Apple’s software program design strives to be intuitive, however every iteration of iOS accommodates so many additions and tweaks that it is easy to overlook some helpful iPhone settings. Apple targeted on synthetic intelligence when it unveiled iOS 18 in 2024 and adopted it with Liquid Glass in iOS 26 (the title is now tied to the next yr), 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 the way to swap off some annoying options. We’re right here that can assist you get probably the most out of your Apple cellphone.
After you have issues arrange the way in which you need, it’s a breeze to repeat the whole lot, together with settings, if you swap to a brand new iPhone. For extra suggestions and proposals, learn our associated Apple guides—just like the Finest iPhone, Finest iPhone 16 Instances, Finest MagSafe Equipment—and our explainers on Set Up a New iPhone, Again Up Your iPhone, and Repair Your iPhone.
Hold Your iPhone Up to date
These settings are primarily based on the most recent model of iOS 26 and needs to be relevant for many current iPhones. Some settings is probably not out there on older units, or they could have completely different pathways relying on the mannequin and the software program model. Apple provides wonderful software program assist for a few years, so at all times ensure that your system is up-to-date by heading to Settings > Basic > Software program replace. Yow will discover the Settings app on your own home 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 Name Screening characteristic. Go to Settings, Apps, and choose Cellphone, then scroll all the way down to Display Unknown Callers and choose Ask Cause for Calling. Now, your iPhone will routinely reply calls from unknown callers within the background with out alerting you. After the caller offers a motive for his or her name, your cellphone will ring, and you can see the response onscreen so you possibly can resolve whether or not to reply. You must also ensure that Maintain Help Detection is toggled on, so your iPhone detects if you find yourself 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 yr when Apple determined to lastly assist the RCS messaging commonplace (wealthy communication providers). 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 pictures and movies, and browse receipts. Group chats should be wonky, however they’re nonetheless a big 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 Heart
Apple by way of Simon Hill
Swipe down from the highest proper of the display to open the Management Heart, and also you’ll see it is extra customizable than ever. You may faucet the plus icon on the high left or faucet and maintain on an empty area to open the customization menu. Right here you possibly can transfer icons and widgets round, take away something you don’t need, or faucet Add a Management on the backside for a searchable listing of shortcut icons and widgets you possibly can arrange throughout a number of Management Heart screens. It’s also possible to customise your own home display to alter the colour and dimension of app icons, rearrange them, and extra.
Change Your Lock Display Buttons
You realize these lock display controls that default to flashlight on the underside left and digital camera on the underside proper? You may change them. Press and maintain on an empty area on the lock display and faucet Customise. Faucet the minus icon to take away an current 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 colour for the time, and choose 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 just too brief for my part, however fortunately, you possibly can modify it. Head into Settings, Show & Brightness, and choose Auto-Lock to increase it. You might have a number of choices, together with By no means, which suggests you’ll have to manually push the ability button to show the display off.
Flip Off Keyboard Sounds
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The iPhone’s keyboard clicking sound if you kind is extraordinarily aggravating. Belief me, even for those who don’t hate it, everybody in your neighborhood if you kind positive does. You may 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
Apple by way of Simon Hill
Defend your self from eye-searing glare with darkish mode. Go to Settings, choose Show & Brightness, and faucet Darkish. Chances are you’ll favor to toggle on Computerized and have it change with the solar setting, however I favor to be in Darkish mode on a regular basis.
Change Your Battery Cost Degree
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For those who’re decided to squeeze as a few years out of your iPhone battery as doable, take into account altering the charging restrict. You may maximize your smartphone’s battery well being for those who 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 100% if you find yourself able to go within the morning. However there’s a slider you possibly can set to a tough 80 % restrict in Settings, below Battery, and Charging. If it bugs you, that is additionally the place you possibly can flip Optimized Battery Charging off.
Flip On Adaptive Energy Mode
Apple by way of Simon Hill
For those who get apprehensive about operating out of battery, go to Settings, Battery, and scroll down to pick Energy Mode, the place you possibly can toggle on Adaptive Energy. This mode will detect if you find yourself utilizing extra battery life than regular and make little tweaks, like decreasing show brightness or limiting efficiency, to try to get you thru to the tip of the day.
Set Up the Motion Button
Of us with an iPhone 15 Professional mannequin, any iPhone 16 mannequin, or any iPhone 17 have an Motion Button as an alternative of the previous mute swap. By default, it would silence your iPhone if you press and maintain it, however you possibly can change what it does by going to Settings, then Motion Button. You may swipe by varied fundamental choices from Digicam and Flashlight to Visible Intelligence, however choose Shortcuts if you need it to do one thing extra attention-grabbing. For those who’re unfamiliar, take a look at our information on 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 ability button and triggers the digital camera with a single press. While you’re within the digital camera app, urgent it would seize a photograph, and a long-press will document a video. Urgent and holding Digicam Management outdoors of the digital camera app triggers Apple’s Visible Intelligence characteristic (kind of like Google Lens). However what I discover most annoying is Digicam Management’s second layer of controls: swiping. You may 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.