Just got the new iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max?
Before you simply restore your old iPhone and start using it, there are a few settings worth checking.
The latest iPhone isn't just a faster version of the previous generation. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max introduce Apple's A20 Pro chip, a new variable-aperture camera, Siri AI, new Camera controls and deeper Apple Intelligence capabilities.
That means there are more settings worth exploring than you might expect.
Some can improve your privacy.
Others can change how your notifications behave, how Face ID works or how you use the new camera.
Here are 7 iPhone 18 settings worth checking as soon as you set up your phone.
1. Turn On Siri AI
One of the biggest software changes arriving alongside the iPhone 18 Pro is the new Siri AI.
Apple describes it as a more personal and capable version of Siri, with the ability to understand personal context, recognise what's on your screen and perform actions across apps.
If you're setting up a new iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max, it's worth checking whether Siri AI is available for your device and region.
Go to:
Settings → Siri
From here, explore the available Siri AI options.
The new system can be particularly useful when you're asking Siri to work with information already on your iPhone rather than simply answering basic questions.
For example, Apple says Siri AI can work with information across messages, emails and photos and perform systemwide actions.
One thing to remember
The more useful Siri becomes, the more important it becomes to understand what information you're allowing your phone's AI features to access.
So don't just turn everything on automatically.
Review the settings and make sure you're comfortable with them.
2. Check Your Face ID & Attention Settings
Face ID isn't simply about unlocking your iPhone.
Your attention settings can affect how your iPhone handles notifications and certain screen behaviours.
Apple explains that Require Attention for Face ID means your iPhone checks that you're looking at the device before unlocking it. Attention-aware features can also affect notification expansion and other behaviours.
You can find these settings under:
Settings → Accessibility → Face ID & Attention
Check:
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Require Attention for Face ID
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Attention Aware Features
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Haptic on Successful Authentication
If privacy and security are important to you, it's worth understanding exactly what each option does rather than leaving everything untouched.
3. Decide What Appears on Your Lock Screen
Your iPhone can be locked while still displaying information.
That can be convenient.
It can also mean that someone looking at your phone can see information without unlocking it.
Think about the notifications you receive every day:
-
Messages
-
Emails
-
Banking alerts
-
Delivery notifications
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Calendar appointments
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Work notifications
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Authentication codes
You can control how notifications appear on your Lock Screen through your notification settings.
Go to:
Settings → Notifications
Then review which apps can display notifications while your iPhone is locked.
For particularly sensitive apps, consider whether you actually need the contents of a notification visible before you've unlocked the phone.
This is one of the simplest privacy improvements you can make.
4. Review Which Apps Can Access Your Information
Every time you install an app, you're potentially giving it access to some part of your iPhone.
That could include:
-
Location
-
Photos
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Camera
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Microphone
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Contacts
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Bluetooth
-
Local network
You don't have to give an app access simply because it asks for it.
Go through:
Settings → Privacy & Security
Then review the permissions you've given to your apps.
Ask yourself:
Does this app actually need this access?
A photo-editing app may need access to your photos.
A navigation app may need your location.
But there may be other apps you've forgotten about that still have permissions you no longer want them to have.
It's worth checking.
5. Review Your Location Settings
Location access can be useful.
Maps need it.
Ride-hailing apps need it.
Weather apps can use it.
But you don't necessarily need every app to know where you are all the time.
Go to:
Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services
You'll be able to see which apps have requested access to your location.
Pay particular attention to apps with:
Always
access.
If an app doesn't need continuous access, consider changing it to:
While Using the App
or disabling location access completely.
This takes a few minutes and can give you much greater control over which apps know where you are.
6. Review Your Apple Intelligence Privacy Settings
The iPhone 18 Pro is designed around Apple's latest Apple Intelligence capabilities, including the new Siri AI.
Because these features can interact with personal information and content on your device, it's worth understanding the privacy controls available to you.
Don't treat AI features as something you simply switch on and forget about.
Look through the relevant Apple Intelligence and Siri settings and understand what is happening with your information.
Apple says Siri AI can use personal context and information across apps to provide more useful responses.
For some people, that's exactly what makes the new Siri useful.
For others, limiting access may be more important.
There's no single setting that's right for everyone.
The important thing is knowing what you've enabled.
7. Customise Your New Camera Controls
If you've bought the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max for its camera, don't leave the new camera controls untouched.
Apple's new 48MP Fusion Main camera introduces variable aperture, giving users greater control over how much light enters the lens and how images are captured.
