Maybe you simply obtained your first iPhone, or possibly you have been an iPhone consumer since the very starting, however there are most likely just a few settings that you’ve got by no means tweaked earlier than. Maybe you have discovered some tips that can assist you enhance your battery life, however have you learnt improve your privateness or entry the secret button on the again of your telephone? Some of the choices are buried fairly deep in the settings and aren’t so intuitive. We’ll present you some hacks and fast fixes that may end up in a way more satisfying iPhone expertise.
Maybe you are already arrange however uncover you are burning by way of battery life too shortly, otherwise you wish to save a while and arrange a shortcut to show on your favourite exercise playlist as quickly as you stroll into the health club. We’ve obtained you lined.
You’re sure to seek out some cool customization choices, together with some that you already know and others that you simply may need by no means heard of. Want to declutter your private home display? Use your battery rather less all through the day. You can do all that and extra with these 23 iOS settings to optimize your telephone’s efficiency.
If you need to check out different iOS options, try unlock your iPhone’s hidden trackpad together with the relaxation of our iOS 17 suggestions and tips.
Take a Closer Look at the iOS Settings You Should Change Right Now
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1. Stop apps from monitoring your precise location
Apps like Doordash and Postmates require your precise location to ship meals to the proper location or on to you. That doesn’t suggest each software on your iPhone must know exactly the place you’re at each second. That’s why you will have the capability to stop an app from monitoring your precise location.
In the Settings app, select an software (like Instagram, for instance), faucet Location and then toggle off Precise Location. Any app with Precise Location off will solely know your approximate location, inside just a few miles.
Read extra: Why You May Want to Revoke Precise Location Permissions From Instagram
Don’t toggle this function off for apps that require precise location, like meals supply and navigation providers.
2. Turn the again of your iPhone right into a button
The again of your iPhone can be utilized as a secret button to activate sure actions resembling taking a screenshot, enabling low energy mode or operating a shortcut that may mechanically play music whenever you arrive at the health club. The Action Button on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, and iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max fashions do the similar, however if in case you have an older mannequin, the again of your iPhone works.
The choice is hidden deep in your settings; here is discover it.
In the Settings app, go to Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap and select one of two choices: double faucet or triple faucet. You ought to see a listing of actions you may run by tapping the again of your iPhone, like opening your digicam, turning on the flashlight and scrolling up and down. Tap an motion or shortcut to allow it with Back Tap.
Tap on the again of your telephone to do all types of fancy tips.
3. Enable Live Voicemail to get real-time voicemail transcriptions
You get a name and do not wish to essentially choose up except it is essential. Unfortunately, the solely method you may know is should you hearken to a voicemail left after the name. With iOS 17, you may learn a real-time transcription of any voicemail being left. That’s proper: If somebody is leaving you a voicemail, you may learn it on your telephone and select to choose up the name, connecting you with the particular person leaving the voicemail.
The Live Voicemail function is not on by default, so go to Settings > Phone > Live Voicemail and flip it on. That’s it.
4. Bring again full-screen incoming name alerts
If your iPhone is unlocked and you obtain a telephone name, a banner-style notification seems at the high of your display, with a small photograph and identify or quantity of the particular person calling, and the choices to choose up or deny the name.
This wasn’t all the time the default choice. In the previous, incoming calls would take over your whole show when your iPhone was unlocked. It was disruptive, positive, nevertheless it additionally obtained the job completed. The banner could also be a welcome change for a lot of as a result of it is extra discreet and permits you to use your telephone whereas receiving a name.
If for any motive you are not a giant fan of the banner and wish to revert to the extra attention-grabbing full-screen alert, go to Settings > Phone > Incoming Calls and faucet Full Screen.
This incoming name alert is not best for everybody.
5. Turn off 5G protection you don’t need or have
Apple touts a Smart Data function that is particular to its 5G telephones that may mechanically change between 4G LTE and 5G networks based mostly on the way you’re utilizing your machine. You might discover that your iPhone’s battery drains sooner than it did earlier than. If you do not wish to sacrifice battery life for sooner 5G speeds, shut it down. You can all the time flip 5G again on whenever you need it, or when service in your space improves.
