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The Complete Guide to Every iOS 27 Feature

How to get information about your iPhone

by Tyler Stephen

You can find your serial number, IMEI, and model information, including the name, iOS software version, model name, model number, and number of songs, videos, photos, and apps. You can also view cellular data usage, and see Legal & Regulatory information, like legal notices and license, warranty, and RF exposure information.

Find your serial number, IMEI, and model information

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General and tap About. The items you can view include:
    • Name
    • iOS software version
    • Model Name
    • Model Number. To the right of Model Number, the part number appears. To see the model number, tap the part number. On supported models, you can also find the model number in the SIM tray opening.
    • Serial number
    • Number of songs, videos, photos, and apps
    • Capacity and available storage space
    • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® addresses
    • Modem Firmware
    • Carrier Lock status
    • Network and carrier information. Tap Carrier to see IMS status (your carrier connection status). Contact your carrier for more details.
    • IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity), EID, and other cellular identifiers. On supported models, the IMEI is also printed on the SIM card tray.
    • Available SIM or SIMs

Quick tip: You can copy the serial number and other identifiers. Just touch and hold the identifier until Copy appears.

To see Legal & Regulatory information (including legal notices and license, warranty, and RF exposure information) and regulatory marks, go to the Settings app, tap General, then tap Legal & Regulatory.

View call time and cellular usage

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Cellular.

View or turn off diagnostic information

To help Apple improve products and services, iPhone sends diagnostic and usage data based on the settings you turn on. Apple says this data is anonymous, but may include location information.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Privacy & Security and tap Analytics & Improvements.
Tag: iPhone
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How to find podcasts on iPhone

by Stacey Butler

Use the Podcasts app to search for or browse shows about science, news, politics, comedy, and more. When you find a show you like, you can follow it to add it to your library.

Then you can watch or listen offline, get notified about new episodes, and access followed shows on your other Apple devices and on Apple Podcasts on the web. You can also find episodes within a show, and filter or sort them. Shows may offer paid subscriptions, too.

Note: Some shows offer paid subscriptions with perks like exclusive episodes, new releases, episodes without ads, and more. You can easily subscribe to a show or channel and manage your subscriptions. And if you’re already a subscriber to Apple Music, Apple News+, or an eligible third-party app, its subscriber content plays right in Podcasts.

The Search tab in the Podcasts app, showing podcast categories. Toward the bottom of the screen is the MiniPlayer. Below that are the Home, New, Library, and Search buttons.

Find podcasts

  1. Open the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Do any of the following:

    • Search by category, title, person, or topic: Tap the Search button and then enter a word or phrase in the search field. Top hits appear as you type. Tap the Search button on the onscreen keyboard to view all results for the word or phrase you entered. Tap a show, channel, or episode to go directly to it.
    • Discover new shows: Tap New to see new and trending shows, and the Apple editorial collections. Or tap Search and get a personalized list of categories to choose from, as well as editorial collections.

      Tip: To quickly see the top shows and episodes for a specific category, tap Top Charts, tap the All Categories pop-up menu in the top-right corner, then tap a category.

    • Add shows by URL: Tap Library, tap the More button, and tap Follow a Show by URL. Enter the URL, then tap Follow.

      Note: The URL must be for a valid podcast RSS feed.

Find episodes within a show

  1. Open the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Search or browse for a show.
  3. Tap the show and then do any of the following:
    • Browse episodes: Scroll down to see recent episodes (or tap See All Episodes, if available).
    • Search for a specific episode: Scroll down and then tap See All Episodes. Tap the search field near the top of the screen and then enter a word or phrase. Suggested results appear as you type. To view all results, tap the Search button on the keyboard.

Filter episodes

  1. Open the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Search or browse for a show.
  3. Tap the show. Then tap the Filter button (available only if the show has Video or Subscriber-Only episodes).
  4. Choose one or more filters, such as All Episodes or Video.

Note: More filter options, such as Unplayed, Saved, or Downloaded, show up when you follow the show or add one or more of its episodes to your Library. If you don’t see them, follow the show and check the filters again. By default, shows you follow are filtered to Unplayed episodes, so remove that filter to see every episode. Filter changes you make for a followed show stay until you change them again, and they never stop you from finding any episode of the show using search.

Sort episodes

  1. Open the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Search or browse for a show.
  3. Tap the show, tap the More button, and then tap Sort.
  4. Choose Sort Newest to Oldest or Sort Oldest to Newest.

View podcasts shared with you

If a friend shares a show or episode with you in Messages, it’s easy to find in Podcasts.

