Apple releases iOS 18 on September 16 for all

Apple not only introduced the new iPhone 16 today, but also announced when iOS 18 will be officially released for download. You can mark September 16th on your calendar, because that’s when Apple will make iOS 18 available for everyone to download.

iOS 18 officially launches on September 16, 2024

The first beta version of iOS 18 has been available since June and after sufficient testing, the official version can finally be downloaded onto the iPhone on September 16. At the same time, Apple will also release iPadOS 18 on that day. We assume that the download will be activated in this country in the evening.

iOS 18 is compatible with these iPhones

Apple is known for being able to install the latest iOS even on fairly old iPhone models. Simply check the list below to see if your iPhone supports iOS 18.

• iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max
• 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 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro

iOS 18: These are the highlights

• Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT integration: Let’s start with a hard blow. Apple Intelligence and the ChatGPT integration will not be released for German iPhones for the time being. Apple has postponed AI for the EU until 2025.
• Customize home screen: For the first time, you can freely arrange the icons on the home screen and use a new view. You can make the app icons larger by hiding the labels. More information is available here.
• Photos app: The Photos app has been redesigned again based on feedback from testers. The new carousel that drew attention to photos and memories at the top is no longer there. However, the new functions have not been lost; they have simply been sorted further down. There is more information here.

• calendar: Apple’s calendar app gets new views and shows different appointments from several calendars with colored dots or rays. This makes the calendar much clearer, especially if you use a lot of calendars. There are more details here.
• Swap camera and flashlight: For the first time, you can choose the shortcuts on the lock screen yourself. Previously, you could only start the flashlight and the camera, but from iOS 18 you can choose which apps you want to start from the lock screen. You can find all the options in this overview.
• Weather: With iOS 18, the weather app also shows the perceived temperature, but only if it differs from the actual temperature. The weather app also takes over favorites from the maps app, in which you have stored your address for home or work, for example. You can find all the information here.

• Notes: Apple’s Notes app lets you highlight or mark up text using five basic tools. Other new features in iOS 18’s Notes app include live transcription and summarization of audio files, expandable section headings, and the option to use Notes to solve math problems typed – or written on the iPad. Find out more here.
• Control Center: The control center on the iPhone has a new design and you can arrange the corresponding elements freely. At the same time, for the first time there are several pages that you can manage yourself. Here you can see what the new control center looks like.

How to install iOS 18

Installing iOS 18 is child’s play, as you only need to initiate the update in the Settings app under “General” – “Software Update”. Although the update process is very reliable, we still recommend creating a backup beforehand. If something goes wrong during the update, you won’t lose any data.

As with any major update, there is always a huge rush at launch. The download takes longer and if you are not in a hurry, simply install iOS 18 a day later. Then it will be much quicker as the initial rush will have passed.

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