The iPhone is without doubt one of the best telephones to personalize. Select a customized case, home screen and apps to make it really feel like “your” telephone as an alternative of a cookie-cutter manufactured machine. And now that the iPhone 16 is on its manner, you will have much more choices to mBut you’ve got probably solely scratched the floor of what is on provide which you could truly change and adapt to your personal private preferences in your iPhone. There are probably quite a lot of secret tweaks and tips that you don’t have any thought about.
Perhaps you are already arrange however uncover you are burning via battery life too rapidly, otherwise you need to save a while and set up a shortcut to show in your favourite exercise playlist as quickly as you stroll into the fitness center. We have you lined.
Learn extra: iPhone 16: What We Know About the Release Date, Leaks and More
You are certain to seek out some cool customization choices, together with some that you understand and others that you simply may need by no means heard of. Need to declutter your home screen? Use your battery a little less all through the day. You are able to do all that and extra with these 23 iOS settings to optimize your telephone’s efficiency.
In order for you to try different iOS options, take a look at how to unlock your iPhone’s hidden trackpad together with the remainder of our iOS 17 tips and tricks.
Take a Nearer Take a look at the iOS Settings You Ought to Change Proper Now
1. Cease apps from monitoring your precise location
Apps like Doordash and Postmates require your precise location to ship meals to the fitting location or on to you. That does not imply each utility in your iPhone must know exactly the place you’re at each second. That is why you’ll be able to forestall an app from monitoring your precise location.
Within the Settings app, select an utility (like Instagram, for instance), faucet Location after which toggle off Exact Location. Any app with Exact Location off will solely know your approximate location, inside a couple of miles.
Learn extra: Why You May Want to Revoke Precise Location Permissions From Instagram
Do not toggle this function off for apps that require precise location, like meals supply and navigation providers.
2. Flip the again of your iPhone right into a button
The again of your iPhone can be utilized as a secret button to activate sure actions similar to taking a screenshot, enabling low energy mode or operating a shortcut that may robotically play music once you arrive on the fitness center. The Motion Button on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, and iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max fashions do the identical, however when you’ve got an older mannequin, the again of your iPhone works.
The choice is hidden deep in your settings; this is discover it.
Within the Settings app, go to Accessibility > Contact > Again Faucet and select certainly one of two choices: double faucet or triple faucet. It is best to see an inventory of actions you’ll be able to run by tapping the again of your iPhone, like opening your digicam, turning on the flashlight and scrolling up and down. Faucet an motion or shortcut to allow it with Again Faucet.
Faucet on the again of your telephone to do every kind of fancy tips.
3. Allow Stay Voicemail to get real-time voicemail transcriptions
You get a name and do not need to essentially choose up except it is vital. Sadly, the one manner you will know is when you take heed to a voicemail left after the decision. With iOS 17, you’ll be able to learn a real-time transcription of any voicemail being left. That is proper: If somebody is leaving you a voicemail, you’ll be able to learn it in your telephone and select to choose up the decision, connecting you with the individual leaving the voicemail.
The Stay Voicemail function is not on by default, so go to Settings > Telephone > Stay Voicemail and switch it on. That is it.
4. Deliver again full-screen incoming name alerts
In case your iPhone is unlocked and also you obtain a telephone name, a banner-style notification seems on the high of your display screen, with a small picture and identify or variety of the individual calling, and the choices to choose up or deny the decision.
This wasn’t all the time the default possibility. Previously, incoming calls would take over your total show when your iPhone was unlocked. It was disruptive, certain, but it surely additionally obtained the job performed. The banner could also be a welcome change for a lot of as a result of it is extra discreet and means that you can use your telephone whereas receiving a name.
If for any purpose you are not a giant fan of the banner and need to revert to the extra attention-grabbing full-screen alert, go to Settings > Telephone > Incoming Calls and faucet Full Display.
This incoming name alert is not excellent for everybody.
5. Flip off 5G protection you do not need or have
Apple touts a Good Information function that is particular to its 5G telephones that can robotically change between 4G LTE and 5G networks primarily based on the way you’re utilizing your machine. You might discover that your iPhone’s battery drains sooner than it did earlier than. When you do not need to sacrifice battery life for sooner 5G speeds, shut it down. You possibly can all the time flip 5G again on once you need it, or when service in your space improves.
