iOS 18 Upgrade

Generated on 2/14/2025

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iOS 18 introduces several new features and improvements across various aspects of the operating system. Here are some highlights from the WWDC sessions:

Tab and Sidebar Enhancements: iOS 18 introduces a new syntax in SwiftUI for tab views, making it easier to catch common errors at build time. This includes declaring a tab struct with a title, image, and content view. UIKit also has new APIs to better describe app hierarchies to UITabBarController (Elevate your tab and sidebar experience in iPadOS).
Device Management: iOS 18 includes updates for device management, such as a special exception for enrolling an MDM on a newly set-up device without causing a security delay for the first 3 hours after enabling stolen device protection (What’s new in device management).
Privacy Enhancements: iOS 18 improves transparency and control over access to local networks, Bluetooth, and contacts. It introduces a new flow for apps requesting access to contacts, providing more control over which contacts are shared (What’s new in privacy).
UIKit Improvements: There are major updates to tabs and sidebars, support for new fluid transitions, and a redesigned launch experience for document-based apps. UIKit also integrates more closely with SwiftUI (What’s new in UIKit).
Customization and Security: iOS 18 allows app icons and widgets to appear in light, dark, or tinted versions, providing a consistent visual experience. It also introduces a new registration API for passkeys, enhancing security (Platforms State of the Union).

These updates reflect Apple's ongoing efforts to enhance user experience, security, and developer capabilities in iOS 18.

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What’s new in device management

Learn about the latest management capabilities for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS, then discover the latest changes to Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager. We’ll also share updates to Activation Lock, SoftwareUpdate, and Safari management.

Bring your Live Activity to Apple Watch

Bring Live Activities into the Smart Stack on Apple Watch with iOS 18 and watchOS 11. We’ll cover how Live Activities are presented on Apple Watch, as well as how you can enhance their presentation for the Smart Stack. We’ll also explore additional considerations to ensure Live Activities on Apple Watch always present up-to-date information.

What’s new in privacy

At Apple, we believe privacy is a fundamental human right. Learn about new and improved permission flows and other features that manage data in a privacy-preserving way, so that you can focus on creating great app experiences.

What’s new in Wallet and Apple Pay

Take passes and payments to the next level with new enhancements to Wallet and Apple Pay. Make your event tickets shine with rich pass designs in Wallet, and bring great Apple Pay experiences to even more people with third-party browser support. We’ll also look at how to disburse funds with Apple Pay on the Web and highlight new API changes that help you integrate Apple Pay into even more purchasing flows.

What’s new in UIKit

Explore everything new in UIKit, including tab and document launch experiences, transitions, and text and input changes. We’ll also discuss better-than-ever interoperability between UIKit and SwiftUI animations and gestures, as well as general improvements throughout UIKit.

Use HDR for dynamic image experiences in your app

Discover how to read and write HDR images and process HDR content in your app. Explore the new supported HDR image formats and advanced methods for displaying HDR images. Find out how HDR content can coexist with your user interface — and what to watch out for when adding HDR image support to your app.

What’s new in StoreKit and In-App Purchase

Learn how to build and deliver even better purchase experiences using the App Store In-App Purchase system. We’ll demo new StoreKit views control styles and new APIs to improve your subscription customization, discuss new fields for transaction-level information, and explore new testability in Xcode. We’ll also review an important StoreKit deprecation.

Elevate your tab and sidebar experience in iPadOS

iPadOS 18 introduces a new navigation system that gives people the flexibility to choose between using a tab bar or sidebar. The newly redesigned tab bar provides more space for content and other functionality. Learn how to use SwiftUI and UIKit to enable customization features – like adding, removing and reordering tabs – to enable a more personal touch in your app.

Enhanced suggestions for your journaling app

Find out how your journaling app can display journaling suggestions with richer content from the system. Explore new types of available content like state of mind data, reflection prompts, and support for third-party media content and motion-based activities.

What’s new in Xcode 16

Discover the latest productivity and performance improvements in Xcode 16. Learn about enhancements to code completion, diagnostics, and Xcode Previews. Find out more about updates in builds and explore improvements in debugging and Instruments.

Platforms State of the Union

Discover the newest advancements on Apple platforms.