If you've just gotten a new iPhone or Mac, or you've had them for a while but feel like you're only scratching the surface, this guide is for you. Here's a comprehensive collection of tutorials and guides, Useful iOS and macOS tips, features, and settings so that your Apple devices truly work in your favor.
Let's go over it step by step The most interesting options of iOS 18 on iPhone and macOS 15 Sequoia on Macand how they fit into the Apple operating systemsFrom personalization and productivity to photography, security, and device integration. All explained in plain Spanish, in a friendly tone and without unnecessary technical jargon so you can apply it right away.
Essential iOS 18 tips and tricks to get the most out of your iPhone
iOS 18 brings new features, but where it really shines is in how it allows to get the most out of features that have been in the system for years and that many users overlook. We'll start with the nerve center of the iPhone: the Control Center and the home screen.
Control Center: well-utilized shortcuts
The Control Center is now organized into groups of controls that you can scroll verticallyIn addition to the main page, you have sections dedicated to sound and playback, and another to connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, data, Internet sharing, etc.).
The key is that customize which shortcuts appear in the main view So you don't have to keep switching to other pages. You can decide if it's worth having, for example, internet sharing always readily available, or relegating it to the second panel to make room for things you actually use.
Many buttons in the Control Center hide an extra menu if You hold your finger down instead of tapping once.The flashlight lets you adjust the intensity and beam type; the camera lets you choose whether to directly open the front or rear camera; other controls offer similar quick actions to save you steps.
With iOS 18, when you activate the flashlight, an interface appears that allows you to Adjust if you want a more focused or wider beamFor those who often use their mobile phone as a flashlight, it's a small but very practical change.
Home screen: icons, widgets, and app lock
One of the biggest historical complaints has been resolved: now you can Place app icons virtually anywhere you want on each desktopYou're no longer obligated to fill consecutive rows without gaps. You can leave spaces, center icons, or align them with your wallpaper to create cleaner compositions.
iOS 18 adds a customization mode that, by holding your finger on the background or an icon, lets you enter style options for iconsFrom there you can:
- Switch to dark icons that better match night mode.
- Choose tinted colors so that all apps follow the same tone.
- Use the eyedropper tool to make the icons inherit a color from the wallpaper.
When you press and hold an app icon, not only do its internal shortcuts appear (for example, compose a new email or search in Mail), but also the option to convert an icon into a widget or a widget into a normal icon, provided that the app has widgets available.
Another feature worth enabling in many apps is the lock with Face ID at the application levelFrom an icon's context menu, you can require Face ID to open that specific app. This is ideal for preventing anyone from snooping through photos, notes, or messaging apps when someone lends you your phone for a moment.
Finally, you can decide whether Do newly installed apps always go to the home screen or only to the app library?In Settings > Home screen, you choose whether you want a minimalist desktop and whether new apps stay "hidden" in the library until you decide to pin them.
Keyboard, text, and accessibility: typing better and hands-free control
The iOS keyboard now allows Write in two languages ​​at the same time without going crazy with correctionsThe system detects that you mix languages ​​and corrects it while respecting both, which is very useful if you constantly switch between Spanish and English, for example.
In Settings > General > Keyboard you have the option to text replacementHere you can create "xtb" shortcuts that expand to long texts like a company name, signature, your email address, or repetitive phrases. It's one of those settings you configure once that saves you time every day.
The virtual keyboard hides a trackpad mode: if You hold your finger down on the space barThe keyboard disappears, and the entire area becomes a trackpad for precise cursor movement. With a second finger, you can even select text as if you were using a mouse with a Shift key.
Accessibility options have also been improved. In iOS 18 you can enable Eye tracking to control your iPhone with your gazeSomething designed especially for people with reduced mobility, but which can also get you out of a bind when your hands are busy.
Within Accessibility > Touch, you'll find Back Touch. This feature lets you assign actions to back touch. two or three taps on the back of the iPhone: screenshots, opening an app, muting, etc. It's a discreet and very fast gesture once you get used to it.
Focus modes, notifications, and lock screen
Concentration modes allow you to create different usage profiles for your mobile phone: work, rest, sleep, driving… In each one you can Define which notifications you receive, which home and lock screens are activated, and which apps might bother you.All from Settings > Concentration modes.
