Apple tips and tricks to get the most out of your iPhone and iOS

No matter how many hours you spend staring at your iPhone screen, there are always hidden features and settings that you miss: little tricks that make everything faster, more convenient, and, in many cases, more secure. iOS has become increasingly feature-rich with each update, and it's normal for some real gems to go completely unnoticed.

In this guide, I've compiled and rewritten the best Apple tips and tricks, previously scattered across various specialized articles: classic iOS shortcuts, less obvious iPhone and iPad features, camera and photo details, Safari secrets, keyboard, widgets, passwords, accessibility, and, of course, everything you can do with Apple Intelligence. The idea is to have them all in one place, explained in standard Spanish (from Spain) and with a friendly tone.

Little-known iOS tricks that make a difference

With each new version of iOS, layers of features are added that aren't always heavily advertised , but knowing them can save you a lot of screen taps. These tricks work on most recent iPhones and many iPads running iPadOS.

Face ID lets you register not only your primary face, but also an alternate appearance to improve recognition. If you often wear different glasses, heavy makeup, or participate in sports with a helmet or mask (like skiing or cycling), go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Set Up an Alternate Appearance. This is also useful if you simply notice that Face ID is failing more often than usual in your daily life.

The app switcher and Control Center hide a quick trick for closing multiple apps at once . When you open the app switcher, instead of swiping up one by one, place two or three fingers on the cards and drag them all upwards simultaneously. It's a very efficient way to clear recent apps, although remember that iOS manages memory very well and you don't need to do this constantly.

The iOS 18 Control Center is much more customizable than in previous versions . Press and hold any switch to rearrange it, create sections, and add new controls (such as screen recording, hearing, or ambient music notifications). From Settings > Control Center, you can decide which shortcuts you want to have readily available.

The Hearing feature turns your iPhone into a remote microphone that sends sound to your AirPods , useful for hearing better in noisy environments or following a conversation when the person is far away. Add Hearing from Control Center in Settings, and once there, activate it while wearing your AirPods so your phone picks up sound and transmits it to your headphones.

Recording everything that happens on your iPhone or iPad screen is as simple as turning on screen recording . First, add it from Settings > Control Center, then open Control Center and tap the record icon. iOS will capture everything, including menus and scrolling, and you can easily save or share the clip.

Starting with iOS 18, you can tint app icons to give them a more personal touch . Press and hold on an empty space on your Home Screen, tap "Personalize," and you'll see options to change the overall color of the icons. It's a quick way to unify the look of all your apps without using external themes.

Quick shortcuts: calculator, keyboard, and navigation

The Calculator app has a hidden, very useful gesture for correcting mistakes without deleting everything . If you make a mistake entering a number, slide your finger left or right across the entered numbers to delete the last digit, as if you were going back.

You don't even have to open the Calculator app to do quick calculations . In Spotlight (swipe down from the home screen or lock screen, depending on your settings), simply type the operation: for example, 256*3 or 120/7. Spotlight will instantly show you the result at the top.

If you have a larger iPhone Max and find it uncomfortable to type with one hand , the keyboard has a specific mode. Press and hold the emoji or globe icon, and at the bottom, select the keyboard icon on the left or right depending on whether you're left-handed or right-handed. The third icon in the center returns the keyboard to its normal size.

Another way to improve one-handed use is to use AssistiveTouch, a floating virtual button that you can configure with all sorts of shortcuts: go to Home, open Control Center, take screenshots, etc. Activate it in Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and customize the menus and actions to your liking.

A classic iOS gesture that many forget is shaking the iPhone to undo . If you've accidentally deleted text or want to reverse your last action, shake the phone, and iOS will offer to undo the change. In recent versions, you can also use three-finger gestures (swiping left or right) to undo and redo.

Native apps that are much more powerful than they seem

The pre-installed Measure app often goes unnoticed, but it's incredibly useful . Besides measuring distances and objects in real time using the camera and augmented reality, it includes a "Level" tab that turns your iPhone into a digital spirit level, perfect for hanging pictures straight or aligning furniture.

