50+ Hidden Tricks for ALL of Your Apple Devices

Access Your Apple Watch’s Notification Center or Control Center from Any App

You can access your Apple Watch’s Notification Center by swiping down from the top of the display, or you can swipe up from the bottom if you want to access the Control Center. This works great from the home screen, but what if you're in another app? Turns out, it's possible. Just hold for a second at the top or bottom of the display, then swipe.

Use a Keyboard and Mouse with iPad or iPhone

All iOS devices support Bluetooth keyboards. You can pair them by following the general pairing directions for your keyboard. In iOS 13, users can use a mouse using the accommodations available in Accessibility settings in iOS. Apple's Magic Mouse doesn't work with iPad, but third party Bluetooth mice do. To set up a mouse, navigate to:

1. Settings.
2. Accessibility.
3. Touch.
4. AssistiveTouch.
5. Under Pointer Devices, pair a Bluetooth mouse.
6. Now use the settings within the AssistiveTouch menu to set pointer style, tracking speed, and more.
7. Make sure to enable AssistiveTouch at the top of the page.

Use Picture-in-Picture (PIP) on Apple TV

This one's new in tvOS 13, however PIP only works while you're in the Apple TV app. It allows you to browse the app while you watch something else.

1. While watching a show in the Apple TV app, tap the trackpad on your Siri remote.
2. In addition to the scrubber, you should see a new PIP icon. Swipe up to select it and watch your movie shrink into the corner of your TV.
3. Press the TV button on your Siri remote to return to full screen, close the window, or move the window to another corner of the screen.

It's a pretty cool feature that I hope Apple will expand on going forward.

Request an iTunes/App Store Refund

Sometimes you'll purchase something by mistake or have a bad experience and need to request a refund. To do this, go to reportaproblem.apple.com and select which item you want to report a problem for. Keep in mind, iTunes purchases are batched and queued, meaning that you may have to wait a day or so before you can report a problem.

Ask Siri to Pronounce Names Correctly

Is a name being pronounced wrong? Just let Siri know that she's mispronouncing it, and she'll work with you to learn the right pronunciation.

Share Your Wi-Fi Password with Just a Tap

When new iOS devices attempt to connect to your Wi-Fi network, you can use another iOS device (on the same network) to approve them. Just unlock your iPhone or iPad, and you should see an option to let them connect. No password needed.

AirDrop Anything, Even Passwords

AirDrop is an excellent iOS feature, and iOS 13 makes use of the newest iPhones’ ultra-wideband technology to make it even better by showing who's nearest.

You can AirDrop most content, anywhere you see a share icon. You can even AirDrop passwords from your iCloud Keychain.

1. To AirDrop passwords, open Settings.
2. Select Passwords & Accounts.
3. Under Website & App Passwords, locate the item you want to AirDrop.
4. Press and hold the username or password and select AirDrop.
5. Now just choose a nearby device to send this information to.

Take a Screenshot on Your Apple Watch

Want to take a screenshot of your Apple Watch’s display? Go right ahead. It's not enabled by default, but you can turn on screenshots in your watch’s settings.

1. In the Apple Watch app, select General.
2. Find the toggle for “Enable Screenshots,” and switch it on.
3. When enabled, you can take a screenshot by pressing the side button and the Digital Crown at the same time. It's a snap!

Find Your Friends (and Devices) from Your iPhone

With Apple's new Find My app, you can locate both devices and people. The devices tab lets you see your devices, and your family's devices, if enabled.

If your friends or family are sharing locations with you, you can find them in the People tab. Here you can make adjustments to the people you share with and even set up alerts for when a person leaves or arrives at a location.

Use a HomePod to Find Your Phone

Just say, “Hey Siri, where's my iPhone?” A chime will be played on your device.

Quickly Find Photos of People, Places, and More

iOS supports machine learning and allows you to search through your photos, using keywords, quickly. In the Photos app, select the search tab and type keywords, dates, names, or locations. You can search for things like dogs, holidays such as Christmas, or even the names of your children.

Get the Most out of Apple Pay

If you're not using Apple Pay, it's never too late to start. Apple Pay works across most of your Apple devices and lets you purchase items quickly from many apps and websites. It does this by storing your cards in the Wallet app. In addition, you can use Apple Pay at most stores that accept NFC payments. Simply double-click the side button, select a card, and authorize.

