Learn how to use the
iPhone 6 Plus better with this list of iPhone 6 Plus tips and tricks that will help users learn what they can do with the new iPhone. The larger iPhone 6 Plus display makes it easier to use some iPhone features and Apple packs in a few cool new
iPhone 6 Plus features you might miss if you are new to the iPhone.
With
iOS 8 and iOS 8.1 on the iPhone 6 Plus you can use your new iPhone to its full potential and get more for your money. You will need a Mac on
OS X Yosemite or an iPad on iOS 8 or higher to take advantage of some of these tips and tricks.
We’ll even share a few iPhone 6 Plus hidden features that fix some major complaints about the large iPhone so you can enjoy it more.
Most of these iPhone 6 Plus tips and tricks work right out of the box, but you’ll need some accessories and apps for a few of the iPhone 6 Plus tips that involve Touch ID or your HDTV.
You don’t need to read the
iPhone 6 Plus manual to become a master of this device. Just keep on reading to learn how many of the iPhone 6 Plus features work and what all you can do with the new iPhone 6 Plus.
Some of the iPhone 6 Plus tips and tricks we’ll show you are already turned on, you just need to use them, while others will require steps to set up on the iPhone 6 Plus and on your other devices.
Here is our growing list of iPhone 6 Plus tips, tricks and hidden features.
Use the iPhone 6 Plus One-Handed
The iPhone 6 Plus is a large device that can be difficult to use with one-hand, but there is a built-in tool to make using the iPhone 6 Plus easier when you can’t use your other hand.
Double tap on the home button to use Reachability. Don’t press, just tap on it like you would on the iPhone screen. This drops the iPhone 6 Plus screen down so you can reach the upper corners without juggling the iPhone 6 Plus in your hands.
Watch this in action in the video above, using an iPhone 6 that also supports this one-handed use feature.
Slow Motion Video on the iPhone 6 Plus
You can shoot super-slow motion video on the iPhone 6 Plus at 240 frames per second. That means you capture video at incredibly slow speeds, showing dramatic movement at speeds you eye’s can comprehend.
From a slow motion video of your kid scoring a goal, a bee buzzing along your garden or any other moment, sometimes slower is better.
Watch the video below to learn how to use the iPhone 6 Plus slow motion at 240 FPS. You need to open the camera app, slide until you see slow motion and make sure 240 FPS is in the upper right. From there record like you normally would and the video will then include options to start and stop slow motion like in the video above.
iPhone 6 Plus Landscape
The iPhone 6 Plus supports landscape mode that includes a new landscape keyboard, new layouts for apps and landscape for the home screen. This acts a lot like an iPad and it is only available on the iPhone 6 Plus.
On the home screen if you turn the iPhone 6 Plus on the side you’ll see the apps adjust to the landscape view.
When you open an app like Mail, Notes or Calendar in landscape you can see more information on the screen, just like on the iPad.
Finally, when you use the keyboard you can see the new landscape keyboard for iPhone 6 Plus that includes shortcuts and more punctuation options.
iPhone 6 One-Handed Keyboard
You’ll need to buy a third-party keyboard for this to work, but if you use the iPhone 6 Plus on the go a lot, you’ll love this Phone 6 Plus one-handed keyboard.
Apple does not include this on the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus by default, so you will need to go to the App Store and buy one. For this example we are using
One Handed Keyboard by Terry Demco. It is $1.99 in the App Store and includes options to change the color.
Touch ID for Passwords
Touch ID lets you unlock the iPhone 6 Plus and make purchases in iTunes, but it can do much more. If you install an app like
LastPass or
1Password you can use the new Safari extensions to log in to websites you are browsing with LastPass or 1Password.
This lets you create a secure password and simplifies using good passwords on your iPhone without the normal hassles of long passwords on smartphones.
The video above shows how you can set this up with LastPass and how it fills in your passwords and usernames with Touch ID.
