling up articles from Safari, making interactions more seamless. Siri will also offer smart reminders by tracking your emails, messages, and photos to provide timely notifications when needed.