Apple hid these 5 useful iPhone features in plain sight

Hidden iPhone tips

(Image credit: Future)

Welcome to hidden iPhone tips, a weekly column where we dig into the features Apple quietly adds but never really tells you about.

You probably use your iPhone’s search bar to open apps or look something up online. Tap search on the home screen, type what you need, and you’ll see the result. It’s quick and convenient for basic tasks. But the search bar, officially called Spotlight, can do far more than most people realize.

1. Do quick math and conversions

Need to calculate a tip, split a bill, or convert currencies? Don’t bother opening the Calculator app for quick one-off calculations. Type the math problem directly into Spotlight and it displays the answer instantly.

It’s faster than opening the Calculator app, switching to conversion mode, and entering values manually. The conversion feature handles currency, distance, weight, temperature, and most other common units.

2. Search photos by what’s in them

Finding a specific photo buried in thousands of images used to mean endless scrolling. Spotlight changes that by letting you search photos using keywords that describe what’s in them.

Type something like “birthday cake,” or any other object, and Spotlight shows matching photos from your library. You can also search by date, location, or image type. The iPhone analyzes photo content automatically, so these searches work without you tagging or organizing anything.

You don’t even need to open the Photos app first. Search directly from Spotlight, scroll to the Photos section if needed, and your results appear. Long-press any image to copy it for quick use elsewhere.