with IOS 18 updateThe iPhone gets new customization options for the home screen. This applies to iPad devices in the iPadOS 18 update. Here are all the home screen features in the iOS 18 update.
Rearrange icons and widgets
Now in the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 update, you can finally place an application icon, folder, or widget anywhere on the home screen, and it will remain fixed in place, meaning there will be no automatic arrangement and filling of icons. You can place apps near the bottom for easy one-handed access, or frame them around a background to show faces or even a sunset.
Dark mode for icons, widgets, and more
Whether dark mode is turned on automatically or manually, you can darken app icons, folders, and widgets on your home screen as well as your dock partner. You can also set Dark Mode to work with the Home screen even when Dark Mode is turned off system-wide.
Control background dimming in dark mode
In previous versions of iOS and iPadOS, you could dim or undim wallpapers when dark mode was on. This option returns in the new “Customize” menu, which appears in a bar at the bottom of the screen. When Dark is selected, tap the sun icon in the corner to control the darkness of the background.
Simply put, this is a feature that allows you to control how bright or dim the wallpaper is when dark mode is activated.
Feature of coloring icons to fit the background
You'll have a new “Tinted” option in the new Customize menu on the Home screen in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. When you choose this setting, the system will suggest a color for app icons, folders, and widgets that matches your current Home screen background.
Let's say you have a blue background, for example, the system will suggest a blue color or shade of blue for your icons and other elements. This will make your phone interface more harmonious and attractive.
But if you don't like the suggested color, you can adjust and modify it using the gradient bar.
Additionally, there is a color picker with which you can select exactly any color on your background to apply to your icons.
Hide the names of applications, folders and widgets
In the Home Screen Personalization menu, there's a tool that lets you enlarge the size of app and folder icons on your Home screen. This is useful if you need larger icons. But this feature also has a nice side effect: it hides the names of apps, folders, and widgets.
In previous versions such as iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and earlier, it was possible to hide names, but in complex ways such as using jailbreak extensions or special Unicode characters. As for iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, you will be able to hide names simply by activating the “Large” option in this tool.
So you will get a home screen with only large icons and no names, which gives a sleek and simple look.
You can see a full article about this feature and how it works
Change the size of the widget
Working with widgets has become easier in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 updates, as you can now easily resize them. There is no longer a need to delete and add them again in a different size as before.
You can do this from the widget's quick actions menu or via its drag tool in the bottom corner, after long-pressing on the wallpaper until the apps jiggle.
What's more interesting is that the quick actions option also allows you to turn the widget into an app icon, and you can use the quick actions of the app icon to turn it into a widget!
Lock and hide applications
From the quick actions menu of an app icon on the home screen, by long pressing on the app, you can quickly lock the app to prevent others from accessing it. A window will appear asking you to use authentication of any type, such as “Face ID required,” “Touch ID required,” or “Password required” on any application you want to lock. Only some applications will be allowed to be hidden or locked only.
For example, apps like Files and Freeform can be locked but not hidden.
This means you can add an extra layer of security to your sensitive apps by locking them with your face, fingerprint, or password. In some apps, you can also hide it completely from the home screen for more privacy.
New animation effects in the application library
When you swipe to open the App Library on iOS 18, you'll notice a new transition effect. In iOS 17, the App Library fades to the last page on the Home screen, with a change in the transparency of apps, widgets, folders, and the dock. In iOS 18, the App Library pushes the last page on the Home screen off the screen and replaces it. Also, the dock bar is hidden and replaced by application groups.
These are small changes, but they make navigating the App Library smoother and more elegant. Also, the transparent background of the search bar allows you to see the content of the App Library better instead of hiding part of it.
The group of hidden applications in the Application Library
You'll also find the new Hidden group at the bottom of the App Library. It is a collection of applications that you lock using your face, fingerprint, or password. They are hidden from the home screen, search results in Spotlight, and other sites, but you can find them all in the locked “Hidden” folder in the App Library.
This increases your privacy and data security, as no one else can see those sensitive apps unless the hidden folder is opened by your face, fingerprint or password.
Changes to the widget
There are a few new and updated widgets for your home screen. New includes:
◉ Widget for electricity usage and electricity prices.
◉ Health widgets for daily vitals, weekly vitals, and cycle tracking.
◉ Journal widget.
Changes include, but are not limited to, the following:
◉ Calendar widgets use calendar icons instead of lines to differentiate between different calendars.
◉ Calendar widgets also highlight events with a color instead of having a colored line next to it.
◉ Calendar widgets now include scheduled tasks in reminders.
◉ Grid Forecast main widgets have a new lightning bolt icon on the green bar.
◉ Map widgets display a larger area of the map.
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