Even in the event 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 brand new options in iOS 18 are a redesigned Photos app, new methods to customise your Home 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 is like getting a brand new iPhone with out paying a penny. In this text, we focus on every thing it’s good to find out 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 come back as a result of they weren’t prepared in time for the launch of iOS 18. We’ll additionally focus on any issues and fixes, the newest replace and what’s coming in the subsequent replace to iOS 18.
We even have details about the beta program together with the newest model of the general public and developer betas.
Update November 20: Apple has issued an essential replace to iOS 18. iOS 18.1.1 gives essential safety fixes. The fourth developer beta of iOS 18.2 can be now out there.
iOS 18: Latest model
- iOS 18.1.1: November 19, 2024
iOS 18 arrived on Monday, September 16. macOS Sequoia, watchOS and iPadOS 18 have been additionally launched on the identical time.
The newest model is iOS 18.1.1 which incorporates fixes for 2 safety vulnerabilities which have truly been used in assaults on Intel-based Macs. In notes accompanying the replace, Apple writes: “Apple is conscious of a report that this difficulty might have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac methods.” The mounted 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 that iPhone 15 Pro and Max. There shall be extra Apple Intelligence options launched in iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.3. If you need to know extra concerning the staggered launch of Apple Intelligence options, learn: Apple Intelligence is a gradual rollout—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 Pro, 15 Max, and the complete iPhone 16 vary). New options embody:
- Writing Tools – Rewrite, proofread, and summarize textual content.
- Siri – New look. Type 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.
- Photos – Improvements to go looking. Clean Up to take away issues from photographs. Memory motion pictures.
- Notifications – Notification summaries. Reduce interruptions Focus.
- Mail – Smart reply. Priority messages.
- Notes – Transcritipns of audio recordings or cellphone calls.
- Phone – Record cellphone calls.
- Camera – Camera Control button can be utilized to change to TrueDepth digital camera. Spatial picture seize for 16 Pro and Max.
- AirPods – Hearing Test and Hearing Air options for AirPods Pro 2.
There have been additionally bug fixes and safety updates in iOS 18.1.
iOS 18.2: Release date and new options
- iOS 18.2 launch date: December
iOS 18.2 is presently in beta. There is a developer beta and a pubic beta.
The predominant thrust of iOS 18.2 is new Apple Intelligence options, particularly these centered round photographs. There are updates to Writing Tools, ChatGPT integration with Siri, Image Playground, Genmoji, and Visual Intelligence for iPhone 16 telephones. You can anticipate the next:
- Writing Tools updates – extra choices.
- Genmojji – new emoji you’ll be able to create.
- Image Playground – means to generate photographs primarily based on textual content prompts.
- Image Wand – makes use of Apple’s picture technology instruments to create a picture and add as context to a observe.
- ChatGPT integration – use ChatGPT with Siri.
- Default Apps – new part in Settings.
- Visual Intelligence – get info utilizing the Camera Control button.
- AE/AF Lock – new toggle to lock publicity and focus through the Camera Control button.
- Find My – share the situation of one thing with a trusted individual.
- Mail – AI-powered auto-categories to assist handle your Inbox.
- Volume limits – set quantity limits for iPhone speaker.
In addition, a brand new framework referred to as “BatteryIntelligence” is current in the 18.2 beta and can calculate the remaining cost time primarily based on the quantity of energy the cellphone is receiving. See: Your iPhone may finally tell you how long it will take to charge.
iOS 18: Problems and bugs
Messages bug: A Messages bug that would trigger crashes and should even end result in the lack of worthwhile knowledge was reported. It appeared to be related to an Apple Watch function that lets customers share their watch face over Messages (or Mail). Obviously, these are fairly a distinct segment set of circumstances and one of the best ways to keep away from it seems to be to not reply to look at faces in a thread. We have extra info right here: Link-sharing bug in iOS 18 Messages can cause iPhone crashes, data loss. Apple mounted this bug in iOS 18.0.1.
Unresponsive contact display: iPhone 16 Pro house owners have complained of display ‘dead spots’, with faucets and swipes are being ignored. It is assumed that that is associated to the Camera Control button. Apple addressed this bug in iOS 18.0.1.
Camera freezes in macro mode: This was addressed in iOS 18.0.1.
There are issues that macOS Sequoia’s iPhone mirroring feature could expose personal data at work. Servco Security has highlighted the issue to Apple who claims to be engaged on a repair.
