Your iPhone has a ton of secret features and hacks that may make using your Apple product simpler and more enjoyable. This abundance of lesser-known features, in our opinion, contributes to the excellence of some iPhone models.
But do you know them all? There are actually so many that we’re prepared to wager that you don’t know about them. We’ve compiled 19 of our favorite iPhone hidden features and instructions for using them to help with that; wherever feasible, we’ve included convenient links to complete tutorials. Hopefully at least one or two of them are unfamiliar to you.
These are 19 obscure iPhone features that everyone should be aware of.
1. Configure the iOS Control Center:
Being able to modify Control Center on my iPhone is one trick that consistently simplifies my life. You can access your favorite and most used widgets with just a quick swipe down even while your iPhone is locked by adding them to Control Center. When you immediately need a feature, this is quite helpful. For me, Music Recognition is the most practical feature because it eliminates the need to frantically search through home screen folders in search of the Shazam app in time for the song to conclude.
Go to Settings, then hit Control Center to personalize your Control Center. Add any controls that will come in useful at a moment’s notice by scrolling down to Additional Controls. For comprehensive instructions, see our article on how to change Control Center on an iPhone(opens in a new tab).
2. For further iPhone controls, tap the Back Button:
When Back Tap is enabled, you may give both a double- and triple-finger touch on the rear of your phone for a variety of various purposes, much like trackpad gestures. When I’m using my phone at weird angles and can’t reach the lock screen icons or the Control Center pull-down, I use Double Tap for my Torch and Triple Tap for my Camera.
You may assign a variety of time-saving and accessibility features, and you can even use Shortcuts in conjunction with the feature for even more personalization. Open the Settings app, then choose Accessibility to activate Back Tap. Next, press Touch, then tap Back Tap. To assign each function, tap Double Tap or Triple Tap.
3. Unlock the interactive iOS Weather Map:
Although many current iPhone models, like the IP68-certified iPhone 14 Pro(opens in new tab), are waterproof, getting caught in the rain is still no fun. Fortunately, the iOS Weather app has you covered with an easy-to-read live weather map so you can quickly monitor the weather for the day ahead and never be unprepared again.
The app’s weather map literally transforms you into a weather reporter once you start using it because it has a scrolling 12-hour prediction for every region on the earth, overlays for temperature, precipitation, and air quality, and pins all of your locations. Open the Weather app, then press the map symbol in the bottom-left area of the screen to enable the interactive forecast.
4. With Siri, share whatever is on your Screen:
Siri-based sharing capabilities are a feature of iOS. Use Siri to share whatever is on your screen with contact instead of sharing the old-fashioned method by tapping the share button. Although it isn’t a life-altering function, it is useful when you need to share something fast and/or don’t have access to your hands. Spotify music may be shared, just like a picture or photo can. If Siri is unable to share your screen, such as with the Weather app, it will instead snap a screenshot and transmit it.
Simply say “Hey Siri, share this with…” the person you want to see it with in order to share your screen with them.
5. Use the iPhone’s secret trackpad:
Even those with the tiniest hands may find it difficult to type on phone displays’ small keyboards, and scrolling through lengthy passages of text to find the precise word you want to modify used to be a difficult effort. Your iPhone has a secret trackpad that may be utilized to quickly and accurately scan over your screen in order to assist you.
To convert the keyboard into a touchpad on an iPhone, just press and hold the space bar.
6. Turn your iPhone’s camera into a document scanner:
It used to be necessary to have an all-in-one printer or a specialist scanner in order to scan paper pages into digital files. Yet this is still the case for exact carbon copies. What if, though, you only need to quickly insert a quote from that passage in your textbook into your notes app? Luckily, iOS offers a clever fix, and your iPhone’s camera is also a useful tool for digitizing analog writing.
Open the app you wish to scan text into, like Notes, Messages, or any other text-entry app, to get started. Tap the text entry box, hold your finger there for a few seconds, and then let go. Now, “Scan Text” and a scanner icon ought should show up.
7. Drag and drop files and photos between apps:
Drag and drop between iPhone applications is an underutilized function that may save you a ton of time. You may quickly and effortlessly drag and drop a picture, video, or even a Document from your files into an app like Notes or Messages using the drag-and-drop functionality. The first time using this secret feature can be a bit challenging.
Here’s the main idea. To relocate a file, tap and hold on to it, then drag it to the top or bottom of the display. Next, while keeping that file still in your hand with one finger, swipe up with your other finger from the bottom of the screen to launch the app you wish to drag it into.
8. Enter hidden codes to unlock features:
You may have a vague idea of what this one is about if you’ve ever entered a code to locate your IMEI or phone number while selling your phone. Yet you might not be aware that there are codes to instruct your iPhone to perform a variety of tasks, from masking your number to redirecting calls to even activating a field test mode to view information about your cellular connection, in addition to codes to identify those numbers. Just launch the phone app, go to the keypad, and enter one of the codes.
9. Unleash the power of your iPhone’s calculator app:
As compared to the enormous calculators you used in arithmetic class at school, you might have initially felt, like me, that the native Calculator app was a little simple. Perhaps you could give the Calculator app another opportunity as it genuinely has a few hidden features. A scientific calculator is revealed when the iPhone is held landscape, and you may erase digits by swiping left or right at the top of the display.
