Summary
- iOS 18 will introduce an app locking system and themed home screen icons, mirroring features already familiar to Android users.
- The app locking system in iOS 18 will simplify securing sensitive data and offer Face ID, Touch ID, or password authentication.
- Dark mode will be extended to home screen apps in iOS 18, aligning with the ability to change app icon colors.
The comparison between Android and iOS is a never-ending debate, with both sides’ fans coming up with their own arguments. Unlike Android, the Apple ecosystem has stood as a closed fortress for many years, and users have little to no access to features such as sideloading. However, a shift is imminent with Apple now compelled to comply with the EU’s DMA rules. This regulatory pressure pushes iOS to grant users more freedom, adopting an approach reminiscent of Android in the EU.
iOS 18 could really be the Android update Apple users have been waiting for
It’s okay to admit where all the good ideas at WWDC are coming from
As we reported earlier, iOS 18 is borrowing app customization features from Android by allowing users to change the app’s placement and icon color. Apple’s 2024 WWDC made things official today, and we expect to get our hands on the first iOS 18 beta shortly after the keynote. After MacRumors reported about rumored features coming in this version, including an app locking system and dark home screen icons, Apple has now made things official with announcements on stage in Cupertino.
A new app-locking system is on the way
The iOS 18 app locking system will allow users to put the built-in iPhone apps behind a security wall, with access only possible via Face ID authentication. It also seems that users might be able to use Touch ID or passwords to lock their apps.
Apple currently allows iPhone users to lock their apps, but the process isn’t as straightforward as it should be and requires creating a shortcut to the app. With Apple’s upcoming app locking system in iOS 18, the process will be much simpler and more intuitive. Users can access a built-in feature for locking sensitive apps such as Messages, Notes, and Photos directly from the app settings. This new feature eliminates the need for creating shortcuts and provides a more secure and user-friendly way to protect your data.
The iOS 18 app locking system works for built-in iPhone apps, though its support for third-party apps downloaded from the App Store is still in question. Meanwhile, it’s unlikely that Apple would limit the feature to iOS built-in apps, given that some of the most used apps should be downloaded through the App Store.
The iPhone’s home screen just borrowed a ton of features from Android
Perhaps the most exciting announcement at WWDC today was the fact that you’ll now be able to place app icons anywhere on your home screen in iOS 18 — something many Android users considered a deal-breaker when eyeing an iPhone previously. Instead of icons automatically snapping into place next to the last-added icon, you’ll now be able to leave space between your app shortcuts.
MacRumors also reports, and Apple itself has now confirmed, that dark mode will extend to home screen app icons in iOS 18. Enabling dark mode on iOS currently adds shades of darkness to the home screen, but doesn’t affect the icons. This new feature will align with another theming option that borrows heavily from Google’s Material You dynamically themed icons introduced in Android 12 and 13 — home screen icons on iOS can now be color-matched to your wallpaper, with the system automatically suggesting a hue that accents the background image.
Built-in Apple apps are expected to get dark mode and color theming first, while support for third-party apps should still remain in the queue. All of these updates are expected to be available for testing later today when iOS 18 enters the beta channel, then widely rolled out to the public with a stable release this fall.
