With the release of iOS 18, Apple has significantly enhanced Home Screen customization, enabling iPhone users to personalize layouts and colors like never before. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to tailor your iPhone’s Home Screen, adding new hues, layouts, and icon sizes—all without a complicated setup. Let’s dive in!
Requirements & Getting Started
To start editing your Home Screen:
- Enter Edit Mode: Either tap and hold a blank space on your Home Screen or long-press an app icon and select Edit Home Screen from the menu. Your icons will start jiggling.
- Open the Edit Menu: Tap the Edit button in the top-left corner. From here, you can add widgets, adjust Home Screen pages, and more.
Adding Color to Your App Icons
Want to give your apps a fresh new color? iOS 18’s Tinted feature lets you adjust icon hues:
- Enter Edit Mode: Long-press a blank Home Screen space or app icon, then tap Edit Home Screen.
- Tap Customize: Once you’re in jiggle mode, tap Customize in the top-right.
- Choose Tinted: In the menu that appears, tap the Tinted button in the bottom-right.
- Use Color Sliders: Use the two sliders to pick a color and adjust its intensity. Adjust the sliders until you find your perfect shade.
- Select Colors with Eyedropper: Tap the eyedropper icon to select a custom color from your wallpaper, which will apply to your app icons.
Switching to Dark Mode
For those who prefer a darker look:
- Enter Edit Mode: Tap and hold on the Home Screen, then select Customize.
- Switch Between Light and Dark Modes: At the bottom, you’ll see options for Light, Dark, and Automatic. These allow you to change icon colors to match your device’s theme or to stay in either mode.
- Adjust Background Separately: Tap the sun icon in the top-left corner to change your wallpaper to light or dark without affecting icon colors.
Creating New Grid Layouts
iOS 18 provides more flexibility for arranging app icons and widgets:
- Activate Jiggle Mode: Tap and hold the Home Screen to enter jiggle mode without tapping the Edit button.
- Position Icons Freely: Move icons or widgets to your desired spots. Icons still snap to an invisible grid but with much more freedom to leave empty spaces.
Removing App Labels
For a cleaner look, iOS 18 allows you to hide app labels:
- Enter Edit Mode: Long-press on the Home Screen, select Edit, and tap Customize.
- Choose Icon Size and Label Settings: At the bottom, select either Large or Small. Large will increase icon sizes and remove labels, while Small retains labels.
Additional Customization Options
The customization doesn’t end with your Home Screen. In iOS 18, you can also customize your Control Center layout and adjust tools on the Lock Screen, adding even more ways to make your iPhone uniquely yours.