A very useful feature is linking a focus mode to a specific wallpaper. That way, you can quickly see which mode you want to use. What "mental mode" is your iPhone in?without needing to check small icons. It can be configured within the mode itself or from the lock screen editor.
When you activate "Do Not Disturb" from the Control Center, you can make It automatically deactivates when leaving a placeBy holding down the mode button and entering the options, you have a "Until I leave here" setting that's perfect for meetings, movies, or any specific location.
iOS also lets you clear the notification tray chaos at once: by tapping the X icon and then "Clear All" you can delete all pending notifications at onceUse it wisely so you don't miss important notices.
In the Display and Brightness settings you can change text size and display scaleso that not only the letters, but also windows and interface elements are larger and more legible if you need them to be.
Spotlight and search engines: finding (almost) anything
Spotlight is the iPhone's universal search engine and integrates with Apple Intelligence and on-device AISwiping down on any desktop opens a bar that takes you back. apps, contacts, files, photos, web results, and even mathematical operations simply by writing.
In addition to its power as a search engine, Spotlight It functions as a calculator and converterIf you type "23+47" or "6 euros in dollars," the result will appear instantly, without needing to open any app. You can enable or disable result categories in Settings > Siri & Search.
In Settings there's also a very useful internal search bar at the top. It's used for... locate configuration options without having to delve through all the menusIt's the quick way to find, for example, the camera, battery, or accessibility settings that you can't remember where they were.
If you want, Spotlight can appear as permanent search field at the bottom of the desktopThis is enabled or disabled in Settings > Home screen and app library, in the Search section.
Widgets, contacts, and visual customization
To the left of the first desktop you have a screen dedicated to widgets, where you can place informative or interactive widgets without taking up space on the rest of your home screens. By tapping Edit, you can add, remove, and rearrange everything to your liking.
Remember that there are passive widgets (they display information and open the app when pressed) and interactive widgets (with Buttons to perform actions without entering the application(such as pausing music, marking tasks, etc.). Choosing which ones you use wisely saves more time than you might think.
The Contacts app allows you to create so-called "posters": large images that They take up the whole screen when that person calls you.From the contact's profile, under Edit > Customize, you can design their poster with photos, memojis, fonts, and colors.
On the lock screen, by pressing and holding your finger, you can create different designs with backgrounds, clock styles, and small widgets below the time. This way, You can have multiple lock screens adapted to specific contexts and link each one to a concentration mode if you want.
One fun fact is that you can create emoji-based wallpapersIn the background selector, choose the Emoji type, type up to six symbols, and the system will generate a pattern with them. You can also continue using your photos from the gallery as usual.
Photos, camera, and smart editing
The Photos app in iOS 18 has been completely redesigned: it now starts from a single main view where You can see the latest photos and swipe to explore days, months, collections, and custom sections.At the bottom you'll find a button to hide sections you're not interested in or to rearrange the content.
The application automatically detects People and pets to group their photos into collectionsYou can name each group, link it to a contact, and manually correct any recognition errors. It can also identify animals and plants: if you see an associated icon in the photo's details, you can get information about the species.
Another very powerful feature is the ability to recognize text within photosIn images with text, you can select them as if they were a normal document, copy them, or translate them to another language from within the system itself.
If you tap on a main object in a photo (for example, a person, your pet, or a product), iOS automatically crops the subject and lets you Copy it, share it, or turn it into a sticker to use in messagesThe stickers are added directly to the keyboard, and you can customize them with effects and text.
The Photos app includes a "Duplicates" section where the system gathers identical or very similar images so you can merge them and free up spaceFrom there you can choose to keep the best version of each photo.
When you open a photo, the information button lets you edit metadata such as location, date, or time In case they're corrupted or missing (very useful if you're importing old or scanned photos). You can also generate iCloud links for one or many photos and videos to share them while maintaining quality without cluttering chats.
Regarding the camera, there are several things to check in Settings > Camera: check if you're taking advantage of maximum resolution for photo and video, adjust formats, activate horizon level to avoid crooked photos or configure modes such as Live Photos and photographic styles (color and contrast profiles applied permanently).
If you want your selfies to look exactly like they do in the preview, activate the option to preserve mirror effectAnd don't forget that by pointing the camera at a QR code, the iPhone detects it without additional apps and offers you the corresponding link or action.
