Customizing Your Home Screen with iOS 18

If your home screen feels a bit stale, there’s great news! With iOS 18, you can fully customize it to suit your style. This update allows you to alter the colors of app icons and widgets, match them to your wallpaper, adjust their sizes, and arrange them freely on your screen. Here’s a straightforward guide on how to make these changes.

Making Icons Larger

1. Press and Hold: Long-press the home screen until the app icons begin to wiggle.
2. Edit Options: Tap on Edit in the upper right corner, then select Customize.
3. Choose Size: At the bottom of the screen, pick either Small or Large.
4. Save Changes: Tap the home screen again to apply your new settings.

Changing App Icon Colors

1. Press and Hold: Again, long-press the home screen until the icons wiggle.
2. Edit Options: Select Edit in the upper right corner, then go to Customize.
3. Select Mode: Choose between Light, Dark, or Automatic modes (which adjusts based on the time of day).
4. Tinted Option: You can use the Tinted option to customize colors and saturation using sliders. Additionally, the eyedropper tool lets you select a color directly from your wallpaper.
5. Adjust Background: Tap the sun icon on the left to darken the background for better visibility of your icons based on your color choices.

Keep in mind that any adjustments made to the icons will also affect your widgets if they are present on the screen.

Rearranging Icons and Widgets

Apple has removed the rigid grid layout, allowing you to place your apps and widgets wherever you want. Here’s how to rearrange them:

1. Press and Hold: Long-press the home screen until the icons and widgets wiggle.
2. Drag and Drop: Move the app icon or widget to your desired location on the screen.
3. Lock Changes: Tap the home screen again to save your new layout.

Hiding App Labels

If you prefer a cleaner look without app labels, you can easily hide them:

1. Press and Hold: Long-press the home screen.
2. Edit Options: Tap Edit in the upper right corner, then select Customize.
3. Choose Large Option: At the bottom, tap the Large option, and the labels will disappear automatically.

By following these steps, you can create a personalized home screen that reflects your style and enhances your experience with iOS 18!