Many people are already aware of a number of tricks you can use to enhance your iPhone experience, but you might not know about the secret 'codes' that ou can use to unlock certain tools, as even Apple doesn't willingly give out this information.
While iPhones might not be quite as flexible as their Android counterparts – although recent changes made by Google have made the gap feel a little closer – there are actually a number of 'secret' settings hidden within that allow you to perform tasks you might not expect.
Some of these allow you to tone down rather unpopular changes introduced by Apple, whereas others can help people deal with an extremely common health issue while on the go.
There is actually a collection of hidden codes that you can use to unlock tools that you would otherwise have no means of accessing though, as thanks to experts over at MakeUseOf you can now take advantage of them yourself.
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Field Test Mode
- *3001#12345#*
First up you need to learn how to use these, and thankfully it's a super simple process.
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All you need to do is head into your Phone app and paste or write the code above and 'dial' it. Once you've done this, it'll activate the tool.
For this, you're able to turn your phone into a network analyzer of sorts, similar to the hidden WiFi settings that you can access on Samsung devices.
This allows you to check your bandwidth, networth strength, and even your phone number if you've somehow forgot, and you can also check exactly what cell tower you're connected to if that's somehow useful information in a time of need.
Call Forwarding
- *#67#
This allows you to see where incoming phone calls are routed if you don't pick up, which is especially handy if you're having issues with calls or have set up a number of different voicemails.
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There's only a few things to view here, but it could be a game changer if you're running into any problems, or just want to know as much as possible about how people are contacting you on a day-to-day basis.
Specific Call Forwarding
- *21[number]#
If you want to skip the middle man and have all your calls directly routed to another number then this is the code to activate, and you'll just want to put the eventual destination number in the section with the brackets, completely replacing the '[number]' bit.
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This is very helpful if you're having to use a temporary phone as it saves you from informing everyone of a new number that you won't have for very long, and can be useful to separate any work calls you might get from a personal device.
Call Waiting
- *#43#
One of the most underrated features that you'll want to check to see if it's active or not is call waiting, as this allows people to be put on 'hold' if they try to phone you while you're already on a call.
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We've all had those moments when a family member or friend has tried to contact you while you're already yapping away to someone else, yet with this enabled it lets them wait until you're done instead of being immediately booted off as if you don't want to talk to them — especially handy if you're waiting for an important call from the doctor or a potential job.
Checking Bill Balance
- *225#
This only works with some carriers so it might be useless to you, but this allows you to quickly check exactly how much you've got left on your phone bill, or the current status of your charge for the month.
It's particularly handy if you're traveling or working abroad, as it's sometimes hard to know if you're spending more than you think.
Checking Data Usage
- *3282#
This operates in much the same way as the previous code, only it relates specifically to the data you've got left on your current contract. Again, it doesn't work with all carriers, but it can be a lifesaver if you don't have an unlimited plan, or want to preserve your data for an upcoming trip.
Emergency Alert Check
- *5005*25371#
With the seeming increase in emergency alerts from the government it's probably a good idea to check whether your phone has this enabled, as it could save your life in the event of one occurring nearby you.
There's a chance you might have turned this off for a test or never even had it enabled in the first place, so there's no harm in giving this a quick test to let you know where you stand.
IMEI Number Check
- *#06#
One easy time saver is to check what your IMEI number is, as this is extremely handy for warranty checks if you ever want to sell our device or check an older one for its authenticity.
It's something you can find in the device's settings menu, but phoning this number can be quicker, as it even comes with a handy barcode that can be scanned.
Hide Caller ID
- *67
One that everyone should probably be aware of is the ability to hide your caller ID when dialling a number, as all you need to do is add '*67' to the start and the person on the receiving end will simply see 'Private Number' or 'Unknown' when the call comes through.
It's useful if you're contacting people you don't know too well or anyone you don't want to see your phone number, but it's also great to be aware of how easy this is to do in the event that someone else uses it on you — but it does, once again, only work with certain carriers, and the equivalent outside of America is '*31#'.