19 Things You Didn’t Know Your Smartphone Could Do

App(s): iOS 15
How: Enable ‘Find My Network’
Why: In Case of Lost or Stolen Phone

Anyone who has ever lost their smartphone knows how losing their cellphone can sometimes feel like the world is ending. A cellphone is more like a computer than it is a phone nowadays. It costs an arm and a leg. But more than that, it’s where users keep a lot of their personal information stored.

Track Your Phone Even If It's Turned Off ©PintoArt/Shutterstock.com

Now, thanks to iOS 15’s new ‘Find My Network’ function, whether you’ve lost your phone at the mall or forgotten it in the Uber, you’ll be able to track your phone for 5 hours after it’s been turned off or the battery dies. Go to ‘Settings > Apple ID > Find My > Find My iPhone’ to activate the function.

App(s): iOS and Android
How: Switch Network Settings
Why: Make Data Last Longer

Mobile phone plans (and the data that comes with them) cost a lot of money in North America, especially when compared to other countries worldwide. Naturally, avoiding using the data is one of the monthly goals that everyone should have. To do this, some families have turned to setting their devices to only update apps and operating systems at certain hours (usually overnight). 

Data Allowance ©zhudifeng/Canva/Getty Images

Another great way to prolong your mobile data’s lifetime is by going to the ‘Settings’ menu  > ‘Storage and Data’  > ‘Media Auto-Download’ > Switch to Wi-Fi. This will need to be done for every app in the list, but it will save a ton of data monthly by first and foremost connecting to Wi-Fi whenever possible.

App(s): All Mobile Phones
How: Airplane Mode
Why: Faster Charging Times

Widely used as a function that allows smartphone and tablet users to continue using their portable devices while airborne, ‘Airplane Mode’ has another great use as well. It’s a miracle button for anyone who has ever needed to charge their phone in a hurry. You just have to remember to use it.

Charge Your Phone Faster With a Single Button Press ©ninefotostudio/Shutterstock.com

Activating ‘Airplane Mode’ will stop the device from accessing a network which, in turn, will charge it faster. Get a few extra minutes of super-powered charging before heading to the movies or meeting a friend at Starbucks by switching to ‘Airplane Mode’ even if you’re not flying anywhere.

App(s): iOS 15
How: Long-Press, Select, and Translate`
Why: Better Comprehension and Communication

If you’ve ever traveled somewhere where you didn’t know the language, you probably have gotten lost once or twice along the way. Imagine how much easier life would have been if every incomprehensible sign suddenly made perfect sense. Well, that’s what life’s like with iOS 15.

Translate Foreign-language Signs With Camera @pattid1323/Pinterest

Take a picture of any sign causing you problems. Then, go to edit the photo as you would any other. Highlight the text and scroll right to the ‘Translate’ tab. You’ll be at your destination before you know it and with time to spare.

App(s): iOS
How: Tap The Back Of Applicable Smartphones
Why: To Create Shortcuts For Different Commands/Settings 

iOS users can gain access to often-used commands (or hard to get to settings) by activating the ‘Back Tap’ tool on their smartphones. With this tool, opening the camera app, taking screenshots, and turning on the phone’s flashlight are just a few taps away.

Activate Back Tap Functions on your Phone @santi ferplei/Youtube

Anyone operating on iOS 14 or above is privy to this new function; you just have to find it first. To find the ‘Back Tap’ menu, follow ‘Settings > Additional setting > Gesture shortcuts’. Once there, users can select which of the many settings or commands they like easier access to. 

App(s): YouTube
How: Two-Finger Tap
Why: To Navigate Videos With Ease

It starts with just one video but usually ends with users getting lost for hours in a rabbit hole of clips they didn’t intend to watch. Considering how much time is being spent on YouTube, users may as well know how to get the most out of the app.

Navigate YouTube With Gestures ©Sutipond Somnam/Shutterstock.com

Moving a video forwards or backward in 10-second increments can be done by tapping two fingers on either the left or right side of the screen. Likewise, the same technique can be utilized if a video is split into sections (chapters). Theoretically, this two-fingered tip should eliminate the annoyance of fumbling through a clip for the desired spot.

App(s): iOS and Android
How: Using The Message Timer Function
Why: Preventing Information Leaks

Making something disappear before your eyes is no longer just an illusion performed by magicians. The developers behind the recent versions of iOS and Android have put that power into the hands of all their users by giving them the ability to make their messages disappear.

Turn on Disappearing Messages @h1mohamed360/Pinterest

If you’re sending sensitive information or taking part in a texting trivia scavenger hunt with a 24-hour, 7-day, or 90-day deadline, this tip will be advantageous. Disappearing messages that have been sent to individuals or a group will disappear from their messaging app, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been copied and saved elsewhere.

