The best features of iOS 18 for parents

---

Apple’s latest iPhone update was released last week, with a host of new features to make life easier for you and your family. Here are some changes parents should be aware of to help address concerns about privacy or screen time and communication with each other.

Lock and hide your apps with Face ID

This happens every time I’m in the waiting room with my kids: I lend them my phone to play Angry Birds and they open another app.

One of the most useful updates to iOS 18 is the ability to lock specific apps with Face ID. The easiest way to implement this feature is to press and hold the app until the menu appears. Then select “Require Face ID.”

Another pop-up will appear where you can confirm your decision or select the “Hide and require Face ID” option. If you choose the latter option, the app will be moved from the home screen to the App Library in the “Hidden” category, which can only be opened with Face ID. Thanks to this, the app where your Christmas shopping list is stored is now safe from prying eyes.

Improved communication between iPhones and Androids

The green bubbles won’t go away, but if your kids have Android phones, they can’t say they didn’t receive a text sent from your iPhone. If you select “RCS Messaging” in the Messages app settings, you’ll have access to features like read receipts, typing indicators, and location settings, so users will no longer be able to claim they didn’t receive the curfew message.

That said, the feature only works if your Android phone also uses RCS. Otherwise, you’ll see the “SMS” tag in the text field and your messaging capabilities will be the same as before.

iMessage Satellite

We’ve all experienced those tense moments when Wi-Fi and cellular service were unavailable. In iOS 18, Apple expanded the Emergency SOS over satellite feature to allow iPhone 14 and later users to send messages via satellite. To see how it works, select “Satellite Demo” in the Messages app settings. You also don’t need to know how to use this feature when push is involved: when the service goes out, you’ll simply be asked to send your message via satellite. It also works for SMS, so you can send messages on both iPhones and Androids.

You will also be able to use this feature in the “Find My” app and request roadside assistance.

Apple Cash

Before the latest update, if you wanted to send money using iPhone, you had to know the recipient’s contact information or phone number to start the process. Now, if someone in your family needs a few dollars for a movie, just tap each other’s iPhones to send money using Apple Pay.

Plan your text

If you don’t want to forget to remind your child that it’s time to go home, you can use the Send Later feature in the iMessage app to let them know when curfew is approaching. Just tap the “+” symbol in the bottom left corner of the Messages app and tap “Send Later.” The default send time will appear, but just tap it to select the date and time to send the message.

Once sent, the message appears as a clear chat bubble with a dotted outline. You can adjust the sending time by tapping “Edit” next to the chat bubble or selecting “Delete message” if you no longer want to send it.

SharePlay on FaceTime

With iOS 18, you can interact with another person’s device during a FaceTime call, which will come in handy when you’re showing your grandparents how to use their iPhones.

When starting a FaceTime call, press the SharePlay button, then tap “Ask to Share.” Once the other person approves the request, their screen will appear as a window on your display so you can guide them through any issues. If you want to take control, tap the hand icon in the corner of the display. Once they approve the request, you’ll be able to remotely control their iPhone’s display. More information about this feature can be found in our guide here.

Password app

All passwords saved in iCloud Keychain have been moved to a new app called Passwords. In the app, you can share specific passwords with shared groups, including other family members, so if your kids want to log in to Disney+, they don’t have to call you at work – they can just look it up in the app.