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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 manage information sharing with Safety Check on iPhone

by Emily Long

Use Safety Check to periodically review and update information you share with people, apps, and devices.

From Safety Check, you can stop sharing your location with others in Find My, remove others’ access to shared content like Photos, Notes, and Calendar, reset system privacy permissions for apps, restrict Messages and FaceTime to the device in your hand, and more. It’s all in one place, in Privacy & Security settings. From there, you just follow the onscreen instructions.

  1. Open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, and then tap Safety Check.
  2. Tap Manage Sharing & Access, tap Continue, and then follow the onscreen instructions.

You might also be sharing information that Safety Check can’t review or change—for example, accounts and passwords, social media sharing, and information shared from another device.

Important: In an emergency, you can also use Safety Check to quickly reset access to your device and personal information. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check, tap Emergency Reset, tap Start Emergency Reset, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Tags: Privacy & Security, Safety Check
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How to read PDF documents in the Books app on iPhone

by Kevin Hollington

You can open and save PDFs in the Books app that you receive in Mail, Messages, or other apps. Once a PDF is in Books, you can share it with AirDrop, Mail, or Messages, print it, or mark it up. Apple Books isn’t available in all countries or regions, though.

Note: Apple Books isn’t available in all countries or regions.

Open a PDF you receive in another app in Books

  1. Tap the PDF attachment to open it.
  2. Tap the Share button and then tap Books from the list options.

Share or print a PDF

  1. Open the Books app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Library and tap the More button below the PDF.
  3. Tap the Share button. Choose a share option such as AirDrop, Mail, or Messages, or tap Print.

Mark up a PDF in Books

  1. Open the Books app on your iPhone.
  2. Open the PDF.
  3. Tap the page and tap the Markup button to use the drawing and annotation tools.
Tag: Apple Books
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How to play memory movies in Photos on iPhone

by Chris Smith

View each memory in your Memories collection as a movie that’s set to music. Every collection and album in the Photos app can play as a memory movie, too, which you can watch or edit to make more personal.

With Apple Intelligence, you can create a custom memory movie of the story you want to see. Just type a description, and Apple Intelligence chooses photos and videos, builds a storyline with unique chapters, and sets it to music. While a memory movie plays, you can pause it, mute it, or go backward or forward.

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.*

A memory is playing in the middle of the screen. At the bottom of the screen are the Memory Mixes and Browse buttons. At the top of the screen are the Back, Mute, and More buttons. At the top center of the screen are the location of the photo and the name of the song playing.

Play a memory movie

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Swipe left under Memories to scroll through a selection of your memories, or tap Memories to view them all.
  4. Tap the Play button in the bottom-right corner of a memory to play it.
  5. As the memory movie plays, do any of the following:
    • Pause: Tap the screen and tap the Pause button.
    • Go backward or forward: Swipe left or right. Or tap the screen. Slide the frames at the bottom of the screen left or right.
    • Mute: Tap the screen, then tap the Mute button.
    • Close a memory: Tap the screen and tap the Close button.

Play a memory movie from a collection or album

The collections and albums you have in the Photos app can all be viewed as memory movies.

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Select an existing collection or album. Then tap the Play button to watch the photos and videos as a memory movie.

Create a memory movie with Apple Intelligence

Want a custom memory movie of a particular story? Create one right in Photos. Type a description, and Apple Intelligence picks the best photos and videos and sets them to music, with a storyline built from unique chapters and a narrative arc.

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections, tap Memories, and tap Create.
  3. Enter a description of the movie you want to create, then tap Done.

*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.

Tags: Apple Intelligence, Photos
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How to print an email or attachment in Mail on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

In the Mail app, you can print a message or an attachment. For an email, Print is with the Reply options, and for an attachment or picture, it’s in the Share options, so you can print either one without leaving Mail.

Print an email

  1. Open the Mail app on your iPhone.

    In the message, tap the Reply button, then tap Print.

Print an attachment or picture

  1. Open the Mail app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap an attachment to view it, tap the Share button, and choose Print.
Tag: Mail
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How to use iPhone to allow calls and text messages on your iPad and Mac

by Dave Johnson

You can relay phone calls and text messages through your iPhone to your iPad or Mac, so it’s easy to stay in touch no matter which device you’re on. Cellular charges may apply, though, and Wi-Fi Calling isn’t available from all carriers.

