7 Useful iPhone Tips You Might Not Know - MacRumors
Skip to Content

7 Useful iPhone Tips You Might Not Know

So you've been using an iPhone for years now and think you have it all figured out? Don't be so sure. We've gathered up 7 tricks obscure enough that even the most seasoned iPhone user is likely to learn something new, so make sure to check out our latest YouTube video and read below for a little spoiler of all of the tips that are included.

  • Reopen Last Closed Safari Tab - In Safari, if you press on the "+" button at the bottom of the display, you can reopen tabs that you've recently closed.
  • Set a Music Timer - Like to listen to music when falling asleep but want it to turn off after a set time? In the Clock app, choose "Timer," scroll to the end, and select "Stop Playing" as an option. That'll stop your music when the timer runs out.
  • Move Multiple Apps - When you're moving apps on your Home screen, if you long press on one, drag it away a bit and then tap others while continuing to hold the first, you can group them all up and move them together.
  • 3D Touch for Folder Notifications - Have a bunch of apps in folders? If one of your folders has a little red badge, you can 3D press on the folder to see which app has a pending notification at a glance.
  • Simple Settings Access - In an app like Messages or Photos and want to get to the Settings quick? Just say "Settings" to Siri and it will open right up.
  • Siri Song History - In the iTunes Store app, you can find a list of all the songs you've ever asked ‌Siri‌ to identify. Just tap on the three line icon at the top of the display and then choose "‌Siri‌."
  • Passcode Lock Apps - Apple doesn't let you passcode individual apps, but there's a Screen Time workaround. In the Screen Time section of the Settings app, choose "App Limits," and set a 1 minute timer on "All Apps & Categories." Go to "Always Allowed," add apps you DON'T want to lock, and then the rest will require a Screen Time passcode to access.

Did you learn something new? Now it's your turn. Let us know your most obscure, hidden iPhone trick that MacRumors readers should know, and we might feature it in a future video.

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple to Release These 15 New Products Later This Year

Friday June 12, 2026 7:45 am PDT by
Apple's annual WWDC developers conference is drawing to a close, but there is still a lot to look forward to in the second half of the year. Apple is expected to release at least 15 more products later this year. Now that the more intelligent and personal version of Siri has finally arrived in beta, a full two years after Apple first previewed it at WWDC 2024, we should begin to see some new ...
iCloud iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Get Two New Perks on iOS 27

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:29 am PDT by
If you pay for extra iCloud storage on your iPhone, beyond the 5GB included for free, you might receive two more perks on iOS 27 at no additional cost. First, Apple said there will be daily usage limits for some of the new and enhanced Apple Intelligence features on iOS 27, including image generation. However, the company noted that "increased access" is available with "most" iCloud+ storage ...
Apple Logo Top Half

Have One of These 16 Apple Devices? Software Support Ends This Fall

Saturday June 13, 2026 8:00 am PDT by
Apple will end software support for 16 devices this fall across four product lines, with the Apple Watch seeing the most sweeping cull in the product's history. The full extent of this year's software drops became clear with the announcements of macOS 27 Golden Gate, iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, and watchOS 27 at WWDC this week. The one bright spot is that iOS 27 features identical device support to...

Top Rated Comments

Unity451 Avatar
97 months ago
Move multiple apps! Didn't know that, but that's awesome!
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
97 months ago
I wonder how many other things are in iOS that are genuinely useful that I don’t know about because it isn’t obvious. There really needs to be an indicator of something is 3D pressable
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
97 months ago
Just recently found this -

Redial : simply press the green phone call button with no phone number entered to redial the last number called.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
97 months ago
I like the move multiple apps as well, as that was one I didn't know.

The biggest feature surprise to me wasn't in this article. It's holding the space bar down to move the cursor in a text field. I find that WAY much easier to make sure I'm put my cursor at the correct location. I don't know when that functionality was added, but I think it came with iOS12.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
97 months ago
I for the life of me cannot get this to work.
Try dragging an app away from its original position, and then while you're still holding it, tap others.

@jclo, the wording is a little ambiguous in the article; perhaps it could be clarified.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
97 months ago
That music timer is really handy. Someone should make a shortcut for it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)