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Apple Releases OS X 10.11.5, iOS 9.3.2, tvOS 9.2.1, and watchOS 2.2.1

Apple has updated all of its operating systems with bug fixes and security improvements, but no new features. To see detailed security notes on all of these releases, check the Apple Security Updates page. Unsurprisingly, given all the code shared among the different operating systems, many of the security fixes are shared as well.

Although we haven’t yet heard of any problems, we recommend holding off on these updates for a week or so until the early adopters have had a chance to report back about unexpected issues. Assuming that nothing major rears its ugly head, you will want to install these updates shortly after that, though, since all those security fixes are important for maintaining herd immunity from malware.

OS X 10.11.5 — The release notes for the latest version of El Capitan are utterly vague: “The OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 update improves the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac, and is recommended for all El Capitan users.” The update also provides a couple of enterprise fixes that should make administrators happy. Currently, you can get the OS X 10.11.5 update (758 MB) only via Software Update, though we expect standalone downloads to appear soon on Apple’s Support Downloads page.

iOS 9.3.2 — Happily, iOS 9.3.2’s release notes are a bit more descriptive than those for OS X 10.11.5. Nonetheless, after the major iOS 9.3 (see “iOS 9.3 Works the Night Shift, Protects Notes, and More,” 21 March 2016), this one is just bug fixes. Apple claims that iOS 9.3.2 addresses Bluetooth audio quality issues on the iPhone SE, an issue where looking up dictionary definitions could fail, a problem that prevented typing email addresses with the Japanese Kana keyboard in Mail and Messages, an issue with the Alex VoiceOver voice that caused it to try on a different accent when speaking punctuation or spaces, and a
bug that prevented MDM (mobile device management) servers from installing custom B2B apps. You can obtain the iOS 9.3.2 update via Settings > General > Software Update or iTunes. On an iPhone 6, the over-the-air update was 89.4 MB.

tvOS 9.2.1 — Apple added a lot of new features in tvOS 9.2 (see “With tvOS 9.2, the Fourth-Generation Apple TV Hits 1.0,” 23 March 2016), but the tvOS 9.2.1 update seems to focus exclusively on bug fixes and performance improvements. We can’t say for sure because Apple doesn’t publish tvOS release notes. If you’re not offered the update automatically, you can get it by going to Settings > System > Software Updates > Update Software.

watchOS 2.2.1 — Finally, Apple has updated watchOS to 2.2.1, which “contains bug fixes and security updates.” The 26.9 MB update can be found in the Watch app on your iPhone, in My Watch > General > Software Update. To update, the Apple Watch needs to be in range of your iPhone, connected to its charger, and charged to at least 50 percent. The entire process could take 30–45 minutes all told, so make sure you have time.

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