The iPhone is packed with powerful features that make everyday tasks easier and more efficient. While most users are familiar with the basics like Face ID, iMessage, and Siri, there are several hidden gems within iOS that you may not have discovered yet. From secret touch gestures to customisable shortcuts, these features can enhance your iPhone experience. Let’s dive into some lesser-known, but incredibly useful, iOS features that might just blow your mind.
Did you know you can control your iPhone by tapping its back? The Back Tap feature, lets you assign double or triple taps to various actions like taking a screenshot, muting your phone, or even opening apps. This feature is perfect for shortcuts and adds an extra layer of convenience to your iPhone use.
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap and choose the actions you want.
Siri is more than just a voice assistant. With Siri Shortcuts, you can create custom voice commands to perform a series of actions instantly. For instance, you can create a shortcut to turn on Do Not Disturb, text a specific person, and open your favorite app — all with one command.
Go to the Shortcuts app > create and configure shortcuts to automate your tasks.
Editing text on an iPhone can be a hassle, especially when you're trying to place the cursor in just the right spot. Luckily, iOS has a hidden trackpad feature built into the keyboard. This small trick can save you a lot of time when correcting typos or editing long documents.
Long-press the space bar > keyboard automatically transforms into a touchpad > move the cursor precisely where you need it.
No need to download a separate scanning app—your iPhone has a built-in document scanner within the Notes app. You can quickly scan physical documents and turn them into PDFs.
Go to the Notes app > open a new note > tap the three dots on the top right of the screen > Scan > app will automatically detect the edges of the document and capture a clean, readable version.
Typing with one hand can be tricky, but iOS has a hidden one-handed keyboard mode. This shifts the keys to one side, making it much easier to type with one hand while multitasking.
Long-press the globe or emoji icon on your keyboard > choose either left or right-handed keyboard.
When a friend asks for your Wi-Fi password, there's no need to type it out. iPhones allow you to share your Wi-Fi password seamlessly. One tap, and they’re connected without hassle.
Bring their iPhone close to yours when they try to connect > a prompt will appear asking if you'd like to share the password.
Ever wish you could know who's calling just by the way your phone vibrates? iOS allows you to set custom vibration patterns for individual contacts. This is great for identifying important calls without even looking at your phone.
Go to Contacts > select a contact > Edit > Ringtone or Text Tone > choose Vibration to create a new pattern.
Your iPhone can be more than just a smartphone—it can also be a handy tool. The Measure app uses augmented reality to help you measure objects or spaces in real time. It’s an incredibly useful feature for home improvement projects or when you need to measure something on the go.
Go to the Measure app > point your camera at the object > choose your starting point and let your phone do the rest.
Speaking of handy tools, did you know the Compass app has a hidden level feature? It’s a small but useful addition to your iPhone’s toolkit.
Go to the Compass app > swipe left within the app > a bubble level will appear that can help you hang pictures or align furniture.
If you're on a limited data plan, you'll love Low Data Mode. This feature restricts background tasks like automatic updates, saving you precious data when you need it most. It’s perfect for when you’re nearing the end of your monthly data allowance.
Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Low Data Mode.
Keep important conversations within easy reach by pinning messages in iMessage. Pinned conversations will stay at the top of your Messages app, so you can quickly access your most important chats without having to scroll through the list.
Go to the Messages app > swipe right on a conversation > tap the pin icon.
The Control Center offers quick access to important functions, but did you know you can customise it? Add or remove features like screen recording, Do Not Disturb, flashlight, and even HomeKit devices.
Go to Settings > Control Center > Customise Controls to personalise it to your liking.
If you’re tired of spam or unknown callers, iOS has a solution. You can enable Silence Unknown Callers to block calls from numbers that aren’t in your contacts. Calls from unknown numbers will be sent directly to voicemail without ringing your phone.
Go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers.
We all have photos we’d rather keep hidden from our main photo gallery. iOS allows you to hide photos in a private folder.
Go to Photos > select a photo > tap the share icon > choose Hide > photo will be moved to a hidden album, which you can find in Albums > Hidden.
Need to perform a quick calculation? You don’t need to open the Calculator app — just use Spotlight Search. Spotlight will calculate it for you on the spot, saving you the time of switching apps.
Swipe down from the home screen > type equation into the search bar.
iOS is packed with features that make everyday tasks easier, from Siri Shortcuts to hidden tools like the Measure app. Now that you know these tips, it’s time to take your iPhone experience to the next level! And if you're ready to upgrade to the latest device, you can purchase the new iPhone 16 series with CelcomDigi. Get started today by exploring the options and flexible plans available from as low as RM78/month. Don’t miss out on the best deals for your next iPhone!
By submitting this subscription request, I consent to altHR sending me marketing communication via email. I may opt out at any time. View CelcomDigi's Privacy Policy.
