20 Hidden iPhone Tips & Tricks That You Probably Never Knew Existed

An iPhone has been designed with a lot of powerful features to make life easier for the user. Unfortunately, most people who own iPhones have no clue about some of the things that they can do with them. Here are some great ways that you can better enjoy your iPhone:

1. Group FaceTime – Even though you probably have called your friends and family on FaceTime many times, you may not have known that you could speak to more than one at the same time. You can actually set up a group FaceTime call using the following steps:

• Go to the FaceTime app and open it.
• At the top, on the right side is the + button. You need to tap on that.
• Pick the number or name of the first person you want to call.
• Then add as many as 30 more contacts.
• Tap on either audio or video to make a FaceTime Call to all of them at once.

2. Extending battery life – The iPhone comes with an option for “low power mode.” This setting lowers the consumption of power by simply turning off some features that drain the battery quickly. These include frequent email retrieval, refreshing the background app, faster screen dimming and the like.

• Go to the settings.
• Tap on Battery.
• Tap on the enable button for “low power mode”.

3. Quick access to the calculator – There is a quick way to reach the calculator without having to find and open your calculator app.

• • Start at the home screen, lock screen, or notifications and swipe right.
  • Type in the calculation you want done.
  • The phone will calculate and spit out the answer in a jiffy.

4. Take better pictures – If you want to take overhead shots, there is a camera setting that will help you take pictures that are more level and have better framing. To locate it and turn it on, do the following:

• • Go to settings
  • Scroll down
  • Tap on “camera”
  • Enable “Grid”

With the grid enabled, anytime you are looking to take overhead pictures, you will see two crosshairs appear. One will be yellow and the other white, and you will need to wait for them to line up before taking the picture. The picture is level only when they are lined up.

5. Be notified by a flash – Most people who like peace and quiet find auditory phone notifications both loud and intrusive. The iPhone offers the option of an LED light flashing instead of the noisy pings that come with notifications. To turn it on, you will need to follow the following instructions:

• • Go to your phone settings
  • Tap on “general”
  • Tap on “accessibility”
  • Scroll down
  • Tap on “Enable LED flash for alerts”

6. Disable app feedback requests – Everybody loves a good app but being interrupted in the middle of something by a popup requesting feedback on how well the app is working for you is quite annoying. Nobody wants to stop what they are doing to rate the application. You can actually put a stop to this by following these simple instructions:

• • Go to your phone settings.
  • Tap on “iTunes and App Store”.
  • Turn off In-App Ratings and Reviews.

7. Setting timers faster – Most people rely on their phone timers for a variety of activities. Knowing a quicker way to set it is a time saver.

• • Start by swiping down on the screen so as to gain access to your phone’s control center.
  • When you see the timer, don’t tap on it. Instead, press down and hold.
  • To increase the time, you will need to swipe up.
  • Then tap on start.

8. Ignore a call and customize your text message to the caller. You can’t always pick calls when you are busy, but you may not want to leave the caller hanging. Sending a text is the polite thing to do and you may not even have the time to create one right then. An iPhone comes with 3 options already pre-written. They include, “Can I call you later?” “I’m on my way” and “Sorry, I can’t talk right now.” It also has a button giving you the option to create a personalized text. This means that you can actually create customized pre-written messages and overwrite those that come with the phone. Follow these instructions:

8. • Go to your phone settings.
   • Tap on “phone”.
   • Find “Respond with text” and tap on it.
   • Tap on the field that you are interested in editing.
   • Type in the new text.

9. Custom Memoji – Even though people know about Animoji, most have no idea that they can custom create their own avatars known as memojis. These look like you and can be used to communicate with family and friends in a fun and personable way. Here’s how:

1. • You need to go to the messages app.
   • Find the monkey animoji icon and tap on it.
   • Swipe right towards the + sign and then tap on “new memoji”.
   • Choose the color of your skin.
   • Choose the level of freckles.
   • Choose the hairstyle.
   • Choose the shape of your head, chin, and age.
   • Choose your eye color and shape, as well as eyelashes.
   • Choose eyebrows, their color, and shape.
   • Choose the nose, shape of lips and lip color.
   • Choose the ears and earrings too.
   • Choose facial hair and the color of it.
   • Choose eyewear and the color of the eyewear.
   • Choose a hat and the color of the hat.

