Over the years, Apple’s iPhone operating system has evolved, becoming increasingly complex with each iOS update. Many of the new features introduced are not immediately obvious, resulting in several hidden capabilities that users might overlook. Here are ten tips to enhance your iPhone experience if you have iOS 26 or later.
Transform app icons into widgets directly from the Home Screen by long pressing an app icon and selecting a widget size. To revert to a standard icon, long press and tap the icon with four squares.
The Maps app allows you to review your location history, helping you remember places you’ve visited, such as a favorite restaurant on a trip. Access this by tapping your profile in the Maps app, selecting Places, and then Visited Places. You can clear your history or set a retention period in Settings.
Customize vibration patterns for contacts to identify messages without checking your phone. In the Contacts app, edit a contact, tap Text Tone or Ringtone, and create a new vibration under Haptics.
Lock Screen buttons aren’t limited to the Flashlight and Camera apps; customize them with any Control Center option, including third-party apps. Long press the Lock Screen to customize or add new buttons.
Back Tap is a useful feature that allows you to set actions, like taking a screenshot, by tapping the back of your iPhone. Configure it in Settings under Accessibility and Touch.
Capture entire webpages or PDFs by taking a screenshot and selecting “Full Page” to save a long screenshot.
Hide apps from the Home Screen individually or by hiding entire app pages. Apps remain accessible via Spotlight Search and the App Library.
Quickly set a timer using Control Center by long pressing the Timer option to use a slider for time selection.
Remove location data from photos before sharing by selecting an image in Photos, swiping up, and adjusting the location settings.
Set a timer to automatically stop media playback in the Clock app, which is useful for controlling how long music or podcasts play.
Share your favorite hidden iPhone tips in the comments!
