Four little-known iPhone features that will change your life

This little-known iPhone feature will save heaps of time and even increase security in a matter of seconds.

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If you’re looking for ways to increase your productivity while using your iPhone, look no further. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or simply someone who wants to get things done more efficiently, I’ve got tips and tricks that can help you make the most of your iPhone. Even a sneaky iPhone hack that allows you to lock your Notes from prying eyes.

Scan documents using your iPhone

Did you know you can scan a document using your iPhone? If not, you’re missing out on a seriously convenient feature.

To scan a document, first open the Notes app and select a note or create a new one by tapping the box with a pencil icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.

To scan a document, first create a new note. Picture: Elly Awesome

Next, tap the Camera button and choose Scan Documents. Picture: Elly Awesome

Next, tap the Camera button and choose Scan Documents from the options that appear.

Position your document in view of the camera, and if your iPhone is set Auto mode, it will automatically scan your document. You can toggle between Auto and Manual mode from the top right hand corner of your screen.

Position your document in view of the camera. Picture: Elly Awesome

You can continue taking scans with the shutter button. Picture: Elly Awesome

To manually capture your document, tap the circular Shutter button or use your Volume Up button. In this mode you can adjust the crop of the scan. You can continue taking scans with the shutter button to add additional scans to the document and then tap ‘save’.

Once your scan appears in your note, you can share it by tapping the share icon which appears at the top of your screen. It looks like a box with an arrow pointing upwards. You can then choose to print, save to files, text, or email on your document. Additionally, you’ll notice an option to ‘Markup’ the document.

Once your scan appears in your note, you can share it by tapping the share icon. Picture: Elly Awesome

You’ll notice an option to ‘Markup’ the document. Picture: Elly Awesome

Markup your documents

In addition to scanning a document, you can also digitally markup and sign documents right on your iPhone, instead of having to find a computer to do it. For me, that means filling in and signing contracts on the go and luckily I can conveniently do this in my email app.

To do this, firstly, access your email and find an attachment that you’d like to fill in or sign. Then tap and open the attachment. If you’re in Apple’s Mail app, look for the blue icon which looks like a marker in a circle and tap that.

If you’re using another app like Gmail, tap the share button, which is a box with an arrow pointing straight up, and then find the Markup icon.

If you’re using another app like Gmail, tap the share button. Picture: Elly Awesome

If you’re in Apple’s Mail app, look for the blue icon which looks like a marker in a circle. Picture: Elly Awesome

Now you’ll be able to write on the document by choosing a marker and scribbling directly onto the document. Or you can click the plus icon in the bottom right hand corner to add text or your signature.

Now you’ll be able to write on the document … Picture: Elly Awesome

… or click the plus icon to add text or your signature. Picture: Elly Awesome

If you need to add a signature for the first time, click add. Tip: you can turn your phone sideways (with rotation lock off) if you need more room to sign. Now, simply select and add your signature to the document. You can then move or stretch the signature to a size that suits.

Add your signature – you can move or stretch it to a size that suits. Picture: Elly Awesome

Once you’re finished, select done or the markup icon. Picture: Elly Awesome

Once you’re finished, select done or the markup icon in the top right corner again. You’ll be prompted to save the file or you can select cancel and use the share icon in the bottom left to send this document on.

You’ll be prompted to save the file. Picture: Elly Awesome

Or you can select cancel and use the share icon to send this document on. Picture: Elly Awesome

Organise your notes

In iOS 15, Apple updated the iPhone’s built-in ‘Notes’ app to include a useful Tags feature, essentially hashtags for your notes. Adding tags to notes allows you to categorise them so you can easily find topic-specific notes later. For example, if you’re writing a note about work, make sure to add #work. Then the app will recognise the tag and add it to the Tags section, found at the bottom of your Notes app on iPhone. Here you’ll find a collection of hashtags, and if you click one you’ll be shown only the notes that contain this tag. Some tags I like to use include #shopping, #recipes and #homedecor.

In iOS 15, Apple updated the iPhone’s built-in ‘Notes’ app to include a useful Tags feature. Picture: Elly Awesome

These are essentially hashtags for your notes. Picture: Elly Awesome

Notes with passcodes

Did you know in Apple’s recent iOS 16 update you can now lock your notes to keep them private? There are two ways in which you can lock your notes. You can use your iPhone’s passcode or create a unique password especially for your Notes.

To lock a note, open the note you wish to lock and tap the More icon. Picture: Elly Awesome

This will reveal additional options, including the ‘Lock’ function. Picture: Elly Awesome

To lock a note, begin by opening the note that you wish to lock and tap the ‘More’ icon, which is on the top right and looks like three dots in a circle. This will reveal additional options, including the ‘Lock’ function. Once you select Lock, your iPhone will prompt you to choose whether you’d like to lock using your iPhone passcode or create a separate passcode.

A lock icon will appear at the top of the screen to indicate it can now be protected. Picture: Elly Awesome

You now need to tap this icon to lock the note. Picture: Elly Awesome

It will walk you through the setup. I chose my iPhone’s passcode. Immediately after this setup the note will remain open, but a lock icon will appear at the top of the screen to indicate that it can now be protected. You now need to tap this icon to lock the note and if you would like to view it again, you will be prompted for your password.

Elly Awesome is an Aussie tech and lifestyle vlogger | @ellyawesometech | YouTube