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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.

iPhone SE (2nd generation) hardware: buttons, cameras, and ports

by Dave Johnson

Learn the location of the cameras, buttons, and other essential hardware features on iPhone SE (2nd generation).

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

The front view of iPhone SE (2nd generation). The front camera is at the top, to the left of the speaker. On the right side, from top to bottom, are the side button and the SIM tray. The Home button is at the bottom center. The Lightning connector is on the bottom edge. On the left side, from bottom to top, are the volume buttons and the Ring/Silent switch.

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

The back view of iPhone SE (2nd generation). The rear camera and flash are at the top left.

  • 8 Rear camera
  • 9 Flash

Get started with iPhone SE

Tag: iPhone
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How to get started with Freeform on iPhone

by Emily Long

The Freeform app gives you a boundless canvas for creativity. Bring everything together on an online whiteboard, including photos, drawings, links, and files, and invite others to work with you.

Brainstorm, sketch ideas, take notes, and collect your thoughts, either by yourself or with a group. Just about any kind of file can go on a Freeform board, with no layouts or page sizes to worry about. You can also invite people to start working together.

An iPhone with the Freeform app open. The board includes handwriting, text, drawings, shapes, photos, videos, sticky notes, links, and other files.

Gather ideas freely

You can put just about any kind of file in a Freeform board without worrying about layouts or page sizes. To create a board, tap the New Board button, then tap the Add Text Box button or another option to start adding your ideas.

An iPhone with the Freeform app open, showing a sticky note with feedback from another person.

Collaborate with others

Tap the Share Board button to invite people to start working together in real time on a board. To conduct a brainstorming session or provide feedback, add a sticky note—tap the Media button, then tap Add Sticky Note.

An iPhone with the Freeform app and its drawing tools menu open. The board includes handwriting and drawings.

Get creative with the drawing tools

Tap the Drawing and Handwriting Tools button to start drawing. Tap a tool to adjust the line’s thickness, transparency, color, and more. Pinch to zoom in and out as you work.

An iPhone with the Freeform app open to the Content Hub in Apple Creator Studio.

Everything you need in one place

Subscribing to Apple Creator Studio gives you access to a rich library of premium content, along with AI-powered features like automatic cropping and photorealistic image generation.

A Mac, iPad, and iPhone with the same Freeform board open.

Start on your iPhone, keep working on your iPad or Mac

The Freeform boards you store in iCloud—and any changes you make to them—stay up to date on all your Apple devices when you’re signed in to the same Apple Account. To use iCloud with Freeform, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > See All (in the Saved to iCloud section), then turn on Freeform.

Tags: Freeform, iCloud
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How to use iPhone for your daily routines

by Abigail Shilets

While you’re going about your day, you can use the apps on your iPhone to get directions, make purchases, and control accessories in your home. You can also silence notifications while you’re driving or working, or allow only specific notifications related to what you’re focused on.

It can start before you’re even out of bed. StandBy can show useful information while iPhone is charging.

And if you forgot to turn off the lights, you can do it from iPhone.

iPhone turned horizontally. The left side of the screen displays a clock and the right side of the screen displays the date.

Start the day with the info you need

While iPhone is charging, you can put it in StandBy to view useful and timely information at a glance. You can use your iPhone as a bedside clock that displays the time, temperature, and other information you might want to see when you wake up in the morning, or before you go to bed.

To use StandBy, connect iPhone to a charger, lay it on its side (in landscape orientation), then tap the screen.

The Maps app showing a driving route.

Know before you go

If you drive to the same place regularly, like work or school, Maps learns your preferred route there and lets you know about traffic delays or road closures before you head out.

The Wallet screen, showing multiple cards and passes.

Set up a virtual wallet

The Wallet app on your iPhone can hold your credit and debit cards, transit passes, event tickets, and more. Add a credit or debit card to Wallet, and you can make secure payments in stores and online, plus send and receive money from friends and family.

To add your first card, open the Wallet app, tap the Add Card button, then follow the onscreen instructions.

A screen showing four provided Focus options—Do Not Disturb, Personal, Sleep, and Work. The Share Across Devices button allows you to use the same Focus settings on all your Apple devices where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account.

Stay focused

Driving, working, or just need to step away from your iPhone? A Focus can temporarily silence notifications that don’t fit what you’re doing and tell other people you’re busy.

