We spend hours every day staring at our iPhones, yet most of us are only scratching the surface of what these pocket supercomputers can do. Apple has buried dozens of brilliant, time-saving gestures and shortcuts deep within iOS that can completely transform how you use your device.
Ready to graduate from a casual user to an iPhone power user?
Here is our beautifully curated list of the best iPhone tricks, hidden gestures, and shortcuts that will make navigating your digital life feel like magic.
✍️ Texting & Typing Tricks
Stop fighting with the iOS keyboard. These hidden shortcuts make typing, editing, and navigating text a breeze.
The Secret Trackpad
Ever struggle to get the cursor exactly between two specific letters? Stop tapping the screen! **Press and hold the Spacebar.** The keyboard will turn blank, and you can now slide your thumb around to move the cursor with pixel-perfect precision, just like a laptop trackpad.
Shake to Undo
Made a massive typo or accidentally deleted a paragraph? Just give your iPhone a firm shake. A popup will appear asking if you want to “Undo Typing.”
[!TIP]
**The Three-Finger Swipe:** If shaking your phone in public feels a bit much, you can achieve the exact same thing by swiping left across the screen with three fingers to **Undo**, and swiping right with three fingers to **Redo**.
Quick Domain Typing
When typing a web address in Safari, press and hold the period (
.) key. A menu will instantly pop up with.com,.net,.edu, and other common domains so you don’t have to type them out.
📸 Camera & Photo Magic
Never miss the perfect shot while fumbling with your camera settings again.
| Action | Shortcut | What it does |
| :— | :— | :— |
| **QuickTake Video** | Hold the Shutter Button | Instantly starts recording a video while you are in Photo mode. Drag your finger to the right to lock the recording so you can let go. |
| **Burst Mode** | Swipe Shutter to the Left | Takes a rapid-fire burst of photos—perfect for capturing fast-moving action or sports. |
| **Search by Text** | Live Text in Photos | Open any photo with text in it. Tap and hold the text directly in the image to copy it, translate it, or search the web. |
[!IMPORTANT]
**Hide Your Private Photos:** Got photos you don’t want showing up in your camera roll? Select them, tap the Share button, and tap **Hide**. To make them truly invisible, go to Settings > Photos and turn off “Show Hidden Album”.
🧭 Navigation & UI Secrets
Navigating a massive Pro Max screen with one hand doesn’t have to require finger gymnastics.
Reachability (The One-Handed Savior)
Can’t reach the top of the screen? Simply swipe down on the very bottom edge of your screen (the home indicator bar). The entire screen will slide down halfway, putting the top buttons perfectly within thumb’s reach.
The “Back Tap” Magic Button
Your iPhone has a secret button: the entire back of the phone!
Go to **Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap**. You can configure a “Double Tap” or “Triple Tap” on the back of your iPhone to perform almost any action.
*Pro-tip: Map “Double Tap” to turn on the Flashlight, or take a Screenshot!*
Tap to the Top
Scrolling endlessly through a massive webpage, Twitter feed, or long email? Tap the very top edge of your iPhone screen (right on the clock or dynamic island). iOS will instantly rocket you all the way back up to the top of the page.
🤖 Siri & The Shortcuts App
If you want to automate your life, the built-in “Shortcuts” app is your best friend.
- **Custom App Icons:** You can use Shortcuts to create custom icons for your home screen apps, completely changing your phone’s aesthetic.
- * **Automated Texts:** Set up a personal automation to automatically text your significant other “I’m leaving work!” the moment your iPhone connects to your car’s Bluetooth.
- * **Battery Saver Automation:** Create an automation that automatically turns on Low Power Mode, turns off Bluetooth, and dims the screen the second your battery drops below 20%.
[!CAUTION]
Downloading custom Shortcuts from the internet is incredibly useful, but always review the steps inside a Shortcut before running it to ensure it isn’t accessing your personal data or sending unwanted messages!
Conclusion
Your iPhone is packed with delightful micro-interactions designed to save you time. Try enabling “Back Tap” today or utilizing the Spacebar trackpad next time you send an email.
*Did we miss your favorite iPhone hack? Let us know in the comments below!*