Latest news with #IPHONE
Scottish Sun
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
How sports star faked cancer fight by sticking IPHONE WIRE up his nose to con well-wishers into handing over donations
The fraudster claimed he needed money for treatment SHAMELESS How sports star faked cancer fight by sticking IPHONE WIRE up his nose to con well-wishers into handing over donations A SPORTS star scammed thousands after posting a picture of an iPhone wire up his nose to fake receiving cancer treatment. DJ Carey - dubbed the 'Maradona of hurling' - shamelessly conned well-wishers into giving him money by pretending to have the cruel disease. Advertisement 4 He posted a picture on social media with a phone charger up his nose Credit: SOCIAL MEDIA COLLECT 4 The 'Maradona of hurling' has pleaded guilty to inducing people to pay him money after fraudulently claiming to have cancer Credit: PA The 54-year-old pleaded guilty to 10 counts at the Circuit Court in Dublin's Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday. There were 28 witnesses lined up and ready to give evidence for the prosecution had the case gone to trial. The charges related to 13 different complainants, including one of Ireland's wealthiest businessmen - Denis O'Brien. The 54-year-old was charged with inducing O'Brien to send money between January 2014 and late 2022. Advertisement Carey's defence lawyer told the court the sports star "does have very genuine health conditions", despite not having cancer. He also mentioned how Carey previously underwent heart surgery for his condition and is frequently assessed. The sportsman was remanded on bail and is due to be sentenced on October 29. Carey, once hailed as one of the best in GAA history, has bagged five All-Ireland titles and nine All-Star awards. Advertisement He has a total of 34 goals and 195 points from 57 championship games which makes him one of top scorers. On a recent episode of the Crime World podcast, he was described as the "Maradona of hurling". Philadelphia Eagles' Bryan Braman Battles Rare Cancer: Teammates Rally for Support He retired from the game in 2006, but continued to be recognised as an "idol" for young upcoming players. Since his appearance in court this week, shocking photographs of the former Hurling champ have circulated social media. Advertisement One showed him pretending to lie in a hospital bed with an iPhone wire taped up his nose. It is understood the picture was sent to people he conned between 2014 and 2022, when Carey claimed to need money for cancer treatment. In May 2011, the former sports star was made subject to a debt repayment court order for an eye-watering £7.3million. He managed settle his debt in 2018 with an agreement that meant he only had to pay back less than one per cent of the original total. Advertisement In 2015, speaking on RTE's Ray D'Arcy radio show, Carey said: "I am not one of those who would say 'I don't care' about repaying debt. "You borrow money, it should be paid whatever extent that can be, I would still be conscious it has to be done". Carey first appeared in court in late 2023 charged with 21 counts under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act. This comes as a mum-of-two faked having terminal cancer to con her distraught partner into giving her thousands of pounds for non-existent treatment. Advertisement Laura McPherson fabricated stories and sent fake photos at multiple hospitals and specialist visits as she swindled nearly £25,000 from Jon Leonard. But instead of undergoing chemotherapy, she was actually splashing out on breast enhancement procedures and trips abroad, including a stay at an Austrian holistic and weight loss centre. McPherson not only lied to Mr Leonard but also to her friends and even her own family including her distraught 12-year-old daughter, who is now 16. McPherson, from Derby, had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to fraud between March 1, 2017, and January 31, 2022. Advertisement A judge ordered McPherson to be electronically tagged as he imposed a curfew on her to stay at her home from 7pm to 6am every Wednesday to Sunday. He imposed a community order for two years and ordered McPherson to complete 30 days with a probation officer. He said if she breached her terms she would receive an immediate two-and-a-half year prison sentence. Elsewhere, another woman shamelessly used dating apps to find men she could con by faking cancer. Advertisement Mum-of-one Rebecca Gray made innocent victim Sean Fry send her £10,000. Now he has revealed to Channel 4 how he missed the warning signs in their new series, Love Cheats. How to protect yourself from fraud USE the following tips to protect yourself from fraudsters. Keep your social media accounts private – Think twice before you your share details – in particular your full date of birth, address and contacts details – all of this information can be useful to fraudsters. – Think twice before you your share details – in particular your full date of birth, address and contacts details – all of this information can be useful to fraudsters. Deactivate and delete old social media profiles – Keep track of your digital footprint. If a profile was created 10 years ago, there may be personal information currently available for a fraudster to use that you're are not aware of or