Maximize Your iOS 16.4.1 Experience: 15 Settings You Need to Change

Wow, you must be thrilled! Have you just unwrapped a shiny new iPhone or updated your existing device to the latest and greatest iOS 16.4.1? Or maybe you’ve been using the iOS 16 Updates for a while now but feel like you’re missing out on some amazing features.

Consider these situations: You are immersed in a movie on your iPhone when suddenly a flashing light from the device causes discomfort to your eyes. Alternatively, you have created an important email, and accidentally hit send before proofreading. These are just a couple of scenarios where understanding and adjusting iPhone settings can greatly improve user experience.

iOS 16.4.1 is a powerhouse of features designed to enhance usability, privacy, and productivity. But the truth is, many of these features are not used to their full potential because users are simply unaware of their existence or unsure of how to modify them to suit their own needs. That’s why I’m here to help. By providing clear, easy-to-follow instructions on how to maximize your iOS 16.4.1 experience. So, let’s dive in and unlock the full potential of iOS 16!

1. Lighting Control: Dim Flashing Lights

One of the most useful new settings in iOS 16.4 is the “Dim Flashing Lights” option in the Motion section of Accessibility settings. This feature can be especially helpful if you’re sensitive to flashing lights or are watching a video with a lot of them. Here’s how to enable it:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap on “Accessibility.”
3. Tap on “Motion.”
4. Look for the “Dim Flashing Lights” option and toggle it on.

With this option enabled, any flashing lights on your device will be dimmed, making it easier on your eyes and reducing the potential for visual disturbances. This feature is particularly useful when watching videos at night or in a dark environment.

2. Update Choice: Switching to Beta Version

With iOS 16.4, Apple has made it easier for users to participate in beta updates for their devices. Here’s how to enable beta updates on your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app and tap on “General.”
2. Tap on “Software Update.”
3. Look for the new section labeled “Beta Updates.”
4. Depending on your account type, you may see three options: Off, iOS 16 Developer Beta, and iOS 16 Public Beta.
5. If you want to participate in the beta program, simply select the option that best suits your needs. If you have a Dev account and a different Apple ID on your iPhone, you can add the Dev account just for the beta download by tapping “Add Another Account.”

By enabling beta updates, you can get access to the latest features and improvements before they are officially released. However, keep in mind that beta software can sometimes be unstable and should be used at your own risk. Check out how to download iOS 17 Beta Profile to your device with our in-depth guide.

3. Focus Mode: Using the AOD Filter

The new iOS 16.4 update has brought some exciting changes to the iPhone Focus mode settings. If you’re an owner of the iPhone 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max, you’ll now find a new filter in the Focus settings for “Always On Display.” Here’s how to enable it:

1. Open the Focus mode settings on your device.
2. Select the Focus mode you want to customize.
3. Scroll down and tap on “Add Filter.”
4. Choose “Always On Display” from the list of available options.
5. Toggle the switch on or off to enable or disable the Always On Display during that particular Focus mode.

4. Animation Preference: Page Turn Animation

If you’re a book lover on your iPhone or iPad, you’ll be excited to know that iOS 16.4 has brought back the classic page-turning animation in the Books app. Now, when you’re reading a book or magazine in the Books app, you can choose the “Curl” option for a realistic page-turning experience. Here’s how:

Method 1

1. Open the Books app on your device.
2. Tap on the “Settings” icon (gear icon) in the lower right corner.
3. Select “Themes & Settings.”
4. Choose “Swipe Options.”
5. Select “Curl” for a realistic page-turning effect.

Method 2

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap on “Books.”
3. Scroll down again and tap on “Page Turn Animation.”
4. Choose “Curl” to enjoy the classic page-turning animation.

5. Number Comfort: Changing Format

One of the lesser-known features of iOS 16 is the ability to change the number format on your device. This can be especially useful if you are familiar with a particular number format and want to make sure your device matches your preferences. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Tap on “General.”
3. Scroll down and select “Language & Region.”
4. Look for the “Number Format” option and tap on it.
5. You’ll see three different options for number formats, along with a preview of what they’ll look like on your device. You can choose the one that best suits your needs.

