iOS 26

iOS 18

Select version:

Modifying this control will update this page automatically

Table of Contents

Welcome
- Setup basics
- Make your iPhone your own
- Take great photos and videos
- Keep in touch with friends and family
- Share features with your family
- Use iPhone for your daily routines
- Expert advice from Apple Support
What’s new in iOS 18
- Turn on and set up iPhone
- Wake, unlock, and lock
- Set up cellular service
- Use Dual SIM
- Connect to the internet
- Find settings
- Set up mail, contacts, and calendar accounts
- Learn the meaning of the status icons
- Read and bookmark the user guide
- - Learn basic gestures
  - Learn gestures for iPhone models with Face ID
- Adjust the volume
- Turn the iPhone flashlight on or off
- Silence iPhone
- Multitask with Picture in Picture
- Access features from the Lock Screen
- Use the Dynamic Island
- Perform quick actions
- Search on iPhone
- Get information about your iPhone
- Manage storage on iPhone
- View or change cellular data settings
- Travel with iPhone
- Change sounds and vibrations
- Use and customize the Action button
- Create a custom Lock Screen
- Change the wallpaper
- Use and customize Control Center
- Adjust the screen brightness and color balance
- Keep the iPhone display on longer
- Use StandBy
- Customize the text size and zoom setting
- Change the name of your iPhone
- Change the date and time
- Change the language and region
- Change the default apps
- Change your default search engine
- Rotate your iPhone screen
- Customize sharing options
- Add or change keyboards
- Add emoji, Memoji, and stickers
- Take a screenshot
- Take a screen recording
- - Write and draw in documents
  - Add text, shapes, stickers, and more
- Fill out forms, sign documents, and create signatures
- Interact with content in a photo or video
- Identify objects in your photos and videos
- Lift a subject from the photo background
- Use the Camera Control
- Use the Camera Control to open another app
- Adjust the shutter volume
- Adjust HDR camera settings
- Record videos
- Take spatial photos and record spatial videos for Apple Vision Pro
- Change sound recording options
- Record ProRes videos
- Record videos in Cinematic mode
- Change video recording settings
- Save camera settings
- Customize the Main and Fusion camera lens
- Change advanced camera settings
- View, share, and print photos
- Use Live Text
- Scan a QR code
- - Get apps
  - Use App Clips
  - Update apps
  - View or cancel subscriptions
  - Manage purchases, settings, and restrictions
  - Install and manage fonts
- - Buy books and audiobooks
  - Read books
  - Annotate books
  - Access books on other Apple devices
  - Listen to audiobooks
  - Set reading goals
  - Organize books
  - Read PDFs
- - Use the basic calculator
  - Use the scientific calculator
  - Solve math with Math Notes
  - Work with graphs in Math Notes
  - Convert units or currency
  - See previous calculations
- - Create and edit events in Calendar
  - Send invitations
  - Reply to invitations
  - Change how you view events
  - Search for events
  - Change Calendar settings
  - Schedule or display events in a different time zone
  - Keep track of events
  - Use multiple calendars
  - Use reminders
  - Use the Holidays calendar
  - Share iCloud calendars
- - Set an alarm
  - Change your wake up alarm
  - Use the stopwatch
  - Set timers
  - See the world clock
- Compass
- - Add and use contact information
  - Edit contacts
  - Add your contact info
  - Add or remove accounts
  - Use NameDrop on iPhone to share your contact info
  - Use contacts from the Phone app
  - Merge or hide duplicate contacts
  - Sync contacts across devices
  - Import contacts
  - Export contacts
- - Get started with FaceTime
  - - Make FaceTime calls
    - Receive FaceTime calls
  - Create a FaceTime link
  - Take a Live Photo
  - Record and transcribe an audio call
  - Turn on Live Captions in a FaceTime call
  - Use other apps during a call
  - Make a Group FaceTime call
  - View participants in a grid
  - Use SharePlay to watch, listen, and play together
  - Share your screen in a FaceTime call
  - Request or give remote control in a FaceTime call
  - Collaborate on a document in FaceTime
  - Use video conferencing features
  - Hand off a FaceTime call to another Apple device
  - Change the FaceTime video settings
  - Change the FaceTime audio settings
  - Change your appearance
  - Leave a call or switch to Messages
  - Block and silence FaceTime calls from unknown callers
  - Report a call as spam
- - Files basics
  - Modify files and folders
  - Find files and folders
  - Organize files and folders
  - Send files from the Files app
  - Set up iCloud Drive
  - Share files and folders in iCloud Drive
  - Transfer files from iPhone to a storage device, a server, or the cloud
- - Adjust map settings
  - Turn off Find My
