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Learn how to make a hidden and useful iOS app appear like magic

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By Alan Friedman

Updated: Mar 29, 2021, 6:32 PM

Learn how to make a hidden and useful iOS app appear like magic

There is a hidden iOS app that you won't find on your Apple iPhone's home screen or in the App Library. The latter is supposed to include all of the apps installed on your iPhone and helps you navigate through your apps by using a search bar. But there is a hidden app that you can't find unless you know exactly where to look. To find this hidden app, follow these directions which were disclosed by Gadget Hack. First, swipe down on your home screen to reveal the Search field. In that field, type in "Code Scanners," "Code," or "Scanners." That will. You will see the app's icon. You can even add the "Code Scanners" app to your devices' Control Center by going to Settings > Control Center and tapping on the green "+" button. Using the Control Center makes it faster to access the app to scan a code.

The Code Scanner app doesn't really do anything different than the code scanning capabilities available with the Camera app except for one thing: codes scanned using the Code Scanner app open in an in-app browser rather than in Safari. Also, we need to mention that the Code Scanner app went by a different name in iOS 13 (QR Code Reader) and in iOS 12 (Scan QR Codes). It is thought that Apple removed "QR" from the new name of the app because it will also scan App Clip Codes in addition to QR Codes.

Code Scanner is hidden on iOS 14 until you find it by searching for the app

App Clip Codes launch miniature versions of apps called an "App Clip." This brings to iPhone users the part of the app they need on demand. For example, using a special App Clip Code or a QR Code, the iPhone user will quickly have access to the part of an app he/she wants. For example, let's say you're parking your car in a garage and need to use a particular app to pay for the space. The user scans the appropriate App Clip Code and with Apple Pay, the parking fee is paid off quickly. No account number was needed to complete the transaction.

Another app that doesn't appear on the iOS home screen by default is Magnifier. However, once this app is unlocked, it will appear on your home screen and your App Library. To unlock it, go to Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier. Toggle on the app to turn it on. Magnifier allows the user to zoom in on his/her surroundings using a slider. Magnifier didn't have its own icon until iOS 14 was released last year.

The Magnifier app is found in Accessibility

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Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.

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Learn how to make a hidden and useful iOS app appear like magic

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