Some of the most useful things your iPhone can do are switched off by default, or buried several menus deep.
Here are twelve worth finding. They’ll protect your privacy, make calls clearer, make your phone easier to use, and help when you travel. Each has its own step-by-step guide.
Quick list
| Trick | What it does | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Stop app tracking | Ask every app not to track you across other apps and websites | Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking |
| Check for leaked passwords | Find leaked, weak and reused passwords and fix them | Passwords app > Security > Choose a password |
| AirDrop settings | Control who can send you files, and stop unwanted AirDrops | Settings > General > AirDrop |
| Scan QR codes safely | Scan QR codes with the camera, and spot the scam ones | Camera > Point at code > Check the link > Tap to open |
| Voice Isolation | Filter out background noise so callers hear only your voice | During a call > Control Centre > Mic Mode > Voice Isolation |
| Notification summary | Bundle non-urgent notifications into a digest at times you choose | Settings > Notifications > Scheduled Summary |
| Custom vibrations | Give important people their own vibration pattern | Contacts > Choose contact > Edit > Ringtone > Haptics |
| LED flash for alerts | Blink the camera light for calls and notifications | Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > LED Flash for Alerts |
| Make text bigger | Make text bigger and bolder so it’s easier to read | Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size |
| Sound Recognition | Get a notification when your iPhone hears a doorbell, alarm or baby | Settings > Accessibility > Sound Recognition |
| Guided Access | Lock your iPhone to a single app so nobody can wander off | Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access |
| Translate conversations | Speak and hear translations out loud, even offline | Translate app > Conversation > Pick languages > Tap mic |
Privacy and security
1. Stop app tracking
Your iPhone can ask every app not to track you, with one switch, so you never have to answer the pop-up again.
Where: Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking
2. Check for leaked passwords
Your iPhone securely checks your saved passwords against known leaks, and flags any that are weak or used more than once.
Where: Passwords app > Security > Choose a password
3. AirDrop settings
A quick settings change means only people in your contacts can AirDrop you, with a 10-minute window when you need to receive from someone else.
Where: Settings > General > AirDrop
4. Scan QR codes safely
But scammers stick fake QR codes over real ones to steal card details. A two-second check keeps you safe.
Where: Camera > Point at code > Check the link > Tap to open
Calls and notifications
5. Voice Isolation
Voice Isolation uses your iPhone’s processing to filter out background noise and put your voice front and centre.
Where: During a call > Control Centre > Mic Mode > Voice Isolation
6. Notification summary
Scheduled Summary collects the non-urgent ones and delivers them together at times you choose, like 8am and 6pm.
Where: Settings > Notifications > Scheduled Summary
7. Custom vibrations
You can give anyone in your contacts their own vibration pattern, so you know who it is just from the feel.
Where: Contacts > Choose contact > Edit > Ringtone > Haptics
8. LED flash for alerts
LED Flash for Alerts makes the light on the back of your iPhone blink when a call or notification comes in. You’ll see it from across the room.
Where: Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > LED Flash for Alerts
Easier to use, for everyone
9. Make text bigger
Your iPhone can make text bigger and bolder across the whole phone. It takes a few seconds and makes a real difference.
Where: Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size
10. Sound Recognition
Sound Recognition lets your iPhone listen for specific sounds and send you a notification when it hears one.
Where: Settings > Accessibility > Sound Recognition
11. Guided Access
Guided Access locks your iPhone to one app until you enter a passcode. You can even disable parts of the screen.
Where: Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access
Travel
12. Translate conversations
The Translate app, built into your iPhone, can translate a back-and-forth conversation out loud, and works offline if you download the languages.
Where: Translate app > Conversation > Pick languages > Tap mic
Where to start
Start with privacy: turn off app tracking and check your passwords for leaks. Those two take ten minutes and protect you every day. Then set AirDrop to Contacts Only before your next train journey.
More in this series: 12 iPhone Tricks Everyone Should Know (Step-by-Step Guides) · 12 More iPhone Tricks You Didn’t Know You Had (Step-by-Step Guides) · 12 iPhone Features You’ll Wish You’d Set Up Sooner (Step-by-Step Guides)
Part of the iPhone tutorials series on johnthecomputerman.co.uk. Follow @johnthecomputerman on Instagram for more iPhone tips. Menu names were checked in September 2026 and can shift slightly between iOS versions.
