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The Complete Guide to Every iOS 27 Feature

How to use Siri to find information and get things done on iPad

by Abigail Shilets

Siri is an intelligent assistant that’s built into your iPad. Once you have Siri turned on in the Settings app, you can start using Siri to find the information you need and get things done—hands free. The more you use Siri, the better it knows what you need.

Siri AI (Beta) gives Siri entirely new capabilities, like personal context understanding, onscreen awareness, and broad world knowledge, which helps you find what you need, right when you need it, and get more done. And you’re free to get started with Siri AI anytime.

Use Siri to call, text, and email

Siri: On your iPad, activate Siri, then see the ideas below for requests you can make.

  • Make and receive Phone and FaceTime calls

    • “FaceTime mom.”
    • “Call Ashley Rico.”
    • “Siri, hang up.”
  • Read and write text messages and emails

    • “Read my messages” or “Read me my emails.”
    • “Message Mom that I’ll be late” or “Send an email to Ashley.”

Quick tip: While you’re wearing supported AirPods, you can respond to Siri announcements, like incoming calls and notifications, by nodding or shaking your head, so there’s no need to speak out loud.

Play music and podcasts with Siri

If you subscribe to Apple Music, Siri can play anything from the Apple Music catalog. It can also play your favorite podcast, follow shows, and control playback.

Siri: On your iPad, activate Siri, then see the ideas below for requests you can make.

  • Play music

    • “Play ‘Choosin’ Texas’ by Ella Langley.”
    • “Play some ’80s music.”
    • “Play some mellow music.”
  • Tell Siri what you like and don’t like

    • “Favorite this song.”
    • “I don’t like this song.”
    • “Play more music like this.”
  • Find out what’s playing

    • “What’s playing?”
    • “Who sings this song?”
    • “What album is this on?”
  • Add music to your library or playlist

    • “Add this to my library.”
    • “Add this song to my Workout playlist.”
    • “Add this album to my Sunday Morning playlist.”
  • Play and follow podcasts

    • “Play the latest episode of ‘The Rest is History’ podcast.”
    • “Play the next episode.”
    • “Follow ‘The Rest is History’ podcast.”
  • Control playback

    • “Skip ahead three minutes.”
    • “Play this twice as fast.”
    • “Pause music” or “Resume music.”

Quick tip: Control Center can identify a song playing on or near your iPad, too. First add the Music Recognition control to Control Center (see our guide, Customize controls). Then, while a song is playing, open Control Center and tap the Recognize Music button.

Use Siri to get directions

When Location Services is turned on, Siri can also give you directions or information about places nearby.

Siri: On your iPad, activate Siri, then see the ideas below for requests you can make.

  • Get directions

    • “Give me walking directions home.”
    • “Give me transit directions to the Ferry Building.”
  • Find places nearby

    • “Find coffee near me.”
    • “Find a gas station” or “Find a charging station.”

Quick tip: When you use Siri or search in Maps, you can ask for directions to your home, your work, or your school address. See our guide, Set your home, work, or school address.

Use Siri to find information

You can use Siri to find information and get quick answers, like who won last night’s game or how to translate or spell a word.

Siri: On your iPad, activate Siri, then see the ideas below for requests you can make.

  • Get information from the web

    • “What causes a rainbow?”
    • “Who made the first rocket that went to space?”
  • Spell or translate

    • “How do you spell [X]?”
    • “How do you say ‘Thank You’ in Mandarin?”
  • Ask questions about time and place

    • “What time is it?”
    • “What time is it in London?”
  • Check the weather

    • “Hey Siri, what’s the weather for today?”
    • “What’s the weather like in San Francisco?”
  • Get sports updates

    • “What was the score of last night’s game?”
    • “How are the San Francisco Giants doing this season?”
  • Get calculations and conversions

    • “What’s 18 percent of 225?”
    • “How many centimeters are in an inch?”
  • Get information about your contacts

    • “When is my uncle’s birthday?”
    • “Show me Jane’s information.”
  • Get information about your Apple products

    • “Tell me how to connect my AirPods to iPad?”
    • “How do I take a screenshot?”

    Note: Available on supported iPad models with Apple Intelligence. Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 is not available in all languages or regions.*

Use Siri to get things done

Siri also lets you quickly get things done and take action within your apps, all hands free.

Siri: On your iPad, activate Siri, then see the ideas below for requests you can make.

