After the release of iOS 18, the Calendar app became a productivity tool. And this application, which we all have installed by default on the iPhone, hides features that go much further to simply mark important dates. As with the Notes app, there are hidden secrets and tricks that I use in my daily work life. I share with you the most interesting ones that will allow you to start getting the most out of this application.
Enable week numbers and automatic notifications
The first function that I recommend you activate is in Adjustments > Applications > Calendar. Enable “Week Numbers” to see what week of the year you are in, something very useful for planning. In fact, in one of my jobs, we have always organized ourselves with S01, S02… of “Week 01”, “Week 02”. This will help you stick to a weekly schedule without having to remember specific dates or events that are going to happen.
I also recommend setting “Default Notifications” to automatically notify you of events and birthdays. And many times we neglect what we have on our calendar simply because the iPhone doesn't notify us. Go to Settings > Apps > Calendar > Default notifications. In my case I have all options enabled.
One-touch custom widgets
For some versions of iOS, you can now place the Calendar widget on the Home screen. But with iOS 18, change widget size (or create a new one) is very simple. Simply hold down the Calendar icon to access different widget sizes: small, medium, or large. Choose the one that best suits your home screen. The best thing is that from here you can alsos add events quickly without opening the application.
Different custom views
Did you know that you can view your calendar in different ways? Enter the app and try month, day, or list views. My favorite is the “Details” viewwhich shows all the events of the day at a glance. Simply click between them until you find the one that suits you best. You'll find the view selector just to the left of the magnifying glass.
Drag and Drop: Drag anything to the calendar
This feature is amazing. You can drag photos, documents, notes or any file directly to a calendar event. Perfect for attaching documents from a meeting or keeping a concert poster next to the date. To do this, you will need to use both hands. Hold down what you want to drag for a moment and don't let go. With your other hand, exit the app and go to Calendar. You can drop the file and a new event will be created on that day.
Full integration with reminders
With iOS 18, Calendar and Reminders work together like never before. When you add a new reminder with a date, it will also appear on your calendar so you don't miss anything. Go to the Calendar app. Tap “Calendars” at the bottom of the screen and select Scheduled reminders.
The power of Siri and smart text
If you receive a message with a date (“tomorrow at 9:00”), iOS will automatically detect it. A simple touch and you have already created the event. It also works with text on photos using Live Text. Try scanning an event poster and you will see the magic.
Advanced settings
A little trick that not many people know about is that you can completely customize the calendars you use daily. Go to Settings > Apps > Calendar > Default calendar. This way you can choose which calendar you want to use as default when creating new events. This is super useful if, like me, you use multiple calendars (personal, work, family…) and want to avoid putting events on the wrong calendar.
But here's the best part: did you know you can change colors of each calendar to distinguish them at a glance? Simply go to the Calendar app, tap “Calendars” below and tap the information circle (i) next to each calendar. There you can choose between several colors for each. For example, I use red for work, blue for personal events, and green for training. So with just a glance at my calendar, I know exactly what type of events I have each day.
After knowing all these tips, it is clear that iPhone Calendar is much more than just an app for marking dates. The best of all is that You don't need to download third-party apps or pay for subscriptions: all these features are there, just waiting for you to discover them. If you haven't yet started seriously using your iPhone's calendar, now is the time. Start by activating the week numbers, customize your colors and gradually add the rest of the tips. In a few weeks you will notice the difference in your daily organization.
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