Back Tap: turn the back of your iPhone into a button
Double- or triple-tap the back of iPhone to trigger an action or Shortcut.
ο£Ώ Official Apple Guide β
Ranked by everyday usefulness β not by how well they work as clickbait. Explore privacy, camera, battery, productivity, Safari and genuinely useful iPhone features.
The ranking balances everyday usefulness, how often a feature can help, how easy it is to use and how likely it is that an iPhone owner has overlooked it. Features that depend on a particular model, language, region or Apple Intelligence are labelled.
Then search or filter the full list to find something useful for your iPhone.
Double- or triple-tap the back of iPhone to trigger an action or Shortcut.
Add another layer of privacy when someone else is holding your unlocked iPhone.
Phone numbers, addresses, serial numbers and printed text can become selectable text.
Turn receipts, letters and paperwork into clean digital scans.
On supported iPhones, Camera Control can provide fast access to camera settings such as zoom and exposure.
A lower maximum charge can reduce the time your battery spends at a very high state of charge.
On compatible devices, visual intelligence can help you learn more about objects, text and places around you.
A full-page capture is ideal for long webpages and documents.
The Action Button becomes much more powerful when it launches an action you actually use every day.
Combine several actions into a single command and launch it from multiple places in iOS.
You can hold content with one finger, switch apps with another and drop it into the destination.
Perfect for email addresses, standard replies and phrases you type repeatedly.
Position the cursor precisely without repeatedly tapping between letters.
Quickly undo or redo edits without hunting for a button.
Knowing iOS text-selection gestures makes editing long messages much quicker.
Keep family or important chats at the top instead of searching through the conversation list.
Correct a mistake shortly after sending instead of adding another confusing message.
Prepare a message when you remember it and have it sent at a more appropriate time.
Reduce interruptions from callers you don't recognise.
Knowing how your own iPhone triggers emergency assistance matters more than learning it during an emergency.
Medical information and emergency contacts can be available from the Lock Screen when configured to allow it.
Give someone your location when useful without leaving permanent sharing enabled.
Location permission is worth reviewing because many apps do not need permanent access.
App Tracking Transparency gives you control over cross-company tracking requests.
Safety Check can help review people, apps and devices that have access to information you share.
Password warnings can reveal credentials that should be changed before an account is abused.
Apple's password tools can generate verification codes for accounts that support standard two-factor setup.
Nearby Apple devices can securely offer Wi-Fi password sharing when the required conditions are met.
Your iPhone can provide internet access to another device when your carrier plan supports it.
AirDrop is often the quickest way to move high-quality photos and files between nearby Apple devices.
Search can find photos using dates, places, people and recognised content, depending on your library and enabled features.
Compatible Apple Intelligence devices can remove some unwanted elements from a photo.
Hidden photos can be kept away from the normal library view and protected using device authentication.
Deleted photos remain recoverable for a limited period unless permanently removed sooner.
Stop Camera from resetting selected shooting settings every time you return.
Simple composition aids make straight horizons and balanced framing much easier.
Live Text can turn printed information in front of you into text you can copy or act on.
The built-in camera recognises standard QR codes.
Fast sequences increase your chance of catching movement at the right moment.
QuickTake and related Camera controls can make spontaneous video faster on supported models.
Settings search is often faster than navigating several menus.
The best Control Center is the one containing the controls you actually use.
Focus can allow the people and apps you care about while reducing everything else.
A work, travel or evening Lock Screen can surface different widgets and pair with Focus modes.
A charging iPhone can become a bedside clock, photo display or information screen on supported versions.
Reader can make compatible articles easier to read by reducing navigation and visual distractions.
Reading List is useful when you find something worth keeping but don't want another permanent tab.
Useful when a mobile site hides a control or presents a simplified interface.
Built-in music recognition can identify music playing around you without manually searching lyrics.
Built-in background sounds can mask distracting environmental noise without installing another app.
See the biggest iOS 27 changes in the IANS visual guide.
Open iOS 27 Guide β