Customizing your iPhone and iPad screens is easier than ever in iOS 18 and iPad OS 18. Apple has packed these updates with so many cool features that allow you to get creative and make your screens uniquely yours. From fun wallpapers to interactive widgets, there’s something here for everyone – even if you’re not a tech genius. If you want to customize your iPhone/iPad Home Screen in iOS18, let’s dive into how you can jazz up your device, whether it’s an iPhone or an iPad.
New Ways to Customize in iOS 18
For years, users have wanted more flexibility and personalization options, and guess what? iOS 18 delivers! Whether you love sleek, minimalistic designs or want a more functional layout with all your favorite tools front and center, iOS 18’s got you covered.
Home Screen Grid Customization
Tired of those same old grid layouts? With iOS 18, you can break out of that box (literally). You can now adjust your grid size, create larger gaps between apps, and show off more of your wallpaper for a cleaner look.
Here’s how you do it:
1. Long-press your screen until the apps start to do their little “jiggle dance.
2. Move the apps around to wherever you like. Want to throw your most-used apps at the top? Go for it. Prefer everything neatly in rows? You can do that too!
3. Tap “Done” once everything is in place.
Want to see how it works? Check out this video for a quick demo:
Change the Size and Style of your App Icons
Want your apps to “pop”? You can now choose between two icon sizes—Small (default) and Large. Going Large not only makes the icons easier to tap but also ditches those little text labels beneath them.
Here’s how:
1. Tap “Edit > Customize”.
2. Choose “Small or Large” for your icons.
3. Pick a “Light or Dark style” to match your wallpaper. Light icons look sleek against dark wallpapers, and dark icons really stand out on lighter backgrounds, but dark icons on dark wallpapers create a unique vibe, too.
Want to watch a demo? Here’s how:
And if that’s not enough, you can even “change the color and tint” of your app icons. Feeling bold? Go with bright, vibrant hues. Prefer something a little more low-key? You can opt for a softer color scheme. See how here:
How to Change Your Wallpaper: Give your device a fresh look
Updating your wallpaper is like giving your iPhone or iPad a whole new outfit. iOS 18 makes it super easy to freshen up your Lock and Home Screens with just a few taps. Here’s how I updated my iPad Mini screens:
1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon).
2. Scroll down and tap “Wallpaper”.
3. Tap “+Add New Wallpaper.
Apple gives you tons of options here—Featured, People, Emojis, Pride, Kaleidoscope, Color, Weather, Astronomy and more. But my favorite way to personalize is by using my own photos.
Here’s how to use your own image:
1. Scroll through the wallpaper options.
2. Choose a “Suggested Photo”, or search your library and albums for that perfect picture.
Personally, I picked a hummingbird photo from a recent trip to Peru. My Lock Screen was instantly transformed into a tropical paradise!
Want to give your photo some extra flair? Swipe below the image to try different styles like “black and white” or “duotone”—but I’m sticking with the natural colors because, well, nature rocks.
Lock Screen Style Choices
You can also change the style and color of the date and time on your Lock Screen. Simply tap inside the rectangle where the clock is, and a whole new menu pops up. You can select a different font, adjust the color, and even choose a fun new “rainbow option” that complements your wallpaper.
Feeling indecisive? No worries. Just tap the color wheel (the “prism” circle) at the bottom for even more color options. You’re bound to find something that fits your mood!
Adding Widgets – Info at a Glance
Widgets are like little windows into your favorite apps. They give you quick access to information like the weather, upcoming calendar events, or even your latest news headlines. You can add widgets to both your Lock Screen and your Home Screenfor maximum convenience.
Here’s how to add a widget to your Lock Screen:
1. Tap inside the rectangle showing the date.
2. Choose from the widget suggestions that pop up.
Want more widgets? Tap the “+Add Widgets” button and browse through options from apps like Weather, Calendar, Photos, and News. Widgets come in all shapes and sizes, so pick the ones that suit your style and needs.
Got an iPad? You can add even more widgets to a sidebar on the left of your Home Screen. This is perfect for multitasking, as you can access tons of information without ever leaving your main apps.
Customize your Home Screen. Let the Fun Begin!
Tap Set as Wallpaper Pair if you want to use the same image for both pages. Let’s spice it up and “Customize Home Screen” with a different image.
