17 Secret iPhone Tricks You May Not Know Exist

Think you know how to get the most out of your Apple iPhone? Think again. We've rounded up 17 iPhone tips and hidden features to make life with your device even better—not to mention a little more fun.

Whether you're a novice or a seasoned iPhone user, there's something here for everyone, from using spells from the Harry Potter universe to control your phone, to creating custom vibrations for your contacts. 

Keep in mind that while some of the following iPhone tips and tricks may work on earlier releases of iOS, some may not, so we recommend updating your device to the latest version of iOS 17 (or iOS 18 later this year) for the best experience. Let’s get started.

How to Open iPhone Apps Like Harry Potter 

If you've ever dreamed of stepping into the world of Harry Potter, your iPhone may be the ticket. By enabling "Hey Siri" in your settings, you can use several commands straight from the books to control your device and bring a bit of Hogwarts to your daily life — making them not only one of the best iPhone hidden features, but among the most unique. 

Telling Siri the command "Lumos," used to light the tip of a wizard's wand in the movies, turns on your iPhone's flashlight. At the same time, "Lumos Maxima" will set your flashlight to maximum brightness, and saying "Nox" will turn it off.

The command "Accio" will also open a specific app, similar to how wizards in the books used it to summon objects. For example, use "Accio Instagram" to open the Instagram app or "Accio Messages" to open the Messages app. 

So, recite these Harry Potter iPhone tricks the next time you want to surprise your friends.

How to Make a Unique Vibration for an iPhone Contact

While you may have already set a custom ringtone for the special people in your life, did you know you can create your own vibration pattern for them, too? Like custom ringtones, customized vibration alerts let you know who's calling or texting without looking at your screen.

Here's how to set it up:

1. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone.
2. Choose the person's contact card you want to customize.
3. Tap Edit in the top-right corner.
4. Select a Ringtone or Text Tone, depending on what you want to customize.
5. Tap Haptics.
6. Pick "Create New Vibration" and make your own by tapping the screen in a pattern.
7. Save and name the recording.

Now, you'll always know who's trying to reach you, even when on silent.

How to Use the iPhone’s Search Bar as a Calculator

Need a quick answer to a math problem and have no time to open the Calculator app? Swipe down on your iPhone’s home screen to reveal the Spotlight search feature, and type any simple math equation (such as multiplication, subtraction, and addition) into the search bar, and the solution will appear. 

If you’re using it to calculate how much your next phone will cost, let Navi give you a hand. Our free, unbiased Phone Deal Finder can help you find and compare the best iPhone deals (and Android deals, too) in no time. 

We also keep a running list of the latest iPhone 15 offers and best iPhone 16 deals across carriers and update the page as soon as we detect a deal change.

How to Lock and Hide iPhone Apps

One of the major iPhone tricks added to iOS 18 is the ability to lock or hide apps on your screen, which will be useful whether you want to secure certain apps or keep them out of sight. 

The two methods are slightly different:

• Hiding apps means they won’t show up in notifications or search results and can only be found in a Hidden Apps folder.
• Locking apps add an extra layer of security with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.

Locking Apps on iOS 18

Here’s how to lock an app:

1. Long press on the app.
2. Tap “Require Face ID.”
3. Tap “Require Face ID” again to confirm.

Now, every time you try to open that app, it will ask for your Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode. 

However, not all apps can be locked—system apps like Camera, Find My, and Settings can’t be secured this way. But you can lock most apps, including the App Store, Messages, and any third-party apps.

Hiding Apps on iOS 18

Hiding an app works much like locking it, but it will disappear from your home screen:

1. Long press on the app.
2. Tap “Require Face ID.”
3. Tap “Hide and Require Face ID.”

You’ll be prompted to confirm your selection with Face ID or your passcode. Once hidden, the app’s icon and name will be removed from your home screen and moved to a Hidden Apps folder. You also won’t receive any notifications from hidden apps. 

This is a good iPhone trick to keep certain apps out of sight without deleting them.

How to Unhide or Unlock Apps

If you want to remove a lock or unhide an app, here’s how:

1. Long press the app.
2. Tap “Don’t Require Face ID” and enter your Face ID or passcode.

The app will be unlocked or unhidden, but if you’ve hidden it, it won’t automatically show up on your home screen. To add it back, go to your App Library, long-press the app, and tap “Add to Home Screen.”

Finding Your Hidden Apps

To access hidden apps:

1. Swipe right until you reach your App Library.
2. Scroll to the bottom, and you’ll see a folder labeled “Hidden” with an icon of an eye crossed out.
3. Tap it and enter your Face ID or passcode to see all your hidden apps.

How to Block Spam Calls on Your iPhone

Are you tired of spam calls? Use “Silence Unknown Callers” to mute those annoying unknown numbers and get some peace and quiet. 

