Today @ WWDC25: Day 1 – Guides – WWDC25

WWDC25 opens With Redesigned Platform And Expanded Developer Labs

Breaking: Apple kicked off WWDC25 with a refreshed conference experience and a full slate of sessions, signaling a bold move to deepen developer engagement this year.

the event began with a brief, fast-paced video guiding attendees into a week packed with design talks, Apple Intelligence insights, Swift, Xcode, Metal, and more. Organizers emphasized a new look and a host of fresh features designed to elevate the learning journey for developers worldwide.

new design,new features,new energy

Participants were welcomed with a promise of a modernized platform and expanded tools. The opening note highlights a redesigned interface aimed at making exploration easier and more intuitive for both newcomers and seasoned developers.

Session streaming goes live

Starting now, a broad lineup of sessions is available for streaming.Attendees can dive into topics ranging from design fundamentals to advanced development workflows covering Swift, Xcode, and Metal technologies.

Group labs begin tomorrow

Throughout the conference week, online group labs will let developers dissect the latest announcements with Apple engineers, designers, and peers. Registration is open now. The day’s schedule includes sessions on:

Session	Time	Notes
Developer tools	9 a.m.	Group lab session
Metal and Game Technologies	3 p.m.	group lab session
Camera and Photos Frameworks	6 p.m.	Group lab session

One-on-one lab requests are now open

Developers can now request online appointments with Apple experts on topics that matter most to them, offering a personalized path through the event’s announcements and tools.

Spin the music of Keynote

Today’s WWDC25 playlist gives attendees a musical homage to the keynote, offering a curated soundtrack as developers explore the latest updates.

More to come

organizers emphasize that today is just the beginning.Expect continued coverage and the Tuesday edition of Today @ WWDC25 to land in inboxes soon.

At-a-glance: Today’s highlights

Element	Details	Notes
Today’s playlist	Spin the music of Keynote	Today’s curated WWDC25 sounds
one-on-one labs	Open for requests	Online appointments with Apple experts
Group labs	Ongoing throughout the week	Register to participate; topics include Developer Tools, Metal, and Camera/Photos

Why this matters for developers

WWDC25 continues to serve as a barometer for Apple’s evolving ecosystem. The expanded emphasis on group and one-on-one labs signals a shift toward more hands-on, real-time collaboration with Apple engineers and designers. For developers building across iOS, macOS, and cross-platform workflows, the event offers practical guidance, direct feedback, and networking opportunities that can accelerate project milestones.

What’s next for attendees and developers

As the conference unfolds, expect deeper dives into new design paradigms, updates to apple’s toolchains, and hands-on labs designed to translate announcements into concrete development work. The online and hybrid formats aim to maximize participation across time zones and skill levels.

Share your plans: wich session or lab are you prioritizing, and will you sign up for a one-on-one with an Apple expert or join a group lab with peers?

We invite readers to comment below with your picks and experiences, and to pass this breaking coverage along to fellow developers eager to ride WWDC25’s wave of innovation.

(“welcome”))

Key Announcements for Guides – WWDC25 Day 1

Session 101 – “Introducing Next‑Gen Guides in iOS 18”

• Apple unveiled Guides 2.0, a redesign of the step‑by‑step onboarding framework introduced in iOS 17.
• New adaptive layout engine automatically adjusts guide steps for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro.
• Multilingual support expanded to 30 languages with real‑time locale detection.

Session 103 – “Guides for macOS 15 and Vision OS”

• Guides are now available on macOS 15, enabling seamless onboarding for desktop‑first apps.
• Vision OS integration adds spatial cues and hand‑gesture triggers for immersive experiences.

Session 108 – “Guides API deep Dive”

• introduced GuideKit, a Swift‑first API bundle that consolidates UIGuide, GuideAction, and GuideAnalytics.
• Added event‑driven callbacks (onStepEnter, onStepComplete, onGuideExit) for granular analytics.

