The software running on every iPhone.百度 另外，由白铜、黄铜、紫铜共同制造而成的“三镶”铜墨盒，由于市面上较少见，收藏价值较高。
iOS is the operating system from Apple that runs on the iPhone. Major updates come every year in September, alongside releases of new flagship iPhone models. The first version was derived from Mac OS X, and later, it became the basis for iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS.
What separates it from macOS is its higher level of security and ease of use. Apps can only be installed from the App Store (and, in the European Union, app marketplaces) and there’s no way to access the core filesystem.
iOS runs many of the same apps you can find on the Mac and iPad. Safari, Mail, Messages, Music, Photos, and productivity apps like Pages and Keynote, run on all the platforms. Using iCloud, your data in each of these apps can sync to their peers on macOS and iPadOS.
All of Apple’s core apps are available for iOS and iPadOS on iPhone and iPad. The full list includes App Store, Books, Calculator, Calendar, Camera, Clock, Compass, Contacts, FaceTime, Files, Find My, Fitness, Freeform, GarageBand, Health, Home, iMovie, iTunes Store, Journal, Keynote, Magnifier, Mail, Maps, Measure, Messages, Music, News, Notes, Numbers, Pages, Passwords, Phone, Photos,?Podcasts, Reminders, Safari, Settings, Shortcuts, Stocks, Tips, Translate, TV, Voice Memos, Wallet, Watch and Weather.
Other iOS apps can be downloaded from the App Store. At?Cult of Mac, we round up the best apps for iPhone, iPad and Mac in our Awesome Apps posts.
iOS mirroring
The iPhone supports mirroring the screen using a variety of different methods:
You can wirelessly mirror your iPhone to any AirPlay-enabled device, like a smart TV or Mac. From a video player, tap the AirPlay button (the icon of a triangle with rings coming out of it). Or, from Control Center, tap the Screen Mirroring button (the icon of two overlapping rectangles). You’ll see nearby devices that are available. Tap on one to start mirroring.
You can also plug your iPhone into an external display using a wired connection. This may be more reliable. You can use a USB-C cable (or, a USB-C to HDMI cable) on iPhones with a USB-C port. On older iPhones, you’ll need a Lightning to HDMI adapter.
With iPhone mirroring on the Mac, you can see your iPhone in a Mac window on the screen, and even control it using your Mac’s keyboard and cursor. You can even drag and drop content between the mirrored iPhone and your Mac. This requires both devices to be signed into the same Apple Account, the iPhone to run iOS 18 or later and the Mac to run macOS 15 Sequoia or later.
iOS emojis
The latest emoji added in iOS 18.4.
iOS emojis are drawn as colorful, highly detailed and cartoonish stylized icons of animals, objects, food and more. Face emojis are bright yellow and circular, whereas people are drawn more realistically with a variety of skin tones.
New emojis are decided on by the Unicode Consortium, the organization that maintains the Unicode text encoding standard.
Apple typically adds new emoji annually, midway through an iOS release cycle, such as in iOS 18.4 or iOS 17.4. This is so that less technical users have an incentive to update their phones and get the latest security patches and features, too.
Certain iOS emojis reference Apple products. Desktop Computer (???) shows a modern iMac, Laptop (??) depicts a MacBook, Mobile Phone (??) is an iPhone, Watch (??) shows an Apple Watch, and Computer Mouse (???) and Keyboard (??) are an Apple Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard, respectively.
The iOS system font is called San Francisco. The typeface bears a strong resemblance to DIN with similar proportions to Helvetica. It was originally designed for Apple Watch, but now the font is used in all Apple software, products, advertisements and more.
San Francisco comes in many different variations:
SF Pro is the system font in iOS, macOS, iPadOS and visionOS.
SF Rounded is a version of SF Pro with rounded letters rather than straight / pointed letters.
SF Compact has bigger lowercase letters for more legibility in watchOS and on physical products.
SF Mono is a monospaced font used for programming in Terminal and Xcode.
SF Condensed, SF Compressed and SF Expanded are variations that are skinny, super skinny and wide.