To flip off 5G on your iPhone, forcing it to all the time use 4G LTE (even if in case you have 5G protection), open the Settings app, then go to Cellular > Primary > Voice & Data and faucet LTE. Alternatively, if you would like your iPhone to completely use a 5G connection when obtainable, you may choose 5G On.
5G is sweet if in case you have entry, nevertheless it will also be a battery hog.
6. Fine-tune how a lot information is utilized by a 5G connection
If you are completely satisfied along with your 5G efficiency, here is a network-related setting you need to try. Go to Settings > Cellular > Primary > Data Mode, the place you may discover three choices: Allow More Data on 5G, Standard and Low Data Mode.
Even although you may learn temporary descriptions under the three settings, they do not paint a whole image of the first choice. According to an Apple help doc, permitting extra information on 5G gives you high-quality video and FaceTime calls. It additionally lets your telephone obtain software program updates and stream high-definition Apple TV and Apple Music content material, and it permits third-party builders to enhance their respective apps.
The default setting on this web page will rely on your provider and information plan, so it is a good suggestion to test your iPhone and ensure it is accurately set to your desire.
7. Stop apps from cluttering up your private home display
The App Library is a spot the place you may shortly discover and entry all of your purposes. And whereas apps are housed right here, all newly downloaded apps additionally seem on your private home display. This might not be an issue should you obtain apps sparingly, however should you’re putting in new apps on a constant foundation, they will shortly muddle up your private home display.
To cease downloaded apps from showing on your private home display, go to Settings > Home Screen & App Library and choose App Library Only. If you wish to discover the app, you may need to swipe left on your private home display till you attain the App Library.
This setting will forestall your private home display from getting too messy.
8. Unlock your telephone whereas carrying a face masks
If you put on a masks in public, unlocking your iPhone with Apple’s Face ID know-how will be irritating. Because half of your face is roofed, Face ID simply does not work. And whereas coming into your passcode to unlock your telephone works, it is not as handy.
With iOS, you will have the choice to show on a face unlock function that makes it straightforward to unlock your iPhone whenever you’re carrying a face masks. Before the replace, you may solely unlock your iPhone if you owned an Apple Watch.
To unlock your iPhone along with your Apple Watch, open the Settings app on your iPhone and then open the Face ID & Passcode choice. Scroll down till you discover the Unlock with Apple Watch part (you should be related to an Apple Watch for the setting to seem), the place you may flip on the function for any watches linked to your iPhone.
If you will have an iPhone operating iOS 15.4 or later, you may unlock your iPhone whereas carrying a masks with out an Apple Watch. Go to the Settings app and open Face ID & Passcode. From there, you may toggle on the Face ID With a Mask choice. It’s fairly superior.
You can unlock your iPhone along with your Apple Watch if Face ID is not working.
9. Put the handle bar in Safari again on high
The handle in Safari migrated to the backside of the display just a few years again; welcome for these with smaller arms who had issue reaching it with one hand at the high. While this transfer would possibly really feel extra pure, because it’s nearer to the keyboard and the place you sometimes place your thumbs, it may be off-putting since some persons are used to seeing the URL bar close to the high of the display.
If you wish to put the handle bar again at the high of the display, go to Settings, faucet Safari and select the Single Tab choice beneath the Tabs subheading.
10. Add options that can be utilized when your iPhone is locked
There are instances whenever you would possibly wish to have sure information helpful even when your telephone is locked. That’s why Apple permits you to allow some options with out having to unlock your units, resembling the notification middle, Control Center, the capability to answer to messages and the Wallet app.
To customise the options you’d prefer to entry on the lock display, launch the Settings menu, faucet Face ID & Passcode and enter your passcode when prompted. Scroll down till you see the Allow Access When Locked part, and toggle the sliders based mostly on your preferences.
You can determine which options you wish to entry when your telephone is locked.
11. Make your favourite e-mail app or internet browser your default
It’s not all about Safari. On your iPhone, you will have the capability to decide on your personal default apps, a minimum of for e-mail and internet shopping. That signifies that whenever you faucet a hyperlink or an e-mail ship button, your iPhone will mechanically launch the internet browser or e-mail supplier of your selecting moderately than Safari or Mail.
