Your iPhone can do much more than make calls, send messages, and take photos. Apple has packed iOS with useful shortcuts, hidden gestures, privacy controls, and productivity features that many users never discover.
Whether you have the latest iPhone or an older model, these hidden tricks can help you get more out of your device.
Here are some of the most useful iPhone tips worth trying.
1. Hidden Keyboard Tricks
- Turn the keyboard into a trackpad: Hold the Space bar and move your finger to position the cursor.
- Create text shortcuts: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement.
- Use one-handed typing: Hold the emoji or globe icon and choose a left- or right-side keyboard.
- Swipe to type: Slide your finger across letters instead of tapping each one.
- Shake to undo: Shake your iPhone to undo certain typing actions.
- Use voice dictation: Tap the microphone on the keyboard to speak instead of typing.
- Add another keyboard language: Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards.
- Type special characters: Hold a letter or symbol to reveal additional options.
- Select text quickly: Double-tap a word or use the selection handles.
- Replace double space with a period: Enable this under Keyboard settings.
2. Hidden Home Screen and Navigation Tricks
- Back Tap: Double- or triple-tap the back of your iPhone to launch an action.
- Switch apps quickly: Swipe left or right along the bottom edge of the screen.
- Reachability: Swipe down near the bottom edge to bring the top of the screen closer.
- Hide Home Screen pages: Hold an empty area, tap the page dots, and uncheck pages.
- Move multiple apps: Hold an app icon, then tap other icons to collect them.
- Create app folders: Drag one app onto another.
- Use Spotlight Search: Swipe down on the Home Screen to find apps, contacts, and information.
- Customize Control Center: Add frequently used controls for faster access.
- Use interactive widgets: Complete certain actions without opening the full app.
- Customize your Lock Screen: Long-press the Lock Screen to change widgets, wallpaper, and styles.
3. Hidden Camera and Photos Tricks
- Use the volume button: Press either volume button to take a photo.
- Capture burst photos: Use the volume-up button when the burst option is enabled.
- Lock camera focus: Touch and hold the subject until AE/AF Lock appears.
- Scan documents: Open Notes, tap the attachment icon, and select Scan Documents.
- Copy text from photos: Use Live Text to select and copy text from images.
- Remove photo backgrounds: Touch and hold a subject in a supported photo.
- Hide sensitive photos: Move selected images into the Hidden album.
- Find duplicate photos: Open Photos and check Utilities > Duplicates.
- Save a video frame as a photo: Use the video editing or frame-saving option where available.
- Search photos by objects: Search Photos for terms such as dog, car, or beach.
4. Hidden Privacy and Security Features
- Lock individual apps: Long-press a supported app and select Require Face ID.
- Hide apps: Use Hide and Require Face ID where available.
- Check microphone access: Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone.
- Check camera access: Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera.
- Watch the orange indicator: It signals microphone access.
- Watch the green indicator: It signals camera use.
- Use Safety Check: Review and manage information shared with people and apps.
- Limit photo access: Give apps access only to selected photos.
- Use Stolen Device Protection: Add extra security for sensitive actions away from familiar locations.
- Check app privacy reports: Review how apps access your data under Privacy & Security.
5. Hidden Battery and Performance Tricks
- Check battery usage: Settings > Battery shows which apps consume the most power.
- Enable Low Power Mode: Reduce background activity to extend battery life.
- Check battery health: Settings > Battery > Battery Health.
- Use Optimized Battery Charging: Help reduce battery aging.
- Reduce screen brightness: Save power when maximum brightness isn’t needed.
- Disable unnecessary Background App Refresh: Review it under Settings > General.
- Use Auto-Brightness: Let your iPhone adjust screen brightness automatically.
- Check charging accessories: Use compatible, certified chargers and cables.
- Review location access: Limit apps that don’t need continuous location access.
- Restart occasionally: A restart can help resolve temporary software issues.
6. Hidden Siri and Productivity Tricks
- Set timers with Siri: Simply say, “Set a timer for 10 minutes.”