Apple Pay Cash allows you to send and receive cash in iMessage. If you haven't set it up, you should. It's like Venmo but right in iMessage. In addition, if you have Apple Card, cashback is added to your Apple Pay Cash card.

Customize Your iPhone’s Keyboard

Apple finally added the ability to swipe-to-type with QuickPath. That being said, iOS supports third-party keyboards as well. Simply find a third-party keyboard app on the App Store and install it (if you trust it). Then open it up and follow the directions within the app. Once set up, you can cycle between multiple keyboards using the Globe icon in the bottom left of the keyboard. To manage keyboards, go to:

1. Settings.
2. General.
3. Keyboard.
4. Keyboards. Here you can add, reorder, remove, and edit permissions for your keyboards.

Multitask Like a Pro on Your iPad

iPadOS isn't much different from previous versions of iOS on the iPad. But, it has a new name and a few new modifications which show that Apple has big plans in store for the iconic tablet. Being able to multitask on the iPad is one of its key differences from the iPhone and iPod Touch.

You can have up to four apps on display at one time using Split View, Slide Over, and PIP. You can also drag and drop items between apps. Such as dragging a photo from the Files app into the body of a new message in Mail.

In iPadOS 13, you can now use multiple instances of some apps at once, giving you even more flexibility.

1. Open an app and slide up (but not too far) from the bottom to show the dock.
2. Drag an icon onto the current app and let go when you have it where you want it. You can also drag an app from the Home screen with one finger and open a second app with another finger.
3. You can adjust Split View using the handle between the two apps. Slide from the right side of the screen to show your Slide Over view.
4. Slide from the bottom of this view to cycle between multiple apps.

Slide Over can be moved to the other side of the keyboard using the handle at the top of the window. You can also use this handle to drag and add the app to Split View.

It can take some getting used to, but multitasking on iPad can help you use your tablet in all-new ways.

Reset and Re-pair Your Siri Remote

If you buy a new Apple TV remote, or need to factory reset your current remote, or pair it with an Apple TV, good news: It's easy.

If you have multiple Apple TVs and you run into issues, try unplugging any other Apple TVs while you complete setup. (I've found that this can confuse them.)

1. To reset your Siri Remote, press the Menu and Volume Up buttons for about 3 seconds. This will also put the remote in pairing mode.
2. With the remote in pairing mode, simply bring the remote close to the Apple TV and press any button.
3. Wait for a confirmation on your TV that the remote has been paired.

Keep in mind; you can only pair one Siri remote to an Apple TV. You can pair multiple third-party controllers, gamepads, and iOS devices.

3 Ways to Rearrange/Delete Apps on iPhone

In iOS 13, there are three ways to rearrange and delete apps:

1. Tap and hold to bring up the contextual menu and select “Edit Home Screen” or “Delete App.”
2. Or tap and hold an app, continue to hold until the apps start to wiggle. Drag an app to rearrange it or tap the “X” to delete it.
3. Or tap an app and start dragging when you feel the haptic feedback. The app should follow your finger.

In addition to the above, you can also arrange apps into folders and move multiple apps at once. To create a folder, just drag one app onto another. The folder will name itself; tap the name to change it.

To move multiple apps at a time, use one finger to drag an app, and another to tap apps to add to the “stack.” Drag the stack where you want it and release.

At this time, iOS doesn't support nested folders.

Transfer Audio to (and from) HomePod

If your HomePod and iOS device are running the latest firmware, you can simply bring your iPhone near the top of the HomePod to move your currently playing audio to it. Bring the iPhone close again to take the audio back.

Also, on HomePod, Siri can recognize your voice. If you're having trouble with this, make sure all of your iCloud devices (and family sharing devices) are up-to-date.

Using voice recognition and Shortcuts, you can create home automations that are specific to you. For example, my wife and I can say “turn off my lamp,” and Siri knows which lamp each of us are referring to.

Scan to Files

1. Open the Files app.
2. Go to a location where you wish to add a file.
3. Tap and hold the empty space, then select Scan Documents.

Pretty cool, right?

