Your smartphone can do much more than you think!

Hacks and tricks to improve your phone’s performance, boost battery life, take better photos, and make everyday tasks easier.

Smartphones have become an essential part of our daily lives, helping us stay connected, work efficiently, and even capture stunning memories. But did you know that your phone has hidden features that can make your life even easier? From saving battery to taking perfect photos, here are the best smartphone tips and tricks that will transform the way you use your device.

Make the Most of Your Phone with These Smart Hacks

1. Charge Your Phone Faster

• Switch your phone to Airplane Mode before charging to speed up the process.
• Avoid using your phone while charging to get the battery full quicker.
• If you don’t have a power outlet, check the back of a hotel TV—many have USB ports for charging.

2. Boost Your Battery Life

• Lower your screen brightness or use a plain black wallpaper (effective for AMOLED screens).
• Close unnecessary apps running in the background by checking your battery usage settings.
• Take multiple screenshots of maps before travelling to avoid using GPS, which drains the battery.

3. Take Better Photos Instantly

• Place sunglasses in front of your camera lens to reduce glare when shooting in bright sunlight.
• Use the volume button or earphones to take selfies for a steadier shot.
• Your phone’s camera can also act as a magnifying glass—just add a small drop of water to the lens for extra zoom.

4. Protect Your Phone from Damage

• Use a ziplock bag to keep your phone safe from water and sand while swimming or at the beach.
• If your charger cable is fraying, wrap the spring from a retractable pen around the wire near the head to reinforce it.
• Store earphones and chargers in a sunglasses case while travelling to prevent tangling and damage.

5. Navigate and Travel Smarter

• When parking in a large lot, take a quick photo of your parking spot to easily find your car later.
• Use a hair tie or rubber band to mount your phone on a car’s AC vent for hands-free navigation.
• Download maps or articles before travelling to save mobile data and avoid connection issues.

6. Improve Your Phone’s Security and Accessibility

• Enable the Find My Phone feature to track and remotely lock your device if lost.
• If you wear gloves in cold weather, add your nose as a fingerprint to unlock your phone hands-free.
• Stop spam calls by enabling ‘Silence Unknown Callers’ in your settings.

7. Hidden Features You Probably Didn’t Know

• Use your phone’s camera as a digital measuring tape to measure objects instantly.
• Swipe three fingers up on an iPhone to close multiple apps at once. Android users can swipe left and press ‘Clear All’.
• Turn your phone into a TV remote or even a wireless mouse and keyboard for your computer.

8. Handy Shortcuts to Save Time

• Set your email as a keyboard shortcut to avoid typing it repeatedly.
• When typing a web address in Safari, hold the period key to bring up URL endings like ‘.com’ and ‘.org’.
• If you make a mistake on your iPhone’s calculator, swipe left or right on the top bar to delete the last digit.

9. Fun and Unexpected Uses

• Amplify your phone’s alarm sound by placing it in a cup before going to bed.
• If your power goes out, turn on your phone’s flashlight and place a plastic water bottle on top to create a makeshift lantern.

Need to spy on a conversation? Use Live Listen with AirPods—leave your phone in one spot and listen remotely.