Skip to Content

Got a tip for us?Let us know

a. Send us an email
b. Anonymous form

Useful iOS 12 Features You Might Not Know About

Friday July 13, 2018 2:40 PM PDT by Juli Clover

iOS 12 introduces several significant new features like Memoji, Siri Shortcuts, Screen Time for keeping track of the time you're spending on your iOS devices, Group FaceTime with up to 32 people, new parental controls, ARKit 2.0, and more.

Along with all of the major additions, there are dozens of smaller, more hidden features. In our latest YouTube video, we've pulled out several of the most useful, less well-known features that are included in the iOS 12 update.

Watch on YouTube

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

Accidental Screenshot Prevention - In iOS 12, accidental iPhone X screenshots are less likely to happen through a new feature that prevents a screenshot from being taken while the iPhone X's display is turned off. With the change, the screenshot feature is deactivated until the iPhone X's display is activated. iOS 12 also prevents screenshots from being captured and the camera from working when an iPhone or iPad has been restarted or powered back on after being shut down.
Quitting Apps on iPhone X - In iOS 11, you need to open up multitasking and hold down on an app to bring up a red "X" to close it. In iOS 12, things are simplified. With the multitasking interface open, just swipe up on an app to close it, just like you do on every other device.
Multiple Faces for Face ID - On the iPhone X, you can register two faces that will work with Face ID. Prior to iOS 12, you could only register a single face. Registering multiple faces is useful if you dramatically change your appearance on the regular, like putting on ski goggles, a scarf, and a hat.
Lyric Search - In the Music app in iOS 12, you can search for songs by their lyrics.
Do Not Disturb - Get to Do Not Disturb Controls in iOS 12 quickly through the Control Center. Just 3D Touch or long press to get Do Not Disturb options like activate for one hour, activate until this evening, or activate until I leave this location.
Bedtime Mode - iOS 12 has a new Bedtime Mode linked to Do Not Disturb, and if you enable it, all of your notifications will bypass the Lock screen and go straight to Notification Center so if you glance at your phone for the time during the night, you won't see a list of pending distractions. When you wake up, you'll see a nice "Good morning!" lock screen with a list of everything that happened overnight.
AirDrop Passwords - If you need to share a password between devices or with a friend in iOS 12, you can AirDrop it. With the iOS Password Manager open, choose a login, press on the password field, and select the AirDrop option that pops up.
Quickly Scan QR Codes - There's a Control Center option in iOS 12 that opens right up to the built-in camera to scan a QR code. It's the icon that looks like a QR code, and it can be enabled through Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls. Alternatively, 3D Touch on the Camera icon on the Home screen to get to a Quick Action for scanning a QR code.

To see all of these features in action, make sure to check out the video. What are your favorite hidden tips and tricks in iOS 12? Let us know in the comments.

Related Forum: iOS 12

Top Rated Comments

107 months ago

Seriously unexciting list of "features". Apple should concentrate on making iOS faster while increasing battery life and all will be well.

That's literally what they're doing. That's the reason for the "unexciting features" Because development time went to other things. I don't know why you're complaining about them doing the exact thing you're calling for.

Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)

107 months ago

Seriously unexciting list of "features". Apple should concentrate on making iOS faster while increasing battery life and all will be well.

Well, by the looks of things, they've made serious inroads on that, too, with iOS 12.

(But of course, these are just minor possibly unknown features, as the headline said. So maybe lets not get all super overreacty and wild tangenty?)

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

107 months ago

Anyone have idea for why Apple would include a "QR Scan" button to open the camera, which can scan QR codes anyway?

Feature visibility. Many typical iPhone users don’t know the feature exists. Likely comment: ‘Yeah, only Android can scan those code-thingies, pity our iPhones cannot’. “Look Mary, our iPhones can now scan those QR Code thingies! Pity there are none around right now to scan”.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

107 months ago

Anyone have idea for why Apple would include a "QR Scan" button to open the camera, which can scan QR codes anyway?

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

107 months ago

“Deleting Apps on iPhone X“ is incorrect and misleading. Please change to closing, force quitting, or removing from multitasking.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

107 months ago

Try to register a second FaceID appearance with the phone sitting on a table and the face just inside the circle: it will unlock when laying on a flat surface with no need to stretch the head out.

Can you guys confirm?

UPDATE: on my iPhone it consistently works, so I believe this is quite the big deal for X users.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Read All Comments

Popular Stories

Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:36 am PDT by Hartley Charlton

Apple's long-rumored smart home hub will have an iMac G4-style design and a host of unique features, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. The smart home hub is said to feature a square 6-inch display, with variants that can be placed on a countertop or mounted on a wall. It features a single FaceTime camera on the front, with microphones and speakers in its connected base. Gurman described the...

• 212 comments

HomePod minis on gradient feature 1 1

Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:04 am PDT by Hartley Charlton

Apple plans to introduce a series of new smart home products on Tuesday, October 13, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple reportedly plans to debut its long-awaited smart home hub device, a new HomePod mini, and a new Apple TV on the date. The new HomePod mini and Apple TV are set to retain their existing designs, but tout faster chips to support Siri AI. The new HomePod mini will...

• 56 comments

Apple TV Sans Remote Feature

New Apple TV 4K Leaked

Friday September 25, 2026 8:16 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris has uncovered an image file from Apple for an unreleased Apple TV 4K, suggesting that a new model will finally be released soon. The image is specifically for an "Apple TV 4K (4th generation)" model. Apple TV 4K (4th generation) image (on a gradient) The image reveals that the Apple TV will have the same external design as the current model, with all of its...

• 195 comments

Latest Stories

New 'AirFly Drive' Accessory Turns Wired CarPlay Into Wireless CarPlay

Apple Shares Photos Shot on iPhone Duo

Apple Says iPhone Duo Has Replaceable 'Cover Layer' Above the Display

Apple's Smart Home Camera Will Apparently Have 'No Video Recording'

Apple TV Just Updated Its Selection of 'Bonus' Movies

iPhone 18 Pro Colors Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?

Early Prime Big Deal Days: Best Discounts on Accessories, TVs, and More at Amazon

MacBook Pro With OLED Touch Screen Rumored to Launch in October or November

Apple's All-New Home Hub Rumored to Launch in These Four Colors

iPhone 18 Pro Aperture Control Goes Fully Manual in Halide 3.2

Apple Stores Receive 'Do Not Open' Boxes Ahead of Smart Home Products Launch

iPhone 18 Pro Sales Jump in China Ahead of iPhone Duo Launch

Apple TV Still Down for Some Users Following Apple Services Outage

PSA: Apple Mail on Mac May Stop Syncing Microsoft 365 Accounts Today

Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far

Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode

Apple Invites App Updated With Three New Features

Apple Event on October 13?

Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?

iPad Mini 8 to Offer These 10 New Features

DoorDash Unveils AI Food Ordering Through Apple's Messages App

Amazon Takes Up to $150 Off Select M5 MacBook Air Models

Apple Still Plans to Release a New Full-Sized HomePod

Apple Working to Expand HomeKit

Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design

Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13

Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards

OpenAI Launches Always-On 'Dots' Agents to Rival Meta's Muse

AirPods 5 Teardown: Batteries Removable, Case Still Tough

iPhone 18 Pro Owners Complain of Speaker Crackling or Popping

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors