The Home app is a centralized control app for all your HomeKit-enabled smart home accessories, from light bulbs to the smart lock on your front door. This app allows you to control individual accessories, set scenes with multiple devices, create automation, and access advanced settings.

The Home app is also a way to organize your HomeKit home by placing accessories into rooms. It allows you to name each device so that you can refer to them the way you want when sending voice commands via Siri. Plus, if you have a HomePod mini or two, you'll even use the Home app to download and install software updates for Apple's wireless smart speaker.

Controls

Controlling your accessories in the Home app is as simple as a tap. HomeKit accessories, such as HomeKit smart plugs, can be toggled on and off at will just by tapping on its icon within the Home app. Additionally, pressing and holding or tapping on the accessory name allows you to access more granular controls.

Press and hold your accessories and scenes within the Home app and from Control Center to make quick adjustments to things like temperature, color, brightness, etc., depending on the accessory. This control screen also gives you access to the accessory settings, including options like setting it as a favorite or adjusting notifications.

Home app controls are available in Control Center on iOS and iPadOS. Accessories and scenes that you have deemed as favorites will appear along with other controls, giving you a quick way to access them from just about anywhere. Control Center also includes a complete home overview, offering an alternative way to hunt down an accessory even if you didn't set them as a favorite.

Lock Screen Widgets for the Home app are also available starting in iOS 16. While limited, you can put a status report for your home right underneath the clock on your Lock Screen. Status reports include the number of lights that are on, the temperatures in your home, and whether or not security devices are unlocked or open. To set a Home app widget for your phone, check out the guide: How to customize your Lock Screen on iPhone.

Scenes

HomeKit scenes are a way to combine multiple controls for all of your accessories into one action. By creating a scene, you can put together a way to turn off or dim your HomeKit light bulbs, close your blinds, and fire up your HomeKit TV, all with a single tap or shout to Siri.

The beauty of scenes (and HomeKit in general) is that they can be created regardless of whether your HomeKit door lock is from a manufacturer different from your HomeKit smart plug. All of the actions are performed in the background, saving you from tapping and swiping around to find each accessory. Scenes can even be included in automation (more on that below) with other accessories. For a step-by-step walkthrough on creating scenes, check out the guide: How to create scenes in the Home app.

Favorites

Launching the Home app presents you with a page of curated scenes and accessories called the Home View. At the top of the Home View are your favorite scenes and accessories that you designate using the Include in Favorites option in the Accessory Details panel for your accessories. If you need help, we got you covered with the guide: How to set your favorite scenes and accessories in the Home app.

Toward the bottom of the Home View, you will see all of your HomeKit accessories sorted by Room. This area allows quick access to your accessories without jumping back and forth between rooms. You can remove devices from this view using the Remove from Home View option after long pressing the accessory icon.

Rooms

While iOS 16 puts less of an emphasis on rooms, you can access your accessories according to which room they're physically located. Room views strip out all other accessories in your home, allowing you to hone in on the devices and scenes that matter the most.

To access your rooms, you can tap on the room name on the Home View, or you can tap the ellipses icon located in the top right-hand corner of the Home app. This menu will show you a handy list of all your rooms so you can jump straight to the one you need. 

If you ever move or want to switch up the naming conventions for your home, you can do so at any time in the Home app. For more, visit How to rename rooms in the Home app to get started.

Status and notifications

When you launch the Home app and find yourself on the Home View page, you'll see your home's name in big and bold lettering near the top of the screen. The icons directly below your home's name (and within a room) act as a status overview for your home, displaying metrics from sensors like HomeKit temperature or air quality sensors and how many light switches are on.

In this area, you will also see critical status messages like low battery warnings and accessory update availability. This portion of the app is customizable for certain HomeKit-enabled accessories allowing you to filter out the status for smart plugs that are always left on or if you want to exclude a temperature sensor in a room you don't want to monitor all the time. See How to adjust notifications and status for your HomeKit accessories if you want to learn how to filter out nuisance alerts or add more to your Home View.

Additional users

If you share a home with others, you can add users to your HomeKit home through the Home app. Invites can be sent through the Home Settings area of the app, and once your invite is accepted, they're able to view and control your accessories through the Home app on their devices.

Limitations can be set for additional users, such as restricting access to adding or deleting accessories, as well as disabling their ability to see your home while they are disconnected to your home Wi-Fi network. Finally, additional settings are available to limit access to HomeKit Secure Video camera settings, such as viewing recordings or your live feeds.

HomeKit Secure Video

HomeKit Secure Video, introduced in iOS 13, brings camera feeds, controls, Activity Zones, Face Recognition, Package Detection, and recordings into the Home app. Users with HomeKit Secure Video-enabled cameras and a paid iCloud storage account have free access to a rolling 10-day period of recordings.

Once you set up a compatible camera, a timeline of motion events will appear directly on your camera's feed. The timeline is where you can manage HomeKit Secure Video recordings with options to review, save, and share your footage. Motion events are also analyzed instantly, providing timely notifications, and you can filter out cars and animals if desired.

Advanced HomeKit Secure Video-enabled features include Face Recognition and Package Detection. Face Recognition leverages your existing Photo Library to determine the person within your camera's view. The Photo Library allows the Home app to send more intelligent notifications for motion that include a person's name, and you can even turn off notifications for certain people. Package Detection analyzes your video feed for objects that match the description of a package.

The Home app also lets you create Activity Zones which are virtual boundaries that you create for your camera to reduce nuisance notifications and recordings. With just a few taps, you can draw an area on your camera's view that will allow it to ignore activity in regions like a sidewalk in front of your home.

HomeKit Secure Routers

HomeKit Secure Routers allow you to manage the services and connections that HomeKit accessories can access. Currently, only three router manufacturers support the feature: Amplifi, eero, and Linksys, each with a few different models that offer expanded range and capabilities. For an up-to-date list, visit our buying guide: Every router with HomeKit support that you can buy today.

As you might have guessed, you manage HomeKit-enabled routers through the Home app. The Home app allows you to set one of three security levels for your Wi-Fi HomeKit accessories. These options range from granting your accessories unrestricted access to the internet to locking down all of the traffic to just your local network without any outside connections.

Yep, you read that right; with HomeKit Secure Routers, you can make all your HomeKit accessories local, only allowing them to communicate with your HomeKit hub if desired. The most restrictive setting can interfere with things like firmware updates, but in our testing, we found that most core accessory functionality worked just as fine as ever.

Here's the breakdown of all of the available HomeKit Secure Router options:

Wallpapers

The Home app lets you personalize the app with custom wallpapers for your Home and your Rooms. If you have multiple houses with HomeKit-enabled accessories, custom wallpapers can help you quickly differentiate between homes. It's also an easy way to differentiate between Rooms within a home.

Home Notes

Home Notes are a little like the dry-erase board on the fridge or the guest book in an Airbnb location. If you add Home Notes to the Home app, everyone who's a member of your shared home will be able to see the notes. You can set ground rules (hello, Airbnb hosts), let your kids know you popped out to get groceries, store HomeKit accessory codes, or troll your significant other — the choice is yours.

Automation

"When I leave the house, turn off my bedroom lights and turn up the thermostat."

"If my smoke detector senses smoke, turn on all my lights and set them to red."

Those are two examples of the tasks you can create with automation in the Home app. Ultimately, it's exactly what it sounds like: A way to automate your smart home based on various triggers and corresponding outcomes. 

While entirely optional, automation is extremely powerful as it can manage the lights and locks and even allow your HomePod to act as a security alarm, all automatically at pre-set times or on specific days.

Automation may initially seem a little daunting, but the Home app makes the process easy. Most automation can be set up in a minute or so; all it takes is a few taps and swipes. Want to get started with automation? Then check out How to create an automation in the Home app.

HomeKit hubs

Many HomeKit-enabled accessories already offer remote access, but if you'd rather control your lights, thermostat, switches, etc., from one app (the Home app), HomeKit hubs make that task easier.

The Apple TV (HD and 4K models), HomePod, and HomePod mini can act as a HomeKit hub when set up under your Apple ID, allowing you to create automation, access your accessories from remote locations, and more. HomeKit hubs also enable advanced features like Face Recognition and Activity Zones with HomeKit Secure Video-enabled cameras and increased security with HomeKit-enabled routers.

The best part is that you can make your Apple TV or HomePod a HomeKit hub simply by signing into one with your Apple ID.

macOS

The Home app for Mac features the same functionality you'll find in its iOS and iPadOS counterparts, from control over individual accessories to managing rooms and scenes. However, interacting with accessories involves clicks and right clicks versus taps and long presses.

While we love using the Mac to peek into our HomeKit cameras through a picture-in-picture view and for status notifications, there are some significant limitations. On the Mac, you cannot add HomeKit accessories to the Home app, and you can not assign Apple Music tracks to AirPlay 2 speaker automation. Just like setting up a HomeKit hub, you can set up and start using the Home app on Mac simply by signing into your Apple ID.

watchOS

The Apple Watch is a great way to control your HomeKit accessories via Siri, but Apple also provides a scaled-down version of the Home app for your wrist. In the watchOS version of the Home app, you can view and interact with your favorite accessories using taps to quickly toggle things, such as your lights, on and off. Also, like on iOS, you can tap and hold on an accessory to gain access to finer controls, like dimming the lights down using a swipe or even with the digital crown.

Live camera feeds also are available directly on your Apple Watch, complete with 2-way audio control that allows you to communicate with those in your camera's view. Plus, notifications from the Home app on Apple Watch also display a thumbnail image of motion events as soon as they happen, allowing you to keep an eye on the situation if necessary.

One app to rule them all

If you have made it this far, you know that the Home app is truly the command center for all your smart home accessories. The Home app not only brings all your devices under one roof but also allows you to create automation, scenes, adjust settings, and so much more. While we covered the basics in this guide, we encourage you to spend some time exploring all that the Home app has to offer.

In today's increasingly connected world, isn't it odd that we still trade bits of paper or metal coins for goods and services? Even if you've moved to primarily using a debit or credit card, losing it could mean that someone else has easy access to your spending power. Using your card also helps merchants build a picture of exactly how you shop.

Apple Pay is designed to alleviate some of the problems by digitizing your shopping, protecting it with biometric security, and keeping your spending habits private.

What is Apple Pay?

Apple Pay is Apple's digital payment system that aims to replace both cash and your physical cards. You can add your existing debit and credit cards to Apple Pay, enjoy contactless payments at hundreds of thousands of retailers, and know that your purchase benefits from added privacy and security. Apple Pay is also integrated into many online checkout experiences for a speedy and secure process.

Here's how Apple describes Apple Pay:

Since its debut, Apple Pay has grown beyond contactless payments, and there are now many related terms and extra features available.

How to set up and use Apple Pay

Before you can use your credit and debit cards digitally, you need to set up Apple Pay on your iPhone or iPad. It's straightforward to add a card to the Wallet app, and most banks or card issuers require a simple form of confirmation to activate the feature. You can also use Apple Pay without a credit card, using apps like Cash App.

Apple Pay purchases are secured by Touch ID, Face ID, or your device passcode, so a random person with your phone can't run around making purchases on your behalf. In addition, Apple doesn't keep any transaction data that could be tied back to you, nor does it share your actual card details with the merchant, reducing the risk of fraud.

Once up and running with the feature, there may be times when you want to manage Apple Pay on your devices — be that to check on recent purchases, edit your default card, or update your address details — and that's easy to do, too.

How to use the Wallet app

The Wallet app— formerly known as Passbook — is Apple's digital answer to managing the cards that are overfilling your purse, wallet, and pockets. It's one of the best iPhone apps there is if that sounds like you. It's also a nifty home for digital tickets and passes for events and travel, as well as loyalty cards.

Location-aware, Wallet can conveniently present appropriate cards or tickets right on the lock screen whenever you get close to your coffee shop or airport. Always connected, Wallet can even update your balance or gate number in real-time, so you always know how much you have or where you need to be.

What is Apple Card?

In 2019, Apple introduced its long-awaited credit card. Called Apple Card, the traditional credit card has a mobile home in the Wallet app on iOS. You can use it just like any other Apple Pay-supported card.

The physical consumer U.S. credit card is made of titanium and issued by Goldman Sachs. There's also a digital version in Wallet. Unlike most credit cards, it does not contain your card number, expiration date, CVV security code, or signature to protect your account information better.

Apple offers a simple daily cash-back structure with Apple Card with 2% cash-back on all Apple Card purchases when you pay with Apple Pay and 1% cash-back when you pay using the physical card. In addition, cardholders also earn 3% cash-back on purchases made directly from Apple — including purchases made at iTunes, the App Store, and subscriptions like Apple Music, Apple News+, and iCloud storage — plus some other partner retailers like Nike, Uber, Exxon, Walgreen, and others.

In the Wallet app, Apple Card gives you a neat breakdown of your spending habits, including weekly and monthly summaries to track trends in spending and make better budgeting decisions. There's also easy-to-understand information on repayments. As noted in our Apple Card review, it offers a better experience and ease of use than competing cards, even if the cash-back may not be as enticing as the rewards offered elsewhere.

What is Apple Cash?

Apple Cash — formerly Apple Pay Cash — is Apple's system for sending and receiving payments with Apple Pay through iMessage. Setting up Apple Cash also adds the new Apple Cash card to the Wallet app on your iPhone, letting you use the balance of that card to make payments in physical stores or online just as you would with any other credit or debit card attached to Apple Pay.

Your daily cash-back will be automatically added to your Apple Cash balance if you have an Apple Card. You can spend it anywhere that accepts contactless payments or transfer it to your bank account.

Another neat feature of Apple Cash is Apple Cash Family, which lets parents set up Apple Cash for children and teens with limits, notifications, and the ability to lock an account. It's an excellent way to give younger folks more financial freedom without running the risk of huge bills at the end of the month.

What is Apple Pay Express Transit?

A lot of transit systems around the world have already implemented NFC-based tap-to-pay systems. One problem with Apple Pay's added security for these systems is the need to authorize contactless payments with a fingerprint, face scan, or passcode. This adds time at the gate per passenger and is a less-than-ideal experience.

However, Apple Pay Express Transit solves this with the ability to set a default card specifically for use with this type of transit system that doesn't require you to call up your card and authorize the payment each time you travel. Tap your iPhone or Apple Watch at the gate, and your Apple Pay Express Transit card will do the rest.

What is Apple Tap to Pay?

One of the most recent additions to Apple's financial suite of services is Apple Tap to Pay. Tap to Pay turns supported iPhones into payment terminals with no additional hardware required. Previously, vendors needed third-party dongles like Square to initiate contactless payments through iPhones to accept payments.

At least for now, Tap to Pay isn't intended for person-to-person payments. Instead, businesses and merchants will accept contactless payments using supported iPhone apps. Consumers will put their iPhone, Apple Watch, or contactless card near the merchant's iPhone to complete payments using NFC.

What is Apple Pay Later?

Apple occasionally offers updates to iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS as closed developer previews or public betas. While the betas contain new features, they also contain pre-release bugs that can prevent the normal use of your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, or Mac, and are not intended for everyday use on a primary device. That's why we strongly recommend staying away from developer previews unless you need them for software development, and using the public betas with caution. If you depend on your devices, wait for the final release.

In June, the iPhone maker revealed Apple Pay Later. The service allows Apple Pay users to split the cost of purchases into four equal payments over six weeks. It's similar to "Buy Now, Pay Later" services currently being offered by companies like PayPal, Affirm, and Klarna. It officially arrives with iOS 16 this fall, although some have been able to access it sooner due to an available developer beta.

Your digital wallet

As you can see, there's much to know about Apple Pay and its sprawling feature set. Unfortunately, not every feature is available in every location. Still, Apple continues adding new capabilities to Apple Pay and the Wallet app and will hopefully continue to expand them globally. Every time it does, we get closer to a future where we can ditch our wallets entirely.

Updated July 2022: Updated with information about Apple Pay Later.

While Reminders will never replace a sophisticated "getting things done" app, it is a pretty great "getting started" app for those new to tasks or to-do lists.

In iOS 15, you can use Reminders to make shopping lists or packing lists or to keep work and home organized. You can set reminders for specific times or specific locations, so you can remember to take medication when you need to, and stop by the store when you leave the office. You can add tasks at any time with Siri — and "Hey Siri!", totally hands-free! — and even remind yourself about anything you're looking at on any Apple device just by saying "remember this." It's a great tool that your favorite iPhone and iPad have already installed, so why not learn how to use it!

How to set up task lists in Reminders

The Reminders app for iPhone and iPad lets you create task lists, and even share them with a friend. Whether it's a grocery list for you and your family, a party-list for your friends, or a "getting things done" list for that big project at home or at work, reminder lists will keep you focused and organized!

How to create tasks in Reminders

Sure, you can add a task to a list in the Reminders app but if you really want to get things done, you can add a due date to your reminder or even a due location. That way you can get alerts not only for specific times but when you leave or arrive at specific places as well. Never forget to take the pizza out of the oven, call home when you leave work, or pick up milk when you get to the store again — learn how to create tasks in Reminders!

How to mark tasks completed in Reminders

There are two ways to remove a task from Reminders. The first is by tapping the completed button, which marks the task as done and hides it from the active list. The other way is to manually delete the task from the list, whether you've done it or not. Learning how to delete tasks in Reminders will not only make sure your tasks get done, but also give you that satisfying dopamine hit of crossing a task off your to-do list!

How to edit tasks in Reminders

Just because you've set a to-do or task doesn't mean you're stuck with it. Reminders lets you add timers or location alerts, edit text and change priority, and even add notes if you need them. Editing your tasks in Reminders lets you stay on top of your tasks, and modify them when they no longer suit your needs.

How to share Reminders with Family Sharing

If you're using Family Sharing, you can share Reminders with everyone in your group. From shopping list items to household chores, packing lists to game day tasks, shared reminders are a great way to keep the whole family organized and engaged. The best part is once you've enabled Family Sharing, you're good to go to start sharing tasks and task lists in Reminders!

How to set reminders and update to-do lists with Siri

Apple's virtual assistant was designed to help you get things done, and part of that job description is creating and updating your Reminders with Siri. If you need to be prodded to pick up milk on the way home, order that present in time for the big party, or set up that lunch meeting before the end of the day, Siri's there to help.

There are some great third-party apps for task managing!

While Reminders is built into Apple's software, it isn't your only option. There are a ton of great to-do and task manager apps floating around on the App Store for you to explore. Some are full of customization options, some are elegant and simple, and others are very bright and colorful. So, if Reminders doesn't suit your needs, don't be afraid to step out of the box!

Updated May 2022: Updated for iOS 15 and iPad OS 15

The Calendar app on your iPhone and iPad lets you create appointments and share events, but — most importantly — it also helps you stay on time! You can set up Calendar to work with iCloud, Google Calendar, Microsoft's Outlook, and even calendars from your company's servers. What's more, thanks to Siri, you can add appointments quickly and easily with the power of your voice.

If you are just getting started with managing your events or if you are looking for some new tips, here's how to get the most out of the Calendar app.

For this guide, we will be talking about the Calendar app on iOS and iPadOS. For the macOS Calendar app, check out our guide: How to set up and start using Calendar on the Mac.

How to set up an iCloud calendar

Apple makes it incredibly easy to set up all your calendar accounts and sync them to your iPhone or iPad. When you create an Apple ID, Apple will automatically provide you with an iCloud calendar, so all you have to do is hop on over to the Calendar app to get started.

How to set up other calendar services

If you use another service for your personal, family, or work calendar, you can set it up through the Settings app. Calendar Account settings will walk you through setting up some of the most common services, such as Google Calendar, Microsoft Exchange, and Outlook, so in most cases, all you will need is your email address and password. Don't worry if you use a calendar that isn't through Apple, Google, or Microsoft — you can still add it easily through Settings. By using the Other option while adding an account, you can type in your credentials the server address for IMAP, POP, and CalDAV calendars.

How to customize your calendars

Apple's Calendar app for iPhone and iPad lets you schedule everything from your workday to household chores. To help keep everything organized, you can customize your Calendar settings to color-code your calendars, set time zones, and even set default alerts.

You can also customize your calendar type to use Chinese, Hebrew, and Islamic calendars instead of the default U.S. format. All so you can have your calendar your way!

How to use the Calendar widget

Another way to customize your Calendar is by adding it directly to your iPhone or iPad Home screen. If you are running iOS 14 or later, you can choose between five Calendar widgets, each with a unique layout and size. Widgets include Up Next that shows your upcoming appointments along with the date, Month which shows you the current day of the month, and List that breaks events down by the hour.

Adding the Calendar widget is straightforward as it follows the same steps as adding other widgets on your iPhone Home screen. Just tap and hold anywhere on your Home screen or the Today View and tap the + icon to bring up the widget picker.

How to add and manage calendar events

The Calendar app for iPhone and iPad provides a great way to keep track of all your appointments and events. While it's faster to use Siri — more on that in a few — to create basic events to add to your calendar, if you need more precise control, or if you want to edit existing event details, you can do it the old fashioned way: by tapping your way through all the options!

By knowing how to add and manage calendar events, you can not only add meetings, but you can also add links and notes to calendar events. By adding details like an address, you can even get travel times for calendar events.

How to share your calendars

Apple helps you stay organized by letting you publish calendars on iCloud and then share them with other people. It's great for planning events — whether they're conferences for work or family vacations. You can share your calendar if you make iCloud calendars public, or you can share an event by adding someone as an invitee.

The easiest way to share events is to use calendars with Family Sharing. When you set up Family Sharing, Apple will create a shared calendar that you can add events to right away. Events that you create will automatically appear on your family's devices in the Calendar app, and they will receive alerts for any changes.

How to use Calendar with Siri

Since Siri is your personal assistant, it only makes sense to have it schedule and manage your meetings and events. You can create a calendar event with Siri in a few seconds, which is much more convenient than manually creating and entering all the data yourself.

You can also ask Siri to schedule a meeting, tell you what's on the agenda for the day, or move an existing appointment to another time to make room for a conference call. Using Siri on your iPhone or iPad isn't the only way to manage your Calendar, though, as you can also request event details or make changes from a HomePod mini.

Keep track of it all with the Calendar app

As you can see, the iOS 15 Calendar app on your best iPhone and iPad makes it easy to manage all of your family events, meetings, and more, all with a few taps or through Siri. However, if you need more customization and sharing options, you can always check out the best calendar apps for even more ways to organize your events.

Updated April 2022: Updated for iOS and iPadOS 15.

iMessage is Apple's built-in instant messaging (IM) service. It lets you send text, picture, video, sound, and location quickly and easily to anyone using iMessage on iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. There's so much you can do with iMessage, which has picked up lots of new features over the years.

Here's how to maneuver through iMessage on the best iPhones and best iPads, including the iPhone 13 Pro.

How bubble and screen effects work in iMessage

Apple offers lots of unique features in iMessages, starting with the ability to add bubble and other screen effects. You can send text bubbles using slam, loud, gentle, or invisible ink tools. Full-screen effects include sending multiple bubbles simultaneously using an echo feature, a spotlight option, etc. Effects also work with memoji.

How emoji and Tapbacks work in iMessage

Messages also take emoji to the next level. If that doesn't sound important to you, you haven't seen the kind of cheers emojis get on stage or the amount of interest they generate on social media. They're big, smiley, and trendy, as are Tapbacks.

How Digital Touch and handwriting work in iMessage

Digital Touch — the ability to send a hand-drawn Sketch, haptic Taps, or sensor-read Heartbeats — first debuted on the Apple Watch. Now all those communication features are available on iPhones and iPads as well.

How stickers and apps work in iMessage

In the iMessage App Store, you can find sticker packs, including ones that are animated, that you can post, send, modify, and stamp on top of other messages. And developers can create apps that let you share content, edit photos, play games, send payments, and collaborate with others, right inside Messages. It's great for users, who get much richer functionality, and developers, who get a chance to become as viral as the next hot meme.

How to use animoji and memoji in iMessage

Animoji and Memoji are two other ways to express yourself in Messages on iPhone and iPad. Animoji uses 3D emojis that map your face, allowing you to project your voice through an animated robot, alien, unicorn, or monkey that opens its mouth, smiles, and moves when you do.

Memoji lets users create 3D avatars of themselves that you can use similarly to Animoji. The only difference is that your 3D buddy on-screen looks like you!

How to set up, activate, and deactivate iMessage for iPhone and iPad

However, before you can start using messages and everything else, you need to set it up. If you enabled iCloud on your iPhone or iPad, there's a chance iMessage was enabled as well. If not, you can turn it on quickly and customize it just the way you like it.

If you stop using your iPhone or switch to Android, Apple has to stop sending iMessages instead of SMS. The best way to make sure Apple knows you've changed and make sure you don't miss any messages from those still using iOS is to turn off iMessage before you go. We have a separate document to teach you how to get started with iMessage on iPhone and iPad.

How to send iMessages on IPhone or iPad

With the Messages app, you can send all kinds of things to all kinds of people. You can send iMessages over Wi-Fi or cellular data to anyone and everyone using an iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod touch, or Apple Watch. That includes text, pictures, audio, video, location, and more. You can also send standard carrier SMS/MMS text and picture messages to anyone on any phone. Here's how!

The Messages app also lets you forward iMessages. You can forward the message to one or multiple contacts or copy the contents and paste them into an entirely new message. Copying is also a great way to get a message into another app, like Mail, Notes, or Safari.

How to share location, contacts, and more with iMessage on iPhone or iPad

iMessage lets you send more than just text, images, and video. You can also send contact cards , voice memos, map locations, and more. You do have to go to other apps to fetch the information you want to send, but the Share Sheet makes it easy to do once you're there.

How to quickly send and reply with iMessage for iPhone or iPad

Once upon a time, you had to slowly and methodically tap your way through apps and between them to send and respond to messages. Thanks to the Messages app and Notification Center, though, you can quickly reply from any app, and immediately send soundbites, selfies, location, and more right over iMessage.

How to use iMessage groups on iPhone and iPad

You don't have to send iMessages to just one person. Thanks to groups, you can share text, photos, videos, soundbites, location — almost anything you like — with two people, three people, and more. You can even name a conversation thread to make it easier to find and keep track of or mute it for when it's getting too noisy to follow.

How to delete, block, mute, or report spam iMessages on iPhone and iPad

You can't delete iMessages or SMS/MMS on someone else's iPhone or iPad — so always be careful what you send — but you can delete any record of them from your iPhone or iPad. So, whether you don't want to be reminded of an embarrassing or hurtful text, or you want to get rid of storage-consuming pictures and videos, the Messages app lets you wipe them out or set them to expire automatically.

And just because anyone can send you an iMessage on your iPhone or iPad doesn't mean you have to let them. If you're getting messaged too often, if you keep getting messages meant for someone else, or if — ugh! — you're getting spam, you can take action against it. Muting, blocking, and reporting are all here for you.

How to use iMessage with Siri and shortcuts

Whether you're driving or your iPhone or iPad is simply across the room, you can combine iMessage with Apple's virtual assistant, Siri to send texts and even have incoming texts read to you, all with the power of your voice.

If a voice isn't your thing, there are also a variety of gesture shortcuts built into Messages. Not all of them are obvious, but they are useful — once you figure them out!

There's much you can do

As you can see, there's a lot you can do with the built-in iMessage app for iPhones and iPads. Who will you contact today?

Updated April 2022: Includes information on latest versions of iOS and iPadOS.

Siri is the name of Apple's personal digital assistant. It's basically voice control that talks back to you, understands relationships and context, handles basic sequential inference, and has a personality straight out of Pixar.

Ask Siri questions, or ask Siri to do things for you, just like you would ask a real assistant, and it will help keep you connected, informed, in the right place, and on time. You can even use Siri's built-in dictation feature to enter text almost everywhere by simply using your voice.

How to set up, secure, and start using Siri

Siri is built into every iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, and more though you'll want to set up Siri so it works exactly as you'd like it to. That includes setting up "Hey Siri" so your assistant recognizes your voice, customizing Siri's language and voice, setting a passcode lock, and more.

How to call, message, and email your contacts using Siri

You can use Siri to make a call, send a message, or compose an email but it's more than just a voice control system. Siri remembers context and it can understand relationships so, for example, you can tell Siri to call your wife's iPhone and Siri will know who that is and which phone number to dial.

How to set and share reminders with Siri

Siri was designed to help you get things done, and part of that job description is creating and updating your to-dos and lists of to-dos in the Reminders app of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

If you need to be prodded to pick up milk on the way home, order that present in time for the big party, or set up that lunch meeting before the end of the day, Siri's Reminders integration is here to help!

How to create, view, update, and cancel calendar events using Siri

Since it is meant to be your personal assistant, it only makes sense to have Siri schedule and manage your meetings and events on your iPhone or iPad. Asking Siri to create a Calendar event only takes a few seconds and is much faster than creating them manually and entering all the data yourself.

Whether you need Siri to schedule a meeting, tell you what's on the agenda for the day, or move an existing meeting to another time to make room for a conference call or a power nap, Siri will help make sure your schedule is set.

How to set alarms and timers using Siri

Siri ties right into your iPhone or iPad's built-in Clock app which means you can use Siri to set an alarm if you want to be woken up at 7 a.m., have your assistant set a timer set for 10 minutes so the cookies don't burn, or find out what the hour is in Australia before you call. No matter what you need, Siri can keep you alerted and on time!

How to get driving, walking, and transit directions with Siri

Siri is a great utility to help you find your way home, help you around the big city, and figure out which route you should take to avoid traffic. No matter where you're traveling to, Siri works with Apple Maps to help you get where you need to go. Siri can even recognize third-party apps, such as Google Maps, that you have installed and launch them for you.

How to find restaurants and businesses, read reviews, and make reservations using Siri

Working in conjunction with the Maps app, Siri can help you find restaurants and even book tables. You will need a compatible app with a Maps extension like OpenTable to complete your reservation, but Siri does a lot of the heavy lifting, including finding places and times, and showing you Yelp-powered reviews and pictures that are also included so you can view all the information you need before booking, all in one place.

