iOS 18 high options: House Display screen enhancements add a formidable degree of personalization to iPhone [Video]

Yesterday’s launch of iOS 18 introduced many new enhancements and enhancements to the iOS House Display screen. The replace features a few delicate modifications but in addition options elementary modifications to iOS design paradigms which have been round because the iPhone’s inception.

New iOS 18 wallpaper

Like each main new iOS launch, iOS 18 features a new release-specific wallpaper. Apple features a new dynamic wallpaper that modifications all through the day. For individuals who want a extra static strategy, there are 4 completely different shade kinds: yellow, pink, azure, or purple.

Video: iOS 18 Prime Options – House Display screen

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Versatile app and widget placement

For the primary time in iOS’ historical past, you may place app icons and widgets wherever on the house display screen grid. You possibly can go away gaps between icons or strategically place them in several areas to showcase the wallpaper beneath. Android customers have loved these options for years, as diehard Google followers might be fast to focus on within the remark sections of our YouTube movies. 😆

Resizing widgets

iOS has lengthy supported completely different widget sizes, however till now, you haven’t been in a position to regulate the scale of a widget already positioned on the House Display screen. With the discharge of iOS 18, Apple offers customers not only one however two methods to customise widget sizes in publish.

The primary strategy to alter a widget’s dimension is to make use of the drag deal with that seems within the backside right-hand nook of the widget whereas in edit mode. You should utilize the drag deal with to upsize or downsize the widget if there are different dimension choices accessible for that widget kind.

You too can resize widgets by performing a protracted press and tapping one of many glyphs representing every accessible widget dimension. This long-press motion additionally has one other profit: You possibly can resize a widget all the way down to its app icon.

Customizing the House display screen

When in edit mode, you’ll discover a brand new ‘Customise’ possibility when tapping the edit button within the higher left-hand nook of the House Display screen. This selection reveals a brand new House Display screen customization panel devoted to altering the look of House Display screen app icons and, to a lesser diploma, House Display screen wallpaper.

There, you’ll discover choices to change between mild and darkish icons and to alter wallpaper tint. Each first-party and third-party apps downloaded from the App Retailer can show darkish app icons, however the app’s developer must be sure that characteristic is enabled.

You’ll additionally discover a devoted icon tint possibility with a shade and saturation slider. Utilizing tint will concurrently have an effect on all House Display screen app icons, giving them a uniform shade. For these trying to complement the house display screen wallpaper, there’s a helpful eyedropper instrument to pattern colours to be used on icon tint.

Along with the customization talked about above, you’ll discover a button that allows you to swap between small and huge app icons and widgets. App icon names are hidden when utilizing massive icons to accommodate the extra dimension, which makes for a cleaner and maybe extra aesthetically pleasing setup.

Locking and hiding particular person apps

Lastly, iOS 18 permits customers to lock particular person apps behind Face ID or a passcode. To lock an app, long-press the app icon and choose Require Face ID. As soon as Face ID authenticates, the app might be locked and require authentication upon every launch. Locked apps gained’t be featured in notification previews or Highlight Search outcomes, and never all apps, reminiscent of Settings and Maps, may be locked.

Along with locking apps, iOS 18 lets customers safe particular person apps by hiding them. Hidden apps work equally to locked apps however are stashed away in a brand new Hidden class within the iOS App Library. To cover an app, press its icon and choose Require Face ID → Disguise and Require Face ID. Solely apps downloaded from the App Retailer could also be hidden.

To disclose apps inside the Hidden Appl Library class, faucet on the class after which confirm with Face ID. Hidden apps is not going to obtain notifications, calls, or vital alerts, however their presence will nonetheless be obvious through locations like Settings.

9to5Mac’s Take

iOS 18’s House Display screen opens up the iPhone like by no means earlier than to customization choices that permit customers to personalize their gadgets to a excessive diploma. Coupled with iOS Shortcuts and well-liked third-party apps like Widgetsmith, customers can now concoct original-looking iOS House Screens like by no means earlier than. Whereas some might balk on the customization prospects, contemplating them gaudy, I welcome it and really feel such options are lengthy overdue.