Ready to Be an iOS Pro? | iPhone Tips and Tricks You Should Start Using

Shift Your Keyboard Left or Right

Sometimes we have to multitask, which might involve typing on your iPhone with one thumb. Did you know that the default iOS keyboard allows you to shift your keyboard right or left?

Here's how to enable it:

1. Open your keyboard.
2. Long press the emoji or globe icon at the bottom of the keyboard (you'll see a globe if you have three or more keyboards installed)
3. In the pop-up, you'll see a left or right keyboard option.
4. Tap your preference. Tap the arrow pointing opposite of your preference to go back to full screen. (This only works in Portrait Mode).

Create Text Replacements

If you aren't a fast texter, iOS can help you become one! You can create text shortcuts for phrases or anything that you text frequently to help speed things along as you type. For example, if you need to send your address to someone you can text "ADDR" and your address will immediately replace the abbreviation.

Here's how to start setting some up:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Keyboard.
4. Tap Text Replacement and choose the “+” symbol in the top right corner.
5. In the space labeled Phrase, type in the entire phrase that you want to create a shortcut for.
6. In the space labeled Shortcut, type the abbreviation that you want to use for the phrase.
7. Tap Save at the top right once you’re done.

Swipe Type to QuickPath

Ever since iOS 13, Apple's default keyboard in iOS has the ability to swipe-type, meaning you can move your finger or thumb around the keys without lifting it to type words. It's called QuickPath and there is nothing you need to do to set it up, just start swiping from letter to letter and watch as words appear!

Screenshot Long Web Pages

Have you ever needed to take a screenshot of a lengthy webpage? You most likely got annoyed by the amount of time it takes to scroll and stop to ensure you get every part. Well, you will be glad to know you can take a screenshot of a long page in one single shot.

Here's how:

1. Take the screenshot using the Safari browser.
2. Tap the thumbnail that appears on the bottom left to bring it full screen.
3. At the top, tap the Full Page tab and a slider will appear on the right that displays the full page, even if you didn't scroll through it all originally.

Silence Unknown Callers

Unknown callers are obnoxious, so it is time that they are silenced. To do this on iOS, go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers.

Once that's turned on, any number that's not in your contacts, Siri suggestions, or recently called list will immediately go to voicemail. You won't even have to deal with ignoring the call yourself because your phone does it for you. Cool, right?

You'll still receive a silent notification that tells you a call has been silenced and have the option to view the caller in the Phone app under Recents.

Make Calls Over Wi-Fi

If you ever find yourself in a dead zone where cellular service is nonexistent, iOS allows you to do phone calls, FaceTime video calls, and iMessage texts by tapping into your home's Wi-Fi network. However, you will need to make sure your wireless carrier supports it. If you're in the U.S. and use AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile you're in luck because all three support it.

Here's how to turn it on:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Phone
3. Tap Wi-Fi Calling
4. Toggle on Wi-Fi Calling on This Phone
5. After that, a message will explain what information is sent to your carrier when you enable Wi-Fi Calling and you should process to Tap Enable.

You will be brought a screen where you'll enter an emergency 911 address. Once you enter the address and agree to the terms, you're all set!

Move Multiple Apps at Once

You might think that rearranging apps on your iPhone is time-consuming, but that's only because you didn't know that iOS allows you to move multiple apps at once.

Here's how:

1. Long-press one app until it wiggles.
2. Use another finger to tap whichever apps you would like to move and they will be grouped.
3. Without removing your finger, drag the stacked group of apps to a new page and drop them.

Animate Your Lock Screen

Changing up your lock screen is always fun, but it just got a whole lot more fun. If you've got some fun Live Photos on your phone—which include a few seconds of video—you can put one on your iPhone Lock Screen to view whenever you whip out the handset.

Here's how to liven up your lock screen: 

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Wallpaper.
3. Tap Choose a New Wallpaper.
4. Scroll down to Live Photos and tap the one you want to use.
5. Drag it around to position it how you'd like.
6. Push down on the screen with one finger to see what the animation will look like.
7. Tap Set > Set Lock Screen. (You can also select Home Screen or Both)

Now you can press down on your screen whenever you want to see it in action.