The Pro models also introduce new Pro controls that let users adjust things such as aperture, shutter speed, white balance and other photography settings.
Go into your Camera settings and explore the controls available to you.
You don't need to become a professional photographer overnight.
Just spend a few minutes learning what the new controls actually do.
The iPhone 18 Pro's camera is considerably more configurable than simply pointing and pressing the shutter.
There's One Privacy Problem Your Settings Can't Fix
There's something important missing from almost every iPhone privacy guide.
Your settings can't stop someone from physically seeing your screen.
You can:
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Lock your iPhone
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Secure your apps
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Control notifications
-
Review permissions
-
Use Face ID
-
Adjust Siri
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Control location access
But imagine you're sitting on a train.
You're replying to a private message.
Someone is sitting directly beside you.
Your iPhone is completely locked down from a software perspective.
But they can still see the screen.
That's because this isn't a digital privacy problem.
It's a visual privacy problem.
And there's no iPhone setting that can make your display invisible from the side.
This Is Where a Privacy Case Makes Sense
If you regularly use your iPhone around other people, a privacy screen can provide a layer of protection that software settings can't.
The Techterio Privacy Case incorporates privacy technology directly into the case.
From directly in front, your display remains clear.
From side angles, visibility is significantly reduced.
It also combines privacy with physical protection, meaning you're not buying a separate privacy film and then another case simply to protect the phone.
Shop the Techterio Privacy Case
The case is designed with a two-piece construction and includes MagSafe compatibility, while the product page lists 360° coverage and impact protection.
That makes it particularly relevant if you use your iPhone:
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On trains
-
On flights
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In cafés
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At work
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At university
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In shared offices
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In other crowded public spaces
Because protecting your iPhone isn't only about protecting it from being dropped.
It's also about protecting what's on the screen.
Your iPhone 18 Privacy Checklist
Once you've set up your new iPhone, take a few minutes to check:
Security
- Face ID settings
- Require Attention
- Lock Screen notifications
- App permissions
- Location Services
Apple Intelligence
- Siri AI settings
- Personal context settings
- Apple Intelligence privacy options
Camera
- Camera Control
- Variable aperture
- Pro controls
- Your preferred camera settings
Physical privacy
- Can people beside you see your screen?
- Do you regularly use your iPhone in public?
- Would a privacy screen be useful?
If the answer to the final question is yes, consider a privacy case rather than relying solely on software settings.
Explore the Techterio iPhone Privacy Case
Final Thoughts
The iPhone 18 Pro is packed with new technology.
Between Siri AI, Apple Intelligence, the new variable-aperture camera and expanded controls, there's more to configure than simply restoring your previous iPhone backup.
The best approach isn't to change every setting blindly.
Instead, spend a few minutes reviewing the settings that affect:
Security.
Privacy.
Notifications.
Location.
AI.
Camera.
And remember that digital privacy and physical privacy are two different things.
Your iPhone's settings can control who gets access to your information.
But they can't stop someone sitting beside you from seeing what's already displayed on your screen.
For that, physical privacy protection can make sense.
Shop the Techterio Privacy Case
Set up your iPhone properly. Then protect what you've put on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What settings should I change on my iPhone 18?
Start by reviewing Face ID and attention settings, Lock Screen notifications, app permissions, Location Services, Siri and Apple Intelligence settings. You should also explore the new camera controls if you have an iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max.
How do I make my iPhone 18 more private?
Review which apps have access to your location, photos, camera and microphone, and control what information appears on your Lock Screen. Apple also provides privacy controls for Siri and Apple Intelligence.
Can iPhone 18 settings stop people seeing my screen?
No. Software settings can protect access to your information, but they cannot physically prevent someone beside you from seeing your display.
Does the iPhone 18 have a privacy screen?
The iPhone itself does not have a built-in privacy screen that automatically restricts viewing from side angles. A physical privacy solution, such as the Techterio Privacy Case, is designed to address this.
What is new about the iPhone 18 Pro camera?
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max introduce a 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture, allowing the camera to adjust how much light enters the lens. Apple also introduced new Pro camera controls.
Should I turn on Siri AI on my iPhone 18?
Siri AI provides new capabilities including personal context, onscreen awareness and systemwide actions. Whether you enable all available features depends on how much functionality and personalisation you want from Siri.
How do I protect my iPhone 18 screen from people looking at it?
A physical privacy screen can reduce visibility from side angles. The Techterio Privacy Case integrates privacy technology into its front section while also providing physical protection.