When it comes to weather apps, I’ve found it tough to find the right one. They’re either overflowing with incomprehensible data that drags down your day as you try to decipher it all or are so light on detail that you come out of the experience no wiser than when you went in. OK, I might be exaggerating a little, but it can certainly be a frustrating experience.

However, I recently came across a contender called Weather Up, and it might just be the solution to my woes. It’s early days yet, but I’ve been finding it’s much more informative than other weather apps I’ve tried in the past. And one of the reasons for that is its superb iOS widget and Apple Watch complications.

The developer has made use of Apple’s interactive widgets framework (which requires iOS 17 or later), which means you can tap the iOS widget to get more information without having to open that app itself. That presents less of an interruption to your day, and when all you need to do is quickly glance at the next hour’s forecast, it’s a perfect bite-sized chunk of weather data.

What’s even more impressive is how much data Weather Up crams into its Apple Watch complication without making it a jumble of confusing facts and figures. Through clever use of color, fonts, and icons, Weather Up makes it very straightforward to understand upcoming forecasts without needing to squint at a tiny screen or try to work out exactly what it’s telling you. That’s a refreshing change and shows the app really understands the info people look for with a quick glimpse.

Since I’ve started using Weather Up, I’ve found it’s been a breath of fresh air. Instead of having to delve into the app as I’ve had to do with other weather apps, I can just pull up its widget or complication and I know everything I need to within seconds. That makes it the perfect companion when you’re about to head out the door and need to know the outlook before you leave.

How to use Weather Up

Weather Up is well-designed and presents data in a very digestible way, which makes getting started easy.

1. Open Weather Up. You’ll see your location in a box at the bottom of the app
2. Tap this box to bring up a list of pre-loaded locations. Tap Add to insert a new one into the list or select Edit to remove some entries
3. Now tap a location in the list. You’ll see an hourly forecast, complete with temperatures, cloud cover, the chance of rain, and more. You can adjust this from an hourly forecast to a nine-day one using the toggles at the bottom of the box
4. Tap the layer button in the top-right to choose from different overlays, including rain, cloud, humidity, and temperature. If an overlay indicates that it is animated, press the play button in the top-left to see how the situation changes in 10-minute intervals
5. If you go to Settings > Event Forecasts, you can add your calendar events to Weather Up. That way you’ll know whether you’re likely to get drenched for that upcoming picnic in the park

Get started with Weather Up’s iOS widget

Weather Up’s iOS widget is one of its strongest elements, as it really makes good use of iOS’s interactive widgets functionality.

1. Long press on your iOS Home Screen until your app icons start to jiggle, then tap the + button and find Weather Up in the list. Tap the app name, then tap Add Widget. Now, allow the widget to use your location so it can get accurate weather data
2. By default, the Weather Up widget shows a forecast for the next few days, with data for rain chances and temperatures. But here’s the clever bit: tap a day in the schedule and the widget will update with a more detailed look at that specific 24-hour period, with an easy-to-read graph showing everything you need to know at a glance
3. Tap the widget again to return to the multi-day forecast or tap the rightward arrow in the bottom-right corner to move forward in time
4. If you long-press the widget and select Edit Widget, you’ll be able to change its location, its forecast source, and whether it shows rain legends

Try the Apple Watch complications

If you have one of the best Apple Watchs, you’ll get even more out of Weather Up thanks to its handy complication. This adds a little widget to your Apple Watch face with a quick (and constantly updated) view of the weather where you are or at another chosen location. While it means you don’t need to open the app on your Watch, you can tap it to get more info if you wish.

1. Press and hold your Apple Watch screen and select a Watch face that has a rectangular complication (like the Modular face, for instance), as Weather Up only supports this complication for now
2. Tap Edit, then swipe right until you see each complication area outlined in faint white. Tap the rectangular complication, then choose Weather Up from the list.
3. If you haven’t opened Weather Up on your Watch before, it will need to initialize, which means you’ll also need to open the app on your iPhone. Once that’s done, you’ll see a list of Weather Up complications. Pick one, then press your Digital Crown twice to save the new complication arrangement
4. Now to use the complication. By default, you’ll see a chart with the temperature and weather conditions plotted over the next roughly 24-hour period. Tap the complication to get weather-specific for your chosen location, with the upcoming outlook listed for the next few days
5. Tap a date in the list and you’ll see an hourly breakdown for that day, with everything rendered in a clear and color-coded way

I’ve tested out dozens of weather apps over the years, and there’s one consistent frustration I’ve had with all of them, including Apple’s stock weather app: snow. I live in an area that consistently experiences heavy winter snowfall, and yet most weather apps offer snow prediction primarily in terms of the percentage chance of snow. You can often find more information if you dig more deeply into the app, but not in the iPhone widget or even on the first page of the app. Those of us living with real winters know that’s not good enough. We need to know how much snow to expect, and we shouldn’t have to dig deeply into the app to find out if we’re going to be digging ourselves out of the house that day or just getting flurries. 

How the apps I’ve been using fall short

While I’ve tried many, many weather apps on my iPhone over the years, lately, I’ve been going back and forth between two apps on the best iPhone, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, both of which are quite beautiful to look at and easy to read. Apple’s own weather app is a beauty for sure, except for the fact that the widget is gray on a gray day. I have to look at a gray sky for 8 months of the year, I don’t need to see that on my iPhone or iPad screen as well! But information on snow accumulation is buried pretty deep into the app, necessitating a lot of scrolling to get any useful predictions. My theory is that this app was designed by Californians for whom snow is more of a concept than a reality.

The other app I often use is Carrot Weather. This is a fantastic app with tons of flexibility, a longtime favorite of mine. You can move the tiles around within the app to put the information YOU want front and center. If you subscribe to the premium or ultra-premium tier, you can choose from tons of different widgets, each of which is editable. You CAN get the precipitation accumulation in the widget, which I didn't realize at first. Not by default, but you can edit the widget to show that information. However, I like to see the total accumulation both for the day and hourly, which is only offered in Carrot's largest widget size. That's more than I want to devote to weather on my home page. This may seem like a minor complaint, but I keep my home screen carefully curated.

I have noted that there are a number of snow prediction apps on the App Store, but they are all aimed at skiers and snowboarders. I’m not at a resort and I’m not interested in ski and snowboard run conditions. Just my local roads!

I think I’ve finally found the one

If you’re an iMore Show listener, you know I’ve been talking about this on the show the past couple of weeks. A listener reached out to me on X (formerly known at Twitter) to tell me about an app called Foreca. Finally: an app that has the precipitation accumulation forecast right in a widget! Plus it’s right on the front page of the app when you open it, and you can tap for further details. Foreca is a Finnish app, and Finland is certainly a part of the world where people know snow. The app offers quite a bit of detail about the upcoming snowfall, both in the hourly forecast and the daily forecast.

I spoke with Tuomas Reivinen, the Commercial Director at Foreca. Interestingly, he told me that several other weather services use Foreca’s weather forecast, including Microsoft (in Windows and msn.com) and Carrot Weather. So why don’t other apps make the information as easy to find? 

Is Foreca just about snow?

Not even close. Even if where you live there is nary a flake, you’ll still find an abundance of information in the Foreca app. On the medium-sized widget alone, you get the temperature, conditions, and amount of precipitation, for the next six hours. Plus you get the current wind speed and direction, high/low for the day, and total precipitation accumulation. And the information in the widget is editable. 

Open the app and the first page shows you all of that plus sunrise/sunset, humidity, daylight sunshine hours, when the next precipitation is due to start, and the forecast for the next several days. You can tap for observations, weather warnings, and more details on the daily forecasts (broken down by hours.) And that’s just the default. You can change what’s on the home page. For example if you don’t want wind, sunrise/sunset, or humidity, you can change those to air quality index, pressure, dew point, moon phase, UV index, and more.

Along the bottom, there are options for more detailed information: radar (clearly marked what’s been observed and what’s forecasted,) daily forecast, hourly forecast, and meteogram (which plots temperature, precipitation, and wind on a graph.)

Bonus: promo code for you

Foreca is free to download, and all of the features are totally free. There are no features hidden behind a pay wall. It is ad-supported, so the optional in-app purchase subscription is only for ad removal. The developer of Foreca has offered a promo code for a three-month subscription trial just for iMore readers. Note that if you use the offer, it will automatically renew after the three months, unless you cancel it at that time. Click here to use the code.

Now that developers can submit their apps to the Vision Pro App Store in the lead-up to the headset’s launch on February 2, one app looks to take the Weather category by storm already.

Developed by Cosmo, Seasons shows you the weather in your Vision Pro headset, so that you don’t have to take it off and go outside. In a post on X, its developers posted a video of snow covering your vision inside the headset, giving you a visual representation of the weather near you.

The post goes on to state that Seasons will be free to download when it launches on February 2 — and will come with 34 weather conditions to begin with, but doesn't describe what all of these are just yet.

The app looks fantastic, but it makes us wonder where Apple’s Weather app is for the headset.

Where’s the Weather app? — iMore’s take

Apple’s redesigned Weather app first arrived in iOS 14 in 2020, and I love using it. There are weather animations that match up with how the conditions are in my area, and it offers much greater detail by giving you maps for precipitation and temperature — it's an app I still use every day.

Since then, the app has moved over to iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, and I've been using it on all of these platforms too. So imagine my bewilderment when there was no mention of the Weather app coming to Vision Pro.

Getting the animations that I’ve repeatedly seen on my iPad and iPhone would be a natural fit for visionOS — especially as Apple has been showing off an Environments feature. The Environments feature covers your vision and transports you to a different location — such as Yosemite Park and Joshua Tree.

This would be perfect for Weather — rain and snow could cover your vision as you work away in different apps, making for a more immersive experience. Unfortunately, it looks like it’s not to be for now. Instead, Seasons is taking Apple’s place as the go-to Weather app for now, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it works when it’s made available on February 2.

More from iMore

• I've tried Apple's Vision Pro and these are the five things to be most excited about
• Here are 7 new Vision Pro features that Apple just revealed
• Apple doesn't want developers to refer to Vision Pro apps as VR or AR... despite using the same language itself

iPhone users have been reporting a strange bug on the Lock Screen, where a Weather widget shows a broken file icon when it’s snowing in their area.

Since iOS 16, you’ve been able to place a bunch of widgets onto an iPhone’s Lock Screen. These can be very helpful in checking off to-do tasks, quickly launching a favorite app, or even checking the Weather.

However, it’s not useful if it starts snowing nearby and your iPhone lets you know with a broken file icon. It’s not clear yet if this can be fixed on Apple’s side as a server fix, or as a future iOS update. But at iMore, this isn’t the only issue some on the team have noticed plaguing our iPhones lately.

Bugs snowing through the cracks — iMore’s take

Since updating to iOS 17.1 on my iPhone, I’ve been experiencing some random issues. For example, notifications arrive long after they’ve been dismissed or dealt with on another Apple device. Or AirPods like to disconnect from an iPhone, causing me to have to manually reconnect them in Control Center.

When it comes to the file icon bug, it's a shame. I've loved creating a bunch of Lock Screens with widgets since iOS 16. So to see broken widgets is very un-Apple-like.

Tammy, our Senior Writer, finds that when she sees a bunch of notifications on her iPhone’s Lock Screen, she unlocks her iPhone and they all disappear. This all may be a fleeting issue, however, as it turns out our How To Editor is running iOS 17.2 beta and has experienced none of these bugs.

So while these all may be a temporary issue, it’s a bunch of annoying bugs that dampen the experience. This is especially true when I’ve been enjoying my new iPhone 15 Pro Max and its greatly improved camera and 5x zoom lens.

More from iMore

• Best alternative weather apps for iPhone in 2023
• How to check the Weather with Siri
• Best iPhone Black Friday deals so far

Having the screen on your iPhone and iPad switch off as you leave it for a few minutes to tend to the dog can be an irritating time. But thankfully, there's an option to make sure this never happens.

By default, your Apple device will auto-lock after two minutes of sitting idle. But by using the following settings, you can easily change the amount of time it takes, or even turn it off completely!

How to turn off Auto-Lock on your iPhone and iPad

If you prefer to have complete control over when your iPhone or iPad locks, you can always turn off Auto-Lock.

1. Launch Settings from the Home screen.
2. Tap on Display & Brightness.
3. Tap on Auto Lock.
4. Tap on the Never option.

How to change the Auto-Lock time on your iPhone and iPad

You can turn the screen off on your iPhone or iPad at any time, but by default it will turn off automatically after 2 minutes to save on power. If that time limit doesn't suit you, it's easy to change.

Note: You can't change Auto-Lock time when in Power Saver Mode.

1. Launch Settings from the Home screen.
2. Tap on Display & Brightness.
3. Tap on Auto Lock.
4. Tap on the timing you prefer:
   • 30 Seconds
   • 1 Minute
   • 2 Minutes
   • 3 Minutes
   • 4 Minutes
   • 5 Minutes
   • Never

How to turn Lock/Unlock on and off on your iPad

If you have a cover for your iPad, you will probably notice that every time you close it your iPad will lock. Plus, every time you lift the cover off your iPad will unlock itself. If you don't like this feature you can easily turn it off.

1. Launch Settings from the Home screen.
2. Tap on Display & Brightness.
3. Tap on the Lock/Unlock switch. Green means the feature is enabled and grey means it's disabled.

Users of Apple's Weather app are suffering from an issue that means no data is displayed when checking the forecast.

The problem, which appears to be intermittent and is affecting the main Weather app as well as all of its Home and Lock screen widgets, has been ongoing since around midnight Eastern Time, although it very much depends on which part of the world you happen to be in.

The lack of data is affecting all of Apple's weather apps across all platforms including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.

Nobody could forecast that

Apple's System Status webpage currently lists the issue but doesn't currently acknowledge the full extent of the problem. The Weather issue is confirmed to be affecting "some users," while Apple says that "next-hour precipitation may be unavailable for Alaska due to a data provider outage."

However, the issue is a global one with people around the world reporting intermittent data depending on location. Our testing shows that weather data for the U.K. comes and goes depending on when you refresh it, perhaps suggesting that Apple is either improving matters or they're getting worse — time will tell which of those two it is.

No other Apple services are affected at the time of writing, perhaps backing up Apple's report that a data provider outage is the issue here. But no matter whose problem this is to fix, it means that you can't currently trust the data Apple Weather is giving you if indeed it's giving you any at all.

You can of course look out the window like it's the olden days, and there are plenty of third-party weather websites available if you'd prefer to go the technological route. After all, you didn't pick up the best iPhone money can buy to look outside when you want to know when it's raining did you?

Apple is reportedly ready to integrate Apple News stories into the Weather app on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. It's already started with the latest iOS 16.2 beta and betas for iPadOS 16.2 and macOS Ventura 13.1.

While it only appears to work in some parts of the United States, that could be a limitation of the beta status with which the updates are currently working. We're told that Alabama and Mississippi weather shows news from Fox Weather, for example, but there's nothing presently appearing for New York.

News in your weather

This being the Weather app, the news being surfaced is specifically tailored to what the world is doing outside the window at any given moment. Examples reported by 9to5Mac include information about tornado touchdowns over the weekend, but we can also imagine seeing news stories about cold snaps and heatwaves.

Tapping a new article within the Weather app opens the News app as you'd expect, with those who don't have it installed instead directed to the story in Safari. Unfortunately, there are currently no settings to be had at all, and the option to disable the integration between News and Weather isn't present. It's unclear whether it will work in the future, too.

Apple's software updates are all currently in beta form and are expected to be released to the public in the middle of December. This integration may be removed before then, but it seems more likely to be fleshed out ahead of that public release next month.

While the Weather app might not be the best iPhone app for checking the forecast, according to many, it's the one that comes pre-installed on every device Apple sells and has a huge installed user base. So it stands to reason that Apple would want to try and push News via such an app.

Apple has now removed the Dark Sky app from the App Store in the United States and more. The move was expected to take place at the end of 2022, but it now appears that the app has been removed ahead of schedule.

Apple had previously begun to warn Dark Sky users that it would no longer be supported as of January 1st, 2023.

Dark times

Apple's previous message warned that "support for the Dark Sky app will be ending on January 1st, 2023, " adding that "Dark Sky’s forecast technology is now enhanced and integrated into the updated Apple Weather app." Now it appears that Apple has removed the app from the App Store to prevent other people from downloading it, although it does mean that those buying new iPhones and had the app installed on their old one will also not be able to get their hands on it, too.

Apple now wants people to use the standard Weather app, while third-party developers can continue to use the Dark Sky API for a few more months yet — the API will go dark on March 21st, 2023. From then on, developers are expected to move to Apple's new WeatherKit API if they haven't already done so.

There are plenty of weather apps to choose from if people don't want to use the official one, despite this move. While Dark Sky was one of the best iPhone apps for weather monitoring and projection, there are plenty more that are well worth checking out today.

Those who still have Dark Sky installed can of course continue to use it, although that API end date does loom large.

