Got a tip for us?

iPhone

The iPhone is a smartphone from Apple that runs the iOS mobile operating system. Between its apps, communication features, the camera, mobile internet access, and other functionalities, the iPhone has quickly become an integral part of many peoples tech lives.

How to share your estimated time of arrival in Maps on iPhone

by Stacey Butler

While you’re following driving, cycling, or walking directions, you can share your estimated time of arrival (ETA) to let friends and family know when you’re likely to arrive.

Your ETA updates automatically if there are major delays, so you don’t have to send follow-up messages along the way. You can share your ETA with more than one contact, and even ask Siri to share it.

Here’s how to share your estimated time of arrival in Maps on iPhone.

Note: Not all features are available in all countries or regions.

Share your estimated time of arrival (ETA)

Siri: Ask Siri something like, “Share my ETA.”

Or without using Siri:

  1. Start the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. Search for the place you want to go and then tap Go.
  3. Tap the route card at the bottom of the screen. Then tap Share ETA.

    If you don’t see Share ETA, make sure you turned it on in Settings > Apps > Maps.

  4. Choose one or more suggested contacts, or tap Open Contacts to find a contact.
  5. To share your ETA with more contacts, tap Sharing with at the bottom of the screen. Then tap Open Contacts.

The Messages, Find My, and Contacts apps can share your ETA with others, too.

Stop sharing your ETA

  1. Start the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. Open the route card for a trip in progress.
  3. Tap Sharing with at the bottom of the screen. Then tap Stop Sharing ETA below each contact’s name.

Automatically share your ETA to a pin

If you add a contact to a pinned place in your Places, they’ll automatically receive your ETA each time you start turn-by-turn navigation to that location.

  1. Start the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Places, then tap Pinned.
  3. Tap the Information button and tap Add Person.
  4. Search for a contact, tap to add them and then tap the Done button.
  5. Tap the pinned location. Then tap Go to start sharing your ETA.

Your location, route, and ETA stay viewable until you arrive.

Turn off ETA sharing

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apps, then tap Maps.
  3. Scroll down, then turn off Share ETA.

Note: Standard carrier data and text rates may apply.

If they’re using iOS 13.1, iPadOS 13.1, or later, people get a Maps notification with your ETA and can track your progress in Maps.

On earlier versions, the notification comes through iMessage.

People on other mobile devices get an SMS message.

If you’re near the person you’re looking for and you both have a supported model, Find My can give you precise directions to each other’s location.

Tag: Maps
Show Full Article

How to manage weather notifications on iPhone

by Chris Smith

On your iPhone, you can receive notifications when precipitation or certain severe weather events are forecasted in your current location. You can also receive notifications for locations you saved in your list.

For the most accurate notifications for your current location, turn on Precise Location for the Weather app and set its location access to Always. You can even get weather notifications for a suggested location.

Here’s how to manage weather notifications on iPhone.

Note: Weather notifications aren’t available in all countries or regions.

Turn on Precise Location

Turning on Precise Location gives you more accurate notifications for your current location.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Privacy & Security and then tap Location Services.
  3. Tap Weather, then tap Always.
  4. Turn on Precise Location.

Get weather notifications

  1. Open the Weather app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Location List button to display your list.
  3. Tap the More button, then tap Notifications.
    If prompted, allow notifications from the Weather app.
    If prompted, below Current Location, tap Go to Settings, then change location access to Always.
  4. Do any of the following:

    • Get notified about the weather at your current location: Below Current Location, turn on Severe Weather and Next-Hour Precipitation.
    • Get notified about weather in other locations: Below Your Locations, tap a location, then turn on Severe Weather and Next-Hour Precipitation.
  5. Tap the Done button.

Get weather notifications for a suggested location

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Privacy & Security, tap Location Services, and tap System Services.
  3. Tap Significant Locations & Routes. Then turn on Significant Locations & Routes.
  4. Tap the Back button four times to return to Settings.
  5. Tap Apps, then tap Weather.
  6. Tap Location and select Always.
  7. Tap the Back button. Turn on Suggested Locations (below Locations).
  8. Open the Weather app.
  9. Tap the Location List button, tap the More button, and tap Notifications.
  10. Below Suggested Locations, turn on notifications for Severe Weather.

With Smart Rotate and Widget Suggestions turned on in a widget stack, Weather widgets can also display conditions at locations significant to you.