To turn off 5G on your iPhone, forcing it to all the time use 4G LTE (even when you’ve got 5G protection), open the Settings app, then go to Mobile > Major > Voice & Information and faucet LTE. Alternatively, if you’d like your iPhone to completely use a 5G connection when out there, you’ll be able to choose 5G On.
5G is good when you’ve got entry, but it surely can be a battery hog.
6. Nice-tune how a lot knowledge is utilized by a 5G connection
When you’re glad along with your 5G efficiency, this is a network-related setting it’s best to take a look at. Go to Settings > Mobile > Major > Information Mode, the place you will discover three choices: Enable Extra Information on 5G, Normal and Low Information Mode.
Despite the fact that you’ll be able to learn transient descriptions under the three settings, they do not paint a whole image of the primary possibility. In keeping with an Apple support document, permitting extra knowledge on 5G will provide you with high-quality video and FaceTime calls. It additionally lets your telephone obtain software program updates and stream high-definition Apple TV and Apple Music content material, and it permits third-party builders to enhance their respective apps.
The default setting on this web page will rely in your service and knowledge plan, so it is a good suggestion to check your iPhone and ensure it is accurately set to your choice.
7. Cease apps from cluttering up your private home display screen
The App Library is a spot the place you’ll be able to rapidly discover and entry your entire functions. And whereas apps are housed right here, all newly downloaded apps additionally seem on your private home display screen. This is probably not an issue when you obtain apps sparingly, however when you’re putting in new apps on a constant foundation, they’ll rapidly litter up your private home display screen.
To cease downloaded apps from showing on your private home display screen, go to Settings > Residence Display & App Library and choose App Library Solely. If you wish to discover the app, you will need to swipe left on your private home display screen till you attain the App Library.
This setting will forestall your private home display screen from getting too messy.
8. Unlock your telephone whereas sporting a face masks
When you put on a masks in public, unlocking your iPhone with Apple’s Face ID know-how could be irritating. As a result of half of your face is roofed, Face ID simply would not work. And whereas coming into your passcode to unlock your telephone works, it is not as handy.
With iOS, you’ve got the choice to activate a face unlock feature that makes it straightforward to unlock your iPhone once you’re sporting a face masks. Earlier than the replace, you might solely unlock your iPhone if you owned an Apple Watch.
To unlock your iPhone along with your Apple Watch, open the Settings app in your iPhone after which open the Face ID & Passcode possibility. Scroll down till you discover the Unlock with Apple Watch part (you should be related to an Apple Look ahead to the setting to look), the place you’ll be able to activate the function for any watches linked to your iPhone.
If in case you have an iPhone operating iOS 15.4 or later, you’ll be able to unlock your iPhone whereas sporting a masks with out an Apple Watch. Go to the Settings app and open Face ID & Passcode. From there, you’ll be able to toggle on the Face ID With a Masks possibility. It is fairly superior.
You possibly can unlock your iPhone along with your Apple Watch if Face ID is not working.
9. Put the tackle bar in Safari again on high
The tackle in Safari migrated to the underside of the display screen a couple of years again; welcome for these with smaller arms who had problem reaching it with one hand on the high. This transfer may really feel extra pure, because it’s nearer to the keyboard and the place you sometimes place your thumbs, it may be off-putting since some persons are used to seeing the URL bar close to the highest of the display screen.
If you wish to put the tackle bar again on the high of the display screen, go to Settings, faucet Safari and select the Single Tab possibility underneath the Tabs subheading.
10. Add options that can be utilized when your iPhone is locked
There are occasions once you may need to have sure data helpful even when your telephone is locked. That is why Apple means that you can allow some options with out having to unlock your units, such because the notification heart, Management Middle, the flexibility to answer to messages and the Pockets app.
To customise the options you’d prefer to entry on the lock display screen, launch the Settings menu, faucet Face ID & Passcode and enter your passcode when prompted. Scroll down till you see the Enable Entry When Locked part, and toggle the sliders primarily based in your preferences.
You possibly can determine which options you need to entry when your telephone is locked.
11. Make your favourite electronic mail app or net browser your default
It is not all about Safari. In your iPhone, you’ve got the flexibility to decide on your individual default apps, at the very least for electronic mail and net searching. That signifies that once you faucet a hyperlink or an electronic mail ship button, your iPhone will robotically launch the net browser or electronic mail supplier of your selecting quite than Safari or Mail.
