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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.

You can share places with others. For example, you can send a message or email to show people where to meet you. A place on the map or a search result can be shared from the top of its place card, and you can even send your current location without opening Maps.

Quick tip: Sharing your current location doesn’t require opening Maps. Touch and hold the Maps icon on the Home Screen and tap Send My Location.

  1. Open the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap a place on the map or a search result.
  3. Tap the Share button (at the top of the place card) and choose an option.

You can also touch and hold the place, then tap Share Location.

Tag: Maps

You can keep adding photos and videos after you set up or join an iCloud Shared Photo Library in the Photos app. Keep in mind that content you move there leaves your personal library and becomes visible to all participants. There are several ways to add more:

  • Manually move photos from your personal library
  • Save photos and videos you take directly to the shared library from Camera
  • Share photos you take when other members of the shared library are nearby
  • Share photos and videos you take at home

Note: iCloud Shared Photo Library needs iOS 16.1, iPadOS 16.1, macOS 13, or later. If a device runs an earlier version of the software, it won’t have the photos and videos added to a shared library.

Manually add photos and videos to an iCloud Shared Photo Library

From your personal library, you can add individual photos and videos to the iCloud Shared Photo Library.

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the photo or video you want to add. Or to add multiple photos and videos at the same time, tap Select. Tap the thumbnails you want to add.
  3. Tap the More button. Then tap Move to Shared Library.

Quick tip: The Photos app can suggest photos and videos for your Shared Library. To see them, tap Collections , tap your account in the top-right corner, and then tap For Your Shared Library.

After content is moved to the shared library, it’s no longer in your personal library and it’s visible to all of the shared library participants. To move content from the shared library back to your personal library, follow the steps above, but tap Move to Personal Library instead of Move to Shared Library.

Add photos and videos to an iCloud Shared Photo Library directly from Camera

Camera saves to your personal library by default. Once you set up or join an iCloud Shared Photo Library, though, a Shared Library button appears at the top of the screen when you open Camera, so you can switch between saving photos and videos to your personal library or to the shared library.

To switch, tap the Personal Library button to save to the shared library; tap the Shared Library button to switch back to your personal library.

To turn the feature on or off after you complete the setup process, go to Settings > Apps > Photos > Shared Library > Sharing from Camera, then turn Sharing from Camera on or off.

Add photos and videos to an iCloud Shared Photo Library when participants are nearby

There’s an option to automatically add photos you take when you’re near other shared library participants. You can choose it when you set up or join an iCloud Shared Photo Library.

To allow iPhone to detect when participants of your shared library are nearby, participants need to be signed in to their Apple Account on their device, and have Bluetooth® turned on in Settings > Bluetooth.

To turn the feature on or off after you complete the setup process, do the following:

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap your account in the top-right corner.
  4. Tap Shared Library, then tap Sharing from Camera.
  5. Tap Share Automatically.

Automatically add photos and videos taken at home to an iCloud Shared Photo Library

Photos and videos you take at home can land in the shared library automatically, too. Choose that option when you set up or join an iCloud Shared Photo Library.

To turn the feature on or off after you complete the setup process, do the following:

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap your account in the top-right corner.
  4. Tap Shared Library, then tap Sharing from Camera.
  5. Turn Share When At Home on or off.

Turn iCloud Shared Photo Library sharing suggestions on or off

Sharing suggestions recommends photos you might want to add to your iCloud Shared Photo Library, such as photos you took when participants of the shared library were nearby, or photos of people you indicated interest in during the setup process. iPhone sends a notification to review sharing suggestions. To turn suggestions on or off, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap your account in the top-right corner.
  4. Tap Shared Library, then turn Shared Library Suggestions on or off.

If you want to get sharing suggestions for additional people, tap Add People, tap a person, then tap Add. The person doesn’t have to be a member of the shared library.

Tags: iCloud, Photos

In the Freeform app, you can organize your boards into folders. You can create a subfolder, move a folder inside another folder, and rename a folder. You can also move boards into or out of a folder, several at the same time if you like.

Create a folder

  1. Open the Freeform app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Back button until you see a list of categories (All Boards, Recents, Shared, and Favorites).
  3. Tap the New Folder button, name your folder and tap OK.
  4. Do any of the following:

    • Create a subfolder: Tap a folder to open it, tap the Folder Actions button, and tap New Folder.

