Let’s be honest: we all live on our iPhones. We use them for everything from ordering coffee to navigating road trips and capturing memories. But despite spending hours a day staring at that screen, most of us are only scratching the surface of what this powerful device can actually do. Apple packs iOS with hundreds of features, yet many of the most useful ones are tucked away in sub-menus or hidden behind gestures you might not know exist.
Whether you have the latest iPhone 15 Pro or are holding onto an older model, there is a treasure trove of hidden functionality waiting to be unlocked. These aren't just party tricks; they are practical tools designed to save you time, protect your privacy, and make your daily digital life significantly smoother. Grab your phone, unlock your screen, and get ready to upgrade your user experience with these 10 secret features you need to try right now.
1. The "Back Tap" Magic Button
Did you know the Apple logo on the back of your phone isn't just for branding? It can actually function as a secret button. This feature, known as "Back Tap," allows you to trigger specific actions by simply tapping the back of your phone twice or three times. It is incredibly responsive and works even if you have a phone case on (provided it isn't exceptionally thick).
Imagine taking a screenshot without fumbling for the volume and power buttons, or instantly launching the flashlight when you are walking in the dark. You can map these gestures to a wide variety of system functions, accessibility features, or even Shortcuts.
- Open Settings and go to Accessibility.
- Select Touch.
- Scroll all the way down to Back Tap.
- Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap to assign your preferred action.
Pro Tip: If you struggle to reach the top of your screen on the larger "Max" or "Plus" models, set a double-tap to trigger "Reachability," which brings the top half of the screen down to your thumb level.
2. Turn Your Keyboard into a Trackpad
We have all been there: you are typing a long text or email, and you spot a typo three sentences back. You try to tap exactly where the error is, but your finger misses the spot, and you end up deleting the wrong word. It is frustrating, but there is a much better way to navigate your text.
Your iPhone keyboard has a hidden trackpad mode that turns the entire key area into a mouse cursor. This gives you precision control over where your cursor lands, allowing you to edit text with the accuracy of a computer mouse.
- Open any app where you can type (Messages, Notes, Mail).
- Press and hold the Spacebar until the keys turn blank.
- Without lifting your finger, slide it around the keyboard area to move the cursor.
- Drop the cursor exactly where you need to make an edit.
3. Scan Text Directly from the Real World
Data entry is tedious. If you have ever found yourself looking at a business card, a menu, or a WiFi password on the back of a router and manually typing it into your phone, you are working too hard. The "Live Text" feature allows your camera to read text in the real world and lets you copy and paste it just like a digital document.
This feature is a lifesaver for students copying notes from a whiteboard, travelers trying to translate signs, or anyone who just hates typing out long serial numbers.
- Open your Camera app and point it at text (a document, a sign, or a screen).
- Look for the Live Text icon (a square with lines of text inside) to appear in the corner of the viewfinder.
- Tap the icon to freeze the text, then tap "Copy" or "Select All."
- Paste the text wherever you need it.
4. Identify Anything with Visual Look Up
Your iPhone's intelligence goes beyond just reading text; it can also identify objects. Have you ever looked at a flower on a hike and wondered what it was? Or perhaps you are staring at the confusing laundry symbols on your favorite sweater, terrified you might shrink it? "Visual Look Up" is essentially a built-in encyclopedia for your photos.
This works for landmarks, art, plants, pets, and yes, even laundry codes. It transforms your photo gallery from a simple storage space into a learning tool.
- Take a photo of the object (or use an existing one).
- Open the photo in the Photos app.
- If the "i" (info) button at the bottom has stars or a leaf symbol on it, Visual Look Up is available.
- Tap the icon, then tap "Look Up [Object Name]" to get detailed results.
5. Sign Documents Without a Printer
The days of printing a PDF, signing it with a pen, scanning it back into your computer, and emailing it are over. Your iPhone has a built-in document scanner and signature tool right inside the Notes app. This is one of the most professional features available, yet many users still download expensive third-party scanner apps.
The scan quality is surprisingly high, automatically correcting for angles and lighting to make the document look like a flat scan rather than a photo of a paper.
- Open the Notes app and create a new note.
- Tap the Camera icon in the toolbar.
- Select Scan Documents.
- After scanning, tap the document preview, hit the Share button, and select Markup to add your signature with your finger.
6. Text Replacement for Speed Typing
If you find yourself typing the same phrases over and over again—like your email address, your home address, or a generic "I'm running five minutes late" text—Text Replacement is going to change your life. This feature allows you to create short codes that automatically expand into longer phrases.
For example, you could set it up so that typing "@@" instantly turns into your full email address. It saves keystrokes and ensures you never make a typo in important information.
- Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.
- Tap Text Replacement.
- Tap the + sign in the top right.
- In "Phrase," type the full text (e.g., your email). In "Shortcut," type the code (e.g., "eml").
Fun Idea: You can also use this to create shortcuts for emojis! Make the shortcut "shrug" automatically turn into the ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ emoticon.
7. Built-in Background Sounds for Focus
In a noisy world, finding focus can be difficult. Many people pay for subscriptions to apps like Calm or Headspace to get white noise or rain sounds. However, Apple has hidden a high-quality background noise generator right inside your system settings. It is perfect for drowning out a noisy coffee shop, soothing a baby, or helping you fall asleep.
You can even layer these sounds over your music or podcasts, creating a cozy atmosphere while you listen to your favorite content.
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual.
- Tap Background Sounds and toggle it on.
- Choose from Ocean, Rain, Stream, Balanced Noise, Bright Noise, or Dark Noise.
8. Identify Music from Control Center
We have all heard a catchy song in a store or a movie and scrambled to open Shazam before the track ends. Apple actually bought Shazam years ago and integrated it directly into the iPhone’s operating system. You don't even need to have the app installed to use it.
By adding the Music Recognition button to your Control Center, you are always just one swipe and a tap away from identifying a song. It even works on music playing through your own headphones!
- Go to Settings > Control Center.
- Scroll down to "More Controls" and find Music Recognition (the Shazam logo).
- Tap the green + button to add it.
- Now, swipe down from the top-right of your screen and tap the icon whenever you hear a song you like.
9. The Measure App (and Spirit Level)
Buried in your Utilities folder is an app called "Measure." It uses augmented reality (AR) to act as a digital tape measure. While it might not replace a contractor’s laser measure for building a house, it is surprisingly accurate for quick tasks like checking if a couch will fit through a door or measuring a picture frame.
But the real secret is the second tab within the app: the Level. If you are hanging shelves or pictures, your iPhone can act as a precise spirit level. It uses the internal gyroscope to tell you exactly when a surface is perfectly flat (0 degrees).
- Open the Measure app.
- Tap points in your room to measure distance.
- Tap the Level tab at the bottom to switch modes.
- The screen turns green when your phone is perfectly level.
10. Hide Photos (For Real This Time)
For years, the "Hidden" album in Photos was a bit of a joke—it just moved photos to a folder labeled "Hidden" that anyone could open. However, recent iOS updates have made this a legitimate privacy feature. Now, the Hidden album (and the Recently Deleted folder) is locked by default, requiring your Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode to view.
This is perfect for keeping sensitive information, gift ideas, or just unflattering selfies away from prying eyes when you hand your phone to someone to show them a vacation picture.
- Select a photo, tap the three dots in the corner, and choose Hide.
- To view it, go to the Albums tab and scroll down to Utilities.
- Tap Hidden. You will notice a lock icon next to it; it will only open after it scans your face or fingerprint.