iOS 18 Public Beta: Top 5 Features to Test Now

Apple has officially opened the floodgates for the iOS 18 Public Beta. If you have been waiting to try the new software without risking the instability of the developer preview, now is your chance. This update is heavily focused on making the iPhone truly personal. From breaking the grid on the Home Screen to locking down sensitive apps, here is a detailed walkthrough of the features you need to test immediately.

1. Total Home Screen Freedom

For over a decade, iPhone users have been locked into a strict grid layout. iOS 18 changes this fundamental rule. The biggest customization change in this beta is the ability to place app icons and widgets anywhere on the screen.

If you want to frame your wallpaper by leaving the center of the screen empty, you can now do that without using third-party workarounds or invisible widget hacks. You simply drag an icon to the bottom right corner, and it stays there.

Icon Tinting and Dark Mode

Apple has also introduced aggressive theming options for app icons.

  • Dark Mode Icons: When you switch your phone to Dark Mode, your app icons now automatically shift to a darker, sleeker variant. This applies to built-in Apple apps and third-party apps that have updated their assets.
  • Color Tinting: This is the most radical visual change. You can now apply a universal color tint to every icon on your screen. If you want a minimal monochrome setup or a neon red aesthetic to match your wallpaper, hold down on the Home Screen, select Edit, and choose Tinted. You can use color sliders to dial in the exact shade and saturation.

2. The Control Center Overhaul

The Control Center has been a static sheet of buttons for years, but iOS 18 turns it into a multi-page, fully customizable hub.

When you swipe down from the top right, you are no longer limited to a single page. You can continuously swipe down to access dedicated screens for media playback, HomeKit smart home controls, and connectivity settings.

Resize and Rearrange

The most “Android-like” feature here is the ability to resize controls. You can turn a small button into a large, horizontal bar for easier access. To test this:

  1. Open Control Center.
  2. Long press on the background.
  3. Grab the rounded handle on the corner of a control (like the flashlight or music player) to stretch it.

Developers can now create third-party controls as well. For example, if you use a Ford vehicle app or a specific to-do list, you will eventually be able to add buttons for those directly into this menu via the new Controls Gallery.

3. Locking and Hiding Apps

Privacy is the second major pillar of the iOS 18 Public Beta. Apple has introduced a native way to lock individual apps behind FaceID (or TouchID) and passcodes.

Previously, you had to rely on “Screen Time” hacks to limit access to apps. Now, it is built into the OS.

  • How to Lock: Long press on an app icon (like Photos or Venmo) and tap Require FaceID. Now, even if your phone is unlocked and you hand it to someone, they cannot open that specific app without your face scanning again.

The Hidden Folder

Apple takes this a step further with “Hidden Apps.” When you choose to hide an app, it disappears from your Home Screen and search results completely. It moves to a new “Hidden” folder within the App Library (the last page of your Home Screen).

Crucially, this folder is also locked behind FaceID. Furthermore, hiding an app suppresses its notifications. You will not receive pop-ups or sounds from a hidden app, ensuring total privacy.

4. The New Passwords App

For years, Apple buried password management deep inside the Settings menu under “iCloud Keychain.” In iOS 18, this database has been liberated into a standalone app simply called Passwords.

This app is designed to compete directly with services like 1Password or LastPass. It automatically categorizes your credentials into logical sections:

  • Passkeys: For modern, password-less logins.
  • Wi-Fi: A list of every Wi-Fi network you have saved (making it easy to view and share the password).
  • Security Alerts: Warnings about compromised or reused passwords.

The app syncs across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and even Windows (via the iCloud for Windows app), making it a viable option for users who don’t want to pay for a third-party manager.

5. Messages: Formatting and Scheduling

The Messages app receives several quality-of-life updates that catch it up to competitors like Telegram and WhatsApp.

Send Later

You can finally schedule a text message. If you remember something late at night but don’t want to disturb the recipient, you can draft the message and set it to send at 9:00 AM the next morning. Tap the + button next to the text field and select Send Later to access the scrolling time wheel.

Text Effects and Formatting

You are no longer limited to plain text. You can now use standard formatting like bold, italics, underline, and strikethrough.

Apple also added animated text effects. You can make your words ripple, shake, bloom, or jitter. Unlike the full-screen effects of the past (like lasers or fireworks), these effects apply to specific words within the sentence.

RCS Support

While less visual, this is technically significant. iOS 18 includes support for RCS (Rich Communication Services). When you text Android users, you will still see green bubbles, but you will now get:

  • High-resolution photos and videos.
  • Typing indicators.
  • Read receipts.
  • The ability to text over Wi-Fi.

A Note on the Photos Redesign

While testing the beta, you will notice the Photos app looks completely different. Apple has removed the bottom tab bar entirely.

The app is now a single, unified view. Your library grid is at the top, and “Collections” are below it. You browse by scrolling down rather than tapping tabs. This uses on-device intelligence to group photos by “Recent Days,” “Trips,” and “People & Pets.” It allows you to pin your favorite collections for quick access. It is a controversial change for muscle memory, but it offers much faster access to specific memories once you adjust.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the iOS 18 Public Beta stable? Generally, public betas are more stable than developer betas, but bugs are expected. You may experience shorter battery life or occasional app crashes. It is recommended to install this on a secondary device if possible, or perform a full iCloud backup before updating.

Will my banking apps work on the beta? This is hit or miss. Many banking and security apps block access if they detect beta software because they cannot verify the security integrity of the unreleased OS. If you rely heavily on a specific banking app, check forums like Reddit to see if others are having issues with it on iOS 18.

Does iOS 18 include the new Apple Intelligence features? Not yet. The initial iOS 18 Public Beta focuses on the UI changes and core app updates mentioned above. The AI features, such as the revamped Siri and Genmoji, are expected to roll out in later beta updates or potentially not until the full release in the fall.

How do I install the Public Beta? Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap on Beta Updates and select iOS 18 Public Beta. If you do not see the option, you may need to sign in with your Apple ID at the official Apple Beta Software Program website to register your account first.