Apple released iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11 and macOS Sequoia Monday. After Apple showcased these operating systems in June at WWDC24, it revealed the release date for iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia’s first stable build at the “It’s Glowtime” event.
They are available now for download on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac.
iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 release date
Image: Apple
Apple released iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 and watchOS 11 to the public Monday, with the time depending on your location. You can install the update on day one if you have an iOS 18 compatible iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. With this year’s iOS release, Apple is not dropping support for older iPhones. The OS works with the same set of devices as iOS 17. However, some new iOS 18 features won’t come to older iPhone models.
iPadOS 18 drops support older iPad models using an A10 series chip. The OS is incompatible with the 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and the 6th-generation iPad will also remain stuck on iPadOS 17.
iOS 18 brings Apple Intelligence … eventually
Apple Intelligence is the main highlight of iOS 18. However, Apple’s suite of AI-powered features don’t arrive with iOS 18’s initial release. Instead, many features will arrive a few weeks later with iOS 18.1. That release should bring access to Writing Tools, Priority Notifications, AI-powered summarizations in Safari’s Reader mode, summaries of transcripts for recorded audio notes or phone calls, etc. Other, more compelling, features like a smarter Siri, Genmoji and Image Playground won’t arrive until 2025.
While iOS 18 supports several older iPhones, Apple Intelligence will only work on iPhone 15 Pro and newer models. It’s also not coming to the European Union or China. Initially, Apple is only rolling out its AI features to US customers with English support.
Thankfully, there’s more to iOS 18 than just Apple Intelligence. The OS finally adds full Home Screen customization, allowing you to place icons anywhere you want. Control Center will get a big revamp with support for multiple pages. And like the Home Screen, you can place toggles wherever you wish.
Another notable new feature is the revamped Photos app, which supports smarter search, a more robust filtering option, and new photo editing tools. The Messages app in iOS 18 is also getting some much-needed upgrades, including RCS support for a better cross-device texting experience.
Apple announced iOS 18 at WWDC24 and soon after started public beta testing the OS. With eight beta builds released so far, iOS 18’s first public release should be relatively stable.
Read our rundown of all the new features in iOS 18. (Almost all the new customization and AI features will also come to your iPad with iPadOS 18.)
watchOS 11 release date
watchOS 11 will roll out for all compatible Apple Watch models on September 16, the same day iOS 18 drops. Again, the time depends on your location. Following a major revamp that Apple introduced with watchOS 10 in 2023, the newest watchOS release focuses on usability improvements to deliver a better experience.
The latest watchOS release drops support for several older Apple Watch models, including the Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, and the first-gen Apple Watch SE.
watchOS 11 introduces a long-awaited Training Load feature that tracks how much effort you put into your workouts. Additionally, it will enable you to download topographic maps with turn-by-turn directions for your hiking sessions.
macOS Sequoia release date
Photo: Apple
Apple typically releases a major new macOS release a week after the iOS public build drops. However, with macOS Sequoia packing several features that integrate with iOS 18, the OS will roll out on the same day: September 16 (Monday). Naturally, the the exact time depends on your location.
The latest macOS release works with all Intel Macs featuring a T2 chip and all Apple silicon-powered Macs. More specifically, if you have an Intel-powered MacBook Air, it will remain stuck on macOS Sonoma.
macOS Sequoia brings your iPhone and Mac closer than ever with iPhone Mirroring. It enables you to mirror and control your iPhone from your Mac. You can also mirror your iPhone’s notifications to your Mac.
Other notable new features include Apple Pay support in third-party browsers, new effects in the Messages app, a standalone Passwords app, and improved window management.
You can install these updates right after Apple releases them on September 16 as long as your iPhone, iPad, or Mac has enough free space.
iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and watchOS 11 release time on September 16
Apple says only that it will release iOS 18 and the other operating systems on September 16. The company does not mention the exact release time. But, based on Apple’s track record, we can guess the possible timeframe when the updates will land. Apple typically seeds new iOS builds to the public around 10 a.m. Pacific. iOS 18 should drop at the same time unless Apple hits a last-minute snag.
You can find the iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and watchOS 11 release times in various time zones below. All times are for Monday, September 16, unless otherwise noted.
- Afghanistan: 9:30 p.m.
- Algeria: 6 p.m.
- Australia: 3 a.m. (Tuesday, September 19)
- Australia (Northern Territory: 2:30 a.m. (Tuesday, September 17)
- Western Australia: 3 a.m. (Tuesday, September 17)
- Austria: 7 p.m.
- Bangladesh: 11 p.m.
- Belarus: 8 p.m.
- Bolivia: 1 p.m.
- Brazil: 2 p.m.
- Bulgaria: 8 p.m.
- Canada: 11 a.m.
- Canada (East): 1 p.m.
- China: 1 a.m. (Tuesday, September 17)
- Colombia: 12 p.m.
- Egypt: 8 p.m.
- Europe: 7 p.m.
- Finland: 8 p.m.
- India: 8:30 p.m.
- Iran: 8:30 p.m.
- Iraq: 8 p.m.
- Japan: 2 a.m. (Tuesday, September 17)
- Qatar: 8 p.m.
- Russia: 5 a.m. (Tuesday, September 17)
- Saudi Arabia: 8 p.m.
- Singapore: 1 a.m. (Tuesday, September 17)
- South Africa: 7 p.m.
- South Korea: 2 a.m. (Tuesday, September 17)
- Thailand: 12:01 a.m. (Tuesday, September 17)
- United Arab Emirates: 9 p.m.
- United Kingdom: 6 p.m.
You can find iOS 18’s release time in your local time zone here if it is not mentioned in the list above.
Following the release of iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and watchOS 11, Apple will release iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 with Apple Intelligence in October. macOS Sequoia might arrive at the same time.
We originally published this post on the iOS 18 release date on September 9. We updated the information.
