Apple’s biggest operating system (OS) update for iPhones, iOS 18, is rolling out starting today, September 16. Apple iOS18 brings a host of new features to iPhones. Unveiled this June at Apple’s annual developer event WWDC 2024, the iOS 18 operating system update introduces new customization options for the user’s iPhone home screen as well as the lock screen, allowing them to not only freely rearrange apps and widgets but also change their appearance. Apple iOS 18 also features a redesigned Control Center and a new password management app.
Other notable new features that iOS18 brings include improved text effects in Messages, a revamped Photos app, and improved organization tools in the Mail app. However, it is important to note that the highly anticipated Apple Intelligence Features like text rewriting and image generation will not be included in the first version of iOS 18. These AI-powered tools will be available in a future update, starting with the iOS 18.1 public beta in October. Apple recently released a massive PDF document listing all of the new iOS 18 features coming over the next few months, with brief descriptions.
In addition to iOS 18, Apple will also release macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11 and visionOS 2 on September 16. macOS Sequoia offers iPhone mirroring, watchOS 11 includes new training features and visionOS 2 introduces an ultra-wide virtual Mac display. There is no official release date for tvOS 18 yet, but it should be released soon.
But before you download iOS 18, make sure your iPhone is ready. Here are some things you shouldn’t miss:
What time does Apple iOS 18 rollout start in India
First things first: Apple has not announced the exact timing of the launch of iOS18. But looking at the last few years, iOS18 will be available for download from around 10:30 p.m. IST. Please note that iOS 18 will likely be pre-installed on the new iPhone 16 models.

Free up space on your iPhone before downloading

Before upgrading to iOS 18, make sure your device has enough storage space. To free up storage: Start by deleting unused apps. Review your installed apps. Delete the ones you no longer use. Press and hold an app’s icon and tap the “X” to delete it, or go to Settings > General > iPhone/iPad Storage and select “Delete App.”
Another must is to check your social media apps like WhatsApp and Instagram. Social media apps can accumulate large amounts of data. Delete and reinstall them to clear cached files and chat history.
Also, don’t forget to optimize your photo storage. Store high-resolution photos in iCloud and keep smaller versions on your device. Enable iOS’s automatic offloading feature for apps you rarely use.

Create a backup of your iPhone

A crucial step before any major system update is to back up your iPhone. This will protect your data in case something goes wrong during the installation process. For additional security, you can use iCloud or a local backup on a Mac or Windows PC.

Fully charge your iPhone and download via Wi-Fi

Once the update is available, connect your device to Wi-Fi. Make sure the connection is not interrupted. Also, make sure your iPhone is fully charged.

Steps to download iOS18

Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for the download. Remember that the initial release of iOS 18 does not include Apple Intelligence features, these will be introduced in a later update.