iOS 12 introduces several significant new features like Memoji, Siri Shortcuts, Screen Time for keeping track of the time you're spending on your iOS devices, Group FaceTime with up to 32 people, new parental controls, ARKit 2.0, and more.

Along with all of the major additions, there are dozens of smaller, more hidden features. In our latest YouTube video, we've pulled out several of the most useful, less well-known features that are included in the iOS 12 update.

  1. Accidental Screenshot Prevention - In iOS 12, accidental iPhone X screenshots are less likely to happen through a new feature that prevents a screenshot from being taken while the iPhone X's display is turned off. With the change, the screenshot feature is deactivated until the iPhone X's display is activated. iOS 12 also prevents screenshots from being captured and the camera from working when an iPhone or iPad has been restarted or powered back on after being shut down.
  2. Quitting Apps on iPhone X - In iOS 11, you need to open up multitasking and hold down on an app to bring up a red "X" to close it. In iOS 12, things are simplified. With the multitasking interface open, just swipe up on an app to close it, just like you do on every other device.
  3. Multiple Faces for Face ID - On the iPhone X, you can register two faces that will work with Face ID. Prior to iOS 12, you could only register a single face. Registering multiple faces is useful if you dramatically change your appearance on the regular, like putting on ski goggles, a scarf, and a hat.
  4. Lyric Search - In the Music app in iOS 12, you can search for songs by their lyrics.
  5. Do Not Disturb - Get to Do Not Disturb Controls in iOS 12 quickly through the Control Center. Just 3D Touch or long press to get Do Not Disturb options like activate for one hour, activate until this evening, or activate until I leave this location.
  6. Bedtime Mode - iOS 12 has a new Bedtime Mode linked to Do Not Disturb, and if you enable it, all of your notifications will bypass the Lock screen and go straight to Notification Center so if you glance at your phone for the time during the night, you won't see a list of pending distractions. When you wake up, you'll see a nice "Good morning!" lock screen with a list of everything that happened overnight.
  7. AirDrop Passwords - If you need to share a password between devices or with a friend in iOS 12, you can AirDrop it. With the iOS Password Manager open, choose a login, press on the password field, and select the AirDrop option that pops up.
  8. Quickly Scan QR Codes - There's a Control Center option in iOS 12 that opens right up to the built-in camera to scan a QR code. It's the icon that looks like a QR code, and it can be enabled through Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls. Alternatively, 3D Touch on the Camera icon on the Home screen to get to a Quick Action for scanning a QR code.

To see all of these features in action, make sure to check out the video. What are your favorite hidden tips and tricks in iOS 12? Let us know in the comments.

Related Forum: iOS 12

Top Rated Comments

christarp Avatar
99 months ago
Seriously unexciting list of "features". Apple should concentrate on making iOS faster while increasing battery life and all will be well.
That's literally what they're doing. That's the reason for the "unexciting features" Because development time went to other things. I don't know why you're complaining about them doing the exact thing you're calling for.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NervousFish2 Avatar
99 months ago
Seriously unexciting list of "features". Apple should concentrate on making iOS faster while increasing battery life and all will be well.
Well, by the looks of things, they've made serious inroads on that, too, with iOS 12.

(But of course, these are just minor possibly unknown features, as the headline said. So maybe lets not get all super overreacty and wild tangenty?)
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jarman92 Avatar
99 months ago
Anyone have idea for why Apple would include a "QR Scan" button to open the camera, which can scan QR codes anyway?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mac Fly (film) Avatar
99 months ago
Anyone have idea for why Apple would include a "QR Scan" button to open the camera, which can scan QR codes anyway?
Feature visibility. Many typical iPhone users don’t know the feature exists. Likely comment: ‘Yeah, only Android can scan those code-thingies, pity our iPhones cannot’. “Look Mary, our iPhones can now scan those QR Code thingies! Pity there are none around right now to scan”.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kalafalas Avatar
99 months ago
“Deleting Apps on iPhone X“ is incorrect and misleading. Please change to closing, force quitting, or removing from multitasking.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
djcerla Avatar
99 months ago
Try to register a second FaceID appearance with the phone sitting on a table and the face just inside the circle: it will unlock when laying on a flat surface with no need to stretch the head out.

Can you guys confirm?

UPDATE: on my iPhone it consistently works, so I believe this is quite the big deal for X users.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Black

Apple Just Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever After Beats

Thursday January 29, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today confirmed to Reuters that it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup that is working on artificial intelligence technology for audio. Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014. Q.ai has...
imac video apple feature

Apple Unveils First New Products of 2026

Monday January 26, 2026 1:55 pm PST by
Apple today introduced its first two physical products of 2026: a second-generation AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop for the Apple Watch. Read our coverage of each announcement to learn more:Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More Apple Introduces New Black Unity Apple Watch BandBoth the new AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided...
iPhone 5s

iPhone 5s Gets New Software Update 13 Years After Launch

Monday January 26, 2026 3:56 pm PST by
Alongside iOS 26.2.1, Apple today released an updated version of iOS 12 for devices that are still running that operating system update, eight years after the software was first released. iOS 12.5.8 is available for the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 6, meaning Apple is continuing to support these devices for 13 and 12 years after launch, respectively. The iPhone 5s came out in September 2013,...
Apple Creator Studio

Apple's Next Launch is Today

Tuesday January 27, 2026 2:39 pm PST by
Update: Apple Creator Studio is now available. Apple Creator Studio launches this Wednesday, January 28. The all-in-one subscription provides access to the Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage apps, with U.S. pricing set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. A subscription to Apple Creator Studio also unlocks "intelligent features" and "premium...
apple silicon 1 feature

Apple Responds to Skyrocketing RAM and Storage Chip Prices

Thursday January 29, 2026 2:40 pm PST by
On an earnings call with equity analysts today, Apple CEO Tim Cook responded to fast-rising RAM and SSD storage chip prices in the supply chain. Prices for RAM and NAND storage chips are surging lately due to high demand from companies building out AI servers, resulting in supply constraints. Cook said that rising memory chip prices had a "minimal impact" on Apple's gross margin in the...