Apple has released the update for iOS 18.5 to the public, with the newly issued operating system’s relatively few changes including alterations to Mail and iPhone 13 carrier-provided satellite functionality.
Following another round of developer betas that included four betas and a release candidate, Apple has finally brought out its latest iteration of iOS. The release is build number 22F76m, one up from the 22F75 build number of the RC build from May 6.
The update, which brings the operating system to iOS 18.5, is a little lighter than usual for an iOS update. This time, there are no Apple Intelligence changes, but there are still a lot of smaller elements that could make some users happy.
Sparing changes
The first real updates in the release to be uncovered center around Mail, which now has a setting to display or hide contact photos, without needing to change it in the Settings app. It’s also possible to disable the “Group by Sender” view.
Speaking of the Settings app, there are small changes to do with the AppleCare & Warranty section. It includes a new header that explains the service and links to the website.
Another widely reported change that Apple itself confirmed are a new set of wallpapers. The 2025 Pride Wallpaper Collection continues Apple’s annual tradition of releasing Pride Edition Apple Watch bands, watch faces, and wallpapers to champion LGBTQ+ equality.
The 2025 version of the wallpapers consists of bold rainbow stripes, which can shift around depending on how the user moves and unlocks their device.
An unexpected late change discovered in the RC build was support for carrier-provided satellite features in the iPhone 13 range. Previously, this was limited to the iPhone 14 and later generations, but now there’s support with the iPhone 13 family of devices, if they’re used on a carrier that supports the feature.
Other alterations in the iOS 18.5 release include a Screen Time feature that alerts parents when a passcode is successfully entered on a child’s device. This can help prevent a child from making unauthorized changes, if the child happens to discover the passcode.
The Apple Vision Pro app has also been updated to fix an occasional issue when it would display a black screen.
The update also includes a selection of security improvements, bug fixes, and other background alterations to improve performance.
How to install iOS 18.5
To install iOS 18.5 on an iPhone manually, open the Settings app, select General, then Software Update. With beta updates turned off, the final release version will appear unless it has already been installed.
Not everyone needs to do this manually. It’s only if a user has set their iPhone not to automatically update.
