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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 add backgrounds in Messages on iPhone

by Dave Johnson

You can add a background to an iMessage conversation. Other people in the conversation see the background on their devices too and can change the background for the group.

You can use a dynamic background, a photo, or an original background you create, and revert to a plain background anytime. With a photo, you can crop the image, remove the color, or apply a color filter.

Here’s how to add backgrounds in Messages on iPhone.

Note: Conversation backgrounds only work in iMessage, and to add, view, or change one, you need iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, or visionOS 26 or later.

Use a dynamic background

  1. Start the Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. Go to the conversation where you want to add a background.
  3. Tap the contact or group icon at the top of the conversation, then tap Backgrounds.
  4. Tap Color, Sky, Water, or Aurora.
  5. Swipe left to choose an option.

    Tip: For Color, tap the swatches in the bottom corners to adjust the colors.

  6. Tap the Done button to add the background to your conversation.

Use a photo as a background

  1. Start the Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. Go to the conversation where you want to add a photo to the background.
  3. Tap the contact or group icon at the top of the conversation, then tap Backgrounds.
  4. Tap Photo. Then tap to select a photo from your library.

    Tip: If someone shared a photo you want to use as a background, touch and hold the photo in the message, then tap Set as Background.

  5. Do any of the following:

    • Crop the image: Pinch in or out.
    • Remove the color: Swipe left to Black & White.
    • Apply a color filter: Swipe left to Duotone or Color Wash. Then tap the color swatch to change the palette.
  6. Tap the Done button to add the background to your conversation.

You can set conversations to showcase backgrounds when you return to them. Go to Settings > Apps > Messages, then turn on Start with Photos Visible.

Note: You can have your (or a family member’s) iPhone receive warnings before a background image containing sensitive content is sent or received.

Create an original background

Image Playground uses Apple Intelligence to create one-of-a-kind images you can use as backgrounds for your conversations.

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. Start the Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. Go to the conversation where you want to add a photo to the background.
  3. Tap the contact or group icon at the top of the conversation, then tap Backgrounds.
  4. Tap Playground, follow the onscreen instructions to create an image, then tap the Done button.
  5. Tap the Done button to add the background to your conversation.

Revert to a plain background

Note: Removing a background affects all participants in a conversation.

  1. Start the Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. Go to the conversation with a background you want to remove.
  3. Tap the contact or group icon at the top of the conversation, then tap Backgrounds.
  4. Tap None.

Turn conversation backgrounds off

Others in a conversation still see any background chosen for it, even after you turn conversation backgrounds off.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apps, then tap Messages.
  3. Turn Conversation Backgrounds off.

*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: Messages
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How to adjust the screen brightness and color on iPhone

by Kevin Hollington

On iPhone, you can make your screen dimmer or brighter (dimming the screen extends battery life). You can also adjust the screen color and brightness manually or automatically with Dark Mode, True Tone, and Night Shift.

You can change it in Control Center or in Settings. iPhone can also adjust brightness for current light conditions using its ambient light sensor.

Here’s how to adjust the screen brightness and color on iPhone.

The iPhone Home Screen with Dark Mode on.

Adjust the screen brightness manually

To dim or brighten your iPhone screen, do one of the following:

  • Open Control Center, then drag the Brightness button up or down.
  • Go to the Settings app, tap Display & Brightness, then drag the slider.

Adjust the screen brightness automatically

Using the built-in ambient light sensor, iPhone adjusts the screen brightness to match current light conditions.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Accessibility and tap Display & Text Size. Turn on Auto-Brightness.

Note: Turning off Auto-Brightness may increase power consumption.

Turn Dark Mode on or off

For low-light environments, Dark Mode is perfect: it gives the entire iPhone experience a dark color scheme. You could be reading in bed, for example, and use your iPhone without disturbing the person next to you.

You can turn Dark Mode on or off from either of these places:

  • Open Control Center, touch and hold the Brightness button, then tap the Appearance button to turn Dark Mode on or off.
  • Go to the Settings app, tap Display & Brightness, then select Dark to turn on Dark Mode, or select Light to turn it off.