Notes, Reminders, Safari, and Maps
The Notes app has gained a lot of traction (see How to use Apple Notes): now allows Scan documents using the camera, record voice notes, insert videos, and perform mathematical operations directly in the text, showing the result after the equal sign.
Within Notes, tapping the camera icon lets you choose Scan Document to digitize documents without using third-party apps. You can also Add audio recordings within a note, ideal for quick notes or meetings.
The Reminders app integrates better with Calendar, allowing it Your due dates will also appear on the calendar.This gives you a unified view of appointments and tasks at a glance.
Safari includes a Reader Mode that cleans up web pages of visual noise to show only text and images from the articleFrom the corresponding button, you can change the font, background, and text size, and even activate text-to-speech with speed control.
In the latest versions of Maps, Apple has added topographic mapping and hiking trailsThis allows you to plan excursions by viewing the terrain's relief and following paths suitable for mountain or countryside.
AirDrop, FaceTime, Handoff and Apple ecosystem
AirDrop remains one of the crown jewels: it allows you Send files of all types between nearby Apple devices Wireless, no complicated setup, and high speed. Photos, videos, documents, contacts… everything comes through here.
With NameDrop, simply bring one iPhone close to another and the option will appear on the screen. exchange business cardsIt's much faster than typing numbers or emails by hand.
FaceTime, even though it's an Apple app, no longer lives only within the ecosystem. You can Create a call link and share it with users of Windows or other systems that have a compatible browser, so they can join the video call without having a Mac or an iPhone.
Handoff, meanwhile, lets you copy something on one device and paste it on another, as long as they share the same iCloud account. Thanks to the universal clipboard, you can Copy text, images, or files on your iPhone and paste them on your Mac to the second, or vice versa.
Finally, the notes, photos, and other native apps sync seamlessly with iCloud. By carefully managing each app's permissions in Settings > Apps (access to photos, notifications, background activity, etc.), you can Control what consumes battery and what shares data to extend battery life and protect your privacy (see the computer security guide).
Battery and sound: taking care of your iPhone in the long term
In Settings > Battery, within the charging section, you can set a limit for your iPhone Do not load beyond a certain percentage (for example, 80%). Keeping the battery regularly between 20% and 80% is a good habit to extend its lifespan.
In Sounds and Vibrations you can create custom vibration patterns For calls or notifications. Basically, you record your own vibration by tapping the screen at the rhythm you want, allowing you to recognize who is calling you or what type of notification it is without looking at your phone.
Advanced features of macOS 15 Sequoia to master your Mac
Let's move on to the Mac. macOS 15 Sequoia is packed with new features and handy tricks. Here's a selection of them. functions that make a difference in everyday lifeWhether you're coming from Windows or you've been using a Mac for years but have never really delved too deeply into its settings.
System appearance, Dock and desktop
In the Settings panel, the Appearance section lets you toggle between light mode, dark mode, or automatic modeIn addition to choosing the accent and highlight colors applied to buttons, menus, and selected text, you can also decide whether the wallpaper affects the window tint.
The Dock is fully configurable: you can Change its size, position (below or to the sides), enable zoom on hover, and make it automatically hide.Right-clicking on the Dock separator gives you shortcuts to many of these options.
Within Settings > Desktop & Dock, you can disable the "Recent & Suggested Apps" section of the Dock to keep only the icons you wantYou can also define how windows are minimized or what happens when you double-click on the title bar.
The wallpaper is controlled from the Wallpaper section, where you can Use images from Apple or your own photosand even set a different one for each desktop (Space). The screensaver is managed from its own section, with multiple styles and the option to also use your photo library.
Mission Control lets you manage multiple virtual desktops. Pressing Shift + F3 lets you see all open windows and the top bar with the different desktops, where Add new ones, move windows from one to another, and assign apps so they always open in a specific Space..
Window manager, Launchpad, and hot corners
One of the great improvements in Sequoia is the new system to automatically organize windows into predetermined zonesBy dragging a window to certain edges of the screen, macOS suggests positions (left/right half, quadrants, etc.). You can also access these options by hovering your mouse over the maximize button.
