If for any reason you are willing to change your iPhone XS or XS Max, even despite the arrival of the iPhone 11 or the cheaper iPhone SE, we do not blame you. But if you want to get the most out of it, you need to know the best tips and tricks for the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max that will be useful at any time.
The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max further refined the mobile experience Apple created with the iPhone X in early 2018. From Face ID to Memojis, late-2o18 iPhones are among the best phones on the market.
While both teams feature cutting-edge technology and specs, the iPhone XS Max has a much bigger and sharper screen than the iPhone X, but it maintains the same device size. It is the perfect choice for those who want to upgrade their phone from older Plus models.
There are several changes at the software level, but the button and charger locations remain the same as those on the iPhone X. It doesn’t have a headphone port, and the controversial front notch or notch carries the TrueDepth camera for Face ID. This unlocking method is said to be faster and more secure than ever thanks to its processor.
Whether you’re upgrading from a previous iPhone or decided to ditch Android to jump into the Apple ecosystem, things are a little different on these devices. So here are some of our favorite tips and tricks for you to use iPhone XS like an expert.
How to set up Face ID
In 2018 Apple finally decided to get rid of the Start button on all of their iPhones. So in the XS and XS Max, the easiest way to unlock it is through Face ID.
To configure Face ID, we suggest you stay in a room with good lighting. Go to Settings> Face ID & Passcode . If you already have a password, you will be asked to enter it; otherwise, you will need to create one to continue. Once done, tap Set up Face ID .
Now you will have to scan your face twice to complete the process, simply by holding the phone directly in front of your face and following the instructions. Once completed, to unlock the phone, simply swipe up on the lock screen, while keeping your eyes open. If the phone doesn’t unlock, you may need to hold the phone a little further from your face, especially if you’re in a dark room or area.
You can also add an alternative ID for Face ID. Just open Settings> Face ID and Passcode> Set Alternate Appearance .
How to take a screenshot
If you’re used to tapping the power and start buttons to take a screenshot or screenshot , you might be a little confused when trying to do it on the iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max.
If you want to take a screenshot, you must touch the power and volume buttons simultaneously. In the same way as in previous models, a small image will appear on the lower left side of the screen. Tap the image if you want to make any changes, or else it will be automatically saved in the Photos app.
How to set up and use Apple Pay
Ready to leave your wallet at home? With Apple Pay you can easily pay simply using your phone.
To use Apple Pay, you must first add a credit or debit card to your Apple wallet. To do this, head to Settings> Wallet & Apple Pay> Add card . You may have to contact your bank to verify your identity and how you want to use the card before you can use it.
Once Apple Pay is set up, it is very easy to use. Just double tap the lock button on the right side of your phone. If Face ID is set up, the phone will scan your face to approve the purchase. Otherwise, you must enter your access code.
How to use portrait mode and depth control
Both the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have Portrait Mode or portrait mode on the front and rear cameras. To use it, open the camera and slide the menu control to the left until you see portrait mode. You will see a carousel appear with different lighting options, such as natural light, contour light, stage light, among others. Select the option you want and press the shutter button. If you want to use the front camera, just tap the camera rotate icon to the right of the shutter button.
Depth Control or Depth Control is a new exclusive feature of the 2018 iPhone line, resulting in the elegant bokeh style. But unlike other cameras, with Depth Control you can control the amount of blur in the background after taking a picture, and not just when you’re taking it. To use depth control, simply select the photo and tap Edit; The Depth Control slider will automatically appear on the edit screen, giving you the option to adjust the amount of detail or blur around the main subject.
How to turn off your iPhone
It would seem obvious, but sometimes appearances are deceiving. In the past, the button on the right side of your iPhone was probably the on-off button. However, that area now contains the lock button on phones that have TrueDepth cameras. So how do you turn off your phone?
If you want to turn off your phone, simply touch and hold any volume button simultaneously, along with the lock button. After a few seconds, you will see a slider appear to turn off your iPhone. A little more complicated than many would like.
How to create a Memoji
In 2017 Apple released Animoji for the iPhone X and in 2018 it doubled its efforts with Memoji on iOS 12. Memoji graphics are basically animated avatars that you can control with your facial movements.
Creating a Memoji is easy. Just open the Messages app and tap on the Apps drawer. Select the Animoji icon (characterized by the image of a monkey) and swipe right until you see the New Memoji icon (+). Here you can customize your Memoji just the way you want, whether it looks like you, or shows off your alter ego. When you’re satisfied, just tap the Done button at the top of the screen to save your Memoji, and you’re ready to start using it in your interactions.
How to use gestures to complete tasks
The most commonly used gesture is swiping up from the bottom of the phone. This allows you to easily switch between open applications. On passing, you also have the opportunity to close applications simply by sliding up the particular application that you no longer need.
In addition to swiping up, you can also swipe down from the top of the screen. If you swipe down from the center, the notifications window will open. On the other hand, if you swipe down from the right side, the Control Panel will appear.
