Use pinned conversations in Messages, not just scrolling through a long list of chats.
The VIP Section of Your Inbox
Imagine your text messages are a bustling crowd of people all trying to talk to you at once. Scrolling through them is like scanning a hundred faces to find your friend. Pinned conversations are like pulling your most important people out of that crowd and giving them a special seat in a VIP section at the very top. No matter how big and noisy the crowd gets, your mom, your partner, and your best friend are always right there, easy to find. It transforms a chaotic list into an organized space where your key relationships are always just a tap away.
Stop sending screenshots of text. Do use the “Forward” message feature instead.
The Clean Copy vs. The Crinkled Photocopy
Sending a screenshot of a text is like taking a blurry photo of a letter, complete with your thumb in the corner and a coffee stain, then sending that photo to someone. It’s messy and includes distracting junk like your battery life. Forwarding a message, however, is like taking the original, crisp, clean letter and handing it directly to the other person. It delivers the message perfectly, with no extra clutter, exactly as it was meant to be read. It’s the difference between a professional, clean copy and a messy, second-hand version.
Stop shouting into your phone on speaker. Do switch to a FaceTime Audio call for better clarity instead.
The Tin Can vs. The Crystal Goblet
Using your regular speakerphone is like trying to have a conversation through two tin cans connected by a string. The sound is distant, hollow, and picks up every single echo and background noise in the room. A FaceTime Audio call, on the other hand, is like speaking into a crystal goblet. It uses your internet connection to transmit a much richer, clearer, and more intimate sound. It makes the other person sound like they are right there in the room with you, not shouting from the bottom of a well.
The #1 secret for ending group chat notification hell is the “Hide Alerts” feature.
The Silent Off-Switch for Chaos
An active group chat is like a loud, chaotic party happening in your pocket. Dozens of people are talking at once, and your phone buzzes with every single comment. It’s exhausting. The “Hide Alerts” feature is the magical off-switch for that noise. It’s like quietly closing the door to the party room. The conversation continues inside, and you can peek in whenever you want, but your phone will no longer vibrate you into a state of notification overload. It’s the secret to staying in the loop without losing your mind.
I’m just going to say it: Tapbacks are the lowest form of communication and should be used sparingly.
The Grunt of Digital Conversation
Imagine you pour your heart out to a friend, and their only reply is a single, non-committal grunt. That’s a Tapback. It’s the digital equivalent of a nod. While it’s useful for acknowledging a simple message like “On my way,” using it in response to a real question or a heartfelt comment can feel dismissive and lazy. It’s the lowest-effort reply possible. A few simple words—”Got it,” “Sounds good,” or “Haha, that’s great!”—add a human touch that a cold, impersonal heart icon often lacks, making the other person feel heard.
The reason your texts aren’t being delivered is because you’ve been accidentally blocked.
The Letter Returned to Sender
When a text message refuses to be delivered, it’s like sending a letter that immediately gets returned to your mailbox with a “Return to Sender” stamp on it. The postal service isn’t broken; your letter was simply refused at its destination. On an iPhone, if you see a “Not Delivered” error and the message bubble stays green for someone who is normally blue, it’s a strong sign your number has been blocked. Just like the post office, your phone tried to make the delivery, but the recipient’s “front door” was locked to you.
If you’re still typing “I’m on my way,” you’re losing the convenience of sharing your live ETA in Maps.
The Live GPS Tracker for Your Friend
Typing “I’m on my way” is like telling a friend you’ve started a road trip but not giving them any updates. Sharing your live ETA in Maps is like giving them a personal, real-time GPS tracker for your car, but only for that specific trip. They can see your little car icon moving along the map and watch as your arrival time updates automatically if you hit traffic. It eliminates all the “Where are you now?” texts, making your journey safer and their waiting less stressful, because they can see exactly where you are.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about iMessage is that the green bubble means the person is poor.
The Different Postal Services
Think of iMessage (blue) as a special, high-tech pneumatic tube system that only works between Apple buildings. It’s fast and has special features. SMS (green) is like the regular, universal postal service—it can deliver a letter to any address in the world, no matter what kind of building it is. A green bubble doesn’t mean the recipient has a “cheaper” house; it simply means they live in a building that isn’t made by Apple, so you have to use the universal postal service to reach them. It’s about compatibility, not class.
I wish I knew about filtering messages from unknown senders when I first started getting spam texts.
The Bouncer for Your Inbox
An unfiltered inbox is like a nightclub with no bouncer at the door. Anyone can walk in—scammers, advertisers, and robots—and start bothering you. Turning on the “Filter Unknown Senders” feature is like hiring a strict but smart bouncer. Your phone automatically creates a separate “VIP list” for people in your contacts. Everyone else gets sent to a different room. You won’t get notifications from them, and they are kept in a separate tab, keeping your main conversation hall clean and free from unwanted guests.
99% of users make this one mistake in group chats: not using inline replies, causing chaos.
The Conversation in a Crowded Room
A group chat without inline replies is like a crowded party where everyone is shouting their thoughts into the middle of the room. Someone asks a question, three people answer different, older questions, and two people tell a joke. It’s chaos. Using an inline reply is like walking up to a specific person in that room, tapping them on the shoulder, and replying directly to what they said. It links your comment to theirs, creating a neat, threaded conversation that everyone can follow, bringing order to the conversational chaos.
This one small action of using mentions in a group chat will ensure the right person sees your message.
Shouting a Name in a Crowd
Posting a general question in a busy group chat is like walking into a crowded room and saying, “Can somebody help me with this?” Most people will assume someone else will handle it. Mentioning a person by typing “@” followed by their name is like shouting their specific name in that crowd. It cuts through the noise and makes their phone buzz, even if they’ve muted the chat. It ensures your message is a direct request to them, not a general announcement, dramatically increasing the chances you’ll get the answer you need.
Use screen effects and stickers in iMessage, not just plain text, to add personality.
The Greeting Card vs. The Post-it Note
Sending a plain text message is like leaving a simple Post-it note. It gets the information across, but it’s bland. Using iMessage effects is like turning that Post-it into a full-blown greeting card. Saying “Happy Birthday” with a burst of balloons that fill the screen, or “Congratulations” with a shower of confetti, adds emotion and personality to your words. It transforms a simple message from a flat piece of information into a fun, memorable, and visually delightful experience for the person receiving it.
Stop asking “Can you hear me now?”. Do use the “Mic Mode” in Control Center for voice isolation instead.