If you have an app that uses a ton of weather data from Apple's WeatherKit, today is a good day for you — except for the part where you have to pay money.

Today, Apple announced that it has made WeatherKit subscriptions available to developers. In an update on the Apple Developer website, the company revealed that developers who use a ton of API calls with WeatherKit can now subscribe for even more:

WeatherKit brings valuable weather information to your apps and services through a wide range of data that can help people stay up to date, safe, and prepared. It’s easy to use WeatherKit in your apps for iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, tvOS 16, and watchOS 9 with a platform-specific Swift API, and on any other platform with a REST API. Up to 500,000 API calls per month are included with Apple Developer Program membership. And now, Account Holders can subscribe for more calls in the Apple Developer app.

How much do WeatherKit subscriptions cost?

Apple already includes 500,000 API calls with WeatherKit for any developer of the Apple Developer Program. However, if you have an app with many users and need more than that, you can pay for even more calls. Costs range from $49.99 per month for one million calls to $999.99 per month for 20 million. You can check out the full breakdown below:

• 500,000 calls/month: Included with membership
• 1 million calls/month: US$49.99
• 2 million calls/month: US$99.99
• 5 million calls/month: US$249.99
• 10 million calls/month: US$499.99
• 20 million calls/month: US$999.99

Apple also outlined that only an Account Holder for a development account can make edits to a WeatherKit subscription and what will happen when those edits occur:

• Upgrades a subscription, a new billing period is started and you can start using the new plan immediately. Your quota resets to 0 and the number of API calls is replaced based on the new subscription.
• Downgrades a subscription, you can continue to use your current plan during the current billing period.

WeatherKit subscriptions are available to developers now so, if you need more API calls for WeatherKit data, you can subscribe to one of the tiers and get access right now. You can learn more about WeatherKit on the Apple Developer website.

When your iPhone isn't receiving picture messages it can be incredibly frustrating. After all, nowadays we communicate with friends and family via iMessages littered with memes and photos of what we had for dinner last night.

Whether you've got the best iPhone available, like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, or an older device like the iPhone SE, bugs can often impact your ability to do the things that should be relatively easy.

With iOS 18 on the horizon, it's good to know how to fix these issues if your iPhone ever has issues with receiving pictures.

Here's how to fix your iPhone not receiving pictures in text messages with a few easy fixes that should solve any issues to get you back to 2024 in no time at all. 

How to check your MMS settings

In addition to iMessage, the iPhone supports MMS, which is a simplified way to send a text message via a cellular network. If you have MMS disabled on your iPhone, you won't be able to send or receive multimedia messages like photos or videos with Android users or when iMessage is unavailable.

1. Launch the Settings app
2. Tap Messages
3. Scroll down and check to see if MMS Messaging is on. If not, tap it to enable it

How to sign in and out of your Apple ID

Another thing that you can try is signing in, and out of the Apple ID you use with Messages. Signing out of Messages will delete all your messages from your iPhone and re-download them as new from Apple's servers when you sign back in.

1. Launch the Settings app
2. Tap Messages
3. Tap Send & Receive

4. Tap your Apple ID
5. Tap Sign Out

6. Tap Use your Apple ID for iMessage
7. Tap Sign in. You can also tap Use Other Apple ID and enter your credentials for another Apple ID

How to reset your network settings

The last thing you can try is resetting Network Settings on your iPhone. Although it may sound a little daunting, this option will only remove some behind-the-scenes configurations, toggle Wi-Fi/cellular on and off briefly, and change your iPhone name to the default state.

1. Launch the Settings app
2. Tap General
3. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone

4. Tap Reset
5. Tap Reset Network Settings
6. Type in your Passcode and then tap Done

One more thing... fix your iPhone not receiving pictures in text messages 

This guide has you covered for sorting all issues related to your iPhone not receiving pictures. 

While we've tried our best to cover the solution there is also the possibility that the issues are related to the person you're trying to contact. If this is the case, send this guide to them so they can follow the steps above.

With these tools, you should be able to fix your iPhone not receiving pictures. If not, you may need to contact Apple Support or head to your local Apple Store for some troubleshooting.

What you need to know

• Apple announced iPadOS 16 earlier today.
• The company revealed that the Weather app is finally coming to the iPad.
• The app has been on the iPhone since it was originally released.

Earlier today, Apple announced iPadOS 16 during its WWDC 2022 keynote and with it an overdue app for the iPad.

The latest version of iPadOS features Stage Manager to better organize your windows like the Mac and the Freeform app to easily collaborate with your friends and coworkers on a limitless canvas.

In addition Freeform, there is another app that is making its triumphant and long-overdue debut on iPad: Weather. With iPadOS 16, the Weather app is finally making the jump from the iPhone, which it has been on since the iPhone was invented, to the iPad.

The Weather app on the iPad, besides taking advantage of the larger display, will feature the same experience and features as users enjoy on the iPhone.

We have all been waiting for this day. A day when the Weather app is accessible on more than a widget on the iPad. And today is that day! Or July. Or in the fall. You know, whenever you install iPadOS 16 on your iPad.

If you like sending emoji in your texts and iMessages, Apple makes doing that incredibly easy. Between Tapbacks for reacting directly to a message and using machine learning to know which emoji to recommend, Apple understands that these little pictograms are some of the best iPhone communication tools.

If you're looking to spice up your messages to your friends and family, you can litter them with emoji all you want! Here's how you do it!

How do you get emoji recommendations in Messages?

Apple's predictive QuickType keyboard can suggest emoji and, you know, regular words. The predictive keyboard has to be turned on in Settings and can't be hidden, so check out our QuickType keyboard guide first if you need helping getting it set up.

1. Start typing in the Messages text field.
2. Tap any emoji predictions that show up in the prediction bar. If multiple predictions show up, tap the one you prefer.
3. Tap the Send button. (Looks like an upward arrow.)

Emoji predictions will show up whenever you type something with a corresponding emoji. For example, "I'm happy" will predict "(smiley face)." Likewise, "My car" will suggest the "(car)" emoji.

Pro-tip: If you don't want the emoji to take the place of the word but rather appear beside it, put a space between the word before you tap your desired emoji.

How do you replace words with emoji in Messages?

This "emojification" process works similarly to emoji recommendations and will work in both iMessages and standard SMS texts.

1. Type an iMessage in the text field.
2. Tap the Emoji button on the keyboard.
3. Tap on a word that's highlighted orange to replace it with its corresponding emoji.

4. Keep tapping words highlighted until you've "emojified" everything you want.
5. Tap the Send button (Looks like an upward arrow).

With emojification, you can convert as many — or as few — words to emoji as you like.

How do you react with a Tapback in an iMessage?

Emoji aren't just for replying; they're also for reacting. Apple calls them Tapbacks. They're similar to Slack or Facebook emoji reactions and drop right onto any iMessage bubble sent your way.

1. Touch and hold (long press) or double-tap on an iMessage sent your way.
2. Tap the Tapback you want to send: Heart, thumbs up, thumbs down, Haha, !!, or ?.

There's no need to hit send; the Tapback reaction goes immediately.

What do the different Tapback reactions mean?

Theoretically, these Tapback reactions can mean whatever you want them to. However, context is king, and a thumbs up Tapback to your Mom might mean something different than one to your best friend. Here's a basic guide to all the Tapback reactions available and what they could mean.

• Heart: Like, love, or fave
• Thumbs up: Happy, approve, or agree
• Thumbs down: Sad, disapprove or disagree
• Haha: Laugh, either happily or sarcastically.
• !!: Exclaim emphatically.
• ?: Question.

How do you change the Tapback reaction on an iMessage?

If you reply with the wrong Tapback or later decide you want a different Tapback, you can easily make the change.

1. Touch and hold (long press) or double-tap on an iMessage with the Tapback you want to change.
2. Tap the Tapback you want to change to Heart, thumbs up, thumbs down, Haha, !!, or ?.

The new Tapback will take the place of the old one.

How do you delete a Tapback reaction on an iMessage?

You can also remove it if you accidentally send a Tapback or have reconsidered sending one.

1. Tap a Tapback that you wish to remove.
2. Tap the Tapback you want to remove (i.e., if you want to remove Heart, tap Heart.)

The Tapback will disappear for you and the recipient.

Emote away

Using emoji has never been easier, and Tapbacks somehow made things even more straightforward. Use them on your best iPhone, all you want. Here's to having vibrant and fun conversations in just a few taps.

Updated May 2022: Updated for the latest version of iOS 15.

The United States participates in an emergency notification service called AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcasting Emergency Response). An AMBER alert usually lets citizens know when police are tracking a missing person and there is information that this person may be in your area. Apple has included AMBER alert notifications, as well as other emergency government notifications like Emergency Alerts and Public Safety Alerts, on all iPhones, including yours.

Depending on the nature of the alert, which can include child abductions and impending natural disasters, it's a great feature that can prevent injury and save lives. Many lives. So, by their nature, these alerts don't respect Do Not Disturb settings. They NEED to get through.

That can be shocking, however, especially if they happen when you're sleeping, driving, or otherwise not expecting a loud noise to come from your iPhone 13. That's why, ultimately, AMBER and other alerts work at your discretion. They are all on by default, but you can decide which alerts you want to keep on or turn off. Here's how.

How to control AMBER and government alerts on your iPhone

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone
2. Tap on Notifications and scroll all the way to the bottom

3. Under the Government Alerts section, toggle the AMBER Alerts and Public Safety Alerts options on or off to enable or disable them
4. Tap Emergency Alerts and then choose whether you want to receive them or not, and if so, whether you want it to Always Deliver or not. If Always Deliver is off, then emergency alerts will not play a sound when your iPhone is in Silent Mode

Turning off AMBER and other alerts can cost lives, including yours. If a natural disaster is coming your way, and you don't know about it, you have no way to save your life or the life of your family.

That's why they're loud and shocking. They're meant to get your attention, instantly — and big, loud, and noisy is the way to do that.

So, while you can disable them, you shouldn't. Not unless you have some other way to be reliably alerted about emergencies.

If you have an Android device or Windows Phone or know someone who has them, you should make sure that AMBER and other government alerts are also active on those too.

Better safe than sorry!

Keeping your AMBER and other alerts on is important and potentially life-saving. Apple also offers several other easy-to-use safety features on all its devices. Emergency SOS is one of those safety features, and it's been known to save lives on both iPhones and Apple Watches. Triggering it is super simple. All you have to do is follow the steps in our Emergency SOS guide.

If you own an iPhone 14 model, such as the best iPhone at the moment, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, you'll also have access to Crash Detection, a lifesaving feature if you're ever involved in a car crash.

Additionally, depending on which version of iOS you're using, Emergency SOS can also reach out to your emergency contacts via your iPhone and send the device's last known location.

So make sure you've set AMBER alerts up correctly because you never know when you might need them, and it's always better to be safe than sorry.

A few years ago, a popular weather app called Dark Sky was acquired by Apple. Like many acquisitions by Apple, these services get integrated into Apple's native apps to improve the overall experience for Apple users. With Dark Sky, Apple gained a lot of cool and smart features for its native Weather app, including weather maps and precipitation notifications.

These new Weather app features came with iOS 15. With next-hour precipitation notifications, you will get alerted whenever rain, snow, hail, or sleet is about to start or stop. However, you'll only find these notifications in the U.S., U.K., and Ireland.

Here's how to set up real-time precipitation notifications in the Weather app on your current iPhone.

How to turn on precipitation notifications in the Weather app

So, do you want to be alerted if rain or snow is coming your way in the next hour? Here's how to set up next-hour precipitation notifications in the Weather app for your current iPhone, such as the iPhone 13 Pro.

1. Open the Weather app.
2. Tap the List icon. This is located in the bottom right corner and looks like a bulleted list.
3. Tap on the ••• icon.

4. Tap on Notifications.
5. Toggle the status switches to the green on position for the locations you want to get a notification. This can be your current location or a set region from your location list.
6. Tap Done.

You'll now be alerted of upcoming precipitation as specified. Unfortunately, the feature is only available in the U.S., Ireland, and the U.K. again.

How to turn on location services for the Weather app

If you don't have location services turned on for the Weather app, you'll see the toggle for My Location greyed out when trying to turn on precipitation notifications. This is easily rectified in the Settings app.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap on Privacy.
3. Tap on Location Services.

4. Scroll down and tap on Weather.
5. Tap on Always.

Location services are now on for the Weather app. Note that you need to select the Always option if you want the Weather app to be able to provide notifications about your current location.

How to turn on notifications for the Weather app

Of course, to receive precipitation alerts, you'll need to let the Weather app notify you. If you have notifications turned off for the Weather app, you'll be prompted to turn them back on in Settings when following the above steps to turn on rain and snow alerts.

If you need a little extra help, here's how to manually turn on notifications for the Weather app.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap on Notifications.
3. Scroll down and tap on Weather

4. Toggle the status switch next to Allow Notifications to on. You'll then be able to customize the way that notifications appear with options for alert style, delivery timeframe, Lock Screen appearance, and more.

After following these steps, you should now be able to follow the initial steps in this guide when attempting to turn on precipitation alerts in the Weather app.

Always be in the know

With precipitation alerts, Apple's Weather app is now one of the best iPhone tools for knowing when bad weather is coming your way.

The new alerts might give you enough time to get some cover if you're out and about or change up the attire you were going to wear before you head out. It's a handy update to the Weather app, and if you're in a supported location, I highly recommend you turn it on.

Updated May 2022: These steps are still current in the latest version of iOS 15.

On Launchpad on Mac, you can find all of your apps, regardless of where they are installed. While you can expect few problems on Launchpad with apps installed in the Applications folder, the same can't be said for titles downloaded and stored elsewhere. Occasionally, installed apps aren't showing up under Launchpad. Conversely, you might see icons for apps that are no longer on your computer. In times like these, the Launchpad database gets corrupted.

Luckily, there's a quick fix for it! Here's how to reset Launchpad on macOS Monterey on all the best Macs!

How to reset Launchpad on your Mac

1. Go to the Finder on your Mac.
2. Hold down the Option key and click on the Go menu.
3. Select Library.
4. Open the Application Support folder.

5. Click on the Dock folder.
6. Delete all the files ending in ".db."

7. Empty the Trash on your Mac.
8. Restart your Mac.

Once your Mac has restarted, it will automatically rebuild the Launchpad database and repopulate it with an accurate count of the apps you have on your Mac.

Easy fix

As you can see, it's relatively simple to reset Launchpad on your Mac when there is a problem. Follow the steps, and be on your way!

May 2022: Updated for the latest version of macOS.

When it comes to reading text on your wrist, even the best Apple Watch can be a little small for some people. Luckily, you don't have to squit your eyes any longer!

In watchOS 8, Zoom allows you to enlarge text and other elements on your Apple Watch display to appear larger when you tap the display. For those with visual impairments or partial blindness, it's a huge help to be able to see your favorite Apple Watch much clearer when you're interacting with it. Plus, when you learn how to use Zoom on Apple Watch, you'll be able to zoom in to the display when you want and zoom out too, meaning it will look like a normal Apple Watch display when you want it to. Here's how to set up and use Zoom on Apple Watch.

How to enable Zoom on the Apple Watch

1. Launch the Settings app from your Apple Watch Home screen.
2. Tap on Accessibility.
3. Tap on Zoom.

4. Tap the switch next to Zoom to the green 'on' position.
5. Tap the + or - buttons to increase or decrease the maximum zoom level.

To disable Zoom, repeat the same steps and toggle Zoom to OFF (gray).

How to enable Zoom using the Apple Watch app for iPhone

1. Launch the Apple Watch app from your iPhone Home screen.
2. Tap on Accessibility.
3. Tap on Zoom.

4. Tap the switch next to Zoom to the green 'on' position.
5. Drag the slider left or right to adjust the maximum zoom level.

To disable Zoom, repeat the same steps and toggle Zoom to OFF (gray).

How to control Zoom on your Apple Watch

Controlling zooming on your Apple Watch is all about double taps.

1. Double-tap with two fingers to zoom into the display on your Apple Watch.
2. Double-tap, hold, and drag with two fingers to adjust the degree of zoom on the Apple Watch.

Need more help navigating your Apple Watch?

I firmly believe that when tech because more accessible, it benefits everyone. The good news is Apple seems to take accessibility seriously, and new features that are designed to help those who can't interact with their Apple Watch the same way others keep getting added to the software. The most recent one was AssistiveTouch.

With AssistiveTouch on Apple Watch, you can control apps and navigate through menus without touching the screen. The tool uses the Apple Watch's gyroscope, accelerometer, and optical heart rate sensor to recognize movements to navigate your Apple Watch. While it was designed to help people with limb differences, anyone can learn how to use AssitiveTouch on Apple Watch as long as you are running iOS 15, watchOS 8, and have an Apple Watch Series 4 or newer.

Updated May 2022: Updated for the latest version of watchOS 8.

Spring is in the air, as you may already know because of your constant allergies. Or if you're living in Southern California like me, then you may have wildfire season to worry about in the near future. Regardless, air quality is important to your health, so the cleaner and fresher air you breathe in, the better.

