Your iPhone can do a lot more than you probably realize — and a few of its best tools aren’t headline features, they’re quietly tucked into Settings. Here’s a mix of fun hidden tricks and the security settings that actually matter, straight from our techs.
Fun & Hidden Tweaks
- Back Tap — Double or triple-tap the back of your phone to trigger an action like taking a screenshot, turning on the flashlight, opening Control Center, or launching a custom Shortcut. Find it under Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap.
- NameDrop — Hold the top edges of two iPhones close together to instantly exchange contact info. It also works for sending Apple Cash.
- Measure App — Turns your camera into a tape measure. Swipe down on the Home Screen and search “Measure.”
- Drag and Drop Between Apps — Grab a photo, link, or block of text and drag it directly into another app instead of using the share sheet.
- StandBy Mode — Turn your phone sideways while charging to turn it into a bedside display with the clock, photos, and widgets.
- Live Voicemail, Live Text & Visual Look Up — See who’s calling before you answer, pull text straight out of a photo, or snap a picture of a plant or pet to identify it.
- Focus Filters — Set a Work Focus to automatically hide personal email and calendar entries, and a Personal Focus to hide work ones.
- Ultra Dark Mode Shortcut — Turn on Reduce White Point under Accessibility, then triple-click the side button to toggle a much darker mode than standard Dark Mode.
- Battery Charging Limit — Cap your maximum charge (like 80%) to slow long-term battery wear.
Best Security Settings to Turn On
- Hide My Email — Generates disposable email addresses for sign-ups, so your real email never gets leaked or spammed.
- App Privacy Report — Found under Settings > Privacy & Security, this shows exactly which apps are accessing your camera, microphone, location, and contacts, and how often.
- Face ID Lock on Hidden/Sensitive Photos — Adds an extra layer of protection beyond your phone’s normal lock screen.
- Safety Check — Found under Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check, this quickly reviews and revokes access you’ve given to people or apps. Especially useful after a relationship ends or if you suspect someone has access to your device.
- Carrier Location Limiter — A newer privacy setting that restricts how precisely your cell carrier can track your location.
- Automatic Software Updates — This matters more than people think. Recent iOS updates alone have patched dozens of documented security vulnerabilities. Staying current is one of the simplest ways to close real security gaps before they’re exploited.
- Two-Factor Authentication + the Built-In Passwords App — Use it to generate and store strong, unique passwords instead of reusing the same one across accounts.
Not Sure Your Settings Are Locked Down?
If you’d rather have a professional walk through your device’s security settings with you, or you suspect something’s already wrong, bring your iPhone in for a check. We’ll review your settings, look for anything suspicious, and make sure your device — and your data — are properly protected.
Call us at (305) 879-5585 to schedule a visit.