How to Fix the 2 Most Annoying iOS 18 Settings on Your iPhone 2024

September 20, 2024

As iOS 18 rolls out with a myriad of new features, there are always a few settings that leave users feeling more frustrated than satisfied. Whether you're annoyed by default configurations or want a smoother user experience, there are two particular iOS 18 settings that stand out as being particularly frustrating for many iPhone users. In this article, we'll walk you through how to fix these two annoying iOS 18 settings so that you can get the most out of your iPhone in 2024.

1. Fixing the Persistent Focus Mode Prompts

Focus Mode, introduced in iOS 15, has been enhanced in iOS 18, allowing users to set even more specific conditions for work, personal time, or sleep. However, while these updates can be helpful for users seeking a more distraction-free environment, the constant reminders and suggestions from the operating system about Focus Mode can become overwhelming.

What’s the Problem with Focus Mode in iOS 18?

In iOS 18, Apple has taken Focus Mode to another level, giving users more granular control over notifications, apps, and contacts. But these improvements come at the cost of continuous prompts and reminders to set or update Focus Modes. These persistent notifications can appear when you enter certain locations, connect to specific Wi-Fi networks, or even at specific times of the day, depending on your habits.

Many users have expressed frustration that Focus Mode suggestions are popping up too frequently, especially when they don’t need them. These prompts can disrupt your workflow and clutter your notifications.

How to Disable Unwanted Focus Mode Suggestions

To get rid of these intrusive prompts, follow these steps:

Go to Settings: Open your iPhone and navigate to the Settings app.
Select Focus: Scroll down and tap on "Focus."
Turn Off Suggestions: In this section, you'll see various Focus Modes like Do Not Disturb, Personal, Sleep, and Work. Select each one individually and look for the "Suggested Settings" toggle. Turn this off for every Focus mode you don't want to be prompted about.
Adjust Automation Settings: For users experiencing location-based prompts, go to the "Automation" tab in the Focus settings. Here you can either delete automations or customize them so that they only trigger under very specific conditions.
Control Notification Settings: Additionally, you can go to Settings > Notifications and turn off "Siri Suggestions," which sometimes include Focus Mode suggestions.

By disabling these suggestions, you'll reclaim control over when and how you use Focus Mode, leaving you with fewer interruptions and a cleaner notification screen.

2. Managing Location Tracking for Apps in iOS 18

Another major pain point for many iPhone users in 2024 is the increased control and prompts related to location tracking. With iOS 18, Apple has doubled down on privacy features, constantly reminding users which apps are tracking their location. While this is great for privacy-conscious users, the continual prompts and notifications about location sharing can be frustrating, especially for those who have already reviewed and adjusted their privacy settings.

Why is Location Tracking More Intrusive in iOS 18?

iOS 18 now provides more detailed prompts when apps request your location, asking whether you want to allow the app to track your location "Always," "Only While Using the App," or "Never." This level of customization is powerful but can feel overwhelming as the system repeatedly asks for permission even after you've already given it. Additionally, background location tracking notifications now appear more frequently, which can make users feel like they’re constantly being monitored by their apps.

How to Fix Location Tracking Notifications in iOS 18

Here’s how to manage and reduce those intrusive location tracking prompts:

Open Settings: Begin by going into the Settings app.
Tap on Privacy & Security: Scroll down until you see the "Privacy & Security" option and select it.
Select Location Services: In the Privacy settings, you’ll see "Location Services" at the top. Tap on it.
Review App Permissions: Here you can review the list of all apps that have requested access to your location. To minimize prompts, select each app and set permissions to "While Using the App" instead of "Always." This will prevent apps from tracking you in the background, which often triggers the frequent prompts.
Disable System Services Notifications: Scroll down to "System Services" in the Location Services menu. Here, you’ll find a variety of system-level services that use your location, like "Find My iPhone" and "Location-Based Suggestions." You can disable the notifications from these services by turning off the toggles next to them.
Turn Off Significant Locations: iOS keeps track of places you visit frequently, which can also trigger location-related prompts. To stop this, go back to Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations and toggle it off.

By following these steps, you can reduce the frequency of location tracking notifications and gain a more seamless experience without compromising your privacy.

Additional Tips to Optimize iOS 18 Settings

While the two issues above are some of the most annoying, there are a few more settings in iOS 18 that users may want to adjust to enhance their overall experience. Here are some additional tips to help you get the most out of your iPhone in 2024.

Optimize Battery Life with Background App Refresh

One of the top complaints from users after upgrading to iOS 18 is decreased battery life. This is often due to apps running in the background, consuming both power and data. To mitigate this, you can turn off Background App Refresh for apps that don’t need to constantly update.

Go to Settings: Open Settings on your iPhone.
Select General: Scroll down and tap on "General."
Tap Background App Refresh: Here, you can either turn off Background App Refresh entirely or manage it on a per-app basis. For apps that don’t need to update in real-time, like music streaming or social media apps, we recommend turning this off.

Control Notification Summary

With iOS 18, Apple has enhanced the Notification Summary feature, which allows you to bundle non-urgent notifications and receive them at set times. This can help reduce the clutter on your lock screen.

Go to Settings: Navigate to Settings and tap "Notifications."
Select Scheduled Summary: Toggle on the "Scheduled Summary" option.
Customize Apps: Choose which apps you want to include in your Notification Summary and set specific times to receive them.

By organizing your notifications into summaries, you can minimize distractions while still keeping up with important updates.

Disable App Tracking Transparency Prompts

Another annoying feature for some users is the constant App Tracking Transparency prompts that appear whenever you download a new app. To streamline this process, follow these steps:

Open Settings: Head into your iPhone’s Settings app.
Tap on Privacy & Security: Scroll down to find this option.
Select Tracking: Under the Tracking section, you’ll find a toggle for "Allow Apps to Request to Track." Turning this off will prevent apps from asking for tracking permissions, allowing for a more seamless app installation experience.

Conclusion

Navigating through the new settings in iOS 18 can be frustrating, but by following the steps outlined above, you can quickly eliminate the two most annoying features: persistent Focus Mode suggestions and location tracking prompts. Taking control of these settings will not only improve your iPhone's usability but also make your overall experience more streamlined and efficient.