Menu names and paths can vary slightly by iOS version and device model. If a step looks different on your iPhone, use the search bar at the top of Settings to find it quickly. Back up your data before making changes, and keep iOS updated - newer versions continue to refine Focus modes, battery health tools, and privacy controls.
5 general iOS hacks to start with
Before diving into advanced features, it helps to clean up the fundamentals. Most iPhone slowdowns or battery frustrations come from a handful of everyday issues. Start here to remove friction fast.
- Clear breathing room in storage: iPhones run best with free space available. Aim to keep at least 10–20% of storage open so apps, updates, and system tasks run smoothly. Review large files, unused apps, old downloads, and duplicate photos.
- Keep software current: iOS updates often fix performance bugs, improve efficiency, and strengthen security. Staying current prevents small issues from piling up. Enable automatic updates or check regularly.
- Restart occasionally: A restart clears temporary processes and memory buildup. If your phone feels warm, laggy, or glitchy, this is often the fastest reset.
- Adjust battery-heavy defaults: Bright screens, background activity, and noisy notifications drain power quietly. Use Low Power Mode when needed and review background activity to stretch battery life without changing how you use your phone.
- Set up your iPhone around how you work: Control Center shortcuts, widgets, Focus modes, and gestures like Back Tap can cut down repeated actions and make common tasks faster.
Simple iOS tips and tricks you’ll use every day
| Tip or gesture | What it does | How to use it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyboard trackpad | Turns the keyboard into a cursor for precise edits | Press and hold the spacebar, then drag | Editing emails, notes, and messages |
| Tap to top | Instantly jumps to the top of a page or list | Tap the very top edge of the screen | Long articles, photo libraries, settings |
| QuickTake video | Starts recording video without switching camera modes | Press and hold the Shutter button in Photo mode | Capturing spontaneous moments |
| Copy and paste photo edits | Applies the same edits to multiple photos | Photos > Edit > Copy Edits, then Paste Edits | Batch photo cleanup and consistency |
| Scan documents | Creates clean PDFs with edge detection | Notes or Files > Scan Documents | Receipts, forms, and paperwork |
| Live Voicemail screening | Shows a transcript while the caller leaves a message | Turn on Live Voicemail in Phone settings | Filtering unknown or spam calls |
iOS lifehacks for productivity: get more done with less tapping
Turn your iPhone into a focused workspace that surfaces what you need—and hides what you don’t. The right mix of Focus modes, widgets, and Shortcuts removes friction all day.
- Use Focus modes to control interruptions: Decide which people and apps can reach you during work, personal time, or sleep. Go to Settings > Focus to create and customize modes with schedules or location triggers.
- Add widgets for glanceable information: Widgets show calendars, reminders, weather, or timers at a glance. Touch and hold the Home Screen, tap +, then add.
- Customize your Control Center: Keep essentials like Low Power Mode, Notes, Screen Recording, and Flashlight within one swipe. Go to Settings > Control Center to add, remove, or reorder controls.
- Automate routine tasks with Shortcuts: Shortcuts can combine actions like sending a message, adding a calendar event, and opening navigation all in one tap. Open Shortcuts, tap +, add actions, then run from the Home Screen or via Back Tap.
- Screen calls with Live Voicemail: See a a real-time transcript while someone leaves a message, so you can decide to answer. Turn it on in Settings > Phone > Live Voicemail.
- Silence unknown callers: Reduce spam and interruptions by sending unknown numbers straight to voicemail. Enable Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers.
- Use Universal Clipboard across Apple devices: Copy text, images, or links on one device and paste on another nearby—handy for research or moving files between iPhone and Mac. Sign in with the same Apple ID and keep Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled.
- Pin shared conversations: Keep important threads at the top of Messages so they never get buried. Swipe right on a conversation to pin it.
Small iPhone setup changes like these remove dozens of unnecessary taps each day.
iOS battery saving tips that actually work
iPhone battery life improves when you lower power‑hungry features, match connectivity to your signal, and charge in ways that protect the battery over time.
- Turn on Low Power Mode when needed: Low Power Mode pauses background activity and visual effects to stretch your battery. Best for travel days, long meetings, or late afternoons. Go to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode.
- Lower brightness: The display uses more power than almost anything else. Even small brightness reductions help. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Auto-Brightness, or use the Control Center slider.
- Limit Background App Refresh: Apps don’t need to update constantly in the background to be useful. Disable it for social, shopping, or rarely used apps.
- Reduce notification noise: Every notification wakes the screen and drains power. Go to Settings > Notifications to turn off alerts you don’t need immediately.
- Prefer stable connections: Wi-Fi typically uses less power than cellular. If 5G coverage is weak, switching to LTE can also save battery.
- Protect long-term battery health: Optimized Battery Charging reduces time spent at 100%, slowing battery aging. Find it in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging > Optimized Battery Charging.
- Manage heat while charging: Heat accelerates battery wear. Avoid charging in direct sunlight and remove thick cases during fast charging if they trap warmth.
These iPhone battery changes add up—often giving you extra hours without changing how you use your phone.
Privacy and security features you should enable now
Strong privacy settings give you peace of mind. Setting up privacy features on an iPhone is easy, and most only take a few minutes to review.
