After much anticipation, Apple fans can now finally start using iOS 18, which is debuting today. The software upgrade was confirmed to come on September 16 and was revealed at Apple’s most recent event. The update should begin to appear about 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm BST, based on prior rollouts; however, the precise time may change based on your location.
But don’t anticipate using every new feature right away. The highly anticipated Apple Intelligence suite will not be accessible until October’s release of iOS 18.1. The iOS 18.1 beta allows owners of the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max to test it out ahead of time; other iPhone models will have to wait.
How to Get iOS 18 on Your iPhone
1. Check Compatibility
Any iPhone XS or later—that is, any smartphone with the A12 Bionic chip or later—will be able to download iOS 18. You’re set to go if you have iOS 18, as the same models that supported iOS 17 can also run that version. Here’s a list of iPhones that work with iOS 18:
- iPhone 16 (Pro, Pro Max, Plus)
- iPhone 15 (Pro, Pro Max, Plus)
- iPhone 14 (Pro, Pro Max, Plus)
- iPhone 13 (mini, Pro, Pro Max)
- iPhone 12 (mini, Pro, Pro Max)
- iPhone 11 (Pro, Pro Max)
- iPhone XS, XS Max, XR
- iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generations)
2. Back Up Your iPhone
Making a backup of your data is generally a smart idea before downloading any significant updates. To ensure that your contacts, photographs, and apps are securely kept in case something goes wrong, you can accomplish this by using iCloud or iTunes.
3. Download iOS 18
To install iOS 18, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- If iOS 18 is available, you’ll see a message prompting you to download it. Tap Download and Install.
- After agreeing to the terms and conditions and entering your passcode, watch for the download to finish. Verify that your device has at least 5 to 10GB of free storage and is linked to Wi-Fi.
5 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade to iOS 18
1. Advanced Home Screen Customization
With iOS 18, you can customize your Home Screen in ways never possible. Now, you can move widgets and apps to make your wallpaper—whether it’s an animated background or a sentimental picture—more visible. Do you want more authority? You can apply modifiable color tints to fit your style and activate a new dark mode for app icons.
2. Control Center Upgrades
With iOS 18, the Control Center has been revamped to offer greater customization options. Now, widgets can be resized and arranged into different functional groupings, such as media or home automation. You can now customize which Control Center widgets show up on your Lock Screen for the first time, providing you with quick access to the functions you use most frequently.
3. Redesigned Photos App
It’s the “biggest-ever redesign” of the Photos app, according to Apple. With a single, user-friendly view of your photo grid and dates, iOS 18 now makes viewing photos easier. Deleted images and videos are stored in a new feature called Recovered Album, which lowers the possibility of contamination and enhances organization. To make browsing easier, photos are now sorted into themed collections.
4. Messages Upgrades
iOS 18 has completely redesigned messaging and included a ton of new features. Any emoji can now be used as a response to messages, and for a more unique touch, text formatting options include bold, strikethrough, and underlining. Moreover, iOS 18 brings message scheduling, which lets you send messages later. In addition to facilitating more seamless conversations with Android users, the Messages app offers an enhanced SOS via satellite for situations in which cellular or Wi-Fi service is unavailable.
5. Dedicated Passwords App
With the release of iOS 18, you can now safely save all of your passwords, passkeys, and verification codes in one app: Passwords. It not only acts as a storage vault but also notifies you when a security breach has exposed your data or if a weak password has been used. Because of this, iOS 18 is among the greatest updates for safeguarding private information.
Conclusion: Why iOS 18 is Worth the Upgrade
All things considered, iOS 18 offers substantial improvements, ranging from a more personalized Home Screen and Control Center to improved messaging features and a revamped Photos app. Better functionality is not the only thing it offers; the new Passwords app and other much-needed security measures are also included. Even if iOS 18.1 won’t include Apple Intelligence, iOS 18 still has a lot to be excited about.
Before downloading iOS 18 right now, make careful to verify if your device is compatible, create a backup of your data, and free up some storage!
Read More:
