Smartphone Shortcuts – Quick Tips to Speed Up Your Phone

Shortcuts are the secret sauce that turns a regular phone into a speed machine. Instead of scrolling through menus, you tap, swipe or speak and the job gets done. Below you’ll find the easiest tricks for Android and iOS, plus a few hidden menus most people never see.

Android Shortcuts You Can Use Today

First up, Android. Open the notification shade and long‑press the gear icon – you’ll land straight in the Advanced Settings screen where you can toggle dark mode, developer options, and battery saver in one tap. Want to launch the camera without unlocking? Double‑tap the power button on most Pixel‑style phones, or set a custom double‑tap gesture in Settings > System > Gestures.

Another handy shortcut is the quick‑draw app drawer. Swipe up from the bottom edge (or pinch with three fingers) and you get an alphabetized list of all your apps. Drag the most used apps to the top row for instant access. If you love texting, enable the built‑in Quick Reply for notifications – swipe left on a message and reply without opening the app.

Don’t forget hidden codes. Dial *#*#4636#*#* to open the Testing menu where you can see battery health, usage stats and even run a ping test. It looks scary, but it’s just a fast way to check what’s slowing your phone down.

iOS Shortcuts that Save You Time

Apple users have their own set of shortcuts. The Back Tap feature lets you double‑tap the back of the iPhone to run any Shortcut you create – think screenshot, open Siri, or start a timer. Set it up under Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap.

Siri Shortcuts are another gold mine. Open the Shortcuts app, tap “Create Shortcut,” add actions like “Turn on Do Not Disturb” or “Send a message to Mom,” then assign a voice phrase. Once saved, just say “Hey Siri, start my morning” and watch the phone do the work.

If you want to skip the Home screen entirely, enable Reachability by swiping down on the bottom edge. It brings the top half of the screen down, making one‑handed use a breeze on larger iPhones.

For power users, the hidden Diagnostics menu is just a dial away: type *#*#3424#*#* in the Phone app. It opens a screen that shows real‑time CPU usage, memory and network status – perfect for spotting why an app feels sluggish.

Finally, combine these tricks. Create a Shortcut that launches your favorite meditation app, turns on Do Not Disturb, and starts a low‑power mode, then assign it to Back Tap. In a single double‑tap you’ve set the perfect wind‑down routine.

Shortcuts aren’t magic; they’re just faster ways to do what you already do. Pick a couple of the tips above, try them out today, and you’ll notice how much smoother your phone feels. Keep exploring, because every new shortcut you master saves seconds that add up to minutes over a week.