Here are the first things you should try on iOS 18

It’s time for a new version of iOS. After months of beta testing, Apple rolled out its iOS 18 software update to millions of users on September 16. That means a ton of new features and functions to play with (although Apple Intelligence will take some time to fully roll out).

There’s so much new in iOS 18, both in the operating system and within Apple’s apps, that it’s hard to keep track of all the improvements and changes coming to the iPhone. Here are a few that may have flown under your radar but can significantly improve your smartphone experience.

Add extra effects to your texts

Your texts in the Messages app can now be more expressive (provided you’re using iMessage): Select text in a message you’re about to send, tap the arrow in the pop-up above, then choose Text Effects. You can also apply bold and italic styling to selected words, as well as fun animated effects like ripples and glows.

Go hiking

One of the big improvements to Apple Maps in iOS 18 is the introduction of new topographic maps and hiking routes: several predefined routes are available in the app (but only for the United States, for now), and you can create your own. Each of these routes can also be saved to your phone, allowing you to use them without an internet connection.

Hide annoying elements in Safari

Safari on iOS 18 wants to help you stay focused on the web. Once the page loads, tap the icon to the left of the address bar (which should look like a rectangle with a few lines underneath). You can then hide elements on the page that are fighting for your attention, like graphics and menus, though this doesn’t really work as an ad blocker.

Pause during video recordings

iOS 18 lets you pause video recordings while they’re recording, something you couldn’t do before: tap the pause button in the corner. This should make it easier to edit videos later to get them into shape: you can quickly change angles and even zoom levels while the recording is paused, then restart it.

Try a new calculator

The Calculator app gets a powerful new Math Notes mode thanks to iOS 18, which you can access by tapping the calculator icon in the bottom-left corner of the interface. This mode lets you enter math expressions and see them instantly solved on the same line, assign values ​​to variables, and even produce graphs on the screen.

Lock any app behind Face ID

In addition to protecting access to your iPhone, iOS 18 also lets you use Face ID to add an extra barrier to access to any app, which is handy if you regularly pass your phone around to friends and family. Long-press any app on the Home screen or in the App Library, then tap Require Face ID to set this option (you can also hide apps at once).

Customize Control Center…even more

You can already add and remove shortcuts from Control Center, but iOS 18 takes things a step further. Once the new software update is installed, you can swipe between three separate screens, move and resize shortcuts, and power off your phone right from Control Center. Tap the + (plus) icon on any screen to enter edit mode.

Take more control over the flashlight

iOS 18 gives you some much-needed additional control over your flashlight. Turn it on via Control Center and a new icon will appear on the dynamic island. Tap it and you can swipe up and down or left and right to change the intensity and focus of the light. Between the two variables, you can get very precise control over the light.

Record audio voice notes

Open Notes after updating your iPhone to iOS 18 and you can add voice memos. With a note on the screen, tap the paperclip at the bottom, then choose Record Audio from the menu. The recording interface then appears on the screen, which is easy to use, and you can even get text transcriptions by tapping the speech bubble icon.

Record your state of mind

iOS 18’s Journal app has a new mindset integration: When you’re writing a journal entry, you can tap the mindfulness icon (which looks like a little tree) to record how you’re feeling. This is done via a slider that ranges from “very unpleasant” on the left to “very pleasant” on the right. This information also syncs with Apple’s Health app.

Test your games performance

iOS 18 has a built-in Game Mode that Apple says “minimizes background activity to maintain consistently high frame rates.” You can try it out by simply launching any game in your collection: you should see a pop-up message at the top of the screen telling you that Game Mode has been automatically enabled (you can tap it to turn it off if necessary).

Shake or nod your head to answer incoming calls

This only works with the 2nd-generation AirPods Pro and AirPods 4 and an iPhone running iOS 18, but it’s still pretty cool: When you get a call, you can shake your head to reject it or nod to accept it. Make sure your AirPods are running the latest firmware, which should happen automatically when your iPhone is connected.