How Tos - Page 9

Most of us stare at our iPhones for far too long, and this constant exposure to a bright screen can strain our eyes, especially in low-light conditions or during the twilight hours. That's where the ability to dim your iPhone screen beyond the standard brightness settings becomes a game-changer. If the screen of your iPhone or iPad is too bright for comfort, the usual solution is to go to...

Most iPhone users may not know this trick, but you can delete multiple contacts at the same time in iOS. The reason it's not more widely known is that Apple's bulk delete function in Contacts is unlike similar actions performed in Messages and Mail, so it's not immediately obvious how it works. The following steps guide you through what is actually a very simple process once you know it....

If you're new to iPad, Apple recently opened up the Lock Screen to a wealth of personalization options not seen before. iPad users can change not only the wallpaper but also the clock font and color, and with the addition of widgets, users can customize the look and control the information density on the screen. As a result of all the new personalization features, Apple has overhauled the...

In a break from the past, Apple these days offers non-developers the opportunity to download beta software updates on their iPhones for free. Keep reading to learn how it's done. Before iOS 17 was announced in June 2023, Apple made its first major beta software updates available only to paying subscribers of its Apple's Developer Program, which costs $99 a year. Public betas would then...

On iPhone and iPad, Apple's Visual Look Up feature for photos makes it possible to isolate the subject of a picture from its background so that you can copy it to the clipboard for use elsewhere or share it in another app. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple says the feature relies on advanced machine learning, and its ability to recognize and isolate subjects...

On iPhone and iPad Lock Screens, you can change the font and style of the clock, add widgets, and apply dynamic weather and astronomy wallpapers. What some users might not know is that you can also set a completely different Home Screen wallpaper to the one that appears on the Lock Screen. Keep reading to learn how it's done. When you customize the Lock Screen for the first time, you'll...

If you're a fan of classic Nintendo games and own an iPhone, we have great news for you. Apple has recently updated its App Review Guidelines to allow game emulators in the App Store. This change opens up new possibilities for playing your favorite retro games on modern devices. Keep reading to learn what's changed and how you can get gaming in no time. Apple's ‌App Store‌ Policies: What...

Creating a photo slideshow on your iPhone is a fantastic way to showcase your memories in a dynamic and visually engaging way. Whether it's reliving a recent holiday, celebrating a family event, or sharing your artistic endeavors, a slideshow can bring your stories to life. Available through the Photos app, the slideshow feature allows you to easily curate your images and present them in a...

In iOS 17.2 and later, Apple includes a Contact Key Verification feature that aims to enhance your messaging security on an iPhone. This article explains why you might want to use the feature and includes practical steps to enable it on your device. Why Use Contact Key Verification? Contact Key Verification was designed by Apple to ensure that iMessage conversations are more secure and that ...

On iPhone, Apple offers a Voice Isolation feature for use during cellular calls. Keep reading to learn what Voice Isolation does and how to enable it. In iOS 15 and later, Apple includes several new features to make video conferencing with FaceTime and other video calling apps more appealing. One of these features, called Voice Isolation, makes it easier for people to hear your voice on a...

Tired of toggling your iPhone's Orientation Lock for certain apps? Keep reading to learn how you can make iOS do it for you automatically. In iOS, many apps display a different view when you rotate your iPhone from portrait to landscape orientation. Depending on the app and the way you use it, this behavior isn't always desirable, which is why Apple includes the Orientation Lock option in...

Back in January, we reported on an issue where some Mac users found that their computer automatically upgraded itself from macOS Monterey or Ventura to the latest macOS Sonoma release, even with the Automatic Updates option disabled in System Settings. In many cases, it seems that users inadvertently triggered the Sonoma upgrade simply by dismissing a notification alerting them that the...

Did you know you can quickly access your most recent files on your iPhone without navigating through folders or apps? Thanks to Apple's Files widget, you can directly access your files with a tap of your Home Screen. The Files widget helps keep your important documents at the forefront. It's great way to keep track of your most recent work without manually sorting through files, ensuring...

Like iPhones, iPads, Macs, the Apple Watch, and the Apple TV, the HomePod and HomePod mini are updated with new software on a regular basis. The most recent update was released on March 7, and enables Siri to learn what your preferred media service is. By default, updates are installed on your ‌HomePod‌ devices automatically, but there's also a way to force an update if new software is...

In iOS 17, Apple added a new feature to the Photos widget that enables you to view pictures from a specific album in your photo library right on your iPhone's Home Screen. Here's how it works. Previously in iOS, the ‌Photos‌ widget was limited to showing featured pictures selected for you by the ‌Photos‌ algorithm, meaning there was no way to choose a custom album in your library for the widget...

Apple has improved the Lock Screen on iPhones in recent years, making it more customizable than ever and able to display information-rich widgets. This article shows you how to add select widgets your iPhone's Lock Screen in ‌iOS 16‌ and later. Lock Screen Widgets used to be the sole preserve of Android phones, but in 2022 Apple finally added them to ‌iPhone‌ when it overhauled the Lock...

In iOS 17.4, which is now available, a new feature enables Siri to read incoming messages to you in the language(s) of your choosing. Keep reading to learn how it works. Previously in iOS 17, ‌Siri‌'s interaction with Messages was limited to one option – the ability for ‌Siri‌ to automatically send your dictated messages without asking you to confirm them first. In iOS 17.4, however, ‌Siri‌...

In iOS 17.4, which is now available, Apple has added audio transcripts to the Podcasts app for iPhone, meaning you can now read along to your favorite podcasts as they are spoken. In iOS 17.4, Apple has added support for auto-generated transcripts in its Podcasts app, offering users another way to enjoy podcast content rather than simply listening to what is being said. (To update your...

On iPhone and iPad, Apple includes a Translate app that can translate several different languages in real-time, and Safari has integrated translation capabilities, too. Thanks to its webpage Translation feature, Safari will automatically detect if it can translate a foreign webpage you visit based on your Preferred Languages list. Keep reading to learn how it all works. At the time of...

With last year's release of iOS 17, Apple introduced new features for second-generation AirPods Pro, such as Adaptive Audio, the ability mute/unmute yourself when on a phone call, and more. Keep reading to learn what use cases the new noise control features are designed for, and how you can control them in iOS 17 when your iPhone is connected to ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 with updated firmware. To skip...