  • Add a reminder

    • “Add artichokes to my groceries list.”
    • “Remind me to pack an umbrella when I get home.”
  • Set an alarm or timer

    • “Set an alarm for 7 a.m.”
    • “Set the timer for 3 minutes.”
  • Create or change calendar events

    • “Set up a meeting with Gordon at 9.”
    • “What’s on my calendar for Friday?”
  • Adjust Accessibility settings on iPad

    • “Speak screen.”
    • “Turn on [setting]”—for example Voice Control, VoiceOver, Assistive Touch, or Guided Access
  • Open apps and settings on iPad

    • “Open Photos.”
    • “Open Accessibility settings.”
    • “Open Calculator.”
  • Adjust iPad settings

    • “Siri, turn on Dark Mode”
    • “Turn up the volume.”
    • “Turn on the Work Focus.”

Use Siri to control your smart home accessories

To control smart home accessories with Siri, start by finding accessories that work with Apple Home.

Siri: On your iPad, activate Siri, then see the ideas below for requests you can make.

  • Turn smart home accessories on and off

    • “Turn on the lights.”
    • “Turn on the security system.”
  • Adjust a smart home accessory

    • “Set the temperature to 68 degrees.”
    • “Turn down the kitchen lights.”
    • “Set my reading scene.”
  • Control your smart home accessories remotely

    If you have a home hub set up, you can ask Siri to control your home while you’re away.

    • “Turn off the lights in the Chicago house.”
    • “Lock the front door.”
    • “Close the garage.”
  • Play and control audio in your home

    • “Play a song I like in the kitchen.”
    • “Stop playing music everywhere.”
    • “Set the dining room volume to 10 percent.”

Siri is designed to protect your information, and you can choose what you share.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

Tag: Siri
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How to choose who you can communicate with at certain times with Screen Time on iPad

by Chris Smith

With Screen Time, you can allow or block communication with certain contacts in iCloud—including phone calls, FaceTime calls, and messages. It can apply at all times or only during certain periods, like when your device use is paused, and you can choose Contacts Only, Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact, or Everyone.

Choose who you can communicate with at certain times

You’re able to allow or block communication with certain contacts in iCloud, including incoming and outgoing phone calls, FaceTime calls, and messages, either at all times or only during certain periods, such as when your device use is paused. For the steps, read our article, Set schedules and time allowances with Screen Time.

If you haven’t already turned on Contacts in iCloud, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud, tap See All next to Saved to iCloud, then turn on Contacts.

Note: All the latest Screen Time features need iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, or visionOS 27 or later on every device you use. In a Family Sharing group, every device has to be upgraded to iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, or visionOS 27 or later, too.

The Allowed Contacts screen in Screen Time showing communication allowed during Screen Time and when devices are paused.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Screen Time, tap Communication Limits, and tap During Screen Time.
  3. Do any of the following:
    • Manage who you can communicate with during screen time hours: Tap During Screen Time and then select Contacts Only, Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact, or Everyone.
    • Manage who you can communicate with when your devices are paused: Tap When Device Paused or Unavailable and select Always Allowed or Everyone.

Calls and messages from someone who’s currently blocked by your Communication Limit settings won’t go through.

If you try to call or message someone your Communication Limit settings currently block, their name or number shows up in red in your list of recent calls or messages. You’ll be able to communicate with them once the communication limit is changed.

To resume communication with contacts who are blocked by your Communication Limit settings, change the settings by following the steps above.

See also

Tag: Screen Time
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How to set Screen Time Schedules and Time Allowances with Screen Time on iPad

by Stacey Butler

With Screen Time, Time Allowances set how long you use your apps each day, while Schedules set when during the day you can use them.

You might build schedules for weekdays and weekends, with time windows for things like work, dinner, and the evening. Time Allowances can cover categories like Entertainment, Games, or Social Media, and you choose when they’re available during your schedule. Each time window shows which Time Allowance categories are available, so you can see at a glance which types of apps you can use. You can also set how long you use specific apps and websites.

Note: You need watchOS 27, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, visionOS 27, or later on all your Apple devices to use Screen Time Schedules and Time Allowances. If you’re setting up these features in a Family Sharing group, every device must be upgraded to watchOS 27, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, visionOS 27, or later.

Set up a Screen Time schedule for device use

A custom schedule for your iPad manages which apps you can use at different times of the day. In your schedule, each time window shows icons for the Time Allowance categories that are available, so it’s quick to tell which kinds of apps you can use during that part of your day.

