10 Surprising things you can do on iPhone 17
The latest iPhone is packed with powerful features that go far beyond calls, texts, and photos—but many of its best tricks are hidden in plain sight. Apple often adds game-changing capabilities quietly, without fanfare, meaning even longtime iPhone users miss out on what their device can really do. In this article, we’ll uncover ten of the most surprising iPhone tips that can save time, boost productivity, and make everyday interactions feel a little bit magical.
1. You Can Drag Almost Anything Between Apps
One of the most surprising iPhone features is universal drag-and-drop. You can tap and hold a photo, file, or block of text with one finger, then—without letting go—use another finger to switch apps. Drop the item directly into Messages, Notes, Mail, or Files. Once you get the hang of it, this feels faster than copy and paste and works across many Apple apps.
2. Your iPhone Can Create Stickers from Any Photo
The Photos app can instantly turn people, pets, or objects into stickers. Just tap and hold the subject in a photo until it lifts from the background, then add it as a sticker. These stickers can be used in Messages, layered on photos, or animated. It feels like magic the first time—and replaces many third-party sticker apps.
3. Back Tap Can Replace Physical Buttons
By double- or triple-tapping the back of your iPhone, you can trigger powerful actions like screenshots, flashlight, opening an app, or running a shortcut. It works even with a case on and is especially useful if you want fewer on-screen buttons or quicker access to everyday tasks. Many users never discover this accessibility feature despite how practical it is.
4. Live Voicemail Lets You Screen Calls in Real Time
When someone calls, your iPhone can transcribe their voicemail live on the screen while they’re still speaking. You can decide to answer mid-message if it’s important or ignore it if it’s spam. This feels like having a personal call assistant and is one of the most underrated quality-of-life features in recent iOS versions.
5. You Can Copy Text Directly from Photos and Videos
Your iPhone can recognize text inside photos, screenshots, and even paused videos. Tap on the text to copy it, translate it, look up addresses, or call phone numbers. This works surprisingly well for menus, documents, whiteboards, and handwritten notes—turning your camera into a powerful scanner without extra apps.
6. Haptic Touch Unlocks Hidden Controls Everywhere
Long-pressing icons, buttons, and interface elements reveals hidden options across iOS. You can preview messages, adjust flashlight brightness, control camera modes, or scrub through media more precisely. Many of these controls have no visible hint, making them surprising even to longtime iPhone users.
7. Focus Modes Can Change Your Entire Home Screen
Focus modes do far more than silence notifications. You can link a Focus to a specific Home Screen layout, widgets, Lock Screen, and even app availability. For example, entering Work mode can hide social apps and show productivity widgets automatically. It’s one of the most powerful customization tools Apple has ever added.
8. Siri Can Run Complex Automations Quietly
Siri isn’t just for questions—you can trigger advanced automations without touching your phone. Say a phrase like “Start my day” and your iPhone can adjust settings, open apps, send messages, and control smart devices all at once. When set up properly, these shortcuts feel like custom-built features.
9. The Photos App Knows More Than You Think
Photos can automatically group images by people, pets, locations, trips, and events. You can search for things like “beach,” “concert,” or even “smiling,” and it often gets it right. Over time, it becomes a visual memory map of your life—without you manually organizing anything.
10. You Can Undo Almost Anything with a Gesture
Shake-to-undo isn’t the only option anymore. A three-finger swipe left instantly undoes typing, edits, or actions in many apps, while a three-finger swipe right redoes them. It’s faster, quieter, and far more precise than shaking your phone—and once learned, it’s hard to stop using.