To enable Silence Unknown Callers, go to Settings > Phone, scroll down, tap Silence Unknown Callers, and switch it on. Your iPhone will now silence numbers you've never contacted and don't have saved in your contacts by sending them to voicemail and your recent calls list.

Don't worry—you'll still get calls from people saved in your contacts, recent calls, and those suggested by Siri based on your texts and emails. In case of an emergency call, Silence Unknown Callers will disable itself for 24 hours so others can reach you.

One important step: Before using this feature, save all your important contacts to your iPhone. Otherwise, you may miss a call you actually want to take.

How to Scan Laundry Symbols with the iPhone Camera 

If you have yet to learn what those symbols are on the tag of your favorite piece of clothing, you're not alone! And if you have an iPhone running iOS 17, there's an easy way to decipher them.

Open your iPhone's camera app and snap a picture of a laundry tag. Next, go to the Photos app and select the image you just took. Click on the information symbol (the "i" with a circle around it). Your iPhone will prompt you to "look up laundry care." Tap on it, and you'll be given a breakdown of what each symbol means. From now on, laundry day will be a breeze.

Double Tap the Back of Your iPhone to Switch Apps

You likely tap your iPhone's screen hundreds of times throughout the day, but did you know you can also perform actions by tapping the back of the phone?

The "Back Tap" feature is a versatile tool that allows you to double or triple tap the back of your iPhone to trigger a range of actions. 

While it's hidden deep within the iPhone's settings, the Back Tap feature is easy to use. Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Touch, and select the Back Tap option. Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap, then select your desired action. 

Over 30 default options are available, from locking the phone and taking screenshots to starting Siri. The Shortcuts option allows you to customize these actions even further, so you can set it to open specific apps or initiate an Apple HomeKit automation. 

Customize Your iPhone’s Home Screen and Lock Screen

With the launch of iOS 18 and iPhone 16, Apple is finally giving you the ability to personalize your home screen in new ways, like adding a custom tint to your app icons, resizing them, and freely moving them around the screen. That means you have a ton of room to get creative with your app setup thanks to this iPhone trick.

To get started, just press and hold your home screen until you see the ‘Edit’ option in the top left corner, then select Customize. From there, you can:

• Adjust the tint of your icons using a slider
• Switch between light and dark themes
• Match your icons to your wallpaper

The iPhone’s lock screen also received an upgrade with iOS 18. Now, you can customize shortcuts and swap out your flashlight for something more useful—like the dark mode toggle or an Apple TV remote. 

To do this iPhone trick, simply press down on your lock screen’s wallpaper until the Customize menu appears, select Lock Screen, and select either the Flashlight or Camera button to change it. 

How to Find the iPhone’s Hidden Relaxation Sounds 

Background Sounds is a hidden gem on your iPhone that can help you focus or relax. This feature allows you to choose from six different ambient noises—rain, stream, ocean, and three types of white noise (balanced, bright, and dark)—to help create a soothing environment. The best part? No subscription to Spotify or Apple Music is needed.

Here's how to set it up:

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility
2. Select Audio & Visual.
3. Choose Background Sounds and toggle it on.
4. Pick from any of the available sounds.

If you want the sounds to play while watching a video or listening to music, turn on “Use When Media Is Playing.” If you prefer the sounds to stop when your device is locked, toggle “Stop Sounds When Locked.”

Additionally, instead of going into Settings each time, you can add the Hearing button to your Control Center (Settings > Control Center). From there, you can quickly access the Background Sound setting by long-pressing on the icon.

How to Identify Animals, Plants, and Recipes By Taking a Photo

You can now easily find the recipe for the viral food photo you saw on Instagram by using your iPhone.

With Apple's Visual Lookup feature, you can use your device to identify food, animals, and landmarks in your photos. After analyzing your picture of the object, your iPhone will display information and other suggestions about it.

So, the next time you see some eye-catching food on social media, take a screenshot of it and open the picture in your Photos app. Then, tap the Information icon (the lowercase "i" with a circle around it located at the bottom of the screen) and select "Look Up Food." Your iPhone will identify the dish and show you possible matches to ingredients and recipes.

Or, if you spot a mysterious insect around your home, try taking a picture of it and tapping the Information icon to identify its species.

How to Translate Text With the iPhone’s Camera

Have you ever visited a restaurant abroad and struggled to read the menu? Well, your iPhone’s Translate app can help. 

To start, open the Translate app and tap on the Camera icon. Select the language you want to translate, then point your iPhone's camera at the text you want to read. The app will translate the text in real-time as you move the camera.

You can also tap on the translation to bring up an options menu allowing you to copy the text, add it to your favorites, or listen to the original and translated text. The feature also works with past photos stored in your camera roll.

Bold, Italicize and Animate Your Texts

With iOS 18, you can format your messages with bold, italics, underline, and strikethrough effects. This is a simple way to add some style or emphasis to your messages without resorting to using all capitalized letters—which has been the only way on iPhones for too long. 