Tag: Weather
Show Full Article

How to connect iPhone to Bluetooth accessories

by Dave Johnson

You can connect your iPhone to Bluetooth® accessories to stream music and videos, play games, connect to keyboards, and more.

iPhone must be within about 33 feet (10 meters) of the accessory to pair, and you might need to enter its PIN or passcode, which you’ll find in the instructions that came with it. After you connect, you can rename the accessory, unpair it, or disconnect it.

Here’s how to connect iPhone to Bluetooth accessories.

Pair your iPhone with a Bluetooth accessory

  1. Put your Bluetooth accessory in discovery mode. If you aren’t sure how to make it discoverable, check the instructions that came with your accessory.
  2. On your iPhone, open Settings and then tap Bluetooth and make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
  3. Tap the name of the accessory when it appears onscreen, below the devices list.
    You might need to enter the accessory PIN or passcode. Check the instructions that came with your accessory.

Note: To pair, keep iPhone within about 33 feet (10 meters) of the Bluetooth accessory.

Rename a Bluetooth accessory

Once you connect to a Bluetooth accessory, you can rename it.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Bluetooth and tap the Info button next to the accessory you want to rename.
  3. Tap Name and enter a new name for the accessory. Tap the Done button.

Note: Not all Bluetooth accessories support renaming.

Unpair a Bluetooth accessory

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Bluetooth, tap the Info button next to the accessory you want to unpair, and then tap Forget This Device.
  3. Tap Forget Device to confirm.

Don’t see the devices list? Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.

Note: When you unpair AirPods, other devices where you’re signed in to your Apple Account automatically unpair them too.

Disconnect from all Bluetooth accessories

If you need to quickly disconnect your iPhone from all Bluetooth accessories and devices without turning Bluetooth off, open Control Center, then tap the Bluetooth button. Your Bluetooth accessories and devices disconnect from your iPhone until the next day.

Note: The use of certain accessories with iPhone may affect wireless performance. Not all iOS or iPadOS accessories are fully compatible with iPhone. Turning on Airplane Mode may eliminate audio interference between iPhone and an accessory. Reorienting or relocating iPhone and the connected accessory may improve wireless performance.

Tag: Bluetooth
Show Full Article

How to log a pregnancy in Health on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

When you log a pregnancy in the Health app, you can view your gestational age and log the symptoms frequently experienced during pregnancy. The Health app on iPhone and the Cycle Tracking app on Apple Watch can help you to better understand your data during pregnancy, and both apps make adjustments and recommendations to reflect changes in your physical and mental health.

You can also view the pregnancy cycle timeline and edit your pregnancy details.

Here’s how to log a pregnancy in Health on iPhone.

The Cycle Tracking screen with a pregnancy timeline for a week at the top of the screen. Light green ovals and purple dots mark 5 days on the timeline. Dashed light green ovals mark the other days on the timeline. Below the timeline is the pregnancy summary showing the gestational age, start date, and estimated due date. Below the pregnancy summary are options to add information about bleeding during pregnancy, symptoms, and more.

Log a pregnancy

  1. Start the Health app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Browse, then tap Cycle Tracking.
  3. Scroll down and tap Factors. Then tap the Add button.
  4. Tap Pregnancy, then tap Begin.
  5. Do one of the following:
    • Log the first day of your last period: Tap Last Menstrual Period.
    • Log an estimated due date: Tap Estimated Due Date.
    • Log how far along the pregnancy is in weeks: Tap Estimated Gestational Age.
    • Log when the embryo was transferred during IVF: Tap Embryo Transfer Date.

Note: To log a previous pregnancy, tap Log a Past Pregnancy.

  1. Tap Next, follow the onscreen instructions and tap Next.
  2. Tap Next and then do the following:
    • Turn on mental health questionnaire reminders (optional): Tap Turn On Notifications.
    • Add your pregnancy to your Medical ID (optional): Tap Turn On Notifications.
    • Review your medication information: Tap Learn More below a medication to learn about any potential impact on your pregnancy and tap Next.
  3. Review the Cycle Timeline and tap Done.

Note: You can also log a pregnancy in your Health Details. Tap Summary, tap your picture or initials, tap Health Details, then tap Set Up Pregnancy in Cycle Tracking.

While logging a pregnancy, you get a variety of recommendations of notifications that should be turned on or off during and after pregnancy:

  • Walking Steadiness: Recommended to be turned on. Walking Steadiness can alert you more quickly during your third trimester, when the risk of falling can increase.
  • High Heart Rate (Apple Watch only): If your high heart rate notification threshold is set below 120 beats per minute (bpm), you’re asked to review and adjust it.
  • Cardio Fitness (Apple Watch only): Cardio Fitness notifications are recommended to be turned off during and until 12 weeks after the end of your pregnancy.

