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

Apple will launch software program updates for its iPhone, iPad, Mac and smartwatch on Monday, including new options and designs for appropriate gadgets.

Introduced on the firm’s developer convention in June, iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11 and macOS Sequoia add in depth new residence display and management centre customisation choices, sensible handwriting and maths instruments for Notes and new watch faces, amongst different new options.

Right here’s what it’s essential to know concerning the updates.

When can I get it?

Downloads for iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and macOS updates often begin at about 6pm UK time (1pm in New York; 3am Tuesday in Sydney). In contrast to different producers, all eligible Apple gadgets will be capable of obtain and set up the replace the second it’s launched relatively than in a staggered trend.

Which gadgets can get it?

All Apple smartphones from 2018’s iPhone XS or newer can set up iOS 18. All tablets from the 2018 iPad Professional, 2019 iPad Air (third gen), iPad mini (fifth gen) or iPad (sixth gen) and newer can set up iPadOS 18. All Apple Watches from 2020’s Collection 6 or newer can set up watchOS 11. All MacBook Airs from 2020, MacBook Execs from 2018, Mac minis from 2018, iMacs from 2019, Mac Studios from 2022, the 2017 iMac Professional and 2019 Mac Professional or later can set up macOS Sequoia.

How do I get it?

Open the Settings app on an iPhone or iPad then navigate to Normal > Software program Replace. Faucet set up if accessible to obtain, confirm after which reboot to put in. You can even set up the replace by way of a Mac or iTunes on a Home windows pc.

WatchOS 11 requires an iPhone XS or later to be working iOS 18 first. Then open the Watch app on the cellphone and navigate to Normal > Software program Replace to start the set up. You will want to place the smartwatch on its charger to finish the replace.

Macs are up to date in System Settings, navigate to Normal > Software program Replace.

How a lot will it price?

The updates are free from Apple. If you’re being requested to pay for an replace, it’s a rip-off.

Apple Intelligence isn’t accessible but

Apple’s varied new AI instruments, comparable to its writing and language instruments, summarisation, AI photograph enhancing and improved Siri will not be accessible but, and gained’t be added to any of its merchandise till later this yr in beta, beginning in October for the US and December for the UK.

iOS 18

Residence display and management centre customisation

Apple has lastly allowed you to put app icons and widgets on the house display in any sample, not simply stuffed from the highest left. App icons can now be made greater, and will be tinted to both match darkish mode or with a color.

Management centre has been overhauled permitting a wide variety of fast settings to be added in numerous shapes and sizes with further pages accessible to swipe by, so you possibly can have one web page devoted to music or one other with sensible residence controls. The fast controls on the lock display may also be modified.

Redesigned images app

The images app has been overhauled with huge featured images and carousels. It now robotically creates collections of images primarily based on subjects comparable to current days, journeys or individuals and pets. You may create your individual collections and pin a very powerful collections or albums for fast entry, or reorganise the app to make it the best way you prefer it.

Messages

Apple has lastly added RCS assist to the messages app, which is able to make texting Android customers simpler, significantly with media and browse receipts. Now you can schedule and ship messages at a later date, useful for sending birthday greetings. Textual content can now be animated in iMessages and reactions can now embody any emoji or sticker.

Notes, Passwords and Maps

The Notes app can now document audio and create stay transcripts, which will be searched or mixed with different paperwork. It may possibly additionally now clear up maths expressions and calculations for you.

Apple’s Keychain has been was a correct password supervisor with the brand new Passwords app, which is out there on all Apple gadgets and Home windows.

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

iPadOS 18

The iPad will get the identical customisation, images, messages, passwords and maps options, alongside a couple of key upgrades only for the pill.

Notes and calculator

The Notes app will get an enormous improve for handwriting utilizing the Apple Pencil. It may possibly robotically easy out much less legible writing, right spelling, transfer written phrases round like you possibly can with printed textual content and even paste textual content as a duplicate of your individual handwriting.

The Calculator app has lastly be launched on the iPad, however with a twist. It may possibly carry out calculations from handwritten expressions, together with algebraic variables, and even plot graphs.

The identical “Maths Notes” means to immediately clear up expressions can also be accessible within the Notes app for inline calculations.

watchOS 11

Pictures Face

A up to date Pictures Face is one new watch face for watchOS 11, creating faces out of your images with sensible framing and putting of the time. You may select a choice of images or have it robotically decide the most effective ones out of your library.

The Flux face is a brand new huge digital watch face with daring colors that change over time, whereas Reflections is a brand new analogue face that reacts to your actions.

Vitals

The brand new Vitals app provides the info tracked in a single day whilst you sleep a brand new, extra helpful residence. It options your coronary heart charge, respiratory charge, wrist temperature, blood oxygen and sleep length, and exhibits when any certainly one of them varies out of your typical vary, doubtlessly highlighting points and giving an outline of what may need induced the variation, comparable to alcohol consumption.

Coaching load

The exercise app can now monitor and present your coaching load for exercises and whether or not your physique is recovering sufficiently between every session. You can even monitor you effort ranking or how onerous every exercise was, calculated out of your tempo, elevation, coronary heart charge and different biometric information.

Reside actions, double faucet and being pregnant monitoring

Reside actions, comparable to ongoing timers, music playback, Uber journeys or comparable, are actually seen within the sensible stack for fast entry. The double faucet gesture can now scroll in most apps, so you possibly can flick by issues by double pinching your finger and thumb collectively. The watch can now monitor pregnancies, displaying gestational age, as a part of its cycle monitoring for girls.

macOS Sequoia

MacOS will get a lot of the new options frequent to the iPhone and iPad, plus a couple of computer-specific additions.

iPhone mirroring on mac

The large new characteristic is the power to wirelessly mirror and management your iPhone out of your Mac, permitting you to open apps, see notifications and usually use a digital model of your cellphone along with your keyboard and mouse.

Straightforward window tiling

MacOS can now robotically tile your home windows in your display, comparable to snapping home windows to half a display by dragging it to the left or proper facet. Hover over the inexperienced button on a window to see a drop down of tiling choices.