“The greatest upgrade is one you don’t have to purchase.” iPhone owners waiting for the iPhone 17 or iOS 26 will appreciate Apple’s iOS 18.6 update, a sneaky but powerful chance. Under its run-of-the-mill security updates, there is a collection of features and options that can turn a current device into a faster, more personal, and more private one.
These aren’t splashy overhauls. They’re quiet, sometimes invisible tweaks most under a minute that hone how the iPhone functions on a daily basis. From cleaning up the inbox to restructuring the home screen, each tweak can add years to the phone’s lifespan and make it feel fresh. Here are ten of the biggest settings to check out now, each providing a real kick for zero bucks.
1. Bring Back a Unified Inbox in Mail
The new Mail Categories in iOS 18 sort mail automatically into Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. Although this can help corral an active inbox, it can also hide important emails under multiple swipes of tabs. Those who like a straightforward chronological list need only toggle back. Open the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of Mail and choose List View. This returns to the single-stream inbox of old, keeping all mail visible without additional swipes.
2. Redo Lock Screen Shortcuts
For years, the flashlight and camera occupied the lock screen’s lower corners. iOS 18 finally lets users replace them or remove them entirely. By pressing and holding the lock screen, selecting Customize, and tapping the minus icon, those slots can be reassigned to tools like Shazam, Wallet, or even a custom Shortcut. This not only prevents accidental flashlight activations but also puts frequently used functions within immediate reach.
3. Have Apple Intelligence Prioritize Notifications
On Apple Intelligence-capable devices, the Prioritize Notifications setting at Settings > Notifications employs on-device AI to bring to the forefront most relevant notifications like messages from familiar contacts while pushing low-value beeps into Notification Center. Cognitive load is minimized, particularly on hectic days, and a level of fine-tuning by application such that only notably important interruptions reach the lock screen.
4. Provide the Home Screen with a More Flexible Layout
iOS 18 deviates from its strict grid of icons with a more flexible arrangement of apps, making room for wallpaper features or positioning icons in innovative ways. Icons can be moved to new locations in jiggle mode, and supported apps can be opened up as widgets providing live data. The update also brings Dark Mode to the home and lock screens, introduces tinted icon themes, and provides a Large Icons option that omits labels for a more minimalist appearance. These features transform the home screen into a more personal, visually unified space.
5. Redesign Control Center
Control Center has become a multi-page, highly customizable center. Controls can be resized to show more detail, reorganized to put the most-used functions front and center, and opened into full-screen panels for media, smart home gadgets, or connectivity controls. More controls everything from screen recording to accessibility shortcuts can be added from a expanded library, making Control Center an individualized command deck instead of a fixed panel.
6. Lock and Hide Sensitive Apps
iOS 18 also includes system-level locking of apps at the system level, which makes them require Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode before opening. More granular privacy is achieved by being able to completely hide apps in a locked Hidden folder in the App Library. This is handy when letting others use one’s phone because it guards against accidental and even deliberate access to personal data. Certain pre-installed apps cannot be hidden but merely locked, but the functionality is still a huge leap toward on-device control over privacy.
7. Stop Videos from Looping in Photos
The Photos app now plays videos on a loop by default, a behavior that can be distracting and drain battery life. In Settings > Photos, toggling off Loop Videos restores one-time playback. Disabling Auto-Play Motion in the same menu goes further, preventing Live Photos and similar media from playing until tapped ideal for those who prefer static thumbnails and manual control over playback.
8. Make Calendar Views More Useful
The Calendar app’s Month view acquires a latent pinch-to-zoom gesture, with seamless switching between Compact, Stacked, and Details layouts. This has the implication that users can opt to view just dots for events, bars in a color, or full times and titles, varying the information density to suit their requirements. The Day view has also added a new Multi Day option, displaying two successive days for improved short-term planning without having to move to Week view.
9. Improve Dialogue in the TV App
The TV app in iOS 18 includes an Enhance Dialogue option that employs machine learning to separate speech from background sounds. Two modes, Enhance and Boost, subtly raise or more forcefully isolate dialogue so it is simpler to understand conversations in noisy scenes. Available through the Audio menu while playing, it’s particularly useful for watching late at night or viewing material with difficult audio mixes.
10. Turn on Automatic Security Updates
Apart from features, iOS 18.6 brings essential security updates in the form of patches, including for high-severity vulnerabilities. Enabling iOS Updates and Security Responses in Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates installs these patches overnight when the phone is being charged and connected to Wi-Fi. This eliminates exposure to exploits without needing to be manually intervened, with the device remaining safe with minimal impact.
These ten features show how Apple’s incremental updates can meaningfully add life and functionality to an older iPhone. By polishing the presentation of information, tightening privacy, and introducing subtle niceties, iOS 18.6 makes routine maintenance a true quality-of-life improvement not to mention an upgrade that requires no new hardware.
