About iOS 18 Updates
iOS 18 brings new ways to customise the iPhone experience, relive special moments and stay connected. Customise your iPhone further by arranging your Home Screen, Lock Screen and Control Centre in all-new ways. Photos delivers the biggest redesign ever to make it even easier to relive your special moments. Staying connected with friends and family is even better, with new ways to express yourself in Messages. A new hiking experience in Maps and updates to Wallet enable you to explore the world further. iOS 18 also brings new features to Safari, Journal, Notes, Phone and so much more.
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/100100
iOS 18.2
This update introduces features powered by Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that unlocks powerful new ways to communicate, work and express yourself, all while protecting your data with an extraordinary step forward for privacy in AI. New features include Image Playground, which lets you create delightful, fun images, Genmoji to create original emoji to share with family and friends, Writing Tools to transform how you communicate, enhancements to Siri including product knowledge and the ability to type to Siri, ChatGPT support integrated directly into Siri and Writing Tools, and more. This release also includes enhancements to Mail, Camera Control and Photos, as well as other features, bug fixes and security updates for your iPhone.
Apple Intelligence (All iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max)
Writing Tools
Writing Tools are available nearly everywhere you type, allowing you to rewrite, proofread and summarise text in the app you’re working in
Rewrite suggests different versions of your text so you can choose which combination of flow and wording you like best
Proofread lets you view suggested improvements to what you’re writing, like grammar fixes and language refinements
Summarise allows you to select text wherever you’re writing and generate a high-quality summary
Describe your change in Writing Tools allows you to suggest how you’d like something rewritten — for example, as a poem
Siri
A new look and feel includes a glowing light that wraps around the edge of your screen, animates responsively to the sound of your voice, and lets you keep scrolling or typing while you talk to Siri
Type to Siri when you don’t want to speak a request out loud by double-tapping at the bottom of the screen
Richer language understanding enables Siri to follow along if you stumble over your words or change your mind mid-sentence
Conversational context is maintained over the course of a session, so you can refer more naturally to something you said in a recent request or something Siri mentioned in a recent response
Product knowledge helps you get answers to thousands of questions about the features and settings on your Apple products
Voice enhancements make Siri sound more natural, expressive and clear
Photos
Photos search lets you find photos and videos simply by describing what you’re looking for
Clean Up removes distractions in your photos
Memory movies can be created by describing the story you want to see
Notifications
Notification summaries make it easy to catch up on your notifications with a glanceable summary of the most important information
Reduce Interruptions is a new Focus that ensures the most urgent notifications get through to you while silencing potential distractions
Image Playground
Create fun, playful images in multiple styles using concepts, descriptions, and people from your photo library
Swipe to see previews to choose from as you add concepts to your playground
Choose from animation and illustration styles when creating your image
Create images in Messages and Freeform, as well as third-party apps
Sync images in your Image Playground library across all your devices with iCloud
Genmoji
Create custom emoji straight from the keyboard
Sync Genmoji in your sticker drawer across all your devices with iCloud
ChatGPT support
ChatGPT from OpenAI can be accessed direct from Siri or Writing Tools
Compose in Writing Tools allows you to create something from scratch with ChatGPT
Siri can tap into ChatGPT when relevant to provide you with an answer
A ChatGPT account is not required and your requests will be anonymous and won’t be used to train OpenAI’s models
Sign in with ChatGPT to access your account benefits, and requests will be covered by OpenAI’s data policies
Smart Reply in Mail and Messages helps you quickly respond to messages with suggested responses
Priority messages in Mail understands the content of your messages and prioritises those that require your attention, displaying them at the top of your inbox
Transcription summaries in Notes give you an intelligently created summary of the transcript from your audio recording or call recording
Image Wand turns sketches and handwritten or typed notes into images in Notes
Camera Control (iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max)
Visual Intelligence with Camera Control helps you instantly learn about places or interact with information simply by pointing your iPhone at the object, with the option to tap into Google Search or ChatGPT