you have forgotten about. – Keep track of your digital footprint. If a profile was created 10 years ago, there may be personal information currently available for a fraudster to use that you're are not aware of or you have forgotten about. Password protect your devices – Keep passwords complex by picking three random words, such as roverducklemon and add or split them with symbols, numbers and capitals. – Keep passwords complex by picking three random words, such as roverducklemon and add or split them with symbols, numbers and capitals. Install anti-virus software on your laptop and personal devices and keep it up to date – This will make it harder for fraudsters to access your data in the first place. – This will make it harder for fraudsters to access your data in the first place. Take care on public Wi-Fi – Fraudsters can hack or mimic them. If you're using one, avoid accessing sensitive apps, such as mobile banking. – Fraudsters can hack or mimic them. If you're using one, avoid accessing sensitive apps, such as mobile banking. Think about your offline information too – Always redirect your post when you move home and make sure your letter or mailbox is secure. 4 Carey's defence lawyer told the court the sports star "does have very genuine health conditions" Credit: PA 4 The sportsman was remanded on bail and is due to be sentenced on October 29 Credit: PA
The Irish Sun
19-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
The secret settings to ‘scam-proof' your phone, stop crooks stealing your private photos & £1000s from your bank account
THOUSANDS of pounds gone in seconds, your private pics in the hands of strangers, and your loved ones ripped off too – these are just a few of the nightmare consequences of a smartphone scam. I've spent years writing about how to dodge increasingly convincing online cons that cost Brits millions a year - and it only takes a few seconds to avoid disaster by changing settings on your 16 Scammers are constantly trying out new tricks to hoodwink you – so make some easy changes to your phone today Credit: Getty 16 A new Apple feature will use a virtual robot to screen your calls for you Credit: Apple Online scams are big business and a recent Ofcom report warned that almost half of Brits have been drawn in by clever scammers. A quarter of those had lost money , with a fifth losing at least £1,000. They can come over the They may rush you into making an investment, trick you into thinking you're Now, crooks are even using AI to dish out more convincing scams faster than ever, so it's important you have the absolute best phone settings to avoid being another victim parted from their savings. Here are the iPhone and Android tricks you need to activate immediately to keep yourself and you cash safe. IPHONE TRICK #1 – SILENCE UNKNOWN NUMBERS Cold calls are a classic way for crooks to target you with a scam. So go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Calls > Silence Unknown Callers, then turn it on. This will send any calls from unknown callers straight to voicemail. If it's important, they'll leave a voicemail. You can also read transcriptions of your voicemail in real time if you've got iOS 17 or later (go to Settings > General > Software Update to check). IPHONE TRICK #2 – CALL SCREENING This one isn't out yet, but Make sure to install that (in Settings > General > Software Update), and then a robot will answer your phone calls for you. Deepfakes more 'sophisticated' and dangerous than ever as AI expert warns of six upgrades that let them trick your eyes 16 Set up Silence Unknown Callers to avoid being drawn in by scams Credit: The Sun / Apple It'll ask their name and reason for calling, and write out the answer in real-time on your screen. Then you can decide whether to answer or if it sounds like a scam. This also prevents scammers from being able to hear your voice and cloning it for future cons. IPHONE TRICK #3 – LOCKDOWN MODE One extreme option is to turn on It'll block most message attachment types, as well as links and link previews, as well as incoming FaceTime calls from unknown numbers. 16 It only takes a few seconds to turn on and sends scammers straight to voicemail – helping you avoid 'voice cloning' cons Credit: The Sun / Apple 16 Lockdown Mode is a special setting that gives you extra protections Credit: The Sun / Apple 16 Only turn this on if you think you're actively being targeted by a scammer Credit: The Sun / Apple You'll also be prevented from automatically connecting to unsafe "non-secure" WiFi networks – and you'll be blocked from adding configuration profiles that let other people change settings on your phone. Your iPhone won't work to its full potential with Lockdown Mode on, so keep that in mind: this is only for extreme cases. To switch it on, just go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode > Turn On Lockdown Mode > Turn On Lockdown Mode, then follow the steps to restart your phone. IPHONE TRICK #4 – AUTHENTICATOR If you've accidentally given up your password, it's not the end of the world – as long as your online accounts also require a special authentication code to log in. WHY ARE AUTHENTICATORS SAFER THAN TEXT CODES? Here's official advice from cybersecurity giant Bitdefender... "Threat actors will use data leaks, public records or social engineering to get