- - Get started with Fitness
  - See your activity summary
  - Adjust your Activity ring goals
  - Sync a third-party workout app
  - Change fitness notifications
  - Share your activity
- - Get started with Freeform
  - Create a Freeform board
  - Draw or handwrite
  - Solve handwritten math problems
  - Add text in sticky notes, shapes, and text boxes
  - Add shapes, lines, and arrows
  - Add diagrams
  - Add photos, videos, and other files
  - Apply consistent styles
  - Position items on a board
  - Navigate and present scenes
  - Send a copy or PDF
  - Print a board
  - Share boards and collaborate
  - Search Freeform boards
  - Delete and recover boards
  - Change Freeform settings
- - Get started with Health
  - Fill out your Health Details
  - - Download health records
    - View health records
  - Monitor your walking steadiness
  - - Track your medications
    - Learn more about your medications
  - - Log your state of mind
    - Take a mental health assessment
  - - Check your headphone audio levels
    - Use hearing health features
  - Register as an organ donor
  - Back up your Health data
- - Intro to Home
  - Upgrade to the new version of Apple Home
  - Set up accessories
  - Control accessories
  - Control your home using Siri
  - Use Grid Forecast to plan your energy usage
  - View electricity usage and rates
  - Set up HomePod
  - Control your home remotely
  - Create and use scenes
  - Use automations
  - Set up security cameras
  - Use Face Recognition
  - Unlock your door with a home key on iPhone or Apple Watch
  - Configure a router
  - Invite others to control accessories
  - Add more homes
- - Get music, movies, and TV shows
  - Get ringtones
  - Manage purchases and settings
- - Get started with Journal
  - Write in your journal
  - Add formatting, photos, and more
  - Journal for your wellbeing
  - Build a journaling habit
  - View and search journal entries
  - Print and export entries
  - Change Journal settings
- - Use iPhone like a magnifying glass
  - Customize controls
- - - Add and remove email accounts
    - Set up a custom email domain
  - Check your email
  - Use categories
  - Set email notifications
  - Search for email
  - Organize email in mailboxes
  - - Flag or block emails
    - Filter emails
  - - Use Hide My Email
    - Use Mail Privacy Protection
  - Change Mail settings
  - Delete and recover emails
  - Add a Mail widget to your Home Screen
  - Print emails
- - Get started with Maps
  - Set your location and map view
  - Clear location history
  - Delete recent directions
  - Report an issue with Maps
- - Measure dimensions
  - View and save measurements
  - Measure a person’s height
  - Use the level
- - Set up Messages
  - About iMessage
  - Send and reply to messages
  - Text via satellite
  - Schedule a text message to send later
  - Unsend and edit messages
  - Keep track of messages
  - Search
  - Forward and share messages
  - Group conversations
  - Share screens
  - Collaborate on projects
  - Use iMessage apps
  - Take and edit photos or videos
  - Share photos, links, and more
  - Send stickers
  - Create and send Memoji
  - React with Tapbacks
  - Style and animate messages
  - Draw and handwrite messages
  - Send and save GIFs
  - Request, send, and receive payments
  - Send and receive audio messages
  - Share your location
  - Turn read receipts on or off
  - Change notifications
  - Block, filter, and report messages
  - Delete messages and attachments
  - Recover deleted messages
- - Get music
- - Get started with News
  - Get News notifications and newsletters
  - Use News widgets
  - See news stories chosen just for you
  - Read and share stories
  - Follow your favorite teams with My Sports
  - Listen to Apple News Today
  - Search for channels, topics, stories, or recipes
  - Save stories in News
  - Clear your reading history in News
  - Subscribe to individual news channels
- - Get started with Notes
  - Create and format notes
  - Use Quick Notes
  - Add drawings and handwriting
  - Enter formulas and equations
  - Add photos, video, and more
  - Record and transcribe audio
  - Scan text and documents
  - Work with PDFs
  - Add links
  - Search notes
  - Organize in folders
  - Organize with tags
  - Use Smart Folders
  - Share and collaborate
  - Export or print notes
  - Lock notes
  - Add or remove accounts
  - Change the Notes view
  - Change Notes settings
- - Use passwords
  - Find your password for a website or app
  - Change the password for a website or app
  - Remove a password
  - Recover a deleted password
  - Create a password for a website or app
  - Show passwords in large text
  - Use passkeys to sign in to websites and apps
  - Sign in with Apple
  - Share passwords
  - Automatically fill in strong passwords
  - See websites excluded from AutoFill
  - Change weak or compromised passwords
  - View your passwords and related information
