Whether you buy an iPhone on EMI or pay for it in full – it is undoubtedly a prized possession. But are you making the most of it?
The Apple iOS is a user-friendly operating system that promises a world of convenience. But chances are, you’ve barely scratched the surface of all that an iPhone is capable of. Here are some of our favourite hidden iPhone tricks you should know to be an iPhone expert!
- Make Your Keyboard a Trackpad
When typing along, if you need to move the cursor backwards to correct something, don’t tap the screen. Instead, hold down the spacebar on your keyboard. You’ll see your keyboard go blank, and you can use the space as a trackpad to drag and drop your cursor wherever you want.
- Check that a Surface is Level
You may have tried using the built-in iOS measurement app several times. But did you know that you can also use it to check if a surface is level? To find out, open the Measure app and tap Level on the right. Lay your phone flat on the surface you want to check. If you wish to check the level difference between two surfaces, tap the screen angle and set it to zero.
- Backspace in the iPhone Calculator
Next time you mistype a digit on your iPhone calculator, don’t hit C or AC buttons. Instead, swipe right or left at the top of your screen where the digits are displayed. This motion acts as the backspace command and will remove the number you entered last.
- Hide Private Photos
It’s super simple to hide your private photos in an iPhone. Inside Photos, select the image you wish to hide, tap the ‘Share’ button, and choose ‘Hide’. Your chosen photos are removed from every location in the photo library and will remain only in the ‘Hidden’ folder after that.
- Notifications Through Camera Flash
If you prefer visual notifications rather than sound, you can activate your camera flash to blink several times every time you get an alert. Go to Settings and tap ‘Accessibility’. Under Accessibility, go to ‘Audio/Visual’ and switch the LED Flash for Alerts to ‘ON’.
- Magnifying Glass
Your iPhone camera can act as a magnifying glass to give you a closer look at things. Go to Settings, open ‘Accessibility’ and then turn ‘Magnifier’ to ‘ON’. After that, turn on your iPhone camera and triple tap the side button to bring up the magnifier. Use the slider at the bottom of the screen to zoom in and out.
- Hide Unused Apps
Move any unused apps to the App Library on iOS14 to stop unwanted notifications. Tap ‘Remove App’ from the app quick actions and select ‘Move to App Library’. That way, you can always retrieve the apps whenever you want and also avoid unnecessary alerts.
- Delete Location Tracking History
IPhones track your locations and store information about where you went and how much time you spent there. Luckily, it’s easy to delete this information. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Frequent Locations. Tap ‘Clear History’ and swipe left on the ‘Frequent Locations’ tab to turn this feature off.
- Record a Video & Take a Picture at the Same Time
To snap a photo while recording a video, tap the shutter icon next to the red record button on your screen. Although, pictures clicked during a video recording may not be as high-quality.
- Sign Documents
If you want to sign a document digitally, you can do it on your iPhone. Take a screenshot of the document you wish to sign and tap the thumbnail. On the lower right of your screen, click the Plus ‘+’ sign. You will see an option for ‘Signature’. Choose this to sign right on your screen or use a stored image of your signature.
- Share Your Wi-Fi Password Automatically
Share your Wi-Fi password with guests who also have iPhones. Turn on Bluetooth on both phones, ask them to navigate to their Wi-Fi settings. If they have iOS12 or higher, or if they are using an iPad or iMac device, and they are in your contact list – you will receive a pop up asking, “Do you want to share your Wi-Fi password for (network name) with (contact name)?” Tap share password, and your friend will be logged in.
Author Bio: Shiv Nanda is a financial analyst who currently lives in Bangalore (refusing to acknowledge the name change) and works with MoneyTap, India’s first app-based credit-line. Shiv is a true finance geek, and his friends love that. They always rely on him for advice on their investment choices, budgeting skills, personal financial matters, and when they want to get a loan. He has made it his life’s mission to help and educate people on various financial topics, so email him your questions at shiv@moneytap.com.