Discover an Underused iPhone Motion as a Potential Swap for AirDrop Functionality
Spice Up Your Apple Device Experience: Unveil the Secrets Hidden in Those Swipey Fingers!
Think you've mastered your Apple devices? Well, buckle up, because there's a whole lotta magic hiding beneath those swipey fingers of yours. You might've already stumbled upon some handy tricks, but there's one slick maneuver that'll take your device game to a whole new level: the three-finger pinch. Yep, that finger dance you do when zooming in and out is more than just a party trick—it's your ticket to a faster, smoother, and more connected Apple experience.
As a friendly reminder from our pals over at MacRumors, this lil' gesture is downright gold for sharing photos and videos across your devices. And guess what? In some situations, it could even prove quicker than AirDrop.
Here's the lowdown on this slick swipe: Open a photo or video, then take three fingers (thumb, index, middle) and pinch in on the image. If you've done it right, you'll see a "Copy" pop-up appear at the top of your screen. (FYI, you might also dismiss the image in this process, but as long as you copied it, you're golden.) You can also copy text or images the old-school way, by highlighting and copying or long-pressing and tapping "Copy."
From here, you can paste the photo or video wherever you want, either by tapping a text field and selecting "Paste," or by pinching out with three fingers instead of pinching in. But wait, there's more! The real party trick is to tap into the Apple ecosystem's Universal Clipboard feature, which lets you copy and paste items across devices. So you could copy a photo on your smartphone and voila! It's instantly pasted on your laptop, or copy a video from your tablet and voila! It's on your phone. (Sadly, this trick doesn't work on the Mac, even those with trackpads.)
To make this work, your devices gotta be connected to the same Wi-Fi network and have Bluetooth enabled. Plus, you need to enable Handoff on all devices. (Chances are, you've already got this setting turned on, but just in case, head to Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity > Handoff.)
With Handoff activated across all devices, you're ready to give it a whirl: On your iPhone or iPad, give it a whirl by trying a three-finger pinch on any photo or video you've got open. Then, paste it to another device that's open and waiting.
Next time you gotta share a photo or video on one device but need it on another, give this a shot over AirDrop or texting yourself. Not only does it save you time, this quick-and-dirty method means you've already pasted the media where it needs to be. Double win!
- This three-finger pinch technique, hidden within iPhone gestures, is a remarkable tech trick that can revolutionize your Apple device experience.
- It's worth noting that this slick maneuver is not just a stunt, but a smartphone shortcut that facilitates photo and video sharing more swiftly than AirDrop in certain situations.
- The three-finger pinch gesture works by opening a photo or video, pinching in with three fingers (thumb, index, middle), and copying the item when a 'Copy' pop-up appears.
- This trick allows users to paste the copied item across different smartphone gadgets, showcasing the power of smartphones and their connected technology.
- To make the most out of this magic gesture, ensure your devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, have Bluetooth enabled, and Handoff is activated under Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity > Handoff.