Schedule Dark Mode to turn on and off automatically

If you like, Dark Mode can turn on automatically at night, or on a custom schedule you set.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Display & Brightness, turn on Automatic, and tap Options.
  3. Select either Sunset to Sunrise or Custom Schedule.

If you choose Custom Schedule, tap the options to schedule the times you want Dark Mode to turn on and off.

Choosing Sunset to Sunrise lets iPhone use the data from your clock and geolocation to work out when it’s nighttime for you.

Turn Night Shift on or off

Turning on Night Shift manually helps when you’re in a darkened room during the day.

Open Control Center, touch and hold the Brightness button, then tap the Night Shift button.

Schedule Night Shift to turn on and off automatically

At night, a Night Shift schedule shifts your display’s colors to the warmer end of the spectrum, making the screen easier on your eyes.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Display & Brightness, tap Night Shift, and then turn on Scheduled.
  3. To adjust the color balance for Night Shift, drag the slider below Color Temperature toward the warmer or cooler end of the spectrum.
  4. Tap From and select either Sunset to Sunrise or Custom Schedule.

If you choose Custom Schedule, tap the options to schedule the times you want Night Shift to turn on and off.

With Sunset to Sunrise selected, iPhone determines when it’s nighttime for you using data from your clock and geolocation.

Note: The Sunset to Sunrise option won’t appear if Location Services or Setting Time Zone is turned off. To turn on Location Services again, go to the Settings app, tap Privacy & Security, and then tap Location Services. You’ll find Setting Time Zone on the same screen, under System Services.

Turn True Tone on or off

With True Tone, the color and intensity of the display automatically adapt to match the light in your environment.

Here’s how to turn True Tone on or off:

  • Open Control Center, touch and hold the Brightness button, then tap the True Tone button to turn True Tone on or off.
  • Go to the Settings app, tap Display & Brightness, then turn True Tone on or off.
Tag: iPhone
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How to queue up your music on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

Use the queue to see a list of upcoming songs, add songs and videos to the queue, and see what you recently played.

You can also use AutoPlay to add songs to the queue, manage the queue, and turn song transitions in the queue on or off. You can reorder the list, too. While a song is playing, the queue is on the Now Playing screen.

Here’s how to queue up your music on iPhone.

Use the queue

  1. Start the Music app on your iPhone.
  2. While a song is playing, tap the MiniPlayer to open the Now Playing screen.
  3. Tap the Playing Next button and tap a song to play it and the songs that follow.

    To reorder the list, drag the Reorder button.

  4. Tap the Playing Next button again to hide the queue.

Add music and music videos to the queue

  1. Start the Music app on your iPhone.
  2. While browsing or playing music, touch and hold a song, album, playlist, or video. Choose an option:
    • Add music right after the currently playing item: Tap Play Next.
    • Add music to the end of the queue: Tap Play After or Add to Queue.

Quick tip: When you’re using HomePod to stream music, friends on the same Wi-Fi network can add items to the queue.

Use AutoPlay to add songs to the queue

Not sure what to play next? If you’re an Apple Music subscriber, AutoPlay adds similar songs to the end of the queue and plays them when you play something. With AutoPlay on, the AutoPlay icon appears at the top of the queue while a song is playing.

The Now Playing screen showing the queue with AutoPlay and AutoMix turned on. Similar songs appear below the songs in the queue.

  1. Start the Music app on your iPhone.
  2. While a song is playing, tap the MiniPlayer to open the Now Playing screen.
  3. Tap the Playing Next button and tap the AutoPlay button at the top of the queue to turn AutoPlay on.

    When AutoPlay is on, the button changes color. Tap it again to turn it off.

Note: If you turn off AutoPlay on one device that uses your Apple Account (your iPhone, for example), it’s also turned off on every other device using the same Apple Account.

Manage the queue

  1. Start the Music app on your iPhone.
  2. While a song is playing, tap the MiniPlayer to open the Now Playing screen.
  3. Tap the Playing Next button and then do any of the following:

    • Change the order of songs in the queue: Drag the songs into the order you want them to play.
    • Add more songs to the queue: Scroll below the Queue section and tap Add Songs to Queue.
    • Remove a song from the queue: Swipe left on the song and tap the minus button.
    • See how many songs are in the queue: Scroll to the bottom of the queue.

