Chances are, you already swipe and tap your way around your iPhone without thinking twice.
But beneath the surface of those everyday gestures are shortcuts and tricks that can make using your iPhone a lot faster—and honestly, more fun.
Here’s a rundown of lesser-known iPhone gestures that can save you time, clean up your interface, and help you navigate like a pro.
Jump to the Camera Without Unlocking
Are you trying to catch your dog mid-zoomie or a sudden photo op before it disappears? There is no need to fumble with Face ID or enter a passcode.
Just swipe left on the Lock Screen, and your Camera is ready to go. This is hands-down the fastest way to snap a shot.
Zoom In and Out of Your Photo Library
If you’re scrolling endlessly to find that one vacation photo from 2019, there’s a better way. Just zoom in or out inside the Photos app.
It’ll switch views between Days, Months, and Years. Zoom out to get a big-picture view, or zoom in to drill down. It’s simple but super effective.
Zoom In on Videos While Watching
Here’s a cool one: during video playback, try pinching to zoom. You can focus on background details or crop out distractions as you watch. It doesn’t permanently edit your video, but gives you a closer look when needed.
Also: This brilliant iPhone shortcut solves a problem you didn’t know was wrecking your productivity
Select a Bunch of Photos in Seconds
Manually tapping every photo when you’re cleaning out your library? No thanks. Hit Select, then press and drag your finger across the images.
You’ll highlight a row (or even a full screen) in one smooth motion. This also works in Files and Notes when you need to grab multiple items at once.
Shake to Undo—If You’re Into That
If you’re not a fan of swiping, the old-school Shake to Undo is still around.
If it’s enabled in Settings, just give your phone a quick shake, and a pop-up will ask if you want to undo your last action.
This works best for text edits; it still kinda feels weird doing this in public.
Undo or Redo With a Three-Finger Move
Instead of hunting for an undo button, just swipe left with three fingers to undo. Messed up again?
Swipe right with three fingers to redo. It works in Notes, Messages, Mail—pretty much anywhere you’re typing.
Bonus: A three-finger tap brings up an on-screen menu with undo, redo, cut, copy, and paste.
Dismiss the Keyboard Fast
If your keyboard’s blocking something on screen, there’s no need to exit the app. Just tap anywhere above the keyboard to dismiss it.
If that doesn’t work, try swiping down from the top of the keyboard. It’s an easy way to clear the view without lifting your other hand.
Also: How to use drag and drop on iPhone to streamline your workflow and become a productivity machine
Move Through Safari Tabs with a Swipe
Got five articles open in Safari? Instead of tapping the tab switcher, just swipe left or right on the bottom bar to jump between open tabs. It’s fast, seamless, and makes comparing sites or multitasking way easier.
Erase Digits in Calculator with a Swipe
There’s no delete button on the Calculator app. But there is a trick: swipe left or right across the number at the top to delete the last digit.
It’s subtle, but once you know it’s there, you’ll wonder why it’s not more obvious.
Also: 5 iPhone calculator features you need to use that will save you time and frustration
View All Open Safari Tabs in Grid View
Want a bird’s-eye view of every open tab? Use a pinch-in gesture on any webpage in Safari.
This brings up the grid layout of all your tabs. It’s an underrated way to manage open pages, especially if you’re a heavy multitasker.
Peek at a Link Without Opening It
Before committing to tapping a link, long-press it in Safari. A small preview window will pop up so you can check the page without fully loading it.
It will come in handy for avoiding clickbait or checking whether the content’s worth your time.
Reach the Top of the Screen With One Hand
Reaching the top of a big iPhone screen can be challenging. To lower the top half of the screen, swipe down on the bottom edge (just above the dock).
On models with a Home button, double-tap (don’t press) the Home button instead. If it’s not working, ensure Reachability is turned on under Accessibility settings.
Also: 5 annoying iPhone problems that drove me crazy until I found these quick fixes
Tap the Back to Do… Almost Anything
This is one of my favorites: Back Tap. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap, and assign shortcuts to double- or triple-tapping the back of your iPhone.
You can launch the flashlight, take a screenshot, open apps—you name it. Just make sure your case isn’t too thick to register the taps.
Wrap-Up
Your iPhone has a lot more going on than what’s visible on the screen. With just a few swipes, pinches, and taps, you can take shortcuts that make using your device feel faster and more intuitive.
Once you get used to these gestures, they’ll become second nature, and you’ll wonder how you ever did things the slow way.
