Whenever you arrange a brand new iPhone, iOS prompts you about some preferences for customizing sure issues, such because the theme, entry to location providers, and Siri. Nonetheless, there are loads of hidden options in iOS that many customers don’t even find out about—even those that have been utilizing iPhones for a very long time.
Whether or not you’re organising a model new iPhone or have simply restored yours, learn on as we element which settings you might need to change in your gadget to get essentially the most out of it.
Give your iPhone a reputation
Do you know that your iPhone has its personal title? It seems not solely within the record of gadgets logged into your iCloud account, however can be seen to different folks if you AirDrop to them.
Altering the title of your iPhone to one thing extra private than “iPhone 17 Professional” is an efficient solution to begin after organising your new gadget. To do that, go to Settings > Common > About and faucet Title. You’ll be able to kind no matter you need.
Simply understand that different folks will see the title you select in case you depart AirDrop turned on, so maintain it clear.
Make your iPhone yours by giving it a private title.
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Restrict Background App Refresh
By default, iOS apps can maintain their content material up to date within the background, even if you’re not utilizing the app. This enables apps to be prepared with the most recent content material obtainable if you open them. Nonetheless, holding this function turned on can drain your battery quicker.
Revisiting this setting is an efficient means to make sure that your iPhone received’t drain your battery or waste your mobile knowledge plan in case you don’t need it to.
Go to Settings > Common > Background App Refresh and faucet Background App Refresh on the high of the record. You’ll be able to select from three choices:
- Off: Flip off background updates utterly (you’ll nonetheless obtain notifications out of your apps).
- Wi-Fi: Your apps will obtain new content material solely when your iPhone is related to a Wi-Fi community.
- Wi-Fi & Mobile Information: Your apps will obtain new content material no matter whether or not you’re related to Wi-Fi or 5G.
If you happen to decide to maintain this function enabled, you may as well restrict it to particular apps. All it’s important to do is disable the apps that you simply don’t need to enable to obtain content material within the background.
Swap between gentle and darkish modes robotically
Throughout iPhone setup, you may customise issues akin to textual content measurement and whether or not you need to use your iPhone in gentle or darkish mode. Nonetheless, there are a lot of extra choices obtainable relating to show settings, and revisiting them could make your expertise higher and extra snug.
You’ll be able to set a schedule for when your iPhone switches to darkish mode.
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For example, your iPhone can robotically swap between gentle and darkish mode. To do that, go to Settings > Show & Brightness and faucet Choices underneath the Look part.
You’ll be able to select between “Sundown to Dawn,” which can robotically choose one of the best time of day for every theme, or set a customized schedule.
Make Liquid Glass extra opaque
In the identical Show & Brightness menu, you’ll additionally discover a “Liquid Glass” possibility. By default, iOS 26 comes with Clear mode enabled, which makes the complete interface seem extra clear. Select “Tinted” for a extra opaque look with higher distinction.
Please word that this selection is on the market on iOS 26.1 or later. So in case you don’t see it in your iPhone, make sure that to replace it to the most recent model of iOS.
If you happen to don’t love Liquid Glass, you may tone it down with the “Tinted” possibility.
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Activate All the time On (or not)
Some iPhone fashions function All the time On Show, which retains the show on and reveals info even after you lock the display screen. If you happen to don’t like this mode or simply need to flip it off to avoid wasting battery life, right here’s learn how to do it.
Go to Settings > Show & Brightness and faucet All the time On Show. Right here you may both customise how All the time On Show works or flip it off utterly.
For example, you may select to show off the wallpaper and maintain solely the clock in All the time On mode. There’s additionally an possibility to point out or cover notifications. If you happen to don’t need All the time On Show in any respect, simply swap off the principle toggle.
Turning it off will make your display screen go utterly black if you lock your telephone, similar to within the previous days.
Not seeing the choice? All the time On Show was solely obtainable on Professional fashions beginning with iPhone 14 Professional. Nonetheless, all iPhone 17 fashions help the function, together with the bottom mannequin and the iPhone Air.
Save your eyes at evening
Right here’s one other hidden function you’ll discover within the Show & Brightness settings: Night time Shift. Launched with iOS 9, this function basically reduces the blue gentle out of your show, making it seem hotter. The concept is to make the display screen extra snug on your eyes, particularly at evening.
You’ll be able to manually allow Night time Shift from sundown to dawn or set a customized schedule. There’s additionally a slider to regulate the depth of the impact on the display screen.
Allow professional digital camera options
If you wish to benefit from every little thing your iPhone has to supply relating to the digital camera, it’s undoubtedly price trying out the Digicam part within the Settings app.
Even in case you don’t have an iPhone 17 Professional, there are many skilled digital camera settings at your fingertips.
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By default, the iPhone is about to file 1080p movies. You’ll be able to change the default decision to 4K within the “File Video” menu. There, you may as well disable HDR video if you need.
If in case you have an iPhone 12 Professional or later, you may as well allow ProRAW underneath the “Codecs” menu. After enabling ProRAW, you’ll see a button to show it on or off within the Digicam app when taking images.
You may as well check out the “Composition” part within the Digicam settings. Personally, I wish to allow “Grid and Degree” to assist me take higher images.
Disable Management Heart on the Lock Display screen
Management Heart on iOS lets customers shortly entry some helpful settings, akin to managing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, altering the quantity, enabling Do Not Disturb, and even turning AirDrop on or off.
You’ll be able to entry Management Heart from wherever by swiping down from the highest proper nook of the display screen. This works not solely from the House Display screen or apps, but in addition from the Lock Display screen.
You’ll be able to restrict entry to the Management Heart in Settings.
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Nonetheless, this additionally signifies that anybody who will get their fingers in your telephone can change settings in Management Heart, however there’s a solution to change that.
First, go to Settings > Face ID. Scroll down till you discover Permit Entry When Locked. Then, flip off the “Management Heart” possibility. You may as well flip off different choices to forestall them from being accessed from the Lock Display screen, providing you with extra privateness and safety.
After turning them off, you may solely entry Management Heart or different options from the Lock Display screen after authenticating with Face ID.
You’ll discover further ranges of safety in case you dig by means of the Face ID settings.
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Activate Stolen System Safety
Launched in iOS 17, Stolen System Safety provides an additional layer of safety to your iPhone if it’s ever stolen, particularly if somebody additionally is aware of your passcode.
When enabled, delicate actions akin to altering your Apple ID password, turning off Discover My, or accessing saved passwords require Face ID or Contact ID, with no fallback to the passcode. In unfamiliar areas, iOS might also implement a safety delay earlier than permitting these modifications.
To show it on, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen System Safety and allow the function.
That is a type of settings you hope you’ll by no means want. But when your iPhone is misplaced or stolen, having it enabled could make an enormous distinction.
Organising an emergency contact ensures that first responders, or anybody making an attempt to assist, can attain somebody you belief if one thing occurs to you.
An Emergency Contact is a set-it-and-forget it function that might save your life.
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Emergency contacts are accessible straight from the Lock Display screen with out unlocking the iPhone, and so they’re additionally utilized by options like Emergency SOS and Medical ID.
So as to add an Emergency Contact, open the Well being app, faucet your profile image, then go to Medical ID > Edit. From there, you may add a number of emergency contacts and embrace different helpful info akin to allergy symptoms, medicines, or medical circumstances.
It solely takes a minute to arrange, however it may be invaluable in an actual emergency.
Now you’re able to get essentially the most out of your iPhone
Now that which settings are price revisiting, you may make positive your iPhone is configured the best means from the beginning. Just a few considerate modifications can enhance every little thing from battery life and safety to how snug your iPhone is to make use of all through the day.
