Top Five Time-Saving iPhone Tips: Searching Web Pages, Swipe to Delete in Calculator, and More

[MacRumors]

If you're looking to cut down on the amount of time you spend performing certain actions on your iPhone, there's usually a solution hidden in Apple's mobile operating system. Here are five quick iOS tips that once you start using will make you a lot more time-efficient in the long run.

This article assumes you're using an iPhone running iOS 11 or later, but some of these tips will work on iPad and earlier versions of Apple's mobile OS. Read on for more.

1. Search a Web Page

In Safari on iOS, there are two ways to search a web page for a specific word or phrase. One method is quicker than the other, although neither is necessarily immediately obvious.

The first way involves tapping the Share icon (the square with an arrow pointing out of it), sliding your finger left along the bottom column, and tapping the Find on Page button, indicated by a magnifying glass. Start typing what you're looking for, and your search results will be returned automatically.

The second, faster method is to type your search term straight into Safari's address bar and then tap the On This Page option at the bottom of the suggestion list, after which you'll be able to tap through each occurrence of the term on the current page.

2. Swipe to Delete in the Calculator

It's a common misconception that if you type the wrong number into the Calculator app, you have to start the whole sum all over again. Happily, that isn't the case: Simply swipe right or left with a finger across the number display to remove the last number you typed, and repeat the action if necessary to remove several numbers.

3. Access Deeper Control Center Options Sans 3D Touch

In iOS 11, the Control Center is designed to reveal deeper controls when the user hard-presses to activate 3D Touch - just try it on the camera button, for instance.

If you own an iPhone SE or an older iPhone that doesn't support 3D Touch gestures, it's still possible to access these more granular controls on any button that supports them by using a simple long press instead.

4. Quick-Switch Back From Numbers/Symbols to Letters

Switching onscreen keyboards when you need to type a number or symbol is an all-too-often occurrence on iPhone, so here's a tip for making the transition super-swift.

Rather than tap the "123" key to switch to the number/symbol keyboard, hold down on it and slide your finger over to the key you want, then let go. This single action types the number/symbol and automatically switches you back to the alphabetical layout, avoiding the need to perform three separate taps to achieve the same result.

5. Clear All Notifications At Once

If you've got a bunch of notifications from earlier in the day or week that are clogging up your Notifications Screen, don't waste time clearing them one by one. Simply hard press on the first x icon you see on the right of the list. From there, you only need to select the Clear All Notifications 3D Touch option to make them instantly vanish.

Article Link: Top Five Time-Saving iPhone Tips: Searching Web Pages, Swipe to Delete in Calculator, and More

 

[ke-iron]

Oh snap. I had no idea you could search web pages on iPhones! The swipe to delete on the calculator is a gift from the gods.

 

[now i see it]

I didn't know about the calculator trick. Thanks!

 

[patjem]

Thanks for this list. The calculator is a great one!

 

[anyjungleinguy]

Huh.

I knew you could search from the address bar for Find on Page but I had no idea there was a share sheet option. I’ve just moved the icon to the first spot and I actually think I prefer it over typing in the address bar then scrolling down. TIL.

 

[macduke]

I search within websites so frequently that I sometimes wish I could add it as a button that is always visible. It would be neat to be able to replace something I use infrequently such as the bookmarks button for search or another shortcut. That would be a cool feature in iOS 12.

 

[RodThePlod]

I’ve just moved the icon to the first spot and I actually think I prefer it over typing in the address bar then scrolling down. TIL.

Whoa!! I didn’t even realise you could reposition the icons in the share sheet! I’ve just done it now (works in a similar way to rearranging apps on the home screen for those who didn’t know).

Thank YOU anyjungleinguy for the tip.

This thread is full of goodness

 

[djbuddha]

That hold down '123' button trick is just straight wizardry. If there was only a way to calculate how much time this will save me instead of it always trying to load the Giphy keyboard before I can complete my text messages ....

 

[EM2013]

Never knew about #4

Wish iPhone had the swipe down keyboard feature that’s on the iPad.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Super helpful! Thanks MacRumors!!

 

[supremedesigner]

I didn’t know “Find on Page” is in share sheet! I just re-arranged my share sheet icons - both color and mono icons.

Very helpful tips!

 

[iFanaddic]

Here’s a couple more..

• Multi-apps drag and drop
• “Hey siri, turn off all alarms”
• 3D touch on keyboard to move cursor freely

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Still learning new things in the iPhone. Thanks Mac rumors. Helpful tips for sure.

 

[ryanmcv]

Been an iPhone user since 2007 and never knew about #4. I can’t even imagine the amount of screen taps that would’ve saved me. Thanks!

 

[JosephAW]

All of these work in iOS 10 as well... except for the new control center and multi drag.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Good to see a productive article, instead of mysterious predictions from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
[doublepost=1516928722][/doublepost]Another good tip: If you need to edit a text message before sending, hold down in the text area, this will invoke the line cursor, allowing you to easily move the cursor anywhere in the text area for quick and easy editing. You can say goodbye to using the backspace key over and over with this tip.

 

[Mizouse]

Huh.