SF Camera has different letters and numbers that are a little squarer, for use in the Camera app.
SF Serif, also called New York, is a version with serifs (the decorations at the ends of letters), like Times New Roman. This version is used in Apple Books and Apple News.
San Francisco is a variable weight and variable width font. In supported applications, you can freely change the thickness anywhere between ultra light and extremely bold, and make the letters narrower and wider.
SF Symbols is a library of Apple system icons that developers can add to their apps. It also supports icons in different thicknesses, just like text, to accommodate for accessibility settings.
iOS vs. Android
Android and iOS are the two dominant operating systems on smartphones.
Android is the mobile operating system developed by Google. Whereas Apple only makes iOS for iPhones, many different phone manufacturers can produce Android phones, from Google, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, Sony, Motorola and more. Android is mostly open source, so anyone can modify or customize the code — although Google controls the full project.
Comparing iOS vs. Android, Apple’s operating system is more integrated with other Apple products and services. iOS can seamlessly and invisibly connect to AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad or Mac. The devices are aware of each other nearby, enabling features like AirDrop, Find My and Continuity. Over iCloud, your photos, app data, texts and more will sync.
Further comparing iOS vs. Android, Google’s operating system is available on a wider range of devices. You can buy an Android phone for cheaper, in a smaller screen size, or even as a folding phone. Android is more open, so you can easily customize the launcher interface, side load apps or even access the root filesystem.
Update iOS
You can get the latest version of iOS from the Settings app. Open?Settings > General > Software Update to check for an update.
You can install developer or public betas from this screen, as well. If your account is enrolled as a developer (for free), access to the public and developer betas will let you try out software updates early. Once you enroll, you’ll see an additional option on this screen for Beta Updates. You can choose to receive public releases, developer releases and public betas freely.
iOS versions
iOS 26 (Beta)
Here’s a snapshot of the new iOS 26 features for iPhone users.
Launching on the original iPhone on June 29, 2007, the initial version of the (then-unnamed) iPhone system software was the first multitouch interface for smartphones. It introduced concepts like slide-to-unlock, pinch to zoom, inertial scrolling and more. The iPhone brought desktop-class web browsing with Safari, visual voicemail, Google Maps, Mail, YouTube and other basic widget-like apps. It synced and played your music library like an iPod.
Released on June 17, 2009, this update brought cut, copy and paste. It also introduced Find My iPhone, Spotlight search, support for MMS messages, video recording, Voice Memos and in-app purchases.
iOS 4
Launching days before the iPhone 4 on June 21, 2010, iOS 4 (rebranded, to include the iPod Touch and iPad) introduced multitasking, Home Screen folders and wallpapers, the Game Center app, FaceTime video calling and system-wide spell checking.
iOS 5
Released on October 12, 2011, this update brought over-the-air updates on-device, notification center and notification banners, iMessage, iCloud and Reminders.
iOS 6
This update, released September 19, 2012, saw the rocky introduction of Apple Maps, along with the Podcasts app and Passbook (the predecessor to Apple Wallet).
iOS 7
iOS 7 brought a major new design.
On September 18, 2013, this major release brought a major visual redesign, shedding skeuomorphism for a minimal, translucent look. It also introduced Control Center, AirDrop and CarPlay.
iOS 8
This update arrived on September 17, 2014. It modernized the system with Continuity, Apple Pay, iCloud Photo Library and iCloud Drive, Apple Music, Health, widgets, Family Sharing and extensions that can connect multiple apps together.
iOS 9
On September 16, 2015, this update introduced rich links and drawings to the Notes app, the Apple News app, transit support in Apple Maps and Night Shift. Proactivity is a system feature that uses context like time and location to suggest and show content intelligently. On the iPhone 6s, it introduced ‘peek’ and ‘pop’ gestures for previewing and opening content with the 3D Touch display, Live Photos and a new app switcher.
iOS 10
This update on September 13, 2016 brought iMessage apps, a new Maps interface, Photos Memories, support for HomeKit smart home accessories and the ability for third-party apps to create Siri commands. The Lock Screen was also redesigned to slide up to unlock, rather than swipe right. Instead, users can swipe right on the Lock Screen to access widgets. Control Center was redesigned with a three-page layout. This was the last version to support 32-bit devices, like the iPhone 5 and iPad 4.
iOS 11
Parts of iOS were redesigned to fit the new iPhone X.