But how can you prepare yourself for the onset of seasonal allergies or ashy skies? Well, you can start by checking the air quality index (AQI) of where you live or work before going outside. This can be done on your best iPhone, like the iPhone 13 Pro, and even on your current Apple Watch. There are various apps that help you get the AQI info you need, and Apple even has that information built into the Weather app. And you can take things a step further by making sure you have a great air purifier at home.

Here are a few different ways to check the air quality index where you live, work, or will be traveling to.

Apps to check AQI

One of the easiest ways to check the AQI around you is with an app. Fortunately, there are plenty of third-party app options available on the App Store, but here are a few of our favorites.

Plume Labs provides real-time AQI and pollution level data for your neighborhood, as well as any other area in the world. The app has a sleek interface that is easy on the eyes while providing you with all of the information you want to know. Plume includes live maps that let you know what areas to avoid, and you can even see a forecast of what the AQI is going to be for the next four days so that you can plan accordingly. You can even get street-level detail in Plume, and the app can notify you of optimal AQI conditions for outdoor activities, such as taking a walk or exercising. While Plume works best if you create an account, you can use the app as a guest too.

AirVisual is another excellent option to consider for checking the air quality index. AirVisual gathers information from over 10,000 locations thanks to a global network of government monitoring stations and AirVisual's own validated sensors. Because of the data sources, you can view historical, real-time, and forecasted AQI data, and get details on key pollutants in the area. There's a seven-day AQI forecast so that you can plan your outdoor activities ahead of time for optimal air.

If you have an AirVisual air monitor, you can even check your indoor air quality readings, get recommendations, and control your monitor settings right from the app. AirVisual also provides important information for those who fall under the sensitive group, and there are educational resources to help you build your understanding of PM2.5 and other air pollutants while learning how to best deal with air pollution.

Another one of our favorite apps for how to check air quality index is BreezoMeter. This is another app with a slick interface that is easy to use, and it also gives you alerts on fires and pollen levels in the area. BreezoMeter uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide you with the most accurate real-time, street-level AQI, and pollen data. When you use BreezoMeter, you can also get air quality-based health recommendations and a five-day forecast so you can plan outdoor activities. There are also notifications when changes occur, so you're always up-to-date.

Use your iPhone and Apple Watch to check air quality index

While Apple doesn't have a native air quality index app, it does provide that information in the native Weather app. And the Apple Watch has an Air Quality Index complication that you can add to your favorite watch face, so the data is always a glance away on your wrist.

1. Launch the Weather app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down to view air quality data for your area.

Sometimes the AQI will appear above the forecast instead. This may be due to unhealthy AQI conditions, or other unique circumstances.

1. Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Select the watch face you want to add the AQI complication on.
3. Tap the complication you want to change.

4. Scroll down to the Weather options, then select AQI.

As long as the AQI complication is on your watch face, it should automatically update throughout the day.

Websites that show AQI maps and forecasts

If you would prefer not to download an app just to check the air quality index, then there are several different websites that you can check. On these sites, you'll need to give the website permission to use your location, or just input information like your zip code, city, or state for a general scope.

• AirNow.gov
• World's Air Pollution
• Air Pollution in World
• BreezoMeter
• IQAir AirVisual

At-home air quality monitors

When it comes to air quality, it's not just about what's outdoors — it's about what's indoors, too. That's why any home can benefit from the best air quality monitors for allergy sufferers, and there are even HomeKit air quality sensors too.

If there's an air quality monitor inside the home, it helps you identify pollutants and allergens. Once you've identified those issues, then you can figure out ways to get rid of or minimize them, which leads to cleaner air and better overall health, both in the short and long term.

We recommend a monitor like the Airthings Wave Plus, which not only measures air quality, but other things like temperature, humidity, CO2, and more. You'll be surprised at some of the info that this little gizmo can tell you!

Air filtering devices

Having an air quality monitor is one thing, but how do you get rid of the bad stuff in the air inside of your home? The answer is simple: use an air filter/purifying device. With an air purifier, all the bad stuff in the air is filtered out, so you're left breathing in the fresh, clean air, leading to an improvement in overall health.

There are a lot of air purifiers out on the market, though, so make sure to check out some of our recommendations on best air purifiers or even some of the best smart Wi-Fi air purifiers if you need something extra. We reviewed the Molekule purifier and can highly recommend it, but the price is slightly on the high side, so it's not for everyone.

Breathe in fresh, clean air

If you've been wondering how to check the air quality index for where you live, these are the best ways to do it. And don't forget to check out an indoor air quality monitor and air purifier, too, for optimal living.

Updated May 2022: Updated for iOS 15.

If you've learned how to use Optimized Storage on the Mac, you know it can help reduce the amount of space that data takes up on your hard drive. However, what you may not know is that it also takes up iCloud storage space.

The good news is macOS Monterey you can learn how to customize Optimized Storage on the Mac to choose what gets stored in iCloud and what doesn't so you can maximize your storage solutions. Striking a good balance between the hard drive and iCloud storage will make even your best Mac even more tailored to your liking. You can adjust some of the settings for what is stored in iCloud to save some space in your iCloud storage.

How to stop syncing Desktop and Documents folders in iCloud on your Mac

If you've tried out Desktop and Documents folder syncing in iCloud but decided you don't like it, you can stop syncing. If you disable syncing, Desktop files will no longer appear on a secondary Mac computer's desktop, but they will still be in a file in iCloud Drive, which you can move them out of. Your Documents folder will also still be visible in iCloud Drive, which you can also move.

1. Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your Mac's screen.
2. Click System Preferences in the drop-down menu.

3. Click on Apple ID.
4. Click on iCloud.

5. Click on Options next to iCloud Drive.
6. Click to uncheck the checkbox for Desktop & Documents Folders.

How to disable Optimized Storage on your Mac

Optimized Storage automatically removes iTunes movies and TV shows that you've already watched from your Mac. It also keeps recent email attachments on your Mac when your hard drive starts running out of room. If you want to keep your movies and TV shows on your hard drive, so you don't have to re-download them every time you want to watch them, you can disable the feature.

1. Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your Mac's screen.
2. Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.

3. Click on Apple ID.
4. Click on iCloud.
5. Click to uncheck the checkbox at the bottom of the window for Optimize Mac Storage.

How to disable Empty Trash Automatically on your Mac

I can't see any reason not to use the Empty Trash Automatically feature. Still, if you worry that you will delete something from your Mac and need it back more than 30 days later, you can disable the feature and go back to manually emptying the trash.

1. Open a Finder window.
2. Click on Finder in the upper left corner of your Mac's screen.
3. Click Preferences in the drop-down menu.

4. Click on Advanced in the Finder Preferences window.
5. Click to uncheck the checkbox for Remove items from the Trash after 30 days.

How to customize what apps are stored in iCloud on your Mac

If your iCloud storage is starting to get full, you can select which apps and programs store data, clearing out space for more important data that you need to access all of the time.

1. Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your Mac's screen.
2. Click System Preferences in the drop-down menu.

3. Click on Apple ID.
4. Click on iCloud.

5. Click on Options next to iCloud Drive.
6. Click to uncheck the checkbox for each app whose data you do not wish to store in iCloud.

Note: Since the apps will no longer sync with iCloud, some features will be disabled, so make sure you want to remove their access to iCloud.

How to manage files and folders stored in iCloud on the Mac

You may want to keep some or all of your apps synced with iCloud, but you don't need to keep all of the files and folders saved in them. You can reduce some of the storage used up by removing unneeded data.

1. Open a Finder window.
2. Select iCloud Drive from the sidebar.

3. Double-click a folder to view its contents.
4. Select a file that you want to delete. You can select multiple files at once.
5. Right-click or Control-click on the files.
6. Select Move to trash to delete them.

You can also move files out of iCloud Drive and into another folder. Just make sure the folder you move files to isn't also being stored in iCloud.

How to stop using iCloud Photo Library on the Mac

For some, the Photo library is the biggest space hog in iCloud. It is incredibly convenient to store your pictures in the cloud and be able to access them from any device without having to use up hard drive space (or, in the case of the iPhone and iPad, device storage space). Still, it is also a burden on your iCloud storage limit. You can turn off iCloud Photo Library on all of your devices, which is inconvenient but frees up a lot of space in iCloud.

1. Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your Mac's screen.
2. Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.

3. Click on Apple ID.
4. Click on iCloud.

5. Click on Manage in the bottom right corner of the iCloud window.
6. Click on Photo Library from the sidebar.
7. Click on Turn off and Delete.

You'll have to manually download content that you previously stored in the iCloud Photo Library. You will have 30 days to download all of your photos and videos from iCloud Drive onto your Mac (you can also download them directly onto your iPhone or iPad, but I don't suggest doing that since they take up so much space).

1. Launch the Photos app.
2. Click on Photos in the upper left corner of your Mac's screen.

3. Click Preferences in the drop down menu.
4. Click on Download Originals to this Mac.

How to delete iPhone and iPad iCloud backups on the Mac

When you back up your iPhone or iPad in iCloud, the most recent backups are stored there. Backups take up a few GB of space each, which can add up if you have multiple iOS devices. You can, instead, backup your device to your computer using iTunes. If you choose to save your backups on your computer, you can delete them from iCloud.

Note: When you delete a backup from iCloud, you will also be turning off the ability to use iCloud to back up your device. You will have to switch back to iCloud backups if you change your mind later.

1. Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your Mac's screen.
2. Click System Preferences in the drop-down menu.

3. Click on Apple ID.
4. Click iCloud.

5. Click Manage in the bottom right corner of the iCloud window.
6. Click Backups from the sidebar.
7. Select a backup to delete.
8. Click Delete.
9. Click Delete when prompted to confirm that you wish to delete the backup and turn off iCloud back ups.

How to free up space used by the Mail app on the Mac

If you use the built-in Mail app on your Mac, you might be clogging up your iCloud storage with useless junk and deleted mail. You can quickly clear out some space by erasing the old stuff.

1. Launch the Mail app on your Mac.
2. Click on Mailbox in the upper left side of your Mac's screen.

3. Select Erase Deleted Items from the drop down menu.
4. Select iCloud.
5. Click on Erase when prompted to confirm that you want to erase the deleted items in your iCloud mailbox.

6. Select Erase Junk Mail.
7. Click on Erase when prompted to confirm that you want to erase the junk mailbox.

Optimized storage still needs to be backed up

Optimizing your storage is a great way to make sure that your Mac isn't getting bogged down with files you don't need; however, you never want to lose any important data. Backing up your Mac frequently is the best way to make sure that nothing bad ever happens to all your important data on your Mac. So, make sure you're backing up your Mac often.

Updated March 2022: Updated for macOS Monterey

Though the suite of apps that come with your new iPhone or iPad is pretty impressive, there's so much more out there to explore.

The App Store is filled with alternative apps to the first-party ones that are pre-installed on your new iPhone, as well as great games to play on the go. It doesn't matter if you have one of the best iPhones or an older model, the App Store is an essential part of what makes the iPhone so great.

Here's how to download apps and games from the App Store on iOS.

How to search for apps in the App Store

In order to get all the cool apps you want on your iPhone, you need to know how to search for them on the App Store.

1. Launch the App Store
2. Tap the magnifying glass on the bottom right of your screen
3. Type in your search query and tap the search button

How to download apps and games from the App Store

Once you've searched for the app you want, it's time to download and install it.

1. Follow the steps to search for the app or game you want
2. Tap the app or game you wish to purchase or download for free
3. Tap Get if it is free, or the price of the app if it is paid
4. Place your finger on the Home button to activate Touch ID or double-click the side button for Face ID to authenticate, purchase, and download

How to manually update apps and games on iPhone and iPad

1. Open the App Store app
2. Tap your Profile icon in the upper-right corner
3. Scroll down and tap Update for apps that need an update or tap Update All to download all available updates

How to automatically update apps and games on your iPhone and iPad

Apple gives you the option to have app updates take place automatically. That way, you don't have to keep checking to see what needs an update.

1. Open the Settings app
2. Scroll down and tap on App Store
3. Under automatic downloads, tap App Updates to toggle the switch on

When enabled, app updates will automatically take place every day.

How to automatically download apps and games you buy on one device onto others

If you own more than one Apple device, like an iPhone and an iPad, or an iPad and an iPod touch, or all three, you can automatically download apps and games onto all of them if they are all under the same Apple ID. Well, you can't download iPad-only apps onto an iPhone or iPod touch, but that is the only restriction.

1. Open the Settings app
2. Scroll down and tap on App Store
3. Under Automatic Downloads, tap Apps to toggle the switch on

You can also turn on automatic downloads for music, Apple Books, and audiobooks the same way.

How to disable app updates over cellular

If you have concerns about using up too much of your cellular data, it is a very good idea to disable downloading updates over cellular, especially if you have automatic updates turned on.

1. Open the Settings app
2. Scroll down and tap on App Store
3. Tap Automatic Downloads under Cellular Data to toggle the switch off

One more thing... App fatigue

Though our Apple Arcade ultimate guide will give you tonnes of games to download and try out, it can get very easy to overload your phone with apps you will never use. The App Store is a veritable treasure trove of creativity, but not every app you take on will be worth your time. In your first month or so of using your new device, try out as many apps as you can. After a while, it's worth deleting those you don't use. 

I've often found myself unable to download the new iOS update or a brand-new app because my folders are filled with software I'll never use. If you have the time to do so, it's worth really taking everything you download and justifying its place in your storage. Use the Screen Time section in Settings for an easy way to know which of your apps are being used. This will make sure you aren't hurriedly deleting apps to make room for more photos down the line.

Even if you don't spend a lot of time on your iPhone's Home screen, you still need to keep it as organized as possible. Whether you use your iPhone for work or your iPad for art, having a clean home screen boosts your productivity and makes it easier to find your go-to apps, and it changes your device's look and feel overall.

Organizing your Home screen is very simple, and you can do it in a few taps. Plus, with iOS 15, you can now have a very minimalistic Home screen that doesn't show every app on your device, offering only your most-used apps and even dynamic widgets. Here's how to rearrange your apps on iPhone and iPad.

How to put your Home screen into edit mode

Contextual menus, available since iOS 14, create a new option for editing your apps on your Home screen, though the older method of holding down and waiting for your icons to jiggle still works.

1. Tap and hold on to the app icon of the app you want to move so that the contextual menu pops up.
2. Tap Edit Home Screen.

After doing this, you can move apps, delete them, remove them from folders, place them in folders, and anything else outlined in this guide.

How to rearrange your apps on iPhone and iPad

1. Put your chosen app into edit mode.
2. Drag the app icon you want to move to its new location and let go. If you want to drag multiple apps, use a second finger to tap each additional icon and add it to your stack.
3. Tap on any space on the Home screen. You can also wait a moment, and your iPhone will get itself out of edit mode.

How to move apps between pages

You can rearrange your apps on iPhone on different pages as well. The process is pretty similar to the step prior. Just do this!

1. Put your chosen app into edit mode. If you want to drag multiple apps, use a second finger to tap each additional icon and add it to your stack.
2. Use a second finger to swipe to the page you want to move your apps over to. You can also drag the app to the corner of your screen to move it to the left or right page.

3. Let go of the app icon(s) to drop them into place.
4. Tap anywhere on the screen that doesn't have an app to get out of edit mode.

How to move apps to a new page

As you download apps, iOS will create new Home screens when the old ones are full. You can, however, also create additional Home screens any time you like.

1. Put your chosen app into edit mode. If you want to drag multiple apps, use a second finger to tap each additional icon and add it to your stack.
2. Use a second finger to swipe to the left until you reach a blank home screen.

3. Let go of the app icon(s) to drop them onto your new page.
4. Tap anywhere on the screen to get out of edit mode.

How to delete apps from your Home screen

If you no longer want an app you've downloaded from the App Store, you can delete it and remove it from your iPhone.

1. Put your chosen app into edit mode.
2. Tap the Delete button (looks like a "-") at the top left of the app icon.
3. Tap on Delete App.
4. Confirm that you want to delete the app by tapping on Delete.

You can also delete an app through the pop-up contextual menus. It's a slightly quicker method of deleting an app than the previous way now that pressing and holding for contextual menus is standard behavior across iOS.

1. Tap and hold on to the app you want to delete until the contextual menu appears.
2. Tap Remove App.
3. Tap Delete App.
4. Tap on Delete to uninstall the app.

If you later change your mind and decide you want a deleted app back, you can re-download it from the App Store.

How to remove apps from your Home Screen without deleting them

Thanks to the App Library feature in iOS, you can now remove apps from your Home screen without deleting them from your iPhone. This helps keep your pages more organized, and now you have a whole page without a single app to give you a more minimalistic look without losing your helpful apps.

1. Tap and hold the app you want to remove from your Home screen.
2. Tap on the Delete Button (the one that looks like a "-").
3. Tap on Remove From Home Screen.

