How to Fix the 6 Most Annoying iOS 18 Update Settings

Every new iPhone update comes with new features that may take users time to get used to. The iOS 18 update is unique, offering brand-new ways to customize your device and test Apple Intelligence features. We'll teach you how to tweak your settings to turn this new iPhone update into a blessing rather than a curse.

How to Fix the 6 Most Annoying iOS 18 Update Settings 

iOS 18 update complaints include a cluttered Control Center, an inconveniently redesigned Photos app, an overzealous "type to Siri" button, a spammy Primary folder in the Mail app, over-the-top Apple Intelligence text suggestions, and useless notification summaries. We'll teach you how to fix all of these new iPhone update problems so you can focus on all the software improvements. 

1. Simplify the Cluttered Multi-Page Control Center.

For the past few years, the Control Center has only had one page, so users had to pick and choose what to keep in the limited space. iOS 18 added pages, turned even more features into Control Center icons, and made it possible for users to change the size of some of the controls. All great changes, except by default, your Control Center now has five pages showcasing controls that you might never even use.  

Some users prefer to revert their Control Center to just one page. This is done by deleting every icon on a page so that it disappears. If you want to take advantage of the new features in a meaningful way, consider ways you can bundle or split up your most-used icons, size your favorites up or down, and organize controls by creating strategic gaps. The beauty of customization is that one size does not fit all, and you can do whatever suits your needs.

2. Customize the Photos App Based on Your Needs.

The Photos app got some new features and a huge redesign with iOS 18. The main difference is that we no longer have tabs so everything is in one place and it is possible to customize what you see. By default, every single visible section, which Apple calls collections, will be shown. This means that you might be scrolling for a long time just to reach something simple like your albums, screenshots, or even your recently deleted folder. Now, you will have to scroll to the very bottom at least once to tap the Customize & Reorder button. I recommend doing it slowly so that you can see all the new elements you have the option of displaying in the app.

Once you tap Customize & Reorder, you can tap whichever collections you wish to hide. Visible collections will have a blue check mark, while hidden ones will show an empty white circle. The icon with three lines (burger icon) on the right can be used to drag the collections up and down to reorder them. Personally, I prefer to keep things simple by only keeping Albums, Media Types, and Utilities in that order. I have kept this customization for over a month without getting lost in the Photos app or feeling like I'm missing out on anything. If I ever change my mind, I'll just quickly re-customize the app based on my preferences. 

3. Turn Off the New Type to Siri Button.

 

iOS 18 gave Siri quite the glow-up both aesthetically and functionally. There is also a new way to silently activate Siri directly from your Home Screen pages by double-tapping the bottom edge of your iPhone, the same place you see a black bar on your Lock Screen. If you’re not sure if you are tapping in the correct area, try tapping just once until you see a rainbow bar.

Not only is the activation request silent, but you will also see a keyboard pop-up so that you can type your command. This is perfect if you’re in public and don’t want to be disruptive, or if you  are asking Siri an embarrassing question, like “What is 2+2?” While some users are overjoyed, others don’t use this feature, at least not on purpose.  

If it keeps showing up while you’re trying to tap, swipe, or do something completely unrelated on your iPhone, you might prefer to turn it off. If this is all you toggle off in the Talk & Type to Siri settings, you’ll still be able to activate Siri by pressing and holding the Side button. However, you will have to speak your request out loud rather than typing it. So, if you decide that you want to use Type to Siri after all, go back into your settings and toggle it back on.

4. Get Rid of the Priority Section in the Mail App.

The Primary folder showed up in the Mail app with the iOS 18 software update. Some users report that the feature isn't working as it should because it isn't correctly prioritizing emails, while others just prefer to revert to their old inbox. You can quickly toggle off Show Priority by tapping the More menu directly in the Mails app. You can always turn it back on if you want to give Apple Intelligence a second chance - it will probably get better in the future. For more Apple Intelligence tips, don’t forget to check out our free Tip of the Day newsletter!

5. Toggle Off Apple Intelligence Messages Suggestions.

The Messages app has always offered text suggestions, and users find them to be hit or miss. Apple Intelligence is supposed to help make these suggestions even better, offering longer form phrases or even sentences. The suggestions use your personal writing style, which is gathered from your previous communication on your iPhone, as well as data from incoming messages to generate an appropriate response. When a suggestion uses the new Apple Intelligence feature, the text will have a rainbow-colored wave pass over the letters. 

While the suggestions can be good, helpful, and time-saving, it can feel fake to respond with a tap suggested by AI. For example, if someone messages you that they love you, just tapping an automatic, "I love you too" feels disingenuous. Plus, sometimes the responses are not appropriate or just don't sound like you. Unfortunately, it isn't possible to turn off only the new Apple Intelligence suggestions; you'll have to follow the steps to turn off all predictive text in your Keyboard settings.

6. Revert to Un-Summarized Notifications.

When you get long messages or multiple notifications, your notifications will be automatically summarized by Apple Intelligence. Not everyone likes or needs this feature because, for one thing, you still need to look at individual notifications to see what's going on. Another reason is that Apple Intelligence isn't perfect, and it can make mistakes that might cause you to misunderstand a notification unless you look at it yourself. Fortunately, reverting to regular notifications is easy:

1. Open Settings.
   
   
2. Tap Notifications.
   
   
3. Select Summarize Notifications.
   
   
4. Turn them off for specific apps by tapping on the green toggle next to the respective app.
   
   
5. Or toggle them all off at the very top of the page.
   
   

Now you know how to get your regular notifications back!

We hope our six suggestions help you have a smoother iPhone experience. The new iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence features are very exciting, but you might not want to use them all at once, at all, or until they work better after a couple of software updates. Next, learn more about all the Apple Intelligence features that are available to you!