I knew you could search from the address bar for Find on Page but I had no idea there was a share sheet option. I’ve just moved the icon to the first spot and I actually think I prefer it over typing in the address bar then scrolling down. TIL.

This.

I too think it's much faster than having to scroll down after typing in the address bar.

Plus it brings you to the first match instead of showing you X amount of matches first.

 

[Apple blogger]

I didn’t know point 4! Thank you!

 

[OlliFlamme]

Here’s a couple more..

• Multi-apps drag and drop
• “Hey siri, turn off all alarms”
• 3D touch on keyboard to move cursor freely

Likewise:

• multi-app closing: use two fingers after the tap hold for closing multiple apps.

Which makes me think: I find it pointless of not to have that action done in a similar way to iOS on iPad’s behaviour... numerous times, I just try to swipe close my apps on my phone, to realise that I need to first tap hold

• Swipe down on your home screen and calculate there, just as you would on your mac in the siri field. It is perfect for most calculations, and you have a natural typing behaviour. Also, you can check your full calculation query as well.

• Make a pdf of anything printable by giving the print command, force tap the print preview, and saving it...

Great tip on the single number 3 input. Woops

 

[dennis98290]

If you're looking to cut down on the amount of time you spend performing certain actions on your iPhone, there's usually a solution hidden in Apple's mobile operating system. Here are five quick iOS tips that once you start using will make you a lot more time-efficient in the long run.

This article assumes you're using an iPhone running iOS 11 or later, but some of these tips will work on iPad and earlier versions of Apple's mobile OS. Read on for more.

1. Search a Web Page

In Safari on iOS, there are two ways to search a web page for a specific word or phrase. One method is quicker than the other, although neither is necessarily immediately obvious.

The first way involves tapping the Share icon (the square with an arrow pointing out of it), sliding your finger left along the bottom column, and tapping the Find on Page button, indicated by a magnifying glass. Start typing what you're looking for, and your search results will be returned automatically.

The second, faster method is to type your search term straight into Safari's address bar and then tap the On This Page option at the bottom of the suggestion list, after which you'll be able to tap through each occurrence of the term on the current page.

2. Swipe to Delete in the Calculator

It's a common misconception that if you type the wrong number into the Calculator app, you have to start the whole sum all over again. Happily, that isn't the case: Simply swipe right or left with a finger across the number display to remove the last number you typed, and repeat the action if necessary to remove several numbers.

3. Access Deeper Control Center Options Sans 3D Touch

In iOS 11, the Control Center is designed to reveal deeper controls when the user hard-presses to activate 3D Touch - just try it on the camera button, for instance.

If you own an iPhone SE or an older iPhone that doesn't support 3D Touch gestures, it's still possible to access these more granular controls on any button that supports them by using a simple long press instead.

4. Quick-Switch Back From Numbers/Symbols to Letters

Switching onscreen keyboards when you need to type a number or symbol is an all-too-often occurrence on iPhone, so here's a tip for making the transition super-swift.

Rather than tap the "123" key to switch to the number/symbol keyboard, hold down on it and slide your finger over to the key you want, then let go. This single action types the number/symbol and automatically switches you back to the alphabetical layout, avoiding the need to perform three separate taps to achieve the same result.

5. Clear All Notifications At Once

If you've got a bunch of notifications from earlier in the day or week that are clogging up your Notifications Screen, don't waste time clearing them one by one. Simply hard press on the first x icon you see on the right of the list. From there, you only need to select the Clear All Notifications 3D Touch option to make them instantly vanish.

Article Link: Top Five Time-Saving iPhone Tips: Searching Web Pages, Swipe to Delete in Calculator, and More

[doublepost=1516943917][/doublepost]These days I use Siri instead of the calculator function. It recognizes left and right parenthesis:
(2+6)/5=1.6

 

[freezah]

JA PIERDOLE! Czemu tych tipów nie poznałem wcześniej !!!

BEST TIPS I’VE EVER SEEN !

 

[OlliFlamme]

[doublepost=1516943917][/doublepost]These days I use Siri instead of the calculator function. It recognizes left and right parenthesis:
(2+6)/5=1.6

Like typing or speaking? I touched that one above too Indeed, it does respect the order of commands and one can use parentheses and brackets to group commands. Also, there are even commands one can use that we’d not expect to be possible. A search on the web can clarify the possibilities.
But most of all, one can edit the calculation

 

[76morgan]

Whoa!! I didn’t even realise you could reposition the icons in the share sheet! I’ve just done it now (works in a similar way to rearranging apps on the home screen for those who didn’t know).

Thank YOU anyjungleinguy for the tip.

This thread is full of goodness

I would like to add my thanks too! I knew you could search that way, but I had no idea you could reposition those apps!!!

 

[imronburgundy]

I like that quick-switch to the 123 keyboard, although I mostly just use gboard these days.

 

[dennis98290]

Like typing or speaking? I touched that one above too Indeed, it does respect the order of commands and one can use parentheses and brackets to group commands. Also, there are even commands one can use that we’d not expect to be possible. A search on the web can clarify the possibilities.
But most of all, one can edit the calculation

You're correct you can edit “Tap to Edit”, had not noticed that. I sometimes add several numbers and invariably get one wrong. Was wondering if you could lead me to the website that would show me the other possibilities?