Best iPhone Tips and Tricks: The Ultimate Guide for iPhone Users
The iPhone is much more than a device for making calls, sending messages, taking photos, and browsing the internet. Apple includes many useful features that can make your iPhone faster, safer, more productive, and easier to use. However, many of these features are hidden inside settings or activated through gestures and shortcuts.
Whether you are a new iPhone user or have been using an iPhone for years, these best iPhone tips and tricks can help you get more from your device.
1. Customize Control Center
Control Center gives you quick access to important functions such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, brightness, volume, Focus modes, screen recording, and more.
You can customize the controls according to your needs. Open Control Center and use the available customization options to add, remove, or rearrange controls.
Useful controls include:
Screen Recording
Low Power Mode
Calculator
Camera
Flashlight
Dark Mode
Focus
Voice Memo
Accessibility shortcuts
This can save considerable time because you don’t need to search through Settings every time.
2. Use Back Tap
One of the most useful iPhone accessibility features is Back Tap.
You can configure double-tap or triple-tap gestures on the back of your iPhone to perform actions.
Depending on your iOS version and device, available actions can include:
Taking a screenshot
Opening Control Center
Turning on the flashlight
Muting the device
Running a Shortcut
Opening an app
Activating accessibility features
Go to:
Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap
You can then select Double Tap or Triple Tap.
For example, you could configure Double Tap to take a screenshot.
3. Quickly Search Everything With Spotlight
Spotlight Search is one of the fastest ways to find something on your iPhone.
Swipe down from the Home Screen and type what you’re looking for.
You can search for:
Apps
Contacts
Messages
Emails
Photos
Files
Notes
Settings
Documents
Calculations
Conversions
Instead of scrolling through dozens of apps, simply search for the app name.
For example, type Calculator, and you can immediately open it.
4. Use the iPhone Keyboard as a Trackpad
Editing text on a small screen can sometimes be frustrating.
There is a useful trick that makes cursor movement much easier.
While typing, press and hold the Space bar. The keyboard turns into a trackpad, allowing you to move the cursor precisely.
This is particularly useful when correcting:
Emails
Messages
Documents
Notes
Social media posts
Once you learn this gesture, editing text becomes considerably easier.
5. Select Text Quickly
You don’t always need to drag the small cursor handles manually.
Depending on the app, you can use gestures such as double-tapping a word to select it or triple-tapping a paragraph.
You can then:
Copy
Cut
Paste
Look up
Translate
Share
This is especially helpful when working with long messages.
6. Take a Full-Page Screenshot
Screenshots are useful for saving information, but sometimes the information extends beyond the screen.
In supported apps such as Safari, after taking a screenshot, you may see a Full Page option.
This can allow you to capture an entire webpage instead of taking multiple screenshots.
Full-page screenshots are particularly useful for:
Articles
Receipts
Online documents
Web pages
Instructions
Long conversations
7. Scan Documents Using Notes
You don’t necessarily need a separate scanner app to digitize documents.
The Notes app can scan documents using your iPhone camera.
This is useful for:
Certificates
Bills
Receipts
Forms
Letters
Study material
Open a note, choose the attachment/camera option, and select the document scanning feature.
Your iPhone can automatically detect the document’s edges and create a digital copy.
8. Sign Documents on Your iPhone
If you receive a PDF that requires a signature, you can often use the built-in Markup tools.
Open the document, choose Markup, and add your signature.
You can save the signed document and share it without printing it.
This can be extremely useful for work, applications, and other paperwork.
9. Use Live Text
Live Text allows your iPhone to recognize text appearing in photos and supported camera views.
For example, if you take a picture of a document containing a phone number, you may be able to select the number and call it.
You can also use recognized text to:
Copy information
Translate text
Search the web
Look up words
Call phone numbers
Open websites
Convert information into contacts
It is particularly useful for students and professionals.
10. Copy Text From Photos
Suppose you photograph a page containing a paragraph.
Instead of typing the entire paragraph manually, use Live Text to select and copy the text.
This can save a lot of time when collecting information from:
Books
Posters
Documents
Whiteboards
Business cards
Menus
Always check copied text before using it in important documents because recognition can occasionally make mistakes.
11. Use Visual Look Up
On supported devices and software, Visual Look Up can provide information about recognized objects in photos.
Depending on your region and software, it can help identify things such as:
Plants
Animals
Landmarks
Certain objects
Artwork
Take a photo and look for the relevant information icon when available.