Go to the Settings app , tap Focus, then choose the Focus you want to use, or tap the Add button.

A grocery list in the Reminders app.

Reminders when you need them

The Reminders app is handy for to-do lists for projects around the house, and for grocery lists that sort items into categories. It can also remind you about something when you arrive at a certain location.

To create your first reminder, open the Reminders app, then tap the New Reminder button.

The My Home screen in the Home app.

Forgot to turn off the lights?

From anywhere, you can securely control Apple Home-enabled accessories, like thermostats, lights, and smart TVs, with the Home app on iPhone. Automations can simplify your normal routines, too, like turning on your entryway lights automatically when you arrive home at night.

To add your first Works with Apple Home accessory, open the Home app, tap the Add button, then tap Add Accessory.

These guides show more ways iPhone fits into your day:

Not all features are available for all iPhone models, Apple notes.

Tag: iPhone
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Which iPhone models can run iOS 27

by Stacey Butler

This guide helps you get started using iPhone and discover all the amazing things it can do with iOS 27. It’s worth a quick check first, since your features and apps may vary depending on your iPhone model. iOS 27 is compatible with the following models:

Three iPhone models with Face ID.

  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12 mini
  • iPhone 12
  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13 mini
  • iPhone 13
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 14
  • iPhone 14 Plus
  • iPhone 14 Pro
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • iPhone 15
  • iPhone 15 Plus
  • iPhone 15 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 16
  • iPhone 16 Plus
  • iPhone 16 Pro
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max
  • iPhone 16e
  • iPhone 17
  • iPhone 17 Pro
  • iPhone 17 Pro Max
  • iPhone Air
  • iPhone 17e
  • iPhone 18 Pro
  • iPhone 18 Pro Max

An iPhone model with a Home button.

  • iPhone SE (2nd generation)
  • iPhone SE (3rd generation)

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

Identify your iPhone model and iOS version

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General and then tap About.

Get iOS updates

To update your iPhone to the latest iOS software compatible with your model, do the following:

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General, then tap Software Update.
Tag: iPhone
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How to view data shared by others in Health on iPhone

by Tyler Stephen

You can receive notifications about a loved one’s health, and you can view data about their activity, mobility, heart rate, and health trends in the Health app.

It starts with an invitation. You can ask someone to share their health data with you, and once they accept, you can view shared data and quickly respond to it. It all happens under Sharing in the Health app.

Here’s how to view data shared by others in Health on iPhone.

Invite someone to share health data

  1. Open the Health app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Sharing, then tap Ask Someone to Share.
  3. Choose a sharing option.

The person you selected receives an invitation and can then choose which health information to share. Let the invitee know that you need to be included in their contacts.

Accept an invitation to view another person’s health data

  1. After the invitation arrives, do one of the following:
    • Tap the invitation, such as on the Lock Screen or in Notification Center.
    • In Health, tap Sharing, then tap View in the invitation at the top of the screen.
  2. Tap Accept, then tap Done.

View shared data and quickly respond to it

  1. Open the Health app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Sharing
  3. Tap the contact card listed below Sharing With You.
  4. You can do any of the following:
    • Quickly respond: Tap Message, Call, or FaceTime.
    • See more detail: Tap an item on the screen.

If the detail includes chart data, you can start a conversation about it by tapping Message. The chart is included in your message.

Ask another person to share their health data with you

Anyone you ask to share their health data with you needs an iPad with iPadOS 17 or later or an iPhone with iOS 15.6 or later. They stay in control of what data they share and when to stop sharing.

  1. Open the Health app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Sharing.
  3. Tap Ask Someone to Share and choose an option.
  4. Let your invitee know that you need to be included in their contacts to share with you, and that if they need assistance, sharing instructions are available in Share health data with someone.
Tag: Health
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iPhone vision accessibility features: VoiceOver, Magnifier, Zoom, and more

by Chris Smith

With built-in accessibility features for vision on iPhone, you can make it easier to see what’s on the screen, or you can hear what’s on the screen spoken out loud. You can even use your iPhone as a magnifying glass, and hold it up to get descriptions of what’s around you if you can’t see it.

The built-in screen reader, VoiceOver, speaks what’s on the screen and lets you navigate with gestures, a connected keyboard, or a braille display. And even when VoiceOver is off, iPhone can read all the text on the screen, or what you’re typing, out loud.

