Secret Tips For…
Group files using tags, move multiple apps, switch off Bluetooth, restore the old ipad keyboard and customise the Control Centre
IOS 11
Organise your files using tags
We covered some of the basics of Apple’s new Files app in Issue 512 (see Phone & Tablet Tips, page 44), but there’s lots more to it. For example, you can add tags to any folders and files, letting you group them even if they are stored across different online storage accounts (icloud Drive, Google Drive, Onedrive, and so on). To do this, long-press a file or folder, then tap Tags in the menu bar that appears (see screenshot below). Tap Add New Tag, type a name, then give it a colour. To see all files and folders assigned to a tag, tap the Tags section (on the left), then tap the tag’s name.
Move multiple app icons at once
You’ve always been able to drag homescreen app icons into folders, but previously you could only do this one app at a time. With IOS 11 you can move multiple apps at once.
Long-press an app you want to move until its icon starts shaking. Without lifting your finger, move the icon very slightly to the left and right – after a second or so the ‘X’ at the top left of the icon will disappear. With your finger still pressed down, tap any other apps you want to move with your free hand. They’ll be stacked on top of the first app you pressed. Keeping your finger held down, move the stack to the destination folder. If you want to create a folder, move the stack over another app you want to place in a folder and a new one will be created.
Stop Bluetooth draining your battery
If you open the new Control Centre in IOS 11 (swipe up from the bottom of the screen) you’ll see a Bluetooth icon among others. Tapping this to switch it off only turns off certain Bluetooth functions (such as its discovery mode, which lets other devices find it). To switch Bluetooth off entirely and stop it draining your battery, tap Settings, Bluetooth, then switch off the slider at the top of the screen.
Access your favourite ipad apps anytime
On your ipad (but not iphone) you can now access the Dock (the line of apps at the bottom of the homescreen) within an open app. Open the App Store, for example, then swipe up from the bottom of your screen to see it (keep swiping up and your Control Centre will open on the right of your screen).
The apps to the right of the line in your dock are those you’ve accessed most recently. To stop these being displayed in your Dock, tap Settings, General, ‘Multitasking & Dock’, then switch off the ‘Show Suggested and Recent Apps’ slider.
Use new keyboard functions
On your ipad (but not iphone) you’ll see the onscreen keyboard looks different in IOS 11 (each letter key has a number or punctuation mark, for example). To type this secondary character, swipe down from the top of the key then release your finger. To turn this feature off, tap Settings, General, Keyboard, then switch off the Enable Key Flicks slider (see screenshot below).