If you might have any issues with iOS 18 you could possibly downgrade. Read: How to downgrade an iPhone from iOS 18 to iOS 17.
iOS 18: Should I set up iOS 18 on my iPhone?
As lengthy as your iPhone can run it, we suggest updating to iOS 18. The new options–all of which we focus on beneath–look attractive sufficient, and, to this point, the one downside (see above) won’t have an effect on many individuals. We tackle how How iOS 17 and iOS 18 compare individually. Also check out: All the little details and hidden features in iOS 18 you won’t want to miss.
However, we do suggest you wait per week or extra in order that any points with the early launch will 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 doubtless take quite a bit longer in the event you strive quickly after it turns into out there.
iOS 18: How to put in
Installing iOS 18 and any subsequent updates is a breeze. Just open the Settings app in your iPhone and go to General > Software Update; iOS will examine for any out there updates and information you thru the method of putting in them. You merely should observe the directions, which we clarify in our iOS updating guide. And it’s simpler nonetheless in the event you’ve turned on Automatic Updates, which you are able to do from the identical display.
A bit of work making ready your iPhone earlier than putting in the replace may help keep away from issues. We advise you observe these steps:
- Back up your iPhone: Back up earlier than putting in the brand new model and you’ll at all times be capable of recover your iPhone with the older model of iOS working on it ought to issues go incorrect. Read: How to downgrade an iPhone.
- Make house in your iPhone: If your iPhone doesn’t have plenty of out there house internally we suggest having a little bit of a tidy-up so you’ll be able to reclaim some iPhone storage. Simple methods to do that may embody deleting apps you don’t use, deleting previous Notes, Messages, and duplicated photos.
- Update your iPhone to the newest model: Don’t skip an replace and go straight to iOS 18. If you haven’t put in iOS 17.6.1 but accomplish that now.
iOS 18 compatibility: Which iPhones get iOS 18?
The following iPhones get assist for iOS 18, the identical lineup of supported units as iOS 17.
- iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, Pro, Pro Max
- iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, Pro, Pro Max
- iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, Pro, Pro Max
- iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, Pro, Pro Max
- iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, Pro, Pro Max
- iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, Pro Max
- iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE (2nd gen or later)
Read: iOS 18 compatibility: Which iPhones support iOS 18 and iOS compatibility checker
Some of the brand new options won’t be supported on the older telephones, as a result of they lack the {hardware} needed (a robust sufficient Neural Engine or GPU to run AI stuff, or sufficient RAM). This is typical of latest iOS releases. In 2022, for instance, the iPhone 8 and that iPhone X missed out on a bunch of cool stuff resulting from their older processor. It isn’t any shock, subsequently, that the {hardware} necessities are steep for the AI-related options aka ‘Apple Intelligence’—iPhone 15 Pro or later.
Like iOS 17, iOS 18 doesn’t assist iPhone 8 or the iPhone X which got here out in 2017, however since these telephones are capable of run iOS 16, they are going to proceed to get assist by 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 that iPhone SE (1st technology) will not get assist. Generally, Apple has supplied software program updates for the previous two variations of iOS. See: How long does Apple support iPhones.
iOS 18: Latest 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 can be a separate iOS 18 Sequoia 15.2 beta that features some as but unavailable Apple Intelligence features.
If you need to run the developer beta, it’s good to be a registered Apple software program developer, which has each free and paid ($99/£79) variations. We clarify How to join Apple’s beta program individually. Developer betas will be dangerous although, so we suggest signing up for the Public Beta as a substitute, which must be extra secure. Beware although: whether or not a public beta or a developer beta, any beta software program just isn’t as secure as the ultimate model and the iOS and your apps might not work correctly. Read Should you install the iOS 18 beta? for recommendation.
Once registered, while you go to Settings > General > Software Update 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. If you need assistance putting in the developer or public betas learn our How to get the iOS beta article. If you then need to uninstall it, we have now a information for that: How to remove the iOS beta.
iOS 18 options nonetheless to launch
The following promised options aren’t but in beta:
- ChatGPT integration
- Image Playground
- Genmoji
- Advanced Siri options like on-screen consciousness, private context, and actions inside apps
- The picture options have been stated to reach at launch, however more moderen reviews say it can 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 referred to as Journal, Live Voicemail, and a brand new means to make use of Stickers, amongst dozens of different smaller modifications. Rumors advised that iOS 18 can be “one of many greatest iOS updates — if not the largest — in the corporate’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 out there on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and newer iPhones.
