iOS 18.2 rolled out just a month ago, introducing new features like Visual Intelligence and Image Playground. The AI updates may have taken center stage, but the patch also added several quality of life improvements to iPhones that you may not be aware of. They range from changing the lock screen layout to additional controls over the Photos app. The patch is quite large, so instead of going over each update, we’ll highlight the most important changes.
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Once you’re done reading, you can install iOS 18.2 on your iPhone by opening the Settings menu and then going to General. Tap Software Update to find the fix. Be aware that you’ll need a phone that can support iOS 18, like the iPhone 13 Pro. Note that Apple Intelligence features are exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 series. Unfortunately, older models do not support them.
1. New layout controls
Starting with iOS 18.2, Apple finally lets users arrange app icons in any order they want. Apps no longer automatically snap to a strict grid when moved, so you can leave some free space for the wallpaper.
Dark mode can also be applied to the said home screen. This darkens the wallpaper and changes the background of first-party apps from white to black. The platform below even turns dark gray. It is possible to keep dark apps while returning the wallpaper to Light mode by tapping the sun icon.
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There is now also a tinted option. This allows you to “paint” all app icons on the home screen in a single color, whether it’s red, blue, or green. iOS 18.2 also allows users to change the brightness. So you can have icons sporting a rich or pale hue.
Other notable changes include larger icons and the ability to change the Control Center.
2. Clean Photos app
In the Photos app, the Recently Viewed and Recently Shared albums can be cleared. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner to open a drop-down menu when viewing an image. Select “Removed All from Recently Viewed Views” (or Recently Shared if you’re viewing this album) to clear everything. Don’t worry about losing photos; it leaves the original file alone.
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If you prefer to clear an album one image at a time, tap and hold the photo, then tap “Delete Recently Viewed Views” from the pop-up menu. Additionally, Apple allows users to disable the auto-loop feature on Photos. The tool, in case you need a reminder, automatically restarts video playback once the clip is finished. This toggle can be found by going to the Applications section of the Settings menu. Select Photos and press the Loop Videos button down to turn it off.
3. Camera control improvements
Since we’re talking about photography, this next feature would be exclusive to the iPhone 16 lineup. Owners of the recent series can restrict the camera control button so that it only works when the screen is on. This helps prevent accidental presses when holding the iPhone horizontally (of course, this doesn’t address accidental presses when watching a movie, so there’s room for improvement).
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The option is located at the bottom of the Display & Brightness section in the Settings menu. Just press the toggle switch and you’re ready to go. At the time of writing, it is unclear whether the iPhone 15 series will also have this security feature. This is still an issue with older models, so it would be great to see Apple expand the fix. Until then, Reddit Users suggest changing the button activation gesture to double-click in Settings.
4. Find My Extension
Apple’s Find My feature is a handy tool for locating AirTags attached to lost items. As part of iOS 18.2, the tech giant is allowing users to share the location of an AirTag with major airlines to help them find lost luggage. 15 airlines, including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, support the update.
The way it works is that once you find the AirTag on your iPhone, you “tap the item you want to share location updates for” and then select Share Location element. This creates a temporary web page with a link that you can share with an airline. Each airline has a different way of receiving the generated link. United Airlinesfor example, asks people to submit the “delayed baggage report” link to its official mobile app. It is recommended to check with your airline how to share this information.
