Wow, you must be thrilled! Have you just unwrapped a shiny new Iphone 15 pro or updated your existing device to the latest and greatest iOS 17? Or maybe you’ve been using the iOS 17 Beta Updates for a while now but feel like you’re missing out on some amazing features.

Consider these situations: You are immersed in a movie on your iPhone when suddenly a flashing light from the device causes discomfort to your eyes. Alternatively, you have created an important email, and accidentally hit send before proofreading. These are just a couple of scenarios where understanding and adjusting iPhone settings can greatly improve user experience.

iOS 17 is a powerhouse of features designed to enhance usability, privacy, and productivity. But the truth is, many of these features are not used to their full potential because users are simply unaware of their existence or unsure of how to modify them to suit their own needs. That’s why I’m here to help. By providing clear, easy-to-follow instructions on how to maximize your iOS 17 experience. So, let’s dive in and unlock the full potential of iOS 17!

1. Fast Haptic Feedback: Elevate Your Touch Experience

iOS 17 unveils the enhanced Fast Haptic Feedback. Amplify your iPhone experience by enabling a faster haptic response, and optimizing the vibration animation when touching your screen. How to enable:

• Go to Settings > Accessibility
• Select Touch > Haptic Touch
• Set to Fast duration

2. HEIF MAX: High-Quality Photos, Smaller Size

With the recent iOS 17 update, a new feature arrived in the Camera apps. You can now capture high-resolution photos that consume significantly less storage. The introduction of the HEIF MAX feature ensures that your memories are preserved in great detail without rapidly filling up your iPhone storage.

• Navigate to Settings > Camera
• Under formats, select Pro Defaults
• Switch to HEIF MAX (up to 48MP)

Based on our testing, an image shot at 48 MP using HEIF MAX occupies only 3.8MP of space, in stark contrast to a whopping 62.7MP when taken without this feature. Clearly, HEIF MAX revolutionizes the photo-taking experience.

3. Crossfade in Apple Music: Seamless Transitions

The highly-anticipated crossfade feature has finally arrived on Apple Music. Your listening experience with Apple Music is significantly enhanced with the integration of Crossfade. This feature offers a smooth transition between songs, allowing for a fade duration ranging from 1 to 12 seconds. To activate this:

• Head to Settings > Music
• Activate Crossfade and adjust its duration

4. NameDrop: The Future of Contact Sharing

The standout feature of iOS 17 has to be NameDrop. This functionality empowers iOS 17 iPhone users to effortlessly transfer contacts simply by touching another iPhone or Apple Watch. Gone are the days of manually entering contact details. To activate NameDrop, follow these steps:

• Go to Settings > General > AirDrop
• Turn on “Bring Devices Together“

5. Just “Siri”: A Simpler Command

The iconic “Hey Siri” command has been streamlined to just “Siri” across all Apple devices. Now, with a simple “Siri” prompt, you can initiate tasks and boost your productivity. Furthermore, iOS 17 has enhanced Siri’s capabilities, allowing it to process consecutive commands without the repeated “Hey Siri” cue.

• Visit Settings > Siri & Search
• Under “Listen for”, choose “Siri” or “Hey Siri”

6. Horizontal Level in Camera: Perfect Your Shots

For photographers, whether capturing daily moments or shooting professionally, the new iPhone camera now includes a Horizontal Level feature. This tool greatly aids in achieving balanced and flawless landscape shots. A subtle level indicator displays the alignment of your camera relative to the horizon; simply align it to ensure a perfectly framed capture.

• Navigate to Settings > Camera
• Activate Level

7. Offline Maps in Apple Maps: Explore Without Data

For avid travelers like myself, having Offline Maps on the iPhone is essential. Before the iOS 17 update, I relied on Google Maps to navigate new places without an internet connection. Thankfully, Apple has introduced Offline Maps, currently available in the USA and several other countries. Simply download the map of your desired location and navigate seamlessly without needing a data connection. To access offline Maps:

• Open Apple Maps > Profile > Offline Map
• Search, select, and download your area of interest

8. Enhanced Spotlight: Smart & Swift Navigation

With the iOS 17 update, Spotlight has been enhanced to deliver more precise results. You can now adjust settings without launching specific apps, toggle your home appliances directly through Spotlight, and even search for specific images in your Photos app using its intelligent features.

9. Lighting Control: Dim Flashing Lights

One of the most useful new settings in iOS 17 is the “Dim Flashing Lights” option in the Motion section of Accessibility settings. This feature can be especially helpful if you’re sensitive to flashing lights or are watching a video with a lot of them. Here’s how to enable it:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap on “Accessibility.”
3. Tap on “Motion.”
4. Look for the “Dim Flashing Lights” option and toggle it on.

