10 hidden iOS 12 features that many people don't know about

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Weather widget on the lock screen, second person in Face ID and other features of the system.

1. Weather widget

Beautiful welcome weather widgets were just shown at the presentation, but they do not work for everyone. And it's all to blame for the geolocation settings and the inactive "Go to sleep" function.

To enable these weather widgets, go to Settings → Privacy → Location Services → Weather and allow access to your location at all times. Also, in the "Settings" → "Do not disturb" section, you need to turn on the "Scheduled" and "Go to sleep" toggle switch.

Now, in the morning, when you pick up your iPhone, it will wish you good morning and show you the weather forecast.

2. "Do not disturb" mode by geolocation

Another obscure geolocation-related feature is the ability to use location as a trigger to turn off Do Not Disturb.

With a strong press on the crescent icon, you can now call the extended menu, where there is an item "Until I leave this location." This option will be very useful for enabling Do Not Disturb during a meeting or in a public place such as a movie theater.

3. Trackpad mode on devices without 3D Touch

Even some owners of iPhone 6s and newer gadgets, not to mention devices without 3D Touch support, were not aware of the possibility of moving the cursor using swipes on the keyboard.

With iOS 12, Apple has added trackpad mode to all smartphones. To activate it, press the spacebar and, without lifting your finger from the screen, move around it by controlling the cursor.

4. Second person in Face ID

The very useful "Alternate Appearance" feature will now allow you to add another person's face to Face ID. Such an opportunity is useful for spouses and anyone who wants to give a trusted person access to their iPhone.

To use the feature, open Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Alternate Appearance and follow the setup wizard prompts.

5. Support for third-party password managers

Previously, password autocomplete in Safari and other apps only worked for passwords from iCloud Keychain. In iOS 12, this feature is also supported by third-party password managers.

You can enable autocomplete for 1Password or LastPass by going to Settings → Passwords & Accounts → AutoFill Passwords and selecting the app you want from the list. If the "Password Autofill" toggle switch is disabled, you will have to enable it first.

6. Transfer passwords via AirDrop

Another password-related feature that many people don't even know about. In iOS 12, they can be AirDroped to nearby devices. The only condition is that both devices must be running iOS 12 or macOS Mojave.

To share your password, go to Settings → Passwords & Accounts → Site & App Passwords, open the password you want, and then hold your finger on it and select AirDrop from the pop-up menu. After that, specify the device to which you want to transfer the password, and confirm the receipt from it. The password will be saved in the Keychain.

7. Search songs in Apple Music by text

If you don't remember the name of the song, it doesn't matter. In Apple Music on iOS 12, you can find your favorite track not only by the title, but also by the phrase from the verse or chorus.

Just enter a few words from the song into the standard search field and select the appropriate result from the search results. At the moment, however, this function does not work very correctly and does not find many well-known hits.

8. Favicons of Safari tabs

More recently, favicons appeared in Safari on macOS, and the feature is already available on Apple's mobile OS. Website icons are disabled by default. To make them appear on tabs, you first have to go to "Settings" → Safari and turn on the "Show icons in tabs" toggle switch.

9. Function "Live-listening"

One of the accessibility features "Live Listening", which appeared in iOS 12, will be useful not only for people with hearing problems, but also for everyone who wants to stay connected with the world around them while listening to music.

It uses the iPhone's microphone and broadcasts audio from it to AirPods or other compatible headphones. In this case, the volume can be adjusted by adding to the mix. To enable the feature, open Settings → Control Center → Customize Items. control "and add the" Hearing "button. Next, it remains to activate it on the "Control Center" panel.

10. iOS automatic update

By default, the automatic system update feature is disabled, so you can easily overlook it. To keep your iPhone always up to date, it is recommended to turn it on.

To do this, open “Settings” → “General” → “Software update” → “Auto update” and turn on the toggle switch of the same name. IOS will now download and install updates on its own when connected to a charger and Wi-Fi.