So, you’ve unboxed a shiny new handset. You are excited to play with your new toy. Surprisingly, the iPhone has a lot of features that many people don’t know that you must explore. Here are some things you need to do with your new iPhone.
Set up Touch ID and Face ID
Well, setting up Apple’s fingerprint scanner or Face ID is optional. However, if you are keen on security, you need to get on to it immediately. When you first switch on your brand-new iPhone, you will be prompted to do so. Touch ID is the fingerprint scanner in the home button for iPhone 5S to the latest series. Some iPads have it too.
The face recognition feature, Face ID, is built into the iPhone X and other recent iPhones. These features are a great alternative to a passcode. Their functionality is, however, not limited to just that. Once you set up Touch ID and Face ID, you can easily use your face or finger to make iTunes and App Store purchases.
Also, other apps that require passwords to keep data secure can use the features. Setting up these features keeps your phone more secure. If you skipped the step during the initial phone setup, don’t worry. Here is how to do it:
For iPhone X and other recent models which have Face ID,
- Go to Settings
- Then, Face ID & Passcode,
- Enter your pin.
- Then select Set Up Face ID.
- Have your face in front of the handset and hit Get Started. (Ensure that your face is inside the frame and follow other instructions).
For older iPhone models, here is how to set up the fingerprint reader
- Go to Settings
- Select Touch ID & Passcode
- Input your passcode and proceed to add fingerprints.
Turn on the Accessibility features
If you happen to have visual impairments, iOS accessibility features get you covered. There are provisions for additional features like Speak Screen and VoiceOver, bolder texts, and Braille displays. To switch on these features, you only need to go to Settings>General>Accessibility.
Under the Accessibility screen, you have other customizable touch Screen interactions. There are Assistive Touch and Custom Gestures for if you have trouble touching the iPhone screen. There is the Hearing Aid Mode that you can customize to improve the audio quality. This feature is great for hearing aid users.
You can also choose to use LED flashes for notifications in place of sound. So many adaptations are available for people with disabilities. If your iPhone does not have a home button and you’d fancy one, you go to the Assistive Touch option to put a software home button on your phone. You can customize the functions of this button. The choices to choose from when customizing the home button are under the Touch Menu.
Get a phone case
The one thing you should never forget the very moment you take your new iPhone out of the box is putting a case on it. If you are like most people, a new phone is an investment you wish to keep for a considerable amount of time. The only way to do that is by taking care of it in every way possible. Part of taking care of your iPhone is ensuring that it is protected from mechanical damages resulting from falls.
Using the iPhone in its naked form keeps it at high risk. If you have paid the premium price to get the latest iPhone, it is necessary to have an iPhone 12 case for it. You will be avoiding repair costs that could be expensive. See, these phones are made with technologically advanced material. It, therefore, stands to reason that they will cost a little more to repair. You certainly do not want to deal with cracked screens or those repair costs.
Set up iCloud
Apple products have a remote storage service, iCloud, that allows you to back up all your sensitive data and media. The best thing about iCloud is that you can access your data from anywhere. Getting started on iCloud is very easy. If you are switching on the device for the first time, you will be prompted to activate iCloud by the setup assistant. Also, you can always sign up through Settings.
- Go to the Settings app,
- Scroll and select iCloud.
- Proceed to sign in with your Apple ID
- Agree to the Terms of Service
- Choose which apps and data you want to back up on the cloud.
When you have iCloud set up on your phone, it becomes way easier to use your phone. More so if you have more than one device with your data, music, and media. This is because iCloud collects several features into one tool and can back up data to Apple servers. It can reinstall the data automatically through the internet with just a click. It allows you to sync data across all your devices. Even when you lose things purchased from the iTunes store, you need not worry because you can retrieve them through iCloud.
Turn on Find My iPhone
Find My iPhone is a neat feature on iCloud that allows you to utilize the inbuilt GPS to locate your phone. The Find My Phone feature may not seem necessary at the moment, but you will be glad that you put it on when you lose your phone. It is best to turn the feature on immediately to avoid being sorry in the future when your phone goes missing.
Explore the App Store
The App Store is where you will find all sorts of programs that will take the functionality of your phone notches higher. From workout content, recipes to travel applications. Several amazing apps available on the app store will make your life easier.
Final Remarks
Very few things beat the feeling of having a new phone. It feels good to marvel over your device and enjoy using it once you have taken care of all the things we have discussed above.