  - Find and share your Wi-Fi password
  - Share passwords securely with AirDrop
  - Make your passwords available on all your devices
  - Automatically fill in verification codes
  - Automatically fill in SMS passcodes
  - Sign in with fewer CAPTCHA challenges
  - Use two-factor authentication
  - Use security keys
  - - Import passwords
    - Export passwords
- - Make a call
  - Record and transcribe a call
  - Change your Phone settings
  - View and delete the call history
  - Answer or decline incoming calls
  - While on a call
  - Have a conference or three-way call
  - Set up voicemail
  - Check voicemail
  - Change voicemail greeting and settings
  - Select ringtones and vibrations
  - Make calls using Wi-Fi
  - Set up call forwarding
  - Set up call waiting
  - Block or avoid unwanted calls
- - Get started with Photos
  - View photos and videos
  - See photo and video information
  - Customize the Photos app
  - Filter and sort the photo library
  - Back up and sync your photos with iCloud
  - Delete or hide photos and videos
  - Search for photos and videos
  - Get wallpaper suggestions
  - Make stickers from your photos
  - Duplicate and copy photos and videos
  - Merge duplicate photos and videos
  - Import and export photos and videos
  - Print photos
- - Find podcasts
  - Listen to podcasts
  - View podcast transcripts
  - Follow your favorite podcasts
  - Use the Podcasts widget
  - Select your favorite Podcasts categories and channels
  - Organize your podcast library
  - Download, save, remove, and share podcasts
  - Subscribe to podcasts
  - Listen to subscriber-only content
  - Change download settings
- - Get started with Reminders
  - Set reminders
  - Make a grocery list
  - Add details
  - Complete and remove items
  - Edit and organize a list
  - Search your lists
  - Organize multiple lists
  - Tag items
  - Use Smart Lists
  - Share and collaborate
  - Print a list
  - Work with templates
  - Add or remove accounts
  - Change Reminders settings
- - Browse the web
  - Search for websites
  - See highlights
  - Customize your Safari settings
  - Change the layout
  - Create multiple Safari profiles
  - - Open and close tabs
    - Organize your tabs with Tab Groups
    - View your tabs from another Apple device
    - Share Tab Groups
  - Use Siri to listen to a webpage
  - Bookmark a website
  - Save pages to a Reading List
  - Find links shared with you
  - Download a PDF
  - Annotate and save a webpage as a PDF
  - Automatically fill in forms
  - Get extensions
  - - Hide distractions when browsing
    - Hide distractions when reading
    - Block pop-ups
  - Clear your cache and cookies
  - Enable cookies
  - - Hide recent searches
    - Browse the web privately
    - Sign in with passkeys in Safari
    - Use Hide My Email
    - Get HTTP website warnings
    - Digital certificates and encrypted websites
    - Verify website encryption
  - - Import browser data into Safari
    - Export Safari data to another browser
- Shortcuts
- - Check stocks
  - Manage multiple watchlists
  - Read or listen to business news
  - Add earnings reports to your calendar
  - Use a Stocks widget
- Tips
- - Translate text, voice, and conversations
  - Translate text in apps
  - Translate with the camera view
- - Subscribe to Apple TV+, MLS Season Pass, or a channel
  - Start watching and control playback
  - Find shows, movies, and more
  - Personalize the Home tab
  - Buy, rent, or pre-order items
  - Manage your library
  - Add your TV provider
  - Change the settings
- - Make a recording
  - View a transcription
  - Play it back
  - Add a second layer to a recording
  - Export a recording to Files
  - Edit or delete a recording
  - Keep recordings up to date
  - Organize recordings
  - Search for or rename a recording
  - Share a recording
  - Duplicate a recording
- - About Apple Wallet
  - Set up Apple Pay
  - Use Apple Pay for contactless payments
  - Use Apple Pay in apps and on the web
  - Use Apple Cash
  - Use Apple Card
  - Use passes, loyalty cards, tickets, and more
  - Check your Apple Account balance
  - Organize your Wallet
  - Remove payment cards
  - Change Wallet & Apple Pay settings
- - Check the weather
  - Check the weather in other locations
  - View weather maps
  - Manage weather notifications
  - Use Weather widgets
  - Learn the weather icons
- Use Siri
- Find out what Siri can do
- Tell Siri about yourself
- Have Siri announce calls and notifications
- Add Siri Shortcuts
- About Siri Suggestions
- Use Siri in your car
- Change Siri settings
- Intro to Apple Intelligence
- Find the right words with Writing Tools
- Create original images with Image Playground
- Create your own emoji with Genmoji
- Use Image Wand with Apple Intelligence
- Use Apple Intelligence with Siri
- Use visual intelligence
- Summarize notifications and reduce interruptions