The Noise-Canceling Headphones for Your Voice
When you’re on a call in a noisy coffee shop, your phone’s microphone is like an open window, letting in the sounds of chatter and clattering dishes along with your voice. Asking “Can you hear me?” is pointless because the noise is the problem. Voice Isolation mode is like putting a set of noise-canceling headphones on your own voice. It uses AI to identify your speech and build a soundproof wall around it, actively filtering out the background chaos. It ensures your voice is delivered with crystal clarity, no matter how loud your surroundings are.
Stop sending boring audio messages. Do use the fun walkie-talkie feature on Apple Watch instead.
The Instant Hotline to Your Friend’s Wrist
Sending an audio message involves recording, reviewing, and sending a file that the other person listens to later. The Walkie-Talkie feature on Apple Watch is completely different. It’s like having an instant, private hotline directly to your friend’s wrist. You press a button, speak, and your voice comes out of their watch in real-time. It’s a spontaneous, fun, and immediate way to communicate quick thoughts. It feels more personal and playful than a standard audio message, bringing a bit of old-school radio fun to your conversations.
The #1 hack for avoiding awkward phone calls is letting Live Voicemail screen them for you.
The Personal Secretary on Your Voicemail
An unknown number calls, and you’re faced with a dilemma: answer and risk a spam call, or ignore it and risk missing something important. Live Voicemail is like having a personal secretary who answers for you. As the person starts leaving a message, you can see a real-time transcription of what they’re saying right on your screen. If it’s a scammer, you can ignore it. If it’s the pharmacy calling about your prescription, you can pick up mid-message. It’s a powerful screening tool that removes all the anxiety from unknown callers.
I’m just going to say it: A phone call is often faster and clearer than a dozen back-and-forth texts.
The Five-Minute Meeting vs. The Endless Email Chain
Trying to solve a complex problem or make a plan over text is like trying to build a house through a long chain of emails. It involves dozens of slow, misunderstood, back-and-forth messages that stretch on for hours. A quick phone call is like getting everyone in the same room for a five-minute meeting. You can hear their tone of voice, clear up confusion instantly, and reach a decision in a fraction of the time. It’s a powerful reminder that direct, real-time conversation is often the most efficient form of communication.
The reason you miss important emails is because you haven’t set up VIP alerts.
The Red Flag on Your Mailbox
Your email inbox is a flood of newsletters, promotions, and random messages. An important email from your boss or your partner can easily get swept away in the current. Setting up VIP alerts is like telling your mailman to put a special, bright red flag on the mailbox whenever a letter arrives from a specific, important person. Your phone will then give you a unique, distinct notification for these VIPs, ensuring that the truly crucial messages cut through the noise and get your immediate attention, just like that unmissable red flag.
If you’re still sending low-quality videos via text, you’re losing the ability to send a high-quality iCloud link.
The Movie Trailer vs. The Full HD Film
Sending a video over text message (MMS) is like trying to show someone a blockbuster movie by sending them a blurry, pixelated trailer that’s been compressed a dozen times. The quality is terrible. When you send a video from your iPhone to another, it can automatically upload the full, beautiful, high-resolution file to iCloud and send your friend a private link. This is like giving them a ticket to a private screening of the film in a pristine, 4K theater. It ensures they see your memory in the best possible quality.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need WhatsApp; iMessage is superior for Apple users.
The Private Club vs. The Public Park
For groups of people who all own iPhones, using a third-party app like WhatsApp is like being members of an exclusive private club, but choosing to meet in a crowded public park instead. The club (iMessage) is built specifically for them, with seamless integration, higher security, and features that just work perfectly with their devices. While the park (WhatsApp) is great because anyone can go there, it lacks the special amenities and flawless experience of the private club that was designed with its members in mind from the ground up.
I wish I knew you could undo sending an iMessage for a few minutes after you’ve sent it.
The Magical ‘Recall’ Button for Your Words
We’ve all felt that heart-stopping moment of panic right after hitting “send” on a message we immediately regret. In the past, those words were gone forever, like a letter dropped into a mailbox. The “Undo Send” feature is like a magical ‘recall’ button that lets you reach into that mailbox and pull the letter back, just moments after you’ve sent it. For a few precious minutes, you have the power to take back a typo, an angry comment, or a message sent to the wrong person, making it vanish before it’s even read.
99% of people don’t know they can edit a recently sent iMessage to fix a typo.
The Magic Ink That You Can Fix
Imagine writing a letter in magic ink. After you send it, you notice a glaring spelling mistake. With this magic ink, you have a brief window of time where you can remotely change the word on the page, even after it’s been delivered. That’s what editing an iMessage is like. For a few minutes after sending, you can long-press your message, fix that embarrassing autocorrect fail or typo, and the message will update on your friend’s screen. It’s a powerful tool for perfectionists that turns “teh” into “the” and saves you from cringing.
This one small habit of reacting to a message with a Tapback will acknowledge it without needing a full reply.
The Nod of Acknowledgment
Imagine a coworker pokes their head into your office and says, “Just letting you know I finished the report.” You’re busy and in the middle of a thought. Instead of stopping everything to have a full conversation, you can simply give them a quick nod and a thumbs-up. A Tapback is that digital nod. It’s a silent, efficient way to say “Message received,” “I agree,” or “Thanks” without cluttering up the conversation with another full message. It acknowledges their comment without breaking your own focus or theirs.
Use SharePlay on FaceTime to watch movies with friends, not trying to sync up “play” buttons over the phone.
The Virtual Couch for Your Movie Night
Trying to watch a movie with a friend remotely is a clumsy dance of “Okay, press play in 3… 2… 1… GO!” Someone is always a few seconds off. SharePlay is like having a magical, virtual couch. When you press play on a movie or a song during a FaceTime call, it instantly starts playing for everyone on the call at the exact same time, perfectly in sync. If you pause to grab a snack, it pauses for them too. It transforms a clunky process into a seamless, shared experience that truly feels like you’re in the same room.
Stop just declining calls. Do use the “Reply with Message” feature instead for a polite response.
The Polite Note Slipped Under the Door
Declining a call without any explanation is like hearing someone knock on your door and just turning up the TV to ignore them. It can feel abrupt and rude. Using the “Reply with Message” feature is like slipping a polite note under the door that says, “Sorry, I’m busy right now, can I call you back?” It takes two seconds, but it acknowledges the person and lets them know you’re not just ignoring them. It’s a small gesture that transforms a potentially rude rejection into a considerate and professional response.
Stop guessing what a string of emojis means. Do ask for clarification instead.
