iPhone is a powerful tool. Many users, however, overlook its hidden features. This article highlights 15 hidden features of your iPhone that can enhance your daily experience. From shortcuts to unique settings, these tips will make you feel like an iPhone expert.
Table of Contents
1. Back Tap
Back Tap is a feature that allows you to perform actions by tapping the back of your phone. You can set it up for double-tap or triple-tap actions. To enable it, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. Assign shortcuts for quick access to features like taking screenshots or launching apps.
2. Ambient Sounds
Your iPhone can play background sounds like white noise or rain sounds. This feature helps create a calming environment. To access it, navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Background Sounds and turn it on.
3. Keyboard as Trackpad
Editing text becomes easier with the keyboard trackpad feature. Press and hold the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, allowing you to move the cursor precisely where you want it.
4. Automatic Portraits
When taking photos, your iPhone automatically saves depth data for subjects in frame, even if you didn’t use Portrait mode. Look for the ƒ symbol in the viewfinder to know it’s active.
5. Action Button Shortcuts
On newer models, the Action Button replaces the mute switch. You can customize it to perform various tasks, such as launching the camera or activating Siri Shortcuts. Go to Settings > Action Button to set it up.
6. Create Stickers from Photos
Transform any image into a sticker for messaging apps. Open the Photos app, select an image, and tap Add Sticker after pressing and holding the photo. You can also create animated stickers from Live Photos.
7. Screen Distance Alerts
Your iPhone can help protect your vision by alerting you if you’re holding it too close to your face for too long. To enable this feature, go to Settings > Screen Time > Screen Distance and turn it on.
8. Capture Text with Camera
Point your camera at text, and an icon will appear allowing you to copy, translate, or share it instantly. This feature is handy for quickly grabbing information from books or signs.
9. Drag Multiple Apps into Folders
Organizing your home screen is easier than ever. You can drag multiple apps into a folder at once by selecting them all and dropping them into one folder.
10. Battery Health Insights
Check your battery’s health by going to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. Here, you can see important details like battery capacity and charging cycles.
11. Quick Siri Access
Instead of saying “Hey Siri,” press and hold the side button for quick access to Siri commands without activating voice recognition.
12. Live Voicemail Transcription
Your iPhone can transcribe voicemails in real-time, allowing you to read messages as they are being left without listening to them first.
13. Call Banner Notifications
Change incoming call notifications from full-screen alerts to banner notifications for a less disruptive experience. Go to Settings > Phone > Incoming Calls and select “Banner.”
14. Sensitive Content Warnings
Enable sensitive content warnings in Messages to automatically blur explicit images sent to you, keeping your conversations safe and appropriate.
15. USB-C Storage Support
With newer models supporting USB-C storage devices, you can easily transfer files from external drives directly on your iPhone without needing a computer.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Back Tap | Perform actions by tapping the back of your phone |
| Ambient Sounds | Play calming background sounds |
| Keyboard as Trackpad | Use keyboard as a trackpad for text editing |
| Automatic Portraits | Automatically saves depth data for portraits |
| Action Button Shortcuts | Customize Action Button for various tasks |
| Create Stickers from Photos | Turn images into stickers for messaging |
| Screen Distance Alerts | Alerts when holding phone too close |
| Capture Text with Camera | Copy text instantly using the camera |
| Drag Multiple Apps into Folders | Organize apps quickly on home screen |
| Battery Health Insights | Check battery health and charging cycles |
| Quick Siri Access | Access Siri quickly without voice activation |
| Live Voicemail Transcription | Read voicemails in real-time |
| Call Banner Notifications | Change call notifications from full-screen to banner |
| Sensitive Content Warnings | Automatically blur explicit images in Messages |
| USB-C Storage Support | Transfer files directly from USB-C devices |
These 15 hidden features of your iPhone can significantly improve how you use your device daily. Whether it’s enhancing productivity or providing new ways to interact with your phone, these tips are worth trying out!
