9 Hidden iOS 27 Features That Will Change How You Use Your iPhone

Apple shipped some incredible features in iOS 27. Siri AI is incredibly powerful now. Messages got a ton of upgrades. But the biggest quality-of-life improvements are often hidden in the details. Here are nine features that completely change the way you use your iPhone day to day.

Go big with full-screen widgets

iOS 27 introduces a larger full-screen widget size. You can extend your Shortcuts widget so it is super tall. This works perfectly with lots of other apps too. You can have a full-screen Apple TV widget, a large weather forecast, or an entire page of smart home controls.

Here's how to try it

1. Swipe to your today view or long-press your home screen.
2. Add a new widget.
3. Choose the new full-screen size option.
4. Drag the dots at the bottom of your screen to quickly scrub through your different full-screen widgets.

Pro tip: Use Focus Modes to show different full-screen widgets depending on whether you are at work or at home.

Instantly paste with clipboard autofill

This small update makes a massive difference. Whenever you have text or a link on your clipboard, iOS 27 speeds up the pasting process. You no longer have to tap the text field and wait for the contextual menu to appear.

How it works

1. Copy a link or some text.
2. Open an app like Messages or Notes.
3. Look right above your keyboard.
4. Tap the new autofill bubble to paste your text instantly.

Track stock and price drops with Safari Notify Me

Tracking restocks or price drops is much easier now. Safari has a built-in notification tool that watches web pages for you.

Here's how to set it up

1. Open a product page in Safari.
2. Tap the action menu.
3. Select Notify Me.
4. Set your tracking rules and frequency.

You can tell it to alert you when a price drops. The latest update even lets you set the frequency to Hourly. This is perfect for tracking fast-selling concert tickets or limited product drops.

Turn screenshots into calendar events instantly

Siri AI is incredibly good at parsing events from physical paper or your screen. It handles multiple dates flawlessly.

Give it a spin

1. Take a screenshot of a schedule or list of dates.
2. Wait a few moments.
3. Tap the Add to Calendar button that appears at the bottom of the screen.

Siri AI pulls all the multiple events automatically. It titles them correctly. It sets the proper times and even recognizes repeating weekly events. You can review the list and add them all to a specific calendar with one tap.

Voice-control your road trips in Apple Maps

Voice control in Apple Maps is completely transformed. You can now manage complex road trips entirely hands-free using Siri AI.

How to use it

1. Start turn-by-turn directions.
2. Ask Siri to add a stop. For example, say "add a stop for Starbucks on the way".

You can also ask for food options three hours down your route. Siri understands the context of your trip. You can even ask for directions to a specific contact's location using Find My data. Just tell Siri to get directions to your wife's location.

Find past orders and lost links with Siri

Siri AI remembers details you bury in your text messages and emails. It saves you from endlessly scrolling through old conversations.

Here's how to try it

1. Activate Siri.
2. Ask a highly specific personal question. For example, ask what your mom usually orders from Mission BBQ.

Siri will pull up exact orders from past emails and texts. It works perfectly for finding old hotel confirmation numbers. It is also great for finding a specific link you sent your dad weeks ago.

Banish the accidental microphone icon in Messages

Accidental voice memos are incredibly annoying. You often hit the microphone icon by mistake when trying to type a text message. iOS 27 finally lets you turn it off.

Here's how to hide it

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Messages.
3. Scroll down to Show In Text Field.
4. Select None.

Search your security cameras like a database

Scrolling through a timeline of smart camera footage takes forever. Apple Home now lets you search your video recordings using text.

How it works

1. Open the Apple Home app and tap a camera.
2. Tap the search icon.
3. Type a keyword like "cars" or use the filter menu.

Apple Intelligence describes what happens in your videos. You can search for specific delivery trucks. You can also tap the filter icon and select Packages & Deliveries to see exactly when your boxes arrived.

Digitize any loyalty card with custom Wallet passes

You no longer need third-party apps to digitize random loyalty cards or gym key fobs. You can build them straight into the system.

Here's how to set it up

1. Open the Wallet app.
2. Tap the plus icon.
3. Select Create a Pass.
4. Choose Create Pass Manually.

You can scan a QR code from your physical tag. Apple Intelligence parses the information automatically. Your gym membership or obscure loyalty card now lives securely right next to your credit cards.

Go explore iOS 27

These updates turn small daily frictions into smooth interactions. Dive into your settings and give these features a try. They will absolutely change how you navigate your iPhone.