How to check stocks and exchanges using Siri

Siri can't be your financial advisor or broker — at least, not yet! — but Siri can look up stock prices and exchange positions for you. Whether you want to find out what's happening with APPL or GOOG, or if the DOW or NASDAQ is up or down, Siri's got you covered. (Just not your positions. Sorry).

How to view, create, and update notes using Siri

Being a virtual personal assistant, you'd obviously expect that Siri can dictate notes. In fact, Siri can not only take a note but update them as well. If you need something that's more permanent than a reminder, something more like an idea you don't want to forget, or a draft you want to get down while you're driving, Siri and the Notes app are the perfect combination.

How to check the weather and get forecasts using Siri

Siri not only makes for a great digital assistant but a great weather forecaster as well. With Siri checking the weather, you can make sure you're never caught without your umbrella, raincoat, snow shovel, or suntan lotion again.

How to play and control music using Siri

Siri can help you access your music more easily than ever. With Siri, you can play tracks, albums, and entires genres without ever having to open your Music app. If you're running iOS 14.5 or later, Siri will even ask what your preferred music app is when you ask it to play you a track for the first time.

How to search Google, Yahoo!, Bing, and Wolfram|Alpha using Siri

If you need information, chances are Siri can search the web to help you find it. Apple currently enables Siri to search Google (or Yahoo! or Bing) for general information, and Wolfram|Alpha for computational knowledge.

You can use Siri to find anything you would normally type into a web search box, only there's no typing needed. Just ask, and you'll get back everything from the latest celebrity gossip to the answers to that nagging math question to a listing of the best free apps for your iPhone.

How to find movie locations, showtimes, reviews, ratings, and trailers using Siri

Siri has become quite the movie buff, able to tell you not only what films are playing at which theaters, but provide you with their ratings and reviews, and even play you their trailers. Want information about your favorite actor or a complete list of the movies they starred in? You need only ask!

How to look up sports scores and schedules, team rosters, and player stats using Siri

Siri is quite the sports fanatic. Whether you're on the road and desperate for the latest news, or at a bar and just as desperate to win a bet, Siri has you covered. From sports scores in Siri to upcoming schedules, player stats to team rosters and standings, you can query and compare your soccer, football, baseball, basketball, and hockey favorites from a huge number of leagues including the English Premier League, Major League Soccer, Major League Baseball, NCAA Football, NFL, NCAA Basketball, NBA, WNBA, and the NHL.

How to control your smart home with Siri

Siri works with HomeKit perfectly, meaning you can control all manner of smart home accessories with just your voice. Ask Siri to turn on lights, lower the shades, change the temperature, lock your front door, open your garage, and more. Siri even works with some non-HomeKit devices, though that depends on whether the device itself works with Siri Shortcuts or with third-party systems like Homebridge.

How to use apps with Siri

Thanks to SiriKit, developers can integrate Siri into many different types of apps, including ride booking, messaging, payments, VoIP, and more. When you ask, Siri can perform certain tasks so you don't have to go through the rigamarole of opening the app yourself.

How to set up and use Siri Shortcuts

Siri can be an integral part of your Shortcuts experience, allowing you to set up specific trigger phrases that set off all manner of automations. These can be as simple as turning off your HomeKit lights and setting your morning alarm at the end of the day to interfacing with third-party apps and services to do complex work tasks.

Get started with Shortcuts and see what they could do for you!

Your personal assistant

As you can see, there's plenty you can do with Siri and the digital assistant gets smarter with each update, making it one of the best iPhone, iPad, and Mac tools for getting stuff done.

Updated March 2022: Updated for iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey.

iCloud Keychain is Apple's password management system. With it, your account names, passwords, and credit card numbers can be safely and securely stored on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad keychain and synced across all your devices using iCloud.

When you're using Safari, you can easily access passwords or auto-fill shipping and credit card information. You can also access passwords stored in iCloud Keychain while in third-party apps. Here's everything you need to know about iCloud Keychain.

How to enable (or disable) iCloud Keychain

iCloud Keychain is an excellent program for creating, storing, and accessing your complex passwords. Since it's built right in, it's super easy to set up iCloud Keychain on iOS and get up and running with iCloud Keychain for Mac, too.

By using it, you'll always have your passwords and credit card details at your fingertips and won't need to rely on a third-party password manager app.

How to generate a password with iCloud Keychain on your iPhone and iPad

In today's technology-driven world, we have dozens, if not hundreds, of passwords to keep track of. It's easy to be tempted to use the same password continuously, but that's precisely the opposite of what you should be doing. So instead, create a password using iCloud Keychain, and you'll have a super-secure, pseudo-random password to log in with.

The best part is you don't have to remember the random collection of letters, numbers, and symbols as your iPhone or iPad will auto-fill it for you when needed. You can also create iCloud Keychain passwords on Mac.

How to manually add your personal and credit card information to iCloud Keychain on iPhone and iPad

iCloud Keychain is more than just a password manager. It also stores your credit card details and personal data, like your shipping address and phone number. Once you set it up, you can use it to fill out forms and pay for items online without remembering that long string of numbers. It even stores your credit cards' expiration dates, so you only have to remember your card verification code. Three numbers are much easier to remember than 16.

When shopping online, iCloud Keychain will offer to remember your details for the next time. However, you can manually add personal and credit card information to iCloud Keychain if you want to. There's also an option to edit iCloud Keychain information on your Mac if that's where you prefer to do your shopping.

How to access and view your iCloud Keychain passwords

The point of iCloud Keychain is to make it easy for you to fill out passwords in Safari and some apps, but there will always be times when you need a password, and you're not trying to log into a website or an app. So don't worry; your passwords aren't hidden from you.

Though there's no app for iCloud Keychain, your details are stored on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac in your Passwords tab. So you can go in and view your iCloud Keychain passwords, copy and paste your login name or password, and head back to wherever you need to enter it quickly.

How to delete saved passwords and credit cards from iCloud Keychain on your iPhone and iPad

So you stopped using that photo editing service and no longer need the login credentials. Or maybe you got a new credit card to replace the old one, and it has an entirely different number. No problem. In just a few easy steps, you can delete saved passwords and credit card data from iCloud Keychain.

Remember, since this is iCloud, changes sync across all your devices. So if you delete it from the iCloud Keychain on your iPhone, it also disappears from your Mac.

How to stop iCloud Keychain from storing and auto-filling credit cards or passwords in Safari

Even though you may love the ability to create, store, and access your passwords across your devices with iCloud Keychain, you may not want all of the features the service provides. For example, you may have no use for auto-filling and autosaving your personal and credit card information.

If, for example, you share your Mac with your roommate or your iPad with your kids, you probably don't want them to be able to use your account details to log into your social media sites or buy stuff on Amazon. You can keep your passwords stored in iCloud, but turn off iCloud Keychain AutoFill if that sounds like a better solution for you.

Keep it protected

Whether you're just getting set up with iCloud or you already use it for storing and syncing plenty of data, iCloud Keychain is worth spending the time to master.

It's one way to ensure you are making the best iPhone, iPad, and Mac security decisions and helps to keep your other online accounts and personal information safe.

Updated March 2022: Updated for iOS 15 and macOS Monterey.

A world clock, an alarm clock, a stopwatch, and a timer: Apple's Clock app for iPhone and iPad lets you keep track of what time it is or how long it's been, no matter where you are or what you're doing. It wakes you up and makes sure you don't leave anything in the oven long enough to burn. Next, it lets you keep track of your laps or endurance. Finally, it makes sure you rest just the right amount of time between sets.

But how do you do all of these things? Don't worry, we show you everything you need to know about the Clock app right here.

How to use World Clock on iPhone and iPad

About to call the grandparents in the Old Country but aren't sure of the time? Long-distance romance just going into or just getting out of class? Are you about to travel and want to keep track of the time at the location where you're headed? Office around the world and meetings you need to make? Don't worry — the World Clock for iPhone and iPad on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 has you covered!

How to use the alarm clock on iPhone and iPad

That isn't just a Clock app on your favorite iPhone or best iPad home screen. It's an alarm clock too. Set it, and it'll wake you up in the morning so you don't miss work, get you up from a nap so you don't miss class, or get you in front of the TV just in time to make sure you don't miss the big game or show. And yes, the alarm clock also lets you hit snooze for another precious few minutes more of shut-eye.

How to use stopwatch for iPhone and iPad

How long does it take for you to run 100 yards (or meters)? How long can you hold your breath? Which one of your friends can eat an apple pie in the shortest amount of time? These are all critical questions that your iPhone or iPad can help you answer. All you need is the Clock app and its built-in stopwatch!

How to use Bedtime for iPhone and iPad

Are you having trouble getting on a proper sleep schedule? The Bedtime for iPhone and iPad feature can help you discover when you should hit the hay. In addition, The Bedtime feature on the iPhone 13 series and other models is designed to help you get to sleep and when to wake up. Bedtime lets you set your desired wake-up time earlier in the day, then sets a reminder to alert you at what point you should go to sleep.

How to use the timer on iPhone and iPad

The Clock app for iPhone and iPad doesn't just tell time; it keeps track of it. With the built-in timer, you can count down a few minutes or a few hours. Set it and wait for it to go off.

How to check the time and set alarms and timers with Siri

Thanks to Apple's virtual assistant, Siri, you can quickly and easily set alarms, start timers, use the stopwatch, and check the world clock all by talking to your iPhone or iPad.

What time is it?

As you can see, the Clock app on iPhone and iPad has a lot of features. Use it as a World Clock, stopwatch, timer, and much more. Use it starting today ... at any time you choose!

Update February 2022: Includes information on latest versions of iOS and iPadOS.

If you're just starting out with the Switch, Nintendo's hybrid gaming console, or if you've been playing Zelda for weeks, there may be a few things you may not know you could do with it. We spent hours upon hours figuring out how to do everything with the Switch, and we've pulled everything together to create the ultimate Nintendo Switch guide.

Are you considering buying a Nintendo Switch?

Decision-making can be pretty hard sometimes. Especially when that decision could cost you hundreds of dollars. Before you make up your mind, check out these articles that'll help and show you where you can buy them from.

• Should you buy the Nintendo Switch?
• Nintendo Switch review from three different perspectives (roundtable style)
• What you need to know about the Nintendo Switch app
• Where to buy the Nintendo Switch
• All the bundles officially available for Nintendo Switch
• Here's our ideal Nintendo Switch Bundle

Which Switch should you get?

Not sure which Switch to get? Our recommendation is either the Switch V2 or the Switch OLED, we'll explain why below. But first off, you ought to know that there are technically four versions of the Nintendo Switch that have been released thus far. It started with the original Switch in 2017, which sells for $300; introducing the hybrid design that can be used while docked to a TV or in handheld mode.

Then Nintendo quietly released an upgrade that looked and functioned mostly the same, but with far improved battery life in August 2019. Some retailers refer to this upgrade as the Switch V2 but it still sells for $300. Need help telling them apart? The Switch V2 comes in a mostly red box whereas the original came in a mostly white box. Additionally, the two versions have different model numbers on the backside.

Model numbers

• Original Switch: HAC-001
• Switch V2: HAC-001 (-01)

Shortly after that, we got the handheld only Switch Lite in September 2019. It's only $200 rather than the original Switch's $300 price point, making it a great buy for people who usually only play solo games on the go. However, the Switch Lite cannot dock to a TV and doesn't have detachable controllers.

Lastly, in August 2021 we got the Switch OLED, which as the name implies, has an OLED display that is bigger than any Switch that came before it. Though the Switch OLED has the same resolution as previous Switch consoles, that OLED display makes visuals come through crisper with more vibrant coloring. The Switch OLED also has an improved design with the kickstand going across the entire backside of the device, making it more stable. You'll find the dock has also been improved and features an Ethernet port, which the original does not. However, all of these enhancements raise the cost of the Switch OLED to $350.

If you're not sure which Switch to get, I recommend going for either the Switch V2 or the Switch OLED. Both have the same amount of battery life and a kickstand. The removable controllers and ability to dock to a TV make them easier to share with friends and family members as well. The Switch OLED's display is far superior being able to pull out more color and crisper visuals than previous Switch versions. However, it does cost you $50 more than the V2, so it just depends on how important the handheld visuals are for you.

All the Nintendo Switch comparisons

If you're undecided as to whether you should buy Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch V2, Nintendo Switch OLED, or the Switch Lite, check out the following links.

• How the new Nintendo Switch V2 compares to the original model
• Nintendo Switch Lite vs. Nintendo Switch V2: Which one should you get?
• Nintendo Switch OLED vs. Nintendo Switch: Side by side comparison

All services, games, and accessories you need for your Nintendo Switch

You can get hours and hours of fun with your Switch right out of the box without needing anything but a game to play, but using the proper services and accessories can make your gaming experience even better. We've sifted through to find the best services and accessories available for the Nintendo Switch so far.

Nintendo is regularly launching digital downloadable games in the eShop, so be sure to bookmark our regularly-updated list of all Switch games you can get.

Every Nintendo Switch game you can get right now (and coming soon)

These are the best accessories and services you can get for the Nintendo Switch.

• Nintendo Switch Online account
• Pro Controller vs. Joy-Con controllers: which is better?
• Best microSD cards for Nintendo Switch
• Best headphones for Nintendo Switch
• Best screen protectors for Nintendo Switch
• Best portable battery chargers for Nintendo Switch
• Best accessories for Nintendo Switch
• Best travel accessories for Nintendo Switch
• Pokémon accessories
• Animal Crossing accessories
• Cool Splatoon 2 accessories
• The Nintendo Switch Online app on iPhone
• Nintendo's chat app for smartphones
• How to make your Nintendo Switch amiibo more portable
• How to replace the outer shell on your Nintendo Switch
• Ultimate Accessory Guide for the Nintendo Switch

How to set up your Nintendo Switch

If you've just unboxed your Switch and haven't even turned it on, or if you've gotten through the setup but need help adding your Nintendo Account, browse through our set up guides to help you.

• How to set up your Nintendo Switch
• How to create a new Nintendo Account
• How to link your Nintendo Network ID with your Nintendo Account
• How to set up multiple user profiles on Nintendo Switch
• How to create and edit a Mii on Nintendo Switch
• How to add or change Nintendo Accounts in the eShop on your Switch
• How to delete a user profile from your Nintendo Switch
• How to pair a new Joy-Con controller to your Nintendo Switch
• How to set up Amiibo on Nintendo Switch

Handling your Nintendo Switch games and files

All those amazing games and apps that made you buy the Nintendo Switch in the first place can get a little overwhelming sometimes. If you're not sure what to do with your files, or just want to do a bit of organizing, we've got the answers for you. Be sure to read up on what happens when you return a Nintendo Switch game before you do!

• Nintendo Switch Online app: Everything you need to know!
• Nintendo Switch Online service: Everything you need to know
• Nintendo Switch: Should you buy digital or physical games?
• How to transfer Nintendo Switch games to a microSD card
• How to delete, archive, and reinstall digital games on Nintendo Switch
• Want to return a Nintendo Switch game? Well, there's a catch

Managing your device

Making sure your Switch stays protected and up to date in software is one way to ensure the long lifespan of your new console. From updating, maintaining, and cleaning here's all the know-how you'll need to make your life as stress-free as possible.

• How to update your Nintendo Switch
• How to transfer your user and save data from one Nintendo Switch to another
• What to do when you've reached the 10,000 screenshot cap on your Nintendo Switch
• How to pair a new Joy-Con to Nintendo Switch
• How to update your Nintendo Switch controllers
• How to set up and use Channels on Nintendo Switch
• How to find a lost Nintendo Switch Joy-Con
• How to clean your Nintendo Switch
• What to do when your Nintendo Switch breaks
• How to keep your Switch safe
• How to reset your Nintendo Switch before selling it

How to set up and manage Parental Controls on Nintendo Switch

Nintendo has made it very easy for parents to keep an eye on what their little ones are up to when playing games and socializing on the Switch. You can set up a child account, protect your Switch with parental controls, and monitor your children's activities.

• How to set up Parental Controls on Nintendo Switch
• How to use the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app
• How to create and supervise your child's Nintendo Account

How to use your Nintendo Switch

Once the initial setup is complete, there are a few additional customizations and special features you should know about. If you want to share a screenshot of that moment you took down that boss, or if you want to turn down your screen brightness to save some battery juice, we've got everything you need to know right here.

• How to take a screenshot on your Nintendo Switch
• How to share Nintendo Switch screenshots to Facebook and Twitter
• How to add friends on Nintendo Switch
• How to use Quick Settings on Nintendo Switch
• How to enable Dark Mode on Nintendo Switch
• How to tweak your Nintendo Switch settings to perfection
• How to safely swap microSD cards on Nintendo Switch
• How to stop Switch from automatically turning on
• How to adjust the audio settings for Nintendo Switch in TV mode
• How to switch your Joy-Cons back to normal from sideways
• How to update your Nintendo Switch software
• How to make your user account first in line on the Home screen
• How to use Channels to get updates on your favorite games
• How to add your Wii U and 3DS friends to your Nintendo Switch
• How to find out when your friends are online

Game Guides for Nintendo Switch games

We've been playing our fingers to the bones on some of the most popular games on Nintendo Switch. If you're looking for help with a specific game, check our list of ultimate guides below.

• Pokémon Sword and Shield: The ultimate guide
• Pokémon Sword and Shield: How to catch shiny Pokémon
• Pokémon Legends: Arceus — Ultimate guide
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons — The ultimate guide
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses — The ultimate guide
• Super Mario Maker 2: Everything you need to know
• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening: Everything you need to know
• Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition - Top 10 tips and tricks
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Everything you need to know
• The most useful Amiibo for Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• Best Switch games to play after you beat Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Game Reviews for Nintendo Switch

Nintendo has already amassed an impressive library of titles in a short time frame and shows no signs of stopping. From classic platforming to epic, sprawling open worlds, Nintendo Switch has something for everyone.

• Best Games on the Nintendo Switch
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons review
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate review
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild review
• Pokémon Sword and Shield review
• Super Mario Odyssey review
• Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee review
• Pokémon Legends: Arceus review
• Luigi's Mansion 3 review
• Ring Fit Adventure review
• Super Mario Maker 2 review
• Super Mario 3D All-Stars review
• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening review
• Kirby Star Allies review
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses
• Paper Mario: The Origami King review
• Xenoblade 2 review
• Yoshi's Crafted World review
• Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics review
• Captain Toad Treasure Tracker review
• Astral Chain review
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
• Bayonetta 2 review
• Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition review
• Pikmin 3 Deluxe review

Using the eShop

Shopping on a console can sometimes get a bit confusing. Whether you're trying to use Gold points or add funds to your account we're going to make sure you've got the full map of the Nintendo Store.

• How to add funds to your Nintendo account
• What are Nintendo Gold Points and how do they work?
• You can use your My Nintendo Gold points in the Nintendo Switch eShop
• How to redeem Gold Points on Nintendo Switch
• How to preorder games on Nintendo Switch
• How to access the Japanese store on your Nintendo Switch
• How to transfer your Nintendo eShop purchases to another Switch

Nintendo Gold Points on the eShop

You'll find a My Nintendo Rewards program is linked to every Nintendo account. Whenever you purchase a game or do various Nintendo-hosted surveys, players can get rewarded with Gold Points. These, in turn, can be used towards purchasing games in the eShop.

Digital purchases made in any Nintendo eShop (Switch, 3DS, or Wii U) will earn you 5% of your purchase. Physical game cards purchased for the Switch will earn you 1% of your purchase.

One Gold Point is equal to one U.S. cent.

So, for example, if you purchase a digital game for $59.99, you'll earn 300 Gold Points. If you purchase a physical game card, you'll earn 60 Gold Points. 300 Gold Points translates to $3.00 and 60 Gold Points translates to $0.60.

As you can see, digital purchases yield a much higher reward.

You can shore up your Gold Points for up to a year from the last day of the month of their originally earned date (for anyone that got a Switch when it first launched, Gold Points for the games you purchased right away are going to expire this month!).

Trying Nintendo Switch on other devices

We've all wanted to try and play our favorite console games on other devices. Luckily, playing your Switch on the PC isn't hard to do. Emulators, however, will never be recommended. Check out why here!

• How to play Nintendo Switch games on your PC
• Nintendo Switch Emulators aren't real, and will mess up your computer

A few upgrades to try

Testing out new options you have can be a super fun project to test out. Audio, storage, and controller options are always endless and you wanna make sure you've found the best for you!

• Best voice chat alternatives to Nintendo Switch Online
• How to use a DAC to improve audio quality on your Nintendo Switch
• How to make a handmade Dock Sock for your Nintendo Switch
• How to use your Joy-Con controller to play video games on your Mac
• How to make your Wavebird controller work with your Nintendo Switch
• How to format the microSD card on Nintendo Switch

Have some fun with it

Speaking of fun, here are some awesome things you should check out in your free time! From sharing your new console to creating your own gear the possibilities are endless.

• How to stream Switch on Twitch
• How to share your Switch during the holidays
• How to throw a LAN party with your Nintendo Switch
• How to make memes with the Nintendo Switch
• Where to buy Nintendo Switch gift cards

How to sell your Nintendo Switch

If you've decided the Switch is not for you, there are a lot of people out there willing to take it off your hands. Even when used, the Switch sells for a pretty penny as long as it's in good condition.

• How to sell your Nintendo Switch

Troubleshooting

No matter what you do right, there's always something that goes wrong. If you've discovered that you're Switch is running hot while in the dock, you've got dead pixels, or you jammed your Joy-Con controller when trying to put on the straps, we've got a troubleshooting guide for you.

• Nintendo Switch: Troubleshooting guide
• How to fix Joy-Con controller drift on the Switch

Most frequently asked questions

Think of this as the extended Troubleshooting guide. These aren't necessarily problems that you encounter. Instead, they're more like confusing situations that might not be easy to find an answer to. To make it easier on you we've gathered all the guides we could on the most commonly asked questions to help you out.

• How to switch your Joy-Cons back to regular mode from sideways
• Can you connect your Nintendo Switch tablet to any Switch dock?
• How to use your GameCube controller with Nintendo Switch
• How to invite friends to voice chat on the Nintendo Switch Online app
• How to record and edit video gameplay on Nintendo Switch
• How to take a screenshot on Nintendo Switch
• How to watch YouTube on Nintendo Switch
• How to apply a Nintendo Switch screen protector without getting any bubbles
• How to remove the wrist strap on Nintendo Switch
• How to use a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller in Wired Mode
• How to share screenshots to your social media accounts on Nintendo Switch
• How to remove a user profile from Nintendo Switch)
• How to use the hidden web browser on Nintendo Switch

We've all been in that situation — there's important information that we need to jot down, but we don't have pen or paper on us. I mean, who still carries pen and paper with them nowadays, right? Thankfully, your favorite iPhone and iPad come equipped with a native Notes app, which acts as a great scratchpad, allowing you to write down anything that you may need to reference later.

But did you know that the Notes app can do more than just basic text notes? You can even do things like add photos and video, files, sketches, links, and so much more. Here's everything you need to know about how to use the Notes app on your best iPhone and iPad.

How to sync Notes

To get the most out of Notes, you'll want to make sure to sync your Notes with iCloud so that everything is available across all of your devices, including the best iPhone and iPad and your favorite Mac.

While iCloud syncing is the way to go if you want the most versatility with embeds, attachments, and formatting; you can also sync notes with your Google or Microsoft Exchange accounts as well. Keep in mind that doing it this way only supports plain text notes.

How to share and collaborate with others in Notes

The Notes app also lets you share and collaborate with others in Notes. This is perfect when you need to share checklists with your significant other or when you need to work together with a coworker on project notes. New features in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 allow you to even do things like mention specific users to get their attention, as well as a new Activity view that lets you see all edits and changes at a glance.

How to create, edit, and delete Notes

Now that you have set up your Notes app to sync with your preferred service, it's time to get started with creating notes! It's a rather simple affair, and once a note is created, it's just as easy to edit, delete, or move them to another folder too! And if you accidentally deleted a note but changed your mind, it's actually possible to recover it before it's permanently deleted.

How to lock Notes with password or Touch/Face ID

Sometimes you may have sensitive information in the Notes app that you don't want others to be able to access. This can include stuff like credit card info, passwords, medical data, or other personal information. For situations like that, it's best to lock your note with a password or even use Touch ID or Face ID, depending on the model of iPhone or iPad you have.

Unfortunately, there is no way to lock down an entire folder or the Notes app itself, so you'll need to selectively choose which notes to lock. But once you create your Notes password, it becomes your global Notes password — this means it works on your iOS devices as well as on the Mac version of Notes. So any note that you lock will require this single password to unlock. For faster access, we recommend adding Touch ID or Face ID.

How to format Notes

You can add a little pizazz to your notes by adding rich formatting to the text in Notes. Formatting includes titles and headings, bold/italicize/underline/strikethrough, checklists, and even tables. However, as I mentioned earlier, to get the benefit out of all of these formatting options, you'll want to make sure that you're using iCloud for syncing. Otherwise, Google and Microsoft Exchange accounts only support plain text with no formatting.

How to add photos, sketches, links, locations, and more to Notes

The Notes app on iPhone and iPad can do so much more than just text, too. In fact, you can add photos, videos, document scans, and sketches in a single note. Additionally, you can also add other attachments like web links, Maps locations, and even snippets of text from mobile Safari or your web browser of choice to Notes.

With the ability to add all kinds of attachments to Notes, it's your one-stop shop for remembering pretty much anything you need.

How to sketch in Notes

Earlier I mentioned that you can add sketches right in Notes. But you may be wondering, "How can I sketch in a text-based Note app?" Not a problem! Once you find the sketch pad in the Notes app, you may find it better to use than just typing your notes out. After all, some people are more visual, and sketching out diagrams and doodles is more productive for them. This is just another layer of flexibility to making Notes work for you!

How to take Notes with Siri

Sometimes you may be too busy to pull out your iPhone or iPad to take a note down. Fortunately, you can also use Siri to take down a note, which is especially handy if you have the best Apple Watch too.

With Siri, she can help you take down a new note, and you can even find and view certain notes. So no matter what life throws at you, the Notes app is always there for you, ready to help you write things down for later!

How to use Quick Note on iPad

A new feature in iPadOS 15 is Quick Note. This feature allows you to invoke a Notes' scratchpad at any time, while you're in any app (or no app), on your best iPad. This is a very useful new tool, because you can jot down little bits of information while working in other apps, and even drag-and-drop text, images, and web links in to your note too.

Quick Note works best with a stylus like an Apple Pencil, but you can also use your finger if you don't have one.

Jot everything down!

As you can see, the Notes app on your iPhone and iPad is one of the most useful apps around, and it's already installed on your device. It can save not only text but pretty much any kind of attachment you need. And if you have an iPad, the Quick Note feature is incredibly handy as you work and multitask in other apps.

Updated February 2022: With new updates for iOS 15 and iPadOS 15.

The Lock screen is the first screen you land on when you boot up or wake up your best iPhone, it serves as both assistant and gatekeeper — it keeps you informed and up-to-date at a glance, and keeps your iPhone and iPad secure against unauthorized access. That means there's a lot of functionality you can get to quickly, but also a lot of privacy options you can toggle to make sure what's available is only what you want to have available.

How to navigate the Lock screen on iPhone and iPad

Apple has re-invented the Lock screen, changing everything from the way you unlock your iPhone or iPad, to the way you glance at your info or quickly take control. It's simple once you get the hang of it. You just need to familiarize yourself with how to navigate the Lock screen and the world is your oyster!

Once you know the basics, quickly accessing the camera, Notification Center, your Wallet, and even Siri become a breeze!

How to customize the Lock screen on iPhone and iPad

Lock screen serves two contradictory purposes: It provides fast, convenient access to a ton of features like the camera, Siri, Control Center, and more, and it also prevents unauthorized access to the private contents of your iPhone or iPad. You can absolutely swap your wallpaper to make it your own, but you can also disable many of the conveniences if you'd prefer your Lock screen to be on lockdown.

You can adjust all sorts of settings to help customize your Lock screen. Changing wallpapers, turning off what is accessible through the Lock screen, and setting how much time has to pass before your best iPhone or iPad locks, can all make the Lock screen feel more like it's working for you.

How to set up and use Face ID on iPhone and iPad

If you're using a newer iPhone or an iPad Pro, you'll have the option of setting up Face ID to unlock your device. Face ID is Apple's name for the biometric facial identity scanner on its latest iPhone devices and with it, you can not only unlock your iPhone or iPad, but you can also authenticate Apple Pay, the App Store, and iTunes transactions.

How to set up and use Touch ID on iPhone and iPad

Touch ID is still around on the iPhone SE (2020) and plenty of iPad models, and it's as handy as ever. Touch ID lets the Home button identify who you are by scanning your fingerprint. That way, your iPhone or iPad knows to unlock, to authorize iTunes, App Store, and Apple Pay purchases, to give you access to your password and banking apps, and more. And they know to keep other people out. By setting up Touch ID, you can stay relatively safe, but still, make it quicker and easier than entering your passcode when you need to get into your iPhone or iPad.

How to set up and use a passcode on iPhone and iPad

Setting a passcode means anyone picking up your iPhone or iPad has to enter a series of numbers — or, optionally, a full-on password — to unlock it. It also enables hardware-level encryption for all your data. That means it's incredibly hard for anyone who doesn't have the passcode to get to your private messages, photos, financial and health information, etc. Even with Touch ID and/or Face ID, you should set a passcode, and set as strong a passcode as you feel comfortable with.

The Lock screen is just the start!

There's plenty more to see in iOS 15, so once you've figured out your preferred Lock screen settings, don't forget to explore your iPhone or iPad thoroughly.

Updated February 2022: Updated for iOS 15 and iPadOS 15.

If you want to share the apps and games you've bought with your family, get the kids their own access to Apple Music, or just want an easy way to keep your family in the loop with shared calendars and reminders, Family Sharing is for you.

