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The Complete Guide to Every iOS 27 Feature

How to download, save, and remove podcast episodes on iPhone

by Tyler Stephen

In the Podcasts app, you can download, save, and remove podcast episodes.

When you save an episode, it’s automatically downloaded, which means you can listen to it offline. Only audio is downloaded for video episodes by default. You can remove a saved episode or a downloaded episode, and even remove all downloaded episodes from a show, or all downloaded episodes at once.

Here’s how to download, save, and remove podcast episodes on iPhone.

Download an episode

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • While viewing show information: Swipe left on an episode and tap the Download button.
    • While viewing episode information: Tap the Download button.
    • While viewing search results: Touch and hold an episode and tap Download.

You can also tap the More button on the show or episode page, then tap Download.

Save an episode

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • While viewing show information: Swipe left on an episode and then tap the Save button. You can also tap the More button below an episode in the list and then tap Save.
    • While viewing episode information: Tap the Save button. You can also tap the More button, then tap Save.

When you save an episode, it’s automatically downloaded so you can listen to it offline. To turn off this option, go to Settings > Apps > Podcasts, then turn off Download When Saving. By default, only audio is downloaded for video episodes. To download video as well, go to Settings > Apps > Podcasts, then turn on Download Video.

Remove a saved episode

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • From the library: Tap Saved and tap the Unsave button near the episode name.
    • While viewing show or episode information: Tap the Unsave button near the episode name.

You can also tap the More button near the episode name, then tap Unsave.

Remove a downloaded episode

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • From the library: Tap Downloaded and tap a show. Swipe left on an episode and tap Remove Download. You can also tap the Download button or the More button near the episode name and tap Remove Download.
    • While viewing show information: Tap the Down button next to Episodes, then tap Downloaded. Tap the Download button or the More button near the episode name. Tap Remove Download.
    • While viewing episode information: Tap the Download button or the More button and tap Remove Download.

Remove all downloaded episodes from a show

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Library, then tap Shows.
  3. Touch and hold a show, then tap Remove Downloads.
  4. Tap Remove Downloads to confirm.

Remove all downloaded episodes

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Library and tap Downloaded.
  3. Tap the More button and tap Remove All Downloads.
  4. Tap Remove Downloads to confirm.
Tag: Podcasts
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How to change video recording settings on iPhone

by Chris Smith

Make changes to the default video recording options on your iPhone, such as Auto FPS settings, sound recording options, HDR recording, and more. In low-light situations, Auto FPS can improve video quality by reducing the frame rate to 24 fps, and it’ll even work in 4K on iPhone 18 Pro models.

Adjust Auto FPS settings

In low-light situations, iPhone can automatically reduce the frame rate to 24 fps to improve the video quality. When you record in 4K on iPhone 18 Pro models, Auto FPS works, too.

Go to Settings > Camera > Record Video, then, depending on your model, do one of the following:

  • Tap Auto FPS, then apply Auto FPS to only 30-fps video, to both 30- and 60-fps video, or turn it off.
  • Turn on Auto Low Light FPS.

Turn Stereo sound off and on

To achieve stereo sound, iPhone uses multiple microphones.

To turn off stereo recording, go to Settings > Camera, then turn off Record Stereo Sound.

On iPhone 16 models or later, your camera records in Spatial Audio by default. To change recording settings, go to Settings > Camera > Record Sound, then tap Spatial Audio, Stereo, or Mono.

Turn HDR video off and on

Supported models record video in HDR. iPhone shares HDR videos with devices using macOS 10.15.4, iOS 13.4, iPadOS 13.4, or later, while other devices receive an SDR version of the same video.

To turn off HDR recording, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video, then turn off HDR Video.

Turn Lock Camera on and off

The Lock Camera setting, off by default on supported models, keeps you from switching between cameras while recording video.

To turn on Lock Camera, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video, then turn on Lock Camera.

Turn Enhanced Stabilization off and on

To provide improved stabilization while you record in Video mode or Cinematic mode, the Enhanced Stabilization setting zooms in slightly. It’s on by default on supported models.

To turn off Enhanced Stabilization, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video, then turn off Enhanced Stabilization.

Turn Lock White Balance on and off

Locking the white balance when you record videos on your iPhone improves accurate color capture based on lighting conditions.

To turn on Lock White Balance, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video, then turn on Lock White Balance.