      When multiple songs are repeating, you can see how many songs will be repeated instead.

    • Remove all songs from the queue: Tap Clear at the top of the queue.

Quick tip: Friends on the same Wi-Fi network can also reorder items in the queue while you’re streaming music on HomePod.

See what you recently played

  1. Start the Music app on your iPhone.
  2. While a song is playing, tap the MiniPlayer to open the Now Playing screen.
  3. Tap the Playing Next button. Then swipe down to see your playing history.

    To play a song in the history, tap it. To remove your playing history, tap Clear.

Turn on or off song transitions in the queue

  1. Start the Music app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Playing Next button and tap the AutoMix button or the Crossfade button in the top-right corner to turn on or off AutoMix or Crossfade.
Tag: Music
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How to control accessories with Home on iPhone

by Kevin Hollington

Use the Home app and Control Center to control accessories in your home.

The available controls depend on the type of accessory you have. With some lightbulbs, for example, you can change colors, and with your smart TV, you can choose an input source. You can also add Home scenes and accessories to Control Center, and see accessories in categories like Lights, Climate, and Security, organized by room.

Here’s how to control accessories with Home on iPhone.

Control accessories in the Home app

On the Home tab, tap an accessory’s icon on the left side of the tile—a light, for example—to quickly turn the accessory on or off.

Tap the accessory’s name on the right side of the tile to show the accessory’s control. The available controls depend on the type of accessory. For example, with some lightbulbs, there are controls for changing colors. With your smart TV, you can choose an input source.

Add accessories to Control Center

To get to your most used accessories quickly, you can add Home scenes and accessories to Control Center.

  1. Open Control Center on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Add button and tap Add A Control at the bottom.
  3. Tap the Home Scene or Accessory control.
  4. Tap Choose Scene or Accessory. Select a home and device or scene you want to control.

View categories and home status

The Lights, Climate, Security, Speakers and TVs, and Water categories gather all the relevant accessories by room, so you can quickly get to them.

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Home.

Below your home’s name, buttons show the status of accessories belonging to a category—for example, a Lights category that shows “3 on.”

  1. Tap one of the category buttons to show all accessories within that category, organized by room.
  2. While viewing a category, tap the icon on the left side of an accessory tile to perform an action—turn a light or group of lights on or off, start playing music on a HomePod, or lock the front door.

View Activity History

If your home hub is using the latest software, everyone in your home other than guests can see the activity history for accessories like locks, garage doors, security systems, and adaptive temperature thermostats. You can learn when a door was unlocked, for example, and who unlocked it.

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. On the Home tab, tap the More button and then tap Home Settings.
  3. Go to Activity and tap One Month to view up to 30 days of activity.
  4. In the Home tab, tap the Security or Climate category. Then tap Home Activity to show the Activity History.

Turn Activity History on and off

Activity History can be turned on and off only by the home owner or by a shared home user who has permission to add and edit accessories. Turning it off permanently deletes all previous activity for the home.

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. On the Home tab, tap the More button, tap Home Settings, and tap Activity.
  3. Choose One Month to turn Activity History on, or choose Off.

Turn on Adaptive Lighting

Some Apple Home-compatible lights can adjust their color temperature, from cool blue to warm yellow, and you can set supported lights to change it automatically as the day goes on. Wake up to warm colors, stay alert and focused with cooler ones at midday, and wind down at night by removing blue light.

For a light that supports Adaptive Lighting, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the light’s tile to show the controls.

    You can also touch and hold the tile, and then choose Accessory Settings.

  3. Tap the Adaptive Lighting button. Turn on Adaptive Lighting.

Note: You’ll need a home hub, such as Apple TV 4K or HomePod speakers, to use Adaptive Lighting.

Edit home accessories

To edit accessory settings, tap the right side of an accessory tile, tap the Settings button, then do any of the following:

  • Rename an accessory: Tap to delete the old name, then type a new one.
  • Change an accessory’s icon: Tap the icon next to the accessory’s name, then select a new icon. If you don’t get a choice of other icons, it means the icon can’t be changed for this accessory.

Group accessories

You can control multiple accessories with the tap of a button by grouping them.