The Screen Time Schedule screen showing an overview of a schedule, including before work, during work, dinner, and evening.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Screen Time, tap Screen Time Schedule, and then turn on Schedule.
  3. Tap Add Schedule, tap the days of the week you want to create a schedule for, and tap the Done button.
  4. Tap the Time Window and then do any of the following:
    • Create a new name: Tap the current name and then enter the new name.
    • Change the start or stop time: Tap the time, then select a new value.
    • Select Time Allowance categories: Tap a category. If you don’t see any categories, you can create some. See Set how long you can use apps and websites.
    • View the apps and contacts that are always allowed: Tap Always Allowed.
    • Delete the time window: Tap Delete this Time Window.

Set how long you can use apps and websites

Time Allowances help you manage the time you spend in apps across categories such as Games, Entertainment, and Social Media. Within each category, you can use apps until they reach either the category’s allowance or the daily total, and the Time Allowance covers both an app and any associated website it declares.

A Time Allowances screen in Screen Time settings showing time allowed for categories like Games and Entertainment.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Screen Time, then tap Time Allowances.

    If you want to turn on this feature for your child, tap your child’s name.

  3. Do any of the following:

    • Use Time Allowances during certain times in your schedule: Turn on Match Screen Time Schedule.
    • View the Time Allowances you’ve set for different time windows: If you’ve added Time Allowances to windows in your Screen Time schedule, you can view them by tapping the name of the Time Window.
    • Increase or decrease the amount of time you can spend on your device: Drag the slider left or right or tap the Minus button or the Plus button.
    • Increase or decrease the amount of time you can spend in an app category: Under Time Allowances, tap a category and then drag the slider left or right or tap the Minus button or the Plus button.
    • Create a new Time Allowance category: Tap Manage Categories and tap the Plus button, then select a category. If you have a Screen Time schedule, you can add the category to a time window.
    • View your average daily use of a category: Tap Manage Categories, then tap a category.
    • View your average daily use of apps within a category: Tap Manage Categories, tap a category, and then tap an app.

Choose apps and contacts to allow at all times

Regardless of any Screen Time schedules or Time Allowances you’ve set, you can choose apps to use and contacts to communicate with at all times. For emergencies, for example, you may want to put family members or the Health apps in Always Allowed.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Screen Time, then tap Always Allowed.
  3. Do any of the following:
    • Add contacts or apps: Tap Add People or Add Apps.
    • Remove contacts or apps: Tap Edit. Tap the Remove button on the app or contact you want to remove.

See also

Tag: Screen Time
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How to block features or content with Screen Time on iPad

by Abigail Shilets

You can allow or block content that’s labeled sensitive or explicit in the Music app, Apple TV app, Books app, and more. You can also allow or block built-in apps and features like AirDrop, Tracking, and more.

The settings can vary depending on your Siri version, and you can choose whether to allow Siri with or without AI capabilities.

Here’s how to block features or content with Screen Time on iPad.

Note: All the latest Screen Time features require macOS 27, iPadOS 27, iOS 27, watchOS 27, visionOS 27, or later on every one of your Apple devices. When you’re setting these features up in a Family Sharing group, each device has to be upgraded to macOS 27, iPadOS 27, iOS 27, watchOS 27, visionOS 27, or later.

The Content and Privacy Restrictions screen in Screen Time, showing different Feature and Content Restrictions.

Set content restrictions in Music app, Apple TV app, Books app, and more

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Screen Time, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, and allow or block any of the settings shown under Content Restrictions, like Books, Movies, TV Shows, and Music.

Block or allow built-in apps or features

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Screen Time, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and tap Other Features. Allow or block any of the settings shown, like AirDrop, Camera, and more.

Block or allow Siri and Apple Intelligence features

Note: The settings that appear here may vary depending on your Siri version. Siri AI is available in beta on iPadOS 27 or later on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) or iPad model with M1 or later set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not initially be available in the EU on iPadOS. Usage limits may apply. Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Screen Time, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, tap Siri, and do any of the following:
    • Block Siri: Tap Don’t Allow Siri.
    • Allow use of Siri without AI capabilities: Tap Siri (Classic Version).
    • Allow use of Siri with AI capabilities: Tap Siri AI (Beta).*
    • Allow or block specific capabilities: Select Allow or Block under any of the Siri AI capabilities, such as Image Creation, Sensitive Topics, or Explicit Language.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

Tags: Apple Intelligence, Screen Time
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How to get started with Siri AI on iPad

by Tyler Stephen

Siri AI (Beta) is your conversational AI assistant with entirely new capabilities, including personal context understanding, onscreen awareness, and broad world knowledge. With Siri AI, you also have Visual Intelligence, which lets you search, ask questions, and take action based on content in your screenshots, and a dedicated Siri app that brings all your conversations in one place.