Adjust default Slo-mo recording frame rate

Slo-mo is set to record at 1080 HD at 240 fps from the back camera and 1080 HD at 120 fps from the front camera. To change the back camera to 120 fps, go to Settings > Camera > Record Slo-mo.

Supported models also get an option in Record Slo-mo to record 4K at 120 fps from the back camera.

Adjust Cinematic mode resolution and frame rate

On supported models, Cinematic video is set to record at 1080 HD at 30 fps. To switch to 4K at 24 fps or 4K at 30 fps, go to Settings > Camera > Record Cinematic.

iPhone 18 Pro models can also record Cinematic video in 1080 HD at 60 fps or 4K at 60 fps.

Adjust default Time-Lapse resolution

On iPhone 18 Pro models, you can record Time-Lapse video in 4K. To change the resolution, go to Settings > Camera > Record Time-Lapse.

Turn on Action Mode Lower Light

On supported models, if you want to use Action mode in lower light, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video, then turn on Action Mode Lower Light.

Tag: camera
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How to get notified when a friend’s location changes in Find My on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

Use the Find My app to get a notification when your friend’s location changes. You can get notified when a friend arrives at a location, leaves a location, or isn’t at a location, and with a larger radius, you’re notified when they’re near it.

Your friend gets an alert after you set the notification up.

Here’s how to get notified when a friend’s location changes in Find My on iPhone.

Important: In order to receive a notification when your friend’s location changes, make sure you allow notifications for the Find My app.

You can also let friends know when your location changes.

Get notified when your friend arrives at or leaves a location

  1. Start the Find My app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap People, tap the name of the person you want to be notified about, and then tap the More button.
  3. Below Notify Me, tap Add Location Alert.
  4. Choose whether you want to be notified when a friend arrives at or leaves a location.
  5. Choose a location, or tap New Location to create a new location and set a location radius.

    With a larger radius, you’re notified when your friend is near the location instead of right at the location.

  6. Choose whether you want to be notified only once or every time.
  7. Tap the Done button, then tap OK.

When you set the notification, your friend receives an alert.

A recurring notification needs your friend’s approval before it’s set. The first time they arrive at or leave the location you chose, they get an alert asking for approval.

Get notified when your friend isn’t at a location

When you set a schedule, you can get a notification if a friend or family member isn’t at a specific location during it. You could be notified if your child isn’t at school during school hours, for example.

  1. Start the Find My app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap People, tap the name of the person you want to be notified about, and then tap the More button.
  3. Below Notify Me, tap Add Location Alert.
  4. Below When, tap [your friend’s name] Is Not At.
  5. Choose a location, or tap New Location to create a new location and set a location radius.

    With a larger radius, you’re notified when your friend is near the location instead of right at the location.

  6. Select when you want to be notified.

    • Time: Select a start and end time.
    • Days: Select the days of the week.
  7. Tap the Done button, then tap OK.

Your friend has to approve the notification before it’s set. On the time and day the notifications start, they get an alert asking for approval.

Change or turn off a notification you set

  1. Start the Find My app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap People, tap the name of the person you want to be notified about, and then tap the More button.

    This could be a notification you receive about a friend, or a notification your friend receives about you.

  3. Tap the notification.
  4. Do either of the following:

    • Change a notification: Change any details and then tap the Done button.
    • Turn off a notification: Tap Delete Notification and tap Delete Notification again.

You can create up to 25 Notify Me notifications.

Note: Recurring notifications only work for friends who have two-factor authentication turned on.

Tag: Find My
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How to control VoiceOver using the rotor on iPhone

by Chris Smith

You can use the onscreen VoiceOver rotor to change how VoiceOver works. You can adjust the VoiceOver volume or speaking rate, move from one item to the next on the screen, select special input methods such as Braille Screen Input or Handwriting, and more.

When you use Magic Keyboard to control VoiceOver, use the rotor to adjust settings such as volume, speech rate, use of pitch or phonetics, typing echo, and reading of punctuation. On the screen, you use the rotor by rotating two fingers as if you’re turning a dial.

Use the VoiceOver rotor

  1. When VoiceOver is turned on, rotate two fingers on your screen as if you’re turning a dial. If you prefer to use one finger on each hand, simultaneously drag up with one finger and drag down with the other.

    VoiceOver speaks the rotor setting. Keep rotating your fingers to hear more settings. Stop rotating your fingers when you hear the setting you want.