As well as making the sharing of media and information easy, Family Sharing also includes neat features like Find My integration as well as some of the best iPhone parental controls and purchase permissions — all while protecting the privacy of each individual family member.

Here's how to do all the things with Family Sharing.

What is Family Sharing?

The feature set for Apple's Family Sharing system has evolved quite a bit since it debuted in 2014, but the overall purpose of sharing purchases, subscriptions, and important information with other members of your family remains the same.

Using Family Sharing, you and five other family members can share purchases like apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, and books, as well as Apple services like iCloud+, Apple Music, Apple TV+, and more. In addition to purchases, Family Sharing makes it easy for every member of the family to share photos, reminders, calendars, as well as find each other's devices with Find My and implement age-based parental controls.

While there's a lot included under the banner of Family Sharing, you don't have to use every feature. It could save you both time and money once you've got it set up, though.

How to set up Family Sharing on iPhone and iPad

Before you can start sharing purchases or enjoying all of the other Family Sharing benefits, you'll need to set up Family Sharing. Given you're the one reading this, you'll likely want to set yourself up as the Organizer of the family, select the default payment method, and add the other members of your household. You can also set up Apple IDs for any children under 13.

Once everyone has accepted their invites, you'll be able to begin sharing purchases, services like those in the Apple One bundle, and other important information like calendars and reminders.

How to use Family Sharing with Calendars and Reminders

As well as sharing purchases so you don't have to buy things multiple times, Family Sharing is also useful for sharing information between family members.

A family has lots to remember from day to day and Family Sharing makes it easy with a shared family calendar. Once Family Sharing is enabled, every person in the Family Sharing group instantly has access to the automatically-generated Family calendar. And since it works just like any other calendar, there's nothing to set up or learn. You can just start using it!

Much like the shared Family calendar, Family Sharing also automatically sets up a Reminders list that everyone in the group can view and contribute to. That means if you want someone to remember to pick up milk before heading home, you can add it and it appears on everyone's devices. Again, there's no setup required so as soon as everyone's a member of the Family Sharing group, shared family Reminders should just work.

How to share photos with Family Sharing and iCloud

In addition to all the other great perks available as part of Apple's Family Sharing service, users get a special iCloud Photo Sharing feature that provides their family with a secure Family album where they can add images and video. Each family member still has their own separate iCloud Photo Library, but the Family album allows them a space to store and share communal photos, images, and video.

Here's how to use iCloud Photo Sharing with Family Sharing to access the Family album on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

How to use Family Sharing with Find My

All of these Family Sharing features are great, but not so useful if you lose your Apple device. With Find My and Family Sharing enabled, though, you can at least have a better chance of tracking down a lost device since anyone in the family can view its location in the Find My app. So, next time mom can't find her iPad or dad leaves his iPhone at Starbucks, other family members can help find it!

How to set parental controls for Family Sharing

Being family-focused, Family Sharing of course has a bunch of features aimed at families with kids. One great aspect of Family Sharing is that designated parents can create Apple IDs for kids under 13 in their family. With that Apple ID, a child can use their own account on their own device, make their own purchasing decisions, and more. However, integrated parental control features mean that parents can still set appropriate limits.

If you want to see and approve what the kids in your family download, you can set up a feature called Ask to Buy that prompts an adult in the group to approve or deny the purchase. By default, the family organizer will be labeled as the default parent for Ask to Buy but, if you'd like, you can add other parents and guardians as well.

With Screen Time, you're also able to can keep tabs on how much time your young ones are spending using apps, visiting websites, and being on their devices overall. You can set limits for particular apps, set a particular time as downtime, restrict mature content, and more with this feature.

Other features like Apple Cash and Apple Watch Family Setup are also available for children to use and parents to manage.

Sharing is caring

Whether you need to implement some parental controls for your youngster's iPad or you just want an easy way to share app and media purchases with your partner, Family Sharing offers you the tools across your Apple devices. Given it can save you actual money, it's well worth taking the time to set up Family Sharing. 

Playing your Nintendo Switch console should be an easy and relaxing experience. But as technology goes, sometimes you may run into a problem that you aren't sure how to fix. We've compiled all your potential Switch issues into one spot so you can quickly find your problem and solve it — then get back to enjoying your console.

My controller got jammed on the wrist strap!

We've been there: you're so excited to play a game that you quickly throw together your Joy-Con straps and all of a sudden it clicks. You look and it's not attached how it should be. Don't tug and pull in despair! There's a surprisingly easy way to fix a jammed Switch controller.

It may feel like they will never separate but don't worry, they will and nothing is broken. You will get back to playing in a matter of minutes.

My Switch is HOT, like maybe too hot?!

Hot, portable technology has been an issue for many years now. Hearing the horror stories of overheated equipment may have you worried that your Switch is running too hot. We used a thermal camera to put that to the test and put your fears to rest.

My Joy-Cons seem too loose when I snap them into the Switch. Is that normal?

When you're playing in handheld mode you may feel that the Joy-Cons are loose on your Nintendo Switch. A slight wiggle is nothing to be concerned about, but if the controller seems like it isn't actually attached that's a different story. If you're still feeling that much give after making sure it's in the right place, you have a problem.

Why is the sound on my television out of sync with my Switch game?

It's very distracting when the sound of any media doesn't match up with the visuals. If you're finding your Switch game sound is lagging behind the picture while you're playing docked, there are a few ways you may be able to fix it. They're pretty simple steps from rebooting your Switch to changing your TV settings and are easy to follow.

The Switch keeps changing the channel on my TV

Whenever your Switch is activated it causes the TV to change to the channel your Nintendo Switch is setup to run through. This is supposed to be a convenient feature but if it is happening on accident regularly it may not feel so convenient. Luckily it is a setting that you can change so your Switch will stop taking over your television.

The dock is scratching my Switch, how do I stop it?!

A downside to the way the Nintendo Switch dock is built is that this is a common problem. If the plastic of the dock rubs the plastic of the screen it is prone to damaging the display. The best way to protect your console's screen is with one of the best screen protectors or a dock sock to cover the screen while docked.

I want my Switch to stop changing the screen brightness. Help?

A default setting when you get your Nintendo Switch is that it will change the screen brightness based on the light in the room. While this may work around the house, it may not work everywhere. Or maybe you just prefer your screen to be a different brightness level than what the sensors determine is right. You can turn off the auto-brightness setting and adjust the brightness to your liking.

My Switch has completely frozen and nothing works, what can I do?

Some users have reported having a strange situation where their Nintendo Switch randomly stops working no matter what button you hit. This includes the power button. We do have a few ways to fix your Nintendo Switch if it's frozen so you can get back to gaming.

I'm worried I might break the Switch kickstand!

This is understandable as it is a very thin piece of plastic. However, it does seem to be pretty hardy! But in the case you do manage to take it off your Switch, it is possible that it's not broken since it's removable. I know you think you might break it, but the likelihood is that you're not going to snap the kickstand off your Switch.

I accidentally bought a game that I don't want. How do I return it?

So, let's just say it depends. For physical games this is pretty simple, as long as you didn't open it you can probably return it to the store you bought from. For eShop digital games, Nintendo is very strict on their no refunds for digital games policy.

These Joy-Con controllers are just too small. They're cramping my style...and my hands!

There are a lot of mixed reviews on how people feel about the Joy-Con controllers. If you're among those who think the Joy-Cons cramp your hands, or are otherwise uncomfortable, there are things you can do to help. Having a good comfort grip or thumb grip can make a big difference in how it feels to your hand.

What's this blinking green light on my Switch dock, and how do I fix it?

Every Nintendo Switch comes with a green indicator light. When it's solid it means your connection is as it should be. When it's blinking while in the dock that is a bad sign. Your instinct may be to contact Nintendo about a repair, but there are a few quicker solutions that you may want to try first.

How to fix controller drift on your Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons

The most prevalent issue: the Joy-Con drift. Having your character and surroundings moving in ways you aren't telling them to makes enjoying a game impossible. This can happen on any controller but there are ways to fix it if your Joy-Cons seem to be drifting.

I'm running out of memory on my Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch is not limited to memory storage that comes with the console and expanding your memory with one of the best microSD cards isn't that expensive. This saves you the trouble of deleting your old games and you can even move them to the microSD card.

From troubleshooting to enjoyment

These issues can put a damper on your experience while you're trying to play, but luckily they're temporary. You don't have to fight with the system and try to figure out your issue alone. With these guides you'll be getting back to relaxing and playing in no time.

If you just picked up a new HomePod mini smart speaker or somehow managed to find the larger, original HomePod still for sale, we've got a ton of information to share with you to make your experience even better. Setting up your HomePod is simple, and we've made it even easier: Here's a comprehensive guide to help give you everything you need to get started with your HomePod.

What is HomePod?

In short: It's Apple's answer to the Amazon Echo line of speakers. It's a dedicated speaker that supports Siri for access to Apple Music and HomeKit smart home accessories.

To be more specific, the original HomePod is a premium sound system packed into a 7-inch tall package. It has a specially engineered audio design to produce quality sound throughout your entire room — even if it's in a corner. The HomePod is simply one of the best smart speakers around when it comes to sound, but Apple quietly discontinued the original model in early 2021.

The HomePod mini — while significantly smaller, still focuses on delivering great sound. Apple's compact speaker is surprisingly powerful, providing room-filling sound for smaller areas like bedrooms. The tiny size also makes it easier to fit into areas like kitchens or even bathrooms.

Both HomePods have Siri baked-in, so no matter which one you choose, you can use them to play tunes through Apple Music, send messages, make phone calls, and control your HomeKit-enabled devices. For more details on the differences between the two HomePod models, then check out our full breakdown: HomePod vs. HomePod mini.

How to switch to HomePod from Amazon Echo, Google Home, or Sonos

If you've already been using a smart speaker around the house but have decided that you'd rather be all-in with the Apple ecosystem, it's time to make the switch. We've got all the information you need to make the transition easy in our guide: How to switch to HomePod, which covers all the critical questions to consider before switching over.

How to set up your HomePod

Once your HomePod is out of the box, you're going to want to start using it right away. Outside of getting it connected to your home's Wi-Fi network, there are a couple of other things you'll need to do to get set up — but don't worry, we got you covered with our walkthrough, how to set up your HomePod.

If you plan to use your HomePod as your home theater speaker, you will also need to know how to set up your HomePod or HomePod mini with Apple TV. If you have smart home accessories, you will also want to use your HomePod as a HomeKit hub for remote access.

How to use your HomePod

Now with your HomePod setup, you might be wondering about all of the ways that you can use your new smart speaker. Before we go over all of your options, we suggest starting with the basics. Using HomePod with touch gestures, learning how HomePod works with Siri and reading up on 10 tips and tricks every new HomePod user should know should get you started off right.

When it comes to music playback, you can check out how to use your HomePod with Apple Music, and how to stream friends' music to HomePod. While integrating with other music services is not as seamless as Apple Music, you can also stream Spotify and Pandora to HomePod.

To enhance your listening sessions, you can take advantage of the ability to use the HomePod or HomePod minis in Stereo-Pairs. By creating a stereo pair with your HomePods, your tunes will playback in specific channels creating an immersive surround sound-like experience.

In addition to music, the HomePod and HomePod mini also act as the command center of sorts for HomeKit devices. However, you will need to know the correct terminology and precisely what it can and cannot do to take advantage of this. We cover the most common accessory types and commands in the following how-to's: how to control your smart home with HomePod and how to use Siri with your HomeKit devices.

Through HomeKit and the Home app, you can even use your HomePod or HomePod mini as an intercom. The intercom feature means that you can broadcast voice messages throughout all of the HomePods in your home and directly to the iOS devices of all of your family members on-demand.

Another trick up the HomePod's sleeve is the ability to work as speakers for the Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K. Apple's streaming boxes can AirPlay all the onscreen action directly to either model of HomePod just like you would with music from your iPhone or iPad.

You can also use the HomePod or HomePod mini as the default speaker on the Apple TV 4K. By setting the HomePod as the default, you won't have to remember to switch your speakers every movie night, making it much more convenient.

HomePod and privacy

Since the HomePod links to one person's iCloud account, you may have some questions about how Siri works with such features as setting reminders. Not to worry, you don't have to let everyone set reminders. You can keep those private and still share the HomePod with everyone in your home if you turn off Personal Requests.

By default, the HomePod also allows others to cast audio to your smart speaker through AirPlay. You can secure AirPlay on your HomePod with just a few taps in the Home app by limiting access to friends and family only or to only those on your Wi-Fi network.

Finally, since both HomePods feature microphones and are always listening, you should know how to turn off and customize 'Hey Siri' if you have privacy concerns. If you want to take things to the extreme, you can always control your HomePod with your iPhone or iPad, but of course, this does take away one of the smart speaker's most significant selling points.

HomePod and accessibility

Apple always has accessibility at the front of its list of features to implement into any device, and the HomePod is no exception. You can enable VoiceOver and Touch Accommodations by turning on accessibility features for your HomePod. Even better — if those features are in use on your iPhone, they'll be automatically set up on your HomePod.

How to troubleshoot HomePod

No matter how perfectly you follow the steps to set up and use your HomePod, there's likely going to be a few things that will go wrong during its tenure in your home. Maybe AirPlay won't connect, or you can't get your iPhone to pair with it. We cover all this and more in our how to troubleshoot HomePod guide.

If you want to skip the troubleshooting steps, you can do so if you know how to restart or reset your HomePod. We also provide all the details if all else fails and you need to repair or replace your HomePod.

Smart speaker and more

As you can see, the HomePod and HomePod mini are incredibly easy to set up and use, thanks to seamless iOS integration and Siri voice controls. To get the most out of your HomePod experience, we recommend adding a subscription to Apple Music, giving you access to millions of high-quality songs on-demand. We also suggest picking up a few HomeKit-enabled smart home accessories for even more magic.

Whether you just got a brand new iPhone 13 or an older version of Apple's popular phone, there are a few steps you have to take to get your iPhone set up. In this iPhone beginner's guide, we take you through the process starting with "Hello," and have user guides for some of Apple's built-in apps, like Messages, FaceTime, Mail, and more.

Plus, find out how to get apps, games, movies, music, and more right on your iPhone. This guide exists to make setting up your new iPhone as straightforward as possible, so you can make your iPhone the best iPhone it can be.

iPhone Beginner's Guide: How to set up your new iPhone

Right out of the box, your brand new iPhone is ready for you to set up. You'll be greeted with a friendly "Hello." From there, you'll be able to set up your iPhone as brand new or transfer your data from another phone, even an Android phone. As long as you read each page in the setup process carefully, it's pretty hard to go wrong, though you can always go back a page if you tap the wrong option.

You'll get the opportunity to set up Face ID or Touch ID for some security and pair up your Apple Watch if you plan on keeping tabs on your daily exercise.

iPhone Beginner's Guide: Familiarize yourself with the basics

Once your iPhone is set up, you're going to want to play around with all of its features. We've got some guides to help you with some of the most commonly used features on your new iPhone, from setting up mail, contacts, and calendars to learning about the iPhone camera, Apple Pay, Hey Siri, and more.

Our iOS 15 review is a good place to start if you want a detailed look at the latest features available for iPhone and it may provide some inspiration for ways to get more out of your shiny new device.

iPhone Beginner's Guide: The built-in Apple apps you're definitely going to want to use

Apple has a handful of built-in apps that are integral to using your iPhone, like Apple's Messages instant messaging app, the video chat app FaceTime, Mail, Photos, Health, and more.

You're probably going to spend a lot of time in Safari for all of your web browsing needs. Notes and Reminders are terrific tools for keeping tabs on things you care about in whatever way makes sense to you.

iPhone Beginner's Guide: Apps, games, movies, and books are waiting for you

In addition to killer built-in apps, the iPhone also lets you download apps from the App Store. That opens you up to literally millions more apps to choose from, some free and some paid, to achieve basically anything you want to do with your iPhone.

As well as apps, there are optional services that can augment and improve your iPhone experience. You can stream unlimited music without ads in Apple Music, aggregate all of your TV and movies viewing with the TV app, play premium games on Apple Arcade, and then back up everything using iCloud.

iPhone Beginner's Guide: Best iPhone accessories

Getting the most out of your iPhone includes more than just learning about how it works on the inside. It's also about the best way to protect and show off your style on the outside. If you're looking for an iPhone 13 case or iPhone 13 Pro screen protector for your device, we've got our picks for the best!

We're also here to recommend which HomeKit devices to get, the best AirPods, and top Apple Watches if you want to go deeper into the Apple ecosystem. Plus, there's a bunch of great iPhone chargers, MagSafe accessories, and more!

Up and running

There's a lot to uncover with your new iPhone. Half the fun is finding it on your own. The other half is getting help from someone that knows the tips, tricks, and hidden secrets of the iPhone. The above guidance should be enough to get you started, though you should check out our Help and How-to page for even more tips and tricks.

Updated December 2021: Updated for iPhone 13 models and iOS 15.

When it comes to gadgets, our favorite is the Apple Watch. It's great for tracking fitness, time, messages and calls on-the-go, and so much more. Plus, it looks great on any wrist, and fairly simple to use. If you just picked up the best Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Series 7, then you want to make sure that it's set up properly and customized to your liking. Here's how to get started with your new Apple Watch!

What's new with Apple Watch?

The Apple Watch Series 7 is the latest and greatest smartwatch from Apple. With the Series 7, you'll have pretty much everything from the Series 6, including always-on altimeter, blood oxygen monitoring, ECG, Fall Detection, always-on display, and more. The Series 7 does add fast-charging capabilities with the new USB-C charger, and a slightly larger display at 41mm or 45mm sizes.

How to set up and pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone

While the Apple Watch and your best iPhone may be two very different pieces of hardware, one of them cannot exist without the other. After all, once you turn on your Apple Watch, the next step is to pair it with an iPhone if you plan to use it at all.

In order to set up and pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone, you're going to have to use the Apple Watch app on iOS. It should already be installed on your iPhone, or you can download it again on the App Store if you've previously removed it.

Say 'hello' to watchOS

As watchOS continues to evolve, it only gets better when it comes to improving its users' lives. Here are the things that you can do with watchOS 8, as well as other tips and tricks.

When it comes to navigating your Apple Watch, it is pretty straightforward, but you may need some time to get used to it. After all, you have the Dock on your Apple Watch that displays your recently opened or favorite apps. You'll also get notifications on your Apple Watch throughout the day, which can be incredibly convenient. Your Apple Watch also has Siri, making it possible to use your smartwatch completely hands-free if need be! And while you're at it, don't forget to check out the secret Apple Watch controls that you can use with the Digital Crown.

If you want to get the most out of watchOS, make sure to check out some of our tips and tricks that you should know. And if you want to be even more productive, we have 15 power tips for you and your Apple Watch too.

How to customize your Apple Watch

While the Apple Watch is a simple device that goes on your wrist, there are actually a ton of ways to customize it to make it truly yours. If you want to know how to personalize it, then read on!

The first thing you're going to see on your Apple Watch is the face. Thankfully, you can change watch faces whenever you want. You can even add and remove multiple watch faces as you see fit. When you want to add some pizazz to it, make sure to choose your own face styles and colors for your Apple Watch face.

When we say you can pick out your own face styles and colors, there are a few different ways to go about that. You can go with the Kaleidoscope face for a cool, psychedelic effect, or add your own photo or time-lapse to a watch face. You can also add a personal monogram, and make the Modular face multicolored instead of going with a singular hue.

Another thing about watch faces that can be customized are the complications. These are bits of data that show up in various spots on the watch face, even from third-party apps, and they're incredibly handy. Here's how to add complications to your Apple Watch.

Next on the list of things to do with your new Apple Watch is to make sure that the settings are how you like them. You'll want to make sure that you name or rename your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch to ensure that you can recognize it easily. After all, a lot of people have these devices, so you want to make sure you can differentiate yours from the crowd!

Since the Apple Watch is essential for getting notifications, you'll want to make sure that your notifications are customized to your liking. I mean, do you really need notifications for absolutely everything? Not really. So make sure to only have notifications on for Apple Watch for the essential apps.

And if you want to use complications for weather, stocks, and the world clock, make sure that the default options are what you want. After all, what good is knowing what the weather is like when it isn't for where you are right now?

The Apple Watch will come with plenty of first-party apps from Apple, including Messages, Workouts, Activity, and more. There are default responses and goals, but you can also change these as you see fit.

With Messages, you can add custom message responses to your Apple Watch. This can sound more personal than the default canned responses, and you can have some fun with them too.

You can also customize workouts on your Apple Watch to display different metrics during your workout sessions. This is useful when you just want to see specific metrics and not every little thing that the Watch is tracking. And while the default goals for exercise and stand are pretty standard, you can tweak your Apple Watch goals to something that is more reasonably tailored to your lifestyle.

If you know others who also have an Apple Watch, you can use Activity Sharing to see how their progress is coming along each day. This also lets you compete with them too!

How to find apps for Apple Watch

Since watchOS 6, Apple added a dedicated App Store right on the Apple Watch itself. This means you no longer need to use your iPhone to find Apple Watch apps, but do keep in mind that the Apple Watch App Store is not as robust. Still, it's better than nothing — here's how to use the App Store on your Apple Watch. And once you find some apps you like, we can show you how to automatically install, rearrange, and delete apps on your Apple Watch. And if there are any issues, you can also force quit apps on the Apple Watch too.

In need of suggestions on Apple Watch apps? Yeah, we get it — you may feel a bit overwhelmed. We have some roundups of the best Apple Watch apps and third-party Apple Watch complications. And while the default Activity and Workouts apps are nice, there are tons of great health and fitness apps from other developers, and plenty of meditation apps if you need to unwind.

Accessorize your Apple Watch

Now, when it comes to customizing your Apple Watch, you don't just stop at the software. No, no, you must accessorize your Apple Watch with bands and accessories! There are a ton of different band choices out there, which not only add a new splash of color to your Apple Watch, but can dress it up for a night out in the town or when you have a professional business meeting. Plus, some bands work better for sweaty workout sessions, and you don't want to ruin your fancier bands. Other Apple Watch accessories can help protect the screen or casing, provide you with a more convenient way to charge, and more.

If you don't know where to start, make sure to check out what we recommend for some of the best Apple Watch bands and accessories out there.

Troubleshooting Apple Watch

As fantastic as the Apple Watch is, it's definitely not perfect. Sometimes things just don't work the way you need or want them to, and issues arise. If you have a basic problem, make sure to first check out our Apple Watch troubleshooting guide first.

If those steps did not help, then you may need to try some other actions, like restarting and resetting your Apple Watch. But of course, before you wipe out anything, you'll want to make sure you back up your Apple Watch first, so all of that data isn't lost. If all else fails, you might need to unpair your Apple Watch and then pair it up again.

But if you're still having problems, then we have solutions. Perhaps your Apple Watch just isn't connecting to your iPhone? Is auto-unlock not working? Or maybe you're having problems updating watchOS to the latest version, or have a stuck app install. No worries — we have you covered with all of our troubleshooting guides.

We all want the best battery life on our devices, right? You may feel that your Apple Watch isn't getting the best battery life these days, and if that's the case, it's okay. Batteries drain over time, but here are some solutions to fixing watchOS and Apple Watch battery life issues if they still persist. And always make sure that you're on the latest version of watchOS by updating the software. And if you ever lose your Apple Watch, make sure to find it with the Find My iPhone app.

For those who are getting a new iPhone 13 or other iPhone, you may be worried about how to pair an existing Apple Watch with a new iPhone. It's actually easy, and not as scary as it sounds. But if you're wondering if you can use one Apple Watch with multiple iPhones or even an Android, the short answer is no, you can't.

You can, however, switch between multiple Apple Watches. You may be wondering why you would want to use two or more Apple Watches. Perhaps you want one to wear during the day and one at night for sleep tracking. Or you have an aluminum model that you want to use for workouts, and a stainless steel or titanium model for fancier nights out. The possibilities are endless!

Enjoy your new Apple Watch

Now that you've gone through our Apple Watch beginner's guide, we hope you enjoy your new Apple Watch! It's definitely an amazing little device, and one that has improved the lives of many people.

Need to quickly let someone know you're running late for a meeting, or place a quick call? The best Apple Watch enables you to stay in touch with those most important to you without reaching for your iPhone. Plus, if you plan on getting an Apple Watch Series 7, you'll have an even bigger screen to utilize for communication. However you want to use your Apple Watch to communicate, here's everything you need to know!

How to manage phone calls and voicemails with Apple Watch

Even when your iPhone isn't within reach, you can get an urgent call with your Apple Watch. Once your handset is closer, you can quickly transfer the call with just a tap. Did you get a voicemail? No problem! You can listen to those on your Apple Watch as well. No matter who you need to contact, your Apple Watch has you covered. You can make and answer phone calls on your Apple Watch with just a tap of your finger. Plus, if you want to transfer the call from your Apple Watch to your iPhone, you can do that too.

How to manage messages and emails with Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is a great way to send messages without ever touching your iPhone and learning how to use Messages on your Apple Watch. Not only can you read messages and regular texts with your wearable device, but you can respond to them too. You can dictate a message with Siri, send an audio message, or choose from many different animated emoji. If you want to keep up with email, you can read emails in their entirety with the Mail app. If an email is urgent and requires a quick response, you can even transfer it directly to your iPhone with just a swipe!

Updated October 2021: Updated for most recent version of watchOS.

Apple's Maps app gives you everything you need to get where you're going and find interesting places along the way. It can tell you where you are, what direction you're facing, what's nearby, how to avoid traffic, and much more. Maps can show you the ground in 3D and can take to the sky with Flyover. It can even provide turn-by-turn voice navigation for driving, walking, and — in some regions — public transit, including buses, trains, and ferries making it one of the best iPhone apps for getting around.

What's new in iOS 15?

Apple's latest iOS 15 software brings some impressive updates to the Maps app. Improvements include more detailed driving navigation and public transit information.

Maps in iOS 15 also adds some totally new features like 3D city views and augmented reality walking navigation. These features work in major cities like Los Angeles, Now York City, and London with more locations being added over time. Apple has also added an interactive three-dimensional globe and has incorporated a curated Guides section in Maps to offer expert recommendations from brands like Time Out, The Washington Post, and the National Park Foundation.

Want to get to grips with everything the Apple Maps app can do? Here's what you need to know to get started!

How to find locations and get directions with Maps on iPhone and iPad

Times have changed — instead of the Thomas Guide, sixteen year olds have an iPhone to guide their way through city streets and subway lines. And instead of numbered paper sections, we have live traffic information and trip tracking in the form of Apple's Maps app. The company's app is built right into your iPhone or iPad. All you have to do is look! Here's how to use the Maps app to find your location and get directions.

If you find something isn't right about a location, you can report a problem in Maps and it will hopefully get resolved by the time the next person tries to navigate there.

How to name and save locations with Maps on iPhone and iPad

Whether you want your iPhone to remember your best friend's house or your local gym, adding and naming locations is easy with the Maps app for iPhone and iPad. Here's how to name and save locations with Maps on your iPhone or iPad.

How to share location and directions with Maps for iPhone and iPad

Sometimes it's not enough for you to know where you are or where you're going. Sometimes you need to let other people know. Maybe you want to share a great new coffee shop you've found, maybe you got separated at the park, or maybe you need to be picked up where your car broke down. Sure, there's Find my Friends for sharing location all the time but, when you need to share your location or some directions any time, there's Maps.

How to get transit directions with Apple Maps for iPhone and iPad

Apple has a few useful features specific to transit directions, making it easier to navigate the big city without a car. You can easily see transit stops for specific lines and, whenever multiple lines are available, you'll see all of the possible route suggestions. Our guide to Apple Maps transit directions shows you how.

Apple Maps doesn't support transit directions for all locations, though the list of supported cities grows longer with each update. Here are all of the places with Apple Maps transit directions.

How to use Siri to get directions and maps on iPhone or iPad

With Siri and Apple's built-in Maps, you know longer have to stop, type, and search for directions. You can simply ask Siri for directions, and you'll get a route to go right there. It's great if you're in a new area of town or traveling in a new city. And if you get lost, you can even ask Siri to take you home.

How to find your car with the Maps app

Here's a not-so-secret fact about me: I'm awful at remembering where I parked. It's why I own a brightly colored car that can make noise and flash its lights if I press my key fob — without them, I might as well condemn myself to wandering through darkened parking garages for hours.

Thanks to Apple's Parked Car feature in Maps, though, I no longer have to rely on shiny paint or loud noises to help me discover where I left my vehicle: I only have to look at my iPhone or Apple Watch.

How to change settings for Maps on iPhone and iPad

Apple Maps offers settings that let you change the volume of navigation prompts, change the units of distance, and even get follow-up emails on issues you report. You can customize Maps settings and get everything set up just the way you want it — once you know where to look!

How to delete your search history and destinations in Maps on iPhone and iPad

There are plenty of reasons to avoid storing your search and destination history: Maybe you're planning a surprise party; maybe you have one too many trips to Starbucks listed. Whatever the case, you can very easily get delete your search and destination history in Maps.

How to view the weather in Maps

If you're cruising along the highway on a road trip with pals and you want to take a peek at the weather without switching apps, follow along, and we'll show you how to view the weather in Maps! It's super convenient, especially while driving, though you'd probably only know how to find weather info in Maps if someone told you.

How to use Maps extensions on iPhone and iPad

iOS makes it easier to get more out of the Maps app by allowing third-party apps to add Maps extensions. The primary purpose of app extensions is to give you the ability to do things like book a reservation at a restaurant or call for a ride from services like Uber — all without having to leave Maps. This kind of integration frees up your precious time by cutting out the need to switch between different apps to accomplish your goals.

If you can't find Maps extensions, we can help you there too.

How to open Apple Maps locations in Google Maps

Though Apple has been making its Maps app better over time, many people still prefer the tried-and-tested Google Maps for something as important as knowing where you are going.

While you can't change the default mapping app on iOS, you can make it easier to switch to an alternative with a $1.99 utility app called Opener that lets you open Apple Maps locations in Google Maps.

