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The Complete Guide to Every iOS 27 Feature

How to make and receive FaceTime audio calls on Apple Watch

by Abigail Shilets

You can make FaceTime audio calls right from the Messages app on your Apple Watch.

You can invite additional people to the call, too. When receiving a FaceTime audio call, you can answer the call, decline the call, or reply with a text, and if you miss it, the caller can record a video message for you.

Start a FaceTime audio call from a Messages conversation

  1. Open the Messages app on your Apple Watch.
  2. In a conversation, tap the recipient’s profile picture, tap the Call button, and then tap FaceTime Audio to make a call.
  3. To invite additional people to the call, do one of the following:
    • Tap the More Options button, then tap Add People.
    • Tap 2 People Active, tap the Add button at the bottom of the screen, then choose a contact.

Receive a FaceTime audio call

When you receive a FaceTime audio call on your Apple Watch, you have these options:

  • Answer the call: Tap the answer button.
  • Decline the call: Tap the end call button.
  • Reply with a text: Tap the More Options button, then tap a reply. Or tap Custom, tap Create Message, enter a reply, then tap Send.
  • Add another person to the call after answering: Tap 2 People Active, tap the Add button, then choose a contact, or tap Add People, then choose a contact.
  • View a recorded video message: If you don’t answer a FaceTime call, the caller can record a video message, then send it to you. To view it, just tap the notification when it arrives, or open the conversation in Messages later, then tap the video.

See also

Tag: FaceTime
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How to recognize sounds using Apple Watch

by Abigail Shilets

Apple Watch can continuously listen for certain sounds—such as a doorbell, siren, or crying baby—and notify you when it recognizes these sounds.

It works on Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, and your iPhone may need to download the available sounds first.

Here’s how to recognize sounds using Apple Watch.

Note: Sound recognition is available on Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Don’t rely on your Apple Watch to recognize sounds in circumstances where you may be harmed or injured, in high-risk or emergency situations, or for navigation. For more information, see Important safety information for Apple Watch.

Set up Sound Recognition

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Accessibility, tap Sound & Name Recognition, tap Sound Recognition, and turn on Sound Recognition.

    Note: After you turn on Sound Recognition, you may need to wait for your iPhone to download the available sounds to your device.

  3. Tap Sounds and turn on the sounds you want your Apple Watch to recognize.

Turn off Sound Recognition on Apple Watch

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Accessibility, scroll down to Hearing, and tap Sound & Name Recognition.
  3. Tap Sound Recognition. Then turn off Detect using Apple Watch.

See also

Tags: accessibility, Sound Recognition
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How to play audio on AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max

by Tyler Stephen

When you’re wearing your AirPods, you can use controls to play, pause, or skip audio playing on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV device, or Apple Watch. The controls depend on your model, and AirPods Max use the Digital Crown. On some models, you can also lightly swipe on the stem to adjust the volume.

Play and pause audio

Quick tip: On AirPods Max 2, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, or AirPods 5, audio can pause automatically when you fall asleep while listening. To choose that from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV device, see our article, Change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro.

  1. Wear one or both AirPods, and make sure they’re connected to your device.
  2. Go to an audio app and then play something—for example, a song in the Music app or an audiobook in the Books app.
  3. To pause or stop the audio, do one of the following:

    • AirPods 1 or 2: To pause audio while listening with both AirPods, remove one. When you return it to your ear, playback resumes automatically.

      Note: You can also set either of your AirPods to pause when you double-tap it, then resume playback when you double-tap it again. See Change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro.

    • AirPods 3, 4, or 5, or AirPods Pro: To pause audio while listening with both AirPods, remove one. You can also press the stem to pause audio.

      When you return it to your ear or press the stem again, playback resumes.

    • AirPods Max: Press the Digital Crown. Press it again to resume playback.

      You can also remove AirPods Max from your head to pause or stop audio.

Your AirPods or AirPods Pro play and stop audio automatically, but you can turn off automatic ear detection if you don’t want that. For AirPods Max, you can turn off automatic head detection instead.

Skip tracks

In many audio apps, your AirPods can skip to another track, like the next song in Apple Music or the previous episode in the Podcasts app.

  • AirPods 1: You can set your AirPods to skip forward or backward when you double-tap. See Change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro.
  • AirPods 2: Your AirPods are automatically set to skip to the next track when you double-tap.

    To customize the double-tap action, see Change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro.

  • AirPods 3, 4, or 5, or AirPods Pro: Double-press the stem on either of your AirPods to skip to the next track.

    To skip backward, triple-press the stem.

  • AirPods Max: Double-click the Digital Crown to skip to the next track.

    To skip backward, triple-click the Digital Crown.

Adjust the volume on AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3

With the force sensor with volume swipe, you can lightly swipe up or down on the stem to adjust the volume.

Rather not control the volume by swiping on the stem? Then turn off that setting. Check out our article, Change force sensor, force sensor with volume swipe, or button settings for AirPods, for the steps.