In Apple Music, you can search for songs by entering a snippet of the lyrics , which is very useful when you don't remember the title but do remember a catchy phrase. Type that snippet of text into the Apple Music search bar, and the app will find matches in its catalog.

Safari lets you display favicons (website icons) in your tabs to quickly identify each site. Turn it on in Settings > Safari > Show Icons in Tabs, and you'll find it much easier to distinguish your open pages at a glance.

iOS widgets have evolved considerably: in addition to placing them on the home screen, you can stack them by dragging one on top of another of the same size. This saves space and allows you to swipe between them. Furthermore, there's the option to create a smart stack that automatically organizes itself based on the time, location, or your usage habits.

If you use iCloud Keychain to save passwords, logging into websites and apps becomes almost automatic . When a site has saved credentials, iOS will suggest them above the keyboard, and you'll only need to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID to have your username and password filled in automatically.

When you have dozens of tabs open in Safari, finding the right one can be a real chore . In the tab view, swipe down to reveal a search bar and type in a keyword; Safari will filter the results and only show the tabs containing that term. After the search, if you press and hold the "Cancel" button, you can close only those filtered tabs.

Siri tricks, shortcuts, and more comfortable typing

Siri lets you choose between a male or female voice in your language . In Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Voice, download the available options and choose the one you prefer; the change will be reflected on all devices where you use the same account.

While browsing in Safari, you can ask Siri to remind you about a page later . Phrases like "Remind me to look at this in half an hour" or "Remind me about this website when I get home" create reminders linked to the current URL, perfect for not missing articles or pending tasks.

If you frequently take screenshots, iOS lets you take several in quick succession and edit them one after the other . After taking each screenshot, tap the thumbnail that appears in the bottom left corner, scroll through them, and add annotations or crop them. When you're finished, you can share them or delete them all at once.

To prevent screenshots from taking up unnecessary space, you can instantly delete them after sharing . When you exit the editor, tap "OK" and choose "Delete screenshot"; this way, they won't be saved in your photo library if you don't need them.

The iOS keyboard has a handy trick for entering specific numbers without switching keyboards completely . Press and hold the number access button, then slide your finger to the number or symbol you want; when you release it, the keyboard will automatically return to letter mode.

Turning your keyboard into a trackpad is one of those features that, once you try it, you'll never go back . Press and hold the space bar, and the entire keyboard transforms into a touchpad for precise cursor movement through text. If you tap with a second finger while still holding down the space bar, you'll quickly start selecting text.

Text shortcuts are a secret weapon for typing faster without struggling with autocorrect . In Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement, you can register shortcuts like @@ to expand your full email address, "add" for your address, or abbreviations for frequently used phrases. Every time you type that shortcut, iOS will expand it to the corresponding full text.

The Shortcuts app includes all sorts of automations, including popular ones like downloading videos from social media . While the options change over time, it's common to find shortcuts that let you save videos from Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook directly to your camera roll, all managed from within the app.

Siri can also manage your dozens of alarms at once . Instead of going one by one, just say, "Hey Siri, delete all my alarms" or "turn off all my alarms," ​​and the assistant will disable or delete them all at once—perfect after a period of changing schedules.

Photography and camera: tricks to get more out of your iPhone

The physical volume up button doubles as a shutter release for taking photos , which is especially convenient when holding the iPhone horizontally. This way, you can grip the phone like a traditional compact camera and get more stability when shooting.

If you want to record a quick video in Photo mode without manually switching modes , press and hold the shutter button in the Camera app. As long as you hold it down, your iPhone will record Instagram-style video. If you slide the button to the right during recording, the mode locks, and you can release your finger without it stopping the recording.

Selecting multiple photos in a row to share or delete them can be tedious if you tap them one by one . A very effective trick is to start by selecting the first one and, without releasing your finger, slide it to the right and down: you'll see how all the images you select are marked in a group. If you then need to transfer them or know how to do so, see how to download photos from your iPhone.

If you're bothered by the Camera app always starting in Photo mode by default , go to Settings > Camera > Preserve settings and enable the options you want. This will allow it to remember the last mode used (video, portrait , etc.) or the flash settings, Live Photo, and other parameters.

