We all live on our iPhones. They are our cameras, our calendars, our entertainment centers, and our connection to the world. But here is the funny thing: despite holding these devices for hours every day, most of us are only scratching the surface of what they can actually do. We tend to stick to the basics—texting, scrolling through social media, and taking the occasional selfie—while a treasure trove of powerful utilities sits dormant just beneath the screen.
Apple includes hundreds of features in iOS that go unannounced during their big keynote presentations. These aren't just gimmicks; they are genuine productivity boosters and life-hacks designed to make your daily interactions smoother. Whether you want to type faster, fall asleep easier, or keep your private photos private, there is likely a setting for that.
I have dug deep into the settings menu to find the absolute best hidden gems. Here are 10 secret iPhone features that will change the way you use your device, starting right now.
1. Turn the Apple Logo into a Button (Back Tap)
This is arguably the coolest "party trick" on the list, but it is also incredibly functional. Did you know the Apple logo on the back of your phone isn't just branding? With a feature called Back Tap, you can turn the back of your phone into a secret button.
You can program your phone to perform specific actions when you double-tap or triple-tap the back of the case. I use a double-tap to take a screenshot (so I don't have to fumble with the side buttons) and a triple-tap to launch the flashlight.
Pro Tip: This feature works even if you have a phone case on, provided the case isn't excessively thick or made of metal!
How to set it up:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on Accessibility.
- Select Touch.
- Scroll all the way down to Back Tap.
- Choose your actions for "Double Tap" and "Triple Tap."
2. The Hidden Trackpad for Text Editing
We have all been there: you are typing a long text or email, and you spot a typo in the middle of a sentence. You try to tap the screen with your finger to move the cursor, but you keep missing the spot. It is frustrating and imprecise.
Stop tapping the screen! Your keyboard has a hidden trackpad built right into it. This feature transforms your keyboard into a laptop-style mouse, allowing you to slide the cursor exactly where you need it with pixel-perfect precision.
How to use it:
- Press and hold down the Spacebar on your keyboard.
- Wait a split second until the letters on the keys disappear and the keyboard turns gray.
- Without lifting your finger, slide it around the keyboard area to move the cursor.
- Drop the cursor exactly where you need to edit.
3. Scan Documents Without Third-Party Apps
For years, I paid for a subscription to a scanning app so I could digitize receipts and contracts. It turns out, Apple built a professional-grade scanner right into the Notes app. It doesn't just take a picture; it detects the edges of the paper, corrects the perspective if you are holding the phone at an angle, and enhances the text to make it readable.
This is a lifesaver for signing PDF documents or keeping digital copies of important paperwork.
How to do it:
- Open the Notes app and create a new note.
- Tap the Camera icon above the keyboard.
- Select Scan Documents.
- Point your camera at the paper; it will usually snap the scan automatically.
- Hit save, and you have a perfect PDF ready to share.
4. Identify Plants and Laundry Symbols with Visual Look Up
Have you ever looked at the tag on a new shirt and felt completely baffled by the laundry symbols? Is that a triangle with an X through it? A bucket of water with a hand? Or maybe you are on a hike and see a beautiful flower, but you have no idea what it is called.
Your iPhone Photos app has "Visual Look Up" intelligence built-in. It analyzes your photos to identify art, landmarks, plants, pets, and yes, even laundry care instructions.
How to try it:
- Take a photo of a plant, a dog, or a laundry tag.
- Open the photo in your Photos app.
- Look for the "i" (Info) button at the bottom. If it has stars sparkling around it, Visual Look Up is available.
- Tap the icon, and then tap "Look Up [Plant/Laundry/Dog]."
Did you know? For laundry tags, it will provide a list of exactly what each symbol means, so you never accidentally shrink your favorite sweater again.
5. Built-in White Noise (Background Sounds)
If you have trouble focusing in a noisy coffee shop, or if you need the sound of rain to fall asleep, you might be using a dedicated white noise app (and probably draining your battery with ads). Apple actually hid a high-quality sound machine deep inside the Accessibility settings.