your phone number," security firm "Then bribe or trick a carrier employee to port your number to a duplicate SIM card they control. "This enables them to receive your SMS verification codes and break into your various online accounts. "Authenticator apps work locally, meaning there's no way for an attacker to intercept your codes. "Unless they've infected you with data-stealing malware, but that's a different discussion." Picture Credit: Getty Images You've probably had these coming via SMS, but you can also get them via an app. Authenticator codes from an app are far safer than the ones that come over text, because SMS messages are more easily hacked. And your iPhone has an authenticator code generator built in as standard. Go into the account settings for an app, then choose the option to add two-factor verification. 16 You can view your log-in codes inside the Codes section of the new Passwords app Credit: Apple Then scan the code with your iPhone camera, and Apple's iCloud Keychain will suggest adding it to your account. Then when you sign in, iCloud Keychain will automatically fill in the code for you. You can also manually add it by going into Then if you ever accidentally give up your password to an account, crooks still won't be able to log in. IPHONE TRICK #5 – CALL BLOCKING There are lots of apps that maintain giant lists of phone numbers that are known to be spam or scams. And your iPhone can use these apps to automatically block calls from these numbers. First, go to the Apple App Store in the UK, and download some call identification apps, like Truecaller or Whoscall. Then go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification. This will only appear if you've installed some ID apps. 16 Truecaller is a popular app that maintains a list of dodgy phone numbers – and IDs them as scammers for you Credit: The Sun / Apple 16 Once you have a Call ID app, a new feature will appear in your Phone settings Credit: The Sun / Apple 16 You can turn on multiple Call ID apps at once Credit: The Sun / Apple Now, choose Silence Junk Callers, which will silence calls identified by your phone network as potential spam or fraud. This option may not appear if your phone network hasn't activated it. Then activate any Call Identification apps that you've installed. ANDROID TRICK #1 – SCAM DETECTION Millions of Android phones now have a feature called Make sure to update to the latest version of Android. 16 Google Messages has a special feature that exposes text scams live as they're happening Credit: Google Then when you're receiving texts, AI on your phone will scan your texts to look for "suspicious" signs that you're being scammed. It only works on conversations with non-contacts, and your texts won't be send to Google (unless you report the conversation). You'll see it working if a big red alert pops up that says "Likely Scam" – and then you'll be able report and block the sender. ANDROID TRICK #2 – APP SCANNER Dodgy apps are another way criminals will try to scam you. 16 Google Play Protect can save you from scam apps if if you've downloaded them from outside of Google's official store Credit: Google These apps might even seem legitimate, but they're actually silently harvesting your info or money in the background. Google automatically scans the apps you download from its Play Store – but often the most dangerous apps come are ones that Go to the Google Play Store > Profile > Play Protect > Settings > Improve Harmful App Detection and turn it on. This will let Google scan apps that you've ANOTHER SAFETY TRICK – CALL YOUR FAMILY! The Sun's tech editor One of the most devastating scams out there right now is the "Hi mum" con. This sees crooks texting parents or their kids posing as the other – saying they're reaching out from a new number and need help. It'll start innocently, but they'll quickly ask for cash for an urgent bill, taxi, or fine. Brits have lost thousands in one go So call your loved ones today and set up a safe word or phrase. That way, if any of you asks the other for money, you'll be able to verify the request with a safe word. Don't pick something obvious like a place or birthday – and certainly don't write it down anywhere online or on your devices. This is the easiest way to avoid being caught up in a "Hi mum" scam, so don't delay – call your family today. Picture Credit: Sean Keach ANDROID TRICK #3 – CALL BLOCKING One option is to outright block calls from unknown numbers. Just go to Phone > More > Settings > Blocked Numbers > Unknown, which blocks calls from private or unidentified numbers. You'll still get calls from phone numbers not stored in your contacts though. And like iPhone, you can also use spam-busting apps to identify scam callers too. Just download an app like Hiya or Truecaller, both of which maintain giant lists of known spammers and scammers. That way, you can easily avoid dodgy calls. ANDROID TRICK #4 – AUTHENTICATOR Like with iPhone, Android phones also have a way to serve up log-in codes. These give you an extra layer of protection on top of your password – and they're safer than the ones you get via text. On Android, the standard option is the Google Authenticator app. 16 Google's Authenticator app is a safer way to log in vs SMS text codes Credit: Google It's totally free and will generate log-in codes for apps and websites whenever you need them. That way, even if you accidentally give your password to a scammer, you'll still be protected. ANDROID TRICK #5 – ADVANCED PROTECTION MODE The iPhone's Lockdown Mode doesn't exist on Android – but there's something very similar called You'll need to update to the latest Android 16 software (just go to Settings > System > Software Update and follow the instructions). 16 You can find Advanced Protection inside your Android phone's security settings Credit: Google 16 Advanced Protection gives you an extra layer of safety compared to regular users Credit: Google It's designed for VIPs who might be targeted by crooks – like celebs or politicians – but anyone can use it for free. If you toggle the button on, it'll activate a long list of hardcore security features to help you dodge scams and boost your security. That includes preventing your phone from being hacked by a physical cable, using AI to detect scam calls live as they're happening, saving you from unsafe Wi-Fi, and blocking you from unsafe websites and apps. You'll find it in Settings > Google > Personal & Device Safety > Advanced Protection > Device Protection. 16 It turns on a Scam Detection feature built to save you from crooks during phone calls. This feature is still rolling out, so you may not see it on your device yet Credit: Google
Scottish Sun
19-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
The secret settings to ‘scam-proof' your phone, stop crooks stealing your private photos & £1000s from your bank account
Secret 'VIP security' modes for celebs and scam-blocking robots are just the start, says The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach CLOSE CALL The secret settings to 'scam-proof' your phone, stop crooks stealing your private photos & £1000s from your bank account Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THOUSANDS of pounds gone in seconds, your private pics in the hands of strangers, and your loved ones ripped off too – these are just a few of the nightmare consequences of a smartphone scam. I've spent years writing about how to dodge increasingly convincing online cons that cost Brits millions a year - and it only takes a few seconds to avoid disaster by changing settings on your iPhone or Android. 16 Scammers are constantly trying out new tricks to hoodwink you – so make some easy changes to your phone today Credit: Getty 16 A new Apple feature will use a virtual robot to screen your calls for you Credit: Apple Online scams are big business and a recent Ofcom report warned that almost half of Brits have been drawn in by clever scammers. A quarter of those had lost money, with a fifth losing at least £1,000. They can come over the phone, text, or email, or through websites and apps. They may rush you into making an investment, trick you into thinking you're chatting with a loved one, or hoodwink you with the promise of a prize, tech support, or a refund. Now, crooks are even using AI to dish out more convincing scams faster than ever, so it's important you have the absolute best phone settings to avoid being another victim parted from their savings. Here are the iPhone and Android tricks you need to activate immediately to keep yourself and you cash safe. IPHONE TRICK #1 – SILENCE UNKNOWN NUMBERS Cold calls are a classic way for crooks to target you with a scam. So go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Calls > Silence Unknown Callers, then turn it on. This will send any calls from unknown callers straight to voicemail. If it's important, they'll leave a voicemail. You can also read transcriptions of your voicemail in real time if you've got iOS 17 or later (go to Settings > General > Software Update to check). IPHONE TRICK #2 – CALL SCREENING This one isn't out yet, but it'll land on your iPhone with the imminent iOS 26 update (likely in September). Make sure to install that (in Settings > General > Software Update), and then a robot will answer your phone calls for you. Deepfakes more 'sophisticated' and dangerous than ever as AI expert warns of six upgrades that let them trick your eyes 16 Set up Silence Unknown Callers to avoid being drawn in by scams Credit: The Sun / Apple It'll ask their name and reason for calling, and write out the answer in real-time on your screen. Then you can decide whether to answer or if it sounds like a scam. This also prevents scammers from being able to hear your voice and cloning it for future cons. IPHONE TRICK #3 – LOCKDOWN MODE One extreme option is to turn on Lockdown Mode – but only do this if you think you're definitely being targeted by scammers. It'll block most message attachment types, as well as links and link previews, as well as incoming FaceTime calls from unknown numbers. 