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 loads beneath the hood that provides to the regular stream of intriguing customizations and lesser-known options from the previous few years. A number of useful settings are turned off by default, and it isn’t instantly apparent tips on how to swap off some annoying options. We’re right here that can assist you get probably the most out of your Apple cellphone.
Upon getting issues arrange the way in which you need, it’s a breeze to repeat all the things, together with settings, once you swap to a brand new iPhone. For extra ideas and suggestions, learn our associated guides—Finest iPhone, Finest iPhone 16 Instances, Finest MagSafe Equipment—and our explainers on How you can Set Up a New iPhone, How you can Again Up Your iPhone, and How you can Repair Your iPhone.
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Customise the Management Middle
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Swipe down from the highest proper of the display to open the Management Middle, 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 house to open the customization menu. Right here you possibly can transfer icons and widgets round, take away something you don’t need, or faucet Add a Management on the backside for a searchable checklist of shortcut icons and widgets you possibly can set up throughout a number of Management Middle screens. You too can customise your house display with iOS 18 to vary the colour and dimension of app icons, rearrange them, and extra.
Change Your Lock Display screen Buttons
You understand these lock display 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 house on the lock display 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 too can change the climate and date widgets, the font and colour for the time, and decide a wallpaper.
Lengthen Display screen Time-Out
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Whereas it’s good to have your display day out for battery saving and safety functions, I discover it maddening when the display goes off whereas I’m doing one thing. The default display time-out is simply too brief for my part, however fortunately, you possibly can 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 suggests you’ll have to manually push the ability button to show the display off.
Flip Off Keyboard Sounds
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The iPhone’s keyboard clicking sound once you sort is extraordinarily aggravating. Belief me, even when you don’t hate it, everybody in your neighborhood once you sort positive 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, decide Show & Brightness, and faucet Darkish. Chances are you’ll 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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For those who’re decided to squeeze as a few years out of your iPhone battery as attainable, contemplate altering the charging restrict. You’ll be able to maximize your smartphone’s battery well being when you keep away from charging it past 80 p.c. The iPhone’s default is now Optimized Battery Charging, which waits at 80 p.c after which goals to hit 100% when you’re able to go within the morning. However there’s a slider you possibly can set to a tough 80 p.c restrict in Settings, beneath Battery, and Charging.
Set Up the Motion Button
People with an iPhone 15 Professional mannequin or any machine within the iPhone 16 vary have an Motion Button as an alternative of the outdated mute swap. By default, it can silence your iPhone once you press and maintain it, however you possibly can change what it does by going to Settings, then Motion Button. You’ll be able to swipe by way of varied fundamental choices from Digital camera and Flashlight to Visible Intelligence, however choose Shortcuts if you would like it to do one thing extra fascinating. For those who’re unfamiliar, take a look at our information on How you can 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. For those who desire to choose out of sure options or choose out fully, go to Settings, Apple Intelligence & Siri, and faucet on it to toggle Apple Intelligence off. For those who desire to maintain choose options on, you’ll find directions in our How you can Flip off Apple Intelligence information.
Disguise Delicate Apps
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Whether or not you might be embarrassed by your Sweet Crush habit or risque images, or maybe you’ve been utilizing the Notes app to plan your companion’s party, you possibly can disguise them from prying eyes. I am not right here to evaluate. To guard an app, you could have two choices: faucet and maintain on the icon and choose Require Face ID, then Require Face ID or Disguise and Require Face ID. The primary choice leaves the app in place, however nobody can entry it with out a Face ID verify. For those who desire to cover the app, select the second choice after which Disguise App, and it will likely be obscured inside a Hidden folder on the backside of your App Library that requires a Face ID verify to open.
Cease Movies Autoplaying or Looping
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For those who discover it irritating that movies robotically play as you scroll by way of the Pictures app, or it bugs you that they loop and repeat as an alternative of stopping on the finish, you possibly can change that habits. Faucet Settings, Apps, then Pictures, and scroll right down to toggle Auto-Play Movement and Loop Movies off.
Improve Speech in Films and TV Exhibits
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It may be powerful to make out the dialog in some TV exhibits and films, however Apple has a repair for muffled speech in your iPhone. Whenever you’re taking part in a video, faucet the display 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 is best to shut up your iPhone at night time so it doesn’t disturb your sleep, however Apple provides a variety of instruments to automate or schedule downtime that can assist 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 way of. You too can 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. In case you have legitimate various apps put in for Electronic mail, Messaging, Browser, and some different classes, you possibly can choose them as an alternative 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 useful if you wish to entry them when there’s no web accessible. 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 price reviewing your app permissions and limiting them. There are a number of routes to do that, however Settings, then Privateness & Safety, may be the simplest. There’s loads right here, however I counsel Location Companies and eradicating or lowering 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 keep watch over are Contacts and Pictures, as each now provide the choice 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 once you aren’t utilizing them, go to Settings, Apps, and select any you don’t have to refresh except 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 an inventory of variations (American, Australian, British, Indian, Irish, South African) and voices (Irish Voice 2 is my decide). Simply bear in mind that when you select a brand new one, it could take some time to obtain.
Set a Shortcut for Your Electronic mail Tackle
Neglect about typing out your entire electronic mail tackle each time. Go to Settings, Common, and select Keyboard. Faucet Textual content Alternative after which the plus icon on the high proper to arrange textual content shortcuts, corresponding to “eml” in your full electronic mail tackle, or “addy” in your mailing tackle. This may additionally work for another textual content you sort out often.
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 may 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 possibly can select All the time or By no means.
Make Some AI Artwork
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For those who resolve to provide AI an opportunity and fancy producing some artwork with AI help, open up the Playground app. You’ll be able to decide images, themes, costumes, equipment, locations, or sort prompts. Right here’s a full information on tips on how to use Apple’s Picture Playground. It is accessible on Apple gadgets operating iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, or macOS Sequoia 15.2.
Cut back Automobile Illness
Do you get nauseous once you use your iPhone as a automobile passenger? Go to Settings, Accessibility, select Movement, then Present Car Movement Cues. You’ll be able to flip it on or off to show dots that assist scale back movement illness, however when you faucet Automated, it can activate when it detects you might be within the automobile.