There are also two gestures that allow you to wake up the phone immediately. The first is simply based on touching the screen and voila, your iPhone will be activated as if by magic! It’s worth noting that this gesture is enabled by default, but if you’ve accidentally disabled it, head to Settings> General> Accessibility and turn on the Tap to activate slider.
You can also activate your iPhone simply by lifting it. This feature is also turned on by default on iPhone XS and XS Max, but can be enabled or disabled by simply heading to Settings> Display & Brightness and tapping the Raise slider to wake up .
How to use “do not disturb”
Are you looking for a moment of silence and tranquility? Then you should use Do Not Disturb mode, which allows you to easily turn off notifications and calls on your phone.
You will probably want to customize Do Not Disturb mode before using it. Just head to Settings> Do Not Disturb to make the desired changes. Once you have configured Do Not Disturb , you can activate it by selecting the Do Not Disturb slider or by tapping the Do Not Disturb (Moon) icon in the Control Center.
Bedtime is an additional Do Not Disturb feature that allows you to automatically activate custom functions each night at bedtime. Bedtime especially dims the screen, mutes calls, and sends notifications directly to the Notification Center. To set it up, just head to Settings> Do Not Disturb> Scheduled> Bedtime . You will see an option to program your bedtime, according to your preferred hours of sleep.
How to use Split View on the XS Max
What good is the extra screen size of the iPhone XS Max, if you can’t put it to good use? Now the Split View feature for iPhone XS Max allows you to get an enlarged view of certain iOS apps and websites. For example, if you use the Mail app in split view, you will see your current messages along with a preview screen. You’ll also see Split View in action on certain websites like The New York Times .
Using Split View is easy. Just open a compatible app or website, put your iPhone in landscape mode and make sure the rotation lock is not activated.
If the phone doesn’t switch to landscape, swipe down from the top right of the screen, and make sure the rotation lock (padlock) icon isn’t enabled.
How to use Siri
Siri is Apple’s digital assistant and can help you do basic tasks like sending messages, adding appointments to your calendar, and even Apple Pay friends. Siri is also capable of learning your personal preferences and will offer suggestions and shortcuts that may be of interest to you.
There are two ways to access Siri. The first is simply by pressing the lock button. The second and and simplest method is saying “Hey Siri” .
If you have not configured “Hey Siri”, you must do it by going to Settings> Siri and Search> Listen “Hey Siri” and follow the prompts.
How to use Notifications and the Control Center
In 2o18, Apple made big changes to Notifications in iOS 12. For starters, you’ll see grouped notifications that can be removed in bulk by simply tapping the X icon. Of course, if you want to get the most out of the Notification Center, you probably want to customize it to your liking.
In addition to adding group notifications in iOS 12, Apple also made it easy to customize the notifications you receive in the Notification Center. Just tap the notification for a while and you’ll see two options: Deliver Silently and Turn Off .
Delivering silently means that the notification will go directly to the Notification Center instead of letting you know when it arrives. And turning off (as its name says) means that you will no longer receive notifications from the app in question. You can further customize the way you view and receive notifications in Settings> Notifications and tapping on each individual app listed.
The Control Center allows you to quickly access the most used on your phone. To open it, swipe down in the upper right corner of your phone. Many of the icons use 3D Touch to provide additional usage options. Just press hard on the icon and you will see a menu appear for the application.
While the Control Center has many of the most widely used functions easily accessible from a single location, you may want to customize it to your liking. You can do this by going to Settings> Control Center> Customize Controls . From here you can add and move controls to suit your needs.
How to use Group FaceTime
With iOS 12, you can participate in FaceTime group calls with up to 32 people using your iPhone XS, XS Max or iPhone XR. You can configure the group session through the FaceTime application and choosing the contacts you want to add: open the application and manually enter the contact you want to add. You can also initiate a FaceTime group call within a group chat in iMessage: once in the chat window, tap the initials at the top of the window and tap the camera icon again. During FaceTime group calls, you can also add text, stickers and Animojis to your own window.
How to enable trackpad mode with Haptic Touch
Since iPhone XR doesn’t have 3D Touch features, you can use Haptic Touch to easily change the cursor position without having to touch the text. You can turn your keyboard into a virtual touchpad by holding down the space bar and then dragging your finger to select specific text. Once you release it, you can touch the text to copy, cut, paste, share and more.
How to use the keyboard with one hand
Since the iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR are larger, using them with one hand can be difficult. To make it easier, you can use the keyboard with one hand just by moving the keyboard left or right – depending on your preference. To activate the settings, go to Settings> General> Keyboards> One-hand keyboard . You can then choose whether you want it on the right or left of your iPhone screen.
If you don’t want the setting to be on all the time, you can also turn it on and off through iMessage. As you type, touch and hold the globe icon in the lower left corner of the screen, and tap if you want to use the left or right keyboard. To turn it off, tap and hold the icon again and tap the center keyboard option.
