Watch and read these tips and tricks to learn about hidden or lesser-known features that help you make the most of your iPhone.
So, you think you’re familiar with all the cool little features and hidden gems in iOS, the operating system powering your iPhone? That may very well be true, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing new to learn.
How many times have you shown an iOS feature to a friend, and they reacted with a “Wow, an iPhone can do that?!” It could be something mundane that you’ve been using for ages but none of your friends knows about or a hidden trick they never dreamed possible.
To help everyone discover what their iPhone can do, our video guy Michael Billig put together a hands-on video walkthrough of the ten iPhone tricks and tips we think will blow your mind. So grab your iPhone, and follow along with the video top of post before perusing our written instructions below.
1. Censor sensitive information on images
Censor sensitive information on images, like banking information or your home address, before sharing them. You can do that right after taking a screenshot or after the fact, using the Markup feature on any image from the built-in Photos app.
If you take a screenshot, hit the plus icon in the bottom right and choose blocks or circles. You also want to choose the fill option and set the color to black before dragging a black box with your finger over any sensitive areas you’d like to obscure.
2. Quick screenshot sharing
After taking a screenshot, touch and hold the thumbnail in the bottom-left corner to bring up the share menu instead of tapping it once to open the editing interface, saving you time.
3. Fast access to secondary keys
Many people are oblivious to this cool shortcut. If you want to add punctuation or perhaps other symbols, don’t switch to the secondary keyboard by tapping the “123” key on the onscreen keyboard. Instead, touch and hold the key, then drag your finger to a desired character and let go. This makes typing with the secondary keyboard a lot faster.
4. Get to the most recent or the oldest photo
When browsing in the Photos app, touch the All tab at the bottom to instantly scroll your view all the way down to the most recent photo. Conversely, touch the area near the top of the screen, just above the date and selection buttons, to quickly jump to your oldest photo. The go-to-top gesture also works in other apps, like Safari and Messages.
Also see: 41 tips to make the most of the Photos app on your iPhone
5. Level in the Measure app
The built-inMeasure app is under-appreciated. With it, you can precisely measure physical objects in the real world using augmented reality. But did you know that the Measure app has a hidden level feature? Just hit Level at the bottom to use the built-in level which used to be part of the built-in Compass app in older iOS versions.
Now you can use the Measure app for things like making sure a painting on your wall is level! To get to the level feature from the Home Screen, touch and hold the Measure app icon and choose this option from the shortcuts menu.
6. Getting to your App Store updates
Over the years, Apple has changed how app updates are accessed in the App Store. Back in the day, there used to be a dedicated Updates tab, but Apple has since moved things around. Nowadays, iOS defaults to automatically downloading app updates so you don’t have to.
But if you occasionally need to review a list of pending updates to, say, manually update a specific app, hit your profile image in the App Store and scroll down to the Updates section. Better yet, touch and hold the App Store icon on the Home Screen and select the same option from the shortcuts menu.
7. Access hidden controls in the Camera app
If your iPhone is a larger-screened Plus or Max model, you can get to Flash, Night Mode, Live Photos, and other handy controls lined alongside the top of the Camera interface more easily by swiping across the interface or hitting the chevron at the top. Doing so will put these options into an additional row of options at the bottom, allowing you to access them while holding your iPhone with one hand.
Also see: 5 tips for taking great iPhone photos
8. Audio routing in the Control Center
You can expand the Now Playing control in your iPhone’s Control Center by pressing and holding it to reveal additional playback controls with album artwork, AirPlay, etc. But if you hit that tiny AirPlay icon in the top-right corner of the Now Playing tile, a list of connected speakers, AirPlay TVs, and other devices like your AirPods or HomePods will open. This is the fastest way to route the iPhone’s audio to another device.
9. Quickly get to the Notes document scanner
You can add the Notes icon to your Control Center so you can quickly open the Notes app while multitasking. The Notes control is interactive, so you can touch and hold it to reveal an option to use the built-ion Notes documents scanner just like that.
From the same menu, you can also choose options like New Note, New Checklist, and Record Audio. The same shortcuts appear by touching and holding the Notes icon on the Home Screen.
10. Adjust flashlight intensity
Your iPhone’s flashlight can be turned on or off by hitting the Flashlight icon on the Lock Screen or in the Control Center. On older iPhones, touch and hold the flashlight icon in the Control Center and drag your finger across the slider to adjust light intensity. On iPhones with Dynamic Island, use the brightness slider at the top to change the intensity and beam focus (iOS 18 required).
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These tips cover the features iDB team members have identified as underrepresented or lesser-known among the Apple-loving crowd.
We want to help you get the most out of your devices. If you’re aware of other little-known features or hidden secrets in iOS, please share them with readers in the comments down below.
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