New iPhone for Christmas? Here are 10 ESSENTIAL hacks you need to know

IF YOU just became the proud new owner of an iPhone, then there are definitely some tips and tricks you need to know.

We have compiled a list of 10 essential Apple iPhone hacks to help you make the most out of your new device.

There are a ton of iPhone hacks out there and we’ve rounded up the best

1. Reply to single messages

One convenient feature on newer iPhones is the ability to reply to specific messages, so you can go ahead and say goodbye to confusion in the group chat.

Tap and hold the message you want to address, hit “Reply” in the menu of options, and then type and send your message.

2. Set video as lock screen on iPhone

Spruce up your lock screen by setting a live video as your wallpaper.

You’ll need an iPhone 6S or above (excluding the iPhone SE) for this trick.

Apple has a selection of stock live wallpapers but it’s more fun to set your own.

If you have a live photo in your Photos app you want to use then just open it, click the button in the bottom left-hand corner, and scroll to “Use as Wallpaper”.

Click this and it should automatically appear as a live-photo wallpaper.

3. Use AirDrop to share a lot of photos

If you’re sharing a large number of photos between Apple products, AirDrop is much more efficient than emailing or using iMessage.

All you have to do is stand within 30 feet of the device you want to send the images to, then make sure both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.

Once you click on the AirDrop option in your Control Center panel, the other person’s device should show up.

Click on their contact and you’re good to go.

You can also use airdrop to send documents, audio, weblinks, and more.

4. Set up Emergency Bypass

There’s a feature on all newer iPhones called ‘Emergency Bypass,’ and it could come in handy if someone tries to contact you in an emergency.

It can also be useful if you misplace your iPhone when it’s on silent mode as one of your emergency contacts can call it.

To set it up, open your Contacts app and click the name of the person you want to be able to ring you in an emergency.

Click ‘Edit’ in the top right-hand corner and then scroll down until you see ‘Ringtone’.

After you click ringtone, you should see an ‘Emergency Bypass’ option pop up at the top of the screen.

5. Hide unused apps

While iPhone apps can drastically improve our iOS experience, you probably don’t use most of them every single day (or even once a month).

One new iPhone feature lets you hide your unused apps

Thankfully, the newer iPhone models are equipped with a feature that lets you move your unused apps to Apple’s “App Library.”

Simply click “Remove App” from the app’s quick actions, then select “Move to App Library.”

6. Launch apps faster

If you use your phone for practically everything, then you know how long it can take to locate a specific app among the chaos.

One convenient feature to combat this is the default “Search” tool on your phone.

To access this feature. all you have to do is swipe left from your home screen and input the app’s name into the search bar.

7. Get a faster charge

If your phone is in need of a charge but you’re pressed for time, then this hack could help.

Simply turn Airplane Mode on.

In doing this, you will temporarily pause tasks that use your phone’s battery, such as notifications and GPS roaming, helping your phone to charge slightly quicker.

8. Get more storage space

Storage space is a highly coveted commodity for most iPhone users.

To get the most from your phone, hold down the “power” button, wait until you see the option to slide and power off your phone, and then hold down the “home” button.

Doing this will clean out your phone’s RAM, which reduces the amount of space your apps might be taking up.

9. Customize notifications

One fun feature with iOS is the ability to customize the text notifications you receive.

You can do this by selecting a person in your contacts list and tapping “Edit.”

From there, go to “Vibration,” then “Create New Vibration” to set a custom vibration for that person.

Now you can always know who texted you without glancing at the screen.

10. Erase text with a shake of your hand

If you’ve ever typed out a really long paragraph to send to you-know-who, but then changed your mind about it, then this quick hack can make it so it never existed.

Simply give your phone a good shake to erase everything you typed out in two seconds (all you have to do is click “Undo Typing”).

And if change your mind about changing your mind, you can always shake your phone again and select “Redo Typing” to make the text reappear.

AlamyShaking your iPhone can quickly erase text, or put it back[/caption]

In other news, smartphone experts are warning anyone thinking of buying an iPhone for Christmas to think again.

WhatsApp is adding a cryptocurrency feature for some users in the US.

And, we revealed an iPhone document scanning trick you need to try.