I’ve been using iOS 17 since it was released last September, bringing several big new features to the iPhone, like contact posters, live voicemail and StandBy mode. But I’m still finding useful and interesting features that make using my iPhone a little better.
Like every mobile software release, iOS 17 has hidden features and settings that can be just as useful as the better known and popular features — and ones you might end up using every single day on your iPhone too.
Read more: What to Know About Apple’s iOS 17.2.1 iPhone Update
If you want to take a deep dive into what your iPhone has to offer, read on to check out seven hidden features I discovered while using iOS 17. For more, check out all the new features on iOS 17.2 and what you need to know before you preorder Apple’s Vision Pro mixed reality headset.
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features and Settings on Your iPhone
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Use Visual Look Up to figure out laundry codes
You grab a shirt and look at the tag. It’s filled with symbols that are supposed to help you figure out how to wash this specific article of clothing — maybe it can only be washed in cold water, or it might require a dry cleaning. Unfortunately, you might not know how to read these laundry symbols. But your iPhone can.
With iOS 17, you can now use the Visual Look Up feature, which can identify words and objects in your photos, to decipher what these laundry codes say. All you have to do is take a clear photo of your laundry symbols, go into the Photos app, find the image of the laundry symbols, swipe up and tap on Look Up Laundry Care. The results will show you what each of the recognized laundry symbols mean.
Each laundry symbol has a link to a suggested website where you can learn more about what it means.
Automatically delete verification codes sent to you via text or email
Every time you sign in to an application that uses two-factor authentication, or 2FA, you’ll first need to get a text message or email verification code sent to you. You might have hundreds of these verification codes littered in your text messages or email, and though you can delete these codes one by one, there’s now an easier way to clean house, thanks to iOS 17.
In Settings Passwords Password Options, you can now toggle on a new Clean Up Automatically setting so that verification codes in the Messages and Mail applications are automatically deleted after being used with the autofill feature that appears at the top of your keyboard.
You can unlock Private Browsing in Safari with Face ID, Touch ID or your device passcode.
Use Apple Maps offline to navigate
You might be surprised to learn this, but you’ve never been able to use Apple Maps offline. Instead, you’d have to be connected to the internet, which is useless if you need to find your way back home when you’re out in the wilderness or in an area with no connection. In iOS 17, you can finally download an offline map to grab directions even when you don’t have service.
In Maps, tap your profile photo in the top right of the navigation window and go into Offline Maps. Depending on where you drive most, you may see a suggested map to download, along with the size of the map, in case you don’t have much storage. You can also just hit Download New Map, type a city, manually adjust the map if needed and download it to your iPhone.
You can further adjust the crop before hitting Done.
Use Crossfade for smoother transitions in Music app
If you’re in charge of playing music at a friend’s party or in the car, you now have the option to use a cross-fade effect between songs in Apple Music on iOS 17.
In the Settings app, go to Music and toggle on Crossfade. Once the setting is enabled, you can choose how long you want the cross-fade to be: Choose between one second and 12 seconds, in second intervals. If you choose five seconds, for example, the next song in the playlist/album will begin to slowly play in the background five seconds before the current song ends.
In the Home widget, you can turn connected accessories on and off.
For more, check out the best iPhone deals in 2024 and how you can give your iPhone a physical keyboard.
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Article source: https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/from-visual-look-up-to-safari-private-tabs-hidden-ios-17-features-make-my-iphone-much-better/#ftag=CAD4aa2096