Camera Control two-stage shutter lets you lock focus and exposure in Camera when light-pressing the Camera Control
Mail Categorisation sorts your messages to help you prioritise the most important ones
Digest view groups all the messages from one sender into a single bundle for easy browsing
Photos
Video viewing improvements, including the ability to scrub frame by frame and a setting to turn off auto-looping video playback
Improvements when navigating Collections views, including the ability to swipe right to go back to the previous view
Recently Viewed and Recently Shared album history can be cleared
Favourites album appears in the Utilities collection in addition to Pinned Collections
Safari
New background images to customise your Safari Start Page
Import and Export enables you to export your browsing data from Safari and import browsing data from another app into Safari
HTTPS Priority upgrades URLs to HTTPS whenever possible
File Download Live Activity shows the progress of a file download in the Dynamic Island and on your Home Screen
This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
Voice Memos supports layered recording, letting you add vocals over an existing song idea without the need for headphones — then import your two-track projects directly into Logic Pro (iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max)
Share Item Location in Find My helps you locate and recover misplaced items by easily and securely sharing the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with trusted third parties, such as airlines
Favourite Categories in Podcasts allows you to choose your favourite categories and get relevant show recommendations that you can easily access in your Library
Personalised Search page in Podcasts highlights the most relevant categories and editorially curated collections tailored to you
Support for the Hearing Test feature on AirPods Pro 2 in Cyprus, Czechia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom
Support for the Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 in United Arab Emirates
Pre-market price quotes in Stocks lets you track NASDAQ and NYSE tickers prior to market open
Fixes an issue where recently captured photos do not appear immediately in the All Photos grid
Fixes an issue where Night mode photos in Camera could appear degraded when capturing long exposures (iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max)
Some features may not be available in all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:
https://support.apple.com/100100
iOS 18.1.1
This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users.
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/100100
iOS 18.1
This update introduces enhancements to Camera Control, the ability to capture spatial photos and record phone calls, and other features, bug fixes and security updates for your iPhone.
Phone
Call recordings let you record live phone calls or FaceTime audio calls, with an automatic announcement that the call is being recorded
Camera
Camera Control can quickly switch to the front TrueDepth Camera (iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max)
Spatial photo capture, along with spatial video capture, is available in a new Spatial camera mode (iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max)
AirPods
Hearing Test feature provides scientifically validated hearing test results from the comfort of home (intended for users 18 years or older)
Hearing Aid feature provides personalised, clinical-grade assistance that is automatically applied to sounds in your environment as well as music, videos and calls (intended for users 18 years or older with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss)
Features require AirPods Pro 2 with firmware version 7B19 or later. All features may not be available in all countries or regions. For more information, visit: https://apple.com/airpods-pro/feature-availability/
This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
Control Centre has new options to add connectivity controls individually and reset your configuration
RCS Business Messaging lets you connect with businesses over RCS (requires network provider support)
Fixes an issue in Podcasts where unplayed episodes are marked as played
Fixes an issue where videos recorded at 4K 60 fps while the device is warm could experience stutter while scrubbing the video playback in Photos
Fixes an issue where digital car keys may not unlock or start a vehicle with passive entry after restoring from a backup or transferring directly from another iPhone
Fixes an issue where iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro models may unexpectedly restart
Some features may not be available in all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/100100
iOS 18.0.1
This update provides important bug fixes and security updates for your iPhone including:
Touch screen may be temporarily unresponsive in certain circumstances on iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models
Camera may freeze when recording macro mode video on the Ultra Wide camera in 4K with HDR turned off on iPhone 16 Pro models
Messages may unexpectedly quit when replying to a message with a shared Apple Watch face