To explore accessibility features for vision, go to Settings > Accessibility. Vision features are at the top.

Hear what’s on the screen

Use Braille Access with a braille display

Turn iPhone into a braille notetaker that can launch apps, perform calculations, open Braille Ready Format (BRF) files, transcribe conversations, and more. Use Braille Access with a braille display

Read or listen to text in apps

Customize text appearance for any app with Accessibility Reader. You can also listen to spoken text. Read or listen to text in apps with Accessibility Reader

Control iPhone with VoiceOver

Have the built-in screen reader speak what’s on the screen. Navigate your iPhone with gestures, or with a connected keyboard or braille display. Turn on and practice VoiceOver

Speak onscreen text

Even when VoiceOver is off, have iPhone read all text on the screen, what you’re typing, and more. Hear iPhone speak the screen, selected text, and typing feedback

Hear descriptions of video

Get spoken descriptions of visual content in movies, TV shows, and other media, when available. Hear audio descriptions for video content

iPhone can also play a sound effect when it’s turned on and off.

Quick tip: Siri and Dictation let you complete common tasks and enter text using just your voice.

Get information about your surroundings

Point at text and hear it spoken

Have iPhone read text on household appliances, ATMs, and more. Read aloud text and labels around you

Hear about your surroundings

Hold up iPhone and get information about what your camera is pointed at, including when people, doors, or text are detected. Get live descriptions of visual information around you

Get a closer look

Use iPhone as a magnifying glass to zoom in on items around you. Magnify and examine objects around you

Make text and other onscreen content larger

Zoom in

Enlarge what you’re viewing—the entire screen or one part of it. Zoom in on the iPhone screen

Make text bigger and bolder

Adjust the reading size for text across iPhone apps and system features. Make text easier to read

Enlarge text as you type

Display a separate window with a larger version of the text that you’re typing. Use Hover Typing

With a mouse or trackpad connected to iPhone, you can also make the pointer easier to see, or show a larger version of text when you hover over it.

View what’s on the screen more comfortably

Reduce onscreen motion

Pause animated images, and slow down the motion of interface elements. Or dim your display when media you’re viewing depicts strobe or flashing lights. Stop or reduce onscreen motion

Use iPhone more comfortably in a car

Get animated dots on the edges of the screen that may help reduce motion sickness. Use iPhone more comfortably while riding as a passenger in a vehicle

Use Dark Mode

If you prefer light text on a dark background, choose a dark color scheme for the iPhone interface. Turn Dark Mode on or off

Adjust the display colors

Differentiate content on the screen more easily by inverting colors, applying a color filter, and more. Change display colors on iPhone to make it easier to see what’s onscreen

Quick tip: Use Control Center or the click of a button to control your go-to accessibility features and settings.

Tag: accessibility
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How to find group photos and videos on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

The Photos app recognizes groups of people and pets who often appear together in pictures and videos, and sorts them into group collections. For example, if you have many pictures of your family or a group of friends, Photos creates a collection for each of those groups.

You’ll find them in People & Pets, below Groups. From there, you can view pictures of a group with additional people, or share the photos of the group.

Groups is open in the People & Pets section of the Photos app, showing a list of collections labeled with the names of the people included in the group.

Find group photos and videos

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections, then tap People & Pets.
  3. Swipe the collections below Groups to browse, or tap Groups to view them all.
  4. Tap a group to view all the photos and videos in that collection.

Quick tip: Tap the Sort and Filter button and tap View Options, then tap Other People to see pictures of this group with additional people.

To share the photos of the group, tap the More button, then tap Share.

Create a group collection

A group collection you create can include any combination of people and pets from the People & Pets collection.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections, then tap People & Pets.
  3. To the right of Groups, tap the Add button. Then tap Create New Group.
  4. Select the people and pets you want in the group. Tap the Done button.
  5. Optionally, you can enter a new name for the group or add more people and pets to the group.
  6. Tap Create.

