Apple Seeds Second iOS 9.3 Beta to Developers With Night Shift Toggle in Control Center - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Seeds Second iOS 9.3 Beta to Developers With Night Shift Toggle in Control Center

ios93Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming iOS 9.3 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the first iOS 9.3 beta and more than a month since the public release of iOS 9.2.

The second iOS 9.3 beta is available as an over-the-air update and through the Apple Developer Center.

As a major .1 update to the iOS 9 operating system, iOS 9.3 introduces quite a few new features. There's a new Night Shift mode that cuts down on the amount of blue light iOS users are exposed to in the evening hours by automatically shifting the iPhone or iPad display to a warmer (yellower) color spectrum, and there are several new features designed to improve the iPad for Education program.


Several apps and features are also being updated. In-line video and a landscape view for the iPhone are available in the News app, which now offers more personalized recommendations and faster updates. Health includes a new Apple Watch-style "Activity" view that displays activity and goals, while Notes now has an option to password protect individual entries.

Apple Music on CarPlay now includes New and For You sections for better music discovery, and a Nearby feature in CarPlay Maps offers improved access to information about what's close by. Paired with watchOS 2.2, an iPhone running iOS 9.3 is able to support multiple Apple Watches, and for iPhone 6s users, there are new Quick Actions for the Weather, Settings, Compass, Health, App Store, and iTunes Store apps, along with new Peek and Pop gestures for the App Store.

What's new in iOS 9.3 beta 2:

Control Center Night Shift Toggle - As hinted at in the iOS 9.3 preview page provided to Canadian users, iOS 9.2 beta 2 introduces Night Shift controls in the iOS Control Center, accessible by swiping up from the bottom of an iOS device. Night Shift is denoted by a new eye-shaped icon in between the icons for the timer and the calculator on the iPhone. Tapping on the icon brings up options to turn the feature on or disable it until the next day.

nightshiftcontrolcenter
Night Shift is denoted by a new eye-shaped icon in between the icons for the timer and the calculator on the iPhone. Tapping on the icon brings up options to turn the feature on or disable it until the next day. In the video below, you can see Night Shift's Control Center toggle in action.


Night Shift Settings - In the Settings app under Display & Brightness, Night Shift has been moved to its own submenu. Tapping on "Night Shift" now opens up a menu that features all of the Night Shift controls. In the first beta, Night Shift was not in its own section.

nightshiftbeta2settings
Apple Music Playlists - In the Apple Music section of the Settings app, there's a new feature that lets users choose whether Apple Music songs added to playlists will also be added to iCloud Music Library. With this new toggle turned off, songs can be added to playlists without being added to a user's library.

applemusicplaylists
Quick Actions - The 3D Touch Quick Action for the Settings app no longer offers an option to change the wallpaper.

iOS 9.3's features will be released to the public this spring following the conclusion of the beta testing period.

Tag: iOS 9.3
Related Forum: iOS 9

Popular Stories

apple pro tell logo

Apple Launching Five New Products Today

Thursday November 5, 2026 12:59 am PST by
Apple is launching five new products on Friday, November 6, following pre-orders that opened last week, including its first touchscreen MacBook Pro models. The following new products will be available from today: iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro chip iMac with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip 14-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen 16-inch MacBook Pro with OLED...
duo aquarium

More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try

Friday November 6, 2026 3:27 pm PST by
When the iPhone Duo launched, we shared a list of some of the fun apps developers created for the new form factor. Two weeks out, developers are continuing to come up with fresh ideas, so we thought we'd share some of our favorites. Games Marbles Unhinged ($2.99) - Marbles Unhinged is a marble maze designed for the Duo. When you fold it, the floor turns into a ramp. If you stand the top...
silver iphone 18 pro

Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Year

Friday November 6, 2026 6:07 am PST by
Apple plans to merge the iPhone's Action button with the Camera Control starting next year, according to the leaker known as "Instant Digital." In a new post on Weibo, the leaker claimed that a single press of the combined button would open the camera, while a long press would trigger the function assigned to the Action button. They explicitly clarified that the dedicated Action button would ...

Top Rated Comments

141 months ago
Hopefully they fix the Bluetooth car problem. Annoying as hell...
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gudi Avatar
141 months ago
I don't like the new icon. Bring back the bedside lamp!

