Even if you happen to’re not planning to purchase one of many new iPhones, your current iPhone (XR and later) can now get a bunch of recent options following the discharge of iOS 18.
Among the many new options in iOS 18 are a redesigned Pictures app, new methods to customise your House display and wallpaper, new Messages reactions, privacy-related options and dozens of different smaller modifications. There may also be some AI options, dubbed Apple Intelligence coming to some iPhones (discover out in the event that they’ll be in your iPhone under).
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 all the pieces you must learn about iOS 18, together with which iPhones will have the ability to 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 December 5: The discharge candidate for iOS 18.2 is out now for beta testers. The huge launch is predicted on Monday, December 9.
iOS 18: Newest 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 most recent model is iOS 18.1.1 which incorporates fixes for 2 safety vulnerabilities which have truly been utilized in assaults on Intel-based Macs. In notes accompanying the replace, Apple writes: “Apple is conscious of a report that this situation could have been actively exploited on Intel-based Mac techniques.” 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 iPhone 15 Professional and Max. There shall be extra Apple Intelligence options launched in iOS 18.2 and iOS 18.3. If you wish to know extra concerning 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 number of Apple Intelligence options to iPhones which can be suitable with Apple Intelligence (that’s the iPhone 15 Professional, 15 Max, and your complete iPhone 16 vary). New options embody:
- Writing Instruments – Rewrite, proofread, and summarize textual content.
- Siri – New look. Sort 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.
- Pictures – Enhancements to look. Clear As much as take away issues from images. Reminiscence motion pictures.
- Notifications – Notification summaries. Cut back interruptions Focus.
- Mail – Good reply. Precedence messages.
- Notes – Transcritipns of audio recordings or telephone calls.
- Cellphone – Document telephone calls.
- Digital camera – Digital camera Management button can be utilized to change to TrueDepth digital camera. Spatial picture seize for 16 Professional and Max.
- AirPods – Listening to Check 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 9?
iOS 18.2 is at the moment in beta with the discharge candidate accessible.
The principle thrust of iOS 18.2 is new Apple Intelligence options, particularly these centered round photographs. 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’ll be able to create.
- Picture Playground – capacity to generate photographs primarily based 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 primarily based on the quantity of energy the telephone is receiving. See: Your iPhone could lastly let you know how lengthy it is going to take to cost.
iOS 18: Issues and bugs
Messages bug: A Messages bug that might trigger crashes and will even consequence within the lack of useful information was reported. It appeared to be related to an Apple Watch function 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 observe faces in a thread. Now we have extra data right here: Hyperlink-sharing bug in iOS 18 Messages may cause iPhone crashes, information loss. Apple mounted this bug in iOS 18.0.1.
Unresponsive contact display: iPhone 16 Professional homeowners have complained of show ‘lifeless 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 function may expose private information at work. Servco Safety has highlighted the issue to Apple who claims to be engaged on a repair.
When you’ve got any issues with iOS 18 you could possibly downgrade. Learn: Find out how 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 under–look attractive sufficient, and, to this point, the one drawback (see above) won’t have an effect on many individuals. We tackle 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 need to miss.
Nonetheless, we do suggest you wait every week or extra in order that any points with the early launch might 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 clever to not be one of many first downloaders as a result of the obtain will seemingly take loads longer if you happen to strive quickly after it turns into accessible.
iOS 18: Find out how 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 Common > Software program Replace; iOS will examine for any accessible updates and information you thru the method of putting in them. You merely must observe the directions, which we clarify in our iOS updating information. And it’s simpler nonetheless if you happen to’ve turned on Automated Updates, which you are able to do from the identical display.
A bit work getting ready your iPhone earlier than putting in the replace might 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 all the time have the ability to recuperate your iPhone with the older model of iOS working on it ought to issues go fallacious. Learn: Find out how to downgrade an iPhone.
