iOS 18 release: everything you need to know about Apple’s big updates

Apple will release software updates for its iPhone, iPad, Mac and smartwatch on Monday, adding new features and designs for compatible devices.

Announced at the company’s developer conference in June, iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11 and macOS Sequoia add extensive new home screen and control centre customisation options, smart handwriting and maths tools for Notes and new watch faces, among other new features.

Here’s what you need to know about the updates.

When can I get it?

Downloads for iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and macOS updates usually start at about 6pm UK time (1pm in New York; 3am Tuesday in Sydney). Unlike other manufacturers, all eligible Apple devices will be able to download and install the update the moment it is released rather than in a staggered fashion.

Which devices can get it?

All Apple smartphones from 2018’s iPhone XS or newer can install iOS 18. All tablets from the 2018 iPad Pro , 2019 iPad Air (3rd gen), iPad mini (5th gen) or iPad (6th gen) and newer can install iPadOS 18. All Apple Watches from 2020’s Series 6 or newer can install watchOS 11. All MacBook Airs from 2020, MacBook Pros from 2018, Mac minis from 2018, iMacs from 2019, Mac Studios from 2022, the 2017 iMac Pro and 2019 Mac Pro or later can install macOS Sequoia.

How do I get it?

Open the Settings app on an iPhone or iPad then navigate to General > Software Update. Tap install if available to download, verify and then reboot to install. You can also install the update via a Mac or iTunes on a Windows computer.

WatchOS 11 requires an iPhone XS or later to be running iOS 18 first. Then open the Watch app on the phone and navigate to General > Software Update to begin the installation. You will need to put the smartwatch on its charger to complete the update.

Macs are updated in System Settings, navigate to General > Software Update.

How much will it cost?

The updates are free from Apple. If you are being asked to pay for an update, it is a scam.

Apple Intelligence isn’t available yet

Apple’s various new AI tools, such as its writing and language tools, summarisation, AI photo editing and improved Siri are not available yet, and won’t be added to any of its products until later this year in beta, starting in October for the US and December for the UK.

iOS 18

Home screen and control centre customisation

Apple has finally allowed you to place app icons and widgets on the home screen in any pattern, not just filled from the top left. App icons can now be made bigger, and can be tinted to either match dark mode or with a colour.

Control centre has been overhauled allowing a large range of quick settings to be added in different sizes and shapes with additional pages available to swipe through, so you can have one page dedicated to music or another with smart home controls. The quick controls on the lock screen can also be changed.

Redesigned photos app

The photos app has been overhauled with big featured photos and carousels. It now automatically creates collections of photos based on topics such as recent days, trips or people and pets. You can create your own collections and pin the most important collections or albums for quick access, or reorganise the app to make it the way you like it.

Messages

Apple has finally added RCS support to the messages app , which will make texting Android users easier, particularly with media and read receipts. You can now schedule and send messages at a later date, handy for sending birthday greetings. Text can now be animated in iMessages and reactions can now include any emoji or sticker.

Notes, Passwords and Maps

The Notes app can now record audio and create live transcripts, which can be searched or combined with other documents. It can also now solve maths expressions and calculations for you.

Apple’s Keychain has been turned into a proper password manager with the new Passwords app, which is available on all Apple devices and Windows.

Apple Maps can now save topographic maps offline and create custom routes to walks and hikes.

iPadOS 18

The iPad gets the same customisation, photos, messages, passwords and maps features, alongside a few key upgrades just for the tablet.

Notes and calculator

The Notes app gets a big upgrade for handwriting using the Apple Pencil. It can automatically smooth out less legible writing, correct spelling, move written words around like you can with printed text and even paste text as a copy of your own handwriting.

The Calculator app has finally be released on the iPad, but with a twist. It can perform calculations from handwritten expressions, including algebraic variables, and even plot graphs.

The same “Maths Notes” ability to instantly solve expressions is also available in the Notes app for inline calculations.

watchOS 11

Photos Face

A updated Photos Face is one new watch face for watchOS 11, creating faces from your photos with smart framing and placing of the time. You can choose a selection of photos or have it automatically pick the best ones from your library.

The Flux face is a new big digital watch face with bold colours that change over time, while Reflections is a new analogue face that reacts to your movements.

Vitals

The new Vitals app gives the data tracked overnight while you sleep a new, more useful home. It features your heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen and sleep duration, and shows when any one of them varies from your typical range, potentially highlighting issues and giving a description of what might have caused the variation, such as alcohol consumption.

Training load

The activity app can now track and show your training load for workouts and whether your body is recovering sufficiently between each session. You can also track you effort rating or how hard each workout was, calculated from your pace, elevation, heart rate and other biometric data.

Live activities, double tap and pregnancy tracking

Live activities, such as ongoing timers, music playback, Uber trips or similar, are now visible in the smart stack for quick access. The double tap gesture can now scroll in most apps, so you can flick through things by double pinching your finger and thumb together. The watch can now track pregnancies, displaying gestational age, as part of its cycle tracking for women.

macOS Sequoia

MacOS gets most of the new features common to the iPhone and iPad, plus a few computer-specific additions.

iPhone mirroring on mac

The big new feature is the ability to wirelessly mirror and control your iPhone from your Mac, allowing you to open apps, see notifications and generally use a virtual version of your phone with your keyboard and mouse.

Easy window tiling

MacOS can now automatically tile your windows on your screen, such as snapping windows to half a screen by dragging it to the left or right side. Hover over the green button on a window to see a drop down of tiling options.