Updated: 10 secret iPhone tips and hacks that you didn't know about

1. CHARGE YOUR PHONE FASTER WITH A SINGLE BUTTON PRESS

Tired of waiting for your phone to recharge? Well, there is a way to speed up the re-juicing process, and it's surprisingly simple - just engage Flight Safe mode. By knocking out all your phone's Wi-Fi-searching, data-draining communication skills, it takes the strain off your battery while it's being powered up. Not hugely, true - but if you're pressed for time and looking to eke out every bit of juice, that extra 4% you'll add in 30 minutes connected to the mains could make all the difference.

2. SHAVE SECONDS OFF YOUR SEARCHES

When it comes to finding out the footy scores or proving a point, getting where you need to go on the internet is all about speed and precision - something missing when you're forced to knock out type-heavy web addresses. So save time by holding down the full stop icon whilst typing out an address to bring up a short-cut series of URL suffixes. From the classics (.com, .co.uk) to the less used (.edu, .ie), there are quick hit shortcuts for all.

3. DISCOVER EXACTLY WHAT YOUR PHONE KNOWS ABOUT YOU

Slightly sinisterly, your iPhone is always gathering data on you in the background - be it the apps you're using the most, how much data you're churning through... or even, most creepily, where you are. To see what we mean, head to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Frequent Locations. Here you can see not just where you've been, but how long you've spent in each place. Big Brother really is watching...

4. REPLACE A TOOLBOX ESSENTIAL

You've probably filed away the Compass app alongside the Stocks and Find Friends apps in a folder entitled 'Crap I can't delete'. You should pull it back out, though - as it's got a secret second function that will help with your DIY duties. No: not using your iPhone to hammer in nails (although it can - briefly - do that too). Instead, swiping left in the Compass app brings up a very useful spirit level - a digital bubble gauge than can check if that shelf really is level. (Spoiler: it isn't.)

5. LOCK YOUR CAMERA'S FOCAL POINT

We all know that tapping the screen while taking a photo will set the camera's point of focus, right? Good. Annoyingly though, every time you move the camera after picking a focal point, it disappears. Well, no more. Instead of just tapping the screen, press for a second or two until an 'AF Locked' box pops up. Now you can twist, turn and swing the thing around without losing focus.

6. CREATE CUSTOM VIBRATIONS

Ever wished you could tell who's calling just by how your phone feels buzzing against your leg? Now you can: In Contacts, select your person of choice and hit Edit. Here you'll see a Vibration option. Selecting this will give you plenty of options, including the Create New Vibration tool. Making your bespoke buzz is as simple as tapping the screen to the beat of your choice.

7. CORRECT SIRI'S PRONUNCIATION

Siri's a bit of a smug know-it-all - so there's nothing better than calling it on its cock ups. Like when it mispronounces peoples' names like an ignorant Brit abroad. So if Siri says something wrong, just tell it. Following up a mistake by saying "That's not how you pronounce…" will see Siri ask for the correct pronunciation then let you check it's got things right. Because we all know it's Levi-O-sa, not Levi-o-SAR.

8. CLOSE THREE APPS AT ONCE

It's not just pictures and web pages that support multi-finger gestures. You can throw additional digits into clearing up your iPhone clutter too. If you need to shut multiple applications in a hurry – for totally innocent, not hiding anything, honest reasons – you can drag three fingers up on the multitasking menu to cull the clutter quicker. Which means your phone should be snappier in double-quick time.

9. SET YOUR MUSIC ON A TIMER

Enjoy listening to a little soothing background music as you drift off to the Land of Nod? Then you're probably all too familiar with waking up at 3am to some unwanted tunes. Unless, of course, you set your music to turn off on a timer. In the Clock app, slide along to the Timer options. Here under the 'When Time Ends' tag, you can switch out the alarm option for a 'Stop Playing' tag. This will turn off the tunes, be it through Apple Music or Spotify, when the timer hits zero.

10. TAKE A PHOTO WITHOUT TOUCHING YOUR PHONE

An oldie but a goodie iPhone hack is using your volume control buttons to capture a snap - thus saving your meaty paw blocking the screen as you attempt to hit the touchscreen controls. But if you prefer to be even further removed from your photo-capturing shutter controls? Hitting the volume button on a pair of compatible, connected headphones will have the same effect.