Struggling to make the most of your iPhone? You’re not alone. This article unveils 40 hidden tricks that can transform how you use your device in 2024. From turning off silent mode for special callers to securing your phone with a secondary code, we’ve got you covered.
Continue reading for tips that will increase both your efficiency and security—let’s get going!
Key Takeaways
- Turn on your iPhone by pressing the side button and following on-screen steps to set it up, including choosing a language, connecting to Wi-Fi, and setting up Face ID or Touch ID.
- Use hidden features like Quick-Switch to type numbers faster, assign actions with a back tap, turn the keyboard into a trackpad for easy text editing, capture videos quickly with QuickTake Video, and create speed dial buttons for favorite contacts.
- Improve security by setting up emergency contacts to bypass silent mode, adding a secondary passcode for extra protection, and disabling Control Centre access when the device is locked.
- Discover unique tricks, like using your phone’s keyboard as a trackpad for smoother editing. Engage Guided Access allows you to lock your iPhone on one app for concentrated use.
- Enhance the user experience by quickly finding photos using the Photos app’s smart search. To make payments more efficient, enable reachability and set custom vibration patterns for different contacts.
Setting Up Your New iPhone
After getting to know the basics, let’s jump into setting up your new iPhone. This step is crucial for making the most of your device from day one. Here’s a straightforward guide to get you started:
- Turn on your iPhone by pressing the side button until the Apple logo appears.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to begin setting up. You’ll choose your language and region.
- To activate your iPhone, connect to a Wi-Fi network or use your cellular connection.
- Set up Face ID or Touch ID for security. This helps keep your iPhone safe from unauthorised access.
- First-time Apple users can sign in or create a new Apple ID.
- Decide if you want to restore data from an old device using iCloud or iTunes backup.
- Follow the prompts to enable Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, so you can use voice commands right away.
- To understand and make decisions about how much time you spend on your phone, set up Screen Time.
- Add a passcode for an extra layer of security beyond Face ID or Touch ID.
- Customise settings like display brightness and ringtone volume under “Settings.”
- Install essential apps from the App Store—search for social media, work tools, or games.
By now, your iPhone should be ready for day-to-day use, personalised just for you!
iPhone tips for increasing efficiency
Boosting your iPhone’s performance is easy with the right tricks. Learn how to speed up the process of typing messages, switching apps, and taking photos.
Quick-Switch from Numbers to Letters
Switching from numbers to letters on your iPhone’s keyboard can feel like a chore. You tap “123,” choose your number, and then switch back to letters. It’s slow. Here’s a better way I found that saves time and frustration.
Hold down the “123” key and slide your finger to the number you need. Let go, and watch it automatically snap back to the letters! This trick makes messaging faster, especially when adding details like dates or times.
This quick-switch method has been a game-changer for me.
Many people don’t know about this feature, but once you try it, you’ll never go back. It works in all apps—emails, message apps, note apps, you name it. Give it a shot next time you’re typing; you’ll see how much smoother it feels.
Assign a Back-Tap Function
You can make your iPhone do cool things with a quick double or triple tap on the back. This feature, found in the Accessibility section of your settings, lets you take screenshots or open your favourite app without digging through menus.
I set my camera to launch, and it’s been a game-changer for capturing moments quickly.
To begin, navigate to Settings, select Accessibility, and select Touch. Here you’ll find Back Tap options. You can pick from a list what happens when you double-tap or triple-tap the back of your phone.
Imagine snapping a screenshot just by tapping twice on the back of your device or immediately jumping to Instagram with three taps—it feels like having superhero powers!
Use the hidden trackpad
After setting up the back tap function, explore another great feature: the hidden trackpad. This lets you easily move your cursor and select text without swiping across the whole screen.
Long-press the space bar on your iPhone’s keyboard. Suddenly, you’re controlling a pointer that glides smoothly over words and letters. This trick turns typing into a breeze, especially when fixing typos or moving through messages quickly.
This feature shines during long email compositions or editing documents on your phone. No more tapping repeatedly to place the cursor just right. Press down on the space bar, watch as it transforms into a trackpad, and slide your finger to navigate with precision.
Editing texts becomes faster and less frustrating, giving you control right at your fingertips.
QuickTake Video
QuickTake Video lets you capture videos without switching out of photo mode on your iPhone. This means that you can start recording a video while still in camera mode by simply holding down the shutter button.
