iOS 18 Will Finally Allow You To Customize App Icon Layout On The iPhone’s Home Screen To Create Blank Spaces

In June of 2024, Apple is set to unveil its largest iPhone update yet at the WWDC event, along with watchOS 11, macOS 15, and various other updates for its products. Despite the company’s focus on incorporating generative AI technology into its platform, there is even more to look forward to. Recent reports suggest that iOS 18 will introduce the long-awaited feature of allowing users to create free spaces on their iPhone’s Home Screen, complete with enhanced customization options.

Apple introduces app icon customization on iOS 18 for a personalized Home Screen experience

According to analyst Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter, iOS 18 is set to be Apple’s largest update for the iPhone yet, thanks in part to the inclusion of generative AI utilities. These new additions will make it the most significant update since the debut of the handset. Gurman also mentioned that Apple intends to introduce more customization options for the Home Screen with the release of iOS 18. While the specifics have not been revealed, more information has since surfaced about the upcoming changes and their potential impact on the user experience.

According to sources familiar with the matter, iOS 18 will introduce a new feature that allows users to customize the Home Screen by creating empty spaces, including empty columns and rows (via MacRumors). Currently, the app icons on the iPhone’s Home Screen are constrained to an invisible grid, which does not allow for any empty spaces. This results in a cluttered appearance as app icons automatically fill up any available space. However, this is set to change with the upcoming update as Apple has finally decided to give users the option to create empty spaces on their Home Screen without any app icons.

It is worth noting that sources indicate that apps will continue to adhere to the grid structure, however, users will now have the ability to personalize their layout to a greater extent. According to MacRumors, users will have the option to create open spaces on their Home Screen, which can encompass an entire row or column. This feature will be significant for iPhone users, as Apple has never allowed for blank spaces on the Home Screen in the past.

If you enjoy customizing the default settings, you may already be aware that it is currently possible to create black space on the iPhone with iOS 17. However, this can only be achieved through the use of Shortcuts and Widgetsmith, as it is not an official feature promoted by Apple. In addition, iOS 18 is expected to introduce a plethora of new generative AI features for the iPhone, such as a revamped Siri and Spotlight Search. With all of these features combined, iOS 18 could potentially be Apple’s most significant update for the iPhone thus far.