5 Hidden iPhone Features You Might Not Know

Highlights

Here are the top 5 hidden features to boost your iPhone's productivity and usability.
These are available on both previous and the latest iOS versions.
All of these features are free and are built into your iPhone.

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5 Hidden iPhone Features You Might Not Know

Do you own an iPhone? Apple has introduced many features and upgrades with its new iOS release, which we experienced during its keynote session; however, there are still some hidden features that are among the handy ones you should know about.

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Key Highlights

Here we cover lesser-known iPhone features that can boost your productivity and navigation.
iOS has a dedicated “Visual Intelligence” feature that provides live information when you point your iPhone camera at an object.
There is also a hidden keyboard feature that can turn the space bar into a touchpad.

1. Use Siri to Identify Objects with the Camera App

siri to identify objects with camera app

Image Credits: iDownloadBlog

Apple has revamped its camera app and added the “Visual Intelligence” feature on iOS. Visual Intelligence helps obtain information about objects appearing in the camera.

For example, if you want to identify a flower you are not familiar with, just take your iPhone and point the camera at it. The iPhone can automatically analyze and gather information from an LLM with Siri’s help.

Also Read: Top iOS 27 Features Coming to Your iPhone

2. Hidden Keyboard Trackpad

Image Credits: Computer Hardware

The change is also on iPhone’s keypad, where a “hidden trackpad” can be triggered by pressing and holding the space button. After holding it for 2-3 seconds, the characters on the keypad fade away, and the space bar acts like an “open trackpad”.

3. Back Tap Button

Image Credits: Forbes

Apple has secretly added a “Back Tap” button to its iPhones, allowing you to set up a custom shortcut to perform tasks. For example, you can set the back tap to take a screenshot or lock the phone. You can make the changes by opening the Settings app → Navigating tothe Accessiblity option → tapping on the Touch option → Scrolling down and enabling Back Tap.

Also Read: iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold Could Debut in September

4. Hidden Safari Find on Page Shortcut

Image Credits: OS X Daily

This hidden feature is handy for users trying to use the “Find” feature inspired by Chrome. Apple’s Safari browser includes this feature, so iPhone users don’t need to use Control-F or go to Settings to toggle Find on Page. Instead, just clear the URL address bar and search for words directly to see results.

5. Custom Timer Slider Under the Control Center

custom time slider

Instead of opening the timer app separately to set timers, the iPhone now lets you set timers from the Control Center using a slider. You can scroll down to open the Control Center, hold the timer button, and the slider will appear, letting you set the timer without opening the app.

Here are a few features we found to be handy for you. If you have any other ideas or hidden features, feel free to share them with us in the comment section below.

Image Credits: Alvin (X-@sondesix) and Shariar (X-@shariar_design)

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FAQs

What are the best hidden iPhone features?

Some of the most useful hidden iPhone features we have for you include visual intelligence, the hidden keyboard trackpad, Back Tap shortcuts, and even the Find on page shortcut in Safari.

How do I enable Back Tap on an iPhone?

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap, then assign a Double Tap or Triple Tap action, such as taking a screenshot or opening an app.

How do I activate the hidden keyboard trackpad?

After opening the keyboard below, press and hold the space bar to fade the characters on the keyboard and use it as an open trackpad.

Can I set a timer without opening the Clock app on iPhone?

Yes, you can open the control center by scrolling down and pressing the timer button. This opens a scroll timer that scrolls from top to bottom; tap the green start button to initiate the timer.