Apple has released iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5, and while these aren’t blockbuster updates, they pack in useful features, security improvements, and quality-of-life upgrades for iPhone and iPad users.
From satellite messaging on older iPhones to new parental controls and Mail app enhancements, here’s everything included in the latest update.
Satellite Messaging Now Available for iPhone 13 (T-Mobile)
For the first time, iPhone 13 users on T-Mobile can use satellite messaging powered by Starlink. This expands Apple’s satellite features beyond the Emergency SOS option (still exclusive to iPhone 14 and later) and brings basic connectivity to remote areas with no cellular or Wi-Fi.
Key Details:
| Feature | iPhone 13 (T-Mobile) | iPhone 14+ |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite Messaging | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Emergency SOS via Satellite | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Provider | Starlink | Apple |
This move signals Apple’s growing interest in bringing satellite access to more users through carrier partnerships.
Pride Harmony Wallpaper
Apple is celebrating Pride Month with a new animated Pride Harmony wallpaper. The colors shift and react to actions like unlocking your phone or moving between screens. It pairs with the new Pride Harmony watch face introduced in watchOS 11.5.
This isn’t just a visual update—it’s part of Apple’s continued support for diversity and inclusion.
Screen Time Notification for Parents
Parents now get an alert when their child enters the Screen Time passcode, making it harder for kids to disable restrictions without approval. This subtle but effective tweak gives guardians better control and insight into device use.
Mail App Improvements
The Mail app gets small but useful tweaks:
- New “All Mail” inbox view makes managing emails easier.
- Option to hide contact photos for a cleaner look, accessible via the three-dot menu in the app.
These updates streamline email management without overhauling the interface.
Apple TV App: Buy with iPhone
Apple is expanding its Buy with iPhone feature for Apple TV. You can now authorize purchases using your iPhone when browsing content on third-party platforms like smart TVs. It speeds up transactions and helps maintain privacy and security.
Apple Vision Pro Bug Fix
A bug that caused a black screen in the Vision Pro app has been patched. Users can now interact with mixed reality content again without screen freezes or crashes.
Security Fixes: 30+ Vulnerabilities Patched
Apple’s update includes over 30 security patches. Here are the major ones:
- Fix for a modem issue in iPhone 16e
- Improved Bluetooth protection
- Patches for FaceTime, Notes, and Safari WebKit vulnerabilities
If you’re serious about privacy and security, this update is a must-install.
iPadOS 18.5: What’s New
iPadOS 18.5 mirrors iOS 18.5 and includes:
- Pride Harmony wallpaper
- Screen Time notifications
- Buy with iPhone for Apple TV
There are no exclusive iPad features in this update, but iPad users still benefit from system-wide enhancements and bug fixes.
How to Install iOS 18.5 / iPadOS 18.5
Updating your iPhone or iPad is simple:
- Open Settings
- Tap General
- Tap Software Update
- Tap Download and Install
Make sure your device has at least 50% battery or is plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi.
Key Takeaways
- iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 introduce new wallpaper options, improved Mail app functionality, and enhanced Screen Time controls for parents.
- The update includes important security fixes that protect user data and privacy on compatible iPhone and iPad devices.
- Apple has rolled out satellite connectivity improvements alongside performance and stability enhancements for a smoother overall experience.
Key New Features in iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5
Apple has rolled out several significant improvements in their latest update, focusing on user customization, communication tools, and AI-powered features that enhance the overall experience across compatible devices.
Enhanced Notification Controls
iOS 18.5 introduces a completely revamped notification management system that gives users more granular control over their alerts. The update brings a new Notification Summary feature that uses on-device intelligence to group less urgent notifications and deliver them at scheduled times.
Users can now create custom notification profiles based on their location, time of day, or current activity. For example, a “Work” profile might only allow notifications from colleagues and work-related apps during specific hours.
The update also adds notification priority levels (Urgent, Important, and Standard) that users can assign to specific apps or contacts. Screen Time features have been enhanced with a new passcode option for parents to better manage their children’s notification exposure.
