Hidden iPhone Gestures You Should Start Using

Hidden iPhone Gestures

The iPhone has evolved far beyond its early days of simple taps and swipes. With each new iOS update, Apple introduces a refined set of gestures that offer more control, speed, and functionality. However, many of these iPhone gestures remain under the radar, even for experienced users.

In 2025, with iOS 18 and the latest iPhone models pushing the boundaries of interface design, iPhone gestures play an even more essential role. From three-finger shortcuts to hidden drag-and-drop moves, these touch-based tricks can transform your daily experience.

Whether you’re an iPhone newbie or a longtime user, here’s your guide to the hidden iPhone gestures you should start using today.

Must-Know iPhone Hacks for 2025

1. Three-Finger Undo and Redo

We’ve all had moments where we accidentally delete a note, mistype a message, or change something we didn’t mean to. Instead of shaking your iPhone, which used to be the old-school way to undo typing, Apple introduced a more elegant solution: three-finger gestures.

How it works:

• Undo: Swipe left with three fingers anywhere on the screen.
• Redo: Swipe right with three fingers.

Alternatively, tap once with three fingers to bring up the undo/redo/edit toolbar. It’s super handy when working in Notes, Mail, or Messages.

2. Swipe to Erase Numbers in Calculator

If you’ve ever typed the wrong number in the Calculator app and deleted the whole entry in frustration, you’re not alone. Thankfully, there’s a hidden gesture to delete just the last digit.

How:

• Simply swipe left or right on the number field at the top of the Calculator.

Each swipe removes one digit at a time—no need to clear the entire number.

3. Quick Path Typing (Slide-to-Type)

Typing one-handed? You don’t need to tap every key individually. Just slide your finger across the keyboard from letter to letter to form words. Apple’s built-in QuickPath typing is fast, fluid, and surprisingly accurate.

Tip:

• If a word gets misinterpreted, tap backspace once to reveal alternative suggestions.

It’s available on the default iOS keyboard—no third-party apps needed.

4. Tap and Drag Multiple Apps at Once

Organizing your Home Screen can be a pain, especially if you’re moving lots of apps. But there’s a hidden gesture that makes bulk movement super easy.

How to Do It:

1. Long-press on an app icon until it jiggles.
2. While holding one app, use another finger to tap additional apps—they’ll stack together.
3. Drag them all to a new page or folder at once.

It’s one of the fastest ways to clean up a cluttered screen.

5. Back Tap Shortcuts

Introduced in iOS 14 but vastly improved in recent updates, Back Tap allows you to assign actions to double or triple taps on the back of your iPhone.

To Enable:

• Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap.
• Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap and assign an action.

You can trigger system functions (like Control Center), run shortcuts, launch the camera, or even open an app—all with a quick tap on the back.

6. Drag and Drop Between Apps

Multitasking has become smoother with drag and drop gestures. You can now grab text, images, links, or files and drop them into other apps without copy-pasting.

Example:

• In Safari, long-press an image.
• With another finger, swipe up to go to Messages or Notes.
• Drop the image into the message or note.

It’s surprisingly fluid and saves tons of time.

7. Swipe to Close Safari Tabs

In Safari, closing individual tabs can be done without reaching for the tiny “X.”

Here’s how:

• In the tab view, simply swipe left or right on a tab to close it instantly.

This makes managing multiple tabs feel more intuitive and less cramped, especially on smaller screens.

8. Pinch to Zoom in Videos and Maps

Most people know about pinch-to-zoom for photos, but the same gesture applies in other apps too—like videos, Maps, and even some third-party platforms.

Try This:

• In Apple Maps or Google Maps, use pinch gestures to zoom in and out.
• While watching a video, pinch to zoom in on the action (especially on platforms like YouTube and Safari).

It’s an underrated gesture that works in more places than you’d think.

9. Quick Switch Between Apps

On iPhones with Face ID, the home indicator bar can do more than just bring you home.

Try This:

• Swipe left or right along the bottom edge to quickly switch between recent apps.

This is ideal for multitasking—jumping between Safari and Notes, or Mail and Calendar, without opening the App Switcher.

10. Pull to Refresh

The classic pull-to-refresh gesture still holds up in many iOS apps, including Mail, Safari, and third-party apps like Twitter, Reddit, and Instagram.

