Phil Salt’s Best Smartphone Tips and Hidden Tricks

If you’ve ever wished your phone could do more, you’re in the right place. Phil Salt gathers the most useful shortcuts, secret codes and quick hacks that turn an ordinary device into a handy sidekick. The ideas below work on most Android phones and many iPhones, so you can start saving time right away.

Hidden Android Codes You Can Use Today

Android phones hide a bunch of menus behind short dial‑in numbers. Typing them in the phone app opens diagnostic screens, battery stats or network info without installing any app. Here are three you should try:

• *#*#4636#*#* – Opens the “Testing” screen where you can see detailed battery usage, Wi‑Fi stats and phone info.
• *#*#7262626#*#* – Brings up a menu of hardware tests. You can check the speaker, vibration motor, proximity sensor and more.
• *#*#*#4636#*#* – Shows a full list of network and cell tower data, handy if you’re troubleshooting signal problems.

Just type the code as if you’re making a call, hit “Enter,” and the hidden screen appears. No need to root your phone or install third‑party tools.

Everyday Smartphone Tricks to Impress

Beyond secret codes, everyday shortcuts add speed and fun. Try these simple habits:

• Quick camera launch – Press the power button twice (or use the gesture on iPhone) to open the camera instantly. Capture moments without hunting for the app.
• Battery saver toggle – Swipe down twice on Android to reveal the quick settings and tap the battery icon. It cuts background activity in seconds.
• Copy text from images – Open Google Lens (or the iOS “Live Text” feature) and point the camera at printed words. Tap to copy and paste instantly.

These tricks cost nothing but a few seconds of practice, and they make you look like a pro when friends ask how you did it.

Phil also recommends cleaning hidden storage regularly. Go to Settings → Storage → “Other” and delete old caches, screenshots and forgotten files. You’ll free up gigabytes and notice faster app launches.

Another hidden gem is the “Developer Options” menu. Turn it on by tapping “Build number” seven times in About Phone. Once enabled, you can speed up animations by setting the “Window animation scale” to 0.5x. Your phone feels snappier without any extra apps.

Finally, keep your phone cool. Overheating slows performance and drains battery. Remove bulky cases when gaming, lower screen brightness, and close unused apps. If it still gets hot, run the built‑in “Thermal test” (found in the hidden code *#*#0*#*#*) to see which component is heating up.

All these tips are free, quick, and safe. You don’t need to be a tech wizard to use them—just a few minutes and a curiosity to try something new. Bookmark this page, experiment with the codes, and share the tricks that work best for you. Your phone will thank you with smoother speed, longer battery life, and cooler temperatures.