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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.

How to edit Cinematic mode videos on iPhone

by Dave Johnson

On supported iPhone models, Cinematic mode in Camera applies a depth-of-field effect that keeps the subject of your video sharp while blurring the foreground and background. After capturing the video, you can adjust or remove the Cinematic mode effects in the Photos app on iPhone.

Camera identifies where to focus while you record and can change focus automatically, and you can change the focus subject later. You can even adjust the depth of field or turn off the Cinematic effect.

Add a Cinematic effect to a video you recorded

If you recorded a video in Video mode with the Main camera on an iPhone 18 Pro model, you can apply the Cinematic effect to it.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a video you recorded in Video mode. Then tap the Edit button.
  3. Tap Cinematic. Tap the Depth Control button at the top of the screen.

    A slider appears below the video.

  4. Drag the slider left or right to adjust the depth of field effect. Then tap Done.

Quick tip: To apply the effect quickly, open the video, tap Cinematic, and then tap Cinematic On.

To undo your edits after you save, open the video, then tap Revert.

Turn off the Cinematic effect

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a video you recorded in Cinematic mode and tap Cinematic. Tap Cinematic Off.

You can also tap the Edit button, tap Cinematic, then tap Done (or the Done button).

To quickly turn Cinematic mode back on, tap Cinematic, then tap Cinematic On.

Change the focus subject in a Cinematic mode video

While you record in Cinematic mode, Camera automatically identifies where to focus, and if it identifies a new subject, it can change focus automatically. Or you can change the focus subject manually.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a video you recorded in Cinematic mode. Tap the Edit button.

    White dots under the frame viewer indicate where Camera automatically changed the focus while recording. Yellow dots indicate where the focus was manually changed.

  3. Play the video, or slide the white vertical bar in the frame viewer, to the point where you want to change the focus.
  4. Tap a subject, outlined in yellow, to change the focus; double-tap to set automatic focus tracking on the subject.

    A yellow dot appears under the frame viewer to indicate the focus was changed.

    Note: You can also touch and hold the screen to lock the focus at a specific distance from the camera.

  5. Repeat the steps above to change focus points throughout the video.

    To remove a manual focus change, tap the yellow dot under the frame viewer, then tap the Delete button.

  6. Tap Done to save your changes.

Tap the Manual Tracking button to switch between automatic focus tracking and your manually selected focus points.

After you save your changes, you can revert a Cinematic mode video to the original version if you don’t like your edits. Open the video, then tap Revert.

Adjust the depth of field in a Cinematic mode video

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a video you recorded in Cinematic mode. Tap the Edit button.
  3. Tap the Depth Control button at the top of the screen.

    A slider appears below the video.

  4. Drag the slider left or right to adjust the depth of field effect. Then tap Done.

To undo your edits after you save, open the video, then tap Revert.

Export Cinematic mode videos to your Mac

To edit Cinematic mode videos in other apps on your Mac, you can use AirDrop to transfer them from your iPhone, along with their depth and focus metadata.

Note: To edit Cinematic mode videos shot on an iPhone with iOS 16 or later, your Mac needs macOS 13 or later.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Open the Cinematic mode video and then tap the Share button.
  3. Tap Options at the top of the screen and turn on All Photos Data. Then tap the Done button.
  4. Tap AirDrop and tap the device you want to share with (make sure the device you’re sharing with has AirDrop turned on).

Export Cinematic mode videos to an external storage device

You can export Cinematic mode videos straight to an external drive, a memory card, or another storage device.

Note: Edited photos and videos export as the unmodified original version.

  1. Connect your iPhone to the storage device using the Lightning or USB-C connector.
  2. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  3. Select the video you want to export.
  4. Tap the Share button and then tap Export Unmodified Original.
  5. Tap Browse, tap your storage device (below Locations), and then tap the Done button.
Tag: Photos
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How to clear your location history in Maps on iPhone

by Stacey Butler

The Maps app uses information about your significant locations from Location Services to provide you with personalized services like predictive traffic routing. Your significant locations are end-to-end encrypted and can’t be read by Apple.

You can delete your significant locations at any time, for example, to reset predictive traffic routing and similar personalized services. It’s a clean sweep: the history is cleared on every device signed in to your Apple Account.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Privacy & Security and then tap Location Services.
  3. Tap System Services and tap Significant Locations & Routes.
  4. Tap Clear History.