Log bleeding and other symptoms

  1. Start the Health app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Browse, then tap Cycle Tracking.
  3. Swipe to select a day. Do any of the following:

    • Log bleeding: Tap Bleeding During Pregnancy, tap Had Bleeding, select a bleeding level, and then tap Done.

      Note: When you log bleeding during your pregnancy, you receive a notification recommending that you contact your doctor or care team.

    • Log symptoms or other information: Swipe the timeline to select a day, tap a category (below Other Data), supply the information, and then tap Done.

To add categories to the data logging screen, tap Options next to Log, then choose from the categories below Log.

View the pregnancy cycle timeline

Tap Browse, then tap Cycle Tracking.

A timeline at the top of the screen shows these icons.

Icon Description
A light green oval A day you logged a pregnancy.
A dashed light green oval A future day where you may still be pregnant.
A dark green oval The day of your estimated due date.

To select different days, swipe the timeline.

Edit your pregnancy details

  1. Start the Health app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Browse, then tap Cycle Tracking.
  3. Tap the Pregnancy area, then do any of the following:
    • Change the estimation method: Tap Change and tap an estimation method.
    • Edit your estimation method: Tap a field to make a change.
    • Delete your pregnancy information: Tap Delete Factor from Health.
  4. When you’re finished, tap the Done button.

About your health data and privacy

Apple says the information you add about yourself in Health is yours to use and share. You can decide what information is stored in Health as well as who can access your data.

If you choose to add a pregnancy to Medical ID, your pregnancy status will be accessible on the Lock Screen if Show When Locked is turned on. Your pregnancy status will also be shared with first responders during an emergency call if Share During Emergency Call is turned on. You can change your Medical ID settings at any time by going to your Health app Profile. You can remove or update your pregnancy status in Medical ID if your status changes.

When your iPhone is locked with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode, all of your health and fitness data in Health, other than your Medical ID, is encrypted. Any health data synced to iCloud is encrypted both in transit and on Apple servers. And if you have a version of iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS (if you’re using iPad and Apple Watch for cycle tracking) with default two-factor authentication and a passcode, your health and activity data is stored in a way that Apple can’t read it.

This means that when you use the Cycle Tracking feature and two-factor authentication, your health data synced to iCloud is encrypted end to end, and Apple doesn’t have the key to decrypt the data and therefore cannot read it.

Tag: Health
Show Full Article

How to use Image Wand with Apple Intelligence on iPhone

by Dave Johnson

With Apple Intelligence, you can use Image Wand in the Notes app to create images based on rough sketches you create. You can also select empty space to create an image based on words and images from the surrounding area.

Nothing’s lost, either. All the elements used to create an image are saved, so you can modify, add, or remove elements in an existing image.

Here’s how to use Image Wand with Apple Intelligence on iPhone.

The Image Wand window showing a created image of a train.

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.*

Create an image from a rough sketch

  1. Start the Notes app on your iPhone.
  2. Open an existing note or tap the New Note button to start a new note.
  3. Tap the Handwriting Tools button and then create a sketch.
  4. Tap the Image Wand button, circle your sketch. Then do any of the following:
    • Add a new element: Enter a description and then tap the Send button.
    • Modify an element: Tap a description, edit the text and then tap the Send button.
    • Remove an element: Tap the Delete button.
    • Change the style: Tap Style to choose a different style—Any Style, Animation, Illustration, or Sketch. Note: If you choose Any Style, you can describe the style you want as part of your image description.
  5. When you’re finished, tap the Done button.

Create an image from surrounding content

Apple Intelligence can create images based on the words and images around it.

  1. Start the Notes app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a note, scroll to the bottom, tap the Handwriting Tools button, and then tap the Image Wand.
  3. Circle an area below the content you want to illustrate.

Refine an existing image

Image Wand saves every element used to create an image, including sketches, descriptions, and surrounding content. That means you can modify, add, or remove elements in an existing image later.

  1. Tap a created image.
  2. Tap the Image Playground button.

    The image shows the elements used to create it.

  3. Tap an element to change it, or enter a new description to transform the background, change the style, or add something entirely new.
  4. When you’re finished, tap the Done button.

You can block access to image creation features, like Image Wand, in Screen Time settings.

The recommended age for realistic images is 18+, Apple says.