12. Improve Battery Life
Battery life depends on how you use your iPhone, but several settings can help reduce unnecessary battery consumption.
Consider:
Reducing unnecessary notifications
Limiting background activity for apps that don’t need it
Using Low Power Mode when necessary
Reducing screen brightness
Using Wi-Fi when appropriate
Reviewing apps that consume significant battery
Check:
Settings → Battery
You can see which apps and activities are using the most battery.
Don’t automatically disable every feature. Instead, focus on services that provide little value to you.
13. Don’t Constantly Force-Close Apps
Many people repeatedly swipe away every app from the app switcher because they believe it saves battery.
In general, iOS manages app memory and background activity automatically.
You typically don’t need to force-close apps unless an app is malfunctioning or you specifically need to restart it.
Constantly closing and reopening apps can sometimes be less efficient than letting iOS manage them.
14. Protect Your Battery
Battery capacity naturally decreases over time.
Good habits include:
Avoiding excessive heat
Keeping iOS updated
Using reputable chargers and cables
Avoiding unnecessary extreme temperatures
Checking Battery Health periodically
Go to:
Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging
Depending on your iPhone and software version, you’ll find battery health information and charging-related options.
15. Use Optimized Battery Charging
Optimized Battery Charging is designed to reduce the time your iPhone spends fully charged under certain circumstances.
The feature learns your charging routine and can delay charging beyond a certain level until closer to when you are likely to use the device.
This can help reduce battery aging.
16. Use Focus Modes
Focus is one of the best features for reducing distractions.
You can create Focus modes for different situations, such as:
Work
Personal
Sleep
Driving
Exercise
Study
You can choose which people and apps are allowed to notify you.
For example, during study time you can allow calls from family members while silencing social media notifications.
17. Schedule Notification Summary
If you receive too many notifications throughout the day, you can use Notification Summary.
Instead of receiving every non-urgent notification immediately, supported notifications can be delivered together at scheduled times.
This can help reduce interruptions.
Go to:
Settings → Notifications
Look for the notification summary options available on your device.
18. Use Do Not Disturb
Do Not Disturb is useful when you need uninterrupted time.
You can use it during:
Meetings
Sleep
Studying
Driving
Important work
You can also customize allowed contacts and apps.
19. Create Your Own Shortcuts
The Shortcuts app can automate repetitive tasks.
For example, you can create shortcuts for:
Opening frequently used apps
Sending predefined messages
Starting navigation
Converting files
Creating reminders
Running multiple actions together
Once you understand Shortcuts, your iPhone can perform complex sequences with a single tap.
20. Use Siri for Quick Tasks
Siri can perform many everyday tasks without requiring you to touch the screen.
You can ask Siri to:
Set alarms
Create reminders
Send messages
Make calls
Start timers
Open apps
Check certain information
Control compatible smart-home devices
For frequently repeated tasks, Siri can save time.
21. Use Siri With Shortcuts
Shortcuts become even more useful when combined with Siri.
For example, you could create a shortcut that performs several actions and then activate it with a custom phrase.
This turns your iPhone into a personal automation tool.
22. Find Your iPhone Easily
Make sure Find My is configured.
Find My can help you locate compatible Apple devices and, depending on your settings and device, take additional actions when a device is lost.
Before you lose your phone, check:
Settings → [your name] → Find My
Make sure the relevant Find My features are enabled.
23. Use Lost Mode
If your iPhone is lost, Find My can provide options such as marking the device as lost.
Lost Mode can help protect your information and provide contact information for someone who finds your phone.
The most important rule is to configure Find My before your phone disappears.
24. Protect Your Apple Account
Your Apple Account is extremely important because it may provide access to:
Photos
Contacts
iCloud
Backups
Messages
App purchases
Other Apple services
Use a strong password and enable two-factor authentication.
Never share verification codes with strangers.
Be especially cautious of messages claiming that your Apple account has been locked.
25. Check App Permissions
Apps often request access to information such as:
Location
Photos
Contacts
Camera
Microphone
Bluetooth
Don’t automatically grant every permission.
Review permissions periodically under:
Settings → Privacy & Security
Ask yourself whether each app genuinely needs the requested access.
26. Review Location Services
Location access can be useful for maps, weather, transportation, and other services.
But not every app needs your location all the time.
Review:
Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services
Choose the most appropriate permission for each app.
27. Use App Privacy Features
Apple provides privacy controls that can help you understand how apps access information.