To get began, open the Settings menu and choose the app you’d prefer to set as a default (resembling Google Chrome or Outlook). You ought to then see a button that claims Default Mail App or Default Browser App. Tap that choice and choose the app of your selecting as a substitute of Safari or Mail.
You not have to make use of Safari or Mail as default apps.
Read extra: If You Care About Your Privacy, You Need to Change These Browser Settings
12. Get full notifications on your lock display
The first time you expertise Apple’s Face ID tech, you may discover that you would be able to’t see the content material of new alerts and notifications on the lock display. For instance, as a substitute of seeing who despatched you a textual content message and what it says, you may solely see a generic Messages alert.
By default, all iPhones with Apple’s Face ID tech will cover the content material of an alert till you choose up your telephone and unlock it. It’s a privateness function that I moderately take pleasure in, however I additionally perceive the way it might be annoying (I’ve heard just a few complaints from readers and members of the family alike).
You can change how notifications seem on your lock display by going to Settings > Notifications > Show Previews and choosing Always. Conversely, you may choose Never if you wish to maintain the content material of your notifications all the time hidden from the lock display.
13. Turn off (or on) HDR video for sharing movies
The iPhone can report excessive dynamic vary (HDR) video with Dolby Vision. That means your movies are sometimes brighter, with extra correct colours and improved distinction. That could also be best for some, but when you don’t need movies which can be mechanically adjusted since you wish to do it on your personal, there’s a approach to disable the function.
You can flip off HDR video by going to Settings > Camera > Record Video and turning the change subsequent to HDR Video to the Off place. Going ahead, all movies shall be captured in the normal dynamic vary.
HDR video seems to be nice, nevertheless it does not work all over the place but.
14. Customize your private home display with fancy wallpaper
Another dwelling display tweak you need to make entails your wallpaper or background. Apple has many wallpapers of its personal, with a fairly cool twist.
Open the Settings app on your iPhone and choose Wallpaper from the record. Make positive the change labeled “Dark Appearance Dims Wallpaper,” which you may see under the two thumbnail previews of your wallpaper, is turned on. Now, faucet Choose a brand new wallpaper and choose both Stills or Live. Look for the circle close to the backside of every wallpaper. It’s half black, half white.
That circle signifies that the wallpaper has each gentle and darkish mode variations and will change mechanically based mostly on the system standing of your telephone.
You may set stay wallpapers as your background should you’re not bought on darkish and gentle mode.
On an iPhone with 3D Touch, you should utilize a third-party app to play longer-duration “Live” images on your lock display.
15. Turn on darkish mode to save lots of your battery
Speaking of darkish mode, should you do not wish to need to repeatedly regulate your display’s brightness, you should utilize your telephone’s devoted darkish mode. Dark mode converts all of the white backgrounds in apps to, most of the time, a black background. In flip, your telephone is ready to save battery energy due to the darker colours.
Turn it on by going to Settings > Display & Brightness and choosing the Dark choice at the high of the display. You may simply swipe down from the top-right of your iPhone and faucet the Dark mode icon in the Control Center.
Apple’s apps will mechanically change to a darkish shade scheme, and most third-party apps have additionally adopted the function.
Dark Mode on the iPhone positive seems to be good.
16. Manage your notifications with Focus Mode
We get so much of notifications daily, however not all of them are related all the time. That’s why Apple launched a function referred to as Focus Mode. Think of it as a customized Do Not Disturb function that is tailor-made to particular circumstances.
Focus Mode blocks much less related alerts whereas permitting notifications from essential folks and apps to come back by way of in order that you do not miss something. You can arrange differing kinds of Focus Modes for particular circumstances.
Apple at present provides choices for Do Not Disturb, private, sleep, work, driving, health, gaming, mindfulness and studying, however you can too create your personal customized mode. You can schedule Focus Modes in order that they flip on mechanically when wanted and show your standing in apps in order that others know you will have notifications silenced.
To get began, open the Settings menu, faucet Focus and select one of the obtainable choices to arrange your notification preferences. Tap the plus (+) image in the high proper nook so as to add a brand new Focus.