The Modern Hieroglyphics
A long, complex string of emojis is like a set of ancient hieroglyphics. Without a shared understanding of what each symbol means in that specific context, you are left to guess at the author’s intent. Is that smiley face happy or sarcastic? Is the eggplant emoji about dinner or something else entirely? Instead of trying to be a digital archaeologist and deciphering the message, it’s always better to just ask. A simple “What do you mean by that?” can prevent a mountain of miscommunication that a string of tiny pictures might cause.
The #1 secret for better FaceTime calls is using Portrait Mode to blur your messy background.
The Instant Tidy-Up for Your Room
You get an unexpected FaceTime call, but your room behind you is a complete mess. You don’t want the other person to see your piles of laundry. Portrait Mode on FaceTime is like an instant, magical clean-up button. With a single tap, it intelligently finds your face and artfully blurs everything in the background. Your messy room instantly transforms into a soft, professional-looking backdrop, making you the clear focus of the conversation. It’s the ultimate hack for looking put-together, even when your surroundings are not.
I’m just going to say it: The read receipts debate is a silly test of relationship security.
The Open-Door Policy for Your Mailbox
Read receipts are simply a feature that shows whether a delivered letter has been opened. Turning it into a relationship test is like believing that if your partner doesn’t immediately tell you they’ve opened their mail, they must be hiding something. Secure relationships are built on trust, not on monitoring digital behavior. A delayed response is usually due to being busy, not malicious intent. Worrying about “left on read” is like installing a security camera inside your partner’s mailbox; it creates anxiety where trust should be.
The reason your group FaceTime calls are chaotic is because you’re not using the automatic speaker-framing feature.
The Intelligent Cameraman for Your Calls
A group FaceTime call can feel like a chaotic Brady Bunch grid where it’s hard to tell who is talking. The automatic speaker-framing feature is like having an intelligent TV director managing your call. When someone starts to speak, their tile on the screen automatically gets larger and more prominent. This visual cue directs everyone’s attention to the current speaker, creating a natural, conversational flow. It turns a messy grid of faces into a dynamic, easy-to-follow discussion, just like a well-directed talk show.
If you’re still not using Memoji, you’re losing a fun way to express yourself.
The Digital Cartoon Version of You
A Memoji is like having a talented caricature artist create a personal, animated cartoon version of you. But this cartoon can perfectly mimic your real-life facial expressions. When you smile, it smiles. When you raise your eyebrows, it raises its eyebrows. Sending a message with your Memoji is a fun and expressive way to convey your true emotions and reactions in a way that a simple emoji or plain text never could. It’s a playful and personal layer of communication that brings your unique personality directly into the chat.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that more communication is always better.
The Constant Noise vs. The Meaningful Conversation
Believing that more communication is always better is like thinking that the loudest room is the one where the most is being accomplished. Constant notifications, endless group chats, and the pressure to be always available create a state of perpetual noise and distraction. True productivity and strong relationships come from quality, not quantity. A single, focused, 10-minute phone call is often more valuable than a hundred back-and-forth texts. Meaningful communication is about clarity and intention, not just constant connection.
I wish I knew I could search the entire history of a conversation in Messages to find old information.
The Personal Archivist for Your Chats
A long message thread is like a massive, unorganized archive of your relationship with someone. Trying to find that one address or link they sent you six months ago is like digging through thousands of dusty boxes. The search bar within each conversation is like having a personal archivist. You can simply type a keyword—”address,” “password,” or “restaurant”—and the archivist will instantly sift through years of history and present you with every single message that contains that word. It turns your chaotic chat history into a perfectly searchable database.
99% of users don’t know you can send handwritten notes in iMessage.
The Personal Touch of a Handwritten Letter
In a world of sterile, uniform text, a handwritten note stands out. It’s personal and unique. You can send this same personal touch through iMessage. By turning your phone sideways in a chat, you can access a special canvas where you can write or draw a message with your finger. The other person sees your actual handwriting animate across their screen as if you were writing it right in front of them. It’s a small feature that brings a welcome dose of humanity and personality to your digital conversations.
This one small action of creating custom vibration patterns for contacts will let you know who’s calling without looking.
The Secret Handshake in Your Pocket
Normally, every call and text feels the same in your pocket—a generic buzz. Creating a custom vibration pattern is like teaching your phone a secret handshake for your most important contacts. You can create a short, sharp buzz for your boss or a long, rhythmic “heartbeat” pattern for your partner. Now, when your phone vibrates in your pocket during a meeting, you can feel the secret handshake and know exactly who is trying to reach you without ever taking your phone out, giving you a secret sense of awareness.
Use a custom Contact Poster, not just a simple photo, for a more dynamic calling screen.
The Movie Poster for Your Phone Call
When someone calls you, their contact photo is like a small passport picture—it’s functional but boring. A Contact Poster is like a full-sized, custom-designed movie poster that announces their call. You can use a great photo or a Memoji and customize it with beautiful typography and colors. It transforms the incoming call screen from a simple, utilitarian alert into a vibrant, full-screen, and personalized experience. It’s a way to give your own calls a unique identity and make calls from your friends more visually exciting.
Stop trying to describe your location. Do drop a pin in Maps and share it instead.
The Treasure Map with an ‘X’
Trying to describe your location over text—”I’m by the big oak tree, across from the blue building”—is like giving someone a series of vague, confusing clues to find you. Dropping a pin in Maps is like handing them a perfect treasure map with a single, giant ‘X’ marking the spot. It gives them your exact coordinates. When they open it, they not only see where you are, but they can instantly get turn-by-turn directions to your precise location, eliminating all guesswork and confusion.
Stop taking screenshots of conversations. Do use the new check-in feature to automatically notify family when you arrive.
The Automated ‘I’m Safe’ Text
The old way of letting someone know you’re safe was a clumsy series of screenshots of your location or “I’m here!” texts. The Check-In feature is like having a smart, automated safety buddy. You tell it where you’re going and who to notify. It will then automatically watch your journey. The moment you arrive safely at your destination, it sends an automatic “Made it!” notification to your friend or family member. If you get delayed, it can even share your location, providing peace of mind without the hassle.
The #1 hack for communicating with non-iPhone users is creating shared photo albums.
The Private Art Gallery for Your Photos
Trying to share a vacation’s worth of photos with a mixed group of iPhone and Android users over a group text is a nightmare of low-quality images and failed downloads. A shared photo album is like creating a private, online art gallery for your trip. You invite everyone, regardless of their device, and they can all view the photos in their full, beautiful quality. They can also comment, add their own photos, and get notifications when you add new ones. It’s the most elegant solution to the cross-platform photo-sharing problem.
