20 Hidden iPhone Features You Probably Don’t Know About
Think you know everything your iPhone can do? Discover some hidden iPhone features that might surprise you.
Think again.
Apple packs the iPhone with dozens of useful tools that can easily go unnoticed. While most people use their phones for calls, social media, photography, streaming and messaging, many powerful features are tucked away inside iOS settings and everyday apps.
The good news is that you don’t need a new iPhone to discover many of them. Depending on your iPhone model and iOS version, several features can make everyday tasks faster, smarter and more convenient.
From using your iPhone’s back as a shortcut to extracting text from photos, these hidden iPhone features are worth trying.
So, grab your iPhone and let’s explore 20 useful tricks you may have missed.
1. Use Back Tap for Quick Shortcuts
Did you know you can tap the back of your iPhone to perform an action?
The Back Tap feature lets you assign an action to a double or triple tap on the back of your iPhone.
Go to:
Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap
You can then choose actions such as taking a screenshot, opening the Control Center, muting the device or triggering a Shortcut.
This can be especially convenient when you want to perform an action without navigating through multiple menus.
2. Copy Text From Photos
Your iPhone can recognise text inside images.
This feature, known as Live Text, can be extremely useful.
For example, imagine you take a picture of a restaurant menu. Instead of manually typing the information, you can select the text directly from the photo.
You can then copy, translate, search or share it.
Live Text can also recognise information such as phone numbers, addresses and website links in supported situations.
Therefore, the next time you photograph a document, don’t immediately start typing everything manually.
3. Scan Documents Using the Notes App
You don’t need a separate scanner app for basic documents.
Open the Notes app, create a note and select the camera option. You can then choose the document-scanning feature.
Your iPhone can automatically detect the edges of a page and capture it.
You can scan multiple pages into a single document, making this feature useful for students, office workers and anyone dealing with paperwork.
4. Hide Photos Without Deleting Them
Have some photos you don’t want appearing in your main photo library?
The Photos app includes a Hidden album.
Select a photo, choose the relevant menu option and hide it.
On supported versions of iOS, the Hidden album can also require authentication before someone can access it.
This is useful for keeping certain personal images away from the main gallery without permanently deleting them.
5. Use Your iPhone as a Level
Need to check whether something is perfectly straight?
Your iPhone has a built-in Level tool through the Measure app.
Open Measure, then select the level function.
You can use it to check surfaces, furniture and other objects.
It won’t replace professional construction equipment, but it’s surprisingly handy for quick household tasks.
6. Turn Your Keyboard Into a Trackpad
Editing text on a touchscreen can sometimes feel frustrating.
Fortunately, there’s a clever shortcut.
On many iPhones, press and hold the space bar to turn the keyboard into a trackpad.
You can then move the cursor more precisely through your text.
This is particularly helpful when correcting a sentence or placing the cursor between two words.
7. Shake to Undo Typing
Made a typing mistake?
Depending on your iOS settings, Shake to Undo can let you undo certain text actions by shaking the iPhone.
You can check this option under:
Settings → Accessibility → Touch
If you find the feature annoying rather than useful, you can disable it.
Alternatively, newer iOS versions also provide on-screen editing controls that make undo and redo easier.
8. Schedule Messages
Sometimes you want to send a message later rather than immediately.
The Messages app supports scheduled message sending on compatible versions of iOS.
This can be useful for birthday wishes, reminders or messages that you want to arrive at a particular time.
Instead of setting a separate reminder to send the message, you can schedule it directly.
9. Use the iPhone as a White Noise Machine
Having trouble concentrating?
Your iPhone includes Background Sounds, which can play sounds such as rain, ocean or other ambient audio options.
You can find the feature through:
Settings → Accessibility → Audio & Visual → Background Sounds
It can be useful while studying, working or relaxing.
However, remember that continuous audio can still contribute to listening fatigue if played loudly for long periods.
10. Quickly Remove the Background From an Image
Your iPhone can help isolate a subject from its background in supported versions of iOS.
Open a suitable image and press and hold the main subject.
If recognised, the phone can separate the subject from its background, allowing you to copy or share it.
This can be useful for creating stickers, social media posts or simple graphics.
11. Measure Objects With Your Camera
The Measure app can use your iPhone’s camera and augmented-reality capabilities to estimate the dimensions of objects.
Point your camera at the object and follow the on-screen instructions.
You can use it for quick estimates of furniture, walls and other objects.
Keep in mind that camera-based measurements are estimates, so don’t depend on them for precision construction or professional work.
12. Lock Apps With Face ID
Privacy is increasingly important.
On supported iOS versions, you can require Face ID or Touch ID before opening certain apps.
This adds an extra layer of protection when someone else is using your unlocked phone.
The exact options can vary depending on the app and iOS version.
For sensitive apps, this feature can be particularly useful.
13. Use Visual Look Up
Your iPhone can sometimes identify objects, plants, animals and other subjects in photos using Visual Look Up.
