I’ve had my iPhone for a while, but I feel like I’m not using it to its full potential. Are there any lesser-known features or secret shortcuts that could make things easier or more fun? I’d appreciate any tips since I want to get more out of my phone.
5 Hidden iPhone Tricks You Probably Aren’t Using (But Should)
OK, let’s be real — half of us have iPhones that do way more than we ever figure out. You’d think after dropping a fortune on one, everyone would squeeze all the cool features out of it, but nah. Some options are buried so deep that, unless you stumble on them or someone spills the beans in the wilds of the internet, you’ll never know. So, here are five underrated iPhone things most people totally miss — I’ve tossed in the steps so you don’t get lost and reliable links in case you want receipts.
1. Back Tap: The Classic “Secret Button” Move
Personal story time: I once saw someone double-tap the back of their iPhone and boom, a screenshot happened. Thought I was getting pranked. Turns out, Apple slipped this little accessibility shortcut in quietly.
How to set it up:
- Head to Settings > Accessibility.
- Tap Touch.
- Scroll down and hit Back Tap.
- Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap and assign an action you want — Screenshot, Mute, open Control Center, et cetera.
- Tap the back of your phone as needed (case doesn’t usually matter).
Citation: Apple Support: Use Back Tap on iPhone
2. Measure App: Your Pocket Tape Measure (That You Forget Exists)
This one gets ignored way too much. The Measure app actually lets you measure stuff—yeah, the name didn’t lie. Once I measured a table at IKEA with my phone because I lost the paper tape. It worked (almost) perfectly.
How to pull it off:
- Open the Measure app.
- Move your phone so it can detect the surface. Look for the white dot.
- Point the dot where you want to start; hit the + button.
- Move to where you want to end the line; hit + again.
- The app will show you the distance.
Deep dive: Apple Support: Measure Dimensions with iPhone
3. Hidden Trackpad in Keyboard: Because Fiddly Text Editing Sucks
Is editing text on your phone the worst part of your day? It used to be mine—until I found out you can transform your keyboard into a trackpad. Yes, like a laptop.
Instructions:
- In any app that uses the keyboard, press and hold the spacebar.
- The keyboard will fade out — don’t freak out, that’s good.
- Without lifting your finger, slide around to move the cursor smoothly wherever you want.
For those doubting: Apple Support: Move the cursor on your iPhone or iPad
4. Set Custom Vibration Alerts: Because Sometimes You Need Nerd-Level Personalization
Nobody has time to check their phone in every meeting just because it buzzed. Custom vibrations = knowing if a text is your mom or your boss just by feel.
Steps:
- Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
- Tap the type of alert you want to change (e.g., Ringtone, Text Tone).
- Tap Vibration > Create New Vibration.
- Tap on the screen in any pattern you like. Hit Stop and Save when happy.
- Assign it to anybody in your contacts for maximum effect.
See it explained: Apple Support: Change Sounds and Vibrations on iPhone
5. Built-in Document Scanner: No More Cheesy CamScan Apps
The Notes app hiding on your phone can actually scan multi-page documents in a flash. I discovered this when a friend whipped out their iPhone and scanned a five-page contract at a crowded bar. Game changer.
What to do:
- Open the Notes app.
- Create a new note, hit the camera icon, then tap Scan Documents.
- Frame your doc — your iPhone usually snaps it automatically, or you can tap the shutter manually.
- Adjust the corners, tap Keep Scan. Add more pages if you want.
- When done, tap Save.
For reference: Apple Support: Scan Documents with iPhone
That’s the rundown. These features are so low-key that even hardcore users miss them. If you’ve got more to add, jump in — always trying to up my iPhone game.
23 Likes
One thing @mikeappsreviewer didn’t really touch on—even though their tips are solid (I use Back Tap daily now)—is Face ID tricks. Everyone’s obsessed with Face ID for unlocking, but did you know you can use it to sign into websites in Safari without typing passwords every. single. time? iCloud Keychain auto-fills, then a quick Face ID glance, and boom, you’re in. You can also add a second face to Face ID (for friends, partners, alter ego lol), under Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Set Up an Alternate Appearance.
Another weird but actually useful thing: you can move MULTIPLE apps at once on the home screen. Hold one app till it jiggles, then (while still holding), tap other apps with your other finger—they’ll stack under your finger—then just drag them all to a new page/folder. Tbh, it’s clunky but still beats one-by-one drags during spring cleaning.
For fun stuff, there’s hidden AR easter eggs in Apple’s Apple Store app (search for “AR” when looking at products to place them in your space—good for virtual window shopping).
Also, “Live Text” lets you grab text off any photo or screenshot (long press, copy/paste in the real world). Using it for copying wifi passwords from a pic is a game changer. Just snap, highlight, copy.
Little annoyed by how buried Notification Summary is—lets you schedule non-urgent notifications to show up in a digest at set times. Go to Settings > Notifications > Scheduled Summary. If your phone buzzes too much, this is basically digital peace.