  1. Open the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Home. Then scroll down to the Shared with You section.

If you don’t see Shared with You, check to make sure your friend is in your contacts, and that Podcasts is turned on in Settings > Apps > Messages > Shared with You.

Get personalized recommendations

Personalized podcast recommendations are available based on your favorite channels and categories and your watching and listening activity.

  1. Open the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Home.
  3. Do any of the following:
    • View recommended shows: Scroll left or right in the You Might Like row.
    • Refine your show recommendations: Tap a show in the You Might Like row, tap the More button, and tap Suggest Less.
    • View suggested episodes based on your watching and listening: Scroll down to the More to Discover row. Scroll left or right.
    • Opt out of personalized recommendations: Tap the My Account button or your profile picture, tap your name, and then turn off Personalized Recommendations.

Note: Your Personalized Recommendations setting applies to the App Store, Apple Books, and iTunes Store too, as well as Apple TV and subscriptions from Apple. You can also get other recommendations based on categories you watch and listen to, plus any subscriptions you already purchased.

Tag: Podcasts
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How to log your state of mind with Journal on iPhone

by Abigail Shilets

You can log your state of mind in the Journal app. The time you spend journaling can even be added automatically as mindful minutes in the Health app.

As you reflect on how you’re feeling, you can log your momentary emotions, and your state of mind is added to Health, where you can review its history over time. And the Health app can access your state of mind and mindful minutes, too, if you allow it.

Here’s how to journal for your wellbeing on iPhone.

A screen in the Journal app showing an entry with a section at the bottom where you can log your state of mind.

Log your state of mind

Your journal is a place to log your momentary emotions and reflect on how you’re feeling.

  1. Start the Journal app on your iPhone.
  2. While composing an entry, tap the More button above the keyboard. Then tap the Add State of Mind button.

You may be asked to turn on Health access.

  1. Drag the slider to indicate how you’re feeling and then tap the Next button.
  2. Tap any words that describe how you’re feeling, swipe up to see more words, and then tap the Next button.
  3. Tap any words that describe what’s having the biggest impact on you. Then tap the Done button.

Your state of mind is added to Health. There, you can review its history over time.

Allow the Health app to access your state of mind and mindful minutes

The Health app can automatically log your journaling time as mindful minutes.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apps and tap Journal.
  3. Tap Health Access, then turn on Mindful Minutes and State of Mind.
Tag: Journal
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How to change settings in CarPlay

by Moses Johnson

In Settings in CarPlay, you can change the wallpaper, turn on Driving Focus, change how CarPlay looks on the display, turn suggestions in CarPlay Dashboard on or off, and show or hide album art.

Driving Focus is the one to know about. With Driving Focus on while your iPhone is connected to CarPlay, notifications and text messages are silenced or limited, so you can stay focused on the road while you drive.

Use the Driving Focus with CarPlay

To help you stay focused on the road, Driving Focus silences or limits notifications and text messages while it’s on and your iPhone is connected to CarPlay.

  1. Open Settings in CarPlay using your vehicle’s built-in controls.

    Note: If you’re viewing CarPlay Dashboard and Settings doesn’t appear in the recent apps list on the left, tap the Home button to see pages of all of your CarPlay apps, including Settings.

  2. Go to Driving Focus, then select Activate With CarPlay.

If you receive a Driving Focus notification when you’re not driving (for example, when you’re a passenger) you can turn it off—tap the notification, then tap “I’m not driving.”

Switch the appearance of CarPlay

CarPlay is set to dark appearance by default in most vehicles. If you prefer to have CarPlay automatically switch between dark and light appearance, do the following:

  1. Open Settings in CarPlay using your vehicle’s built-in controls.
  2. Select Appearance.
  3. Select Always Dark.

At night and in other low-light environments, the dark appearance is optimized for viewing.

Change the wallpaper in CarPlay

Open Settings in CarPlay using your vehicle’s built-in controls, select Wallpaper, then choose one of the available options.

Hide or show suggestions on CarPlay Dashboard

Open Settings in CarPlay using your vehicle’s built-in controls, then turn Suggestions in CarPlay off or on.

Hide or show album art

Open Settings in CarPlay using your vehicle’s built-in controls, then turn Show Album Art off or on.

Capture screenshots from CarPlay

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General, then tap Screen Capture.
  3. Turn on CarPlay Screenshots.
  4. While connected to CarPlay, take a screenshot with iPhone to also capture a screenshot of CarPlay.
Tag: carplay
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How to automatically install Background Security Improvements on iPhone

by Abigail Shilets

Background Security Improvements provides additional protection to your iPhone in between software updates. With Automatic Install on, these security improvements install on your iPhone on their own. In rare instances of compatibility issues, they may be temporarily removed, then installed in a future software update.