16 It only takes a few seconds to turn on and sends scammers straight to voicemail – helping you avoid 'voice cloning' cons Credit: The Sun / Apple 16 Lockdown Mode is a special setting that gives you extra protections Credit: The Sun / Apple 16 Only turn this on if you think you're actively being targeted by a scammer Credit: The Sun / Apple You'll also be prevented from automatically connecting to unsafe "non-secure" WiFi networks – and you'll be blocked from adding configuration profiles that let other people change settings on your phone. Your iPhone won't work to its full potential with Lockdown Mode on, so keep that in mind: this is only for extreme cases. To switch it on, just go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode > Turn On Lockdown Mode > Turn On Lockdown Mode, then follow the steps to restart your phone. IPHONE TRICK #4 – AUTHENTICATOR If you've accidentally given up your password, it's not the end of the world – as long as your online accounts also require a special authentication code to log in. WHY ARE AUTHENTICATORS SAFER THAN TEXT CODES? Here's official advice from cybersecurity giant Bitdefender... "Threat actors will use data leaks, public records or social engineering to get your phone number," security firm Bitdefender explained. "Then bribe or trick a carrier employee to port your number to a duplicate SIM card they control. "This enables them to receive your SMS verification codes and break into your various online accounts. "Authenticator apps work locally, meaning there's no way for an attacker to intercept your codes. "Unless they've infected you with data-stealing malware, but that's a different discussion." Picture Credit: Getty Images You've probably had these coming via SMS, but you can also get them via an app. Authenticator codes from an app are far safer than the ones that come over text, because SMS messages are more easily hacked. And your iPhone has an authenticator code generator built in as standard. Go into the account settings for an app, then choose the option to add two-factor verification. 16 You can view your log-in codes inside the Codes section of the new Passwords app Credit: Apple Then scan the code with your iPhone camera, and Apple's iCloud Keychain will suggest adding it to your account. Then when you sign in, iCloud Keychain will automatically fill in the code for you. You can also manually add it by going into the Passwords app, and looking under the Codes tab. Then if you ever accidentally give up your password to an account, crooks still won't be able to log in. IPHONE TRICK #5 – CALL BLOCKING There are lots of apps that maintain giant lists of phone numbers that are known to be spam or scams. And your iPhone can use these apps to automatically block calls from these numbers. First, go to the Apple App Store in the UK, and download some call identification apps, like Truecaller or Whoscall. Then go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification. This will only appear if you've installed some ID apps. 16 Truecaller is a popular app that maintains a list of dodgy phone numbers – and IDs them as scammers for you Credit: The Sun / Apple 16 Once you have a Call ID app, a new feature will appear in your Phone settings Credit: The Sun / Apple 16 You can turn on multiple Call ID apps at once Credit: The Sun / Apple Now, choose Silence Junk Callers, which will silence calls identified by your phone network as potential spam or fraud. This option may not appear if your phone network hasn't activated it. Then activate any Call Identification apps that you've installed. ANDROID TRICK #1 – SCAM DETECTION Millions of Android phones now have a feature called Scam Detection inside Google Messages. Make sure to update to the latest version of Android. 16 Google Messages has a special feature that exposes text scams live as they're happening Credit: Google Then when you're receiving texts, AI on your phone will scan your texts to look for "suspicious" signs that you're being scammed. It only works on conversations with non-contacts, and your texts won't be send to Google (unless you report the conversation). You'll see it working if a big red alert pops up that says "Likely Scam" – and then you'll be able report and block the sender. ANDROID TRICK #2 – APP SCANNER Dodgy apps are another way criminals will try to scam you. 16 Google Play Protect can save you from scam apps if if you've downloaded them from outside of Google's official store Credit: Google These apps might even seem legitimate, but they're actually silently harvesting your info or money in the background. Google automatically scans the apps you download from its Play Store – but often the most dangerous apps come are ones that you've installed from elsewhere. Go to the Google Play Store > Profile > Play Protect > Settings > Improve Harmful App Detection and turn it on. This will let Google scan apps that you've downloaded from outside of its own Play Store, potentially spotting scam apps that you've installed. Then you'll get the warnings and can delete them from your phone. ANOTHER SAFETY TRICK – CALL YOUR FAMILY! The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach has another useful scam-busting trick that requires no changes to settings at all... One of the most devastating scams out there right now is the "Hi mum" con. This sees crooks texting parents or their kids posing as the other – saying they're reaching out from a new number and need help. It'll start innocently, but they'll quickly ask for cash for an urgent bill, taxi, or fine. Brits have lost thousands in one go to this brutal con. So call your loved ones today and set up a safe word or phrase. That way, if any of you asks the other for money, you'll be able to verify the request with a safe word. Don't pick something obvious like a place or birthday – and certainly don't write it down anywhere online or on your devices. This is the