iOS 18.2 Features: Everything New in iOS 18.2

iOS 18.2 is the second major update to iOS 18, and it brings the first Apple Intelligence image generation features, ChatGPT integration with Siri, and plenty more changes and bug fixes.

Everything New in iOS 18
This guide highlights everything that's new in iOS 18.2.

Apple Intelligence

There are several new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features in iOS 18.2, including Image Playground and Genmoji. It's a more fun update than iOS 18.1 thanks to the image generation features.

  • Image Playground - There's an ‌Image Playground‌ app and Messages integration for creating stylized images based on prompts and images of you and your friends.
  • Image Wand - Image Wand is for adding images to what you've written in the Notes app. On iPad, you can use the Apple Pencil to make a rough sketch and have ‌Image Wand‌ turn it into something nicer.
  • Genmoji - With ‌Genmoji‌, you can create custom emoji. It's similar to ‌Image Playground‌, but on a smaller emoji-sized scale. People that have iOS 18.1 installed will see ‌Genmoji‌ and can even get information about them, but they can only be created in iOS 18.2. In earlier versions of iOS and on Android devices, they show up as an image.
  • Siri ChatGPT - ‌Siri‌ can now hand over requests to ChatGPT, a feature that's entirely opt-in. You don't need an account, and anything you ask ‌Siri‌ can be sent to ChatGPT if you want. ChatGPT has more advanced info than ‌Siri‌ and can also generate images and text. If you want to make it simpler to turn requests over to ChatGPT, you can toggle off the Ask Every Time setting so ‌Siri‌ doesn't always need your permission to contact ChatGPT. ‌Siri‌ with ChatGPT integration supports on-screen responses, so you can do things like ask "what's in this photo?" when you're looking at an image.
  • Visual Intelligence - On iPhone 16, Visual Intelligence can be used to identify objects and places around you. Long press the Camera Control button to get to ‌Visual Intelligence‌, and then point your iPhone at something. You can get hours and reviews if the camera is looking at a restaurant, copy text, get text read aloud, search for items on Google, ask ChatGPT questions about objects, and more.
  • Writing Tools - The Rewrite Writing Tools feature is no longer limited to three styles. You can describe the tone or content that you want, such as adding more dynamic words or turning an email into a poem.
  • Languages - With iOS 18.2, ‌Apple Intelligence‌ supports English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK in addition to U.S. English, so if you're in Canada, you no longer have to set your ‌iPhone‌ to U.S. English to use ‌Apple Intelligence‌.

We have a much more in-depth Apple Intelligence guide that goes over all of the available features, which is well worth checking out. We also have individual guides on the new additions in iOS 18.2.

Camera Control

For ‌iPhone 16‌ users, there's now an option lock your auto exposure and auto focus settings with a light press. The AE/AF Lock toggle can be turned on by going to Settings > Camera > Camera Control.

ios 18 2 ae af lock camera controlios 18 2 ae af lock camera control
There is also an option to adjust the double click speed of Camera Control. Options include Default, Slow, and Slower. The adjustment options join prior options to tweak the double light press speed and the light press force.

As mentioned above, Camera Control now supports ‌Visual Intelligence‌.

The update also adds a new setting for the Camera Control button. In the Settings app under Display & Brightness, there is now a toggle for "Require Screen On." When this setting is turned on, you can only launch the Camera app or a supported third-party camera app with the Camera Control button when the ‌iPhone‌'s screen is turned on.

iOS 18 2 Beta 3 Camera Control Screen On SettingiOS 18 2 Beta 3 Camera Control Screen On Setting

Mail App Categorization

In the Mail app, there are new built-in categories for separating out important emails, deals, newsletters, transaction emails, and more.

iOS 18 Mail CategorizationiOS 18 Mail Categorization
The Mail app includes bigger pictures for contacts and businesses, and all emails from a single person or source will be pooled together.

You can swap between categories (the new option) and List View (the non-categorization standard view) by tapping on the three dots in the upper right corner of the app. In the Mail section of the Settings app, you may need to go to Notifications > Customize Notifications > and toggle on All Unread Messages if you're using list view, because the other setting only shows you unread messages categorized as "Primary," which can be confusing.

Tweaked Video Player and More in Photos App

Apple added a tweaked video player that takes up more of the screen in iOS 18.2. This change eliminates the thick borders around videos that appear on earlier ‌iOS 18‌ versions, meaning you no longer have to tap on a video for full-screen playback.

ios 18 2 video playerios 18 2 video player

It's now possible to scrub through a video frame-by-frame, plus there is a setting to turn off auto-looping video playback in the Photos section of the Settings app.