How:

• Simply swipe downward from the top of a list or page to refresh its contents.

Even some newer Apple apps like News and Stocks support this gesture. It’s old-school but reliable.

11. Slide to Type Numbers and Symbols

If you use a lot of punctuation or numbers, try this:

Here’s how:

• On the keyboard, tap and hold the “123” key, then slide your finger to the desired number or symbol.
• Release to input the character and return automatically to the alphabet keyboard.

This gesture makes typing quicker because you don’t have to keep switching keyboards.

12. Hidden Safari Tab Overview Gestures

Safari’s new design includes some slick tab gestures.

Try This:

• Pinch inward on any webpage to zoom out and view all open tabs.
• Pinch outward on a tab in overview mode to zoom into it.

This mimics the experience of flipping through pages and makes browsing feel more like navigating a book.

13. Copy and Paste with Three Fingers

Want to speed up your copy-paste game?

Use These Three-Finger Gestures:

• Copy: Pinch in with three fingers.
• Paste: Pinch out with three fingers.
• Cut: Do the pinch-in gesture twice.

These work in Notes, Mail, and many other text fields across iOS.

14. Swipe Left to Quickly Delete Emails and Messages

In Mail and Messages, Apple allows you to quickly triage your inbox and chats.

Gestures:

• Swipe left to delete.
• Swipe partially left to reveal options like Flag or Archive.
• Swipe right to mark as unread or pin a message.

It’s a great way to handle digital clutter in seconds.

15. Control Center and Notification Center Access

If you’re not using the correct gesture to access Control and Notification Centers, you’re missing out.

For Face ID iPhones:

• Swipe down from the top-right corner to access Control Center.
• Swipe down from the middle/top-left to open Notification Center.

For Home Button iPhones:

• Control Center: Swipe up from the bottom.
• Notifications: Swipe down from the top.

These quick iPhone gestures give instant access to settings, media controls, and alerts.

16. Zoom Accessibility Shortcut

If you have trouble seeing small text or just want to zoom in on part of the screen, use the Zoom gesture.

How:

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Zoom and enable it.
2. Double-tap with three fingers to activate the zoom window.
3. Drag three fingers to move the zoomed area.

It’s a lifesaver for reading small text in apps without native zoom support.

17. One-Handed Keyboard Gesture

Typing with one hand on a large iPhone? Try the one-handed keyboard.

Here’s how:

• Press and hold the emoji or globe icon on the keyboard.
• Select the left or right-handed keyboard layout.

The keyboard shifts to one side of the screen for easier access with one thumb.

18. Use Reachability for Easier Access

Large screen? Small hands? Reachability helps you access the top of your iPhone more easily.

How:

• Swipe downward on the bottom edge of the screen (near the home indicator).

The entire screen shifts downward, making the top row reachable without stretching.

Enable it in Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Reachability.

19. Long-Press for Hidden Menus

3D Touch is gone, but Haptic Touch lives on.

Try long-pressing:

• App icons (to reveal quick actions)
• Notifications (to expand and interact)
• Links in Safari (for previews)
• Photos (for quick sharing or editing)

You’ll uncover tons of hidden functionality by simply holding your finger a moment longer.

20. Pull Down to Search from Home Screen

Need to find an app, contact, or answer? No need to hunt.

Gesture:

• From the Home Screen, swipe down anywhere (except the top edge).

This opens Spotlight Search, which can launch apps, search the web, or pull up documents. It’s your iPhone’s version of Google.

Final Thoughts

Apple’s design philosophy has always revolved around simplicity, but the real power lies in the hidden iPhone gestures that most users overlook. These intuitive touch-based shortcuts can save time, reduce taps, and help you unlock the full potential of your iPhone.

By mastering these hidden iPhone gestures, you’re not just using your phone—you’re navigating it with fluidity and purpose. Whether it’s editing text faster, accessing tools with a tap, or moving content between apps effortlessly, these tricks are game changers in how we interact with our devices.

Start incorporating a few at a time, and you’ll quickly notice a smoother, more efficient workflow in your daily iPhone gestures use. You already own a powerful device—now it’s time to use it like a pro.