I’m just going to say it: Voicemail is an outdated technology that needs to be replaced.
The Answering Machine in the Age of Instant Messaging
Using traditional voicemail is like coming home to a blinking answering machine from the 1980s. You have to listen to a series of long, rambling messages in chronological order just to find the one piece of information you need. It’s a slow, clunky, and inefficient system. In an era of instant text messages, visual voicemail transcriptions, and quick voice notes, the act of “calling your voicemail” feels like a relic from a bygone technological era. It’s a communication dinosaur that has long outlived its usefulness.
The reason people don’t respond to your emails is because your subject lines are not clear.
The Title on the Cover of a Book
Your email subject line is the title on the cover of a book. If the title is vague or boring, like “Question” or “Following Up,” people are going to walk right past it on the crowded bookshelf of their inbox. A clear, specific subject line like “Action Required: Draft of Q3 Report Attached” tells the reader exactly what the book is about and why they should open it. A good subject line respects the other person’s time and is the single most important factor in getting your email read and responded to.
If you’re still sending “Happy Birthday” texts, you’re losing the personal touch of a quick FaceTime call.
The E-Card vs. The In-Person Hug
A “Happy Birthday” text is the modern equivalent of a generic, mass-produced e-card. It’s a nice gesture, but it’s low-effort and impersonal. A quick, one-minute FaceTime call is the digital equivalent of showing up at their door to give them a real hug. Seeing your face, hearing your voice, and sharing a genuine smile creates a real, memorable human connection that a string of text and a cake emoji can never replicate. It’s a small investment of time that shows you truly care.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you always need to be available.
The ‘Open 24/7’ Sign on Your Brain
The smartphone has tricked us into believing we need to hang a blinking “Open 24/7” sign on our brains. The expectation of instant replies to every text, email, and notification creates a state of constant, low-grade anxiety. This is a lie. You are allowed to be unreachable. You are allowed to have a closed sign. Setting boundaries with features like Focus Modes and simply not responding immediately is not a sign of being a bad friend or employee; it’s a crucial act of self-preservation in a hyper-connected world.
I wish I knew how to use the “Markup” tool on attachments directly within the Mail app.
The Red Pen That Works on Emails
Imagine you receive a PDF in an email that needs your feedback. The old way was to print it, mark it up with a red pen, and scan it back. The Markup tool is like having a magical red pen that works directly on your screen. You can open the attachment right inside the Mail app, draw circles, add text, and sign your name as if it were a physical piece of paper. Then, you can instantly attach the annotated version to your reply, turning a multi-step, cumbersome process into a seamless digital workflow.
99% of people don’t use different email signatures for different accounts.
The Business Card vs. The Personal Note
You wouldn’t end a personal letter to your grandma with your official work title and legal disclaimer. Yet, many people use a single, generic email signature for both their work and personal accounts. Your iPhone allows you to set up a different signature for each email address. This is like having a professional business card that automatically attaches to your work emails, and a warm, friendly sign-off (like “Cheers, John”) that attaches to your personal ones. It’s a simple way to maintain the right tone and context for every message you send.
This one small habit of proofreading your texts before sending will save you from embarrassing autocorrect fails.
The Final Glance in the Mirror
Hitting “send” on a text without proofreading is like running out the door in the morning without taking one final glance in the mirror. You might have toothpaste on your cheek or your shirt might be inside out, and you won’t know until someone else points it out. That quick, two-second scan of your message before you send it is that final glance. It’s your chance to catch that embarrassing autocorrect of “ducking” or a typo that completely changes the meaning of your sentence, saving you from a world of digital embarrassment.
Use Wi-Fi Calling for crystal-clear calls, not just when you have poor cell service.
The Private Highway for Your Phone Calls
When you make a regular cell call, your voice is traveling on a crowded, public highway with lots of other cars, which can sometimes cause interference. Wi-Fi Calling is like having a private, perfectly paved superhighway for your voice. When you’re connected to a good Wi-Fi network, it routes your call through the internet instead of the cellular network. This often results in a dramatically clearer, crisper call quality, even if your cell service is already good. It’s like upgrading your ticket from coach to first class.
Stop just blocking spam numbers. Do report them as junk to help improve carrier filtering.
Reporting the Robber to the Police
Blocking a spam number is like locking your door after a robber tries to get in. It protects you, but the robber is still free to go try your neighbor’s house. Reporting the number as junk, however, is like calling the police and giving them a description of the robber. You are not only protecting yourself, but you are providing valuable information to your carrier (the police force) that helps them identify and block these bad actors for everyone in the neighborhood, making the entire network safer for all.
Stop typing one-word replies. Do use a Tapback reaction instead.
The Nod vs. The Spoken Word
When someone asks you a simple question, you might just give them a quick nod. In a conversation, this is efficient. In a text conversation, however, typing “Ok” or “Yes” creates a whole new notification and message bubble. A Tapback—like a thumbs-up or a heart—is the digital nod. It acknowledges the message and conveys your response without sending a new, conversation-cluttering text. It’s a cleaner, faster, and more efficient way to handle simple acknowledgements, keeping the chat tidy and to the point.
The #1 secret for keeping up with group chats is the “unread messages” arrow that jumps you to where you left off.
The Magical Bookmark for Your Conversation
Opening a group chat after a few hours is like picking up a book where 50 new pages have been written. Trying to scroll back to find your place is a frustrating nightmare. The small blue arrow that appears is a magical bookmark. Tapping it instantly teleports you back to the exact spot where you last left off in the conversation. It’s a simple but brilliant tool that lets you catch up on what you’ve missed in chronological order, ensuring you never lose your place in the story of the chat.
I’m just going to say it: Using iMessage on a Windows PC is a clunky experience and not worth the effort.
The Rube Goldberg Machine for Texting
Trying to get iMessage to work on a Windows PC requires complicated, unofficial workarounds. It’s like building an elaborate Rube Goldberg machine of mirrors, levers, and pulleys just to flip a light switch that’s right next to you. The process is fragile, unreliable, and often breaks. While it might seem cool to get blue bubbles on your PC, the clunky and frustrating experience isn’t worth the effort. Sometimes, it’s better to just use the simple, reliable light switch (your phone) that was designed for the job.
The reason you can’t share a contact is because you’re not using the “Share Contact” button in the Contacts app.