Whether you prefer periods, commas, or spaces as separators between numbers, iOS 16 has you covered. So go ahead and adjust your number format to your liking and enjoy a more personalized iPhone experience.

6. Extra Safety: Improving Lock Screen Security

When it comes to protecting your personal information, the lock screen on your iPhone is your first line of defense. However, some settings can allow access to your device even when it’s locked with a passcode or Face ID. Here’s how to adjust these settings to ensure your iPhone stays secure:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Tap on “Face ID & Passcode.”
3. Scroll down to the “Allow Access When Locked” section.
4. Review the options listed, such as lock screen widgets and live activities, and consider disabling any that you don’t want accessible from the lock screen.
5. Also, consider disabling other options, such as reply with a message, control center, Siri, and notification sender, to further enhance your device’s security.

By making these adjustments, you can ensure that your iPhone is fully protected and your personal information is safe. Take a few minutes to review these settings and make sure your device is completely secure.

7. iCloud: Access iCloud data on the web

Are you tired of constantly transferring data between your iPhone and computer? With iCloud, you can now access all of your data on the web from any device. Here’s how to enable this feature on your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Tap on your profile at the top of the screen.
3. Select “iCloud.”
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and enable “Access iCloud data on the web.”

By doing this, you will be able to access all of your iCloud data, including mail, contacts, calendar, photos, notes, files, and documents, by simply visiting icloud.com and signing in with your Apple ID. This feature is incredibly useful for anyone who wants to access their data on multiple devices without the hassle of transferring files.

8. Quick Verification: Enabling Automatic Verification

Are you tired of constantly proving that you’re not a robot with annoying CAPTCHAs? With iOS 16.4.1, you no longer need to waste time solving those annoying puzzles. Your iPhone and iCloud can now take care of identity verification for you.

To take advantage of this feature, simply follow these quick and easy steps:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on your profile name (Apple ID) at the top of the screen.
3. Select “Password & Security” from the list of options.
4. Scroll down and look for the “Advanced” section.
5. Enable the “Automatic Verification” option.

9. Wake Up: Using the Swipe to Wake Feature

The tap or swipe to wake feature on iPhone 14 Pro is a convenient and effective way to quickly unlock your device. With this feature, you can easily wake up and unlock your device with just one action, all from the Always-On Display (AOD) screen.

Here are the steps to enable the Tap or Swipe To Wake feature:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on “Accessibility.”
3. Go to “Touch.”
4. Toggle on the “Tap or Swipe To Wake” option.

Note: The Tap or Swipe to Wake feature is only available on certain iPhone models with an AOD screen, such as the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro Max.

10. Instant Content: Auto-Download In-Apps content

Auto-Download In-Apps content is a feature on iPhone and iPad that allows additional files required by apps or games from the App Store to be downloaded automatically in the background. This saves you time and makes the app or game instantly available with all the necessary content when you open it. No more waiting for downloads or experiencing delays when trying to access the app or game.

To enable this feature, follow these steps:

1. Open the App Store Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Toggle on the “In-App Content” and “App Updates” options.

11. Email Safety: Undo Send Delay

Apple has added a new feature to iOS 16 that allows you to unsend an email within 10 seconds of sending it. However, if you need more time, you can extend the delay by customizing the settings. By extending the delay time, you can have more time to undo sending an email, which could be a lifesaver for many of us. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on “Mail.”
3. Under the “Compose” section, tap on “Undo Send.”
4. You can choose the time delay for undoing an email send, ranging from 10 seconds to 30 seconds.

12. Eco-Charging: Using Clean Energy Charging

Clean Energy Charging is a new iOS 16 feature that aims to reduce the carbon footprint of charging your iPhone. It schedules charging for your iPhone to occur at times when low-carbon electricity is available. Although this feature is currently only available in the US.