When using the Collections views in the ‌Photos‌ app, you can swipe right to go back to the previous view, plus the Favorites album now appears in the Utilities collection along with the Pinned Collections section.

You're also now able to clear Recently Viewed and Recently Shared album history.

Safari

In the Safari section of the Settings app, there's a new "Not Secure Connection Warning" toggle that lets you know if you're visiting a website that does not have a valid SSL certificate for an encrypted connection. It is not advised to send passwords or other sensitive data on a site that pops up a "Not Secure" warning.

safari ios 18 2 not secure warningsafari ios 18 2 not secure warning
Apple's "Not Secure Connection Warning" toggle is not turned on by default. Apple says that HTTPS Priority will upgrade URLs to HTTPS whenever possible.

The Settings app has a new section for managing website data and history, with options for Clear History and Website Data. The Website Data section includes options for exporting data from Safari and importing data from another app into Safari.

ios 18 2 safari dataios 18 2 safari data

Apple added new background images for customizing the Safari start page.

Safari Downloads

The progress of Safari downloads can now be tracked on the ‌iPhone‌'s Lock Screen and Dynamic Island.

iOS 18iOS 18

Voice Memos

With Voice Memos, two tracks can be layered on top of one another. There's also an option to separate layers and edit layer mixes.

ios 18 2 layered voice memosios 18 2 layered voice memos

Two-track projects can be imported directly into Logic Pro on the iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max.

Find My

Find My has a new option to Share Item Location with an "airline or trusted person" that can help you locate something that you've misplaced. Choosing the Share Item Location option creates a link that lets someone view the location of a lost item when they open the link.

ios 18 2 share item locationios 18 2 share item location
The link can be opened on a non-Apple device, so an ‌iPhone‌ or Mac is not required to provide someone with your item's location. Links expire after a week or when you're reunited with your lost item.

There's also an option to Show Contact Info, which lets any phone or tablet connect to an item to view a website with more information about it, including the phone number and email address of the owner.

Apple Music

Apple Music now supports natural language search. You can search for genres, moods, activity, decades, and more. Examples include "songs about cats," "songs with a vibe," "relaxing songs," "artists similar to Taylor Swift," "sad 80s songs," and "songs about food."

ios 18 2 natural language searchios 18 2 natural language search

‌Apple Music‌ now displays the disc number in some albums.

Apple TV

In the Apple TV app, you can also use casual language search terms to find exactly what you're looking for, typing in genres, actors, and moods. Searches like "movies about natural disasters," "movies with cats," "movies with Zendaya," and "exhilarating movies" all bring up relevant results.

The navigation bar in the TV app can be customized, with options to add different apps and Library categories. Existing options like MLS and ‌Apple TV‌+ cannot be removed.

ios 18 2 tv app edit navigation barios 18 2 tv app edit navigation bar

Podcasts

You can favorite categories in the Podcasts app in iOS 18.2, and see categories in the library for a new way to navigate through shows and episodes.

A new personalized search page in Podcasts suggests the most relevant categories and editorially curated collections tailored to your listening preferences.

Apple News+

For Apple News+ subscribers in the United States, iOS 18.2 adds daily sudoku puzzles. The sudoku puzzles join existing the Crossword, Crossword Mini, and Quartiles offerings. There are three difficulty levels to complete each day, including easy, moderate, and challenging.

Sudoku Apple News iOS 18Sudoku Apple News iOS 18

Stocks

In the Stocks app, there are now pre-market price quotes for tracking NASDAQ and NYSE tickers prior to when the market opens.

AirPods Pro Hearing Test and Hearing Aid Expansion

The AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Test feature is now available in Cyprus, Czechia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and the UK.

The Hearing Aid feature is available in the United Arab Emirates.

Apple Arcade

In the Apple Arcade section of the App Store, the "All Games" section has a new drop down filter menu and the option to turn off game previews.

ios 18 2 apple arcade categoriesios 18 2 apple arcade categories

EU App Changes

In the European Union, users can now delete core apps that include the ‌App Store‌, Safari, Messages, Camera, and ‌Photos‌.

ios 18 2 delete apps euios 18 2 delete apps eu
Third-party browser apps in the EU will be able to create web apps for the ‌iPhone‌'s Home screen using their own custom engines when iOS 18.2 launches.

iPadOS 18.2 requires selecting a Default Browser when opening Safari. This is a Digital Markets Act requirement, with Apple adding an updated interface that will let users select a default web browser of their choice from a list of options.

Apple already implemented this change in ‌iOS 18‌.