App(s): WhatsApp
How: Utilizing Dual Messenger
Why: Split Between Business And Personal Accounts

There are a lot of people who, for one reason or another, feel as though they need to have multiple WhatsApp accounts. However, the only way possible is if they had more than one smartphone, or would it? 

Have Two Different WhatsApp Accounts on Your Phone @Infinita Goya/Facebook

No, it’s still not possible. Samsung, Nokia, and most other Android users can, however, have multiple messaging accounts set up within the same WhatsApp account using something called ‘Dual Messenger’ (Samsung) or something to the like. Available only for ‘Dual SIM’ users, this app tip is excellent for anyone looking to separate their business and personal lives from one another.

App(s): Voice Memos
How: Using A Second Phone
Why: Keep For Records

It’s completely possible that, on occasion, someone might need to record a phone conversation they’re having with a colleague or future business associate. In the event that such an occasion should arise, it would be wise not to waste money on listening devices and portable mini recorders because every iPhone and Android device already has one.

Record a Phone Call ©XanderSt/Shutterstock.com

Press record on the ‘Voice Memos’ (iPhone) or ‘Notepad’ (Android) apps a few seconds before the call is made. Next, you’ll have to make the call from another phone. Place the second cell on speaker and the first (the one recording) close enough to do its job, and that’s it. All calls can now be listened to time and again.

App(s): Photos
How: Moving Photos To The Hidden Album
Why: You Don’t Want Others To See Them

Starting with iOS 14, iPhone users were given the option to hide their ‘Hidden Album.’ First and foremost, any photos that you can’t bear to look at (but refuse to delete) should be placed directly into the ‘Hidden Album.’ The album and everything in it can then be hidden further by disabling the ‘Hidden Album’ in iPhotos’ settings.

Hide Your Hidden Photos @macrumors/Pinterest

Whether it’s photos of them wearing a Buzz Lightyear costume five sizes too small – or snapshots from the summer they decided to ‘frost their tips’ – everyone has at least a few pictures that they don’t want others to see. They won’t even know they exist by hiding the ‘Hidden Album.’

App(s): Maps
How: Using Rear Phone Camera
Why: To Not Get Lost

There was a time when people used to use paper maps to help them get around places with which they were unfamiliar, or they would print directions from MapQuest. Then along came smartphones with GPS maps. However, the map apps were not always updated, and people would still find themselves getting lost.

Use AR Walking Directions in Maps @coolmaterial/Pinterest

The AR walking directions addition to maps attempts to solve that problem. After inputting the destination into Maps, users should follow the prompts on their screen. They will be instructed to point their camera’s lens at buildings or landmarks from time to time. These ‘locators’ will ensure the pedestrian is staying the course.

App(s): Netflix
How: Hiding Recently Viewed Items
Why: Get Better Recommendations

Having guests over is a wonderful experience until they start messing with the Netflix preferences. All it takes is one ill-advised program selection, and the ‘recommended for you’ section is thrown entirely out of whack. There is a way to rectify the problem, but it will take some work to make Netflix forget what’s been watched recently.

Netflix Has a Hidden Forget Button ©Diego Cervo/Shutterstock.com

First, users must be working with the browser version of Netflix. Go to accounts, then select the profile in question. After that, find the ‘Viewing Activity’ tab within the ‘Profile & Parental Controls’ menu. Here, you can hide anything that has recently been watched — giving your profile a do-over of sorts. 

App(s): iPhone
How: Dial *3001#12345#*
Why: Run Diagnostic Reports

There are so many ins and outs to how an iPhone runs – and the many uses of its apps – that most users only learn a fraction of them before trading up for the next model. One function that hasn’t changed with each upgrade is a bit of a secret. In fact, it can only be reached by using a special code.

Find a Secret iPhone App Hidden in Code @cometdocs/Pinterest

Dialing *3001#12345#* on an iPhone brings up a menu that was designed for technicians to run diagnostic reports on the phone’s various functions. Once there, users are welcome to run the tests and check the reports themselves, but the majority of the public won’t have the slightest clue about what they’re looking for.

App(s): WhatsApp
How: Request Account Info
Why: To See Texting Habits and Trends

Have you ever wanted to know how many WhatsApp messages you’ve sent to a contact? Or, perhaps, what time of day you use the app most? Those, along with all of the other stats and data about your WhatsApp usage, can be viewed by going to ‘Settings > Account > Request Account Info.

View the Secret Whatsapp Report About Your Texting Habits ©qoppi/Shutterstock.com

Users will receive a notification when their reports are ready to be downloaded. However, it may take up to 3 days to organize and prepare the info. If you were ever worried about what data Big Brother’ has collected of yours through WhatsApp, this is one way to find out.