17. Make your display textual content larger or smaller
With a pair of faucets on your iPhone’s display, you may regulate the font measurement to make it simpler to learn. Open Settings and go to Display & Brightness > Text Size the place you should utilize the slider till you are pleased with the font measurement. For slightly added oomph, you may flip on Bold Text (it is slightly below the Text Size button).
18. Add an alternate look to Face ID
Apple’s facial recognition function, Face ID, consistently learns completely different points of your face with every scan. If you are struggling to get Face ID to constantly acknowledge you, attempt the Alternate Appearance choice.
Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > enter your PIN > Set Up An Alternate Appearance and undergo the course of of enrolling your face once more.
Face ID does not all the time get it proper.
19. Disable auto-brightness for longer battery cost
Your iPhone’s display brightness degree can have a huge impact on battery life. By default, iOS will mechanically regulate the show’s brightness based mostly on how a lot gentle its ambient sensor detects. If you wish to take full management, you may disable auto brightness, which means the brightness degree will keep the place you set it till you regulate it once more.
Open Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and at the backside of the web page, you may discover a change to show off Auto-Brightness.
Now, everytime you wish to regulate your display, you are able to do so by opening Control Center with a swipe up from the backside of the display on a tool with a house button, or a swipe down from the top-right nook on newer iPhones.
Keep your display dim to save lots of battery life.
20. Triage your privateness settings
The first time you arrange an iPhone with all of your apps, you are bombarded with prompts asking for permission to entry private info starting from monitoring your location to your Apple Health info or your digicam roll.
It’s far too straightforward to get in the behavior of approving every thing simply so you should utilize the app, however take a couple of minutes and undergo your privateness settings to tailor what every app can and cannot see. We stroll you thru the complete privateness course of in two fast steps.
Apple has put all of its privateness controls in a single place.
21. Use the Control Center to entry apps with a swipe or faucet
The iPhone’s Control Center is a handy spot to shortly change songs, flip on airplane mode, connect with Wi-Fi or begin a timer, however there’s a lot extra to it than that. You can shortly flip on your flashlight, test on a timer or begin recording your display with a fast swipe and faucet.
Customize which apps and options can be found in Control Center by opening Settings > Control Center. Remove an choice with a faucet on the purple minus button or add an choice by choosing the inexperienced addition button. Drag options up or down utilizing the three-line icon on the proper facet of the display.
Personally, I like having fast entry to the Wallet app and toggles for low-power mode and darkish mode.
As a reminder, if in case you have an iPhone with a house button, like the iPhone SE, you may swipe up from the backside of the display to open Control Center. If you will have an iPhone with Face ID, you may have to swipe down from the top-right nook of the display the place the battery icon is.
Control Center has so much of potential; you simply have to customise it.
22. Organize alerts with Notification Summary
Apple desires that can assist you handle your notifications in iOS, beginning with the Notification Summary function. Rather than letting notifications pile up on your private home display, you may schedule alerts that are not pressing to reach in a bundle at a selected time of day.
Important notifications like calls, direct messages and different time-sensitive alerts (like the standing of your Uber or Lyft trip, for instance) will nonetheless seem instantly.
To do that out, open Settings, press Notifications and faucet Scheduled Summary.
23. Change Siri’s voice
If you have just lately arrange a brand new iPhone, you could have observed that Siri not defaults to a feminine voice. Instead, you may be requested which Siri voice you wish to use, together with a number of newer choices. Once you have made your choice, Apple will change Siri’s voice throughout all of the units linked to your Apple ID.
You can try the voice choices by going to Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Voice. To be taught extra, try our full information to altering Siri’s sound. Apple additionally added a gender-neutral Siri voice choice for English audio system.
No matter what number of settings you toggle off and on, battery life will all the time be a difficulty, particularly should you’re touring and do not all the time have entry to your quick charger. If you are consistently on the go and want some juice, contemplate getting this inexpensive and slim MagSafe charger that may cost your iPhone from zero to 50% in simply half-hour.
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For extra, listed here are 17 hidden options on our iPhone you need to find out about and annoying iPhone options you are able to do one thing about.