24 Hidden iPhone and iPad Tricks You Didn’t Know About

While most people are familiar with the basic features of their iPhones and iPads, there are countless hidden tricks and features that can enhance your experience to an incredible degree. This article will hit the nail on the head for those who have a curious mind and a knack for discovering new and unexpected functionalities. Here are 24 useful tricks that may amaze you.

Unveiling Apple's Design Philosophy

First, let's delve into some lesser-known truths about Apple's product design. Contrary to popular belief, Apple doesn't design their products to be difficult to fix solely for the purpose of making you buy new ones. Instead, they design to meet specific criteria and then optimize for mass production. They prioritize build quality and durability over disassemble-ability.

Another common misconception is that Apple deliberately slows down older devices to encourage replacement, but this is not the case. Just as an example, some older iPhones actually slowed down to increase the lifespan of the battery under certain conditions. This is the exact opposite of what many believe!

Exploiting the iPhone's Capabilities

Below are 24 hidden tricks that have been discovered and compiled for iPhones and iPads. These tips are not only interesting but can also greatly improve your daily usage experience.

1. Dialing Tricks in the Phone App

The Phone Number Pause feature in the Phone App allows you to pause the call to dial another number. This is particularly useful for companies where you need to call an extension. Simply tap and hold the star button after entering the number; a comma will appear, and you can add the extension to dial after the initial call is answered.

2. Google Maps as a Free GPS

While abroad, using Google Maps as a free GPS can be a lifesaver, even without an international data plan. Simply zoom to your desired location, type "Ok, maps" into the search box, and the map data will be available even when you don’t have internet connectivity offline.

3. Stopping Music with the Clock App

Use the Timer in the Clock App to set a duration and have music stop automatically when the timer ends. This is helpful for those who love to fall asleep to music but want to wake up without being woken up by the music.

4. Field Test Mode and Signal Strength

Type 300112345 and hit the "Call" button to enter the Field Test mode. This mode provides signal strength indicated in dBm rather than signal bars, allowing for more precise signal measurement. This feature is useful for troubleshooting network issues.

5. Close Multitasking Apps in iOS 7

In iOS 7, using the multitasking bar, you can close apps by using three fingers when double-clicking to close up to three apps at once. This can save you a lot of time.

6. Taking Photos and Videos with Earbuds

Hold the volume button on your earbuds while in camera mode to take a photo, and hold the play/pause button on your earbuds while in video mode to take a video. This is a handy feature for quick selfies or video recording.

7. Access Recently Closed Tabs in Siri

Press and hold the tab button to bring up a list of recently closed tabs in Safari on your iPad. This feature is quite useful for revisiting pages you might have closed by mistake.

8. Spotlight Search

Use the Spotlight Search to type anything and access almost any feature of your iPhone. You can search contacts, apps, messages, calendar events, songs, and so on. You can also customize it to your requirements in Settings.

9. Calculator Usage

Swipe across the calculator readout to delete or recover the last digit, or hold the zero to get a degree symbol. The calculator can also function as a scientific calculator when viewed in portrait mode.

10. Banning Banner Notifications

Swipe right to left to get rid of banner notifications in iOS. This can be particularly useful when you receive an embarrassing message.

11. Other Earbud Functions

Using the remote control of your earbuds, you can skip to the next or previous track while listening to music or podcasts.

12. Scroll to the Top

Tap the top bar of any app to quickly scroll back to the top of the page. This feature can save you a lot of time when you're navigating long texts or documents.

13. Accessibility Feature

Enable the Accessibility Feature via Settings > General > Accessibility > Guided Access to lock down your device for children or other users to prevent accidental deletions.

14. Airplane Mode to Charge Faster

Put your phone in airplane mode to charge twice as fast. This can be particularly useful during travel when the charging speed is crucial.

15. Assistive Touch

Enable Assistive Touch for users who have trouble accessing the home button. This feature turns into a big white dot when activated and can be incredibly useful for those with physical impairments.

16. Keyboard Shortcuts

Use the Shortcuts section in the Keyboard settings to create permanent shortcuts for frequently used words, characters, email signatures, and more.

17. Toggle Caps Lock Permanently

Double-tap the keyboard to toggle caps lock permanently for quick uppercase text input.

18. Switch to Thumb Mode

Activate Thumb Mode on your iPad by swiping two fingers across the keyboard. This can make typing more comfortable and efficient.

19. Hold 0 for Degree Icon

If you are in a field related to weather or chemistry, you can hold the number zero for a few seconds to get a degree icon.

20. Shake to Undo

Use the shaking feature to undo your last typing errors. Shake the phone and choose to undo typing to clear the text in one move.

21. Widescreen View in Camera

Tap the screen twice while using the Camera app to enable a widescreen view for better framing of photos, especially during movies.

22. AE/EF Lock

Lock the Focus and Exposure with AU/EF Lock in the Camera app. Use this feature to get more out of your photos in difficult lighting or depth scenarios.

23. Shift from Photo to Camera

Instead of tapping a photo thumbnail when using the Camera Roll, swipe from left to right to quickly access your photos directly from the Camera app.

24. Custom Keyboard

Create custom shortcuts in Keyboard settings for quick access to difficult words, uncommon characters, and more. You can set up shortcuts for frequently mentioned streets, places, or often misspelled words.

Conclusion

Discovering these hidden tricks on your iPhone and iPad can greatly enhance your daily experience and productivity. From advanced camera features to accessibility options, there's a treasure trove of features waiting for you to explore. Start experimenting with these tips and see which ones truly blow your mind!