These are some hidden iPhone settings changes you should make right now.

Turn off update notifications.

Do you frequently receive notifications requesting operating system updates? To make them disappear, you need to turn off automatic updates in your settings. Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates > iOS Updates > select Off.

This action not only eliminates annoying notifications, but it also helps reduce distractions while working on your device. Ideally, you'll see a badge notification appear on the Settings icon when a new system update is available. In reality, the badge usually appears a few days after release. If you know there's a new update, you'll see it when you open Settings > General > Software Update.

Turn on call screening.

Put an end to unwanted calls with Apple's Call Screening feature. Go to Settings, Apps > Phone, then scroll down to Screen Unknown Callers > tap Ask Reason for Calling . Now, your iPhone will automatically answer calls from unknown callers in the background without notifying you. After the caller gives a reason, your phone will ring and you'll see the answer on the screen to decide whether to answer or not. You should also make sure Hold Assist Detection is turned on, so your iPhone recognizes this mode, allows you to leave, and then notifies you when the call has been answered.

Block apps from tracking your location.

Apps like DoorDash and Postmates, Grab, Green SM, etc., require precise location information to deliver food to the correct address. That doesn't mean every app on your iPhone needs to know your exact location all the time. That's why you can prevent unnecessary apps from tracking your precise location.

In Settings, select an app (such as Instagram), tap Location, and then turn off Precise Location . Any app with Precise Location turned off will only know your approximate location, within a few miles.

Automatically turn off the screen.

You might frequently use your phone to view recipes while cooking or to quickly jot down notes during a lengthy activity. Prevent your phone screen from turning off and continue working by going to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock .

Here, you can set a timer for your iPhone to automatically turn off from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. You can also select Never if you always want to manually lock your phone.

Turn on RCS

The messaging experience for Android users (green bubbles) was significantly upgraded last year when Apple decided to support the RCS (Recording Communication Service) messaging standard. RCS has been available on Android for several years and allows for a more modern messaging experience with features such as typing indicators, higher-quality photos and videos, and read receipts. Group chat may still have some bugs, but it's still a significant improvement. However, on the new iPhones, RCS is disabled by default.

Make sure you enable this feature for the best messaging experience. Go to Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging and turn it on.

Turn the back of your iPhone into a button.

The back of your iPhone can be used as a secret button to trigger certain actions, such as taking a screenshot, turning on battery saver mode, or running a shortcut to automatically play music when you arrive at the gym. The Action button on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, and iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max all have the same function, but if you have an older model, the back of your iPhone will still work.

This option is hidden deep within the settings; here's how to find it:

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap and choose one of the two options: double tap or triple tap. You'll see a list of actions you can perform by tapping the back of your iPhone, such as opening the camera, turning on the flashlight, and scrolling up and down. Tap an action or shortcut to activate it with Back Tap .