      You can also move a folder inside another folder.

    • Rename a folder: Touch and hold a folder, tap Rename, enter a new name, and then tap OK.

Move boards into or out of a folder

  1. Open the Freeform app on your iPhone.
  2. While browsing All Boards or the folder list, do one of the following:
    • Move several boards at the same time: Tap the Folder Actions button, tap Select, and tap each board you want to move. Tap Move and then choose a folder to move them to.
    • Move a board or subfolder to another folder: Touch and hold a board or subfolder, tap Move, and then choose a folder to move it to.
    • Remove a board or subfolder from a folder: Touch and hold a board or subfolder and tap Move. Choose Move to Top Level.

A removed board moves to All Boards, while a removed subfolder moves to the top level of the folder list.

In a Family Sharing group, the organizer can remove members or disband the group, and family members (other than teens with parental controls or children) can remove themselves. A removed family member immediately loses access to shared subscriptions and content purchased by other members.

Remove a member from a family group

In a Family Sharing group, the organizer can remove other members, and anyone who’s removed immediately loses access to shared subscriptions and to content other members purchased.

  1. Open Settings and then tap Family.
  2. Tap [member’s name], then tap Remove [member’s name] from Sharing Group.

Children under 13 can’t be removed from your Family Sharing group. Instead, you can delete their Apple Account or move them to another group.

Transferring a child under 13 from a family group affects the parental controls previously set. And removing a teen under 18 removes your previously set parental controls.

Leave a Family Sharing group

Leaving a Family Sharing group means you stop sharing your purchases and subscriptions with family members, and you immediately lose access to any content they’ve shared.

Note: The organizer can’t leave the Family Sharing group, so if you want to change the organizer, you’ll need to disband the group and have another adult create a new one.

  1. Open Settings and then tap Family.
  2. Tap [your name] and tap Stop Using Family Sharing.

Stop Family Sharing

When the family organizer turns off Family Sharing, it removes all family members from the group at the same time. With Family Sharing turned off, every member immediately loses access to the shared content and subscriptions.

Note: If a child under 13 is in the Family Sharing group, the organizer must move them to another group or delete their Apple Account before disbanding the group. Transferring a child under 13 from a family group will affect the parental controls previously set, and removing a teen under 18 will remove your previously set parental controls.

  1. Open Settings and then tap Family.
  2. Tap [your name] and tap Stop Using Family Sharing.

If you use Magic Keyboard with iPhone, you can use keyboard shortcuts to activate VoiceOver commands.

You can also use VoiceOver Help to learn the keyboard layout and the actions associated with various key combinations. It speaks keys and keyboard commands as you type them, without performing the associated action. And Quick Nav lets you use the arrow keys.

Here’s how to use VoiceOver on iPhone with an Apple external keyboard.

Choose the VoiceOver modifier

The modifier is a key or set of keys you press with one or more other keys to enter VoiceOver commands. You can set the modifier to be the Caps Lock key or the Control and Option keys pressed at the same time.

  1. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap VoiceOver, tap Typing, and then tap Modifier Keys.
  2. Choose the modifier for VoiceOver commands: the Caps Lock key or the Control and Option keys.

This modifier is abbreviated as “VO” below.

VoiceOver keyboard commands

You can control VoiceOver using key combinations.

(VO = modifier keys)

Action Shortcut
Turn on VoiceOver Help VO-K
Turn off VoiceOver Help Esc (Escape)
Select the next or previous item VO-Right Arrow or VO-Left Arrow
Activate the selected item VO-Space bar
Touch and hold the selected item VO-Shift-M
Read from the current position VO-A
Read from the top VO-B
Pause or resume reading Control
Copy the last spoken text to the clipboard VO-Shift-C
Search for text VO-F
Mute or unmute VoiceOver VO-S
Go to the Home Screen VO-H
Move to the status bar VO-M
Open the notifications screen Move to the status bar (VO-M), then Option-Up Arrow
Open Control Center Move to the status bar (VO-M), then Option-Down Arrow
Open Search Option-Up Arrow
Open the App Switcher VO-H-H
Open the Item Chooser VO-I
Change the label of the selected item VO-Slash
Start, stop, or pause an action VO-Hyphen
Swipe up or down VO-Up Arrow or VO-Down Arrow
Turn the rotor left or right VO-Command-Left Arrow or VO-Command-Right Arrow
Adjust the setting specified by the rotor VO-Command-Up Arrow or VO-Command-Down Arrow
Turn the screen curtain on or off VO-Fn-Hyphen (or VO-Globe key-Hyphen, depending on your keyboard)
Return to the previous screen Esc

