Most of us use our smartphones every day, often for hours at a time. We call friends, send messages, check social media, take photos, browse the internet, watch videos, and keep track of appointments. With so many familiar features, it’s easy to forget that our phones can do much more than we realize.

Modern smartphones are packed with convenient tools and shortcuts, but many of them remain hidden in settings or are simply overlooked. Learning a few of these features can make everyday tasks quicker and less frustrating.

Here are several useful smartphone tricks worth trying.

1. Silence an Incoming Call Without Rejecting It

We’ve all been in situations where the phone starts ringing at the worst possible moment. Maybe you’re in a meeting, watching a movie, having dinner, or simply don’t feel like answering right away.

Fortunately, you don’t always have to reject the call.

On many phones, pressing the volume button while the phone is ringing will silence the ringtone without necessarily declining the call. The caller can continue waiting, while you avoid having your phone make noise.

This can also be useful for quickly silencing certain alarms and notification sounds. The exact behavior can vary depending on your phone model and settings, but the volume buttons are often worth trying when you need a quick way to reduce noise.

2. Open the Camera Quickly

Some of the best photos happen unexpectedly, so having fast access to your camera can be surprisingly useful.

Many smartphones offer a camera shortcut directly from the lock screen. Depending on the device, you may be able to swipe a camera icon, press a dedicated shortcut, or double-press the power button to open the camera.

The exact gesture isn’t the same on every phone, so it’s worth checking your camera or lock-screen settings.

Once you get used to the shortcut, you won’t have to unlock your phone, search through your apps, and then open the camera every time you want to capture something quickly.

3. Make Your Battery Last Longer

Battery life is one of those things we tend to think about only when the percentage starts getting dangerously low.

Most modern smartphones include built-in battery-saving tools that can help when you aren’t close to a charger. On an iPhone, Low Power Mode can reduce certain background activities and other power consumption. Android phones commonly offer Battery Saver or similar options.

These features are especially handy when you’re traveling, spending the day outdoors, or expecting to be away from a charger for several hours.

You can also reduce screen brightness, shorten the screen timeout, and turn off features you aren’t currently using. Small changes can make a noticeable difference over the course of a day.

4. Try Dark Mode

Dark mode is now available on most modern smartphones and many individual apps.

Instead of displaying a mostly white interface, dark mode uses darker backgrounds that some people find more comfortable, particularly in low-light environments.

There can also be a battery benefit on phones with OLED or AMOLED displays because displaying darker areas can require less power than displaying bright ones. The actual savings depend on the device, screen, brightness level, and how you use your phone.

If you regularly use your phone at night, try turning on dark mode and see whether you prefer the appearance.

Many phones also allow dark mode to turn on automatically at a specific time.

5. Make Better Use of Widgets

Your home screen doesn’t have to be filled with rows of app icons.

Widgets can put useful information directly where you can see it. Depending on your phone and apps, you might add a calendar, weather forecast, reminders, notes, clock, music controls, or other information.

For example, a calendar widget can show upcoming appointments without requiring you to open the calendar app. A reminders widget can keep important tasks visible throughout the day.

The key is to choose widgets that genuinely help you. Adding too many can make your home screen feel crowded, while a few carefully selected ones can make it much more useful.

6. Use Split-Screen Multitasking

Many Android phones support split-screen multitasking, which allows two compatible apps to appear on the screen at the same time.

This can be particularly convenient when you’re working with information from two different apps.

For example, you might keep a web page open while taking notes, look at a recipe while preparing a meal, or read an email while checking information in another application.

The steps for activating split-screen vary between Android manufacturers and software versions. Usually, you can open the recent-apps screen and look for a split-screen or multi-window option.

If your phone supports it, it’s a useful feature to experiment with when you need to switch between two tasks.

Simple Ways to Keep Your Phone Running Smoothly

Learning hidden features is only part of getting more from your smartphone. A little regular maintenance can also make everyday use more pleasant.

Keep Your Apps Updated

App updates aren’t only about adding new features. They can also include bug fixes, security improvements, compatibility changes, and performance updates.

Keeping your apps and phone software reasonably up to date can help avoid problems caused by outdated software.

If you prefer automatic updates, check your phone’s app-store settings to see whether that option is enabled.

Don’t Worry About Closing Every App Constantly

A common habit is repeatedly opening the recent-apps screen and closing every application.

However, modern smartphones are designed to manage memory and background activity themselves. Constantly force-closing apps isn’t always necessary and, in some situations, reopening an app repeatedly can use additional resources.

Instead, pay attention to apps that genuinely consume excessive battery, storage, or background data. Your phone’s battery or app settings can usually show which applications are using the most resources.

Manage Your Storage

Running out of storage can become frustrating, especially when you want to take photos or install an important update.

Take a few minutes occasionally to review large files, downloaded videos, duplicate photos, and apps you no longer use. Many phones have built-in storage-management tools that can help identify what is taking up space.

You don’t have to delete everything. Removing a few unnecessary files can sometimes free up plenty of room.

Check Your Notification Settings

Notifications can quickly become overwhelming.

Instead of allowing every app to send alerts, review your notification settings and disable notifications that aren’t useful to you. You can usually keep important alerts while reducing unnecessary interruptions.

This can make your phone feel much calmer without requiring you to stop using your favorite apps.

Get More From the Phone You Already Own

Smartphones have become incredibly capable devices, but you don’t need to know every setting to make better use of yours.

Simple shortcuts such as quickly silencing a call, opening the camera, using battery-saving tools, organizing widgets, and taking advantage of multitasking can make everyday phone use more convenient.

It’s also worth remembering that features vary between iPhone models, Android devices, and software versions. If a particular shortcut doesn’t work on your phone, check the device’s settings or support information for the equivalent feature.

The best smartphone tricks are often the simple ones: features that save a few seconds here, reduce an unnecessary interruption there, or make a routine task easier.

Before deciding that you need a newer phone, spend a little time exploring the one you already have. You may discover that it has more useful features than you realized.