- Create reminders by voice: Ask Siri to remind you about a task.
- Send messages hands-free: Ask Siri to send a message to a contact.
- Identify songs: Ask Siri, “What song is playing?”
- Use Back Tap for Shortcuts: Assign a frequently used shortcut to a double or triple tap.
- Create custom shortcuts: Automate everyday tasks using the Shortcuts app.
- Use Focus modes: Silence selected notifications during work or sleep.
- Schedule messages: Use Send Later in supported versions of Messages.
- Scan QR codes: Point your Camera at a QR code.
- Use the Measure app: Measure objects using your iPhone camera.
7. Hidden Messages and Phone Tricks
- Pin important conversations: Keep frequently used chats at the top of Messages.
- Schedule messages: Send messages at a later time.
- Use message effects: Add screen and bubble effects to iMessages.
- Reply to a specific message: Use inline replies in supported conversations.
- Filter unknown senders: Separate messages from unknown contacts.
- Share your location: Use Messages to share your location with trusted contacts.
- Set call reminders: Use available callback reminder options in the Phone app.
- Screen unknown callers: Use supported call screening features.
- Use Live Voicemail: Read a real-time transcription of eligible voicemail messages.
- Silence unknown callers: Reduce interruptions from unfamiliar numbers.
8. Hidden Safari and Internet Tricks
- Reopen closed tabs: Hold the plus (+) button in Safari’s tab view.
- Close all tabs: Hold Done in the tab overview to access the close-all option.
- Search within a webpage: Use Find on Page from Safari’s page menu.
- Translate websites: Use Safari’s translation option on supported pages.
- Save webpages as PDFs: Use the Share menu and print options.
- Use Reader mode: Remove distracting page elements for easier reading.
- Create Tab Groups: Organize related websites together.
- Use Private Browsing: Browse without adding pages to normal browsing history.
- Add websites to Home Screen: Open Share and choose Add to Home Screen.
- Monitor webpage changes: Use Safari’s Notify Me feature where supported.
9. Hidden Accessibility Tricks
- Use Magnifier: Turn your iPhone into a digital magnifying glass.
- Enable Sound Recognition: Receive alerts for selected environmental sounds.
- Use Background Sounds: Play calming sounds such as rain or ocean noise.
- Customize AssistiveTouch: Add shortcuts to an on-screen button.
- Use Guided Access: Keep your iPhone restricted to a single app.
- Enable Voice Control: Control your iPhone using spoken commands.
- Use Live Captions: Display captions for supported audio.
- Set LED Flash Alerts: Use the camera flash for incoming notifications.
- Customize text size: Make text easier to read.
- Use Reduce Motion: Minimize certain screen animations.
10. Bonus iPhone Tricks Worth Trying
- NameDrop: Bring two compatible iPhones close together to exchange contact information.
- AirDrop contacts and photos: Share files quickly with nearby Apple devices.
- Use Visual Intelligence: Identify objects and get information about what your camera sees on supported models.
- Copy subjects between photos: Lift a subject from an image and paste it elsewhere.
- Customize StandBy: Display useful information while your iPhone charges in landscape orientation.
- Use Dual Capture in FaceTime: Share front and rear camera views during supported calls.
- Create custom Wallet passes: Add supported custom passes using the Wallet app.
- Customize Action Button: Assign shortcuts, camera, flashlight, or other actions on supported models.
- Use NameDrop with Apple Watch: Share contact details with compatible devices.
- Explore the Tips app: Discover new iPhone features and suggestions directly from Apple.
Verdict
Your iPhone has plenty of useful features hiding behind settings, gestures, and menus. From Back Tap and app locking to Safari shortcuts and camera tricks, even a few small discoveries can make everyday iPhone use easier.
You don’t need to try all 100 tricks at once. Start with Back Tap, keyboard shortcuts, app locking, and battery settings. These are among the easiest ways to make your iPhone more convenient and productive.
Tip: Some features require newer iPhone models or specific iOS versions. Availability can also vary by region and language.
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