Special features

Key flicks on iPad

If you’re using iOS 11 on an iPad (excluding the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, unless you’ve set its display mode to Zoomed), make use of the Key Flicks feature of the on-screen keyboard. It lets you type symbols without switching keyboard layout: flick downwards on a key to type the second character shown on it.

Clear all notifications

On an iPhone that has 3D Touch, you can get rid of several alerts in Notification Centre in one fell swoop: rather than tapping an ‘x’ to the right of a heading (such as Earlier Today) to clear only that group, press firmly on it to reveal a Clear All Notifications command.

Check Pencil’s battery

If you use an Apple Pencil, your iPad warns you when the Pencil’s battery runs low – which might happen at an awkward moment. Fend off this situation: swipe right on the first Home screen, scroll all the way down and tap Edit, then add the Batteries widget.

Tap for a new note

With Pencil, you needn’t open Control Centre and tap a button to create/resume a note. In Settings > Notes > Access Notes from Lock Screen, pick what happens when you tap your Pencil (handy in meetings), and how soon after Touch ID or your passcode is required, which can differ from the timer for general device security.