Here are the steps to enable Clean Energy Charging on your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and select “Battery.”
3. Tap on “Battery Health & Charging.”
4. Enable “Clean Energy Charging.”

13. Clear Calls: Activating Voice Isolation

Voice Isolation is a recently introduced feature that significantly improves call quality by isolating your voice from any background noise during a phone call. Initially, this feature was only available on FaceTime, but it has now been extended to regular phone calls as well.

To enable Voice Isolation during a regular phone call on your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Start a phone call.
2. Once on the call, open the Control Center by swiping down from the top right corner of the screen (if you’re using an iPhone with Face ID) or swiping up from the bottom of the screen (if you’re using an iPhone with Touch ID).
3. Tap the “Microphone” button to expand the audio options.
4. Select “Voice Isolation” from the available options.

14. Wi-Fi Sharing: Viewing & Sharing Saved Passwords

Previously, Apple only allowed iOS users to share Wi-Fi passwords with each other when their devices were nearby. However, with the latest update, it’s now possible to share saved Wi-Fi passwords with other users, including those using Android devices or computers.

To check your Wi-Fi passwords on your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Open the “Settings” app.
2. Tap on “Wi-Fi” to view the available Wi-Fi networks.
3. Look for the Wi-Fi network you want to view the password for and tap on the small blue “information” icon located to the right of the network name.
4. In the Wi-Fi network details screen, Tap on the “Password” section to view the saved Wi-Fi password.
5. If your iPhone is secured by a passcode or Face ID, you will need to authenticate yourself before viewing the password. Once authenticated, you can view the password and even copy it to the clipboard to share it with others.

15. Browsing Ease: Pinning Safari Tabs

Pinning tabs in Safari is a convenient way to keep your frequently visited websites organized and easily accessible. Pinned tabs are smaller in size compared to regular tabs, and they remain visible at all times, making them easy to access.

To pin a tab in Safari on an iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:

1. Open Safari and navigate to the website you want to pin.
2. Tap and hold the tabs button at the bottom of the screen. The tabs button looks like two overlapping squares.
3. Tap “Pin Tab” from the options that appear.

To unpin a tab, simply tap and hold the pinned tab and select “Unpin Tab.”

Summary

The table below summarizes these 15 settings that you need to change to maximize your iOS 16.4.1 experience:

No.	Settings	Navigation Path
1	Lighting Control: Dim Flashing Lights	Settings > Accessibility > Motion > Dim Flashing Lights
2	Update Choice: Switching to Beta Version	Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates
3	Focus Mode: Using the AOD Filter	Settings > Focus > Add Filter > Always On DIsplay
4	Animation Preference: Page Turn Animation	Settings > Books > Page Turn Animation > Curl
5	Number Comfort: Changing Format	Settings > General > Language & Region > Number Format
6	Extra Safety: Improving Lock Screen Security	Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Allow Access When Locked
7	iCloud: Access iCloud data on the web	Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Access iCloud data on the web
8	Quick Verification: Enabling Automatic Verification	Settings > Apple ID > Password & Security > Automatic Verification
9	Wake Up: Using the Swipe to Wake Feature	Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Tap or Swipe To Wake
10	Instant Content: Auto-Download In-Apps content	Settings > App Store > In-App Content
11	Email Safety: Undo Send Delay	Settings > Mail > Compose > Undo Send
12	Eco-Charging: Using Clean Energy Charging	Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging > Clean Energy Charging
13	Clear Calls: Activating Voice Isolation	Control Center > Microphone > Voice Isloation
14	Wi-Fi Sharing: Viewing & Sharing Saved Passwords	Settings > Wi-Fi > Password
15	Browsing Ease: Pinning Safari Tabs	Safari > Tabs button > Pin Tab

I hope this comprehensive guide will help you maximize your iOS 16.4.1 experience. Now, with these tips, you can customize your iPhone settings to suit your preferences and needs, ensuring a smooth and more enjoyable user experience.

It is also worth noting that the world of technology is fast-paced and constantly evolving, so always keep an eye out for iOS 16 and iOS 17 updates and new features.