Your iPhone Can Soon Tell You The Meaning Of The Symbols On Your Dash

Soon, your iPhone will be able to tell the meaning of symbols present in your car's dash via an improved new feature in iOS 17.

Apple iOS 17, the latest operating software for all Apple iPhones and Apple-branded mobile devices, is set to roll out soon – reportedly starting from September this year. Presently in final Beta testing stages, a number of new features have been reported, but one particular feature is set to be very handy for car owners.

Through iOS 17, the built-in ‘Visual Look Up’ feature, Apple’s intelligent way of identify things in pictures and provide additional information about them, is set to include Auto Symbol recognition too. This was reportedly spotted by an eagle-eyed Reddit user who has shared this discovery online.

iOS 17's improved Visual Look Up tool will soon be able to recognise Auto Symbols, and it can help drivers determine what's wrong with their cars.

With the auto symbol feature, users can now quickly determine what each warning icon lighting up I their dash means without having to rummage through the glove box – or boot – for the owner’s manual. It will also provide a quick link to articles with more information via the iPhone’s Safari browser.

Notably, this Auto Symbol feature isn’t limited to warning icons that might pop up in the dash. The feature can be used to identify other symbols used to describe any additional functions present on dash outside of the of the instrument display panel – i.e. hazard light switch, air-cond ventilation modes, etc.

Besides the various warning symbols in the meter panel, this new iOS 17 feature will also be able to identify other symbols related to other vehicle functions present in the dash beyond the meter panel.

However, though a neat addition iPhone users can look forward to, it isn’t unique. In fact, Android and iPhone users can already look up these symbols via Google Lens. Instead, this new feature grant existing Apple users the same without needing an additional third-party app.

Nevertheless, the fact that your smartphone can now tell you what’s wrong with your car by accurately deciphering the symbols that light up your dash is a nifty thing any car owner can revel in. Having said ability built-in to your smartphone just makes easier too.

Do you know what any of the symbols that might – or might not – flash in your meter panel means? Could this be something you’d wish for us to explore in our next ‘CariCarz Guide To…’ entry? Hit the comments below then…