20 iOS 27 Features You Should Try on Your iPhone

Apple's iOS 27 update introduces plenty of changes, but its biggest headline is a more capable version of Siri. Apple's assistant can now handle a wider range of requests, understand more of what's happening on your device, and help you complete everyday tasks with fewer manual steps.

Siri isn't the only reason to explore the update, though. iOS 27 also brings improvements to photography, Safari, Mail, location sharing, parental controls, and several smaller features that can make a noticeable difference to your daily routine.

I've been using the updated software and have found several additions worth incorporating into everyday iPhone use. Some require a device that supports Apple Intelligence, while others are available to a broader range of iPhones running the new software.

Here are 20 iOS 27 features to try first, along with instructions for finding and using them.

1. Enable the New Siri Experience

The redesigned Siri is one of the most significant changes in iOS 27. However, installing the update doesn't automatically mean you'll see the new interface. You need to activate Siri AI separately.

To get started, open Settings, select Siri, and tap Try Siri AI (Beta). Follow the on-screen instructions to join the waitlist and enable the feature when it becomes available on your device.

Once activated, Siri adopts a bubble-style interface that appears at the top of the screen. A dedicated Siri app also becomes available on the Home Screen.

The more important improvement is what Siri can do. Rather than relying only on straightforward voice commands, the updated assistant can help with more involved requests, find information across your device, and handle certain tasks through natural language.

There is one important limitation: not every iPhone compatible with iOS 27 supports Siri AI. According to the source information, you need an iPhone 15 Pro or later, including the iPhone 18 Pro models, to access this feature.

2. Customize the Liquid Glass Interface

Apple introduced Liquid Glass in iOS 26, and the interface continues in iOS 27 with an additional way to adjust its appearance.

If you find the original design too transparent or difficult to read, the new controls let you change how the interface looks.

Open Settings, go to Appearance, and select Liquid Glass. You'll find a preview and a slider that lets you adjust the visual effect.

Moving the slider toward one side makes the interface more transparent, while moving it toward the other increases the contrast between interface elements and the content behind them.

This is a useful change if you like the Liquid Glass aesthetic but want it to feel more comfortable on your eyes. Try both ends of the slider and choose the setting that makes text and controls easiest for you to see.

3. Ask Siri About Objects Through the Camera

iOS 27 brings Siri directly into the Camera app, making it easier to ask questions about objects in front of you.

Alongside the regular Photo and Video options, you'll find a Siri mode. Point the camera at something, activate the feature, and ask Siri for information about what it sees.

For example, you could use it to identify a hardware component before visiting a store to buy a replacement. You might also ask about an unfamiliar animal or get information about an object you're trying to understand.

The feature builds on Apple's Visual Intelligence capabilities, but its integration into the Camera app makes the experience more straightforward.

Instead of taking a picture, switching applications, and searching manually, you can use the camera as the starting point for finding information.

4. Let Siri Organize Your Safari Tabs

If your Safari tab collection has become difficult to manage, iOS 27 can help organize related pages into groups.

On supported iPhones, Safari uses AI to identify topics across open tabs and group related pages together. This is particularly helpful when you're researching a project, planning a trip, or keeping several articles open for later.

To try it, open Safari and tap the overlapping-windows icon beside the address or search field. Select the filter button at the top, then choose Organize Tabs and Automatically Create Topics.

Safari will arrange related tabs into more manageable groups. For instance, several articles about college football could be collected under a college sports topic instead of remaining scattered across your open tabs.

The benefit is simple: you can keep useful pages open without turning your browser into a long, confusing list.

5. Find Relevant Emails Faster in Mail

Searching through an old email conversation can be frustrating, especially when a search term appears in newsletters, receipts, invitations, and unrelated messages.

iOS 27 improves Mail search by introducing a ranking system that aims to put more relevant results near the top. You can also refine searches to narrow down the messages you're looking for.

Imagine searching for a destination you've visited before. Instead of seeing every message containing its name in an arbitrary order, Mail can prioritize relevant emails, including messages about your trip.

The improvement may be particularly useful if you use your inbox as a record of reservations, purchases, travel plans, or work discussions.

Try searching for a specific person, place, or event you remember from an older message. The new ranking system could help you find it without scrolling through as many unrelated results.

