Messages app on iOS 17 got a revamp with the latest update in place. It brings iterative design changes along with some new and improved features. The list includes certain enhancements to existing features as well such as Location Sharing. We got our hands on the exhaustive list of Messages features in iOS 17 and here’s how you can use all these features on your iPhone.
Messages in iOS 17: Automatically Delete Verification Codes
Some apps and services require two-step verification (2FA) because it is overall much safer than a single password access. However, if you have many important accounts with 2FA or you tend to log in to one or multiple accounts repeatedly triggering a verification code every time you do it, there will be plenty of verification codes lying idle on the Messages app.
With the iOS 17 Messages app, you can enjoy clutter-free conversations within the app without the codes plaguing the screen. Here’s how you can set up automatic deletion of these codes.
- Open Settings on your iOS device.
- Scroll to find settings related to built-in apps listed below Apple Store and Wallet & Apple Pay.
- Click on ‘Passwords >> Password Options’.
- Finally, tap on ‘Clean Up Automatically’ to enable this option and enjoy a clutter-free experience henceforth.
Messages in iOS 17: Location Sharing
Gone are the days when you had to go to the user’s contact info to share or request location. Albeit the feature has existed for years now, iOS 17 just upgraded it to fit the current scenarios. Now, you can request or share location in real-time within the conversation with a specific person, and here’s how it works –
- Open the Messages app and go to the specific chat you want to share or request location.
- Click on the + (plus) button located in the bottom-left corner next to the input box.
- Select ‘Location’ from the available list.
- Now, you can tap on the ‘Share’ button to share the location. You can choose to share your location ‘For One Hour’, ‘Until End of Day’, or ‘Indefinitely’ among others.
- You can also drop a pin on your location or a precise location you want the recipient to know by tapping on the pin icon located on the left and hitting ‘Send Pin’. As said, you can move around the pin for a precise or custom location.
The location will be shared within the chat on the new iOS 17 Messages app. Simultaneously, you can ask the recipient to share their location while you stop sharing yours.
Check-In
This will be by far one of the most impressive features of the iOS 17 Messages app. This feature aims to make sure you or someone you know has reached the destination safely. The users can create a Check-In on Messages app feeding information on the destination, ETA, and other details along with trusted contacts.
Once the user has reached the destination, a notification will be triggered alerting the trusted contacts that the user has reached the destination. Check-In gives the user 15 minutes to respond or else, the trusted contacts will be notified that there might be something wrong. It also gives trusted contacts details about the user, last location, cell signal, and battery levels among others.
Users can set the trigger between ‘When I Arrive’ which is fired as they reach the destination or ‘After a timer’ which introduces a certain delay in sending the notifications. Here’s how you can use this feature.
- Open Messages and go to the contact you want to check in with.
- Click on the + (plus) button next to the input box.
- Choose ‘Check In’ from the available options.
- Click on ‘Edit’ and set the details as asked including when you want a Check-In notification to trigger: ‘When I arrive’ or ‘After a timer’.
- You will have to choose the destination, mode of transport, and ETA among others. In the case of ‘After a timer’, select the timer duration too.
Voila, the prompt will be sent to trusted contacts once the conditions are met. The feature works even if your phone doesn’t have a cell signal. You can also choose whether to share all the information or limit it with Check-In giving you better control over the information shared.
Search with Multiple Filters
Your Messages app may have thousands of texts from various sources. Scouring it to search for a specific text or photo or URL may be difficult if you don’t remember where to look out for and it’s only normal. With iOS 17 dropping in, Apple has enhanced the Messages app to have multiple filters. These filters are designed to let you find specific text or multimedia content. You can put in multiple criteria to zero in the best of searches and that’s how easy Apple has made it for iPhone users to scour the app.
- Drag down the main conversations list to access the search box if not already shown.
- Type in your keyword or specific term and use the drop-down suggested list to add another filter.
- This should help you find the text or multimedia content onboard the Messages app pretty easily.
Audio Messages are Transcribed
Audio messages are quick to record and send or if you are the recipient, they are easy to play and listen to. However, you could be in a meeting or office or simply don’t feel comfortable listening to an audio message. What would you do? It could be an important audio message from family friends or colleagues that you can’t miss or ignore.
Turns out iOS 17 Messages features have listed a feature to transcribe audio messages. It works exactly as it sounds. The feature transcribes the audio message and attaches it with the audio message so that you can choose whether to listen to the audio or read it. Once transcribed, the text is always attached to the audio and you can separate them though. This is an automatic transcription tool that you will find useful in many scenarios, to be honest.
Navigation and Replies
The Messages app on your iOS 17-powered iPhone has become better with a tonne of new and improved features. Catch-Up is a feature that puts a small arrow on the right-hand side of a conversation. It takes you back to where you left that individual or group chat. It ensures you don’t miss any messages when you are off the device or on other apps.
Swipe to Reply is another feature that lets you type by swiping on the keyboard right to left rather than tap and hold on-screen which is a conventional method. It can prove instrumental as you will be able to respond faster rather than tapping the message A to Z. Another feature onboard the iOS 17 Messages app is ‘Contact Posters’ which is the user’s avatar on a full screen that appears when you call or receive calls from that person. Additionally, the iOS 17 Messages app will blur out messages and photos that are regarded as ‘sensitive’ so that you can decide whether to open them or not.
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