How to get directions and use Apple Maps with CarPlay

Outside of streaming services, I'd be willing to bet Maps in CarPlay is the most commonly used app. Whether you're looking for a business or traveling out of state, it's much easier to be told where to go than navigating from memory or a map.

Most of Maps' interface in CarPlay is pretty easy to understand, but there are a few tricky parts. The above-linked article takes a look at some of the app's basic functions and how you can use them to get the most out of your experience.

Still have questions about Maps on iPhone and iPad?

Have a problem or question about the Apple Maps app? Let us know in the comments below and we'll try our best to help out.

Updated September 2021: Updated for iOS 15.

iCloud Photo Library is Apple's iCloud service for accessing all your photos and videos from any device currently logged into your Apple ID. If you've already got the best iPhone and one of the best Macs, it's the service that means all your media is on both devices without much effort on your part.

It works by using your iCloud storage space to upload new photos and videos within moments of you taking the perfect snap. That way, you can view them anywhere and at any time too. Take a photo on your iPhone 14 Pro and it'll show up on your iPad Pro or Mac in seconds. 

Besides being convenient, it also means iCloud Photo Library works well as a backup photo service, as well as syncing service and even storage optimizer. Simple to use for anyone keen to manage all their photos and videos, here's all you need to know about iCloud Photo Library.

What is iCloud Photo Library?

At its simplest, iCloud Photo Library is a great storage service for all your precious images and videos. There's more to it than that though as that also applies to any animated GIFs or images you save from the web. Basically, anything that ends up in your Camera Roll is saved to iCloud. From there, you can check the results out on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and even via your browser at iCloud.com.

If you're thinking about whether or not you should use iCloud Photo Library, the answer is clearly yes. While it's important to remember that it all counts towards your total iCloud storage so you might want to make sure to choose the right amount when picking your iCloud storage plan, it's worth the investment. 

Previously, My Photo Stream was an appealing alternative to iCloud Photo Library but it only gives access to your last 1,000 photos and videos, or the past 30 days of content, so it's fairly limited.

If you have any iCloud Photo Library and security concerns, don't be worried. It's all encrypted just like all your iPhone backups, iCloud Drive, and anything else on the service. 

How to set up iCloud Photo Library

Whether you're setting iCloud Photo Library up on your iPhone or iPad, or going the Mac route, the process is fortunately pretty simple to put into action. In many cases, it's automatically doing its thing without you realizing it's all good to go.

Even if you use a Windows PC alongside your iPhone or similar, you can still set up and use iCloud Photo Library on a Windows 10 with the process being very similar for Windows 11 users.  Using iCloud Photo Library really does mean you can access your media from anywhere.

How to use and manage iCloud Photo Library

Once you've got iCloud Photo Library set up and working, all your uploaded images or videos can be accessed on all your devices. If you're not sure where to start, it's simple to learn how to use your iCloud Photo Library on iPhone and iPad, as well as how to check them out on Mac, or even your Apple TV if you want a larger screen experience.

It's also possible to use your iCloud Photo Library on the web via iCloud.com too. That's a particularly handy method if you simply need to check in briefly to look at an image or video. There are also ways to view your iCloud Photo Library images offline for those increasingly rare times you haven't got an internet connection. 

One useful thing about iCloud Photo Library is it can actually save you space on your iPhone or Mac. It's a good idea to use the Optimize Storage feature on your iPhone, as well as your Mac, particularly if you're running low on space. It works by storing full-resolution images on iCloud rather than taking up all the space on your local device's storage. If you have an older device running out of room, it can really cut down on the effort involved in juggling all your storage demands.

How to set up and use iCloud Photo Sharing

Using iCloud gives you access to iCloud Photo Sharing. Part of iCloud Photo Library, it means you can easily share images and video from your albums with friends and family who also have an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, or PC. Setting up iCloud Photo Sharing is pretty easy to do too, saving you from having to share images in a more old-fashioned and potentially awkward way.

Once it's set up, you can view and create shared photo albums with ease. The people you share images with can even like, comment, and subscribe for updates on a shared photo album making it your own little cocoon of happy memories and connections. It's much easier to do than uploading everything to Facebook or Instagram, plus it's safer too. There's no need to make constant adjustments for sharing privileges. All images and video in the shared albums are only viewable by those you've shared with, and albums can be taken down at any time if needed.

If you and your family use Family Sharing, it's also possible to share photos just with your Family group which takes even less time to set up than other methods. The perfect solution for the latest batch of photos of the kids or a great vacation.

How to back up and troubleshoot iCloud Photo Library

It's tempting to make iCloud Photo Library your only photo backup, but you can never be too careful. It's always a good idea to back everything up several times, especially if it's important. 

It's easy to make a backup of your iCloud Photo Library so you're never too far away from fixing a potential catastrophe. Online backup services can also help here.

Generally, iCloud Photo Library simply just works, but if you run into any issues, try troubleshooting some common iCloud Photo Library problems first. Given the amount of cellular data that can be involved in using iCloud, it's worth keeping an eye on whether your cellular data plan is part of the problem with iCloud Photo Library too. Worst case -- don't forget to contact Apple support to resolve any ongoing issues.

For a lot of us, our favorite iPhone or iPad is going to be the best digital camera that we have on hand. You know what they say: "the best camera is the one you have with you," after all. And when you have your iPhone in your hand, you are able to quickly capture selfies, portraits, panoramas, 4K digital video, high dynamic range (HDR), action shots with burst, and so much more.

The Camera app on your iPhone, and even the iPad, will help you capture all of life's whimsical moments, whether they're planned or completely spontaneous. Here is a full guide on how to use the Camera app on your iPhone to its full potential.

How to quickly access the Camera on iPhone and iPad

When you want to take a photo of the moment, you'll want to be fast to make sure that the particular scene doesn't escape you. Thankfully, when you use the native Camera app, getting to it can be done quickly and easily since there are a few different ways to do so.

The easiest way is to start the Camera app from the Lock Screen since there's a button right there for it. You can also use the Control Center Camera toggle, or even use Haptic Touch to get right to a selfie, video, Portrait mode, or Portrait selfie.

For those who enjoy using voice commands, you can even tell Siri to help you take a picture.

How to take photos, bursts, panoramas, and more

Even though it looks barebones compared to third-party camera app replacements, the native Camera app is capable of taking a wide variety of different photo types. You can take a regular, standard photo, but you can go a step further with burst mode for action shots, Portrait mode and Portrait selfies, HDR photos for landscapes, square photos for the Instagram, timed photos for group shots, panoramas, and a ton more. Plus, the iPhone has a built-in LED flash to help you with in dim light, which is always useful to have.

For all of the other stuff, take a look at our guide on how to shoot photos, selfies, burst, and more on your iPhone.

How to take and share Live Photos

One of the fun things about the iPhone is the ability to take Live Photos. These are more like moving photos — kind of a hybrid between a JPG image and a MOV file. You know in Harry Potter, where they have those photos that are animated? Yeah, it's kind of like that. With a Live Photo, what you capture the moment you hit the shutter button is the mid-point of the Live Photo, because it will also record the 1.5-seconds before and after that point.

If you want to master the art of Live Photos and how to take, view, and share them, check out our full Live Photos guide.

How to lock focus, bias exposure, enable grid, and geo-locate your Photos

You know how you can tap on the screen in the Camera app to set the focus point for your shot? I bet you didn't know that you can also do some advanced things like lock the focus point, change the exposure, and even enable a grid to make it easier to get the perfect composition. Enabling these features is not as obvious as the various photo modes, but don't worry! We show you exactly how to lock focus, adjust exposure, enable the grid, and even turn on geo-location for your iPhone photos.

How to record video, slow-mo, and time lapses on your iPhone

Your iPhone isn't just a great camera for still photos, but it is a powerful video recorder too. With the iPhone, you're able to record standard video up to 60 fps, and some of the more recent models, like the iPhone 12, are capable of 4K recording at 60 fps.

Check out our full guide on how to record video with your iPhone or iPad for all of the basics, plus shooting in slow-mo, making time lapse videos, and more.

How to use the Telephoto lens on your iPhone

Ever since the iPhone 7 Plus, Apple has added a telephoto lens on the more expensive flagship devices. The telephoto lens allows you to get at least 2x optical zoom, and it can go up to 10x digital zoom, so you can get up close and personal with your photographs. So if you have at least an iPhone 7 Plus or later, here's how to use photographic zoom with the telephoto lens.

Once you have zoomed in enough with the telephoto lens, shooting a photo is just like snapping a regular photo — just tap that shutter button and voilà!

The telephoto lens also made Portrait mode possible because of the multi-lens system. However, recent advancements in software has made it possible for iPhones with single-lens camera systems (like the iPhone SE (2020)) to get Portrait mode as well, with some limitations.

How to shoot RAW and manual-mode photos

If you have an iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max, then you have the ability to shoot in Apple's new ProRAW format. Think of it like a hybrid between true RAW and a JPEG/HEIC image. It uses Apple's signature computation photography features with a 12-bit RAW DNG file that has 14 stops of dynamic range. Editing a ProRAW image gives us as much of the pure data as possible, so we have even more control of what happens in the post-editing process. But ProRAW image files can be large — up to 25MB each, so use them sparingly.

If you don't have an iPhone 12 Pro or Pro Max, then you'll have to know how to use a third-party app to shoot in RAW format on iPhone 11 and earlier. We have some manual camera apps that we highly recommend for shooting in manual or RAW modes.

How to quickly edit and and share photos and video from the Camera app

While there's a dedicated Photos app on your iPhone and iPad for all of your post-processing needs, sometimes you just want to make a very quick edit or share immediately after snapping a photo in the Camera.

This is actually possible right in the Camera app, and all you need to do is tap on the thumbnail of the photo you just took. You can then access your Camera Roll, make basic edits, and share your results with friends and family. Or if you just aren't satisfied with a photo, deleting it has never been faster!

How to use the Camera app on an iPhone 11 and later

If you have an iPhone 11 series or later, then you have some extra controls and features in the Camera app that aren't available on older models. This includes the new dual and triple lens camera systems with the Wide, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto lenses, Night Mode, QuickTake videos, wide-angle selfies, photo capture outside the frame, Deep Fusion, "slofies" (slow motion selfies), and more. To make sure that you don't miss out on any of these awesome new Camera features, check out our full guide on how to use the camera on iPhone 11 and later.

Questions?

That about covers everything you need to know about how to use the Camera app on your iPhone or iPad. If you have any questions, make sure to drop them in the comments below and we'll do our best to help.

The iPhone, iPad, and Mac are all different devices and, although the interfaces may look similar, they actually all run different OSes. That being said, Apple has designed a suite of features that all fall under the Continuity umbrella that help to make working across different Apple devices a more seamless experience.

Continuity includes features like Instant Hotspot for sharing cellular connections, AirDrop for transferring files, relay for sending and receiving SMS/MMS and making or taking phone calls, and Handoff for continuing your activities even when you switch devices.

Although these features are all grouped under the same name, they all have different requirements and all work in different ways across iOS and macOS. Luckily, they're also easy to set up and easy to use once you know how!

How to set up and use Handoff

Handoff lets you transfer your activities between iPhone, iPad, and Mac. For example, you can be writing an email on your iPhone as you come in the door and use Handoff on your Mac in order to keep writing the exact same email. You can be reading iMore on Safari on your Mac, get up, grab your iPad, and keep reading right where you left off with Handoff for iOS. You can even finish up a Keynote presentation on your iPad, throw it in your bag, realize you need to make some edits, pull out your iPhone, and get them done as you walk out the door.

As long as you're signed in to the same iCloud account on all your devices, have Wi-Fi turned on, and are within Bluetooth LE range, it's easy to do!

How to set up and use AirDrop

With AirDrop, you can quickly, easily, and securely share files between iPhones, iPads, and Macs. You need to have AirDrop turned on be within Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) range and have Wi-Fi turned on, but when you do, the transfer is fast, and there are virtually no file size restrictions, which can make AirDrop even more convenient than mailing, messaging, or online sharing as well. We also have some easy fixes to try if you find AirDrop is not working.

How to set up and use Instant Hotspot

Instant Hotspot lets you share the data connection from your iPhone or cellular iPad. You can use Instant Hotspot with your Mac or connect a Wi-Fi-only iPad to your Hotspot when out and about.

Unlike a Personal Hotspot, which can be used to connect any device owned by anyone, Instant Hotspot doesn't require a password. Instead, it uses your Apple ID for authentication, Bluetooth LE for rapid connection, and Wi-Fi for data transfer. That makes it faster and more convenient but limits it to just your devices.

As long as your iPhone or Cellular iPad has an active carrier plan that allows for Personal Hotspot usage, each device you're trying to connect is signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID, has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on, you should see your Instant Hotspot as an option in the Wi-Fi menu of the device you're trying to get online. Select it, and you should be allowed to connect sans password.

How to set up and use Sidecar

With Apple's Sidecar feature, you can utilize your iPad as a second display for your Mac. As well as gaining some valuable additional screen real estate for all of your windows, it also opens up the opportunity to use your Apple Pencil for sketching and marking up documents. You can get started with Sidecar from the Control Center menu on your Mac and choose whether you want to use your iPad as an additional display or use it to mirror your Mac's screen.

Apple is taking this way of working one step further with macOS Monterey with a feature called Universal Control. With no setup at all, this new feature lets users work across and move between iPad and Mac devices as they sit side-by-side using the same keyboard, mouse, or trackpad.

How to set up and use Auto Unlock

One neat Continuity feature that really benefits Apple Watch wearers is Auto Unlock. Once set up, it gives you instant access to your Mac, without the need to enter your password, when you're wearing your unlocked Apple Watch. Since the system trusts that it's you wearing your unlocked Apple Watch (since you had to enter its passcode), your Mac will unlock for you automatically once you're in close proximity.

The feature requires macOS Sierra or later and watchOS 3 or later, with each device needing to be logged in with the same iCloud account. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must be turned on, and both devices need to ordinarily have a password/passcode, too. Note that the first time you log in after you've turned on, restarted, or logged out of your Mac, you'll need to enter your password manually.

On top of automatically unlocking your Mac, this feature enables you to automatically enter your Mac's admin password using your Apple Watch when asked for it — such as when viewing passwords in Safari preferences, accessing a locked note, or unlocking settings in System Preferences. If you have a long, complicated password for security reasons, this will make your life much easier.

A related feature included in iOS 14.5 allows you to similarly unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch. This feature works when Face ID is not an option due to the wearing of a face mask.

How to set up and use iPhone Cellular Calls on Mac and iPad

Since it debuted, this feature has gone by a few different names, but iPhone Cellular Calls essentially allows you to answer and place calls using your iPad or Mac. You can even make a call from your HomePod. These calls are really using your iPhone's connection but happen without you needing to touch your phone at all. In fact, it could be across the room or in another room entirely.

iPhone Cellular Calls use the same phone number, carrier, and plan as your iPhone, so the person on the other end won't know the difference. It also provides all the features you're used to from your iPhone as well, including the caller's number, contact picture, and more. That makes it not only convenient but easy to use!

As with other Continuity features, you need to be logged into the same iCloud account across your devices in order for this call relay system to work and have your devices on the same Wi-Fi network.

How to set up and use Text Message Forwarding on Mac or iPad

Text Message Forwarding, previously known as SMS/MMS relay, lets you send and receive standard text messages — the "green bubble," non-iMessage kind — through the built-in Messages app on your iPad or Mac, just like you've always been able to do on your iPhone.

As long as your iPhone, iPad, or Mac are online, as soon as your iPhone receives an SMS or MMS message, it will relay it through Apple's messaging servers to your iPad or Mac. Whenever you want to contact a "green bubble friend" from your iPad or Mac, Apple's messaging servers will relay that to your iPhone, and from there, out over the carrier network.

That means if you're at your iPad or Mac and you need to text, you'll never have to go fishing or running for your iPhone again and, since you can send SMS messages from your iPad and keep up with those same test messages on your Mac, you'll never be out of the loop with your non-iMessage friends.

How to set up and use Universal Clipboard

Ever find yourself wanting to copy something on your iPhone and paste it on your Mac? With Universal Clipboard, you can do exactly that. That means you can grab a snippet of text from a note on your iPad and paste it into an email on your Mac or copy a URL from a message on your iPhone and paste it into Safari on your iPad. It even works for images and videos.

As long as you're logged into your Apple devices with the same iCloud account and each has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff turned on, you'll be able to copy in one place and simply press paste in another to see it in action. Note, Universal Clipboard requires iOS 10 and macOS Sierra or newer.

How to set up and use Continuity Camera

Continuity Camera allows you to open your iOS device's camera from your Mac, then immediately transfer the photo that was taken over to a document that you're working on. It doesn't work in all apps, just a handful of first-party Apple apps like Mail, Notes, and Pages, but it can be very convenient once you get into the habit of using it.

For instance, if you're taking a note or working on a Pages document, and you need a photo of something that's nearby, you can activate Continuity Camera, take the photo with your iPhone, then immediately see that photo pop up in place on your Mac.

How to set up and use Continuity Sketch

In a similar vein, you can use your Mac to request a sketch from your iPhone or iPad via Continuity Sketch. In a compatible app, simply drop down the File menu in macOS and choose Insert from [device name]. Select Add Sketch and a sketching window will open on the device of your choice. You can use your finger or your Apple Pencil to draw out the desired sketch and simply hit Done when finished to have it appear auto-magically in the document on your Mac.

Of course, you'll need to have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on and ensure that all devices are logged in with the same iCloud account for the feature to work.

How to set up and use Continuity Markup

Have a PDF on your Mac that you want to mark up? With Continuity Markup, you can have that document open on your iPhone or iPad to make some quick annotations with your finger or Apple Pencil and have them appear in real-time on the documentary on your Mac. Whether you're quickly signing a document, want to circle something important, or add some notes along the margins, you can do it quickly without actually sending the document back and forth.

To do it, find the PDF or image that you want to mark up in the Finder on your Mac and Control-click, right-click, or two-finger-click to open the action menu, then select Quick Look. In the Quick Look window, click the Markup (pen) icon to enable annotations, then click the Continuity Markup icon (pen with arrow) to choose the device to make your annotations on.

How to set up and use Apple Pay

While you might not think of it at first, Apple Pay, or at least Apple Pay on the web forms a part of Apple's Continuity offering.

While on your iPhone, you can use built-in NFC to pay with Apple Pay at compatible payment terminals, using Apple Pay on the Mac involves a little bit of cross-device special sauce. The feature enables you to make a seamless and secure purchase, even if your Mac doesn't have its own Touch ID sensor.

When making an Apple Pay payment via Safari on your Mac, your iPhone or unlocked Apple Watch can be used to approve the transaction. When prompted, simply authenticate with Touch ID or Face ID on your iPhone or click the Side button on your Apple Watch to approve the transaction.

Questions?

Read through our linked guides and still have more questions about Continuity? Let us know in the comments below!

July 2021: Updated for iOS 14 and macOS Big Sur with details on new Continuity features like Sidecar, Universal Clipboard, and Auto Unlock.

While Apple may have expanded into multiple cloud and streaming services in its repertoire, Apple Music is one of the biggest music streaming services in the United States. There are millions of subscribers, and Apple Music is pretty much just second to Spotify globally. You can access Apple Music from your best iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and even on Android devices.

But sometimes you're going to run into problems with Apple Music, or even iTunes Match or iCloud Music Library. If you're having issues, don't worry — we're here to help. Here are a few ways to fix any Apple Music problems you may have.

Apple Music problems: Subscriptions and data issues

Did you give Apple Music a chance with the free trial, but just didn't like it? Or maybe you just don't want another $10 charge every month on top of everything else? Don't worry, cancelling your Apple Music subscription is pretty easy.

Since you agree to automatic renewal when starting the trial, you want to make sure that you turn that off before the charge hits your card. If you cancel the trial before it ends, you should still be able to access it for the rest of the trial period.

Apple Music has three pricing levels: Student at $4.99 a month, Individual at $9.99 a month, and Family for up to six people for $14.99 a month.

The Student level is available for any student who is currently enrolled in degree-granting universities and colleges. Proof is required (.edu email address), and Apple will need to reverify your student status every year. If you are an eligible student, you can check out how to get the student level pricing on Apple Support.

However, if you signed up for an Individual account and want to change it to Family, or vice versa, you can do so at any time. But if you have the Family or Premier level of an Apple One bundle, then Apple Music is already included and available for up to six others in your Family Sharing account.

Apple's Family Sharing feature makes it easy to share your Apple services and downloads with other people in your "family" group, which can host up to six others. This is a great way to save money if everyone was already planning to sign up for something, such as iCloud Drive or Apple Music, or just sharing things like calendars, photos, movies and television shows, or even apps.

But sometimes you'll encounter some snags in the process, because as much as Apple claims things "just work," sometimes they don't. Fortunately, you can fix any Family Sharing issues with Apple Music pretty easily, though it may take a few tries — just double check to make sure everyone is logged into the proper Apple IDs.

While most cellular carriers offer "unlimited" data plans these days, there is usually a hidden cap of sorts before they initiate throttling you down. Or maybe you just want to save money and have a data plan with a threshold on available data. Either way, while Apple Music is great for streaming any song you want or just enjoying some radio, it can chew through your cellular data pretty quick if you're not careful.

If you still want to enjoy Apple Music without going over your cellular data limit, there are a few things you can do. These quick fixes include downloading music that you want to listen to instead of streaming, making sure downloads happen over Wi-Fi only, disabling automatic downloads, or even limiting your streaming.

Apple Music problems: iTunes Match and DRM issues

Apple Music is just one part of the bigger picture: iCloud Music Library. The other part is iTunes Match, which can store up to 100,000 songs in your iTunes library (purchases and ripped from CDs, etc.) right in iCloud. This does not count against your current iCloud storage plan.

iTunes Match is a separate service that you can purchase separately for $24.99 a year, but if you just subscribe to Apple Music, you get both iCloud Music Library and iTunes Match included with your monthly $9.99 fee.

I know, it's a little confusing, but basically iCloud Music Library is where all of your music, whether it's from CDs that you've ripped over the years or purchased, or just Apple Music streaming, lives, and it's stored in iCloud. But if you want to know the details of both services, make sure to check the differences between Apple Music and iTunes Match.

If you are subscribed to both Apple Music and iTunes Match, you can keep $25 in your pocket every year by getting rid of Match. This is due to the fact that the functionality of iTunes Match is already baked into Apple Music and iCloud Music Library, making it redundant to have both subscriptions active. Thankfully you can cancel iTunes Match from either from the Mac or your iPhone or iPad.

As your iTunes library grew over the years, you've probably acquired music from a bunch of different sources. You could have purchased them from iTunes, ripped them from CDs or vinyl, or downloaded them from Apple Music for offline listening. Your collection could be large, and it becomes difficult to remember where everything came from. If you need to check where the original source for a song file is from, it's possible to do that on your Mac. Just right-click the song and choose Get Info from the menu, then click File to view the source.

Over time, you may notice that your music that should have been "matched" from original sources (CDs, vinyl, etc.) are showing up as "Apple Music" instead if you check the sources as mentioned above. There are a few ways to fix the problem of seeing "Apple Music" instead of "Matched" in your Music library, but it usually involves forcing iCloud Music Library to rescan your entire library, so it may take a while.

You may eventually want to create a new music library to differentiate your Apple Music songs and your iTunes Matched songs. It may be a pain to manage, but it helps you keep things separate and more organized, rather than one huge, jumbled mess.

Apple Music problems: iCloud Music Library issues

As mentioned a few times already, if you subscribe to Apple Music, then you have access to iCloud Music Library as part of your $9.99 Individual or $14.99 Family subscription. However, while it's an available option, it's not necessary to use Apple Music if you don't want to. If you want to disable Apple Music while still using iCloud Music Library for whatever reason, it's easy to go about it. Just know that iCloud Music Library does let you access all of your Mac's songs across up to 10 devices.

Nothing in the world is perfect, including both Apple Music and iTunes Match. While it should "just work," sometimes issues come up. If you've tried absolutely everything but still have problems, then you may need to just reset your iCloud Music Library. This may take a while, depending on the size of your library, but it should alleviate any issues that you may have had.

Like a reset, sometimes you just need to manually update iCloud Music Library to get the kinks out. Thankfully, this is pretty easy and straightforward compared to some of the other fixes that we've mentioned in this guide.

If you're experiencing syncing issues with iCloud Music Library, or can't get Apple Music to play, then there may be something happening server side. Unfortunately, you won't be able to do anything about that besides some basic troubleshooting tips, but there are some other things that could be causing an issue too. A good piece of advice here is to try turning everything off and back on again, as well as doing manual updating.

Sometimes you may come across the "iCloud Music Library can't be enabled right now" error message. This usually happens when Apple's own servers are being hit particularly hard, and while you can't fix it yourself, a little patience and perseverance goes a long way.

Apple Music problems: Finding your music

Once you start using Apple Music, you're going to end up adding a lot of new stuff to your collection, and it becomes harder to differentiate between what you bought and what you just stream or download with Apple Music. Thankfully, there are some easy ways on how to find your music from Apple Music. Whether you are trying to find the songs on your iPhone that you've added from your Mac or if you just want to view your offline music, it's easy-peasy!

Questions?

Problems with Apple Music are bound to happen, but we've rounded up all of the tips we have for helping squash any issues that may arise. If you still have any issues with Apple Music, iCloud Music Library, or iTunes Match, drop them in the comments below and we'll do our best to help.

We would also recommend contacting Apple Support if the problems persist.

Updated July 2021: These are still the best steps to rectify any issues with Apple Music.

If you're the type of person who better remembers things by recording an audio note, then the built-in Voice Memos app is a quick and easy solution. With this native app, you can record audio directly with your iPhone or iPad and have it accessible from any device with iCloud. Whether it's a lecture at school, a voice-over for a video, an interview with someone else, Voice Memos on your best iPhone will get the job done.

The Voice Memos app will work perfectly with your iPhone's built-in microphone and speaker. However, if you want to take it a step further and get the absolute best sound in your recordings, make sure to check out the best iPhone external microphones.

Without further ado, here's how to use Voice Memos on iPhone and iPad!

How to record a voice memo

1. Launch the Voice Memos app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the record button. It's the big red circle at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap anywhere in the recording pane to bring up the pause button.

4. If you need to pause, simply tap the pause button.
5. Tap Resume to pick up where you left off.
6. You can also tap the rewind or forward buttons to go 15 seconds backward or forward.
7. If you go backward, you can choose to replace the existing audio when resuming.
8. Tap Done when you are done recording (if you did not bring up the extra control panel to pause, just tap Stop).

How to listen to a voice memo

Once you have a recording, you can listen to it anytime from the Voice Memos app.

1. Launch Voice Memos on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the voice memo that you want to listen to.
3. Tap the Play button.

How to share voice memos

All of your voice memos can be shared with others by email, Messages, social networks, and more.

1. Launch Voice Memos on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the voice memo that you want to share.
3. Tap the More button. It looks like three horizontal dots.

4. Tap Share.
5. Select the method that you want to share your voice recording with.

How to trim voice memos

No matter how much you try, it can be hard to get a perfect start or end for any audio recording. Thankfully, you can trim off extraneous sound before and after your recording in Voice Memos.

1. Launch Voice Memos on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the voice memo you want to trim.
3. Tap the More button. It looks like three horizontal dots.

4. Select Edit Recording.
5. Tap the Trim button. It looks like a blue box with lines and dots.
6. Using your finger, drag the trim slider from either end of the recording to trim off the beginning or the end.
7. Tap Trim to trim it as-is. Or you can tap Delete to delete the section between trim sliders.

8. Tap Save.
9. Tap Done.

How to rename a voice memo

By default, all recordings will use something like your location and date and timestamp as the name of the recording. But you can go back and change this at any time.

1. Launch Voice Memos on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the voice memo you want to rename.
3. Tap the name of the recording. It becomes highlighted.
4. Input a new name for your recording.

How to delete a voice memo

1. Launch Voice Memos on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the voice memo you want to delete.
3. Tap the Delete button on the recording. It looks like a trash can.

When you delete any recording, it will go into a Recently Deleted folder for 30 days. This way, if you delete something by accident or change your mind later, you can recover it.

Optionally, you can batch delete multiple recordings by tapping Edit in the top right corner from the recording list, selecting your recordings, and then tapping Delete.

How to use the enhanced playback options in Voice Memos on iOS 15

In iOS 15, Apple has added some additional features to make your recordings in the Voice Memos app even better. These new options include changing the playback speed, Skip Silence, and Enhance Recording.

Apple occasionally offers updates to iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS as closed developer previews or public betas. While the betas contain new features, they also contain pre-release bugs that can prevent the normal use of your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, or Mac, and are not intended for everyday use on a primary device. That's why we strongly recommend staying away from developer previews unless you need them for software development, and using the public betas with caution. If you depend on your devices, wait for the final release.

1. Launch Voice Memos on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the voice memo you want to enhance playback for.
3. Tap the Playback Options button. It looks like three lines with slider circles on it.
4. To adjust Playback Speed, simply drag the slider left (slower with the turtle) or right (faster with the hare).
5. Tap the Skip Silence toggle if you want the playback to automatically ignore silent pauses.
6. Tap the Enhance Recording toggle if you want the audio to sound better overall.

Unfortunately, the Playback Speed doesn't tell you how much slower or faster the speed will be in the current betas, so you'll have to listen to it and make adjustments as you see fit.

Questions?

As you can see, it's super easy to quickly record audio with the Voice Memos app whenever you need to. Do you have questions about how to use the Voice Memos app on your iPhone or iPad? Let us know in the comments, and we'll try to help you out.

Updated July 2021: Updated for the latest version of the iOS 15 betas.

Live Photos aren't quiiiite video, but rather a full-on 12-megapixel photo that animates 1.5 seconds of motion before and after the still. Super cool, right? Yeah, we thought so. Live photos can be used to take action shots in which you can choose the best frame after. They can also be turned into boomerangs and gifs! Here's how to work with Live Photos. 

