The iPhone is packed with features designed to make your life easier, but not all of them are obvious. There are plenty of hidden features you might not know about. In this guide, we’ll go over 10 lesser-known features that will change the way you use your iPhone.
Back Tap for Shortcuts
Did you know you can double or triple tap the back of your iPhone to trigger specific actions? Introduced in iOS 14, the Back Tap feature allows you to set up shortcuts for tasks like taking a screenshot, locking the screen, or opening an app. Here’s how:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap to customize it.
Measure Anything with the Built-in Measuring Tape
Your iPhone comes with a pre-installed measuring app. The Measure app uses augmented reality to measure anything with your camera. Just open the app, point your camera at the object, and follow the on-screen prompts. So anytime you need a quick measuring tool, but don’t have a measuring tape nearby, you can just use your iPhone.
Drag and Drop Between Apps
iPhone users can drag and drop text, photos, and files between different apps. For example, you can drag a photo from the Photos app directly into a message in Messages or an email in Mail. Just long-press on the item and drag it to the desired app.
Silence Unknown Callers
The Silence Unknown Callers feature automatically blocks any number not in your contacts, messages, or mail. Here’s how to enable it:
- Go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers.
This will send unknown numbers straight to voicemail. However, if you get calls that are not in your contacts but are still important to you frequently, then use this with caution as it can send those numbers to voicemail too.
Create Custom Vibrations
You can create custom vibration patterns for specific contacts. Here’s how:
- Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone > Vibration > Create New Vibration, and tap out a unique pattern that you’ll recognize instantly.
Hidden Trackpad for Text Editing
Editing text on an iPhone can sometimes be tricky, but there’s a hidden trackpad that makes it easier. When typing, press and hold the spacebar, and your keyboard will turn into a trackpad, allowing you to move the cursor more accurately within the text.
Record Your Screen
Your iPhone has a built-in screen recorder. It makes it easy since you don’t have to go install other screen recorders. However, this is just a simple screen recorder which doesn’t come with any added features. Swipe down from the top right corner to access the Control Center, and tap the screen recording icon. If you don’t see it, you can add it by:
- Go to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls and enabling “Screen Recording.”
Set Timers for Music or Videos
If you like to fall asleep to music or podcasts, the iPhone’s Clock app has a sleep timer that will automatically stop playback after a set time. Open the Clock app, tap Timer, and select “Stop Playing” under the “When Timer Ends” option.
Hide Photos in Your Library
If you have photos you’d prefer to keep private, you can hide them directly in the Photos app. Select the photo, tap the share icon, and then choose “Hide.” This will move the photo to a Hidden album that can be found under the Albums tab. You can take it a step further and hide the hidden album by:
- Go to Settings > Scroll down to Photos > On the Show Hidden Album, tap the button next to it to turn it off.
Use Siri to Announce Messages
With AirPods or compatible headphones, you can have Siri read your incoming messages aloud. This is particularly useful when you’re driving or your hands are full. Here’s how to enable it:
- Go to Settings > Notifications > Announce Messages with Siri.
Wrap Up
The iPhone has a wide range of features that go beyond the basics. These featured mentioned here are only a few of many features on the iPhone. Give these features a try and they can make your everyday tasks easier!