Even should you’re not planning to purchase one of many new iPhones, your current iPhone (XR and later) can now get a bunch of latest options following the discharge of iOS 18.
Among the many new options in iOS 18 are a redesigned Images app, new methods to customise your Residence display and wallpaper, new Messages reactions, privacy-related options and dozens of different smaller modifications. There can even be some AI options, dubbed Apple Intelligence coming to some iPhones (discover out in the event that they’ll be in your iPhone beneath).
This free software program replace brings interface tweaks, bug fixes, and new options. It’s like getting a brand new iPhone with out paying a penny. On this article, we talk about every thing you could learn about iOS 18, together with which iPhones will be capable of run iOS 18, the brand new options – and the brand new options nonetheless to return as a result of they weren’t prepared in time for the launch of iOS 18. We’ll additionally talk about any issues and fixes, the most recent replace and what’s coming within the subsequent replace to iOS 18.
We even have details about the beta program together with the most recent model of the general public and developer betas.
Replace November 20: Apple has issued an necessary replace to iOS 18. iOS 18.1.1 supplies necessary safety fixes. The fourth developer beta of iOS 18.2 can be now accessible.
iOS 18: Newest model
- iOS 18.1.1: November 19, 2024
iOS 18 arrived on Monday, September 16. macOS Sequoia, watchOS and iPadOS 18 had been additionally launched on the similar time.
The newest model is iOS 18.1.1 which incorporates fixes for 2 safety vulnerabilities which have really been utilized in assaults on Intel-based Macs. In notes accompanying the replace, Apple writes: “Apple is conscious of a report that this situation might have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac programs.” The fastened points embody a flaw in JavaScriptCore framework and a flaw in WebKit.
iOS 18.1 arrived on October 28, and brings the primary set of Apple Intelligence options to iPhone 16 fashions and iPhone 15 Professional and Max. There can be extra Apple Intelligence options launched in iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.3. If you wish to know extra in regards to the staggered launch of Apple Intelligence options, learn: Apple Intelligence is a gradual rollout—right here’s what you’ll get, and when.
iOS 18.1: New options
iOS 18.1 brings a collection of Apple Intelligence options to iPhones which are suitable with Apple Intelligence (that’s the iPhone 15 Professional, 15 Max, and the whole iPhone 16 vary). New options embody:
- Writing Instruments – Rewrite, proofread, and summarize textual content.
- Siri – New look. Kind to Siri so that you don’t have to talk to your iPhone. Conversational context so Siri remembers what you had already requested and maintains the context.
- Images – Enhancements to go looking. Clear As much as take away issues from pictures. Reminiscence films.
- Notifications – Notification summaries. Cut back interruptions Focus.
- Mail – Good reply. Precedence messages.
- Notes – Transcritipns of audio recordings or telephone calls.
- Cellphone – File telephone calls.
- Digital camera – Digital camera Management button can be utilized to modify to TrueDepth digital camera. Spatial photograph seize for 16 Professional and Max.
- AirPods – Listening to Take a look at and Listening to Air options for AirPods Professional 2.
There have been additionally bug fixes and safety updates in iOS 18.1.
iOS 18.2: Launch date and new options
- iOS 18.2 launch date: December
iOS 18.2 is at the moment in beta. There’s a developer beta and a pubic beta.
The primary thrust of iOS 18.2 is new Apple Intelligence options, particularly these centered round pictures. There are updates to Writing Instruments, ChatGPT integration with Siri, Picture Playground, Genmoji, and Visible Intelligence for iPhone 16 telephones. You may anticipate the next:
- Writing Instruments updates – extra choices.
- Genmojji – new emoji you possibly can create.
- Picture Playground – capacity to generate pictures based mostly on textual content prompts.
- Picture Wand – makes use of Apple’s picture era instruments to create a picture and add as context to a observe.
- ChatGPT integration – use ChatGPT with Siri.
- Default Apps – new part in Settings.
- Visible Intelligence – get data utilizing the Digital camera Management button.
- AE/AF Lock – new toggle to lock publicity and focus by way of the Digital camera Management button.
- Discover My – share the situation of one thing with a trusted individual.
- Mail – AI-powered auto-categories to assist handle your Inbox.
- Quantity limits – set quantity limits for iPhone speaker.
