The iPhone is packed with powerful features, many of which go unnoticed by the average user. Whether you’re using the latest iPhone 15 or holding on to an older model, Apple’s iOS offers a treasure trove of productivity hacks, hidden features, and smart shortcuts.
Here are the top 10 best tech hacks every iPhone user should know to supercharge their experience and get the most out of their device.
1. Back Tap to Trigger Actions
Did you know your iPhone’s back can act as a secret button? With Back Tap, you can double or triple tap the back of your phone to perform custom actions.
How to activate:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap
- Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap
- Assign actions like screenshot, mute, open Control Center, or even launch an app
2. Drag and Drop Between Apps
Multitasking just got smarter. On iPhones running iOS 15 or later, you can drag and drop text, links, or photos from one app to another.
How it works:
- Tap and hold the item you want to move
- While holding it, use another finger to swipe to a different app
- Drop it where needed (e.g., dragging an image from Safari into Notes)
3. Turn Your iPhone into a Magnifying Glass
Your iPhone has a built-in Magnifier tool that uses the camera to zoom in on small text or objects—perfect for reading tiny labels.
To enable:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier
- Then triple-click the side or home button to activate it
You can even adjust brightness, contrast, and apply filters for better visibility.
4. Use Siri to Identify Songs Instantly
Forget Shazam—Siri can do it directly. Just ask:
“Hey Siri, what song is this?”
Your iPhone will listen and return the song’s name, artist, and a link to Apple Music.
Bonus: You can check all identified songs in iTunes Store > More > Siri (or in the Music app if synced).
5. Hidden Trackpad for Precise Text Editing
Struggling to place the cursor in the right spot while typing? Turn your keyboard into a trackpad!
How to use it:
- Press and hold the space bar
- The keyboard will become a touchpad
- Slide your finger to move the cursor exactly where you want it
It’s a game-changer for texting, emails, and editing documents.
6. Quickly Erase Digits in Calculator
Ever typed the wrong number in the Calculator app? Instead of clearing the whole entry, just swipe left or right over the numbers to delete the last digit.
It’s simple, fast, and prevents redoing long calculations.
7. Use the Back of Your iPhone as a Scanner
The Notes app has a powerful document scanner built-in—no need for third-party apps.
How to scan:
- Open Notes > New Note
- Tap the camera icon > Scan Documents
- It auto-detects edges and enhances the image
You can also sign PDFs directly from here using Markup!
8. Hide Photos in a Locked Album
Keep private photos away from prying eyes by hiding them in the Hidden album, now protected by Face ID or Touch ID (iOS 16+).
To hide a photo:
- Open Photos
- Tap Share > Hide
- Enable Face ID protection: Settings > Photos > Use Face ID
Bonus: You can turn off the Hidden album completely if you want it invisible.
9. Customize Your Lock Screen (iOS 16+)
With iOS 16 and later, you can now personalize your lock screen with:
- Custom fonts
- Widgets (weather, calendar, battery)
- Photo filters
- Multiple lock screens you can switch between
How to customize:
- Tap and hold the lock screen
- Hit Customize or tap the + icon to create a new one
10. Shake to Undo Typing
Made a mistake while typing? Just shake your iPhone to trigger the Undo Typing prompt. It’s quick and super helpful in Notes, Messages, or Mail.
You can also swipe three fingers left to undo and right to redo if you prefer gestures over motion.
Bonus Hack: Use Your iPhone as a Level Tool
Need to hang a picture straight? Go to the Measure app and swipe left—it becomes a digital level! It uses your iPhone’s gyroscope to detect perfect horizontal and vertical lines.
Final Thoughts
The iPhone is more than just a phone—it’s a productivity powerhouse, camera, scanner, and creative tool all in one. These 10 tech hacks are designed to unlock features you probably didn’t even know you had access to.
By mastering even a few of these tricks, you’ll save time, work smarter, and enjoy a smoother iPhone experience.