Everywhere you’re signed in to the same Apple Account, this action clears all your significant locations.

Tag: Maps
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How to take spatial photos and record spatial videos for Apple Vision Pro with your iPhone camera

by Dave Johnson

On supported models, you can take spatial photos and record spatial videos, and then relive the memories in three dimensions in the Photos app with Apple Vision Pro. It’s a separate mode in Camera, called Spatial, and you rotate your iPhone to landscape orientation to use it.

Take spatial photos and record spatial videos

  1. Open Camera on your iPhone.
  2. Swipe right on the screen to select Spatial mode.
  3. Rotate your iPhone to landscape orientation.
  4. Tap the Spatial Photo button or the Spatial Video button to take a spatial photo or record a spatial video.
  5. For best results, do the following:
    • Keep your iPhone steady and level.
    • Frame your subjects 3 to 8 feet from the camera.
    • Use lighting that is even and bright.
  6. Tap the Shutter button or Record button to take a photo or begin recording a video.

After you take a spatial photo or video, the Photos app on your Apple Vision Pro shows it in three dimensions. On any of your other Apple devices, you can view and share spatial photos and videos the same way you would regular photos and videos. If you’re signed in to the same Apple Account with iCloud Photos turned on, spatial photos and videos sync to all your devices.

Tag: Photos
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How to fill out and sign PDF forms in Preview on iPhone

by Emily Long

In the Preview app on your iPhone, you can fill out and sign PDF forms. You can enter information in a field, or use the AutoFill suggestion above the onscreen keyboard to add that information. You can also add a signature or a text form box.

A fillable PDF form showing an AutoFill suggestion for the name and phone fields.

  1. Start the Preview app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a PDF form.
  3. Tap the Form Filling button.
  4. Tap a field and enter information (or tap the AutoFill suggestion above the onscreen keyboard to add that information).
  5. To add a signature or a text form box, tap the Add button.
Tag: Preview
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iPhone camera basics: open Camera, take photos, switch modes, and zoom

by Dave Johnson

Learn how to take photos with your iPhone camera. Choose from camera modes such as Photo, Video, Cinematic, Pano, and Portrait, and zoom in or out to frame your shot.

To open your iPhone camera, you can use the Camera app on the iPhone Home Screen, the iPhone Lock Screen, or Control Center. On models with an Action button or the Camera Control, those open Camera, too. And with an Apple Watch, the Camera Remote lets you take a photo from your wrist.

Here’s a look at the iPhone camera basics.

Open Camera

There are a few quick ways to open your iPhone camera:

  • Tap the Camera app on the iPhone Home Screen.
  • Swipe left on the iPhone Lock Screen.
  • Touch and hold the Camera button on the iPhone Lock Screen.
  • Open Control Center, then tap the Camera button.
  • On models with an Action button, you can assign the Action button to open Camera.
  • On models with the Camera Control, click the Camera Control to open Camera.
  • Siri: Ask Siri something like, “Open Camera.”

Note: For your security, you’ll see a green dot in the top-right corner of the screen whenever Camera is in use.

Take a photo

  1. Open Camera on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Shutter button or press either volume button to take a photo.

Camera is open in Photo mode. The Camera Controls button is in the top-right corner. The Photo and Video Viewer button is in the bottom-left corner. The Take Picture button is at the bottom center, and the Camera Chooser Back-Facing button is in the bottom-right corner.

On supported models, click the Camera Control to open Camera, then click it again to take a photo.

With supported models of AirPods and AirPods Pro, you can press the AirPod stem to take a photo.

If you have an Apple Watch, you can use the Camera Remote to take a photo.

Switch between camera modes

When you first open Camera , Photo mode is selected, swipe left or right to choose other modes.

Which modes you can select from depends on your iPhone model:

  • Photo: Take still photos, Live Photos, and portraits.
  • Video: Record a video.
  • Time-lapse: Create a time‑lapse video of motion over a period of time.
  • Slo-mo: Record a video with a slow-motion effect.
  • Cinematic: Apply a depth-of-field effect to your videos.
  • Portrait: Apply a depth-of-field effect to your photos.
  • Spatial: Take spatial photos and videos to relive in 3D on Apple Vision Pro.
  • Pano: Capture a panoramic landscape or other scene.
  • Siri: Search, ask questions, and take action based on what’s in the frame when using Siri AI (Beta)*.
  • Reference: On iPhone 18 Pro models, capture a reference image from the Main camera sensor alongside your photo, so you can verify whether it’s been edited or altered.

