Some users say iOS 18 botched search function in Settings

Apple’s latest iOS 18 update isn’t sitting well with everyone, and a growing number of users are venting their frustration over an issue with the search function in the Settings app. For some, the feature that once helped quickly locate installed apps has become unreliable or downright broken.

Many users report that searching for apps through Settings no longer yields results. Previously, typing an app’s name would instantly pull up relevant settings or preferences, but now users are forced to scroll through the “Apps” section manually. This rearrangement isn’t just inconvenient, it’s driving people mad.

“It’s so annoying fr! I regret upgrading to iOS 18,” one user complained on X. Another user on Reddit summed up the frustration: “Previously if I searched for an installed app under settings, it would appear in the search. It’s no longer the case with ios 18. You need to manually go to the apps and scroll based on alphabet, which is very cumbersome.” Even Mark Gurman took to X saying: “Under the radar but the new search in Settings is completely worthless and a huge downgrade.”

Interestingly, not everyone is facing the same issues. Some users claim search works fine on their devices, with screenshots to back up their claims. Search also seems to work just fine on my iPhone 13 running the latest iOS 18.1 beta.

There’s some speculation that the issue could be linked to Apple’s shift towards App Intents. As one tech-savvy user pointed out, the new search engine might be missing certain items during the transition. This could mean that Apple is still refining the backend, and users are caught in the messy middle.

While users continue to hunt for workarounds, like restarting their phones, there hasn’t been any official response from Apple addressing the issue. Some suspect that the company might patch things up soon, as it prepares to roll out future iOS 18 updates that include more “Apple Intelligence” features.

For now, it’s clear that Apple needs to work on the search function to make it more reliable. We’ll have to wait and see if future iOS 18.x updates bring any improvements. Fingers crossed!