You'll notice the app is gone. If you want to bring it back to the Home Screen, you'll have to swipe to the right, where the App Library is located. Then, find the app and move it to any page you want. You can also swipe down on the screen to bring up a system-wide search.

How to hide pages from Home screen

There's a new way to hide full pages without worrying about deleting all the apps it has. This is extremely helpful if you want to keep your unnecessary apps at hand without having to look at them all the time or if you want to use certain pages at certain times of the day. Here's how you can do it:

1. On your Home screen, go into edit mode.
2. Tap on the Page Indicator. That's the pill-shape icon with dots just above the dock at the bottom of your screen.
3. You'll see all your pages. Tap on the checkmark of a page to hide it.
4. Tap on any visible page to go back to your Home screen.

5. Tap anywhere to get out of edit mode.

You can always do the same process to make a page visible again. You won't lose the apps on that page or the order they were left in.

How to create a folder for apps on your Home screen

Another way to save space on your Home screen is to put your apps into folders. Here's how.

1. Put your chosen app into edit mode.
2. Drag the app icon you want to move. If you want to move multiple apps, use a second finger to tap each additional icon and add it to your stack.
3. Drag the app icons on top of the last app icon you wish to move and hold until the folder interface appears.

4. Tap anywhere on the folder to get out of edit mode.
5. Tap outside the folder to close it and return to the Home screen.

How to rename folders on your Home screen

1. Tap on the folder you want to rename to open it.
2. Put one of its apps into edit mode.
3. Tap on the folder name to edit it or the clear button (looks like an X) to wipe it and start over.
4. Enter the new folder name — you can even use emoji!
5. Tap anywhere on the folder to get out of edit mode.

There's also a way to rename a folder from the pop-up contextual menu that appears when you press and hold on to a folder.

How to add apps to folders on your Home screen

You can continue to add apps to existing folders at any time. So, for example, you can make a folder filled with puzzle games or messaging apps.

1. Put your chosen app into edit mode. If you want to move multiple apps, use a second finger to tap each additional icon and add it to your stack.
2. Drag the app icon(s) you want to put into a folder on top of the folder you want to add it to.
3. Let go of the app icon(s) to drop it into place.
4. Tap somewhere where there aren't any apps to get out of edit mode.

You can drag in as many additional apps as you want.

How to remove apps from a folder on your Home screen

If you no longer want an app in a folder, you can pull it back out. For example, if you start playing a game frequently again, you might want to stick it back on your Home screen.

1. Tap the folder containing the app you want to remove to open it.
2. Put your chosen app into edit mode. If you want to move multiple apps, use a second finger to tap each additional icon and add it to your stack.
3. Drag the app icon(s) out of the folder.

4. Let go of the app icon to drop it back onto the Home screen (anywhere you like).
5. Tap anywhere to get out of edit mode.

How to delete a folder from your Home screen

To delete an entire folder, you remove all the apps inside it.

1. Tap the folder you want to delete.
2. Put your chosen app into edit mode.
3. Use a second finger to tap each additional icon in the folder to add it to your stack.
4. Drag the app icons out of the folder.
5. Let go of the app icons to drop them back onto any Home screen (anywhere you like).
6. Tap anywhere to exit edit mode.

Once the last app is removed, the folder is automatically removed.

How to restore your Home screen to the default layout

If you don't like the result after you rearrange your apps on your iPhone or iPad, you can always go back to the original layout. Here's how to restore your Home screen.

1. Launch Settings from your Home screen.
2. Tap on General.
3. Tap on Transfer or Reset iPhone (at the bottom).

4. Tap on Reset.
5. Tap on Reset Home Screen Layout.
6. Tap on Reset Home Screen to confirm.

Take control of your Home screen

Knowing how to organize and customize your Home screen is fundamental to enjoying the best iPhone and iPad experience possible. You can have your most-used apps front-and-center, but you can also remove any clutter from your screen.

Updated April 2022: Updated for iOS 15.

Even if you aren't the type of person to simply text your besties all day, there's a good chance that you still make use of the Messages app. Whether you're sending a message to your significant other or family and friends or dragged into a group message, the Messages app is something that pretty much everyone uses.

But what about when you're driving? Well, it's illegal to text and drive, so that's when Siri comes in handy. That's right — Siri can help you send quick messages to others and even read incoming messages to you too, so you're always in the loop! Here's how to use the Messages app with Siri on your best iPhone, like the iPhone 13 Pro.

How to send messages using Siri for iPhone or iPad

1. Press and hold the Home button to activate Siri (or say "Hey Siri" to compatible iPhones and iPads).
2. Tell Siri you want to send a message. To expedite the process, tell her to whom as well. If you don't say the contact or relationship immediately, Siri will ask you for a phone number, contact name, or iMessage-associated email address.

3. Dictate your message.
4. Wait for Siri to confirm the content of your text.
5. Say yes or send to send the message.

If you're not happy with the message, instead of confirming it, say "Change it" to re-dictate it, or say "Cancel" to abandon it.

How to check for new messages with Siri for iPhone or iPad

1. Press and hold the Home button on your iPhone or iPad to activate Siri (or say "Hey Siri" to compatible iPhones and iPads).
2. Say something like, "Check my messages" or "Do I have any new messages?"
3. Choose one of the messages Siri mentions. She will read new messages upon finding them.
4. After Siri reads the message, she'll ask you if you want to reply. If you choose to, dictate your message like you did in the previous section.

Make life easier with Siri

When you're in a situation where you just can't get to your phone immediately, but you need to send a quick message or see what someone else has sent you, Siri can be a lifesaver. It's super easy to utilize Siri with the Messages app to send and check messages too — after all, she's your digital assistant.

Updated April 2022: Updated for iOS 15.

Anyone on the free, 5GB iCloud storage plan knows that that's not a lot of space at all. You'll fill it up fast, so you need to be judicious about what you store in an iCloud backup. This is especially true if you have, say, both an iPhone and an iPad.

One way you can free up some additional storage to use elsewhere is by manually choosing what app data gets stored, and what won't! Or you can of course upgrade your iCloud storage plan if you want to store all your things, all the time — there are a ton of options to choose from! But here's how you can selectively back up your data over iCloud.

How to choose what app data gets backed up to iCloud for iPhone and iPad

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap Apple ID banner.
3. Tap iCloud.

4. Tap Manage Storage.
5. Tap Backups.
6. Tap your iPhone or iPad under Backups.

7. Tap Show All Apps if the apps you want to manage aren't among the first five displayed.
8. Tap the switches next to any apps that you no longer want to back up to flip them to the white "off" position.

Note that turning off app data doesn't mean that app won't return to your device during an iCloud restore, it just means the app's data will not return.

Typically, games or photo- and document-centric apps are the most storage-hungry. If you decide to turn these off, just make sure you're okay with losing the data within them in the event of a restore. We'd suggest saving any documents or photos to your computer frequently to free up storage space.

Best to back up

If you want the best iPhone and iPad experience and don't want to spend any money on additional iCloud storage, you're probably going to have to manually manage what data gets backed up into your free 5GB allowance. Thankfully, it's easy to do.

It's always best to have a copy of any data that is important to you in case something bad happens to your device, though, so we don't advise you just switch iCloud backups off completely and forget about it. Instead, back up your iPhone or iPad to your computer or use a third-party service like Google Photos or Dropbox.

Updated April 2022: Updated for iOS 15.

One of the biggest headaches for many families is coordinating schedules. From soccer practices to ballet recitals to a night without the kids, Family Sharing can also help you make sure everyone's where they need to be, when they need to be there.

Of course, it's necessary to enable Family Sharing before you will have access to a family calendar. You can also ask a family member to add you to an existing family sharing account if someone else is managing the family calendar. Once you enable Family Sharing, a shared calendar is created for you automatically. All you have left to do is start using it!

How to use Family Sharing with the Calendar app

1. Launch the Calendar app on your iPhone or iPad once you've enabled and set up Family Sharing already.
2. Create a new event or tap on an existing one that you'd like to appear on the family calendar.
3. Tap on Calendar.
4. Choose the calendar labeled Family.
5. Fill out your event and tap Add on the top right of your screen.

Everyone that's in your Family Sharing group will see anything that is added to the Family calendar via the Calendar app. They'll also receive any notifications linked to events so everyone can stay on top of who needs to be where and when. Be sure to fill out the alerts section when you create the event if you want family members to receive alerts.

Remember to pay attention to which calendar you're using. For your own personal appointments and events, you can add them to your own calendar so that your entire family doesn't receive reminders.

Get organized

Getting your family organized will be a breeze with Family Sharing. No more excuses kids! Now everyone will be on board with the family plan on their best iPhone or iPad.

Updated April 2022: Everything's up to date for the latest version of iOS.

Whether you love them or hate them, emoji are here to stay. They're fun because they allow us to express ourselves with a simple icon, and while emojis may appear different on other platforms, they all convey the same meaning. So while you may be sending tons of emoji-filled messages on your favorite iPhone, did you know that you can also send them straight from your Apple Watch? With a flick of your wrist, you can bombard your favorite people with your favorite emojis to answer their messages. And not only can you use emojis, but your own personalized Memoji too.

Here's how to send your favorite emojis right from your Apple Watch, be it an Apple Watch Series 7 or older with watchOS 8.

How to send an emoji on your Apple Watch

1. Open Messages from the Home screen of your Apple Watch.
2. Select the conversation in which you wish to send a message.
3. You can also tap New Message at the top, above your current conversations, to start from scratch.
4. If you selected New Message, tap Add Contact to choose a contact.

5. Tap the message area.
6. Tap the emoji button (it looks like a smiling face).
7. Scroll up or down to find the emoji you want using either your finger or the Digital Crown. Your most frequently used emojis appear at the top of the screen.
8. Tap on the emoji character, which will be inserted into your message.

9. If you select an emoji with multiple skin tones or color options, choose the one you want, then finish the rest of your message if you need to add text.
10. Tap Send.

How to send Memoji stickers on Apple Watch

In addition to regular emoji, you can send Memoji stickers right from your best Apple Watch. Here's how.

1. Launch Messages from the Home screen of your Apple Watch.
2. Select the conversation in which you wish to send a message.
3. Optionally, you can tap New Message at the top to start from scratch.
4. Tap the App Store icon next to the message area.

5. Tap the Memoji button.
6. Scroll through Memoji stickers using your finger or Digital Crown.
7. Tap the Memoji sticker that you want to use. It will bring up different facial expressions for each one.
8. Tap the facial expression for the Memoji sticker you want to use. It will be sent immediately.

9. If you were composing a new message, make sure to tap Send, as it doesn't get sent immediately like with existing conversations.

How to jump to emoji categories on your Apple Watch

There are dozens of emoji, and more get added regularly. So how are you supposed to find the perfect emoji to respond with if it doesn't appear in your most frequently used emoji? Fret not; the Apple Watch lets you browse each emoji category, too.

1. Open Messages from the Home screen of your Apple Watch.
2. Select the conversation in which you wish to send a message, or start a New Message from scratch if you want.

3. Tap the message area.
4. Tap the emoji button.
5. Scroll down past your Frequently Used Emoji with your finger or Digital Crown.

6. Tap the category of emoji you want.
7. Find and select your emoji to insert it into your message.
8. Tap Send.

How to use Scribble to send an emoji on Apple Watch

You can also use the Scribble feature on Apple Watch to send an emoji. You don't get to draw a picture of a smiley face (or poop), but you can use the emoji picker right from the Scribble interface. Here's how.

1. Open Messages on your Apple Watch.
2. Tap a conversation or tap New Message to compose one from scratch.
3. Tap the message area.

4. Write your message using your finger.
5. Tap a word that can be translated into an emoji. For example, "lol," "sushi," or good old fashioned "poop."
6. Scroll through the available options with the Digital Crown until you see an emoji.
7. Select your emoji.
8. Tap Send.

Express yourself with emoji

As you can see, it's straightforward to send your favorite emojis to friends and family through Apple Watch. After all, why spend time writing out messages when one emoji can suffice?

Updated April 2022: Updated for watchOS 8.

Every wanted to jot down a thought in the Notes app, but your hands are busy? Relax, Siri has got you covered.

In iOS 15, you can use Siri to take notes and even quickly search your notes, so you can always jot down your important thoughts. Here's how to take notes with Siri on iPhone and iPad.

How to dictate a note to Siri on iPhone and iPad

1. Press and hold the Home button, **Side Button*, or say "Hey, Siri" to launch Siri.
2. Say "Take a note."
3. Dictate your note to Siri.

Once you're done talking, Siri will automatically save what you dictated to the Notes app. Dictating notes to Siri may not be perfect in its current form, but it can often be much quicker than typing them out. Then, when you have time later, you can go in and add a title or make any needed changes.

How to find and view notes with Siri on iPhone and iPad

1. Press and hold the Home button, Side Button, or say "Hey, Siri" to launch Siri.
2. Say something like "Show me my notes" or "Show me notes from today" or "Show me notes about iMore" — just replace iMore with the keyword you want Siri to search.
3. Siri will present you with a list of notes in the Notes app that matches the description.
4. Tap on the note you want to open.

Quick Notes on iPad

While you can use Siri to take notes on both your iPhone and iPad, your best iPad has a different feature that may be useful to know about.

One of the new features in iPadOS 15 is Quick Note. With this, you can invoke a simple notepad on your iPad, quickly jot down any little bits of invaluable information, save links, and even add text and images from Safari.

Apple Pay provides a convenient way to make purchases on your iPhone and Apple Watch when out and about (or in the comfort of your home) without needing your physical debit or credit card. You can add as many virtual cards to your Apple Pay as required. The first card you add ends up as your default, but you can change that with ease on the best Apple Watch and other models.

Here's how to assign a default card for Apple Pay on Apple Watch, including the Apple Watch Series 7.

How to change the default card on Apple Watch

To change the default Apple Pay payment method on Apple Watch:

1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap Wallet & Apple Pay.
3. Tap Default Card under Transaction Defaults.
4. Select your card.

How to change the default card on iPhone

For your convenience, here's how to change your default Apple Pay card on your iPhone (or iPad) also:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap Wallet & Apple Pay.
3. Choose Default Card under Transaction Defaults.
4. Select a new card to be your default.

You can also change your default payment method in the Wallet app on your iPhone:

1. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
2. Touch and hold a card until it hovers, then drag it to the front of the other cards.

A message on your phone will confirm the change.

Time to buy

As you can see, you can easily make purchases using Apple Pay from your Apple Watch. Happy shopping.

Updated March 2022: Updated for latest versions of iOS and watchOS.

You have hundreds of apps and games on your iPhone or iPad. It's simple when you want to share them with your family, friends, and colleagues. You can perform these steps on iPhone and iPad.

How to find reviews in the App Store

The App Store includes a section of reviews from people that have downloaded and used an app. It's a great tool when you've found something you are interested in but are not sure if you want to invest your hard-earned cash into it.

1. Launch the App Store from your Home screen.
2. Tap an app for which you'd like to view reviews.
3. Swipe up to scroll down, and tap See All next to Ratings & Reviews.

You'll be able to read all of the available reviews for that app. You can also swipe through the reviews without tapping See All.

How to share content from the App Store

If you think your friends and family should be playing your favorite games or using your favorite apps, you can share it all via message, email, Facebook, and more!

1. Launch the App Store from your Home screen.
2. Find the app you want to share.
3. Tap the share button next to the app title.
4. Tap a sharing option from the share sheet.

Time to share

As you can see, it's relatively simple to tell your family and friends about your favorite apps and games on the best iPhones and best iPads, including the all-new iPad Air 5.

Updated March 2022: Added information on what you can do in iOS 15/iPadOS 15.

Family Sharing allows you and the other members of your household to share iTunes, App Store, and iBooks purchases across all your devices without having to purchase them multiple times. While most app developers support Family Sharing, Apple gives them the option to opt-out if they choose. Luckily, there's an easy way to find out if specific apps are eligible for Family Sharing. Here's how!

How to tell if iOS apps are eligible for Family Sharing

1. Launch the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Search for the app you'd like to view sharing information on.
3. Tap the app to view information about it.
4. Scroll down to the Supports section. If Family Sharing is supported, it will say so.Source: iMore

How to tell if Mac apps are eligible for Family Sharing

1. Launch the Mac App Store on your Mac.
2. Search for the app you'd like to buy or have already have purchased.
3. Click the app to view its information. Under the Information section, you should see whether or not the app is eligible for Family Sharing.

As far as books, music, and movies, all purchases are shareable in Family Sharing except for individual or student Apple Music subscriptions. So you should have no problem sharing this type of content with your family members. And if you get your movies through Apple, then make sure you get a nice outdoor projector to go along with those films for a family fun night!

Summary

As you can see, it's pretty simple to see which apps are eligible for Family Sharing on both iOS and macOS. Happy sharing!

Updated March 2022: Updated instructions according to newest operating system.

Siri was designed to help you get things done, and part of that job description is creating and updating your Reminders. 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 is always there to help. 

