18 hidden features in iOS 18 that Apple didn’t tell you about

iOS 18 is packed full of great features Cult of Mac has covered at length — but the upcoming iPhone software update packs many more tiny features and small improvements that Apple did not mention or talk about. If you know to look out for these features, they’ll make the everyday interactions with your phone faster and easier.

Here’s a roundup of 18 little changes and useful features in iOS 18. Keep reading or watch our video.

Hidden iOS 18 features

Not every iOS 18 feature requires a special mention, which makes sense since there are so many changes. During WWDC24, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence, a supercharged Siri and other major changes. But look beyond AI, and you will find iOS 18 is full of small but useful improvements.

iOS 18 is available now in a public beta. Apple will release iOS 18 this September, and the update will work with any device currently running iOS 17.

T9 phone dialing

Apple is finally adding T9 dialing support to the iPhone’s Phone app with iOS 18. The feature lets you search for contacts or phone numbers directly from the dialer.

To make a call to your “wife,” open the dialer app and tap 9 (for W), 4 (for i), 3 (for f), and 3 (for e). T9 will automatically show contacts that closely match your input. Tapping on the search result will enter the contact’s phone number into the dialer. You can then press the green Call button to initiate the call.

It can be a much faster way to dial someone than pilfering through a long list of contacts.

Adaptive Copy Edits feature in iOS 18’s Photos app

Apple allows you to copy your edits and tweaks from one picture to another. You can even paste your edits across multiple photos at once. However, different pictures can have different exposure levels and white balance levels. So, copying the same edits across them might not always work.

A new Adaptive toggle in iOS 18’s Copy Edits menu will “automatically match the exposure and white balance of the source image.” This should prevent images from being overexposed or their white balance going haywire when you paste edits from another picture.

‘Keep Downloaded’ option in iCloud

The upgraded Files app introduces a “Keep Downloaded” option for files saved in iCloud. Use this option to download a file, ensuring it won’t be automatically removed from your iPhone to free up space.

iOS 18 keyboard gains multilingual support

iOS 18 supports multilingual keyboards, so you can use up to two languages simultaneously. The improvement also will work with QuickPath (slide to type) and voice typing. However, the feature might not work with all languages.

Offline Apple Maps syncing with Apple Watch

iOS 18 and watchOS 11 enable you to download and sync offline Apple Maps with Apple Watch. This way, you can access maps and get navigation directions right from your wrist, even without an internet connection.

Adjust the flashlight’s width

Apple already allows you to adjust the flashlight intensity on iPhones through the Control Center. With iOS 18, you can even change the flashlight’s width!

Now on iOS 18, you can also adjust the width of the torch on your iPhone (not just the intensity). pic.twitter.com/mqUBibtsve

— Alvin (@sondesix) June 10, 2024

Screen bezel expands when pressing a physical key

Pressing the volume or side button on your iPhone will trigger an animation that looks like the screen bezel is expanding.

Now this is an awesome new attention to detail on iOS 18.

When you press a volume button, there’s an effect that makes it look as if the screen bezel is expanding. pic.twitter.com/BWbcSiDbi0

— Alvin (@sondesix) June 10, 2024

Power button in Control Center

iOS 18 adds a virtual power button to the Control Center. So, like me, do not worry if you cannot remember the key combination to turn off or restart your iPhone. Use the power button on the top-left in iOS 18’s Control Center to bring up the power menu.

Search suggestions in Settings

The search function in the Settings menu in iOS 18 will automatically show relevant suggestions based on your past usage.

Revamped iCloud page

iOS 18 refreshes the iCloud page under Apple Account > iCloud. This gives you a clear view of the total storage available and what data you are backing up to the cloud.

Friendly section titles

If you’re perusing through the Settings app, you’ll see new user-friendly headers at the top of the screen explaining what you can find in each section. This can help you learn how to navigate the rather convoluted and labyrinthian screens upon screens of settings.

Reminders integration in Calendar app

Apple is integrating Reminders and Calendar in iOS 18. So, if you set a reminder with a date and/or time in the Reminders app, it will automatically show up in the Calendar as well. And from Calendar, you can create a Reminder and assign it to a list.

Hide App labels

Among the plethora of new Home Screen customization options in iOS 18, Apple also added the ability to hide the app labels.

Action button gets more customizable

With iOS 18, the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro lineup will get more customizable options. You can assign the button to trigger Control Center shortcuts, allowing you to toggle key features on or off quickly.

Swap out your Lock Screen controls

Any button you can put in iOS 18’s new customizable Control Center is also a button you can put on your iPhone’s Lock Screen. Plus, you can have different shortcut buttons on different Lock Screens, making them context-dependent (and tied to a Focus Mode if you like).

Tap and hold on the screen and tap Customize, then select Lock Screen. Tap the – icon above either Flashlight or Camera button to remove it. Then, just tap on the empty space to put something else there.

The panel of options will slide up from the bottom of your iPhone screen — scroll through the list or search to find one. Tap on any button to select it. Tap Done in the upper right corner to finalize your changes.

After Apple releases iOS 18 this fall, third-party apps installed on your iPhone might be available as Lock Screen buttons.

Smarter Calculator

The iPhone’s Calculator app is getting some cool upgrades with iOS 18. Among other things, it is gaining a Convert option, enabling quick data unit conversion. The available options include Angle, Area, Currency, Force, and more.

Link previews in the Messages app

The Messages app in iOS 18 previews links before you send them. And you can remove the preview by tapping the ‘X’ icon. This is unlike on iOS 17, where a link preview appears after you have sent the message.

Colors in Notes

The Notes app in iOS 18 is gaining support for colors, providing a new way to highlight significant bits of a note. The only problem is that you are limited to five color options: Blue, Purple, Pink, Orange and Mint.

There are likely more hidden features and changes in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 that are yet to be discovered. We will continue updating this article when we come across them.

D. Griffin Jones contributed to this article.