iOS 18 Launches Today, Here’s How to Prepare for its Release

Apple is launching iOS 18 today, September 16th. Users around the globe will be able to install the new software and begin using the new customization options for the Home Screen, Control Center, and more.

iOS 18 is Apple’s largest software update for iPhone this year. Since the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) earlier this year, Apple has generated excitement and buzz for the update. With developers and testers already having gone hands-on with the software, we know what to expect when iOS 18 arrives for general users.

Historically, Apple launches its new software around 1 PM ET/ 10 AM PT. At this point, users can begin installing iOS 18. Once available, you can navigate your iPhone and go to the ‘Settings’ menu. From there, select ‘General’ and then ‘Software Update’. Assuming that your device has enough battery life and has a Wi-Fi connection at the time, you may begin installing iOS 18.

With iOS 18, users will be able to access Apple Intelligence, the company’s new on-board contextual AI platform, when it launches in December. Aside from that, iOS 18 is really emphasizing new ways to customize your iPhone. With iOS 18, users can personalize their Home Screen layout, changing the colours of apps, the size of app icons, and more. The Control Center is also getting a revamp, with new options to add controls, resize them and give agency to how you’d like your layout to be.

Other notable improvements introduced by iOS 18 include an improved Photos app with automatic organization tools and AI-powered features. RCS support for better messaging with non-iPhone users. A new Password app centralizes the management of passwords and pass keys. The Notes app also receives audio recording functionality. The Apple TV+ app gets the InSight feature, a way for viewers to learn about the actors and music information in real-time, similar to Prime Video’s X-Ray function.

iOS 18 is launching a few days prior to the rollout of the iPhone 16 series. The iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max are all compatible with the new software. On top of that, iOS 18 will be available to all iPhone models dating back to the iPhone XR and second-generation iPhone SE.