Siri AI can find exactly what you’re looking for across your mail, photos, calendar, and messages, answer questions about any topic, and help you get more done in your apps.

Siri AI is available in beta on iPadOS 27 or later on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) or iPad model with M1 or later set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not initially be available in the EU on iPadOS. Usage limits may apply.*

Turn on Siri AI

  1. Open the Settings app on a supported iPad.
  2. Tap Siri and then do one of the following:
    • If Siri is off: Tap Turn on Siri and then tap Try Siri AI (Beta).
    • If Siri is on: Tap Try Siri AI (Beta).
  3. Follow the onscreen instructions.

An iPad showing Siri finding content specified in the request.

Find what you need

Siri AI can search your photos, mail, messages, calendar, and more to find exactly what you’re looking for. Ask Siri to find a photo from years ago, a recommendation from a family member, or details about your friend’s flight itinerary from your email or calendar.

Siri AI: Activate Siri, then say something like, “Find photos from my trip to Lisbon” or “What time should I leave to pick up Antonio?”

An iPad showing Siri answering a request to plan a menu based on a calendar event.

Get more done

Siri AI uses onscreen awareness and an understanding of your personal context to help you get more done. Have Siri plan a menu for an event, say, or add ingredients from a recipe to your shopping list. It can take action in more apps, and even suggest what you might want to do next.

Siri AI: Activate Siri, then say something like, “Plan a menu for my watch party on Saturday.” Swipe down on the Siri response to see the full menu and make follow-up requests, like “Send this to the fantasy league group chat.”

An iPad showing Siri answering a request about how to improve a tennis backhand.

Ask about any topic

Siri AI has broad world knowledge, which is combined with your personal context to give you detailed, up-to-date, and relevant insights to your questions. Ask about virtually any topic—from finding the perfect weekend activity to do with family to details about the world around you.

Siri AI: Activate Siri, then say something like, “Give me some tips on how to improve my tennis backhand” or “When will cherry blossoms reach peak bloom this year?”

An iPad screen shows a response from Siri identifying what's on the screen.

Learn about what’s on your screen

If there’s an image, a PDF, or other content on your iPad screen, you can ask Siri about it to get answers, search, or take action. Take a screenshot, and Siri uses Visual Intelligence so you can quickly search for similar images, ask questions, or take action based on what’s in the frame.

Siri AI: Quickly press and release the side button and the volume up button at the same time to take a screenshot, then tap the Ask button to ask a question, the Search button to search, or an action that appears—for example, Look Up Nutrition.

An iPad showing Siri proofreading and giving feedback on text.

Write with Siri

Siri AI can generate a draft from scratch, summarize information, and provide feedback on what you’ve written—just describe what you want. For example, ask Siri to proofread a note or to write an itinerary for an upcoming trip.

Siri AI: Activate Siri, then say something like, “How’s this sound?” or “Write a day-by-day itinerary for a 3-day trip to New York.” Swipe down on the Siri response to continue to revise or ask follow-up questions.

The Siri app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac showing conversations.

Keep the conversation going

When you open the Siri app, all your conversations are in one place, so it’s easy to pick up where you left off or start new conversations.

Siri AI: Go to the Siri app on your iPad, then select a conversation or tap the new conversation button to start a new one.

Want to learn more about Siri AI?

  • Learn how to use Siri AI to take action, get answers, ask questions, and search based on what’s on your iPad screen. See Learn about what’s on your screen.
  • Check out Write with Siri to find out how to use Siri AI to write, improve, and summarize text.
  • To learn more about the dedicated Siri app, like how to start a new conversation, pick up where you left off, or more, see Use the Siri app.
  • With Siri AI on supported iPad models, you can use Siri Expressive Voices,** which allow you to pick a voice, then customize its expressiveness and pace until Siri sounds just right. See Change Siri’s voice.

Siri is designed to protect your information, and you can choose what you share.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

**Siri Expressive Voices are available with Siri AI on iPad models with M4 or later with at least 12 GB of unified memory.

