Tech Drivers

Apple's iOS 12 for iPhones and iPads is out now, here's how to install it

Key Points
  • Apple's iOS 12 for iPhone and iPad is out now.
  • It has a lot of new features, like speed improvements, Memoji and controls that let you manage how long you use apps.
  • Here's how to install iOS 12 on your iPhone.
How to get the most out of Apple's iOS 12
VIDEO4:1404:14
How to get the most out of Apple's iOS 12

Apple released its next big iPhone and iPad update Monday. It's called iOS 12 and it has a lot of new features, but also seems like a big refinement over iOS 11, which Apple released last year.

Features include a new option called Screen Time that shows how long you've been using apps on your phone. If you're worried about using one too much, like Facebook, you can set a timer so that it won't open after a predetermined amount of usage in a single day.

Apple also improved notifications, allowing you to group them and dismiss them much quicker, instead of flooding your lock screen with loads of messages.

There's a totally redesigned Stocks app that becomes a lot more useful for casual market watchers. It lets you track your portfolio like before but will also show news on all of the companies you follow. You can also tap a stock to see historical data.

Everything you need to know about Apple's newest products in three minutes
VIDEO3:2003:20
Everything you need to know about Apple's newest products in three minutes

Another new feature, Memoji, lets you create an animated digital version of yourself. It's a lot like Animoji, which were introduced in iOS 11 for the iPhone X, and can mimic your facial expressions using the front-facing camera on your iPhone X. It's not supported by devices that don't have Face ID.

A new Measure app is also included in the release, and lets you measure almost anything with your iPhone using the augmented reality features in iOS. The beta version wasn't a perfect replacement for a regular measuring tape, but it's good if you need a quick estimate when you're in a bind and don't have a real tape measure.

Siri is getting improved, too, with new Siri Shortcuts. It will let you create custom commands for Siri. If you want to use it to set a command to open the News app when you say "check the news," for example, you can do that.

Apple also says iOS 12 will be faster, which means you should see apps open a bit quicker than before, and might notice less lag if your iPhone has been feeling slower. Apple says this specifically applies to when you're multitasking, or running lots of apps at the same time.

Group FaceTime, which will let you hold a video call at the same time with multiple people, was delayed from the initial iOS 12 release. It will come later in a separate update.

The update is available now. Here's how you can install it on your iPhone or iPad:

  • Open Settings.
  • Tap General
  • Tap "Software Update"

Your iPhone or iPad will check for an update and, if it's available, will begin to download it.

WATCH: Apple iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max review

Apple iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max review
VIDEO3:2203:22
Apple iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max review — the best phones you can buy