25 Underrated iPhone Settings You Should Turn On for a Better Experience

The iPhone is known for its sleek design and powerful features, but most users never explore beyond the basics. Apple has tucked away dozens of smart and helpful options in its iPhone settings—many of which are underrated and underused.

Whether you’re a casual user or a tech enthusiast, knowing the right iPhone settings to turn on can improve performance, save battery, enhance privacy, and make your phone truly yours.

This guide explores 25 underrated iPhone settings that can transform how you use your device.

Fun iPhone Hacks to Try With Friends

1. Back Tap – Add Quick Shortcuts Instantly

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap
Back Tap lets you double- or triple-tap the back of your iPhone to trigger shortcuts—like launching the camera, taking a screenshot, or opening apps. It’s a hidden gem in your iPhone settings that’s incredibly useful for speed and accessibility.

2. Optimized Battery Charging

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging
This smart setting slows charging when your battery reaches 80%, learning your charging routine over time. It’s one of the iPhone settings that quietly helps your battery last longer in the long run.

3. Silence Unknown Callers

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers
Avoid annoying spam or robocalls by enabling this iPhone setting. Calls from unknown numbers go straight to voicemail while known contacts still ring through.

4. Low Power Mode Automation

iPhone Setting Path: Shortcuts App → Automation → Battery Level
Use Apple’s Shortcuts app to automate Low Power Mode. You can program this iPhone setting to activate when battery drops to a certain percentage—perfect for power users.

5. App Privacy Report

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Privacy & Security → App Privacy Report
This security-focused iPhone setting shows how often apps access your data (location, mic, photos). It’s eye-opening and lets you manage your app permissions more intelligently.

6. Hide My Email (for iCloud+ Users)

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Hide My Email
Create temporary email addresses to protect your real one. This powerful iPhone setting helps reduce spam and keep your inbox secure.

7. Text Replacement

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement
Tired of typing the same things? This clever iPhone setting allows you to create shortcuts like “omw” for “On my way!” It’s simple and a huge time-saver.

8. Night Shift + True Tone

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Display & Brightness
Both Night Shift and True Tone adjust your display’s color to be easier on your eyes. These built-in iPhone settings are essential if you often use your phone in low light.

9. Reduce White Point

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Reduce White Point
Dim bright colors on your screen without reducing the actual brightness. This iPhone setting is great for reducing eye strain.

10. Scan QR Code from Control Center

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Control Center → Add “Code Scanner”
Instead of fumbling through the Camera app, add a QR scanner shortcut to your Control Center. It’s one of those iPhone settings that adds pure convenience.

11. Announce Notifications with Siri

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Notifications → Announce Notifications
Let Siri read your notifications out loud through your AirPods. It’s a practical iPhone setting for driving or multitasking.

12. Use Private Wi-Fi Address

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Wi-Fi → (i) next to network → Private Address
Avoid being tracked across networks by enabling this privacy-focused iPhone setting. It creates a unique MAC address for each network.

13. Limit Ad Tracking

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking
This crucial iPhone setting lets you restrict apps from tracking your activity for targeted ads. A must for those who value digital privacy.

14. Background App Refresh – Control It

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → General → Background App Refresh
Disable background refresh for apps you don’t need. This iPhone setting saves both battery and data.

15. AssistiveTouch

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch
Add an on-screen shortcut menu for easier control. This underrated iPhone setting is especially useful if your hardware buttons are worn out or hard to use.

16. Sound Recognition

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Accessibility → Sound Recognition
Your iPhone can listen for alarms, doorbells, or a baby crying—and alert you. A very useful iPhone setting for those with hearing difficulties or in loud environments.

17. Guided Access

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Accessibility → Guided Access
Lock your phone into a single app—perfect for kids or focused work sessions. This iPhone setting ensures nothing else can be accessed until you turn it off.

18. Enable HEIF and HEVC Formats

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Camera → Formats → High Efficiency
These formats offer high-quality images and videos at smaller file sizes. A space-saving iPhone setting ideal for photographers and videographers.

19. View Large Attachments in Messages

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Messages
Find and delete old files that take up space—one of the smartest storage management iPhone settings available.

20. Low Data Mode

iPhone Setting Path:
Wi-Fi: Settings → Wi-Fi → (i)
Cellular: Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Options
Minimize background data usage on limited networks. This iPhone setting is essential when traveling or using a limited data plan.

21. Preserve Camera Settings

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Camera → Preserve Settings
Ensure your favorite camera modes stay saved. This iPhone setting is great for photographers who hate resetting to default.

22. Mirror Front Camera

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Camera → Mirror Front Camera
Get selfies that look like what you see on screen—not flipped. A visual preference iPhone setting many users overlook.

23. Voice Control

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Accessibility → Voice Control
Control your iPhone entirely by voice. While this iPhone setting is designed for accessibility, it’s great for hands-free control in general.

24. Enable Battery Percentage

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Battery → Battery Percentage
Always show your exact battery level in the status bar. This classic iPhone setting is essential for users who like clear info at a glance.

25. Focus Mode with Sleep Scheduling

iPhone Setting Path: Settings → Focus → Sleep
Schedule “Wind Down” routines and silence notifications at bedtime. A well-being–focused iPhone setting that’s good for better sleep.

Why These iPhone Settings Matter

Activating these iPhone settings can result in:

• Better performance and battery: Save energy with Low Power Mode, HEIF images, and reduced background activity.
• More privacy: Block tracking, hide your email, and use private Wi-Fi addresses.
• Less stress: Use QR shortcuts, filter unknown callers, and limit screen brightness in helpful ways.
• Personal customization: Whether you want bigger text, new gestures, or full voice control, these iPhone settings adapt to you.

Many users never touch these options—but you now know what to enable for a better experience.

Final Thoughts

Most people stick to default settings, but diving deeper into iPhone settings can enhance how you use your device every day. The best part? You don’t need third-party apps or special tools—everything is already built into iOS.

Take a few minutes to explore your iPhone settings, starting with three from this list. Over time, as you experiment and enable more, you’ll discover just how customizable and powerful your iPhone really is.