iPhone: Tips and Tricks

Since I have recently got the new iPhone 14, for my sins, I have been tirelessly trying to realise the full potential on Apples latest mobile device. I know Apple have a load of secret tips and tricks that make the iPhone even better than it already is. Obviously this is a job for Google.

And don't worry Android users, I haven't forgotten about you, I just thought you could wait till Thursday.

You may know some already, you may not. I for one had no clue about a few, but I'm sure that's what they intended.

Let's start with some easy ones:

• Adjust the power of your phone's flashlight.

I would like to think that most people know you can do this. It is a super handy hack for when you need a bit extra flash. Or for when, which I'm sure we all have, you have been blinded by accidentally hitting the flashlight icon. The default brightness is always set at 100% so if you need to bring it down a few steps, there are 4 to choose from. Simply swipe down to access your flashlight then hold down the icon and 'voila'.

• Use your volume buttons to take a photo.

Please tell me you all know this! Just use the buttons as if you were using an older camera just click and snap. Simple.

• Add effects to your text messages.

This one is a complete gimmick but is really fun. A bit like the romantic setting on a Tesla, you can send fireworks or some balloons to your friends and family via text. To add that little bit of oomph to your messages.

• Using your scientific calculator.

This one is as simple as turning you phone landscape whilst not he calculator app. No really, that's it. Now I don't know when I'll ever need to use these functions as I'm usually only making sure I haven't forgotten what 2+2 is. It is 4 right? Let me double check.

• Full page screenshot (when using safari).

I actually discovered this completely accidentally. When you take a screenshot of say a recipe you can screenshot the whole page, by that I mean you can scroll through your screenshot as if you were still browsing. When you screenshot there will be an option afterwards at the top that says "full page" simply click that and save the screenshot as a pdf and add it to your files.

And some lesser known tricks:

• Voiceover when screen recording.

The screen recording feature on your iPhone records system sounds. But what if you want to provide some commentary or verbal explanation in addition to your screen's content? To do so, go to the?Control Center?and long-press the?Screen Recording?icon. Tap the?Microphone?button to turn it on. This setting records sound in your surroundings, thus enabling you to do a voiceover while you record your iPhone screen.

• In-built ASMR.

Have you ever just wanted a nice bit of background noise to help you study or sleep? Well it turns out that there is a feature on the iPhone that has calming sounds at your fingertips. In the?Settings?app, tap?Accessibility. Scroll down to the?Hearing?section and tap?Audio/Visual. Tap?Background Sounds, toggle on?Background Sounds, and tap?Sound. Here, you can choose from?Ocean,?Rain, and?Stream?for some relaxing nature ASMR.

• Hide apps without uninstalling them.

If you want to protect your privacy even more on your iPhone look no further. Let's say you're using an app but don't want others to know you downloaded it on your iPhone ??, you can choose to hide it from your Home Screen. On your iPhone's?Home Screen, long-press on the app. Select?Remove App?and tap?Remove from Home Screen.?This moves your app to the?App Library. To go to your?App Library, swipe left on your last?Home Screen?page.

• Freeze your screen so no one can scroll (or swipe ??)

We've all handed our phone to our mums to show them something funny on our camera roll, then proceed to watch them swipe through the rest of your photos. To prevent this wildly awkward situation from happening ever again: Go to the?Settings?app, tap?Accessibility, and select?Guided Access. Next, toggle on?Guided Access?and select?Passcode Settings. Tap?Set Guided Access Passcode?to set a passcode. Done. Phew.

• Using your phone as a measuring tool.

Did you know you can use your iPhone to measure length, width, and height? There's a built-in app called?Measure?on your iPhone. Launch it and select the?Measure?tab. Point your iPhone at the item, make sure the white dot on your screen hovers over the measurement starting point, then tap the?Add?icon. Next, move your iPhone so that the white dot also shifts to the measurement ending point. Again, tap the?Add?icon. Tap the measurement to view it in both centimetres and inches. I will be taking full advantage of this the next time I do some redecorating.

Whether or not you actually need these tricks in your day to day life I’m not sure, but whip them out when you do and there are super helpful. You might even impress a few friends or your date ??. (But don’t blame me if they look at you funny)