>
Five hidden apps on your iPhone you should be using – and how to find them
- Stay tech savvy with expert Kim Komando’s free newsletter, more than 400,000 people do. Register here.
A number of extremely useful pre-installed apps on iPhones fly under the radar.
Watching a video on the go and struggling to hear? There is an app that puts subtitles on everything you watch.
Forgot your glasses and want to read your book while commuting? Your phone’s camera and screen can double as a magnifying glass.
A number of extremely useful pre-installed apps on iPhones fly under the radar
Use your phone as a magnifying glass
Let’s start with an amazingly simple and highly functional app: Magnifier.
The next time you don’t have your readers at hand or want to see something small, open the App Store.
Type Magnifier in the search box at the top and tap Open when it appears.
It’s pre-installed on the iPhone, so you’ve got it. Magnifier is easy to use. Tap, hold and drag the slider to adjust the magnification. There is also a flashlight icon at the bottom of the Magnifier app. An extra beam of light really helps you see better in certain situations.
And the good news for iPad users: you also have the secret magnifying glass app.
Quickly scan QR codes
Do not download any third party QR code scanner app. At worst, it will charge you money or even inject malicious code into your phone. At best, it takes up space. Unless your phone is very old, QR code scanning is already built-in.
On an iPhone, open the camera app to scan a QR code. It works, but here’s a pro tip. Your iPhone also has a hidden Code Scanner app.
If you scan QR codes a few times a week, add Code Scanner to your phone’s Control Center. That’s the list of icons you can quickly access by swiping down from the top of your screen.
- Open the Settings app, scroll down and select Control Center;
- Tap the plus icon next to Code Scanner if it’s not already in your Control Center.
When you swipe down from the top of your home screen, you will see Code Scanner in your Control Center. Tap it to open and scan a QR code.
(By the way, if the Magnifier app is useful to you, follow the steps above to add it to your Control Center.)
On an Android device, open your camera app, point it at a QR code and hold it. A link appears. Click on that to go to your destination.
Control your printer from your phone or tablet
You can print just about anything on your iPhone or iPad. You just need a printer that supports AirPrint. View the full list here.
First, make sure your printer and phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
To print, tap the share icon on a document, note, photo, or whatever you want to print. Choose your printer and then Print.
Here’s how to use the secret app switcher. While printing, you can view or cancel jobs by opening the app switcher.
- On an iPhone X or later: Swipe up from the bottom to the center of your screen;
- Hold your finger there until you see the App Switcher and the Print Center app;
- On an iPhone 8 or earlier: Double-click the Home button.
Get subtitles for everything you watch
One of the best Android accessibility features is Live Caption. It automatically captions all speech playing on your phone, including podcasts, video calls, audio messages, phone calls, and videos.
Live Caption works on the Pixel 2 and above and other select Android phones. To turn it on and off:
- Press the volume button up or down;
- Under the volume controls, tap Live captions.
Google says subtitles are processed locally, not stored, and never leave your phone.
One of the best hidden Google features
Have you heard of Google Keep? This secret note taking app is built into Gmail and Android phones. It is similar to Apple Notes.
You can find Google Keep Notes in your list of apps on Android. Here are a few tips to get you started.
- To add a new note, tap the plus icon in the lower right corner.
- To add a list, tap the icon that looks like a check mark in a box.
- To draw something on your phone screen, tap the marker icon.
- Tap the microphone icon to record a voice memo. Keep transcribes what you say and saves the audio file.
- Tap the image icon to take or choose an image from your gallery. You can edit, save and share from here.
Sound like a tech pro even if you’re not! Award-winning popular host Kim Komando is your secret weapon. Listen on 425+ radio stations or download the podcast. And join more than 400,000 people who get her free daily 5 minute email newsletter.