6. Adjust Alarm and Notification Volumes Separately

Not every sound on your iPhone needs to be equally loud. You might want a strong alarm in the morning but prefer quieter notification sounds throughout the day.

iOS 27 introduces separate volume controls for alarms and alerts, giving you more flexibility over how your device sounds.

Open Settings, select Sounds & Haptics, and look for the separate options for Alarms and Volumes, as well as Alerts and System Sounds. Enable the relevant controls and adjust the levels to suit your preferences.

For example, you can keep your alarms loud enough to wake you while reducing the volume of incoming notifications that interrupt your work.

One detail to remember: changing the Alarms and Timers volume doesn't affect the Wake-Up Alarm if you've configured that feature through the Clock app.

7. Keep Your Favorite Camera Controls Within Reach

If you regularly change settings before taking a photo, iOS 27 lets you customize which camera controls appear at the top of the Camera screen.

This means you can put frequently used options where they're easier to access instead of opening additional menus every time you want to adjust a setting.

Open the Camera app and tap the Camera Control button, represented by a stack of six dots near the shutter button. Select Edit, then use the plus and minus buttons to add or remove controls.

You can keep up to six controls readily available.

For example, if you frequently switch between aspect ratios for social media posts and regular photographs, adding the aspect ratio control can save time. You can adjust your framing without digging through the Camera app each time.

The best setup depends on how you take pictures. Keep the controls you use most often and remove those you rarely touch.

8. Reframe Photos After Taking Them

Getting the perfect composition isn't always easy. You might capture a great subject but wish you'd positioned the camera slightly differently.

The Reframe editing tool in iOS 27 offers another way to adjust the perspective of supported photos after they've been taken.

Open an image in the Photos app, enter editing mode, and tap the AI Tools icon. Select Reframe from the available options, then drag your finger to adjust the perspective.

The built-in AI processes the adjustment to create a different view of the original image. This can help you experiment with composition without having to recreate the moment.

For instance, a photograph of a statue might look more striking from a slightly different angle. Reframe can help you explore that alternative after the original shot has been captured.

It's worth remembering that AI-assisted edits can change how an image appears. Review the result carefully, particularly when you want the photograph to represent a real scene accurately.

Organize and Transfer Your Photos When Switching Devices

As your photo library grows, managing images across devices becomes increasingly important. A new iPhone may offer better editing tools and camera features, but you'll still need a convenient way to move the personal files you want to keep.

Smart Transfer helps users move compatible files, including photos, videos, contacts, and other personal data, between supported devices. If you're preparing for an upgrade, an iPhone app transfer workflow can be part of your transition planning, helping you identify what needs to move and which data types are supported. Keep in mind that transferring files is different from transferring installed apps and their associated data.

Smart Transfer can also help simplify file movement between supported Android and iOS devices. When discussing iOS file sharing or how to copy my phone data, it's important to check compatibility before starting and confirm that your important photos and videos are accessible on the destination device. Transferring files and freeing up storage are separate tasks, so verify your copies before deleting anything from your old phone.

9. Explore the Updated iCloud Shared Albums

iOS 27 makes Shared Albums more flexible, particularly when you're collaborating with people who don't use Apple devices.

People without an Apple account or Apple device can now contribute to supported shared albums. That makes it easier to collect photographs and videos from friends, relatives, or colleagues who use Android phones or Windows computers.

You can also create temporary shared albums that disappear after 30 days. This is useful for short-term projects or occasions where you don't need a shared collection to remain available indefinitely.

Another improvement allows photos and videos in Shared Albums to appear at full resolution. However, full-resolution content counts toward the iCloud storage limits of the person who owns the album.

Apple has also expanded the available emoji reactions, giving contributors more ways to respond to shared photographs.

If you regularly collect images from family gatherings, trips, or group events, these changes make Shared Albums worth revisiting.

10. Use Siri While Following Recipes

Cooking from an online recipe often means switching between reading instructions and handling ingredients. That becomes inconvenient when your hands are covered in flour, oil, or food.

With iOS 27, Siri can understand more of what's displayed on your screen and answer questions about it. This can be particularly useful when following a recipe in Safari.