Better iPhone 6 Plus Battery Life
For most users the iPhone 6 Plus battery life lasts more than a full day, but if there is something wrong the battery will drain faster and could leave you with a dead battery in hours. You’ll know something is wrong if the iPhone 6 Plus is hot all the time or if the usage shows the same number as standby.
Find apps that use your power to get better iPhone 6 Plus battery life.
Go to Settings -> General -> Usage -> Battery Usage to see if there is one app using all your battery power. If there is a culprit you can uninstall it or stop using it to see if that fixes your iPhone 6 Plus battery life. Removing Facebook helps deliver better battery life, but not everyone will take this step.
If that fails you need to reset all settings by using these directions. Go to Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset All Settings. Hopefully this solves the problem. If not you will need to go to an Apple Store or try a full reset.
Track Steps, Stairs and Health
The iPhone 6 Plus includes a sensors that can track your steps, how many flights of stairs you walk and much more without buying any accessories or apps.
Open the Health app on the iPhone 6 Plus home screen and then tap on Health Data, Fitness and choose the options you want to show on the dashboard.
Watch the video above to see how this works on the iPhone 6 Plus.
Change Vibration Alerts
The iPhone 6 Plus vibrations are obnoxiously loud, at times they are louder than the ringer on the iPhone 6 Plus. Even when the iPhone 6 Plus is on silent a call or a text is loud enough to interrupt meetings and wake up a spouse sleeping nearby.
Go to Settings -> Sounds -> Tap on Ringtone -> Vibration -> Create New Vibration -> Tap out and save a new vibration.
You can do this for different alerts and for individual contacts so you know who is calling or texting based on the vibration alone. Watch the video above to see this in action.
Connect the iPhone 6 Plus to your HDTV
If you want to show your iPhone 6 Plus screen on a larger screen you can use the iPhone 6 Plus and an Apple TV to mirror the display or to AirPlay video or games to the big screen.
You need to purchase an Apple TV for $99 and then when you are in the same room you can open Control Center -> AirPlay -> Apple TV to show your screen on your HDTV.
You can also use the AirPlay icon when watching a video to AirPlay that video or sometimes even a game direct to your HDTV.
Games like
SketchParty TV also use this to turn the TV into a big screen for a digital game of Pictionary.
Arrange Your Apps Better for the iPhone 6 Plus
It’s annoying to reach to the upper right of the iPhone 6 Plus, or upper left if you hold your phone right-handed. Instead of using Reachability every time, it’s easier to organize your apps so that you can quickly reach them with your thumb all the time.
We all have apps we need, but rarely use. Instead of putting these in folders you can use them to bumper your regularly used apps towards the center or bottom of the iPhone 6 Plus. Check it out in the video above.
Instant Hotspot for Your Mac
Once you turn on Instant Hotspot for the iPhone in iOS 8 you should see it listed in the WiFi options for your Mac and can click to connect without worrying about grabbing your iPhone to turn anything on.
On iOS 8 devices and on a Mac with OS X Yosemite you’ll see the signal strength and battery life of the device you use as an iOS 8 hotspot.
You can also see the iPhone 6 Plus battery life and signal listed so that you know if using it will drain your battery too much and so you know that there is a signal. Check out this
guide to using the iOS 8 hotspot.
Read iPhone 6 Plus Texts on Your Mac
With the iPhone 6 Plus and iOS 8.1 you can now read and respond to text messages from a Mac running OS X Yosemite.
Send texts from your Mac through your iPhone 6 Plus.
You need to turn this on in the messages Settings and on your Mac, using the directions in our
How to text from your Mac guide. After you set this up texts show on your iPhone 6 Plus and on your Mac at the same time and you can respond from either device.
Answer iPhone 6 Plus Calls on your Mac or iPad
The iPhone 6 Plus also connects to your Mac or iPad so you can answer or make a call. If you don’t want to hold the iPhone 6 Plus to your ear for a long conversation you can just answer on your Mac. It’s also a handy thing to do if you already have headphones plugged in to your Mac.
Answer iPhone 6 Plus calls on the Mac or iPad.