- Make area in your iPhone: In case your iPhone doesn’t have quite a lot of accessible area internally we suggest having a little bit of a tidy-up so you’ll be able to reclaim some iPhone storage. Easy methods to do that may embody deleting apps you don’t use, deleting outdated Notes, Messages, and duplicated images.
- 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 achieve this now.
iOS 18 compatibility: Which iPhones get iOS 18?
The next iPhones get assist 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 assist iOS 18 and iOS compatibility checker
Among 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 recent iOS releases. In 2022, for instance, the iPhone 8 and iPhone X missed out on a bunch of cool stuff resulting from 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 assist 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 are going to proceed to get assist via safety updates for no less than one other 12 months. With the discharge of iOS 18 although, Apple will cease supporting iOS 15, which can imply that iPhone 7, 7 Plus, iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, and iPhone SE (1st era) will now not get assist. Usually, Apple has offered software program updates for the previous two variations of iOS. See: How lengthy does Apple assist 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 must be a registered Apple software program developer, which has each free and paid ($99/£79) variations. We clarify Find out how to be part of Apple’s beta program individually. Developer betas might be dangerous although, so we suggest signing up for the Public Beta as an alternative, which ought to 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 could not work correctly. Learn Must you set up the iOS 18 beta? for recommendation.
As soon as registered, while you go to Settings > Common > Software program Replace in your Mac, you’ll see a brand new tab for Beta Updates, which can listing 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 Find out how to get the iOS beta article. In the event you then need to uninstall it, we have now a information for that: Find out how 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 have been mentioned to reach at launch, however newer reviews say it is 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, Reside Voicemail, and a brand new means to make use of Stickers, amongst dozens of different smaller modifications. Rumors prompt that iOS 18 can be “one of many greatest iOS updates — if not the largest — 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 have been accessible at launch. The primary Apple Intelligence AI options have been launched in iOS 18.1 and others are arriving with subsequent updates. Options, comparable to the brand new classes in Mail, will come “later this 12 months”. Learn: Options lacking when iOS 18 launched.
Customization
There shall be a extra customizable House Display, Lock Display, and Management Heart in iOS 18.
A number of reviews had claimed that Apple would enable larger personalization of the House display, together with permitting customers to put icons anyplace on the grid, permitting areas between them. Previous to iOS 18 icons might be reordered or put into folders, however all the time fill the display from left to proper and high to backside.
In iOS 18 customers are in a position to organize apps and widgets anyplace on the House Display, together with proper above the dock or framing a wallpaper. It can even be potential 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: Find out how to change the colour of the app icons on your property display and Find out how to put app icons, widgets, and folders anyplace you need in addition to iOS 18: Find out how to make your app icons giant 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 without end.
The Management Centre is getting a redesign to offer simpler entry to a person’s most-utilized controls. Customers may also have the ability to add controls from supported third-party apps into Management Heart.
Is it sufficient? Learn: Apple is lastly letting you’ve got it your means–kinda and You may lastly customise your iPhone like Android–right here’s all the pieces you are able to do.
Apple
Pictures
New options in Pictures will assist customers discover their images and hold huge libraries organized. It’s the largest redesign of Pictures ever and is meant to assist customers discover images quick. It will likely be simplified however nonetheless acquainted, in response to Apple and can embody a brand new Unified View, new Collections, and customization options.
Customers will have the ability to filter out muddle to slim right down to particular kinds of content material. It will likely be potential to browse by subjects, time, individuals, recollections, journeys, Current Days and Folks and Pets.
A brand new carousel view will current highlights that replace every day – that includes favourite individuals, 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 have the ability to amplify and animate letters, phrase, phrases, and emoji, and add formatting like daring, underline, italics, and strikethrough.
Additionally, you will have the ability to schedule a message to ship later.
Messages may also assist RCS for extra dependable group messaging with those that shouldn’t have an Apple machine. 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 potential to ship Messages by way of Satellite tv for pc 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 allow you to handle incoming electronic mail higher with new on-device categorization. As electronic mail arrives it will likely 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 carry all flight data collectively.
The Mail Categorization options shall be accessible later this 12 months.
