6 More Things You Didn't Know Your iPhone Could Do

Some useful iPhone features are easy to overlook because there’s little on the screen to tell you they exist. A tap on a number, a swipe across a message, or a different menu option can save several steps.

Here are six features worth trying, with instructions you can return to whenever you need a reminder.

The scrolling time dials in the Clock also support direct number entry. If you know the time you want, you can type it instead of scrolling to it.

1. Open Clock and choose Alarms.

2. Tap the plus button to create an alarm or open an existing alarm.

3. Tap directly on the hour or minute digits to reveal the number keypad.

4. Enter the hour and minutes.

5. Check AM or PM, then save the alarm.

You may find the same option in other apps that use similar time dials. When you encounter one, try tapping its numbers.

Touching and holding a message bubble, then choosing Reply, lets you respond to that particular message. Swiping offers a quicker route to the same action.

1. Open a conversation in Messages.

2. Swipe right on the message bubble (pulling it to the right) you want to answer.

3. Type your response and send it.

Your reply stays connected to the original message, making it easier to follow the conversation.

Selecting text can do more than prepare it for copying. In supported apps, the selection menu also provides tools for understanding, researching, translating, and listening to text.

Touch and hold a word to select it. Drag the selection handles to include additional words, then look through the menu for the action you need. Use the menu’s arrow or additional-options control if a choice isn’t immediately visible.

Look Up
Choose Look Up to see a dictionary definition and other relevant information, depending on the selected text and your configured dictionaries.

Search Web
Choose Search Web to search for the selected word or phrase without copying and pasting it into a browser.

Translate
Choose Translate to translate a word, phrase, or passage. Select the source and destination languages as needed. Availability depends on the app and supported languages.

Speak
Choose Speak to hear the selected text read aloud. If the option is missing, open Settings, search for Speak Selection, and enable it. Return to your text, select the passage, and open the selection menu again.

You can add an extra authentication check to supported apps, even while your iPhone itself is unlocked.

1. On the Home Screen, touch and hold the app’s icon.

2. Choose Require Face ID. Depending on your device, the option may refer to Touch ID or your passcode.

3. Read the confirmation message, confirm your choice, and authenticate.

4. Open the app to check that the lock is active.

Content from the locked app is also restricted from appearing in places such as notification previews and Spotlight search.

To remove the lock, touch and hold the icon again, choose Don’t Require Face ID or the equivalent option on your device, and authenticate.

Apple Mail can organize incoming messages into Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. You can keep those categories, view their messages together, or return to a single list.

See messages across the categories

1. Open an inbox in Mail.

2. Swipe left across the category buttons at the top.

3. Choose All Mail.

Primary is one category, so viewing it alone doesn’t necessarily show every message in that inbox. All Mail combines the messages across its categories; it does not include every folder, such as Junk or Trash.

Turn categories off

1. Tap the three-dot menu at the top of the inbox.

2. Choose List View or turn off Show Categories, depending on your iOS version.

To restore categories, return to the same menu and select Categories or enable Show Categories.

Show or hide sender photos
Open the three-dot menu and toggle Show Contact Photos. Keep the pictures if they help you recognize senders, or hide them for a simpler-looking list.

A two-finger drag can select several items in a supported list without tapping each one individually.

1. Open a message list in Mail. Use List View for this walkthrough.

2. Place two fingers on the list.

3. Slide both fingers up or down over the messages you want to select.

4. Lift your fingers and review the selection.

5. Choose an available action, such as marking the messages as read or moving them to a folder.

Try a reversible action first, such as Mark as Read, while you get comfortable with the gesture.

Two-finger selection also works in other supported lists. Its availability depends on the app.

Looking for more useful discoveries? Read 5 Hidden iPhone Features You Probably Didn’t Know for another set of practical tips you can start using.