Your Phone Is Capable of More Than You Think—Here’s What You’re Not Using

Most of us use our phones for the same familiar loop: messages, camera, social media, Google, repeat. Maybe the occasional fitness tracker or banking app. But modern smartphones—whether you’re team iPhone or Android—are hiding features that go way beyond the basics. We’re talking about small upgrades to your daily life that are already built into the device sitting in your pocket. No apps to download, no jailbreaks—just a ton of untapped potential that can make your phone smarter, faster, and honestly, more fun.

Hidden Gestures That Save You Time

Both iOS and Android have gesture shortcuts that most people never touch. For instance:

• Three-finger swipe left/right on iPhone = undo/redo typing

• Back tap (iPhone) = double or triple tap the back of your phone to trigger actions like flashlight, screenshot, or app launch

• Swipe down on Android fingerprint sensor = pull down notifications (if enabled)

Once you get used to these, going back to manual button-pressing feels ancient. Set them up in your Accessibility or Gestures settings and watch how much smoother your phone becomes.

Built-In Scanning Power

Raise your hand if you’ve downloaded a third-party app just to scan a document. You didn’t need to.

• On iPhone, open the Notes app → tap the camera icon → “Scan Documents.”

• On Android, Google Drive has a built-in scan option under the "+" button.