Open an image and look for the relevant information icon or visual recognition option.
When available, the iPhone can provide additional information about the recognised subject.
It’s a simple feature, but it can turn your camera roll into a useful source of information.
14. Drag and Drop Between Apps
Your iPhone supports a useful form of drag and drop.
For example, you can press and hold an image in Photos and begin dragging it. While keeping the item selected, you can use another finger to navigate to another app and drop the content where supported.
This can be useful when moving images, text or other compatible content between apps.
It may take a little practice, but once you get used to it, multitasking becomes easier.
15. Use Spotlight for More Than Searching
Most people use Spotlight to find apps.
However, iPhone’s search function can do much more.
Swipe down on the Home Screen and search for contacts, files, settings, messages, apps and other information.
Depending on your device and software, Spotlight can also provide calculations, conversions and other quick results.
Therefore, before opening an app just to perform a simple search, try Spotlight first.
16. Quickly Calculate With Spotlight
Need to calculate something?
You don’t always need to open the Calculator app.
Swipe down and type your calculation into Spotlight.
For simple calculations, the answer can appear immediately.
You can also use it for certain conversions.
This saves a few taps and is particularly convenient when you’re already working on another task.
17. Customise Your Control Center
The Control Center doesn’t have to remain exactly as Apple originally configured it.
Depending on your iOS version, you can customise available controls to make frequently used functions easier to access.
You can add or rearrange supported controls for tasks such as screen recording, timers, accessibility features and other functions.
It’s worth spending a few minutes setting up the Control Center around your own routine.
18. Create Custom Shortcuts
The Shortcuts app can automate repetitive tasks.
For example, you can create shortcuts for:
- Starting a workout
- Sending a predefined message
- Getting directions
- Opening multiple apps
- Changing device settings
- Starting a timer
- Running a series of actions
The possibilities can become surprisingly advanced.
Even a simple shortcut can save time when you perform the same task regularly.
19. Use Your iPhone as a Magnifying Glass
The iPhone can also work as a Magnifier.
This feature uses the camera to enlarge small text or objects.
You can access it through Accessibility settings or add it to the Control Center, depending on your iOS version.
It’s especially useful when reading tiny labels, instructions or menus.
Instead of struggling with small print, let your iPhone do the zooming for you.
20. Customise Your Lock Screen
Your Lock Screen can do much more than display the time.
Modern iOS versions allow extensive Lock Screen customisation, including wallpapers, widgets, font styles and shortcuts.
You can create different Lock Screens for different situations.
For instance, one could focus on productivity, another on fitness and another on travel.
Some configurations can also connect with Focus modes, allowing your phone’s appearance and available information to change based on what you’re doing.
Bonus: Use Siri Without Saying “Hey Siri”
Depending on your iOS version and settings, you can activate Siri using different methods, including a button press.
On compatible iPhones, you can also interact with Siri through text-based input features.
This can be useful when you’re in a quiet environment and don’t want to speak aloud.
Check Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri or the corresponding Siri settings on your iPhone to see which options are available.
Which Hidden iPhone Features Are Most Useful?
Not every feature will be equally useful for everyone.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Feature | Best For |
|---|---|
| Back Tap | Quick shortcuts |
| Live Text | Copying text from images |
| Document Scanner | Students and office work |
| Hidden Photos | Privacy |
| Keyboard Trackpad | Text editing |
| Background Sounds | Focus and relaxation |
| Visual Look Up | Identifying objects |
| Spotlight | Quick searches |
| Shortcuts | Automation |
| Magnifier | Reading small text |
| Lock Screen Widgets | Personalisation |
| Measure | Quick measurements |
How to Get More From Your iPhone
Discovering hidden features is only part of the experience.
You should also regularly explore Settings, because Apple frequently introduces new functionality through iOS updates.
However, don’t enable every feature simply because it exists.
Instead, think about your daily habits.
Do you take lots of photos? Try Live Text and Visual Look Up.
Do you frequently edit messages? Learn the keyboard trackpad trick.
Do you repeat the same tasks? Explore Shortcuts.
Do you care about privacy? Check app locks and authentication settings.
This approach turns your iPhone from a basic communication device into a much more personalised tool.
Final Thoughts
These 20 hidden iPhone features show just how much functionality can be tucked inside Apple’s mobile operating system.
Features such as Back Tap, Live Text, document scanning, keyboard trackpad mode, Background Sounds, Visual Look Up, Shortcuts and Lock Screen customisation can make everyday iPhone use faster and more convenient.
The best part is that many of these tools don’t require expensive accessories or additional apps.
Of course, the exact features available can depend on your iPhone model, region and iOS version. Some newer capabilities may also require compatible hardware.
So, take a few minutes to explore your Settings and try some of the tricks above.
You might discover that the iPhone you’ve been using every day has been hiding some surprisingly useful features all along.
