20 Key iPhone Settings to Change (2025)
Apple software design strives to be intuitive, but each iteration of iOS contains so many additions and settings that it is easy to miss useful iPhone settings. Apple focused on artificial intelligence when he unveiled iOS 18 in 2024 and followed it with liquid glass in iOS 26 (the name is now linked to the following year), but many intriguing personalizations and less known characteristics are hidden below the surface. Several useful parameters are disabled by default, and it is not immediately obvious how to deactivate certain boring features. We are here to help you get the most out of your Apple phone.
Once things have configured as you wish, it is a breeze to copy everything, including the settings, when you go to a new iPhone. For more advice and recommendations, read our related Apple guides – like the best iPhone, the best iPhone 16 cases, the best Magsafe accessories – and our explanators on how to configure a new iPhone, how to save your iPhone and how to repair your iPhone.
How to keep your iPhone up to date
These parameters are based on the latest version of iOS 26 and should be applicable to the most recent iPhones. Some parameters may not be available on older devices, or they may have different ways depending on the model and the software version. Apple offers excellent software support for many years, so make sure that your device is up to date by heading to Parameters > General > Software update. You can find the Settings app on your home screen.
Updated in September 2025: we added some new iPhone tips and updated this guide for iOS 26.
Table of contents
Activate call screening
Apple via Simon Hill
Make cold call pests one thing from the past with the new Apple call screening function. Go to Parameters,, Applicationsand select Phonethen scroll down to Unknown appellants screen and select Ask the reason to call. Now your iPhone will automatically respond to unknown call calls in the background without alerting you. Once the caller has given a reason for his call, your phone will ring and you can see the answer to the screen so you can decide to answer whether you should answer. You must also make sure Assistance detection is tilted, so your iPhone detects when you are put on hold, allowing you to move away, then alert you when the call was picked up by a human.
Activate RC
The experience of texts with the owners of Android (Bubbles Green) was seriously improved last year when Apple decided to finally support the RCS messaging standard (Rich Communication Services). RCS has existed for several years on Android and has allowed an experience of modernized texts with features such as striking indicators, better quality photos and videos, and read receipts. Group cats can always be banked, but they are always a significant improvement. However, on a new iPhone, RCS is deactivated by default (naturally).
Be sure to activate it for the best messaging experience. Go towards Settings> Applications> Messages> RCS messaging and switch it.
Personalize the control center
Apple via Simon Hill
Slide at the top right of the screen to open the control center, and you will see that it is more customizable than ever. You can press the icon above left or press an empty space to open the personalization menu. Here you can move icons and widgets, delete whatever you want or type Add a check Downstairs for a list of Icons and shortcut widgets, you can organize on several control center screens. You can also customize your home screen to change the color and size of application icons, reorganize them, etc.
Change the buttons from the lock screen
Do you know these lock screen controls which by default in pocket lamp at the bottom left and the camera at the bottom right? You can change them. Press and hold it on an empty space on the lock screen and press Personalize. Press the minus icon to delete an existing shortcut and press the Plus icon to add a new one. You can also change the weather and date widgets, the police and color for the time being, and choose a wallpaper. One of the clocks will even stretch to adapt to your wallpaper.
Extend the screen waiting period
Apple via Simon Hill
Although it is good to have your screen waiting time for battery and safety saving purposes, I find it exasperated when the screen is triggered while I do something. The expiration time of the default screen is too short in my opinion, but fortunately, you can adjust it. Go towards Parameters,, Display and brightness, and select Automatic locking to extend it. You have several options, especially NeverThis means that you will need to press the power button manually to turn off the screen.
Turn off the keyboard sounds
Apple via Simon Hill
The iPhone keyboard clicks on the sound when you type is extremely aggravating. Believe me, even if you don’t hate it, everyone in your neighborhood when you type sure. You can turn it off Parameters,, Sounds and haptics tapping Keyboard feedback and switch Her disabled. I also advise you to do Locking sound While you are in it Sound and haptic.
Merge
Apple via Simon Hill
Protect yourself against eye reflections with dark mode. Go to Parameterstake Display and brightnessand type Dark. You may prefer to switch Automatic And have it changed with sunset, but I prefer to be in dark mode all the time.
Change your battery load level
Apple via Simon Hill
If you are determined to remove as many years as possible from the battery of your iPhone, plan to modify the load limit. You can maximize the battery health of your smartphone if you avoid charging them beyond 80%. The default value of the iPhone is now Optimized battery load, Which awaits 80%, then aims to reach 100% when you are ready to go in the morning. But there is a cursor that you can set on a difficult limit of 80% Parametersbelow BatteryAnd Loading. If you bother you, it’s also where you can shoot Optimized battery load disabled.
Activate adaptive power mode
Apple via Simon Hill
If you worry about lacking battery, go to Parameters,, Batteryand scroll down to select Power modewhere you can switch Adaptive power. This mode will detect when you use more battery life than normal and will make small adjustments, such as the decrease in the brightness of the display or limitation of performance, to try to get you to the end of the day.
Configure the action button
People with an iPhone 15 Pro model, any iPhone 16 model or any iPhone 17 have a action button instead of the old mold switch. By default, it will silence your iPhone when you press and keep it, but you can change what it does when going ParametersSO Action button. You can browse various basic options from Camera And Flashlight To visual intelligence, but select the shortcuts if you want it to do something more interesting. If you are not familiar, see our guide on how to use the Apple shortcut application.
Customize camera control
Photography: Julian Chokkattu
The iPhone 16 series made its debut on camera control, a physical button under the power button and triggers the camera with a single pressure. When you are in the camera application, press it on capturing a photo and a long pressure will save a video. Press and maintain the camera control outside the camera application triggers Apple’s visual intelligence function (a bit like Google Lens). But what I find most boring is the second layer of Camera Control commands: Swiping. You can slide on the button on the camera application to slide between photography styles, zoom levels or lenses. It is in theory, but far too sensitive.
