The five iPhone hacks you didn’t know were possible – including how to hide top-secret browser tabs behind Face ID
APPLE rolled out its long-awaited iOS 17 earlier this month, and it's jam-packed with little-known features.
The bigger changes the update introduced, such as the new personalised contact posters and Check In safety feature, have been widely used.
But there are a handful of smaller features that are being frequently overlooked.
We think that's a mistake, so we've outlined them for you.
iMessage reorganisation
The new + menu in iMessage can be personalised to feature your most used apps at the top.
It can save you the annoyance of having to scroll to the bottom of the list for what you want.
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And even shave a few minutes off your navigation experience.
Simply hold the iMessage menu icons to rearrange them with the apps you use the most during the day.
Automatically delete verification codes
With iOS 17, iPhone owners can now easily automatically fill two-factor-authentication (2FA) codes from users' Mail or iMessage app.
What's better is that these codes can also be automatically deleted with an easy Settings change.
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This new feature can help de-clutter your inboxes, but also save on much needed storage space.
Just open Settings > Passwords > Password Options > enable Clean Up Automatically.
SharePlay tweak
iOS 17 also introduced a raft of long-awaited Apple Music updates.
One update that should be a fan favourite is SharePlay, which can be initiated when two iPhones are held close together.
Anyone with an iPhone (and at least one person with an Apple Music subscription) can then jointly create a playlist.
It'll axe arguments over the aux for good.
Shopping list Reminders
Apple's Reminders app now has a special Groceries list type which automatically sorts items into categories to make shopping easier.
For example, items will be filed into Dairy, Eggs, Produce, Baking Items and even Plant Protein sections.
Secret browser tabs
With iOS 17, iPhone owners can become much more sneaky.
Apple fans can now use Face ID to unlock Safari’s Private browsing mode.
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This means browsing tabs for birthday presents or a surprise trip won't be revealed prematurely if you open it up around a friend, or when they're using your device.
To set it up, go to Settings > Safari > toggle on Require Face ID to Unlock Browsing.
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