Stop Apps from Tracking You
Stop apps from tracking you. Some apps, like Doordash and Postmates, require your exact location to deliver food directly to you or the correct location. However, every application on your iPhone doesn’t need to know precisely where you are at every moment, so you can prevent an app from tracking your exact location.
In the Settings app, choose an application (like Instagram, for example), tap Location, and then toggle off Precise Location. Any app with Precise Location off will only know your approximate location within a few miles.
Turn iPhone Back into Button
The back of your iPhone can be used as a secret button to activate specific actions, such as taking a screenshot, enabling low power mode, or running a shortcut that automatically plays music when you arrive at the gym.
The Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro models offers customizable hardware functionality. For older models, the Back Tap feature provides similar customizable actions.
In the Settings app, go to Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap and choose a double or triple tap. You should see a list of actions you can run by tapping the back of your iPhone.
Change Siri’s Voice Easily
If you’ve recently set up a new iPhone, you may have noticed that Siri no longer defaults to a female voice. Instead, you’ll be asked which Siri voice you want to use, including several recent options. Once you’ve selected it, Apple will change Siri’s voice across all devices linked to your Apple ID.
You can check the voice options by visiting Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Voice.
Restore Full-Screen Call Alerts
If your iPhone is unlocked and you receive a phone call, a banner-style notification appears at the top of your screen. It includes a small photo, the name or number of the person calling, and the option to pick up or deny the call.
This wasn’t always the default option. In the past, incoming calls would take over your entire display when your iPhone was unlocked. If you’re not a big fan of the banner and want to revert to the more attention-grabbing full-screen alert, go to Settings > Phone > Incoming Calls and tap Full Screen.
Stop Apps Cluttering Home Screen
The App Library lets you quickly find and access all your applications. And while apps are housed here, all newly downloaded apps appear on your home screen. This may not be a problem if you download apps sparingly, but if you install new apps consistently, they can quickly clutter up your home screen.
To stop downloaded apps from appearing on your home screen, go to Settings > Home Screen & App Library and select App Library Only. If you want to find the app, you’ll have to swipe left on your home screen until you reach the App Library.
Check 5G Data Usage
If you’re happy with your 5G performance, here’s a network-related setting you should check out. Go to Settings > Cellular > Primary > Data Mode, where you’ll find three options: Allow More Data on 5G, Standard, and Low Data Mode.
Even though you can read brief descriptions below the three settings, they don’t paint a complete picture of the first option. According to an Apple support document, allowing more data on 5G will give you high-quality video and FaceTime calls.
The default setting on this page will depend on your carrier and data plan, so it’s a good idea to check your iPhone and ensure it’s correctly set to your preference.
Face ID with Mask Compatibility
If you wear a mask in public, unlocking your iPhone with Apple’s Face ID technology can be frustrating. Because half of your face is covered, Face ID doesn’t work. And while entering your passcode to unlock your phone works, it’s not as convenient.
If you have an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 15.4 or later, you can unlock it while wearing a mask without needing an Apple Watch. Go to the Settings app and open Face ID & Passcode. You can toggle on the Face ID With a Mask option from there. It’s pretty awesome.
Toggle HDR Video for Sharing
The iPhone can record high dynamic range (HDR) video with Dolby Vision. That means your videos are typically brighter, with more accurate colors and improved contrast. That may be ideal for some, but if you don’t want videos automatically adjusted because you want to do it yourself, there is a way to disable the feature.
You can turn off HDR video by going to Settings > Camera > Record Video and turning the switch next to HDR Video to the off position. From then on, all videos will be captured in the standard dynamic range.
Use Dark Mode to Save Battery
Speaking of dark mode, you can use your phone’s dedicated dark mode if you don’t want to adjust your screen’s brightness repeatedly. Dark mode converts all white backgrounds in apps to black backgrounds, often saving battery power.
Please turn it on by going to Settings > Display & Brightness and selecting the Dark option at the top of the screen. Alternatively, you can swipe down from the top-right of your iPhone and tap the Dark mode icon in the Control Center.
Add Alternate Face ID Look
Apple’s facial recognition feature, Face ID, constantly learns different aspects of your face with each scan. Try the Alternate Appearance option if you struggle to get Face ID to recognize you consistently.
Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > enter your PIN > Set Up an Alternate Appearance and enroll your face again.
Review Your Privacy Settings
The first time you set up an iPhone with all your apps, you’re bombarded with prompts asking permission to access personal information ranging from tracking your location to your Apple Health information or camera roll.
It’s far too easy to get in the habit of approving everything just so you can use the app, but take a few minutes and go through your privacy settings to tailor what each app can and can’t see.
Organize Alerts with Summary
Apple wants to help you manage your notifications in iOS, starting with the Notification Summary feature. Rather than letting notifications pile up on your home screen, you can schedule alerts that aren’t urgent to arrive in a bundle at a specific time of day.
Important notifications, such as calls, direct messages, and other time-sensitive alerts (like the status of your Uber or Lyft ride, for example), will still appear immediately.
To try this out, open Settings, press Notifications, and tap Scheduled Summary.
Enable Features on Locked iPhone
The first time you experience Apple’s Face ID tech, you’ll notice that you can’t see the content of new alerts and notifications on the lock screen. For example, instead of seeing who sent you a text message and what it says, you’ll only see a generic Messages alert.
You can change how notifications appear on your lock screen by going to Settings > Notifications > Show Previews and selecting Always. Conversely, you can choose Never if you want to keep the content of your notifications always hidden from the lock screen.
Access Apps via Control Centre
The iPhone’s Control Center is a convenient spot to change songs quickly, turn on airplane mode, connect to Wi-Fi, or start a timer, but there’s so much more to it than that. With a quick swipe and tap, you can quickly turn on your flashlight, check on a timer, or start recording your screen.
Customize which apps and features are available in Control Center by opening Settings > Control Center. Remove an option by tapping on the red minus button or add an option by selecting the green addition button. Drag features up or down using the three-line icon on the right side of the screen.
Curious about iOS 18? Check out our ultimate guide for all the essential details you need to know.
Enable Live Voicemail Transcriptions
You get a call and don’t want to pick up unless necessary. Unfortunately, you’ll only know if you listen to a voicemail after the call.
With iOS 17, you can read a real-time transcription of any voicemail left. If someone leaves you a voicemail, you can read it on your phone and choose to pick up the call, connecting you with the person leaving the voicemail.
The Live Voicemail feature isn’t on by default, so go to Settings > Phone > Live Voicemail and turn it on.
Curious about how to record calls on an iPhone with the iOS 18.1 update? Read our post to learn more.
Read More From This Brand:
- Apple iOS 18.3 What’s New and Should You Update?
- iOS 18.4 Major Update Brings Next-Level iPhone Features
- Top iPhone Health Apps and Their Key Features
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