Over the years, the iPhone's operating system has grown increasingly feature-rich. With every new version of iOS, Apple introduces capabilities that often go unnoticed, buried in menus or activated by obscure gestures. Whether you're a longtime iPhone user or a recent convert, there are likely tricks you haven't discovered yet. The following ten tips are based on iOS 26 and later, so ensure your device is up to date to take full advantage of them.

Turn an App Into a Widget

Widgets have been a staple of iOS since iOS 14, but many users still don't realize how quickly you can convert an app icon into a widget directly from the Home Screen. Instead of entering the jiggle mode and searching for widget options, simply long-press on any app icon. A small menu appears; tap one of the square icons at the top to select a widget size. This works with any app—Apple or third-party—that supports widgets. The widget retains the app's core functionality while providing glanceable information. If you want to revert, long-press again and tap the four-square icon on the top left. This feature is especially handy for apps like Weather, Calendar, or Stocks, where you might want to see data without opening the app.

See Where You've Been in Maps

If you've ever visited a charming café during a weekend trip and later struggled to remember its name or location, Apple Maps has a hidden solution. The app maintains a location history called Visited Places, accessible through your profile. Open Maps, tap your profile picture or initials, select Places, then choose Visited Places. Here you'll find locations grouped by categories such as Leisure, Shopping, or Food & Drink, and further organized by city. This is invaluable for travel enthusiasts who want to revisit favorite spots. You can control how long this data is kept by going to Settings > Maps > Location > Visited Places, where you can also turn off the feature entirely. Clearing history is straightforward: scroll to the bottom of the Visited Places interface and tap Clear History.

Set Custom Vibration Patterns

Many iPhone users keep their device on silent mode throughout the day, relying on vibrations to alert them to incoming calls or messages. While most people know how to assign custom ringtones, fewer are aware that you can create distinct vibration patterns for individual contacts. Open the Contacts app, select a person, tap Edit, then choose either Text Tone or Ringtone. Tap Haptics, then scroll down to Create New Vibration. You'll be presented with a blank canvas where you can tap and hold to record a pattern. The iPhone will play back your sequence, and you can name it for later use. This is particularly useful for distinguishing important contacts—like your partner or boss—without looking at the screen.

Customize Your Lock Screen Buttons

Since iOS 16, Apple allowed users to customize the Lock Screen, including the two shortcut buttons that traditionally opened the Flashlight and Camera. Now you can replace either button with any Control Center option, even those from third-party apps. To do this, long-press on your Lock Screen to enter edit mode. Tap Customize to modify an existing wallpaper or tap the + button to create a new one. Then tap the – (minus) icon on either of the two bottom corner buttons to remove the default, and tap the + to choose a replacement. Options include nearly every Control Center toggle, such as Shazam, Voice Memos, Magnifier, or even a shortcut to your favorite app. This customization makes the Lock Screen far more functional and tailored to your daily routines.

Back Tap Gestures

Back Tap is one of those features that has been around since iOS 14 but often goes unused. It leverages the iPhone's accelerometer and gyroscope to detect taps on the back of the device. You can assign up to two actions: one for a double tap and one for a triple tap. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch and scroll down to Back Tap. From there, you can choose from a long list of system actions—like taking a screenshot, opening Control Center, or launching the Camera—or even run custom Shortcuts. For example, you could set a double tap to mute your phone and a triple tap to open the app you use most frequently. The feature works with cases, though very thick cases might reduce sensitivity.

Screenshot a Full Webpage or PDF

Taking a screenshot on an iPhone is simple: press the side button and volume up button simultaneously. But by default, this only captures what's visible on screen. If you need to save an entire webpage, a long email thread, or a PDF, there's a hidden option. After taking the screenshot, tap the floating thumbnail (if you haven't disabled it in Settings > Screenshots). The screenshot editor opens; look for the Full Page tab at the top of the interface. Tapping it will capture the entire length of the document, and you can choose to save it as a PDF or image to Files or Photos. This is a huge time-saver for research, shopping lists, or recipe collections.

Hide Apps and App Pages

Privacy is a growing concern, and sometimes you may want to hide certain apps from the Home Screen without deleting them. iOS offers two levels of hiding. For individual apps, long-press the icon and choose the option that says Require Face ID (or Touch ID) and then Hide. This moves the app to the Hidden folder in the App Library, accessible only with biometric authentication. Alternatively, you can hide entire pages of apps. Enter jiggle mode by long-pressing on the Home Screen, then tap the page dots at the bottom. You'll see all your pages; uncheck the ones you want to hide. Hidden pages don't appear in the Hidden folder; they simply vanish from the Home Screen while apps remain searchable via Spotlight and visible in the App Library. To unhide, follow the same steps and recheck the page.

Quick Set a Timer from Control Center

Timers are essential for cooking, productivity, or reminding yourself to take a break. While the Clock app works fine, adding a Timer directly to Control Center makes setting a timer much faster. First, ensure the Timer icon is in your Control Center: go to Settings > Control Center and add Timer under More Controls. Then, open Control Center and long-press the Timer icon. A slider appears, allowing you to select a duration from 1 minute to 2 hours in 1-minute increments. Tap Start, and the timer begins counting down. This is much quicker than opening the Clock app, especially when your hands are busy.

Remove Photos Location Data Before Sharing

Photos often contain metadata like GPS coordinates, which can reveal where you took a picture. Before sending a photo to someone—especially online or to a stranger—you may want to strip that location data. There are two simple methods. First, in the Photos app, open an image and swipe up to reveal the Info panel. Tap Adjust Location, then select No Location. Alternatively, when you tap the Share button, choose Options at the top and toggle off Location. Both methods remove the location metadata from the shared copy while preserving the original in your library. This is crucial for privacy-conscious users.

Use a Timer to Automatically Stop Media Playback

Listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks as you fall asleep is a common habit, but letting them play all night can drain your battery and interrupt your sleep cycle. The Clock app includes a little-known feature that stops any playing media after a set time. Open the Clock app, go to Timers, set a duration (e.g., 30 minutes), then tap When Timer Ends. Scroll down and select Stop Playing. When the timer completes, your media—whether from Spotify, Apple Music, Overcast, or any other app—will stop. This works as a sleep timer without needing a separate app.

These ten tips just scratch the surface of what iOS can do. Many features are deliberately subtle to keep the interface clean, but once you know they exist, they can transform how you interact with your iPhone. From productivity hacks to privacy controls, Apple has built a powerful toolkit that often goes unnoticed. The best way to discover more is to explore the Settings app and experiment with long-presses and gestures. If you have a favorite hidden feature, consider sharing it with friends—they might thank you later.

Source: MacRumors News