Check and limit your headphone levels

Your iPhone or iPad can monitor and limit the volume of your AirPods.

This guide is for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, or later.

See also

Tags: Audio, Controls & Gestures
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How to get started with accessibility features on AirPods

by Moses Johnson

Your AirPods have built-in accessibility features that can improve your listening experience, whether you’re listening to your favorite music or trying to hear a conversation in a crowded room. Some settings apply to all headphones, and others are just for your AirPods.

The Hearing Devices screen in Control Center. From top to bottom, it includes the Headphone Level in decibels, Hearing Assistance, Background Sounds, and Live Listen.

To get started, here are a few ways your AirPods can help:

Play background sounds

Calming background sounds can help you relax or focus, and you can choose from a list of them, like Rain or Ocean, and adjust the volume. For the steps, check out our article, Play background sounds.

Customize Transparency mode

While you’re listening to music, podcasts, and more on AirPods Pro, it’s possible to hear sounds around you with Transparency mode. You can also adjust the ambient noise you hear in it and turn on Conversation Boost to help you pick out conversations from background noise. For more, read our guide, Use and customize Transparency mode.

Hear across the room

With Live Listen, your iPhone or iPad acts as a microphone, sending sound straight to your AirPods, even from across the room. It’s a way to hear a lecture from the back row of the classroom or a conversation in a crowded room. For the steps, see our article, Use Live Listen.

Adjust AirPods control settings

You can adjust the settings for the button, force sensor, or force sensor with volume swipe on your AirPods to make them easier for you to use, such as how long you need to hold the force sensor before an action occurs. See Change force sensor, force sensor with volume swipe, or button settings.

Change accessibility settings

Once AirPods are set up, you can adjust accessibility settings. Headphone accommodations, for example, apply to all headphones, while others, like Transparency, are just for your AirPods.

Choose any of these features:

Tag: accessibility
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Which iPad models can run iPadOS 27

by Tyler Stephen

iPadOS 27 is compatible with the following models, from iPad mini (6th generation) and iPad (9th generation) to iPad Pro 13-inch (M5). Your features and apps may vary depending on your model and region. You can also identify your iPad model and iPadOS version, and get iPadOS updates.

This guide helps you get started using iPad and discover all the amazing things it can do with iPadOS 27, which is compatible with the following models:

An illustration of three iPad models without a Home button.

An illustration of three iPad models with a Home button.

iPad (9th generation)

Your features and apps may vary depending on your iPad model, region, language, and carrier, Apple says.

Note: Apps and services that send or receive data over a cellular network, or that answer incoming calls, may incur additional fees. Contact your carrier for information about your service plan and fees.

Identify your iPad model and iPadOS version

Go to Settings > General > About. See Get information about your iPad.

Get iPadOS updates

To update your iPad to the latest iPadOS software compatible with your model, go to Settings > General > Software Update. See Update iPadOS.

Tag: iPadOS
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How to get started with News on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

The News app collects all the stories you want to read, from your favorite sources, about the topics that interest you most. Apple News+ subscribers can also access features like audio stories, puzzles, and recipes.

Siri learns what’s important to you as you read and suggests stories you might like. And channels and topics you follow appear in the Today feed.

Here’s how to get started with News on iPhone.

A news story in the News app. In the tabs across the bottom, Today is selected.

Catch up on the latest news

From breaking news to science to entertainment, browse stories in the News app. The more you read, the better Siri gets at understanding what’s important to you and suggesting stories you might like.

Followed channels and topics.

Customize your feed

Tap the Search tab to find a specific channel or topic you’re interested in. Tap the topic, then tap the Follow button to follow it. Channels and topics you follow appear in the Today feed. If there’s a channel or topic that you don’t want to see in your Today feed, tap Following, touch and hold the channel or topic, then choose Block Channel, Block Topic, or Stop Suggesting.

A magazine story from Apple News+. In the tabs across the bottom, News+ is selected.

Subscribe to Apple News+

When you subscribe to Apple News+, you can access hundreds of magazines and newspapers, along with puzzles, recipes, and audio stories. You can share issues with others or download them for offline reading. When prompted, tap a subscription button, then follow the onscreen instructions.

The puzzle feed in Apple News+.

Take a break to test your wits

Apple News+ subscribers can solve daily puzzles—such as crosswords, Quartiles, sudoku, and Emoji Game. From the Today feed, tap Puzzles, then tap to open a puzzle. Some puzzles include a tutorial—in Quartiles, for example, tap the More button, then tap How to Play.

The Recipe Catalog in Apple News+.

Cook up a feast

Apple News+ subscribers also have access to thousands of curated and personalized recipes. From the Today feed, tap Food, then tap the Recipe Catalog button or Recipe Catalog.

Tag: News
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How to get started with Music on iPad

by Kevin Hollington

Listen to songs from your iPad music library with the Music app. When you subscribe to Apple Music, you can stream from the Apple Music catalog, and you can access all your music on your devices signed in to the same Apple Account. You can also search for music, create a playlist, and build your library.

