iOS 16 Features You Need to Change
The new iOS 16 brings new features and functions to your iPhone, and you can either enable them or disable them. In this update, you’ll be able to customize your lock screen, and notification layout, hide pictures, notes, and more. On this page, you will learn about the key features you should look into and how they can simplify your life.
1. Lock-to-end call
In the new “Lock-to-end call” feature, you lock the screen while on the call instead of hanging up when you press the lock/power button on the side. Some people would benefit from this since they would accidentally end a call when locking their screens, but others would not benefit since most people end calls by locking their screens.
Go into Settings → Accessibility → under Physical and Motor, click on Touch → Enable Prevent Lock to End Call.
2. Hide the IP Adress
The next best thing if you don’t have a VPN on your phone is to use the new “Hide IP address” feature in iOS 16. The Safari browser employs a mechanism to shield your IP address from trackers that exploit the information.
Go into Settings → Safari → Hide IP address, and press on “From trackers”
3. Announce notifications on the speaker
If you frequently connect your iPhone to a speaker, turn on the “Announce notifications on speaker” setting. This does exactly what it says, announcing notifications on speakers, with Siri doing that. This is an excellent tool for determining whether you have received critical emails or notifications and being notified without having to pick up your iPhone.
Go into Settings → Notifications, and enable Announce Notifications under Siri.
4. Haptic feedback on the keyboard
The iPhone keyboard has long had a sound option that you can enable when typing on it, but the new haptic feedback from iOS 16 allows you to receive a greater sensation of typing by vibrations in the form of haptic feedback. Although this may irritate some people, turning off haptic feedback in settings should also be considered.
Go to Settings → Sound and Haptics → Keyboard Feedback, and enable Haptic.
5. Protect mail activity
The “Protect mail activity” option assists you in safeguarding your received and sent mail. One of the things it does is disguise your IP address so that senders and recipients of your emails cannot track you or your online activity. This capability is highly useful for anyone who uses and sends a lot of emails to people who may not appear trustworthy.
Go to Settings → Mail → Privacy Protection, and turn on Protect Mail Activity
6. Lock-screen customization
Apple has now added the ability to customize the iPhone lock screen with iOS 16. Adding widgets such as the weather, customizing the clock design, and more are some options you could choose from. It is even possible to create multiple lock screens.
The lock screen can be customized by pressing and holding the lock screen until a vibration occurs and a text stating “Customize” appears. After pressing “Customize,” you can change the clock and text fonts and colors or add widgets to your lock screen.
7. Lock hidden photos
Most people that have used iOS 14 or later know that they can hide their photos and albums in the Photos app, but thanks to the iOS 16 update, Apple listened to the community’s requests and made it easier to lock your private photos as a default setting in your iPhone. Go to Settings → Photos, enable “Use Face ID” and “Show Hidden Album.” Your hidden photo albums will now require Face ID identification when you open them.
8. Lock Notes
As notes might contain sensitive information, such as passwords, it is great that Apple has added a feature to iOS 16 that enables you to lock notes. Just as you could lock your photos, you can now lock your notes from the note app by opening a specific note that you want to lock, pressing on the three dots (More button) in the top right corner, and then clicking on Lock.
9. Automatically install security updates
Having an up-to-date operating system is a sure way to keep hackers and viruses off your iPhone. You can enable this feature by going into Settings → General → Software Updates and enabling “Security Response & System Files,” which will install security updates automatically whenever they become available. These updates will make sure that you have the latest security updates without the need to download them manually.