Handing Over a Business Card
When someone asks for a friend’s phone number, many people will try to copy the number, then paste it into a text. This is like reading a business card out loud to someone. The “Share Contact” button is the digital equivalent of simply handing them the actual business card. It sends a neat, complete contact file with the person’s name, number, email, and photo. The recipient can then add it to their own contacts with a single tap. It’s a cleaner, faster, and more professional way to exchange information.
If you’re still using SMS for group chats, you’re losing features like typing indicators and high-quality media.
The Tin Cans vs. The Conference Call
A group chat over SMS is like a conversation using tin cans and a string. It barely works. You can’t see who’s about to talk, pictures you send are tiny and blurry, and adding someone new is a nightmare. An iMessage group chat is like a modern, high-tech conference call. You can see when people are typing, you can share high-resolution photos and videos, you can give the chat a name, and you can leave the conversation whenever you want. It’s a richer, more civilized, and infinitely more capable communication experience.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that iMessage is completely secure and private.
The Locked Room with a Monitored Hallway
An iMessage conversation is end-to-end encrypted, which is like having your conversation in a completely locked, soundproof room. No one can hear what you’re saying inside. This is true and very secure. However, Apple (the building owner) can still see who enters and leaves the room, and when. This is “metadata.” Furthermore, if you back up your messages to iCloud, Apple holds a key to that backup. So, while the room itself is secure, there are still ways your presence and conversations can be observed from the hallway.
I wish I knew that I could use Siri to read my last message to me when my hands are full.
The Butler Who Reads Your Mail
Imagine you’re cooking with messy hands or driving, and your phone buzzes with a new text. You’re dying to know what it says. Instead of stopping everything to clean your hands or dangerously glancing at your phone, you can simply ask your digital butler. Saying “Hey Siri, read my last message” prompts her to read the incoming text aloud to you. You can even dictate a reply. It’s an incredibly useful hands-free feature that lets you stay connected without ever taking your hands off the task at hand.
99% of users have never used the #images search feature built into iMessage to find GIFs.
The Universal Library of Reactions
Sometimes, words just aren’t enough. You need the perfect, funny, animated GIF to capture your reaction. The #images feature built right into your iMessage app is like having a massive, searchable library of every reaction GIF ever created. Instead of leaving the app and searching on a browser, you can tap the app icon, type a keyword like “eye roll” or “mind blown,” and instantly find and send the perfect animated response. It’s the fastest way to add a dose of humor and personality to your chats.
This one small action of setting up favorite contacts will make calling your most important people a one-tap process.
The Speed Dial for Your Smartphone
In the days of old landlines, we used to program our most-called numbers into “speed dial” buttons. The Favorites list in your Phone app is the modern, super-powered version of that. By adding your mom, your partner, and your best friend to this list, you are creating a dedicated, one-tap speed dial for the people you communicate with most. It saves you from having to search through your hundreds of contacts and turns the process of calling your most important people into an instant, effortless action.
Use NameDrop to exchange contact info, not manually typing in numbers and names.
The Digital Business Card Tap
The old way of exchanging numbers involved one person awkwardly dictating their number while the other person fumbled to type it correctly into a new contact form. NameDrop is the digital equivalent of a futuristic business card exchange. You simply bring the top of your iPhone close to the other person’s, and a beautiful animation appears. With one tap, you can seamlessly and instantly exchange your chosen contact information. It’s a magical, fast, and error-free way to connect with someone new, making a clumsy process feel effortless.
Stop wondering if your message was read. Do turn on read receipts for specific people you trust.
The Private ‘Delivery Confirmation’
Read receipts are a controversial topic because people feel spied on. But you don’t have to turn them on for everyone. It’s not an all-or-nothing switch. Think of it as a private delivery confirmation service that you only use with your most trusted couriers. You can go into a specific conversation with your partner or a close family member and turn on read receipts just for them. This lets them know you’ve seen their urgent message, without broadcasting your reading habits to the entire world.
Stop letting your phone interrupt dinner. Do use a “Family Time” Focus Mode instead.
The ‘No Phones at the Table’ Rule, Automated
The “no phones at the dinner table” rule is great in theory, but hard in practice. A “Family Time” Focus Mode is like having a digital butler who automatically enforces this rule for you. You can set it to activate every day at 6 PM. It will silence all notifications and calls from everyone except your absolute emergency contacts. It creates a protected, digital quiet zone around your dinner table, allowing you to be fully present with your family without the constant temptation of a buzzing phone.
The #1 hack for leaving a group chat you were added to is to mute it and hide alerts.
The Silent, Awkward Back-Door Exit
Leaving a group chat can feel like standing up in the middle of a party and loudly announcing “I’M LEAVING NOW!” It can be dramatic and awkward. The “Hide Alerts” feature is the silent, graceful, back-door exit. You technically remain in the room, so you don’t offend anyone, but you’ve put on noise-canceling headphones and are facing the corner. You will no longer be bothered by the conversation, and the chat will fade into the background of your messages list, allowing you to leave the party without anyone even noticing you’re gone.
I’m just going to say it: Most group chats should have been an email.
The Meeting That Never Ends
A group chat for planning an event is like a meeting that never, ever ends. People are constantly talking, notifications are flying, and important details get buried under a hundred “lol”s and GIFs. It’s a terrible way to keep information organized. An email thread, on the other hand, is like a structured meeting with a clear agenda and minutes. It keeps the entire conversation organized, searchable, and professional. For anything that requires a clear, documented decision, the chaotic, real-time nature of a group chat is simply the wrong tool for the job.
The reason your FaceTime calls have bad lighting is because you’re not using the Studio Light effect.
The Personal Lighting Crew in Your Phone
You hop on a FaceTime call, but you’re sitting in a dim room or have a bright window behind you, making your face look like a dark silhouette. The Studio Light effect is like having a professional lighting crew in your phone. With a single tap in your Control Center, it intelligently brightens your face and dims the background. It creates a beautiful, well-lit portrait effect that makes you look clear and professional, even when your real-world lighting is terrible. It’s a secret weapon for looking your best on video calls.
If you’re still using a third-party app for call recording, you’re likely violating privacy laws.
The Hidden Tape Recorder in the Room
Using a third-party app to record a phone call is like bringing a hidden tape recorder into a private meeting. In many places, this is not just unethical; it’s illegal without the explicit consent of every single person on the call. These laws are in place to protect our fundamental right to privacy. Before you hit record, you need to understand the serious legal and ethical lines you might be crossing. It’s a feature that comes with a heavy weight of responsibility and potential consequences.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that blue bubbles are a status symbol.
