Apple ships a number of hidden and pre installed apps on every iPhone that most users never open. Some are genuinely useful. Some are placeholders for features not yet enabled in your region. We spent two weeks cataloguing every hidden app and what it actually does.
The official hidden apps
Apple includes a Compass app, a Measure app, a Translate app, a Magnifier, and several others that do not appear in the App Store but ship with iOS. Each one is a fully featured tool that most users ignore.
Across the teams and individuals we surveyed, this pattern shows up consistently. The ones who skip the foundational step and jump to the advanced technique end up redoing the foundational work later. The ones who invest the time at the start ship faster in the long run.
The Measure app
Measure uses AR to turn your camera into a tape measure. It can measure length, height, and rectangular surfaces. Accuracy is within 1 percent in good lighting. It can also level surfaces and detect plumb lines.
Across the teams and individuals we surveyed, this pattern shows up consistently. The ones who skip the foundational step and jump to the advanced technique end up redoing the foundational work later. The ones who invest the time at the start ship faster in the long run.
The Magnifier
Magnifier turns your camera into a magnifying glass for low vision users. It includes color filters, contrast controls, and a flashlight. You can freeze the image and zoom up to 10x.
Across the teams and individuals we surveyed, this pattern shows up consistently. The ones who skip the foundational step and jump to the advanced technique end up redoing the foundational work later. The ones who invest the time at the start ship faster in the long run.
The Translate app
Translate supports 20 languages with on device translation for 11 of them. You can download language packs for offline use. The conversation mode translates both sides in real time. Excellent for travel.
Across the teams and individuals we surveyed, this pattern shows up consistently. The ones who skip the foundational step and jump to the advanced technique end up redoing the foundational work later. The ones who invest the time at the start ship faster in the long run.
The Hidden album in Photos
Photos includes a Hidden album that does not appear in your main library. Photos you hide go here. It is not secure: anyone with your phone passcode can open it. Use a password manager instead for sensitive content.
Across the teams and individuals we surveyed, this pattern shows up consistently. The ones who skip the foundational step and jump to the advanced technique end up redoing the foundational work later. The ones who invest the time at the start ship faster in the long run.
The hidden document scanner
The Files app includes a document scanner accessible from the three dot menu. It uses the camera to capture, crop, and convert to PDF. It is faster than dedicated scanner apps for most use cases.
Across the teams and individuals we surveyed, this pattern shows up consistently. The ones who skip the foundational step and jump to the advanced technique end up redoing the foundational work later. The ones who invest the time at the start ship faster in the long run.
The hidden WiFi details
Tap the info icon next to any saved WiFi network in Settings to see the password, the router IP, the subnet mask, and the lease expiry. You can copy the password to paste into another device.
Across the teams and individuals we surveyed, this pattern shows up consistently. The ones who skip the foundational step and jump to the advanced technique end up redoing the foundational work later. The ones who invest the time at the start ship faster in the long run.
The hidden battery stats
Go to Settings, Battery, Battery Health to see cycle count, maximum capacity, and peak performance capability. This is the best way to know when to replace the battery.
Across the teams and individuals we surveyed, this pattern shows up consistently. The ones who skip the foundational step and jump to the advanced technique end up redoing the foundational work later. The ones who invest the time at the start ship faster in the long run.
iPhone built in apps and what they do
| Item | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Measure | AR tape measure | Useful |
| Magnifier | Low vision magnifier | Useful |
| Translate | Offline translation | Useful |
| Compass | Real world compass | Useful |
| Files | File manager with scanner | Useful |
| Shortcuts | Automation builder | Power user |
| Health | Health data | Personal |
| Wallet | Payments and passes | Daily |
Battery health thresholds
| Item | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Above 90% | Excellent | No action |
| 80% to 90% | Good | Monitor |
| 70% to 80% | Fair | Plan replacement |
| Below 70% | Poor | Replace soon |
| Below 50% | Critical | Replace immediately |