iOS 14: A Quick Tour of All the New Features

Over the course of the iOS 14 beta test, we here at MacRumors have been putting together in-depth feature guides, tutorial videos, and how tos on the new features in the iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 updates.

How To iOS 14 Feature

Many of our MacRumors readers have likely been running the betas for a couple of months now, but those who are new to the update will want to check out all of the content we have available below. It's also a great resource to send to friends and family members who have questions about iOS and iPadOS 14 content.

So...You Just Installed iOS 14?

If you just installed iOS 14, it's always a little daunting to figure out how to take advantage of all the new features. We made this video to walk a new iOS 14 user through the first things you should do to start taking advantage of the new features.

Now that you're set up with the basics, let's move on to our top iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 features.

Top iOS 14 Features for iPhone

In our Top iOS 14 Features article and video, we highlighted what we thought were the best features of the release. Watch the video or read the article which dives into the features in a bit more depth.

Video time index links:

iPad-Specific Features in iPadOS 14

iPad owners also get a number of new features specifically for their devices. iPadOS 14 Features You Need to Know covered notable iPad-only features that can be found in the latest update. Similarly, the video will take you through them all but the article expands on each feature.

Video time index links:

More Subtle "Hidden" Features

Once you've absorbed all that, here's our "hidden" feature list that incorporates lesser known items that we've found and liked in iOS 14:

This video covers features like sound recognition, 4K YouTube, FaceTime eye contact, and more.

In Depth iOS 14 Feature Guides

These are in-depth guides that cover all the new features in the main sections of iOS 14.

  • Home Screen Setup: App Library, Widgets, Hiding Apps
  • Compact Interface: Phone Calls, FaceTime, Siri and More
  • Privacy Features: Approximate Location, Clipboard Access Warnings, Limited Photos Access and More
  • Photos and Camera: QuickTake Shortcut, Photo Captions, Mirrored Selfies, and More
  • Messages: Pinned Chats, Inline Replies, Mentions
  • Safari: Privacy Report, Built-In Translation, Compromised Password Alerts and More
  • Sleep Features: Sleep Mode, Wind Down, Sleep Tracking and More
  • Translate: Apple's Built-In Translate App That Works With 11 Languages
  • Maps: Cycling Directions, Guides, Refine Location and More
  • New AirPods Features: Spatial Audio, Better Automatic Device Switching, Battery Notifications and More
  • Magnifier Gets Overhauled UI and New Features, Can Be Added to Home Screen

Useful How Tos

iOS 14 Discussion

MacRumors readers use our iOS 14 forum to discuss software performance, minor tweaks, apps, and more. Our forums are also a great resource if you need iOS 14 help.

More Help

Have a question not covered in our guides and how tos? Let us know in the comments or send us an email here. Send us an email here. You can always find more on all of the iOS 14 features in our iOS 14 roundup.

Related Forum: iOS 14

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

iOS 26.1 Beta Liquid Glass Battery Drain Test: Tinted vs Clear Mode

Friday October 24, 2025 2:30 pm PDT by
In the fourth iOS 26.1 beta, Apple added a "Tinted" option that reduces the translucency of Liquid Glass for those who prefer a more opaque look. I saw some comments wondering whether the setting might preserve battery life, so I thought I'd do some testing. Test Settings I did four separate tests using the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and I kept the parameters as similar as possible. Here are the...
iOS 26 Maps Glass

Apple Reportedly Moving Ahead With Ads in Maps App

Sunday October 26, 2025 6:22 am PDT by
Apple Maps could feature integrated ads as soon as next year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple's plan to bring more ads to iOS is moving "gaining traction," with the Maps app being next in line. The project will apparently give restaurants and other businesses the option to pay to have their details featured more prominently in...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Coming Soon With These 8 New Features for Your iPhone

Wednesday October 22, 2025 6:15 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones, including a toggle for changing the appearance of the Liquid Glass design, "slide to stop" for alarms in the Clock app, and more. iOS 26.1 is currently in beta testing. The update will likely be released in the first half of November, and it is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer, but some...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Coming Soon: New Features for Your iPhone and Release Date

