iPhone users urged to change five major settings immediately after upgrading to iOS 18

As iPhone users get to grips with the new iOS 18 update, there are actually five settings you can change to make the experience even better.

You wouldn't be alone in thinking that not much seems to really change between iOS updates.

But the new iOS 18 update has really changed the way we can utilise our iPhones, after it was unveiled at Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference earlier this year.

Highlights for users included total customisation of the Home Screen and a brand new Photos app - albeit not everyone is too pleased with that one.

Downloads officially began on Monday (September 16), but users have already worked our that there are five things you can change in settings to further better the general experience.

Users now have more customisation controls. (Getty stock image)

Optimized Battery Charging

Whilst this feature was already introduced way back when iOS 13 was launched, it seems as though iOS 18 is giving users greater customisation abilities.

The purpose of the technology is to expand the life span of the iPhone's battery, by reducing the time spent that it is fully charged.

iOS 17 introduced an 80% charging limit, but iOS 18 has even more to offer.

After downloading the update, head to Settings, click Battery and scroll to Charging and turn on Optimized Battery Charging.

Once toggled, you will be able to select limits like 85 percent and 95 percent.

Turn on RCS Messaging

Gone are the days of the iPhone vs Android saga - they are over.

Messaging your Android user friends from an iPhone is about to get a whole lot easier.

iOS 18 is officially supporting RCS Messaging (Rich Communication Services), which Apple claims will help support ‘more reliable group messaging compared to SMS and MMS’.

You will be able to send high-resolution images and videos to your Android friends, as well as receiving read receipts when you’re texting.

To turn on RCS Messaging, click on Settings, find your Apps toggle, head into Messages and find RCS Messaging.

iOS 18 launched earlier this year. (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Change Lock Screen Shortcuts

One of the major selling points of iOS 18 is the customisation features.

So, if you found the flashlight and camera shortcuts on your lock screen a bit of an annoyance, you can finally switch them out.

Instead, you could have one for music and one for your alarm... way more practical!

To change the lock screen shortcuts, first press and hold on the Lock Screen before tapping on ‘Customise’.

Click the ‘Lock Screen’ option and then you can edit the two options in the bottom left and right of the screen.

Turn off Shared with You

Shared with You was a feature introduced by iOS 15, allowing iPhone users to automatically gather together any content your contacts have sent over.

But whilst it's a handy little tool, it's easy to understand why some would find it slightly intrusive.

So, you can now turn it off!

To do so, find Settings, head through Apps and select the Messages button before scrolling down to find Shared with You.

Hide App labels

You can now customise your layout and organise your iPhone exactly the way you want.

Meaning app labels can be a thing of the past, if you prefer just to have the icon.

To do so, simply press and hold on the Home Screen until the Edit button appears.

Once present, click Customize and then Large. The latter setting will remove the text.