How Tos

Much has been made of Apple Intelligence since its announcement at WWDC in June. Apple brought the first features to compatible iPhones in October with iOS 18.2, and the iOS 18.2 point update released earlier this week brought a more fleshed-out set of AI-powered updates. However, not everyone is interested in using the features, so we've provided this quick guide explaining how to turn them off. ...

With its iOS 18.2 software update, Apple introduced a major change to the Mail app with its new Categories and priority messages features. Categories automatically sorts your emails into four distinct sections: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. The change also adds contact photos and business logos for conversations in your inbox, but if you don't like how they look, it's easy...

In macOS Sequoia 15.2, Apple has introduced a new option that adds a weather report to your Mac's menu bar. Keep reading to learn how to get it. Mac users who update to macOS 15.2 can now add a handy weather icon to the menu bar, showing the current temperature alongside a visual indicator of the conditions — such as a sun for sunny skies or a cloud for overcast weather. Clicking the...

If you're concerned about hearing loss and own AirPods Pro 2, Apple's latest iPhone and iPad software offers a convenient new clinical-grade Hearing Test that's easy to use. Here's everything you need to know about checking your hearing health with this new feature. Apple on December 11 released iOS 18.2, which expands the Hearing Test feature on the AirPods Pro 2 to nine additional...

In iOS 18.2, Apple introduced a major change to the Mail app with its new Categories feature. Categories automatically sorts your emails into four distinct sections: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. However, while this organizational system aims to help manage email overload, not everyone is going to prefer the new layout. Mail Categories attempts to intelligently organize...

In iOS 18.2, which Apple is releasing today, Apple's new Genmoji feature lets you create personalized emoji that aim to perfectly match what you want to express, going far beyond the limitations of standard Unicode emoji. Want an emoji of a break-dancing astronaut or a dog playing bagpipes? With Genmoji, you can make it happen. Unlike standard emoji that are fixed Unicode characters, Genmoji ...

If you've ever been reading, following instructions, or watching video on your iPad only to have the screen dim at the most inconvenient moment, you're not alone. Automatic dimming helps preserve battery life, but it can be frustrating when you need your screen to stay bright and active. Fortunately, you can prevent your iPad screen from dimming automatically, and all it involves is a...

With iOS 18, Apple introduced its first dedicated Passwords app, which corrals all of your saved logins and passwords within a simple interface and secures them behind your biometric authentication. The Passwords app is automatically added to your device when you update to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or macOS Sequoia, and it replaces the passwords section in the Settings app on iPhone/iPad and in...

In iOS 18, Apple includes a dedicated option to lock and even hide individual apps on your iPhone. This means that even if your device is unlocked, you can add an extra layer of privacy and security to specific apps that contain sensitive data. The lock and hide options mean you can unlock your iPhone and hand it to someone for them to look at something, knowing they won't be able to open...

With iOS 18.1, Apple has introduced AI-powered notification summarization across all apps, which means your iPhone will automatically condense your alerts to show just the key details. The feature aims to reduce notification overload, but it doesn't always work as advertised. Keep reading to learn how to manage the feature. Image credits: r/AppleIntelligenceFail Powered by Apple Intelligence, ...

When you go to share something on your iPhone, iOS tries to be helpful by displaying a row of suggested contacts at the top of the Share menu. Keep reading to learn how to get rid of them. Whenever you go to share something on your iPhone or iPad using the Share button, iOS brings up a Share menu – often called the Share Sheet – at the top of which is a row of suggested contacts with...

In watchOS, the Smart Stack for your Apple Watch is pretty clever. The collection of widgets can be pulled up with a scroll of the Digital Crown, and shows you relevant information throughout your day. But sometimes, its eagerness to help can be a bit much, especially when it comes to Live Activities. You're probably familiar with this scenario: You raise your wrist expecting to see your...

Flight tracker apps are a popular way to keep tabs on planes in the sky, because when you're preparing to fly or when someone you know is on board a flight, you can use them to check that things are still on schedule. But if you have an iPhone, you don't need to download and install a third-party app to track a flight – it's a handy built-in feature of the operating system. The ability to ...

In iOS 18, Apple added several new accessibility features, and one feature in particular that is likely to have widespread appeal among car passengers is Vehicle Motion Cues, which aims to prevent motion sickness when looking at an iPhone or iPad. According to Apple, research shows that motion sickness is commonly caused by a sensory conflict between what a person sees and what they feel,...

Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 models include a multi-functional Double Tap gesture that you might not know about or haven't yet got around to trying. Here's everything Double Tap can do, and how you can make the most of it on your Apple Watch. Double Tap is a gesture-based feature for Apple Watch models that lets you control watch functions by tapping your thumb...

In iOS 18, Apple has introduced a clever new way to identify if your iPhone charging setup is running at less than optimal speeds. The new feature appears directly in Settings, making it easy to spot when you're not getting the fastest possible charge. The Battery section displays a Slow Charger message when your iPhone detects a "slow" charger in use. You'll also see charging periods with...

Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a messaging standard Apple adopted in iOS 18 that is significantly enhancing the messaging experience between iPhone and Android devices. Think of it as SMS 2.0 – a major upgrade to the traditional text messaging we've been using for years. Key Features of RCS Apple's decision to embrace RCS came last year after persistent persuasion from Google, which...

Ever fumbled with your iPhone's buttons trying to remember the right combination to power it off? Whether you have mobility challenges or just prefer simpler controls, Apple in iOS 18 includes a much-welcome solution in the form of a dedicated power button right in Control Center. Using the New Power Button in Control Center Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone screen to...

Apple occasionally releases firmware updates for its AirPods and AirPods Pro wireless earphones that can include performance improvements, feature tweaks, and bug fixes. If you're having a particular issue with your AirPods or AirPods Pro, or if you just want to make sure they're up to date with the latest software, then follow the steps below. How to Update Your AirPods or AirPods Pro I...

As an Apple Music subscriber, you're able to download songs, playlists, and albums from the Apple Music catalog to your iPhone or iPad for offline listening, but this can gradually eat up your device's storage space over time. Fortunately the Music app includes a handy feature that can spring into action whenever your device's storage space runs low, and automatically offload songs you...