Review the privacy settings periodically and remove permissions that are no longer necessary.
This is especially important for apps you rarely use.
28. Use iCloud Backup
A phone can be lost, damaged, or replaced.
A backup can help protect your important information.
Check your iCloud backup settings and make sure your important data is being backed up appropriately.
Don’t assume that having photos on your iPhone automatically means every file is safely backed up.
29. Free Up Storage
If your iPhone is running low on storage, go to:
Settings → General → iPhone Storage
You’ll see how much space different apps and categories are using.
You can then remove:
Unused apps
Large videos
Old downloads
Duplicate files
Unnecessary attachments
Before deleting anything important, verify that you have another copy.
30. Offload Unused Apps
If an app takes up space but you don’t want to lose its associated data, iOS may offer an option to offload unused apps.
This removes the app itself while preserving relevant data so that you can reinstall it later.
31. Organize Your Home Screen
You don’t need dozens of pages filled with apps.
Organize your most frequently used apps into folders or place them on easily accessible Home Screen pages.
You can also use widgets to display information without opening apps.
32. Use Widgets
Widgets can show useful information directly on the Home Screen.
Depending on the apps installed, widgets can provide:
Weather
Calendar events
Battery information
Reminders
News
Fitness information
Notes
Use only widgets that genuinely help you. Too many can make your Home Screen cluttered.
33. Use App Library
The App Library automatically organizes apps into categories.
This means you don’t need to keep every app on your Home Screen.
You can remove rarely used apps from the Home Screen while keeping them installed.
34. Use Safari Tab Groups
If you frequently research different topics, Safari Tab Groups can keep related pages together.
For example, you could create groups for:
Work
Travel
Shopping
Study
Personal research
This makes browser organization much easier.
35. Quickly Switch Between Safari Tabs
Safari includes gestures and tab management options that make it easier to move between pages.
If you regularly browse many websites, learning Safari’s tab management features can significantly improve productivity.
36. Save Websites to Your Home Screen
If you frequently visit a website, you can add it to the Home Screen from Safari.
This creates an easy shortcut so you don’t have to type the website address repeatedly.
This can be useful for:
Online banking
Work portals
Educational websites
Frequently used tools
Personal websites
37. Use AirDrop
AirDrop is one of the easiest ways to transfer files between compatible Apple devices.
You can share:
Photos
Videos
Documents
Contacts
Websites
Other supported content
Before using it, check your AirDrop receiving settings and only allow the level of access you are comfortable with.
38. Share Photos Without Unnecessary Information
When sharing photos, iOS can provide options that control whether certain metadata is included.
For privacy-sensitive situations, review the sharing options before sending an image.
This can be useful when you don’t want to share additional information associated with a photograph.
39. Use Hidden and Recently Deleted Photos
If you have private photos, learn how the Photos app handles Hidden and Recently Deleted collections.
Depending on your settings and iOS version, these areas can have additional authentication protections.
Remember that hiding a photo isn’t the same as deleting it.
40. Edit Photos Without Extra Apps
The built-in Photos app provides many editing tools.
You can adjust:
Exposure
Brilliance
Highlights
Shadows
Contrast
Brightness
Saturation
Sharpness
You can also crop, rotate, and apply filters.
For many everyday photos, you don’t need a third-party editor.
41. Use Portrait Mode Carefully
Portrait Mode can create an attractive background blur.
For better results:
Use good lighting
Keep the subject separated from the background
Keep the subject within the camera’s recommended distance
Avoid complicated backgrounds when possible
Good lighting generally matters more than expensive editing.
42. Learn Camera Quick Controls
The Camera app contains many controls that can be accessed quickly.
Experiment with:
Exposure adjustment
Flash
Live Photos
Timer
Different camera lenses
Focus
Zoom controls
Learning these controls can dramatically improve your photographs.
43. Use Volume Buttons for Photos
The volume buttons can be used as shutter buttons in the Camera app.
This can make it easier to hold the phone steadily, especially when taking photos horizontally.
On compatible setups, volume buttons can also have additional camera functions.
44. Record Your Screen
Screen Recording is extremely useful for creating tutorials.
You can record:
App demonstrations
Settings tutorials
Gameplay
Troubleshooting steps
Educational content
Add Screen Recording to Control Center for quick access.
45. Use the Flashlight Brightness Control
The flashlight isn’t simply an on/off function.
On supported iPhones, you can press and hold the flashlight control to access brightness levels.
