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With each new iOS update, it’s beneficial to evaluate your iPhone settings to ensure optimal performance. It’s common to quickly install updates without fully exploring the new functionalities. If this resonates with you, take a moment to discover essential iPhone settings adjustments after installing the latest iOS 18.4 update.
Enhance Your iPhone Experience with These iOS 18.4 Settings
iOS 18 introduces innovative Apple Intelligence features. Explore the Apple Intelligence capabilities that best suit your needs. Alternatively, for those who prefer to delay or opt out of AI features, it’s also possible to disable Apple Intelligence.
For details on the advancements in iOS 18, investigate enhancements to the revamped Calculator app and the Mail app. Additionally, consult an iOS 18 upgrade checklist, emphasizing the importance of creating a backup before installation.
Customize Lock Screen Buttons in iOS 18
On an iPhone, the lock screen’s bottom corners are highly accessible zones, easily reachable with a thumb even when the device is locked. Previously, these spots were fixed with flashlight and camera shortcuts, lacking customization.
iOS 18 now allows users to personalize these shortcuts. Replace the default flashlight and camera buttons with alternatives, or remove them entirely. This is especially useful for users who unintentionally activate the flashlight. Options include shortcuts for music recognition via Shazam, Dark Mode activation, setting alarms or timers, enabling Airplane Mode, accessing Wallet, initiating Tap to Cash, and more.
Steps to Change Lock Screen Buttons:
- On your iPhone lock screen, press and hold any area of the display until the Customize option appears. Unlock using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. If the home screen appears, swipe down from the upper center of the screen (avoiding the right edge, which opens Control Center).
- Tap Customize, then select Lock Screen.
- To remove a button, tap the – (minus) icon on the desired shortcut.
- To substitute a button, tap the space (now marked with a + icon) and choose a new function from the subsequent menu. You can also leave the space vacant.
- Repeat for the second button if you wish to modify it.
- Tap Done after making your selections.
- Tap the lock screen again to exit customization mode.
Utilize Prioritize Notifications for Important Alerts
For iPhone models supporting Apple Intelligence, iOS 18.4 introduces Prioritize Notifications, a standout AI feature. Find it under Settings > Notifications > Apple Intelligence > Prioritize Notifications. This setting intelligently filters incoming alerts, highlighting those deemed most relevant to the user. For instance, messages from contacts are prioritized over potential spam. Users can enable or disable priority notifications for specific applications within this settings panel.
Configure New Action Button Tasks on iPhone 15 Pro and Later
The Action button, available on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16E, and iPhone 16 Pro, replaces the traditional mute switch. While its default function remains silencing the phone, it’s now customizable for various actions, such as launching the Camera app, setting up complex shortcuts, or even ordering coffee. iOS 18.4 expands functionality by adding Visual Intelligence as an Action button option. This brings AI capabilities to iPhone 16E, complementing iPhones with an Action button.
In iOS 18, the Action button gains enhanced capabilities. Bypass Control Center and assign functions such as opening the Apple TV Remote interface or using Shazam for song identification.
Customize the Action button via Settings > Action Button. Swipe to select an action. For Controls, Shortcut, and Accessibility options, tap Choose to specify the action.
Redesign Your Home Screen in iOS 18
The ability to freely position app icons may seem basic, but iOS has historically maintained a rigid app arrangement—apps filling in from top to bottom, left to right. While rearranging and moving icons across screens was possible, layout customization was limited.
iOS 18 revolutionizes home screen customization, allowing icons to be placed almost anywhere. Wallpaper images are no longer fully obscured by icons. Although a grid system remains, providing structure, icons can now be positioned with greater freedom.
Furthermore, Dark Mode extends to the entire home screen, including options to tint icons and adjust wallpaper brightness. Explore the customization steps:
Home Screen Customization Steps:
Arrange Apps Freely:
Enter “jiggle mode” by touching and holding the home screen. Drag icons to desired locations. The system intelligently adjusts surrounding icons, but precise placement is achievable with minor adjustments.
Quickly transform compatible apps into widgets with expanded information display. For example, the Maps app can become a location widget with shortcut buttons for searches or nearby locations. Touch and hold an app icon and look for resizing options in the menu. Expand the icon and resize using the handle at the bottom right. Revert to the standard icon size by touching and holding again and selecting the single-icon button.
Enable Dark Mode for Home Screen:
Minimize eye strain in dark environments with the new Dark mode option for home and lock screens. While previous iOS versions included Dark Mode for menus and apps, iOS 18 extends it significantly to home and lock screens, going beyond the dock and widgets.