Apple has also introduced haptic notification patterns that can be customized per app, allowing users to identify the notification source without looking at their device.
Updates to Contact Photos and App Icons
The contact photo system has been completely overhauled in iOS 18.5, with new AI-powered tools that can enhance and optimize contact images automatically. Users can now create animated contact photos or use a series of images that rotate based on time of day or communication type.
App icons have gained dynamic capabilities, allowing developers to implement subtle animations or information displays directly on the home screen. Weather, for instance, can show current conditions, while calendar icons can display upcoming events.
A new Pride Harmony wallpaper has been added to the collection, featuring dynamic elements that respond to device movement and time of day changes.
The update also brings improved widget interaction, allowing users to perform more actions directly from the home screen without opening apps.
Advanced Writing Tools and Siri Improvements
iOS 18.5 enhances the system-wide writing experience with contextual grammar and style suggestions that adapt to different writing scenarios. The keyboard now recognizes when you’re composing an email versus a casual message and adjusts its suggestions accordingly.
Siri has received major improvements to natural language processing, now understanding more complex queries and maintaining context throughout extended conversations. Users can interrupt Siri mid-response, and the assistant can now handle multi-step requests like “Find restaurants near my next meeting and text the address to John.”
The Mail app has received minor improvements to its composition tools, with better formatting options and smarter attachment handling.
For iPad users, handwriting recognition has been enhanced significantly, with the ability to convert even messy handwriting to text with higher accuracy.
Apple Intelligence Integration
Apple Intelligence—the company’s privacy-focused AI system—is now more deeply integrated throughout iOS and iPadOS 18.5, powering features across the system while keeping data processing on-device whenever possible.
The Photos app now uses Apple Intelligence to create more meaningful collections based on people, places, and events. It can also suggest edits specific to each image and automatically create highlight videos.
Apple Intelligence now powers on-device translation in more apps, working even without an internet connection. iPhone 13 users gain carrier satellite connectivity, leveraging AI to optimize connections in areas with limited coverage.
For developers, the iOS 18.5 SDK includes new Apple Intelligence APIs, allowing third-party apps to implement these capabilities while maintaining Apple’s privacy standards. This opens up new opportunities for app experiences on iPhone, iPad, and even Apple Vision Pro.
Privacy and Security Enhancements
iOS 18.5 brings significant privacy and security updates that give users more control over their personal data. Apple has patched over 30 security vulnerabilities while introducing new tools to manage how apps access and use information.
Improved Privacy Dashboard and Settings
The Privacy Dashboard in iOS 18.5 has been completely redesigned for better usability. Users can now see a more detailed breakdown of which apps have accessed their geolocation data and other sensitive information in the past week. This timeline view makes it easier to spot potentially suspicious activity.
Apple has added new toggles for controlling:
- Camera and microphone access
- Photo library permissions
- Health data sharing
- Notification tracking
The dashboard now shows exactly when and for how long each app used these permissions. Users can quickly revoke access with a single tap rather than navigating through multiple menus. The privacy settings section also displays which third parties have received data from apps installed on the device.
Refined Consent and Data Management Options
iOS 18.5 introduces clearer consent screens when apps request access to personal information. The new format requires apps to explain precisely why they need certain data and how it will be used.
The update includes:
- Mandatory “Reject All” buttons alongside “Accept All” on permission dialogs
- More granular control over IP address sharing
- Options to provide temporary access to sensitive data
- Better tools to delete stored information
Users can now set global defaults for new app installations instead of responding to each request individually. The system remembers preference patterns and suggests similar settings for new apps in the same category.
Stronger Authentication and Security Measures
Apple has significantly strengthened the authentication system in iOS 18.5 to patch vulnerabilities affecting multiple components like CoreAudio, AppleJPEG, and Bluetooth connections.
Key security improvements include:
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Enhanced password monitoring | Alerts for compromised credentials |
| App network activity tracking | Identifies suspicious connections |
| Improved anti-phishing tools | Prevents common social engineering attacks |
| Smarter spam prevention | Better filtering in Messages and Mail |
The update also introduces biometric confirmation for sensitive actions like changing account settings or authorizing large payments. For family sharing accounts, parents receive notifications when Screen Time passcodes are used on children’s devices, adding another layer of security for younger users.