As well as, a brand new framework known as “BatteryIntelligence” is current within the 18.2 beta and can calculate the remaining cost time based mostly on the quantity of energy the telephone is receiving. See: Your iPhone might lastly inform you how lengthy it’s going to take to cost.
iOS 18: Issues and bugs
Messages bug: A Messages bug that would trigger crashes and should even end result within the lack of beneficial knowledge was reported. It appeared to be linked to an Apple Watch characteristic that lets customers share their watch face over Messages (or Mail). Clearly, these are fairly a distinct segment set of circumstances and one of the simplest ways to keep away from it seems to be to not reply to look at faces in a thread. We now have extra data right here: Hyperlink-sharing bug in iOS 18 Messages could cause iPhone crashes, knowledge loss. Apple fastened this bug in iOS 18.0.1.
Unresponsive contact display: iPhone 16 Professional house owners have complained of show ‘useless spots’, with faucets and swipes are being ignored. It’s thought that that is associated to the Digital camera Management button. Apple addressed this bug in iOS 18.0.1.
Digital camera freezes in macro mode: This was addressed in iOS 18.0.1.
There are issues that macOS Sequoia’s iPhone mirroring characteristic may expose private knowledge at work. Servco Safety has highlighted the issue to Apple who claims to be engaged on a repair.
In case you have any issues with iOS 18 you could possibly downgrade. Learn: Methods to downgrade an iPhone from iOS 18 to iOS 17.
iOS 18: Ought to I set up iOS 18 on my iPhone?
So long as your iPhone can run it, we suggest updating to iOS 18. The brand new options–all of which we talk about beneath–look engaging sufficient, and, thus far, the one drawback (see above) won’t have an effect on many individuals. We deal with how How iOS 17 and iOS 18 examine individually. Additionally check out: All of the little particulars and hidden options in iOS 18 you gained’t wish to miss.
Nonetheless, we do suggest you wait per week or extra in order that any points with the early launch may be addressed: regardless of the beta program, there are sometimes points as soon as the software program replace will get put in on mass-market iPhones. It’s additionally sensible to not be one of many first downloaders as a result of the obtain will probably take so much longer should you attempt quickly after it turns into accessible.
iOS 18: Methods to set up
Putting in iOS 18 and any subsequent updates is a breeze. Simply open the Settings app in your iPhone and go to Basic > Software program Replace; iOS will verify for any accessible updates and information you thru the method of putting in them. You merely need to observe the directions, which we clarify in our iOS updating information. And it’s simpler nonetheless should you’ve turned on Automated Updates, which you are able to do from the identical display.
Just a little work getting ready your iPhone earlier than putting in the replace will help keep away from issues. We advise you observe these steps:
- Again up your iPhone: Again up earlier than putting in the brand new model and you’ll at all times be capable of get better your iPhone with the older model of iOS working on it ought to issues go mistaken. Learn: Methods to downgrade an iPhone.
- Make house in your iPhone: In case your iPhone doesn’t have loads of accessible house internally we suggest having a little bit of a tidy-up so you possibly can reclaim some iPhone storage. Easy methods to do that may embody deleting apps you don’t use, deleting outdated Notes, Messages, and duplicated pictures.
- Replace your iPhone to the most recent model: Don’t skip an replace and go straight to iOS 18. In the event you haven’t put in iOS 17.6.1 but accomplish that now.
iOS 18 compatibility: Which iPhones get iOS 18?
The next iPhones get help for iOS 18, the identical lineup of supported gadgets as iOS 17.
- iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, Professional, Professional Max
- iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, Professional, Professional Max
- iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, Professional, Professional Max
- iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, Professional, Professional Max
- iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, Professional, Professional Max
- iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Professional, Professional Max
- iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE (2nd gen or later)
Learn: iOS 18 compatibility: Which iPhones help iOS 18 and iOS compatibility checker
A few of the new options won’t be supported on the older telephones, as a result of they lack the {hardware} crucial (a robust sufficient Neural Engine or GPU to run AI stuff, or sufficient RAM). That is typical of latest iOS releases. In 2022, for instance, the iPhone 8 and iPhone X missed out on a bunch of cool stuff on account of their older processor. It’s no shock, subsequently, that the {hardware} necessities are steep for the AI-related options aka ‘Apple Intelligence’—iPhone 15 Professional or later.