If you use AirPods, dig into Accessibility > Audio/Visual. You can turn on “Headphone Accommodations” and tailor the sound to your hearing, not just boost volume.
Lastly, for privacy nerds: Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and check “System Services.” There’s a thing called “Significant Locations” that quietly logs everywhere you’ve been, so worth toggling off unless you want Apple knowing your every Starbucks stop.
Not saying these will change your life but hey, always feels good to outsmart the folks still using two hands to move apps. Anyone else got off-menu hacks?
Not sure how nobody piped up about the “Hidden Album” for photos. @mikeappsreviewer and @jeff’s tips are gold (trackpad saves my sanity when editing a rant text), but hiding sensitive pics is actually built-in, not some privacy myth or third-party scam. Go to Photos > select the pic > tap Share > hide. It moves to Albums > Hidden, which you can even lock with Face ID if you enable it in Settings > Photos. So, those awkward receipts or “meme dumps” won’t haunt your main feed.
Also, Safari’s “Website Tinting”—subtle, but if you hate glaring white bars up top, disable it in Settings > Safari > Allow Website Tinting OFF. Low-key makes browsing feel less 2008, more 2024.
If you use a Mac, Universal Clipboard is underrated. Copy on iPhone, paste on Mac, vice versa (just need same Apple ID and Bluetooth on). Most people only remember AirDrop. Universal Clipboard, tho? Smoothest copy-paste flex on windows users ever.
And for focus mode addicts: You can set custom Home Screens to only show during specific Focus modes. Long press blank space > Edit Home Screen > tap the dots for different pages, choose when they show. Not as hidden as some, but not exactly front-page news either.
Disagree slightly on Live Text being a total game-changer—it’s not always accurate, esp. on messy handwriting (feels half-baked sometimes, Apple). Still, when it works, it works.
Lastly, Voice Control (Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control) lets you literally talk your way through everything, even unlock your phone (with a passcode). Feels wild, especially if you wanna go full Star Trek with your device.
Def not exhaustive, but those are my low-key faves. Curious who else’s got a secret trick not already mentioned above!
For folks feeling they’ve squeezed their iPhones dry, there’s always another corner to explore. Let’s skip what’s already been covered (Back Tap, Hidden Album, document scan, etc. – seriously, those get way too much love!) and hit a few lesser-hyped moves, plus where the other suggestions trip up.
1. Sound Recognition
If you ever need your phone to act like an extra set of ears—say, you’re deep in noise-canceling headphones or a place you might not hear alarms—try Sound Recognition. Your iPhone can ping you if it detects stuff like sirens, doorbells, a baby crying, and so on. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Sound Recognition, flip it on, then pick which sounds to listen for.
- Pros: Great for accessibility, works offline
- Cons: Can get false positives, not super reliable in noisy areas
2. Quick Notes in Safari
This one got buried under Apple’s Notes app hype, but on recent iOS updates, if you’re researching in Safari, you can highlight text, tap “Share,” and drop it straight into a Quick Note—synced across your iCloud. It’s like web clipping, but without Evernote or OneNote bloat.
- Pros: Seamless, ultra-fast jotting, syncs to Mac/iPad
- Cons: Only works in supported apps, not as robust as third-party note apps
3. Drag-and-Drop Files Between Apps
Way overlooked: Multitask like a desktop. Open Photos, tap and hold a pic until it “floats,” then use your other hand to swipe up and switch to Messages/Notes/Mail and drop it right in there. Makes you feel like a wizard.
- Pros: Actually fast for real-world tasks
- Cons: Multitasking gesture can get finicky, especially on smaller screens
4. Visual Look Up — It’s There, Not Just for Plants
Snap a pic of a dog, landmark, painting, etc., and swipe up on the photo in Photos app kickstarts “Visual Look Up” — kind of like built-in Google Lens, but Apple-fied. Great for casual curiosity (or for arguing with friends at a museum).
- Pros: Free, built-in, works with lots of subjects
- Cons: Hit-or-miss accuracy, not real-time
Now, on the cons of piling so many features: Apple’s hidden gems are notorious for being, uh, buried. You really shouldn’t need a scavenger hunt for basic tricks.
Quick mention—@jeff and @mikeappsreviewer have solid coverage on the classic tricks, but neither really address how glitchy some of these features are (Back Tap triggers in your pocket, anyone?). @espritlibre’s “Hidden Album” is great… but still too easy to find if someone gets your unlocked phone. Not exactly private.
Competition-wise, Android land is catching up fast on features like Live Text—Google Lens is way more versatile if you’re into OCR/random object ID. One thing iPhone still dominates: out-of-the-box stability and integration.
One extra tip: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements. Toggling off “Share iPhone Analytics” won’t give superpowers, but it might slightly boost battery life and privacy—something everyone can appreciate, no hidden menu required.
Anyone else found a feature that was quietly life-changing, but isn’t even on Apple’s own promo slides?