iOS 14: A Quick Tour of All the New Features

[MacRumors]

Over the course of the iOS 14 beta test, we here at MacRumors have been putting together in-depth feature guides, tutorial videos, and how tos on the new features in the iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 updates.

Many of our MacRumors readers have likely been running the betas for a couple of months now, but those who are new to the update will want to check out all of the content we have available below. It's also a great resource to send to friends and family members who have questions about iOS and iPadOS 14 content.

So...You Just Installed iOS 14?

If you just installed iOS 14, it's always a little daunting to figure out how to take advantage of all the new features. We made this video to walk a new iOS 14 user through the first things you should do to start taking advantage of the new features.

Now that you're set up with the basics, let's move on to our top iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 features.

Top iOS 14 Features for iPhone

In our Top iOS 14 Features article and video, we highlighted what we thought were the best features of the release. Watch the video or read the article which dives into the features in a bit more depth.

Video time index links:

• Picture in Picture FaceTime
• Compact Phone Calls
• App Library
• Third-Party Default Apps
• Search in Apps
• Emoji Search
• Approximate Location Sharing
• Back Tap
• Exposure Lock
• QuickTake Video
• HomeKit Control Center
• Custom Widget Stacks
• Apple Music Redesign
• Apple Music Autoplay

iPad-Specific Features in iPadOS 14

iPad owners also get a number of new features specifically for their devices. iPadOS 14 Features You Need to Know covered notable iPad-only features that can be found in the latest update. Similarly, the video will take you through them all but the article expands on each feature.

Video time index links:

• Scribble
• Notes Handwriting Improvements
• App Sidebars and Toolbars
• Compact Siri
• Compact FaceTime/Phone UI
• Search Improvements
• Safari Updates
• Emoji Popover Menu
• Apple Music Lyrics

More Subtle "Hidden" Features

Once you've absorbed all that, here's our "hidden" feature list that incorporates lesser known items that we've found and liked in iOS 14:

This video covers features like sound recognition, 4K YouTube, FaceTime eye contact, and more.

In Depth iOS 14 Feature Guides

These are in-depth guides that cover all the new features in the main sections of iOS 14.

• Home Screen Setup: App Library, Widgets, Hiding Apps
• Compact Interface: Phone Calls, FaceTime, Siri and More
• Privacy Features: Approximate Location, Clipboard Access Warnings, Limited Photos Access and More
• Photos and Camera: QuickTake Shortcut, Photo Captions, Mirrored Selfies, and More
• Messages: Pinned Chats, Inline Replies, Mentions
• Safari: Privacy Report, Built-In Translation, Compromised Password Alerts and More
• Sleep Features: Sleep Mode, Wind Down, Sleep Tracking and More
• Translate: Apple's Built-In Translate App That Works With 11 Languages
• Maps: Cycling Directions, Guides, Refine Location and More
• New AirPods Features: Spatial Audio, Better Automatic Device Switching, Battery Notifications and More
• Magnifier Gets Overhauled UI and New Features, Can Be Added to Home Screen

Useful How Tos

• iOS 14 Green and Orange Dots: What do they mean?
• How to Search for Emoji on iPhone
• How to Mute Conversations in Messages on iPhone and iPad in iOS 14
• How to Use Home Screen Widgets
• How to Actually Hide the Hidden Photos Album
• How to Use iOS 14's Picture in Picture With YouTube Videos
• How to Know When an App is Using Your iPhone Camera or Microphone
• How to Use Sleep Mode on iPhone and Apple Watch
• How to Translate Webpages in Safari on iPhone
• How to Reduce Loud Sounds When Listening Over Headphones
• How to Translate Text in Apple's Translate App
• How to Get Cycling Directions in Apple Maps
• How to Hide Home Screen App Pages on iPhone in iOS 14
• How to Use the App Library on iPhone

iOS 14 Discussion

MacRumors readers use our iOS 14 forum to discuss software performance, minor tweaks, apps, and more. Our forums are also a great resource if you need iOS 14 help.

More Help

Have a question not covered in our guides and how tos? Let us know in the comments or send us an email here. Send us an email here. You can always find more on all of the iOS 14 features in our iOS 14 roundup.

Article Link: iOS 14: A Quick Tour of All the New Features

 

[Mr. Awesome]

Under the “Useful How Tos” section is “How to Use iOS 14’s Picture in Picture with YouTube Videos”, but this is no longer possible without requesting the desktop version of the site. You may want to either remove that link from this article or update the linked article to clarify how to use PiP by requesting the desktop website.

EDIT: It looks like the linked article has been updated to show the workaround. I don’t know if I just missed it the first time I looked at it or if it was updated between when I posted this originally and now, but I apologize for the confusion.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Under the “Useful How Tos” section is “How to Use iOS 14’s Picture in Picture with YouTube Videos”, but this is no longer possible without requesting the desktop version of the site. You may want to either remove that link from this article or update the linked article to clarify how to use PiP by requesting the desktop website.

Still working on the mobile site for me.

 

[Mr. Awesome]

Still working on the mobile site for me.

Apparently quite a few people were experiencing problems with it. Only YouTube Premium-or-Red-or-whatever-they-call-it-these-days subscribers could use it.

iOS 14 Picture in Picture No Longer Working With YouTube's Mobile Website in Safari [Without Premium]

Apple in iOS 14 added Picture in Picture to the iPhone, a feature designed to let you watch a video in a small screen on your device while you...

www.macrumors.com

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

This is very helpful. Thank you macrumors

 

[robinp]

Really wish the App Library was accessed by swiping down like with using spotlight. It seems to me that the two are both ways of getting to any app you need. Having it at the far right of the Home Screen pages is really clunky. Feels very unnatural.