Release the button to stop recording, making it super easy to switch between taking pictures and capturing videos quickly.
Capture life as it happens with QuickTake Video, seamlessly switching from photos to video.
This feature is perfect for those moments you don’t want to miss while fumbling through modes. With QuickTake, your iPhone becomes even more powerful, blending the ease of photography with the dynamism of videography—all at your fingertips.
Create a speed dial button.
After capturing moments with QuickTake video, staying connected becomes easier with a speed dial button. Setting this up on your iPhone takes just a few steps. First, open the Phone app and select Favourites at the bottom.
Tap the “+” sign and choose a contact to add to your speed dial list. This simple action makes calling your favourite people faster.
I tried this myself and found it super helpful for reaching my family quickly. Next, I personalised each contact by adding their photos. Now, whenever I want to call my mom or best friend, I don’t have to search through my contacts list—I just tap their face on my favourites list, and it dials them up right away.
It’s like having them on speed dial without needing an actual button!
Double-tap the Caps Lock
Moving from setting up speed dial buttons, another handy feature for typing efficiency on your iPhone involves capitalization. Double-tap the Shift key to lock in all caps. This trick saves time, especially when you need to type something fully in uppercase letters.
I found this feature quite by accident one day while sending a text message. It was a game-changer for writing out emphasis or acronyms without having to tap the Shift key before each letter.
Now, sharing WiFi passwords or making important points in emails is quicker. To turn it off and return to normal typing mode, just double-tap again.
Ways to improve iPhone security
Making your iPhone safer is easier than you think. Use a second lock code and tweak settings so only you can access the control panel on your locked phone. These steps keep your information safe and make sure only emergency calls break through when you’re not looking.
Ready to make your iPhone a fortress? Keep reading for more tricks!
Bypass Silent Mode for Emergency Contacts
You can make sure you never miss a call from important people, even if your iPhone is on silent. This feature lets calls from emergency contacts ring loudly. It’s perfect for staying connected during emergencies or when expecting an urgent call.
Simply go to the Contacts app, select a contact, and choose the option to bypass silent mode. This way, their calls will always make noise.
Peace of mind comes from knowing you’ll hear the calls that matter most.
Next, let’s dive into how making your iPhone more secure with a secondary passcode can further protect your privacy and data.
With a secondary password, you can make your iPhone more secure
After setting up emergency contacts to bypass silent mode, adding a secondary passcode takes iPhone security to the next level. This feature, known as a screen time passcode, offers an extra layer of protection.
It’s different from your main lock screen code, which you use every day. I found this very helpful for keeping sensitive information away from prying eyes.
Setting it up is easy and doesn’t take much time. Go to the settings app, tap on Screen Time, and then select “Use Screen Time Passcode” to create a unique code. This step made my iPhone feel more secure since I knew there was an added safeguard in place for my personal data and access restrictions.
Turn off the Control Centre when your iPhone is locked
After boosting your iPhone security with a second passcode, take it a step further by turning off Control Centre access while the device is locked. This move keeps prying eyes away from quick settings and apps without requiring you to enter your passcode or use FaceID.
It’s an easy yet effective way to safeguard your personal data.
Head to “Settings,” then tap on “Face ID & Passcode” or “Touch ID & Passcode.” Scroll down until you see the option for “Allow Access When Locked.” Turn off the switch next to the control center.
Now, only someone who can unlock your iPhone can use Control Centre, adding another layer of security.
Unique iPhone Features
Your iPhone holds some clever secrets. Discover tricks like turning your keyboard into a trackpad and locking the device to just one app.
Use your iPhone’s keyboard as a Trackpad
Turning your iPhone’s keyboard into a trackpad is like discovering a hidden gem. This feature makes editing text or moving around words much easier. I found out about it while trying to fix a typo in an email.
Instead of tapping the screen countless times, pressing and holding on the space bar turns the virtual keyboard into a trackpad. Suddenly, you can glide through sentences with ease, making precise edits without frustration.
This nifty trick transformed how I use my iPhone for writing.
After activating this mode, slide your finger around, and the cursor moves accordingly. It feels almost magical how smoothly you can navigate through texts or emails. This technique isn’t just cool; it’s practical and saves time when you’re typing long messages or fine-tuning important documents on your smartphone.
