How to make the most of iOS 17's new messaging features.

If you own an iPhone manufactured within the last five years, iOS 17 is currently available and ready to install.

 

As usual, Apple has improved and expanded both the iOS app store and the mobile operating system itself.

Here, we'll demonstrate the new features that iOS 17 brings to Messages that were previously unavailable.

 

While some already-existing features have been reorganized and enhanced, there are a number of new features that you're likely to find useful.

RCS messaging is a feature that we still lack and is not likely to be added anytime soon. Any of your family members or friends who use Android will continue to show up as green bubbles and won't be able to use many of the new iOS 17 features.

 

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We transcribe audio messages.

The new automatic transcription option is helpful if you can't listen to the audio messages you're sent for any reason or just want to quickly glance at your screen to see what it's about.

On iOS 17, you'll receive a voice message along with a text transcription of the message. You can read the transcription without pressing the play button.

Check In, which lets you share an estimated arrival time with a trusted contact and can notify them if you don't arrive at your destination as expected, is my favorite new feature in Messages for iOS 17.

To add text to the text input box in a conversation, press the + (plus) button next to it.

Out of the available options, select Check In.

You can choose between When I arrive and After a timer when you tap Edit to customize the Check In.

Select When I arrive to be given the option to select a location, a mode of transportation, and a projected time of arrival.

As an alternative, you can choose After a timer and specify the timer's duration.

Checking in is just a quick request to make sure you're all right.

Your last known location, as well as the battery and signal strength of your phone (and, if you have one, the Apple Watch) as well as the alert's recipient's trusted contact, are also sent to them.

When you choose the When I arrive Check In option and arrive at the chosen location by the designated time, there is no prompt on your end.

 

Your safe arrival is communicated to the person on the other end of the line.

 

When setting up the Check In, you have the option to change how much information is shared.

 

The person with whom you are chatting receives a message informing them that something might be wrong if you don't reply to it within 15 minutes.

 

If your phone is offline for an extended period of time, this message will also be delivered.

 

The check-in then occurs after the time period you specify has passed.

 

The app will check in with you if you don't arrive by that ETA.

 

There is no way to disable the feature; the text is always attached.

Use several filters when searching.

In Messages, you can now include multiple terms and filters in a single search.

 

To search for something (like a person or a word), drag down on the primary conversation list and tap the top search box.

 

You can add more filters after choosing one from the drop-down list of suggestions.

Instead of relying solely on these criteria, you could search for links that contain specific words or photos that were sent by a particular contact.

Messages with apps.

The Messages mini-apps, which range from Music to Photos, are now hidden behind a + (plus) button to the left of the text input field.

 

To view the rest, tap More after tapping it to view your most-used apps.

If you tap and hold one of these apps, you can drag it to a different spot in the list, which is useful if you want to keep some apps close at hand at all times.

navigating and responding.

You've probably exited a group chat at some point, returned, and discovered that you had a backlog of messages to read.

 

In order to see what you missed, there is now a small arrow on the right-hand side that leads you back to the place in the conversation where you last left off.

 

Both individual and group conversations can be held using it.

In iOS 17, it is also simpler to reply to messages: just swipe to the right of a message to do so.

sharing a location.

Additionally, location sharing has been enhanced.

 

You no longer need to leave the Messages app and launch Apple Maps or the Find My app to share your current location in real time.

In a conversation, click the + (plus) button to the left of the text input field.

Select Location from the list of possibilities.

By default, your location will be shared in real-time; to change this, tap Share and then select Indefinitely, Until Day's End, or For One Hour.

If you'd rather share your location without providing any updates, you can also tap the pin icon on the left and then select Send Pin.

It will show up embedded in a message in the conversation, regardless of the location sharing option you choose.

 

You can stop sharing your location and ask for their location by tapping on the other person's name at the top of the conversation.

Verification codes should be deleted automatically.

If you've enabled two-step verification on your most crucial accounts, which you should do, you might get verification codes texted to your iPhone to help you show that you are who you say you are when logging in.

When you're done with them, Messages can automatically delete them, giving you additional peace of mind and decluttering your conversation list. Open iOS Settings, then scroll down to the section that contains built-in app settings (below App Store, Wallet, and Apple Pay).

 

Select Clean Up Automatically from the Passwords > Password Options menu.