Important: In rare instances of compatibility issues, these security improvements may be temporarily removed and then installed in a future software update.

Turn on Automatic Install for Background Security Improvements

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Background Security Improvements, then turn on Automatically Install.

Learn more about Background Security Improvements

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Background Security Improvements, then tap Learn More.

Tag: Privacy & Security
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How to check your headphone audio levels on iPhone

by Emily Long

While using headphones with iPhone, you can check the audio level by viewing the Hearing control in Control Center. In the Health app, you can review the history of your headphone listening habits.

If you listen to loud headphone audio long enough to affect your hearing, iPhone automatically sends you a notification that you should turn down the volume. The next time you plug in your headphones or connect them using Bluetooth®, your volume is automatically set to a lower level, though you can turn it up again if you choose.

Here’s how to check your headphone audio levels on iPhone.

Quick tip: You can review the details of any headphone notification in Health. Tap Browse at the bottom right, tap Hearing, and then tap Headphone Notifications.

Check your headphone levels while you listen

Control Center is where you can view your live headphone levels.

  1. Open Control Center.
  2. Tap the Add button at the top left of Control Center and then tap Add a Control.
  3. Scroll down to Hearing Accessibility, then tap Hearing.
  4. Tap the Hearing Devices button in Control Center.

The Headphone Level meter displays your headphones’ audio level in decibels.

Note: Tap Live Listen (below the Headphone Level meter) to turn it on or off. Typically, you won’t use it at the same time as headphone level monitoring, since the Headphone Level monitor is for listening to audio playback, while Live Listen is for listening to external sounds with the iPhone microphone.

Check your headphone levels over time

  1. Start the Health app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Browse and then tap Hearing.
  3. Tap Headphone Audio Levels and then do any of the following:
    • See exposure levels over a period of time: Tap the tabs at the top of the screen. (All levels are measured in decibels.)
    • Learn about the sound level classifications: Tap the Show Information button.
    • Change the time span displayed in the graph: Swipe the graph left or right.
    • Display highlights: Scroll down to Highlights and then tap Show All.

To learn more about your headphone audio levels, tap Show More Data.

Reduce loud headphone sounds

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Sounds & Haptics, scroll down, and then tap Headphone Safety.
  3. Turn on Reduce Loud Audio, then drag the slider.

By analyzing your headphone audio, iPhone reduces any sound above the level you set.

The Headphone Safety screen, showing the number of headphone notifications sent in the last 6 months, the Reduce Loud Audio option, a slider for changing the maximum decibel level, and the selected decibel limit of 85 decibels.

Note: You can prevent family members from changing the Reduce Loud Sounds level if you’ve set up Screen Time for them. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Reduce Loud Sounds, and select Don’t Allow.

Get headphone audio notifications

Headphone notifications appear on the Summary screen of the Health app.

Note: Depending on your country or region, Headphone Notifications may be turned on by default, and in some countries or regions, you may not be able to turn it off. If allowed in your country or region, you can do the following:

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Sounds & Haptics, then tap Headphone Safety.
  3. Turn Headphone Notifications on or off.

The Settings app can also set a maximum decibel level to keep your headphone audio at a comfortable level.

With Apple or Beats headphones, headphone audio measurements are most accurate. For other headphones, the audio played through them can be estimated based on your iPhone’s volume.

Tag: AirPods
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How to create passes in Wallet on iPhone

by Tyler Stephen

You can make your own passes from a physical card, photo, or screenshot, which is useful for membership and loyalty cards that have a barcode or QR code but no digital pass, like a library card or gym membership.

With Apple Intelligence, you can create a pass straight from a photo or screenshot that includes the barcode or QR code. Without it, you can still create a pass manually in the Wallet app.

Make a pass from a photo or screenshot

You can create a pass with a barcode or QR code using Apple Intelligence.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or iPhone 16 model or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*

  1. Take a photo or screenshot that includes the barcode or QR code.
  2. Tap Add to Wallet, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Quick tip: Tap View Original Photo to see the image after the pass is created.

Manually create a pass

  1. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Add Card button. Tap Create a Pass.
  3. Tap Create Pass Manually, then choose a template.
  4. To edit the details, tap any of the fields.
  5. When you’re done, tap the Done button.

Edit a pass

  1. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the pass and tap the More button. Tap Edit Pass.

    A Wallet screen showing a custom pass with editable fields.

  3. Do any of the following:

    • Change the background and color: Tap the Paint Palette button.
    • Add or remove fields: Tap the Edit button, tap Add or Remove Fields, and select the fields.
    • Edit the details: Tap the fields.
  4. When you’re done, 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.