To activate, touch and hold the home screen to enter jiggle mode. Tap Edit in the top-left corner and choose Customize. Select an icon and background mode at the bottom: Automatic, Dark, or Light. (Tinted mode is discussed below). Dark mode applies black backgrounds to icons, and dark gray to folders and the Dock. Apps without specific Dark Mode icons receive a darkened appearance.
In Dark mode, wallpaper visuals adapt. Apple’s default iOS 18 wallpaper dynamically shifts from light to dark throughout the day. Photo wallpapers are dimmed to reduce brightness. To retain a light background with dark icons, tap the sun icon in the options at the screen’s bottom.
Apply Tinted Icons:
iOS 18 introduces icon tinting for a uniform color scheme. In Customize options, select Tinted as the icon style. Adjust Hue (color spectrum slider) and Luminosity (dark to light slider) to customize the tint.
To match a color from your wallpaper, use the eyedropper tool. Tap the eyedropper icon and drag the reticle to select a color. The tint applies to icons and widgets, with widgets like Photos displaying duotone images to fit the theme.
Enable Large Icons:
Remove app labels and enlarge icons for a cleaner look. In Customize options, tap the Large button.
After customization, tap anywhere on the screen to apply and exit the Customize interface.
Reorganize the Control Center Layout
Control Center, designed for quick access to settings like volume and Airplane mode, becomes highly customizable in iOS 18. Arrange controls, resize them for more information, and add new controls across multiple screens.
Access Control Center by swiping down from the top-right (or up from the bottom on iPhone SE). To edit, touch and hold or press the + button at the top-left.
Reposition controls by dragging. Resize controls using the bottom-right handle for expanded information or larger touch targets, often revealing the control’s name and status.
Control Center now extends across multiple screens. Swipe to access media playback controls, Home controls, and communication options accessible via long-pressing the connectivity block (Airplane Mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellular). These screens are effectively individual controls expanded to full-screen width.
Rearrange screen order by moving their controls. To prioritize Home controls over Now Playing, drag the Home control upwards in edit mode.
Remove controls by tapping the – (minus) icon. Add new ones via Add a Control, choosing from options like Screen Recording and accessibility features.
Secure Sensitive Apps with Locking and Hiding
Smartphones hold personal data, and handing devices to others is common, whether for viewing photos or browsing. To protect sensitive information, iOS 18 introduces app locking and hiding.
For example, to secure a note-taking app with personal lists, instead of locking individual notes, lock the entire app:
Touch and hold the app icon and select Require Face ID or Require Touch ID (or Require Passcode if biometrics are disabled) from the menu. Confirm with Require Face ID (or similar).
To disable authentication, touch and hold the app and choose Don’t Require Face ID (or similar).
Locked apps are not visually marked until accessed. For enhanced security, hide apps in a locked folder. Touch and hold, select Require Face ID and then Hide and Require Face ID. Confirm with Hide App.
Hidden apps disappear from the home screen and relocate to a Hidden folder in the App Library (swipe left past the last home screen). Access hidden apps by tapping the Hidden folder and authenticating with Face ID.
iOS 18 imposes limitations: some built-in apps can only be locked, not hidden. The Hidden folder auto-locks upon app launch or App Library exit.
Disable Looping Videos in the Photos App
Many apps, including Photos in iOS 18.2, feature automatically looping videos. To disable this, navigate to Settings > Photos, scroll to Loop Videos, and toggle it off. Videos will then play once and stop.
To prevent videos from auto-playing at all, disable Auto-Play Motion in the same settings menu.
Adjust Calendar Views for Enhanced Scheduling
Beyond major features, iOS 18 refines daily interactions with smaller, practical updates. The Calendar app gains new viewing options.
In the Month view (portrait), pinch-to-zoom for varying detail levels. “Zooming in” reveals event details, colored bars, and labeled events with times, while maintaining the monthly grid.
The Day view now offers a Multi Day view, showing two consecutive days. Access Multi Day from the View button at the top of the Single Day view.
Enhance Dialogue Clarity in the TV App
Difficulty hearing dialogue in videos is a common issue. iOS 18’s TV app introduces Enhance Dialogue to improve clarity.
While watching content in the TV app, tap More (…) > Audio > Enhance Dialogue, and select Enhance or Boost. These options reduce background sound and amplify dialogue.
These represent a selection of iOS 18‘s new features. Explore further coverage on Apple Intelligence and in-depth reviews after extended use. Discover how these features integrate with the latest iPhone 16 models.