To get began, open the Settings menu and choose the app you’d prefer to set as a default (similar to Google Chrome or Outlook). It is best to then see a button that claims Default Mail App or Default Browser App. Faucet that possibility and choose the app of your selecting as an alternative of Safari or Mail.
You now not have to make use of Safari or Mail as default apps.
Learn extra: If You Care About Your Privacy, You Need to Change These Browser Settings
12. Get full notifications in your lock display screen
The primary time you expertise Apple’s Face ID tech, you will discover which you could’t see the content material of latest alerts and notifications on the lock display screen. For instance, as an alternative of seeing who despatched you a textual content message and what it says, you will solely see a generic Messages alert.
By default, all iPhones with Apple’s Face ID tech will disguise the content material of an alert till you choose up your telephone and unlock it. It is a privateness function that I quite take pleasure in, however I additionally perceive the way it may very well be annoying (I’ve heard a couple of complaints from readers and members of the family alike).
You possibly can change how notifications seem in your lock display screen by going to Settings > Notifications > Present Previews and choosing All the time. Conversely, you’ll be able to choose By no means if you wish to maintain the content material of your notifications all the time hidden from the lock display screen.
13. Flip off (or on) HDR video for sharing movies
The iPhone can document excessive dynamic vary (HDR) video with Dolby Imaginative and prescient. Which means your movies are sometimes brighter, with extra correct colours and improved distinction. That could be excellent for some, but when you do not need movies which are robotically adjusted since you need to do it by yourself, there’s a method to disable the function.
You possibly can flip off HDR video by going to Settings > Digicam > Document Video and turning the change subsequent to HDR Video to the Off place. Going ahead, all movies can be captured in the usual dynamic vary.
HDR video appears to be like nice, but it surely would not work in all places but.
14. Customise your private home display screen with fancy wallpaper
One other dwelling display screen tweak it’s best to make entails your wallpaper or background. Apple has many wallpapers of its personal, with a fairly cool twist.
Open the Settings app in your iPhone and choose Wallpaper from the checklist. Make sure that the change labeled “Darkish Look Dims Wallpaper,” which you will see under the 2 thumbnail previews of your wallpaper, is turned on. Now, faucet Select a brand new wallpaper and choose both Stills or Stay. Search for the circle close to the underside of every wallpaper. It is half black, half white.
That circle signifies that the wallpaper has each gentle and darkish mode variations and can change robotically primarily based on the system standing of your telephone.
You may as well set live wallpapers as your background when you’re not bought on darkish and light-weight mode.
On an iPhone with 3D Contact, you should utilize a third-party app to play longer-duration “Stay” photographs in your lock display screen.
15. Activate darkish mode to save lots of your battery
Talking of darkish mode, when you do not need to need to repeatedly alter your display screen’s brightness, you should utilize your telephone’s devoted darkish mode. Darkish mode converts the entire white backgrounds in apps to, as a rule, a black background. In flip, your telephone is ready to save battery energy due to the darker colours.
Flip it on by going to Settings > Show & Brightness and choosing the Darkish possibility on the high of the display screen. You may as well simply swipe down from the top-right of your iPhone and faucet the Darkish mode icon within the Management Middle.
Apple’s apps will robotically change to a darkish coloration scheme, and most third-party apps have also adopted the feature.
Darkish Mode on the iPhone certain appears to be like good.
16. Handle your notifications with Focus Mode
We get a number of notifications on daily basis, however not all of them are related on a regular basis. That is why Apple introduced a feature called Focus Mode. Consider it as a customized Do Not Disturb function that is tailor-made to particular circumstances.
Focus Mode blocks much less related alerts whereas permitting notifications from vital individuals and apps to return via in order that you do not miss something. You possibly can arrange several types of Focus Modes for particular circumstances.
Apple at the moment affords choices for Do Not Disturb, private, sleep, work, driving, health, gaming, mindfulness and studying, however you may as well create your individual customized mode. You possibly can schedule Focus Modes in order that they activate robotically when wanted and show your standing in apps in order that others know you’ve got notifications silenced.
To get began, open the Settings menu, faucet Focus and select one of many out there choices to arrange your notification preferences. Faucet the plus (+) image within the high proper nook so as to add a brand new Focus.