*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: Apple Intelligence
Show Full Article

iPhone speech accessibility features: Live Speech, Personal Voice, and more

by Tyler Stephen

The accessibility features for speech on iPhone are built-in tools for communicating in the way that works best for you, whether you’re nonspeaking, at risk of speech loss, or someone with a speech disability. You can have what you type spoken out loud, create a synthesized voice that sounds like you, and more.

You can even control iPhone with your voice, using spoken commands or simple sounds like an S-sound or a mouth pop. Siri can also wait longer for you to finish speaking, and Dictation lets you enter text using just your voice.

To explore accessibility features for speech on an iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility, then scroll down to the Speech section.

Type to speak

  • Live Speech: If you’re unable to speak or you have a speech disability, type what you want to say and have iPhone speak it.
  • Personal Voice: If you’re at risk of losing your ability to speak, create a synthesized voice that sounds like you.
  • Type to Siri: Type your Siri requests instead of speaking them.

Control iPhone with your voice

  • Use voice commands: Speak commands to navigate and interact with what’s on the screen, dictate and edit text, and more.
  • Use simple sounds: You can use voiced or voiceless sounds—like an S-sound or a mouth pop—to navigate and interact with what’s on the screen.
  • Vocal Shortcuts: Have iPhone perform an action when you speak a word or another sound of your choosing.
  • Have Siri listen for atypical speech: If you have an acquired or progressive condition that affects speech, have Siri recognize a wider range of atypical speech patterns.

Siri can also wait longer for you to finish speaking. And with Dictation, you can enter text using just your voice.

Quick tip: Your go-to accessibility features and settings are a button click away, or you can control them from Control Center.

Tag: accessibility
Show Full Article

How to identify objects in your photos and videos on iPhone

by Chris Smith

With Visual Look Up on your iPhone, you can identify and learn about architectural landmarks, popular statues, famous art, plants, pets, books, and more that appear in photos and images. It can also identify food and suggest related recipes, and you can use it in Photos, Safari, Quick Look, and more.

A starred Info button tells you Visual Look Up has something to show you, and it works with a paused video frame, too. It isn’t available in all regions or languages, though.

A photo is open in the Photos app library. At the bottom of the screen, the Info button displays an icon indicating that Visual Look Up information is available.

  1. On your iPhone, open a photo or image in full screen, or pause a video on any frame.
    If the Info button displays a symbol with stars such as the Detected Food Info button or the Detected Dog Info button, Visual Look Up is available.
  2. Tap the starred Info button and then tap Look Up at the top of the photo information to view the Visual Look Up results.
  3. Tap the Close button to close the Visual Look Up results and swipe down on the photo or video frame to close the photo information.

Visual Look Up isn’t available in all regions or languages, Apple says.

Tag: Photos
Show Full Article

How to hand off a FaceTime call from your iPhone to your other Apple devices

by Tyler Stephen

You can start a FaceTime call on your iPhone and move the call to another device where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account. With Continuity Camera and Mic, you can also use iPhone as a webcam and microphone for FaceTime calls on your Mac or Apple TV 4K.

During a FaceTime call, the call can move from your iPhone to your iPad, your Mac, or Apple TV 4K. Your selected contact information for the call must match on both devices, though.

Note: The device you want to hand off to needs the same selected contact information in its FaceTime settings as your call uses, which is shown in Settings > Apps > FaceTime.

Hand off a FaceTime call from iPhone to iPad or Mac

You can hand off a FaceTime call on your iPhone to your iPad or Mac while you’re on it. This requires iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13, or later, and you also need to be signed in to the same Apple Account on both devices.

  1. During a call in the FaceTime app on your iPhone, do one of the following on the other device:
    • Tap the notification with the suggestion “Move call to this [device].”
    • Tap the FaceTime video call button or the Call button at the top of the screen.
  2. Tap Switch or Join and tap Switch or Join to confirm.

The call moves to the new device. On the original device, a banner appears confirming that the call was continued elsewhere, along with a Switch button, which you can tap if you want to bring the call back.

Hand off a FaceTime call from your iPhone to Apple TV 4K

If both devices are signed in to the same Apple Account, you can start or receive a FaceTime call on your iPhone, then hand off the call to Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later) and its larger screen. After you hand off the call, Apple TV 4K takes it over, and your iPhone serves as a webcam and microphone for Apple TV 4K until the call ends. To use Continuity Camera with Apple TV 4K, you need iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or later, and Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later).

Tag: FaceTime
Show Full Article

How to report spam and block senders in Messages on iPhone

by Stacey Butler

On an iPhone, you can report spam messages to Apple, recover messages from the Spam folder that were incorrectly marked as spam, and block specific contacts to stop receiving their messages.

