iOS 18 guide: everything you need to know about the 2024 update!

iOS 18 is finally here for everyone, and this complete guide will tell you all about the new features included in the update.

iOS 18 guide: these are all the new features

Anyone who has used the beta version already knows what is in iOS 18. If you have not used the beta version, then this iOS 18 guide is all you need to brush up on your knowledge. We list all the new features for you.

Home screen

Apple has revamped the Home screen and added new customization options. You can now place icons anywhere, adjust their size, change their colors, and even hide apps.

• iOS 18 gets a completely redesigned home screen (with these features)
• iOS 18 is killing off widgets, but not in the way you think
• iOS 18: How to customize app colors on iPhone

Control panel

You can rearrange Control Center to put your most-used items front and center, and now you can set up multiple pages if you want. Third-party app developers can create custom controls for Control Center for the first time, and it’s possible to replace the Flashlight and Camera icons on the Lock screen with other buttons.

• iOS 18 gets new Control Panel – this is what changes
• How to Customize iPhone Control Panel in iOS 18: Here’s How
• In iOS 18, this annoyance is finally fixed on the iPhone (and it’s about time)

Password app

Apple added a dedicated Passwords app in iOS 18, where you can retrieve saved logins and passwords. It’s essentially the Passwords section of the Settings app, but in a dedicated app that makes it easier to find all your passwords.

• Apple Releases Passwords App for iPhone (With This Handy Feature)
• A new Passwords app

Safari

Safari now has Highlights. This feature uses machine learning to automatically detect and show you interesting things, such as directions, summaries, or links to read more about people, music, movies, and shows. The redesigned Reader view also gives you more options for reading articles without distractions.

• Updates in Safari

To inform

iOS 18’s Messages app has a bunch of new features, like scheduling messages (Send Later) and RCS support, which improves communication with Android users. There’s also now support for sending messages via satellite when you don’t have a Wi-Fi or cellular connection.

• This is what conversations with Android users look like in iOS 18

Photos

In this iOS 18 guide also a redesigned Photos app. The design is now much more uniform. There is also a much improved search function, there are new albums and much more.

• New Photos Feature in iOS 18: Find Lost Photos
• Photos are different again in iOS 18 – this is what you need to know

Calculator

Apple overhauled the Calculator app in iOS 18, adding a backspace key, instant currency conversions, and a sidebar to view recent calculations. And Math Notes lets you solve math problems, also in the Notes app.

• Missed WWDC 2024: These were the 18 most important announcements

Notes

In Notes, you can now perform mathematical calculations, highlight text, collapse text under a heading, and record audio directly.

• Notes gets more features in iOS 18 (and students will love it)

Agenda

In the Calendar app, you can now view and create scheduled reminders. It’s also now easier to customize the month view, making it easier to see your month at a glance.

• iOS 18 Calendar and Reminders: new features that are actually useful

Maps

Apple Maps has also been updated. You can now save locations, add notes to certain places and determine your own route. There are also more walking functions, including saving walking routes for offline use.

• Apple Maps gets new feature in iOS 18: this is what will change
• Maps is expanding in iOS 18: these are the new features

Diary

This iOS 18 guide also includes new features for the Diary app. It has a new view to keep track of your diary goals. There are also new Diary widgets that you can place on your lock screen or home screen.

• iOS 18: these are all the new features coming to your iPhone!

Podcasts

In iOS 18, Apple’s Podcasts app now shows, among other things, chapter segments of a podcast when you fast-forward through a currently playing episode, making it easier to skip straight to the part you want.

• Podcasts app on iPhone gets new feature (and it’s about time)

Camera

The Camera app has gained a few small new features, the most notable of which is an option to continue playing music while you film.

AirPods Pro 2

If you have AirPods Pro 2, you can take advantage of some new features after installing iOS 18. For example, Head Gestures now let you accept or decline a call with just a turn of your head.

• AirPods Pro 2 get better adaptive audio in iOS 18
• iOS 18 brings five new features to the AirPods Pro – here they are
• These 6 new features will come to your AirPods Pro 2 with iOS 18

Accessibility

We’ll wrap up this iOS 18 guide with new features in Accessibility. As with every iOS update, iOS 18 also includes new accessibility options. For example, there’s a tool to reduce car sickness and you can rename Siri. You can also set up all sorts of special phrases that activate iPhone features.

• In iOS 18, You Can Rename Siri (Here’s How)

iOS 18 Academy by iCreate

To learn more about all the new features of iOS 18, check out the iOS 18 Academy from iCreate!