iOS 18 high options: House Display screen enhancements add a formidable degree of personalization to iPhone [Video]

Yesterday’s launch of iOS 18 introduced many new enhancements and enhancements to the iOS House Display screen. The replace features a few delicate adjustments but additionally options elementary adjustments to iOS design paradigms which have been round for the reason that iPhone’s inception.

New iOS 18 wallpaper

Like each main new iOS launch, iOS 18 features a new release-specific wallpaper. Apple features a new dynamic wallpaper that adjustments all through the day. For individuals who want a extra static strategy, there are 4 completely different shade kinds: yellow, pink, azure, or purple.

Video: iOS 18 Prime Options – House Display screen

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Versatile app and widget placement

For the primary time in iOS’ historical past, you’ll be able to place app icons and widgets wherever on the house display grid. You’ll be able to depart gaps between icons or strategically place them in numerous areas to showcase the wallpaper beneath. Android customers have loved these options for years, as diehard Google followers shall be fast to focus on within the remark sections of our YouTube movies. 😆

Resizing widgets

iOS has lengthy supported completely different widget sizes, however till now, you haven’t been capable of alter the dimensions of a widget already positioned on the House Display screen. With the discharge of iOS 18, Apple offers customers not only one however two methods to customise widget sizes in submit.

The primary option to alter a widget’s measurement is to make use of the drag deal with that seems within the backside right-hand nook of the widget whereas in edit mode. You should utilize the drag deal with to upsize or downsize the widget if there are different measurement choices accessible for that widget kind.

You can too resize widgets by performing an extended press and tapping one of many glyphs representing every accessible widget measurement. This long-press motion additionally has one other profit: You’ll be able to resize a widget right down to its app icon.

Customizing the House display

When in edit mode, you’ll discover a brand new ‘Customise’ choice when tapping the edit button within the higher left-hand nook of the House Display screen. This selection reveals a brand new House Display screen customization panel devoted to altering the look of House Display screen app icons and, to a lesser diploma, House Display screen wallpaper.

There, you’ll discover choices to change between mild and darkish icons and to vary wallpaper tint. Each first-party and third-party apps downloaded from the App Retailer can show darkish app icons, however the app’s developer must guarantee that function is enabled.

You’ll additionally discover a devoted icon tint choice with a shade and saturation slider. Utilizing tint will concurrently have an effect on all House Display screen app icons, giving them a uniform shade. For these seeking to complement the house display wallpaper, there’s a helpful eyedropper device to pattern colours to be used on icon tint.

Along with the customization talked about above, you’ll discover a button that permits you to swap between small and huge app icons and widgets. App icon names are hidden when utilizing giant icons to accommodate the extra measurement, which makes for a cleaner and maybe extra aesthetically pleasing setup.

Locking and hiding particular person apps

Lastly, iOS 18 permits customers to lock particular person apps behind Face ID or a passcode. To lock an app, long-press the app icon and choose Require Face ID. As soon as Face ID authenticates, the app shall be locked and require authentication upon every launch. Locked apps gained’t be featured in notification previews or Highlight Search outcomes, and never all apps, similar to Settings and Maps, might be locked.

Along with locking apps, iOS 18 lets customers safe particular person apps by hiding them. Hidden apps work equally to locked apps however are stashed away in a brand new Hidden class within the iOS App Library. To cover an app, press its icon and choose Require Face ID → Conceal and Require Face ID. Solely apps downloaded from the App Retailer could also be hidden.

To disclose apps inside the Hidden Appl Library class, faucet on the class after which confirm with Face ID. Hidden apps is not going to obtain notifications, calls, or essential alerts, however their presence will nonetheless be obvious through locations like Settings.

9to5Mac’s Take

iOS 18’s House Display screen opens up the iPhone like by no means earlier than to customization choices that enable customers to personalize their units to a excessive diploma. Coupled with iOS Shortcuts and in style third-party apps like Widgetsmith, customers can now concoct original-looking iOS House Screens like by no means earlier than. Whereas some might balk on the customization prospects, contemplating them gaudy, I welcome it and really feel such options are lengthy overdue.