iOS 18 Home Screen: Place Apps Anywhere and Dark Mode for Icons

Apple announced iOS 18 today with two notable changes for the Home Screen: the ability to place app icons anywhere, and a dark tint option for app icons.

iOS 18 Home Screen
iPhone users can now place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen, although they still must conform to an invisible grid. In other words, Apple now allows blank spaces, rows, and columns between app icons, which can reveal more of the wallpaper.

App icons can now have a dark or tinted appearance, with many color options available. Icons can be manually set to appear in dark or light mode, or they can automatically switch based on whether Dark Mode is turned on or off on the iPhone.

MacRumors was first to report about the ability to place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen, and the darker tint option, prior to WWDC.

Read our iOS 18 announcement coverage for more details about the update, which is now available in beta for members of the Apple Developer Program.

Related Roundup: WWDC 2025

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Top Rated Comments

vertsix Avatar
11 months ago
Every additional OS update there is less and less of a reason to use Android...
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SlightWince Avatar
11 months ago
As a long time Android Nexus and Pixel owner, as silly as it might seem, being able to move icons in any number (within the available space) and anywhere on the screen in IOS might finally be reason I switch to an iPhone. But it is laughable that it has taken this long to get that functionality.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ronno Avatar
11 months ago
Welcome to Android 2010
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
biracialfamily91 Avatar
11 months ago
The more customization you give me the more satisfied I am. I’m just sad it took so long to get these features.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Fan 2008 Avatar
11 months ago
The color customization is pretty awesome.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dulcimer Avatar
11 months ago
I’m probably going to be too lazy to bother with any of this lol
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)