With this option enabled, any flashing lights on your device will be dimmed, making it easier on your eyes and reducing the potential for visual disturbances. This feature is particularly useful when watching videos at night or in a dark environment.

10. Update Choice: Switching to Beta Version

With iOS 17, Apple has made it easier for users to participate in beta updates for their devices. Here’s how to enable beta updates on your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app and tap on “General.”
2. Tap on “Software Update.”
3. Look for the new section labeled “Beta Updates.”
4. Depending on your account type, you may see three options: Off, iOS 17 Developer Beta, and iOS 17 Public Beta.
5. If you want to participate in the beta program, simply select the option that best suits your needs. If you have a Dev account and a different Apple ID on your iPhone, you can add the Dev account just for the beta download by tapping “Add Another Account.”

By enabling beta updates, you can get access to the latest features and improvements before they are officially released. However, keep in mind that beta software can sometimes be unstable and should be used at your own risk.

11. Focus Mode: Using the AOD Filter

The new iOS 17 update has brought some exciting changes to the iPhone Focus mode settings. If you’re an owner of the iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max, you’ll now find a new filter in the Focus settings for “Always On Display.” Here’s how to enable it:

1. Open the Focus mode settings on your device.
2. Select the Focus mode you want to customize.
3. Scroll down and tap on “Add Filter.”
4. Choose “Always On Display” from the list of available options.
5. Toggle the switch on or off to enable or disable the Always On Display during that particular Focus mode.

12. Animation Preference: Page Turn Animation

If you’re a book lover on your iPhone or iPad, you’ll be excited to know that iOS 17 has brought back the classic page-turning animation in the Books app. Now, when you’re reading a book or magazine in the Books app, you can choose the “Curl” option for a realistic page-turning experience. Here’s how:

Method 1

1. Open the Books app on your device.
2. Tap on the “Settings” icon (gear icon) in the lower right corner.
3. Select “Themes & Settings.”
4. Choose “Swipe Options.”
5. Select “Curl” for a realistic page-turning effect.

Method 2

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap on “Books.”
3. Scroll down again and tap on “Page Turn Animation.”
4. Choose “Curl” to enjoy the classic page-turning animation.

13. Number Comfort: Changing Format

One of the lesser-known features of iOS 17 is the ability to change the number format on your device. This can be especially useful if you are familiar with a particular number format and want to make sure your device matches your preferences. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Tap on “General.”
3. Scroll down and select “Language & Region.”
4. Look for the “Number Format” option and tap on it.
5. You’ll see three different options for number formats, along with a preview of what they’ll look like on your device. You can choose the one that best suits your needs.

Whether you prefer periods, commas, or spaces as separators between numbers, iOS 17 has you covered. So go ahead and adjust your number format to your liking and enjoy a more personalized iPhone experience.

14. Extra Safety: Improving Lock Screen Security

When it comes to protecting your personal information, the lock screen on your iPhone is your first line of defense. However, some settings can allow access to your device even when it’s locked with a passcode or Face ID. Here’s how to adjust these settings to ensure your iPhone stays secure:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Tap on “Face ID & Passcode.”
3. Scroll down to the “Allow Access When Locked” section.
4. Review the options listed, such as lock screen widgets and live activities, and consider disabling any that you don’t want accessible from the lock screen.
5. Also, consider disabling other options, such as reply with a message, control center, Siri, and notification sender, to further enhance your device’s security.

By making these adjustments, you can ensure that your iPhone is fully protected and your personal information is safe. Take a few minutes to review these settings and make sure your device is completely secure.

15. iCloud: Access iCloud data on the web

Are you tired of constantly transferring data between your iPhone and computer? With iCloud, you can now access all of your data on the web from any device. Here’s how to enable this feature on your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Tap on your profile at the top of the screen.
3. Select “iCloud.”
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and enable “Access iCloud data on the web.”

By doing this, you will be able to access all of your iCloud data, including mail, contacts, calendar, photos, notes, files, and documents, by simply visiting icloud.com and signing in with your Apple ID. This feature is incredibly useful for anyone who wants to access their data on multiple devices without the hassle of transferring files.

16. Quick Verification: Enabling Automatic Verification

Are you tired of constantly proving that you’re not a robot with annoying CAPTCHAs? With iOS 17, you no longer need to waste time solving those annoying puzzles. Your iPhone and iCloud can now take care of identity verification for you.

