Update your iPhone today to get 'extremely useful feature' from Apple

If you have an in your pocket you can reach for it right now and head to the settings app today to download the latest new software update. has just released iOS 18.5, which brings a slew of new features and upgrades to iPhones dating back to 2018.

That means if you have an iPhone XR, XS or newer then you'll have this latest update waiting for you.

It's always a good idea to keep your iPhone updated with the most recent software, as Apple pushes them out regularly with security patches to keep you safe from hackers and other fixes for bugs that might be causing issues on your phone.

Here's exactly what you get added to your iPhone when you update to iOS 18.5, according to Apple:

This update also includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

A new Pride Harmony wallpaper

Parents now receive a notification when the Screen Time passcode is used on a child's device

Buy with iPhone is available when purchasing content within the Apple TV app on a 3rd party device

Fixes an issue where the Apple Vision Pro app may display a black screen

You can also check out Apple's full list of security updates that come with iOS 18.5, and are also applied to iPadOS 18.5, here. They include bug fixes to Call History, Bluetooth, audio, FaceTime, Mail, Notes and other widely used apps and services.

"iOS 18.5 includes a notable update to Screen Time, which now sends a parental notification when the correct Screen Time passcode is entered on a child's device," said Michael Covington, VP of Strategy at Jamf. "This is an extremely useful feature that helps parents to verify that changes to Screen Time restrictions are as they intended.

iOS 18.5 also contains fixes for over 30 bugs and vulnerabilities. We recommend users update as quickly as possible, particularly given that this update is smaller and largely focused on security enhancements."

You might not have encountered issues with your iPhone but updating will ensure its smooth running.

But there's one handy update UK iPhone owners won't benefit from that those over the pond will.

US owners of any iPhone 13 model (iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max) all gain "carrier-provided satellite features" when updating to iOS 18.5, according to Apple.

All iPhones released since and including the iPhone 14 series have built-in satellite messaging features for use in remote locations without signal in case of emergency. The iPhone 13 phones don't have this, but today's software update unlocks the use of such tools when provided by US mobile operator T-Mobile.

Such features have not been enabled for iPhone 13 owners in the UK, sadly. It's possible they will be in the future.

The file to download iOS 18.5 is a meaty 1.5GB, so be sure to connect to your home Wi-Fi network before downloading