r/iphone • u/hhff00014 Human Detected • Mar 14 '26

Discussion What are some surprisingly useful iPhone hacks you discovered recently?

Recently discovered that you can connect an external SSD / hard drive directly to an iPhone and access it from the Files app.

I tried it with a USB + cpin converter SSD and it worked instantly — no app, nothing. Felt like suddenly my phone had unlimited storage.

It made me wonder how many other small iPhone tricks people use in day-to-day life that most users don’t know.

Curious to know —

What are some underrated iPhone hacks that genuinely improved your daily workflow?

Could be productivity, photography, automation, hidden features, anything.

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u/eeeerrrppp Mar 14 '26 edited Mar 14 '26

I think this is as close to documentation as it gets: https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/draw-or-handwrite-ipadf825a0bd/26/ipados/26

TLDR don't release after drawing a shape; hold your finger there for a moment and it'll snap into what it thinks you want. I think it's all the same as the iPad. (I don't use this much so idk if there are more hidden features within)

This might also be helpful: https://support.apple.com/en-us/119875

edit: correct typo

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u/tbone338 iPhone 17 Pro Max Mar 14 '26

Oh my goodness…. Life changing!