iOS 18 is now available to the public. For information about whether or not your iPhone is compatible, check out our compatibility list here. (The iPadOS 18 compatibility list is there too.)
New Features in iOS 18
Apple is including a ton of new features in iOS 18, although some of them (Apple Intelligence) won’t make the scene until the release of iOS 18.1 and later. However, there are still plenty of cool features that make it worth upgrading to iOS 18 right now.
Customization Options
Apple has finally listened to its users and is offering several customization features for your iPhone’s Home Screen and the Control Center.
The new version of iOS finally allows you to place your app icons wherever you’d like on your Home Screen. No longer are you restricted to having your apps in a rigid grid of left to right and top to bottom. Now you can place a single app or widget wherever you’d like. That means you can hve a screen with just five apps in the screen location of your choice, if that’s how you roll.
The Control Center is now completely customizable, allowing you to remove any control in the Control Center, while offering multiple pages, allowing you to organize your controls how you like them. Third-party developers will also have the ability to create Control Center controls, allowing you to access your favorite apps more easily.
Lock or Hide Your Apps
iOS 18 brings the ability to lock or hide any app on your iPhone. Hiding apps means you won’t receive any alerts or notifications from the hidden apps, so no one can tell you have those apps installed, even if they can access your iPhone when it’s unlocked.
If you lock or hide an app, you’ll be required to use Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to access the app. For extra protection, turn on Stolen Device Protections (and I strongly recommend doing so) the apps hidden or locked apps will only be accessible by using Touch ID or Face ID. That means that even if someone knows your passcode, they won’t be able to access the apps you wish to keep private.
Math Notes
Math Notes combines the new Calculator app with new features in the Notes app to allow you to type an equation, and have your iPhone instantly solve it for you. From simple calculations to difficult math equations, your iPhone will solve it in an instant.
New Messages Improvements
The Messages app has received some great new improvements, allowing you to schedule text messages, react with any stick or emoji you’ve saved, and new text effects that can be applied to whatever words you want to apply to them to make them stand out.
RCS support is finally here, meaning that messaging sessions with Android users (come on, everyone has “that friend), making your conversations with those folks more like an Apple to Apple convo. You’ll be able to see if the Android user has seen your message, and you’ll be able to send higher-quality images and videos.
Revamped Photos App
The Photos app has been completely redesigned, giving it a new look and feel. Now instead of being on different tabs, you’ll now see your albums and memories on the same page as your photo library. New customization options make it easier to find images or delete multiple screenshots at once. Scrolling down allows you to find the people section, albums, collections and much more.
Installing iOS 18
To install iOS 18, make sure that your iPhone is fully charged and connected to WiFi before attempting to update your device to iOS 18. The free update will be available as an over-the-air update and may take some time to complete. To check that the update is available and to install it, do the following: Go to “Settings” -> “General” -> “Software Update.”
During the initial rollout of major software updates like iOS 18, Apple servers are hit by a heavy load of users simultaneously looking to update their devices, which means you may see slower download speeds and sluggish performance when trying to update your iPhone. So, if you’ll wait a day or two before installing the updates you’ll likely have a smoother experience.
