EVEN if your iPhone is out of charge, it’s still plenty powerful.
There are a few clever iPhone features that still work even when you’ve run the battery right down.
They’re important to know, as they can really save you when you’re in a pickle.
First up, it’s possible to make payments for certain things when your iPhone is dead.
Specifically, you can pay for some types of public transport.
It works using a feature called Express Mode.
This feature – which works even when your iPhone is on – lets you make the payment without unlocking it.
For instance, tap into the London Underground or NYC subway with a locked iPhone and your Express Mode card will be charged.
Express Mode is on by default, but you can choose which card you want to use in your Apple Settings.
It’s strictly for transit only – it won’t work if you’re trying to buy a sandwich at the shop.
This also works for unlocking your motor, if you’ve set up your car key on your iPhone.
Add your car key to the Apple Wallet and it’ll also work while your iPhone is dead too.
“You might be able to use your Express Mode cards, passes, and keys on your iPhone, even when your device needs to be charged,” Apple explains.
“Power reserve works for up to five hours with some cards, passes, and keys that have Express Mode turned on.”
To check if it’ll work, press the side button when your iPhone is out of charge.
This should reveal which of your cards and keys can be used with power reserve.
Just don’t do it too much or you risk running down those last dregs of charge.
The only other catch to note is that the feature won’t work if you’ve manually switched the iPhone off.
Your iPhone needs to run out of battery before power reserve becomes available.
Find My is one of the best ways to track down a lost iPhone.
If you haven’t used it, you should: it’s an app on the iPhone that lets you see where your other devices are.
And if you’ve lost your iPhone, you can use Apple’s iCloud website on a browser to find the iPhone. Or just use another Apple device that you own.
Importantly, Find My can still work even if your iPhone has run out of charge.
Not all iPhones, however: just ones with an ultra-wideband chip.
Here's the full list...
Picture Credit: Apple
That’s available on the iPhone 11 and later, and taps into the Find My network.
If your iPhone has that chip, an active iPhone that passes near it can detect it when it’s offline.
It’s this Find My Network that lets you find your iPhone if it’s ran out of battery (but not totally out of power reserve), switched off manually, or “offline”.
If you have your iPhone with you and it’s dead, pressing the power button should show a message that says “iPhone is Findable” if you’ve set it up right.
But this only works with enough power reserve available.
A recent Apple update made it possible so that you can see the time even if your iPhone is dead.
The feature was added as part of the iOS 18 update that rolled out in September last year.
You can see if you have it already (or download it) by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
Here's the official Apple guide...
Apple adds: “You can select a different transit or payment card for Express Transit Mode on your Apple Watch:
“On your iPhone, open the Apple Watch app. In the My Watch tab, tap Wallet & Apple Pay.
“Then tap Express Transit Card, select a transit or payment card, and authenticate on your Apple Watch with your passcode.”
Picture Credit: Apple
Again, this uses the iPhone’s power reserve that also enables Express Mode.
Now when you press the power button, the time should appear as well as the battery icon.
You’ll also see “iPhone is Findable” if your iPhone is set up to be found will out of battery.