- Audit app permissions: Review which apps can access your location, photos, microphone, and camera. Choose Ask Next Time or While Using when full access isn’t necessary.
- Use end-to-end encrypted messaging: iMessage and FaceTime protect supported conversations so only you and the recipient can read or hear them. Always confirm contacts before sharing sensitive information.
- Turn on Find My and Activation Lock: If your phone is lost or stolen, you can locate, lock, or erase it remotely—and prevent reactivation without your Apple ID. Find it in Settings > [your name] > Find My.
- Watch microphone and camera indicators: Orange (microphone) and green (camera) dots show when an app is accessing sensors. Swipe into Control Center to see which app is using them.
- Use a strong passcode and biometrics: A longer passcode adds protection, while Face ID or Touch ID keeps unlocking fast and secure.
- Keep iOS updated: Software updates include important security fixes. Update your iPhone in Settings > General > Software Update.
Privacy works best when access is limited by default—you can always grant more later if needed. And by tightening permissions and limiting background behavior, you improve speed, battery life, and peace of mind at the same time.
Apple Maps tips for better navigation
Apple Maps includes practical tools that help you plan, preview, and navigate with confidence—even without a data connection.
- Download offline maps: Navigate without cellular service by saving maps ahead of time.
- Save places and create Guides: Organize favorite spots like cafés, parks, or client offices, then share Guides with friends or teammates.
- Use Look Around before you arrive: Preview streets and entrances so you know exactly where you’re going.
- Plan routes with multiple stops: Run errands efficiently by adding stops and reordering them as needed.
- Check elevation for walking or cycling: Elevation details help you estimate effort and timing before you head out.
- Customize route preferences: Avoid tolls, busy roads, or stairs depending on how you’re traveling.
These tools are easy to overlook—but once you use them, they quickly become part of your routine.
iPhone camera hacks for better photos with less effort
You don’t need extra apps or manual controls to take better photos—just a few built-in settings and habits.
- Use the volume buttons or wired earbuds as a shutter: This reduces shake and makes one-handed shots easier.
- Lock exposure and focus: Tap and hold on your subject until AE/AF Lock appears, then slide your finger up or down to fine-tune brightness.
- Turn on gridlines for better composition: Gridlines help with leveling shots and using the rule of thirds.
- Use Live Photos strategically: Live Photos capture moments before and after the shot, letting you choose the best frame later. Tap Edit > Live to pick the key photo.
- Scan documents directly in Notes: The Notes app includes a built-in scanner with auto-crop and perspective correction. Open Notes > New note > Camera > Scan Documents.
- Preserve camera settings: Keep your preferred mode, exposure, or Live Photo setting from resetting every time. Go to Settings > Camera > Preserve Settings.
These camera features quietly improve results without slowing you down or cluttering your workflow.
FAQs about iOS Tips
Start with Focus modes to control notifications and optionally hide Home Screen pages. Add a Smart Stack of widgets for glanceable info and create a few Shortcuts to automate routines like sharing your ETA, starting navigation, and setting a timer. Turn on Live Voicemail to screen calls, and use Universal Clipboard to copy on one Apple device and paste on another.
Enable Low Power Mode when you need extra hours, and lower screen brightness with Auto‑Brightness or manual dimming. Limit Background App Refresh and nonessential notifications, prefer Wi‑Fi when possible, and switch to LTE if 5G is weak. Turn on Optimized Battery Charging to reduce long‑term battery wear.
Open Settings > Privacy & Security and review permissions for Location, Photos, Microphone, and Camera—grant only what’s necessary. Use iMessage and FaceTime for end‑to‑end encrypted conversations, enable Find My and Activation Lock, watch for microphone and camera indicators, and keep iOS updated. Set a strong passcode and use Face ID or Touch ID for secure authentication.
Start with Focus modes, notification summaries, and Auto-Brightness. These three changes reduce interruptions and battery drain immediately, without changing how you normally use your phone.
Use Focus to allow specific people and apps, then turn on Scheduled Summary for everything else. Time-sensitive alerts can still break through when needed.
No. Low Power Mode simply reduces background activity and visual effects. It’s safe to use daily and especially helpful on travel days or long work sessions.
Overnight charging is fine if Optimized Battery Charging is enabled. iOS learns your routine and delays the final charge to reduce battery wear.
Look for the orange (microphone) or green (camera) dot near the status bar. Open Control Center to see which app accessed them most recently.
Focus on Location, Photos, Microphone, Camera, and Bluetooth. Set access to “While Using” or “Ask Next Time” whenever possible.
Your devices need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, but they don’t require an active internet connection. Devices just need to be nearby and signed in to the same Apple ID.
Hide unused Home Screen pages and rely on widgets and App Library. Focus modes can automatically show only the apps you need for work or personal time.
In areas with weak 5G coverage, yes. When your phone constantly searches for a signal, it uses more power. LTE can be more efficient in those situations.
Turn on Find My and Activation Lock ahead of time. If your phone goes missing, you can locate it, lock it, or erase it remotely to protect your data.
You may also be interested in:
- iPhone 17 Series: Everything You Need to Know
- How and Why to Upgrade Your iPhone
- Shop Apple Phones
- Shop iOS Phones
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