As a subscriber, you can select artists as favorites, view song lyrics, and more, and you can organize songs for a specific theme, mood, or occasion in a playlist.

The New tab showing the sidebar on the left and the New section at the right. The New tab shows featured music at the top. Swipe left to see more featured music and videos. The Best New Songs section appears below. The MiniPlayer is at the bottom.

Subscribe to Apple Music

To get the most from the Music app, subscribe to Apple Music, and choose from millions of songs to stream or download. Go to Settings > Apps > Music, then tap Join Apple Music. After you become an Apple Music subscriber, you can select artists as favorites (and receive notifications about them), view song lyrics, and more.

The Search tab showing the sidebar at the left and a search field at the top right. Below the search field, various categories of music appear. The MiniPlayer is at the bottom.

Find music

Use the Search feature to quickly find music. Tap Search in the sidebar to browse music by category or enter an artist, lyric, or other keyword in the field to find songs, albums, and playlists.

The Playlists tab showing the sidebar at the left and the list of playlists at the right. At the top are buttons to create a new playlist or create a new folder.

Create a playlist

Organize songs for a specific theme, mood, or occasion with a playlist. Tap the Show Sidebar button in the tab bar at the top of the screen, scroll to the bottom of the sidebar, then tap New Playlist. To add a song to the playlist, tap the More button next to a song, then tap Add to a Playlist.

The Home tab in the Music app showing the sidebar on the left and the Home section at the right. The Home tab shows Top Picks at the top. Recently Played music appears below, showing four album covers. The MiniPlayer is at the bottom.

Build your library

You can add music to your library in a variety of ways. For example, subscribe to Apple Music or buy your favorite albums from the iTunes Store. If you’re already using a Mac, go to Settings > Apps > Music, then tap Sync Library—your entire music library is then available on your iPad.

If you’d like to get more from Music, start here:

Tag: Music
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iPhone 11 Pro Max hardware: buttons, cameras, and ports

by Chris Smith

Learn the location of the cameras, buttons, and other essential hardware features on iPhone 11 Pro Max.

On the front and sides, you’ll find the front camera, side button, SIM tray, Lightning connector, volume buttons, and Ring/Silent switch. Around back are the rear cameras and flash.

The front view of iPhone 11 Pro Max. The front camera is at the top center. On the right side, from top to bottom, are the side button and the SIM tray. The Lightning connector is on the bottom. On the left side, from bottom to top, are the volume buttons and the Ring/Silent switch.

  • 1 Front camera
  • 2 Side button
  • 3 SIM tray
  • 4 Lightning connector
  • 5 Volume buttons
  • 6 Ring/Silent switch

The back view of iPhone 11 Pro Max. The rear cameras and flash are at the top left.

  • 7 Rear cameras
  • 8 Flash

Get started with iPhone 11 Pro Max

Tag: iPhone
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How to customize EQ on AirPods

by Tyler Stephen

When you use supported models with iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can personalize the sound signature of your AirPods with a three-band equalizer. You get Low, Mid, and High sliders to work with.

Your custom EQ is stored on your AirPods, so it carries over to any other paired devices, and you can go back to Recommended at any time.

iPhone screen showing Equalizer set to Custom, with Low, Mid, and High sliders below.

  1. Wear your AirPods, and make sure they’re connected to your device.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • iPhone or iPad: Go to the Settings app and tap the name of your AirPods at the top of the screen. Tap Audio & Routing, tap Equalizer, and then tap Custom. Drag the Low, Mid, and High sliders up or down to adjust the EQ.
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app and click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down). Click Audio & Routing, click Equalizer, and then click Custom. Drag the Low, Mid, and High sliders up or down to adjust the EQ.

Note: Your Custom EQ settings live on your AirPods, so they carry over to any other paired devices. When you’d like to turn off Custom EQ, choose Recommended instead of Custom.

See also

Tags: Audio, Settings
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iPhone 14 Plus hardware: buttons, cameras, and ports

by Emily Long

Learn the location of the cameras, buttons, and other essential hardware features on iPhone 14 Plus.

Start with the front and sides, where you’ll see the front camera, side button, Lightning connector, SIM tray, volume buttons, and Ring/Silent switch. On the back are the rear cameras and flash. The SIM tray is available on models purchased outside the U.S.

The front view of iPhone 14 Plus. The front camera is at the top center. The side button is on the right side. The Lightning connector is on the bottom. On the left side, from bottom to top, are the SIM tray, the volume buttons, and the Ring/Silent switch.

  • 1 Front camera
  • 2 Side button
  • 3 Lightning connector
  • 4 SIM tray (available on models purchased outside the U.S.)
  • 5 Volume buttons
  • 6 Ring/Silent switch

The back view of iPhone 14 Plus. The rear cameras and flash are at the top left.

  • 7 Rear cameras
  • 8 Flash

Get started with iPhone 14 Plus

Tag: iPhone
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