The Brand of Mailbox
Judging someone for having green bubbles is like looking at a person’s house and judging them for having a standard, government-issued mailbox instead of a fancy, custom-built one. Both mailboxes get the mail delivered perfectly. The brand of the mailbox has absolutely no bearing on the value of the home or the character of the person living inside. Blue vs. Green is simply a technical difference in how the “mail” is delivered. Tying it to a person’s wealth or social status is a manufactured and meaningless status game.
I wish I knew how to use the Digital Touch feature to send sketches and heartbeats.
The Secret Language of Taps and Doodles
Beyond text and emojis, iMessage has a hidden, intimate language. Digital Touch is like being able to reach through the screen and tap your friend on the shoulder or send them a quick, hand-drawn doodle on a napkin. You can send a sketch that animates as you drew it, a gentle tap, or even the rhythm of your own heartbeat by pressing two fingers on the screen. It’s a deeply personal and non-verbal way to communicate, adding a layer of physical presence and emotion to your digital conversations.
99% of people don’t realize they can start a FaceTime call with an Android user via a web link.
The Guest Pass to the Private Club
FaceTime used to be an exclusive, members-only club for Apple users. But now, you can act as the host and send out special guest passes. When you start a FaceTime call, you can create a web link and send it to your friends with Android phones or Windows computers. They can click the link and join your FaceTime call directly from their web browser. It’s a fantastic feature that finally opens the doors of the high-quality FaceTime experience to everyone, regardless of the device they own.
This one small habit of setting expectations for your response time will reduce your communication stress.
The ‘Away’ Message for Your Life
In the old days of instant messaging, we had “away” messages to signal that we weren’t available for an immediate reply. You can bring this concept into your modern life. A simple text like, “Hey, I’m heading into a meeting for the next two hours, but I’ll get back to you after,” is an ‘away’ message for your life. It manages the other person’s expectations and gives you the permission and mental freedom to focus on the task at hand, liberating you from the self-imposed pressure of an instant reply.
Use the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature, not just sending every unknown number to voicemail.
The Velvet Rope for Your Phone Line
Voicemail is a cluttered mess. The “Silence Unknown Callers” feature is like hiring a bouncer for your phone line. If a number calls you that is not in your contacts, recent calls, or Siri suggestions, the bouncer doesn’t even let them ring the doorbell. The call is sent silently and directly to voicemail without ever disturbing you. It’s a powerful velvet rope that completely blocks robocalls and spammers from ever interrupting your day, bringing a new level of peace and quiet to your phone.
Stop typing out your address. Do create a contact card for yourself and use autofill instead.
The Digital ID Card in Your Wallet
Typing your full name, address, and email into an online form is tedious and prone to typos. It’s like having to write down all your personal information every time you need to show your ID. Creating a complete contact card for yourself in the Contacts app is like getting a digital driver’s license. Now, when a website asks for your information, you can just tap the “Autofill” button. Your phone will “show” its digital ID, and all the fields will be filled in instantly, perfectly, and securely.
Stop having your phone read messages aloud in public. Do use Announce Messages with headphones instead.
The Private Secretary vs. The Town Crier
Having your phone’s speaker announce your incoming messages in a public space is like hiring a town crier to shout all your personal letters in the middle of a crowded square. It’s disruptive and a complete invasion of your own privacy. The “Announce Messages with Headphones” feature is like having a discreet, private secretary who whispers those same messages directly into your ear. It gives you the same hands-free convenience but respects your privacy and the peace and quiet of those around you.
The #1 secret for better audio messages is speaking closely and clearly into the bottom microphone.
Singing Into the Microphone
When you record an audio message, you are a performer, and your phone’s microphone is your stage mic. Many people hold their phone flat and speak at the screen, which is like singing to the back of the stage. The main microphone is the tiny grill at the very bottom of your phone, where you speak during a call. To get rich, clear audio, you need to bring that microphone close to your mouth, just like a singer. This one small change will dramatically improve your audio quality and make you sound like a podcast pro.
I’m just going to say it: The “thumbs down” Tapback is passive-aggressive.
The Silent Treatment in Digital Form
The “thumbs down” Tapback is a cold and ambiguous gesture. Unlike the other reactions, it doesn’t just acknowledge a message; it passes a negative judgment without any explanation. It’s the digital equivalent of someone disagreeing with you, shaking their head, and then silently walking out of the room. It leaves the sender wondering what they did wrong, creating a feeling of passive-aggressive tension. If you disagree with something, using your words to explain why is always a clearer, kinder, and more direct way to communicate.
The reason your Memoji doesn’t look like you is because you haven’t customized the details.
The Police Sketch vs. The Portrait Painting
Creating a quick Memoji is like giving a police sketch artist a vague, two-minute description of a person. The result will be generic and bear only a passing resemblance. The power of Memoji is in the details. Taking the time to dive into the settings and customize the eye shape, the nose, the specific hairstyle, and even the wrinkles is like sitting for a detailed portrait painter. It’s the small, specific details that capture a true likeness and transform a generic cartoon into a surprisingly accurate and personal digital twin.
If you’re still sending separate texts to a group of people, you’re losing the benefits of a proper group chat.
The Individual Letters vs. The Conference Room
Sending the same message as individual texts to a group of friends is like sending a dozen separate, identical letters to invite people to a meeting. Every reply you get is a private, one-on-one conversation. Creating a proper group chat is like booking a conference room and getting everyone together. Everyone sees the same information at the same time, and every reply is heard by the entire group. It’s a collaborative, efficient, and transparent way to coordinate plans and have a true group conversation.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to reply to every message instantly.
The Open Door vs. The Doctor’s Office
The pressure for instant replies is like having an open-door policy where anyone can barge into your office at any time and demand your immediate attention. It makes deep, focused work impossible. A healthier approach is to treat your attention like a doctor’s office. You can “triage” your messages, dealing with the truly urgent ones quickly. But for everything else, you can let them wait in the “waiting room” until you are ready to give them your full, undivided attention during a dedicated “appointment” time.
I wish I knew that you could drag stickers and place them anywhere on a message bubble.
The Digital Sticker Book
Most people use iMessage stickers like emojis, sending them as their own separate message. But their real magic is that they work like real-life stickers. You can press and hold on a sticker from your collection, and then literally drag it with your finger and place it anywhere you want in the conversation. You can stick a “LOL” sticker on a specific message bubble, put a funny hat on a photo someone sent, or cover a word with a silly face. It turns your chat into a fun, interactive, digital sticker book.
