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App Store in iOS 17.2 Beta Features New Focus on Categories

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Apple is making some updates to the App Store with the iOS 17.2 software that is in beta testing, introducing a new focus on app categories.

app store categories
In the "Apps" section of the ‌App Store‌, there is a new top navigation bar that allows users to scroll through various app categories, such as Entertainment, Education, Photo & Video, Music, Navigation, and more. The categories mirror the categories that can be found at the bottom of the app section in the "Browse Categories" menu.

The "Games" section also has a similar list of categories, such as puzzle, casual, racing, indie, simulation, casino, and adventure. These also mirror the categories at the bottom of the Games tab.

Tapping into one of the categories listed in Apps or Games shows apps that are part of that category. Apple previously had these kind of top bar navigation options for Apple Arcade, but they have been expanded to the other ‌App Store‌ sections.


Apple is also mirroring the "Browse Categories" design first introduced in the ‌Apple Arcade‌ tab. Each category is now a card, with a detailed icon. In iOS 17 and earlier, categories were just text lists with a simpler icon design.

iOS 17.2 is being beta tested right now and it is expected to see a public release sometime in December.

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

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Top Rated Comments

TwoBytes Avatar
TwoBytes
37 months ago
I dream for an ‘offline games with no IAP’ category like life used to be!🙂
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
senttoschool
37 months ago
All I want is a setting to disable long press on lock screen to change wall paper. I accidentally do this 5 times a day.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T
tomekwsrod
37 months ago
As for iOS they should first fix Messages synch problems. They still exist in the newest version. Sometimes SMS and iCloud messages are all over the place.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kesenwangs Avatar
kesenwangs
37 months ago
Must be US only for now- nothing showing in Canada.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
svish
37 months ago
Interesting changes on the app store
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments