When Apple introduced iOS 18 at WWDC 2024 in June, it promised significantly greater flexibility for customizing your iPhone’s Home Screen.
Now, with iOS 18 (and iOS 18.1) available, you’re no longer limited by default layouts and app-defined colors. Instead, you can personalize these elements to reflect your style, adding more color and freedom to your device.
If you’re curious about customizing your iPhone’s Home Screen in iOS 18, this guide is for you. We’ll walk you through the steps to add a personal touch—whether by designing unique layouts or adjusting app icon colors. Best of all, each method is simple, ensuring you can start customizing in no time.
Darken iPhone Home Screen Icons
You can easily darken your iPhone’s home screen icons by following a few straightforward steps. With iOS 18, customizing app icons has never been simpler. This feature is available regardless of whether Dark Mode is enabled.
Steps to Darken iPhone Home Screen Icons
To make your iPhone home screen icons dark, follow these steps:
- Press and hold a space on your Home Screen until the icons shake.
- Tap “Edit” in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Select “Customize” from the menu.
At the bottom of the screen, choose the “Dark” option to change your icons to a darker background. This enhances the Dark Mode experience but can also be used without activating Dark Mode on your device.
For automatic switching, select “Automatic,” which adjusts the icons between light and dark based on your iPhone’s Dark Mode settings, ensuring a smooth transition between modes.
How to Use Grid Layouts on iPhone Home Screen
Enter Jiggle Mode
Tap and hold a space on your Home Screen to enter jiggle mode. This time, instead of tapping the “Edit” button, simply allow the icons to start shaking on the screen. This action will keep your Home Screen in a state where you can freely adjust the layout without entering the editing options.
Rearrange Home Screen Icons
Now, you can easily move an app icon or widget to any desired location on your Home Screen. Unlike iOS 17 and earlier versions, iOS 18 offers more flexibility, allowing you to independently place icons in empty spaces. While icons still align to an invisible grid, this new feature gives you greater control over their positioning, making it easier to organize and personalize your Home Screen layout to suit your preferences.
How to Customize the Color of Your App Icons
- Long-press an empty area on your background to enter jiggle mode, where your apps begin to shake.
- Tap “Edit” in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select “Customize.”
- Tap the icon on the far right of the menu at the bottom of your screen labeled “Tinted.”
This will bring up a gradient scale, allowing you to adjust the hue by sliding until you find the perfect color.
Additionally, you can use the eyedropper icon in the top-right corner of the menu to pick a color from your background that matches your icons more closely. This eliminates the need to manually adjust the sliders, saving time and avoiding frustration. This change will apply to all your app icons.
How to Give Your Apps a Darker Background
- Long-press on your background to enter jiggle mode.
- Tap “Edit” in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Tap “Customize.”
- Select the icon left of center labeled “Dark.”
This will apply a nearly black background to Apple’s first-party apps, like Messages and Safari, as well as some third-party apps such as YouTube and Bluesky. Other third-party apps, like Instagram and Snapchat, will remain unchanged.
Opting for the “Dark” option can help reduce power consumption, potentially extending your iPhone’s battery life.
How to Hide App Labels in iOS 18
- Long-press a space on your background to enter jiggle mode, where your apps will start shaking.
- Tap “Edit” in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select “Customize.”
- Tap “Large” in the menu that appears at the bottom of your screen.
Your app icons will expand, and the labels beneath them will disappear, creating a cleaner, label-free look. If you prefer to see the labels again, simply follow the same steps but choose “Small.” This will revert the icons to their original size with the labels visible.
How to Organize Apps on Your Home Screen
Arranging apps on your Home Screen in iOS 18 follows the same method as before. To start, long-press on an empty area of your background to enter jiggle mode, then drag apps to your preferred location. Alternatively, you can press and hold an app, then move it to a new spot.
You have the flexibility to place your apps anywhere—near the bottom, framing your screen, or arranging in any pattern that suits your style. For instance, being right-handed, I place most of my apps on the right side for easier access without the risk of dropping my phone. This also ensures that I can showcase my background image, such as a photo of a loved one or pet.
The grid layout remains in place, meaning you can’t overlap apps or place them too closely. If you enlarge your apps, a noticeable gap will appear between your dock and the lowest row of the grid. Although it might seem large enough to fit another app, it’s not possible to place one there—I tried.
For more on iOS 18, explore what’s new in iOS 18.1, read my review of iOS 18, and check out our comprehensive iOS 18 cheat sheet. Additionally, you can get a preview of what’s coming to your iPhone with iOS 18.2.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What new features does iOS 18 offer for the Home Screen?
iOS 18 introduces more customization options, including the ability to darken app icons, change their layout, and hide app labels. You can also adjust app icon colors and use grid layouts.
How can I make my app icons dark in iOS 18?
You can enable dark app icons by entering “Customize” mode and selecting the “Dark” option. This will make your icons fit better with Dark Mode, or you can use them without Dark Mode enabled.
Can I change the size of my app icons in iOS 18?
Yes, iOS 18 allows you to enlarge app icons, which will also hide their labels. This creates a cleaner look on your Home Screen.
How do I rearrange apps on my Home Screen?
To rearrange apps, enter jiggle mode by long-pressing an empty space on your Home Screen. Then, drag the apps to your preferred position. You can organize them however you like within the grid layout.
Can I remove app labels from my iPhone Home Screen?
Yes, you can remove app labels by increasing the size of your app icons. This option is available through the “Customize” settings when in jiggle mode.
How does the automatic dark/light icon feature work?
When you select the “Automatic” option, your app icons will switch between dark and light based on the system’s Dark Mode settings, providing a seamless transition.
What is the grid layout for app icons in iOS 18?
The grid layout remains, meaning apps cannot be stacked on top of each other or placed too close together. If you enlarge your app icons, there will be a gap between them and the dock.
Conclusion
iOS 18 offers a range of exciting customization options that allow you to personalize your iPhone’s Home Screen like never before. From darkening app icons and removing labels to rearranging apps and adjusting icon sizes, the new features provide greater flexibility and ease of use. Whether you want a cleaner look, a more functional layout, or a personalized aesthetic, iOS 18 makes it simple to tailor your device to your preferences. With these enhancements, your iPhone experience is more customizable and intuitive than ever.