Did you just unbox a shiny new iPhone? Congratulations! You’re now the proud owner of a handheld supercomputer whose operating system is powerful, elegant, and refreshingly simple (sorry, Android fans).
But despite its simplicity, iOS 18 – or any recent version of iOS – has much more to offer than the standard setup you’re faced with out of the box. Apple is good at supporting users with cosmetic customization of the iPhone, but less brilliant at surfacing the myriad settings and features that can make the experience of using an iPhone even more enjoyable.
So, in this article, I’ve rounded up three hidden (or at least hard to find) iPhone settings that you need to enable ASAP to get the most out of your new iPhone. Once you’re up and running with the features below, check out our list of five must-have iPhone apps to equip your device with serious software.
Improved haptic touch
iOS 18 is the latest version of Apple’s operating system, but this first setting – a little-known accessibility option that makes your iPhone much more responsive – was first introduced in iOS 17.
I’m talking about Haptic Touch, the system behind those precise vibrations you feel when you long-press on app icons, images, message chats, emails, and more. Haptic Touch has actually been around since the iPhone
To increase the speed of Haptic Touch, simply go to the Accessibility menu in Settings, select Touch, Haptic Touch, then Fast (the touch duration will automatically be set to Default once iOS 17 or iOS 18 is downloaded). Apple has also included a handy test icon below these options, so you can immediately feel the difference in response time.
For more speed-enhancing iPhone features, check out these 5 Hidden iOS Tricks to Help You Browse Your iPhone Faster.
Automatically close open Safari tabs
iPhone users have long wondered whether you should close apps running in the background to improve performance and save battery life. While Apple says there’s no need to close apps unless they become completely unresponsive, I can confidently say that the story is a little different when it comes to opening apps. browser tabs.
We’re all guilty of letting an excessive number of tabs run amok in the Safari app, and – aside from being slow – Apple’s in-house browser is notorious for unexpectedly delete Safari tabs if too many of them remain open at once.
To help you avoid the headaches of a slow Safari browser, I suggest allowing your iPhone to automatically close open Safari tabs after a chosen amount of time. To do this, go to Settings and select the Safari options page. Once there, scroll down and select the “Close tabs” menu. By default, the option is set to manual – meaning your iPhone out of the box requires you to manually delete open Safari tabs – but by selecting this menu you can choose to automatically close open tabs after a day , a week. , or a month.
But what if you need to recover a tab that was automatically closed? Have no fear. If you want to review a closed Safari tab, long-press the Plus icon in the lower left corner of the tab overview screen to view a list of recently closed tabs. And there you have it! This is how you are on your way to living a more orderly digital existence.
Make sure express mode is enabled
Technically speaking, this feature should already be enabled by default on your new iPhone, but I see enough people manually enabling and approving their contactless payments every morning to warrant highlighting it here.
The feature in question is Express Mode – a shortcut that lets you use certain cards, keys, and passes in Apple Wallet without needing to wake up or unlock your iPhone with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. To enable it – or check that it’s already enabled – open the Wallet app (the app itself, not the double-click interface) and select the card you want to use for everyday travel payments . Tap the More button (that’s the three dots in the top right corner) and tap Map Details. From there, go to Express Travel Settings and select the same card.
Now, when you hold your iPhone over the contactless reader at the subway or subway door on a cold, frosty morning, the transaction will automatically complete and a check mark and “Done” will appear on your device. The terminal door will open and you will be free to continue your journey towards that important (or not so important) 9 a.m. appointment. without hold the line.
Additionally, Express Mode also works when your iPhone is out of power. Up to five hours after that dreaded black screen disappears, you’ll still be able to easily access and exit your travel system of choice.
