The default iPhone settings are set up for the average user. But the average user is a mathematical abstraction that doesn’t exist in the real world. Each individual has their own unique preferences and habits, which is why it’s important to tune your iPhone the way you use it. To that end, here are a few lesser-known iPhone settings you must know to take your iPhone's utility to the next level.
Use Back Tap to Trigger Quick Actions
The physical buttons on your iPhone aren’t the only available controls to activate shortcuts or trigger an action. Whether or not your iPhone has an Action Button, your iPhone’s back can function as a separate button as well. And not just one, but two!
By just tapping on the back of your iPhone, you can turn on the torch, take a screenshot, activate a shortcut, enable any of the accessibility features, and much more.
Because it’s tucked away deep within the iPhone settings app, it’s one of iPhone’s most well-guarded secrets that even regular iPhone users don’t know about. To set it up, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap.
Here, select Double Tap and choose an action. Then set up an action for Triple Tap. Now, every time you want to activate your chosen shortcut(s), just double tap or triple tap the back of your iPhone. And viola!
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Triple-Click the Side Button to Access Shortcuts
The side button doesn’t just lock, unlock, and power off your iPhone. It also has a triple click behaviour that can toggle on or off any of the dozen accessibility shortcuts available within your iPhone settings.
To enable it, open the Settings app, then go to Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut and then pick the shortcut you want.
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Lock Your iPhone to a Single App with Guided Access
While there are 32 accessibility shortcuts to choose from, a couple of them are really unique and worth mentioning.
If you’ve ever wanted to ensure that your iPhone remains on a single app, then the Guided Access accessibility shortcut does the job. It’s ideal for when you're handing over your iPhone to a friend or for parents who want their little one to stick to a single app.
To enable it, open the iPhone Settings app, then go to Accessibility > Guided Access and turn on the Guided Access toggle. Now, set up the Passcode Settings and enable Accessibility Shortcut.
Now, whenever you’re in an app that you want to stay on, triple-click the side button and activate Guide Access.
You can further customise which options remain accessible when the Guided Access session is ongoing by tapping on Session Settings.
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Dim Your iPhone's Screen Beyond the Brightness Slider
If the colours on your iPhone seem a little too bright even on minimum brightness, the 'Reduce White Point' accessibility feature is here to help. This iPhone setting is designed to limit the intensity of bright colours and make your iPhone easy on the eyes, especially at night or in dark environments.
To enable this iPhone setting, open the Settings app, then go to Accessibility > Display & Text Size and turn on the Reduce White Point toggle. Adjust the brightness intensity to your preferred level.
Then go to Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut and select Reduce White Point. Now, whenever you need to dim the screen, simply triple-click the side button. However, this is just one of the many ways to reduce the brightness of your iPhone and give your eyes some rest.
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Set Up Face ID With a Mask or Glasses
Face ID generally works as intended. But there are iPhone settings that let you unlock more of its features so it works no matter what your appearance. You can unlock your iPhone even if you're wearing a mask. The iPhone allows this by identifying only the area around your eyes to authenticate. However, it needs to be set up separately.
To do so, go to the Settings app > Face ID & Passcode and enable Face ID with a Mask.
Make sure you’re wearing a mask and looking straight at your iPhone while setting it up.
You can also use Add Glasses to ensure Face ID works even if you’re wearing your spectacles. Do note, however, that sunglasses are not supported.
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Make Face ID More Flexible with Alternate Appearance
Apart from your own face, you can set up Face ID for another person as well. To do so, open the Settings app, then go to Face ID & Passcode > Set Up an Alternative Appearance.
This feature also comes in handy if your main Face ID isn’t working as expected.
Make Apple Music Sound Louder from iPhone Settings
There are a couple of relatively unknown options in the iPhone settings that can unlock the true audio capabilities of your iPhone.
By default, your iPhone normalises the volume across tracks. This way, you don't get any sudden spikes in volume when you’re shuffling music on Apple Music. But if you want to amplify the sounds, especially if you’re listening to an album, you’re better off disabling this feature.
To do so, go to the Settings app > Apps > Music and turn off the Sound Check toggle.
Use Background Sounds to Focus or Sleep Better
Most people turn to YouTube or focus apps for white noise when they’re trying to focus or sleep. But your iPhone can generate these sounds just as well.
Simply go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Background Sounds and turn on the Background Sounds toggle.
There are 16 different background sounds to help you focus, minimise distractions, or just improve your sleep. You can also EQ the background sounds or set a timer for it.
Along with these, you should also check out the hidden iPhone setting that can improve the sound of your old AirPods.
Preserve Your iPhone Battery Health with Charge Limit
Your iPhone’s battery can last much longer if you don’t charge it fully every time. This is because the chemicals in a lithium-ion battery start to degrade the longer it stays at 100%. Fortunately, your iPhone lets you place a limit on how much battery is charged every time.
To do so, open the iPhone Settings app, then go to Battery > Charging and then set it to 95% or lower.
Keep New Apps Away from Your iPhone Home Screen
All newly installed apps appear in the iPhone’s App Library as well as the home screen by default. But this behaviour can make a mess of the home screen layout, requiring small adjustments every time you install an app.
To ensure newly installed apps only appear in App Library, open the iPhone Settings app, then go to Home Screen & App Library and select App Library only.
Bring Back Full-Screen Call Alerts
Over the years, the iPhone has gone through several changes that dictate how phone calls are handled. But not all changes have been up to the mark.
When you get a call, the iPhone alerts you with a banner as though it were just another notification. This can lead to missed calls, especially if your iPhone is also on silent.
To see Full Screen call alerts, go to the Settings app > Apps > Phone > Incoming Calls and select Full Screen.
Now, every time you get a call, you'll get a full-screen alert so you never miss out on important calls.
Prevent the Side Button from Ending Your Calls
By default, pressing the iPhone’s side button ends the current call, which can be a problem if you’re the fidgety kind. Thankfully, this can be changed easily.
Simply go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch and enable Prevent Lock to End Call.
Now, you can freely let your fingers wander over the side of your iPhone without worrying about accidentally hanging up.
Capture Burst Shots with the Volume Button
There are a couple of camera options on your iPhone that give you granular control over how you take photos.
Using the camera shutter button in order to take multiple photos is as cumbersome as it is inefficient. Instead, the iPhone lets you press and hold the Volume Up button to take photos in quick bursts. However, you need to enable that option first.
For this, go to Settings > Camera and turn on the Use Volume Up for Burst toggle.
Now, whenever you need to capture several photos in quick succession, simply press and hold the Volume Up button and pick from the best.
Stop Live Photos From Turning Back On
You may have noticed your photos move for a split-second every time you open them. For this, you have the ‘Live Photo’ feature to blame. If you don’t like this movement, you're better off disabling it.
To do so, open the iPhone’s Settings app, then go to Camera > Preserve Settings and disable Live Photo at the bottom.
The iPhone gets a lot of flak for not being as customisable as Android. But that is mostly because some of the most useful iPhone settings are scattered and buried under layers that most people don’t care to dig through. With the above settings, you can not only uncover what your iPhone is truly capable of but also make it uniquely suited to how you use it.