Like iOS 17, iOS 18 doesn’t help iPhone 8 or the iPhone X which got here out in 2017, however since these telephones are in a position to run iOS 16, they may proceed to get help by means of safety updates for at the least one other 12 months. With the discharge of iOS 18 although, Apple will cease supporting iOS 15, which is able to imply that iPhone 7, 7 Plus, iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, and iPhone SE (1st era) will not get help. Usually, Apple has supplied software program updates for the previous two variations of iOS. See: How lengthy does Apple help iPhones.
iOS 18: Newest beta
Apple’s beta testing program for builders and public testers has been working since June/July and continues past the launch of iOS 18 to most of the people. There may be additionally a separate iOS 18 Sequoia 15.2 beta that features some as but unavailable Apple Intelligence options.
If you wish to run the developer beta, you could be a registered Apple software program developer, which has each free and paid ($99/£79) variations. We clarify Methods to be part of Apple’s beta program individually. Developer betas may be dangerous although, so we suggest signing up for the Public Beta as an alternative, which must be extra secure. Beware although: whether or not a public beta or a developer beta, any beta software program is just not as secure as the ultimate model and the iOS and your apps might not work correctly. Learn Must you set up the iOS 18 beta? for recommendation.
As soon as registered, while you go to Settings > Basic > Software program Replace in your Mac, you’ll see a brand new tab for Beta Updates, which is able to checklist the model of the beta you’re working: select both iOS 18 Developer Beta or iOS 18 Public Beta. In the event you need assistance putting in the developer or public betas learn our Methods to get the iOS beta article. In the event you then wish to uninstall it, we’ve got a information for that: Methods to take away the iOS beta.
iOS 18 options nonetheless to launch
The next promised options aren’t but in beta:
- ChatGPT integration
- Picture Playground
- Genmoji
- Superior Siri options like on-screen consciousness, private context, and actions inside apps
- The picture options had been stated to reach at launch, however more moderen experiences say it’s going to come later this ye
iOS 18 options: What’s new in iOS 18
There have been many new options in iOS 17 together with a brand new app known as Journal, Dwell Voicemail, and a brand new method to make use of Stickers, amongst dozens of different smaller modifications. Rumors steered that iOS 18 can be “one of many greatest iOS updates — if not the most important — within the firm’s historical past.” As anticipated, in iOS 28 Apple will embody some main new AI options, dubbed Apple Intelligence, though these options will solely be accessible on iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max and newer iPhones.
Not all the brand new options had been accessible at launch. The primary Apple Intelligence AI options had been launched in iOS 18.1 and others are arriving with subsequent updates. Options, corresponding to the brand new classes in Mail, will come “later this 12 months”. Learn: Options lacking when iOS 18 launched.
Customization
There can be a extra customizable Residence Display screen, Lock Display screen, and Management Middle in iOS 18.
A number of experiences had claimed that Apple would permit higher personalization of the Residence display, together with permitting customers to put icons anyplace on the grid, permitting areas between them. Previous to iOS 18 icons may be reordered or put into folders, however at all times fill the display from left to proper and prime to backside.
In iOS 18 customers are in a position to prepare apps and widgets anyplace on the Residence Display screen, together with proper above the dock or framing a wallpaper. It would even be attainable to alter the lock display icons or take away them.
As well as, App icons and widgets can have a darkish or tinted impact to mix in. Learn: iOS 18: Methods to change the colour of the app icons on your property display and Methods to put app icons, widgets, and folders anyplace you need in addition to iOS 18: Methods to make your app icons massive and label-free.
This “put icons wherever you need” characteristic is one thing we’ve wished from Apple for a few years, and has been a staple of many Android telephones seemingly perpetually.
The Management Centre is getting a redesign to offer simpler entry to a consumer’s most-utilized controls. Customers can even be capable of add controls from supported third-party apps into Management Middle.
Is it sufficient? Learn: Apple is lastly letting you’ve got it your method–kinda and You may lastly customise your iPhone like Android–right here’s every thing you are able to do.
Apple
Images
New options in Images will assist customers discover their pictures and hold huge libraries organized. It’s the most important redesign of Images ever and is meant to assist customers discover pictures quick. It will likely be simplified however nonetheless acquainted, in accordance with Apple and can embody a brand new Unified View, new Collections, and customization options.
Customers will be capable of filter out litter to slender right down to particular varieties of content material. It will likely be attainable to browse by subjects, time, folks, reminiscences, journeys, Latest Days and Individuals and Pets.
A brand new carousel view will current highlights that replace every day – that includes favourite folks, pets, and locations.
Apple
Messages
Messages will achieve new methods to specific your self. Anticipate enhancements to textual content formatting and enjoyable new textual content results. Tapbacks are getting redesigned and can allow you to faucet again with any emoji or sticker. You’ll additionally be capable of amplify and animate letters, phrase, phrases, and emoji, and add formatting like daring, underline, italics, and strikethrough.