  2. Swipe your finger up or down on the screen to use the setting.

    The available rotor settings and their effects depend on what you’re doing. For example, if you choose Headings when you’re browsing a webpage, swipe down or up to move the VoiceOver cursor to the next or previous heading.

Customize the VoiceOver rotor

  1. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, and then tap VoiceOver.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • Add or reorder the rotor settings: Tap Rotor. Then choose the settings you want, or drag the Reorder button to reorder settings.
    • Add another voice to the rotor:
    • Have VoiceOver confirm rotor actions: Tap Verbosity, then turn on Speak Confirmation.
Tags: accessibility, VoiceOver
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How to scan text and documents in Notes using the iPhone camera

by Emily Long

In the Notes app, you can use the camera to scan text and documents.

In supported languages, you can insert scanned text right into a note. When you scan a document, iPhone can capture it automatically once it detects the page boundaries, or you can capture it yourself. Either way, it’s saved as a PDF right in the note.

Here’s how to scan text and documents in Notes using the iPhone camera.

A screen showing a document being scanned. The Take Picture button is at the bottom center.

Scan text into a note

Using the camera, you can insert scanned text in supported languages.

  1. Open the Notes app on your iPhone.
  2. In a note, tap the Attachments button. Then tap Scan Text.
  3. Position your iPhone so that the text appears within the camera frame.
  4. Drag or use grab points to select text and tap Insert.

Scan a document into a note

  1. Open the Notes app on your iPhone.
  2. In a note, tap the Attachments button and tap Scan Documents.
  3. Position your iPhone so that the document page appears on the screen, adjust any settings such as Flash or Filters and then do one of the following:
    • Automatic capture: Keep your iPhone steady. Your iPhone automatically captures the document when it detects the page boundaries. To make adjustments, tap the thumbnail and tap an option such as Adjust, make your changes. Tap the Back button.
    • Manual capture: Tap the Automatic document capture button. Tap the Take Picture button. Adjust the corners as needed. Tap Retake or Keep.
  4. Scan additional pages and tap the Done button when you’re done. The document is saved as a PDF in the note.
Tag: camera
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How to play lossless audio in Music on iPhone

by Tyler Stephen

Apple Music subscribers can access millions of tracks encoded using lossless audio compression, a form of compression that preserves all of the original data. Apple has developed its own lossless audio compression technology called Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC), and the entire Apple Music catalog is encoded using ALAC in resolutions ranging from 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD Quality) up to 24-bit/192 kHz.

There are trade-offs, though. Streaming lossless audio consumes significantly more data, and downloading it uses significantly more space on your device. And Bluetooth® connections aren’t lossless.

What you need to know about lossless in Apple Music

  • Streaming lossless audio over a cellular or Wi-Fi network consumes significantly more data. And downloading lossless audio uses significantly more space on your device. Higher resolutions use more data than lower ones.
  • AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and Beats wireless headphones use Apple AAC Bluetooth Codec to ensure excellent audio quality. However, Bluetooth® connections aren’t lossless.
  • To get a lossless version of music that you already downloaded from Apple Music, just delete the music and redownload it from the Apple Music catalog.
  • To play songs at sample rates higher than 48 kHz on iPhone, you need an external digital-to-analog converter.

Note: Apple Music and lossless aren’t available in all countries or regions.

Turn on Lossless Audio and choose audio quality settings

For cellular streaming, Wi-Fi streaming, and downloads, you can choose audio quality settings.

  1. Open Settings, tap Apps, and then tap Music.
  2. Tap Audio Quality and tap Lossless Audio to turn it on or off.
  3. Choose the audio quality for streaming and downloading audio.
    • Choose Lossless for a maximum resolution of 24-bit/48 kHz.
    • Choose Hi-Res Lossless for a maximum resolution of 24-bit/192 kHz.

Note: Automix and Crossfade don’t work while Hi-Res Lossless is turned on. If you want Automix or Crossfade, select Lossless or another audio quality setting instead.

Streamed music’s audio quality depends on network conditions, song availability, and the capability of connected headphones or speakers.

Identify lossless music

The Lossless icon appears on album pages when the music is available in lossless audio. To see the Lossless icon for music on the Now Playing screen, go to Settings > Apps > Music > Audio Quality, then turn on Lossless Audio.

Tag: Music
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How to edit Portrait mode photos on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

In the Photos app, you can change and adjust the lighting effects, depth of field, and focus point of images you take in Portrait mode.

