Useful iPhone Tips You Might Not Know

[MacRumors]

There seem to be an endless number of iPhone tips and tricks to share, and that's because Apple's smartphones are so feature rich that it's impossible to keep up with everything they're capable of. We've rounded up some useful tips and hacks in our latest video, so check them out to see if there's something you didn't know about.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

• Swipe to Numbers with Keyboard - If you press and hold on the number key and then swipe up to type the number that you want, when you release a finger, it will go back to the main keyboard so there's no need to tap twice to get a number character.
• Create Perfect Shapes in Notes - If you draw a shape in Notes or anywhere else the Markup interface is available, it will morph into a perfect shape. So if you need a visual aid like a circle, draw a wonky version and the iPhone or iPad will fix it right up.
• Check your iPhone Warranty - Open up the Settings app, tap "General," choose "About," and then tap on the "Warranty" entry to see your warranty information for your device.
• Use Your Apple Watch as a Viewfinder - The Camera Remote app on the Apple Watch activates the front or rear camera of your iPhone so you can use your Apple Watch as a handy viewfinder. If you take your watch off and wrap it around your iPhone, you can use the rear camera while also seeing yourself, which is useful for vlogging.
• Combine Images with a Shortcut - You can use an app to combine images, but it's easier to use a simple shortcut. Open Shortcuts and tap "+" to add a new one. Type in "Photos" and choose "Select Photos" for the first action. For the second, search for "Combine" and select "Combine Images." Change the details to say "Combine Photos" and "In a Grid." After that, search for "Save" and choose "Save to Photo Album." You can make it fancier with extra steps, but this is all you need to select a series of photos and have them arranged in a grid formation, with the final result saved to the Photos app. There are also third-party shortcuts that you can use.
• Auto Schedule Low Power Mode - You can create a quick shortcut for turning on Low Power Mode when the battery dips to a specific level. In the Shortcuts app, create a new Automation, and start out by choosing "Battery Level." From there, select your desired percent. For the next action, search for and choose "Low Power Mode." Deselect "Ask Before Running," and the next time your iPhone battery drops to the target level, Low Power Mode will activate automatically.
• Find Out What Song is Playing - If you want to know what music is playing you can ask Siri, but if you want to know what song is in a video on your iPhone or what song your device is playing, there's a Shazam Music Recognition option that you can add to Control Center.
• AirDrop to Any Device - If you use Snapdrop.net, you can "AirDrop" a file from one device to another, even non-Apple devices. This isn't Apple's AirDrop, but it's basically the same thing and it allows for super quick data transfers even if you have a PC or Android phone. It's as simple as opening up the website on both devices and drag and drop the file.

Have a favorite lesser-known iPhone trick that we didn't list here? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Useful iPhone Tips You Might Not Know

 

[braddick]

One of the first things I do when setting up a new iPhone is turning off AirDrop. This has me rethinking that practice.

 

[jz0309]

Thanks for posting, very useful, knew about one but not all!

 

[Apple_Robert]

Good article and video, MR.

I set low power mode to automatically turn on when charging.

 

[08380728]

Swipe to Numbers with Keyboard:
That’s not useful in the slightest, it actually takes longer after holding and swiping up.

What would be more useful is a tip on making the numbers stay visible after typing a space. Many times we need a enter blocks of numbers with spaces between them but hitting space bar always shows the letters again and this is annoying having to tao tao to get the numbers back. Android phone‘s keyboard dont do this.

 

[mozumder]

that last one with the Apple Watch as a selfie camera is mind-blowing

 

[08380728]

How about list things that are idiotic that need to be improved like:
Settings/Phone My Numbertap and hold won’t copy it, and or just tap then the field of numbers is erased and nothing can be copied, totally DUMB...on Android phones, tap the field and standard copy, cut tab appears.

How about messages, tap contact name at top more icons drop down, tap info, the phone number is not visible anywhere, thats the INFO I always need, have to then tap another info icon to finally see the contacts phone number, again super dumb.

 

[Apple_Robert]

How about list things that are idiotic that need to be improved like:
Settings/Phone My Numbertap and hold won’t copy it, and or just tap then the field of numbers is erased and nothing can be copied, totally DUMB...on Android phones, tap the field and standard copy, cut tab appears.

How about messages, tap contact name at top more icons drop down, tap info, the phone number is not visible anywhere, thats the INFO I always need, have to then tap another info icon to finally see the contacts phone number, again super dumb.

The thread is about posting useful phone tips that work, not complaining about things that aren't a feature or don't work the way you expect.

 

[AngerDanger]

Bizarre implication from Dan that it's okay to have friends who use Android?!

 

[08380728]

Notes app, how about previous it had a share icon tap that and inside was an airdrop icon, well thats gone no more share icon, why remove it ONLY in notes and replace it with some dumb lookin circle icon with dots, wtf is that supposed to indicate. Anyway tap the dumb alien landing icon where is airdrop, nowhere, wtf is there large scan, pin, lock and delete icons, wtf is share or airdrop, ah Send a Copy, ah the old share icon but wait it’s not blue like it is in every other app, wtf is send a copy anyway, ah bravo finally it displays the original sharing banner.
FFS what a PITA all these stupid pointless changes cause nothing but confusion and time wasting.

 

[chris4565]

I absolutely love videos like this. Short and informative! These are really useful tips, especially the numbers one.

 

[robertcoogan]

I wish there was a way to turn off the swipe for numbers feature on my iPad. I mistype numbers into words so often that I stop and have to think whether I want to deal with it if I need to text or use the keyboard at all. A real pain. So not the best feature.

