10 Must-Know iPhone Toolbar Icons and What They MeanThe iPhone’s toolbar icons are small visual cues that pack a lot of functionality into compact symbols. Learning them makes navigation faster, helps you use apps more effectively, and reduces frustration when an unfamiliar icon appears. Below are ten essential toolbar icons every iPhone user should recognize, what they mean, and quick tips for using them.
1. Home / Back (Chevron) Icon
The chevron — a left-pointing arrow or “<” — typically appears at the top-left of apps and screens to take you back to the previous view. In many Apple apps it’s paired with a title (for example, “Back” or the previous screen name).
Tip: Tap the chevron to return step-by-step through nested screens. In some apps, swipe from the left edge to perform the same action.
2. Share (Square with Up Arrow)
This square with an upward-pointing arrow is the universal iOS Share icon. Tapping it opens the share sheet, letting you send content via Messages, Mail, AirDrop, copy links, save to Files, or run shortcuts.
Tip: Long-press items like images or links to reveal contextual share options. Customize the share sheet by editing actions at the bottom.
3. Edit / Pencil Icon
A pencil (or the word “Edit”) indicates that the current item is editable. You’ll see it in Notes, Photos (for markup), and many settings screens where you can modify content or re-order items.
Tip: In Photos, after tapping Edit you’ll get crop, filter, and adjustment tools. In lists, Edit often unlocks multi-select, delete, or rearrange options.
4. Compose / New (Pencil on Square)
A pencil over a square (or a plus alongside a pen) signals creation of a new item — a new message, note, email, calendar event, or document.
Tip: Use this for quick creation. Some apps let you long-press the compose icon to jump straight to specific templates (e.g., new email recipient, new calendar event).
5. Search (Magnifying Glass)
The magnifying glass opens an app’s search field to find content inside the app: emails, messages, settings, or items in the App Store.
Tip: In many apps, pull down on the main list to reveal the search bar quickly. Use keywords and filters (when offered) for faster results.
6. More / Ellipsis (Three Dots)
Three horizontal or vertical dots (ellipsis) indicate additional options or actions that don’t fit on the main toolbar. Tapping it often reveals context-specific menus like rename, move, duplicate, or settings.
Tip: When you don’t see an expected action in the toolbar, check the ellipsis menu — it often hides less-used but important commands.
7. Trash / Delete (Trash Can)
The trash can icon denotes deletion or moving an item to the Trash/Recently Deleted. It’s common in Mail, Photos, Notes, and file managers.
Tip: Deleted items often go to a temporary “Recently Deleted” folder for recovery within a limited time. Use Undo (shake or on-screen option) if you delete by mistake.
8. Save / Done / Checkmark
A checkmark or the word “Done” confirms and saves changes. After editing or configuring settings, tap Done to commit your changes and exit edit mode.
Tip: If an action looks reversible, check for a Done or Save before leaving the screen to avoid losing edits.
9. Bookmark / Favorite (Flag or Heart)
A bookmark-shaped icon or a heart adds items to favorites or bookmarks — saving a page, marking a contact, or adding a location. In Safari it’s a book icon for bookmarks and a plus sign to add.
Tip: Use bookmarks and Favorites to keep frequently-visited pages and contacts one tap away. In Maps, saving locations to Favorites creates quick directions later.
10. Sync / Refresh (Circular Arrow)
A circular arrow or pair of arrows denotes refresh, reload, or sync actions. In web browsers and list-based apps it reloads content; in email or cloud apps it forces synchronization.
Tip: Pull-to-refresh (swipe down) is a common alternative to the refresh icon. For sync problems, check your network and account settings.
Putting It Together: Practical Examples
- In Mail: Compose (pencil on square) creates a new email; the trash can deletes emails; the circular arrow refreshes the inbox; chevrons navigate folders.
- In Safari: The share icon exports pages; the book/bookmark saves links; the circular arrow reloads; the ellipsis shows Reader mode and other actions.
- In Photos: Edit (pencil) opens adjustment tools; share exports images; trash moves photos to Recently Deleted.
Quick Tips for Faster Navigation
- Learn gestures: swipe-to-go-back, pull-to-refresh, and pull-down-to-search speed up many tasks.
- Long-press toolbar icons to reveal shortcuts or contextual actions.
- Customize toolbars where supported (some third-party apps allow rearranging or hiding icons).
Knowing these ten toolbar icons will make daily iPhone use smoother and less confusing. As you encounter them, the visual shorthand becomes second nature — like reading small, functional road signs that get you where you want to go.
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