To take advantage of this feature, simply follow these quick and easy steps:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on your profile name (Apple ID) at the top of the screen.
3. Select “Password & Security” from the list of options.
4. Scroll down and look for the “Advanced” section.
5. Enable the “Automatic Verification” option.

17. Wake Up: Using the Swipe to Wake Feature

The tap or swipe to wake feature on iPhone 15 Pro is a convenient and effective way to quickly unlock your device. With this feature, you can easily wake up and unlock your device with just one action, all from the Always-On Display (AOD) screen.

Here are the steps to enable the Tap or Swipe To Wake feature:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on “Accessibility.”
3. Go to “Touch.”
4. Toggle on the “Tap or Swipe To Wake” option.

Note: The Tap or Swipe to Wake feature is only available on certain iPhone models with an AOD screen, such as the iPhone 15 Pro & Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro & 14 Pro Max.

18. Instant Content: Auto-Download In-Apps content

Auto-Download In-Apps content is a feature on iPhone and iPad that allows additional files required by apps or games from the App Store to be downloaded automatically in the background. This saves you time and makes the app or game instantly available with all the necessary content when you open it. No more waiting for downloads or experiencing delays when trying to access the app or game.

To enable this feature, follow these steps:

1. Open the App Store Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Toggle on the “In-App Content” and “App Updates” options.

19. Email Safety: Undo Send Delay

Apple has added a new feature to iOS 17 that allows you to unsend an email within 10 seconds of sending it. However, if you need more time, you can extend the delay by customizing the settings. By extending the delay time, you can have more time to undo sending an email, which could be a lifesaver for many of us. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on “Mail.”
3. Under the “Compose” section, tap on “Undo Send.”
4. You can choose the time delay for undoing an email send, ranging from 10 seconds to 30 seconds.

20. Eco-Charging: Using Clean Energy Charging

Clean Energy Charging is a new iOS 17 feature that aims to reduce the carbon footprint of charging your iPhone. It schedules charging for your iPhone to occur at times when low-carbon electricity is available. Although this feature is currently only available in the US.

Here are the steps to enable Clean Energy Charging on your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and select “Battery.”
3. Tap on “Battery Health & Charging.”
4. Enable “Clean Energy Charging.”

21. Clear Calls: Activating Voice Isolation

Voice Isolation is a recently introduced feature that significantly improves call quality by isolating your voice from any background noise during a phone call. Initially, this feature was only available on FaceTime, but it has now been extended to regular phone calls as well.

To enable Voice Isolation during a regular phone call on your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Start a phone call.
2. Once on the call, open the Control Center by swiping down from the top right corner of the screen (if you’re using an iPhone with Face ID) or swiping up from the bottom of the screen (if you’re using an iPhone with Touch ID).
3. Tap the “Microphone” button to expand the audio options.
4. Select “Voice Isolation” from the available options.

22. Wi-Fi Sharing: Viewing & Sharing Saved Passwords

Previously, Apple only allowed iOS users to share Wi-Fi passwords with each other when their devices were nearby. However, with the latest update, it’s now possible to share saved Wi-Fi passwords with other users, including those using Android devices or computers.

To check your Wi-Fi passwords on your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Open the “Settings” app.
2. Tap on “Wi-Fi” to view the available Wi-Fi networks.
3. Look for the Wi-Fi network you want to view the password for and tap on the small blue “information” icon located to the right of the network name.
4. In the Wi-Fi network details screen, Tap on the “Password” section to view the saved Wi-Fi password.
5. If your iPhone is secured by a passcode or Face ID, you will need to authenticate yourself before viewing the password. Once authenticated, you can view the password and even copy it to the clipboard to share it with others.

23. Browsing Ease: Pinning Safari Tabs

Pinning tabs in Safari is a convenient way to keep your frequently visited websites organized and easily accessible. Pinned tabs are smaller in size compared to regular tabs, and they remain visible at all times, making them easy to access.

To pin a tab in Safari on an iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:

1. Open Safari and navigate to the website you want to pin.
2. Tap and hold the tabs button at the bottom of the screen. The tabs button looks like two overlapping squares.
3. Tap “Pin Tab” from the options that appear.

To unpin a tab, simply tap and hold the pinned tab and select “Unpin Tab.”

Summary

The table below summarizes these 23 settings that you need to change to maximize your iOS 17 experience:

I hope this comprehensive guide will help you maximize your iOS 17 experience. Now, with these tips, you can customize your iPhone settings to suit your preferences and needs, ensuring a smooth and more enjoyable user experience.