Siri works on all the best iPhones and you'll be getting the most from your virtual assistant in no time with this quick guide.

How to create a time-based reminder with Siri

One of the easiest things to do with Siri is to have it set up a quick Reminder. Siri is so quick, in fact, that it's almost always faster to use Siri than to tap your way through the Reminders app.

1. Say "Hey, Siri" to activate Siri
2. Say aloud what you want to be reminded about and when. For example: "Remind me to call Chris at 9 pm"
3. Tap Remove to cancel the reminder

The Reminder will go into the default Reminders list. This will be "Reminders" or whichever list you set as the default list in Settings.

How to create a location-based reminder with Siri

Because your iOS 16 device knows where you are, you can set up Reminders based on location as well.

1. Say "Hey, Siri" to activate Siri
2. Say your reminder and be sure to say where you want to be reminded. For example: "Remind me to feed the dog when I get home" or "remind me to chat with Lory when I get to work"
3. Tap Remove to cancel the reminder

Just like standard Reminders, the location Reminder will go into the default Reminders list. If you made a mistake or want to revise something immediately, you can tell Siri to "change the time to", "change the title (of the appointment/event)", or "cancel" it entirely.

How to create a Reminder in a specific List with Siri

If you have multiple lists in Reminders, like a packing list, a party list, etc., you can tell Siri to create a to-do item specifically for one of those lists.

1. Say "Hey, Siri" to activate Siri
2. Say aloud what you want to be reminded about and in which List you want it to go. For example: "Add milk to the grocery shopping list." If the list doesn't exist, Siri will ask if you would like to create one
3. Tap Remove to cancel the Reminder

The Reminder will then be placed in the List you specified.

How to use Siri to remember things from apps

Siri can remind you of "this" where "this" is almost anything you're looking at when you invoke Siri.

1. Navigate to the content you want to remember, like a web link or a song
2. Say "Hey, Siri" to activate Siri
3. Say "Remind me of this"

Siri will add it to Reminders with a link back to the app and also the specific content.

A lot you can do

As you can see, Siri has a lot of tricks up its digital sleeve! The next time you need to remember something, simply say, "Hey, Siri."

The Apple Watch is excellent for quick responses, but if you find yourself needing to chat at more length, your iPhone is here at the rescue. Whether you're talking on an iPhone or chatting through Messages or email, here's how to quickly transfer Apple Watch to iPhone communication. Use these directions on watchOS 8.

How to transfer a call from Apple Watch to iPhone

1. If the call is still ringing your Apple Watch, use the Digital Crown to scroll down until you see the Answer on iPhone button. Tap it, and your recipient will be placed on hold until you can pick up your iPhone. (There's even a Ping button to find your iPhone if you're not sure where it is in the house.
2. If you've already answered the call on your Apple Watch, you can transfer it to your iPhone in one of two ways: - If your iPhone is locked, tap on the phone icon at the top left corner of the screen. - If your iPhone is unlocked, tap the time at the top of the screen.

How to transfer a message from Apple Watch to iPhone

1. Open the Messages app on your Apple Watch.
2. Tap on the thread in question you want to reply to. You can then open the message thread on your iPhone.
3. Select the app switcher on your iOS device. On an iPhone X or later or an iPad, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. On older iPhones, double-click the Home button.
4. Tap on the Handoff option; it appears as a banner beneath the apps.

How to transfer an email from Apple Watch to iPhone

1. Open the Mail app on your Apple Watch.
2. Tap on the thread in question you want to view or reply to. You can then open the message thread on your iPhone.
3. Select the app switcher on your iOS device. On an iPhone X or later or an iPad, swipe up from the bottom of the screen. On older iPhones, double-click the Home button.
4. Tap on the Handoff option; it appears as a banner beneath the apps.

Whether you're talking on the phone or having a conversation through Messages or email, you can quickly move your conversation from Apple Watch to your iPhone.

Ready to upgrade?

Be sure to check out our best Apple Watch of the year if you're looking to make a new purchase. There are various Apple Watches at different price points.

Updated March 2022: Added information for watchOS 8.

Have you ever come across a time when you have to hand off your device to someone else so that they could use it? Yes, we all have been in that situation, but there's also the possibility of them poking around in other apps, which could contain sensitive information or things you don't want others to see. Whether you're using your most powerful iPad at work and need to use it to display info to others, or you let your child use your iPhone to watch a video, you can lock the device to just that particular app with an Accessibility feature called Guided Access.

Guided Access is originally an Accessibility feature, but it has proven itself to be a useful tool for anyone who doesn't want others to snoop around on their best iPhone or favorite iPad. By locking the device to a single app, no one besides you can exit out of it, because you can even use Touch ID or Face ID for security, as well as a specific six-digit passcode for Guided Access.

Whether it's a writing app, drawing app, music app, math app, or a story, video, or reading app, iPhone's Guided Access feature helps make sure that all attention remains only on that app. It also prevents you from accidentally exiting to the Home screen or another app when you don't mean to. Think of it as a kind of "guest mode," because you can let someone else use an app like Safari without worrying about them going through your other apps or messages.

How to enable iPad or iPhone Guided Access

1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on Accessibility.
3. Scroll down to the bottom and then tap on Guided Access.

4. Turn the toggle for Guided Access to ON (green).
5. Tap on Passcode Settings.

6. Tap Set Guided Access Passcode to create a six-digit passcode. This passcode is needed to end a Guided Access session.
7. Verify your passcode by typing it in again.

How to enable Face ID or Touch ID for Guided Access

1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on Accessibility.
3. Scroll down to the bottom and then tap on Guided Access.

4. Tap Passcode Settings.
5. Turn the toggle to ON for Face ID or Touch ID (depending on your model).

How to use Guided Access

1. Launch the app you'd like the user to have access to. In this case, we used Music.
2. On iPhone or iPad with a Home button, triple-click the Home button, or on iPhone or iPad with Face ID, triple-click the Side button to launch Guided Access.
3. Circle any areas of the screen that you would like to make inaccessible.

4. Tap on Options in the bottom left corner to choose whether or not you want to grant access to the Sleep/Wake button, Volume buttons, touch screen, and motion. Tap Done to save your selections.
5. Tap on Start at the top of the screen to begin Guided Access.

Once Guided Access is enabled, anyone trying to leave the specific app you've locked it to will receive a banner message telling them to triple-click the Home button to exit. If they don't know the pre-set passcode, they won't be able to exit Guided Access.

Lock it down to a single app with Guided Access

As you can see, using the Guided Access feature on your device, such as the iPhone 13, definitely comes in handy. When it's enabled, you can let someone use your device for a particular app without having to look over their shoulder to make sure they're not looking where they shouldn't be looking. It's originally an Accessibility feature, but it has other use cases too. It's easy to set up and use.

February 2022: These steps are still accurate to enable and use Guided Access in iOS 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.

Apple's Siri can help you do all kinds of things, including allowing you to get transit or walking directions, which is excellent if you are visiting a big city without a car. All you have to do is ask! Here's how to do it.

How to get transit directions with Maps and Siri

If you are in a location that supports transit directions in Maps, you can ask Siri to help you figure out your route and what time you need to be at your first stop. Use it on all of our favorite iPhones.

1. Start by saying "Hey, Siri" to activate Siri.
2. Say, "Show me transit directions to (the location).If there is more than one location with a similar name, Siri will ask you which one.
3. Siri will launch the Maps app with transit directions to your destination. Tap Go to start voice navigation.

How to get walking directions with Maps and Siri

1. Start by saying "Hey, Siri" to activate Siri.
2. Say, "Show me walking directions to (the location)." If there is more than one location with a similar name, Siri will ask you which one.
3. Siri will launch the Maps app with walking directions to your destination. Tap Go to start voice navigation.

Where to?

As you can see, using Siri to take you places is a relatively simple process. Use it for transit and walking directions — and enjoy your trip! Be sure to check out our ultimate guide for Maps.

Updated February 2022: With new information that reflects changes in the Maps app.

Why do you need to make iPhone audio better? After all, the iPhone makes it easy to take and edit videos. But that doesn't mean that getting great audio is as simple as pointing and shooting. The microphone on newer iPhone models isn't too shabby at close distances, but when you're trying to film in a crowded room or the great outdoors, it's not quite enough. Here are some tips to avoid sub-par sound when shooting iPhone video, starting with great equipment like the RØDE Microphones VideoMic Me-L Microphone.

Best overall: RØDE Microphones VideoMic Me-L Microphone

RØDE's VideoMic Me-L is perfect for when you want to make iPhone audio better. It couldn't be simpler; just plug it directly into your iPhone's Lightning port and go. The microphone's directionality reduces surrounding noises. Monitor your audio as you shoot and playback your video via headphones plugged into the 3.5mm jack. You also get a furry windshield to block wind sounds and a mic clip to secure the microphone.

Plug this mic directly into your iPhone's Lightning port and hear an instant improvement in your recordings.

Most versatile: Zoom iQ6

Record your surroundings effortlessly with this highly-rated, well-made microphone. This mic can adjust from 90 to 120 degrees, making it ideal for recording your surroundings in a variety of different weather conditions and environments. The stereo X/Y recording design enables you to capture a variety of sounds from several distances. Plus, the precise gain wheel lets you easily tweak and adjust your volume without having to unlock your phone and potentially mess up your recording. Use Zoom's proprietary app to smoothly and professionally record your audio.

Easily connect and start recording some stellar sound via your iPhone's Lightning port with this flexible mic.

Budget option: Movo PM10

If you want an affordable, portable, omnidirectional microphone for your iPhone, then take a gander at the convenient Movo PM10. It can easily be clipped onto a variety of clothing or surfaces and comes with a portable travel case, windshield, and lapel clip. This highly portable and easy-to-use microphone needs to have a Lightning to headphone jack adapter to use it with newer iPhones. Once you have the microphone set up, you'll be able to record some crystal clear vocals and sounds.

The Movo PM10 is a small, well-priced lavalier microphone that can be clipped onto your clothing.

Best deluxe microphone: Shure MV88+ Video Kit with Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone

If it fits into your budget, consider the outstanding Shure MV88+ Video Kit with Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone. Get excellent sound quality when you pop this mic into your iPhone's Lightning port. Multiple stereo width and Polar pattern options give you ultimate flexibility.

It's Apple MFi-certified and is fully compatible with the native iOS camera app, GarageBand, and much more. The kit that comes with this mic includes a Manfrotto® PIXI tripod, phone clamp, and mount, plus iOS and USB-C cables, so you're always connected. The built-in headphone output lets you monitor your audio in real-time.

This top-notch microphone comes with a tripod and everything else you need for pro recording on your iPhone.

Best mobile kit: Sennheiser MKE 200 Mobile Kit

The Sennheiser MKE 200 Mobile Kit includes a MKE 200 Directional Camera Microphone, a Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod, Sennheiser Smartphone Clamp, fuzzy windshield, and two cables. One of the cables plugs into a smartphone while the other plugs into a DSLR camera. If you're using a newer iPhone, you'll need a headphone jack to Lightning port adapter to connect the cable.

The Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod is both a tabletop tripod and a small "selfie stick" when you pull the legs together. The Sennheiser Smartphone Clamp mounts securely onto the tripod (or any standard tripod; you're not limited to the Manfrotto.) Simply pull the clamp open to insert your iPhone. The top of the clamp has a cold-shoe mount so you can attach the microphone.

If you're creating content on your iPhone and want to take your videography to the next level without a lot of equipment, this is a kit to consider. The microphone enhances audio quality. The Sennheiser MKE 200 Mobile Kit is easy to set up and use and doesn't require any battery power.

Get a top-notch microphone, a tabletop tripod, and more.

Additional accessories

Best pop screen: Facmogu Desktop Pop Shield

Having a reliable and convenient pop shield in your recording arsenal is a terrific idea, especially if you're someone who wants to record interviews with your iPhone. The Facmogu Desktop Pop Shield is a tripod with a pop shield that you can insert your small microphone into. The shield can be adjusted 360 degrees and can bend to suit a variety of different microphones. It's designed with a double layer of mesh for smoother recording capabilities.

The Facmogu Desktop Pop Shield is easy to set up with a tripod design and adjustable pop shield.

Best for outdoors: Hisonic Microphone Windscreens

If you're recording outside, the wind can be distracting and often ruin a recording. One thing that will keep your sound clear and free of distracting noises is a good windshield. Many microphones come with a windshield. But if yours doesn't, or the windshield gets lost or deteriorates, you'll need another one.

The Hisonic Microphone Windscreens come in a five-pack of colorful windshields that slip over the top of your portable microphone to keep your sound smooth and consistent. Using one of these will better protect your microphone while you're recording and allow for cleaner, smoother sound in windy environments.

With the Hisonic Microphone Windscreens, you can minimize the noise clutter for a smoother, sharper sound.

Best portable sound booth: Monoprice Microphone Isolation Shield

In certain recording situations, you may find a sound booth to be helpful. Monoprice Microphone Isolation Shield has acoustic foam on the front and a vented metal plate back, and the dual clamp mount attaches to mic stands or booms up to 1.25 inches in diameter.

It has a standard 3/8-inch microphone threaded mount and includes a 3/8- to 5/8-inch thread adapter. All tools needed for assembly and mounting are included. Folding sides give you different angles to work with or can be folded all the way in for storage.

The acoustic foam and vented metal back can help you get even better sound quality.

Best universal table stand: *InnoGear Upgraded Adjustable Desktop Microphone Stand *

Regardless of which microphone you have, if you need a tabletop stand with no bells or whistles, InnoGear has you covered. The weighted base won't let your mic tip over, and the non-slip pads underneath prevent scratches. Rather than a snap-in clasp that can loosen over time, this one enables you to screw in your microphone. It comes with 3/8-inch female to 5/8-inch male screws for multi-purpose use. You can adjust the height from 10.6 to 15.4 inches.

Stabilize your mic on any hard surface with this universal tabletop mic stand.

Bottom line

Once you pick out your microphone and start recording, there are a few tricks you can use that'll make iPhone audio better — whether you're using an iPhone 13 or any other model — and give you the sharpest recording possible.

If you're recording outside, do your best to face away from the wind and keep your microphone protected. If you have to record in the middle of a field, a lav mic is always a terrific option because it hugs close to a person's body for a clearer sound. Just be sure it isn't too close to the person's mouth.

Believe it or not, you can get terrific sound in a closet. Your clothing can act as a buffer and eliminate outside noises. There are plenty of YouTubers and podcasters who do this! Most importantly, try to keep your microphone as steady as possible. The more it moves and bounces around, the higher chance you have of getting spotty, broken sound.

Be sure to use the right tools for the job. While high-quality recording equipment can get expensive, you don't need to buy a full setup for every conceivable situation at once. A solid microphone such as the RØDE Microphones VideoMic Me-L Microphone is a good place to start; then, you can see what accessories you need as you go. If you're looking to improve the audio when playing back your videos, consider one of the best Bluetooth speakers for iPhone.

We're not here to tell you what photos you should and shouldn't take with your iPhone. That's your business. However, we are here to tell you that any photo you do take with your best iPhone is stored in iCloud by default. What does this mean? Well, it means that in some form, any photos you take are on the internet and susceptible to being "found."

Now, although we love everything iOS 15 allows you to do with the photos you take, you may not be comfortable with having your private photos on iCloud. The good news is you can keep your photos off iCloud; it just requires a few steps. Here's how you can keep your photos off iCloud.

Turn off iCloud Photos

iCloud Photos syncs every photo you take on your iPhone up to Apple's servers and then syncs it back down to any other Apple devices you have logged into the same account. That includes personal, private, even intimate photos. It doesn't differentiate or distinguish cinnamon buns from, well, human buns. That's your job.

So, if your camera roll is filled up with photos you don't want on Apple's servers — or anyone else's servers, you can turn off iCloud Photos. You'll lose your backup, but you might decide the peace of mind is worth it.

1. Launch Settings from your Home screen.
2. Tap your Apple ID banner at the top of the menu.

3. Tap iCloud.
4. Tap Photos.
5. Tap the iCloud Photos On/Off Switch. The switch should be grey when the feature is off.

If you later change your mind and decide you do want to backup your photos to iCloud, you can toggle it back on by following these same steps above.

Turn off My Photo Stream

iCloud Photos has more or less replaced My Photo Stream, but it's still there for people who have been using it. If you're one of them, and you're now concerned about just how much flesh tone or family business is included in those pics, you can shut it down too.

1. Launch Settings from your Home screen.
2. Tap your Apple ID banner at the top of the menu.

3. Tap iCloud.
4. Tap Photos.
5. Tap the My Photo Stream On/Off Switch. The switch should be grey when the feature is off.

If you later change your mind and decide you do want My Photo Stream to live again, you can toggle it back on by following the same steps above.

Delete photos in chat or IM

If you don't just take private photos but share them, then it's possible your messaging client of choice has copies of those photos stored as well. Whether it's Apple's iMessage, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat, Line, or any of the half-dozen or so Google apps that offer messaging, if you want your pictures gone, you'll have to get rid of them there as well.

