Little-known iPhone apps ‘hiding’ on your smartphone – and the first gives you a secret TV remote
YOUR iPhone is littered with hidden apps and features – and some are more useful than others.
There’s an often-overlooked TV remote, as well as a clever app unlocked by typing a secret code.
Apple TV Remote
Your iPhone has a hidden TV remote.
It’s a great trick, especially if you’re not near your regular TV remote – or you’ve lost it down the back of the sofa.
The only catch is that it’s specifically built for Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible smart TVs, so you’re out of luck if you don’t have one.
To find it, just go to the Control Center.
On an iPhone with Face ID, that means swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen.
And on an iPhone with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.
Then look for the Apple TV Remote button, which is shaped like a remote control.
If it’s not there, just edit your Control Center and add it using the Settings app.
Once you’ve tapped the icon, choose your Apple TV or smart TV and then follow the on-screen instructions.
Then you can simply use the iPhone app just like a regular TV remote.
Code Scanner
Second is an app that comes preinstalled on every iPhone.
It’s called Code Scanner and it’s designed to let you quickly scan QR codes in the real world.
You simply swipe down on the middle of your Home Screen to bring up the search bar.
Then type in Code Scanner and tap the app that appears.
You can simply point your iPhone at the QR code to scan it.
And you can add more light by tapping the flashlight symbol.
Field Test
The third secret app is called Field Test.
First, you’ll need to turn off your iPhone’s WiFi connection.
Then open your Phone app and go to the dialpad.
Now type *3001#12345#* and then hit the call button.
This will take you straight to the Field Test app, where you can see a whole host of measurements for your iPhone.
The most interesting is signal strength, which is usually called RSRP 0.
This shows your iPhone’s signal strength in decibel milliwatts, and is much more detailed than simply glancing at your signal bars.
It should appear as a negative number and is stronger the closer it gets to zero.