Performance may be impacted due to an issue with memory allocation on some iPhone models
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/100100
iOS 18
Home Screen
Flexible arrangement to place app icons and widgets in any open position on the Home Screen, such as along the bottom or off to the side, to create the ideal layout for each page
Dark icons give your Home Screen look a darker aesthetic, and can automatically adjust when your iPhone enters Dark Mode, or always appear dark
Colour tinting lets you apply any colour to app icons and widgets or have iOS suggest a colour that complements your wallpaper
Larger icons allow you to make all the app icons and widgets on your screen appear larger, removing the name underneath
Photos
Photos app redesign features the biggest update ever with a simplified layout that puts everything into a single view
Collections automatically organise your library by helpful topics that you can browse in a collage, grid, as a memory or on a map
Customisation options let you reorder, add and remove Collections rows, and add just the items you want to Pinned Collections to keep within easy reach
Groups in People and Pets include photos of your favourite people or pets who appear together frequently
Trips automatically organises your travels into collections so you can relive each trip
Recent Days lets you view your recent photos organised by day without clutter such as screenshots
Filter button in the grid helps you reduce clutter by filtering to specific media types or your favourites, or by hiding screenshots from the view
Video speed control lets you slow down high frame rate video content with in and out points
Utilities includes additional helpful collections like Documents, Receipts, QR codes and more, and items you’ve recently edited, viewed and shared
Recovered album in Utilities surfaces images that are on your device but were not previously visible due to database corruption in a locked album
Messages
Text effects bring your conversations to life by visually amplifying any letter, word, phrase or emoji in iMessage with dynamic, animated effects like explode, ripple and nod
Text formatting lets you add bold, underline, italics and strikethrough to any letter, word or phrase in iMessage
Emoji and sticker Tapbacks allow you to react to a message using any emoji or sticker, giving you access to the Tapbacks you and your friends send the most with just a swipe
Send Later enables you to compose a message now and schedule it to send later
RCS messaging support includes delivery and read receipts, higher resolution photos and videos for messaging people without an iPhone, and requires network provider support
Control Centre
Redesigned Control Centre features convenient groups of controls, the ability to arrange controls just the way you want them, and support for controls from third-party apps
Groups of controls can be accessed by continuously swiping from the right edge, including your most used controls, Home controls, Media Playback and Connectivity, with the option to build out entirely new groups too
Controls gallery displays the full set of available controls, including controls from third-party apps, that you can add directly into the group you choose
Resizable controls let you drag from the lower right of a control from within Control Centre
Lock Screen
Custom Lock Screen controls let you choose controls from your favourite apps in the controls gallery
Action button can be customised with controls from the controls gallery (iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max)
Font options allow you to customise the time with 10 new numeral scripts in Bangla, Gujarati, Gurmukhi, Kannada, Malayalam, Meitei, Odia, Ol Chiki, Telugu and Urdu
Safari
Distraction Control helps you hide items on a web page that you find disruptive to your browsing
Passwords
Passwords app lets you see all your credentials for websites and apps in one place, making it even easier to access your passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords and verification codes
Verification codes for two-factor authentication can be set up directly in Passwords so you can easily copy them or autofill them in Safari without opening an authenticator app
Secure syncing ensures your accounts saved in Passwords sync seamlessly with iCloud with end-to-end encryption so you can access them on your other devices
Windows support through the iCloud Passwords app so you can access your passwords on Windows devices
Maps
Custom walking and hiking routes can be created with just a few taps for hikes in the park, regular exercise routines in your neighbourhood, walking tours while on holiday and more
Places Library combines all your saved places, guides and hiking routes into one location for easy access
Gaming
Game Mode minimises background activity to sustain the highest frame rates, and dramatically improves responsiveness with wireless accessories like game controllers and AirPods
Wallet
New pass designs have a beautiful new look and great new features, including an event guide with helpful information about the venue and smart recommendations from your favourite Apple apps