Launchpad is the Mac's "app drawer." You open it with F4 or from its icon in the Dock. You can rearrange icons by dragging them, create folders by overlapping apps, and even uninstall some applications. Press and hold, then tap the X if it appears.
Hot corners are one of those features that make a difference: from Desktop & Dock > Hot Corners you can make Moving the mouse to a corner of the screen triggers actions such as showing the desktop, opening Mission Control, starting the screensaver, or locking the screen.When properly configured, they save you many clicks.
Additionally, you can install some iPhone or iPad apps on your Mac if the developer has released them for macOS and they are compatible with Apple Silicon chips. Searching for them in the App Store will show you whether they are adapted or if they run in a smaller window with a mobile phone appearance.
Spotlight, text, and keyboard in macOS
On Mac, Spotlight opens with Command + Space and works like Universal search engine for apps, documents, contacts, photos, messages, definitions, and web resultsFrom Settings > Siri & Spotlight, you can uncheck categories of results that don't interest you.
Spotlight also It serves as a calculator and unit or currency converterType "45*12", "35 degrees in Fahrenheit" or "20 km in miles" and you'll get the answer instantly without leaving the search bar.
If you prefer that Spotlight doesn't always appear in the center, you can drag your window from the magnifying glass icon to another part of the screen and it will stay there in subsequent searches.
Text replacement is also available on macOS: in Settings > Keyboard > Text Input you'll find the section for text replacements to expand shortcuts into complete sentencesSharing shortcuts between iPhone and Mac is a fantastic way to have the same "shorthand" on all your devices.
To type emojis in any field, you have the shortcut Control + Command + Space or the fn key. A panel opens with all the emojis categorized, searches, and favorites, appearing right where you're typing.
Finder, Files, and Daily Productivity
The Finder is macOS's file explorer. In its sidebar, you can drag important folders to the relevant section. Favorites for permanent shortcutsThat small gesture makes you stop navigating deep waters time and time again.
In Finder, with Space lets you preview almost any file (images, videos, PDFs, documents) without opening the corresponding application. It's fast, convenient, and one of the most highly valued tricks by veteran Mac users.
To change folders without using the mouse, combine Command with the arrow keys: Command + up arrow moves up one level in the folder hierarchy, and Command + down arrow opens the selected folder. If you want to delete a file without the confirmation box, you have the shortcut Option + Command + Delete.
PDFs open in Preview, an application that includes a toolbar for fill out forms, sign documents, and annotate textIn the option to show the markup toolbar, you can create and save your signature for use in future documents without installing separate software.
macOS also lets you Change the icon of any folder by dragging an image (JPG or PNG) onto its icon. in the "Get Info" window. It's a little visual trick to quickly identify critical projects or folders.
Notifications, focus, and usage time
In Settings > Notifications you can and should spend a few minutes on decide which apps can display ads, in what format, and in what situationsYou can adjust the alert style, whether they appear on the lock screen, whether they make a sound, whether they display badges in the Dock, etc.
macOS also includes Focus modes, similar to those on the iPhone, in the Focus section. Here you can Define profiles that filter notifications based on time, app in use, or locationThese modes sync with those on iOS if you use the same account, creating a consistent environment across devices.
In Settings > Screen Time you'll see statistics on how much time you spend in each app and category, and you can set daily usage limits for specific applicationsThese limits apply to all devices linked to your iCloud account, so they also affect your iPhone and iPad.
The Notification Center (accessed by tapping the date and time in the top bar) supports widgets. Tapping Edit widgets allows you to... Add app modules (weather, calendar, reminders, notes, music, etc.) to access the most relevant information at a glance.
A very convenient shortcut when you need to quickly hide something from the screen is Command + H, which Hide the active window immediatelyTo show it again, just click on its icon in the Dock.
Screenshots, video, and image format
macOS has a very comprehensive system for taking screenshots. Here are some key shortcuts for Capture screenshots or record video without using external apps:
- Shift + Command + 3: Capture the entire screen to a file.
- Shift + Command + 4: Captures a specific area by selecting it with the cursor.
- Shift + Command + 4 and then Space: captures an entire window or menu.
- Shift + Command + Control + 3: captures the screen, but saves it to the clipboard to paste wherever you want.
- Shift + Command + 5: opens the capture tool, which allows you to record screen video, change the save location, set a timer, etc.