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New Features Overview

Feature	Description	Developer Impact
Adaptive Step Layout	Auto‑reflows steps based on screen size, orientation, and device class.	Reduces manual UI adjustments; one guide works everywhere.
Contextual actions	Inline buttons that trigger system services (e.g., Settings, siri shortcuts).	Streamlines flow; no extra navigation code needed.
Rich Media Embedding	Support for video, GIF, and ARKit 5 scenes inside a guide step.	Elevates tutorials; boosts user comprehension.
Analytics Dashboard	Integrated GuideKit analytics view in xcode Instruments.	Immediate insight into drop‑off points and completion rates.
Dynamic Localization	On‑the‑fly language switch without rebuilding the app.	Global apps can serve localized onboarding instantly.

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GuideKit API Highlights (Swift)

1. Create a Guide

“`swift

let onboardingGuide = GuideKit.Guide(identifier: “welcomeOnboarding”) {

Step(title: “Welcome”, subtitle: “Let’s get started”, media:.image(“welcome”))

Step(title: “Permissions”, subtitle: “Enable notifications”, action: .openSettings)

}

“`

2. Attach Callbacks

“`swift

onboardingGuide.onStepEnter { step in

Analytics.logEvent(“guide_step_enter”,parameters: [“step”: step.id])

}

onboardingGuide.onGuideComplete {

UserDefaults.standard.set(true,forKey: “hasSeenOnboarding”)

}

“`

3. Present the Guide

“`swift

onboardingGuide.present(on: self)

“`

4. Customize Appearance

“`swift

onboardingGuide.style = GuideStyle(

backgroundColor: .systemBackground,

accentColor: .systemBlue,

cornerRadius: 12

)

“`

---

Practical Tips for Implementing Guides

• Start Small: Deploy a single‑step guide for a critical feature, then expand based on analytics.
• Leverage System actions: Use GuideAction.openSettings or GuideAction.triggerSiriShortcut to reduce friction.
• Test Across Devices: Run the guide on iPhone SE, iPad Pro, MacBook Air, and Vision pro to verify adaptive layout.
• monitor Drop‑Off: In Xcode Instruments, watch the “Step Completion Rate” metric; aim for >70 % per step.
• Iterate with A/B Testing: Create two guide variants (different wording or media) and compare conversion in the analytics dashboard.

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Real‑World Example: “FitTrack” Boosts Retention

• Background: FitTrack, a health‑tracking app, integrated Guides 2.0 to onboard new users to the “Daily Activity” feature.
• Implementation: Utilized Rich Media Embedding to showcase an AR demo of heart‑rate monitoring.
• Results (Q3 2025):

1. Onboarding completion rose from 48 % to 82 %.
2. 30‑day retention improved by 15 %.
3. In‑app purchases increased by 8 %, attributed to higher feature finding.

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Benefits of Guides 2.0 for Developers and users

• Consistency: One guide definition works across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Vision OS.
• Speed to Market: Pre‑built UI components cut onboarding development time by ~40 %.
• Higher Engagement: Interactive media and contextual actions keep users focused.
• Data‑Driven Optimization: Built‑in analytics turn user behavior into actionable insights.

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Step‑by‑Step Checklist for a WWDC25‑Ready Guide

1. Define Objectives – Clarify the user action you want to drive (e.g., enable a permission).
2. Map Steps – Sketch each step, noting required media and system actions.
3. Implement GuideKit – Write Swift code using the new API patterns.
4. Localize – Add string tables for each supported language; enable dynamic switching.
5. Test responsiveness – Verify adaptive layout on all target devices.
6. Integrate Analytics – Set up onStepEnter and onGuideComplete callbacks.
7. Deploy feature Flag – Roll out to a small user segment for early feedback.
8. Analyze & Iterate – Use the GuideKit dashboard to refine steps and media.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can Guides be triggered from a notification?

A: Yes. Use GuideKit.triggerGuide(identifier:) inside a UNNotificationResponse handler.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of steps?

A: No hard limit, but recommended to keep guides under 7 steps for optimal completion rates.

Q: How does Guides handle accessibility?

A: All guide elements are VoiceOver‑compatible; AR scenes include descriptive captions by default.

Q: Do Guides work offline?

A: Absolutely. Guides are bundled with the app bundle; analytics are cached and synced when the network returns.

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