📱 Hidden Smartphone Tricks You Probably Didn’t Know You Could Use
Your smartphone can do far more than make calls, send messages, and browse social media. Many useful features are tucked away in settings or activated by simple gestures.
1. Take a screenshot of a whole webpage
On many Android phones, after taking a screenshot, look for an option such as “Capture more,” “Scroll,” or “Long screenshot.” This lets you capture more than what’s currently visible.
On iPhone, Safari can also save an entire webpage as a PDF when the full-page screenshot option is available.
2. Turn on the flashlight without opening an app 🔦
On many Android phones, swipe down to open Quick Settings and tap Flashlight.
On iPhone, use the flashlight button on the Lock Screen or in Control Center.
3. Use your phone as a document scanner
The camera and built-in Notes or document-scanning features can turn paper documents into digital files. This is useful for receipts, forms, and notes.
4. Search for almost anything on your screen
Modern Android phones can use features such as Circle to Search on supported devices, allowing you to circle an object, image, or text and search for information about it.
5. Copy text from a photograph
On many recent phones, you can open a photo containing text and use the built-in text-recognition feature to select, copy, translate, or search the text.
This can be surprisingly useful for signs, menus, receipts, and handwritten notes.
6. Make your phone read text aloud
Both Android and iPhone offer accessibility features that can read selected text or on-screen content aloud. Look under the phone’s Accessibility settings.
7. Use the space bar as a cursor
On many phones, press and hold the space bar and slide your finger to move the text cursor precisely. This is much easier than repeatedly tapping between letters.
8. Quickly silence an incoming call
You don’t necessarily have to answer or reject a call. Pressing the volume button can silence the ringtone while allowing the call to continue ringing.
9. Find your phone with your voice
If you’ve enabled the relevant assistant and settings, you may be able to use a voice command to locate your phone. Google’s Find Hub and Apple’s Find My can also help locate a misplaced device.
10. Share your Wi-Fi password more easily 📶
iPhones can share Wi-Fi credentials with nearby Apple devices when the appropriate requirements are met. Android phones can commonly generate a Wi-Fi QR code that another device can scan.
11. Use Do Not Disturb to create quiet hours
Instead of manually silencing notifications every night, schedule Do Not Disturb, Focus, or Sleep modes for specific times.
You can usually allow calls from selected contacts while blocking distracting notifications.
12. Turn on emergency information
Your phone may allow you to add emergency contacts and medical information that can be accessed from the lock screen, depending on the device and region.
This can be especially valuable if you’re unable to communicate during an emergency.
13. Reduce distractions with app timers
Android’s Digital Wellbeing and Apple’s Screen Time can show how much time you’re spending in individual apps and allow you to set limits.
14. Use the camera to identify things
Depending on your phone and software, visual-search tools can identify plants, objects, products, landmarks, animals, and text from an image.
Remember that visual identification isn’t always accurate—particularly for plants, medications, or anything where a mistake could be dangerous.
15. Double-tap or back-tap for shortcuts
Some Android phones and iPhones support gestures such as double-tapping the back of the phone to perform actions like taking a screenshot, opening an app, or activating accessibility features.
The available options vary considerably by model.
One important tip
Smartphone features differ between Android versions, manufacturers, iPhone models, and regions, so you may not see every feature listed above.
A good habit is to occasionally explore Settings → Accessibility, Gestures, Privacy, and Digital Wellbeing/Screen Time. Some of the most useful smartphone features are hiding there in plain sight.