Restrict the iPhone to a single app
After mastering the iPhone’s keyboard trackpad, take your device’s utility to the next level by restricting it to a single application. This feature, known as guided access, helps maintain focus or limit access for others using your device.
It’s simple to activate; just go to Settings, then Accessibility, and select Guided Access to turn it on. Once activated, open any app you want to lock the phone into. Quickly press the side button three times to start guided access mode.
This locks the phone into that one application until you decide otherwise.
To exit this mode requires either a passcode or Face ID verification—whichever you set up initially under Guided Access settings. This ensures security while restricting access to only the open app.
This is ideal for transferring your smartphone to children or maintaining focus on a single task without interruptions from notifications or other applications demanding your attention.
Type Less with Text Replacements
Moving from limiting your iPhone to a single application, there’s another trick to boost your texting speed. Text replacements on the iPhone let you create shortcuts for long phrases you use often.
For instance, typing “omw” can instantly expand to “On my way!” This feature saves you time and effort, especially when sending messages or emails.
You can set these shortcuts in your settings, and they sync across all devices using iCloud. This means the shortcuts you create on your iPhone will also work on your iPad or Mac computer.
It makes staying consistent with phrases easier across emails, documents, and messages. Start using text replacements today and see how much quicker you can communicate.
Use a three-finger swipe to undo or redo
After learning how to type faster with text replacements, there’s a powerful tool you shouldn’t miss. A simple three-finger swipe on your iPhone screen can make a big difference in editing texts.
This gesture allows you to undo or redo changes quickly, without searching for any options. Imagine typing out a long message or note and accidentally deleting it. Instead of panicking, use this three-finger swipe to bring all your words back instantly.
I once lost an entire paragraph I had crafted carefully for an email during a rush hour commute. Frustrated, I remembered the three-finger swipe feature and swiped left across my screen—my paragraph reappeared as if by magic! It felt like discovering a secret power that saved time and prevented stress.
Whether drafting emails, jotting down notes, or composing messages on iMessage or Gmail, mastering this swipe turns tedious editing into a breeze.
Mastering the three-finger swipe on my iPhone felt like unlocking a hidden layer of efficiency.
Replace Siri Voice with Personal Voice
You can change the Siri voice to sound like your own. First, go to Settings on your iPhone. Then, select Siri and search. Here, you will find an option to record phrases. The iPhone will guide you through steps to capture your voice accurately.
You’ll say a few sentences to help the device learn how you speak.
This feature makes your iPhone feel more personal. Every time you use Hey Siri or ask for help, it responds with a voice that sounds just like yours. This customisation is one of many that iOS offers to make your device unique to you.
Here are some iPhone tips to enhance your user experience
To make your iPhone work better for you, try out these smart tips. They’ll help you find photos quickly and pay with a simple tap.
Find Photos Quickly
Finding a photo among thousands can be a daunting task. But, with iOS’s smart search feature, it becomes much easier. Use your Photos app’s search bar to find “birthday,” “beach,” or “dog.” The technology is smart enough to find images that match your description.
I tried searching for “sunset” and was amazed at how quickly all my evening shots popped up.
For an even faster search, use Siri. Just say something like, “Show me photos from December 2021,” and watch as those memories come right up on your screen. This trick has saved me tonnes of scrolling time when I’m trying to show off vacation pictures to friends.
Next up, discover how making payments can become quicker than ever before.
Faster Ways to Make Payments
Paying with your iPhone gets easier every day. You can use a camera trick from the lock screen to turn off the flashlight quickly, making room for speedy payments. Swipe left on your lock screen, too; this opens the Camera app so you can scan QR codes without delay.
These steps make shopping faster.
- For times when you have just one hand free, enable reachability in your settings. This brings everything closer to your thumb’s reach, perfect for fast payments on the move. Adding a custom action called Back Tap allows you to launch Google Pay or Apple Wallet in an instant by tapping the back of your iPhone twice or three times.
And if you’re waiting for that important call about money, setting distinct vibrations for each contact means you know who it is without looking.
Record Videos while Playing Music
You can record videos with your favourite tunes playing in the background on your iPhone. First, start your music on any app you like. Then, open the Camera app and switch to video mode.
Your music won’t stop; it keeps playing as you capture your moments. If you’re using the stock earbuds, you even have shortcuts for taking photos or ignoring calls without stopping your video or music.