Suppose you're preparing a dish and can't remember how much celery the recipe calls for. Instead of scrolling through the page, you can ask Siri a question about the instructions and then follow up with another question about a different ingredient.

This makes it easier to keep your attention on cooking instead of repeatedly interacting with your phone.

The feature can also help when you need to check a cooking temperature or revisit a specific instruction. As with other AI-powered functions, it's sensible to verify important measurements and cooking temperatures when accuracy matters.

11. Add the Apple TV Remote to Your Home Screen

If you regularly use your iPhone to control an Apple TV, iOS 27 gives you another way to access the remote.

Previously, the Apple TV remote was available through Control Center. You can now place a Remote shortcut directly on your Home Screen.

To add it, swipe down from the Home Screen to open search and type Remote. When the remote icon appears, press and hold it, then drag it to your preferred position.

Once it's in place, you can open the remote with a tap instead of accessing Control Center first.

It's a small change, but it makes sense for anyone who frequently switches between watching content and controlling playback from their phone.

12. Create Shortcuts by Describing What You Want

Apple's Shortcuts app can automate repetitive tasks, but building a workflow manually may feel intimidating if you're unfamiliar with its controls.

iOS 27 makes the process more approachable by letting you describe the automation you want Siri to create.

Open the Shortcuts app, tap the plus button, and enter or dictate your request in the provided field. You could ask for a shortcut that sends someone your estimated arrival time when you leave work, for example, or one that handles screenshots according to your preferred workflow.

Siri may ask follow-up questions to clarify what you want. It then helps assemble the shortcut rather than requiring you to build every step from scratch.

This is a practical starting point for people who want to automate everyday tasks but don't know where to begin.

Start with a simple request, test the resulting shortcut, and make adjustments if it doesn't behave exactly as expected.

13. Ask Siri to Find Information in Your Personal Content

One of the more useful improvements to Siri in iOS 27 is its ability to use personal context when responding to certain requests.

Instead of searching through multiple apps yourself, you can ask Siri to find information you previously saved on your device.

For example, imagine keeping a note with the names of restaurants you want to try. After adding many more notes over several weeks, locating that original entry manually might take time.

With the improved assistant, you can ask Siri to find the note containing a phrase such as "Oakland restaurants." Siri can then help locate the relevant information.

This kind of contextual assistance can make a difference when you regularly use Notes and other supported apps to store information you may need later.

It also highlights an important distinction between a basic voice assistant and one that can work with information already available on your device. The more useful information you save in an organized way, the easier it can be to retrieve it later.

14. Create Calendar Events Using Natural Language

Adding an event to your calendar doesn't always need to involve filling out several fields manually.

In iOS 27, Siri can turn a natural-language request into a Calendar entry. You can describe the event, specify a date and time, and let the assistant create the initial entry for you.

For example, you could ask Siri to schedule a two-hour podcast recording session for a particular evening. The assistant can use the details in your request to create the event.

You may still need to review certain details, such as the calendar the event belongs to or the people you want to invite. Even so, having Siri handle the initial setup can save time.

This is particularly useful for people who frequently schedule meetings, appointments, work sessions, and personal activities throughout the week.

15. Explore the Updated Parental Controls

iOS 27 brings changes to Apple's parental control tools, giving parents more ways to manage how children use their devices.

A setup assistant helps parents decide which apps and websites their children can access. Apple has also renamed App Limits to Time Allowances, with options for setting usage limits across categories such as Games, Entertainment, and Social Media.

Parents can adjust those limits for different days of the week, making it easier to establish different rules for school days and weekends.

Another addition is Ask to Browse, which allows children to request permission through Messages when they want to access a website. The idea builds on Apple's existing Ask to Buy system for app downloads.

Family settings also provide more streamlined controls for pausing device use or allowing unlimited usage without navigating through several layers of menus.

One important requirement is that the devices involved must run compatible, up-to-date Apple software for the new features to appear. That includes Macs and iPads, which need macOS 27 and iPadOS 27, respectively, according to the supplied source.

16. Experience Smoother Switching Between Wi-Fi and Cellular

Network switching is one of those things you may not think about until it interrupts something important.

Previously, an activity that started while your iPhone was connected to home Wi-Fi could be disrupted when you moved beyond the network's range. iOS 27 aims to make the transition between Wi-Fi and cellular data more seamless.

