There was a time when on the newly bought iPhone there was no need to really do anything and it could be immediately used in all its functions without having to worry about configurations to optimize battery life, to have the best performance and to have a smartphone that manages its resources. Over the years, Apple has added more and more features in iOS that have made the iPhone a more innovative and complete smartphone, but which often require an initial configuration in order to activate the most useful settings and deactivate the less used ones .
These configurations for the iPhone are not only those to be used on a new phone to get the most out of iOS immediately, but they are also settings to remember and keep in mind when you want to start over, after a reset of the phone, to start again from scratch and get rid of all the uselessness that have filled the cell phone over time.
1) Reduce animated effects .
In Settings> General> Accessibility, it is better to disable animated effects by activating the " Reduce movement " option.
2) Disable Apple Music Connect in the Music app .
The music app has a feature called Connect with Apple Music
If you are not going to use it, you can disable it this way.
Touch Settings> General> Restrictions and activate restrictions by putting a simple code like 1111.
In the switches below, find Apple Music Connect and turn off the switch (while we're at it, we can also disable CarPlay here if not used, iTunes Store, iBooks Store, Podcasts and Purchases in the app if not used).
From now on the Connect button will disappear from the Music App.
Also, go to Settings> Music to disable the Show Apple Music option.
3) Disable "Request access"
Whenever an open wifi network is detected, the iPhone sends a notification.
If you no longer want to see this notification, which in the long run can be really annoying, go to Settings> Wi-Fi and turn off the Request networks access switch.
4) Turn off the background app update if you don't need it.
Background app update is a setting that allows applications to reload data so they are always up to date.
In this way you can open an app like Facebook and always see the latest news or have the weather constantly updated.
However, if too many applications update in the background, the battery may be affected and run out faster.
Since all the apps you install have this option enabled by default and since it is not really necessary for many apps, you have to disable it.
This configuration is done in the Settings menu > General> Background app update .
Among the apps, keep only that of e-mail, Weather, Whatsapp or other messaging apps up to date (deactivating Facebook will also benefit the battery).
You can also disable the background app update completely from the switch at the top, but the iPhone would stop receiving messages and emails.
5) Disable the automatic updating of the Apps
By default, iOS automatically downloads and installs all new app updates.
To disable them, go to Settings> iTunes Store and App Store and turn off the Updates switch.
After this change, remember, at least once a week, to check and install app updates by opening the store.
6) Disable "Ask before deleting" in Mail
When you tap on the trash can icon in Mail, an annoying alert asks if we want to delete the emails.
It is therefore advisable to disable this warning by going to Settings> Mail and turning off the delete confirmation option.
7) Customize how names are displayed in messages
If we have an address book with some identical names, iOS allows you to change the way names are displayed.
In Settings> Contacts, touch the Short name option and disable it or use, instead of just Name, another configuration such as, for example, first name and initial of the surname .
8) Disable keyboard and lock sounds
The lock screen sound is nice at first, but useless, as are the keyboard sounds.
To turn them off, go to Settings> Sounds, scroll down and turn off the Keyboard Click and Lock Sound switches.
9) Configure the "Do not disturb" mode
"Do not disturb" is a great way to make sure you are not bothered by notifications when you want silence or concentration.
Go to Settings> Do not disturb and configure the function in a programmed way, choosing the start and end time.
Then allow calls from favorite contacts (Go to the phonebook to put some of your favorite contacts).
By default, the "do not disturb" mode does not work when using the phone, while it must also work in that case.
Then scroll down the options and use the silent mode Always and not only while iPhone is locked .
Do not disturb mode can then be activated manually from the control center, by sliding your finger from the bottom to the top of the screen, then touching the moon icon.
10) Customize the app notifications
Almost all the apps you install want to send notifications by default.
It is therefore important to go immediately to Settings> Notifications and disable notifications for all the apps that you don't need to receive.
For notifications that remain enabled, choose whether they can appear in the notification center, as a badge on the icon and on the lock screen.
In addition, you can choose how to display notifications on the screen when unlocked and in use, if with a banner that disappears on its own or if with a warning.
Note that you can also use the quick response with the banner, which is very convenient.
11) Change the repetition of message notifications
For SMS messages the iPhone can repeat the notification.
To change this configuration, go to Settings -> Notifications -> Messages, scroll down and set the Repeat Alerts option to Never .
12) Configure iMessage
iMessage is a very nice feature on iPhone, which allows you to send free SMS to other iPhone users.
In another article, we explained how to use the Messages app and configure iMessage on the iPhone.
13) Configure or disable FaceTime
Facetime is an iPhone feature for making free calls and video calls to other iPhone users.
In another article we saw how to use and configure Facetime.
If you don't want to receive Facetime calls and video calls, then you can deactivate them in Settings> Facetime .
14) Configure the iPhone keyboard
In Settings> General> Keyboard, you can disable two options which, although they might be useful, ultimately only waste space and don't work so well.
These are the predictive suggestions and the dictation.
Dictation is a feature of iOS to write messages by voice, useful only for those who have problems typing with the on-screen keyboard or for those who drive a lot.
15) Configure the location settings
When installing a new application, a pop-up may ask whether to grant location access
To find the apps that ask for location location, go to Settings> Privacy> Location and for all except Weather put on "If in use".
Also, go down and tap on System Services to check the iOS options that use location.
You might want the features without problems: Location Alerts, Apple Ad from Location and Frequent Locations.
16) Deactivate Handoff
Handoff is a useful feature only if you have a MAC or iPad and want to sync your activities to continue working on an app from another device.
In Settings> General> Handoff, you can deactivate it.
17) Remove unused apps
Starting with iOS 10, the iPhone also allows you to uninstall pre-installed apps to make them disappear.
You can then remove Calculator, iCloud Drive, Tips, Contacts, Maps, Videos, Watch, Home, Notes, Weather, iBooks, Podcasts, Reminders, Calendar, iTunes, Bag, Compass, Mail, FaceTime, Music, Voice Memos, Find Friends, News.
In case you want to use these apps again, just search for them and install them from the App store.
18) Activate Find My iPhone
Find My iPhone is the function to find and locate the iPhone when it is lost or stolen.
To configure this alarm, go to Settings, press on the name and then on iCloud> Find my iPhone .
19) Configure backups of photos, Whatsapp and iCloud
In the settings, by touching the username and then iCloud, you can choose what to include in the automatic backup that the iPhone does in the Apple account.
The backup can also include Whatsapp, Telegram, Notes, address book and other things, including photos.
Since, however, the space in iCloud is limited to 5 GB, it is necessary to disable the automatic backup of the photos and use, for them, another more effective way.
As already explained, unlimited photo backup is done with Google Photos.
Even if iCloud backs up your contacts, it's also worth setting up your iPhone address book backup in Google if you use Gmail.
20) Block unwanted calls
This configuration requires installing Truecaller on iPhone to block calls from unwelcome numbers.
Once the Truecaller app is installed, go to Settings> Phone and set up Truecaller unwanted call blocking, very effective and automatic.
21) Change name on the phone
You can change the name of the iPhone in Settings> General> Info
22) See the percentage of battery remaining
To see the number of battery percentage left go to Settings> Battery .
23) Enlarge the text
In Settings> Screen and brightness, you can enlarge the displayed text.
24) Choose what information to see on the lock screen
In another article, the guide to configure the lock screen on iPhone and how to enable iOS widgets.
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