Zoom in or out

  1. Open Camera on your iPhone.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Pinch the screen to zoom in or out.
    • Touch and hold the zoom control at the bottom of the frame, then drag the slider left or right.
    • On supported models, tap 0.5x, 1x, 2.5x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 8x to quickly zoom in or out (depending on your model).
    • On supported models, lightly double-press the Camera Control to open an overlay that shows the available camera settings. Slide your finger to select the Zoom setting, then lightly press it. Slide your finger again to zoom in and out.

*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: camera
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How to set a passcode on iPhone

by Kevin Hollington

For better security, set a passcode that needs to be entered to unlock iPhone when you turn it on or wake it. Setting a passcode also turns on data protection, which encrypts your iPhone data with 256-bit AES encryption, though some apps may opt out of using data protection.

You can also change when iPhone automatically locks, and even have it erase data after 10 failed passcodes. You can also reset the passcode, or turn it off.

Set or change the passcode

  1. Open Settings and then depending on your model, do one of the following:
    • On an iPhone with Face ID: Tap Face ID & Passcode.
    • On an iPhone with a Home button: Tap Touch ID & Passcode.
  2. Tap Turn Passcode On or Change Passcode.

To view options for creating a passcode, tap Passcode Options. The most secure options are Custom Alphanumeric Code and Custom Numeric Code.

After you set a passcode, on supported models you can use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock iPhone (depending on your model). For additional security, however, you must always enter your passcode to unlock your iPhone under the following conditions:

  • You turn on or restart your iPhone.
  • You haven’t unlocked your iPhone for more than 48 hours.
  • You haven’t unlocked your iPhone with the passcode in the last 6.5 days, and you haven’t unlocked it with Face ID or Touch ID in the last 4 hours.
  • Your iPhone receives a remote lock command.
  • There are five unsuccessful attempts to unlock your iPhone with Face ID or Touch ID.
  • An attempt to use Emergency SOS is initiated.
  • An attempt to view your Medical ID is initiated.

Change when iPhone automatically locks

Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock, then set a length of time.

Note: Your Auto-Lock time is cut in half if you leave your iPhone on the Home Screen without taking any action.

Erase data after 10 failed passcodes

Set iPhone to erase all information, media, and personal settings after 10 consecutive failed passcode attempts.

  1. Open Settings and then do one of the following:
    • On an iPhone with Face ID: Tap Face ID & Passcode.
    • On an iPhone with a Home button: Tap Touch ID & Passcode.
  2. Scroll to the bottom and turn on Erase Data.

After all data is erased, you must restore your device from a backup. If you didn’t back up your iPhone, you need to set it up again as new.

Turn off the passcode

  1. Open Settings and then do one of the following:
    • On an iPhone with Face ID: Tap Face ID & Passcode.
    • On an iPhone with a Home button: Tap Touch ID & Passcode.
  2. Tap Turn Passcode Off.

Reset the passcode

If you enter the wrong passcode four times in a row, you’ll be locked out of your device, and you’ll receive a message that says iPhone is disabled. If you can’t remember your passcode, you can erase your iPhone with a computer or with recovery mode, then set a new passcode.

Note: An iCloud or computer backup made before you forgot your passcode can restore your data and settings.

Tag: Privacy & Security
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How to edit or delete a journal entry on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

In the Journal app on iPhone, you can edit your entries, modify the entry date, delete or recover entries, and more.

You can also add the same entry to more than one journal, or remove or add a title. Mistakes aren’t permanent, either. If you delete an entry you wanted to keep, you can recover deleted entries for up to 30 days from Recently Deleted.

Here’s how to edit or delete a journal entry on iPhone.

Edit a journal entry

  1. Start the Journal app on your iPhone.
  2. Choose a journal or tap All Entries.
  3. Swipe left on an entry and tap the Edit button.

Add the same entry to multiple journals

  1. Start the Journal app on your iPhone.
  2. Choose a journal or tap All Entries.
  3. Tap the More button below the entry, then tap Choose Journals.

Remove or add a title

  1. Start the Journal app on your iPhone.
  2. While composing an entry, tap the More button. Then tap Remove Title or Add Title.