You can apply, change, or remove Portrait Lighting effects. Stage Light Mono is like Stage Light, but in classic black and white. Natural Light, for example, keeps the face in sharp focus against a blurred background, while Stage Light spotlights the face against a deep black background.

Adjust the background blur in Portrait mode photos

To adjust the level of background blur in your portraits, use the Depth Control slider.

The Edit screen in the Photos app with a portrait in the center. Below the photo is a slider to adjust the Depth Adjustment setting. Below the slider, from left to right, are the Style, Portrait, Adjust, Filters, Crop, and Clean Up buttons. The Portrait button is selected.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap any Portrait mode photo to view it in full screen. Then tap the Edit button.
  3. Drag the Depth Control slider at the bottom of the screen to increase or decrease the background blur effect.

    A black dot marks the original depth value for the photo.

  4. Tap Done.

Apply portrait effects to photos taken in Photo mode

On supported models, the Photos app can turn photos with a person, dog, or cat taken in Photo mode into portraits.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap any photo taken in Photo mode to view it in full screen and tap the Edit button.
  3. If portrait effects are available, select Portrait at the bottom of the screen.
  4. Tap Portrait at the top of the screen to turn on portrait effects.
  5. Tap the Lighting Intensity Off button or the Depth button to adjust the portrait lighting or background blur.
  6. Tap Done.

To undo edits after you save, open the photo, tap the Edit button, tap Revert, then tap Revert to Original.

Note: Live Photo effects aren’t available on a Live Photo taken in Photo mode while the portrait effect is applied. Tap Live when you want to view the Live Photo, or to apply a Live Photo effect without the portrait effect.

Change the Portrait Lighting effect

In portraits, you can apply the Portrait Lighting effects, change them, or remove them.

The Edit screen in the Photos app with a portrait in the center. Below the photo are the Portrait Lighting options. Studio Light is selected. Below that is a slider to adjust the level of the effect. At the bottom of the screen, from left to right, are the Portrait, Adjust, Filters, and Crop buttons. The Portrait button is selected.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap a Portrait mode photo to open it, then tap the Edit button.
  3. Tap the Lighting Intensity Off button at the top of the screen.

    The Portrait Lighting effects appear at the bottom of the screen.

  4. Touch the Portrait Lighting control. Slide your finger left or right to choose a lighting effect:

    • Natural Light: The face is in sharp focus against a blurred background.
    • Studio Light: The face is brightly lit, and the photo has an overall clean look.
    • Contour Light: The face has dramatic shadows with highlights and lowlights.
    • Stage Light: The face is spotlit against a deep black background.
    • Stage Light Mono: The effect is like Stage Light, but the photo is in classic black and white.
    • High-Key Light Mono: The effect creates a grayscale subject on a white background.
  5. Drag the slider below the lighting effects left or right to adjust the intensity of the lighting effect.
  6. Tap Done.

To undo edits after you save, tap the Edit button, tap Revert, then tap Revert to Original.

Change the focus point of a portrait

On iPhone 13 or later, you can change the subject, or focus point, of a portrait. Select a new subject, and the background blur automatically adjusts so the new subject looks sharp and in focus. But make sure the new subject isn’t blurred or too far in the distance.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap any Portrait mode photo to view it in full screen. Then tap the Edit button.
  3. Tap a new subject or focus point in the photo.
  4. Tap Done.

Remove the portrait effect

If a photo was taken in Portrait mode, you can remove the portrait effect.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap any Portrait mode photo to view it in full screen.
  3. Tap Portrait in the top-left corner of the screen. Tap Portrait Off.
Tag: Photos
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How to use contacts from the Phone app on iPhone

by Kevin Hollington

In the Phone app on iPhone, you can call contacts and add recent callers to the Contacts app.

VIP contacts can go in your Favorites list for quick dialing, and their calls bypass Do Not Disturb. You can even automate dialing an extension or passcode.

Here’s how to use contacts from the Phone app on iPhone.

Add a contact to Favorites

You can add VIP contacts to your Favorites list for quick dialing.

  1. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone.
  2. Select a contact, scroll down, and then tap Add to Favorites.

Calls from these contacts bypass Do Not Disturb.

Add a recent caller to Contacts

  1. Open the Phone app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap a number in the Calls list.
  3. Tap Create New Contact, then enter the contact’s information.

To add a recent caller to an existing contact, tap Add to Existing Contact, then choose a contact.

