You Should Update Your iPhone to iOS 18, Here’s How to Download

Apple is deploying iOS 18 to users today, and you’ll be able to access new features both big—like a remappable Control Center and home screen—and small—like Activation Lock. Don’t expect Apple Intelligence to arrive immediately for those who loathe to use yet another dull AI art generator that might be thankful, though only temporary, reprieve.

If you already have iOS 17 installed, you should soon receive a notification to update. A few of us at Gizmodo already had our updates on our devices. The update is rolling out staggered to iPhone users. You’ll need an iPhone XS or later to receive the update. Those are the phones with the A12 Bionic chip or later. 

The update requires users to have between 5 GB and 10 GB of additional storage on their phones. If you need to delete anything, you’ll get the option when you update, or you can go to the Settings app, then hit General, and go to iPhone Storage.

To find out if you’re up for an update, go to your Settings app, then scroll down to General. Next, hit Software Update and wait for the phone to tell you if your phone is available for the iOS 18 update. You can install the update later when the device is plugged in or right then and there. Simply follow the instructions, and you should be good to go. Just note this will require a phone restart. 

As for any Apple Intelligence features, you’ll need to own an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 announced last week at Glowtime. However, you won’t see most or any of these AI features at launch on Sept. 20. Apple hinted we might get them in October, but if you want to try out a spare few AI features, you’ll need to opt for the iOS 18 developer beta. Just know that you may not receive all the latest iOS 18 features, and you might encounter more glitches if you try out iOS 18.1.

The update will also come to anybody with a 2nd- or 3rd-gen iPhone SE. The full list of compatible iPhones includes:

• 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 SE (2nd generation or later)

Additionally, macOS 15 Sequoia and iPadOS 18 are dropping today. iPads are getting a bevy of new features, including the same Control Center and home screen customizability as iOS 18. There are also updated Notes and Calculator apps that will interpret handwritten math formulas and solve them for you. My favorite feature now on the latest Mac update is easily iPhone mirroring. You’ll want to make sure both devices are fully updated before you try it out.