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the right side of an accessory tile and tap the Settings button. Tap Group with Other Accessories.
  3. Tap the accessory you want to group with this accessory—another light in the room, for example.
  4. In the Group Name field, type a name for the group.
  5. Tap Done.

To have the group show up in Favorites on the Home tab, turn on Include in Favorites.

Tag: Home
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How to find and share your Wi-Fi password on iPhone

by Abigail Shilets

You can find the password of the Wi-Fi network you’re currently using and see all the Wi-Fi networks and passwords you’ve previously saved. You can share the password of the Wi-Fi network you’re currently using with a nearby friend or family member.

All of them are in the Wi-Fi section of the Passwords app, where you can also copy a password to use elsewhere.

Here’s how to find and share your Wi-Fi password on iPhone.

Find a Wi-Fi password

  1. Open the Passwords app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Wi-Fi. If you’re connected to a Wi-Fi network, its name appears at the top of the screen. You can also see all the Wi-Fi networks you’ve previously saved.
  3. Tap a Wi-Fi network.
  4. Tap the Password field.

To copy the password to use elsewhere, tap Copy Password.

Share your Wi-Fi network password with a nearby friend or family member

  1. Make sure your iPhone (the one sharing the password) is unlocked and connected to the Wi-Fi network.
  2. Have your friend of family member go to Wi-Fi settings on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac and then choose the network.
  3. When a message asks if you want to share your Wi-Fi password, tap Share Password.

Note: To share your Wi-Fi network password, devices need to be within Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range, can’t be using Personal Hotspot, and have to be added to each other’s contacts. Another option: Go to the Wi-Fi network, tap Show Network QR Code, and let friends and family scan it to join the network.

Tag: Wi-Fi
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How to modify files and folders in Files on iPhone

by Stacey Butler

You can copy, move, customize, share, and delete your documents, images, and other files on your iPhone.

Your folders don’t have to look alike, either. You can customize the appearance of your folders with color and icons, change to list view or icon view, and rearrange the Browse screen. And you can delete a file or folder you no longer need. That command doesn’t appear for the Desktop, Documents, or Downloads folders, though.

The Files app displaying multiple folders and locations named Downloads, Letters, Family, and so on. At the bottom of the screen are buttons for Recent files, Shared files, and the Browse tab.

Customize the appearance of your folders

To make your folders easier to spot, add color and icons to them.

  1. Open the Files app on your iPhone.
  2. Touch and hold a folder you want to customize and choose Customize Folder & Tags.

    Note: This command doesn’t appear for the Desktop, Documents, or Downloads folders.

  3. Tap Tags, choose a color, and then tap the Back button.
  4. Select an icon or tap Emoji to add an emoji to the folder.

To remove the icon from the folder, tap Clear below the icons.

Change to list view or icon view

The Files app showing the files and folders in your iCloud Drive. The More menu has options for Selecting items, creating a new folder, Scan Documents, and Connect to Server. Below that are options to view items on the screen as Icons or a List. At the bottom are sort options for Name, Kind, Date, Size, and Tags followed by View Options.

  1. Open the Files app on your iPhone.
  2. From an open location or folder, tap the More button. Tap Icons or List to change your view of the files.

To look deeper into a file hierarchy in List view, tap the Forward button next to a folder to expand it.

Rearrange the Browse screen

  1. Open the Files app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Browse.
  3. On the Browse screen, tap the More button, tap Edit, and do any of the following:
    • Hide a location: Turn the location off.
    • Delete a tag and remove it from all items: Tap the Remove button next to the tag.
    • Remove an item from the Favorites list: Tap the Remove button next to the item.
    • Change the order of an item: Touch and hold the Reorder button and then drag it to a new position.

Delete a file or folder

  1. Open the Files app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Browse and then locate the file or folder you want to delete.
  3. Touch and hold the file, then tap Delete.
Tag: Files
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How to take Night mode photos with your iPhone camera

by Tyler Stephen

On supported iPhone models, Night mode automatically brightens photos and captures more detail in low light. Your iPhone sets the exposure time automatically, but you can adjust it manually if needed.