How to take a Live Photo with your iPhone or iPad

Live Photo can easily be turned on and left on, or turned off and only turned on when you expressly want to use it — which is a great option if you're looking to save the battery and some space on your iPhone. Since Live Photos (which combine a 12-megapixel JPG image with a ~15FPS MOV file) take about twice the amount of storage, and require you to keep the camera relatively still for three seconds, both your storage and patience might lean you towards the latter approach.

The important thing to remember is that a Live Photo is not a movie. It doesn't start when you hit the shutter. Instead, it grabs the photo. Think of it this way — the moment you hit the shutter is the mid-point of your live photo, the still that's wrapped in animation before and after. Grasp that, and your Live Photos will turn out just the way you want them!

1. Launch the Camera app from your Home screen.
2. Tap the Live Photo button, top center (looks like a set of diffusing rings) to toggle it on (yellow).
3. Tap the Shutter button to take your Live Photo.

The Live Photo icon will animate with a brief ripple and a yellow LIVE label will pop up to briefly alert you that it's on. A white LIVE OFF label will briefly alert you when it's not on. Additionally, there is an Auto option for Live Photos on the iPhone 11 series, but you can only access it via a control menu that is accessed by tapping on the arrow at the top of the camera screen.

How to view Live Photos on a newer iPhone model

Viewing a Live Photo on one of Apple's current-generation iPhone models (iPhone 6s and later) is easy-peasy!

1. Launch the Photos app from your Home screen.
2. Find the Live Photo you want to view.
3. Press firmly on the photo to animate it.

It'll blur for just a second and then start to play.

How to view Live Photos on an older iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

If someone who can take a Live Photo sends or shares one with you, as long as you have an iPhone or iPad — even an older one that can run iOS 9 or later — you can still watch it come to life.

1. Launch the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
2. Find the Live Photo you want to view.
3. Touch and hold the photo to animate it.

How to share Live Photos on your iPhone or iPad

You can share your Live Photos right from the standard iOS Share sheet. Here's how!

If your social service of choice currently doesn't support Live Photos, you can use an app like Lively to convert a Live Photo into an animated GIF, or use the built-in method in Photos, which we'll get to in a minute.

1. Launch the Photos app from your Home screen.
2. Find and tap the Live Photo you'd like to share. If a photo is a Live one, you'll see a gray "Live" indicator in the upper left of your screen.

3. Tap the Share button on the bottom left of your screen. It's a box with an upward-pointing arrow.
4. Tap a sharing method. You can share to just about any social media platform, and you can even share your GIFS to YouTube.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to share it like you normally would with the method of your choice.

How to set a Live Photo as the wallpaper

You can set Live Photos as your wallpaper on iPhone 6s or later, which works especially well for loved ones, children, pets, and landscapes.

1. Launch the Photos app from your Home screen.
2. Find the Live Photo you want to use as your wallpaper.
3. Tap the Share button.

4. Tap the Use as Wallpaper button.
5. Tap Live Photo on the lower right of your screen if it's not already selected.
6. Tap Set. You can't adjust the size of a Live Photo wallpaper.
7. Tap Set Lock Screen, Set Home Screen, or optionally Set Both.

How to extract a still shot from a Live Photo

If you want the photo but without the fancy moving part, you can make a copy that gives you just that.

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Select the Live Photo you want to extract a still shot from.
3. Tap the Share icon in the bottom left corner of the screen.

4. Tap Duplicate in the option tray at the bottom of the screen.
5. Tap Duplicate as Still Photo.

A copy of the still photo will appear in your library right next to the original Live Photo. You can delete the Live Photo if you no longer want it to take up storage on your iPhone.

How to turn a Live Photo into a GIF

There's no longer any need to connect your iPhone to your Mac and go through the rigmarole of picking a GIF creator app. You can do it all right in the Photos app!

1. Launch the Photos app from your Home screen.
2. Find and tap the Live Photo you'd like to turn into a GIF.

3. Swipe up on the center of the screen to reveal the animation options.
4. Tap Loop if you'd like to loop the Live Photo as a GIF. You can also choose to "Bounce" it á la the Boomerang app for Instagram, or even go with Long Exposure.

You'll then be able to find your GIF in the Animated album in the Photos app.

How to turn a Live Photo into a GIF in iOS 15

In iOS 15, Apple has tweaked the method of turning a Live Photo into a GIF. Rather than scrolling down to bring up the GIF effects, you'll now be able to access them via a contextual menu where the "Live" indicator is.

1. Launch the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Find the Live Photo that you want to turn into a GIF.

3. Tap the Live indicator in the upper left corner.
4. Choose which GIF effect you want: Loop, Bounce, or Long Exposure.

When you change a Live Photo into a GIF with either the Loop or Bounce effect, it will go into your Animated album instead of Live Photos. You can change it back to a Live Photo at any time. Images with the Long Exposure effect are still counted as Live Photos.

How to stitch together multiple Live Photos to create a video

In iOS 13, Apple added the ability to stitch together multiple Live Photos (not necessary to have them back-to-back) to create a video clip. The process is baked directly into iOS itself, so you don't need to import your Live Photos into an app like iMovie to do so. It's insanely easy and lets you create amazing memories! Here's how to make a video from multiple Live Photos.

1. Launch Photos on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Find the Live Photos that you want to create a video file with.
   • When viewing an image, you can tell if it is a Live Photo when it has the diffusing circle icon in the top left, along with the word "LIVE" next to it.

3. Tap on the Share button.
4. You can scroll through your images and select more just above the Share Sheet options.
5. Scroll down and select Save as Video.
6. Your new video will be in the Recents album.

Getting creative with Live Photos

As you can see, it's easy to create magical moments with Live Photos on your smartphone, whether you're using an iPhone 7 or an iPhone 14. It's a fun feature that definitely makes your photos come to life, and there's so much you can do with them.

If you're not ready for Live Photos just yet and you're still getting your head around photos that don't move, we have some simpler tutorials that might be good for you, like our how to crop and resize photos on iPhone and iPad guide.

Updated August 2022: Updated for the latest version of iOS.

HomePod and HomePod mini are Apple's foray into music hardware, packing-in room-filling speakers, and sensitive microphones that pick up your commands from across the room. HomePods make music playback a breeze with voice controls and AirPlay 2, turning your home into an on-demand concert hall. Siri can also get the weather, set timers, and control your HomeKit accessories using just your voice. Whether you're just getting started with your first HomePod or you're looking for some more advanced information, here's everything you need to know!

What is HomePod?

Apple has released two HomePods over the years — the original HomePod and the HomePod mini, each delivering crisp audio and convenient Siri voice controls in a compact form factor that looks great anywhere you put them. However, as of early 2021, Apple discontinued the original HomePod from its lineup to focus its efforts on the HomePod mini. So, while you can still find the larger HomePod for sale at some outlets, it is crucial to keep in mind that its lifespan may be limited.

The original HomePod, released in 2018, is an audio powerhouse with seven tweeters and a high-excursion woofer that makes it perfect for large rooms or for enjoying movies through an Apple TV. If you're just learning about the HomePod and want to know more about how it works or your buying options, then we have got you covered. Our HomePod review covers it all — unboxing, setup, controls, tech specs, and more. Our HomePod FAQ answers many of the most common questions you may have, from wireless capabilities to family sharing.

The HomePod mini, which arrived in late 2020, shrinks everything down to just one driver and two radiators but still manages to pump out excellent sound. Of course, we have a HomePod mini review available, which gets to the heart of who should and shouldn't buy Apple's smaller speaker and why you should consider it over its larger sibling.

If you are having trouble deciding which HomePod is right for your home, our HomePod buyer's guide compares color options and pits it up against several popular competitors. Already have a HomePod in mind? Then you may be wondering, should you buy AppleCare+ for your HomePod?

Getting started with HomePod

Right out of the box, you'll be able to set up your HomePod or HomePod mini with your iPhone or iPad just by having your iOS device nearby. Just like you see with the AirPods, a pairing dialog will magically appear, guiding you through the entire process. For more in-depth information about getting started, check out our comprehensive HomePod beginner's guide.

If you need a little more help, then our guide, how to set up your HomePod, provides a complete step-by-step walkthrough experience. If you are switching from an Amazon Alexa or Google Home, you may want to look at how to switch to HomePod as there are several things to consider, like transferring your music library.

Stereo-pairing and multi-room audio

As with many things in life, two are better than one, which also applies to Apple's HomePod and HomePod mini. If you want to get the absolute best sound possible, you can create a stereo pair with your HomePods, which gives two speakers a specific channel for audio playback.

Stereo pairs are available for both the HomePod and HomePod mini. However, you can only pair two of the same HomePod models, so no mixing and matching allowed. If you do have multiple HomePod sizes in the same room, you can play your tunes through them all at the same time using AirPlay 2's multi-room audio feature.

AirPlay 2 keeps all of your music in sync across wherever you go in your home, but it doesn't separate audio channels so that you won't get an authentic surround-sound experience. AirPlay 2 is also not limited to just HomePods either, as the best AirPlay 2 speakers include the same capabilities in various shapes and sizes.

Using HomePod

Once you've set up your HomePod or HomePod mini, you'll want to know all about how to use it, how to update it, how to protect it, and more. Since both HomePod models focus on simplicity, there isn't much in the way of on-device controls, but if you're curious, we have a guide for that as well — how to control HomePod with touch gestures.

With the HomePod and HomePod mini essentially being a hands-off experience, voice controls are the primary interaction method. You can ask Siri for all sorts of things like current weather conditions, the answer to an equation, or movie times. You can also ask Siri to take notes, add items to your reminders, or make a hands-free call.

If your smart speaker is near your kitchen, you will want to know how to set multiple timers with HomePod and HomePod mini. If your HomePod is in the bedroom, you can use it as a sound machine by knowing how to play ambient sleep sounds on your HomePod.

If you need to change some advanced settings or integrate them into your HomeKit home, you will do so via Apple's Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. In the Home app, you can rename your HomePod, install software updates for your HomePod, turn off personal requests, and access secure AirPlay features.

HomePod and music

Connection to Apple Music is where the HomePod and HomePod mini genuinely shine. If you have a subscription, you can use the HomePod and HomePod mini with Apple Music to play everything from your playlists to new albums — just ask! Don't feel like asking? Then you can use handoff with the HomePod and HomePod mini to transfer songs that you are currently playing on your iPhone too.

You don't need an Apple Music subscription to play your favorite tunes with HomePod, though. You can stream Spotify, Pandora, YouTube Music, and more to HomePod through your iOS device and AirPlay. You just can't ask Siri for help in these situations. For more details on what Siri can play, check out how HomePod works with Apple Music, iTunes Match, iCloud Music Library, AirPlay, and FLAC files.

HomePod and HomePod mini also make it easy for your friends, family, and guests to play their favorite tunes. Thanks to peer-to-peer AirPlay technology, you can let your friends stream their music to your HomePod without having to share your complicated Wi-Fi password or having them join your network. It just works.

If you share your HomePod with family members on your network, you can prevent the HomePod from using their music choices to influence your recommendations. Check out our guide, how to keep your Apple Music For You recommendations safe on HomePod for more.

HomePod and Apple TV

A favorite HomePod feature of many is that it works as a speaker for the best Apple TV. While both HomePods work as speakers for the Apple TV HD or the Apple TV 4K, how you set up your HomePod or HomePod mini with your Apple TV will vary depending on your hardware.

If you have a HomePod mini or use an Apple TV HD, you will need to utilize AirPlay 2 for playback. This method requires you to manually select your HomePod as a speaker for your TV through the Apple TV's settings menu, and it only creates a temporary connection. You may also find that the Apple TV's menu sounds may not play via AirPlay 2, and some apps and games may not work with it either.

Of course, the best TV audio experience comes via the original HomePod and the Apple TV 4K. With this combination, you can set your HomePod as the default speaker for your Apple TV for all of its sounds — including the on-screen interface, games, and apps. Plus, you don't have to remember to switch to it every movie night.

Regardless of which method you use, you will gain better sound over your TV speakers — especially if you have a stereo pair, and you will also get convenient playback controls. You will also be able to control video playback on your Apple TV with your HomePod, so you won't have to dig up your Siri Remote just to pause a movie.

HomePod and HomeKit

Another favorite feature is smart home control over the best HomeKit devices. With just a shout, the HomePod and HomePod mini can dim HomeKit light bulbs, secure HomeKit door locks, and turn off devices connected to smart plugs for HomeKit.

With a HomeKit video doorbell setup for your home, the HomePod and HomePod mini also act as a chime, playing a soft tone across all of your HomePods when someone presses the button. Through Face Recognition, the HomePods will even announce the name of the person at the door if you have them tagged in your Photo Library on your iOS devices and Mac.

In addition to controlling your accessories, the HomePod and HomePod mini act as a HomeKit hub — enabling remote out-of-home access and advanced features like automation and HomeKit Secure Video. Unlike setting up device-specific hubs, making a HomePod your HomeKit home hub is incredibly simple — in fact, it happens automatically after setup.

If all of that weren't enough, the HomePod and HomePod mini also work as an intercom system. Through the Home app or via a Siri voice command, you can send an instant audio message to other HomePods and iOS devices. So with a HomePod, you no longer have to shout at the top of your lungs to let everyone know that dinner is ready. Here's how to use Intercom on HomePod, iPhone, and more.

HomePod and Accessibility

As with all devices Apple makes, both HomePods have accessibility features to help make using it easier for all. Through the Home app on your iOS device, you can change audio features like Siri's speaking rate and activate VoiceOver.

You can also access Touch Accommodations that allow you to adjust the HomePod's touch panel's sensitivity and hold duration. For more, visit how to turn on accessibility features for HomePod.

Privacy and the HomePod

With the HomePod and HomePod mini microphones being always-on by default, you may be wondering about privacy features. As usual, Apple has gone out of its way to make the entire HomePod experience as private and secure as possible through a combination of encryption, random identifiers, and minimal data storage. The most important thing to know, though, is that nothing is sent to Apple's servers until the HomePod or HomePod mini hears the Hey Siri phrase.

If you are not comfortable having an always-on mic in your home, you can disable Hey Siri altogether by following the guide, how to turn off and customize 'Hey Siri' on HomePod. If you decide to disable voice features, you should pay a visit to how to control your HomePod with your iPhone or iPad instead of Siri, so you don't lose playback controls.

Another privacy feature of the HomePod and HomePod mini to consider is Personal Requests. Personal Requests allow you to send messages, make phone calls, and add notes or reminders using only your voice. While Siri learns the voices of those with who you share your HomePod, there is still a chance for error, meaning you could wind up with someone sending a message from your account.

Through the Home app, you can set Personal Requests to require authentication before carrying out commands, and you can limit which HomePods have access to them if you have multiple speakers in your home. Like Hey Siri, you can also turn Personal Requests off on the HomePod too.

HomePod accessories

Like most Apple hardware, there are plenty of accessories available for both the HomePod and HomePod mini that can fill in some of the gaps left by their minimalist design. The best stands for Apple HomePod get your smart speaker up off of the table with coasters, stands, and mounts, optimizing sound quality and placement potential.

The best cases and covers for HomePod keep the original HomePod safe and secure during your travels — if that is your thing. The best sleeves for HomePod protect it from dust and everyday life in your home, and they spice up the HomePod with a bit of color.

Cleaning, repairs, and troubleshooting

There may be a time where you come across issues with your smart speaker, so it is essential to know how to troubleshoot HomePod. In most cases, a simple reboot or reset of your HomePod is all that it takes to clear everything up. So if you're having trouble getting Siri to work or getting your HomePod to connect to your Wi-Fi, you may need to restart or reset your HomePod.

If all else fails, you may need to go the repair route. With all of the technology inside the HomePod and HomePod mini and the compact nature of the speakers, replacement parts for the HomePod are not easy to come by — meaning that you will have to see Apple. Don't worry though, we have a guide for that as well, how to repair or replace your HomePod, covering your options and potential costs.

Since most HomePods will are in common areas of the home like the kitchen or living room, you will also need to know how to clean your HomePod to keep it looking its best.

While our guide covers the do's and don'ts, the gist of it is: keep it dry, and be gentle! The HomePod's mesh fabric is not user-replaceable, and the power cord isn't removable on the HomePod mini.

Any questions?

Have some burning questions about HomePod or HomePod mini? Let us know in the comments below!

Updated April 2021: Updated for iOS 14.5 and HomePod mini.

Just getting started with the Home app or recently purchased your first HomeKit-enabled, Apple Home, or Matter accessory? Awesome! You've just bought into one of the most secure, private, and powerful connected home platforms around — especially if you're using an iPhone, iPad, Mac, HomePod, or Apple Watch.

While Apple's take on the connected home focuses on simplicity through the Home app, it can still be a little daunting if you are new to the world of smart gadgets. That's why we've put together this guide: to give you all the information you'll need (and then some!) to set up and take advantage of the best HomeKit devices and apps. So don't worry, you'll be controlling your home with Siri and the Home app in no time!

How HomeKit and Matter work

What the heck is HomeKit, Matter, and the Home app, and how do they work? Well, when you buy an accessory that works with Apple HomeKit or Matter, you're buying a product that meets stringent requirements for both security and functionality. HomeKit and Matter are frameworks that connect your home automation products and lets you control them with Siri and the Home app.

Here's an example: Say you buy the Logitech Circle View Doorbell, a HomeKit-enabled security solution for your front porch. After you perform the initial setup process, Apple's HomeKit framework securely connects the accessory to your iOS devices, Mac, and HomePod letting you access its live view in the Home app, through HomeKit-enabled apps, and via Siri.

A lot is going on behind the scenes, so for a deeper dive on HomeKit and the Home app, be sure to check out our HomeKit FAQ and our Matter: Everything you need to know guide.

We should also note that Apple recently changed its smart home naming conventions in iOS 16. So instead of seeing HomeKit devices on the shelves in the future, you will see devices that say Works with Apple Home. For this guide, we will be referring to some device types and features as HomeKit, which are the same as Apple Home app devices. The same goes for Matter devices, which will pair and operate with the Home app once they are available in the near future.

HomeKit and Matter devices

Are you looking for HomeKit and Matter accessories to add to your home? There are tons of available smart devices today, so the best place to start is with our handy guides that whittle them down to the best of the best. We are constantly testing the latest and greatest smart accessories, so we also provide in-depth HomeKit reviews to help you decide whether or not that shiny new device is worthy of your hard-earned dough.

If you are looking for a bit of inspiration, we have many general guides highlighting all of the magical HomeKit automation possibilities. The best HomeKit devices for renters are a collection of devices that do not require permanent installation, and HomeKit security accessories help keep your home secure. You can even bring HomeKit with you on the go with HomeKit devices for travel.

Lighting

For lighting, the best HomeKit light bulbs make it easy to add color and convenient controls to your home. There are smart bulbs for almost any size and style, including the HomeKit filament light bulbs, flood light bulbs, candelabara light bulbs, and GU10 light bulbs. If you have a favorite bulb that you don't want to replace but still want to add the smarts, HomeKit light bulb sockets give you the best of both worlds.

If you have lots of light bulbs, it may be cheaper (and easier) to go the replacement light switch route. HomeKit light switches and HomeKit dimmer switches are straightforward to install, with it taking as little as ten minutes with the right tools. Need to replace a ceiling light or chandelier? HomeKit light fixtures can help with that too!

Other lighting accessories like the best HomeKit lamps not only offer the smarts, but in some cases, they may offer a modern update to your decor. HomeKit lightstrips and light panels add fun colors to your space, and HomeKit nightlights are great for areas like the nursery.

Security

A big part of the appeal of the modern smart home is security, and there a few HomeKit and Matter accessory types that can help lock down your home. HomeKit door locks ensure that you never leave your front door unlocked with auto-locking capabilities, Siri, and Home app controls. Through the Home app, you can also set up activity alerts that notify you the instant your door is unlocked, and some keep logs so you can review all of your home's events.

HomeKit garage door openers offer similar security features to door locks. You can set up notifications for any open or close events, access activity logs, and have them remind you to close the door after a set time. Having a smart garage door opener is incredibly convenient, too, with the ability to open and close the door from afar, and combined with a smart door lock, you can go entirely keyless and still have access to your home.

Of course, cameras and video doorbells are also a huge part of home security, and HomeKit and the Home app have plenty of those as well. The best HomeKit cameras work with Apple's HomeKit Secure Video feature, which keeps a rolling 10-days worth of recordings in iCloud using your existing storage plan. HomeKit Secure Video also provides custom activity zones, face recognition, and intelligent filters to reduce nuisance alerts from pets or vehicles. Plus, since Apple is all about keeping your data private, everything is end-to-end encrypted so only you or your family can access your cameras.

While options are limited, HomeKit video doorbells put the power of a connected camera right at your front door. Video doorbells act similar to standard smart cameras — with some offering HomeKit Secure Video support — but have a few perks like the ability to chime your HomePods when someone is at the door. If you have an Apple TV in your home, HomeKit doorbells will send a live feed of your doorbell right on the big screen, so you don't miss a visitor.

When it comes to securing your home network, HomeKit routers allow you to place restrictions on your accessories through the HomeKit Secure Router feature baked into the Home app. There are three types of restrictions that you can set:

• Restrict to Home: Only allow connections to your home hub. This may block firmware updates or other services.
• Automatic: Allow connections with an automatically updated list of manufacturer-approved internet services and local devices.
• No Restriction: Allow connections with any internet service or local device. This provides the lowest level of security.

The most interesting restriction is Restrict to Home. This setting blocks outgoing traffic from your accessories, so you can rest easy knowing that your smart plug isn't relaying all of your household activities to a random server. While this setting can break some manufacturer-specific accessory features, for the most part, the most restrictive option still allows you to control all of your accessories like always, just with the added security benefits. For more details, head on over to our HomeKit routers: Everything you need to know guide.

Sensors

HomeKit and Matter are home to a whole host of smart sensors that provide additional security benefits and help give you a greater sense of the health of your home. On the security side of things, you can pair HomeKit door and window sensors and motion sensors with your home's lighting to give the appearance that someone is home.

For safety, HomeKit smoke and CO detectors deliver critical alerts to your personal devices if one senses trouble — giving you time to react if you are away from your home. HomeKit water leak detectors do the same for water leaks, large or small, crucial for preventing a major disaster.

Other smart sensors focus on your home's environment. HomeKit air quality sensors provide valuable insight into the air that you breathe, reporting VOC levels, CO2, and more. For automation, the best HomeKit light sensors have the unique ability to trigger other accessories based on the amount of light in the room, creating loads of custom potential.

HomeKit temperature sensors and humidity sensors are a convenient way to monitor rooms in your home, and some can interact with smart thermostats, fans, and humidifiers.

Climate control

Speaking of climate, HomeKit and the Home app are a fantastic way to manage the temperature in your home with HomeKit thermostats. With a smart thermostat, you can fire up the heater from the comforts of your bed or create a schedule through automation that turns everything off while you are at the office.

If you have an older home or live in a climate where you can get by without central heating and air, HomeKit air conditioners can help keep you cool. For just a little bit more than your traditional window AC unit, smart air conditioners enable Siri and Home app controls, and just like smart thermostats, you can create custom schedules for your home's needs.

HomeKit ceiling fans are another excellent way to help keep your cool and reduce your energy bill. Most smart fans allow you to adjust speeds on-demand, and some do the chore of reversing direction simple. If you already have a fan that you like and want the smarts, HomeKit switches for ceiling fans can do just that.

HomeKit smart blinds can also play a role in your home's climate. Smart blinds help block out the sun during the day, and through the power of automation, your shades can close when it is time to settle in for some binge-watching.

Entertainment

HomeKit and the Home app also work with many entertainment devices like speakers, TVs, receivers, and set-top boxes in conjunction with AirPlay 2. The best AirPlay 2 speakers and receivers allow for effortless streaming, multi-room audio, and smart speakers, like Apple's HomePod and HomePod mini, work with Home app automation so you can arrive home to your favorite tunes at the end of a long day.

HomeKit TVs put all of the standard remote control functions like volume and power right in the Home app. You can also slot smart TVs into your movie night scenes so you can dim the lights, close the shades, and have your TV switch to the correct input, all with one tap.

Power and controls

Finally, you cannot mention smart home technology without mentioning smart plugs. The best smart plugs for HomeKit are the easiest way to add remote controls to older "dumb" devices like box fans and coffee makers thanks to their plug-and-play design. HomeKit power strips take it up a notch with multiple outlets in one and surge protection, making them the perfect office companion.

As convenient as controlling devices remotely through a smart plug is, sometimes nothing beats the convenience of having a physical button. The best HomeKit buttons and remotes solve this problem by allowing you to assign actions or scenes to a specific button. You can either mount them on the wall next to your light switches or have them within reach on a table or nightstand in many cases.

You can also bring your smart home and Siri to the great outdoors with HomeKit Sprinklers controllers and outdoor smart plugs. With a smart sprinkler controller, you can water your garden with a shout or create a schedule that hydrates your lawn every other day. Outdoor smart plugs can help keep your power tool batteries topped-off, or spring your holiday decorations to life when the sun goes down.

Setting up HomeKit and Matter devices in the Home app

Once you've picked up a HomeKit or Matter accessory, you'll want to set them up with your smart home. In most cases, adding your devices takes place over in the Home app on iOS and iPadOS. After selecting the Add Accessory option, you scan the HomeKit or Matter pairing code with your camera, usually found on-device.

During pairing, you will need to provide a name and room for your accessories, so if you want a complete walk-through, head over to our how to set up your HomeKit devices guide.

Some accessories, like smart locks, may require you to download an app before adding it to the Home app. If your accessory supports HomeKit and the Home app but doesn't have a pairing code, you will need to go this route.

Installing HomeKit devices

Some HomeKit and Matter devices — like light switches, require a little more effort than just plugging them in to get up and running. Don't worry — we have a few guides to help you with that as well.

Our guide, everything you need to install a HomeKit-enabled Light Switch, gives you a complete rundown on what you need to get the job done. When you are ready, our guide, how to install a HomeKit enabled smart light switch, will walk you through every step of the way.

We have other product-specific guides available as well. The guide, Installing and setting up the ecobee4 wifi thermostat gives you a step-by-step rundown on how to install one of the best thermostats, and how to install a logitech circle 2 camera outdoors makes mounting a HomeKit camera a breeze.

Controlling HomeKit and Matter devices

The best part of HomeKit is controlling all your smart home accessories in one familiar place across your devices. Through the Home app on your iPhone, you can toggle on and off your lights with a single tap, adjust brightness with a swipe, and access advanced settings with a long-press.

You can also access your HomeKit and Matter devices through your Apple Watch with the built-in Home app. While smaller, the Apple Watch version of the Home app is just as capable, even giving you access to your camera's live feeds. Not everything on the watch is a replica of how you access things on your iOS device, though, so if you want a rundown, take a look at how to use the Home app on Apple Watch.

The iPad and Mac versions of the Home app are pretty much identical, although instead of taps with the Mac, you right-click to access specific controls and settings. Both of these versions of the Home app feature a quick way to access rooms within the home with a sidebar view that is always available, saving you some taps and clicks.

Using an app for control is magical, but it gets even better when you use your voice to summon changes on-demand. Siri on your iOS devices and the HomePod can do pretty much everything you can do via the Home app — but you have to know the proper terminology. For some examples, check out our how to use Siri with your HomeKit devices guide, and don't be afraid to try new things as you might discover some neat tricks.

Automation and Scenes

Aside from the standard controls, HomeKit and the Home app also allow you to control your accessories through Scenes and Automation. Home app Scenes are groups of actions combined into one, so you can create a scene for your movie nights that will automatically dim the lights, close the blinds, and fire up your TV to the correct input. Once you create a scene, you can set everything in motion with just one tap in the Home app, or you can summon the scene via its name through Siri.

Setting up scenes is easy, but if you need a little help, you can visit how to create scenes in the Home app. You can also find out how to set your favorite scenes and accessories in the Home app to make them even more accessible.

Automation in the Home app takes things even further by running a series of actions based on the time of day, whether or not someone arrives at home or via the state of another accessory. For example, you can set your outdoor lighting to automatically turn on every day at sunset and then turn off at sunrise without lifting a finger with automation. You can also have your lights turn on automatically when someone passes by your motion sensor — the potential is endless.

If all of this sounds complicated, you should head over to how to create automations in the Home app before getting started. Here you will find everything you need to build your first automation, and you may even get a few ideas as to what to automate next.

Home sharing

Your friends and family can also join in on the smart home and Home app fun if you know how to add users to your HomeKit home. Through the Home app, you can send invites to those you trust. Following our guide, how to accept an invitation to join a HomeKit home, they can control and access all of your HomeKit devices the same way you do.

Sharing your home doesn't have to be a free-for-all, though, as you can set user-specific permissions that limit access to certain things. You can restrict when a user can access your accessories by enabling or disabling the remote access feature, and you can lock down your cameras to prevent prying eyes. You can also revoke access at any time, making sharing great for house sitters or even for AirBnB rentals.

If you decide to share your home, we suggest using a system to relay messages and helpful hints to those with access. The home notes area in the Home app is the perfect place to jot down any access codes for things like smart locks with keypads or general household instructions. Want to learn more about home notes? Then hop on over to the guide, how to add home notes in the home app.

Remote access

Controlling your access from the couch is awesome, but what if you want to control your lights while you're on vacation? Depending on your accessory, you may need additional equipment. Some devices utilize protocols like Bluetooth, Thread, or Wi-Fi for connectivity, limiting the distance you can be from your accessory — meaning if you leave home, you will lose access.

To control these accessories, you need a HomeKit resident device — commonly referred to as a HomeKit hub. HomeKit hubs act as a middle-man of sorts, relaying commands sent from your iOS devices to your accessories even while you are out and about. There are several HomeKit hubs available, including the best Apple TV models, the original HomePod and the HomePod mini.

