IOS 18

iOS 18

Version of the iOS operating system
iOS 18 home screen on an iPhone 15 Pro using the new Dark Mode
Developer	Apple Inc.
OS family	iOS
Source model	Closed with open-source components
General availability	September 16, 2024; 3 months ago (2024-09-16)
Latest release	18.2[1] (December 11, 2024; 15 days ago (2024-12-11)) [±]
Latest preview	18.3 beta[2] (December 16, 2024; 10 days ago (2024-12-16)) [±]
Marketing target	iPhones
Update method	Software Update
Preceded by	iOS 17
Official website	apple.com/ios/ios-18
Tagline	Yours. Truly.
Support status
Supported
Articles in the series
iPadOS 18 (derivative for iPad)

iOS 18 is the eighteenth and current major release of Apple's iOS operating system for the iPhone.^[3][4][5][6] It was announced on June 10, 2024, at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). It was made publicly available on September 16, 2024, as a free software update for supported iOS devices.^[7] It is the direct successor to iOS 17 and was announced alongside iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, visionOS 2, and tvOS 18.

System features

Apple Intelligence

Main article: Apple Intelligence

The Apple Intelligence platform is available in iOS 18.1 and beyond on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models as well as the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models. Apple Intelligence adds artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and large language model integrations to Siri and other operating system functions, such as the Photos app.^[3][8][9]

Apple's Intelligence features are set to be introduced gradually across several forthcoming updates. These features were not included in the initial release of the iPhone 16 models.^[10]

Calculator

Main article: Calculator (Apple)

iOS 18's Calculator introduces Math Notes, a new feature that allows users to perform and track calculations on separate sheets, solve mathematical equations, and plot functions on graphs. With integrated handwriting recognition, Math Notes automatically evaluates user input and displays the results in their own handwriting. The redesigned Calculator app, now shared between iOS and iPadOS, marks the first time an official calculator has been available for iPad.^[11]

Messages

Main article: Messages (Apple)

iOS 18 supports Rich Communication Services (RCS) on supported conversations, including support for read receipts and higher-quality multimedia sharing across various platforms. As with SMS, it is designated with green message bubbles and buttons to distinguish it from blue iMessage conversations.^[12][13] Availability of RCS messaging varies by carrier availability and compatibility.^[14] Apple previously refused the adoption of RCS in iOS.^[15]

In 2022, after being questioned about RCS potentially coming to iPhone to increase compatibility with Android, Tim Cook said that iPhone users were not expressing interest in RCS and instead suggested that a solution would be to switch to an iPhone to use iMessage. The person who asked the question followed up, explaining that they use an iPhone while their mom uses an Android phone, to which Tim Cook jokingly replied "Buy your mom an iPhone" to large controversy.^[16] The quote was later cited in an anti-trust lawsuit against Apple Inc. filed by the United States Department of Justice.^[17]

In iMessage, Animated effects can be applied to any letter, word, or phrase, and text formatting such as bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough can be applied to any part of the text as well.^[18] Both can be used simultaneously but cannot be used with the same selected text, however.

Photos

Main article: Photos (Apple)

iOS 18 includes a significant redesign of the Photos app.^[19][20] Slideshows known as collections are now automatically generated and visible at the top of the screen.^[21] Support for encoding/decoding the ISO 21496-1 gain map standard for HDR images was added, which allows for cross-platform HDR compatibility while remaining backwards compatible with SDR displays.^[22] This redesign has led to backlash from many users who find it too confusing and is said to be the most controversial change in iOS 18.^[23][24]

Home screen

iOS 18 allows users to customize the icon color as well as the icon position and size on the home screen.^[25] A toggle to activate dark mode icons for first-party apps and many third party ones was implemented. Previous iOS versions arranged icons on a preset grid, but now users can place them anywhere. App Widgets may now be resized in-place or reduced to a normal app icon as desired.

In August 2024, a new feature was introduced which enables users to edit the iPhone home screen through iPhone Mirroring, and is available in the latest betas of iOS 18 and iOS 18.1.^[26][27]

Control Center

iOS 18 comes with a redesign to the Control Center, allowing for multiple pages of controls, resizable buttons, and third-party controls.^[28]

Passwords

Apple introduced Passwords, a password manager aimed at simplifying password management for websites, applications, Wi-Fi, and verification codes.^[29][30] This new app is heavily inspired by the Passwords section in Settings and syncs with it.

Locking/hiding applications

In iOS 18, applications that are visible to the user can be locked or hidden. Locked apps require passcode/biometric authentication to run. Hidden apps are moved to a designated 'Hidden' folder in the App Library; accessing that folder requires passcode/biometric authentication.^[31] Hidden apps do not show in other places on the phone such as Siri Suggestions and the Settings app.

RecoveryOS

The new iOS 18 operating system includes RecoveryOS on the iPhone 16 series that allows users to recover and restore firmware wirelessly using another iPhone. While all iPhones running iOS 18 can recover and restore firmware for iPhone 16 models, the wireless recovery process is only supported between iPhone 16 devices.^[32]

Others

With iOS 18.1, iOS allows the detection and display of battery health information of a non-Apple battery.^[33]

With iOS 18.2, users will be able to share a link with others or airlines to track the location of AirTags or other accessories in the FindMy app.^[34][35][36]

Reports from law informant suggested that a new security feature was added that would reboot iPhones after 72 hours of inactivity to make it harder to hack,^[37][38] something that researchers were able to confirm while looking at the code for iOS 18.1.^[39][40]

Supported devices

All iPhones that support iOS 17 are also compatible with iOS 18. However, the level of support varies depending on the device's system-on-chip (SoC).

iPhones with the A12 Bionic and A13 Bionic SoCs have limited support for iOS 18,^[a] while devices with the A14 Bionic and newer SoCs receive almost full support, excluding Apple Intelligence features.

Apple Intelligence features require an A17 Pro SoC or newer, only available on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.^[8][41] Both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, featuring the A18 and A18 Pro SoCs, also support Apple Intelligence and full features.

The iPhone SE (2nd generation) and iPhone SE (3rd generation) are the only supported iPhones that have Touch ID and the Home Button.

Compatible iPhone models include the following:^[42][43][44]

• iPhone XS & XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro & 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2nd generation)
• iPhone 12 & 12 Mini
• iPhone 12 Pro & 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 & 13 Mini
• iPhone 13 Pro & 13 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (3rd generation)
• iPhone 14 & 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro & 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 & 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro & 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 16 & 16 Plus
• iPhone 16 Pro & 16 Pro Max

Release history

	Previous release		Current release		Current beta release		Security response

Version	Build	Release date	Release notes
18.0	22A3351	September 20, 2024	Initial release for iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup
	22A3354	September 16, 2024	Developer documentation Release notes Security content
18.0.1	22A3370	October 3, 2024	Release notes Security content
18.1	22B83	October 28, 2024	Developer documentation Release notes Security content
18.1.1	22B91	November 19, 2024	Release notes Security content
18.2	22C152	December 11, 2024	Developer documentation Release notes Security content
18.3 beta	22D5034e	December 16, 2024	Developer documentation

See also

• iPadOS 18
• macOS Sequoia
• tvOS 18
• watchOS 11
• visionOS 2
• Apple Intelligence
• Artificial intelligence

Notes

1. Live transcriptions in Notes, Eye Tracking, and Repair Assistant are not available on iPhones older than the iPhone 12 series.

References

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Preceded by iOS 17

iOS 18 2024

Succeeded by Current