Edit the entry date

  1. Start the Journal app on your iPhone.
  2. While composing an entry, swipe down to show the entry date and tap the date to edit it.

Delete journal entries

  1. Start the Journal app on your iPhone.
  2. Choose a journal or tap All Entries.
  3. Swipe left on an entry and tap the Delete button.

Deleted entries are saved for 30 days.

  1. To delete multiple entries, tap the More button, tap Select Entries, select the entries you want to delete, and tap the Delete button.

Recover journal entries

For up to 30 days, you can recover entries you’ve deleted.

  1. Start the Journal app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Recently Deleted. You may need to tap the Return to Journals button first.
  3. Tap the More button below the entry and then tap Recover.
  4. To recover multiple entries, tap Select, tap the entries you want to recover, and tap the Recover button.
Tag: Journal
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How to add images, scans, links, and other files to a Freeform board on iPhone

by Kevin Hollington

You can add any photo or video to a Freeform board, generate an image, or take a new photo with your iPhone camera. You can also add different types of files to your board by scanning, linking, or inserting them.

You can create original images with Image Playground and paste items from your Clipboard, too. Anyone can use premium Content Hub images. With a subscription to Apple Creator Studio, though, you’ll be able to remove their watermarks.

Available with subscription: Some features require a subscription to Apple Creator Studio.

Add a photo, video, sticker, link, or other file

  1. Open the Freeform app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a board, or tap the New Board button to start a new one.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Tap the Media button, tap an option, then tap the Done button when you’re finished.
    • Copy the item to your Clipboard, tap an empty space, then, when a menu appears, tap Paste.
    • To add premium images from the Content Hub to your board, tap the Content Hub button in the toolbar, tap an object category at the top of the dialog, then tap a premium image to add it to the board. Anyone can use premium Content Hub images, but you need to subscribe to Apple Creator Studio to remove their watermarks.

Important: Premium images from Content Hub are subject to usage restrictions.

Double-tap any media item—photo, video, or other file—to preview it.

Note: Files saved on your iPhone or in iCloud Drive can be inserted, and for most file types, Freeform makes a copy. Links work differently when they point to a collaborative Keynote presentation, Numbers spreadsheet, or Pages document. In that case, participants in your Freeform board can tap the card and jump straight to the shared file in iCloud. Remember to save the file in iCloud if you want others to collaborate on it.

Create original images with Image Playground

With Apple Intelligence, you can create one-of-a-kind illustrations from a mix of photos of people from your photo library, text descriptions, and more.

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. Open the Freeform app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a board, or tap the New Board button to start a new one.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Create a new image: Tap the Insert Media button in the toolbar, tap Image Playground, and then follow instructions to create an image.
    • Replace an existing image with an image created in Image Playground: Select an image, then tap the Modify Image button. Tap Replace and tap Image Playground. Then follow instructions to create an image.
    • Use elements from your board: Select up to six images, drawings, text boxes, sticky notes, or shapes that you want to use, tap the More button in the formatting tools, tap Add to Playground, and follow the onscreen instructions to create an image.
  4. Tap the Done button or Insert to add the image to your board.

Screen Time settings let you block access to image creation features, like Image Playground.

Generate new images with Apple Creator Studio

If you subscribe to Apple Creator Studio, generative models can transform your existing images, and advanced tools let you create and edit high-quality ones.

Note: This feature is not available in all countries and regions.

  1. Open the Freeform app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a board, or tap the New Board button to start a new one.
  3. Tap the Content Hub button in the toolbar.

    Note: If this is your first time using Image Generation in Freeform, follow the onscreen instructions to share your age range with the app. Image Generation is not available for all ages, so a parent or guardian must enable this feature for children and teens in their family group.

  4. Tap Generate Image, then follow the onscreen instructions.

    If you’re asked to send an image, select Allow Once or Always Allow. To reset this option, tap the More button, tap Intelligence Features, then tap Reset Permissions.

  5. Tap Insert to add the image to your board.

    Important: Image Generation is subject to usage limitations. To check your usage status, tap the More button, tap Intelligence Features, then tap Show Usage Status.

Scan and add a document

Without leaving Freeform, a paper document you scan can go straight onto your board as a PDF.

