Apple Releases iOS 15.5, iPadOS 15.5, macOS Monterey 12.4, watchOS 8.6, tvOS 15.5, and HomePod Software 15.5

By AppleVis, 16 May, 2022

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Apple has today released iOS 15.5, iPadOS 15.5, macOS Monterey 12.4, watchOS 8.6, tvOS 15.5, and HomePod Software 15.5.

Apple says that iOS 15.5 includes the following improvements and bug fixes:

  • Wallet now enables Apple Cash customers to send and request money from their Apple Cash card
  • Apple Podcasts includes a new setting to limit episodes stored on your iPhone and automatically delete older ones
  • Fixes an issue where home automations, triggered by people arriving or leaving, may fail

The macOS Monterey 12.4 release notes say that it includes the following enhancements:

  • Apple Podcasts includes a new setting to limit episodes stored on your Mac and automatically delete older ones
  • Support for Studio Display Firmware Update 15.5, available as a separate update, refines camera tuning, including improved noise reduction, contrast, and framing

The release notes for watchOS 8.6 state that the software includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:

  • Support for the ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later in Mexico
  • Support for irregular heart rhythm notifications in Mexico

Outside of the major upgrade each year, tvOS updates are typically minor in scale with a focus on under-the-hood fixes and performance improvements. As Apple does not provide release notes for tvOS updates, we will have to wait and see if tvOS 15.5 does include any user facing changes. We will update this post if anything of note is discovered.

Just like tvOS 15.5, it’s unclear what’s new in HomePod Software 15.5, with Apple simply saying that it brings “general performance and stability improvements.”

At the time of posting we are unaware of any changes, improvements or regressions for blind and low vision users in today's updates.

If you discover any fixes, enhancements, or regressions during your use of these software releases, please let us know by posting a comment below.

iOS 15.5 and iPadOs 15.5 are available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings > General > Software Update) via Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, or via iTunes on a PC or Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier.

More information on how to update the software on your device is available on this Apple Support page.

To install macOS Monterey 12.4, choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, click the Software Update preference pane, and click the Update Now button to begin the update process. If other updates are available, you can click "More info" to see details about them and select specific updates to install.

More information on how to update the software on your Mac is available on this Apple Support page.

watchOS 8.6 is available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings > General > Software Update) or by going to the Watch app on your iPhone and navigating to General> Software Update. To install the update, your Watch must be connected to its charger and have at least 50% battery power.

More information on how to update the software on your Apple Watch is available on this Apple Support page.

To install tvOS 15.5 on Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD, go to the Settings channel, then look for the System section near the bottom. From here, look for Software Updates under Maintenance, then select Update Software and Download and Install. Wait for your Apple TV to download the update. Don't disconnect or unplug your Apple TV until the update completes.

More information on how to update the software on your Apple TV is available on this Apple Support page.

By default, HomePod and HomePod mini automatically install new software updates, but you can manually check for updates in the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac. See this Apple support article for full instructions.

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Comments

By Holger Fiallo on Sunday, June 5, 2022 - 14:09

I heard that OS 8.6 has that feature. Saw video that states go to accessibility, Gester and magic touch is there. Nothing like that is my phone. Hand gester is in VO and nothing about magic touch.

By Wayne Scott Jr on Sunday, June 5, 2022 - 14:09

Here is a big braille display bug. When you go to a text field, you can’t type. I am using dictation and this doesn’t always work! Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

By Scott Davert on Sunday, June 5, 2022 - 14:09

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team

Hmmm. I'm not seeing this bug with text entry, in fact, I'm writing this reply on iOS 15.5 with my braille display. It's obviously working. So perhaps if you give us a few details about where this is occurring, it can be duplicated and reported. I have also sent a few texts and wrote a 1 line email without trouble. Thanks for expanding on this if you care to do so.

By sockhopsinger on Sunday, June 5, 2022 - 14:09

... If it is a bug, and not a new feature, I actually hope it doesn't go away. When sending a text message after updating, I switched to the braille roter, and as I was entering my message, the voice switched from Karen, my default voice, to the default American siri voice. I think I kind of like a different voice for texting. Of note, it was the Siri voice when hitting the space bar as I have it set to read by word. It also used that voice when I hit the backspace key to delete characters. As soon as I left the braille keyboard, Karen returned as saucy as ever. Like I said, not sure if it is a bug, but I think I kind of like it actually so hope not and that is a new setting.

By Wayne Scott Jr on Sunday, June 5, 2022 - 14:09

I just restarted my phone and it now works. Sorry about that! I'm using my braille display now. Again, my apologies.

By sockhopsinger on Sunday, June 5, 2022 - 14:09

It's a good habit to always restart your phone after every major update like this. I don't know why since the phone restarts after the installation is complete anyway, but for whatever reason, restarting your phone again can often fix issues.

By Ginsenshi on Sunday, June 5, 2022 - 14:09

Its a option when you set custom options in gesture controls with voiceover on Apple watch.

the two finger double tap gesture doesn't seem to do anything like it does on iPhone and iPad

By Ginsenshi on Sunday, June 5, 2022 - 14:09

go to accessibility> VoiceOver> hand gestures>
Navigate to customize gestures>
Select a option to modify
---
Magic tap is at the bottom of the list of custom gestures

By Karina Velazquez on Sunday, June 5, 2022 - 14:09

Hi! this doesn't matter for a lot of you but I'm thrilling because after 4 years owning an apple watch, I finally will be able to use the ECG function in my country!

By Ricardo Brandão on Sunday, June 5, 2022 - 14:09

Hello everybody! From what I could see, after the update, AutoText Speech was no longer disabled after a certain period, as it had been since the first iOS 15 release. Funny that I reinforced the existence of this issue to the Apple Accessibility team a few days ago! I'm glad for the possible fix, I hope I'm not mistaken about that

By beero on Sunday, June 5, 2022 - 14:09

please, is it has any bad effect on battery? and how about fixing VO stop talking after a call? thanks