Tag: Siri AI
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How to customize controls in Magnifier on iPad

by Kevin Hollington

You can personalize the Magnifier app to show your most frequently used controls for easy access. You can also create custom activities for recurring tasks and customize settings of live scene descriptions.

Up to two of your controls can be primary controls, which appear on the main screen when Magnifier opens. You can also set your preferred controls for an activity.

Here’s how to customize controls in Magnifier on iPad.

Add or remove controls

  1. Start the Magnifier app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Settings button and then do any of the following:

    • Add or remove Activities, Capture, or Detection Mode: Tap Ask Magnifier, Capture, or Detect and then turn Show in Control Panel on or off.
    • Add or remove other controls: Tap the Insert button or the Remove button next to a control.

      You can choose up to two primary controls. Primary controls appear on the main screen when you open Magnifier. If you add more than two controls, you can swipe up on the control panel at the bottom of the screen to access secondary controls.

    • Reorder other controls: Drag the Reorder button next to a control to move it up or down.
Control Description
Brightness Adjust the brightness.
Contrast Adjust the contrast.
Filters Apply a color filter.

When you add the Filters control, you can select just the filters you use most often.
Flashlight Turn on the flashlight.

Note: This option is available on iPad models with True Tone Flash.
Focus Lock Lock the magnifier focus.
Cameras Switch between the front and rear cameras.
Capture mode Switch between modes for taking single photos, multiple photos, or for taking photos of documents.

Set your preferred controls for an activity

If you save the controls you use for recurring tasks or situations as activities, you can switch between them as needed. You might create one for reading a menu at a restaurant, for example.

  1. Start the Magnifier app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Activities button. Tap Save Current Settings As New Activity to create a new activity using the current controls.
  3. Enter a name for the activity and then tap the Done button.

Customize settings for Ask Magnifier

Ask Magnifier is available only on devices with Apple Intelligence.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*

  1. Start the Magnifier app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Settings button and tap Ask Magnifier.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Input: Choose whether to speak or type your questions by default.
    • Default Question: Turn on to ask the same question automatically each time you open Ask Magnifier. You can use the default question (“What is this?”) or enter your own.

Customize settings for live scene descriptions

  1. Start the Magnifier app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Settings button and then tap Detect.
  3. Tap Scenes and then turn on any combination of Labels or Speech feedback.
  4. To return to the live Magnifier lens, tap the Back button, tap it again, and then tap the Done button.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

Tags: accessibility, Magnifier
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What you can do while on a call on iPad

by Abigail Shilets

When you’re on a phone call on iPad, you can switch the audio to the speaker or a Bluetooth® device. With Apple Intelligence, you can also get a wait time prediction and view relevant information during a call.

During a call, a Call Context card with related information, like tickets, orders, confirmation numbers, or reservations, may appear, and you can use another app while you’re on the call. Hold Assist can notify you when a live agent is available.

Adjust the audio during a call

To change the volume, press the volume buttons on the side of iPad. Or swipe down on the call banner, then do any of the following:

  • Mute: Tap the Mute button.
  • Put the call on hold: Touch and hold the Mute button.
  • Talk handsfree: Tap the Audio button, then choose an audio destination.

Use another app while on a call

  1. Go to the Home Screen, then open the app.
  2. To return to the call, tap the green call indicator at the top of the screen.

View relevant information during a call

With Apple Intelligence,* a Call Context card with related information may appear during a call—like tickets, orders, confirmation numbers, or reservations.

To turn Call Context cards on or off, do the following:

  1. Open Settings, then tap Apps.
  2. Tap Phone, then tap Siri.
  3. Turn Show When Calling on or off.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*

Get a wait time prediction (U.S. only)

With Apple Intelligence,* you can get predictions of how long you’re estimated to wait before your call is answered, based on average wait times in the past.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*

Receive a notification when you’re no longer on hold

Placed on hold during a call? Hold Assist can tell you when a live agent is available. That way, you don’t have to stay on the line.

Note: Available on iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation or later), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation or later), iPad Air (4th generation or later), iPad (10th generation or later), and iPad mini (6th generation or later). Hold Assist isn’t available in all countries or regions.

  1. Open the Phone app on your iPad.
  2. When you’re in a call and put on hold, tap the More button. Then tap Hold Assist.

    Important: Check your ring settings before you step away from the call. If your iPad is on silent or Do Not Disturb is turned on, you won’t hear the incoming call when an agent is available. See Change iPad sounds.

