If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “My iPhone can definitely do more… I just don’t know how,” then you’re in the right place. We all love our iPhones, but let’s be honest—most people only use about 40% of what the device can truly do. And that’s wild, right? Because this thing is literally sitting in our hands every day. I’ve been an iPhone nerd for years (don’t judge 😂), and over time, I’ve picked up some ridiculously useful tricks that make my daily life easier, faster, and just a little more fun.
So today, I’m sharing my favorite iPhone life hacks—the ones that actually help, not the usual “turn on airplane mode to charge faster” myths you see floating around. These hacks are simple, powerful, and perfect for anyone who wants to unlock the full potential of their device without reading a 50-page manual.
Ready? Let’s dive in together.
iPhone Life Hacks That Make Your Daily Routine Faster, Easier & Smarter
The Must-Know Everyday Hacks That Save You Time
We’re starting strong with the hacks that instantly make your iPhone life smoother. No fluff, no gimmicks—just things you’ll use every single day.
The Magic of Back Tap
Did you know that the back of your iPhone works like a secret button? when you turn on Back Tap, you can double-tap or triple-tap the back of your phone to trigger actions.
You can assign Back Tap to:
- Open the Camera
- Turn on the Flashlight
- Take a Screenshot
- Lock the screen
- Launch specific apps
- Trigger Shortcuts like text templates or smart home actions
Here’s how to enable it:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Accessibility
- Select Touch
- Tap Back Tap
- Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap and assign your shortcut
Once you start using Back Tap, you’ll feel like your iPhone suddenly grew superpowers.
One-Hand Mode When You Need It Most
Ever tried using your iPhone one-handed and felt like you needed longer thumbs? Same. That’s why Reachability exists, but so many people don’t even know it’s there.
Turn it on here:
- Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Reachability
Then swipe down on the bottom edge to pull the top of your screen closer to your thumb.
So simple, yet such a game-changer.
Siri Isn’t Just for Setting Timers
IMO, Siri is one of the most underrated features. People treat it like a fancy kitchen timer, but it can do so much more.
Try:
- “Remind me when I get home to send that email.”
- “Find photos from last December.”
- “Turn on Do Not Disturb for 1 hour.”
- “Call Mom on speaker.”
Siri’s location- and time-based reminders alone are worth using. And FYI, Siri learns your habits over time, so the more you use it, the smarter it gets.
Hidden Settings You’ll Wish You Knew Earlier
Now let’s get into the hacks tucked deep inside your settings—the ones Apple doesn’t advertise loudly but make your everyday workflow smoother.
Silence Unknown Callers
If you’re tired of spam calls interrupting your life, this is your new best friend.
Go to:
- Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers
Your phone won’t even ring. Unknown numbers go straight to voicemail while your real contacts still ring through like normal. Bliss.
Optimize Battery Charging
Want your battery to last longer over time? Turn this on right now if you haven’t.
Settings → Battery → Battery Health → Optimize Battery Charging
Your iPhone learns your charging routine (like morning or nighttime charging) and stops overcharging past 80% until it predicts you’re about to unplug. This one tiny hack significantly improves long-term battery health.
Offload Unused Apps Without Deleting Data
If your storage is always full—but you don’t want to lose app data—this feature is a lifesaver.
Settings → App Store → Offload Unused Apps
Your iPhone automatically removes apps you seldom use but keeps all documents and data.
Reinstalling them brings everything back instantly.
Camera & Photo Hacks Every iPhone User Should Know
If you love taking pics—even casual ones—these hacks will seriously level up your camera game.
Quick Launch Camera
Want to open the camera faster than ever?
- Tap → hold the camera icon on the Lock Screen
- Or swipe left on the Lock Screen
- Or use Back Tap (my personal fave)
The faster you open the camera, the better your chances of catching the perfect shot.
Copy & Paste Photo Subjects
This one feels like sci-fi the first time you try it. You can lift an object or person out of any photo and paste it into Messages, Notes, or any app.
How:
- Open a photo
- Tap and hold the subject
- Choose Copy or Share
Boom. Instant AI cutout. Super handy for making stickers, collages, or fun edits.
Use Grid Lines for Better Composition
If you want your photos to look instantly more professional, turn on the grid.
Settings → Camera → Grid
Helps you compose shots using the rule of thirds like a pro.
Texting & Typing Hacks to Make You Faster
We message people all day—so why not make it easier?
Transform Your Spacebar Into a Trackpad
Trying to place the cursor in the perfect spot on your iPhone can feel like surgery. Here’s how to make it easier:
- Press and hold the spacebar
- Your keyboard turns into a trackpad
- Slide your finger to move the cursor accurately
It feels tiny but saves so much time.
Shake to Undo
Typed something wrong? Erased a big chunk by accident?
Just shake your phone and hit Undo Typing.
Yes, seriously.
Text Replacements for Shortcut Phrases
If you find yourself typing the same things frequently—emails, addresses, hashtags, greetings—automate it.
Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement
Examples:
- “omw” → “On my way!”
- “add” → your full address
- “ig1” → your Instagram link
This hack alone has saved me thousands of keystrokes.
Safari & Browsing Hacks You Didn’t Know You Needed
If you browse a lot (who doesn’t?), these hacks make Safari way more efficient.
Quickly Close All Tabs
We’ve all had 249 Safari tabs open at some point. Cleaning them up should be easier, right?
Here’s how:
- Press and hold the Tabs button → tap Close All Tabs
Done. No more swiping hundreds of times.
Pin Tabs for Quick Access
To keep your important websites in place:
- Open a tab → tap the address bar → choose Pin Tab
Perfect for daily tools like email, dashboards, or notes.
Use Reader Mode for Distraction-Free Reading
Many websites are cluttered with ads. Reader Mode cleans everything up.
Tap the AA icon in Safari → Show Reader View
You get clean text, no distractions, and a smoother reading experience.
Productivity Hacks That Actually Boost Your Workflow
Whether you work from your phone or use it for planning, these hacks will make life easier.
Create Focus Modes for Different Tasks
Focus Modes are like Do Not Disturb but smarter.
You can create modes like:
- Work Focus
- Sleep Focus
- Fitness Focus
- Content Creation Focus
- Driving Focus
Each one can:
- Hide certain apps
- Allow only specific notifications
- Change your Home Screen
- Sync across all Apple devices
Imagine your phone automatically switching to “Work Mode” when you arrive at the office—pretty cool, right?
Use Shortcuts for Automation
The Shortcuts app feels intimidating at first, but once you explore it, you realize it’s basically magic.
You can automate things like:
- Send a daily reminder
- Turn on WiFi when you reach home
- Save a screenshot to a specific folder
- Open certain apps at certain times
It’s a productivity playground.
Scan Documents Without an App
No need for Adobe Scan or any third-party apps. Notes does it natively.
- Open Notes
- Tap the camera icon
- Select Scan Documents
Your iPhone automatically crops, enhances, and converts scans to PDF. Perfect for work, school, or quick admin tasks.
Cool & Fun Hacks You’ll Love Playing With
Not everything has to be about productivity. Let’s talk about fun stuff too.
Create Your Own Vibration Pattern
Set custom vibration patterns for specific contacts so you know who’s calling even without looking.
Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Ringtone → Vibration → Create New Vibration
Tap your rhythm. Save it. Done.
Use Live Text to Copy Text From Real Life
This one feels like magic every time.
Point your camera at:
- A document
- A sign
- A menu
- A receipt
- A screenshot
Then tap Live Text and copy the words instantly.
Great for students, travelers, or anyone who hates typing.
Hide Apps Without Deleting Them
Don’t want certain apps visible on your Home Screen?
Press and hold the app → Remove App → Move to App Library
Not deleted. Just hidden.
Privacy & Security Hacks Everyone Should Use
Your iPhone has top-tier privacy features, but you need to activate them.
Lock Your Notes
Have private info you want to secure?
- Open a note → tap the three dots → Lock → Set password or Face ID
Perfect for storing IDs, passwords, or sensitive documents.
Turn Off Precise Location
Some apps don’t need your exact location. Just approximate.
Settings → Privacy → Location Services → Select App → toggle Precise Location off
Gives you more privacy instantly.
Hide Your Email With “Hide My Email”
If you’re tired of giving out your real email everywhere, this feature is gold.
Settings → Apple ID → iCloud → Hide My Email
Apple generates random emails that forward to your real inbox. Use them on sketchy websites or one-time sign-ups.
Battery, Charging, and Performance Hacks
Want your iPhone to last longer—both daily and long-term? These hacks help.
Low Power Mode Isn’t Just for Emergencies
You can run it daily if you want your battery to stretch longer.
Settings → Battery → Low Power Mode
It reduces background activity without affecting your core apps.
Clean Up Background App Refresh
Background refresh can drain battery fast. Turn off what you don’t need.
Settings → General → Background App Refresh
Turn off apps like:
- Food delivery apps
- Shopping apps
- Games
- Random apps you never open
Disable Push Email
Switching your mail from Push to Fetch can significantly boost battery life.
Settings → Mail → Accounts → Fetch New Data → Change Push to Fetch
Set to 30 minutes or manually for even more savings.
Final Thoughts: Small Hacks, Big Impact
At the end of the day, the iPhone is one of the most powerful pocket tools we own, but most of its brilliance stays hidden unless you know where to look. Hopefully, these iPhone life hacks help you unlock features that make your daily routine easier, smoother, and—let’s be honest—more fun 😄.
Whether you’re upgrading your productivity, improving your photos, boosting privacy, or just exploring cool tricks, remember that you don’t have to master everything at once. Start with a few hacks that speak to you, try them out, and let your iPhone adapt to your lifestyle.
And hey—if you discovered a hack today that made you go, “No way, that exists?!”… then mission accomplished.
Happy exploring, and enjoy your newly supercharged iPhone!
