iOS 27.2 arrives with new features in six iPhone apps

What iOS 27.2 changes

Apple has released iOS 27.2, a point update that adds new features across six built-in iPhone apps, according to 9to5 Mac. The affected apps are Messages, TV, FaceTime, Home, Podcasts and Games. Some changes also reach iPadOS 27.2.

The headline addition is Suggested Actions in Messages. It shows contextual shortcuts under messages in a conversation, such as creating a calendar event or reminder, or adding information to a note. The feature first appeared in the iOS 27 beta over the summer but was left out of the public release. It now returns in iOS 27.2, and Apple lets users choose which types of suggestions they see.

TV profiles and Group FaceTime upgrade

The TV app gains user profiles on iPhone and iPad. Profiles already existed on tvOS, letting people on one account keep their viewing history and recommendations separate. With iOS 27.2, launching the TV app opens a profile selection screen, which can be disabled if not wanted. 9to5 Mac notes the feature could be useful for families who share an iPhone with children.

FaceTime's Dual Capture also improves. Introduced in iOS 27, the feature keeps the front and rear cameras active at the same time during a call on compatible iPhones. In iOS 27.2 it works in Group FaceTime calls too. On iPhone 17 and newer models, tapping the flip camera button streams both feeds by default.

Smarter Home app controls for smart locks

The Home app adds two settings for compatible smart locks, timed with Apple's push into Home products. Lock After Closing lets you set how long after a door shuts it should lock automatically. Until now, the timing could only be based on when the door was unlocked, not when it was closed.

A second option, Door Left Open, sends an automatic alert if a door has stayed open for a chosen period. Both features require a compatible lock.

Podcasts queue and Games app tweaks

Apple Podcasts gets a redesign of the Up Next queue on the Home tab. It is now split into two lists: New Episodes, which holds the latest episodes from shows you follow, and Continue Playing, which gathers episodes you have started but not finished. 9to5 Mac describes this as a long-wanted fix.

The Games app also sees small updates. The Home tab now shows recently downloaded games with no play activity yet, and Apple says achievement progress and leaderboard scores are easier to track there. Friend suggestions come with context, and friends' player pages show the games they have played recently.

Who gets the update and what to expect

The changes apply to iPhones running iOS 27.2, with the TV profiles feature also arriving on iPad via iPadOS 27.2. Dual Capture in Group FaceTime is limited to compatible hardware, and by default to iPhone 17 models and newer.

Beyond the visible features, the update includes performance, bug and security fixes, according to 9to5 Mac. The site's writer also notes that many users are waiting for a faster and more capable Siri, including support for personal data such as PDFs stored in iCloud Drive, which this release does not address.