This can be useful when you're navigating somewhere, browsing the web, or using an app while leaving home or the office.

For example, you might begin looking up directions while connected to Wi-Fi, then continue the journey as your phone switches to your carrier's network. A smoother transition can reduce the chance of the activity feeling interrupted.

The improvement happens in the background, so there isn't a complicated setup process to follow. The main benefit is a more consistent experience as your connection changes throughout the day.

17. Set a Custom Duration for Find My Location Sharing

Find My already lets you share your location with other people, but iOS 27 adds more flexibility over how long that sharing lasts.

Previously, the available options included sharing for an hour, for a day, or indefinitely. The updated system allows you to choose a custom duration by specifying the days, hours, and minutes.

To use it, open the location-sharing options for a contact and select Custom from the available duration choices.

This can be useful when you want someone to know where you are during a particular journey or event without leaving location sharing enabled longer than necessary.

The update also adds an option to hide your location from someone with whom you've been sharing indefinitely. When you activate this option, the other person won't receive your current location while the setting remains in effect.

As with any location-sharing feature, review your settings carefully and choose the duration that matches your needs.

18. Show Both Camera Views During FaceTime

FaceTime becomes more versatile in iOS 27 with a Dual Capture feature that can display your face and the view from your iPhone's rear camera during a call.

This means the person you're speaking with can see you through the front camera while also seeing what's happening in front of you through the rear camera.

You'll need an iPhone 17 or later to use this feature, according to the supplied source.

To activate Dual Capture, start a FaceTime call, tap your video tile, and select Flip. Both camera views can then appear during the conversation, with the rear camera showing the surrounding scene and your face appearing in a smaller window.

If you only want to share the rear camera's view, you can select the icon showing a person with a slash through it.

This can be useful when demonstrating something, showing someone an object, or sharing a view without losing the face-to-face element of the conversation.

19. Use Siri with the Magnifier App

The Magnifier app helps make small text and objects easier to see. In iOS 27, Siri can provide additional information about what you're viewing through the app.

This can be particularly helpful in situations where reading something is difficult because the text is small or the lighting isn't ideal.

For example, if you're trying to read the total on a restaurant bill, you can use Magnifier to enlarge the text and ask Siri for assistance with what appears on the screen.

The feature may also be useful when examining labels, instructions, or other printed information that is difficult to read at a glance.

It provides another way to use Siri's visual understanding beyond the Camera app. For people who regularly rely on magnification, having a conversational assistant available within the same workflow can make certain tasks more convenient.

20. Find Popular Places With Local Lists in Maps

Apple Maps is useful for getting directions, but it can also help you decide where to go in the first place.

iOS 27 expands its discovery capabilities with Local Lists, which highlight places and attractions that are trending in your area.

To find the feature, open Maps and search for "Local Lists." Depending on your location, you may see collections covering restaurants, family-friendly destinations, local attractions, and other places worth visiting.

The Maps search tab also includes a Trending Restaurants carousel. You can find it by scrolling below your recent searches and suggested locations.

These additions are useful when you want ideas for a weekend outing or need to find somewhere new to eat without searching for individual businesses one at a time.

Availability and recommendations can vary by location, so the selection you see may differ from what someone in another city sees.

Which iOS 27 Features Are Worth Trying First?

You don't need to explore all 20 features in one sitting. Start with the additions that address tasks you perform most often.

If you use Siri regularly, begin with the new assistant, personal context, Calendar integration, and shortcut creation. If photography is more important to you, try the customizable camera controls and Reframe editing tool.

For everyday convenience, separate alarm and notification volumes, improved Mail search, Safari tab organization, and smoother network switching are good places to start. Families may want to prioritize the updated parental controls, while frequent travelers can benefit from the more flexible location-sharing options and Maps discovery tools.

Some of the most useful improvements are not the most dramatic ones. A feature that saves you a few steps every day can have more practical value than a flashy addition you rarely use.

iOS 27 combines a more capable Siri with a collection of smaller refinements across the iPhone experience. Taking time to configure these options can help you make the update work better for your needs, whether you're organizing information, capturing photos, managing your family's devices, or simply making your phone easier to use.