Share a Live Presentation from Your Mac with Keynote

You can share Keynote presentations using Keynote Live. When in Keynote, select the Keynote Live button next to the play button. Set up the options you want and share the link with a viewer. They will be able to view your presentation in their web browser. Just click the play button to start your presentation.

Watch Your Heart Throughout the Day

You likely already know that you can view your heart rate on Apple Watch. But, you can also use the larger Heart Rate complication on various watch faces to see your most recent reading. This can be efficient if you like to know how fast your heart is beating throughout the day.

Send iMessages with Subjects

Want to add a subject to your iMessages? This can be used for a number of things. For messages sent to other iMessage users, text in the subject line will appear at the top of the bubble in bold font.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Messages.
3. Enable Show Subject Field. You'll now have a subject line in iMessage.

There are some other fun/useful settings for iMessage as well. Be sure to check them out in the Settings app. You can enable character count, configure your Message history, and more.

Send Memoji and Animoji in Emails and More

Fun fact: Since Memoji and Animoji are sent as images, you can copy and paste them into email messages. You can even find your Memoji stickers in the emoji keyboard, letting you add them just about anywhere.

Make Your AirPods Work the Way You Want Them to

AirPods Pro are here with even more to offer. You can configure your AirPods in the Bluetooth settings. Just find your AirPods in the list of Bluetooth devices and tap the blue ? icon for additional AirPods settings.

Just Speak to Siri on Apple Watch, No Need to Say “Hey”

You don't need to say “Hey Siri” to speak to Siri using Apple Watch. Just raise the watch to your mouth and start talking.

Answer Calls on Your HomePod

Is your iPhone ringing? Just say, “Hey Siri, answer the call from my iPhone.”

Put That Email Aside on iPhone

When you're writing an email in the Mail app, you'll see a handle indicator at the top of the new message. Slide it down, and you can browse Mail while keeping the new message on the back burner. You can do this with multiple messages at a time. Just tap the message(s) to return to composing.

HomePod and Apple TV Are Location-Aware

You can assign HomePods and Apple TVs to different locations and zones in the Home app so that they know where they are in your house.

This allows you to say “turn off the lights” (assuming you have smart lights) without specifying which ones. Doing so will turn off the lights only in that room. Specify lights outside of the room to control those as well.

Change Users on Apple TV

Hold down the TV button on your Siri remote to switch between users on Apple TV. The current setup isn't exactly family-friendly, but it does allow you to access multiple libraries easily.

Share or Record Your iPad’s or iPhone’s Screen

First, add the Screen Recording control to Control Center.

1. Settings.
2. Control Center.
3. Customize Controls.

In your Control Center, tap it to begin recording your screen. Screen recording also supports audio and third-party apps such as Squad, Facebook Messenger, and WebEx Teams.

Press and hold the Screen Recording button to turn the microphone on or off.

Change Siri’s Voice

Are you tired of Siri's default voice? Open Settings and choose Siri & Search. Select Siri Voice to select a new voice for your virtual companion.

Sync Your Apple TVs

If you have multiple Apple TVs, it can be helpful to keep them all in sync. On an Apple TV, go to:

1. Settings.
2. Users and Accounts.
3. Select iCloud.
4. Turn on One Home Screen.

This will sync the home screen layout between all Apple TVs using the same iCloud account.

Customize Your Reminders Lists

The new Reminders app in iOS 13 lets you set up multiple lists with new color coding and icons/ glyphs.

1. On the main screen, select Edit from the top-right corner.
2. The select the ? icon to the right of a list. You'll be able to name the list and specify a color and glyph.

In addition, the new Reminders app lets you add sub-tasks and more. Give it a try.

Automatically Share Your Hotspot

You can set up your Personal Hotspot so that your devices and your family devices can automatically connect as needed. When set up, a nearby device without a network connection can choose to connect to yours automatically to share cellular data. While your devices will do this by default, shared family devices can be set up in the Settings app under the Personal Hotspot settings. Tap Family Sharing, enable it, and configure your family members so they can join automatically or by asking. 

Compress Files and More

In iOS 13 and iPadOS, the Files app is more powerful than ever. It even supports flash drives now. One of the other things it can do is compress (and decompress files). To do this:

1. Open the Files app.
2. Locate a file or folder you want to compress.
3. Long press it and select Compress from the contextual menu.