easiest way to avoid being caught up in a "Hi mum" scam, so don't delay – call your family today. Picture Credit: Sean Keach ANDROID TRICK #3 – CALL BLOCKING One option is to outright block calls from unknown numbers. Just go to Phone > More > Settings > Blocked Numbers > Unknown, which blocks calls from private or unidentified numbers. You'll still get calls from phone numbers not stored in your contacts though. And like iPhone, you can also use spam-busting apps to identify scam callers too. Just download an app like Hiya or Truecaller, both of which maintain giant lists of known spammers and scammers. That way, you can easily avoid dodgy calls. ANDROID TRICK #4 – AUTHENTICATOR Like with iPhone, Android phones also have a way to serve up log-in codes. These give you an extra layer of protection on top of your password – and they're safer than the ones you get via text. On Android, the standard option is the Google Authenticator app. 16 Google's Authenticator app is a safer way to log in vs SMS text codes Credit: Google It's totally free and will generate log-in codes for apps and websites whenever you need them. That way, even if you accidentally give your password to a scammer, you'll still be protected. ANDROID TRICK #5 – ADVANCED PROTECTION MODE The iPhone's Lockdown Mode doesn't exist on Android – but there's something very similar called Advanced Protection Mode. You'll need to update to the latest Android 16 software (just go to Settings > System > Software Update and follow the instructions). 16 You can find Advanced Protection inside your Android phone's security settings Credit: Google 16 Advanced Protection gives you an extra layer of safety compared to regular users Credit: Google It's designed for VIPs who might be targeted by crooks – like celebs or politicians – but anyone can use it for free. If you toggle the button on, it'll activate a long list of hardcore security features to help you dodge scams and boost your security. That includes preventing your phone from being hacked by a physical cable, using AI to detect scam calls live as they're happening, saving you from unsafe Wi-Fi, and blocking you from unsafe websites and apps. You'll find it in Settings > Google > Personal & Device Safety > Advanced Protection > Device Protection.
The Irish Sun
12-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
The 3 hidden iPhone settings that are draining your battery & the quick fixes to make that will save you hundreds
IPHONE users have been warned that there are three hidden buttons that are drastically reducing your devices battery life. are known for getting worse over time - in worst case scenarios, users have to carry portable chargers around and give their gadgets battery boosts throughout the day. Advertisement 4 iPhone batteries dwindle over time, but there are three simple fixes you can do to improve battery health Credit: Getty This can be incredibly stressful for users, who might need However, even if your device is a few years old, you shouldn't need to replace it just because the Instead, you should be able to improve its ability to hold charge with just a few simple clicks. 1. Turn Off Widgets The widgets on iPhone lock screens, such as the weather or calendar updates, all run in the background and are constantly using data to keep them updated. Advertisement Read more tech stories This means that they are draining power , even when you are not using your phone. Turning off your widgets completely is the best way to save power, and the easiest way to do this is to switch to another lock screen, that doesn't have any widgets on it. 4 Click on your lock screen and then press 'customise' to remove widgets Credit: Supplied To do this, simply press your finger down on your existing lock screen, and then scroll across to a lock screen that doesn't have any widgets. Advertisement Or, if you want to remove the widgets from your existing lock screen, you can hold it down, click on customise, tap on the widget box, and then delete any widgets that you don't want. Most read in Tech Breaking Reduce The Motion Of Your iPhone User Interface The iPhone user interface uses animations, such as the pop of colour that appears when you activate Siri and the 'slam' effect that makes text messages seem to pop out of the screen. Whilst these can be fun and entertaining, they are very draining for your battery. 'Supersonic' new battery fully charges phones in less than five minutes & users cry out to have that 'insane speed' now If you want subtler animations, that use less power, you can use this by heading to Settings, clicking to Accessibility and then Motion and Reduce Motion. Advertisement 4 Click on 'reduce motion' to improve your battery life Credit: Supplied Switch Off Keyboard Vibration iPhones have a feature called "haptic feedback" which gives each key a vibration. This feature was added to iOS 16 to give users a more immersive experience. However, according to the Apple support page it "might affect the battery life of your phone." Advertisement 4 Turning off haptic feedback helps to conserve battery Credit: Supplied Apple does not explain why this drains battery, but its best to turn this feature off if you're keen to conserve your battery. Haptic feedback is not enabled by default, but if you have turned it on, you can easily disable the feature. iPhone tricks to try today Here are some of the best... Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X or later model), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency Check if you're due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you're down to 80% capacity. If you're below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier Simply go to Settings, Sounds and Haptics, Keyboard Feedback and then turn off Haptic. Advertisement If you want to check your battery health , you can do this by heading to Settings, Battery and then Battery Health and Charging. This feature allows you to check your battery health percentage (anything over 80% is considered good) and will show you whether your battery is "normal." When your battery health has begun to dwindle, you may be tempted to fork out for a new handset. However, this can cost you hundreds, and means you are wasting an otherwise perfectly good phone. Advertisement Instead, head to the Apple store, and you can
Scottish Sun
12-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
The 3 hidden iPhone settings that are draining your battery & the quick fixes to make that will save you hundreds
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IPHONE users have been warned that there are three hidden buttons that are drastically reducing your devices battery life. Mobile batteries are known for getting worse over time - in worst case scenarios, users have to carry portable chargers around and give their gadgets battery boosts throughout the day. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 iPhone batteries dwindle over time, but there are three simple fixes you can do to improve battery health Credit: Getty This can be incredibly stressful for users, who might need Google Maps to get home or send an urgent text to a family member. However, even if your device is a few years old, you shouldn't need to replace it just because the battery life has dwindled. Instead, you should be able to improve its ability to hold charge with just a few simple clicks. 1. Turn Off Widgets The widgets on iPhone lock screens, such as the weather or calendar updates, all run in the background and are constantly using data to keep them updated. This means that they are draining power, even when you are not using your phone. Turning off your widgets completely is the best way to save power, and the easiest way to do this is to switch to another lock screen, that doesn't have any widgets on it. 4 Click on your lock screen and then press 'customise' to remove widgets Credit: Supplied To do this, simply press your finger down on your existing lock screen, and then scroll across to a lock screen that doesn't have any widgets. Or, if you want to remove the widgets from your existing lock screen, you can hold it down, click on customise, tap on the widget box, and then delete any widgets that you don't want. Reduce The Motion Of Your iPhone User Interface The iPhone user interface uses animations, such as the pop of colour that appears when you activate Siri and the 'slam' effect that makes text messages seem to pop out of the screen. Whilst these can be fun and entertaining, they are very draining for your battery. 'Supersonic' new battery fully charges phones in less than five minutes & users cry out to have that 'insane speed' now If you want subtler animations, that use less power, you can use this by heading to Settings, clicking to Accessibility and then Motion and Reduce Motion. 4 Click on 'reduce motion' to improve your battery life Credit: Supplied Switch Off Keyboard Vibration iPhones have a feature called "haptic feedback" which gives each key a vibration. This feature was added to iOS 16 to give users a more immersive experience. However, according to the Apple support page it "might affect the battery life of your phone." 4 Turning off haptic feedback helps to conserve battery Credit: Supplied Apple does not explain why this drains battery, but its best to turn this feature off if you're keen to conserve your battery. Haptic feedback is not enabled by default, but if you have turned it on, you can easily disable the feature. iPhone tricks to try today Here are some of the best... Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X or later model), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X or later model), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency Check if you're due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you're down to 80% capacity. If you're below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you're down to 80% capacity. If you're below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier Simply go to Settings, Sounds and Haptics, Keyboard Feedback and then turn off Haptic. If you want to check your battery health, you can do this by heading to Settings, Battery and then Battery Health and Charging. This feature allows you to check your battery health percentage (anything over 80% is considered good) and will show you whether your battery is "normal." When your battery health has begun to dwindle, you may be tempted to fork out for a new handset. However, this can cost you hundreds, and means you are wasting an otherwise perfectly good phone. Instead, head to the Apple store, and you can replace your iPhone battery for a much cheaper cost.
