iOS 18 launches today – how to get it and 5 reasons why you should
iOS 18 launches today. Apple confirmed during its most recent Apple Event that the software update will arrive on September 16.
Based on previous forms, we expect iOS 18 to roll out around 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm BST, though actual release times may vary by region. We’ll update this article throughout the day once the update is available.
By the way, if you’re expecting Apple Intelligence features to pop up in the launch version of iOS 18, think again. Apple has confirmed that Apple Intelligence won’t arrive until iOS 18.1 in October, and even then some Apple Intelligence features are being delayed further until later in the year. You can, however, try out Apple Intelligence now as part of the iOS 18.1 beta if you have an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max.
In this guide, we’re focusing specifically on the launch version of iOS 18. Below, you’ll find a list of compatible iPhones, a quick guide on how to get the new software update, and a roundup of our favorite iOS 18 features.
iOS 18: Compatible Devices
You’ll need an iPhone XS or later to download iOS 18 on your iPhone (in other words, any iPhone with the A12 Bionic chipset or later). These are the same device requirements as iOS 17, so as long as you currently have that update, you’ll be able to download iOS 18.
The Apple Intelligence features, if they eventually launch, will be limited to the iPhone 16 line, along with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Below, we’ve detailed the full list of iOS 18-compatible iPhones. For more information, including confirmed iPadOS 18 compatibility, check out our dedicated iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 compatibility explainer.
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16
- 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 to download on your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software UpdateIf iOS 18 is available, you will see a iOS 18 update message at the bottom of the screen. Tap Download and installThan Enter your access code. Next, agree to the Terms and ConditionsAnd wait until iOS 18 is installed.
By the way, you’ll probably need between 5GB and 10GB of free storage space to download iOS 18. To check your iPhone’s current storage situation, go to Settings > General > iPhone StorageHere you will be presented with a number of options to help you free up space (such as Optimize Photos and Remove Unused Apps).
Best iOS 18 Features
We’ve detailed the full list of iOS 18 features elsewhere on TechRadar, but below we highlight five of our favourites.
Advanced Home Screen Customization
If you’ve ever wanted to get more creative with the positioning of your Home Screen icons, now you can. iOS 18 gives users the ability to reposition apps and widgets to the bottom or sides of the Home Screen, freeing up valuable real estate for the wallpaper (furry or otherwise) that plays behind it. You can also enable a new dark mode for app icons in iOS 18, adding color tints.
Control Center Upgrades
Just like the Home Screen, Control Center is getting a makeover in iOS 18. Or rather, you’re now free to give it one. iOS 18 lets you split Control Center into different function groups, like Home and Media, and you can now resize Control Center widgets depending on which tools you use most.
For the first time, you can now also control which Control Center widgets appear on the lock screen.
Revamped Photos app
iOS 18 introduces the “biggest redesign ever” of the Photos app, bringing a simplified, single view with photo grid and date grid, while collections let you browse by themes (e.g. screenshots and groups) without the hassle of organizing your content into albums.
There’s also a new “Recovered” album feature in iOS 18, which houses any photos or videos that aren’t in your main photo gallery. Apple says this reduces the risk of database corruption or problems with third-party apps.
Message Upgrades
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iOS 18 brings some big changes to the way you message on iPhone. For starters, you can now reply to messages with any emoji, and new text formatting means you can underline, strikethrough, or bold your messages, and add new text formatting options like ripple effects.
Apple also added the ability to schedule messages for a convenient time in the future, and the Messages app finally supports the RCS standard in iOS 18. The latter should provide a richer messaging experience when communicating with someone who owns an Android phone (boo!).
Finally, iOS 18 expands the Satellite SOS feature, allowing compatible iPhones (read: the iPhone 14 or later) to send messages via satellite when cellular or Wi-Fi connections are unavailable.
A special password app
iOS 18 also launches with a new, built-in iPhone app: Passwords. As the name suggests, this Keychain-like app acts as a one-stop shop for all of your valuable passwords, passkeys, and verification codes.
In addition to its function as a digital vault, Passwords also warns you if you use weak passwords or if your data has been involved in a data breach. So it seems that this is one of the best password managers.
All information in the Passwords app is protected by end-to-end encryption, and of course you can lock it behind Touch or Face ID authentication. Nice work, Apple!