- Use ChatGPT with Apple Intelligence
- Apple Intelligence and privacy
- Block access to Apple Intelligence features
- Contact emergency services
- Set up and view your Medical ID
- Use Emergency SOS via satellite
- Request Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Use Check In
- Manage Crash Detection
- Reset privacy and security settings in an emergency
- Set up Family Sharing
- Add Family Sharing members
- Remove Family Sharing members
- Share subscriptions
- Share purchases
- Share locations with family and locate lost devices
- Set up Apple Cash Family and Apple Card Family
- Set up parental controls
- Set up a child’s device
- Get started with Screen Time
- Protect your vision health with Screen Distance
- Create, manage, and keep track of a Screen Time passcode
- Set schedules with Screen Time
- Block apps, app downloads, websites, and purchases
- Block calls and messages with Screen Time
- Check for sensitive images and videos
- Set up Screen Time for a family member
- Charging cable
- Power adapters
- MagSafe chargers and battery packs
- Qi-certified wireless chargers
- - Use AirPods
  - Use EarPods
- Apple Watch
- - Wirelessly stream videos and photos to Apple TV or a smart TV
  - Connect to a display with a cable
- HomePod and other wireless speakers
- External storage devices
- Connect Bluetooth accessories
- Play audio from your iPhone on a Bluetooth accessory
- Printers
- Intro to Continuity
- Use AirDrop to send items to nearby devices
- Hand off tasks between devices
- Control your iPhone from your Mac
- Copy and paste between devices
- Stream video and audio from your iPhone
- Allow phone calls and text messages on your iPad and Mac
- Share your internet connection
- Use iPhone as a webcam
- Insert sketches, photos, and scans on Mac
- Start SharePlay instantly
- Connect iPhone and your computer with a cable
- Transfer files between devices
- Intro to CarPlay
- Connect to CarPlay
- Use Siri
- Use your vehicle’s built-in controls
- Get turn-by-turn directions
- Report traffic incidents
- Change the map view
- Make phone calls
- Play music
- View your calendar
- Send and receive text messages
- Announce incoming text messages
- Play podcasts
- Play audiobooks
- Listen to news stories
- Control your home
- Use other apps with CarPlay
- Rearrange icons on CarPlay Home
- Change settings in CarPlay
- Get started with accessibility features
- Use accessibility features during setup
- Change Siri accessibility settings
- Quickly turn accessibility features on or off
- - Overview of cognitive accessibility features
  - Lock iPhone to one app
- Control what you share
- Turn on Lock Screen features
- Keep your Apple Account secure
- Create and manage Hide My Email addresses
- Protect your web browsing with iCloud Private Relay
- Use a private network address
- Use Advanced Data Protection
- Use Lockdown Mode
- Use Stolen Device Protection
- Receive warnings about sensitive content
- Use Contact Key Verification
- Turn iPhone on or off
- Force restart iPhone
- Update iOS
- Back up iPhone
- Reset iPhone settings
- Erase iPhone
- Restore all content from a backup
- Restore purchased and deleted items
- Sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone
- Install or remove configuration profiles
- Important safety information
- Important handling information
- Find more resources for software and service
- FCC compliance statement
- ISED Canada compliance statement
- Ultra Wideband information
- Class 1 Laser information
- Apple and the environment
- Disposal and recycling information
- Unauthorized modification of iOS
Copyright and trademarks

Change the default apps on iPhone

With iOS 18.2 or later, you can select alternative, third-party apps—for email, messaging, calling, call filtering, web browsing, passwords, or keyboards—as defaults to launch instead of the built-in Apple apps. Make sure the app you want to switch to supports this feature. If you aren’t sure, contact the app developer.

Change your default apps

Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps.
Tap any of the following:
- Email: To change the default app for sending and receiving email.
- Messaging: To change the default app for sending and receiving messages.
- Calling: To change the default app for making and receiving calls.
- Call Filtering: To turn on or off call blocking and identification options. (See Turn on Call Identification).
- Browser App: To change the default app to open links on the web.
- Passwords & Codes: This section allows you to turn on or off AutoFill Passwords and Passkeys for apps and websites, and password, passkey, and code-generation and verification apps.
- Keyboards: To add or delete keyboards and third-party keyboard apps.
Select the app you want to use as the default.

See alsoApple Support Article: Change your default apps for features on iPhone and iPad

Helpful?