iOS 14: Download, new features, and compatibility

295 'iOS 14' stories January 2020 - May 2021

iOS 14 was released on September 16th, 2020. New features include a new home screen design, widgets, picture in picture, and more.

During its WWDC 2020 keynote, Apple announced iOS 14 for iPhone and iPod touch. The update brings a variety of new features and changes.

Features: What features does iOS 14 bring?
Compatible devices: Which devices work with iOS 14?
Release date: When did iOS 14 come out?

Features: What features does iOS 14 bring?

iOS 14 was a pretty substantial update, bringing many changes to the fundamental iOS experience that weren’t seen since as early as iOS 7. This update, most notably, brought the addition of the App Library, which gives you a one-stop spot for all your apps. This was coupled with widgets, which for the first time gave app developers a way to present rich data like weather cards or music shortcuts directly on the home screen. The update also brought picture-in-picture to the iPhone, adding a feature that was a mainstay to the iPad experience to the mobile handset.

App Library

iOS 14 adds a new App Library view for organizing all of your apps. Apps are automatically organized in the App Library, and you don’t have to keep all of the icons on your actual home screen view. There is also a new list view as well as features for sorting applications based on usage and more.

Widgets

iOS 14 adds widgets to the home screen of the iPhone and iPad for the first time. Widgets are more data-rich than ever and come in a variety of sizes. Apps move out of the way automatically to make room for the widgets. You access these widgets through the “Widget Gallery,” with multiple different sizing options.

Picture in Picture on iPhone

iOS 14 also provides support for picture in picture, works very similar to the iPad experience. Meanwhile, Siri has a new interface that does not overtake the entire screen.

Translate App

A new translate app in iOS 14 is designed for conversations and works completely offline. All you have to do is tap on the microphone icon and the app will translate to your chosen language. There will be 11 languages supported at launch.

App Clips

iOS 14 also adds a new App Clip feature to easily access applications quickly without downloading the full version from the App Store.

“Small part of an app that is quick and easy to access,” Federighi explains.

Launch an app with a single tap and pay and log in with Apple Pay and Sign in with Apple.

New iMessage Features

For iMessage, Apple is adding new Memoji accessories (including a new face mask Memoji) as well as pinned messages. New features for group iMessages as well: in-line replies, mentions.

Real-Time Headphone Audio Alerts

You can measure headphone audio levels in real-time with a new option in Control Center. This new feature has a similar interface to the Apple Watch Noise app, which measures the audio levels of the environment instead of headphones.

QR code payments

9to5Mac reported exclusively that Apple is working on QR code payments for iOS 14.

References found in the iOS 14 code reveal that Apple is working on a new method for letting users make payments with Apple Pay by scanning a QR Code or traditional barcode with the iPhone camera.

This information wasn’t announced at WWDC, so it’s possible it won’t launch with the first version of iOS 14 and could come later in the year.

Leaked passwords

Leaked passwords are when you use the same password across multiple websites and one of them gets hacked. iCloud keychain is going to build in a feature to alert you about leaked passwords.

With iOS 14, Apple offers a new “Security Recommendations” menu that shows only your passwords that could put your accounts at risk for some reason. This includes passwords that are easy to guess and even those that may have leaked on the web.

Voice Memos

Apple is also updating the Voice Memos app with iPhone and macOS Big Sur. The most exciting feature this year is the new Enhance Recording functionality. The Enhance Recording feature reduces background noise and room reverberation with a single tap. Once you create a recording, you’ll see a small icon similar to the Auto adjustment feature in the Photos app. Details on exactly how this feature works are unclear, but Apple is heavily promoting the simplicity of the process.