When you get your first iPhone or upgrade to a new model, setting it up is only the first step. You might have already transferred your data and signed into your accounts. But before you get lost in the App Store or start snapping selfies, there are essential settings and tweaks you should consider to make the most of your new phone. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key adjustments and tips to ensure you get the best possible start with your new iPhone.
Table of Contents
1. Auto-Delete Two-Factor Authentication Codes
Two-factor authentication (2FA) codes are great for security, but they can clutter your message inbox. Starting iOS 17 and onwards, your iPhone can now automatically delete those one-time codes from your Messages and Mail after you use them.
Just head to Settings > Passwords > Password Options and toggle on Clean Up Automatically. This means every time you use a 2FA code, it vanishes from your messages, keeping your inbox neat and organized. No more endless scrolling to find real messages!
2. Tweak Settings for a Better Battery Life
a) Set a Charging Limit
To make your iPhone’s battery last longer, iOS 18 introduced a new custom charge limit feature alongside the existing optimized battery charging option. Here’s how they work:
- Charge Limit: This new feature lets you set a maximum charge level (like 80%) to prevent overcharging, which can degrade your battery over time. Find it in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. Keep in mind that setting a limit reduces your available capacity, so you’ll sacrifice some battery life for better health.
- Optimized Battery Charging: This feature learns your charging habits and holds your battery at 80% until you need it, minimizing stress on the battery. You can also find this in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
You can only enable one feature at a time. If you want full capacity with better health management, go for Optimized Battery Charging. If you’re focused on long-term health, stick with Charge Limit. Both are great tools for preserving your battery, so choose the one that fits your needs!
b) Manage Notifications to Limit Idle Battery Drain
Constant notifications can drain your iPhone battery quickly, even when you’re not using the device. Therefore, it’s advisable to turn off notifications for apps you don’t frequently use or need updates from.
Here’s what you can do: go to Settings > Notifications and review the list of apps. Turn off notifications for apps you barely use or switch them to Deliver Quietly by turning off Sound and Badges. This way, they won’t light up your screen or send vibrations, saving your battery while reducing distractions.
c) Disable Background App Refresh
Another hidden battery saver is Background App Refresh. Some apps continue to update content in the background, even when you’re not actively using them. While this can be helpful, it’s often unnecessary and eats into both battery life and mobile data.
To take control, navigate to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. You can turn it off entirely or disable it for specific apps you rarely open. Trust me, your battery percentage will thank you!
d) Switch to Dark Mode
If your iPhone has an OLED screen (iPhone X or later), switching to Dark Mode can help save battery. To enable it, go to Settings > Display & Brightness and select Dark Mode. You can also toggle on Automatic to schedule it from sunset to sunrise or set a custom time period.
This reduces power consumption by turning off pixels in darker areas of the screen. If you’re looking to maximize battery savings, check out our guide on maximizing battery life on iPhone 16 series.
3. Customize Your Control Centre
If you’re constantly reaching for certain features like the flashlight, calculator, or screen recording, you should definitely customize the Control Center to fit your needs.
Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Center. Tap the + icon in the top-left corner to add, remove, or rearrange the tools you use most. You can also add options to control your smart home devices or quickly scan a QR code—all accessible with a single swipe.
4. Customize the Action Button
The iPhone 15 Pro and later models come with an Action Button instead of a Ring/Silent switch. You can use it for a variety of things, like quickly opening an app or launching a shortcut.
Think of it as a customizable shortcut button for almost anything. By default, it toggles Silent Mode. But go to Settings > Action Button to assign it to other actions like opening the camera, starting a voice memo, or launching a custom shortcut.
5. Limit Access on Lock Screen
While iPhones are known for their strong security features, there are still a few settings you can tweak to make yours even more secure. For example, you can control what’s accessible when your phone is locked.
For this, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and scroll to the Allow Access When Locked section. Here, you can disable options like Siri, Reply with Message, or Notification Center. This ensures that no one can snoop around even if they get their hands on your phone. It’s a quick way to add an extra layer of privacy.
