Whether you’re a new iPhone user or a seasoned pro, there are a lot of things about your iPhone that you may not know about. Like, did you know you can just shake your iPhone to undo or hold down the spacebar to move the cursor (convenient for those of us who aren’t super dextrous)? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We’ve got 20 more of the best iPhone tips, so that you can get the most out of your iPhone.
1. Buy a case
You just dropped a nice chunk of change on your new device, so first things first, it’s important to protect it with a sleek, minimal case that doesn’t hide the elegant design. Nothing is worse than that moment after dropping your new, unprotected phone onto the hard floor. Don’t let that happen to you, and put a case on it.
2. Buy a screen protector
Your screen is the most vulnerable part of your phone, but it’s also the most important part. It’s hard to read that important text from your boss with spider web cracks across your screen, so you should protect it with a tempered glass edge-to-edge screen protector.
3. Learn how to install a screen protector
Speaking of screen protectors, it can be a little nerve-wracking to install one. If you mess up, it could be crooked, leave bubbles, or get dust underneath. Watching this quick video will help you feel like a pro.
4. Auto-delete messages
Over time all of your texts filled with gifs, photos, bitmojis, and videos will start to take up a lot of storage space on your phone. Auto-deleting your messages will help keep them from eating up your precious storage and slowing down your phone. Just go to Settings → Messages → Message History → and select keep messages for either 30 Days or 1 Year, or Forever. (Selecting Forever would kind of defeat the purpose though.)
5. Keep your phone updated
If you’re one of those people that puts off updating your phone, you could be experiencing some slow speeds while using it. Making sure you update your phone once the new operating system is available will keep your iPhone working at the proper speed.
6. Use WiFi to download
Downloading using WiFi is much faster than using a cellular network, plus it uses less power and doesn’t use any data. Download those true crime podcasts while you’re at home instead of on your commute.
7. Don’t leave your phone in the sun
Your phone is sensitive, so you have to treat it nicely. If you leave your phone out in direct sunlight it can damage the inner components as well as permanently harm your screen. Keep it in a purse or pocket when you're outside or at least make sure it’s covered by a blanket or towel.
8. Clean your phone often
Your phone is disgusting. It has about 18x more germs than a toilet seat, so it's a good idea to clean it often. You can use alcohol wipes or mild soap and water to clean it and a UV sanitizer to eliminate germs and bacteria.
9. Make that money
Did you know that there are apps that can make you money? You can make money by logging your healthy lifestyle changes, auditing businesses, or just sharing your opinion! We’re all already staring at our phones 24/7, might as well make a buck while we do it.
10. Make a portable office
Apple makes it super easy to sync your iPhone to a Macbook, so you can stay connected away from the office. Your iPhone can display your work email and calendar in addition to your personal ones. You can also download google docs and sheets to your phone, so you can access important files straight from your phone. You almost don’t even need a computer!
11. Set up Face ID
Face ID is one of the most convenient features of the iPhone. Once you set it up, all you have to do is look at your phone for it to unlock, plus you can connect it to Apple Pay making it even easier for you to keep buying things you don’t need.
12. Use Apple Pay
Speaking of Apple Pay, you don’t need to have an Apple Card in order to take advantage of it. You can connect multiple cards to your Apple wallet and many sites allow you to skip the annoying process of entering all of your information in favor of paying with Apple Pay with one easy step.
13. Use Portrait Mode
Portrait mode is the best way to capture the perfect selfie. Portrait mode blurs the background of the photo and brings the subject of the photo into sharper focus. The pictures instantly look more professional.
14. Say cheese
Everyone is a photographer these days because of the iPhone, so it’s a good idea to teach yourself some basic photography techniques like composition, lighting, and even how best to hold your iPhone for minimal movements while taking a photo.
15. Take a Shortcut
Swiping right has a different meaning with your iPhone. Instead of matching you with a potential mate, you can easily access your calendar, most used apps, news stories, and weather. If you swipe down from the top left, you can control your brightness, volume, WiFi, flashlight, and screenlock. These intuitive shortcuts help make using your iPhone much easier.
16. Use a wireless charger
Tired of having your phone tethered to the wall whenever it needs to charge? A wireless charger allows you to place your phone down to charge and then pick it up if you need to do something. You can also get a wireless car charger which acts as a mount as well. This way you don't have to deal with too many cables in your car.
17. Use Siri
Siri isn’t just for asking silly questions, it can be incredibly useful especially when driving. Want to listen to a specific song? Just ask Siri. Need to get directions? Just ask Siri. There are so many questions to ask that will make your life much easier.
18. Don’t put it in your back pocket
Yes, the back pocket is bigger and more convenient for holding your iPhone. But, forgetting it’s in there when you go to the bathroom can lead to an unfortunate case of toilet phone. Nobody wants that.
19. Use the Cloud
New iPhones now come with a minimum storage capacity of 128GB, but photos, apps, and text messages easily start to take up a lot of space on your phone and slow it down. The easiest way to help you manage your storage is to use the cloud. You automatically get 5GB of free iClod storage space as an iPhone user. But, you can also purchase additional storage starting at $0.99/month up to $9.99/month depending on how much you need.
20. Go to Bed
The Bedtime function in your clock is the handiest way to keep your sleep schedule regular. Experts recommend that adults get between 7-9 hours of sleep each night and that they go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday. You can set your bedtime and wake up time. Your phone will remind you to go to bed, and it will gently wake you up in the morning. It’s much better than any of the other alarm options.
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Knowing these tips and tricks will put you ahead of 90% of iPhone users. However, you can't be a true pro without understanding more about iPhone accessories. Accessories are essential for helping you get the most out of your iPhone. Level up your iPhone game by learning all about the best phone accessories on the market and why you need them.