Quick Nav using the arrow keys

Turn on Quick Nav to control VoiceOver using the arrow keys.

Action Shortcut
Turn Quick Nav on or off Left Arrow-Right Arrow
Select the next or previous item Right Arrow or Left Arrow
Select the next or previous item specified by the rotor Up Arrow or Down Arrow
Select the first or last item Control-Up Arrow or Control-Down Arrow
Tap an item Up Arrow-Down Arrow
Scroll up, down, left, or right Option-Up Arrow, Option-Down Arrow, Option-Left Arrow, or Option-Right Arrow
Adjust the rotor Up Arrow-Left Arrow or Up Arrow-Right Arrow

Single-key Quick Nav for web browsing

To navigate a webpage quickly, turn on Quick Nav (VO-Q), then press keys on the keyboard to navigate to specific item types, such as headings or links. To move to the previous item, hold the Shift key as you press a key for the item type.

Item type Shortcut
Heading H
Link L
Text field R
Button B
Form control C
Image I
Table T
Static text S
ARIA landmark W
List X
Item of the same type M
Level 1 heading 1
Level 2 heading 2
Level 3 heading 3
Level 4 heading 4
Level 5 heading 5
Level 6 heading 6

Text editing

Use these commands (with Quick Nav turned off) to work with text. VoiceOver reads the text as you move the insertion point.

Action Shortcut
Go forward or back one character Right Arrow or Left Arrow
Go forward or back one word Option-Right Arrow or Option-Left Arrow
Go up or down one line Up Arrow or Down Arrow
Go to the beginning or end of the line Command-Left Arrow or Command-Down Arrow
Go to the beginning or end of the paragraph Option-Up Arrow or Option-Down Arrow
Go to the previous or next paragraph Option-Up Arrow or Option-Down Arrow
Go to the top or bottom of the text field Command-Up Arrow or Command-Down Arrow
Select text as you move Shift + any of the insertion point movement commands above
Select all text Command-A
Copy, cut, or paste the selected text Command-C, Command-X, or Command-V
Undo or redo last change Command-Z or Shift-Command-Z

With the Continuity Sketch and Continuity Camera features, you can draw a sketch, take a photo, or scan a document using your nearby iPhone and have it appear instantly on your Mac, exactly where you want it, for example, in an email, note, or folder.

You can also mark up a file on your Mac with your iPhone using Continuity Markup. Both devices need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® turned on and the same Apple Account, and they need to be within 30 feet (10 meters) of each other.

Here’s how to insert sketches, photos, and scans from your iPhone on Mac.

Before you begin

Before you try this, check that all of the following are true:

  • Both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® turned on.
  • You’re signed in to the same Apple Account on both devices.
  • Your devices are within 30 feet (10 meters) of each other.
  • Both devices meet minimum system requirements for Continuity Camera, Continuity Sketch, and Continuity Markup.

Make sure your VPN’s configuration doesn’t prevent local networking if you’re using one, as that may interfere with some Continuity features.

Depending on where it’s inserted, you can mark up the photo or scan, or adjust other aspects, like cropping it or applying a filter.

Insert a sketch, photo, or scan from your iPhone

With Continuity Sketch, a sketch you draw on your iPhone can appear on your Mac. And with Continuity Camera, a photo you take or a document you scan on your iPhone shows up on your Mac.

  1. On your Mac, Control-click where you want to insert the sketch or photo—for example, in an open window, like a note or email message.

    You can also Control-click the desktop or a folder in a Finder window.

  2. Choose an option from the pop-up menu.

    You may need to click “Insert from iPhone or iPad” before seeing the options.

