iPhone secret button: reads clothing labels and tells you how to wash clothes without ruining them

This tool can recognize everything from a dog’s breed at the park to the warning lights on a car dashboard, and it can even explain laundry care symbols so you avoid damaging clothing when washing it.

How does the iPhone’s visual recognition engine work?

The key advantage of this technology is that it performs analysis without relying on external servers. The device’s processor uses its neural engine to examine the image directly on the iPhone, which speeds up results and helps preserve user privacy.

The range of items the system can identify is wide: it can recognize plant species and flowers, artworks in galleries, historic monuments, dishes and suggest recipes, and even provide technical details about products.

One particularly useful application is reading everyday visual codes. For instance, by photographing a garment’s care label, the phone can translate washing symbols; if the picture shows a vehicle dashboard, the feature can describe the precise meaning of any illuminated indicator lights.

Step-by-step: using Visual Look Up

The process is straightforward and doesn’t require digging through complicated settings. Start by taking a clear photo of the object, animal, plant or instruction you want information about, making sure the subject is well lit.

Open the image in the Photos app and look at the toolbar at the bottom. You’ll see the familiar information icon — a lowercase “i” inside a circle.

If the algorithm recognizes something in the photo, that icon will change to indicate available visual lookup results. The “i” may gain a sparkle effect or transform into a themed symbol like a paw for pets, a leaf for plants, a washing machine for garment care, or a dashboard icon for automotive alerts.

The next step is to tap the updated icon or swipe the photo upward. Instantly, the system will show an interactive card with a “Look Up” option and provide a detailed description or the origin of the species. Keep in mind that while the initial identification is performed on-device, accessing expanded information often requires an internet connection.

Which iPhone models support this feature?

Visual analysis demands a certain level of graphical processing, so it’s only available on newer devices. The software requirement is iOS 17 or later.

On the hardware side, the feature works starting with the iPhone XS and iPhone XR and is supported on subsequent lines: all iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 models and newer, plus the second- and third-generation iPhone SE models and iPhone Air editions.

Also ensure your phone’s language is set to Spanish (if you prefer results in Spanish) and that Siri and Visual Look Up options are enabled in the Settings app so the feature can operate properly.

With these settings in place, your iPhone camera can go beyond taking pictures and become a visual assistant that interprets objects from the real world with just a tap.