For quick access to this feature, swipe left on the lock screen to jump straight into the Camera app—no need to pause your song list. And if someone tries calling, To ignore it without missing a beat of your song or a moment of recording, just use those earbud buttons.
This allows you to create perfect soundtracks for all of your memories right there in real time!
Use your iPhone One-handedly
Turn on reachability to make your iPhone easier to use with just one hand. Go to Settings, then Accessibility, and choose Touch. To ensure reachability, flip the switch here. This allows you to bring items closer to the top of the screen with a quick swipe down on the bottom edge of the display.
It’s handy when you’re holding a coffee in one hand and trying to open an app with the other.
For times when you need quiet or can’t speak out loud, enable typing to Siri. This feature can also be found in Settings under Accessibility. From there, choose Siri and select Prefer Silent Responses so you can type your questions instead of speaking them aloud.
Next up, discover how setting custom vibrations makes recognising who’s calling without looking at your screen a breeze.
Set Custom Vibration for Each Contact
Creating a unique vibration for each person in your contacts lets you know who’s calling without looking at your screen. First, open the Contacts app and select a contact. Tap “Edit” in the top right corner, then scroll down and select “Ringtone.” Here, you’ll find an option for “Vibration.” Tap it to set a special pattern, or tap out your own.
This feature is handy when your iPhone needs to stay silent but you still want to know when specific people call.
This trick can be used with family members or close friends to instantly identify their calls. You can choose from several preset vibrations or create something unique by selecting “Create New Vibration.” This way, even if your device is in your pocket or bag, you won’t miss important calls.
Personalising vibrations adds another level of customisation to how you use your iPhone, making sure that it works just right for you.
Hidden iPhone Tips and Tricks
Discover the secrets your iPhone holds! Hideous smartphone features can change your usage. These tricks make life easier and unlock new ways to get things done.
From clever calculator errors to quick alarm setting actions, these tips surprise even seasoned users. Get ready to see your phone in a whole new light—let’s explore what these hidden gems are all about!
Hidden Backspace in the Calculator App
The hidden backspace in the Calculator app is a lifesaver for quick errors. Swipe left or right on the digit display, and you can delete the last number you entered. This trick makes calculating on your iPhone much faster and easier.
Have you ever typed something incorrect while rushing through numbers? Swiping to erase that mistake saves time. It’s a simple move, but it boosts productivity for anyone using their iPhone for math or finance tasks.
Quick Way to Access Timer
To quickly access your timer, long-press the clock symbol in the Control Center. This trick works great when you’re in a hurry. It’s simple and saves time. You won’t have to tap through different screens or apps anymore.
Just one long press, and you’re setting up your timer in seconds.
This method is perfect for cooking, working out, or any activity that needs timing. It shows how well-thought-out iOS is, making life easier with shortcuts like these. Try it next time you need a timer quickly—you’ll wonder how you managed without it.
Close three Apps at Once
Swipe up with three fingers on your iPhone’s screen to close up to three apps simultaneously. This simple gesture saves time and keeps your device running smoothly. I found this feature incredibly handy when juggling multiple tasks at once.
It’s easy to forget how many apps are open in the background, slowing down performance. Using this trick, I quickly clear out unused software, helping my iPhone speed up again. Try it next time you’re multitasking—your phone will thank you for it!
Copy and Paste Photo Edits
Editing photos can take a lot of time. But with iPhones, you can easily copy edits from one photo and apply them to another. This trick saved me hours. First, I make my photo look just right.
Then, I tap on the share button and pick “Copy Edits.” After that, I go to the next picture, where I want those same changes, and tap “Paste Edits” under the share menu again.
This feature works like magic for people who love sharing their lives through pictures but don’t have time to edit each one by hand. It’s perfect when you’re working on a series of photos that need to match style or mood for your social media feed or family album.
Imagine a world without endless sliding bars to adjust brightness or contrast.
Conclusion
Grab these iPhone tips and tricks to maximize your device. From making calls faster to keeping your phone secure, there’s a lot you can do. You learned how to turn your keyboard into a miniature computer mouse and lock down specific apps for more focus.
Plus, setting up quick photo searches and custom alerts makes life easier. So, give these tricks a try—your iPhone has more secrets than you might think, ready for you to discover and use every day.
FAQs on iPhone Tips and Tricks