Some apps let you set photos to automatically evaporate after a short period of time. Others require you to delete them manually. Take a look through the settings and choose the options that make sense to you.

You might even be able to manually or bulk delete any photos already in the app. Just realize there's almost no way to make sure the person you sent the photos to has likewise deleted them. Saving, screenshots, even taking photos of the screen with another phone or camera are all possibilities.

The only truly deleted photo is the one never shared or taken. Everything else is mitigation.

Opt for local backups

If you want a backup of your photos — all your photos — but don't want them online, you can backup your photos to your Mac or Windows PC using iTunes or any camera capture app. This makes sure you'll still have your photos in the event you lose or break your iPhone but it also means there'll be copies on your computer, which is another place you'll have to protect.

At the end of the day, decide how important having the photos are to you. If they're treasured memories you'd be devastated to lose, then back them up. Even online if it's easier. If they're just for fun and you'd be crushed if they ever got out, treat them as disposable. Don't back them up, and delete them as soon as possible.

The only copy that can't get out is no copy at all.

More iCloud Photo Library help

While you certainly need to turn off iCloud Photos if you want to ensure your photos are staying off the cloud, there are lots of reasons why you may still want to use the iCloud Photo Library. Don't forget to check our iCloud Photo Library ultimate guide to ensure you're using iCloud Photos the way you want.

Updated January 2022: Updated for iOS 15.

Using your Apple Watch to find directions is as simple as asking Siri. You can also make selections manually to help you get on your way. Here's what you can do with the Maps app on the best Apple Watches and watchOS 8.

Using Siri

The easiest way to get started with the Maps app on Apple Watch is by asking Apple's voice assistant to find a location. For example, you can say, "Where is the nearest gas station?" or "How far to the airport?" Other examples: "How do I get to New York?" and "Get directions home."

Manually

There are many options available in the Maps app on the Apple Watch. To get directions:

1. Tap the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch.
2. Select the Maps app.

3. Tap on your selection among Search, Favorites, Guides, and Recents after turning the Digital Crown to scroll.

4. Choose a location.
5. Tap a suggested route by driving, walking, transit, and cycling directions. Not all transportation modes are available in all locations.
6. Choose a route to get started.

There are various options Apple offers when you select a suggested route.

As Apple explains:

• Choose an alternate route: If alternate routes appear, tap one to take it.
• Switch to a driving, walking, transit, or cycling route: Tap Walking, Driving, Transit, or Cycling.
• Avoid tolls or highways: With a driving route showing, tap > next to the destination's address, then turn on an option.
• Avoid hills, or busy roads: With a cycling route showing, tap > next to the destination's address, then turn on an option.
• Choose preferred public transit: With a transit route showing, tap >, then choose the kinds of public transit you prefer—bus, subway & light rail, commuter rail, and ferry, for example.

When applicable, once you begin a route in Apple Watch, it will also show up on your connected iPhone.

Ending directions

At any time before reaching your location, you can end the directions. With the route active on your Apple Watch:

1. Tap the End button icon at the bottom right or
2. Tap End after tapping the More button and scrolling up.

Starting a route on iPhone

When you use the Maps app on iPhone, the route automatically appears on your connected Apple Watch.

Many ways to explore

Apple Watch offers various Maps options in watchOS 8. These options have improved significantly in recent years, and no doubt will do so again with the next watchOS release. Enjoy your next trip!

For most people, the Notes app is quite nifty. With Notes, you can store your thoughts, ideas, create checklists and even sketches, all without having extra set up involved. But it's also great for sharing and collaborating with others too! For example, you can create shared checklists for groceries or gift ideas, or perhaps bounce ideas off with another colleague of yours for the next big project. And all of this is built-in on your favorite iPhone or iPad.

Here's everything you need to know about how to share and collaborate with others in the Notes app on iPhone.

How to invite people to make changes to notes on iPhone and iPad

Once you've started a note, you can invite others to view and collaborate on it with you.

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Select a note to share and edit with others.
3. Tap the more button (...) in the upper right corner.

4. Tap Share Note.
5. Choose how you would like to send the invitation: You can use Message, Mail, social media, or productivity apps.
6. Enter the recipients' names. You can send invites individually or as a group.
7. Tap the arrow in the text field to send.

The recipients will receive a link to the note in iCloud, which they can then use to collaborate on iPhone and iPad running iOS 10 or later, or on iCloud with a Mac or PC.

How to work on a note on iPhone or iPad in real-time with others

Once invited, others can begin editing and adding content to your note. Whether it's a checklist, photo, or sketch, everyone can collaborate.

You can see, in real-time, the phrases being edited. When another person is editing a note, you'll see their words highlighted on the screen. If you come across such activity, try to hold off adding your own information until the other person is finished. This, unfortunately, can cause some complications when multiple people are trying to edit the same thing. Since updates are synced via iCloud, you might start typing something, only to see it disappear a few seconds later.

How to see what has changed in a note, even when not in real-time

You can see changes others have made with the Highlight Changes feature. This makes it easier to see what's been added without having to watch it change in real-time.

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Navigate to the Note that is being shared.

3. Tap the Collaborate icon. It looks like a silhouette of a head with a checkmark icon next to it.
4. Tap the Highlight All Changes switch to turn it on.

The color of the highlight will be based on the person that made the changes. Unfortunately, the colors picked are not customizable.

How to change permissions on a shared note on iPhone or iPad

1. Launch the Notes app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on the collaborative note that you want to edit permissions on.
3. Tap the Collaborate button. It looks like a silhouette of a head with a checkmark next to it.

4. Tap Share Options.
5. Select whether you want to let people Make Changes or View Only.

How to stop receiving notifications about changes to a note on iPhone or iPad

If you don't want to hear a distracting "ding" every time someone makes even a minor change to a note you're collaborating on, you can quiet your note and your nerves.

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Navigate to the Note you are sharing.

3. Tap the Collaborate icon. It looks like a silhouette of a head with a checkmark icon next to it.
4. Tap the Hide Alerts switch to turn it on.

How to stop sharing a note on iPhone or iPad

Once you've finished working on a note with your group and don't need any more editing help, you can stop sharing it with the group. Here's how.

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Navigate to the Note you are sharing.
3. Tap the Collaborate icon. It looks like a silhouette of a head with a checkmark icon next to it.

4. Tap Stop Sharing to remove all people from having access to the note.
5. Confirm that you want to stop sharing the note by tapping Stop Sharing.

How to remove individual access to a note on iPhone or iPad

If someone has left your project team, or you accidentally shared a note with someone who isn't on your team, you can also remove individual collaborators from the group.

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Navigate to the Note you are sharing.
3. Tap the Collaborate icon. It looks like a silhouette of a head with a checkmark icon next to it.

4. Swipe to the left on a name and tap Remove
5. You can also tap a person's name and then tap Remove Access.

How to mention someone in a shared note on iPhone and iPad

With iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, a new feature for shared note collaboration are Mentions. If you want to get the attention of someone in a shared note, just mention them so they get a notification. This is especially good if there has been an important update, and the mentioned user can go directly to the note from the notification with just a tap.

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Navigate to the Note you are sharing.

3. Tap anywhere to edit the note.
4. To mention someone, just type "@Name."
5. Tap the contact that pops up above the keyboard to select someone to mention.
6. Tap Done

How to view highlights by each user in a shared note on iPhone and iPad

With iOS 15, it's possible to see a highlight of all changes by collaborators, including what, where, and what time it was changed. Text is also highlighted to be color-coded, which matches with each collaborator.

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Navigate to the Note you are sharing.

3. Swipe to the right to display the highlights.
   • Optionally, you can tap the Collaborate button at the top.
   • Then tap Show Highlights.

How to access Activity View in a shared note on iPhone and iPad

A new Activity View was introduced in iOS 15. This provides an overview of what each collaborator has contributed.

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Navigate to the Note you are sharing.

3. Tap the "…" button (it looks like three dots) in the upper right.
4. Select Show Note Activity.

Collaborating in Notes has never been easier

As you can see, the new collaboration features for Notes in iOS 15 make it better than ever. With mentions, you can ping others when there is an important update, and it's easy to check on who made what change when and where.

Lory Gil contributed to an earlier version of this guide.

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

MacOS comes with a small panel along the edge of the screen called the Dock: It lets you quickly access your favorite apps, files, and folders, as well as any actively-running apps. When you save an item to the Dock, you can access it at any time by clicking on it.

By default, most of Apple's built-in apps start with shortcuts saved in the Dock, but you can also remove those shortcuts and add your own. You can also customize the Mac Dock to fit your preferences. Here's how.

What is the Dock and what gets displayed there?

The Dock has been with the Mac for over a decade now: It offers you a quick way to access the Finder (your Mac's underlying file system) as well as your currently running applications, favorite apps, favorite files, or folders, and the trash.

When you first set up your Mac, your Dock lives along the bottom of your screen in a translucent rectangle. If you don't like its positioning, you can move it to the left or right of the screen or have it automatically hide whenever you're not interacting with it. Items are organized as follows, left to right:

• The Finder
• Favorite app shortcuts
• Currently-running apps (you can also choose in the Dock preferences whether you want to view an indicator (a tiny black dot) for currently-open apps)
• Favorite files or folders
• The trash

Though you can shuffle the position of app shortcuts in the Mac Dock, you can't move the Finder or trash — they live on opposite ends of the Dock, respectively — nor can you mix file shortcuts with apps in the same section.

How to add apps to the Dock on your Mac

1. Launch a Finder window from your Dock.
2. Click on Applications in the sidebar.

3. Select an app and drag it to the Dock.
4. Let go of the app while it hovers over the Dock.

If you want to add a currently-running app to your Mac Dock permanently:

1. Right-click or Control-click on the app icon in the Dock.
2. Select Options under the drop-down menu.
3. Click on Keep in Dock.

Alternatively, you can drag the icon to a different position in your Dock, which will automatically save it as a favorite shortcut.

How to add files and folders to the Dock on your Mac

Files and folders can also be saved to your Dock, but they can only be stored on the far right of the Dock, after your app shortcuts. The Dock has a demarcating line that separates apps from files and folders so that you won't mix them up.

1. Launch a Finder window from your Dock.
2. Select a file or folder from its location on your Mac and drag it to the right side of the Dock.
3. Let go of the file or folder while it hovers over the right side of the Dock.

How to remove apps, files, and folders from the Dock on your Mac

If you don't want a particular app, file, or folder in your Dock anymore, you can remove it with just one gesture. Note that this doesn't remove the item from your computer; it just removes the shortcut from the Dock; you can always re-add the app or folder by following the steps above.

1. Select an app, file, or folder and drag it out of the Dock.When it is hovering over your desktop, you will see the word Remove appear above the app, file, or folder.
2. Let go of the app, file, or folder. It will disappear from the Dock.
3. Repeat the steps above to remove all items you no longer want to keep in the Dock.

Note: If you do this on a currently-open app, it will continue to stay in the Dock until you Quit the application, at which point it will disappear.

How to organize the Dock on your Mac

You can rearrange the placement of apps, files, and folders in your Dock so that they are in alphabetical order, color-coordinated, or however you'd like.

Note: You can't move the Finder or trash icons from the far left and right of the Dock, respectively. They are anchored to the Dock because of their importance to the system.

1. Select an app, file, or folder in the Dock.
2. Drag it to a new location in the Dock.
3. Let go of the app, file, or folder while it hovers over the new location in the Dock.

How to change the Dock's size on your Mac

You can adjust the size of the Dock so that icons are larger or smaller on your screen.

1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your Mac's screen.
2. Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.

3. Click on Dock.
4. Drag the Size slider to the left or right to increase or decrease the size of the Dock.

5. Tick the box for Magnification to enable an animation that makes the items in the Dock that your cursor hovers over larger.
6. Drag the Magnification slider to the left or right to increase or decrease how large the icons grow when your cursor hovers over them.

How to change the Dock's orientation on your Mac

You can display the Dock on the bottom, right, or left side of your screen.

1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your Mac's screen.
2. Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.

3. Click on Dock.
4. Select Left, Bottom, or Right to change the orientation of the Dock.

How to automatically hide or show the Dock on your Mac

On smaller laptop screens, every bit of screen space is valuable. So if you don't want the Dock getting in the way of your productivity, you can keep it hidden until you want to access it, at which point, you can call it back up by hovering your cursor over the place where it usually resides.

1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your Mac's screen.
2. Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.

3. Click on Dock.
4. Tick the box for Automatically hide and show the Dock.

How to hide recent applications on the Dock on macOS Monterey

Much like iOS on the iPad, macOS Monterey puts users' recently-used applications in a special section of the Dock. If this doesn't sound like your cup of tea, it's easy enough to turn off.

1. Open System Preferences from your Dock or Applications folder.
2. Click Dock.

3. Click the checkbox next to Show recent applications in Dock so that the check disappears (it's on by default).

You can check the box if you decide to use this feature.

Bonus: Pro tips for using the Dock

• You can change the size of the Dock by positioning the cursor over the Dock divider that separates apps from files and folders. The cursor will change to a double-sided arrow; click and drag to increase or decrease the size of the Dock.
• You can change the location of the Dock by holding down the shift key, clicking on that divider, and dragging the Dock to the left, bottom, or right sides of the screen.
• If you'd like to keep an app that's open in the Dock permanently, right or control-click the icon in the Dock, select Options, and select Keep in Dock.
• If you want to add spacers between apps, there's a Terminal command to do so.

New Mac?

Are you considering a new Mac desktop or laptop? Be sure to check out our favorite Macs of the year.

If you're looking for the best weather app, you're in luck. There are hundreds of weather apps in the App Store and no shortage of options. But with so much choice, how do you find the best weather app for your iPhone?

Weather apps are a very popular category in the App Store and one of the best iPhone apps we recommend downloading if you have a new iPhone, like the new iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro. 

Sure, Apple's built-in weather app is a great option with nice graphics, animations, and useful hourly forecasting. However, each person has a different idea of what makes a great weather app. Some want simplicity, while others want a wider selection of data that you might not find in Apple's offering. With that in mind, we've selected the best weather apps across a variety of styles. There's something for everyone here.

The best weather apps for iPhone: our top picks

RadarScope

Radarscope is for serious weather enthusiasts. It provides native data rendering of reflective, velocity, dual-polarization, echo tops, accumulation, and more from any NEXRAD or TDWR radar in the U.S., Guam, and Puerto Rico. Radar layers include severe weather warnings, lightning alerts, and a variety of storm trackers. The monthly Pro level includes additional data sets, like real-time lightning alerts, extended loops, and more. Members of the Spotter Network and AllisonHouse can log in with their membership for additional exclusive information.

Hurricane by American Red Cross

The Red Cross has a series of disaster preparedness apps that cover forces of nature like earthquakes, tornadoes, and wildfires. The Hurricane app is great for those living in places prone to hurricanes, or for people with loved ones living in the range of those areas. It doesn't tell you what the current temperature is, but it will alert you when a hurricane or high-wind storm is headed your way. It also has a very useful toolkit that can activate a flashlight or strobe light on your device, sound a loud alarm to signal your location, and send an automatic text message to loved ones that you are safe. It has direct connectivity to the NOAA weather radio reports and extensive information on what to do to prepare for a hurricane, as well as what to do when one hits and how to deal with the aftermath.

The Weather Channel

The Weather Channel, while still providing a simplified interface, brings a few additional details to the weather-watching party. You'll get the daily, hourly, and 15-day forecast, as well as wind speed, humidity, and UV index. Plus, find out the weather-related road conditions and watch local forecast videos on the latest iPad. The Weather Channel specializes in gathering bite-sized weather-related news stories so you can find out about local and national storms, scientific discoveries, and nature videos.

WeatherBug

For people that suffer from allergies, WeatherBug is a great source of news on the subject. In addition to providing daily, hourly, and 10-day forecasts, it details the pollen index for the day, including which allergy triggers are predominant. It also has a fantastic connected-home feature that lets you connect your Nest, Honeywell, or SmartThings hub for a detailed analysis of your energy consumption. Even if you don't have a smart thermostat, you can figure your daily costs based on weather conditions, average electricity and gas costs, and what your HVAC is set to.

Weather Underground

The Weather Underground has a very personalized interface in a number of ways. For example, the data is generated and uploaded by nearly 200,000 personal weather stations run by weather enthusiasts. You can also report on your local sky conditions as well as hazards like power outages or flash floods from inside the app. The detail cards are customizable — so if you live in an area that rarely sees hurricanes or tropical storms, you can remove that card from your list, for example. Some additional cool features include a real-time report from the station closest to your location and user-submitted photos of weather conditions in your area and around the globe.

CARROT Weather

CARROT brings you the weather, but with a spiteful twist. Cast as a human-hating artificial intelligence, with such comments as "I hope you get a sunburn," and "Your heating bill is going to bankrupt you," you'll always get a laugh out of your CARROT weather report. Plus, the more you use CARROT Weather, the more you will unlock secret locations, like Mount Doom and a certain Outer Rim Moisture Farm. Did I mention that Carrot can now appear right in your living room thanks to AR? Don't tap its ocular sensor or you might regret it.