10. Add Face ID faces – The newer iPhone versions can also use Face ID to unlock the phone. Even though in the past the phone was only able to identify one face, today multiple faces can be registered and used to unlock the device:

• • Go to phone settings.
  • Find “Face ID and Passcode” and tap on it.
  • Type in your passcode.
  • Locate “Set up an alternate appearance” and tap on it.
  • Scan the new face and then follow the given prompts.

11. Measuring object sizes – There is a tool on your phone that you can use to measure both object and room sizes. Even though it isn’t fully accurate, it gives a pretty good idea of object measurements and even the distance between objects.

• • Go to the measure app and open it.
  • Allow the iPhone to analyze the area by moving it around.
  • Point your camera to the object to be measured.
  • Wait until you notice a white circle that has a dot in the center.
  • The white dot should be lined up with the items edge.
  • The white button that has a + sign is the one that you press.
  • Now drag the dot to the opposite edge of what you are measuring.
  • Press the + sign on the white button again.
  • The estimated measurement will be displayed.

12. Editing screenshots – Most people do not know that with an iPhone, you can edit screenshots before saving them.

• • Start by taking a screen shot. You do this by pressing the home and power buttons simultaneously.
  • A thumbnail will appear on the screen at the bottom left. Tap it quickly.
  • Now make your changes – crop, highlight, doodle, etc.
  • Tap on “Done” at the top left then share to send it.

13. Screen Time – This setting helps you limit phone usage time.

• • Start at settings.
  • Tap on screen time.
  • Tap on app limits.
  • Then tap on add limit.
  • Pick a category by tapping on it.
  • Now tap add.
  • Choose the time.
  • Then find the top left arrow and tap on it to save.

14. Use 3D touch – If you apply pressure to your touchscreen when using an app, you will find that it will respond by showing more content, playing an animation, or displaying a menu.

15. Photo effects – It is now possible to edit photos in the messaging app with iOS 12. You are able to add text, filters, stickers and shapes. To do so, just follow these instructions:

• • Go to the message app.
  • Tap on the camera icon which is at the bottom on the left.
  • Take a selfie or picture.
  • Tap on effects.
  • Tap on filters, text, or shapes.
  • Drag these objects to the picture.
  • Edit the image and hit send.

16. Create shortcuts – The iOS 12 comes with a variety of shortcuts. The On My Way (OMW) shortcut, for example, can help you quickly open your navigation apps, directions home, or send your travel time to someone you are going to meet. Here is how to download or create your own shortcuts:

• • Go to App Store.
  • Search for shortcuts.
  • Download the app you want.
  • Open it.
  • Tap on it to start.
  • On the bottom right is the gallery. Tap on it.
  • Find the shortcut you want and tap on it.
  • Get the shortcut by tapping.
  • Follow configuration steps.

17. Hey Siri – Enabling Hey Siri allows you to use Siri without having to press any buttons.

• • Go to settings.
  • Select Siri.
  • Allow Hey Siri by Toggling.

A bonus is that you can find your lost phone by simply shouting “Hey Siri.”

18. Teach Siri correct pronunciations – If you have a friend with a difficult name, you can teach Siri how to pronounce it:

18. • Say “Hey Siri” or hold down your home button and Siri will be triggered.
    • Speak up and say this phrase, “That’s not how you pronounce [insert name].”
    • You will be offered 4 pronunciation options by Siri.
    • Pick the right one.

19. One-handed keyboard – With large keyboard displays, it is difficult to type with one hand, but this iPhone can shift the keyboard to one side so that one is able to type single handedly. To enable this feature:

• • Hold down the globe or emoji icon on the left of the keyboard at the bottom.
  • Select the icon for left or right-handed keyboard.
  • To go back to your normal keyboard, simply tap on the arrow that is in that blank space that was left when the keyboard moved to one side.

20. Invert to Dark Mode – This mode changes the phone’s interface from colors that are light to mainly black. The app and image icons will stay the same, but the interface will turn dark.

• • Start by tapping on settings.
  • Go to general and tap on that.
  • Tap on accessibility.
  • Then tap on display accommodations.
  • Tap on invert colors.
  • Now toggle smart invert.