Handy secret Apple ‘camera app’ that helps you read is hidden on every iPhone and there are four ways to unlock it
YOUR iPhone has a handy app that you might have missed – but it’s already installed.
There are four ways to unlock it, although it’s possible you’ve never even seen it.
It’s called the Magnifier app, and it’s loaded onto every iPhone by default.
“With Magnifier, you can turn your iPhone or iPad into a magnifying glass to zoom in on and detect objects near you,” Apple explained.
It’s a great way to read tiny text or see very small objects.
This has life-changing Accessibility uses, but it’s also really handy if you’re building some furniture, trying to read a tiny instruction, or looking for something under the sofa.
What does Magnifier do?
The basic feature is a zoom function that lets you enlarge what you’re seeing through a camera view.
You can increase the brightness, turn on the flashlight, adjust the contrast, and apply color filters.
There’s also an option to use the Freeze Frame button (a circle inside a bigger circle).
This is great if you need to snap something quickly while you’re experiencing movement.
Maybe you’re trying to read a tiny message underneath an object and it’s in an awkward position, for instance.
You can simply freeze the frame and then adjust it to make it as readable as possible.
It’s also possible to save the image into your Photos afterwards, as well as share it.
You can also freeze multiple frames at once by tapping the Multi-Photo Mode button (two overlapping rectangles).
Magnifier also has some amazing Accessibility features that are great if you have a vision impairment.
For instance, Magnifier can detect doors around you.
“You can use Magnifier to locate a door or entryway, understand how far you’re standing from the door, figure out how to open the door and anticipate which way it might swing open, and read any signs or labels on or around the door.”
It can also use Point and Speak to identify and read text on physical objects – like a keypad or a button.
How to unlock Magnifier
One quick way is to swipe down on the middle of the Home Screen to bring up the search bar.
Then simply type Magnifier and tap on the app.
A second way to access it from the Control Center (found by swiping down from the top-right on a Face ID iPhone, or up from the bottom on a Home Button iPhone).
If it doesn’t appear there, you’ll need to add it to the panel by going into Settings > Control Center.
A third option is going into Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap and adding Magnifier to Double Tap or Triple Tap.
Then you can tap on the back of your iPhone to quickly launch the Magnifier.
And a fourth option is to simply say out loud: “Hey Siri, open Magnifier.”
