The iPhone has a hidden tool to help you hang pictures and shelves — here's how to use it

iPhone 16 Pro Max with spirit level — (Image credit: Future)

It can be easy to forget that the best iPhones can do more than just text your friends or send Instagram reels. In fact, they can be one of the most useful tools in a handyman's belt... or pocket.

We’ve all been there before: you’re hanging a new set of shelves, but you forget your spirit level in the tool bag. Now, you could set the shelf down (and then spend another ten minutes trying to get it back in the right place) or risk it and spend the rest of your life noticing it's slightly off angle.

Thankfully, if you have an iPhone, then you can avoid this difficulty by making use of the built-in Measure app that comes preinstalled in your phone. Here's how to use it, and make sure you — or at least your shelves — are on the straight and level.

How to use the level tool on iPhone

Access the measurement app

The first thing to note is that the spirit level feature is not an app on its own. Instead, you can find it in the Measurement app. You can find the app either on your home screen or by searching for it.

Select the “Level” option

Once inside the Measure app, there will be two options, at the bottom of the screen “measure” and “Level.” You'll need to press the level option.

Use the app to find the perfect balance

The app has two different means of measuring levels. If the phone is lying flat, then the level will be represented by a bubble, but if the phone is on its side, then the angle will be represented by a line. The idea for both is to have the phone go completely green.

Just how accurate is it?

When it comes to technology, there is always a concern that it won’t quite match the level seen by more conventional tools. I decided to test it out to see just how accurate my iPhone 16 Pro Max's level actually was, compared to the more conventional tools.

Using a spirit level, I measured to see if both reached the same level on the same surface. First, I tested it with the phone sitting on its back, and both it and the spirit level zeroed out.

iPhone back spirit level measure — (Image credit: Future)

Then I tested the phone sitting on its side to see if having the buttons had an effect on the actual measurement. I made sure to place it on both the edges and the bottom of the phone, and the end result was the same in each instance.

iPhone spirit level on side of phone — (Image credit: Future)

With that being said, I did need to make one adjustment when it came to using my phone. The issue is that the camera block on the iPhone 16 Pro Max protrudes slightly, which can impact the level reading. I solved this by having my phone in an iPhone 16 Pro Max case that flattens the back, so make sure you do the same. Plus, it keeps your phone safe on a building site too.

This is a feature that might not be the biggest in the world, but for the do-it-yourselfers, it can be a real help in a pinch. It’s also not the only help that the iPhone can offer, as I recently used Visual Intelligence to solve an annoying plumbing issue. On top of that, there are other hidden features in your phone that you should know, for instance, being able to blur out faces in your photos.

If you have your own tips on new ways to use your phone, let us know in the comments.

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Josh is a staff writer for Tom's Guide and is based in the UK. He has worked for several publications but now works primarily on mobile phones. Outside of phones, he has a passion for video games, novels, and Warhammer.

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