iOS 13 Hidden Features: A Comprehensive List

[alexandr]

Agree with both.
- Quick Wifi/Bluetooth access is one of the best small features.
- Update tab was pretty useful, because auto-updates do not really auto-update, also separate games and arcade tab was really necessary ??

yes of course, it's as necessary as whatsapp removing the contacts tab in favor of the status tab...

 

[MisterSavage]

Send unknown callers to voicemail and PS4 controller support are HUGE. I'm surprised some time wasn't devoted to them and so much was devoted to Minecraft.

Removing the Updates tab is a huge mistake. Literally the most used tab for myself and most people. Wtf.

I use it all the time also.

Speak for yourself. I think Apple looked at the numbers, and saw that most users are allowing auto updates (I know I do). They have a new feature to market, a relatively unused icon... there you go!

One group in particular likely prefers manual updates - those who have apps installed from a variety of Apple ID accounts - all those unexpected popup password requests would certainly be a pain.

I have auto updates turned on and use the update tab all the time. If you go to it and pull down to refresh you'll often find app updates that haven't been downloaded yet.

 

[TheDreaded26]

So glad I can finally block spam mail from within the mail app. It was hit and miss with it updating from the mail box where I can block spam mail.

 

[gene731]

I want to know more about the feature before I get excited about it. Does it only silence calls that show up on the caller ID as 'Unknown'? If so, that feature has very little benefit to me. Probably only 1 to 2 percent of the junk calls I receive actually show up as 'Unknown' on the caller ID. The rest of the junk calls I receive have spoofed the caller ID so that the area code and exchange is the same as my number but the last four digits are different every time. THOSE are the calls I really want to silence.

Exactly this. I get these all the time. Same area code and prefix and as said different last 4. It took me a few times but I kept getting calls supposedly from Marriott Hotels so now I make sure I pay close attention and same area code/prefix and to voicemail it goes.

 

[rmariboe]

I wish they added the ability to attach a file in the mail app instead of selecting a file and select send in mail app

While editing email, tap text area, select “Add attachment”

 

[ipedro]

All good except this one, App Updates.

I won't use Apple Arcade but I will have a dedicated tab anyway.

Removing the Updates tab is a huge mistake. Literally the most used tab for myself and most people. Wtf.

Exactly. How is that different from games? I'll never use either tab, but I don't want to be tapping through that nest of menus to get to updates every day.

It’s still exactly the same number of taps away. It’s not hidden in a “nest of menus”. Tap the button in the top right instead of the lower right. One tap and your updates show up.

 

[schmegs]

I wonder if the Updates tab can be restored by disabling Arcade in the Parental Controls (like you used to be able to do in the Music app to get rid of the Connect tab). Anyone with iOS 13 wanna try it?

 

[harriska2]

Just did a quick test - such an easy test that I'm sure I'm missing posts above where people have already done this, but at the risk of this being a repeat ...

I phoned myself from my landline. Mobile rang.

I deleted my landline number from my contacts and phoned myself again. Immediately got a "missed call" notification and the call from my landline went to voicemail. I hung up. I then got an sms (this is network dependent I assume) from my network provider stating "you missed a call from xxxx they didn't leave a voicemail".

So for me, it's working as I want it to. However, I can see myself toggling the "Silence unknown callers" option regularly, as some days I'll be expecting calls from people who are not in my contact list. But most of the time, especially out of office hours, I'm not.

Apparently, this is done by Siri and doesn't just search contacts, but also searches iMessages and emails for phone numbers. I'm not sure how it'll search all my emails as they're IMAP and not local.

Thanks for testing this. How does the spam email work?

 

[jonnysods]

Man... These are some awesome updates. And I'm totally using dark mode can't wait.

 

[adrianlondon]

Thanks for testing this. How does the spam email work?

I don't know what you mean. There's no spam/junk mail filtering on iOS as far as I know.

 

[Jakewilk]

Removing the Updates tab is a huge mistake. Literally the most used tab for myself and most people. Wtf.

I literally never open that tab; auto updates made it obsolete

 

[rols]

Sorry if someone already provided this (too lazy to read all the replies).

Re: block unknown numbers, the way I read it, it will be anybody not in your Contacts app, Mail, Messages. So, with option on, anything outside of these will go straight to voicemail.

