How Do I Use an iPhone? What Most People Get Wrong

Look, the "how do i use an iphone" question usually boils down to two types of people. You’re either holding a shiny glass brick for the first time feeling slightly overwhelmed, or you’ve had one for years and just realized you’re probably using about 10% of what it actually does.

Honestly? Most people treat their iPhone like a 2010 Nokia with a better screen. They tap, they scroll, they close apps. But the 2026 landscape of iOS 26 has turned this thing into a literal spatial computer that lives in your pocket. If you aren't using gestures, Visual Intelligence, or the new Liquid Glass interface shortcuts, you’re working way harder than you need to.

Mastering the Invisible "Buttons"

There is no "Home" button anymore. Hasn't been for years, yet I still see people struggling to find their way back to the start.

The most important thing to internalize is the Home Bar. That little thin line at the very bottom? That’s your steering wheel.

• To go home: Flick up fast from the bottom. Don't think about it. Just flick.
• To switch apps: Don't just flick up; swipe horizontally across that bottom bar. You can literally cycle through your open apps like flipping pages in a book.
• The App Switcher: Swipe up and pause in the middle. If you just flick, you go home. If you pause, all your open windows spread out like a deck of cards.

Most people get frustrated because they try to "close" apps by swiping them away in the switcher. Stop doing that. Apple engineers, including software chief Craig Federighi, have confirmed multiple times that force-closing apps actually hurts your battery life because the phone has to reload everything from scratch the next time you open it. Let the system manage the memory. It's smarter than us.

The Action Button and Camera Control

If you have a newer model, like the iPhone 15 Pro through the iPhone 17 series, you’ve got physical buttons that do more than just volume.

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The Action Button (above the volume rockers) is a chameleon. You can set it to turn on the flashlight, start a Voice Memo, or launch a specific Shortcut. I personally have mine set to "Focus Mode" so I can go into "Do Not Disturb" without even looking at the screen.

Then there’s the Camera Control. This isn't just a shutter. In iOS 26, you can light-press it to bring up a zoom slider or slide your finger across it to swap lenses. It’s tactile. It feels like a real camera. If you’re still tapping the screen to zoom while trying to hold the phone steady, you’re missing out on the stability this button provides.

Why Your Lock Screen is Actually a Dashboard

The Lock Screen used to just be a gatekeeper. Now, it's where most of the work happens. With Live Activities, you can track a DoorDash order or a flight status in real-time without ever unlocking the phone.

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Expert Tip: You can now move the widget bar to the bottom of the screen. This is a game-changer for one-handed use. Go to your Lock Screen, long-press, tap Customize, and drag that bar down.

Privacy is a Feature, Not a Chore

You probably see those "Allow App to Track?" pop-ups. Always hit "Ask App Not to Track." There is zero benefit to you for letting a random flashlight app know where you buy your groceries.

But the real "pro" move for 2026 is Safety Check. If you go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check, you can see exactly who has access to your location and your photos. It’s a "nuclear option" that lets you cut off everyone at once if you feel compromised, but it's also just great for a yearly digital spring cleaning.

Battery Life: The 80% Rule

How do i use an iphone without killing the battery in six months? Easy. Stop charging it to 100% every night.

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Lithium-ion batteries hate being fully "full" and fully "empty." In Settings > Battery > Charging, you should see an option for an 80% Limit. If you’re near a charger most of the day, keep this on. It prevents the battery from sitting at max capacity, which causes chemical aging. Your future self will thank you when your phone still holds a charge three years from now.

Also, turn off Always-On Display if you don't need it. It’s cool, sure. But it’s a constant 1% per hour drain. Over a day, that’s 24% of your battery gone just to look at a clock you aren't even watching.

The New "Liquid Glass" Visuals

iOS 26 introduced the Liquid Glass design language. Basically, the menus now react with depth and physics. When you scroll, notice how the navigation bars collapse organically.

If you find the new animations a bit much or they make you feel slightly motion-sick (it happens!), you can tone them down. Head over to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle on Reduce Transparency. It makes the UI flatter and faster, which some people actually prefer for productivity.

Actionable Steps for Your First Week

1. Set up your Medical ID: Go to the Health app. Fill it out. If you’re ever in an accident, first responders can access your blood type and allergies from the Lock Screen without needing your passcode.
2. Enable Stolen Device Protection: This is huge. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. It adds a time delay for changing sensitive settings if you aren't in a familiar location (like your home or office). It prevents thieves from locking you out of your own Apple Account.
3. Customize your Control Center: Swipe down from the top-right corner. See all those icons? You can change them. Go to Settings > Control Center and add "Screen Recording" or "Apple TV Remote."
4. Try Visual Look Up: Take a picture of a dog, a plant, or a landmark. Open the photo in the Photos app and swipe up. The iPhone will identify the breed or species for you. It even works for laundry care symbols on clothing tags now.
5. Clean your Lenses: It sounds stupid, but 90% of "blurry" iPhone photos are just finger grease. iOS 26 will actually give you a notification now if it detects your lens is too dirty for a clear shot. Listen to it.

The iPhone isn't just a phone anymore. It's a highly customizable sensor array that happens to make calls. Take twenty minutes to dig into the Settings menu. Don't be afraid to toggle things. You can't "break" the software, and you might find a workflow that saves you an hour a day.

Next Steps for Mastery
To keep your device running at peak performance, check your Battery Health in Settings every few months. If it drops below 80%, it’s time for a replacement. Also, make sure iCloud Backup is toggled on under your name in Settings; a phone is replaceable, but those photos from three years ago aren't.