  3. Do any of the following:

    • Add a sketch: On your iPhone, draw a sketch using your finger.
    • Take a photo: On your iPhone, take a photo and tap Use Photo or Retake.
    • Scan a document: On your iPhone, scan a document. Your iPhone detects the edges of the document and autocorrects any skewing of the image. If you want to adjust the area included in the scan, drag the frame or its edges. When you’re ready, tap Keep Scan or Retake. You can continue to scan documents until you’re done, then tap Save.

The sketch, picture, or scan appears on your Mac in the location you chose in step 1. And if you added it from the desktop or a folder, it’ll show up as a file.

You may be able to mark up the photo or scan, crop it, apply a filter, or adjust other aspects, depending on where it’s inserted.

Note: Scans you take on your iPhone don’t get saved on the device.

Use your iPhone to mark up a file on your Mac

With Continuity Markup, you can use your iPhone to add text, make drawings, and rotate and crop images, PDF documents, and more on your Mac.

  1. On your Mac, click the desktop to open the Finder.
  2. Control-click the file you want to mark up and choose Quick Actions. Choose Markup.

    The file opens.

  3. In the toolbar, click the iPhone button or click the Markup button (the button may have an arrow next to it) and choose your device.
  4. Use the Markup tools to draw, add text or shapes, and more.
  5. When you’re done, tap Done on your iPhone.
  6. To save your changes, click Done on your Mac.

If Continuity Camera, Continuity Sketch, or Continuity Markup aren’t working:

  • Make sure you’re signed in to the same Apple Account on both devices.
  • Make sure that both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
  • Make sure that your devices are within 30 feet (10 meters) of one another.
  • Make sure your device meets minimum system requirements for Continuity Camera.
Tag: Photos

In Math Notes, you can insert a graph or overlay the graphs of multiple equations on the same two-dimensional grid or three-dimensional space to see how they relate.

You can graph in two dimensions or three, create a graph from an existing equation, modify a graph, and work with multiple graphs. It all starts in the Calculator app.

Here’s how to work with graphs in Math Notes in Calculator on iPhone.

Note: For written math and variable names, Math Notes relies on common mathematical symbols, select numeric systems, and the same operations as the scientific calculator.

A Math Note open in Calculator, with a declared variable, an equation, and a graph.

Graph in two dimensions

  1. Start the Calculator app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Change Mode button and tap Math Notes.
  3. Tap to open a previous Math Note, or tap the New Note button to start a new one.
  4. Type or write an equation with exactly two undefined variables, with one on each side of the equal sign.

    You can include defined variables as well. For example, if you know a = 3, you can graph velocity = 0.5at^2. The graph’s y-axis shows velocity, and the x-axis shows t.

  5. Tap Insert Graph in the menu that appears, then, if asked, tap to assign a variable to the x-axis.
  6. Tap to select the graph and then do any of the following:

    • Reframe the graph: Swipe with two fingers to pan.
    • Zoom in or out: Pinch open and closed.
    • See coordinates: Touch and hold the graphed function. Move your finger along the line to see each point’s x- and y-value.
    • Move the graph in the note: Drag from the middle or an edge (not a handle) of the graph.

Every graph treats the equations you enter as y = f(x). That means the variable to the left of the equal sign goes on the y-axis, and the other variable goes on the x-axis.

Graph in three dimensions

  1. Start the Calculator app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Change Mode button and tap Math Notes.
  3. Tap to open a previous Math Note, or tap the New Note button to start a new one.
  4. Type or write an equation with a “z” on the left side of the equal sign and “x” and “y” on the right.

    For example, z = (x^3+y^3)/2.

  5. Tap Insert 3D Graph in the menu that appears, then, if asked, tap to assign variables to axes.
  6. Tap to select the graph and then do any of the following:

    • Inspect the graph from other angles: Drag from the middle of the graph.
    • Move the graph in the note: Drag the edge (not a handle) of the graph.

    Math Notes in Calculator on iPhone showing two intersecting 3D graphs in the same space.

Create a graph from an existing equation

  1. Start the Calculator app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Change Mode button, tap Math Notes, and then open a Math Note with an equation.
  3. Tap to place a cursor in the equation (without selecting text).
  4. Tap the equation again to reveal a menu above or below the equation, tap the Forward button, and then do one of the following:
    • Make a new graph: Tap Insert Graph.
    • Add an additional graph: Tap Graphs, then tap Insert Graph.