There's also an Info option in the contextual menu for viewing more information about files and photos.

Change Icons on Your Mac, iPhone, or iPad

Some apps on iOS support alternate icons, check in the Settings of the app. On Macs, changing icons is easy, and you can use multiple file types.

1. Right-click a folder or application and select Get Info.
2. You'll see a new information window, and the icon will be displayed in the top left.
3. Copy an alternate image, click the icon (in the info window), and paste (command + v)—or drag an icon file onto the icon—to change it.

Add and Remove Items from Apple TV’s Watch Now

• Click (or tap) and hold on an item in the Up Next list and you can mark it as watched or remove it.
• To add shows or movies, simply find them and click Add. Oddly, you can't do this from some areas of the app.

Check the Status of Apple Services

Having issues with iCloud, Apple Music, or something else? You may not be alone. If Apple is aware of a somewhat widespread issue, they will update their status page to reflect this. You can find out the status of various Apple services by going to Apple.com/support/systemstatus.

See More Controls in the Camera App

While in the Camera app, swipe up on the different view picker (photo, portrait, pano) to show more options.

See a List View of Your Apps on Apple Watch

While in the app selection screen, press firmly and select List View.

Request Desktop Versions of Webpages (and Make them Actually Fit)

In iOS 13, there is what looks like a text-size icon in the URL bar; tap this icon to change zoom/font size, show Reader View, hide toolbar (tap the top of the display to show the toolbar again), or Request Desktop View.

Selecting the “Request Desktop View” option will load the desktop site, but it may dynamically fit itself to the smaller screen. To view the whole page, rotate into landscape view, and then use the same menu to zoom out up to 50%. You should see the whole page as it would be rendered on a computer.

Adjust Individual Website Settings

In the same menu as the Reader View and Desktop Site options, there's an option for Website Settings. Here you can make adjustments to the settings of a specific site. This includes how the site loads (reader views, desktop site, etc.) and what permissions the site has.

One-Handed Typing Made Easy

With QuickPath, you can now swipe on the keyboard to enter text. This makes it easy to type with just a thumb. In addition, you can press and hold the globe icon in the bottom-left of the keyboard and select one of three keyboard options: left, regular, and right. Selecting the left or right icons will squish the keys to that side of the screen, making them easier to reach with one hand (you can also continue to swipe).

Quickly Scan a QR Code with Your iPhone or iPad

Open the Camera app, point the camera at a QR code, tap the banner that appears at the top of the display. Easy.

Mute Messages and Email

On a message thread in iMessage, swipe left and select Hide Alerts. In Mail, swipe left, select the three dots, and choose Mute.

Rename Your AirPods

On your iOS device, open Settings and select Bluetooth. With your AirPods connected, tap their current name to rename them.

Enjoy the Apple TV Screensavers

• While your Apple TV screensaver is active, swipe left or right on your Siri Remote to switch between scenes.
• Tap the touchpad to view information about a scene.
• To start the screensaver manually, press the Menu button while at the top of the home screen.

Search Your Messages

In Messages on iOS, swipe down in the thread view and use the search bar to search your messages. Tapping a result brings you to that point in the conversation.

Snap Windows to Each Other in macOS

Slowly drag one window to the edge of another. This also works with the dock, screen edges, and menu bar.

Message Businesses in iMessage

Search for a supported business—such as Apple or T-Mobile—in Apple Maps and select the Message option on a result.

Scroll Quicker on iPhone and iPad

When scrolling in iOS, you can grab the scroll bar (when it appears) and drag it.

Force Close Apple TV Apps

If an Apple TV app is having issues, or your Apple TV is running slow, you can force close apps by double-tapping the TV button and swiping up on apps you want to close.

Create Strong Passwords Every Time (and Identify Which Ones You Should Change)

Safari will suggest strong passwords when it detects a new password field. Use them; it will help keep you secure. You can find the saved password in your iCloud Keychain.

To find out which passwords you should change, go to:

1. Settings
2. Passwords & Accounts
3. Website and App Passwords on your iOS device.
4. Items with a warning sign (??) indicate a password that was already used for another site.

Using the same passwords across sites makes you vulnerable because if one site (especially a smaller site) is hacked, the attacker now has access to your password for multiple accounts.