6. Limit Ad Tracking
Want to keep your browsing and app usage more private? You can limit ad tracking on your iPhone, which helps prevent apps from collecting unnecessary data about your activity across other websites and apps. Here’s how:
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking. Turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track.
Why This Matters: When you allow apps to request to track, they can access your Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA). This is a unique identifier that allows advertisers to track your activity across apps and websites, build a profile about your interests, and serve you targeted ads.
7. Turn Off Siri Suggestions
Want to declutter your Spotlight search and see only the most relevant results? You can turn off suggestions that might be distracting or unnecessary. Go to Settings > Siri & Search. Under Suggestions, toggle off the following options: Suggestions in Look Up, Suggestions in Search, Suggestions on Home Screen, and Show App Suggestions.
Turning off these suggestions can declutter your search results, speed up your searches, and reduce distractions. You’ll see fewer irrelevant suggestions when you use Spotlight, your searches might be faster as your iPhone won’t have to process as many suggestions, and you’ll be less likely to get sidetracked by irrelevant suggestions.
8. Optimize Location Services
Want to save battery life and enhance your privacy? Take control of which apps can access your location. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services. Here, you can customize location access for each app:
- “While Using the App” allows access only during active use.
- “Next Time Or When I Share” prompts for permission each time.
- “Never” completely blocks access.
Avoid giving apps unnecessary access to your location unless it’s essential for their functionality, like maps or navigation apps. This helps save battery life, as constant location tracking can be a drain, and it protects your privacy by limiting the information apps have about your whereabouts. By optimizing your location services, you can strike a balance between app functionality, battery life, and privacy.
9. Turn On StandBy Mode for Charging
Standby mode is a lock screen mode on iOS 17 and later that shows you the time, weather, widgets, or a slideshow of your photos, depending on your choice. It activates when an iPhone is charging and positioned on its side, making your iPhone appear like a bedside clock.
To enable it, go to Settings > Standby and toggle it on. You can further choose to enable the red tint night mode and whether the notifications should appear in Standby.
10. Turn Off Analytics & Improvements
The Analytics & Improvements settings on your iPhone send data and diagnostics to Apple. By turning off these options, you can prevent your device from sending this usage data, which can potentially save battery life and increase your privacy by limiting the information shared about how you use your phone.
To do this:
- Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
- Scroll down and tap on Analytics & Improvements.
- Toggle off all the options shown under this menu.
11. Tweak Camera Settings
To get the best photo and video quality from your iPhone camera, you should tweak a few settings. Here’s how:
- HDR (High Dynamic Range): Enable Smart HDR for photos. This captures a wider range of light and dark areas in your shots, helping preserve detail in bright skies and dark shadows. You’ll find this in Settings > Camera.
- Photographic Styles: iOS 16 introduced Photographic Styles, which let you customize the tone and warmth of your photos. Choose from different styles like Rich Contrast, Vibrant, or Warm to match your preferred aesthetic. These styles apply automatically to your photos without affecting image quality. You can adjust Photographic Styles directly in the Camera app.
- ProRAW and ProRes: If you’re into professional photography or videography, consider enabling ProRAW for photos and ProRes for videos (available on iPhone 12 Pro and later). These formats offer more flexibility for editing but take up significantly more storage space. Use them wisely when you need the highest possible quality for post-production. Find these options in Settings > Camera > Formats.
- Formats: You can also choose between High Efficiency and Most Compatible formats for photos and videos in Settings > Camera > Formats. High Efficiency saves storage space, while Most Compatible prioritizes compatibility with other devices and software.
By adjusting these settings, you can maximize your iPhone camera’s potential and capture stunning, professional-looking photos and videos every time.
These simple tweaks can make a world of difference in how you use and experience your iPhone. From maximizing battery life and enhancing privacy to capturing stunning photos and personalizing your setup, you’ll be able to unlock your iPhone’s full potential and enjoy a smoother, more satisfying mobile experience.
