Now that iOS 18 is out within the wild, chances are you’ll surprise the best way to use all these helpful new options you’ve heard about.
These embrace scheduling messages, locking apps behind FaceID, altering the colors and measurement of your apps, and extra.
Don’t anticipate Apple to carry your hand by means of the brand new upgrades; you’re by yourself to work them out.
What about Apple Intelligence? That’s not out till October and gained’t work on all however probably the most latest iPhones (and final 12 months’s Professional fashions). However, who wants AI when you possibly can change the beam on the flashlight?
These are the largest new iOS 18 perks you want to know — and a easy step-by-step information on utilizing them. When you get your head round these tips, you’ll really feel like a real Apple Genius.
iOS 18 can be accessible on the most recent iPhone 16 vary and older fashions relationship again to the XS and XR
Apple
In fact, you want iOS 18 to make use of these new options. The software program replace landed on September 16 for iPhone fashions relationship again to XS and XR.
By now, it’s best to have acquired a notification to obtain it. However, in case you haven’t, right here’s the best way to get it:
Head to the Settings space, then choose Common. Faucet Software program Replace and observe the on-screen prompts to obtain and set up iOS 18.
Find out how to schedule messages to ship later
There are many causes chances are you’ll wish to set messages to ship later. Possibly you’re taking part in coy with a crush, messaging somebody in a special time zone, or timing a heartfelt message for a pal’s birthday.
Earlier than you begin scheduling messages like a harried challenge supervisor, it’s vital to notice that the characteristic applies solely to blue bubbles, not inexperienced ones. Meaning you possibly can’t use it for SMS and RCS messages to Android customers.
Scheduled messages are simple to identify in your iPhone
Apple
To make use of the brand new perk, open the messages app, faucet the plus icon, then faucet “ship later”. Now, faucet the time to open the scheduler and choose while you wish to ship the message. Write your message and faucet ship.
The border of the message will now present a dashed line, with the scheduled time above it. Now, it is going to ship at the moment even in the event you’re offline.
It’s also possible to re-schedule the message by urgent edit subsequent to the listed time. And, you possibly can edit its contents or delete it by long-pressing the message and deciding on the corresponding possibility.
Find out how to change the color and measurement of your app icons
Let’s get artistic. Gone are the times while you needed to put up with stiff grids for apps of their stodgy, branded colors. With iOS 18, you possibly can inflate these rounded squares, change their shades, and place them wherever you need. Watching them change from their default colors to a glowing crimson appears to be like fairly cool in real-time, too.
Altering the tint of your apps to match your background is sure to catch individuals’s consideration
Apple
Begin by touching and holding the display screen background till the apps jiggle. Choose “edit” on the prime left after which “customise” from the menu.
Now, you need to use the self-explanatory controls to make the app icons larger (eradicating their names within the course of), select a lightweight or darkish theme for apps and widgets, and alter their colors by selecting “tinted” and utilizing the slider. It’s also possible to hit the eyedropper icon to make use of a color out of your present wallpaper.
Find out how to edit the management centre
But extra customisation will be had by switching up the buttons within the management centre. With it, you possibly can shortly launch a curated set of features or cram extra in than ever earlier than.
Begin by swiping down from the highest proper of the display screen to convey up the management centre. Now, lengthy press the show under the controls to begin chopping, rearranging and altering them. You may delete current controls (together with the connectivity or music panels), faucet on the clean circles so as to add new instruments or transfer them round individually.
You may browse and search from an extended record of instruments so as to add to the brand new management centre
Apple
Low energy mode, fast notes, and darkish mode are all good ones so as to add. All advised, there are greater than 70 controls to select from. If the principle display screen fills up, you possibly can swipe up and down by means of the pages so as to add extra, much like how you’d with apps.
Find out how to change lock display screen controls
You could by no means use the iPhone flashlight or your digicam is mapped to the new-ish motion button. Effectively, now you possibly can change the default controls on the lock display screen to these you want.
Begin by tapping the aspect button to lock the display screen, then faucet and maintain down anyplace on the display screen, and choose “customise”. Now, you possibly can personalise both the lock display screen or the house display screen. Choose the previous, and delete the controls on both aspect of the show on the backside.
You may swap the default lock display screen buttons for brand spanking new ones like fast notes
Apple
Now, faucet the clean circles and select from the wealth of recent choices, together with stopwatch, clock, connectivity controls, darkish mode, and lots of extra.
With the Shortcuts characteristic, you possibly can add your saved duties for much more adaptability, from producing reminders to shortly texting your mum.
Find out how to alter the flashlight’s beam and brightness
In case you use the iPhone’s torch as a substitute of by chance switching it on on a regular basis, this replace is for you. Now you can alter the beam width and energy of the iPhone flashlight.
This may be finished by opening the flashlight from the lock display screen or the management centre. Now, you’ll see a brand new menu for the torch that permits you to tweak its depth and enlarge its beam by transferring your finger up and down and side-to-side.
