Apple’s iOS 14 introduced widgets, a new app library and a bunch of new privacy and security features. Some of the biggest changes, though, are all around messaging. In this Komando DIY, three new iPhone texting and messaging tricks you need to try.
This might be the best iPhone feature you never knew existed
It’s no wonder iPhones are so popular. Even though the high-end models will set you back $1,000 or more, they’re undeniably easy to use and packed with incredible features.
Did you know you can use the Notes app as a document scanner? You can upload a document and share it however you like in just a few clicks. Tap or click to try this super easy tip.
How about this trick: If your service is sketchy, switch to Airplane Mode, wait five seconds, switch it off and try again. I’ve got four more insider wireless tips for better signal strength here.
If you’re thinking, “Why didn’t I know that sooner?” keep reading. This powerful iPhone feature is one that you can customize to your heart’s content.
Give Back Tap a try
Apple introduced a helpful new accessibility feature with iOS 14 called Back Tap. It allows you to customize shortcuts by double and triple tapping on the back of your phone.
Instead of remembering a ton of button combinations and contorting your fingers, you simply tap your iPhone two or three times. This action triggers anything from opening the Control Center to looking at notifications or even launching an app.
You can’t set an action for just one tap — think about how often you’d accidentally set that off — but you can do almost anything with a double or triple tap. Here are some of the most useful:
- Take a screenshot
- Open the App Switcher
- Go to your Home screen
- Mute
- Open the Notification Center
- Open Siri
- Turn the volume up or down
- Magnify or zoom
- Scroll up or down
How to enable Back Tap and set up actions
Back Tap is an extension of Apple’s accessibility features. You’ll need an iPhone 8 or newer running iOS 14 or later to enable it.
- Open Settings, scroll down and tap Accessibility.
- Under the Physical and Motor category, tap on Touch.
- Scroll to the bottom and choose Back Tap.
- From here, tap on Double Tap to set up double-tap and Triple Tap to set up triple-tap.
- Select whichever function you’d like for your desired tap. Once you tap on a function, you’ll see a blue checkmark verifying it’s enabled.
- If you don’t like the Back Tap feature you choose, tap None at the top of the screen on the Back Tap settings page. This will clear your selection so you can choose again and keep it blank.
iPhone how-to: Remove the default apps you don't use
Whether you buy an iOS or Android device, there will be several apps pre-installed by the manufacturers. Often referred to as bloatware, these apps don’t offer much use if you don’t need them.
Bloatware is more pervasive in Android devices than iOS, but several Apple apps could fall into that category. The last thing you need is unnecessary apps taking all the storage space on your iPhone. Tap or click here for a hidden iPhone setting that can eat up all your storage in a flash.
iPhone tip: How to identify a song with just a tap of your finger
There were so many cool features rolled out with iOS 14 that it’s hard to keep count. Thanks to the update, iPhone users now have widgets, shortcuts for emoji and a slew of other new features to play with, too.
Apple products have always been super popular, but this new iOS really took iPhones and iPads to the next level with fun and productive features. You can even use Apple Maps to avoid red light cameras and speed traps thanks to the OS upgrade, which completely overhauled the way iPhones work.
Is someone listening to everything you say? Look for this clue
Ever get that feeling your phone knows you a bit too well? It’s not your imagination. From location tracking to trackers that follow you around the web, there’s a constant stream of info coming from your device.
Some apps can even use your phone’s microphone or camera when you’re not expecting it. And until recently, there was no way to tell when this was happening. Instagram was caught red-handed doing just that, and we only found out because of a new privacy feature baked into Apple iOS 14. Tap or click here to see how Instagram got caught.
Apple releases a new iPhone update to fix buggy iOS 14
When it comes to Apple versus Android, it’s a battle between personalization and privacy. Most iPhone fans love their devices because they’re secure and easy to use.
Android fans, on the other hand, can use their phones as blank slates because Android is an open-source operating system. There are tons of things you can do with Android that aren’t possible with iPhones.
How to set up sleep tracking on your iPhone and Apple Watch
Getting enough sleep each night is one of the best things you can do for your body. Your iPhone and Apple Watch can actually help you keep track of your sleep through Apple’s Health app. You can even use your gadget to do a lot more than simply keep track of your sleep.
Struggling with iPhone battery issues? Apple suggests this fix
Apple’s iOS 14 has been well received by many users, but not everyone is happy. There have been several complaints about glitches, crashes and battery issues — and many are tired of having their phone die on them.
Why the battery issues? Apple says it’s because you’re using your phone more after the update. Yes, really! Tap or click here for more details on what Apple said.
Privacy tip: Use this app to see when your phone's mic and camera are in use
Google released Android 11 at the beginning of September, and after testing it out so far, it looks to be a winner of an update. Unfortunately, Apple’s iOS 14 has it beat in the privacy department.
Why is iOS 14 better for privacy? It’s not that Android 11 is a slouch — but features like iOS 14’s new camera and microphone icons are making it easy to tell that apps are snooping when they shouldn’t. Tap or click here to see how these icons exposed the Instagram app.
Apple Watch and iPhone bugs: Read this before you update
If you updated to iOS 14 recently, you might have noticed some trouble with your battery. Users across social media have reported shorter battery life since updating to the latest version of iOS, and many are wondering if a glitch in the update has something to do with it.
The 8 biggest privacy and security changes iOS 14 adds to your iPhone
Every year Apple brings big changes to iOS, and this year is no different. The latest version, iOS 14, brings with it big changes like widgets and App Clips, but there are also a ton of important privacy updates.
Though iOS continues to change for the better, there are still essential apps out there that you’ll want to add to your system. Tap or click here for 10 apps you need right now if you have an iPhone or iPad.
5 ways you're wasting money on tech
As anyone who loves tech can tell you, owning all the latest gadgets isn’t cheap. To stay on the cutting edge, you can easily blow through several paychecks on new equipment each year. This barely leaves any room for bills and essentials.
iOS 14 is the biggest iPhone update in years - but do this before updating
If you caught a glimpse of Apple’s latest fall event, you were probably dazzled by all of the shiny new tech and wild features of the latest Apple Watch and iPad. But after the product announcements came there was a far more important piece of news: iOS 14 is ready to make its debut.
Apple's new product could be bigger than even the iPhone
Are you excited about the upcoming iPhone 12? The new phone set to debut this fall is anticipated to have an all-new design and cutting-edge features like a quad-lens camera. It may even include 5G, for all we know — but this has yet to be officially confirmed.
iPhone privacy tip: Powerful security setting returns in iOS 14
In Apple’s upcoming operating system update, iOS 14, Apple ID Recovery Keys are back. With this feature, you can easily add an extra layer of security to your device to make sure all important, personal data is kept secure and away from the eyes of strangers.
Don’t buy a new iPhone yet! Here's what's coming if you wait
Just because a pandemic is going on doesn’t mean that the tech giants like Apple aren’t doing anything. In fact, beyond Apple’s recent updates to iOS 13 and its reveals at WWDC, there are rumors that Apple has much bigger plans in store for users during the tail-end of 2020.