99% of users don’t know they can ask Siri to send a message on their behalf.
The Hands-Free Dictation Secretary
When you’re driving or have your hands full, typing a text is impossible. This is when your digital secretary, Siri, shines. You can simply say, “Hey Siri, send a text to Mom.” Siri will ask what you want to say, you can dictate your message, and Siri will even read it back to you for confirmation before sending it. It’s a completely hands-free workflow that allows you to safely and efficiently communicate without ever having to touch your phone, turning a potentially dangerous task into a simple conversation.
This one small action of adding relationships to your contacts (e.g., “Mom”) will let you use Siri more naturally.
Teaching Your Assistant Who’s Who
Your digital assistant, Siri, is very smart, but it doesn’t know who the people in your life are until you tell it. Going into your own contact card and adding relationships—like your mom, your dad, your spouse—is like giving your assistant a family tree. Once you’ve done this, you can speak to Siri naturally. You can say, “Call my mom” instead of “Call Jane Doe,” or “Get directions to my brother’s house.” It’s a small, one-time setup that makes your interactions with Siri feel much more personal and intelligent.
Use the Mail app’s “Follow Up” suggestions, not just letting important emails get buried.
The Helpful Nudge from Your Mailman
You send an important email asking a question, but days go by with no reply. The email gets buried, and you forget you ever sent it. The “Follow Up” feature is like having a helpful mailman who keeps track of your sent mail. After a few days, if you haven’t received a response, he will knock on your door, show you the letter you sent, and ask, “Hey, did you ever hear back about this?” It’s a proactive, intelligent nudge that prevents important conversations from falling through the cracks.
Stop trying to coordinate plans over text. Do use a shared calendar event instead.
The Endless Text Chain vs. The Official Invitation
Coordinating a simple dinner over a group text is a recipe for chaos. It results in an endless chain of “Does 7 work?” “I can’t do Friday,” and “Where are we meeting?” A calendar invitation is like sending out a formal, official invitation to an event. It puts the date, time, and location in one clean, central place. Everyone can accept or decline, and the event is automatically added to their personal calendar. It ends the chaotic back-and-forth and turns a messy conversation into an organized plan.
Stop ending your sentences with a period in text messages. Do it to seem aggressive instead.
The Full Stop vs. The Gentle Fade
In formal writing, a period is a neutral end to a sentence. In the fast-paced, conversational world of texting, however, it has taken on a new, harsher meaning. Ending a simple message like “Ok.” or “Sounds good.” with a period can make it feel cold, final, or even angry. It’s the digital equivalent of a sharp, clipped tone of voice. Leaving the period off makes the sentence feel more open and friendly, like your voice gently trailing off. Use the period when you want to signal seriousness or finality.
The #1 hack for finding a specific photo someone sent you is using the search feature in Messages.
The Photo Album for Your Friendship
Someone sent you a great photo a few months ago, and now you can’t find it. Scrolling back through thousands of messages is an impossible task. The search bar in Messages is your secret weapon. But don’t just search there. If you tap the person’s name at the top of the chat, you’ll find a dedicated, beautifully organized photo album containing every single image and video that person has ever sent you. It’s a complete visual history of your friendship, making it incredibly easy to find that one specific memory.
I’m just going to say it: Using your phone while in a face-to-face conversation is the ultimate sign of disrespect.
The Third Person in the Conversation
When you pull out your phone while someone is talking to you, you are essentially inviting a third person into your conversation. But this new person is more interesting, more stimulating, and more important than the real human being sitting right in front of you. It sends a clear, powerful message: “The person or thing on this screen is more valuable than you are.” It shatters the connection and devalues the person you’re with. Being present is the greatest gift you can give someone, and your phone is its greatest thief.
The reason your video messages look bad is because you’re sending them via MMS instead of iMessage.
The Postcard vs. The HD Movie File
Sending a video to an Android user from an iPhone uses the old MMS system. This is like trying to send a feature-length film on the back of a tiny postcard. The postal service (your carrier) has to shrink it down, compress it, and strip out all the quality until it’s a blurry, pixelated mess. iMessage, on the other hand, can use the internet to send the full, beautiful, high-definition movie file. The difference in quality isn’t about the phones; it’s about the “postal system” being used to deliver the message.
If you’re still using a generic voicemail greeting, you’re losing an opportunity to seem more professional.
The Generic ‘Hello’ vs. The Custom Introduction
A generic, robotic voicemail greeting is like answering a business call with a bland “Hello?” A custom greeting is like answering with “Hello, you’ve reached the office of John Smith. I’m currently unavailable, but please leave a message and I will get back to you promptly.” It confirms the caller has reached the right person, it manages their expectations, and it instantly projects an air of professionalism and competence. It’s a small, 15-second detail that can significantly shape someone’s perception of you.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you can’t have a healthy work-life balance with a smartphone.
The On/Off Switch for Your Office
A smartphone is like a door that connects your personal life to your work office. The lie is that this door must always be wide open. This is not true. You have the key and you control the lock. Features like Focus Modes, scheduled notification summaries, and simply turning off email alerts after 6 PM are all powerful ways to lock that door at the end of the day. A healthy balance is not about getting rid of the door; it’s about having the discipline to consciously decide when it should be open and when it should be firmly closed.
I wish I knew how to use the call-forwarding feature when I was traveling internationally.
The Personal Receptionist for Your Phone Number
When you’re traveling, you might have a different, local SIM card in your phone. But what happens when people call your regular number back home? Call forwarding is like hiring a personal receptionist for your main number. You can instruct this receptionist to instantly and automatically forward any incoming call from your home number to your temporary, international number. It’s a seamless way to stay connected and ensure you don’t miss any important calls, no matter where in the world you are.
99% of people don’t know you can reply to a specific message from the lock screen by long-pressing the notification.
The Quick-Reply Window
When a message notification appears on your lock screen, most people think their only options are to either ignore it or unlock their phone and open the app. There’s a hidden third option. By pressing and holding on that notification, you can open up a tiny, quick-reply window. It allows you to type a full response and send it right from your lock screen, without ever having to fully unlock your device or navigate to the Messages app. It’s a fantastic time-saver for firing off a quick, immediate reply.
This one small habit of turning off notifications for social media apps will dramatically improve your focus.