Performance, Stability, and App Updates
iOS 18.5 brings significant performance enhancements and stability improvements across devices. Users will notice smoother operations, faster app loading times, and several important fixes for previously reported issues.
Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements
iOS 18.5 addresses several critical bugs that affected earlier versions. The update fixes the carrier satellite connectivity issues on iPhone 13 models, improving reliability when cellular service is unavailable. Battery drain problems reported by some users have been resolved, with many reporting up to 15% longer battery life after updating.
System animations now run more smoothly, particularly on older devices like the iPhone 11 and 12 series. The camera app launches up to 20% faster, and photo processing time has been reduced by approximately 30%.
Memory management has been optimized, resulting in fewer app crashes during multitasking. This is especially noticeable when switching between resource-intensive applications like video editing tools and graphics-heavy games.
The update also resolves Wi-Fi connectivity issues that some users experienced after the iOS 18.4 update.
Mail App and Health App Enhancements
The Mail app receives substantial refinements in iOS 18.5, including improved spam filtering and message categorization. The search function now delivers more accurate results and operates faster when scanning large mailboxes.
New smart folders automatically organize receipts and travel-related messages, making important emails easier to find. Mail now supports scheduling messages to be sent at specific times—a feature long requested by users.
The Health app gains enhanced sleep tracking capabilities with more detailed analysis of sleep patterns. Blood oxygen monitoring on compatible devices is more accurate, and the app now provides clearer alerts for irregular heart rhythms.
Health data sharing with healthcare providers has been streamlined, allowing secure transmission of selected health metrics directly from the app. Medication tracking includes improved reminders and interaction warnings.
AppleCare and Apple Watch Compatibility
AppleCare features have been integrated more deeply into the Settings app, making it easier for users to check coverage status and request support. The diagnostic tool now provides more comprehensive device health information.
Apple Watch connectivity with iOS 18.5 has been strengthened, with faster synchronization between devices. Watch face complications update more reliably, and fitness data transfers more quickly to the Health app.
The update resolves several pairing issues reported with Apple Watch Ultra models. Notification delivery between iPhone and Apple Watch is now more consistent, with fewer missed alerts.
Users can now manage their AppleCare subscriptions directly from their iPhone, including options to extend coverage or add additional devices. Remote diagnostic capabilities have been expanded, allowing Apple Support to better troubleshoot issues without requiring store visits.
Screen Time and Parental Controls
Screen Time receives significant attention in iOS 18.5 with the introduction of enhanced passcode protection and more detailed usage reports. Parents can now set app-specific time limits rather than only category-based restrictions.
New Screen Time Alerts provide timely notifications when children approach their usage limits. The system also introduces “Wind Down” periods that gradually restrict access to stimulating apps before bedtime.
Content filtering has been refined to provide more appropriate restrictions based on age groups. Parents can now remotely approve app download requests directly from notification alerts.
The update also includes purchase verification for TV apps, requiring authentication before making in-app purchases. This addresses concerns about children accidentally making unauthorized purchases.
Screen Time data syncs more reliably across family devices, ensuring consistent enforcement of rules regardless of which Apple device a child is using.
Release Details and Developer Insights
Apple has set clear timelines for iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 distribution, with the Release Candidate now available to developers and public beta testers. The update introduces modest but meaningful changes that developers should prepare their apps for.
Release Date and Update Process
iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 are expected to be released to the public very soon, likely within a week. This follows Apple’s typical release pattern of making a Release Candidate (RC) available about a week before public launch.
The update will be delivered through the standard Software Update mechanism in Settings. Users will receive a notification when the update is available, or they can manually check by navigating to Settings > General > Software Update.
For those upgrading from iOS 18.4 or 18.4.1, the process should be relatively quick as this is a minor update. The download size is expected to be smaller than major version releases, requiring less storage space and download time.
