12 Time-Saving iPhone Tips to Make You a More Efficient User

[mjs916]

Yeah now it’s a slide to the left

I miss the old action of hold shutter button down.

You can hold the volume button to use burst, but it occurs to be that by “shutter button” you might mean the onscreen one only.

 

[decypher44]

Picked up a couple new ones. Thanks for the article!

 

[JosephAW]

Don't forget the ability to grab the scroll bar and drag it down to quickly get to the bottom of long pages and documents.

 

[appleCakes]

For #12 you likely meant double tapping the status bar? That’s what works for me (going to the top of the page).

 

[CharlesShaw]

Like others, I knew most, but learned something new and I always benefit from these articles, so thanks!

The original iPhone OS was so simple that I knew everything it could do, but those days are long gone.

 

[satchmo]

Thanks for tip #1...

It got me thinking if the long press toggle would also work with the caps key...and it does!
It switches from lower to upper and back to lowercase when released.

For those with alpha numeric postal codes, this is a godsend.

 

[Rygaard]

I had double tap on back to activate magnifying glass, yes im getting old
But I found out 2 things
1) it was ridiculous hard to activate
2) unless you were driving then every little bump would activate it so I could not see maps

 

[xxray]

Awesome! There are a handful of these I never knew, and that are really useful. Thanks so much!

 

[JosephAW]

I wish when in camera mode the side button wouldn't lock the iPhone but takes a picture instead. Happens all the time.

 

[noSpeed]

Great article. I definitely had no idea about a few of these.

 

[Marsikus]

Where on the screen are you swiping from?

An earlier reply to you mentioned holding the camera button on the Home Screen of a non-home button iPhone which I use most, but the left swipe should be reliable if you are swiping from almost anywhere on the background image that is easiest for you, other than from on top of the camera/flashlight icons or Home Bar.

Touching one of those ignores the swipe.

I am swiping from right to left, but this often does not work due to following reasons:
- doing too short swipe.
- doing it somewhat diagonally.
- having very dry skin on thumb.

Same was on Iphone 7 and now on SE2.
So, correct swipe eventually takes same amount of time and attention as unlocking and clicking the icon.

 

[Marsikus]

Long press on camera icon at bottom right.

Not so good as physical button shortcut.

 

[now i see it]

I’m a firm believer that the goal of every iPhone user should be to:

Aim To Use Your iPhone As Little As Possible

 

[JM]

You can hold the volume button to use burst, but it occurs to be that by “shutter button” you might mean the onscreen one only.

Thanks for reminder about volume up.I ALWAYS forget that’s an option… and when I really need it (quick) I don’t want to have to fumble for which volume button I’m pressing.

I believe the old behavior of just holding down either volume button would initiate burst photos taking?

 

[klasma]

I miss the old action of hold shutter button down.

My mother always used to do that accidentally, so I can understand why they changed it. It would be good to have it as an option in Settings though.

 

[wornish]

Thanks, learnt some new ones today.

 

[compwiz1202]

I love when you guys give tips like these. Great work!!

Yea I didn't know like a third of these that would have been great to know

 

[klasma]

For #12 you likely meant double tapping the status bar? That’s what works for me (going to the top of the page).

A single tap already works.

 

[klasma]

I wish I knew about the back button menu earlier. It’s crucial for navigating out of deep folder hierarchies in Files. It’s a bit fiddly to use, because it directly selects when you release the finger, and at the same time the finger obscures the menu entries. But if you move the finger completely off the menu and then release the finger, the menu still stays open for selection.

 

[smythey]

Very useful, and a few I wasn't aware of that I'll try to remember.

Cheers Tim! 👍

 

[heinzdembowski]

I have another tip to save you some time: Turn it off in the evening and turn it on two days later again.

 

[thefourthpope]

1, 6, 7, and 9 were new to me. Thanks MR!

I’m particularly grateful for 9 — the quickset timer function. I will use this one all the time for group work and other classroom activities.

 

[thefourthpope]

Yeah now it’s a slide to the left

I miss the old action of hold shutter button down.

Agreed. I would prefer holding the shutter to take rapid pics, and have to drag to activate the video feature. That seems to me a more consistent and intuitive approach.

 

[JGIGS]

Great tips. Now I just have to remember and get in the habit of using some of these.

 

[Belle Pomme]

Wonderful tips. Thank you!