On September 19, 2017, this update redesigned many parts of the OS around the all-new iPhone X. The Lock Screen and Notification Center were combined; Control Center has a new all-screen design that’s customizable. It also introduced the Files app, Messages in iCloud, screen recording, Apple Pay Cash, augmented reality features and support for HEIF images and HEVC videos.
iOS 12
This performance-focused update released on September 17, 2018 and introduced Screen Time, Shortcuts, third-party apps in CarPlay, Memoji and a redesigned Photos app with four navigation tabs.
iOS 13
On September 19, 2019, this update brought a system-wide dark mode, live lyrics in Apple Music, a new Maps user interface, a better Siri voice, Sign in with Apple, external storage in Files and more controls for handling location data in apps.
iOS 14
On September 16, 2020, this update introduced App Clips, widgets on the Home Screen, the App Library, pinned conversations in Messages, the Translate app, emoji search and a denser and more powerful user interface. New privacy features include privacy labels in the App Store, green and orange dots in the status bar when the camera or microphone are being used, and app tracking transparency.
iOS 15
Apple released this smaller update on September 20, 2021 with Focus modes, Live Text, a redesigned Safari, new Weather app, tags in Notes and Reminders, iCloud Private Relay, Hide My Email, widget smart stacks and drag-and-drop across apps.
iOS 16
If you position your picture just right, the subject of an image will slightly overlap the clock on the new Lock Screen in iOS 16.
Give me Liquid Glass now! Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Anyone interested can download the iOS 26 public beta for free — right now. You can get a look at the exciting new Liquid Glass design coming to the iPhone before the update is shipped to everyone. The iOS 26 public beta also comes with a new Camera and Phone app, new Apple Intelligence features, 3D photos and more.
Of course, there are a few things you should look out for. Beta software is buggy and can lead to data loss or apps that don’t work. Battery life will suffer and your phone will often get hot. You have been warned.
If you want to try it out, you should make sure you have a backup of your most important data with two copies of your photo library before you try installing. I’ll show you how.
iOS 18.6 is likely about a week away. Image: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac
Apple on Monday seeded to developers the release candidates for iOS 18.6, macOS Sequoia 15.6, iPadOS 18.6, watchOS 11.6, tvOS 18.6 and visionOS 2.6. This is usually the final step before new versions launch.
The general public should get access to these RCs soon.
iOS 27 developers could put most of their attention on the folding iPhone. Image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac
With a foldable iPhone widely rumored for 2026, the next version of iOS will concentrate on a user interface revamp needed for the new type of device, according to a noted tipster. iOS 27 will apparently need to handle two screens with different resolutions, for example.
Soon this same CarPlay screen will be able to show videos when the car is parked. Photo: Apple
In a significant policy shift, Apple will let iPhone users stream videos directly to their CarPlay screens for the first time since the platform’s launch. With iOS 26, showcased at WWDC25, the tech giant introduced AirPlay video functionality for CarPlay. So you can stream video from apps in the car — but only when you’re parked.
A new Apple system can securely share the age range of children with apps. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
iOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26 and other upcoming Apple operating systems include new tools intended to help parents protect kids and teens online. These include a system that enables parents to share the age range of their children with third-party applications in a way that doesn’t violate the kids’ privacy.
There are also new protections for teens under 18 as they use their Apple devices, and parental controls on communicating with new phone numbers.
This user said Liquid Glass just seems harder to read. Photo: @Stammy on X.com
Liquid Glass looked great in WWDC25 demos Monday, but reactions soon afterward put a few cracks in it. The new transparent and reactive design language coming to all Apple devices this fall strikes many folks as making it too hard to read information on their screens.
