Slow iPhone on iOS 18? The guide to getting it back to speed

It's an almost predictable cycle: Apple releases a new version of its operating system, millions of users enthusiastically update, and within a few days, forums and social media are flooded with a recurring complaint: "My iPhone is incredibly slow." The arrival of iOS 18 has been no exception. If you've noticed apps taking longer to open, animations feeling choppy, or your battery draining faster, it's not your imagination.

Post-update slowdowns are a real problem that affects even the latest models. Although Apple doesn't advertise it, this phenomenon is due to a combination of internal system processes and the need for optimization. The good news is that, in most cases, it can be solved.

Why does your iPhone become slow after an update?

Before moving on to solutions, it's important to understand the root cause. It's not (usually) a conspiracy to get you to buy a new model. The reasons are technical:

* Background Reindexing: After a major update, your iPhone needs to "reorganize" all of its files. It performs intensive tasks like reindexing the Spotlight database (for searches), analyzing your photo library for new features, and recalibrating the battery. This process can take hours or even days and is resource-intensive.

* Cache and residual files: The update may leave corrupt or unnecessary temporary files that interfere with system performance.

* App incompatibility: Apps that haven't been updated by their developers to be 100% compatible with iOS 18 may run inefficiently, causing crashes and slowness.

The Ultimate Guide: 7 Steps to Speed ​​Up Your iPhone with iOS 18

Follow these steps in order. You probably won't need to do them all, but this list covers everything from the quickest solutions to the most in-depth ones.

Step 1: Force Restart (Rather than Powering Off and On)

A hard restart clears your phone's RAM and stops any stuck processes.

* How to do it: Quickly press and release the volume up button, then quickly press and release the volume down button. Finally, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

Step 2: Free up storage space (The 15% rule)

An iPhone with nearly full storage is a slow iPhone. iOS needs free space (ideally, 15-20% of the total) to run optimally.

* Action: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. The system will give you recommendations, such as "Uninstall Unused Apps" (preserves data) or review large files. Delete photos, videos, and apps you no longer need.

Step 3: Disable background refresh

This feature allows apps to update themselves, but it consumes battery and resources. Disabling it for apps that don't need it is one of the most effective ways to improve performance.

* Action: Go to Settings > General > Background Refresh. You can disable it completely, or better yet, leave it on only for essential apps (like messaging or email).

"For smooth operation, your iPhone needs a good amount of free space. If iOS 18 is slow, try freeing up memory. This is often the main culprit." – Source: InsanelyMac Technical Guide.

Step 4: Reduce visual effects

The animations and transparencies in iOS 18 are aesthetically pleasing, but they do require extra effort from the graphics processor, especially on older models.

* Action: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and turn on Reduce Motion. This will replace the zoom animations with a simpler, faster fade-in and fade-out.

Step 5: Update all your apps

As we mentioned, an unoptimized app can slow down your entire system.

* Action: Open the App Store, tap your profile icon in the top right corner, and select Update All.

Step 6: Clear the keyboard dictionary

Sometimes, a corrupted keyboard dictionary can cause delays when typing. Resetting it may fix the problem.

* Action: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset and select Reset Keyboard Dictionary. Don't worry, this won't erase your data.

Step 7: The “Nuclear Option” – Reset all settings

If none of the above works, this is the last resort before considering a full reset. This option returns all system settings to their factory settings without erasing your data, apps, or files.

* Action: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset and select Reset All Settings. You'll need to reconfigure things like Wi-Fi and wallpaper, but this often fixes underlying performance issues.

Give your iPhone at least a couple of days after the update to complete its internal processes. If, after that time and following this guide, the slowness persists, it could be an indication that the battery needs to be replaced, as a degraded battery can cause Apple to throttle the device's performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns.