iPhone Guide: 6 Hidden Tricks for Power Users

Welcome to our iPhone Guide: 6 Hidden Tricks for Power Users. This guide is designed to help you unlock the full potential of your iPhone. We’ve gathered some of the most useful, yet lesser-known features that can transform the way you use your device.

In the world of smartphones, the iPhone stands out for its user-friendly interface and advanced technology. But beyond the basics, there are numerous hidden features that many users aren’t aware of. These features can enhance your productivity, save time, and make your iPhone experience even more enjoyable.

In this guide, we will delve into six of these hidden tricks. From utilizing the hidden touchpad to mastering Siri shortcuts, optimizing battery life, using the offload unused apps feature, taking advantage of Wi-Fi calling, and enabling dark mode, we’ve got you covered.

So, whether you’re a long-time iPhone user or a newcomer to the Apple ecosystem, this guide is for you. By the end of it, you’ll be using your iPhone like a pro, impressing your friends with your newfound knowledge.

Trick 1: Utilizing the Hidden Touchpad

Did you know your iPhone keyboard doubles as a trackpad? This hidden feature allows you to move the cursor more accurately, making text editing a breeze. Here’s how to use it:

Activating the Touchpad: Simply press and hold any key on the keyboard. After a moment, the keys will fade out, transforming the keyboard into a touchpad.

Navigating the Cursor: Slide your finger around to move the cursor through the text. You’ll notice it’s much more precise than trying to tap the exact spot in the text.

Selecting Text: Want to highlight a word, sentence, or paragraph? With the touchpad activated, just press harder on the screen (for iPhones with 3D Touch) or tap with another finger (for iPhones without 3D Touch). Then, move your finger to select the text.

This hidden touchpad trick can save you a lot of time and frustration when you’re typing long emails or editing documents on your iPhone. It’s one of those features that, once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Trick 2: Mastering Siri Shortcuts

Siri Shortcuts is a powerful tool that can automate tasks and create personalized routines on your iPhone. Here’s how to master it:

Understanding Siri Shortcuts: Siri Shortcuts are a set of actions bundled together that Siri can perform for you. These actions can involve one app or multiple apps, depending on the complexity of the task.

Creating a Shortcut: To create a shortcut, open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and tap on the “+” icon. Then, tap on “Add Action” to choose the actions you want Siri to perform. You can add as many actions as you want.

Using Your Shortcut: Once you’ve created a shortcut, you can trigger it by asking Siri. For example, if you’ve created a shortcut to send a text message and play your workout playlist, you can say “Hey Siri, start my workout” to trigger it.

Sharing Your Shortcut: You can share your shortcuts with others by tapping on the “…” icon on a shortcut and then tapping on “Share Shortcut.”

Mastering Siri Shortcuts can save you a lot of time and make your iPhone experience more personalized. It’s like having a personal assistant who knows exactly what you want and when you want it.

Trick 3: Optimizing Battery Life

One of the most common concerns for iPhone users is battery life. But did you know there are several hidden settings that can help extend your iPhone’s battery life? Here’s how to optimize it:

Understanding Battery Usage: Go to Settings > Battery to see a breakdown of what’s consuming your battery. This can help you identify apps or activities that drain your battery the most.

Enabling Low Power Mode: This feature, found in Settings > Battery, reduces background activity like downloads and mail fetch until you can fully charge your phone.

Adjusting Screen Brightness: Lowering your screen brightness or enabling auto-brightness in Settings > Display & Brightness can significantly save battery life.

Turning Off Dynamic Backgrounds and Motion Effects: Dynamic backgrounds and motion effects look cool, but they can drain your battery. You can turn them off in Settings > Accessibility > Motion > Reduce Motion.

Updating Apps and iOS: Developers often include battery optimizations in app updates, and Apple includes them in iOS updates. Regularly updating your apps and iOS can therefore help extend battery life.

By following these tips, you can get the most out of your iPhone’s battery life and keep your device running longer between charges.

Trick 4: Using Offload Unused Apps Feature

The Offload Unused Apps feature is a hidden gem that can save you significant storage space on your iPhone. Here’s how to use it:

Understanding Offload Unused Apps: This feature automatically removes seldom-used apps from your iPhone, but keeps their documents and data. When you need the app again, you can easily reinstall it, and your data will be right where you left it.

Enabling Offload Unused Apps: To enable this feature, go to Settings > App Store > Offload Unused Apps and toggle the switch on.

Using Offload Unused Apps: Once enabled, your iPhone will automatically offload apps that you haven’t used in a while when you’re low on storage. You can also manually offload individual apps by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, tapping on the app you want to offload, and then tapping Offload App.

Reinstalling Offloaded Apps: To reinstall an offloaded app, simply tap on its icon on your home screen. Alternatively, you can go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, tap on the offloaded app, and then tap Reinstall App.

By using the Offload Unused Apps feature, you can make the most of your iPhone’s storage without sacrificing your data.

Trick 5: Taking Advantage of Wi-Fi Calling

Wi-Fi calling is a hidden feature that can improve your call quality and save your cellular data. Here’s how to use it:

Understanding Wi-Fi Calling: Wi-Fi calling allows you to make and receive calls over a Wi-Fi network when cellular service isn’t available. It can be a lifesaver in areas with poor cellular reception.

Enabling Wi-Fi Calling: To enable Wi-Fi calling, go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling and toggle the switch on.

Using Wi-Fi Calling: Once enabled, your iPhone will automatically switch to Wi-Fi calling when it’s connected to a Wi-Fi network and cellular service is poor. You can make and receive calls as you normally would.

Setting Up Wi-Fi Calling for Other Devices: You can also set up Wi-Fi calling for other devices, like your iPad or Mac, allowing you to make and receive calls even when your iPhone isn’t nearby. To do this, go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling > Add Wi-Fi Calling For Other Devices.

By taking advantage of Wi-Fi calling, you can ensure that you’re always reachable, no matter where you are or how good your cellular service is.

Trick 6: Enabling Dark Mode

Dark mode is a feature that changes the color scheme of your iPhone’s interface to darker colors. It can be easier on your eyes in low-light environments and can even save battery life on OLED screens. Here’s how to use it:

Understanding Dark Mode: Dark mode changes the color scheme of your iPhone’s interface to darker colors. It can be easier on your eyes in low-light environments and can even save battery life on OLED screens.

Enabling Dark Mode: To enable dark mode, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Appearance and select Dark.

Using Dark Mode: Once enabled, your iPhone’s interface will switch to dark mode. You can also set dark mode to turn on automatically at sunset or during custom hours by going to Settings > Display & Brightness > Options.

Disabling Dark Mode: If you want to switch back to light mode, just go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Appearance and select Light.

By enabling dark mode, you can give your iPhone a sleek new look and potentially save battery life.

Conclusion: Becoming an iPhone Power User

Congratulations! You’ve now discovered six hidden tricks that can transform you into an iPhone power user. From utilizing the hidden touchpad and mastering Siri shortcuts, to optimizing battery life, using the offload unused apps feature, taking advantage of Wi-Fi calling, and enabling dark mode, you’ve learned how to unlock the full potential of your iPhone

FAQs: iPhone Guide

What is the hidden touchpad on the iPhone?

The hidden touchpad is a feature on the iPhone that allows you to move the cursor more accurately when typing or editing text. By pressing and holding any key on the keyboard, the keys will fade out, transforming the keyboard into a touchpad. You can then slide your finger around to move the cursor through the text.

How do Siri Shortcuts work?

Siri Shortcuts are a set of actions bundled together that Siri can perform for you. These actions can involve one app or multiple apps. You can create a shortcut in the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and trigger it by asking Siri.

How can I optimize my iPhone’s battery life?

You can optimize your iPhone’s battery life by understanding your battery usage, enabling Low Power Mode, adjusting screen brightness, turning off dynamic backgrounds and motion effects, and regularly updating your apps and iOS.

What is the Offload Unused Apps feature?

The Offload Unused Apps feature automatically removes seldom-used apps from your iPhone, but keeps their documents and data. When you need the app again, you can easily reinstall it, and your data will be right where you left it.

How does Wi-Fi calling work on the iPhone?

Wi-Fi calling allows you to make and receive calls over a Wi-Fi network when cellular service isn’t available. You can enable Wi-Fi calling in the Phone settings on your iPhone.