(ABC 6 News) – Funny thing about smartphones: it’s the one thing we use more than anything else every day, yet we don’t know all of their secrets.

Most people never explore Apple’s tips and only use the features we’ve already learned. But with each release of a new iOS, Apple adds more features that only power users know.

I’ve checked with several iPhone users who were surprised to hear about these “secrets”. Maybe you will find them helpful. If nothing else, they’re just pretty cool.

Quick QR Code Scanning:

Instead of always using the camera, try the dedicated QR code reader. Swipe down to the Control Panel, tap the plus icon to add a control, and add “Scan Code.” Now, when you need to scan a QR code, just tap the icon in the Control Panel. Aim at the code, and it will take you directly to the site – no extra clicks needed.

Ambient Music in Control Panel:

Did you know there are ambient music options in the Control Panel? A simple tap plays relaxing music. You can also ask Siri to play some ambient sounds. Perfect for unwinding!

Smart Do Not Disturb:

Ever forget to turn your phone’s ringer back on after putting it on silent? Use Focus mode and Do Not Disturb. You can set it to turn off sounds for an hour or until you leave a specific location. When you leave the theater, church, or meeting, the ringer will automatically turn back on. Super convenient! And super power tip: explore the settings within the Focus Modes. You can elect to allow notifications from specific apps. For example, if you put your phone in Sleep Mode when you go to bed, you can opt to allow messages and calls from certain people and receive notifications from your home security system apps.

Mode when you go to bed, you can opt to allow messages and calls from certain people and
receive notifications from your home security system apps.

Reorganize Your Home Screens:

Want to change the order of your home screen pages? Hold down on the home screen to enter edit mode, then tap the three dots at the bottom. You can hide screens or swipe a page to re-order them. Customize your iPhone just the way you like it! It’s also much easier to move an app from one screen to another by holding the icon until it shakes, then, using your other hand, swipe to the page where you want to drop the app.

Spotlight Search for Everything:

You probably use Spotlight search to find apps, but it can do much more. Swipe down on any screen and start searching. If you enter “Chris Stapleton,” for example, Spotlight will show his Wikipedia page, a list of songs, albums, and videos, and links to his social media channels. It’s a powerful search tool! I was surprised to see some photos I took at a recent Chris Stapleton concert. Spotlight managed to find photos from the entire evening, even at dinner with friends.

More to Come!

The iPhone has many accessibility options that are not just for those with hearing or vision
impairments but are useful for everyone. I’ll explore those features in a future post.