Your smartphone contains powerful tools most people overlook, despite Americans checking their devices dozens to hundreds of times daily according to various studies. These hidden capabilities can transform your relationship with technology, reducing stress and saving time without requiring additional apps. From automating routine tasks to protecting your health, these seven underutilized features are already built into your device, waiting to be discovered.
Transform Your Phone into a Digital Sanctuary with Focus Mode
In our notification-saturated world, focus mode offers an escape. This feature selectively blocks alerts from apps you specify, allowing you to work, study, or relax without constant interruptions.
On iPhone with iOS 15 or newer, access Focus in Settings, where you can create distinct modes for different scenarios. Android users can find similar functionality, though the exact path varies by manufacturer—typically in Settings under Digital Wellbeing, then tap Focus mode to select which apps to silence.
The real power comes with scheduling: Set your Work focus to activate automatically during meeting hours or Sleep focus at bedtime. Your phone handles the switching, so you don't have to remember.
Let Your Phone Work for You with Automation
Why perform repetitive tasks manually when your phone can handle them? Automation routines execute multiple commands with a single trigger, from waking you up to setting up your evening routine.
iPhone users can build these sequences in the Shortcuts app, while Android offers Routines in Google Assistant settings. Some of the most useful automations include:
- Automatically enabling Wi-Fi when you arrive home
- Activating Do Not Disturb during scheduled meetings
- Sending automatic texts when you're driving
- Launching your favorite music app when connecting headphones
A comprehensive morning routine might disable your alarm, read today's weather forecast, start your smart coffee maker, and display your calendar—all triggered by a simple "Good morning" command.
Never Forget with Location-Based Reminders
Traditional time-based reminders fall short when timing isn't the issue. Location-based reminders solve this problem by triggering notifications when you enter or exit specific places—ensuring you remember the milk before leaving the grocery store.
On iPhone, create a reminder, tap the location icon, and select or search for a location. Android users can use Google Keep or simply tell Google Assistant, "Remind me to pick up dry cleaning when I'm near Main Street Cleaners."
"Remind me to pick up dry cleaning when I'm near Main Street Cleaners."
Beyond shopping, these reminders excel at:
- Prompting you to submit reports when arriving at work
- Reminding you to take medication when you get home
- Triggering household conversation topics when family members arrive
- Silencing notifications when entering theaters or schools
Turn Your Smartphone into a Wellness Monitor
Many smartphones include sensors that can track health metrics, though capabilities vary significantly by model. These built-in tools can monitor physical activity and, depending on your specific device, may offer additional health monitoring features.
iPhone users should explore the Health app, which centralizes data from your phone's motion sensors and compatible apps. Android users can leverage Google Fit or manufacturer-specific platforms like Samsung Health.
These native health features typically track:
- Daily step count and distance walked
- Sleep duration and patterns (when kept near your bed, though accuracy varies)
- Heart rate (only on phones with appropriate sensors or through camera-based estimation)
- Guided breathing exercises for stress reduction
Try setting a consistent sleep schedule using your health app—the patterns it reveals about your rest quality might provide insights that lead to meaningful lifestyle adjustments, though dedicated sleep tracking devices typically offer greater accuracy.
Maximize Battery Life and Device Longevity
One of the most valuable yet underutilized features helps preserve both your daily battery life and your device's overall longevity. Modern smartphones offer sophisticated battery management tools beyond simply enabling "battery saver" mode.
Some Android phones from manufacturers like Samsung and Sony offer a "Limit charging to 80%" option in Battery settings. iPhone users should enable Optimized Battery Charging in Battery Health settings, which learns your routine and prevents the battery from remaining at 100% charge for extended periods, reducing chemical aging.
Additional battery-saving strategies include:
- Enabling dark mode, especially beneficial for OLED screens
- Reviewing and limiting location services for non-essential apps
- Using Wi-Fi instead of cellular data when available
- Identifying and restricting battery-draining apps in your battery settings
- Keeping your device at moderate temperatures—particularly important across America's diverse climate regions where extreme heat or cold can significantly degrade battery health
Protect Your Sleep with Screen Adjustments
Blue light emitted by screens can interfere with your body's melatonin production, potentially making it harder to fall asleep after evening device use. Eye protection mode (variously called Night Shift, Night Light, or Blue Light Filter) shifts your display to warmer colors to reduce blue light exposure.
On iPhone, navigate to Settings > Display & Brightness > Night Shift. Android users can find similar settings under Display > Night Light or Blue Light Filter, though the exact path varies by manufacturer.
For optimal results, configure this feature to activate automatically based on your location's sunset time or set a custom schedule beginning at least two hours before your typical bedtime. While scientific evidence on blue light filters' effectiveness for sleep is mixed, many users report subjective benefits from reducing screen brightness and blue tones in the evening.
Master Large Screens with One-Handed Mode
As smartphones have grown larger, reaching the top of the screen with one hand has become increasingly challenging. One-handed mode brings the entire interface down to thumb level, perfect for when your other hand is occupied.
On iPhone X or later, swipe down on the bottom edge of the screen to activate Reachability. On Android, the implementation varies by manufacturer:
- Samsung: Settings > Advanced features > One-handed mode
- Google Pixel: Settings > System > Gestures > One-handed mode
- Other Android phones: Look for similar options in your display or gesture settings
This feature proves invaluable for commuters holding transit poles, parents carrying children, or anyone attempting to navigate their phone while juggling shopping bags.
Finding Hidden Features on Your Specific Device
While the navigation paths described above apply to most current devices, manufacturers frequently update interfaces. If you're having trouble locating a specific feature:
- Use the search function within your Settings app
- Ask your phone's voice assistant (Siri or Google Assistant)
- Check your manufacturer's support website for your specific model
Start by activating just one of these features that addresses your most significant pain point, whether that's constant distractions, forgotten tasks, or battery anxiety. As you experience how these built-in capabilities transform your relationship with your device, you'll likely find yourself exploring more of what your smartphone can do beyond the basics of calls, texts, and social media. Your pocket supercomputer is capable of far more than most users realize—it's time to unlock its full potential.
