Get ready for an updated home screen, Control Center, messaging app and much more
iOS 18 will be released today, with the software update scheduled for September 16, as announced at Apple’s recent event.
However, if you were looking forward to exploring the Apple Intelligence features in this version of iOS 18, prepare yourself for a disappointment. Apple has confirmed that Apple Intelligence will only be introduced in iOS 18.1, scheduled for October. In addition, some Apple Intelligence features will be delayed until the end of the year. If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, you can try out a preview of Apple Intelligence right now via the beta version of iOS 18.1.
In this guide, we’ll explore the launch version of iOS 18. Below you’ll find a list of compatible iPhones, a step-by-step guide to downloading the new software update and a summary of our favorite iOS 18 features.
iOS 18: compatible devices
To download iOS 18, you’ll need an iPhone XS or newer, which means your device must have the A12 Bionic chipset or higher. These requirements are the same as for iOS 17, so if you’re already using that version, you’ll be able to upgrade to iOS 18 without any problems.
Apple Intelligence features, when available, will be restricted to the iPhone 16 line, as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Below is the full list of iPhones compatible with iOS 18. For additional details and information on compatibility with iPadOS 18, see our full compatibility guide.
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
- iPhone SE (3rd generation)
How to download iOS 18
To check if iOS 18 is available for download on your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update. If iOS 18 is available, you’ll see an iOS 18 update message at the bottom of the screen. Tap Download and Install , then enter your password . Next, agree to the Terms and Conditions and wait for iOS 18 to install.
By the way, you’ll probably need 5 GB to 10 GB of free storage space to download iOS 18. To check your iPhone’s current storage situation, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage . Here, you’ll see some options for freeing up space (such as Optimize Photos and Download Unused Apps).
Best iOS 18 features
Advanced Home Screen customization
If you’ve always wanted more control over the organization of the icons on the Home Screen, iOS 18 makes it happen. You can now reposition apps and widgets along the bottom or side of the Home Screen, freeing up precious space to customize the wallpaper, whether detailed or simple. In addition, iOS 18 introduces a new dark mode for app icons and the option to add color tints, allowing for even more customization.
Control Center upgrades
Just like the Home Screen, Control Center also gets a makeover in iOS 18. In fact, you can now customize it to your liking. iOS 18 lets you organize the Switch Control into distinct function groups, such as Home and Media, and resize the Switch Control widgets based on the tools you use most often.
What’s more, for the first time, you can edit which Central Control widgets appear on the Lock Screen.
Redesigned Photos app
iOS 18 brings the “biggest redesign ever” to the Photos app. The new interface offers a cleaner, more intuitive view, with a combination of photo grid and date grid. Collections now allow you to browse specific themes, such as screenshots and groups, without the need to organize content into albums.
In addition, iOS 18 introduces a new ‘Recovered’ album, which stores all the photos and videos that aren’t in your main gallery. According to Apple, this feature helps minimize the risk of database corruption and problems with third-party applications.
Messages upgrades
iOS 18 brings significant changes to the way you send messages on the iPhone. You can now react to messages with any emoji and apply advanced text formatting, such as underline, strikethrough and bold, as well as ripple effects.
Another new feature is the ability to schedule messages to be sent at a more convenient time. The Messages app also begins to support the RCS standard, providing a richer messaging experience when communicating with Android users.
In addition, iOS 18 extends the Satellite SOS feature, allowing compatible iPhones (iPhone 14 or newer) to send messages via satellite when there are no cellular or Wi-Fi connections available.
A dedicated Passwords app
iOS 18 introduces a new integrated app called Passwords. As the name suggests, this app, which complements Keychain, serves as a one-stop shop for managing all your passwords, access keys and verification codes.
As well as acting as a secure digital vault, Passwords warns you if you are using weak passwords or if your data has been compromised in a security breach, making it one of the best password managers available.
All information in Passwords is protected by end-to-end encryption and can be locked with Touch ID or Face ID authentication. Excellent work, Apple!