The arrival of iOS 17.4 in March brought a plethora of new features to iPhones, including Podcast transcripts and enhanced Stolen Device Protection settings. However, it was the iOS 17 update back in September that introduced a delightful addition to the News app: crossword puzzles.
Beyond their entertainment value, crossword puzzles offer numerous cognitive benefits, such as boosting vocabulary and sharpening critical thinking skills, as evidenced by research published in the Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
To delve into crossword puzzles within the News app, you’ll need an Apple News Plus subscription, priced at $13 per month. Fortunately, Apple offers a one-month free trial for Apple News Plus, while purchasers of iPhones, iPads, or Macs are eligible for a complimentary three-month subscription. Alternatively, Apple One Premier, priced at $38 per month, bundles Apple News Plus with other premium services like Apple TV Plus and Apple Arcade.
Here’s how to get started with crossword puzzles in the Apple News app:
- Launch the Apple News app.
- Navigate to “Following” in the bottom menu.
- Select “Puzzles.“
Within the Puzzles section, you’ll find the latest crossword puzzles for the week. Additionally, you can opt for Crossword or Crossword Mini, offering smaller puzzles in a 5×5 grid format. Simply tap your preferred option to access the puzzles.
You can also discover crossword puzzles by visiting Apple News > Today and scrolling until you reach “Latest Puzzles,” though this may require some scrolling.
When it comes to solving puzzles, you have the choice of two viewing modes: grid view and list view. Grid view presents the traditional crossword layout, while list view offers a list of clues and answer lengths for a different solving experience.
With new puzzles—regular and mini—released daily, as well as an extensive archive of past puzzles dating back to June 2023, the Apple News app offers endless brain-teasing enjoyment for puzzle enthusiasts.