  3. Hold Assist will notify you when an agent is available and transcribe the part of the call you missed. Tap the Answer Call button to rejoin the call.

Note: Phone can also detect hold music automatically and prompt you to start Hold Assist. To turn this on, go to Settings > Apps > Phone, then turn on Hold Assist Detection.

Respond to a second call on the same line

If a second call comes in while you’re on a call, do one of the following:

  • Ignore the call and send it to voicemail: Tap Ignore.
  • End the first call and answer the new one: When using a GSM network, tap End & Accept. With a CDMA network, tap End; when the second call rings back, tap Accept, or drag the slider if iPad is locked.
  • Put the first call on hold and answer the new one: Tap Hold & Accept.

    To switch between calls when you have a call on hold, tap Swap to switch between calls, or tap Merge Calls to talk with both parties at once. See Start a conference or three-way call.

Note: With CDMA, you can’t switch between calls if the second call was outgoing, but you can merge the calls. You can’t merge calls if the second call was incoming. If you end the second call or the merged call, both calls end.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

Tag: Phone
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How to use Face Recognition in Home on iPad

by Dave Johnson

With a HomeKit Secure Video camera or doorbell, you can use the Home app to receive notifications when people you’ve tagged in the Photos app come to your door.

It identifies people by their faces in your photo library or in pictures of recent visitors your camera or doorbell captures. You choose who can access your photo library, and you can add a name for a recent visitor who isn’t in it, like Mom or Mail Carrier. You can even let members of your household see the names of visitors.

Set up Face Recognition

Faces in your photo library, or in pictures of recent visitors captured by your camera or doorbell, are how Face Recognition identifies people.

If you’re setting up a camera or doorbell for the first time, do the following:

  1. Start the Home app on your iPad.
  2. Add the accessory to the Home app.
  3. In the Recognize Familiar Faces card, turn on Face Recognition. Then tap Continue.
  4. Choose who can access your photo library:
    • Never: Only faces you’ve added from clips in the Home app are recognized.
    • Only Me: Only the notifications you receive have the names of people in your photo library.
    • Everyone in this Home: The notifications for everyone in your home have the names of people in your photo library.
  5. Tap Continue. Then finish setting up the camera or doorbell.

If you have an existing doorbell or camera and want to use it to identify visitors, tap it on the Home app, tap the Settings button, tap Face Recognition, then turn on Face Recognition. Tap your photo library, then choose who can access it.

Note: Notifications can appear on any device that’s associated with your Apple Account.

Identify recent visitors

If someone isn’t in your photo library, a picture captured by your camera or doorbell can help Face Recognition identify them.

  1. Start the Home app on your iPad.
  2. With Face Recognition turned on, tap Home in the sidebar.
  3. On the Home tab, tap the camera or doorbell. Tap the Settings button.
  4. Tap Face Recognition and tap an unidentified person listed below Recent. Then tap Add Name.
  5. Add the person’s name or their relationship to you—Mom or Mail Carrier, for example.
  6. Choose whether to be notified when they’re seen by your camera or doorbell.

Note: People with a face mask don’t appear in this list.

Share faces with your household

It’s your choice whether the members of your household see the names of visitors identified in your photo library.

  1. Start the Home app on your iPad.
  2. With Face Recognition turned on, tap the More button. Then tap Home Settings.
  3. Tap Cameras & Doorbells and tap Face Recognition.
  4. Tap your photo library and tap Everyone in this Home.

See also

Tag: Home
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How to set up accessories with Home on iPad

by Dave Johnson

The first time you use the Home app, the setup assistant helps you create a home, where you can add accessories and define rooms. If you’ve already created a home while setting up a different accessory, you won’t need to create one again.

Before you add an accessory, like a light or camera, make sure it’s connected to power and turned on. You can also show accessories in a room and change an accessory’s room assignment.

Add an accessory to Home

An accessory such as a light or camera should be connected to a power source, turned on, and have network connectivity before you add it.

  1. Start the Home app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Home in the sidebar, then tap Add Accessory.

    You can also tap the Add button at the top of the screen, then choose Add Accessory.

  3. If you’re pairing a Matter accessory that was previously paired to another app, tap More options and then select your accessory.
  4. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Note: For Matter-enabled accessories, you need a home hub like a HomePod speaker or an Apple TV 4K. Thread accessories need a Thread-enabled home hub instead, like an Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Ethernet, a HomePod mini, a supported third-party border router, or any device that supports Thread pairing.