 

[jkdsteve]

I wasn't prepared for how much snappier it feels! (iPhone 11 Pro)

 

[mattan_lines]

Is anyone else experiencing serious battery drain with iOS 14? My phone (iPhone 11 Pro Max) drains so fast and gets so hot that it doesn't even charge when it's plugged in. My phone seems to STILL drain battery while plugged in if I'm using it. I'm not on the Developer beta for 14.2 yet, I'm on the GM iOS 14 beta, so this shouldn't be an issue related to the beta.

 

[damphoose]

These widgets are legit life changing. (app draw not so much)
If gets my GTD workflow front and center.
Also the smart stack is actually working. You don’t like that you can only thumbs down not thumbs up stuff but I guess things stay in the stack unless you say you don’t want them.

 

[jz0309]

Is anyone else experiencing serious battery drain with iOS 14? My phone (iPhone 11 Pro Max) drains so fast and gets so hot that it doesn't even charge when it's plugged in. My phone seems to STILL drain battery while plugged in if I'm using it. I'm not on the Developer beta for 14.2 yet, I'm on the GM iOS 14 beta, so this shouldn't be an issue related to the beta.

same phone, battery appears to be as before, no issues

 

[coleslaw9]

Is anyone else experiencing serious battery drain with iOS 14? My phone (iPhone 11 Pro Max) drains so fast and gets so hot that it doesn't even charge when it's plugged in. My phone seems to STILL drain battery while plugged in if I'm using it. I'm not on the Developer beta for 14.2 yet, I'm on the GM iOS 14 beta, so this shouldn't be an issue related to the beta.

Yeah. My Qi charging isn’t working now either and the battery is draining like crazy. 11pro

 

[now i see it]

Unfortunately there's more than a couple people who wished they never installed 14.0 due to a few big issues they encountered. Basically it's the same story every year... Why oh why did I install a .0 launch day version of iOS?

 

[jgassens]

My hot take is that I would not put it on the 6S yet. It has rendered some apps (Outlook) almost unusable. I have milked a lot of use out of this phone, so no hard feelings, but…yeah…I'd skip this update for the moment if you're a 6S user.

 

[lkalliance]

I haven’t upgraded yet, but I am confused about the lingo around the App Library. I don’t understand why there would ever be an “Add to App Library” function. Aren’t all your apps in your App Library automatically just by being on your phone?

I understand “Keep in App Library”. Delete this app from my home screen but don’t delete it from the phone, so it’s still available via the App Library. But you shouldn’t ever have to put an app there, right? It’s automatically there.

Or do I misunderstand?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Well done, MR. Thank you very much @jclo and Dan.

 

[orthorim]

Still got built in people tracking?

Thanks I'll pass.

 

[surfzen21]

Anyone having issues with glitchy widgets? While scrolling through a smart stack random widgets will just be blank. They will also flicker and occasionally go in reverse. Some stand along widgets are blank too. I have to go to a new page and back again before it resets.

 

[Joniz]

Top iOS 14 Features for iPhone

I wouldn’t include App Library as a Top Feature.
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I haven’t upgraded yet, but I am confused about the lingo around the App Library. I don’t understand why there would ever be an “Add to App Library” function. Aren’t all your apps in your App Library automatically just by being on your phone?

I understand “Keep in App Library”. Delete this app from my home screen but don’t delete it from the phone, so it’s still available via the App Library. But you shouldn’t ever have to put an app there, right? It’s automatically there.

Or do I misunderstand?

No one understands the point of App Library.

 

[miq]

I cannot fathom why Apple didn't take the simple step of aligning the new App Library folders design with the home screen folders.
It looks so much better and can fit more apps on a single page. The home screen 'folders' look so outdated now especially only being able to display 9 apps at a time.

 

[KeithBN]

Unfortunately some of the information isn’t very helpful.

For example the video which discusses how to set 3rd party apps as default? Click the link, takes you to the video that just says the feature isn’t available in the beta they were demoing...

Anyone know how to change the default Mail app for example (I want to use ProtonMail instead)

 

[synergize]

The way Apple organizes the Apps in the App library is not how I want them organized, most of it is illogical.

 

[arn]

I wouldn’t include App Library as a Top Feature.
[automerge]1600472857[/automerge]


No one understands the point of App Library.

App Library: I hate it

I really don’t get this “feature.” It’s just another Home Screen with my apps organized far more haphazardly than my own folders. Like Mail goes with banking apps? Google translate, stocks, and kindle all go together? Really? This is supposed to help me? And yes, I know people will say “just...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[tominco]

The way Apple organizes the Apps in the App library is not how I want them organized, most of it is illogical.

App Library is utterly pointless. It's only valuable if you are the one who decides where things go. Besides, what does it provides that folders don't.

and I'd like the option to return phone call and FaceTime notifications to full screen. I never really found it a problem.

and with the new widgets, where did my list of favorite numbers go?

 

[dannyyankou]

The way Apple organizes the Apps in the App library is not how I want them organized, most of it is illogical.

Well it’s never going to be exactly how everyone wants it, you can create folders and arrange the apps anyway you want on pages.

 

[now i see it]

App Libeary exists because of the new home screen widgets. Apple thinks most of its users are too dumb or lazy to make their own folders of apps so they created the automatic App Library for them. It's not like anyone has to use it.