The Slot Machine in Your Pocket
A social media notification—a ‘like,’ a ‘comment,’ a ‘tag’—is a variable reward, just like pulling the lever on a slot machine. It gives your brain a tiny, addictive hit of dopamine. Leaving these notifications on is like having a slot machine in your pocket that is constantly ringing and flashing, begging you to pull the lever. It makes focused work impossible. Turning them off is the single most effective way to break that addictive loop and reclaim your attention from the casinos of Silicon Valley.
Use FaceTime links to schedule video calls, not just calling people spontaneously.
Sending an Invitation vs. Showing Up Unannounced
Calling someone on FaceTime without warning is like showing up at their front door completely unannounced. It can be disruptive and catch them at a bad time. Creating a FaceTime link and sending it in a calendar invitation is the polite, modern way to schedule a video call. It’s like sending a formal invitation to a meeting. It allows the other person to accept, find a time that works for them, and be prepared for the call. It respects their time and turns a spontaneous interruption into a professional appointment.
Stop sending “OK” as a reply. Do use a thumbs-up Tapback instead.
The Period vs. The Nod
In the language of texting, the two-letter reply “OK” can often feel cold, short, or even passive-aggressive. It’s a flat, emotionless confirmation. A thumbs-up Tapback, however, conveys the exact same meaning—”I have received and agree with this information”—but in a much lighter and more positive way. It’s the visual equivalent of a friendly nod and a smile. It acknowledges the message and closes the loop without creating unnecessary message clutter or a potentially negative emotional tone.
Stop leaving people on read. Do take 10 seconds to acknowledge their message instead.
The Closed Door vs. The Quick ‘Hello’
Leaving someone on read is the digital equivalent of seeing them wave at you from across the street, making eye contact, and then turning your back and walking away without any acknowledgment. It can feel like a rejection. It only takes a few seconds to send a Tapback or a quick reply like “Got it, thanks!” This is the equivalent of waving back. It’s a simple act of social courtesy that acknowledges the other person’s existence and effort, letting them know they’ve been seen and heard.
The #1 secret for professional emails on your iPhone is setting up a custom signature.
The Letterhead for Your Digital Mail
Sending a professional email from your phone that just ends abruptly, or worse, with the default “Sent from my iPhone,” is like sending a business letter on a crumpled piece of notebook paper. A custom email signature is the digital equivalent of professional letterhead. It automatically adds your full name, title, company, and contact information to the bottom of every email. It’s a simple, one-time setup that ensures every single message you send carries an air of polish, authority, and professionalism.
I’m just going to say it: The sound of keyboard clicks in a quiet room is infuriating.
The Annoying Tapping in the Library
Imagine you’re in a silent library, trying to read, and the person next to you is incessantly and loudly tapping their pen on the table. That is what the sound of keyboard clicks is like in any quiet, shared space. It’s a distracting, repetitive noise that serves no purpose other than to announce to the world that you are typing. Turning off the keyboard clicks is a fundamental act of social awareness and digital courtesy. It replaces an infuriating noise with a respectful and welcome silence.
The reason you sound muffled on calls is because you’re covering the bottom microphone with your pinky finger.
The Hand Over the Megaphone
When you hold a megaphone, you speak into the small end to have your voice amplified out of the large end. Now, imagine trying to use it while holding your hand over the opening. That’s what many people do with their iPhones. The primary microphone is a tiny hole on the very bottom edge of the phone. The common habit of resting the phone on your pinky finger for support often places that finger directly over the microphone, muffling your voice and making you sound like you’re talking from under a blanket.
If you’re still using the phone to your ear for long conversations, you’re losing the comfort and safety of using headphones.
The Cramped Phone Booth vs. The Comfy Armchair
Holding a phone to your ear for a long call is like being stuck in a cramped, uncomfortable phone booth. Your arm gets tired, your ear gets hot, and you can’t use your hands for anything else. Using headphones, like AirPods, is like taking that same call from a comfy armchair. Your hands are free to multitask—to cook, to drive, to type—and you can move around without being tethered to a small piece of glass. It’s a more comfortable, more productive, and in many situations, a much safer way to talk.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to be in every family group chat.
The Mandatory 24/7 Family Reunion
Being in a family group chat can feel like being at a mandatory family reunion that never, ever ends. It’s a constant stream of memes, minor updates, and inside jokes that can be overwhelming and distracting. The biggest lie is that you are obligated to attend. It is perfectly acceptable to politely opt out. You can explain that you prefer one-on-one conversations and then mute and archive the chat. Protecting your peace and your focus is not an act of familial betrayal; it’s an act of self-care.
I wish I knew I could use my iPhone as a microphone for my Mac during video calls.
The Studio-Quality Mic Upgrade
The built-in microphone on your laptop is often mediocre, making you sound distant and tinny on video calls. Your iPhone, however, has a set of incredibly high-quality microphones. Continuity Camera allows you to wirelessly connect your iPhone to your Mac and use it as your microphone. It’s like swapping out the cheap, built-in mic for a professional, studio-quality one. The difference in audio clarity is astounding, making you sound richer, fuller, and dramatically more professional in every meeting.
99% of users have never used the “drag and drop” feature to add attachments to an iMessage.
The Physical Act of ‘Placing’ a Photo
Normally, to add a photo to a text, you tap a button, find the photo, and select it. Drag and drop is a more physical and intuitive way. You can open your Photos app, press and hold on an image until it “lifts” off the page, and then, while still holding it with one finger, use another finger to switch back to your Messages app. Then, you simply “drop” the photo into the text box. It feels like you are physically picking something up and placing it where you want it to go.
This one small action of setting up an auto-reply for when you’re driving will make the roads safer.
The ‘Out of Office’ Message for Your Car
When you’re on vacation, you set an “Out of Office” email reply to manage expectations. The “Driving” Focus Mode allows you to set up the same thing for your car. When it senses you’re driving, it can automatically silence incoming texts and send an auto-reply that says, “I’m driving right now and will see your message when I arrive.” This small action removes the temptation to look at your phone, reduces the sender’s anxiety when you don’t reply, and makes you, and everyone around you, significantly safer on the road.
Use visual voicemail, not calling a number and listening to prompts, to manage your messages.
The Email Inbox for Your Voicemails
Traditional voicemail is like a cassette tape. You have to listen to every message in order, and you can’t easily skip or replay them. Visual Voicemail is like an email inbox for your voice. It displays all your messages in a neat list. You can see who called, read a transcription of what they said, and tap on any message to listen to it in any order you want. You can delete a spam message without ever listening to it. It transforms a clunky, outdated system into a modern, efficient, and scannable list.