  1. Open the Freeform app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a board, or tap the New Board button to start a new one.
  3. Tap the Media button and then tap Scan Documents.
  4. Position the iPhone camera so the document appears on the screen.

    iPhone automatically captures the page. To capture the scan manually, tap the Auto Shutter button, tap the Take Picture button or press a volume button, drag the corners to select the area you want in the scanned document, then tap Keep.

  5. Scan additional pages, then tap the Done button when you’re done.

Your board then shows a card with an image of your scan’s first page.

Quick tip: You can save your scan to iCloud Drive or keep it on your iPhone. Select the card and tap the Preview button, then tap the Share button and tap Save to Files.

Format a photo or video

  1. Open the Freeform app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a board with a photo or video in it.
  3. Tap a photo or video to open its formatting tools and then do any of the following:
    • Crop or mask the photo: Tap the Crop Mask button.
    • Remove the photo’s background: Tap the Modify Image button and then tap Remove Background. If the background of the photo can’t be made transparent, Remove Background isn’t available.
    • Tip: You can also paste an image without a background.
    • Add a shadow, round the corners, add a description, and more: Tap the More button and then choose an option.
    • Replace the photo or video: Select the photo or video, tap the Modify Image button or the Modify Movie button, tap Replace, and then select a replacement.
    • Preview the photo or video: Tap the Preview button, or double-tap the photo or video.

To preview a movie in full screen, double-tap it.

Auto Crop a photo

Subscribe to Apple Creator Studio, and Auto Crop can intelligently generate suggestions that improve image composition.

  1. Open the Freeform app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a board with an image, double-tap the image to view the mask controls. Tap Auto Crop to preview cropping suggestions.
  3. Tap a suggestion to update your image and tap Done.

Increase resolution with Super Resolution

You can also use Super Resolution to increase the resolution of photos and make them clearer, if you subscribe to Apple Creator Studio.

  1. Open the Freeform app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a board with an image, tap the image, and tap the Image Inspector button.
  3. Tap Super Resolution.

Put an image inside a shape

A shape can work as a mask or frame for an image, so you can put your photo inside a circle, for example.

  1. Open the Freeform app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a board, or tap the New Board button to start a new one.
  3. Add a photo or other image to the board.
  4. Tap the Content Hub button and tap the Add Shape button. Then choose a shape.
  5. Position the shape over the image. Select both it and the image.
  6. Tap the More button in the formatting tools and tap Mask with Shape.

Or drag an image onto a shape to use it as a frame.

To remove it from the shape, select the masked image, tap the More button in the formatting tools, then tap Reset Mask.

Quick tip: You can also send a photo, video, file, or link to a Freeform board straight from supported apps such as Notes, Photos, and Safari. In the other app, select the item and tap the Share button. Tap the Freeform app icon, then either tap New Board or the name of a board you already have. If you want others to add items to your board, save it in iCloud.

*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: Freeform
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How to adjust the shutter volume on your iPhone camera

by Dave Johnson

You can adjust the sound of the camera shutter, or mute it using the Ring/Silent switch on the side of your iPhone, or the Action button on models that have one. The shutter doesn’t make a sound when Live Photos is on, though in some countries and regions, it can’t be muted.

Change the volume of the shutter sound in Photo mode

  1. Open Camera on your iPhone.
  2. Open Control Center and drag the volume slider up or down.
  3. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to go back to Camera.

Note: The shutter doesn’t make a sound when Live Photos is turned on (except in some countries and regions).

Mute the shutter sound

The Ring/Silent switch on the side of your iPhone can mute the shutter sound. When the switch shows orange, iPhone’s in Silent mode, and setting the switch back turns Silent mode off.

Some iPhone models have an Action button instead of a Ring/Silent switch. Press the Action button to turn Silent mode on or off.

Note: In some countries and regions, you can’t mute the shutter sound.

Tag: camera
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How to adjust the sound quality in Music on iPhone

by Chris Smith

Change the way music sounds in the Music app with EQ and Sound Check. You can choose an equalization (EQ) setting, or turn on Sound Check to normalize the volume level of your audio. Sound Check is handy when songs from different albums play at different volumes.

WARNING: For important information about avoiding hearing loss, see Important safety information.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apps and tap Music.
  3. Tap one of the following:
    • EQ: Choose an equalization (EQ) setting.
    • Sound Check: Normalize the volume level of your audio.
Tag: Music
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