Alas, the brand new characteristic is supported on solely the Professional iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 variations — and the upcoming iPhone 16 vary.
Find out how to mirror your iPhone in your Mac
Okay, this additionally requires putting in the most recent Mac software program replace, MacOS Sequoia. However, it’s value it — primarily as a result of it’s the best method to entry your iPhone in your MacBook. You may management every part from a digital iPhone in your desktop, from apps to settings, and extra.
The one downside is the view can’t be modified from vertical to horizontal. Nonetheless, it’s nice for utilizing your cellphone on the sly at work. Or, for shortly accessing notifications and replying to messages with out regularly switching between your Mac and iPhone.
Apple has made it simpler than ever to regulate your iPhone out of your Mac, permitting you to entry apps and extra
Apple / Saqib Shah
To get it working, guarantee each gadgets are signed into the identical Apple ID and have Bluetooth and WiFi enabled.
With the 2 gadgets close to one another, open the iPhone Mirroring app in your Mac (it must be within the Dock). Click on proceed and unlock your iPhone when prompted. In your Mac, click on “get began” and select whether or not to authenticate robotically or be requested each time. Now, unlock the characteristic along with your Mac password or Contact ID on the keyboard.
As soon as linked, it’s best to be capable of work together with the digital iPhone utilizing your mouse or trackpad. It’s also possible to click on or use shortcuts together with Cmd+1 for the house display screen, Cmd+2 to open the app switcher, or Cmd+3 to open Highlight Search. Audio out of your iPhone will now play by means of your Mac audio system and the iPhone’s display screen will show a “cellphone in use” message whereas mirroring.
Find out how to use the brand new calculator
Apple has given the Calculator app a bumper improve with iOS 18. In consequence, now you can use a convertor for currencies, angles, lengths, and extra. It’s also possible to remedy maths equations in notes by typing them out. Plus, the scientific calculator is now accessible in portrait mode.
All these new tips will be accessed from the calculator button on the backside left of the app. If you choose “Math Notes,” you can begin typing equations. Switching on conversion, in the meantime, will robotically default to forex conversions, although this may be modified to a different metric by tapping the arrow icons subsequent to the numbers.
Find out how to lock apps behind Face ID
That is tremendous simple to arrange however could make you appear like you may have one thing to cover. Begin considering of excuse for when your companion inevitably asks why your Instagram is locked. In case you’re fearful, you possibly can cover it altogether.
Organising the brand new characteristic includes holding down the app you wish to lock and deciding on “require Face ID” from the pop-up menu. Now, the app will take a cut up second longer to open while you’ll see an alert saying Face ID is required to unlock it.
Locking and hiding apps is a good way to stop family and friends from seeing delicate pics and texts
Apple
To disable the setting, lengthy press the app once more and choose “don’t require Face ID”.
For added privateness, you may as well cover apps on your own home display screen. To take action, lengthy press the app you wish to cover, faucet “require Face ID,” after which “cover and require Face ID”. Now, the app can be accessible solely by swiping to the top of your own home display screen within the app library and scrolling right down to a hidden folder on the backside (which will be accessed solely with Face ID). You gained’t discover it by looking out in Highlight, whereas it is going to vanish from your own home display screen.
This trick doesn’t work for Apple’s apps that come pre-installed with iOS 18, solely these downloaded from the App Retailer.
Find out how to use the brand new Passwords app
With so many passwords to recollect, anybody attempting to remain sane has seemingly adopted certainly one of two options: utilizing a password supervisor or continuously checking saved passwords on their cellphone, laptop computer, or internet browser.
Apple has launched a brand new Passwords app with iOS 18 to make life simpler. You’ll discover it in your iPhone as quickly as you put in the most recent software program replace, which means you now not must seek the advice of your settings to view or handle your passwords.
Discover saved passwords, share them, and add new ones with the iOS 18 Passwords app
Apple
It’s also possible to use it to share passwords with others in your contacts. Open the app, choose “new group” below “shared teams” and begin inviting individuals you already know. Saved passwords are additionally in classes together with safety, WiFi, passkeys, and “all”.
A search bar on the prime helps you to shortly discover them, whereas the plus icon on the backside left permits you to add new ones manually, with the app suggesting a powerful password to avoid wasting you time.
Find out how to use eye monitoring to regulate your cellphone
Buried deep in your settings is a brand new accessibility management that permits you to use your iPhone along with your eyes. It’s geared toward individuals with visible impairment or low imaginative and prescient however anybody can theoretically use it.
Nonetheless, after we examined it, it didn’t work as deliberate. First, you must do a fast eye-scanning check, throughout which you direct your stare upon dots across the iPhone display screen.
However, even after finishing the setup, we discovered the motion was too delicate and stopped working. Which will have been as a result of we didn’t have the iPhone on the acceptable distance from our faces (one metre). It additionally needs to be laid on a flat floor.
However, if you wish to attempt it your self, head into your settings, faucet accessibility, after which select “eye monitoring” and switch it on. It will begin the activation course of together with the check.
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