MacRumors content image

MacRumors content image

Probably someone at Apple thought, users would be confused, because an actual bedside lamp doesn't filter blue light. So that's why we can't have nice things. :(
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
141 months ago
Battery life? I know it's a beta with 9.3 I was getting about 4-6 hours with moderate usage.
I just installed this second beta an hour ago, and so far I've been getting about 8 hours of mixed usage. Battery life has definitely improved.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
141 months ago
I don't want to jinx it, but it's almost like Apple is getting its software mojo back. Latest few things we've seen (tvOS, beta 3, fixes to Apple Music, Music Memos, Apple News updates) are looking really good. Hope they keep it up!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
141 months ago
Am amazed that a compagny such has Apple, who has always goes the extra length to make sure their products looks good, prioritized a yellow screen over a dark mode???

I love nightshift and use it all the time, but at least the dark mode wouldn't affect picture and movies.. Just my two cents!
It's not the same thing.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
141 months ago
Updated Control Center http://twitter.com/viticci/status/691729987754401792
Interesting that they added the option with the apps along the bottom row rather the OS controls on the top row where it would seem to fit in more (similar to DND, for example).
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year
Siri AI Rumored to Become 'More Like an Agent' as Early as Next Year
5 hours ago
Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28
Apple Taking New Approach to Developing iOS 28 and macOS 28
7 hours ago
Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
Early Apple Black Friday Deals on Apple Watch, MacBook Air, and More
1 day ago
'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo
'Backglow' Lets You Customize New MacBook Pro's Glowing Apple Logo
1 day ago
Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More
Top Stories: Apple Product Launches, iOS 27.3 Beta, and More
1 day ago
More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try
More Fun iPhone Duo Apps: 30 New Picks to Try
2 days ago
Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro
Hands-On With Apple's New OLED Touchscreen MacBook Pro
2 days ago
Apple Store With All-New Design Opening Soon in Southern California
Apple Store With All-New Design Opening Soon in Southern California
2 days ago
Control the Glowing Apple Logo on Your New MacBook Pro
Control the Glowing Apple Logo on Your New MacBook Pro
2 days ago
Apple Shares New 'Apple Card: Apply and Use in Minutes' Ad
Apple Shares New 'Apple Card: Apply and Use in Minutes' Ad
2 days ago
Apple Says More Than 100,000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo, Here's What's Still Missing
Apple Says More Than 100,000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo, Here's What's Still Missing
2 days ago
Early Black Friday Deals Kickoff With Steep Discounts on Apple Watch Ultras and More
Early Black Friday Deals Kickoff With Steep Discounts on Apple Watch Ultras and More
2 days ago
The MacRumors Show: iOS 27.3 Looks Like a Huge Update
The MacRumors Show: iOS 27.3 Looks Like a Huge Update
2 days ago
Best Buy's Black Friday Event Begins With Sitewide Savings on Apple, TVs, More
Best Buy's Black Friday Event Begins With Sitewide Savings on Apple, TVs, More
2 days ago
Apple Releasing Yet Another Two New Products Next Week
Apple Releasing Yet Another Two New Products Next Week
2 days ago
MacBook Air Drops to Lowest Price in Months With Amazon's $250 Discount
MacBook Air Drops to Lowest Price in Months With Amazon's $250 Discount
2 days ago
Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Year
Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Year
2 days ago
Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2026 Holiday Season
Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2026 Holiday Season
2 days ago
Apple Music Classical Updated With New Icon and Refreshed Design
Apple Music Classical Updated With New Icon and Refreshed Design
2 days ago
OLED iPad Mini, M6 iMac, and New MacBook Pros Available From Today
OLED iPad Mini, M6 iMac, and New MacBook Pros Available From Today
2 days ago
Apple Surveys iPhone Duo Buyers About Crease and Camera
Apple Surveys iPhone Duo Buyers About Crease and Camera
3 days ago
Apple's First Touchscreen Mac is Now Arriving to Customers
Apple's First Touchscreen Mac is Now Arriving to Customers
3 days ago
Claude Gets Personal Finance Feature With Bank Account Linking
Claude Gets Personal Finance Feature With Bank Account Linking
3 days ago
Apple Arcade Adds Crossy Road Rush and NBA 2K27
Apple Arcade Adds Crossy Road Rush and NBA 2K27
3 days ago
Apple's New HomeView Smart Home Hub: Here's How Much RAM It Has
Apple's New HomeView Smart Home Hub: Here's How Much RAM It Has
3 days ago
iPad Mini vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Now Just $50 Apart
iPad Mini vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Now Just $50 Apart
3 days ago
First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available
First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available
3 days ago
Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record
Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record
3 days ago
Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature
Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature
3 days ago
Instagram's Edits Video Editor is Now Available on Mac
Instagram's Edits Video Editor is Now Available on Mac
3 days ago