Apple releases iOS 17.6.1 and other updates: they recommend installing them as soon as possible

Apple has released iOS 17.6.1 for our iPhone and iPadOS 17.6.1 and macOS Sonoma 14.6.1 for our iPad and Mac, urging us all to update our devices as soon as possible. These new versions fix several bugs, but most importantly, they also resolve an error related to the Advanced Data Protection feature, a vital component for the security of data stored in iCloud.

Apple Support Download

An error in the Advanced Data Protection settings

The iOS 17.6.1 and iPadOS 17.6.1 update, in addition to minor fixes, solves an issue with the functioning of Advanced Data Protection. This optional security system extends end-to-end encryption to several additional services within iCloud, including backups of our devices and messages—which has nothing to do with quantum encryption—our photos, and much more.

In the previous version of the operating systems, version 17.6, a bug affected the ability of some users to enable or disable this feature. According to Apple, this issue only affected a small number of users. Additionally, if a user attempted to enable Advanced Data Protection and failed, they were shown a clear error message indicating that the change had not been made.

On the other hand, if the deactivation attempt failed, the interface displayed that the function had been deactivated, although it was actually still active in iCloud. After updating to iOS 17.6.1, we will be able to check in Settings if we want to activate or deactivate the function.

Updates for older models and also for macOS

Apple has also released iOS 16.7.10 for older iPhone models, with improvements and bug fixes, ensuring that even devices that cannot run the latest versions of the operating system, iOS 17, continue to receive support.

Finally, the company has updated the Mac systems, with the release of macOS Sonoma 14.6.1, which addresses the same Advanced Data Protection issue and other important errors. This update comes just one week after the release of macOS Sonoma 14.6, which added more stability and security to the operating system.

Apple Support Download

The speed with which Apple has addressed these issues underscores the importance of keeping our devices updated not only to enjoy new features, but also to ensure the integrity and security of our data. In the Settings app, under General and then System Updates, we will find the update ready to be installed on our iPhone, iPad, and Mac.