7 biggest features in iOS 18 and how to use them

iOS 18 was finally launched on September 16, 2024, bringing the biggest UI change to the mobile operating system since iOS 10. Many aspects of the operating system have been redesigned, from the home screen and control center to everything in between. Even six-year-old iPhones, including the iPhone XS, have received this iOS 18 update.

In this article, we will explain some of the biggest features coming to iOS 18 and how you can best use them.

Note: Some aspects of this article are subject to change.

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What are the biggest features of iOS 18 and how to use them

Here are all the features coming to iOS 18:

1) Redesigned Control Center

Control Panel customization (Image via Apple)

The Control Center has been completely overhauled. You can now move, resize, and rearrange any tile on it. There are multiple panels of the control that you can access via swiping on the screen. You can set multiple instances of the Control Panel with different layouts for each.

To begin customizing the new Control Center, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen and then tap on the "+" button on the top left corner.

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2) Customizable Home Screen

The new Home Screen customization (Image via Apple)

iOS has had Dark Mode since iOS 13, but even after enabling it, app backgrounds on the Home Screen remained white. That has changed with iOS 18, which brings two new options for apps on the Home Screen: Dark and Tinted. Choosing the Dark Mode replaces the white app background with a darker shade of grey, while the Tinted Mode applies an accent color on all apps.

To apply Dark or Tinted Mode, follow these steps:

• Tap and hold an empty space on the home screen to enter jiggle mode.
• Next, tap on the Edit button on the top left corner.
• Then, tap on the Customize button to apply either the Dark or Tinted Mode.

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3) New user interface of the Photos app

New UI of Photos app (Image via Apple)

The user interface of the Photos app has also been redesigned. The older version of the app had tabs at the bottom, such as Library, For You, Albums, and Search, but they are now gone.

Instead, everything is on the same page, you will have to swipe down to get it. This change will be applied as soon as you upgrade to iOS 18. Note that you cannot revert to the old user interface design.

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4) App Lock

Apps will ask for FaceID (Image via Apple)

The iOS 18 update also brings a new security feature, App Lock. You will be able to lock certain apps behind Touch/FaceID, which will enhance user privacy and security. For example, you may unlock the phone and give it to children to play games, but they won't be able to access sensitive apps, such as iMessage or Photos if they are locked behind Touch/FaceID.

Follow these steps to use App Lock on any app:

• Tap and hold on an app icon to bring up the context menu.
• Select Require FaceID.
• Then, select Require FaceID once again on the confirmation screen.

Next time you access the app, your iPhone will ask for FaceID.

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5) Distraction-free web browsing

The new Safari browser with a redesigned reader (Image via Apple)

The new iOS update also introduces the ability to hide certain elements on the screen for better readability, such as pesky banner ads and subscription prompts. The reader mode is also enhanced to provide a basic summary of what users want to read.

To hide certain elements on Safari, follow these steps:

• Visit any website on Safari.
• Tap on the Reader icon on the left side of the address bar at the bottom.
• Then, tap on the three dots from the option.
• Select Hide Distracting Items.
• You will be able to select which web elements you want to hide.
• Select any and tap on Hide.

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6) iMessage enhancements

The new iMessage enhancements (Image via Apple)

iMessage is getting a bunch of new features, such as Tapback reactions, text formatting options, schedule messages, and RCS support for better Android texting support.

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7) Passwords app

The new Passwords app (Image via Apple)

The Passwords app offers the ability to add or remove passwords from Settings to this app. Having a dedicated app makes it easier for users to manage their passwords and passkeys. Simply launch the new Passwords app and all your previous passwords will be moved there automatically.

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This concludes our list of the seven biggest features of iOS 18. Apple Intelligence was also announced as part of iOS 18 but won't arrive until December 2024. Thus, it was not included in this list. We will do so in the iOS 18.1 article when it is released later.