Apple expands App Intents framework to boost app discovery and interactivity across iOS

Apple is significantly expanding its App Intents framework, offering developers new tools to surface their app’s functionality across more areas of iOS, including Siri, Spotlight, widgets, Control Center, and the Action Button. These updates, showcased in a series of developer videos, represent an effort to streamline how users interact with app features — even when they aren’t actively using the app itself.

With the updated framework, apps can now surface key actions and content directly within system experiences. This includes enhanced support for Siri interactions, Spotlight suggestions, widget functionality, and quick-tap access via Control Center or the customizable Action Button on supported devices. These improvements allow apps to play a more visible role across the iOS ecosystem, offering users context-aware functionality without requiring a full app launch.

One of the most notable enhancements involves the introduction of custom visual search logic within Apple’s Visual Intelligence system. Developers can now integrate their app’s specific visual recognition capabilities directly into the system-level visual search interface. For example, a retail or lifestyle app could recognize an item captured in a photo, and offer direct deep links from the search result into a relevant in-app experience.

This visual deep linking capability expands app reach by placing functionality within proximity of everyday user behavior—turning passive image captures into actionable app engagement.

The updated App Intents framework continues to support Shortcuts automation, allowing users to embed app actions into routines and workflows. Combined with widget interactivity, this gives apps a permanent, interactive footprint on the user’s Home Screen, enabling real-time updates and action-triggered UI elements. Developers can now design widgets that not only display content, but also allow users to perform app actions—such as starting a timer or toggling a setting—without opening the app.

Another key area of integration is Control Center, where app-specific quick controls can be embedded for instant access. This functionality is particularly useful for apps with frequent-use features like remote control, tracking, or scanning tools.

Apple has also expanded support for the Action Button—available on newer iPhones—allowing it to trigger specific app intents depending on contextual logic defined by the developer. This makes the Action Button a more versatile entry point into an app’s ecosystem.

The updated tools are available now as part of the iOS 18 developer betas, and Apple is encouraging developers to begin implementation ahead of the broader public release later this year.