This is useful when you need a softer light rather than maximum brightness.
46. Use the Calculator Wisely
If you make a mistake while entering a calculation, you don’t necessarily have to start over.
Depending on the interface, you can delete individual digits with a swipe gesture on the number display.
For complex calculations, consider using Spotlight or a dedicated calculator app.
47. Set Multiple Timers
Multiple timers can be useful for cooking, studying, workouts, and other activities.
If your iOS version supports multiple timers, you can run more than one timer simultaneously.
For example:
10-minute timer for one task
25-minute study timer
5-minute break timer
48. Use the Measure App
The Measure app uses your iPhone’s sensors and camera capabilities to estimate dimensions of objects and spaces.
It can be useful when you don’t have a physical measuring tape.
However, remember that camera-based measurements are estimates and shouldn’t replace professional measurement when accuracy is critical.
49. Use Emergency SOS
Learn how Emergency SOS works before you need it.
Depending on your iPhone model, region, and configuration, Emergency SOS can help you quickly contact emergency services.
Also consider setting up Emergency Contacts in the Health app.
50. Set Up Medical ID
Medical ID can provide important emergency information from your Lock Screen, depending on your settings.
You can add information such as:
Emergency contacts
Allergies
Relevant medical information
Blood type
Only enter information you’re comfortable storing on the device.
51. Use NameDrop Carefully
Newer Apple devices support convenient contact-sharing features such as NameDrop.
It can make sharing contact information easier, but always pay attention to what information you’re actually sharing.
52. Use StandBy When Charging
On supported iPhones and iOS versions, StandBy can turn the phone into a useful display while charging in landscape orientation.
It can show information such as:
Clocks
Widgets
Photos
Other supported information
This is particularly useful on a desk or bedside table.
53. Keep iOS Updated
Software updates can provide:
Security improvements
Bug fixes
New features
Performance improvements
Compatibility improvements
Go to:
Settings → General → Software Update
Before major updates, make sure important data is backed up.
54. Update Apps Regularly
Apps also receive updates that can fix bugs and security problems.
You can review available app updates through the App Store.
Keeping important apps updated can improve compatibility and reliability.
55. Avoid Suspicious Links
One of the most important iPhone security tips is simple:
Don’t blindly tap links in unexpected messages.
Be cautious about messages claiming:
Your bank account is blocked
Your Apple account needs verification
You won a prize
Your parcel requires payment
Your subscription has expired
You have received a refund
Instead of using the provided link, open the official app or website yourself.
56. Don’t Share Verification Codes
Never share:
Apple verification codes
Banking OTPs
Passwords
Recovery codes
Authentication codes
A legitimate support representative should not need you to reveal a confidential verification code.
57. Use Strong Passcodes
A passcode protects your iPhone and can protect access to sensitive information.
Avoid easy combinations such as:
123456
000000
Birth dates
Repeated numbers
Use a strong passcode that you can remember.
58. Use Face ID Correctly
Face ID can make unlocking your iPhone extremely convenient.
Keep the TrueDepth camera area clean and make sure your face is reasonably visible.
If Face ID regularly fails, check your settings and consider whether anything is obstructing the sensors.
59. Use Password Manager Features
Modern iOS versions can store and autofill passwords and passkeys through Apple’s password management system.
This makes it easier to use unique credentials rather than reusing the same password everywhere.
Using unique passwords significantly reduces the damage caused if one website experiences a security breach.
60. Make Your iPhone Work for You
The biggest iPhone tip is not about one hidden setting.
It’s about building your own workflow.
For example:
Morning
Check Calendar
Check Weather
Review Reminders
Work/Study
Enable Focus
Silence unnecessary notifications
Use Notes
Use Shortcuts
Scan documents when needed
Evening
Review tasks
Back up important information
Check battery
Organize photos and files
A well-configured iPhone can become a powerful productivity tool instead of simply being a communication device.
Conclusion
The iPhone contains hundreds of features, and you don’t need to learn all of them at once. Start with the features that provide the greatest benefit: Control Center customization, Back Tap, Spotlight Search, Focus modes, Shortcuts, Live Text, document scanning, AirDrop, Find My, privacy controls, battery management, iCloud backup, and security settings.
Most importantly, keep your iPhone updated, use a strong passcode, protect your Apple Account, avoid suspicious links, and regularly review app permissions.
Once you learn these features, you’ll be able to use your iPhone faster, safer, and more efficiently while getting much more value from the device you already own.