iOS 18 introduces a range of lesser-known features that can significantly enhance your iPhone experience. Below is a curated list of useful but under-the-radar tips and tricks, based on the latest information available. These features are practical, time-saving, or add unique functionality, yet they’ve flown under the radar for many users.
1. Restart iPhone from Control Center
• What It Does: You can now restart your iPhone without pressing physical buttons.
• How to Use: Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, then press and hold the new power button in the top-right section. After a second, the power-off slider appears. Slide to power off, then press and hold the physical side button to turn it back on.
• Why It’s Useful: This is a quicker, more intuitive way to restart your device, especially if physical buttons are inconvenient or you want to avoid wear on them.
• Note: Previously, restarting required pressing both a volume button and the side button, which was less discoverable.
2. Adjust Flashlight Beam Width
• What It Does: On iPhones with Dynamic Island (iPhone 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, 15 series, 16 series), you can adjust not only the flashlight’s intensity but also its beam width.
• How to Use: Turn on the flashlight via the Lock Screen or Control Center. On the Dynamic Island, swipe up/down to adjust intensity and left/right to change beam width (wide for more area, narrow for focused light).
• Why It’s Useful: Perfect for photography lighting or practical tasks like illuminating a specific area without blinding others. It’s a fun, tactile feature that’s not widely advertised.
• Note: Only available on compatible models with Dynamic Island.
3. Uninterrupted Music Playback During Video Recording
• What It Does: iOS 18 lets you keep music or podcasts playing while recording video, with machine learning minimizing or removing the audio from the final video.
• How to Use: Go to Settings > Camera > Record Audio, and enable Allow Audio Playback. Start playing music or a podcast, then record a video as usual.
• Why It’s Useful: This addresses a long-standing issue where opening the Camera app would pause media playback, ruining the moment. It’s great for capturing vibes without sacrificing background audio during recording.
• Note: Ensure the feature is enabled in Settings to work seamlessly.
4. Search Here in Apple Maps
• What It Does: Manually control search results in Apple Maps by zooming into a specific area.
• How to Use: Open Maps, enter a search query (e.g., “coffee shops”), zoom in or out to your desired area, and tap the Search Here button that appears.
• Why It’s Useful: Ideal for densely populated cities or remote areas where Maps might not automatically prioritize the right region. It gives you precision control over search results, saving time.
• Note: Particularly helpful for travelers or those exploring unfamiliar areas.
5. Keypad Search in Phone App
• What It Does: Search contacts directly from the Phone app’s keypad using numbers or corresponding letters.
• How to Use: Open the Phone app, go to the Keypad tab, and start typing numbers. The app searches contacts by matching numbers to their alphanumeric equivalents (e.g., 2 = ABC) or phone numbers.
• Why It’s Useful: Faster than navigating the Contacts list or Spotlight Search, especially for quick dialing. It’s a subtle feature that mimics older phone systems but is rarely highlighted.
• Note: Works best for contacts with memorable number patterns.
6. Generate Wi-Fi QR Codes in Passwords App
• What It Does: Share Wi-Fi network access by generating a QR code directly from the new Passwords app.
• How to Use: Open the Passwords app, go to the Wi-Fi section, tap the desired network, and select Show Network QR Code. Others can scan it with their camera to connect.
• Why It’s Useful: Simplifies sharing Wi-Fi with guests without verbally dictating passwords. It’s more secure and faster than texting credentials.
• Note: Only works for Wi-Fi passwords saved in iCloud Keychain.
7. Pause and Resume Video Recording
• What It Does: Pause a video recording mid-shoot and resume from the same point without creating multiple clips.
• How to Use: Open the Camera app, switch to Video mode, start recording, then tap the Pause button (bottom left). Tap the red Capture button to resume.
• Why It’s Useful: Eliminates the need to stitch multiple clips together in post-production, making video recording more flexible for spontaneous moments.
• Note: Great for vloggers or anyone capturing extended events.
8. Background Sounds for Focus or Relaxation
• What It Does: Play soothing ambient sounds like rain, ocean, or stream to block distractions or aid relaxation.
• How to Use: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Background Sounds, choose a sound, and adjust volume. Alternatively, add it to Control Center: swipe down, long-press, tap Add a Control, and select Background Sounds (musical note icon).
• Why It’s Useful: Perfect for focusing in noisy environments, calming babies, or sleeping on planes. It’s a built-in white noise machine that’s not widely promoted.
• Note: Combine with noise-canceling headphones for maximum effect.
9. Type to Siri Without Speaking
• What It Does: Interact with Siri by typing instead of speaking, turning it into a chatbot-like interface.
• How to Use: Double-tap the bottom of the screen (or enable in Settings > Siri > Siri Responses) to bring up the keyboard. Type commands like “set an alarm” or “play a song.”
• Why It’s Useful: Ideal for quiet environments (e.g., meetings, public transport) or when you prefer discretion. It’s a significant accessibility upgrade that’s not heavily advertised.
• Note: Works on iPhone XS or later; Apple Intelligence enhances functionality on iPhone 15 Pro and newer.
10. Recent Calls Search with Voicemail Transcription
• What It Does: Search past calls by number, name, or even words in transcribed voicemails.
• How to Use: Open the Phone app, go to Recents or Voicemail, and use the search bar (pull down to reveal). Enter keywords, names, or numbers to find matches.
• Why It’s Useful: Quickly locate specific calls or voicemails without scrolling through long lists. Voicemail transcription makes it easy to find relevant conversations.
• Note: Voicemail transcription requires carrier support and may vary by region.
Additional Notes:
• Availability: Some features (e.g., Apple Intelligence-related ones like call recording or advanced Siri) require specific hardware (iPhone 15 Pro or newer) or are region-locked (e.g., topographic maps in the U.S. and Japan only).
• Beta Features: Features like default app settings or deleting core apps (iOS 18.2) are in beta or region-specific (e.g., EU for app deletion). Check your iOS version and region for compatibility.
• Privacy Tip: For features like call recording, ensure compliance with local laws, as iOS notifies all parties when recording starts.
These tips leverage iOS 18’s subtle enhancements to save time, boost productivity, or add convenience. 
