Sources: iOS 18 Lets Apps Be Placed Anywhere on Home Screen Grid

[MacRumors]

iOS 18 will give iPhone users greater control over Home Screen app icon arrangement, according to sources familiar with the matter.

While app icons will likely remain locked to an invisible grid system on the Home Screen, to ensure there is some uniformity, our sources say that users will be able to arrange icons more freely on iOS 18. For example, we expect that the update will introduce the ability to create blank spaces, rows, and columns between app icons.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman was first to report that the iPhone would get a "more customizable" Home Screen starting with iOS 18. It is already possible to customize the Home Screen and create blank app icons with apps such as Shortcuts and Widgetsmith, but Apple's own personalization options will be more convenient and official.

iPhone users have already been able to customize the Lock Screen since iOS 16, and we expect the Home Screen to receive similar treatment with iOS 18. The update will introduce additional customization options for the Home Screen, according to our sources, and this could result in the biggest Home Screen revamp in several years.

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Apple will announce iOS 18 at its annual developers conference WWDC in June. Other features and changes rumored for the update include new generative AI functionality for Siri and multiple apps, RCS support in the Messages app for improved messaging between iPhones and Android devices, design changes, and more.

Article Link: Sources: iOS 18 Lets Apps Be Placed Anywhere on Home Screen Grid

 

[schneeland]

It's a small thing, but finally being able to get rid of all these transparent icons on my home screen(s) would be quite nice.

 

[antiprotest]

Tim Cook said they will break new grounds. Tim Cook delivers. Innovation at its best. Many might say Apple is more than a decade behind, but as MacRumors users let us know, Apple is often late, but when they finally offers a feature, they make it better than everyone else. Putting aside the obvious question of why they wouldn't offer it right along with everyone else and then make it better, rather than making users wait for years without the features at all...I am certain Apple's blank space will be more blank and polished than Android's!

 

[IllegitimateValor]

Apple reading MacRumors; seeding rumor pool.

 

[vegetassj4]

" the update will introduce the ability to create blank spaces, rows, and columns between app icons."

This is the most customizable iOS we have ever created, with state-of-the-art icon placement, the best row/column system yet that enables game-changing new layouts, and all new emojicons, which ushers in a new chapter of performance gains never before seen on iPhone. You're going to love it.

all it took was a little courage:

 

[Kylo83]

I hope we get new icons

 

[tgwaste]

more apps per row and column is what i want the most.

 

[munpip214]

Unfortunately, due to this innovative, Home Screen layout customization, Siri will get the back burner…again.

 

[drumcat]

Can we PLEASE get a mode where the icons stay still as you rotate? Especially iPad?

 

[mcru21]

truly groundbreaking. they finally figured it out

 

[Blue Hawk]

I would like to have the same as on the Mac. Changing the green color in the settings into one of my choice.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

But Launchpad on Mac will continue to languish, no?

 

[Baritone_Guy]

About freaking time. I want to be able to plant an icon on the screen and have it stay there.

Being able to adjust the size would also be nice as would having more icons in the launcher at the bottom. 4 is too few. I can get 14 on my iPad plus the new additions for recently used and all apps on the bottom right.

 

[Motawa]

Okay cool and themes and Apple Watch faces third party in 2035?

 

[Kylo83]

If it’s the same icons I won’t be happy lol

 

[boswald]

Please give us the “frosted glass” Vision Pro UI next!

 

[daanodinot]

Well, at least we had to wait only 17 years.

 

[dumastudetto]

Unfortunately, due to this innovative, Home Screen layout customization, Siri will get the back burner…again.

Siri is already crazy good. It’s incredible how much it can do for us today.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Siri is already crazy good. It’s incredible how much it can do for us today.

Thanks for your input, Tim!

 

[Kottu]

I do hope that it will be possible to edit App Library. However, Apple gonna talk half an hour about customising capabilities which were available in Android in ages.

 

[robvalentine]

Can’t wait for some Mac rumours readers to get upset about adding choice.

 

[AndiG]

„update include new generative AI functionality (from Google/Android) for Siri and“.
That said, Google will give Apple „some“ functionality, reassuring Android stays in front of iOS.

 

[robvalentine]

Siri is already crazy good. It’s incredible how much it can do for us today.

I take it you have never used Siri?

 

[onthebuses]

It’s moving away from a key design principle if true, and to add a possible deal with Google and AI. Very risky. It’s dilution of the Apple USP.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

The power of AI, I'm telling you