10. Search anytime, anywhere using Spotlight:
Since I bought my first iMac as a teenager with the money I had saved, I’ve used Spotlight search on every Apple gadget I’ve ever owned. Certainly, it’s not my iPhone’s most crucial function, and I don’t purchase Apple goods for that reason, but it does save a lot of time when I need to get there quickly. To go even further, iOS 15 now allows you to directly access Spotlight from your lock screen, allowing you to do searches without having to wait for Face ID to cease acting up.
Just swipe down from any location on your screen other than the top right to access Spotlight when it’s locked (as this will open Control Center).
11. While you’re wearing a mask, enable Face ID:
When wearing a mask or another face obstacle, such as a scarf, you can still utilize Face ID. You must rescan your face after turning on the switch to utilize Face ID with a mask for the first time. The good news is that it appears you can activate and deactivate the function without having to rescan your face. The bad news is that since less biometric information is being used to unlock your iPhone, it becomes slightly less secure by default. Open the Settings app and choose Face ID & Passcode to activate Face ID with a mask.
Face ID with a Mask may be activated by entering your passcode.
12. Use your flash for notifications:
Have you ever envied Android users for their stylish LED notification lights? You might be surprised to learn that the iPhone features a little-known accessibility option that also provides users with a notification light. You may configure the iPhone’s LED flash to flash when there is an alert, such as a message or other notice. You’ll only really see it in the dark or if your phone is on a surface with the screen facing down, so this is more of a visual accessibility aid than a customizing feature. Nonetheless, it’s still rather useful, especially if you frequently miss alerts when your phone is silent.
Go down to the Settings app and select Accessibility. Choose LED Flash for Alerts under Audio/Visual, then scroll to the bottom and select it.
13. Cast Harry Potter spells using Siri:
Your iPhone not only functions as a capable camera and computer in a little package, but it also functions as a magic wand. That’s accurate. Siri now allows you to activate features without touching your device and cast Harry Potter spells.
Say “Hello Siri,” followed by one of the three spells, to perform a spell. Say “Hey Siri, Lumos” to switch on your iPhone’s Torch. Say “Hey Siri, Nox” to turn the torch off again. To launch a specific app, say “Hey Siri, Accio [app]“. Shortcuts can be used to create more unique spells.
14. How to use the zooming Maps slider:
While the common two-finger pinch zooming capability on touchscreen devices is well-known to everybody, one-finger zooming on Apple Maps and Google Maps is a straightforward but little-known feature of iOS. This practical tip makes it possible to use Apple Maps and Google Maps with one hand and one finger, which comes in handy while traveling to a new location with both hands.
Just double-tap the screen to significantly zoom in on the map when in map mode. Double-tapping the screen while holding down your digit on the second press will allow you to adjust the zoom level. Now, you can in- and out-zoom.
15. With the App Library, conceal sensitive or undesired applications:
This little-known tip makes it simpler to just move any Apps you don’t use or don’t want other people to see out of sight totally rather than attempting to locate a location or folder for them. With the App Library, you may now uninstall an app from your home screen without totally removing it.
Press and hold the app you wish to hide to begin. A menu with several selections should display after a brief period of time. Choose “Remove App.” from this selection of alternatives.” Press “Remove from Home Screen” on the second menu that appears after doing this.”
16. Turn on background sounds to ease stress:
Use the Background Noise option on your AirPods to play relaxing background noise, including rain, streams, ocean waves, and white noise, if you need to unwind. I can attest to the value of this tool firsthand because I frequently use it to block out distractions and concentrate on my job. Furthermore, this functionality doesn’t stream anything, so it functions without an internet connection, unlike playing ASMR or ambient noise music on Spotify or Apple Music.
Just choose Settings, then Accessibility. After choosing Audio/Visual, go to Background Sounds and turn them on at the top.
17. Arrange several applications simultaneously:
Don’t move each and every app one by one if you’ve ever completely reorganized your iPhone’s Home Screen since you know how laborious it can be to do so. You can drag and shift numerous applications at once on the iPhone, which is one of its most useful little-known capabilities. This makes it possible for you to quickly clean up your Home Screen.
In order to begin, As all of your app icons begin to jiggle, tap and hold one of the apps on your Home Screen. You’ll see that they’ll all be grouped together when you continue to hold down your digit while selecting additional applications you wish to relocate. Use another digit to go to a location or folder on the Home Screen while keeping your initial digit still down. Then, when you let go of your digit, they will all move.
18. Get custom battery alerts with a shortcut:
Have you ever forgotten to turn off quiet mode when your iPhone gives you a 15%, 10%, or 5% battery alert? We are similar. However, you can prevent this by utilizing a quick shortcut to set alerts at 30% or 40%, giving you a better-advanced warning that you’re about to run low. Even better, you can set Siri to announce battery warnings, ensuring that you never miss one again even when your iPhone is set to silent.
Create a new automation in the Shortcuts app, choose Battery level, and enter a notification threshold to get customized battery notifications. After you reach that level, modify what your iPhone performs by tapping Add Action.
19. Use messages to track flights:
Here at Tom’s Guide, one of our favorite Messages features is the ability to track flights within a discussion. That’s right, using Messages, you can really follow live flights! You may use Messages to follow a flight and discover crucial details like the airplane’s departure time, whether it is running late, the anticipated arrival time, and even the incoming luggage carousel number whether a friend or member of your family is flying in to see you or you are flying out to them. A map displaying the location of the flight is also available. Really nice. One party must give the flight number as a message in order to track a flight in Messages. Tap Preview Flight after long pressing the flight number.
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