Apple’s software program design strives to be intuitive, however every iteration of iOS comprises so many additions and tweaks that it is simple 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 identify 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 isn’t instantly apparent swap off some annoying options. We’re right here that can assist you get essentially the most out of your Apple cellphone.
After getting issues arrange the way in which you need, it’s a breeze to repeat every part, together with settings, whenever you swap to a brand new iPhone. For extra ideas and proposals, learn our associated Apple guides—just like the Greatest iPhone, Greatest iPhone 16 Instances, Greatest MagSafe Equipment—and our explainers on The right way to Set Up a New iPhone, The right way to Again Up Your iPhone, and The right way to Repair Your iPhone.
The right way to Preserve Your iPhone Up to date
These settings are based mostly on the most recent model of iOS 26 and must be relevant for most up-to-date iPhones. Some settings might not be accessible on older units, or they could have completely different pathways relying on the mannequin and the software program model. Apple affords glorious software program assist for a few years, so all the time ensure your system is up-to-date by heading to Settings > Basic > Software program replace. You could find the Settings app on your property display.
Up to date September 2025: We’ve added a couple of new iPhone ideas 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 Telephone, then scroll right down to Display Unknown Callers and choose Ask Cause for Calling. Now, your iPhone will robotically 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 may resolve whether or not to reply. You must also ensure 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 house owners (inexperienced bubbles) bought significantly upgraded final yr when Apple determined to lastly assist 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 images and movies, and browse receipts. Group chats should be wonky, however they’re nonetheless a major enchancment. Nonetheless, on a brand new iPhone, RCS is disabled by default (naturally).
Be sure to flip it on for the most effective messaging expertise. Head to Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging and toggle it on.
Customise the Management Middle
Apple by way of Simon Hill
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 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 may 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 may set up throughout a number of Management Middle screens. You too can customise your property display to vary the colour and measurement of app icons, rearrange them, and extra.
Change Your Lock Display Buttons
You already know these lock display controls that default to flashlight on the underside left and digicam 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 present shortcut, and faucet the plus icon so as to add a brand new one. You too can change the climate and date widgets, the font and shade 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 simply too brief in my view, however fortunately, you may regulate it. Head into Settings, Show & Brightness, and choose Auto-Lock to increase it. You could 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 whenever you kind is extraordinarily aggravating. Belief me, even in the event you don’t hate it, everybody in your neighborhood whenever you kind certain 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 whilst 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. You might desire to toggle on Automated and have it change with the solar setting, however I desire to be in Darkish mode on a regular basis.
Change Your Battery Cost Degree
Apple by way of Simon Hill
For those who’re decided to squeeze as a few years out of your iPhone battery as potential, contemplate altering the charging restrict. You may maximize your smartphone’s battery well being in the event you keep away from charging it past 80 p.c. The iPhone’s default is now Optimized Battery Charging, which waits at 80 p.c after which goals to hit one hundred pc when you’re able to go within the morning. However there’s a slider you may set to a tough 80 p.c restrict in Settings, below Battery, and Charging. If it bugs you, that is additionally the place you may flip Optimized Battery Charging off.
Flip On Adaptive Energy Mode
Apple by way of Simon Hill
For those who get frightened about working out of battery, go to Settings, Battery, and scroll down to pick Energy Mode, the place you may 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 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 a substitute of the previous mute swap. By default, it should silence your iPhone whenever you press and maintain it, however you may change what it does by going to Settings, then Motion Button. You may swipe via varied fundamental choices from Digital camera and Flashlight to Visible Intelligence, however choose Shortcuts if you’d like it to do one thing extra attention-grabbing. For those who’re unfamiliar, take a look at our information on The right way to Use the Apple Shortcuts App.
Customise Digital camera Management
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
The iPhone 16 sequence debuted Digital camera Management, a bodily button that sits under the ability button and triggers the digicam with a single press. Once you’re within the digicam app, urgent it should seize a photograph, and a long-press will report a video. Urgent and holding Digital camera Management outdoors of the digicam app triggers Apple’s Visible Intelligence characteristic (kind of like Google Lens). However what I discover most annoying is Digital camera Management’s second layer of controls: swiping. You may swipe on the button within the digicam app to slip between pictures kinds, zoom ranges, or lenses. It is neat in idea, however means too delicate.
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