A WOMAN has blown TikTok users’ minds after sharing a hidden iPhone hack that helps you use the smartphone even if it has run out of juice.
It’s possible to use Apple Pay for some types of payments when your iPhone is off.
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Anastasia Koss, 28, is an actress and content creator living between Hong Kong and New York with her fiancé.
Constantly on the move because of her job, she relies heavily on using electronic payments including her Apple wallet, and like many other people, rarely carries cash.
In a clip on TikTok that has racked up over 4.4 million views and 427,000 likes, she reveals a nifty trick for using electronic payments, even if the phone has run out of battery.
Anastasia figured out the trick when she was travelling underground on the MTR, Hong Kong’s public transport.
Panicked, she thought she would have to walk home until a kind stranger shared a secret.
“I always worried what would happen if my phone died and I didn’t have cash or my card on me, as I don’t like to carry around cash,” Anastasia told NeedToKnow.Online
“I got to the turnstile to scan out and realised I was stuck.
“I saw a long line of people waiting at the customer service counter to buy tickets and no one could help me.
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“In a panic, I thought maybe someone could help scan me out of the turnstile with their card, so I turned to a man walking by and asked him if he could scan me.
“He then told me if my Octopus card is connected to my Apple Wallet, I could still use it even if my phone died.
“I didn’t believe him and after giving it a go, it worked!
“I was dumbfounded – I thought how strange it was that I wasn’t aware of this function, and that we so heavily rely on our phones in daily situations.”
Curious, after getting home Anastasia decided to do some research to find out exactly how this iPhone function works.
She said: “The NFC chip in the card stays active if you have something called Express Mode set up.
“All this time I had no idea!
“Since I’m a content creator, I decided to share my experience on TikTok when I got home.
“I thought it might help out other people too, if they ever find themselves in a similar situation.
“The video went viral overnight with people from all over the world saying they are trying it in their own city’s train stations, or to make purchases after their phone is dead!”
You can find the option in Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay.
In the video, Anastasia shows herself hovering her phone like she would on top of a payment machine, capturing her post: “Me today when I learned I can still use Apple Pay even when my phone dies.”
With any 2018 or later iPhone model (so iPhone XS/XR or newer), you can use cards, passes and keys in the Wallet app with just a tap.
This works for up to five hours in Power Reserve mode.
Apple confirms this feature in a statement on its website.
“If iOS isn’t in use because iPhone needs to be charged, there may still be enough power in the battery to support Express Card transactions,” Apple explains.
“Pressing the side button (or on iPhone SE 2nd generation, the Home button), displays the low-battery icon as well as text indicating that Express Cards are available to use.
“The NFC controller performs Express Card transactions under the same conditions as when iOS is in use, except that transactions are indicated only with haptic notification (no visible notification is shown).”
Sadly the feature won’t work if you’ve shut the iPhone down yourself.
And you can only use it on approved Express Card services, which Apple lists as:
- A payment or travel card designated as the Express Travel card
- Student ID cards with Express Mode turned on
- Car keys with Express Mode turned on
- Home keys with Express Mode turned on
- Hospitality or Corporate access cards with Express Mode turned on
For instance, it will work for paying fares on the London Underground.
It won’t work for just making purchases at shops.
Social media users have been left in awe.
“OH WHAT?!” wrote one user.
“In case anyone doesn’t know, you can use it without wifi or data too!” someone else said.
Another user added: “WHAT HOW THE MAGIC?”
“I read this as you can use Apple Pay when you’re dead,” said another person, followed by laughing emojis.
Someone else added: “I knew it worked when you had no data or internet but didn’t know it worked if it was dead!”
“SAY WALLAH,” said another amazed viewer. [sic]
Anastasia added: “This is why I love TikTok – it’s fun to connect with others and hear their experience, as this seems like it was not a well-known fact, either.
“Now I’m not so worried if my phone dies, as different forms of electronic payment are accepted nearly everywhere.”
Anastasia is also happy she shared the trick as she feels it can be helpful to women in particular, should they be stuck in an uncomfortable situation.
She added: “I think for women this is comforting in a way – if your phone dies, you can still exit the train or bus, and you don’t feel stuck and have to ask people for help.
“Furthermore, if an NFC chip is still activated and able to work for Express Pay on the Apple Wallet for transit, more apps could develop similar features to help with safety and tracking services to ensure we can all get home safely or get help when needed.”
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
