Apple’s software program design strives to be intuitive, however every iteration of iOS comprises so many additions and tweaks that it is easy to overlook some helpful iPhone settings. Apple targeted on synthetic intelligence when it unveiled iOS 18 in 2024, however there’s rather a lot beneath the hood that provides to the regular stream of intriguing customizations and lesser-known options from the previous couple of years. A number of useful settings are turned off by default, and it isn’t instantly apparent how one can change off some annoying options. We’re right here that will help you get essentially the most out of your Apple telephone.
After getting issues arrange the way in which you need, it’s a breeze to repeat all the pieces, together with settings, if you change to a brand new iPhone. For extra ideas and suggestions, learn our associated guides—Greatest iPhone, Greatest iPhone 16 Instances, Greatest MagSafe Equipment—and our explainers on The way to Set Up a New iPhone, The way to Again Up Your iPhone, and The way to Repair Your iPhone.
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Customise the Management Heart
Screenshots courtesy of Simon Hill
Swipe down from the highest proper of the display screen to open the Management Heart, and also you’ll see it is extra customizable than ever. You’ll be able to faucet the plus icon on the high left or faucet and maintain on an empty area to open the customization menu. Right here you’ll be able to transfer icons and widgets round, take away something you don’t need, or faucet Add a Management on the backside for a searchable record of shortcut icons and widgets you’ll be able to set up throughout a number of Management Heart screens. You can even customise your private home display screen with iOS 18 to alter the colour and measurement of app icons, rearrange them, and extra.
Change Your Lock Display screen Buttons
You understand these lock display screen controls that default to flashlight on the underside left and digital camera on the underside proper? You’ll be able to change them. Press and maintain on an empty area on the lock display screen and faucet Customise, then Lock Display screen. Faucet the minus icon to take away an present shortcut, and faucet the plus icon so as to add a brand new one. You can even change the climate and date widgets, the font and colour for the time, and choose a wallpaper.
Lengthen Display screen Time-Out
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Whereas it’s good to have your display screen day out for battery saving and safety functions, I discover it maddening when the display screen goes off whereas I’m doing one thing. The default display screen time-out is just too brief in my view, however fortunately, you’ll be able to regulate it. Head into Settings, Show & Brightness, and choose Auto-Lock to increase it. You’ve got a number of choices, together with By no means, which implies you’ll have to manually push the facility button to show the display screen off.
Flip Off Keyboard Sounds
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The iPhone’s keyboard clicking sound if you kind is extraordinarily aggravating. Belief me, even in the event you don’t hate it, everybody in your neighborhood if you kind certain does. You’ll be able to flip it off in Settings, Sound & Haptics by tapping Keyboard Suggestions and toggling Sound off. I additionally advise toggling off the Lock Sound whilst you’re in Sound & Haptics.
Go Darkish
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Shield your self from eye-searing glare with darkish mode. Go to Settings, choose Show & Brightness, and faucet Darkish. You might desire to toggle on Automated and have it change with the solar setting, however I desire to be in Darkish mode on a regular basis.
Change Your Battery Cost Degree
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If you happen to’re decided to squeeze as a few years out of your iPhone battery as attainable, think about altering the charging restrict. You’ll be able to maximize your smartphone’s battery well being in the event you keep away from charging it past 80 %. The iPhone’s default is now Optimized Battery Charging, which waits at 80 % after which goals to hit 100% when you’re able to go within the morning. However there’s a slider you’ll be able to set to a tough 80 % restrict in Settings, beneath Battery, and Charging.
Set Up the Motion Button
People with an iPhone 15 Professional mannequin or any gadget within the iPhone 16 vary have an Motion Button as a substitute of the outdated mute change. By default, it’s going to silence your iPhone if you press and maintain it, however you’ll be able to change what it does by going to Settings, then Motion Button. You’ll be able to swipe by means of numerous fundamental choices from Digicam and Flashlight to Visible Intelligence, however choose Shortcuts if you need it to do one thing extra attention-grabbing. If you happen to’re unfamiliar, take a look at our information on The way to Use the Apple Shortcuts App.
Flip Off Apple Intelligence
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A lot vaunted however barely underwhelming, Apple Intelligence isn’t absolutely baked but, and we’re nonetheless ready for an improved Siri. If you happen to desire to decide out of sure options or decide out utterly, go to Settings, Apple Intelligence & Siri, and faucet on it to toggle Apple Intelligence off. If you happen to desire to maintain choose options on, you will discover directions in our The way to Flip off Apple Intelligence information.
