June 13, 2025, 9:35 am | Read time: 7 minutes

Few smartphones have as many hidden features as the iPhone. It’s high time to get to know the most important ones.

1. Separate a subject from the background in a photo

This feature is brand new in iOS 16 and allows you to cut out people, animals, or objects from a photo and paste them elsewhere. It doesn’t matter where the photo comes from or whether it was taken as a portrait or normally. The iPhone automatically detects when one or more subjects are in the image and can cut them out with surprising accuracy.

To do this, simply press and hold the subject until an outline appears. After releasing, the options “Copy” and “Share” appear. The subject can then be shared via compatible apps like a regular image. Alternatively, you can hold it longer, switch apps, and drop it there to paste.

2. Customize the lock screen with photo styles

With iOS 16, Apple introduced customizable lock screens for the first time. By holding the lock screen, you enter edit mode. If you choose your own photo as the background, you can set individual photo styles for it–similar to the iPhone’s camera app. Simply swipe from the right edge of the screen to the left. A small box will show the currently selected style.

3. Display Wi-Fi password

It’s been possible for a while to share the Wi-Fi password with another iPhone user on the same network through a hidden feature. iOS 16 now finally makes it easier to share the Wi-Fi password with Android smartphones. It can also help if you’ve forgotten the password.

In the Wi-Fi settings, you can now select the network you’re using and click on “Password.” Confirm with your unlock method, and the Wi-Fi password will be displayed. From there, you can copy it as text and save it or send it as a message.

Read more: Hands-on with iOS 26! See how different the new iPhone operating system looks

4. Save time with text replacement

You can save time typing by storing frequently used phrases and words as shortcuts using text replacement. Go to the iPhone settings, select General, then Keyboard, and find Text Replacement. Save the word or phrase you want to replace under Text. In the Shortcut field, enter an abbreviation that will automatically insert the saved phrases when typing.

Another tip: you can add terms to the text replacement list that are missing from the current dictionary. Tap the Plus in the top right and enter the new word under Text. You can ignore the Shortcut field.

5. Add low power mode to the control center

Go to Control Center in the settings and scroll to Low Power Mode. Tap the green “+” to add the function as a quick access in the control center. To access it, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen on an iPhone with Face ID or up from the bottom edge on an iPhone with Touch ID. There will now be a button for low power mode.

6. Select and copy multiple photos at once

Press and hold a photo until the iPhone briefly vibrates, then drag the image slightly to the side (keep holding). Now, tap additional photos with another finger to create a bundle (still holding). Switch to the app where you want to copy the images while holding the bundle. Release your finger to paste the images at the destination.

7. Launch the camera from the lock screen

The most obvious way to launch the camera on a locked iPhone is to press and hold the round camera icon at the bottom right. But there’s a faster way. Just swipe from the right edge of the screen to the left, and the camera app will open.

8. Use Live Text in the camera app

With iOS 15, Apple’s iPhone gained a very practical feature called Live Text. It automatically recognizes text in photos, which you can then highlight, copy, look up, and translate. This works in the camera viewfinder and with already taken photos. If text is visible in the photo, a small, round text icon automatically appears. This allows you to access Live Text, which displays the recognized text in a small box. You can copy the text and easily paste it into another app.

9. Scan documents

With a trick on Apple’s iPhone, you can quickly and easily scan documents and save them as PDFs in the Notes app. When creating a new note, just click on the Camera icon, and the option Scan Documents will appear.

The iPhone automatically detects the paper’s outlines and crops the image accordingly. The image is automatically straightened, and contrast and brightness are adjusted for readability. iOS even recognizes the text in the image, allowing you to search for specific words or copy the content. You can then scan more documents or finish the process. The Notes app recognizes these captures as scanned documents. When saved on the iPhone, iOS automatically converts them into PDF files.

10. Jump to the first photo in the Photos app

Do you have so many pictures in the Photos app that it takes too long to scroll to the beginning manually? With a tap on the top edge of the screen (just below the notch), you can jump directly to the first photo in the gallery. This works the same way in albums in the Photos app and in search results. To return to the latest photo, simply tap the corresponding tab in the bottom bar of the Photos app where you are currently located–such as Library or Albums.

Also read: 15 secret iOS features you should know

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More iPhone tips from TECHBOOK

1. Delete entries in the calculator app

In the calculator app, there are no buttons to delete numbers or characters. However, there’s a trick: a simple swipe left or right over the number field performs this function.

Another handy trick: Rotate the iPhone 90 degrees, and the keypad shifts to the right, revealing a scientific calculator with numerous additional functions.

2. Pin content in iMessage

iMessage has a handy feature for pinning content that has been sent to you. This makes it easier to find links and images, for example. To do this, press and hold the relevant message and tap Pin in the context menu. Pinned messages take priority in the search function and appear in the chat details. Additionally, certain apps that support “Shared with You” display the pins.

3. Stack widgets on the home screen

With iOS 14, the iPhone introduced widgets that can be freely placed on the home screen. The unique aspect of these small information boxes is that they can be combined. You can create stacks where multiple widgets are layered. Press and hold a free spot on the home screen to activate edit mode. Then drag one widget over another of the same size to create a stack–this works with up to ten widgets. The iPhone automatically learns your usage habits and changes the displayed widget throughout the day to what you need. Alternatively, you can scroll through the stack by swiping over the widgets.

4. Access Spotlight search

Many already know that you can access the search function on the iPhone by swiping down on the home screen. In iOS 15, you can even access Spotlight search from the lock screen. Simply swipe down, and the search field will appear at the top of the screen. Click on a search result, and the iPhone will automatically unlock via Face ID.