Additionally, you will be capable of schedule a message to ship later.
Messages can even help RCS for extra dependable group messaging with those that shouldn’t have an Apple gadget. Examine how your conversations with Android customers will look in iOS 18 and RCS on iPhone with iOS 18: Each query answered.
Apple can be making it attainable to ship Messages by way of Satellite tv for pc so you possibly can textual content when off the grid from Messages app. iMessages despatched over satellite tv for pc are encrypted.
Apple
Mail will assist you handle incoming electronic mail higher with new on-device categorization. As electronic mail arrives will probably be sorted into Major (private and time-sensitive), Transactions (confirmations and receipts), Updates (information and social notifications), and Promotions (advertising and coupons).
A brand new Digest will pull collectively all related emails from a enterprise, so for instance, it may deliver all flight data collectively.
The Mail Categorization options can be accessible later this 12 months.
Safari
A brand new Highlights characteristic is designed to make it simpler to find data on the net.
A redesigned Reader expertise will use machine studying to floor key data on a webpage in order that customers can overview a abstract to get the gist of an article. A desk of contents can be included for longer articles
Apple says customers can even be capable of shortly see the situation of a restaurant, lodge, or landmark; or take heed to an artist’s monitor proper from an article in regards to the music or album.
Additionally, you will be capable of snap away annoying advertisements.
Apple
Pockets and Apple Pay
There can be new methods to pay with Apple Pay. Customers can ship and obtain Apple Money by holding two iPhones collectively: Faucet to Money will allow you to share money with out exchanging electronic mail or quantity.
Tickets in Apple Pockets together with key occasion data like an occasion information with information in regards to the venue, and beneficial Apple Music playlists
Apple
iPhone mirroring on the Mac
iPhone Mirroring will grant customers entry to their iPhone by way of their Mac. It will likely be attainable to see notifications from the iPhone on the Mac, and drag and drop recordsdata between the gadgets.
Learn: How iPhone Mirroring permits you to entry your iPhone in your Mac in macOS Sequoia.
Different app updates:
- Journal – New options that can assist you hold monitor of targets, Insights view, calendar, writing streak, and truly search
- Maps – New topographic maps with trails (US nationwide parks solely)
- Recreation Mode – Will reduce background exercise for the very best body charges
- Notes app – formulation and equations entered whereas typing can be solved
- Calendar – incorporates duties from Reminders and a brand new month-to-month view
- Well being app – Medical ID redesigned
- Emergency SOS Dwell Video
- Residence app – visitor entry
- Accessibility – Eye Monitoring
- iCloud – Apple is including a “Maintain Downloaded” choice that stops the file from being moved to iCloud and retains the file on the gadget. Learn in regards to the new Maintain Downloaded choice.
Apple didn’t talk about every thing at WWDC. There have been various options that didn’t make the WWDC keynote.
Additionally see: Unannounced iOS 18 tweak permits you to see the time even when your iPhone is useless.
Privateness options
iOS 18 will enhance privateness. It is possible for you to to regulate who can see your apps, which contacts you share with that app, and which equipment apps can hook up with.
You may also management whether or not others can view your apps in your iPhone by locking an app so it gained’t open with out Face ID or a passcode. A brand new locked hidden apps folder can be coming with iOS 18.
Builders can have a solution to seamlessly join third-party equipment with iPhones with out letting an app see all the opposite gadgets on a consumer’s community.
Apple
Apple Intelligence
Apple’s new synthetic intelligence system is coming in a sequence of updates to iPhone, Mac, and iPad with iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and iPadOS 18. Apple Intelligence will solely be supported by iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional Max although. (Right here’s why you’ll must improve your iPhone to get Apple Intelligence, additionally learn: Right here’s why newer iPhones and Imaginative and prescient Professional can’t run Apple Intelligence).
The {hardware} necessities are steep—iPhone 15 Professional or later. iPads will want at the least an M1 chip or later as will Macs. Apple Intelligence options will principally be processed on the gadget, which is totally different from different platforms the place AI processing is completed within the cloud. However Apple Intelligence will be capable of decide if cloud processing is required and can use it when applicable.
Apple Intelligence options embody the next:
Writing – Apple Intelligence will assist customers improve their writing and communications. Writing Instruments are in-built systemwide that may supply to rewrite, proofread, and summarize textual content in writing centered apps corresponding to Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.