Automate dialing an extension or passcode

If the number you’re calling requires dialing an extension, iPhone can enter it for you. When editing a contact’s phone number, tap the Symbols button, then do any of the following:

  • Tap Pause to enter a two-second pause (a two-second pause is represented as a comma in the phone number).
  • Tap Wait to stop dialing until you tap Dial again (wait-to-dial is represented as a semicolon in the phone number).
Tag: Contacts
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How to view and search your journal entries on iPhone

by Tyler Stephen

In the Journal app, you can search for text in your entries and filter for details such as photos, drawings, and locations. You can also bookmark entries to revisit later.

You can sort entries by Entry Date or Moment Date, and see your entries based on their location with the map view. Any entry with a location, or with photos that have location information, shows up on the map. You can bookmark several entries at once, too.

Search your journal entries

  1. Start the Journal app on your iPhone.
  2. Choose a journal or tap All Entries.
  3. Do any of the following:
    • Find specific entries: Tap the Search button. Choose a category such as Photos or Reflections or type the text you’re looking for.
    • Sort entries: Tap the More button, tap Sort By, and then choose Entry Date or Moment Date.
    • Find entries for a specific day: Tap the Back button to show your insights, tap the Calendar button, and tap a date on the calendar.

View entries by location

You can see your entries based on their location with the map view.

  1. Start the Journal app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Journals Back button to show your insights. Then tap Places.
  3. To return to your journal, tap the Journals Back button.

Entries that include a location, or photos with location information, are added to the map.

Bookmark important journal entries

  1. Start the Journal app on your iPhone.
  2. Choose a journal or tap All Entries.
  3. Swipe right on an entry. Then tap the Bookmark button.

To bookmark multiple entries, tap the More button, tap Select Entries, tap entries to select them, then tap the Bookmark button.

Quick tip: Tap the Search button, then tap Bookmarked, and only bookmarked entries appear.

A screen in the Journal app showing journal entries. One entry is swiped right and shows the Bookmark button.

Tag: Journal
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How to add and remove email accounts on iPhone

by Stacey Butler

To send and receive email using the Mail app, you first need to add your email accounts. When you first open Mail, you’re asked to set up an account, and at any time, you can add additional email accounts or remove email accounts you no longer need.

The Add Account screen with a field to enter your email address.

Add an email account

Adding one or more email accounts to the Mail app puts all your email in one place, and you can easily send email from any of your accounts.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apps and then tap Mail.
  3. Tap Mail Accounts, then tap Add Account.
  4. Enter your email address, tap Next, and enter your email account information.

    Note: If you set up multiple accounts, you can choose which account you want to send from when composing your email message.

Set a fetch schedule for your email account

You can set a schedule to check for new emails if an account you add doesn’t support Push notifications.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apps and then tap Mail.
  3. Tap Mail Accounts and then tap Fetch New Data.

    Under Fetch, choose a schedule.

    Automatically is the default selection, which means new data is downloaded when your iPhone is charging and connected to Wi-Fi.

    To fetch more often outside of these conditions, choose a timed schedule.

Temporarily stop using an email account

To stop sending and receiving email from an account on your iPhone for a while, turn it off in Settings. It’s easy to turn back on at any time.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apps and then tap Mail.
  3. Tap Mail Accounts, tap the email account you want to turn off.

    Do one of the following: Turn off an iCloud email account: Turn off “Use on this iPhone.” Turn off another email account: Turn off Mail.

    Tip: You can use Focus filters to receive notifications only from specific email accounts during times that you choose.

    For example, you can silence notifications from your work email account on the weekends or when you are on vacation.

Delete an email account

When you remove an email account, it’s gone from the Mail app and from all the apps on your iPhone that use it.

Note: Don’t worry — this just removes the email account from your iPhone. It doesn’t cancel it.

You’ll need to visit your email account provider to close the account completely.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apps and then tap Mail.
  3. Tap Mail Accounts, tap the email account you want to remove.
  4. Tap Sign Out or Delete Account.

    Note: If you change your mind later, you can add the email account back to your iPhone.

Add the Mail app back to your Home Screen

Can’t see the Mail app on your Home Screen? It’s in the App Library, and you can add it back from there.

  1. On the Home Screen, swipe left until you see the App Library.
  2. Enter “Mail” in the search field.
  3. Touch and hold the Mail app icon. Tap Add to Home Screen.
Tag: Mail
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