Hiding sensitive or private photos is easy with the Hidden album in the Photos app . From any image, tap the plus button (“…”) and choose Hide; that photo will disappear from the regular albums and move to the Hidden album, which in recent iOS versions can be protected with Face ID or a passcode. To show it again, go to that album, tap the photo, tap “…”, and select Unhide.

Sharing your Wi-Fi password with another iPhone user is almost magical . All they have to do is try to connect to your network while your iPhone is unlocked and nearby. A notification will appear on your screen asking if you want to share the password; accept, and the other device will connect without anyone having to type anything.

Phone, messages and passwords: extra control and security

In Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & ID, you can review all blocked numbers . From there, you can add new ones, remove old blocks, and keep track of who can't call or text you.

Promotional or spam messages via SMS or iMessage can be blocked using the filtering and blocking tools within the Messages app and in your system settings. By following the step-by-step wizard, you can stop these senders from bothering you without having to delete each message individually.

Securely sharing passwords with family or colleagues is possible using iCloud Keychain and AirDrop . In Settings > Passwords, tap and hold on a password and choose to share it via AirDrop; the other user will have it saved directly to their own keychain, encrypted and ready to use.

Everyday tips and tricks: screen, Safari, photos, and websites

Many apps radically change their design when you rotate the iPhone to landscape mode . Calculator, for example, becomes a full scientific calculator when the phone is in landscape mode, provided the orientation isn't locked in Control Center.

Returning to the top of a website or app after scrolling a lot doesn't require frantically swiping up . Simply tap the top of the screen, the clock, or the status bar, and iOS will automatically take you to the top of the content.

When you take a screenshot of a long webpage, iOS lets you save it as a full page . After taking the screenshot, tap the thumbnail, select "Full Page" at the top, and then use the share icon to save it as a PDF in Files or send it via email, keeping the entire content in a single document.

Your iPhone's medical history can be vital in an emergency . From the Health app, on the Summary tab, tap your profile picture and go to Medical History. There you can add information such as allergies, blood type, and emergency contacts and allow it to be displayed on the Lock Screen. Pressing the side button five times activates the SOS screen, allowing you to access this information without unlocking your phone.

Tracking flights from Messages is one of those tricks that seems like magic . If someone sends you a flight number via iMessage or SMS, you'll see it highlighted as a link. Tap it and choose Flight Preview to check schedules, flight status, gate, and in many cases, even the baggage claim area.

If you don't want just anyone to see certain photos when they take your phone to show you something , you've already seen that the Hidden album is your ally. Remember to also check in Settings > Photos whether the Hidden album should appear in the album view, and whether it's protected with Face ID for added peace of mind.

The one-handed keyboard can also be activated directly while typing . Press and hold the emoji or globe icon, select the keyboard icon on the side you prefer, and the entire keyboard will shrink to that side. To return to normal, repeat the gesture and select the center icon.

Live Text is a feature that recognizes text within images or the camera view , available since iOS 15. Simply point your camera at a sign or document; when the Live Text icon appears, tap it to select, copy, call phone numbers, open websites, or directly translate that content.

Creating a home screen icon for your favorite websites is just a couple of taps away . From Safari, with the page open, tap the share button and choose "Add to Home Screen." Change the name if you want and confirm; you'll have a shortcut with its own icon, just like any other app.

Saving multiple images from a website in Safari at once can be done with a simple drag-and-drop trick . Press and hold on a photo until it detaches, then, without releasing your finger, add more images by tapping them one by one with your other hand (they will stack up with a counter), and then, without lifting your finger, drag them to the Photos, Notes, or Files app. When you release, they will all be pasted at once.

Apple Intelligence: everything you can already do with Apple's AI

With iOS 18.4, Apple has begun rolling out Apple Intelligence, its artificial intelligence layer integrated into compatible iPhones, iPads, and Macs. While currently limited to beta versions and a specific list of models, it already allows for powerful functionality without the need to install third-party AI applications.

