With iOS 18, users can replace the default camera app on the lock screen with a third-party app. Halide and Obscura — two popular camera apps designed as alternatives to Apple’s default camera app with manual controls and different image processing algorithms — have already taken advantage of that possibility and released updates with shortcuts

Being able to replace the default camera button on the lock screen with a camera app like Halide is a game-changer for iPhone photographers,” professional travel photographer

Halide users who’ve upgraded their iPhones to iOS 18 are now able to quickly access the advanced camera app directly from their phone’s lockscreen without having to unlock it first. Previously, only the native iOS camera app could be conveniently accessed that way.

Apple has launched the latest major software update for iPhones, bringing a password manager app, as well as various new ways to tweak the look of your home screen. The latest iOS 18 version, now available to download,