Edit or delete a group collection

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections, then tap People & Pets.
  3. Below Groups, touch and hold the group you want to edit. Then do any of the following:
    • Rename the group: Tap Edit Name and People, enter a new name, and then tap the Done button.
    • Remove someone from the group: Tap Edit Name and People. Then tap the Remove button at the top-left corner of their picture.
    • Add someone to the group: Tap Edit Name and People. Then tap Add People & Pets. Select who you want to add. Then tap the Done button.
    • Edit the group photo: Tap Edit Name and People and then tap the photo icon in the bottom-right corner of the current group photo. Select a new photo and then tap the Done button.
    • Delete the group: Tap Delete Group.

Change the order of group collections

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections, tap People & Pets, and tap Groups.
  3. Touch and hold a group, then drag it to a new position.
Tag: Photos
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How to get started with Health on iPhone

by Emily Long

The Health app on iPhone keeps health data from your iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and compatible apps and third-party devices in one place. You can fill out your Health Details and schedule your medications. You can also check your headphone levels and track your menstrual cycle.

iPhone automatically stores and analyzes health details, including health records from your medical providers, and you can manually add information about medications you’re taking. With Cycle Tracking, you can log your period and record symptoms like cramps.

The Summary screen in Health. Information about activity, sleep score, state of mind, and medications appears below Pinned.

Find your health data in one place

iPhone automatically stores and analyzes valuable health details, including mobility data, sleep history, and even health records from your medical providers. You can also manually add information about medications you’re taking, your menstrual cycle, and more. To display all of your health data, go to the Health app and scroll down to see highlights.

The Health Details screen, which includes fields for name, birth date, blood type, and other information.

Fill out your health details

To personalize your experience, add your name, date of birth, sex, and other basic information to Health Details. To edit your health details, tap Summary, tap your picture or initials, tap Health Details, then tap Edit.

The Medications screen in Health showing the date and a log for medications.

Schedule your medications

Create a list of the medications you’re taking, schedule when to take them, and log when you do. To add a new medication, tap Browse, tap Medications, then tap Add a Medication.

The Cycle Tracking screen showing the timeline for a week at the top of the screen. Solid red circles and purple dots mark the first 5 days on the timeline. Below the timeline are options to add information about periods, symptoms, and more.

Track your menstrual cycle

With Cycle Tracking, you can log your period, record symptoms like cramps, and track cycle factors like lactation. You can also use it to help predict when your next period or fertile window will begin. To set up Cycle Tracking, tap Browse, tap Cycle Tracking, then tap Set Up Cycle Tracking.

Tag: Health
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iPhone SE (3rd generation) hardware: buttons, cameras, and ports

by Chris Smith

Learn the location of the cameras, buttons, and other essential hardware features on iPhone SE (3rd generation).

It’s laid out in two views. The front and sides show the front camera, side button, SIM tray, the Home button/Touch ID, Lightning connector, volume buttons, and Ring/Silent switch, while the back shows the rear camera and flash.

The front view of iPhone SE (3rd generation). The front camera is at the top, to the left of the speaker. On the right side, from top to bottom, are the side button and the SIM tray. The Home button is at the bottom center. The Lightning connector is on the bottom edge. On the left side, from bottom to top, are the volume buttons and the Ring/Silent switch.

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

The back view of iPhone SE (3rd generation). The rear camera and flash are at the top left.

  • 8 Rear camera
  • 9 Flash

Get started with iPhone SE

Tag: iPhone
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How to get directions to your parked car in Maps on iPhone

by Dave Johnson

When you disconnect your iPhone from your car’s CarPlay or Bluetooth® system and exit your vehicle, a parked car marker is dropped so you can easily find the way back to your car.

For that to work, your iPhone needs to be paired to CarPlay or Bluetooth in your car, with Location Services on.

Find your parked car

  1. Open the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. Choose Parked Car below Siri Suggestions.

If you don’t find your parked car in Maps

Make sure your iPhone is paired to CarPlay or Bluetooth in your car, then check for the following: Location Services is turned on in Settings > Privacy & Security.

  • Significant Locations is turned on in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services.
  • Show Parked Location is turned on in Settings > Apps > Maps.

Note: Maps doesn’t mark your car as parked when you leave it at a familiar location, such as your home or work.

Don’t show your parked location

  1. Open the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. To remove the Parked Car marker for your car’s current location, touch and hold the marker. Tap Remove Car.
  3. To never show your parked location, open Settings, tap Apps, tap Maps, and turn off Show Parked Location.
Tag: Maps
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