From the capture app (Shift + Command + 5) you can choose where the screenshots are saved (Desktop, Documents, a custom folder…). And if you want the default format to be JPG instead of PNG, you can change it from Terminal with a command like defaults write com.apple.screencapture type jpg; killall SystemUIServer.
Passwords, apps, and security
macOS 15 debuts its own Passwords app, which works like a complete manager synchronized with iCloudIt saves website and app passwords, Wi-Fi networks, passkeys, and two-step verification codes, and alerts you to potential security breaches.
From this app you can create shared groups to, for example, have shared home or office passwords with another personYou can also send individual keys via AirDrop, or copy just the username or password for a specific entry.
In Settings > General > Startup Items you will see which apps have permission to start automatically when logging in or run in the backgroundDisabling unnecessary components speeds up startup and reduces power consumption.
If you want a specific app to always open on a particular desktop, you can Right-click on its Dock icon, go to Options, and choose which desktop you want it to appear on.You can also specify here that it should open automatically when you log in.
In the Notifications section and also in Privacy and Security you can control Which apps can access the camera, microphone, Photos, location, or activity log?Reviewing these permissions from time to time is a good idea to keep your privacy under control.
Safari, web apps, and profiles
Safari has improved its productivity features with several tools. In addition to Reader Mode for cleaning up pages, you can now turn any website into a pseudo-application Add it to the Dock as a web app. From the File > Add to Dock menu, you'll create an icon that opens in its own window, looking like a native app.
The browser also allows create independent profiles (for example, work, personal, studies). Each profile has its own history, bookmarks, extensions, and cookies, so you don't mix sessions or data between different contexts.
An interesting new feature is the possibility of Remove specific blocks from a web page to eliminate distractions while keeping the rest of the page open, although these changes only last for the duration of that session.
Safari integrates with the Passwords app to securely autofill logins, and with iCloud syncing you can have Bookmarks, open tabs, and passwords shared between Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Photos, Maps, and Multimedia on Mac
The macOS Photos app is now organized with a Collections section in the sidebar, where you can View automatic albums by day, trip, people, pets, or memoriesThere is also a More Items dropdown menu with sections for duplicate photos, tickets, handwritten text, etc.
Within Photos, the Map button displays a world map showing where your photos were takenYou can zoom in to see groupings by cities, countries, or specific locations, and from each photo's details, you can edit the date, time, or location again if needed.
The Maps app on macOS inherits the hiking trails based on topographic mapsJust like on iOS. You can plan a hike from your Mac, viewing elevation changes and trails, and then follow it from your iPhone or Apple Watch.
In the Mac Control Center, in addition to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirDrop, you have media controls. Clicking on the playback area will let you control music and other content that is playingeven from apps like Spotify.
To navigate web pages, Command + up or down arrow takes you there. directly at the beginning or end of the page, a kind of "go to the beginning / go to the end" without the need for infinite scrolling.
Integration with iPhone and Apple Watch
The integration between Mac and iPhone is one of the strengths of the Apple ecosystem. If both share the same Apple ID, the Mac can Use your iPhone camera as a high-quality webcam in video calls, or as a document scanner by selecting "Import from iPhone" and then "Scan Document" from the Finder or desktop context menu. You can also use apps like WhatsApp on Apple Watch.
To unlock your Mac you can Use your Apple Watch whenever it's nearby and unlockedIn Settings > Login Password, you can enable the option to allow the Apple Watch to authorize unlocking your Mac and some actions that normally require a password.
Regarding synchronization, you can connect your iOS device to your Mac via cable the first time to set up the synchronization via Wi-FiFrom then on, as long as they are on the same network and you have this option enabled, the iPhone or iPad will appear in the Finder sidebar to wirelessly sync music, videos, photos, or backups.
Wi-Fi synchronization is slower than wired synchronization, but very convenient. If you connect the cable during wireless synchronization, The process continues automatically via cable and is interrupted if you disconnect it.You can also choose whether you want the synchronization to run automatically every time the device connects.
This whole network of tricks and features makes both iOS and macOS systems much more flexible than they seem at first glance, and knowing them allows you to completely adapt your iPhone and Mac to your way of working, communicating and organizing, from battery and security to photography, apps and integration between all your Apple devices.