What happens to a report depends on how the message arrived. With SMS, MMS, or RCS, reporting spam can share that information with your carrier and its affiliates, depending on your carrier and country or region. You can also check who you blocked.

A conversation list in Messages. All messages are shown, because no filter is selected in the Filter menu.

Report spam messages

With iMessage, you can report spam messages to Apple. Spam that arrives with SMS, MMS, or RCS is different: Depending on your carrier and country or region, reporting it shares this information with your carrier and its affiliates.

  1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • If you haven’t opened the message: Swipe left on the message, tap the Delete button, and tap Delete and Report Spam.
    • If you’ve already opened the message: A Report Spam link appears at the bottom of any message from any unknown sender. Tap Report Spam and tap Delete and Report Spam.
      Note: You can’t report a message after you’ve replied to it.
    • If you don’t see the option to report spam messages you receive with SMS, MMS, or RCS: Contact your carrier.

Report a message you received with iMessage, and it’s sent to Apple with the sender’s information, then permanently deleted from your iPhone. If you report and delete messages by accident, you can recover them. Since reporting spam doesn’t stop the sender from sending messages, block the contact if you want to avoid receiving their messages. And if you’d rather not get incoming messages from new numbers, you can filter them.

Recover messages in the Spam folder

Detected spam lands in the spam folder, so it doesn’t appear in your conversation list. You can check whether messages are inadvertently marked as spam.

  1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. In the conversation list, tap the Filter button. Tap Spam.
  3. Tap a message that isn’t spam and tap Not Spam. Tap Move to Messages.

The conversation moves to your main conversation list, where you can send a reply. Tap the Filter button, then tap Messages.

Spam filtering is on by default. To turn it on or off, tap the Filter button, tap Manage Filtering, then turn on or off “Filter spam.”

Block messages from a specific person or phone number

Messages from a contact or phone number you block aren’t delivered, and the sender doesn’t know their messages are blocked.

Note: Blocking a contact in Messages blocks them in Mail, Phone, FaceTime, Calendar, and other apps, too.

  1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. Go to the conversation with the person you want to block and tap the person’s icon at the top.
  3. Tap Info and scroll down. Tap Block Contact.

You can remove someone’s access to shared items.

Quick tip: Since you can’t block a group conversation, you can simply leave it or stop its notifications instead of blocking everyone in the group.

Check who you blocked

Not getting someone’s messages? Check whether they’re in your Blocked Contacts. Blocking a contact in Messages also blocks them in Mail, Phone, FaceTime, Calendar, and other apps.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Privacy & Security, tap Blocked Contacts, and do any of the following:
    • Unblock a number you’ve blocked: Tap [number] Unknown and swipe left on a number in the list. Then tap Unblock. Or tap Edit, then tap the Remove button.
    • Add additional contacts or numbers directly to the list: Tap Add Blocked Contact.

A sender can’t find out if they’re blocked.

Quick tip: Screen Time offers another way to prevent unwanted messages: When you block messages with it, allow your contacts only.

Tag: Messages
Show Full Article

How to edit an image in Preview on iPhone

by Emily Long

On an iPhone, you can crop, rotate, or flip an image in Preview. You can also remove the background or adjust the image size.

To rotate the image, you can choose Rotate Left or Rotate Right, and to flip the image, there’s Flip Horizontally or Flip Vertically. The Remove Background option appears only when Preview finds a subject, such as a person, animal, or object. You can also undo a change if you make one you don’t want.

Crop an image

  1. Open the Preview app on your iPhone.
  2. Open an image.
  3. Tap the Crop button.
  4. Drag the blue handles to select an area and then tap Crop. (If Crop doesn’t appear, tap within the selected area.)

Rotate or flip an image

  1. Open the Preview app on your iPhone.
  2. Open an image.
  3. Do any of the following:
    • Rotate the image: Tap the More button. Choose Rotate Left or Rotate Right.
    • Flip the image: Tap the More button and then choose Flip Horizontally or Flip Vertically.

Remove the background from an image

  1. Open the Preview app on your iPhone.
  2. Open an image.
  3. Tap the More button, then tap Remove Background.

Note: You’ll only see the Remove Background option if Preview detects a subject in the image, such as a person, animal, or object.

Adjust the size of an image

  1. Open the Preview app on your iPhone.
  2. Open an image.
  3. Tap the More button, then tap Adjust Size. Choose options, then tap Done.

To undo a change, tap the More button, then tap Undo.

Tag: Preview
Show Full Article