Modify a graph

  1. Start the Calculator app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Change Mode button, tap Math Notes, and open a Math Note with a graph.
  3. Do any of the following:
    • Change the shape of the function: Edit your equation. The graph updates automatically.
    • Resize the graph: Tap the graph and drag an edge or corner handle.
    • Adjust the axes: Tap the graph, tap the Graph Viewport button, and then swipe left or right on the numbers to make them larger or smaller, or tap Equalize Axes.
    • Zoom to the best view of the graph: Tap the graph and then tap Recenter.
    • Center the origin: Tap the Graph Viewport button and tap Center Origin.
    • Duplicate the graph: Tap the graph and tap the Duplicate button.
    • Recolor the graph: Tap the line or surface of the graph and tap the color picker to the right of the equation.

Work with multiple graphs

  1. Start the Calculator app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Change Mode button and tap Math Notes.
  3. Create a graph in two or three dimensions, as above.
  4. Type or write another equation and then tap Insert Graph or Add to Existing Graph.

    You can also tap an equal sign of any equation you already wrote to add it to an existing graph.

  5. Do any of the following:

    • Combine graphs in one grid or space: Tap a graph, tap the 2D Graph Settings button or the 3D Graph Settings button, and then tap the equation in the list that you want to add to the graph. A the Visibility button appears.
    • Hide a graph: Tap the graph, tap the 2D Graph Settings button or the 3D Graph Settings button, and tap the Visibility button to uncheck it.
Tag: Notes

When you use iPhone with one hand in portrait orientation, you can use Reachability to lower the top half of the screen so it’s within easy reach of your thumb. It works on iPhone models with Face ID and with a Home button, and you turn it on in Accessibility settings.

The iPhone screen with Reachability activated. The top of the screen has moved down so it’s within easy reach of your thumb.

  1. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap Touch, and turn on Reachability.
  2. To lower the top half of the screen, do one the following:
    • On an iPhone with Face ID: Swipe down on the bottom edge of the screen.
    • On an iPhone with a Home button: Lightly double-tap the Home button.
    • While VoiceOver is on: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen with one finger, then, without lifting your finger, swipe down.
  3. To return to the full screen, tap the upper half of the screen.

There’s a set of accessibility settings for the side or Home button. You can choose the speed required to double-click or triple-click it, and whether Siri responds when you press and hold the button, and on an iPhone with Touch ID, you can even choose how it feels when you press it.

  1. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, and tap Side Button (on an iPhone with Face ID) or Home Button (on an iPhone with Touch ID).
  2. Set any of the following:
    • Click Speed: Choose the speed required to double-click or triple-click the button—Default, Slow, or Slowest.
    • Press and Hold to Speak: Choose whether Siri responds when you press and hold the button.
    • Rest Finger to Open: On an iPhone with Touch ID, you can unlock and open iPhone by resting your finger on Touch ID.
    • Home Button Haptic: On an iPhone with Touch ID, you can choose how it feels when you press it. Tap Home Button Haptic, tap an option, and then press the Home button to try it out. Tap Done when the option you like best is selected.
    • Side Button Confirmation: Choose AssistiveTouch or Switch Control to confirm payments with Face ID or anytime double-clicking the side button is required.

Instead of double-clicking the side button, you can also confirm payments with Face ID using AssistiveTouch or Switch Control on an iPhone with Face ID.

With Screen Time, 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, Camera, and more.

It goes beyond apps. Screen Time can also control Siri and Apple Intelligence features, though the settings you see there may vary depending on your Siri version. All of these restrictions are in Content & Privacy Restrictions, inside Screen Time in the Settings app.

Note: You’ll need iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, or visionOS 27 or later on all your Apple devices for the latest Screen Time features. In a Family Sharing group, all devices have to be upgraded to iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, or visionOS 27 or later before you set these features up.

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

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  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 iPhone.
  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 iOS 27 or later on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or iPhone 16 model or later with Siri and device language set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not initially be available in the EU on iOS. Usage limits may apply.

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. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  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.