Pictures – New picture capabilities can even come to M-series Macs. In Picture Playground customers will be capable of create pictures in three kinds: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch.
Images – A brand new Reminiscences in Images characteristic will create a video from pictures and movies based mostly on an outline supplied by the consumer. Apple Intelligence will select the pictures and movies, develop a storyline based mostly on the pictures, and prepare them right into a film. As well as, a brand new Clear Up instrument will determine and take away undesirable objects from the background of a photograph.
Learn: Apple Intelligence FAQ: What it’s, what it does, and while you’ll get it and Apple Intelligence is a gradual rollout—right here’s what you’ll get, and when.
Siri
Siri can be getting some AI updates and ChatGPT is to be built-in into Siri. As a result of some queries can be dealt with off-device Apple is introducing Non-public Cloud Compute in order that when knowledge is shipped to server-based fashions for processing it’s not saved or made accessible to Apple.
One of many easiest modifications to Siri is that will probably be simpler to sort to Siri somewhat than having to talk to the on-device assistant. Apple might have lastly twigged that individuals don’t at all times wish to discuss to their telephones.
The brand new Siri is claimed to be extra “conversational” and pure, with options that “assist customers of their day-to-day lives.”
A brand new sensible responses framework will assist Siri take note of your personal private particulars in its replies: like folks, firms, calendar occasions, places, dates, and extra.
Later this 12 months, Siri is claimed to get cross-device media management. So you possibly can discuss to Siri on considered one of your gadgets to regulate media playback on one other.
In an replace scheduled for early 2025, Siri is claimed to realize the power to regulate almost any app, with tons of of attainable instructions. This characteristic will begin off with single instructions for Apple’s personal apps and develop to incorporate third-party apps and instructions with a number of steps. As well as, Siri will be capable of react to and take actions based mostly on what’s in your display. That is stated to enter beta for builders in January, with a rollout to customers in iOS 18.4 within the spring.
New accessibility options
Apple is planning a number of new accessibility options for iOS 18, together with Adaptive Voice Shortcuts, which is able to let customers activate or off particular accessibility options utilizing a customized phrase, and Dwell Speech, which lets customers sort what they wish to say and have it learn out loud on telephone calls or video conferences, will get the power so as to add saved phrases to classes.
Options coming after the iOS 18 launch
Some iOS 18 options gained’t be part of the preliminary launch. Slightly, they are going to be launched later in 2024 or in 2025 as a part of an iOS 18 level launch (iOS 18.2 or iOS 18.4, for instance).
Listed here are a few of the extra important options we anticipate to come later in an iOS 18 replace:
Mail app options – Auto-categorizing of mail, mail digests, and summaries in your inbox are all options anticipated later in 2024.
Residence help for robotic vacuums – The Residence app gained’t be capable of begin or cease your Roomba till later in 2024.
Drag and Drop between iPhone and Mac – You’ll be capable of see and management your iPhone in your Mac when iOS 18 and macOS 15 are launched, however drag-and-drop help between your Mac and iPhone will are available an replace.
ChatGPT integration – The flexibility to name upon ChatGPT when utilizing Apple’s AI instruments will probably come later in 2024.
Superior Siri options – Siri options like its capacity to see and react to what’s in your show, semantic indexing (the place Siri is aware of and makes use of data from throughout Messages, Mail, Contacts, and extra), and superior management over apps is all coming in 2025.
Car Movement Cues in iOS 18 will assist scale back movement illness.
Third-party NFC transactions – Apple will permit third-party NFC transactions starting with iOS 18.1–by request.
As well as, the entire Apple Intelligence options will initially help solely American English, and could also be restricted to just some areas. Further languages and areas are prone to be accessible by means of 2025 and past.
Subsequent model of iOS
We all know that the following model of iOS after Apple finishes growth of iOS 18 can be iOS 19. However what subsequent when it comes to software program? Anticipate much more Apple Intelligence options to return within the late 2025 replace to iOS and anticipate that iOS, iPadOS and macOS can be nearer than ever.
Over the previous a number of years, the discharge of the brand new model of iOS has been pretty constant, normally falling on the Monday following Apple’s iPhone launch occasion:
- iOS 18: Monday, September 16, 2024
- iOS 17: Monday, September 18, 2023
- iOS 16: Monday, September 12, 2022
- iOS 15: Monday, September 20, 2021
- iOS 14: Wednesday, September 16, 2020
- iOS 13: Thursday, September 19, 2019
- iOS 12: Monday, September 17, 2018