Some HomeKit and Matter devices come with specific hubs which work similarly, but you will need to use the manufacturer's app if you don't have an actual HomeKit hub. It can sound a little complicated, so we put together an everything you need to know about HomeKit hubs guide to help clear it all up.

Troubleshooting

Are you having trouble setting up your smart home? You're not alone! Unfortunately, there's plenty of things that can go wrong with your devices and Home app setup, leading to some less than magical moments.

As always, the best place to start is with the basics: make sure that you are on the latest version of iOS and that you sign in to iCloud on all of your devices. You can find these steps and more in our how to troubleshoot your HomeKit devices guide.

The most common issue that we see is the dreaded No Response status in the Home app. While there is no exact cure-all for this issue, we have many suggestions that you can take in our how-to: no response HomeKit error? Here's the fix!.

Another one of the most significant issues surrounds HomeKit or Matter pairing codes. Since these codes are unique to the accessory, you must keep them in a safe place. If you lose one, you may lose the ability to add them to the Home app at a later time if you ever unpair it. If you are ever in this situation, visit our Lost your HomeKit code? Here's what to do! guide for some tips on where to look.

Automate, secure, and control your home with HomeKit and the Home app

As you can see, HomeKit and the Home app unleash your smart home's true potential. Whether it is automating your morning routine, or keeping an eye on your precious packages, the HomeKit and the Home app can do it all — if you know where to look. If you still have questions about HomeKit or want to chat with some fellow HomeKit users, check out our HomeKit forums and our other HomeKit and Home app articles!

Computers should be for everyone, including those with physical impairments, whether it be to their sight, hearing, or motor function. Apple strives to create products and software that are as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. Here's how you can set up accessibility features to make them work for you and your needs.

Here's more about accessibility on Mac and macOS Big Sur:

How to enable VoiceOver on Mac

For the visually impaired, VoiceOver is a handy tool that reads out what's on the screen. It also lets you know what content your mouse is over so that you don't click on the wrong thing.

• How to enable VoiceOver
• How to use VoiceOver Training
• How to change the VoiceOver voice
• How to use VoiceOver Utility
• How to set up VoiceOver Portable Preferences
• How to enable Descriptions
• Improvements coming in macOS Catalina

How to use Zoom on Mac

If you have trouble reading text on your Mac or would like to see parts of your screen in greater detail, then you can enable the Zoom function, which basically adds a magnifying glass to your screen. You can move it around and control the zoom to your heart's content.

• How to enable keyboard shortcuts for Zoom
• How to enable the scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom
• How to change the zoom style
• How to customize Fullscreen Zoom magnification
• How to manage Fullscreen Zoom behaviors
• How to change how the screen moves in Fullscreen Zoom
• How to change the window position for Picture-in-picture Zoom
• How to change the cursor style for Picture-in-picture Zoom
• How to manage picture-in-picture Zoom behaviors
• How to change the speak delay for Zoom
• How to adjust the size and location of the Picture-in-picture Zoom window
• Zoom in macOS

How to change the look of closed captions on Mac

Closed captions can work to tell you what's being said in videos on your Mac. If the style or size of closed captions isn't working for you, you can change them up to suit your needs.

• How to change the preset caption style
• How to create custom captions
• How to enable closed captions and SDH by default

How to use visual and color accessibility options on your Mac

If you're color blind or have trouble seeing certain shades mixed with other shades, you can invert colors on your Mac and change different color settings to make the text easier to read and buttons more comfortable to see.

• How to invert colors
• How to switch to grayscale
• How to use shapes to differentiate some settings
• How to reduce motion
• How to increase contrast
• How to reduce transparency
• How to change the display contrast
• How to change cursor size and enable/disable shake mouse pointer to locate

How to use Keyboard accessibility on Mac

We don't all type the same, and for some of us, a quick tap here and there isn't possible. Luckily, macOS has accessibility features to help make using your keyboard more comfortable.

• How to enable Sticky Keys
• How to enable Slow Keys
• How to enable the Accessibility Keyboard
• How to manage options for the Accessibility Keyboard
• How to use dwell with the Accessibility Keyboard
• How to use the panel editor
• How to enable keyboard navigation to move between controls in macOS Catalina

How to use Dictation on Mac

If you're unable to type or it would just be a lot easier to search the web and perform other tasks with just your voice, then Siri on the Mac can help you out in a BIG way. All you have to do is trigger the feature and then speaker your command or query.

• How to enable and use Dictation
• How to change your Dictation language
• How to enable and use Enhanced Dictation
• How to change the Dictation keyboard shortcut
• How to enable/disable Dictation Commands
• How to enable the dictation keyword phrase
• How to enable a sound when a command is recognized
• How to enable/disable output mute during dictation
• Dictation accessibility in macOS Catalina

How to use Voice Controls on Mac

With Voice Control, users can use speech commands to control their devices. Available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, iOS 13, the feature has been designed for those folks with limited dexterity, mobility, and other conditions. It also serves as a great new way to interact with your devices.

• How to turn on Voice Control on Mac
• How to wake/sleep Voice Control on Mac
• How to change the Voice Control language on Mac
• How to select a new language in Voice Control on Mac
• How to enable/disable commands in Voice Control on Mac
• How to create custom commands in Voice Control on Mac
• How to delete custom commands in Voice Control on Mac
• How to change the microphone for Voice Control on Mac
• How to receive an alert when a command is recognized in Voice Control on Mac

Looking for something new?

Check out our favorite MacBook and Mac desktop of the year if you're in the market for a new computer. You'll be happy you did.

Need more help with accessibility on Mac?

If you're still having trouble with accessibility features on your Mac, you can check in with our forums to see if iMore's readers have a solution. Pop in and ask a question or check to see if someone else is having the same issue!

So, you've purchased your new Mac and you've got it all set up. Now, you're sitting in front of your screen, wondering what to do next. Lucky for you, we've got this useful guide to understanding the basic anatomy of your desktop or laptop. So, if you're new to Mac, welcome to the family. Now it's time to learn where everything is and what it does.

• Touch ID and Apple Pay
• Auto Unlock
• The Touch Bar on MacBook Pro
• The Dock
• The Menu bar
• Finder
• Desktop background images and the screensaver
• The Mac App Store
• Right-clicking
• The Trackpad & Magic Mouse
• Full screen mode
• Taking Screenshots
• Spotlight
• Siri
• Launchpad
• Safari
• The Mail app
• Messages
• iCloud and Continuity
• Troubleshooting the Mac

Touch ID and Apple Pay

Apple added support for Touch ID with the latest model MacBook Pro. With it, you can log into your account with one touch, and even set up multiple users with Touch ID. You can also use it to make online purchases thanks to Apple Pay on the web.

• How to use Touch ID on the MacBook Pro
• How to set and manage Apple Pay on the Mac
• How to use Apple Pay on the Mac

Auto Unlock

You can set up your Mac with a super strong password without having to worry about the inconvenience of having to retype it every time you lock your screen. Auto Unlock makes it possible for you to unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch just by being in proximity to it. So, you can set a 14-digit password that not even the most super of computers could figure out, but still unlock your Mac in a split second.

• How to enable Auto Unlock on your Mac and Apple Watch

The Touch Bar

Apple added a big new feature to the latest model MacBook Pro. The Touch Bar is an OLED panel that sits at the top of the keyboard and replaces the row of function keys. It is contextual, meaning what appears on the panel will change, depending on what app you are currently using. It is also customizable, which will allow you to set up different apps (including third-party apps that support customization) to improve your workflow.

• How to use the Touch Bar: The ultimate guide
• Best Touch Bar apps for MacBook Pro

The Dock

The Dock is what you can consider the "favorites" section on your Mac. It stores all of the apps, files, and folders you consider to be the most important for quick access. It also temporarily holds apps, files and folders that are currently open, so you can get to them with one click, instead of sifting through all of your open windows and programs.

• Learn how to use the Dock on your Mac

The Menu bar

The Menu bar sits at the very top of your Mac's screen. It houses the Apple menu, which will get you to all of your system settings, the app menu, which is specific to the app you are currently using, computer status shortcuts and third-party quick look tools, Spotlight, and Siri.

• Learn how to use the Menu bar on your Mac

Finder

Finder is the one-stop shop for every shred of data on your Mac. It is sometimes the best way to find what you are looking for (though Spotlight really gives it a run for its money). The best part is that you have direct access to cloud-based programs in Finder, too. So, you don't have to go digging around in the Dropbox app or iCloud Drive.

• How to use Finder on your Mac

Desktop background images and the screensaver

No computer seems right until you've made it your own with your personal background image or screensaver. Even if you use the built-in content, you are still the one choosing your look, and that's what makes it feel just right.

• How to change the desktop and screen saver on your Mac

The Mac App Store

The Mac App Store is where you will find some of the best apps and games for your desktop or laptop. It's also the place you go to when you need to update the Mac operating system and other software programs. Visit often to see new content that will really make your Mac shine. You'll need an Apple ID to purchase and download content from the Mac App Store. So, if you don't already have one, create an Apple ID before you start.

• Learn how to download apps from the Mac App Store
• Learn how to check for macOS and app updates in the Mac App Store

Right-clicking

The Mac isn't like other computers. The included mouse or trackpad doesn't actually come standard with a right-click function. But, you can still get the right or control-click usability. You just have to set it up first.

• Learn how to set up right-clicking functionality on your Mac

The Trackpad & Magic Mouse

The trackpad on a Mac laptop and the included Magic Mouse for a Mac desktop have some amazingly useful features, including but not limited to, gesture-based functions that will zoom, swipe, scroll, and more. Get to know your trackpad or Magic Mouse. You'll be amazed at what they can do.

• Learn how to customize your mouse on the Mac
• Learn how to customize the trackpad on your Mac

Full screen mode

Going full screen helps you stay productive and avoid distractions. On the Mac, you can split up your screen and have two programs running at half-full side-by-side. This is useful for when you want to work in one app but reference another. You can really make full-screen mode work to your advantage if you know how to use it.

• How to use full screen mode on the Mac

Taking Screenshots

So, you've finally got the high score in Super Hexagon and you want to show off that final screen to your friends, or maybe you want to save a cute picture to your desktop, but can't seem to find a way to save it from a website. Take a screenshot! Just like on iPhone and iPad, you can take a screenshot on your Mac with a simple keyboard shortcut.

• Learn how to take a screenshot on your Mac

Spotlight

Spotlight is basically the most robust search program around. It digs through your personal files, folders, apps, emails, and other content to produce results that you were most likely to be looking for in the first place. It also searches the web to cover all the bases. If you're looking for something, chances are Spotlight will find it for you.

• Learn how to use Spotlight on your Mac

Siri

You can use Siri on the Mac just like you would on your iPhone or iPad. In fact, Siri on the Mac can access even more data than its iOS counterpart. Ask Siri to schedule events, remind you of a task, tell you the weather, search your hard drive for files, look up pictures, and a whole lot more. Instead of putting out so much effort yourself, let Siri do the work for you.

• Learn how to set up and use Siri on your Mac

Launchpad

The launchpad is where all of your apps and games are displayed. Think of it as the Home screen on your iPhone or iPad. You can organize apps and games into folders, delete them by clicking and holding until they go into jiggly mode, and search for something specific using the search bar.

• Learn how to use Launchpad on your Mac

Safari

Safari is the default Mac browser. You might be used to a different way to surf the internet, but you should, at least, give Safari a try before you switch. Because it is integrated with the Mac operating system, it has some very awesome features you might end up loving too much to let go of, especially if you use Safari on your iPhone or iPad.

• Learn how to start using Safari on your Mac

The Mail app

When you've connected your mail client to the built-in Mail app, you can get notifications whenever a new message arrives in your inbox. you can also set up filters for VIP contacts, unread messages, emails with attachments, and more.

• Learn how to set up and use the Mail app on your Mac

Messages

You can use Messages on the Mac the same way you do on your iPhone or iPad. You can even set it up to receive text messages from contacts that don't use an iPhone (including those friends that don't even use a smartphone at all). When chatting with other iPhone users, you can view rich links, and even see some of the bubble effects

• Learn how to set up and use Messages on your Mac

iCloud and Continuity

When you create an Apple ID, you will automatically get 5 GB of iCloud storage for free. You can use it for little things like saving your iPhone backups and syncing app data. You can also use it for bigger things, like storing all of your music and photos in the cloud and optimizing your Mac's storage. If 5 GB isn't enough, you can upgrade for as little as $0.99 per month. When you connect your Mac and your iOS devices to iCloud, you can take advantage of Apple's Continuity feature, which allows you to start something on one device, then pick up and continue on another.

• Learn how to set up and use iCloud on your Mac
• Learn how to set up and use Optimized Storage on your Mac
• Learn about iCloud and your photos
• Learn about iCloud and your music
• Learn everything you need to know about Continuity on mac and iOS

Troubleshooting the Mac

Just like with all forms of technology, sometimes, things don't go right. Luckily, the Apple community is incredibly helpful. If something is wrong with your Mac, chances are, someone has already found the solution. You can get help directly on your Mac, from the iMore forums, and from Apple support. Just remember to relax and breath. A solution is waiting for you, you just have to know where to find it.

• Learn about the channels you can go through to troubleshoot your Mac

There comes a time in everyone's life when they have to decide whether or not it's time to get a new computer. If you are at that crossroads and have decided to trade in your old Mac for a new one, you may be wondering how to upgrade to a new MacBook Pro. If you think it may be time to upgrade to the awesome 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 chip, the process of properly preparing your MacBook for an upgrade is pretty straightforward, After all, you don't want to lose any of your files, and you may want to sell your old MacBook for some cash to put towards your new purchase. Here are all our tips on how to upgrade to a new MacBook Pro.

How to prepare your old Mac for sale or trade-in

Are you planning on keeping your old Mac? If so, skip this step. If, however, you are planning on selling, trading in, or giving away your old Mac, you'll need to sign out of iCloud, iMessage, iTunes, and Find My Mac (especially Find My Mac), and reset your hard drive. Don't forget to back up your Mac before you erase the hard drive!

• How to reset your Mac to prepare it for sale

How to sell or trade-in your old Mac

If you're hoping to help cover the cost of your new Mac by selling or trading in your old one, make sure you physically clean it (get that grime off), clean the hard drive by wiping it and reinstalling a fresh copy of macOS, and then shop around for the best price for how much effort you want to spend on selling or trading it in. Don't forget to transfer your data from your old Mac to your new one before you hand the old one off to someone else.

• How to sell your Mac

How to purchase your new MacBook Pro

Of course, the biggest question is how to get that fancy new MacBook Pro into your life. You can order it online from Apple's website and in some circumstances, from Amazon at a discounted price (the 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro is not yet available on Amazon at the time of writing).

• How to order the new MacBook Pro in the US

Remember, whether you're using your new MacBook Pro for work, school, or fun. You're going to want the best MacBook for you. Take a look at all the options and make sure you pick the right computer for the task.

How to transfer data from your old Mac to your new MacBook Pro

If you want to keep the same settings, apps, files, folders, and accounts, you can easily migrate the data from your old Mac to your new one with Migration Assistant. This also works if you are switching from PC to Mac.

• How to migrate your old Mac's data to your new Mac

Any questions?

Do you have any questions about how to upgrade to a new MacBook Pro? Let me know in the comments, and I'll answer as soon as I can.

Updated December 2020: Updated for new MacBook Pro with M1 chip.

Apple still insists it has no interest in multitouch screens on its Mac line — that's what the iPad is for, after all. But that doesn't mean multitouch can't have a place on the Mac. The Touch Bar (currently available on the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pro) is a touch-based OLED bar that replaces the row of function keys on your keyboard. Depending on which app is active on your screen, the bar's options change to reflect the best controls for that program. The Touch Bar also includes a Touch ID sensor on its right side, integrated into the Power button, which adds quick account switching and Apple Pay authorization to your Mac.

If you just picked up a new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar support, we've put together an ultimate guide for all your multitouch controlling needs.

Which Macs get the Touch Bar?

There may be an OLED panel for every Mac keyboard, laptop, and desktop in the future, but for now, only the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros sport the Touch Bar.

How can I get my hands on it (literally)?

You can find the best discounts on MacBooks Pro models from Apple resellers such as Best Buy and Amazon. When no deals are available, get one from Apple. Before making a purchase, be sure to check out our favorite MacBook models of the year.

• Buy the MacBook Pro from Apple
• Buy the MacBook Pro from Best Buy
• Buy the MacBook Pro from Amazon

How does it work?

There is a small strip at the top of the screen that features a light-up panel with different options, depending on what you are doing on your Mac. For example, if you're using Safari, it will show you navigation controls and favorite websites. If you are checking your email, it will show you mail actions like replying or flagging.

On the right side, Apple offers a stationary Control Strip, which offers quick access to system features like Brightness, Volume, Siri, and more. To the left, the Touch Bar offers contextual functions that change from app to app. Not only is the Touch Bar completely multitouch, it can support up to 10 simultaneous inputs (one for every finger), enabling many potential creative options in third-party apps

The Touch ID button has replaced the Power button as the best way to turn on and authorize your Mac. It's located to the far right of the Touch Bar and connect to the Mac's T2 Secure Enclave chip, which encrypts your fingerprint and keeps it offline. You can use it to log into your account on your Mac, or pay for purchases using Apple Pay on the Web. You can add and name up to three fingerprints per account, or five fingerprints total.

Everything you can do with the Touch Bar

We dug deep to find out everything you can do with the Touch Bar in different built-in and third-party apps. Here's everything we know about what you can do with the Touch Bar in different apps so far.

Everything you can do with the MacBook Pro's Touch Bar

How to customize the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro

With your Mac's Touch Bar, you can control a wide variety of settings and tools within macOS, as well as built-in and third-party apps. Many of these controls are customizable, including the Control Strip, allowing you to add or remove tools to create a better workflow for your daily usage. Here's how.

How to customize the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro

How to use Touch ID on your MacBook Pro

Apple's new Touch Bar MacBook Pro models offer support for Touch ID, the company's fingerprint-based authentication system. If you own a recent iPhone, you've likely used Touch ID: It's Apple's built-in privacy system for unlocking your device and authorizing Apple Pay. Here's how to set it up on your Mac!

How to use Touch ID on your MacBook Pro

How to add a physical Escape Key to MacBook Pro with Touch Bar prior to 2019

If you have a MacBook Pro released in 2018 or older, it doesn't come with a dedicated physical Escape key (though it is always there when you need it in the Touch Bar). If you have a strong desire to press a key instead of tapping the leftmost corner of the Touch Bar panel, or worse, having to perform two steps in order to use the escape key (click on the desktop, then tap escape), there is a solution. You can reassign the caps lock key to be used as the escape key.

How to have your Touch Bar and an Esc key on the new MacBook Pro

How to use the Touch Bar with Windows on the MacBook Pro

The Touch Bar only uses rich, contextual functions while in macOS Sierra and later. However, if you happen to have Windows installed on your partitioned hard drive using Boot Camp, the Touch Bar will default to the traditional row of function keys F1 - F12.

How to use the Touch Bar with Windows on the MacBook Pro

How to make the function keys the default Touch Bar display

In some apps, all you need are the function keys. You can set them as the default Touch Bar display in some apps, making it so you only ever see F1 - F12 at the top of the keyboard.

How to make the function keys the default Touch Bar display

How to take a screenshot with the Touch Bar

Taking a screenshot on your Mac is as simple as hitting Command + Shift + 3 or 4 at the same time. The MacBook Pro with Touch Bar puts all the features right on your keyboard so you can get the perfect shot exactly the way you want it.

How to screenshot with the Touch Bar

How to use the Touch Bar with the built-in Mac apps

Each app that supports the Touch Bar offers different functionality. Some have deeply integrated tools, while others spotlight the most useful tools of an app. Here's how to use the Touch Bar with the Mac's built-in apps.

• How to use the Touch Bar with the Mail app
• How to use the Touch Bar with the Calendar app
• How to use the Touch Bar with Reminders
• How to use the Touch Bar with the Notes app
• How to use the Touch Bar with the Contacts app
• How to use the Touch Bar with FaceTime
• How to use the Touch Bar with the Mac App Store
• How to use the Touch Bar with Preview

How to use the Touch Bar with an iPad and an older Mac

Since the Touch Bar was first announced, developers have been working on creative ways to use it. Duet Display has a feature on its screen mirroring app that lets non-Touch Bar Macs simulate the experience with a virtual Touch Bar.

How to use the Touch Bar with an iPad and an older Mac

How to disable the Touch Bar's contextual tools

Shortly after its launch, the Touch Bar was banned from some examinations because educators were concerned with not being able to control what they see on student's computers. If, for any reason, you need to disable the in-app contextual tools on your MacBook Pro's Touch Bar, you can.

How to disable the Touch Bar

Awesome Touch Bar apps you won't find in the App Store

Apple has strict guidelines for what the Touch Bar should be used for, but that hasn't stopped developers from creating all manner of useless, fun apps and games that you can play right on your Touch Bar. If you're willing to download apps from unidentified developers, you can really get a lot out of the Touch Bar on your MacBook Pro.

Awesome Touch Bar apps you won't find in the App Store

Best Touch Bar apps for MacBook Pro

The new MacBook Pro's Touch Bar is a fascinating and game-changing new feature that allows you to interact with your MacBook like never before. You'll be able to use it for all manner of built-in apps, but there will be a ton of third-party apps with Touch Bar support as well. Here are the best apps with Touch Bar support so far!

• Best Touch Bar apps for MacBook Pro
• How to use the Touch Bar with ANY app

Questions?

Let us know below.

Updated November 2020: Updated for the new MacBook Pro.

The Photos app on iPhone and iPad is one of the best tools to organize, edit and share your pictures. The app offers many editing features for your iPhone, and it can even compete with some of the best photo editing app on your Mac.

Whether you're a professional photographer or you're just starting to learn how to use the Camera app on your iPhone, learning how to manage and organize your picture through Photos is essential. Trying to learn everything in a day can be overwhelming, especially if you're just starting out. Luckily, you'll find everything you need to know about the Photos app on iPhone right here. You can always come back here when you need it. We'll keep updating this page with any new features Apple adds to Photos.

How to navigate Photos for iPhone and iPad

To help keep your pictures and videos organized, the Photos app automatically sorts them into smart groups based on time and location. You can see your pictures by day, month, or year. With them, you can quickly glance at when and where you were, scrub through everything and anything, see a map view of your photos spread out across the world, and even copy a photo to the clipboard so you can insert it into a message. There are still albums you can access as well. And all of it with just a few taps and swipes!

• How to move between Years, Months, and Days in the Photos app on iPhone and iPad
• How to view picture and video locations on a map
• How to quickly select a month to jump to from the Years view
• How to quickly copy pictures or videos to the clipboard from Moments
• How to hide images in the Photos app
• Live Photos: The Ultimate Guide

How to organize photos and videos into albums on your iPhone or iPad

The Photos app on iPhone and iPad gives you quick and easy access to all your pictures and videos. Camera Roll/All Photos, My Photos Stream, Panoramas, Videos, even Selfies all have their own dedicated albums. While you can't change or delete any of those, you can add and manage albums of your own. That way, exactly the photos you want are exactly where you want them.

• How to create new albums with the Photos app for iPhone and iPad
• How to add photos and videos to existing albums with the Photos app for iPhone and iPad
• How to transfer photos from your Mac or PC to your iPhone or iPad

How to use Memories in Photos for iPhone and iPad

Great digital cameras like on the iPhone and iPad mean we can take as many photos as we want, whenever we want. That's amazing because we can record any moment, at any time. It's also terrible because we end up with so many photos we forget about the ones we took even a short time ago. By using Memories on your iPhone or iPad, you can forget about forgetting your pictures with a few taps.

• How to use Memories in the Photos app on iPhone and iPad
• How to search Memories
• How to start a slideshow in Memories
• How to change your slideshow theme in Memories
• How to edit your title, music, duration, and photos in a Memories slideshow
• How to save a Memories slideshow
• How to delete certain photos from a Memories slideshow
• How to delete a Memory slideshow
• How to see who was in your Memories slideshow
• How to see where your Memories took place on a map

How to add, remove, change, or hide People in Photos

Apple uses machine learning to recognize people inside your images and identify the same person in multiple photos. Like Facebook's algorithm, it's not perfect, but it's easy enough to correct. Here's how you can view common faces, put names to them, remove faces that have been misidentified, and hide faces you don't particularly want to see.

• Why do I want to use the People album?
• How to name or rename People in the Photos app
• How to remove People or Faces that have been wrongly identified in the Photos app
• How to add new People or Faces to the Photos app
• How to add Favorite People or Faces in the Photos app
• How to merge multiple People and Faces collections into a single person in the Photos app
• How to delete pictures that have been wrongly identified in the Photos app

How to rotate, crop, and straighten in Photos for iPhone and iPad

Most of us don't frame every photo perfectly when we shoot it. That's why Apple provides editing tools right inside the Photos app that let you straighten, rotate, crop, and even change your pictures' aspect ratio easily. That way, you get your photos, and you get them framed just the way you want them.

• How to rotate in Photos
• How to straighten in Photos
• How to crop in Photos
• How to crop and resize photos
• How to change the aspect ratio in Photos
• How to edit videos on iPhone and iPad

How to use adjust light, color, and B&W in Photos for iPhone and iPad

Smart adjustments in Photos let you enhance your images, either automatically, intuitively, or precisely. The Magic wand is still there, of course, but you can also change light, color, and black and white with a swipe, or dive down into brightness, warmth, and other details. Crank it up, crush it down, or go gray. It's all up to you!

• How to take photos, selfies, bursts, and more with your iPhone or iPad
• How to get great Night mode photos on your iPhone 11
• How to enhance images in Photos
• How to change the lighting in your photos on iPhone and iPad
• How to change color within Photos
• How to convert to black and white in Photos
• How to revert back to the original in Photos

How to apply filters in Photos for iPhone and iPad

Filters were once used to try and salvage the often-poor images captured by iPhone cameras. Now that iPhones have good cameras, filters are simply a way to have some fun. Flashes are another story. You can now apply live filters right from the Camera app.

• How to use filters in Photos for iPhone and iPad
• How to apply live filters with the Camera app on iPhone and iPad

How to markup images in Photos for iPhone and iPad

Did you know that the Photos app has a markup editor natively built-in? With the Markup editor, you're able to draw and doodle on your photos, add callouts to highlight specific areas of an image, and add text for funny captions. You can definitely get creative with your photos with markup, so feel free to let loose!

• How to use the Markup editor in the Photos app on iPhone and iPad

How to use extensions in Photos for iPhone and iPad

The Photos app works as a central hub for filters and effects pulled from all the extensibility-compatible editing apps you've downloaded from the App Store. Find the apps, install them, enable them, and then you can apply them all right from the Photos app. Best of all, they're non-destructive. That means you can change, remove, and revert them at any time.

• How to turn on photo and video extensions in Photos
• How to access and use photo and video extensions in Photos

How to make slideshows, contacts, and wallpapers from Photos for iPhone and iPad

Want to show off your pictures and videos to friends and family? You can create custom wallpapers and contact pictures, and even custom slideshows with automagic animations, transitions, and music that you can share on your iPhone or iPad or send to your Apple TV over AirPlay.

• How to assign pictures to contacts using the Photos app for iPhone and iPad
• How to set your iPhone or iPad wallpaper using the Photos apps
• How to start a slideshow with the Photos app for iPhone and iPad
• How to AirPlay your photos to your TV

How to print and share from Photos for iPhone and iPad

Keeping all your pictures and videos in the Photos app is incredibly convenient, but sometimes you just want to share them with others. That's where the Share Sheet comes in. With it, you can send pictures and videos through AirDrop, iMessage, Mail, iCloud, Twitter, Facebook, and more. You can even use AirPrint to make hard copies of your favorite images.

You can search for photos by typing in places or dates, or you can search by telling Siri where and when you want to look for. Say "May 2019," and you'll go right back. Ask for "Cupertino," and you'll be there. Combine the places and times, and Siri will take you anywhere — and anywhen — you want to go.

• How to share individual photos
• How to share multiple photos
• How to print photos
• How to find photos with Siri based on time
• How to find photo with Siri based on location
• How to find photos with Siri... using both!
• How to search for people, places, animals, and things in the Photos app for iPhone and iPad

Any Photos questions?

If you have any questions about the Photos app on iPhone or iPad, drop them in the comments below!

Updated November 2020: Updated for iOS 14 nad iPadOS 14.

The Mail app on iPhone and iPad has been around for ages. And throughout those years, Apple has updated the app and made a bunch of changes to make it easier and more efficient to use, even in smaller displays.

Now, most of us know how to check or send emails right from our iPhone or iPad. But that's only the surface of what you can do with the Mail app on iPhone or your iPad. Changing settings, save emails as PDF, and even sending messages without moving a finger — there are many things that you can still learn from Mail. Fortunately, we've got you covered.

Consider this page your one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about the Mail app on iPhone. You can learn how to do things you've never even tried, not even on your Mac.

So if you want to master your Mail app, or you know someone who's maybe switching to iPhone for the first time, make sure to bookmark and share this page. We'll keep updating it and giving you the latest tips and tricks for your Mail app on iPhone and iPad.

How to set up the Mail app on iPhone and iPad

First things first: before you start using the Mail app, there are some things you might want to set up first. You can set up and manage several email accounts, set up your contacts and your calendars, and so much more.

• How to set up mail, contacts, and calendars on iPhone and iPad
• How to manage accounts in the Mail app for iPhone and iPad
• How to manage settings for the Mail app for iPhone and iPad

How to use the mail app on iPhone and iPad

Now that everything is set up to fit all your needs, you can start using the Mail app on your iPhone or iPad. There are a bunch of features that help you manage your inboxes and send emails with the help of Siri.

• How to manage email and mailboxes in the Mail app for iPhone and iPad
• How to send email from Mail app for iPhone and iPad
• How to send an email using Siri

How to use contacts in the Mail app on iPhone and iPad

Connecting your contacts to Mail is a great way to communicate easily with others or get rid of contacts you're not using anymore.