OS uses Siri intelligence to allow calls to ring your phone from numbers in Contacts, Mail, and Messages

Great feature, very odd description. What's the bit about 'Siri intelligence'? The phone just compares an incoming number with those in your contacts, mail and messages and decides whether to pass it or not, I fail entirely to understand what that could possibly have to do with Siri at all. That sounds like good old marketing fluff to me.

 

[theapplehead]

It’s all great except for one thing. Now I have to press like three buttons to access my app updates. That’s impractical and annoying. Why couldn’t they have designed a more simple option for an update screen? Disappointing.

 

[yegon]

In restrictions I have Account Changes -> Don’t allow, as an extra layer of security (admittedly bypassable via the 4 digit screen time password, but still).

This means user account icon doesn’t appear in the App Store at top right. I would hope the update tab will still be accessible if Account Changes set to don’t allow are used this way.

If any of that makes sense to anyone lol.

 

[!!!]

There’s also this battery life optimisation setting that alters the way it chargers.

Awesome! I was thinking about submitting feedback to Apple asking for a "slow charge" feature that would help save battery life by charging slower.

 

[subjonas]

Lot of great features. But so much wasted space under that keyboard. Wouldn’t a number row above be far better?


Also the move of the app updates is dumb.

 

[redneckitengineer]

I'm going on 24hrs with ios13 on my iPhone XS Max as a registered developer and darn if I don't say this new update is going to be EPIC. I'm so glad Apple is finally listening to us and adding features and changes that owners desire. It's got bugs to be worked out but I'm in love with dark mode and all the new goodies.

I'm not thrilled with the app updates being practically hidden, but I haven't got a bad thing to say about the rest.

WatchOS 6 is also pretty cool. It looks like auto arrange is here, no more wacky app layout.

 

[Jasonstevens]

Awesome! I was thinking about submitting feedback to Apple asking for a "slow charge" feature that would help save battery life by charging slower.

It’s a great concept but I had to turn it off because my routine isn’t as steady as someone who works 9-5. So some days I’ll be charging it at 11pm and need it to fast charge and be ready for the next few hours.

 

[ignatius345]

Notes Folder Management - In the Notes app in iOS 13, there are new tools for managing your folders. Tap the "..." button to get to options like Add People, Move This Folder, Rename, and View Attachments.

This, along with iCloud Drive now supporting shared folders, is going to make my life easier.
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App Updates - To update apps in iOS 13, you need to open up the App Store, tap on your profile and choose apps from the Pending Updates section. There was an updates tab in iOS 12, but it's been removed in favor of an Apple Arcade tab in iOS 13.

I hate this. I do not update automatically because I like to keep an eye out in case some developer pulls something shady like putting ads into a previously ad-free app (this has happened) or just putting out a terrible update that ruins something I use the app for (this has also happened). Plus I just like to browse through release notes sometimes to track new features or bug fixes as they come out.

 

[AppleHeadPhx]

Can you turn OFF WiFi and Bluetooth from the control center?

 

[thefourthpope]

5 minutes isn’t much of a daily reading goal ;-)

 

[beckermanex]

One question I haven't seen answered is, if iPadOS and iOS support the DualShock4 now, would that mean I could use the PS4 Remote Play app and use them? On-screen controls weren't great in this app, I wonder what the input lag is like if you do use it, but this would be a great addition if possible!

 

[Tech198]

All icons in Control center should be long pressed as an option, so its good Bluetooth and Wi-fi can now join in.

"Silence Unknown calls" - doesn't DND "Silence - Always" do this currently ? You have two options currently in DND Silence "When phone is locked" and "Always"

Low data mode - looks like it could be useful, but i why would you wanna reduce how much data an app uses if your activity using it? It's just avoiding the need to top up

Safari auto closing tabs - Also good, but I guess Apple must give a minimum of 24 hours in order to make it a viable option. I would have been ok with "close tabs every 30 minutes" or "15"

 

[kegan forbes]

i really hope they leave the emoji button on the bottom below the keyboard as i was constantly hitting that when i wanted numbers on my 7 and 8. that was one of the biggest changes i liked when getting my xs.

 

[eyeseeyou]

Meh, I just want PIP on my iPhone Apple! I also want to control my lock screen and have widgets on it!!! While some of these are nice, it'd be nice to have some of the things iPad already has had for years!!!

I would love to have pip on a mobile device. Would be nice for multitasking and really useful with FaceTime and looking over emails or sent files