You are typing a long message, spot a typo three lines up, and start jabbing at the screen to move the cursor. Sound familiar? Most people use their iPhone for years without finding the small iPhone tips and tricks that would have saved them that frustration.
These iPhone tips and tricks are simple, need no extra apps, and take a minute or two to set up. Menu names can shift slightly between iOS versions, so if something looks different on your phone, use the Settings search bar at the top.
iPhone Tips and Tricks for Faster Typing and Editing
1. Turn the Keyboard Into a Trackpad
Press and hold the spacebar until the letters fade, then slide your finger around. The cursor moves wherever you drag, which makes fixing that typo in the middle of a paragraph painless. It is much more precise than tapping the text directly.
2. Create Text Shortcuts For Things You Type Constantly
Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement and tap the plus sign. Type your full phrase, then a short trigger. For example, a short trigger like “myaddr” can expand into your full home address, and “omw” can become “On my way, see you in a few minutes.”
It is ideal for email sign-offs, addresses, and phrases you repeat all day. Speed helps when you draft on your phone, but reading it back still matters. If you write for a living, it is worth understanding why a human editor still matters before hitting send on anything important.
3. Shake to Undo
Typed something and immediately regretted it? Shake your iPhone gently and a prompt appears offering to undo the typing. Make sure Shake to Undo is switched on under Settings > Accessibility > Touch if nothing happens.
iPhone Tips and Tricks for Camera and Photos
4. Lift a Subject Out of a Photo
Open a photo, then touch and hold the main subject, such as a person, pet, or object. When it glows, you can drag it into a message or note as a cutout, without the background. It works best on photos with a clear subject, and it is a fun way to make quick stickers or clean up an image for a listing. Of all the iPhone tips and tricks for photos, this one tends to impress people the most.
5. Copy Text From Photos And the Camera
Live Text lets you select words directly in images. Open a photo of a sign, a receipt, or a whiteboard, then press and hold the text and choose Copy. You can also point the camera at printed text and tap the small text icon that appears. It is handy for grabbing phone numbers, Wi-Fi passwords, or addresses without retyping them.
6. Hold the Shutter to Record Video
Instead of switching modes, press and hold the shutter button in Photo mode to start recording a video right away. Let go and the recording stops. It is useful when a moment unfolds faster than you can change settings. This works on recent iPhone models, so if it does nothing on yours, update your software, since many iPhone tips and tricks depend on the latest iOS.
iPhone Tips and Tricks to Save Time Every Day
7. Set up Back Tap
This one is a genuine hidden gem. Back Tap lets you double or triple tap the back of your iPhone to trigger an action, like taking a screenshot, opening Control Center, or running a shortcut.
According to Apple’s support page for Back Tap, you need an iPhone 8 or later running iOS 14 or newer. Here is how to turn it on:
- Open Settings > Accessibility > Touch.
- Scroll down and tap Back Tap.
- Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap.
- Pick the action you want.
Many people set a double tap for screenshots and a triple tap for the flashlight or a favorite shortcut. If it triggers by accident, switch one of the taps to None.
8. Use Spotlight Search For Almost Everything
Swipe down from the middle of your home screen and start typing. Spotlight finds apps, contacts, messages, notes, and settings in one place. Instead of scrolling through pages of apps, just type the first few letters. It can also handle quick calculations and conversions.
9. Build a Few Simple Shortcuts
The Shortcuts app is easy to overlook, but even one small automation can save real time. Some ideas:
- A shortcut that texts “Heading home” to a chosen contact with one tap
- A shortcut that turns on Do Not Disturb and starts a playlist
- A shortcut that opens your most-used apps together
Start with the built-in Gallery, which has ready-made examples you can tweak. If you like the idea of handing repetitive tasks off, see how automation and agents are changing work in 2026 for the bigger picture of where this is heading. Even one shortcut turns these iPhone tips and tricks into a real daily habit.
10. Use Focus Modes to Cut Distractions
Focus lets you decide which apps and people can notify you at different times. Create a Work Focus that only allows calls from your family and messages from your team, or a Sleep Focus that silences everything overnight. You can also link a Focus to a schedule or location, so it switches on automatically when you arrive at the office. Focus is one of the iPhone tips and tricks that quietly improves your whole day
Common Mistakes With iPhone Tips and Tricks
- Setting too many shortcuts at once. Start with two or three that you will genuinely use. A crowded setup is harder to remember.
- Skipping software updates. Some features only appear on newer iOS versions, so an older one may hide a tool you are looking for.
- Making Focus rules too strict. If you block everything, you may miss something urgent. Allow calls from key people as a safety net.
- Forgetting to test. After setting up Back Tap or a text replacement, try these iPhone tips and tricks a few times so you know they behave the way you expect.
Final Thoughts on iPhone Tips and Tricks
Do not try all ten at once. Pick the one that solves your biggest annoyance right now. If you type a lot, start with the trackpad trick and text replacement. If you take many photos, try subject lift and Live Text. If you like automation, set up Back Tap and one small shortcut.
Give each new habit a week before adding another. Once a couple of these become second nature, you will find yourself reaching for the rest. The iPhone has plenty more hiding in its settings, and the best iPhone tips and tricks usually come from asking, “Is there a faster way to do this?”