This feature, called Background Sounds, can play rain, ocean waves, or white noise continuously, even while you are listening to music or watching videos. It is designed to mask unwanted environmental noise to help you stay calm and focused.
How to turn it on:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility.
- Tap Audio/Visual.
- Select Background Sounds and toggle it on.
- Tap "Sound" to choose between Rain, Ocean, Stream, and various noises.
To access this quickly in the future, you can add the "Hearing" icon to your Control Center!
6. Text Replacement for Super-Fast Typing
This is the ultimate productivity hack for anyone who hates typing out long email addresses, physical addresses, or repetitive phrases. Text Replacement allows you to create short codes that automatically expand into longer phrases.
For example, I have set it up so that when I type "@@", it automatically changes to my full email address. If I type "omw", it expands to "On my way! See you soon."
How to set it up:
- Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.
- Tap Text Replacement.
- Tap the + sign in the top right corner.
- In "Phrase," type the long version (e.g., your email).
- In "Shortcut," type the code (e.g., "@@").
7. Copy Text from the Real World (Live Text)
Imagine you are at a friend's house and you want to join their Wi-Fi network. The password is on the back of the router, and it is a string of 20 random characters. Instead of typing it in manually (and getting it wrong twice), use Live Text.
Your iPhone camera can read text in the real world and let you copy and paste it just like you would in a Word document. This works for phone numbers on billboards, recipes in cookbooks, or handwritten notes on a whiteboard.
How to use it:
- Open the Camera app.
- Point it at any text.
- Tap the Live Text icon (a square with lines of text inside) that appears in the corner of the viewfinder.
- The text will highlight; tap "Copy" or "Select All."
- Paste it wherever you need it.
8. Lock Your Phone to One App (Guided Access)
This feature is an absolute essential for parents, but it is also great if you are lending your phone to a friend to look at photos and don't want them swiping through your whole album.
Guided Access locks your iPhone to a single app. You cannot swipe home, you cannot check notifications, and you cannot switch apps until you triple-click the side button and enter your passcode. It effectively puts your phone in "kiosk mode."
Parenting Hack: If you let your toddler play a game, turn on Guided Access. It prevents them from accidentally calling your boss or deleting your emails!
How to enable it:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility.
- Scroll down to Guided Access and turn it on.
- Set a passcode specifically for this feature.
- To use it: Open an app, then triple-click the side power button.
9. Measure Anything with Augmented Reality
Have you ever been furniture shopping and wondered if that table would fit in your living room, but you forgot your tape measure? Your iPhone has a surprisingly accurate Measure app pre-installed.
Using the magic of Augmented Reality (AR), you can draw lines in 3D space to measure the length, width, and height of objects. It even includes a built-in level to help you hang pictures straight.
How to use it:
- Search for the Measure app on your phone (it is in the Utilities folder by default).
- Move your phone around so the camera can analyze the floor or table.
- Tap the + button to start a point, move the phone to the end of the object, and tap + again.
- The measurement will appear floating in the air on your screen.
10. Sign Documents with Your Finger
We already talked about scanning documents, but what if someone emails you a PDF that you need to sign and send back? You don't need to print it, sign it, and scan it back in. You can do it all digitally.
Markup is a powerful tool hidden within Mail, Photos, and Files that lets you draw on documents. It includes a specific signature tool that saves your signature for future use.
How to do it:
- Open a PDF attachment in Mail or Files.
- Tap the Markup icon (it looks like a marker tip inside a circle).
- Tap the + icon in the bottom corner of the tool palette.
- Select Signature.
- Sign with your finger, place it on the line, and hit "Done."
These features are just the tip of the iceberg, but they are the ones that provide the most immediate value to your daily life. Try setting up the Back Tap and Text Replacement right now—you will wonder how you ever lived without them!