Tech Guide

These iPhone X tips and tricks will make you a pro in no time

Key Points
  • The iPhone X launches on Friday, which means it'll start arriving for folks who ordered it.
  • CNBC has been using one for several days, so we have a few tips and tricks you'll want to know

The Apple iPhone X launches on Friday, which means it's going to start arriving on doorsteps and in limited quantities for walk-in purchases at Apple Stores.

If you pick one up, you'll find that there are a lot of differences from traditional iPhones, especially since the Home button is gone. In order to help get you situated, CNBC came up with a few tips and tricks to help you feel right at home.

1. Find control center

Control Center is a swipe from the top instead of the bottom of the screen
Todd Haselton | CNBC

You'll need to get adjusted to lots of swiping. To access Control Center, which is home to the flashlight, screen brightness controls and more, you'll need to swipe down from the right corner of the display. Home center is also the only place you'll see the percentage remaining in your battery, which is kind of a bummer.

2. How to go back to the home screen

Swipe up to return home
Todd Haselton | CNBC

Surprise! There's more swiping. To return to the home screen, you'll need to swipe up from the bottom of the display. This action is also used to unlock the phone with Face ID. If you swipe up and hold for a bit, until there's a small haptic buzz, you'll access the multitasking window to view all of your own apps.

3. How to switch between apps

Sliding between open apps
Todd Haselton | CNBC

You can use the aforementioned long-swipe up to get to your open apps, or you can switch between them a bit more easily. When an app is open, just swipe the white line at the bottom of the screen. This allows you to quickly jump back and forth between running apps.

4. Take a portrait selfie

The selfie portrait camera mode
Todd Haselton | CNBC

One of the new features on the iPhone X is selfie portrait mode. To use it, open the camera, tap the camera button to switch to the front-facing camera, then slide the option toggle to "Portrait." Now you'll get a fancy professional-looking photo that you won't get on any other iPhones' front-facing camera.

5. Access Siri

Calling up Siri with the press of a button
Todd Haselton | CNBC

Curious how to bring up Siri without a home button? So was I, but it's easy. Just long-press the top-right button (also used to turn the phone on) and Siri will appear on the screen. You can always just say "Hey Siri," too.

6. Call 911 without dialing

You can call 911 by holding two buttons down
Todd Haselton | CNBC

If you're in the middle of getting mugged or some other emergency, you can automatically dial 911 right from your pocket. Just hold the top-right button and the top volume button at the same time. Keep holding and it'll automatically call 911 for you.

7. Take a screen shot

Snapping a screenshot on the iPhone X
Todd Haselton | CNBC

Again, you used to be able to take a screenshot using the home button. Without it, you'll need to tap the right button in addition to the top volume button. Do it quick and you'll see a screenshot appear on the bottom left of the display before it saves to your camera roll.

8. Restart or turn off the iPhone

Turning off the iPhone X
Todd Haselton | CNBC

This is another one that's not readily apparent. To restart or turn the iPhone off, you'll need to hold the right button and the top volume button. After a few seconds you'll see the option to power off the phone. This is the same screen you'd see if you were dialing 911 and kept holding both buttons.