Apple’s instrument design strives to be intuitive, however each and every iteration of iOS comprises such a lot of additions and tweaks that it is simple to leave out some helpful iPhone settings. Apple keen 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 12 months), however many intriguing customizations and lesser-known options lurk underneath the outside. A number of useful settings are became off by way of default, and it isn’t in an instant glaring the right way to transfer off some anxious options. We’re right here that can assist you get essentially the most from your Apple telephone.
After getting issues arrange the best way you need, it’s a breeze to duplicate the whole lot, together with settings, while you transfer to a brand new iPhone. For extra pointers and suggestions, learn our comparable Apple guides—just like the Very best iPhone, Very best iPhone 16 Circumstances, Very best MagSafe Equipment—and our explainers on Set Up a New iPhone, Again Up Your iPhone, and Repair Your iPhone.
Stay Your iPhone Up to date
Those settings are according to the most recent model of iOS 26 and will have to be appropriate for many contemporary iPhones. Some settings will not be to be had on older gadgets, or they will have other pathways relying at the type and the instrument model. Apple provides very good instrument strengthen for a few years, so at all times make certain your software is up-to-date by way of heading to Settings > Normal > Device replace. You’ll to find the Settings app on your own home display screen.
Up to date September 2025: We’ve added a couple of new iPhone pointers 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. Cross to Settings, Apps, and make a selection Telephone, then scroll right down to Display Unknown Callers and make a selection Ask Reason why for Calling. Now, your iPhone will robotically resolution calls from unknown callers within the background with out alerting you. After the caller offers a explanation why for his or her name, your telephone will ring, and you are able to see the reaction onscreen so you’ll be able to make a decision whether or not to respond to. You will have to additionally make certain Dangle Lend a hand Detection is toggled on, so your iPhone detects if you end up put on grasp, permitting you to step away, then alerting you when the decision has been picked up by way of a human.
Activate RCS
The texting enjoy with Android homeowners (inexperienced bubbles) were given severely upgraded final 12 months when Apple made up our minds to in any case strengthen the RCS messaging same old (wealthy conversation services and products). RCS has been round for a number of years on Android, and lets in for a modernized texting enjoy with options like typing signs, higher-quality pictures and movies, and skim receipts. Crew chats might nonetheless be wonky, however they are nonetheless an important development. Alternatively, on a brand new iPhone, RCS is disabled by way of default (naturally).
Remember to flip it on for the most efficient messaging enjoy. Head to Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging and toggle it on.
Customise the Keep watch over Middle
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Swipe down from the highest proper of the display screen to open the Keep watch over Middle, and also you’ll see it is extra customizable than ever. You’ll faucet the plus icon on the best left or faucet and grasp on an empty house to open the customization menu. Right here you’ll be able to transfer icons and widgets round, take away anything else you don’t need, or faucet Upload a Keep watch over on the backside for a searchable checklist of shortcut icons and widgets you’ll be able to arrange throughout more than one Keep watch over Middle monitors. You’ll additionally customise your own home display screen to modify the colour and dimension of app icons, rearrange them, and extra.
Trade Your Lock Display Buttons
You realize the ones lock display screen controls that default to flashlight at the backside left and digital camera at the backside proper? You’ll trade them. Press and grasp on an empty house at the lock display screen 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. You’ll additionally trade the elements and date widgets, the font and colour for the time, and pick out a wallpaper. One of the crucial clocks can even stretch to conform on your wallpaper.
Lengthen Display Time-Out
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Whilst it’s excellent to have your display screen timeout for battery saving and safety functions, I to find it maddening when the display screen is going off whilst I’m doing one thing. The default display screen timeout is simply too brief individually, however fortunately, you’ll be able to modify it. Head into Settings, Show & Brightness, and make a selection Auto-Lock to increase it. You’ve got a number of choices, together with By no means, because of this you’ll have to manually push the ability button to show the display screen off.
Flip Off Keyboard Sounds
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The iPhone’s keyboard clicking sound while you sort is very irritating. Consider me, even supposing you don’t hate it, everybody on your neighborhood while you sort positive does. You’ll flip it off in Settings, Sounds & Haptics by way of tapping Keyboard Comments and toggling Sound off. I additionally advise toggling off the Lock Sound when you’re in Sound & Haptics.
Cross Darkish
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Give protection to your self from eye-searing glare with darkish mode. Cross to Settings, pick out Show & Brightness, and faucet Darkish. You might wish to toggle on Automated and feature it trade with the solar surroundings, however I wish to be in Darkish mode at all times.
Trade Your Battery Fee Degree
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When you’re made up our minds to squeeze as a few years from your iPhone battery as conceivable, believe converting the charging restrict. You’ll maximize your smartphone’s battery well being in the event you steer clear of charging it past 80 %. The iPhone’s default is now Optimized Battery Charging, which waits at 80 % after which objectives to hit 100% if you end up in a position to head within the morning. However there’s a slider you’ll be able to set to a difficult 80 % restrict in Settings, below Battery, and Charging. If it insects you, this could also be the place you’ll be able to flip Optimized Battery Charging off.
Flip On Adaptive Energy Mode
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When you get apprehensive about operating out of battery, pass to Settings, Battery, and scroll down to make a choice Energy Mode, the place you’ll be able to toggle on Adaptive Energy. This mode will stumble on if you end up the use of extra battery lifestyles than standard and make little tweaks, like reducing show brightness or restricting efficiency, to take a look at and get you via to the tip of the day.
Set Up the Motion Button
Other folks with an iPhone 15 Professional type, any iPhone 16 type, or any iPhone 17 have an Motion Button as a substitute of the outdated mute transfer. By means of default, it’s going to silence your iPhone while you press and grasp it, however you’ll be able to trade what it does by way of going to Settings, then Motion Button. You’ll swipe via more than a few elementary choices from Digicam and Flashlight to Visible Intelligence, however make a selection Shortcuts if you need it to do one thing extra attention-grabbing. When you’re unfamiliar, take a look at our information on Use the Apple Shortcuts App.
Customise Digicam Keep watch over
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
The iPhone 16 sequence debuted Digicam Keep watch over, a bodily button that sits beneath the ability button and triggers the digital camera with a unmarried press. If you end up within the digital camera app, urgent it’s going to seize a photograph, and a long-press will document a video. Urgent and protecting Digicam Keep watch over out of doors of the digital camera app triggers Apple’s Visible Intelligence characteristic (kind of like Google Lens). However what I to find most disturbing is Digicam Keep watch over’s 2d layer of controls: swiping. You’ll swipe at the button within the digital camera app to slip between pictures kinds, zoom ranges, or lenses. It is neat in idea, however method too delicate.
