There's a reason why iPhones are so popular: they provide a wealth of powerful features and tools. Some of these functions, however, may be unfamiliar to the average iPhone user – and so here are 6 useful hacks that you may not be aware your iPhone is capable of.

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1. Keep it as a Spare

Having a spare phone is always a good idea. There are multiple things you can do if you keep your old phone as a spare. You can:

• Lend it to your children so they play with it instead of using your new one
• Have it ready for anyone who might be visiting you and may need a regional number
• Use it to send all your spam subscription text messages to
• Keep it as an old picture vault
• Repurpose it to be your Apple TV remote
• Make it your emergency backup phone
• Use it as your GPS screen in your car (great for Uber Drivers)

So clearly there are way more applications your old phone can have that you knew about, but let’s look at some other, more techy applications, your old iPhone can still do

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2. Set a timer for your music- iPhone 8 and Up

The iPhone offers a helpful feature that allows you to set your music to stop playing after a certain amount of time without physically touching any buttons. – This hack is especially handy for those who want to listen to music before going to bed. To get started, do the following:

> Launch the Clock app > Select the Timer icon > Select the "When Timer Ends" option > Scroll all the way to the bottom and select "Stop Playing"> Select "Set"> Then, using the timer, set the length of time you want the song to play > Press the "Start" button.

When the timer ends, your music will stop playing automatically. This useful tool is available for both Apple Music and Spotify.

3. Delete Old Screenshots -iPhones with iOS 14 and Up

If you want to clear up your camera roll or free up some storage space, this helpful tip lets you erase all of your old screenshots at once rather than sifting through them manually. To remove any undesired or unintentional screenshots from your camera roll, follow these steps:

Launch the Photos app > Navigate to the app's Albums section > Scroll all the way down to the Media Types section > Tap Screenshots (or, for videos, Screen Recordings) > Tap Choose > Choose All > Uncheck any that you want to keep > To eliminate them all, tap the bin symbol.

4. Stop Typing Your Entire Email Address- iPhone X and Up

You may use text replacement to create a convenient shortcut to avoid typing your whole email address whenever you need to enter it. Text replacement allows you to change specified characters into items you frequently enter, such as your email address. To get started, do the following:

Open Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement > Set up your preferred email address shortcut.

You will, however, need to use uncommon characters to trigger your text replacement, as if you set it up with the word "email," it will show your replacement every time you write that phrase, which could be annoying. An abbreviation like "eml" or "@@@" might be a wise choice.

5. Receive Real-Time Weather Alerts from the Weather App -iOS 14 and Up

If rain or snow is on its way to your location, you can use this helpful function to have the weather app notify you a few minutes before it starts. You'll also get another notification after the rain has stopped. To activate it, follow these steps:

Launch the Weather app > Tap the three-line icon in the screen's bottom right corner > Tap the three-dot circle icon in the top right corner of the screen > Select Notifications > Turn on the switch next to My Location > Tap Done.

You can enable alerts for any place you have added to the Weather app. 

6. Track your iPhone Even When It's Turned Off- iPhone 4 and Up

If your iPhone is lost or stolen, you may track it down using the Find My App feature even if it has been turned off, experienced a factory reset, its batter has died, or it's simply offline for up to five hours. To get started, do the following:

Navigate to Settings > Go to Apple ID > Find My > Tap "Find My Network"> Enable "Find My Network."

7. Enable "Do Not Disturb" at Work Automatically- iPhone SE, 6S,  and Up

When you enter your workplace, this useful shortcut immediately activates Do Not Disturb mode, allowing you to stay focused and undistracted. To get started:

Launch the Shortcuts App > Select Automation > Select Personal Automation > Create > Select Arrive > Tap "Choose" in the Location field > Enter your business address > Tap Done > Tap Next > Tap Add Action > Type "Set Focus" in the search field and click on it > Tap Next > Tap Done. 

Final Thoughts

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After all that’s said and done, you can also trade your old device in, instead of throwing it away. Remember that e-waste can only be reduced if we all contribute. If your old phone is not ready to be thrown away, then help the planet. Keep it at home. Find it a new job.