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iOS 18 Features: The Ultimate Mega Guide

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Apr 12, 2001
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During the iOS 18 beta testing process that took place from June to September, we here at MacRumors put together a series of in-depth feature guides and how tos that walk you through all of the new features in the latest update.

iOS-18-Ultimate-Mega-Guide-Feature.jpg

This comprehensive guide includes all of our coverage, and it is a great resource for iPhone and iPad users who haven't had a chance to test out iOS 18 and those who might not remember all of the new features. Everything is organized by app or feature to make it easy to find what you're looking for, and we'll be adding to it over time as we publish new guides and how tos.

Home Screen Updates

Apple overhauled the Home Screen, introducing new options for personalization and customization. You can put icons where you want, change their size, change colors, and even hide apps.

iOS-18-Home-Screen-Feature-1.jpg

Control Center

The Control Center can be rearranged to put your most used controls front and center, plus you can set up multiple pages for improved organization. Third-party app developers can create Control Center controls for the first time, and as part of the Control Center tweaks, you can swap out the Flashlight and Camera icons on the Lock Screen with other quick access buttons.

iOS-18-Control-Center-Guide-1.jpg


Passwords App

Apple added a dedicated Passwords app in iOS 18, where logins and passwords stored in iCloud Keychain can be accessed. It's essentially the Passwords section that used to be located in the Settings app, but in a dedicated app that makes it easier to find your stored login information.

Generic-iOS-18-Passwords-Feature.jpg



Safari

Safari adds a Highlights feature that surfaces the information you most want to know on a website, such as driving directions and hours.

iOS-18-Safari-Feature.jpg


Messages

The iOS 18 Messages app has a long list of new features, from Send Later for scheduling messages to support for using any emoji when you send a Tapback response. There's RCS support that improves texts with Android users, and support for sending messages via satellite when you don't have a Wi-Fi or Cellular connection.

iOS-18-Messages-Feature-1.jpg


Phone

You can record, transcribe, and summarize phone calls for the first time (with consent from everyone on the line), plus there are some other useful changes in Apple's Phone app.

iOS-18-Phone-App-Guide-Feature.jpg
... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: iOS 18 Features: The Ultimate Mega Guide
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ios-18-ultimate-guide/
Last edited:
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I like how they fixed the iphone storage in ios 18. BUT NOW they need to fix the ICLOUD Backup storage. Mine increased so much after the update. I deleted the backups etc and it increased. Hoping they fix this. I predict they will come out with 18.0.1 or 18.0.2 friday. It was very slow opening apps etc. so I kinda feel like they gave us beta 1. Its gotten faster throughout the day though so maybe its done updating in the background. I dont know how long that takes but we'll see.
 
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So none of the more interesting new features are actually available. We need to wait some time in the fall or winter for them. Why does Apple always release software that isn't finished or ready. Why not just skip the September launches if the thousands of workers at Apple can't get their jobs done on time, and release the software at the end of the year?
 
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WinstonSmyth said:
So none of the more interesting new features are actually available. We need to wait some time in the fall or winter for them. Why does Apple always release software that isn't finished or ready. Why not just skip the September launches if the thousands of workers at Apple can't get their jobs done on time, and release the software at the end of the year?
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true that. That is why I am skipping this year. Too much BS
 
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The home screen - had public beta on my 13 iPad Air and the re-arranging of icons is still lacking for my taste:
Should be able to move icons closer together on that large screen.
I’d like to be able to resize folders to widget size so that the icons inside are actually readable, right now they’re just too small.

Overall a very worthwhile upgrade imho
 
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Before this iOS, you could swipe up from any screen to get to your tools to turn the brightness up or down, etc. Now it only works from the Home Screen. So now, if I am looking at photos and the screen is dark, I have to return to the Home Screen, swipe up, increase the brightness, then go back to the photos app.
 
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foqus said:
Before this iOS, you could swipe up from any screen to get to your tools to turn the brightness up or down, etc. Now it only works from the Home Screen. So now, if I am looking at photos and the screen is dark, I have to return to the Home Screen, swipe up, increase the brightness, then go back to the photos app.
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So control center is not launched by swiping down from the upper right hand corner anymore??!
 
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Figured they would break/change something. I used to just tap my home accessories to turn on and off in control center. Now I am stuck tapping and swiping up/down. Lame…
 
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foqus said:
Before this iOS, you could swipe up from any screen to get to your tools to turn the brightness up or down, etc. Now it only works from the Home Screen. So now, if I am looking at photos and the screen is dark, I have to return to the Home Screen, swipe up, increase the brightness, then go back to the photos app.
Click to expand...
Have a look under the control centre settings, I think you may have the "Access within apps" toggle off.
 
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WinstonSmyth said:
So none of the more interesting new features are actually available. We need to wait some time in the fall or winter for them. Why does Apple always release software that isn't finished or ready. Why not just skip the September launches if the thousands of workers at Apple can't get their jobs done on time, and release the software at the end of the year?
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Shareholders. The answer is shareholders.
 
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TrendyLicious said:
I'm annoyed no Australian Telcos are supporting RCS at the moment, with no apparent reference to them ever supporting it.
Kind of justifies why apple was so unmotivated to add support for it.
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wait really?! didn't know telcos here had to opt in, bugger
 
foqus said:
Before this iOS, you could swipe up from any screen to get to your tools to turn the brightness up or down, etc. Now it only works from the Home Screen. So now, if I am looking at photos and the screen is dark, I have to return to the Home Screen, swipe up, increase the brightness, then go back to the photos app.
Click to expand...
I am confused. This is how it worked on the iPhones until the iPhone 8 which had a home button but these models didn't get an iOS 18 update.
 
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