Here's how you can do it:

1. Write a text message.
2. Double-tap a word or highlight the text you want to format, then tap the Formatting button. Alternatively, you can scroll through the formatting menu and pick the Text Effects option that pops up (to the right of Cut, Copy, Paste, etc.).
3. Select your formatting—bold, italic, underline, or strikethrough, or more fun options like Shake, Bloom, and Jitter.

Using these new iPhone message tricks can make your texts feel more personal.

How to Take a Screenshot of an Entire Webpage on iPhone

Tired of sending your friends chunks of screenshots from that interesting article you found? Here's how to take a screenshot of the entire webpage using Safari or a third-party app like Google Chrome on your iPhone:

1. Open your browser and visit the webpage you want.
2. Press the lock button and volume up button simultaneously to screenshot the page.
3. Tap the preview of the screenshot in the bottom left corner before it disappears.
4. In the editing screen, select "Full Page" near the top of the screen.
5. Use the slider to check your full-page screenshot and leave any notes.

To save it, tap "Done" and choose to save it to either your Photos library or as a PDF in the Files app.

How to Take Multiple Photos with the iPhone’s Shutter Button

Have you missed the perfect shot because you were too slow to press the shutter button? Whether you're snapping pictures of a fast-moving subject or want a collection of high-speed photos to choose from, iPhone's Burst mode is a great way to ensure you won’t miss a shot—and the feature is easy to find once you know where to look. 

Open the Camera app on your iPhone, and instead of pressing down on the Shutter button, swipe it to the left to activate a burst. 

Once you've captured your burst, pick the best shots by:

1. Tapping the Burst thumbnail, then picking Select.
2. Look for the gray dots below the thumbnails—they show the photos the iPhone suggests to keep.
3. Tap the circle in the lower-right corner of each photo you want to save, and select Done when you’re finished.
   

Use Siri to Read Webpages to You

Siri can now read web articles aloud, turning them into audiobooks when you need to give your eyes a break.

Siri's reading feature only works with iOS 17 or later and Apple's Safari browser, not other options like Google Chrome. The webpage also needs to support Reader View. You'll know it's compatible if you see "Reader Available" and the "Document" icon in the address bar when the page loads.

To use it, go to a webpage (like a news story), tap the "AA" icon in Safari's address bar, and choose "Listen to Page" from the pop-up menu. Siri will start reading, and you can pause or resume listening by clicking on the Sound icon in the address bar.

Another way to use this feature is to ask Siri to "Read this to me" while on a compatible Safari webpage.

How to Create Customized App Icons for Your iPhone’s Home Screen

Want to change an app icon that doesn’t fit your iPhone's look? Use Apple’s Shortcuts app to customize an icon that links to the app.

First, find an image you like and save it to your Photos app. You can design your own or use sources like Flaticon and Google Images. 

Next, open the Shortcuts app (if it’s not there, you can re-download it from the App Store) and tap the plus sign in the top right corner to create a new shortcut. Name it by tapping the arrow next to "New Shortcut 1" and picking Rename. Once you're happy with the name (you can also use emojis), tap Add Action.

Then, in the search bar, type "Open App" and select the option under "Scripting." On the next screen, tap on the word "App" in the top menu bar and choose the app you want to customize from the list.

Now, select the info icon (the "i" inside a circle) at the bottom of the screen, then tap Add to Home Screen.

You'll see a preview of the icon on the home screen, with two options below it. Select the icon to the left, and tap Choose Photo to pick the image you saved earlier in your Photos app. Adjust its size and select Choose.

Once you're set, tap Add in the top right corner. Your new custom icon should appear on your home screen. If you find a lot of icon images you’d like to try, we recommend creating a folder and saving it to your iCloud for future reference. For more home screen tips, check out our guide.

How to Undo a Mistake By Shaking Your iPhone

Did you know the iPhone has a unique way to fix a typing mistake? The "Shake to Undo" feature allows you to quickly correct a typo in places like iMessage without the hassle of finding the backspace button, which makes it one of the most useful iPhone message tricks. By gently shaking your iPhone from side to side, you'll trigger an alert that allows you to undo your previous action.

But the feature isn’t limited to just typos in text messages—it can also recover a photo or email you just deleted, and other actions. This feature can save you a little time and add a bit of style to your iPhone experience. 

To deactivate or activate it, open Settings and select Accessibility. In the next window, choose Touch, then toggle Shake to Undo on or off. 

One mistake you won’t be as easily able to shake away is missing out on the latest deal for your next iPhone, so remember to visit our Phone Deal Finder and iPhone 15 Deals page for today’s best deals.

The Bottom Line

While Apple often touts many of the high-profile features of its iPhones, it's these iPhone easter eggs, which you may just find useful or interesting, that can potentially enhance your user experience. 

Don't just take our word for it. Experiment with these iPhone tricks, and you might be surprised at the value they can add.