Not all the brand new options have been out there at launch. The first Apple Intelligence AI features have been launched in iOS 18.1 and others are arriving with subsequent updates. Features, akin to the brand new classes in Mail, will come “later this 12 months”. Read: Features missing when iOS 18 launched.
Customization
There shall be a extra customizable Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Control Center in iOS 18.
Several reviews had claimed that Apple would permit greater personalization of the Home screen, together with permitting customers to position icons wherever on the grid, permitting areas between them. Prior to iOS 18 icons will 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 capable of organize apps and widgets wherever on the Home Screen, together with proper above the dock or framing a wallpaper. It will even be doable to vary the lock display icons or take away them.
In addition, App icons and widgets can have a darkish or tinted impact to mix in. Read: iOS 18: How to change the color of the app icons on your home screen and How to put app icons, widgets, and folders anywhere you want in addition to iOS 18: How to make your app icons large and label-free.
This “put icons wherever you need” function is one thing we’ve wished from Apple for a few years, and has been a staple of many Android telephones seemingly perpetually.
The Control Centre is getting a redesign to offer simpler entry to a consumer’s most-utilized controls. Users can even be capable of add controls from supported third-party apps into Control Center.
Is it sufficient? Read: Apple is finally letting you have it your way–kinda and You can finally customize your iPhone like Android–here’s everything you can do.
Apple
Photos
New options in Photos will assist customers discover their photographs and maintain massive libraries organized. It’s the largest redesign of Photos ever and is meant to assist customers discover photographs quick. It shall be simplified however nonetheless acquainted, in response to Apple and can embody a brand new Unified View, new Collections, and customization options.
Users will be capable of filter out muddle to slender all the way down to particular varieties of content material. It shall be doable to browse by matters, time, folks, reminiscences, journeys, Recent Days and People 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 acquire new methods to precise your self. Expect 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.
You can even be capable of schedule a message to ship later.
Messages can even assist RCS for extra dependable group messaging with those that should not have an Apple gadget. Read about how your conversations with Android users will look in iOS 18 and RCS on iPhone with iOS 18: Every question answered.
Apple can be making it doable to ship Messages through Satellite so you’ll be able to textual content when off the grid from Messages app. iMessages despatched over satellite tv for pc are encrypted.
Apple
Mail will aid you handle incoming electronic mail higher with new on-device categorization. As electronic mail arrives it is going to be sorted into Primary (private and time-sensitive), Transactions (confirmations and receipts), Updates (information and social notifications), and Promotions (advertising and marketing and coupons).
A brand new Digest will pull collectively all related emails from a enterprise, so for instance, it may carry all flight info collectively.
The Mail Categorization options shall be out there later this 12 months.
Safari
A brand new Highlights function is designed to make it simpler to find info on the internet.
A redesigned Reader expertise will use machine studying to floor key info on a webpage in order that customers can overview a abstract to get the gist of an article. A desk of contents shall be included for longer articles
Apple says customers can even be capable of shortly see the situation of a restaurant, lodge, or landmark; or hearken to an artist’s monitor proper from an article concerning the tune or album.
You can even be capable of snap away annoying ads.
Apple
Wallet and Apple Pay
There shall be new methods to pay with Apple Pay. Users can ship and obtain Apple Cash by holding two iPhones collectively: Tap to Cash will allow you to share money with out exchanging electronic mail or quantity.
Tickets in Apple Wallet together with key occasion info like an occasion information with data concerning the venue, and really helpful Apple Music playlists
Apple
iPhone mirroring on the Mac
iPhone Mirroring will grant customers entry to their iPhone through their Mac. It shall be doable to see notifications from the iPhone on the Mac, and drag and drop recordsdata between the units.
Read: How iPhone Mirroring lets you access your iPhone on your Mac in macOS Sequoia.
Other app updates:
- Journal – New options that can assist you maintain monitor of objectives, Insights view, calendar, writing streak, and really search
- Maps – New topographic maps with trails (US nationwide parks solely)
- Game Mode – Will decrease background exercise for the most effective body charges
- Notes app – formulation and equations entered whereas typing shall be solved
- Calendar – incorporates duties from Reminders and a brand new month-to-month view
- Health app – Medical ID redesigned
- Emergency SOS Live Video
- Home app – visitor entry
- Accessibility – Eye Tracking
- iCloud – Apple is including a “Keep Downloaded” possibility that stops the file from being moved to iCloud and retains the file on the gadget. Read concerning the new Keep Downloaded option.