 

[_Spinn_]

I really like the scheduled low power mode. That's one of the first things I did when I got my 12 Pro Max.

 

[Billyk711]

There seem to be an endless number of iPhone tips and tricks to share, and that's because Apple's smartphones are so feature rich that it's impossible to keep up with everything they're capable of. We've rounded up some useful tips and hacks in our latest video, so check them out to see if there's something you didn't know about.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

• Swipe to Numbers with Keyboard - If you press and hold on the number key and then swipe up to type the number that you want, when you release a finger, it will go back to the main keyboard so there's no need to tap twice to get a number character.
  
• Create Perfect Shapes in Notes - If you draw a shape in Notes or anywhere else the Markup interface is available, it will morph into a perfect shape. So if you need a visual aid like a circle, draw a wonky version and the iPhone or iPad will fix it right up.
  
• Check your iPhone Warranty - Open up the Settings app, tap "General," choose "About," and then tap on the "Warranty" entry to see your warranty information for your device.
  
• Use Your Apple Watch as a Viewfinder - The Camera Remote app on the Apple Watch activates the front or rear camera of your iPhone so you can use your Apple Watch as a handy viewfinder. If you take your watch off and wrap it around your iPhone, you can use the rear camera while also seeing yourself, which is useful for vlogging.
  
• Combine Images with a Shortcut - You can use an app to combine images, but it's easier to use a simple shortcut. Open Shortcuts and tap "+" to add a new one. Type in "Photos" and choose "Select Photos" for the first action. For the second, search for "Combine" and select "Combine Images." Change the details to say "Combine Photos" and "In a Grid." After that, search for "Save" and choose "Save to Photo Album." You can make it fancier with extra steps, but this is all you need to select a series of photos and have them arranged in a grid formation, with the final result saved to the Photos app. There are also third-party shortcuts that you can use.
  
• Auto Schedule Low Power Mode - You can create a quick shortcut for turning on Low Power Mode when the battery dips to a specific level. In the Shortcuts app, create a new Automation, and start out by choosing "Battery Level." From there, select your desired percent. For the next action, search for and choose "Low Power Mode." Deselect "Ask Before Running," and the next time your iPhone battery drops to the target level, Low Power Mode will activate automatically.
  
• Find Out What Song is Playing - If you want to know what music is playing you can ask Siri, but if you want to know what song is in a video on your iPhone or what song your device is playing, there's a Shazam Music Recognition option that you can add to Control Center.
  
• AirDrop to Any Device - If you use Snapdrop.net, you can "AirDrop" a file from one device to another, even non-Apple devices. This isn't Apple's AirDrop, but it's basically the same thing and it allows for super quick data transfers even if you have a PC or Android phone. It's as simple as opening up the website on both devices and drag and drop the file.

Have a favorite lesser-known iPhone trick that we didn't list here? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Useful iPhone Tips You Might Not Know

Oh man Dan #1 really, just have who you want to air drop something with open the same website, how is that super simple? And then Rave at how fast it is.
It might be just me, but that seems like the dumbest idea. Why not just text it to them

 

[Populus]

Hey Dan, I haven’t seen you arround on MacRumors, but this video was super useful and informative. I liked some of the tips, especially the one for quick typing numbers. Overall, very interesting video!

 

[Dbsr87]

Is that one about making shapes in Notes only with the Apple Pencil? Doesn’t seem to work for me.

 

[AngerDanger]

It might be just me, but that seems like the dumbest idea. Why not just text it to them

Because this is a P2P connection, so it's faster than sending it through your data plan.

 

[goobot]

The low power mode one is cool

 

[LightSwitch]

Snapdrop.net - very cool for file transfers between pc and iOS. ive tried a few options and this is the easiest to date! Thanks.

 

[Doczane]

If you are using Airpods Pro with your iphone while mowing the lawn for example, you can say "Hey siri, enable noise cancellation / transparency mode." It helps while shifting awareness level mode according to your activity. And volume command above works well while using airpods as well despite ongoing music, no need to pause.
If you are using ipad / iphone to watch movie while working out, you can also as siri to "Maximise brightness / forward / rewind 20 seconds. "

 

[Blowback]

Is that one about making shapes in Notes only with the Apple Pencil? Doesn’t seem to work for me.

When you draw , even with your finger, 'hold' for a sec and the circle or square etc. will form as desired .

 

[one more]

Thanks guys, great tips!

Does not Snapdrop (AirDrop substitute) require an internet connection, though? With AirDrop, as I understand it, we only need the WiFi and Bluetooth turned on, but not necessarily connected to the internet?

 

[one more]

I set low power mode to automatically turn on when charging.

Why, to charge faster?

 

[bingeciren]

Wow, I'm impressed with snapdrop.net. I have all sorts of devices on different platforms and Airdrop is a feature I truly miss while using a non-Apple device. Now, that problem is taken care of. Thank you 👍

 

[Moakesy]

Notes app, how about previous it had a share icon tap that and inside was an airdrop icon, well thats gone no more share icon, why remove it ONLY in notes and replace it with some dumb lookin circle icon with dots, wtf is that supposed to indicate. Anyway tap the dumb alien landing icon where is airdrop, nowhere, wtf is there large scan, pin, lock and delete icons, wtf is share or airdrop, ah Send a Copy, ah the old share icon but wait it’s not blue like it is in every other app, wtf is send a copy anyway, ah bravo finally it displays the original sharing banner.
FFS what a PITA all these stupid pointless changes cause nothing but confusion and time wasting.

agree it’s annoying, why hide it?

However, if you go into the list view showing all your Notes, press and hold the one you want to share, a menu pops up, click ‘share a copy’ and you get all the options you’d expect to see.