Your smartphone is more than just a device for calls and texts—it’s packed with hidden features that can make your life easier in surprising ways. From shortcuts that boost productivity to hidden tools you never knew were there, these tricks are designed to unlock your phone’s full potential. Let’s explore some of the coolest functions that you might not even know existed.
Hidden Back Tap Feature
Many smartphones, especially iPhones running iOS 14 or later, have a “Back Tap” feature that allows you to perform actions by double or triple tapping the back of your phone. You can set it to trigger things like screenshots, opening apps, or even controlling your smart home devices. This feature is customizable and can be found under Accessibility settings, making navigation faster and more efficient without ever touching the screen.
Wi-Fi Calling
Wi-Fi calling is a hidden feature that allows you to make calls over a Wi-Fi connection instead of relying on your mobile signal. This is particularly useful in areas with poor cellular reception. It’s available on both iOS and Android, and you can activate it through your phone’s network settings. Not only does it improve call quality, but it also helps you avoid roaming charges when traveling.
One-Handed Mode
For large-screen smartphones, the “One-Handed Mode” is a game changer. This feature reduces the size of the display or shifts it to one side, allowing you to operate your phone easily with one hand. Available on both Android and iOS, it’s especially helpful for people with smaller hands who struggle to reach all corners of the screen.
Customizable Do Not Disturb
The “Do Not Disturb” feature goes beyond silencing calls and messages. On both Android and iOS, you can customize it to allow notifications from select contacts or apps while blocking the rest. You can even schedule it for certain hours, perfect for maintaining focus during work or ensuring uninterrupted sleep.
Screen Recording
Most modern smartphones come with a built-in screen recording feature that allows you to capture everything happening on your display. This is great for creating tutorials, saving live streams, or recording gaming sessions. On iPhones, you can access this by adding the screen recording option to your Control Center. For Android, it’s usually found in the Quick Settings menu.
Smart Text Selection
Android users benefit from Smart Text Selection, which automatically recognizes important data like addresses, phone numbers, and links. When you highlight the text, it suggests relevant actions, such as calling a number, navigating to an address, or searching for a definition. This hidden feature speeds up interactions with text, eliminating extra steps.
Built-in QR Code Scanner
Both iOS and Android devices have integrated QR code scanners within their camera apps. Simply open your camera, point it at a QR code, and a link or relevant action will appear. This feature is a huge time-saver, especially for checking menus, making payments, or accessing websites without needing a third-party app.
Sound Recognition Alerts
A hidden accessibility feature on iPhones running iOS 14 or later is “Sound Recognition.” It allows your phone to listen for specific sounds, like a doorbell, smoke alarm, or baby crying, and alert you when they’re detected. This is particularly useful for people who are hard of hearing or in environments where they may miss crucial sounds.
Android’s Guest Mode
Android phones have a “Guest Mode” that creates a temporary user profile, allowing someone else to use your phone without accessing your personal data. This is ideal for lending your phone to a friend or a child while keeping your apps, messages, and settings private. It can be accessed from the Users section in your settings.
Magnifier Mode
For those who need a little visual assistance, both iPhones and Android devices offer a “Magnifier Mode” under Accessibility settings. This turns your phone into a digital magnifying glass, using the camera to zoom in on objects or text. It’s a handy tool for reading small print or examining fine details.
Wi-Fi Sharing via QR Code
Android phones offer the ability to share your Wi-Fi connection through a QR code, eliminating the need to manually enter long and complex passwords. This feature is especially useful when hosting guests or connecting multiple devices. Simply go into your Wi-Fi settings, select the network, and generate a QR code for easy sharing.
Automatic Emergency Call
Both iPhones and Android phones have an automatic emergency call feature. On iPhones, pressing the power button five times activates this function, while on Android, holding down the power button can trigger the same. This built-in feature ensures that help is just a few clicks away in critical situations and can even send your location to emergency contacts.
Gesture Navigation
Android and iOS devices now come with gesture navigation, eliminating the need for on-screen buttons. By swiping up from the bottom or across the screen, you can access the home screen, switch apps, or go back. Gesture navigation creates a more fluid experience and offers more screen space for your apps.
Advanced Sleep Tracking
Many smartphones, particularly iPhones with iOS 14 or later and newer Android devices, have built-in sleep tracking features. Integrated with the Health app or Google Fit, your phone can monitor your sleep patterns, set bedtime reminders, and even track your breathing. This feature helps you improve your sleep quality without needing an additional wearable device.
Hidden Document Scanner
If you’ve ever needed to scan a document on the go, your smartphone has you covered. On iPhones, you can use the Notes app to scan documents by tapping the camera icon and selecting “Scan Documents.” Android users can access this feature through Google Drive. This hidden tool is perfect for quick, high-quality scans of receipts, forms, or contracts.
Focus Mode
Android and iOS phones now offer “Focus Mode,” which blocks distracting apps or notifications for a set period. Whether you’re trying to concentrate at work or enjoy uninterrupted downtime, Focus Mode ensures you stay productive. You can access this feature from your phone’s settings or control panel, customizing which apps you want to disable.
Adaptive Battery
Newer Android devices feature an “Adaptive Battery” setting, which uses AI to manage your phone’s battery life. By learning your app usage patterns, it prioritizes power for frequently used apps while limiting background activity for others. This feature significantly extends battery life without requiring constant manual adjustments.
iPhone’s FaceTime Eye Contact
With iOS 14, iPhones introduced a feature that automatically adjusts your eyes in FaceTime calls to make it look like you’re maintaining eye contact with the other person. It’s a subtle but effective trick that enhances the personal feel of video calls, creating a more natural interaction.
Data Saver Mode
Both Android and iPhone offer a “Data Saver Mode” to help you control mobile data usage. When activated, this feature restricts background data and reduces the quality of streams and downloads. This is ideal when you have a limited data plan or are in an area with spotty coverage.
Silent Unknown Callers
iPhones have a feature called “Silence Unknown Callers,” which automatically sends calls from unknown numbers directly to voicemail. This is an excellent way to avoid spam calls without manually blocking each number. You can find this feature under Phone settings, and it’s a great trick for maintaining a peaceful, distraction-free environment.
This article originally appeared on UnifyCosmos.
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