Default Apps Section

In the Settings app under "Apps," there's a new "Default Apps" section that can be used to manage your default apps for the ‌iPhone‌.

ios 18 2 default appsios 18 2 default apps
There are Default App settings for Email, Messaging, Calling, Call Filtering, Browser App, Passwords and Codes, and Keyboards. In the U.S. and other countries, you can use this section to choose your preferred Email, Call Filtering, Browser, and Passwords, and Keyboard apps. In the EU, there are more options for choosing non-Apple calling and messaging apps.

Volume Limit

In the Sound and Haptics section of the Settings app, there's a new Volume Limit option with a "Limit Maximum Volume" toggle to control how loudly the ‌iPhone‌ speaker can play audio like songs, movies, and other media.

maximum volume limit ios 18 2maximum volume limit ios 18 2
It does not impact phone calls, FaceTime calls, alarms, and other sounds.

Control Center

In Control Center, there's a new quick access option for Type to ‌Siri‌. Apple has also removed the Satellite control from the Connectivity section, and changed the icon for Adaptive Audio.

siri control center ios 18 2siri control center ios 18 2

ios 18 2 camera control speedios 18 2 camera control speed
Adjusting Camera Control can be done by opening Settings and going to Accessibility > Camera Button.

Settings App Icons

In Dark Mode, the icons in the Settings app have a new, darker look that shows color on a black background rather than icons that are a solid color with white accents.

ios 18 2 dark mode settingsios 18 2 dark mode settings

iPhone Mirroring With Hotspot

iOS 18.2 allows you to use ‌iPhone‌ Mirroring while your ‌iPhone‌'s hotspot connection is being shared with your Mac. Having your Mac connected through Personal Hotspot previously did not allow you to use ‌iPhone‌ Mirroring.

Fitness Shortcut Actions

There are new Fitness app Shortcut actions that you can use when creating a Shortcut, including Open Fitness Settings, Open Award, Open Session History, and Open Trophy Case.

ios 18 2 fitness shortcutsios 18 2 fitness shortcuts

Lock Screen Volume Slider

In iOS 18.2, there's a new option to force the volume control bar to always be visible on the Lock Screen when adjusting sound.

The feature can be enabled in the Accessibility section of the Settings app. Accessibility > Audio and Visual > Always Show Volume Control.

Vehicle Motion Cues

There's an option see Vehicle Motion Cues in the ‌Dynamic Island‌ when the feature is activated. Vehicle Motion Cues are designed to cut down on motion sickness while riding in a vehicle.

Mac Connection

When connecting to a Mac or PC, you can use Face ID to trust a device.

iMessage Reporting

Children in Australia have access to a tool to report iMessages that contain nude photos and videos. Reported images will be reviewed by Apple, and actions could be taken such as disabling the sender's Apple Account or reporting the incident to law enforcement.

iOS 18 2 Communication Safety Report FeatureiOS 18 2 Communication Safety Report Feature
The feature will expand globally in the future.

Music Recognition

In iOS 18.2, the Music Recognition feature in the Control Center has a Musical Memories feature that shows you where you were when you identified a song. You will need to long press on the Music Recognition toggle in Control Center, tap on History, and then allow location access to use the feature.

AirDrop

The AirDrop icon in the share sheet now appears dark in ‌Dark Mode‌, rather than staying white.

Web Restrictions in Utah

Utah residents under the age of 17 will be opted in to web content restrictions that block adult content in iOS 18.2. This is required by Utah law.

Bug Fixes

There are fixes for a couple of notable bugs in iOS 18.2. The update addresses an issue that could cause captured photos to not immediately appear in the All ‌Photos‌ grid.

It also fixes a bug that could cause Night mode photos to appear degraded when capturing long exposures, a problem that impacted the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max.

Security Updates

iOS 18.2 addresses multiple security vulnerabilities, which means it's a good idea to update as soon as you can.

A full list of the vulnerabilities fixed can be found on Apple's website, but it includes updates for the kernel, Passwords, Safari, WebKit, VoiceOver, and more.

Read More

For more detail on the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features in iOS 18.2, we have a dedicated guide. Our ‌iOS 18‌ roundup has a list of all of the features in iOS 18 if you want a recap.