17. Make your display screen textual content greater or smaller
With a few faucets in your iPhone’s display screen, you’ll be able to alter the font measurement to make it simpler to learn. Open Settings and go to Show & Brightness > Textual content Measurement the place you should utilize the slider till you are pleased with the font measurement. For slightly added oomph, you’ll be able to activate Daring Textual content (it is slightly below the Textual content Measurement button).
18. Add an alternate look to Face ID
Apple’s facial recognition function, Face ID, always learns completely different features of your face with every scan. When you’re struggling to get Face ID to constantly acknowledge you, attempt the Alternate Look possibility.
Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > enter your PIN > Set Up An Alternate Look and undergo the method of enrolling your face once more.
Face ID would not all the time get it proper.
19. Disable auto-brightness for longer battery cost
Your iPhone’s display screen brightness degree can have a huge impact on battery life. By default, iOS will robotically alter the show’s brightness primarily based on how a lot gentle its ambient sensor detects. If you wish to take full management, you’ll be able to disable auto brightness, that means the brightness degree will keep the place you set it till you alter it once more.
Open Settings > Accessibility > Show & Textual content Measurement and on the backside of the web page, you will discover a change to show off Auto-Brightness.
Now, everytime you need to alter your display screen, you are able to do so by opening Management Middle with a swipe up from the underside of the display screen on a tool with a house button, or a swipe down from the top-right nook on newer iPhones.
Preserve your display screen dim to save lots of battery life.
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20. Triage your privateness settings
The primary time you arrange an iPhone with your entire apps, you are bombarded with prompts asking for permission to entry private data starting from monitoring your location to your Apple Well being data or your digicam roll.
It’s miles too straightforward to get within the behavior of approving every part simply so you should utilize the app, however take a couple of minutes and undergo your privateness settings to tailor what every app can and may’t see. We walk you through the whole privacy process in two quick steps.
Apple has put all of its privateness controls in a single place.
21. Use the Management Middle to entry apps with a swipe or faucet
The iPhone’s Management Middle is a handy spot to rapidly change songs, activate airplane mode, hook up with Wi-Fi or begin a timer, however there’s a lot extra to it than that. You possibly can rapidly flip in your flashlight, examine on a timer or begin recording your display screen with a fast swipe and faucet.
Customise which apps and options can be found in Management Middle by opening Settings > Management Middle. Take away an possibility with a faucet on the pink minus button or add an possibility by choosing the inexperienced addition button. Drag options up or down utilizing the three-line icon on the fitting aspect of the display screen.
I like having fast entry to the Pockets app and toggles for low-power mode and darkish mode.
As a reminder, when you’ve got an iPhone with a house button, just like the iPhone SE, you’ll be able to swipe up from the underside of the display screen to open Management Middle. If in case you have an iPhone with Face ID, you will must swipe down from the top-right nook of the display screen the place the battery icon is.
Management Middle has a number of potential; you simply must customise it.
22. Manage alerts with Notification Abstract
Apple needs that will help you handle your notifications in iOS, beginning with the Notification Abstract function. Slightly than letting notifications pile up on your private home display screen, you’ll be able to schedule alerts that are not pressing to reach in a bundle at a selected time of day.
Essential notifications like calls, direct messages and different time-sensitive alerts (just like the standing of your Uber or Lyft experience, for instance) will nonetheless seem instantly.
To do this out, open Settings, press Notifications and faucet Scheduled Abstract.
23. Change Siri’s voice
When you’ve not too long ago arrange a brand new iPhone, you could have observed that Siri now not defaults to a feminine voice. As a substitute, you will be requested which Siri voice you need to use, together with a number of more moderen choices. As soon as you’ve got made your choice, Apple will change Siri’s voice throughout the entire units linked to your Apple ID.
You possibly can take a look at the voice choices by going to Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Voice. To be taught extra, take a look at our complete guide to changing Siri’s sound. Apple additionally added a gender-neutral Siri voice option for English audio system.
Regardless of what number of settings you toggle on and off, battery life will all the time be a difficulty, particularly when you’re touring and do not all the time have entry to your quick charger. When you’re always on the go and want some juice, think about getting this reasonably priced and slim MagSafe charger that may cost your iPhone from zero to 50% in simply half-hour.
Particulars
For extra, listed below are 17 hidden features on our iPhone it’s best to find out about and annoying iPhone features you are able to do one thing about.