It’ll turn on by itself in low-light situations. For even more detail, you can choose between the available exposure options, and your selection is saved for your next Night mode photo. A tripod can help you get even more detailed Night mode photos, too.

Quick tip: Use a tripod for even more detailed Night mode photos.

The Camera screen in Photo mode. Within the viewfinder is a night scene. Buttons for Night and Camera Controls mode appear in the top-right corner of the screen. At the bottom of the screen are, from left to right, the Photo and Video Viewer button, Video and Photo Mode, and the Camera Chooser Back-Facing button.

  1. Open Camera on your iPhone.

    In low-light situations, Night mode turns on automatically. To turn it off and on, tap the Night mode button.

  2. For even more detail, tap the Camera Controls button. Then tap Night Mode and choose between the available exposure options. Your selection is saved for your next Night mode photo.
  3. Tap the Shutter button, or click the Camera Control on (supported models) and then hold your iPhone still to take your shot.

    If crosshairs appear in the frame, your iPhone has detected movement—align them to help you reduce motion and improve the image quality.

    To cancel a Night capture in progress, tap the Stop button.

Supported models can take Night mode selfies and time-lapse videos, too.

You can also take Night mode photos with Portrait mode on supported models.

Tag: Photos
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How to translate text in apps on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

You can select any text to translate in apps such as Notes, Mail, and supported third-party apps. When you enter text, you can even replace what you wrote with a translation.

You can choose the languages you want to translate from and to, and hear the original text or its translation spoken. You can also download languages, so you can translate locally on your iPhone. Translation is available for supported languages.

Note: Translation is available for supported languages.

  1. Go to an app like Notes or Mail on your iPhone.
  2. Select the text you want to translate and tap Translate.

    If you don’t see Translate, tap the Show More Items button to see more options.

  3. Tap the Language Menu. Choose the languages you want to translate your selected text from and to.
  4. To hear the text spoken, tap More. Tap the Gray Play button on the original text or its translation.
  5. Swipe down to see options for any of the following:

    • Replace your original, editable text with the translation: Tap Replace with Translation.
    • Translate locally on your iPhone: Tap Download Languages.

Note: Not all options are available with all translation apps.

Tag: Translate
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How to apply consistent styles and formatting in Freeform on iPhone

by Chris Smith

When you want the text in your sticky notes, shapes, or text boxes to have a consistent look in Freeform, for example, font, size, and color, you can copy the style from one item and paste it in another. You can also save styles.

A saved style goes further: every time you add another item like that, it uses the saved style. And when you paste a style, Freeform matches what fits the item, like fonts, line weight, or color, or the corners and shadows of linked or placed files.

  1. Open the Freeform app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap an item on a board and make any adjustments to the formatting—so it has the style you want to copy.
  3. When you have an item that’s formatted in a style you like, tap it to show its formatting tools.
  4. Tap the More button in the formatting tools, tap Style, and then tap Copy Style.
  5. Tap to select and show the formatting tools for an item whose style you want to change.
  6. Tap the More button, tap Style, and then tap Paste Style.

Fonts, line weight, or color are matched, depending on the item you paste a style into.

Pasted styles update the corners and shadows of linked or placed files.

Quick tip: When you like how an item looks, save its style, and every item like that you add to your board afterward uses it. Tap to select the text box, then tap the More button in the formatting tools. From there, tap Style and choose Save as Insert Style.

Tag: Freeform
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How to use hearing health features in Health on iPhone

by Stacey Butler

You can take a Hearing Test with your AirPods Pro 2 to provide insight into your hearing. Hearing Test results, or audiograms, depict the results of a pure-tone audiometry test, showing how loud sounds need to be for you to hear them.

The difference between the decibel level you need and a normal level indicates your level of hearing loss. If there’s no difference, your hearing is normal, and if there’s some or a lot of difference, your hearing is impaired.

Note: The Hearing Test is available for ages 18 and older. Not available in all countries or regions.

Take a Hearing Test

  1. Start the Health app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Browse and then tap Hearing.
  3. Scroll down to Get More From Health. Tap Take Hearing Test.
  4. Tap Get Started, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Your Hearing Test results are in the Health app for you to review. To share them with your hearing healthcare professional, you can export a PDF version of your audiogram.

Tag: Health
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