Safari
A brand new Highlights function 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 assessment a abstract to get the gist of an article. A desk of contents shall be included for longer articles
Apple says customers may also have the ability to rapidly see the situation of a restaurant, resort, or landmark; or take heed to an artist’s monitor proper from an article concerning the track or album.
Additionally, you will have the ability to snap away annoying adverts.
Apple
Pockets and Apple Pay
There shall 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 data concerning the venue, and advisable 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 potential to see notifications from the iPhone on the Mac, and drag and drop recordsdata between the gadgets.
Learn: How iPhone Mirroring enables 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)
- Sport Mode – Will decrease background exercise for the very best 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
- Well being app – Medical ID redesigned
- Emergency SOS Reside Video
- House app – visitor entry
- Accessibility – Eye Monitoring
- iCloud – Apple is including a “Maintain Downloaded” possibility that forestalls the file from being moved to iCloud and retains the file on the machine. Learn concerning the new Maintain Downloaded possibility.
Apple didn’t talk about all the pieces at WWDC. There have been various options that didn’t make the WWDC keynote.
Additionally see: Unannounced iOS 18 tweak enables you to see the time even when your iPhone is lifeless.
Privateness options
iOS 18 will enhance privateness. It is possible for you to to manage who can see your apps, which contacts you share with that app, and which equipment apps can connect with.
You too can 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 may have a strategy to seamlessly join third-party equipment with iPhones with out letting an app see all the opposite gadgets on a person’s community.
Apple
Apple Intelligence
Apple’s new synthetic intelligence system is coming in a collection 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 no less than an M1 chip or later as will Macs. Apple Intelligence options will largely be processed on the machine, which is completely different from different platforms the place AI processing is completed within the cloud. However Apple Intelligence will have the ability to 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 inbuilt systemwide that may supply to rewrite, proofread, and summarize textual content in writing centered apps comparable to Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.
Photographs – New picture capabilities may also come to M-series Macs. In Picture Playground customers will have the ability to create photographs in three types: Animation, Illustration, or Sketch.
Pictures – A brand new Recollections in Pictures function will create a video from images and movies primarily based on an outline offered by the person. Apple Intelligence will select the images and movies, develop a storyline primarily based on the images, and organize them right into a film. As well as, a brand new Clear Up software 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 shall be dealt with off-device Apple is introducing Personal Cloud Compute in order that when information is shipped to server-based fashions for processing it isn’t saved or made accessible to Apple.
One of many easiest modifications to Siri is that it will likely be simpler to sort to Siri quite than having to talk to the on-device assistant. Apple could have lastly twigged that individuals don’t all the time need to discuss to their telephones.
The brand new Siri is alleged 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 consider your individual private particulars in its replies: like individuals, 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 discuss to Siri on considered one of your gadgets to manage media playback on one other.
In an replace scheduled for early 2025, Siri is alleged to achieve the power to manage almost any app, with tons of of potential 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. As well as, Siri will have the ability to react to and take actions primarily based on what’s in your display. That is mentioned 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 can let customers activate or off particular accessibility options utilizing a customized phrase, and Reside Speech, which lets customers sort what they need 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. Relatively, 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 below are a number 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.
House assist for robotic vacuums – The House app gained’t have the ability to begin or cease your Roomba till later in 2024.
Drag and Drop between iPhone and Mac – You’ll have the ability to 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 iPhone will are available in an replace.
ChatGPT integration – The power to name upon ChatGPT when utilizing Apple’s AI instruments will seemingly 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.
Automobile Movement Cues in iOS 18 will assist scale back movement illness.
Third-party NFC transactions – Apple will enable third-party NFC transactions starting with iOS 18.1–by request.
As well as, all the Apple Intelligence options will initially assist solely American English, and could also be restricted to just some areas. Further languages and areas are more likely to be accessible via 2025 and past.
Subsequent model of iOS
We all know that the following model of iOS after Apple finishes improvement of iOS 18 shall 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 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, 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