New ways to pay with instalments and rewards on supported credit and debit cards when you check out with Apple Pay online and in apps
Journal
State of mind can be logged from within Journal, and emotions or mood logged in the Health app are included in Journaling Suggestions
Insights view shows your writing streaks, a calendar and other fun stats that help you track your journaling goals
Search lets you easily find past entries, and the ability to sort shows your entries in your preferred order
Widgets for your Home Screen and Lock Screen show your current streak or writing prompts that change throughout the day, so you can reflect on what’s going on in the moment
Phone
Live Voicemail displays a live transcription as someone leaves a message and allows you to pick up the call
Recent calls search helps you find previous calls, voicemails and contacts using phone numbers, names or even a word transcribed from a voicemail
Keypad search helps you quickly find and call existing contacts by typing in their number or name on the alphanumeric keypad
Automatic mic mode picks the right mic mode for you, toggling between Voice Isolation, Wide Spectrum and Standard mode, depending on your environment
Privacy
Locked apps let you protect your sensitive apps and the information inside them by requiring Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode to open them and hiding the content from search, notifications and other places across the system
Hidden apps have the same protections as locked apps, plus they are placed in a new hidden apps folder that is locked, and you won't receive notifications or calls from the app
Improved Contacts permissions empower you to choose which contacts to share with an app
Improved Bluetooth pairing lets developers offer a seamless pairing experience, while protecting your privacy
AirPods
Hands-free Siri Interactions let you respond to Siri announcements with AirPods by simply nodding your head “yes” or shaking your head “no”
Voice Isolation on AirPods Pro provides clearer call quality for those you are speaking with, even in windy conditions or places with loud background noise
Personalised Spatial Audio for gaming with AirPods puts you in the middle of the action with sound that surrounds you combined with a new API for developers that makes it easier than ever to enable
Apple TV app
InSight delivers real-time information for every live-action Apple TV+ movie and show, which complements what you’re watching onscreen
Enhance Dialogue enables you to hear what’s being said onscreen more clearly, especially when loud effects or music is playing
Subtitles appear automatically at just the right times, like when the content language doesn’t match your device language, when you mute the audio or when you skip back while watching a programme
Notes
Audio recordings can be started directly from inside a note, and kept with related comments, checklists and documents
Live transcriptions show as you record audio, and transcripts are fully searchable so you can always find what you need (iPhone 12 and later)
Maths in Notes let you enter expressions and equations in your note to have them solved instantly
Collapsible sections help you simplify and hide text in long notes; just tap next to a section header to lighten up your most text-heavy notes
Highlight text in your note with a choice of five colours to make your text stand out
Accessibility
Eye Tracking makes it possible for people to control iPhone with just their eyes (iPhone 12 and later and iPhone SE (3rd generation))
Music Haptics syncs the iPhone Taptic Engine with the rhythm of songs so those who are deaf or hard of hearing can enjoy the Apple Music catalogue (iPhone 14 and later)
Vocal Shortcuts help people with severe atypical speech record custom utterances that trigger specific actions
Vehicle Motion Cues can help reduce motion sickness for passengers in moving vehicles by placing dots on the screen that move with the vehicle without interfering with content
This release also includes other features and improvements:
Maths Notes in Calculator let you evaluate expressions, assign variables and even create graphs on iPhone
Calendar lets you create, view, edit and complete reminders alongside your events
Recently Deleted list in Reminders lets you view and retrieve deleted reminders
Screen sharing in SharePlay lets you tap and draw on someone’s screen or ask for permission to remotely control their iPhone and take actions yourself
Scenes in Freeform allow you to organise your content into sections, then save, label and order them as you like
Redesigned Fitness+ makes it easy to find personalised recommendations, or search for something specific
Guest access in Home app lets you provide visitors with date- and time-based access to locks, garage doors and alarm systems
Repair Assistant prompts you to configure the genuine Apple parts replaced on your device after a repair (iPhone 12 and later)
Some features may not be available in all regions or on all Apple devices. For more information, please visit this website: https://www.apple.com/uk/ios/ios-18
Some features may not be available in all regions or on all iPhone models. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/100100