Monday October 27, 2025 7:55 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones, including a toggle for changing the appearance of the Liquid Glass design, "slide to stop" for alarms in the Clock app, and more. Below, we outline key details about iOS 26.1. Release Date Given that Apple has yet to seed an iOS 26.1 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, the...
iPhone 17 Colors

iPhone 18 Rumored to Feature 50% More RAM

Saturday October 25, 2025 2:57 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 could feature 50% more memory than its predecessor, according to Korea's The Bell. With its latest iPhone lineup, the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max feature 12GB of memory. This is a significant increase of 4GB more their predecessors, largely driven by the demands of on-device artificial intelligence processing. The iPhone 17 is the only new...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

M6 MacBook Pro: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Monday October 27, 2025 9:15 am PDT by
Apple this month refreshed the 14-inch MacBook Pro base model with its new M5 chip, and higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are expected to follow in early 2026. However, these machines will represent the final update to the current design, with Apple reportedly developing a completely new version of the MacBook Pro packed with next-generation hardware...
maxresdefault

Apple TV 4K Could Still Launch Before 2025 Ends: All the Rumored Features

Monday October 27, 2025 12:51 pm PDT by
Apple is designing an updated version of the Apple TV 4K, and rumors suggest that it could come out sometime in the next couple of months. We're not expecting a major overhaul with design changes, but even a simple chip upgrade will bring major improvements to Apple's set-top box. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. We've rounded up all the latest Apple TV rumors. ...
swift for android

Developers Can Now Make Android Apps With Apple's Swift

Sunday October 26, 2025 4:23 am PDT by
The first preview release of the Swift SDK for Android was published this week, allowing developers to build Android apps in Swift with official tooling and making it easier to share code across iOS and Android. The SDK enables Android apps to be built in Swift using officially supported tooling rather than community workarounds. In June, it was announced that Apple's Swift programming...
Emergency SOS via Satellite iPhone YT

iPhone 18 Pro Rumored to Support Full 5G Satellite Internet

Friday October 24, 2025 7:18 am PDT by
At least some new iPhone models launching next year may support full 5G satellite internet, according to a report this week from The Information. "Apple plans to add support in upcoming iPhones as early as next year for 5G networks that aren't tethered to Earth's surface, which includes satellites," the report said. "That would give the iPhone full internet access over satellite," it added. ...

Top Rated Comments

synergize Avatar
67 months ago
The way Apple organizes the Apps in the App library is not how I want them organized, most of it is illogical.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Joniz Avatar
67 months ago
Top iOS 14 Features for iPhone
I wouldn’t include App Library as a Top Feature.


I haven’t upgraded yet, but I am confused about the lingo around the App Library. I don’t understand why there would ever be an “Add to App Library” function. Aren’t all your apps in your App Library automatically just by being on your phone?

I understand “Keep in App Library”. Delete this app from my home screen but don’t delete it from the phone, so it’s still available via the App Library. But you shouldn’t ever have to put an app there, right? It’s automatically there.

Or do I misunderstand?
No one understands the point of App Library.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NickPires Avatar
67 months ago

Still got built in people tracking?

Thanks I'll pass.
I love this take. It’s a feature that is not only turned off BY DEFAULT, but it requires a third party app be voluntarily installed in order for it to be turned on. If you don’t want to be “tracked” I’d suggest you probably throw away your phone, computer, and any credit or debit cards you have.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tominco Avatar
67 months ago

The way Apple organizes the Apps in the App library is not how I want them organized, most of it is illogical.
App Library is utterly pointless. It's only valuable if you are the one who decides where things go. Besides, what does it provides that folders don't.

and I'd like the option to return phone call and FaceTime notifications to full screen. I never really found it a problem.

and with the new widgets, where did my list of favorite numbers go?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mattan_lines Avatar
67 months ago
Is anyone else experiencing serious battery drain with iOS 14? My phone (iPhone 11 Pro Max) drains so fast and gets so hot that it doesn't even charge when it's plugged in. My phone seems to STILL drain battery while plugged in if I'm using it. I'm not on the Developer beta for 14.2 yet, I'm on the GM iOS 14 beta, so this shouldn't be an issue related to the beta.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arn Avatar
67 months ago

I wouldn’t include App Library as a Top Feature.



No one understands the point of App Library.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/app-library-i-hate-it.2254804/
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)