Weather Live

Weather Live is a beautifully designed app with real-time weather condition background images. It offers relatively detailed data for daily, hourly, and 7-day forecasts, but what makes this app stand out is the highly customizable display. You can choose from four different layouts, each providing simple or complex details. You can also set which data is displayed in which order for each layout. So, if you live somewhere with a lot of rainfall, you may want the precipitation parameter on top. If you like to watch the sunset, put that time higher up in your layout. Plus, every morning, you'll get a daily report notification with the current condition and its relativity to yesterday's weather.

How to find the right iPhone weather app for you

It's hard to say which is the best weather app for iPhone as we all use apps in different ways, especially those dedicated to giving you an upcoming weather forecast for the day or week ahead. 

With that in mind, this list provides some of the most useful weather apps, and they all have special offerings to fit different needs. For example, we suggest RadarScope for the most serious weather enthusiasts who appreciate lots of data. While Weather Live may be more suitable for those who just want to see simple facts and interesting visuals. 

All of the apps we've selected should work with all iPhone models, but it's always worth double checking before you get your heart set on one. 

If you're setting up a new iPad instead, like the iPad Pro with M2, and need to know the best apps or just want an app refresh, then we also recommend you take a look at our best drawing apps for iPad, best iPad apps for new owners and best note-taking apps for iPad guides.

Updated March 2023: Updated for the most recent versions of apps and latest compatibility requirements. 

There are many tools you can add to your iPhone or iPad. You can use a case, a pair of headphones, or even a flash drive. But by far, the best help you can get on your iPhone or iPad is Siri. With a simple "Hey Siri," you get many tools and features available to you without using your hands. Start using Siri isn't hard; here's how you can set up Siri on any of the best iPhones or iPads.

How to set up Siri on iPhone and iPad

"Hey Siri," now tries to lock on to your voice to prevent accidental — or mischievous — activation. You can either set it up when you set up your new iPhone or iPad or at any time in Settings.

1. Launch Settings from your Home screen.
2. Tap on Siri & Search
3. Tap the Listen for "Hey Siri switch to turn it on.

4. You'll go to the Setup page so you can train Siri to listen to your voice. Go to the train section to finish setting Siri up.

How to train "Hey Siri" to your voice

Whether part of the setup process or later, as soon as you turn on "Hey Siri," you'll need to train it to recognize your voice.

1. Tap Continue on the Set Up "Hey Siri" page.
2. Using your voice say, "Hey Siri."
3. Using your voice say, "Hey Siri, Send a Message."

4. Using your voice say, "Hey Siri, How's the Weather Today?"
5. Say, "Hey Siri, set a timer for three minutes."
6. Using your voice say, "Hey Siri, play some music."
7. Tap Done on the "Hey Siri" Is Ready page.

Siri now knows your voice and is ready to go!

How to use "Hey Siri!"

Learning how to set up Siri is easy, but using "Hey Siri!" is, by design, ridiculously easier. You say, "Hey Siri," to initiate the start of your interaction.

1. Position yourself within audio range of your iPhone or iPad
2. Say "Hey Siri!" loud enough for your iPhone or iPad to hear you.
3. Tell Siri what you want it to do — "call mom on speaker," "make a dinner reservation," "what's the weather like in Bermuda?" etc.

Here's a list of awesome Siri commands you can test out right now.

How secure is "Hey Siri!" voice ID?

We've tested "Hey Siri!" with over a half-dozen voices, and nothing has worked except the registered voice or a recording of the registered voice, but that can vary. But Voice ID on Hey Siri isn't meant for security. Don't mistake it for "My voice is my passport, authorize me!" Instead, it's intended to solve the problem of unintentional activation, whether it be accidental, a prank, or even malicious.

Turn "Hey Siri" off and stick with manual activation if you're worried about security. If you're interested in the convenience of voice activation while caring for children, cooking, working, or otherwise have your hands full, then know the limitations but enjoy the functionality.

Updated December 2021: Updated for iOS 15.

Learning to navigate your Home screen on iPhone and iPad isn't as easy as it seems. With all the new added features, like widgets and the App Library, it might not be clear where to even begin. The good news is, you can start mastering your Home screen by learning the basics. Here's what you need to know.

• How to rearrange your apps on iPhone and iPad
• How to use widgets on your iPhone Home screen
• How to use App Library on your iPhone

Understanding how to navigate your Home screen on iPhone and iPad

Unlike a PC or a Mac, the Home screen on iPhone and iPad is a place to store every app, shortcut, and widget you have installed. It began simply enough but has gained more and more functionality over the years, though much of it has been tucked away to reduce confusion. That way, if you don't want it, you never have to see it. If you're curious about how you can swipe one way to get to Today View widgets and another to get more apps, how you can pull down Notification Center or pull up Control Center, then here's where it all lives.

How to get to the Home screen

You get to the Home screen by pressing the Home button. You may need to unlock your iPhone or iPad first or press the Home button twice instead of once if you're in Control Center, Notification Center, or some other state. The principle is always the same, though: Home takes you Home, from anywhere, at any time.

If your iPhone or iPad is locked with a Passcode:

1. Click the Home button.
2. Enter the 4-digit, 6-digit, or alphanumeric password.

If your iPhone or iPad is locked with Touch ID, Apple's fingerprint identity sensor:

1. Place your Touch ID-registered finger on the Home Button.
2. Click the Home button.

If your device is locked with Face ID, Apple's biometric identity sensor:

1. Raise to wake or tap to wake your iPhone or iPad.
2. On iPhone, glance at the screen in portrait mode. On iPad, glance at the screen in either portrait or landscape mode. Make sure your finger isn't covering the TrueDepth camera.
3. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to unlock.

How to switch Home screens

Your iPhone or iPad can have more than one Home screen. That way, you can have more apps than would fit on one page. The number of dots to the right of the main Home screen shows you how many additional Home screens you have. To switch between them:

1. Swipe your finger from right to left to go to the next Home page.
2. Swipe your finger from left to right to go back to the previous Home page.
3. Click the Home button to go to the main (first) Home page. Or swipe up on Face ID-based devices.

How to launch apps from the Home screen

Launching an app from the Home screen couldn't be easier:

1. Tap the app's icon on the Home screen.

How to see quick actions with 3D Touch or Haptic Touch on the Home screen

On the iPhone 6s or later, you can press firmly on an app icon to bring up quick actions. Doing this involves either 3D Touch or Haptic Touch. The former uses capacitive sensors integrated into the smartphone's display to sense three degrees of pressure in a user's touch and responds differently based on the amount of pressure exerted. The latter doesn't detect pressure. Instead, it registers how long you leave your finger on the UI element. When pressed for long enough on an app icon, you'll see the list of quick actions.

Whether you're using 3D Touch or Haptic Touch, these actions act as shortcuts for the app. Some apps have several quick actions, including dynamic quick actions that update based on the last person you contacted, article you read, show you watched, etc. Tap on an action to go directly to that feature or content in the app.

1. Press firmly on the Home screen icon you want to open quick actions for.
2. Tap on the action you want to perform.

How to quickly switch to open apps from the Home screen

Launching an app, going back to the Home screen, launching another app, going back to the Home screen, re-launching the first app … it can be tiresome. That's why your iPhone and iPad offer a faster way to jump between recently used apps.

1. Double click the Home button or, in the case of Face ID-compatible devices, slowly slide your finger from the bottom of the device.
2. Swipe to the app you want to switch to. (They're in order of how recently you used them.)
3. Tap the app screen to switch to it.

How to access Spotlight search

Apple's built-in search system, Spotlight, can be used to quickly find information in any app that supports it. That includes not only the apps that came with your iPhone or iPad but many apps that you download from the App Store as well. With it, you can find things like contacts, emails, songs, and much, much, more.

1. Touch your finger to the Home screen (in between apps works best).
2. Swipe your finger down to pull down the Spotlight search field.
3. Type in what you're looking for.
4. Tap the result you want.

1. Swipe right on your Home screen to get to the widget screen.
2. Tap Search at the top.
3. Enter your search term.
4. Tap the result you want.

How to quickly access the Today View widgets from the Home screen

Today View widgets are combined with Siri recommendations, and you can access them in the same way from everywhere, including the Home screen.

1. Go to your main (first) Home screen.
2. Swipe your finger towards the right edge. (i.e., swipe right.)

How to quickly access Notification Center from the Home screen

1. Touch the bezel above the screen.
2. Swipe your finger down onto the screen. (i.e., swipe down.)

Once you've swiped down, you can also swipe right to go to the Camera app, or swipe left to go to the Today view without having to dismiss Notification Center first. Time saver!

How to quickly access Control Center from the Home screen

You can access Control Center from any screen on your iPhone and iPad, including while you're in an app or playing a game. All you have to do is swipe up on iPhone 8 and older and swipe down from the right corner on iPhone X and newer!

1. Touch the very bottom edge of the screen.
2. Swipe your finger up to toward the top of the screen.

1. Touch the top right edge of the screen where the battery, cellular, and wi-fi icons are.
2. Swipe your finger down toward the bottom of the screen.

How to quickly access Siri from the Home screen

You can use your voice to activate Siri, even from a distance. (Note: Voice activation doesn't work in Low Power Mode.)

1. Say, "Hey Siri!"
2. Tell Siri what you want to know or do. (e.g., "What time is it in Hong Kong?" or "Did the Red Sox win?! ")

How to quickly access Continuity apps from the Home screen

Apple lets you "hand-off" the activity you're doing on one device so you can continue it on another. For example, if you're using Safari on your Mac, you can pick up your iPhone and iPad and continue browsing right where you left off.

1. Double click the Home button or, in the case of Face ID-compatible devices, slowly slide your finger from the bottom of the device.
2. Tap the app icon at the bottom left of the screen. (If there's no app icon there, it means there's currently no suggested app and no handoff app available.)

How to lock your iPhone or iPad

By default, your iPhone or iPad will automatically turn off the screen to save power. You can, however, turn off the screen manually and go into standby mode at any time. If you have a passcode or Touch ID set up, the screen will also lock once you turn it off.

1. Click the On/Off button on the right side (iPhone 6 or later) or top (all other iPhones, iPods, and iPads).

When you wake your iPhone or iPad back up again, you'll return to the Lock screen.

How to turn off your iPhone or iPad

If you're not going to be using your iPhone or iPad for a while, you can turn it off to save even more power.

1. Press and hold down the On/Off button on the right side (iPhone 6 or later) or top (all other iPhones, iPods, and iPads) of your device for 3 seconds.
2. Swipe the slide to power off confirmation slider to the right.

iPad multitasking

What Apple calls "iPad Multitasking" really refers to several different things. The first is multitouch navigation that lets you use four-finger gestures for fast app switching. The second is multi-window multitasking, which lets you use two apps side-by-side in slide over or split-view mode, and optionally watch a video as well in picture-in-picture mode.

Don't forget about Widgets!

Now that you know how to navigate the Home screen on your iPhone, there's a whole world of possibilities for customization. In iOS 15, you can use Widgets to have access to all sorts of information on your Home screen.

Updated December 2021: Updated for iOS 15 and iPadOS 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.

If you're picking up a new Apple Watch — like the Apple Watch Series 7 — it's pretty much ready to go out of the box. So you can pair your best Apple Watch to your iPhone and be prepared to go; however, if you want to be extra prepared, there are a few things you can do. Here's how to ready your iPhone for Apple Watch.

Update your iPhone to the newest software

It's a smart idea always to make sure your iPhone is updated to the newest version of iOS because Apple often releases security patches and bug fixes through software updates. On top of that, some software updates come with new features that your Apple Watch won't be able to take advantage of if your iPhone isn't up-to-date.

Pro tip: Even when you get a new Apple Watch, sometimes out of the box, it still needs software updates. Make sure you also download and install the latest version of watchOS after you've updated your iPhone.

How to get Apple Watch apps now

We all know that what really makes the Apple Watch awesome is the large selection of apps you can use. Unfortunately, while some apps are completely independent of the iPhone, many Apple Watch apps require you to have the iPhone app installed to work on your Apple Watch.

The good news is you can download any apps you know you want on your Apple Watch right now. That way, when you set up your Apple Watch, all the apps will get downloaded and install on your Apple Watch during the process. There are so many great Apple Watch apps, so go nuts and download them all if you like.

Ready, Set, Pair!

You're now ready to set up your new Apple Watch and pair it to your iPhone. And, if you're looking for even more fun, don't forget to try out some of the best Apple Watch bands, so you can show off your style!

Get to know watchOS 8

If you want extra gold stars for your prep work, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with watchOS 8 before you get your hand on the Apple Watch Series 7. That's the software the Series 7 will come with, and it has plenty of new features for you to read up on.

Whether you're interested in Reflect, the new features in Messages, or looking forward to using Focus to help you drown out notifications when you need to concentrate, watchOS 8 is a great update to the Apple Watch software — get to know it intimately.

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.

By default, your best Apple Watch will show you several different metrics during a workout. Things like duration, heart rate, distance, calories burned, and more can all be displayed. If you 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.

Whether you plan to get the Apple Watch Series 7, or you just are continuing to use your current Apple Watch, here's how to customize Workouts for Apple Watch.

How to show a metric in workouts for Apple Watch

Each preset workout will have a default setting for what metrics appear on screen, and some of them will even have options you can add.

Important note: You can only have a max of five metrics displayed on your Apple Watch during a workout, so if you already have five, you'll need to hide a metric first.

1. Launch the Apple Watch app from the Home screen of your iPhone.
2. Tap the My Watch tab if you're not already there.
3. Tap Workout. You'll need to scroll down a bit.

4. Tap Workout View.
5. Tap the workout you want to customize.
6. Tap Edit. It's located in the top right corner of your screen.

7. Tap the Add button next to the metric you want to include.
8. Tap Done

Now that metric will be displayed on the screen of your Apple Watch whenever you select that type of workout.

How to hide a metric in workouts for Apple Watch

1. Launch the Apple Watch app from the Home screen of your iPhone.
2. Tap the My Watch tab if you're not already there.
3. Tap Workout. You'll need to scroll down a bit.

4. Tap Workout View.
5. Tap the workout you want to customize.
6. Tap Edit. It's located in the top right corner of your screen.

7. Tap the Remove button next to the metric you want to hide.
8. Tap Remove
9. Tap Done

How to reorder metrics in workouts for Apple Watch

If you want to change which order the metrics appear on your Apple Watch, follow these steps.

1. Launch the Apple Watch app from the Home screen of your iPhone.
2. Tap the My Watch tab if you're not already there.
3. Tap Workout. You'll need to scroll down a bit.

4. Tap Workout View.
5. Tap the workout you want to customize.
6. Tap Edit. It's located in the top right corner of your screen.

7. Tap and hold the reorder button next to the metric you want to move.
8. Drag the metric to your desired location.
9. Tap Done.

Questions?

If you want to know anything more about changing your workout metrics, let us know in the comments below.

Updated September 2021: Updated for the latest versions of watchOS8 and iOS 15.

Eve Weather tracks the temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure right outside your door (or wherever you wish to place the device.) Connected to Apple HomeKit, Eve Weather lets you set up any number of weather-related automations. Eve Weather also predicts the weather 12 hours into the future, though not in a detailed way like a weather app does. Using Thread network technology, Eve Weather can help make your smart home more responsive and robust.

Eve Weather: Price and availability

You can purchase Eve Weather at Amazon, Apple, B&H, and other major retailers in stores and online. The price is $69.95.

Eve Weather: What's good

Eve Weather gives you a detailed insight into the microclimate surrounding your home. Over the past couple of weeks, I've found the temperature at my home usually varies by a degree or two from the weather centers used for my weather app's data. You can track weather trends in precise detail over time.

Eve Weather is a HomeKit-enabled device, so that means you can set up various HomeKit automations. For example, you could set up an automation to turn on your HomeKit-enabled sprinkler system when a specific temperature is reached, turn on a fan at a temperature threshold, or turn on a dehumidifier when you get to a specific humidity level.

The Eve Weather unit is relatively small and unobtrusive. The display on the front tells you the current temperature, humidity, and weather condition (via an icon.) On the back, you'll find sensors, a hanging hook, and the battery compartment. The Eve Weather is powered by a coin-sized CR2450 battery. While not rechargeable, the battery should last about a year and is readily available at any drugstore for a few bucks. I've been using Eve Weather for a couple of weeks, and my battery level is still 100%. IPX3 water resistance means a little rain won't hurt it, but you can't submerge it in water.

Eve Weather is easy to set up within the Eve for HomeKit app. You don't need any sort of Eve bridge or hub, only a HomeKit hub like a HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV. The Eve app tracks detailed information about your microclimate but doesn't store any information on its servers, so your data is protected. You can also control Eve Weather and view basic stats within the Apple Home app, but there's so much more in the Eve app.