Tag: Wallet
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How to lock iPhone to one app with Guided Access

by Kevin Hollington

With Guided Access, you can temporarily restrict iPhone to a single app. This can be useful for parents, teachers, and caregivers, or when you want to stay focused on a task. You can set a time limit, and customize which features, hardware buttons, and areas of the screen are available.

You decide how a session ends, too. You can end a Guided Access session with a passcode, or with Face ID or Touch ID.

Here’s how to lock iPhone to one app with Guided Access.

An iPhone screen showing Guided Access being set up. iPhone is being temporarily locked to just the Calculator app, and one of the buttons in the app has been disabled.

Set up Guided Access

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Accessibility, tap Guided Access, and turn on Guided Access.
  3. Do any of the following for Guided Access sessions:
    • End a session with a passcode: Tap Passcode Settings, tap Set Guided Access Passcode, and enter a passcode.
    • End a session with Face ID or Touch ID: Tap Passcode Settings. Turn on Face ID (on an iPhone with Face ID) or Touch ID (on other iPhone models).
    • Play a sound to announce time limits: Tap Time Limits, tap Sound, and then select a sound or tap Tone Store to browse other options.
    • Hear time limits spoken: Tap Time Limits. Turn on Speak to hear the time remaining before a Guided Access session ends.
    • Allow Accessibility Shortcut during a session: Turn on Accessibility Shortcut.
    • Set how long it takes iPhone to lock automatically: Tap Display Auto-Lock, then select an option.

Start a Guided Access session

  1. Go to the app you want to use.
  2. To turn on Guided Access, do one of the following:
    • Siri: Ask Siri something like, “Turn on Guided Access.”
    • Use Control Center if you’ve added Guided Access there.
    • Use the Accessibility Shortcut.
  3. Circle any areas of the screen you want to disable. Drag the mask into position or use the handles to adjust its size.
  4. Tap Session Settings and then turn on or off any of the following:
    • Side Button
    • Volume Buttons
    • Motion (to prevent iPhone from switching from portrait to landscape or from responding to other motions)
    • Software Keyboards
    • Touch
    • Time Limit
  5. Tap Done and tap Start.

Important: Crash Detection and Emergency Services aren’t available while using Guided Access. Exit Guided Access to use Crash Detection or to make emergency calls.

End a Guided Access session

To end a Guided Access session, you’ll enter your Guided Access passcode or use Face ID, depending on which passcode options you chose when you set up Guided Access.

  • Use the passcode: Triple-click the side button (on an iPhone with Face ID) or Home button (on other iPhone models), then enter your Guided Access passcode.
  • Use Face ID or Touch ID: If you turned on the Face ID or Touch ID option in Guided Access Passcode Settings, triple-click the side button or Home button, then unlock your iPhone with Face ID or Touch ID (depending on your iPhone model).
Tag: accessibility
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How to organize places with custom guides in Maps on iPhone

by Abigail Shilets

You can organize places into your own guides for easy reference, and you can share your guides with others.

There’s always one guide to start with. A guide called Favorites always appears in your guides, which makes it easier for you to save places. From there, you can create a guide, add places to it, edit it, or remove it.

Here’s how to organize places with custom guides in Maps on iPhone.

A list of several custom guides in Maps, including a Favorites category, and the New Guide button at the bottom right.

See your favorites

Your guides always include a guide called Favorites.

It makes saving places to a guide easier for you.

  1. Start the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Your Guides, then tap Favorites.

Quick tip: To see certain places in your Places whenever you open Maps, you can pin any places you like.

Create a guide

  1. Start the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Your Guides. Tap the Add to List button.
  3. Enter a name for the guide and then tap the Add Image button to add an image from your photo library (optional).
  4. Tap the Done button.

Add a place to a guide

  1. Start the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap a place on the map or a search result.
  3. In the place card, tap the More button, then tap Add to Guides.
  4. Choose one of your guides and tap the Done button.

You can save Publisher Guides to your guides, too.

Share a guide

  1. Start the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Your Guides. Tap the guide you want to share.
  3. Tap the Share button, then choose an option.

Edit a guide that you created

  1. Start the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Your Guides, then tap the guide you want to edit.
  3. Tap the Edit button. Then rename it or do any of the following:
    • Choose a cover image: Tap the Change Image button, tap another image, and tap Choose.
    • Remove places: Tap to select the places you want to delete from the guide and then tap the Delete button.
  4. Tap the Done button.

Remove a guide

  1. Start the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Your Guides, tap the More button on the guide you want to remove, tap Delete from Places, and then tap Delete.
Tag: Maps
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