Popular Stories

New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18

20 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.2

Monday December 16, 2024 8:55 am PST by
Apple released iOS 18.2 in the second week of December, bringing the second round of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update brings several major advancements to Apple's AI integration, including completely new image generation tools and a range of Visual Intelligence-based enhancements. Apple has added a handful of new non-AI related feature controls as...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 2 ReduxiPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 2 Redux

Top 5 Apple Products to Look Forward to in 2025

Friday December 20, 2024 2:22 pm PST by
It's looking like 2025 is going to be an important year for Apple, with the company planning to revamp the iPhone, push further into smart home products, and improve Apple Intelligence. There are tons of new products rumored for 2025, including new iPhones, M4 Macs, a smart home command center, and much more. We've highlighted the top five Apple products that will have the biggest impact in...
iphone 16 apple intelligenceiphone 16 apple intelligence

Apple Drops Plans for iPhone Hardware Subscription Service

Wednesday December 18, 2024 11:39 am PST by
Apple is no longer planning to launch a hardware subscription service that would let customers "subscribe" to get a new iPhone each year, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman first shared rumors about Apple's work on a hardware subscription service back in 2022, and at the time, he said that Apple wanted to develop a simple system that would allow customers to pay a monthly fee to gain...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real MockGeneric iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

iOS 18.2.1 Update Coming Soon for iPhone

Saturday December 21, 2024 4:45 pm PST by
Apple appears to be internally testing iOS 18.2.1 for the iPhone, based on evidence of the software update in our website's analytic logs this week. The logs have accurately revealed many iOS versions before they were released. iOS 18.2.1 should be a minor update that fixes bugs and/or addresses security vulnerabilities, but it is unclear which specific issues might be resolved. The update...
mac pro creativitymac pro creativity

Apple Launched the Controversial 'Trashcan' Mac Pro 11 Years Ago Today

Thursday December 19, 2024 7:00 pm PST by
Apple launched the controversial "trashcan" Mac Pro eleven years ago today, introducing one of its most criticized designs that persisted through a period of widespread discontentment with the Mac lineup. The redesign took the Mac Pro in an entirely new direction, spearheaded by a polished aluminum cylindrical design that became unofficially dubbed the "trashcan" in the Mac community. All of ...
blackmagic vision problackmagic vision pro

Blackmagic Debuts $30K 3D Camera for Capturing Video for Vision Pro

Monday December 16, 2024 4:17 pm PST by
Blackmagic today announced that its URSA Cine Immersive camera is now available for pre-order, with deliveries set to start late in the first quarter of 2025. Blackmagic says that this is the world's first commercial camera system designed to capture 3D content for the Vision Pro. The URSA Cine Immersive camera was first introduced in June, but it has not been available for purchase until...
apple tv 4k yellow bg featureapple tv 4k yellow bg feature

New Apple TV Rumored to Launch Next Year With These Features

Tuesday December 17, 2024 9:02 am PST by
The current Apple TV 4K was released more than two years ago, so the streaming device is becoming due for a hardware upgrade soon. Fortunately, it was recently rumored that a new Apple TV will launch at some point next year. Below, we recap rumors about the next-generation Apple TV. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman last week reported that Apple has been working on its own combined Wi-Fi and...
iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Feature 1iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Rumored to Stick With 'Triangular' Camera Design

Wednesday December 18, 2024 2:36 am PST by
Contrary to recent reports, the iPhone 17 Pro will not feature a horizontal camera layout, according to the leaker known as "Instant Digital." In a new post on Weibo, the leaker said that a source has confirmed that while the appearance of the back of the iPhone 17 Pro has indeed changed, the layout of the three cameras is "still triangular," rather than the "horizontal bar spread on the...

Top Rated Comments

Kar98 Avatar
2 weeks ago
[HEADING=2]Apple Intelligence with ChatGPT integration gets released to the unwashed masses aaaaand they break it[/HEADING]



Attachment Image
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
2 weeks ago

Apple Intelligence is required for Mail app categorization
Not so sure about this, updated my 13PM and it showed me the categorize view right away. As I read the article from this morning I immediately turned it bat to “list view” but at the bottom it said “categorizing”.
But whatever, wish Apple wouldn’t introduce change for change sake changes like this.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coolfactor Avatar
2 weeks ago
Installed and running like a champ.

Same with the MacBook Air M1 running Sequoia 15.2.

Smooth as butter. Zero issues so far.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
magicschoolbus Avatar
2 weeks ago
very nice, looking forward to enjoying these new features!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
miq Avatar
2 weeks ago
Still blows my mind that people who paid full price for an iPhone 15 just a few short months ago won’t be able to utilise any of the Apple Intelligence feature.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
timeislove Avatar
2 weeks ago
No mail categorisation for non AI capable phones?

Even macrumor and 9-5 had been fooled that mail categorisation is one of the non AI features.

Going through 3 upgrades for iOS 18, it got me a feel that Apple is deliberately confusing the customers which new features require AI!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)