Eve weather uses Bluetooth and automatically connects to your Thread network. Thread technology is a future-looking technology for smart homes; it helps increase connectivity between devices. Thread creates a mesh network, so the more Thread accessories you own, the stronger your network becomes.

Eve Weather: What's not good

You'll definitely need to be careful about where you place Eve Weather. I initially placed it in an area that gets some direct sun for a few hours each day. A beautiful 72° day read as a scorching 93° when the sun shone on my Eve Weather unit! I moved it to a totally sunless spot with an overhang so it won't get too much rain on it. While the IPX3 rating means it's water-resistant, it's not entirely waterproof, and I don't want a significant downpour directly on it. Since I have vinyl siding, there really wasn't any place I could put a nail. So I used Command strips, which of course, I'll need to remove entirely when it's time to change the battery.

While weather forecasting is a feature of Eve Weather, I didn't find it that useful. It's just so limited, with just a temperature range and an icon. It makes more sense to check a weather app for a true picture of upcoming conditions. If there's rain coming, I don't just need to know that rain might come, I need to know the exact percentage chance and how much rain to expect. If there's snow on the way, I really need to know how many inches: if several feet are predicted, I'm canceling my plans outside the house!

Eve Weather: Competition

The HomeKit-enabled Netatmo Smart Weather Station gives you a more complete weather picture, with two units to measure both your indoor and outdoor climate and air quality. You can purchase accessories to go along with the Netatmo Smart Weather Station, such as a rain gauge and a full weather station pack to measure weather, rainfall, and wind speed. It's also quite a bit more expensive, starting at about $200 without the accessories.

Eve Weather: Should you buy it?

• You want to know the exact temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure surrounding your home
• You want to set up weather-related HomeKit automations
• You want to strengthen your Thread network

• The information you personally need is in a weather app anyway
• You're not going to set up HomeKit automations
• It's out of your budget

Eve Weather is pretty niche. For someone who is quite interested in tracking weather trends and hyper-local weather at their home location, Eve does a great job. It's also an essential tool for someone looking to set up weather-dependent home automations in HomeKit. For anyone who wants to beef up their Thread network, Eve Weather is great. However, unless you have an intense interest in weather specifics or you'll be setting up weather-related HomeKit automations, I think Eve Weather is just unnecessary. After all, you can get a fuller picture of weather conditions from just about any weather app.

Eve Weather is an interesting product. It does what it does quite well. It tracks the temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure right on your porch or backyard. It gives you a 12-hour weather forecast based on that data. Eve Weather allows you to set up any manner of weather-triggered HomeKit automation, such as temperature or humidity thresholds to turn on your HomeKit-connected sprinklers, fans, humidifiers/dehumidifiers, and more. And it automatically joins and strengthens your Thread network. However, I'm not really sure how many people need something like this when any average weather app gives most of us enough information about the weather.

Apple Watch complications are a great way to see a variety of information at a glance — and your App Store apps can have complications of their very own, too. That means you can not only keep up on all your information right on the watch face, but you can launch directly into your favorite apps with just a tap!

Naturally, the complications work on the best Apple Watches, including the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE.

How to find App Store apps with Apple Watch complications

If you're looking for someplace to start on your watch face complications collection, we've compiled a list of the best Apple Watch complications for you.

How to add and remove Apple Watch complications from the Customize screen

By default, third-party apps that support complications will automatically appear in your list of options. If the list starts to get too long, though, you can remove some of them.

1. Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Tap Complications under the My Watch tab.
3. Choose Edit in the upper right corner of the screen.

4. Tap the minus button (-) on the left, next to the app you want to remove from the list.
5. Select Remove.
6. Choose Done when finished.

To add a complication back in, follow the steps above, but instead tap the plus button (+) on the left next to the app under Do not include.

How to add Apple Watch complications via your Apple Watch

You can customize complications for every watch face right on your Apple Watch when you are on the go.

1. Press the Digital Crown to navigate to the watch face on your Apple Watch.
2. Press firmly on the watch face to enter customization mode.
3. Select a watch face.
4. Tap Edit.
5. Swipe to the left until you reach the last customization option. This is the complications menu.

6. Tap a complication location.
7. Rotate the Digital Crown and scroll through complications to select one.
8. Repeat the two steps above for each complication location.
9. Press the Digital Crown to exit customization mode.
10. Tap the watch face when finished.

How to add Apple Watch complications via your iPhone

If customizing complications on your Apple Watch feels a bit awkward or uncomfortable, you can do the work on your iPhone instead.

1. Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Under the My Watch tab, swipe to the left or right to select a watch face.

3. Tap a complication location that you want to change.
4. Scroll through the complications to select one.
5. Repeat the two steps above for each complication location.

You will immediately see the changes to the complications on the watch face on your Apple Watch.

Don't forget to change the color and style of your Apple Watch faces

In addition to changing the complications on your Apple Watch, you can adjust your watch faces' colors and style. Getting a few new bands is also a great way to customize your Apple Watch look.

Updated August 2021: Updated for the current watchOS.

For a lot of people, the best Mac that they can get is one of the fantastic MacBook Pros that Apple currently offers in its lineup. No matter what you need, whether it's a 13-inch or 16-inch screen, Intel or M1 SoC, there's a MacBook Pro out there for you. On top of these great internals, you get gorgeous Retina displays, multiple USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 ports, incredibly fast SSD storage, nice scissor-switch Magic Keybaords, and maybe even a Touch Bar.

Depending on whether you go with an Intel model or the newer M1 13-inch MacBook Pro, you should get between 10 to 17 hours of battery life. But what if you aren't? Thankfully, there are a few quick solutions when it comes to fixing MacBook Pro battery life, and this also applies for the MacBook Air and other models too.

Note: Apple's battery life estimates are based on reduced brightness and light internet load like browsing the web or checking email. If you've got the screen at 100 percent, are downloading gigs in an area with poor Wi-Fi, and are transcoding video while you do it, your battery life will be substantially less. This article focuses on what to do when otherwise good battery life goes bad.

Walk away

In addition to a lot of processes running when you set up a new Mac, you're likely to be using it a lot as well. It's your new toy, after all! You want to see how the world looks on that wide color display, how easy it is to authorize with Touch ID, and how many apps you can try out on the Touch Bar.

But that also means the screen might stay on longer than normal and Wi-Fi and other systems might likewise get a lot of abnormally high use.

In other words, if your battery feels like it's only lasting half as long, the first step to fixing it is figuring out if you're using it twice as much.

So, note down how much battery life you have left. Then walk away for 20-40 minutes. When you come back, note down how much battery life you have left again. If there isn't a big change while your MacBook Pro is asleep, you're probably okay, and your battery life will return to normal when your usage returns to normal — you know, after the novelty factor wears off.

If your MacBook continued to drain and drain fast, even when you weren't using it, keep reading for more ways to fix MacBook Pro battery life.

Restart

Mac owners love to make "restart Windows!" jokes but, the truth is, every computer system can sometimes use a good, swift kick in the bits. Whether it kills a rogue process or just gives bad apps a clean start, rebooting can often be a simple solution to a complex problem.

1. Click on the Apple menu button in the upper left corner of your screen.
2. Click Restart....

3. Click the Restart button on the pop-up menu to confirm.

After doing so, the pop-up window begins a countdown from 60 seconds, so if you select Restart and walk away, the computer will complete its task. You can also click the Restart button immediately to end the countdown and reboot the machine.

Once your MacBook Pro has rebooted, repeat the previous steps and see if battery drain has returned to normal. If not, keep reading for more fixes to MacBook Pro battery life.

Update everything

Newer versions of the Mac operating system, like macOS Big Sur and the upcoming macOS Monterey, and apps are often better optimized for current-generation hardware. Sure, regressions happen, but for the most part, making sure that you're running the latest and greatest macOS and the most recent releases of Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, Office, and other heavy-duty apps will help you get the best battery life possible.

Here's how to check for app updates in the Mac App Store:

1. Launch the App Store from the Dock or Finder.
2. Click Updates in the side panel menu.

3. Click Update next to each app you'd like to update, or click Update All.

4. Enter your Apple ID password if prompted.

To update non-Mac App Store apps, you can typically go to the Menubar and find Check for Updates in the app menu or help menu section.

If you do think a newer version is worse on your MacBook Pro battery than a previous version, check forums, social media, and ask around. If you find a consensus, consider holding off on upgrading or switching back temporarily until the new version gets its battery act together.

Check usage

Apple invented the concept of "battery shaming" on the Mac as a way of showing us just which apps were consuming a lot of power, and encouraging the developers of those apps to fix them. Yes, even when that developer is Apple.

1. Click on the Battery icon on the right of your Mac Menubar.
2. Click on the name of an app to inspect its power usage.

Sometimes there might be a legitimate reason for an app to be consuming a lot of power. For example, if you're transcoding or rendering video, or have a silly amount of tabs open with scripts and movies playing in the browser, then yeah, expect a bit of a drain on your battery.

Other times there isn't (looking at you Chrome and Slack!) When that's the case, quitting the apps (even killing tabs you're not currently using) can radically improve MacBook Pro battery life, so give it a try.

Run native apps

Safari is better on battery life than Chrome because Apple only makes Safari for macOS and can code it to be as efficient as possible. This is especially true for M1 Macs, which have four out of eight cores dedicated to power efficiency (the other four are for performance). Chrome is cross-platform and has become almost Internet Explorer-like in its desire to make the browser a platform.

Some tests have shown turning off Chrome can save you up to an hour in battery life, which is quite significant. So, if you don't need something that's Chrome-only, consider running Safari. Even consider running Safari for normal browsing and Chrome only when you need it for heavy Google work — that's what I do.

Likewise, Slack is currently a big drain on batteries. Because, like all Electron-based apps, it's really just a Chrome instance in a Slack wrapper. That's harder to change because you need to be where your team and friends are, but you can shut it down or check it only on your phone or tablet when your MacBook Pro battery gets low.

The same goes for other apps like Final Cut Pro X vs. Premiere or a native app like Acorn or Pixelmator vs. Photoshop. Even if you just keep them around as a light-weight alternative, they can help you in a pinch. Using native apps is one of the best ways to fix MacBook Pro battery life.

Extend your battery life

If you're stuck without power for an extended period of time and really need to squeeze every ounce of juice out your MacBook Pro that you can, here are a few other hacks you can try.

• Turn down the screen brightness.
• Turn off Wi-Fi if you don't need to be online.
• Use headphones instead of the speakers if you have to listen to audio or music.
• Turn on Automatic Graphics Switching, Put hard disks to sleep when possible, and Wake for Wi-Fi network access options under the Energy Saver section in System Preferences.
• Turn off Enable Power Nap while on battery power to prevent the MacBook Pro from periodically checking for new email, calendar, and other iCloud updates. This can also be found under Energy Saver in System Preferences.

Another good way to save battery life is to quit apps that are running in the background. You can check on what's currently running on your Mac by launching Activity Monitor (Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor), and closing any unnecessary processes. You may be surprised to see how many things are running in the background on your Mac.

You can also get one of the best USB-C battery packs and power banks. Thanks to USB-C on the MacBooks, they're not just for phones or tablets anymore.

Contact Apple

Every once and a while, you get a problem you just can't solve. Like any electronics, sometimes things go wrong. If you have AppleCare, you should absolutely contact Apple Support and book a Genius Bar appointment to relieve yourself of the issue. If you don't live close to an Apple Store, you can call 1-800-MY-APPLE in order to set up a mail-in repair.

If you don't have AppleCare and are out of warranty, you should still try to take it to Apple to see if they can take a look, but be prepared to pay for something like a battery replacement if necessary. You can also try an authorized third-party reseller for repair.

Please note that due to the current COVID-19 situation, your nearest Apple Store may not be open right now. You'll want to double check to make sure it is open again before making a trip down there.

Your tips for fixing MacBook Pro battery life?

If any of these power-saving tips worked for you, let me know! If you've got any tips of your own, let me know that too! And if you're having some battery life issues with your iPhone and iPad, or even your Apple Watch, make sure to check our troubleshooting guides for those while you're at it.

Updated August 2021: This information is still current.

It doesn't matter if you prefer using iCloud, Dropbox, or even OneDrive, or any other cloud storage service, there's a way for you to save email attachments on the best iPhone and iPad.

Whether it's a spreadsheet or presentation, a PDF, or plain text, you can save your attachments using the Mail app right from your iPhone. This is extremely helpful if you'll need to save the attachment for later. The best part is, you can watch it on any other device that have the same online storage service. Here's how!

How to save email attachments on iPhone and iPad to iCloud

Trying to save email attachments on iPhone or your favorite iPad to iCloud Drive is easy because iCloud is built right into iOS and iPadOS.

1. Launch Mail from your Home screen.
2. Choose the email that contains the attachment.
3. Tap on the attachment attachment to bring up the Share sheet.

4. Tap the share sheet button on the bottom left of the page. It's a square with an upward arrow.
5. Choose Save to Files.
6. Tap iCloud Drive to save to iCloud Drive or tap On My iPhone to save it directly to your phone.
7. Tap Save on the top right of your screen.

How to save email attachments on iPhone or iPad to Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive or enterprise storage

Thanks to document provider extensions, you can also save to Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and other storage services.

To save attachments to your storage provider, you first have to download the host app from the App Store.

Once you've downloaded the app, launch it, and log into your account. Then you can start saving attachments to the respective accounts. How you do it can vary by provider, however.

Save email attachments to Dropbox

1. Launch Mail from your Home screen.
2. Choose the email that contains the attachment.
3. Tap on the attachment attachment to bring up the Share sheet.

4. Choose Save to Dropbox.
5. Select the folder to save your file to or Tap Choose a Folder You can't create a new folder on the fly using the Apple Share sheet, unfortunately.
6. Tap Save.

Save email attachments to Google Drive

Before saving a file to Google Drive using the Share sheet for the first time, you should add the Google Drive extension, which makes the process much easier.

1. Launch Mail from your Home screen.
2. Choose the email that contains the attachment.
3. Tap on the attachment attachment to bring up the Share sheet.

4. Tap the More icon by scrolling right-to-left on the second row of icons in the Share Sheet.
5. Choose Edit at the top right.
6. Tap the green + to the left of Google Drive under Suggestions.
7. Choose Done at the top right.
8. Select Done at the top left now.

9. Tap the (Google) Drive icon in the Share sheet. It should be in the second row of icons.
10. Log into your Google account, if necessary.
11. Choose Select Folder at the bottom.
12. Select the location to save the file.

13. Choose Save here at the bottom right to save your image to Google Drive.
14. Finally, select Upload at the top right.

As you can see, saving an attachment to Google Drive requires many more steps than saving to iCloud.

Save email attachments to OneDrive

1. Launch Mail from your Home screen.
2. Choose the email that contains the attachment.
3. Tap on the attachment attachment to bring up the Share sheet.

4. Tap the More icon by scrolling right-to-left on the second row of icons in the Share Sheet.
5. Choose Edit at the top right.
6. Tap the green + to the left of OneDrive under Suggestions.
7. Choose Done twice.

8. Tap the One Drive icon in the Share sheet. It should be in the second row of icons, then follow the directions.

Not sure how to add attachments? Are you looking to take advantage of the Files app on iPhone and iPad? Don't worry, we have guides for that too!

Don't want to save email attachments on iPhone through Mail? You can always try another Mail app for your iPhone or iPad. If you're thinking about switching here's our list of the best email apps for iPhone and iPad.

Questions?

Do you still have questions about how to save email attachments on your iPhone or iPad? Let us know in the comments below!

Updated July 2021: Updated for latest iOS/iPadOS versions.

What you need to know

• CARROT Weather 5.3 is now available for download.
• Users can film their own weather reports, use new Smart Layouts, and more.

Fans of the popular CARROT Weather app have a new update to download and this one adds a cool new feature for creating your own weather reports on the fly. Other improvements include new Smart Layouts and more.

Now available for download from the App Store, the CARROT Weather 5.3 update's big headline feature is undoubtedly the ability to film your own weather reports. You can use a script that the app automatically generates for you or create your own, but the results are always going to look great. Users can create screenshots rather than videos if they'd prefer, too

Arguably more useful, the new Smart Layouts are CARROT's way of surfacing the right weather information at the right time, like information about precipitation when it's raining, for example.

That's not all, either. New air quality data is included, as is a bunch of new achievements for users to hunt down if that's their kind of thing.

Other improvements include:

• The Current Observations section can now show active weather alert titles.
• The weather alerts screen will now show a list of active alerts if more than one weather alert is active.
• The "next day" summary now focuses more on upcoming changes to weather conditions.
• Added a "compact height" option for the Current Observations section.
• Added a "weather condition" data point for the Current Observations section.
• Added a "next 3 hours" timeframe for cards.
• Improved the feels like temperature calculations for Environment Canada.

Is it any wonder CARROT Weather is one of the best iPhone apps around?

All of this and more can be had in the CARROT Weather 5.3 update — available from the App Store now. The app is a free download with an optional subscription service available.