Many initial reactions to Liquid Glass make it look like a misstep.
“Can’t wait to not be able to read anything on my iPhone,” grumbled one user. Several others implied Apple co-founder Steve Jobs would hate the new design language.
As WWDC25 looms, rumors flow of more Apple app updates. Photo: Gemini
Apple reportedly is cooking up significant changes to core iPhone and iPad apps, with redesigned interfaces coming soon to the Phone, Safari, Camera and Messages apps. The company plans to reveal the app updates Monday during the WWDC25 keynote, alongside other sweeping changes to its operating systems.
So your OS names are going to seem to leap forward to 26 soon. Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Apple might make a major change to the naming convention for all its operating systems this year, switching all OS version numbers to years, according to a new report. The switch, which Apple reportedly will roll out at WWDC25 on June 9, would bring consistency across all its operating systems for the first time.
What if your iPhone could become a mini Mac? AI concept: ChatGPT
An iPhone running iOS 19 will be able to display applications running in windows on an external screen, according to a Thursday report from a noted tipster.
If true, it’ll enable iOS to act much more Mac-like than ever before. If Apple continues developing in this direction, an iPhone could eventually be someone’s only computer .
The European Union just ordered Apple to make iPhone cooperate better with headphones and smartwatches made by other companies. AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac
The European Commission issued “guidance” Tuesday on changes it says Apple must make to comply with the interoperability requirements of the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The new mandates would open up the iPhone to work more closely with third-party smartwatches, headphones and TVs.
Apple says the new rules will undercut user privacy and slow innovation, and vows to make its case to the EU. It remains to be seen whether the changes will take effect only in Europe or globally.
Privacy has never been more important. AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac
With the widespread use of smartphones, laptops and other devices, concerns about privacy in apps become more important every day. Many apps, websites and streaming services demand substantial personal data from users, raising questions about the safety and security of sensitive information.
While almost every app requires some personal information, many lack transparency about their data-collection practices. Some use users’ data to influence algorithms or deliver targeted ads. Others might even sell that data to third parties.
Luckily, Apple — a company that prioritizes user privacy, especially when it comes to iOS — is blazing a trail toward greater transparency. Armed with this knowledge, users can explore external resources to do things like block emails on iPhones and directly utilize Apple’s features to request apps not to track them, limit IP address tracking and disable location services.
This article delves into Apple’s user-friendly features and how other apps and sites incorporate similar practices.
Keep food cool and gadgets charged on outings. And the biggest model doubles as a freezer. Photo: Anker
The new Anker Solix EverFrost 2 Electric Cooler gives iPhone users a sophisticated way to manage their outdoor adventures, Anker said Friday. The smart cooler combines advanced cooling technology with iOS app integration, offering Apple users unprecedented control over their outdoor food and beverage storage, complete with Apple device charging.
iOS 18.3 is likely only a week away. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple seeded the release candidates for iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3 to developers Tuesday. In addition, the watchOS 11.3 RC, tvOS 18.3 RC and visionOS 2.3 RC went to developers at the same time. These bring only minor modifications to the various devices, though.
Release candidates are generally the final phase before the operating system upgrades go to users.
A selection of widgets might give CarPlay 2 an interface already familiar to iOS, iPadOS and macOS users. Photo: [email protected]
While Apple CarPlay 2’s expected 2024 release still hasn’t happened, newly leaked images Tuesday show a familiar widget-based interface that mirrors experiences across iOS, iPadOS and macOS devices.
The leaker is considered reliable. If the images prove genuine, they suggest a sensible drive by the iPhone giant to provide a seamless experience across the Apple ecosystem, even on the road.
Rumors suggested Sonos rushed the app redesign, and its deficiencies appear to have brought down the CEO. Photo: Sonos
In a big shake-up at smart speaker maker Sonos — whose high-end audio products are popular with Apple users — CEO Patrick Spence resigned effective immediately and a board member will step in as interim CEO, the company said Monday. Spence’s departure comes after a turbulent 2024 that saw the company struggle with a controversial app redesign, disappointing product launches and declining customer satisfaction.
