Not Ready for iOS 26? 10 iOS 18 Tweaks You Can Make Instead

Still holding out on the inevitable update to iOS 26 ? You're not the only one; you've likely seen chatter about reports of severe battery drain and the overall disappointment with the new Liquid Glass design . Apple is clearly aware of the friction, as shown by its ongoing development of the iOS 26.2 beta . For those of us committed to the stability and performance of iOS 18, there's no reason to rush to install an OS that's unfamiliar. Zooey Liao/CNET If your iPhone is still running on iOS 18 and you're determined to maintain peak performance without touching the newer OS, you're in the right place. I've compiled 10 iOS 18 tweaks that can enhance your device's performance. Implementing these adjustments is remarkably simple, requiring as little as one minute per change. Before you consider an upgrade that could introduce lag or instability, optimizing your current OS is the best strategy. By using and modifying these lesser-known settings, you can ensure your iPhone runs smoothly and efficiently, getting the maximum performance from an OS you're familiar with. Watch this: iOS 26.1 Update Fixes Alarm, Lets You Change Liquid Glass 06:07 Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source. Turn off categories in the Mail app With email, everyone has their own way of dealing with the influx of messages. Traditionally, the Mail app has kept a chronological list, but that can get unwieldy if you also get scores of promotions, receipts and other types of email. The new categories feature creates virtual buckets for Primary, Transactions, Updates and Promotions, and guesses how your messages should be sorted. If that approach doesn't work for you, here are two things to try. • In the event that categories are somewhat useful, but you still want a chronological view of your Inbox, swipe all the way to the right of the categories and tap All Mail . • To turn off categories altogether, tap the three-dot menu ( ... ) in the top-right corner, and then tap List View . Turn off Mail Categories from within the Inbox. (iOS 18.5 beta shown here.) Screenshots by Jeff Carlson/CNET Change the default buttons on the lock screen In real estate, location is everything, and the bottom corners of the iPhone lock screen are the prime spots. Each is an easy thumb press away when your device is still locked. Before iOS 18, those posts were held by the flashlight and camera buttons, and there was no way to change them. In iOS 18, you can finally replace them with other buttons -- or remove them entirely, a balm for folks who unknowingly activate the flashlight (believe me, there's a better way to turn it on ). You can add buttons to recognize music via Shazam, enable Dark Mode, set an alarm/timer, enable Airplane Mode, open your Wallet, send money via Tap to Cash and more. Here's how: 1. On the iPhone's lock screen,...

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