Kim Komando has 10 iPhone tricks that you will use all the time.
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Yes, your iPhone comes with a user guide and there are tons of instructional videos on the Apple site and YouTube. But who has the time? You have come to the right place.
Did you know that you can record the screen of your iPhone? It’s better than a screenshot that just gives you a still photo. Touch or click here to find out how to record your screen.
What about Apple Notes? The simple digital organizer is capable of much more than you think. I use it as a document scanner all the time. Tap or click five of my favorite uses.
Your iPhone contains countless features that you are probably not using.
1. Dim your iPhone with low light mode
If you are using your phone in a dark room or the screen is too bright, you can switch to low light mode. This can dim the screen brightness more than standard settings allow.
To enable it, touch Configurations > Accessibility > Focus > Zoom region > Full screen zoom. Return to the main Zoom menu and tap Zoom filter > Low light. Return to the main Zoom menu and toggle Zoom on.
Double-tap with three fingers to zoom out and restore the full screen. To quickly access low-light mode, tap the screen three times with three fingers or click the start button three times. Select Choose filter to adjust or disable the light filter.
2. Organize your cards in Apple Wallet
With COVID-19, you really don’t want to use a touchpad in grocery stores. Using Apple Wallet on your phone, you can store your credit, debit, prepaid and storage cards for easy contactless payment.
Open the wallet app and your cards are stacked on top of each other. The top default payment method is Apple Pay. To change it, tap the card you want to be your default payment method and drag it to the top of the stack. Easy!
New to Apple Wallet? Touch or click to see the steps to add new cards, pay with your iPhone and manage your wallet.
3. Reply to messages with a tap
A Tapback allows you to quickly reply or “react” to a message with emojis, without the need to press send. Just double-tap or tap and hold a message while in the Messages app. You can select a heart, thumbs up, thumbs down, !!,? or haha.
I have more tips for texting. Tap or click to get a dozen iPhone text messaging tricks you wish you knew before.
4. Delete calculations with a slide
There is nothing more frustrating than being wrong when you are in the calculator app and you have to start again. Instead of pressing Delete repeatedly, swipe back (left) as undo.
5. Adjust the start and end times of the calendar
When you add an event or edit an existing one in the Calendar, the time increments are set to five minutes by default. However, you can easily change it between one and five minute increments. To adjust the “Start” and “End” times, double-tap the date or time scroll wheel.
RELATED: 12 Google Calendar tricks to try now
6. Move multiple applications at once
Do you want to organize your iPhone applications? You don’t have to move them one at a time.
Move multiple apps by long-pressing an app with one finger, then use another finger to touch and drag another icon. Stack it on the first app you selected. Continue stacking apps. When you’re done, drag and drop the entire stack wherever you want.
7. Indent List Items in Notes
Your notes don’t have to be messy dumps. You can vignetting elements, and there is an easy way to do it: just swipe right.
Your items will be indented and you can even make a sublist within your bullets. Undo with a swipe to the left.
Touch or click to discover how you can easily convert your handwritten notes into written text.
8. Customize alerts for contacts
Customize vibration or sound alerts for specific contacts. Maybe your mom has a special ring, and your spouse’s text messages have their own buzz sequence.
Go Configurations > Sounds and haptics (on compatible models) or It sounds (on other iPhone models). Drag the slider down Ringtones and Alerts to set the volume of all sounds. Touch a sound type, such as ringtone or text tone in Sounds and Vibration patterns for new mail, calendar alerts, AirDrop, and more.
You can also select a ringtone or text tone. Under Sounds and vibration patterns, touch Ringtones to set work melodies for incoming calls, clock alarms, and clock timer.
Text tones can be used for text messages, new voicemail, and other alerts. Tap Vibration in Text tones to choose a vibration pattern or touch Create new vibration to create yours
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9. stop the music
Looking for a sleep timer that will stop your audio and lock your phone, forcing you to enter your password? You don’t need a special app for that.
Open the Music app, select your playlist and start a timer. Instead of choosing an alarm or alert sound, tap When the timer ends. Scroll to the bottom and choose the Stop playing option. Press start and you’re done!
This timer is great for kids or yourself if you want to set a limit for playing addictive games or going to bed. Having to unlock your phone is a good reminder that it’s time to go to sleep.
RELATED: Get your music from discs and CDs and in a digital format. Touch or click for a step-by-step guide to making digital copies of your songs.
10. Select messages to forward or delete
To quickly select messages to forward or delete, open the message thread and pinch the screen with your index finger and thumb. You can choose Delete all or mark individual messages to delete or forward.
What questions about the digital lifestyle do you have? Call Kim’s national radio show and tap or click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen or see The Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet, TV or computer. Or tap or click here to watch Kim’s free podcasts.
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Learn about all the latest technology at The Kim Komando Show, the country’s largest weekend radio show. Kim takes calls and offers advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacking. For your daily tips, free newsletters, and more, visit their website at Komando.com.