Cover Delicate Apps
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Whether or not you’re embarrassed by your Sweet Crush habit or risque pictures, or maybe you’ve been utilizing the Notes app to plan your accomplice’s birthday celebration, you’ll be able to cover them from prying eyes. I am not right here to evaluate. To guard an app, you have got two choices: faucet and maintain on the icon and choose Require Face ID, then Require Face ID or Cover and Require Face ID. The primary possibility leaves the app in place, however nobody can entry it and not using a Face ID test. If you happen to desire to cover the app, select the second possibility after which Cover App, and will probably be obscured inside a Hidden folder on the backside of your App Library that requires a Face ID test to open.
Cease Movies Autoplaying or Looping
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If you happen to discover it irritating that movies robotically play as you scroll by means of the Photographs app, or it bugs you that they loop and repeat as a substitute of stopping on the finish, you’ll be able to change that habits. Faucet Settings, Apps, then Photographs, and scroll right down to toggle Auto-Play Movement and Loop Movies off.
Improve Speech in Motion pictures and TV Exhibits
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It may be powerful to make out the dialog in some TV reveals and films, however Apple has a repair for muffled speech in your iPhone. While you’re taking part in a video, faucet the display screen to convey up the menu and choose the audio icon. You’ll be able to choose Improve Dialogue and select Improve or Improve Extra to make the voices louder and clearer.
Set Up Do Not Disturb
At an absolute minimal, it’s best to shut up your iPhone at evening so it doesn’t disturb your sleep, however Apple provides a variety of instruments to automate or schedule downtime that will help you focus. Go to Settings, Focus, and select Do Not Disturb to get began. You’ll be able to flip off notifications however arrange exceptions in order that particular contacts or apps will get by means of. You can even go to Display screen Time and Downtime to set a particular schedule for every day.
Change Your Default Apps
You don’t have to make use of Safari as your browser or Apple’s Mail app for emails. You’ll be able to change the default apps in your iPhone by going to Settings, Apps, and Default Apps. If in case you have legitimate different apps put in for E mail, Messaging, Browser, and some different classes, you’ll be able to choose them as a substitute of Apple’s apps.
Preserve iCloud Information Native
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You’ll be able to select to maintain sure recordsdata that you’ve synced with iCloud saved domestically in your iPhone, which is helpful if you wish to entry them when there’s no web out there. Open the Information app, go to the Browse tab, and select iCloud Drive. You’ll be able to faucet and maintain on any folder or file and choose Preserve Downloaded to make a copy in your iPhone.
Restrict App Permissions
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It’s value reviewing your app permissions and limiting them. There are a couple of routes to do that, however Settings, then Privateness & Safety, could be the simplest. There’s rather a lot right here, however I counsel Location Companies and eradicating or decreasing permissions for apps you don’t suppose want them. You’ll be able to toggle off Exact Location for a lot of, since an approximate location is commonly sufficient for them to perform the way in which you need. Different apps to control are Contacts and Photographs, as each now provide the possibility to permit restricted entry.
By the way in which, if you wish to flip off Background App Refresh to cease apps sucking down knowledge and draining the battery if you aren’t utilizing them, go to Settings, Apps, and select any you don’t have to refresh until you open them to toggle it off.
Change Siri’s Voice
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Apple provides an entire vary of voices for Siri now. Go to Settings, select Apple Intelligence & Siri, and faucet Voice to see a listing of variations (American, Australian, British, Indian, Irish, South African) and voices (Irish Voice 2 is my choose). Simply remember that in the event you select a brand new one, it could take some time to obtain.
Set a Shortcut for Your E mail Tackle
Neglect about typing out your entire e-mail deal with each time. Go to Settings, Normal, and select Keyboard. Faucet Textual content Alternative after which the plus icon on the high proper to arrange textual content shortcuts, comparable to “eml” in your full e-mail deal with, or “addy” in your mailing deal with. This will additionally work for another textual content you kind out ceaselessly.
Present Notifications on Lock Display screen
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Apple is all about privateness, however having to unlock your iPhone to see the content material of an incoming message will be annoying. You’ll be able to change how this works by going to Settings, Notifications, and choosing Present Previews. It’s set to When Unlocked by default, however you’ll be able to select All the time or By no means.
Make Some AI Artwork
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If you happen to resolve to present AI an opportunity and fancy producing some artwork with AI help, open up the Playground app. You’ll be able to choose pictures, themes, costumes, equipment, locations, or kind prompts. Right here’s a full information on how one can use Apple’s Picture Playground. It is out there on Apple units working iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, or macOS Sequoia 15.2.
Cut back Automotive Illness
Do you get nauseous if you use your iPhone as a automotive passenger? Go to Settings, Accessibility, select Movement, then Present Automobile Movement Cues. You’ll be able to flip it on or off to show dots that assist scale back movement illness, however in the event you faucet Automated, it’s going to activate when it detects you’re within the automotive.