Now that your Lock Screen is looking fabulous, it’s time to move on to the Home Screen. Tap “Set as Wallpaper Pair” to use the same image for both screens, or if you’re feeling adventurous, choose “Customize Home Screen” and pick a different image.
Follow the same steps we went over earlier to find a new photo. For my Home Screen, I stuck with another hummingbird because, hey, why not?
Tidy Up Your iPhone or iPad with iOS 18: Customization Without the Clutter!
So, you’ve picked out the perfect wallpaper—a stunning shot of a sword-billed hummingbird—and now it’s buried under a mountain of app icons. Frustrating, right? In the past, you might’ve given up and swapped your wallpaper for something plainer, but not anymore! Thanks to iOS 18, you can fix this with just a little bit of effort. But first, let’s do some housekeeping. After all, who needs pages and pages of apps when you only use 6–10 of them regularly?
Organize Your Apps: Declutter
Before you unleash your inner home screen designer, let’s get rid of those unnecessary pages. It’s like cleaning out a closet—except it’s way easier and you don’t need to lug any trash bags around.
Here’s how to tidy up:
1. “Long press on your screen” until your apps start doing their little “jiggle” dance.
2. Tap “Edit” in the top-left corner of your screen.
3. Now tap”Edit Pages”. You’ll see a list of all your Home Screen pages.
4. Uncheck any pages you don’t want to keep by tapping the checkmark. These pages won’t be deleted—they’ll just be hidden.
5. Tap “Done”, and voilà! You’re left with just one page, ready to be customized to your heart’s content. Go ahead and resize or rearrange your apps using the steps we went over earlier. Here’s my Home Screen now with the Sword-billed Hummingbird in full view and “Large”, “Dark” icons.
Add Widgets to your Home Screen
Now that you’ve got a clean slate, let’s get those frequently used apps and some handy widgets front and center. If you’re like me and use your iPad mostly for reading books, checking the News and watching a few YouTube tutorials, widgets are the perfect way to keep everything at your fingertips.
Here’s how:
1. Long press the screen again until those icons start jiggling (they sure do love to jiggle).
2. Tap “Edit” at the top left, and then select “Add Widget”.
3. Browse or type in the widget you want. For me, YouTube was a must, so I typed it in, picked my favorite style, and tapped “Add Widget”.
4. You can keep adding more widgets if you like—just remember, everything’s still jiggling, so move them around to find their perfect spot on your screen.
Create a Widget Stack: Maximum Widgets, Minimum Space
Feeling fancy? Let’s make a widget stack! This way, you can have multiple widgets in one spot and swipe between them like flipping through a digital Rolodex—minus the 80s office vibes.
To create a widget stack:
1. Drag one widget on top of another—just like stacking your favorite snacks in a pantry.
2. Keep stacking until you’re satisfied (or until you run out of widgets).
3. When you’re done, you’ll see three little dots below the stack, indicating that there are multiple widgets. Just scroll through them whenever you need something.
Now, a word of caution: if your widget stack is blocking that beautiful hummingbird photo (or whatever wallpaper you’ve chosen), don’t worry! You can move the stack to a new spot—just drag it where it looks best. For me, the stack was hiding the hummingbird’s bill, so I simply scooted it up to the top left. Easy fix!
Finishing Touches
Now that you’ve added all the widgets you need, it’s time to get rid of any duplicate apps on your Home Screen. Since I added a Books widget, I no longer needed the actual Books app icon cluttering up my screen. Just tap and hold the app, then select “Remove from Home Screen”—bye-bye, unnecessary app icons!
Here’s what my screen looked like when I was done: the hummingbird in all its glory, large dark app icons, and a perfectly organized widget stack. All of my reading and viewing apps are easy to access, and the screen looks clean and uncluttered.
Now it’s your turn…
iOS 18 really is a game-changer when it comes to Home Screen customization. Whether you’re aiming for a functional, minimal look or something that screams personality, the new tools make it easier than ever to create a personalized and clutter-free experience.
So, what are you waiting for? Start tidying up, get creative, and make your screen a reflection of your style and needs. You’ll thank yourself the next time you open your device and everything is just where you want it—no more swiping through endless pages of apps!
Happy customizing!
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