Apple’s software program design strives to be intuitive, however every iteration of iOS accommodates so many additions and tweaks that it is simple to overlook some helpful iPhone settings. Apple targeted on artificial intelligence when it unveiled iOS 18 in 2024 and adopted it with Liquid Glass in iOS 26 (the identify is now tied to the next 12 months), however many intriguing customizations and lesser-known options lurk beneath the floor. A number of useful settings are turned off by default, and it is not instantly apparent how you can swap off some annoying options. We’re right here that will help you get essentially the most out of your Apple telephone.
Upon getting issues arrange the best way you need, it’s a breeze to repeat all the pieces, together with settings, once you switch to a new iPhone. For extra suggestions and suggestions, learn our associated Apple guides—just like the Best iPhone, Best iPhone 16 Cases, Best MagSafe Accessories—and our explainers on How to Set Up a New iPhone, How to Back Up Your iPhone, and How to Fix Your iPhone.
The best way to Maintain Your iPhone Up to date
These settings are primarily based on the newest model of iOS 26 and must be relevant for many recent iPhones. Some settings might not be out there on older gadgets, or they could have completely different pathways relying on the mannequin and the software program model. Apple provides glorious software program help for a few years, so at all times make certain your gadget is up-to-date by heading to Settings > Basic > Software program replace. Yow will discover the Settings app on your property display.
Up to date September 2025: We’ve added a number of new iPhone suggestions and up to date this information for iOS 26.
Desk of Contents
Allow Name Screening
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Make cold-calling pests a factor of the previous with Apple’s new Call Screening feature. Go to Settings, Apps, and choose Cellphone, then scroll all the way down to Display Unknown Callers and choose Ask Motive for Calling. Now, your iPhone will mechanically reply calls from unknown callers within the background with out alerting you. After the caller provides a purpose for his or her name, your telephone will ring, and you can see the response onscreen so you’ll be able to resolve whether or not to reply. You must also make certain Maintain Help Detection is toggled on, so your iPhone detects when you’re positioned on maintain, permitting you to step away, then alerting you when the decision has been picked up by a human.
Activate RCS
The texting expertise with Android homeowners (inexperienced bubbles) bought severely upgraded final 12 months when Apple decided to finally support the RCS messaging customary (wealthy communication companies). RCS has been round for a number of years on Android, and permits for a modernized texting expertise with options like typing indicators, higher-quality photographs and movies, and browse receipts. Group chats should be wonky, however they’re nonetheless a major enchancment. Nevertheless, on a brand new iPhone, RCS is disabled by default (naturally).
Be sure you flip it on for the perfect messaging expertise. Head to Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging and toggle it on.
Customise the Management Middle
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Swipe down from the highest proper of the display to open the Management Middle, and also you’ll see it is extra customizable than ever. You’ll be able to faucet the plus icon on the high left or faucet and maintain on an empty house to open the customization menu. Right here you’ll be able to transfer icons and widgets round, take away something you don’t need, or faucet Add a Management on the backside for a searchable checklist of shortcut icons and widgets you’ll be able to arrange throughout a number of Management Middle screens. It’s also possible to customize your home screen to alter the colour and dimension of app icons, rearrange them, and extra.
Change Your Lock Display Buttons
You understand these lock display controls that default to flashlight on the underside left and digital camera on the underside proper? You’ll be able to change them. Press and maintain on an empty house on the lock display and faucet Customise. Faucet the minus icon to take away an present shortcut, and faucet the plus icon so as to add a brand new one. It’s also possible to change the climate and date widgets, the font and shade for the time, and decide a wallpaper. One of many clocks will even stretch to adapt to your wallpaper.
Lengthen Display Time-Out
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Whereas it’s good to have your display timeout for battery saving and safety functions, I discover it maddening when the display goes off whereas I’m doing one thing. The default display timeout is simply too brief in my view, however fortunately, you’ll be able to alter it. Head into Settings, Show & Brightness, and choose Auto-Lock to increase it. You’ve gotten a number of choices, together with By no means, which suggests you’ll have to manually push the facility button to show the display off.
Flip Off Keyboard Sounds
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The iPhone’s keyboard clicking sound once you sort is extraordinarily aggravating. Belief me, even should you don’t hate it, everybody in your neighborhood once you sort positive does. You’ll be able to flip it off in Settings, Sounds & Haptics by tapping Keyboard Suggestions and toggling Sound off. I additionally advise toggling off the Lock Sound when you’re in Sound & Haptics.
Go Darkish
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Shield your self from eye-searing glare with dark mode. Go to Settings, decide Show & Brightness, and faucet Darkish. It’s possible you’ll choose to toggle on Computerized and have it change with the solar setting, however I choose to be in Darkish mode on a regular basis.
Change Your Battery Cost Degree
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In the event you’re decided to squeeze as a few years out of your iPhone battery as doable, take into account altering the charging restrict. You’ll be able to maximize your smartphone’s battery health should you keep away from charging it past 80 %. The iPhone’s default is now Optimized Battery Charging, which waits at 80 % after which goals to hit one hundred pc when you’re able to go within the morning. However there’s a slider you’ll be able to set to a tough 80 % restrict in Settings, beneath Battery, and Charging. If it bugs you, that is additionally the place you’ll be able to flip Optimized Battery Charging off.
Flip On Adaptive Energy Mode
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In the event you get fearful about operating out of battery, go to Settings, Battery, and scroll down to pick out Energy Mode, the place you’ll be able to toggle on Adaptive Energy. This mode will detect when you’re utilizing extra battery life than regular and make little tweaks, like reducing show brightness or limiting efficiency, to try to get you thru to the top of the day.
Set Up the Motion Button
Of us with an iPhone 15 Pro model, any iPhone 16 model, or any iPhone 17 have an Motion Button as a substitute of the outdated mute swap. By default, it is going to silence your iPhone once you press and maintain it, however you’ll be able to change what it does by going to Settings, then Motion Button. You’ll be able to swipe via varied fundamental choices from Digicam and Flashlight to Visual Intelligence, however choose Shortcuts if you’d like it to do one thing extra fascinating. In the event you’re unfamiliar, take a look at our information on How to Use the Apple Shortcuts App.
Customise Digicam Management
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
The iPhone 16 collection debuted Digicam Management, a bodily button that sits beneath the facility button and triggers the digital camera with a single press. While you’re within the digital camera app, urgent it is going to seize a photograph, and a long-press will report a video. Urgent and holding Digicam Management outdoors of the digital camera app triggers Apple’s Visible Intelligence function (type of like Google Lens). However what I discover most annoying is Digicam Management’s second layer of controls: swiping. You’ll be able to swipe on the button within the digital camera app to slip between pictures types, zoom ranges, or lenses. It is neat in concept, however manner too delicate.
