Unlocking Your iPhone’s Hidden Potential: Tips and Tricks You Didn’t Know Existed in 2024

Samith Prabhath
2 min readFeb 5, 2024

Many iPhone users get comfortable with the basics, but this powerful device holds a treasure trove of hidden features waiting to be unearthed. From productivity hacks to accessibility gems, here are some lesser-known iPhone tips and tricks that will elevate your user experience in 2024:

Master the Keyboard:

  • Text Editing Prowess: Did you know your keyboard doubles as a trackpad? Hold down the spacebar while typing, and tap/slide to move the cursor precisely.
  • Swift Symbol Selection: Press and hold any letter key to access a variety of symbols and punctuation marks without switching keyboards.
  • Text Replacement Shortcuts: Create personalized shortcuts for frequently used phrases or snippets. For example, type “omw” and it auto-expands to “On my way!”.

Become a Multitasking Maestro:

  • Hidden App Switcher: Swipe diagonally up from the bottom corner (near either side) to quickly access the app switcher, even from within an app.
  • Three-Finger Swipe for App Closure: Swipe up with three fingers on the Home screen to close three open apps simultaneously.
  • Picture-in-Picture Magic: Pinch out on a supported video while playing to shrink it into a floating window, allowing you to multitask seamlessly.

Accessibility Gems:

  • Back Tap: Assign quick actions (like taking screenshots or opening Control Center) to double or triple tapping the back of your phone.
  • Voice Control Granularity: Dictate punctuation and emojis by simply saying their names — “period,” “comma,” “smiley face.”
  • Live Captions for Any Audio: Enable Live Captions in Accessibility settings to view real-time text transcriptions for videos, calls, and even FaceTime.

Beyond the Basics:

  • Hidden Features in Measure App: Your Measure app isn’t just for lengths! Use it as a spirit level (check “Level” in the app) or quickly measure object dimensions in AR.
  • Translate Languages on the Fly: Select text in any app, tap “Look Up,” and choose “Translate” to instantly understand foreign languages.
  • Schedule Text Messages: Compose a message, tap and hold the send arrow, and choose “Schedule Send” to deliver it at a specific time.

Bonus Tip: Feeling overwhelmed? Explore the “Search” bar in Settings to discover hidden features and tweak your iPhone to your exact preferences.

Remember, these are just a glimpse into the hidden potential of your iPhone. By exploring and experimenting, you’ll unlock a world of convenience, productivity, and a more personalized user experience in 2024 and beyond.

Please note: While these tips have been verified to work on recent iPhone models and iOS versions, functionality may vary depending on your specific device and software.

Feel free to share your own favorite hidden iPhone tips and tricks in the comments below!

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Samith Prabhath

Tech enthusiast & Medium contributor. Sharing the latest in tech updates, innovations, and insights. Passionate about writing on all things technology.