Big upgrades could be in store for Apple's AirPods lineup in 2025. Image: Cult of Mac
AirPods Pro 3 keep generating buzz as we approach the launch of Apple’s next-generation premium wireless earbuds. Here’s what to expect from AirPods Pro 3, which probably will arrive in early 2025.
While the current AirPods Pro 2 model dominates the market two years after launch, rumors say its successor will bring substantial improvements and new features. Unfortunately, you probably shouldn’t expect changes to the recently updated AirPods 4 and AirPods Max in 2025. We could see updated earbuds or headphones from Apple subsidiary Beats, though.
It's hard to believe how quickly the mobile landscaped morphed over the past decade. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
December 17, 2009: Apple finally triumphs over longtime rival Microsoft … on mobile operating systems market share. New data shows that iPhone OS surpasses Windows Mobile in the United States for the first time.
With roughly 36 million Americans owning smartphones, a quarter of them run Apple’s mobile operating system, according to figures released by research firm Comscore.
An Voice Memos app update lets users layer a vocal on top of an existing instrumental recording on iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Photo: Apple
In an advancement for mobile music production, Apple showed off the Voice Memos app’s new Layered Recordings feature Wednesday, releasing a new holiday single recorded with it. Exclusively available on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, Layered Recordings comes via the newly released iOS 18.2 update.
The iOS 18.2 release date is soon — just not as soon as had been rumored. AI image: ChatGPT
A rumor from early November said the iOS 18.2 launch day would be the week of December 2, but that’s now impossible. There are steps that must take place before the operating system can be introduced, and not all of them have happened yet.
The release will probably be in the second week of December. Right now, the earliest likely date is December 10, though December 11 is looking increasingly likely.
Whenever the launch finally happens, it’ll usher in some of the most-anticipated new Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji, the Image Playground and more.
The U.K. government seems poised to force Apple to fundamentally change the way iPhone browsers work. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The United Kingdom could precipitate a significant iPhone revamp after a government report found that “Apple’s rules restrict other competitors from being able to deliver new, innovative features that could benefit consumers.”
The findings in the report are sure to inform government regulators as they enforce the U.K.’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, which goes into effect in January 2025.
Install iOS 18.1 to make your iPhone more challenging to hack into. Image: Apple
Anyone hoping to hack into an iPhone now finds it more difficult thanks to a change in iOS 18.1. Whether this is police, foreign espionage agents or criminal hackers, there’s now much less time to crack the security on Apple handsets because of a simple trick.
It’s another example of Apple being serious about protecting user privacy.
Don’t want for iOS 18.1. Install it now. Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iOS 18.1 will go out to iPhones everywhere next week, but you don’t need to wait. It’s possible to go ahead and install the final version this weekend when you have time to tinker with it. Plus, doing so lets you jump ahead of everyone else in requesting access to the cool new Apple Intelligence features.
Getting iOS 18.1 now won’t require doing anything dodgy or risky. You’ll download the final version of the upgrade straight from Apple … just a little earlier than scheduled.
iOS 18.2 beta 1 lets iPhone users change additional default apps. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
iOS 18.2 beta 1, which went to developers on Wednesday, includes a new section in Settings that lets users specify which applications to set as their defaults for handling email, messages, phone calls and more. In some cases, setting this simply gets easier. In others, changing the default app previously wasn’t possible at all.
We already knew this change would happen in Europe, but Apple made it clear Wednesday that it’ll be available worldwide.
iOS 18.2 beta 1 gives developers a chance to test Genmoji and more. Image: Apple
Apple seeded the initial beta of iOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2 and iPadOS 8.2 to developers on Wednesday, giving them their first opportunity to test the Image Playground app, Genmoji and more. Also on the list is perhaps the most controversial feature of Apple Intelligence: optional ChatGPT access.
Expect testing to end and the full launch before the end of the year.
December 17, 2009: Apple finally triumphs over longtime rival Microsoft … on mobile operating systems market share. New data shows that iPhone OS surpasses Windows Mobile in the United States for the first time.