Apple didn’t focus on every thing at WWDC. There have been quite a few features that didn’t make the WWDC keynote.
Also see: Unannounced iOS 18 tweak lets you see the time even when your iPhone is dead.
Privacy options
iOS 18 will enhance privateness. You will be capable of management who can see your apps, which contacts you share with that app, and which equipment apps can connect with.
You may also management whether or not others can view your apps in your iPhone by locking an app so it received’t open with out Face ID or a passcode. A brand new locked hidden apps folder can be coming with iOS 18.
Developers may have a technique to seamlessly join third-party equipment with iPhones with out letting an app see all the opposite units 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 Pro and that iPhone 15 Pro Max although. (Here’s why you’ll need to upgrade your iPhone to get Apple Intelligence, additionally learn: Here’s why newer iPhones and Vision Pro can’t run Apple Intelligence).
The {hardware} necessities are steep—iPhone 15 Pro 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 in the cloud. But 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 Tools are constructed in systemwide that can supply to rewrite, proofread, and summarize textual content in writing targeted apps akin to Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.
Images – New picture capabilities can even come to M-series Macs. In Image Playground customers will be capable of create photographs in three types: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch.
Photos – A brand new Memories in Photos function will create a video from photographs and movies primarily based on an outline supplied by the consumer. Apple Intelligence will select the photographs and movies, develop a storyline primarily based on the photographs, and organize them right into a film. In addition, a brand new Clean Up software will establish and take away undesirable objects from the background of a photograph.
Read: Apple Intelligence FAQ: What it is, what it does, and when you’ll get it and Apple Intelligence is a gradual rollout—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. Because some queries shall be dealt with off-device Apple is introducing Private 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 the best modifications to Siri is that it is going to be simpler to sort to Siri reasonably than having to talk to the on-device assistant. Apple might have lastly twigged that individuals don’t at all times need to speak to their telephones.
The new Siri is alleged to be extra “conversational” and pure, with options that “assist customers in their day-to-day lives.”
A brand new good responses framework will assist Siri bear in mind your personal private particulars in its replies: like folks, firms, calendar occasions, areas, dates, and extra.
Later this 12 months, Siri is alleged to get cross-device media management. So you’ll be able to speak to Siri on one in all your units to manage media playback on one other.
In an replace scheduled for early 2025, Siri is alleged to achieve the flexibility to manage practically any app, with a whole lot of doable instructions. This function 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. In addition, Siri will be capable of react to and take actions primarily based on what’s in your display. This is said to go into beta for developers in January, with a rollout to customers in iOS 18.4 in the spring.
New accessibility options
Apple is planning several new accessibility features 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 Live Speech, which lets customers sort what they need to say and have it learn out loud on cellphone calls or video conferences, will get the flexibility so as to add saved phrases to classes.
Features coming after the iOS 18 launch
Some iOS 18 options received’t be part of the preliminary launch. Rather, 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).
Here are a number of the extra vital options we anticipate to come later in an iOS 18 update:
Mail app options – Auto-categorizing of mail, mail digests, and summaries in your inbox are all options anticipated later in 2024.
Home assist for robotic vacuums – The Home app received’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 assist between your Mac and that iPhone will come in an replace.
ChatGPT integration – The means to name upon ChatGPT when utilizing Apple’s AI instruments will doubtless come later in 2024.
Advanced Siri options – Siri options like its means to see and react to what’s in your show, semantic indexing (the place Siri is aware of and makes use of info from throughout Messages, Mail, Contacts, and extra), and superior management over apps is all coming in 2025.
Vehicle Motion 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.
In addition, all the Apple Intelligence options will initially assist solely American English, and could also be restricted to just some areas. Additional languages and areas are prone to be out there by 2025 and past.
Next model of iOS
We know that the subsequent model of iOS after Apple finishes growth of iOS 18 shall be iOS 19. But what subsequent in phrases of software program? Expect much more Apple Intelligence options to come back in the late 2025 replace to iOS and anticipate that iOS, iPadOS and macOS shall be nearer than ever.
Over the previous a number of years, the discharge of the brand new model of iOS has been pretty constant, often 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
