You probably use your iPhone every day. You text. You take photos. You scroll. You record video. But your phone has several built-in features that many people have never discovered.
Hidden keyboard symbols
If you have ever searched for a special character and couldn’t find it, the solution is usually simple. Press and hold certain keys on the keyboard.
Try this:
• Press and hold the zero key to reveal the degree symbol.
• Press and hold the letter E, A, or O to reveal accented characters.
• Press and hold punctuation like the period key to see additional symbols.
• Press and hold the dollar sign to reveal other currency symbols. Many of these symbols are hiding just beneath your fingertips. You just have to press and hold.
Bonus keyboard trick
When typing numbers, you do not have to switch back and forth between the number keyboard and the letter keyboard. Press and hold the 123 key, slide your finger to the number or symbol you want, then release. The keyboard automatically switches back to letters. It is a small time saver that adds up quickly.
Back Tap on the iPhone
Your iPhone can perform actions when you tap the back of it. To turn it on:
1. Open Settings
2. Tap Accessibility
3. Tap Touch
4. Scroll down and tap Back Tap
5. Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap
6. Assign an action
You can set it to turn on the flashlight, take a screenshot, open the camera, or even activate Shazam to identify a song. For example, if you assign Shazam to a triple-tap, you can tap the back of your phone and instantly identify music playing around you without opening the app. It feels like a magic trick the first time you use it.
Pause while recording video
With iOS 18, Apple added a feature many people have wanted for years. You can now pause while recording video.
Here is how it works:
1. Open the Camera app
2. Switch to Video mode
3. Start recording
4. Tap the pause button on screen
5. Tap record again to resume
Instead of creating multiple clips, you can capture one smooth video file. This is especially helpful for home videos, interviews, or quick social media clips.
Hidden trackpad mode
If you struggle to move the cursor precisely while editing text, this trick makes it much easier. Press and hold the space bar on the keyboard. The entire keyboard turns into a trackpad. Now you can slide your finger to move the cursor exactly where you want it. It is much more accurate than tapping around the screen.
Scan documents with the Notes app
You do not need a separate scanner app.
1. Open the Notes app
2. Tap the camera icon
3. Choose Scan Documents
4. Position the document in view
5. Save
Your iPhone will automatically crop and straighten the document. You can then save it as a PDF or share it.
Measure objects with your camera
There is even a built-in measuring tool. Open the Measure app and point your camera at an object. Follow the on-screen prompts to mark the start and end points. It is not perfect for construction work, but it is surprisingly accurate for quick measurements around the house.
The bottom line
These are simple features that have been sitting on your phone for years. Most people never use them because they do not know they exist. Sometimes the smartest upgrade is not buying something new. It is learning what the device in your hand can already do.