• How to create relationships for contacts on iPhone and iPad
• How to remove suggested contacts in the Mail app for iPhone

How to use attachments in the Mail app on iPhone and iPad

Sending files, notes, or images through the Mail app is a must-have skill, especially in today's day and age. Here you'll find how to send and save attachments right on your iPhone or iPad.

• How to send photos and attachments on iPhone and iPad
• How to save email attachments on iPhone and iPad

How to make the most out of the Mail app features on iPhone and iPad

Now that you know the basics, it's time to step it up a notch. The Mail app has many helpful features that make it a great tool for work or your everyday life. There are some cool shortcuts, a few secret workarounds, and settings adjustments that will make your email experience the best it can be.

• How to save an email as a PDF on iPhone and iPad
• Mail shortcuts for iPhone and iPad: 11 gestures to speed up your email!
• How to disable image loading in Gmail, Apple Mail, Outlook, and more

It doesn't matter if you're on the latest iPhone running the latest version of iOS or on an older phone with aged software: "It just works" is an ideal. The reality is "it just works until it doesn't — usually when you need it the most." Like any complex and sophisticated machine, iPhone can cause you any number of problems. In most cases, though, iPhone troubleshooting is a straightforward affair. So, before you call Apple Support or visit your local Genius Bar, here are a few things you can try to get your devices and services "just working" again.

How do you restart, reboot, and recover your iPhone?

One of the best iPhone troubleshooting tips is a cliché for a reason. Sometimes merely restarting your iPhone can clear up problems that range from battery drain to bad Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to misbehaving apps. You can simply power down and power up or, if you have to, you can hard reboot.

Sometimes a reboot just isn't enough. If something has gone seriously wrong and you're either told to — or need to — put your iPhone into recovery or device firmware update (DFU) mode to completely re-install iOS, you have that option as well.

And if you don't want to reset everything but just one or a few things, you can do that too! It's a simple task to reset the phone's settings, remove network connections, erase content, zap the keyboard dictionary, rearrange the Home screen, or dump Location and Privacy data.

• How to restart or reboot your iPhone
• How to put your iPhone into recovery mode
• How to put your iPhone into DFU mode
• How to reset settings, network, location, and more

What if your iPhone won't charge, gets terrible battery life, won't shut down, or won't start up?

Having problems with power is the worst. It means you can't rely on your iPhone working for you when you need it. Whether your iPhone isn't charging, is draining too fast even when charged, or simply won't turn off or refuses to turn back on, the good news is that sometimes it's easy to fix on your own.

• What to do if your iPhone won't charge
• How to fix iOS and iPhone battery life problems
• How to get your iPhone to properly turn off
• How to force your iPhone to restart

How do I fix problems with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other connections?

Connections that won't connect... grr. Bluetooth needs to broadcast and establish a connection; Wi-Fi needs to lock on and transmit data; AirDrop relies on both. It may seem like a miracle any of it ever works, but it should all work, all the time. That's the job. So, if your connection isn't connecting, here's what you can try.

• How to troubleshoot Bluetooth connections
• How to troubleshoot HomeKit connections
• How to troubleshoot AirDrop connections

What if nothing is working?

In some cases, despite all of our best efforts, you'll encounter problems you can't fix on your own. In those cases, you should escalate straight to Apple: You can call the company at 1-800-MY-APPLE, tweet them @apple_support, visit them online at apple.com/support, or go straight to your local Apple Retail Store.

What problems do you need help solving?

In need of some iPhone troubleshooting and it's not addressed in this guide? Or have you found a solution that works better? Then drop it in the comments!

Apple has often put an emphasis on how accessible its technology is to everyone, building in features across its devices for all sorts of accessibility needs. For instance, if your vision is impaired, tools like VoiceOver can help you navigate your device using audio guidance. But these efforts aren't restricted to your iPhone or Mac. Apple has brought accessibility to the Apple Watch, too. Whether you need to zoom in on a part of the screen to see it better, or you need VoiceOver to help you navigate the watch, this guide will help us set up and use the accessibility features on the Apple Watch.

How to set up and customize VoiceOver on Apple Watch

With VoiceOver, those who have vision difficulties can still use Apple Watch. In doing so, simple gestures are used to move around the Apple Watch screen while a VoiceOver narrator speaks each time an item is selected.

• How to set up VoiceOver for Apple Watch
• How to use Screen Curtain with VoiceOver
• Other VoiceOver settings

How to set up and use Zoom on Apple Watch

To better aid those who need greater visual accessibility, Zoom lets you set a default magnification level for the Apple Watch but also adjust it dynamically. For those with visual impairments or partial blindness, it can make what are otherwise small, hard to see screen elements bigger and easier to see.

• How to enable Zoom on the Apple Watch
• How to enable Zoom using the Apple Watch app for iPhone
• How to control Zoom on your Apple Watch

How to use other visual accessibility features on the Apple Watch

There are a number of other accessibility features on the Apple Watch which are aimed at helping those with visual accessibility needs, from dynamic font adjustment to reduced motion and transparency.

• How to use Font Adjustment on Apple Watch
• Grayscale and Apple Watch
• How to reduce motion and transparency on Apple Watch
• Using On/Off labels on Apple Watch

How to set up and use Real Time Text (RTT) on Apple Watch

On Apple Watches with cellular, you can use real-time text or RTT. The protocol transmits audio as you type text. Ideally suited for those with hearing or speech difficulties, RTT lets you communicate when you're away from your iPhone using built-in Software RTT that's configurable in the Apple Watch app.

• How to turn on RTT
• How to make an RTT call on Apple Watch
• How to answer an RTT call on Apple Watch

Updated May 2020: Updated through watchOS 6.2.5.

Wallet— formerly known as Passbook — is Apple's answer to digitizing all the cards that are overflowing your billfold, purse, or pockets — including Apple Pay. Wallet stores virtual versions of all your passes, tickets, coupons, credit cards, debit cards, and loyalty cards so you can easily access them at any time. Wallet is also location aware and always online, so Wallet can even pull up and update the balance on your coffee shop card or gate number on your boarding pass, so you always know how much you have or where you need to be.

• How to add cards to Wallet
• How to refresh cards in Wallet
• How to reorder cards in Wallet
• How to share cards from Wallet
• How to remove cards from Wallet
• How to manage lock screen access, notifications, and automatic updates for Wallet
• How to turn off/on location access for Wallet

How to add cards to Wallet

Wallet is supported by everything, from coffee shops to airlines, party services to movie theaters, conferences to loyalty cards. All you have to do is fill it up. While not all apps make adding Wallet passes obvious, there are some places you can usually find them.

1. Launch an app that supports Wallet cards.
2. Apps are all different but try navigating to the Payment or Add Card tab in your selected app.

3. Tap on the Add to Wallet option (older apps may say Passbook instead of Wallet).
4. Tap Add in the upper right hand corner.

Remember that the process of adding cards to your Wallet can vary greatly from app to app, depending on how the company or developer decides to use them. From plane boarding passes to loyalty cards to paying for your coffee or lunch, lots of businesses support them. You may just have to do a little digging inside your favorite apps.

How to refresh cards in Wallet

While many cards in Wallet refresh things like balances or gate numbers automatically, sometimes those features aren't implemented, network connections are lost, or other problems occur. Luckily, you can always manually update your passes to make sure you have the latest and most accurate information.

1. Launch the Wallet app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the card you'd like to refresh.

3. Tap on the ... button in the top right hand corner.
4. Pull down from the top of the card and release in order to refresh.

How to reorder cards in Wallet

Just like a real world, you can quickly and easily shuffle the cards in your Wallet. Put the coffee shop card right up front, slide the tickets for the big game all the way to the back, get those conference party tickets into perfect chronological order — you can change the order to whatever you want, whenever you want.

1. Launch the Wallet on your iPhone.
2. Tap and drag the card you'd like to move up or down, releasing it once it's in place.

How to share cards from Wallet

1. Launch the Wallet app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the card you'd like to share.
3. Tap on the ... button in the upper right corner of the pass.

4. Tap on the Share button.
5. Tap on the method you'd like to use to share the pass. These include email, message, AirDrop, and any other third party apps or extensions that support Wallet.

How to remove cards from Wallet

Once you've finished using a pass — the movie is over, your flight has landed, or you've switched coffee shop chains — you'll no longer need them cluttering up Passbook. Luckily, once you know how, passes are really easy to delete.

1. Launch the Wallet app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the card you'd like to delete.
3. Tap on the ... button in the upper right hand corner to flip the card over.

4. Tap Remove Pass.
5. Tap Remove.

How to manage lock screen access, notifications, and automatic updates for Wallet

By default, Wallet automatically updates all of its cards and passes at regular intervals or when it's specifically notified of a change. That can be your balance, your gate, or anything at all. If you don't want Wallet to update on its own, however, you can shut it off and make sure the only changes that are made are the changes you manually update.

1. Launch the Wallet app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on the card you'd like to turn automatic updates on or off for.

3. Tap the ... button in the upper right hand corner of the card.
4. Tap the switches for Automatic Updates, Allow Notifications, and Suggest on Lock Screen by moving it right to turn on updates, and left to turn off.

How to turn off/on location access for Wallet

Wallet knows when to show your coffee shop card or boarding pass on the Lock screen because it uses the GPS and other location services on your iPhone to know when you're near the coffee shop or airport. While your location is never shared with anyone else, you may still be uncomfortable with the idea. If you are, and you're willing to give up the convenience that comes with Wallet knowing when to give you easy access to your passes, you can turn location off.

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on Privacy.
3. Tap on Location Services.

4. Tap on Wallet.
5. Tap on Never.

Updated December 2019: Updated through iOS 13.3.

FaceTime is Apple's video and audio calling service. Think of it as a phone that uses your Wi-Fi or cellular data connection instead of traditional phone lines. You can use it from any iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac, to call anyone else using any one of those devices. That's what makes FaceTime perfect for seeing and hearing family during the holidays, when you're on the road, keeping grandparents connected to grandkids, making international calls when you have no long-distance plan, getting a second opinion on that jacket while you're out shopping, sharing a show, making a meeting, and much, much more.

How to make a FaceTime call on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Placing FaceTime video or audio calls is ridiculously easy to do. There's a built-in FaceTime app on every iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac, and FaceTime is also integrated into the Phone app on iPhone, As long as you're on Wi-Fi or cellular data, you can stay in touch with family and friends, even while traveling, connect with anyone in the world, even without a long distance plan, and not only hear but see the people you're talking to.

• How to make a FaceTime Audio or Video call on your iPhone or iPad
• How to make a FaceTime Audio or Video call on your Mac
• How to switch from a regular call to FaceTime on your iPhone
• How to turn off video while on a FaceTime call
• How to use Siri to place a FaceTime call
• How to use FaceTime with Apple TV

How to make a FaceTime call on Apple Watch

FaceTime Audio is a great way to talk with other Apple devices users thanks to the crystal-clear sound of the call. But it's not limited to your iPhone or iPad. You can make FaceTime Audio calls on your Apple Watch, too. Whether you're using Siri or the Phone app, placing a FaceTime call is easy enough.

• How to place a FaceTime call using Siri on your Apple Watch
• How to place a FaceTime call using the Phone app on your Apple Watch

How to make group FaceTime calls on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

On iOS and macOS, you can make group FaceTime calls very similar to Google Hangouts. If you're having a meeting, want to get the family in on the conversation from anywhere, or simply want to make plans with everyone involved, group FaceTime calls are perfect.

• How to place a group FaceTime call using FaceTime
• How to place a group FaceTime call using Messages
• How to join a group FaceTime call

How to record a FaceTime call on your iPhone or Mac

FaceTime calls are a great way to stay in touch with people you care about, whether on an iOS device or a Mac. However, what do you do if you want to save those special moments? Luckily, using your Mac, you can record those calls to view later.

• How to record a FaceTime call on your Mac
• How to record a FaceTime call on your iPhone using your Mac
• How to use third-party software to record a FaceTime call

Should you use FaceTime in portrait or landscape?

Whether you're someone who FaceTimes constantly almost every single day, someone who's obsessed with seeing their Memoji, or someone who occasionally uses the feature to connect with friends and family on their adventures in order to check in (or even someone who opens the app once in a blue moon accidentally) knowing the best etiquette for angling your FaceTime conversation is key!

Should you use FaceTime in portrait or landscape?

How to use Animoji, stickers, and Live Photos in FaceTime

You can take Live Photos while you're having a FaceTime video chat with friends and family. This fun little feature makes it possible for you to grab that memorable shot of the cat running across the camera while Grandma is taking a sip of her lemonade. Oh, the hilarity. So the next time you want to share a Live Photo of your impromptu FaceTime chat with someone, make sure you're set up and ready and then let the good times roll.

• How to create and send Animoji and Memoji
• How to use Memoji or Animoji in real-time with FaceTime
• How to use stickers in real-time with FaceTime
• How to use filters in real-time with FaceTime
• How to use Memoji stickers

How to block contacts on FaceTime

You can block a contact from trying to FaceTime you — and phone you and iMessage you — at any time. Whether it's a former significant other, friend, relative, or associate you've fallen out with, or a spammer or prank caller harshing your mellow, block them once and they're silenced forever. (Or at least until you decide to unblock them.)

• How to block contacts in the FaceTime app
• How to block contacts in the Phone app
• How to block contacts in the Settings app
• How to block FaceTime calls and iMessages on the Mac

How to troubleshoot FaceTime on iPhone and iPad

FaceTime is supposed to be a simple-to-use tool for video calls between iPhones, iPads, and Macs, and for the most part, it is. As is true with any piece of software, though, some people are bound to run into problems using it. But don't worry, because I'm here with the steps that should take care of any trouble you might run into.

• How to turn FaceTime off and on in Settings
• How to hard reboot your iPhone or iPad
• How to reset network settings

How to make Skype, FaceTime, or Hangouts video look great

Whether you wear pajama bottoms or a dress shirt for a video chat, you shouldn't have to settle for sub-par results: Here are my favorite tips for making your webcam video look better than the rest.

• Film from above, not below
• Light it up
• Create a good backdrop
• Add effects and white balance with iGlasses

How to set your caller ID for FaceTime on iPhone and iPad

FaceTime starts off using your iPhone phone number and Apple ID email address as the way for other people to reach you. You can add new addresses — for example, a work or school address —and remove them at any time, though, and set any active number or address as your Caller ID. That way, no matter which Apple device you're using to make a FaceTime call, no one will ever be confused about who's calling them.

• How to enable or disable phone numbers and email address for FaceTime
• How to set a caller ID for FaceTime

How to deregister an email or phone number associated with iMessage and FaceTime

Whether you're looking to detach your iMessage from your iPad so you can lend it to a friend for the weekend, or you simply no longer want your phone number being used for FaceTime purposes, there's a way to deregister your email or phone number associated with iMessage and FaceTime.

• How to deregister an email or phone number associated with iMessage
• How to deregister an email or phone number associated with FaceTime

How to fix iMessage and FaceTime activation issues on macOS

Apple rightfully has a reputation of having its products "just work". And 99% of the time that adage holds true. Until it doesn't. When things do go wrong, Apple's error messages are cryptic, at times offering no obvious clue as to how to remedy them. One such error is the "Authentication Error" message when trying to log into iMessage and FaceTime on your Mac, even if you've successfully logged into iCloud.

How to fix iMessage and FaceTime activation issues on macOS

How to use the Touch Bar with FaceTime on the MacBook Pro

The Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro is designed to give you easy access to the tools you use the most in your apps. If you're using FaceTime, you can use the Touch Bar to start or end a video chat. Here's how it works.

• How to start a video chat using FaceTime with the Touch Bar
• How to start a group call in FaceTime using the Touch Bar
• How to join a group call in FaceTime using the Touch Bar
• These are the Touch Bar tools you have while on a FaceTime chat
• How to customize the Touch Bar for FaceTime

Where's FaceTime for Android?

When Steve Jobs first announced FaceTime for the iPhone 4 back in 2010, he said not only was it based on open standards, but that Apple would be releasing the FaceTime protocol itself as an open standard. That would allow third parties to create FaceTime clients for Android, Windows, BlackBerry, or any other platform. Now, 4 years later, there's still no open standard release in sight, much less cross-platform FaceTime clients. So, what happened?

Where's FaceTime for Android?

How to turn on, off, and restrict FaceTime

• How to turn on FaceTime
• How to turn off FaceTime
• How to enable or disable phone numbers and email address for FaceTime
• How to use parental controls to restrict FaceTime

FaceTime is automatically activated as part of the overall setup process you go through the first time you turn on a new iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or Mac. If, for some reason, it isn't activated, or if you want to restrict access for your children, or even turn it off entirely, you can do that too.

Any FaceTime questions?

Got any questions on FaceTime? Drop them in the comments below!

There were two parts to Steve Jobs' 2007 keynote. The first was iPhone. The second, Apple TV. Previously teased as iTV, back then it was a Mac-based, hard drive-equipped, iTunes sync box. Novel, but hardly the future. In 2010, Apple rebooted the TV. Basing it on iOS, it went all-flash storage and all-streaming, all the time,. 2012 brought 1080p and then... nothing. For. Three. Long. Years. Finally, in 2015, Apple rebooted the TV again. Then, just two years later, Apple unleashed the Apple TV 4K, featuring 4K, HDR, and Dolby Vision support.

There are currently two Apple TV models available, with the Apple TV 4K available in both 32GB and 64GB configurations.

Our recommendation: The Best Apple TV is the 32 GB model Apple TV 4K

Buying your Apple TV

HD or 4K? 32GB or 64GB? These are the sorts of questions you need to ask yourself when you buy an Apple TV these days. And while you only need to decide a few things when getting an Apple TV, they are important questions to answer.

• Best Apple TV
• Should you get the 32 GB or 64 GB Apple TV?
• Best Apple TV deals

Using your Apple TV

Apple TV seems simple. You buy it. You plug one end into the wall socket, the other end into your HDTV, and you're good to you. In theory. In reality, there's a bunch of settings you can tweak to make sure everything from the interface color to the streaming size is just to your liking, and several built-in apps like TV and Apple Music you're going to wnat to get to know really well.

• How to set up and get started with your Apple TV
• How to use the Siri Remote for Apple TV
• Common Apple TV problems and how to fix them

Going beyond Apple TV

The box is just the beginning. The ultimate accessory for any Apple TV might be a gamepad. Or it might be a whole new, whole bigger screen. Then there are the apps. So. Many. Apps. To get the most out of your Apple TV, you're going to want to trick it out. And trick it out right!

• Best apps for Apple TV
• Best games for Apple TV
• Best local multiplayer games for Apple TV
• Best Sports Games for Apple TV
• Best Apple TV games for controllers
• Best Apple TV Gaming Controllers
• Best accessories for Apple TV

Control Center

tvOS 13 introduced Control Center to the Apple TV. Much like on iPhone and iPad, Control Center on Apple TV offers easy access to various controls, from switching audio sources to jumping quickly between users that have logged in to the Apple TV.

• How to activate Control Center on Apple TV
• How to switch users with Control Center on Apple TV
• How to put your Apple TV to sleep with Control Center
• How to change your Apple TV's audio output using Control Center
• How to search your Apple TV using Control Center

How to set up multiple accounts on your Apple TV

tvOS is currently the only iOS variant that supports having multiple users logged into the device at once. tvOS 13 even added the Control Center which, apart from other functions, allows you to quickly switch between users on Apple TV.

• How to add multiple accounts to Apple TV
• How to switch between multiple accounts on Apple TV
• How to use Control Center to switch between users on tvOS 13

Apple TV help and discussion

If you have any questions or need any help with your Apple TV, jump into our forums:

• Apple TV help and discussion forum

The fitness tracking on Apple Watch goes beyond just counting steps or tracking calories, instead focusing more on your overall health, differentiating between movement and actual exercise, and encouraging you to stand more than you already might. Performing the activities suggested by your Apple Watch helps fill up those rings in the Activity app, but how does Apple measure all of that, anyway? Well not to worry, we've got you covered right here.

Here, you'll find absolutely everything you need to know about the Apple Watch and activity tracking, from how to set it up and sharing activities to starting workouts.

• The Rings
• Health, Workout, and Activity
• Third-party fitness apps
• How to set up Activity for your Apple Watch
• How to set goals and track your progress with Activity on Apple Watch
• How to set up and use Activity Sharing
• How to customize notifications for the Activity app on Apple Watch
• How to use the Workout app on Apple Watch
• How to customize workouts in the Workout app for Apple Watch

Let's start with what the Activity app actually does, what it tells you, and what kind of data it collects.

The Rings

The Stand, Exercise, and Move rings make up the central display for your overall activity as captured by your Apple Watch. Scrolling down in the Activity app on your watch will show you an hour-by-hour breakdown of your activity for each (when you've moved, when you've recorded exercise minutes, and when you've stood).

This one seems pretty easy. You fill the stand ring by standing up for one minute an hour in 12 separate hours. What this ring and the alert that comes with it are actually telling you is that you haven't moved in a little while. So when your Apple Watch notifies you that it's time to stand, don't just stand up and stay still, but walk around a little bit. Take a short stroll around your office, or if you're at home, go check the mail.

This ring tracks a specific kind of activity. Apple defines exercise as anything equivalent to a brisk walk or more that raises your heart rate consistently. Apple monitors your heart rate and your movement data to make sure you're actually exercising, and you can track workouts using the Workout app on your Apple Watch. Additionally, you can feed workout data into the Activity app using third-party workout apps that support this feature, meaning you can use all of the features provided to you by your favorite workout app while still filling the Exercise ring.

One thing to note about the Apple Watch's exercise measurements is that, as you more, they will change over time. So the same activities that would potentially help you close your Exercise ring when you first got your Apple Watch may only get you part of the way there after months or even years of consistent activity. The Apple Watch learns your habits, and will consistently push you to go further.

This ring shows how many calories you've burned throughout the day. It takes into account everything from motion to heart rate data, but it represents your total movement in a 24-hour period, not just exercise. You work towards a calorie goal that you set, and as you continue to wear your Apple Watch, it will be better able to measure how you burn those calories.

Health, Workout, and Activity

The Health app on iPhone, Workout app on Apple Watch, and Activity apps on both are separate and have distinct functions, but can work together to offer a detailed picture of your overall health.

The central repository for all of the information your Apple devices have collected about your health. The data in the Health app includes the activity data collected by your Apple Watch, included Stand, Exercise, and Move data.

With your permission, the app can accept data from third-party apps, and you can also let those apps import your health data as well, to better help them tailor workouts to you. As long as you have granted access to read and write data to any third-party apps of your choice, the data they provide will become part of the overall picture of your health.

This is the default app for tracking workouts, comes built-in with every Apple Watch, and exists solely on the watch. The data from this app feeds into the Health app on your iPhone, covering all sorts of activities, such as indoor and outdoor walks and runs, cycling, elliptical machines, rowing, hiking, and more. This is the data that will most likely go into your Exercise ring.

Existing on both the Apple Watch and iPhone, the Activity app keeps detailed records (more on the iPhone than the watch, admittedly) of each day's activity. Using the iPhone app, you can explore your activity for each day that you've worn your Apple Watch, getting breakdowns of how and when you burned calories, looking at exact details of each workout, and exploring your past achievements and achievements still to come.

Third-party fitness apps

Whether you use Pedometer++ to track your steps or Runkeeper to track more intense workouts, third-party fitness apps on the Apple Watch have come a long way since the device debuted in 2015. These apps can contribute to your Exercise ring on your watch and send and read detailed workout data from the Health app on your iPhone.

With this knowledge in hand, it's time to actually get activity tracking set up.

How to set up Activity on your Apple Watch

After syncing the Apple Watch, you will have a chance to set up Activity through your iPhone.

1. Launch the Activity app from your iPhone's Home screen.
2. Tap Set up Activity.
3. Enter your personal information.

4. Tap Continue.
5. Set your Daily Move Goal. You can use the plus and minus signs to adjust.
6. Tap Set Move Goal.

Once you've got Activity set up, there's a lot you can do with it, whether its keeping track of fitness goals or sharing your workouts with others for some friendly competition.

How to set goals and track your progress with Activity on Apple Watch

Goal-setting is the key to measuring success and the Activity app on your Apple Watch lets you quickly see your progress towards your goals at any time. The three areas your Apple Watch tracks — move, stand, and exercise — are each represented by a colored ring in the Activity app. The closer you get to completing a specific goal, the closer the ring will get to completing itself. Apple Watch also lets you scroll down to view a little bit more of a data breakdown if you choose.

• How to set a calorie goal in Activity on Apple Watch
• How to view your Activity progress with the Activity app for Apple Watch
• How to check your step count on your Apple Watch
• How to view your progress history in Activity
• How to save an image of your progress history in Activity
• How to view Awards in Activity

How to set up and use Activity Sharing

If you like to work out with friends or find a little healthy competition between you and someone else, the Activity app can help you out. When you enable Sharing on your iPhone and Apple Watch, other people can view your progress and compare and challenge themselves to work out as hard or harder than you, and even send you taunting messages along the way.

• How to set up and use Activity sharing on Apple Watch

How to customize notifications for the Activity app on Apple Watch

With the Activity app, you will get daily — often hourly — alerts reminding you to stand up, get moving, and do a bit more exercising to meet your goals. Sometimes though, you're stuck in a car, on an airplane, or otherwise stationary for hours and hours and just can't do your routine. You can silence these reminders altogether or even just for a day.

• How to change the Activity app notification settings
• The difference between Allow Notifications and Send to Notification Center

How to use the Workout app on Apple Watch

The Workout app that is built into your Apple Watch lets you track a lot of common workout types from outdoor running and walking to indoor stationary equipment such as an elliptical. Starting a workout is easy. When you're done your workout, it will automatically be logged in not only the Workout app but the Activity app and the Health app on your iPhone.

• The type of workouts covered on Apple Watch
• How does the Apple Watch track workouts?
• How to use the Workout app on Apple Watch
• How to check your progress
• How to change metrics in the workout app

How to customize workouts in the Workout app for Apple Watch

By default, your Apple Watch will show you some different metrics during a workout. Things like duration, heart rate, distance, calories burned, and more, can all be displayed during a workout. You if want to change what metrics you see during your workouts, you can head over to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and customize it to your liking.

• How to show a metric in workouts for Apple Watch
• How to hide a metric in workouts for Apple Watch
• How to reorder metrics in workouts for Apple Watch
• How to view a single metric for Apple Watch

Apple has two subscription services: iTunes Match, and Apple Music. Both offer access to iCloud Music Library, the company's cloud-based music storage system, which lets you stream and download tracks from your Mac's music library on up to ten of your devices.

If you're curious about iTunes Match — what it is, why you'd use it, how to set it up, and how to ditch it for Apple Music — here's the skinny.

What is iTunes Match?

For $25 a year, Apple's iTunes Match service lets you match or upload up to 100,000 tracks from your Mac's library (or libraries) to iCloud Music Library, where you can then stream or download said tracks — DRM-free — to up to nine of your other devices (a total of 10). That's it: There aren't any weird quirks, hidden features, or other bonus options.

For more about iCloud Music Library and how that works:

How to use iCloud Music Library: The ultimate guide

What's the difference between iTunes Match and Apple Music?

Apple has two subscription services: Apple Music and iTunes Match. If you're considering getting into streaming music, want to listen to your Mac's music collection on all your devices, or you're simply wondering what that giant "Three months free!" banner is atop the Music app, here's everything you need to know about Apple's two subscription services and what each can offer you.

Apple Music vs iTunes Match: What's the difference?

How do I sign up for iTunes Match?

After you subscribe to iTunes Match, you can stream or download any songs on up to ten of your devices, DRM-free — but before you get to do that, you need to sign up. Doing so is simple — you just need a Mac. Unfortunately, you can't sign up for iTunes Match on your iPhone or iPad.

How to sign up for iTunes Match

How do I use iTunes Match if I have too many songs?

Want to use iCloud Music Library with iTunes Match or Apple Music but have too many songs? You will need to create a second iTunes library to get those extra songs uploaded. Here's how to create a sub-library to use with the service.

Over 100,000 tracks? Here's how to create a secondary iTunes library for iTunes Match

How do I see which songs are uploaded or matched?

Thanks to iTunes Match, your iCloud Music Library may contain songs you've purchased from iTunes, uploaded from your Mac, or matched to the iTunes Store catalog. With all of these different types of music files, it's easy to confuse how your songs are stored in iCloud. Here's a quick tip for seeing which is which.

How to check if your Mac's songs are uploaded, matched, or purchased

How to unsubscribe or cancel iTunes Match

With the news that Apple is integrating iTunes Match's DRM-free track-matching functionality for Apple Music subscribers, those subscribed to both services may want to save the $25/year by turning off automatic renewal. Here's how you go about doing so on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

How to unsubscribe from and cancel iTunes Match

Questions?

Let us know in the comments.

August 2019: Updated for Apple's latest software updates.

Serenity Caldwell contributed to an earlier version of this guide.

Apple's built-in Podcasts app for iPhone and iPad you lets you stream and download all your favorite shows, and discover new ones. You can subscribe, sync, and customize it just the way you like it!

• How to find, subscribe to, and stream/download podcasts on iPhone and iPad
• How to share podcasts and episodes on iPhone and iPad
• How to sync podcasts across devices on iPhone and iPad
• How to set refresh rate for podcasts on iPhone and iPad
• How to turn off Delete Played Episodes for Podcasts on iPhone and iPad
• How to turn off notifications for Podcasts on iPhone and iPad

How to find, subscribe to, and stream/download podcasts on iPhone and iPad

All your favorites are yours to discover! There are a few ways to find podcasts in the Podcasts app.

1. Launch the Podcasts app from your Home screen.
2. Tap Search in the menu at the bottom of your screen.
3. Type in the name or genre of the podcast you're looking for.
4. Tap Search on the bottom right of your keyboard.
5. Tap the podcast once you find the one you want.
6. Tap Subscribe.

