Every year, Apple adds new features with the latest software updates. If you’ve already grabbed iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 and are wondering what’s new, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s a rundown of the most notable changes you should check out, and a roadmap for what’s coming in later updates. There’s plenty here you won’t want to miss, with 30 completely new tips to sink your teeth into. Enjoy!
Available to all
These features are here from day one, to all devices capable of running iOS 18.0. So long as you’ve updated via Settings > General > Software Update, you can dive straight in!
Customize your Home Screen layout and app colors
How to resize and rearrange the new Control Center
How to change the Lock Screen quick action buttons
How to customize the layout of the new Photos app
Securely store login details and more with Apple’s new Passwords app
How to improve Apple-to-Android chats with RCS text messaging
Express yourself in Messages with formatting, text effects, and tapbacks
How to schedule a message for later
Use Siri’s new type interface to keep quiet and improve accuracy
Pay with Apple Cash by tapping two iPhones together
Take a hike with custom walking routes in Apple Maps
How to lock apps behind Face ID or keep them hidden entirely
Using Vocal Shortcuts to change Siri’s name and wake word
How to remotely control an iPhone or iPad over SharePlay
Bluetooth pairing and contact sharing just got more secure
How Game Mode improves performance and reduces lag
Check out insights and stats for your diary entries in Journal
How to send texts and videos when stuck somewhere with no signal
How to control your iPhone from a Mac with iPhone Mirroring
More iOS 18 changes you might have missed
Powered by Apple Intelligence
These AI-powered features are only available to those with compatible devices, starting from iOS 18.1. Specifically, you’ll need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, or any iPad with an Apple Silicon chip (M1 or higher). You’ll also need to opt into the Apple Intelligence Beta via Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and ensure your device language is set to US English.
Instantly remove anything from a photo with the Clean Up tool
Create a Memory Movie in Photos with a text description
Solve equations, graphs, and handwritten sums with Math Notes
Clean up and edit your handwriting with Smart Script
Use Writing Tools to proofread, rewrite, and summarize text
Automatically transcribe and summarize audio in the Notes app
Inbox sorting, smart replies, digest view and more in the Mail app
Get more done with Priority Notifications and Reduce Interruptions
How to see Safari’s magic web page highlights, summaries and content tables
Coming later
Apple showed off a lot of AI features at WWDC24, but it’s releasing them slowly throughout the life cycle of iOS 18. At the time of writing, the following capabilities aren’t yet available, in beta or otherwise. We’ll update this list when these features are added!
Improved Siri with personal context, on-screen awareness, actions within apps
A private, powerful, and free ChatGPT integration within Siri
Generate AI images from a text prompt with Image Playground
Create your own personalized Genmoji for use in Messages