How to Use iOS 27 Hidden Features Apple Barely Mentioned
Separate alarm volume, Connectivity Assist, custom Wallet passes and more. Here is where to find the iOS 27 features Apple did not spotlight.
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Apple spent most of WWDC 2026 talking about Siri AI. The smaller changes in iOS 27 are easier to use today. Below are ten that are worth turning on, with where to find each one. The steps come from hands-on testing of the iOS 27 beta by Tom's Guide, so menu names may differ slightly in the final release.
1. Set separate volume for alarms and ringtones
Until now, alarm volume followed your ringtone volume. In iOS 27 you can set separate levels for alarms, ringtones, timers and other system sounds. Go to Settings, then Sound and Haptics, and look for the Alarms and Timers section. You may need to switch on a toggle first.
2. See only photos you took yourself
The new Captured by Me view hides images saved from WhatsApp, Telegram and screenshots. Open Photos, go to the Collections tab, then Utilities, then Captured by Me.
3. Save a frame from a video as a photo
While a video plays, tap the three dot menu in the top right corner and choose Save Video Frame as Photo. iOS saves the frame at full resolution to your library.
4. Force an immediate iCloud Photos sync
iCloud Photos normally waits for Wi-Fi and charging. iOS 27 lets you force an immediate upload, which helps if you are travelling and want photos backed up right away. You can turn it on for a single day, after which iOS returns to normal behavior. Look for the option in your iCloud Photos settings.
5. Turn on Connectivity Assist
If Wi-Fi is weak, iOS 27 can use cellular data alongside it to keep speeds steady. Go to Settings, then Wi-Fi, then Connectivity Assist. It can use more mobile data. One tester saw about 300MB used in 48 hours.
6. Create custom Wallet passes
You can now add your own tickets, memberships and event passes to Apple Wallet. Scan a physical ticket with your iPhone, pick a template such as membership or event, then edit the pass name, location, membership number and background.
7. Skip alarms on holidays
The Clock app can use your calendar and regional holidays to ask whether to skip an alarm on a day you probably do not need to wake early.
8. Make the Lock Screen clock smaller
iOS 27 lets you show the date and time in a single row at the top, so more of your wallpaper stays visible. Playback controls on the Lock Screen can also now be swiped away like notifications.
9. Try the improved voice typing
On supported iPhones, dictation understands context and removes filler words such as umm. Go to Settings, then General, then Keyboard, and turn on Advanced Dictation Preview. It needs Apple's newer on-device models and is limited to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air.
10. Show rating controls in Photos
Go to Settings, then Apps, then Photos, then View Options, and switch on Show Rating Controls.
Features to watch for
Faster pasting. The keyboard suggestion bar can now show copied text and screenshots for quick pasting.
One number on two iPhones. Apple says you can share a phone number across multiple iPhones. It appears to depend on your carrier, and fees are unconfirmed.
AirPods Pro 3 and GymKit. Connect your earbuds to supported gym equipment to track pace and heart rate.