You may need to scan a QR code, enter the 8-digit Apple Home setup code that’s on the accessory itself or on its box or documentation, or, for Matter-enabled accessories, enter an 11 or 21-digit code. If it’s an Apple Home-smart TV, it shows a QR code for you to scan. Give the accessory a name and assign it to a room, and you can use that name when controlling the accessory with Siri. During setup, you can also add suggested automations.

When you set up Apple TV 4K in tvOS, whatever room you assign it to is where it’ll automatically appear in the Home app on iPad.

Paired Matter accessories are synced across devices and stored in the Settings app using iCloud Keychain, regardless of which app you used to set them up. You can easily add a previously paired accessory that’s stored in Keychain to another Matter ecosystem app. To manage these accessories, go to Settings > General, then tap Matter accessories.

Show accessories in a room

The Home app can show individual rooms, the scenes assigned to them, and a room’s accessories organized by category.

To see a room and its accessories, do one of the following:

  • Go to the Home app on your iPad.
  • Tap the room in the sidebar.
  • Tap > next to the room’s name.

Change an accessory’s room assignment

  1. Start the Home app on your iPad.
  2. Touch and hold an accessory tile and tap Accessory Settings.
  3. Tap Room and choose a room.

Edit a room

Along with changing a room’s name and wallpaper, you can remove the room and more. Remove it, and its accessories move to Default Room.

  1. Start the Home app on your iPad.
  2. Tap a room in the sidebar.
  3. On the Home tab, tap > next to a room, or tap the More button and choose a room.

Organize rooms into zones

To control different areas of your home with Siri, group rooms together into a zone. In a two-story home, for instance, you’d assign the rooms on the first floor to a downstairs zone.

  1. Start the Home app on your iPad.
  2. Tap > next to a room on the Home tab or tap the More button and choose a room.
  3. Tap the More button and tap Room Settings.
  4. Tap Zone and then tap an existing zone, or tap Create New to add the room to a new zone.

See also

Tag: Home
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How to use iPhone to allow calls and text messages on your iPad

by Kevin Hollington

You can relay phone calls and text messages through your iPhone to your iPad, so it’s easy to stay in touch no matter which device you’re on. Both devices need Wi-Fi on and the same Apple Account, and they need to be within 30 feet (10 meters) of each other. You can send and receive both iMessage and SMS messages.

Note: Cellular charges may apply. Wi-Fi Calling isn’t available from all carriers.

Before you begin

Before you begin, check that each of the following is true:

  • Both devices have Wi-Fi turned on and are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  • You’re signed in to the same Apple Account on both devices.

If you use a VPN, its configuration shouldn’t prevent local networking, since that may interfere with some Continuity features.

Set up your iPhone to allow phone calls on your iPad

  1. On your iPhone, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Apps, then tap Phone.
  3. Tap Calls on Other Devices, turn on Allow Calls on Other Devices, and choose the devices you want to allow to make and receive calls.

    The devices you choose can make and receive calls when they’re near your iPhone, connected to the same Wi-Fi network, and signed in to the same Apple Account.

    Note: If you don’t have the Phone app on your iPad, you can download it from the App Store.

Make or receive phone calls on your iPad

Set up your iPhone to allow calls on your other devices, and your iPad can make and receive phone calls.

  • Make a call: Tap a phone number in Contacts, Calendar, FaceTime, Messages, or Safari. Or open the Phone app, then tap the Keypad button and type a number, or search for a contact.

    If you make a call from another device by relaying it through your iPad with Dual SIM, the call is made using your default voice line.

  • Receive a call: Swipe or tap the notification to answer or ignore the call.

Send and receive messages on your iPad

You can send and receive both iMessage and SMS/RCS/MMS messages on your iPad.

For sending and receiving iMessages on iPad, read our article, Get started with Messages on iPad.

If phone calls and text messages on your iPad aren’t working

  • Make sure that you’re signed in to the same Apple Account on both devices.
  • Make sure that your iPhone and iPad have Wi-Fi turned on.
  • Your devices must be within 30 feet (10 meters) of one another.

Besides making and receiving phone calls on your iPad, you can use Handoff to move a FaceTime call from one device to another. See our guide, Hand off a FaceTime call from your iPad to your other Apple devices.

See also

Tags: Messages, Phone
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