Smartphones are more capable than most of us realize, yet many of their best features stay buried in settings. A thoughtful pass through a handful of core options can dramatically improve privacy, battery life, focus, and overall usability. Below are fifteen settings you should change right now, with practical steps to implement them on common platforms. Where a setting differs between iPhone and Android, you’ll find concise platform guidance so you can apply it quickly no matter which device you own.
First, enable Focus or Do Not Disturb to cut unnecessary interruptions. This is especially useful during work, study, or sleep. On iPhone, open Settings, tap Focus, and either pick a preset or create a custom profile that silences nonessential apps while allowing calls from important people. On Android, go to Settings, select Notifications or Do Not Disturb, and tailor who can interrupt you and when. A brief daily window for focus can power through tasks and improve sleep.
Second, tighten app permissions across the board. Privacy starts with control. On iPhone, Settings Privacy lets you review location, camera, microphone, contacts, and more and revoke access from apps that don’t need them. On Android, Settings Apps & notifications App permissions (or Privacy) provides a permission manager where you can revoke or limit access. Periodic reviews prevent data leakage and unneeded tracing by apps you barely use.
Third, turn on Find My or Find device. This is your safety net if a phone is lost or stolen. iPhone users should enable Find My in Settings Your name Find My and ensure that Share My Location is on. Android users can enable Find My Device in the Google app or Settings and keep location on. This feature also helps with remote locking and erasing if needed.
Fourth, strengthen the lock screen with biometrics and sensible auto-lock timing. On iPhone, set a strong passcode, enable Face ID, and reduce auto-lock time in Settings Face ID & Passcode. On Android, choose a secure screen lock in Settings Security and set a reasonable screen timeout. Strong locks deter unauthorized access and protect personal data when the device is unattended.
Fifth, enable automatic updates for both OS and apps. Keeping software current closes security gaps and boosts stability. iPhone users should enable automatic updates in Settings General Software Update Automatic Updates. Android users should enable System updates and also turn on auto-update for apps in the Play Store. Regular updates require less manual fuss and reduce risk exposure.
Sixth, adopt Dark Mode and reduce motion where possible. Dark Mode can reduce eye strain and save battery on OLED screens. iPhone users find it in Settings Display & Brightness, and you can also enable Reduce Motion for a calmer interface. Android users can enable Dark Theme under Display and disable animations or reduce motion in the Accessibility settings. A calmer UI speeds up daily tasks and may improve battery life.
Seventh, optimize battery life with a saver mode and adaptive features. On iPhone, enable Low Power Mode in Settings Battery when battery is running low or schedule it automatically with Shortcuts. Android devices often offer Adaptive Battery and Battery Saver modes under Settings Battery; enable these to limit background activity for rarely used apps. This can noticeably extend screen time between charges.
Eighth, curb background activity and data usage. Restrict background refresh for apps you don’t need constantly updating. On iPhone, Background App Refresh can be found in Settings General, and you can disable it for individual apps. On Android, disable or restrict background activity per app in Settings Apps & notifications. This reduces data use, preserves battery, and makes updates more predictable.