7. Tap the download button next to the episode name, if you'd like to download it. It's a cloud with a downward arrow.
8. Tap the episode you'd like to listen to to stream it without downloading.

You can just use standard play controls, like you would in Apple Music. To unsubscribe, just tap the podcast, tap the purple circle with three dots (more button), and tap Unsubscribe.

How to share podcasts and podcast episodes on iPhone and iPad

Hear something you like and think other people will like it too? You can share podcasts to social media, via iMessage, and more! You can share the podcast itself or individual episodes.

1. Launch the Podcasts app from your Home screen.
2. Tap the podcast or tap Details on the episode you'd like to share.
3. Tap the more button. It's a purple circle with three white dots in it.
4. Tap Share.
5. Tap the method you'd like to use to share the podcast or episode.
6. Share as you would normally.

Now all your friends can jump in on the podcast fun too!

How to sync podcasts across devices on iPhone and iPad

You don't want to have to download the same podcast three different times on three different devices. Sync them!

1. Launch the Settings app from your Home screen.
2. Tap Podcasts. You'll have to scroll down a bit to find it.
3. Tap the switch next to Sync Podcasts.

Now your podcasts will be synced whenever you sign in using your Apple ID.

How to set refresh rate for podcasts on iPhone and iPad

You can choose how often your podcasts to update.

1. Launch the Settings app from your Home screen.
2. Tap Podcasts, it's about halfway down the list.
3. Tap Refresh Every.
4. Tap how often you'd like your podcasts to update.
   • 1 Hour
   • 6 Hours
   • Day
   • Week
   • Manually

How to turn off Delete Played Episodes for Podcasts on iPhone and iPad

If you're sharing an Apple ID with a family member or friend and download your podcasts, you might not want to delete any episodes of shared podcasts. You know, just in case.

1. Launch the Settings app from your Home screen.
2. Tap Podcasts, it's about halfway down the list.
3. Tap the switch next to Delete Played Episodes to turn it off.

Now the episodes you've downloaded will stick around until you manually delete them. So, if you're without internet and want to go back and listen again, you can.

How to turn off notifications for Podcasts on iPhone and iPad

If you're gonna look at your new podcasts when you're good and ready, then notifications might annoy you. You can turn them off.

1. Launch the Settings app from your Home screen.
2. Tap Podcasts, it's about halfway down the page.
3. Tap Notifications.
4. Tap the switch next to Allow Notifications to turn them off.

Any Podcasts app questions?

If you've got any questions on how to use the built-in Podcasts app for iPhone and iPad, drop them in the comments below!

Updated May 2018: Updated steps and screenshots for iOS 11.

In today's world, we don't just want to "read the news". We want it delivered, not tossed onto the digital porch like a newspaper but curated with articles that fit our interests. Apple's News app isn't the first one to do this—Flipboard has been a high-profile example of this model for quite awhile—but the company's program has an advantage over all those in the App Store: It's part of iOS and available to everyone with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

• What's new in the News app
• How to get started with the News app for iPhone and iPad
• How to manage notifications in the News app
• How to read articles
• How to like, share, and save stories
• How to follow a channel or topic
• How to stop following a channel or topic
• How to block a channel
• How to view items in your reading history
• How to clear individual articles from your reading history
• How to clear your reading history
• How to open a News app article in Safari
• How to report a concern to Apple's News staff
• How to disable Background App Refresh
• How to disable Cellular Data
• How to disable Story Previews
• How to restrict stories in Today
• How to use News+

What's new in the News app?

Apple is always tweaking, adjusting, and redesigning their software and the News app is no exception. As the app changes, we report on what's new.

The News app is now available in Canada. Additionally, Apple has launched Apple News+, a subscription service that offers access to hundreds of magazines for $9.99 per month ($12.99 CAD).

What's new in the News app

How to get started with the News app for iPhone and iPad

While in previous versions of iOS, News would ask you things like your favorite topics or publications, these days, when you open News for the first time, it just gives you things to read. Over time, the app will learn what you like based on what you follow, the stories you open, and what you actively like or dislike.

How to manage notifications in the News app

You can turn your notifications on and off using the Following tab in the News app.

1. Launch the News app from your Home Screen.
2. Tap the Following tab. It's in the bottom right corner of your screen.
3. Tap Manage Notifications. You'll need to scroll to the bottom.
4. Tap the On/Off Switch next to the channel(s) you want to receive notifications from.

How to read articles in the News app

Reading articles that interest you is simple enough: You can either read selected articles for you from the Spotlight screen or pop into the News app itself.

1. Swipe right on your Home screen to open Spotlight.
2. Swipe up to scroll down.
3. Tap the news item you'd like to read.

1. Launch the News app from your Home screen.
2. Tap one of the three options along the bottom of your screen. On the iPad, these sections are in the sidebar, and there is now Following section, as everything you follow is in the sidebar as well.
   • Today: The latest articles from various news sources.
   • News+: Apple's new magazine subscription service, available in iOS 12.2.
   • Following: Everything you follow, notification management, search, and Siri suggestions.
3. Tap the channel or news item you'd like to view. If you've tapped a channel, you'll need to tap a news item to start reading.

How to like, share, and save stories in the News app on iPhone and iPad

Apple News isn't just about reading all about what's happening, it's about sharing what matters most to you with the people that matter most.

How to like, share, and save stories in Apple News

How to follow a channel or topic in the News app for iPhone and iPad

1. Open News on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap Following (unnecessary on iPad).
3. Tap the Search bar and search for the channel or topic you want to add.
4. Tap the heart icon next to the channel or topic.

How to stop following a channel or topic in the News app on iPhone and iPad

1. Open News on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap Following (unnecessary on iPad).
3. Perform a long swipe to the left on the channel or topic you wish to stop following.

How to block a channel in the News app for iPhone and iPad

If you don't want to see any stories from a particular publication, you can simply mute the channel from right within the article.

1. Launch the News app from your Home screen.
2. Tap an article to read it.
3. Tap the Share button. It's the box with the upwards arrow on the top-right of your screen.

4. Tap Block Channel.
5. Tap Block in the pop-up.

Keep in mind that this won't remove the stories that are already in your feed, but it will prevent new ones from that publication from showing up.

You can also mute a channel using 3D touch in the News app for iPhone and iPad

1. Launch the News app from your Home screen.
2. Press firmly on an article in your feed to peek at it.
3. Swipe up to reveal the options.

4. Tap Block Channel.
5. Tap Block in the pop-up.

How to view items in your reading history in the News app for iPhone and iPad

You can return to any story you've ever opened in Apple News by going to your history screen. This contains all articles you've read within the News app. To do so:

1. Open News on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap Following (unnecessary on iPad).
3. Scroll down and tap History.
4. Tap on an article to read it.

How to clear individual articles from your reading history in the News app for iPhone and iPad

1. Open News on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap Following (unnecessary on iPad).
3. Scroll down and tap History.
4. Perform a long swipe to the left to delete an item.

How to clear your reading history in the News app for iPhone and iPad

1. Open News on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap Following (unnecessary on iPad).
3. Scroll down and tap History.

4. Tap Clear.
5. Tap Clear History, Clear Recommendations, or Clear All.

How to open a News app article in Safari

If News isn't rendering an article correctly—for example, if a video doesn't appear—or you'd just rather read it in a web browser, you can send it off to Safari.

1. Launch the News app from your Home screen.
2. Tap the article you'd like to open in Safari or tap the Share Sheet button on the bottom right of the article and skip to step 4.
3. Tap the Share button in the top-right corner of your screen. It's the box with the upward arrow.
4. Tap the Open in Safari button. The page then opens in the browser.

How to report a concern to Apple's News staff

If something about an article looks off—perhaps a video doesn't play, it's offensive, or mis-categorized—you can easily report a concern to Apple's News department.

1. Launch the News app from your Home screen.
2. Tap an article to open it. Alternatively, you can tap the Share Sheet button on the bottom right of the article preview and skip to step 4.
3. Tap the Share Sheet button in the bottom lefthand corner of your screen. It's the box with the upward arrow.
4. Tap Report a Concern.

5. Tap a reason you don't want to see the article.
6. Tap the Tell us a little more field and type your explanation for reporting the article.
7. Tap Send in the upper right corner of your screen.

How to disable Background App Refresh for the News app for iPhone and iPad

Your News app is constantly refreshing content in the background. This can use up battery and cellular data if you're not careful. Turn it off if you don't mind loading your stories when you open the app.

1. Launch the Settings app from your Home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap News.
3. Tap the switch next to Background App Refresh to disable it.

How to disable Cellular Data for the News app for iPhone and iPad

If your News app is refreshing in the background or if you're using it while not connected to Wi-Fi, it could be using up your cellular data, which could end up costing you a ton. If you're worried about your monthly data cap, it may be best to just disable data usage for the News app.

1. Launch the Settings app from your Home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap News.
3. Tap the switch next to Cellular Data to disable data usage for the News app.

How to disable Story Previews in the News app for iPhone and iPad

1. Launch the Settings app from your Home screen.
2. Scroll down a bit and tap News.
3. Tap the switch next to Show Story Previews.

How to restrict stories in Today in the News app on iPhone and iPad

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap News.
3. Tap the switch next to Restrict Stories in Today to the white 'off' or green 'on' positions if you want to only see stories from channels you follow in the Today tab.

How to sign up for News+ in the News app on iPhone and iPad

If you're looking for details on Apple's magazine subscription service, we've got a comprehensive guide for you.

• How to sign up for a News+ subscription in the News app on iPhone and iPad
• How to use News+: The ultimate guiide

Questions about the News app?

Let us know and we'll try to answer them.

Updated March 2019: Added news about Apple News coming to Canada, Apple News+, updated instructions for iOS 12.2.

If you've just unboxed your first Mac, you're probably wondering where to start. This sleek, beautiful new beast is nothing like a PC. Even something so simple as searching your files or opening a program is a different process. Don't worry, though. We've spent a lot of time creating guides for new users. Think of us as that helpful neighbor or cousin that knows everything about Apple, only you don't have to feel bad about waking us up a 2:00 a.m. to ask us a question about how to use your Mac.

• Meet your new Mac!

Here's everything you need to know about setting up and getting started with your Mac!

• Getting your Mac set up
• How to use the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro
• How to connect to Wi-Fi on your Mac
• How to browse the internet with Safari on your Mac
• How to search your Mac for, well ... everything
• How to make Siri work for you
• How to keep your Mac organized with Optimized Storage
• How to back up your Mac
• How to get email set up on your Mac
• How to find businesses and get directions on your Mac
• How to save, edit, and share your cherished memories on your Mac
• How to dance to your favorite tunes on your Mac
• How to chat with everyone on your Mac
• How to get your schedule straight on your Mac
• How to get more help and advice on your Mac

Getting your Mac set up

Of course, right out of the box, your new Mac will need to be set up. It's super easy to do, so don't be intimidated. Apple even has a program designed to make it easy to transfer data from your Windows PC to your Mac.

• How to set up your new Mac
• How to set up your new Mac from scratch
• How to transfer data from your old Mac to your new one
• How to transfer data from a PC to a Mac

How to use the Touch Bar and Touch ID on the MacBook Pro

The Touch Bar is Apple's latest technological advancement. It's only available on the newest MacBook Pro, and we're still learning about the amazing things that can be done on it with third-party apps, but you can get started with our ultimate guide.

• How to use the Touch Bar on MacBook Pro: The ultimate guide
• How to use Touch ID on your MacBook Pro

How to connect to Wi-Fi on your Mac

If you connect your Mac to your router with Ethernet, the setup process is easy. Just plug it in and you're ready to go. If you want to connect to the internet using Wi-Fi, there are a couple more steps. Once you've connected to a Wi-Fi network, your Mac will remember it for all of time (unless you manually forget the network), so you'll be able to find it and log in more easily in the future.

• How to set up and start using Wi-Fi on your Mac

How to browse the internet with Safari on your Mac

You can download and install any web browser you wish, but Apple has designed its own browser that integrates with all of your devices, so you can use it seamlessly with your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. I highly recommend you give Safari a try before using another browser you might be more familiar with. If you can get used to Safari, it is worth the retraining to be able to sync it across all of your devices.

• How to start using Safari on the Mac

How to search your Mac for, well ... everything

Your Mac has this amazing little search feature called Spotlight. It basically searches your entire computer for whatever you might be looking for. If Spotlight doesn't find it on your hard drive, it also searches your connected cloud-based storage services, your external hard drives, and even the internet. All you have to do is type in a word or phrase.

• How to use Spotlight on the Mac
• How to customize how Spotlight works for you

How to make Siri work for you

Guess what! With your new Mac, you've also gained a virtual personal assistant. Siri can schedule appointments for you, find documents, search the web for pictures and information, start an email for you, tweet to your followers, and a whole lot more. Siri on the Mac can search through your system files and is contextually aware, so you can ask it to search for movies, then only sci-fi, then only those starring Benedict Cumberbatch, and it will understand what you are looking for!

• How to use Siri on the Mac

How to keep your Mac organized with Optimized Storage

Apple knows how easy it is to collect clutter over time. Think of your Mac's hard drive as your garage. Things go in there that you don't use as much anymore, and after living in the same house for years, the garage starts to get cluttered up with boxes you haven't opened since you moved in. Optimized Storage is sort of like a little clutter cleaner for your computer. It organizes things for you and even moves them off of your hard drive and into iCloud, where they are available whenever you need them. Too bad we don't have clutter cleaners for our garages. Mine's a mess.

• How to use Optimized Storage on the Mac

How to back up your Mac

Chances are, you are going to fill your Mac with lots of very important data. This data needs protection in case something goes wrong with your Mac. You should always have a backup plan, right out of the box. If you don't already have one, go get yourself an external hard drive so you can set up Time Machine for a secure way to back up your Mac. You won't regret it. It's worth a few extra dollars and minutes of your time.

• How to set up and use Time Machine

How to get email set up on your Mac

Just like the iPhone, the Mac has a useful way to access email without having to open a web browser. It's called the Mail app. Even if you have half-a-dozen email accounts across a bunch of different services, you can set them all up in the Mail app and keep track of your correspondences all in one place.

• How to set up and start using Mail on the Mac

How to find businesses and get directions on your Mac

Your Mac comes with a Maps app, which is also tied to the Maps app on your iPhone (if you sync it with iCloud). You can plan your next road trip while sitting at your desk and send your travel route to your iPhone without missing a beat. Wondering where to go to lunch today? Look it up in Maps on your Mac!

• How to start using Maps on the Mac

How to save, edit, and share your cherished memories on your Mac

I've always been the kind of person to take pictures whenever I go on a trip or to a special event or when my cat does something really funny. I've got a lot of photos that I love looking at years later. The Photos app on Mac makes it very easy to save your photos, especially ones on your iPhone. You can also edit them to make them pop, and then share them with others. You can even create photo albums and calendars out of your memories that you can order from Apple.

• How to set up and start using Photos on the Mac

How to dance to your favorite tunes on your Mac

If you have an iPhone, chances are, you're already familiar with iTunes, even if you are converting from PC. iTunes on the Mac is a little bit different, though. For example, the iOS app store, iBooks, podcasts, movies, and music are all in iTunes instead of separate apps. Music you purchase can be stored in iCloud so you don't have to take up space on your Mac. Plus, Apple Music is where it's at in terms of streaming music.

• How to set up and start using iTunes on your Mac

How to chat with everyone on your Mac

Thanks to Messages on the Mac, you can send and receive text messages without having to pick up your iPhone. You can also set up the chat service to connect to your Facebook messenger and other Bonjour-supported chat channels. With Call Relay, you can receive text messages from friends and family that don't even use an iPhone.

• How to start using Messages on your Mac
• How to set up and start using Call Relay on your Mac

How to get your schedule straight on your Mac

The built-in calendar app on the Mac is your avenue to productivity. Use it to schedule your life, then, thanks to deep integration with Siri and iCloud, you can sync it across your iPhone and iPad and have Siri help remind you of what's ahead. With Notification Center you will be reminded of upcoming events, and you can even make sure you are given enough time to make it to your appointments when there is traffic.

• How to set up and start using Calendar on the Mac

How to get more help and advice on your Mac

If you're new to Mac, you probably have a lot of questions. Favorite our site and check back often for guides, troubleshooting help, and app and accessory recommendations. You should also take a moment to check out the iMore forums. We have a fantastic community of readers that love to share their experiences and aren't rude to newcomers, so you can feel free to sign up and ask any question without fear of being picked on.

• How to troubleshoot your Mac

Beginning with macOS Mojave, the News app has been available, not only on iPhone and iPad, but also Mac. It's almost identical to the version found on iOS, with a few quirks unique to the Mac. But your saved stories, favorite channels, and reading history all sync between your devices.

Here's your guide to the News app on the Mac and what you need to know about it.

• What's new in the News app
• How to get started with the News app
• How to follow a channel or topic
• How to block a channel or topic
• How to manage notifications in the News app
• How to read articles in the News app
• How to save an article in the News app 
• How to like and share articles in the News app
• How to view your reading history in the News app
• How to clear your reading history in the News app
• How to restrict stories in Today in the News app
• How to sign up for Apple's news subscription service, News+
• How to find magazines on News+ on your Mac
• How to add a News+ magazine to your favorites on Mac
• How to view your favorite News+ magazines on Mac
• How to read a News+ magazine on Mac

What's new in the News app?

Apple is always tweaking, adjusting, and redesigning their software and the News app is no exception. As the app changes, we report on what's new.

What's new in the News app

How to get started with the News app for Mac

The first time you open the News app, all you need to do to get started is click Continue. If you've used News on your iPhone or iPad before, and haven't turned off iCloud syncing, your favorite channels and topics should soon populate the sidebar of the News app on Mac.

If you haven't used the news app, you're going to need to start following channels.

How to follow a channel or topic

1. Open News on your Mac.
2. Click the Search bar and search for your channel or topic you want to follow.

3. Click the heart icon next to the channel or topic.

1. Click on the channel or topic you want to unfollow.
2. Click File in the menubar. There should be a checkmark next to Follow Channel.

3. Click Follow Channel so the checkmark disappears. You'll no longer be following the channel.

How to block a channel or topic

1. Click on a story from the channel or topic you wish to block or select that channel or topic from the sidebar if you've previously followed it.
2. Click File in the menubar.

3. Click Block Channel.

How to manage notifications in the News app

1. Open News from your Dock or Applications folder.
2. Click File in the Menu bar.

3. Click Manage Notifications.
4. Click on the switches to the green 'on' position for those publications from which you'd like to receive notifications. Click switches to the white/gray 'off' position if you want to turn notifications off.

How to read articles in the News app

1. Open News from your Dock or Applications folder.
2. Click on a channel or topic.

3. Click on a story.

How to save an article in the News app

1. Click File while reading an article.
2. Click Save Story.

How to like and share articles in the News app

1. Click the heart button while reading an article to like it. Click the heart with a slash through it to dislike.
2. Click the Share button for sharing options.

3. Choose one of the available options for sharing the article or sending it to another app.

How to view your reading history in the News app

1. Open News on your Mac.
2. Scroll down the sidebar and click History.

3. Click on a story to open it.

How to clear your reading history in the News app

1. Open News on your Mac.
2. Scroll down and click History.

3. Click Clear in the upper-right corner of the app.
4. Click Clear History, Clear Recommendations, or Clear All. Clearing recommendations will delete the recommendations that Apple News has made for you based on your reading history, clearing your history will delete your reading history, and Clear All will delete both.

How to restrict stories in Today in the News app

1. Open News from your Dock or Applications folder.
2. Click News in the Menu bar.

3. Click Preferences.
4. Click the checkbox next to Restrict stories in Today.

How to sign up for Apple's news subscription service, News+

Apple now has their own news subscription service, News+, which can be found within the News app on both iOS and Mac (macOS Mojave 10.14.4 required). News+ runs $10 a month and can be used with Family Sharing for up to six people for no additional cost. The first month is free.

With News+, you'll get access to news stories from premium paid newspapers like The Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times, as well as access to over 300 digital magazines.

Signing up for News+ is an easy affair, and a subscription will get you access on both your iOS devices and Mac.

• How to sign up for an Apple News+ subscription on iPhone and iPad
• News+ Apple's subscription news service on iOS: The ultimate guide

How to find magazines on News+ on your Mac

1. Launch Apple News on your Mac.
2. Click on the News+ tab in the sidebar.

3. Click on one of the category buttons in the horizontal scrolling ribbon at the top.

4. Scroll through the selection and click on the magazine you want to look at.

How to add a News+ magazine to your favorites on Mac

1. Using the steps above, find a magazine you're interested in.
2. Click on the magazine to view it.

3. Click on the magazine name at the top of the magazine detail view.

4. Click on the Heart button to add it to My Magazines.
   • Or you can click on the heart with the line through it to keep it out of your feed.

How to view your favorite News+ magazines on Mac

1. Launch Apple News on your Mac.
2. Go to the News+ tab from the sidebar.

3. Locate My Magazines underneath the category browse buttons.
4. Scroll through your recent magazines horizontally, or click on See All to view them all.

How to read a News+ magazine on Mac

1. Launch Apple News on your Mac.

2. Jump on over to the News+ tab in the sidebar.

3. Find a magazine by using the methods above.

4. Click on the magazine you want to read.

On magazines that are specially formatted for Apple News+, you'll get a table of contents, where you can just click on a headline to view and read the article.

There are still a lot of magazines in News+ that are not specially formatted, and are essentially just digital PDF files. You'll have to navigate through these pages by multitouch gestures on a trackpad, or opening the magazine and clicking the page you want to go to, one-by-one.

Questions about the News app?

If you have any more questions about how to use the News app on iOS, let us know and we'll work to answer them.

March 2019: Updated with new screenshots and steps on using News+ in the Apple News app on Mac.

With the release of macOS Mojave comes the Stocks app for Mac. Like on iPhone, you'll be able to search for all of the stocks you're invested or interested in, checking out updates in real time, as well as business news as it comes down the pipe.

Here's how to do all the things in Stocks for Mac!

• How to add stocks to your Watchlist
• How to view stock trends over time
• How to view price changes and company worth
• How to view business news in the Stocks app
• How to rearrange stocks in your Watchlist
• How to remove stocks from your Watchlist

How to add stocks to your Watchlist

If you want to open the Stocks app and immediately view all of the stocks that are most important to you, you can add them to your stocks Watchlist.

1. Launch the Stocks app from the Finder.
2. Click the Search bar on the top left of the window.
3. Type in the name of a company or stock.
4. Click the stock you'd like to add.
5. Click the green add button next to the name of the stock.

How to view stock trends over time

The Stocks app lets you change the time period for which you can view every stock. You can view trends from the last day to the last 10 years to the stock's entire history.

1. Launch the Stocks app from the Finder.
2. Click a Stock in your Watchlist or find a stock.
3. Click a time period above the line graph on the right:
   • 1 day
   • 1 week
   • 1 month
   • 3 months
   • 6 months
   • 1 year
   • 2 years
   • 5 years
   • 10 years
   • All: The stock's entire lifespan

How to view price changes and company worth

1. Launch the Stocks app from the Finder.
2. Click the green or red value to the right of the stock name in your Watchlist.

You can view the company's worth, price-per-share increase or decrease, and percentage increase or decrease.

How to view business news in the Stocks app

You can check out all the latest on the stocks in your Watchlist with business news pulled straight from Yahoo.

1. Launch the Stocks app from the Finder. Business News will be the first window you see upon launch.
2. Click a story to read more on yahoo's site.

How to rearrange stocks in your Watchlist

Want your most important stocks at the top of your Watchlist? Here's how to move them there:

1. Launch the Stocks app from the Finder.
2. Click the list button on the bottom right of the Watchlist.
3. Click and hold the reorder button next to the stock you want to move. It's three horizontal lines.
4. Drag the stock up or down to where you'd like it and release.
5. Click Done.

How to remove stocks from your Watchlist

1. Launch the Stocks app from the Finder.
2. Click the list button on the bottom right of your Watchlist.
3. Click the delete button next to the stock you want to remove. It's a red circle with a white line in it.
4. Click Remove.

Updated September 2018: Updated for the official launch of macOS Mojave.

Pokémon Go has gotten 80 new Pokémon from the second generation. It started in late 2016 with Togepi, Pichu, and the other Gen 2 babies first encountered in the Johto Region from the Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver video games. In early 2017, though, the rest arrived, from Ampharos and Blissey to Tyranitar and Umbreon.

So, now you have the the chance to hatch, catch, and evolve 'em all — for a second time!

July 24, 2018: Entei and Ho-Oh return for a limited time

Entei, the Legendary Fire Beast, and Ho-Oh, the Legendary leader of the Beasts, are back in Pokémon Go... for a limited time only.

Ho-Oh has the shortest clock. It's taking over Legendary Raids from Regirock from August 24 to August 27.

Entei is sticking around a little longer — the entire month of September as the Field Research weekly breakthrough award.

Happy catching.

August 20, 2018: Celebi is live and Johto Event has begun!

It's Johto Time. As part of the start of Celebi's A Ripple in Time Special Research:

No word yet on when the Johto Event will end, but Shiny Sunkern, Pineco, and Natu have been released, so get to checking!

How to complete a Ripple in Time and get Celibi fast

July 26, 2018: Raikou returning to Pokémon Go... as Field Research!

If you missed out on Raikou during its Raid window, or simply missed getting a good one or half-dozen, here's your chance to get up to four more:

Raikou rewards will start at 1pm PT / 4pm ET on August 1, so if you really want to get one as fast as possible, don't open your rewards until after then.

Also, since rewards can't flee, you might want to use a Pineapp Berry in your encounter so you can snag a little extra candy.

Which Gen 2 Pokémon are currently out and in the game?

As of August, 2018:

1. Chikorita: Grass - 801
2. Bayleef: Grass - 1296
3. Meganium: Grass - 2227
4. Cyndaquil: Fire - 831
5. Quilava: Fire - 1484
6. Typhlosion: Fire - 2686
7. Totodile: Water - 1011
8. Croconaw: Water - 1598
9. Feraligatr: Water - 2721
10. Sentret: Normal - 519
11. Furret: Normal - 1667
12. Hoothoot: Normal / Flying - 640
13. Noctowl: Normal / Flying - 2040
14. Ledyba: Bug / Flying - 663
15. Ledian: Bug / Flying - 1275
16. Spinarak: Bug / Poison - 685
17. Ariados: Bug / Poison - 1636
18. Crobat: Poison / Flying - 2466
19. Chinchou: Water / Electric - 1067
20. Lanturn: Water / Electric - 2077
21. Pichu: Electric - 376
22. Cleffa: Normal - 620
23. Igglybuff: Normal / Fairy - 512
24. Togepi: Fairy - 540
25. Togetic: Fairy / Flying - 1543
26. Natu: Psychic / Flying - 925
27. Xatu: Psychic / Flying - 1975
28. Mareep: Electric - 887
29. Flaaffy: Electric - 1402
30. Ampharos: Electric - 2695
31. Bellossom: Grass - 2108
32. Marill: Water / Fairy - 420
33. Azumarill: Water / Fairy - 1503
34. Sudowoodo: Rock - 2065
35. Politoed: Water - 2371
36. Hoppip: Grass / Flying - 508
37. Skiploom: Grass / Flying - 882
38. Jumpluff: Grass / Flying - 1553
39. Aipom: Normal - 1188
40. Sunkern: Grass - 316
41. Sunflora: Grass - 2048
42. Yanma: Bug / Flying - 1326
43. Wooper: Water / Ground - 596
44. Quagsire: Water / Ground - 1929
45. Espeon: Psychic - 3000
46. Umbreon: Dark - 2052
47. Murkrow: Dark / Flying - 1392
48. Slowking: Water / Psychic - 2482
49. Misdreavus: Ghost - 1781
50. Unown: Psychic - 1022
51. Wobbuffet: Psychic - 1024
52. Girafarig: Normal / Psychic - 1863
53. Pineco: Bug - 1045
54. Forretress: Bug Steel - 2263
55. Dunsparce: Normal - 1615
56. Gligar: Ground / Flying - 1758
57. Steelix: Steel / Ground - 2439
58. Snubbull: Fairy - 1124
59. Granbull: Fairy - 2440
60. Qwilfish: Water / Poison - 1910
61. Scizor: Bug / Steel - 2801
62. Shuckle: Bug / Rock - 300
63. Heracross: Bug / Fighting - 2938
64. Sneasel: Dark / Ice - 1868
65. Teddiursa: Normal - 1184
66. Ursaring: Normal - 2760
67. Slugma: Fire - 750
68. Magcargo: Fire / Rock - 1543
69. Swinub: Ice / Ground - 663
70. Piloswine: Ice / Ground - 2284
71. Corsola: Water / Rock - 1214
72. Remoraid: Water - 749
73. Octillery: Water - 2124
74. Delibird: Ice / Flying - 937
75. Mantine: Water / Flying - 2032
76. Skarmory: Steel / Flying - 2032
77. Houndour: Dark / Fire - 1110
78. Houndoom: Dark / Fire - 2529
79. Kingdra: Water / Dragon - 2424
80. Phanpy: Ground - 1175
81. Donphan: Ground - 3022
82. Porygon2: Normal - 2546
83. Stantler: Normal - 1988
84. Tyrogue: Fighting - 404
85. Hitmontop: Fighting - 1905
86. Smoochum: Ice / Psychic - 1230
87. Elekid: Electric - 1073
88. Magby: Fire - 1178
89. Miltank: Normal - 2312
90. Blissey: Normal - 3219
91. Raikou: Electric - 3349
92. Entei: Fire - 3412
93. Suicune: Water - 2823
94. Larvitar: Rock / Ground - 904
95. Pupitar: Rock / Ground - 1608
96. Tyranitar: Rock / Dark - 3670
97. Lugia: Psychic / Flying - 3598
98. Ho-Oh: Fire / Flying - 4650
99. Celebi: Psychic / Grass - 3090