iOS 14, released in September 2020, boasts new features, a home screen design overhaul, and updates to existing apps. If you have a supported iPhone, we'll show you all the best new features and how to take advantage of them.

Does My iPhone Support iOS 14?

If your iPhone can run iOS 13, then you'll be able to run iOS 14. However, some older phones may not be able to enjoy some of the latest features (notably camera updates).

Here is a full list of supported iPhones for the iOS 14 update (the iPhone 12 line ships with iOS 14 installed):

  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone XS
  • iPhone XS Max
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone X
  • iPhone 8
  • iPhone 8 Plus
  • iPhone 7
  • iPhone 7 Plus
  • iPhone 6s
  • iPhone 6s Plus
  • iPhone SE (1st and 2nd generation)
  • iPod touch (7th generation)

How Do I Update to iOS 14?

If you haven't already received a notification on your iPhone prompting you to update to iOS 14, follow these simple steps to install the update:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select General.
  3. Choose Software Update.

The update will begin a verification, processing, and installation process. Follow the prompts on your iPhone to install iOS 14. It should be a simple process, but just in case, we recommend backing up your iPhone before installing any updates.

Once the update completes, here are the neat new features you should check out in iOS 14.

1. Home Screen Overhaul

Undoubtedly the biggest change that iOS 14 brought are the new home screen customization features. It's now easier than ever to personalize your iPhone without jailbreaking it.

Below are some of our coolest features on the new home screen.

Widgets

ios 14 home screen changes overhaul

While Android users have enjoyed this feature for quite some time, iPhone users can now add helpful widgets to get info at a glance. These include ones for weather, news, photos, music, and more. To add a widget, enable "jiggle mode" on your iPhone by holding an empty area of the Home screen, then tap the Plus button at the top.

You'll be able to add a list of Apple widgets as well as ones for third-party apps installed on your phone. There's an option to adjust size and layout on each widget to ensure everything fits just the way you want it to.

Hide Home Screens

Now you have the option to choose the Home screens you want to see (or hide). You can re-enable their view at any point, or keep them hidden and still find your apps in the App Library.

Smart Stack

Smart Stack is a widget that makes information panels like Weather and Maps available to view at a quick glance. The idea is that you can flick through helpful widgets by simply using your finger to scroll up or down.

If you press and hold on the Smart Stack widget and choose Edit Stack, you'll be able to adjust the apps shown, re-order them, and enable Smart Rotate.

App Library

The App Library solves the problem of storing apps in folders to de-clutter your home screen. Now you can tidy up all of your apps and access them easily via the App Library.

In jiggle mode, you can choose to remove an app from your home screen, or from your iPhone entirely. When you swipe to the right on your home screens, you'll be able to access the App Library where apps are categorized for you, or you can search for an app of your choosing.

2. Enhanced Voice Memo Recordings

ios 14 voice recording enhancement

If you've ever used your iPhone to record voice memos, you may have noticed there wasn't a feature to reduce the background noise. If you're someone that likes to make voice notes on the go, record your shopping list, or chat to friends, you're definitely going to enjoy this update.

To reduce background noise through Apple's Enhanced Recording option, follow these simple steps:

  1. Make a recording.
  2. Select the three-dot ellipsis menu.
  3. Select Edit Recording.
  4. Tap the Magic Wand Icon.
  5. Select Done.

In addition to enhancing your recordings, you can organize voice memos into different folders and mark individual recordings as favorites for a later date.

3. Change Your Default Browser App

ios 14 default browser app

Any time you tap a link on your iPhone, you've probably noticed that this take you to Safari, even if you have other browsers installed.

While the majority of iOS users do use Safari, it's nice to have the choice of which browser your iPhone defaults to. And now you can—iOS 14 allows you to set most browser apps installed on your iPhone as the default browser.

Here's how you can change the default browser on your iPhone:

  1. Update your browser in the App Store to make sure it's compatible with this option in iOS 14.
  2. Open Settings.
  3. Scroll down until you see the browser you want your iPhone to use by default and select it.
  4. Scroll down to the Allow Access section.
  5. Select Default Browser App.
  6. Choose the browser you want to set as the default.

Now you can enjoy your favorite browser all the time, even when you open links from your email and other sources.

4. Direct Reply in iMessage Groups

Anyone who's part of many group iMessages will know how crazy they can get, especially with all the fun things you can do with the iMessage app. This is especially true if there are more than three people in the group.

For a long time, apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger have allowed you to reply directly to other messages. This is useful because if there are multiple people chatting about different topics, you can specify who you're responding to. Or if you only catch up on a conversation well after the fact, a direct response is much clearer than a random reply to something mentioned hours ago.

Thankfully, iOS 14 allows you to reply directly to specific messages in iMessage. All you have to do is hold your finger down on the message you want to reply to, and you'll see an option to Reply, with other messages being grayed out.

5. No More Scroll Wheels

ios 14 calendar scroll wheel

How many times have you gone to set an alarm on your iPhone or pick a time in your calendar app and accidentally scrolled past the time you wanted? While that old scroll wheel could be hypnotizing, it wasn't very precise. Thankfully, in iOS 14, this is gone (if you want it to be).

To enter time for an alarm (for example), your iPhone will now bring up a keyboard for you to type in the desired time, or a visual calendar for entering a date. However, if you still want to use the scroll wheel, the option is still there. Simply hold your finger down on the time/date selection and scroll to your heart's content.

6. Hide Your Photos

ios 14 hidden album toggle

iOS has allowed you to hide photos for some time. However, the photo would be moved to a folder called Hidden, which was still accessible from the Photos app.

In order to hide a photo in iOS 14, simply view it and select Share > Hide. With the latest iOS update, you can now actually hide the hidden folder, meaning your secret photos are actually invisible.

Follow these quick steps to hide your hidden album:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Select Photos.
  3. Tap on Hidden Album.
  4. Toggle Off.

Your photos will still exist, but your hidden album won't be visible. The only way you can unhide your hidden album is to go back into Settings and toggle this option On again.

7. Caption Photos

If you've ever wanted to quickly add a caption to your photos, you'll be pleased to know that iOS 14 has introduced this feature. Rather than the laborious task of selecting Markup on photos and fiddling around with the awkward settings, you can now easily add a caption to any photo or video in your camera roll.

All you have to do is swipe up on the image or video and type straight onto it. This also makes it much easier to find photos at a later date, by giving them names such as "Fireworks 2020."

8. Hide Your Precise Location

It's well-known that phones and smart devices track your location and what you're up to. Unfortunately, there's a huge market for data mining to make people a lot of money (and worse).

iOS 14 has made it possible to turn your precise location on or off. Some apps require your precise location, such as in an emergency or if your car has broken down. However, in most cases, it's doubtful that you really want Twitter or KFC knowing your exact location.

To turn precise location on/off for an app, follow these quick steps:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Navigate to Privacy.
  3. Select Location Services.
  4. Select each app you want to toggle Precise Location On/Off.

Continue Exploring iOS 14

iOS 14 is one of the biggest updates the iPhone has had in a while. In addition to these major features, smaller tricks and hidden features should make their way out of the woodwork before long.

Be sure to protect your updated phone with a case. Then, why not look more closely at some of the widget options available?