The ChatGPT integration lets you ask the system to compose text for you in almost any writing field . Tap in the text area, tap the Apple Intelligence button, and go to "Compose Tools" > "Compose." Explain what you need (an email to your boss, a formal message, a product description, etc.), and the system will generate an initial text that you can then refine.

If you already have a text written but want it to sound better or more appropriate to the context , select the passage, tap the Apple Intelligence button, and choose "Writing Tools" > "Revise" for grammar and style corrections, or "Rewrite" to change the tone. You can choose from styles such as informal, professional, or concise, depending on your needs.

Automatic summaries are another major strength of Apple Intelligence . In Safari, activate Reader Mode (Show Reader) and you'll find the "Summarize" option, which allows AI to condense the page content at the top. In Mail, you can also request a summary of a long email to keep only the essential information.

Mail also includes a priority view where AI highlights truly relevant emails . By tapping the three dots in your inbox and enabling "Show Priority," Apple Intelligence reorders and highlights what it considers essential—very useful when you receive dozens of emails a day and don't want to lose urgent messages among newsletters.

In Photos, the Apple Intelligence-powered cleanup tool works like a magic eraser . Within the editor, the "Clean Up" option lets you paint over people or objects you want to remove; the system reconstructs the background and erases those elements quite naturally, without relying on third-party apps.

Automatic voice note transcription is another great feature of Apple Intelligence . When you record a voice note in the Notes app, tap the Apple Intelligence button to get a transcription of the audio and even a summary. It's ideal for interviews, brainstorming, or quick meetings.

Genmoji takes emojis a step further, allowing you to create custom emoticons using AI . In Messages, tap the Genmoji option and describe what you want in natural language (for example, "an emoji of a cat wearing sunglasses"); Apple Intelligence will then generate several suggestions for you to choose from to use in your conversations.

Other recent tricks and features worth knowing

The Dynamic Island on compatible iPhones is much more than just a camera cutout . It acts as a real-time notification center, displaying timers, calls, music playback, navigation, food orders, and more, all at the top of the screen. Many apps already take advantage of it to show live information without you having to switch screens.

Apple Intelligence's notification prioritization feature helps prevent notification overload . The system analyzes the types of alerts you receive and can reorder them or display summaries so that only the most important ones interrupt you, leaving the rest for when you open the Notification Center.

The new front-facing camera with Center Stage on recent iPhone models tracks your movement during video calls , automatically framing you to keep you centered in the frame. This feature, inherited from the iPad, has now arrived on the iPhone and greatly improves the experience when using FaceTime or apps like Zoom.

iOS now allows you to change the behavior of some physical buttons, such as the Camera button on the iPhone 16. From Settings > Camera or the device's specific menus, you can decide whether that button opens the camera directly, starts recording video, activates a specific mode, or even disable it to prevent accidental presses.

If you have multiple Apple devices, you can receive very useful cross-notifications , such as alerts on your iPhone when your iPad is running low on battery, or prevent iPhone calls from ringing on your iPad if you don't want the entire ecosystem to go crazy when you get a call.

The services side has also grown significantly: it's now easier than ever to use Apple Music, Apple TV+, Fitness+, or even iCloud . There are promotions offering free months of Apple Fitness+, and you can access many services even from Windows thanks to the official apps and websites, as Apple details in its guides.

In terms of security, there are key settings you should always enable : two-factor authentication for your Apple ID, ad tracking blocking, location permissions only when the app is in use, and the new advanced data protection options in iCloud to further encrypt your information.

Many small details, from how to clear the iPhone cache to preventing notifications from interrupting music , are now resolved through specific settings in iOS 18 and iOS 26 (currently in beta). The important thing is to spend a few minutes reviewing the Notifications, Sounds, and Focus sections, because that's where much of the key to making your phone adapt to you, and not the other way around, lies.

The Apple ecosystem has reached a point where knowing these tricks and tips transforms a regular iPhone into a much more powerful tool : between classic iOS features, the new capabilities of Apple Intelligence, and the small shortcuts scattered throughout Settings, Safari, Camera, Photos, and the keyboard itself, the potential for saving time and gaining convenience is enormous if you're willing to explore and incorporate the options that best suit you into your daily routine.