Release Candidate and Public Beta Testers
Apple seeded the Release Candidate for iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 to developers and public beta testers on May 6, 2025. The RC version represents the final build unless critical bugs are discovered.
Public beta testers have been testing iOS 18.5 since early April through several beta iterations. Their feedback has helped refine the update before its public release. The RC version is available through:
- Developers: Apple Developer Center or over-the-air for enrolled devices
- Public Beta Testers: Beta Software Program portal or via OTA update
The Release Candidate is typically identical to the final public version, giving developers and testers a week-long head start to ensure their apps function correctly with the new system.
Implications for Developers and Future iOS Versions
The iOS & iPadOS 18.5 SDK comes bundled with Xcode 16.4, providing developers with the tools needed to optimize their apps. Although a relatively minor update, developers should test their applications thoroughly with the new version.
Key development considerations include:
- Additional design options for user interfaces
- New reversion capabilities that may affect app behavior
- Testing compatibility with the enhanced calculator features
Looking ahead, iOS 18.5 likely represents one of the final updates in the iOS 18 cycle, with Apple expected to unveil iOS 19 at WWDC in June. Developers should use this period to prepare for more significant changes coming in iOS 19, while ensuring current apps remain compatible with iOS 18.5.
Frequently Asked Questions
iOS 18.5 brings several significant updates to iPhones and iPads. The following questions address the most common inquiries about this latest operating system release.
What are the key feature enhancements introduced in the latest update of iOS 18.5?
iOS 18.5 includes a new Pride Harmony wallpaper for users to personalize their devices. The update also introduces important Mail app tweaks that improve email management functionality.
Parents will now receive notifications when the Screen Time passcode is used on a child’s device, enhancing parental controls. The update also includes a new “Buy with iPhone” feature that streamlines the purchasing process.
The AppleCare & Warranty page in Settings has received a major redesign with a bold new header, making warranty information more accessible to users.
Can you detail the security improvements made in iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5?
iOS 18.5 includes several security patches that address vulnerabilities found in previous versions. These updates strengthen protection against potential exploits and unauthorized access to user data.
The improved security framework enhances protection for sensitive information stored on devices. Additionally, Safari receives security improvements to better protect users while browsing.
Apple has implemented stronger encryption protocols for data transmission between apps and services. These enhancements work silently in the background to protect user privacy.
How does the camera functionality improve with the latest iOS and iPadOS updates?
The camera app in iOS 18.5 offers subtle but meaningful improvements to photo processing algorithms. Users may notice better color accuracy and improved low-light performance without changing their shooting habits.
Portrait mode has received fine-tuning to better detect edges around subjects. Video stabilization has also been enhanced, producing smoother footage even when recording while moving.
The photo editing tools now include more intuitive controls for adjusting exposure and contrast. These refinements make photo editing more accessible to casual photographers.
Are there any notable changes in accessibility features with iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5?
iOS 18.5 expands VoiceOver functionality with improved recognition of on-screen elements. This makes navigation easier for users with visual impairments.
Sound Recognition has been enhanced to detect more types of important sounds in the environment. The feature now works more reliably across different acoustic environments.
Text size adjustment controls have been refined for better readability across all apps. Apple has also improved gesture recognition for users with limited mobility.
What advancements have been made to Siri in the latest software updates for iPhone and iPad?
Siri demonstrates improved natural language processing in iOS 18.5. The virtual assistant now better understands context in conversations and maintains topic continuity across multiple queries.
Response times have been reduced, making interactions feel more immediate. Siri can also perform more complex tasks that previously required manual input.
The assistant now integrates more deeply with third-party apps. This allows for smoother execution of commands across different services without leaving the Siri interface.
How do the new iOS and iPadOS updates affect battery life and performance?
iOS 18.5 includes optimization for battery management that helps extend usage time between charges. Background processes have been refined to consume less power when not actively needed.
App loading times have been reduced across the system. Users should notice faster response when launching and switching between applications.
The update includes better thermal management during processor-intensive tasks. This helps prevent throttling during gaming or video editing, maintaining consistent performance levels.