Note: Cellular charges may apply. Wi-Fi Calling isn’t available from all carriers.

Before you begin

Here’s what needs to be true for this to work:

  • Both devices have Wi-Fi turned on and are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  • You’re signed in to the same Apple Account on both devices.
  • You’re signed in to FaceTime with the same Apple Account and have your phone number turned on in FaceTime settings on both devices.

When you’re using a VPN, its configuration shouldn’t prevent local networking, as that may interfere with some Continuity features.

Set up your iPhone to allow phone calls on your other devices

  1. On your iPhone, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Apps, then tap Phone.
  3. Tap Calls on Other Devices, turn on Allow Calls on Other Devices, and choose the devices you want to allow to make and receive calls.

As long as they’re near your iPhone, signed in to the same Apple Account, and on the same Wi-Fi network, the devices you choose can make and receive calls.

Make or receive phone calls on your iPad or Mac

Your iPad and Mac can make and receive phone calls once you’ve set up your iPhone to allow calls on your other devices.

  • Make a call: On your iPad or Mac, tap or click a phone number in Contacts, Calendar, FaceTime, Messages, Spotlight, or Safari. Or open the Phone app, tap or click the Keypad button and type a number, or search for a contact. If you make a call from another device by relaying it through your iPhone with Dual SIM, the call is made using your default voice line.
  • Receive a call: On your iPad or Mac, swipe, tap, or click the notification to answer or ignore the call.

Note: No Phone app on your iPad? Just Download it from the App Store.

Send and receive messages on your iPad or Mac

You can send and receive messages on your iPad or Mac, too, whether they’re iMessage or SMS/RCS/MMS messages.

If phone calls and text messages on your iPad and Mac aren’t working

  • Make sure that you’re signed in to the same Apple Account on both devices.
  • Make sure that your iPhone and Mac have Wi-Fi turned on.
  • Your devices must be within 30 feet (10 meters) of one another.

You can also use Handoff to transfer a FaceTime call from one device to another, on top of making and receiving phone calls on your iPad or Mac.

Tag: Messages
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How to download, save, and remove podcast episodes on iPhone

by Tyler Stephen

In the Podcasts app, you can download, save, and remove podcast episodes.

When you save an episode, it’s automatically downloaded, which means you can listen to it offline. Only audio is downloaded for video episodes by default. You can remove a saved episode or a downloaded episode, and even remove all downloaded episodes from a show, or all downloaded episodes at once.

Here’s how to download, save, and remove podcast episodes on iPhone.

Download an episode

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • While viewing show information: Swipe left on an episode and tap the Download button.
    • While viewing episode information: Tap the Download button.
    • While viewing search results: Touch and hold an episode and tap Download.

You can also tap the More button on the show or episode page, then tap Download.

Save an episode

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • While viewing show information: Swipe left on an episode and then tap the Save button. You can also tap the More button below an episode in the list and then tap Save.
    • While viewing episode information: Tap the Save button. You can also tap the More button, then tap Save.

When you save an episode, it’s automatically downloaded so you can listen to it offline. To turn off this option, go to Settings > Apps > Podcasts, then turn off Download When Saving. By default, only audio is downloaded for video episodes. To download video as well, go to Settings > Apps > Podcasts, then turn on Download Video.

Remove a saved episode

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • From the library: Tap Saved and tap the Unsave button near the episode name.
    • While viewing show or episode information: Tap the Unsave button near the episode name.

You can also tap the More button near the episode name, then tap Unsave.

Remove a downloaded episode

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • From the library: Tap Downloaded and tap a show. Swipe left on an episode and tap Remove Download. You can also tap the Download button or the More button near the episode name and tap Remove Download.
    • While viewing show information: Tap the Down button next to Episodes, then tap Downloaded. Tap the Download button or the More button near the episode name. Tap Remove Download.
    • While viewing episode information: Tap the Download button or the More button and tap Remove Download.

Remove all downloaded episodes from a show

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Library, then tap Shows.
  3. Touch and hold a show, then tap Remove Downloads.
  4. Tap Remove Downloads to confirm.

Remove all downloaded episodes

  1. Start the Podcasts app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Library and tap Downloaded.
  3. Tap the More button and tap Remove All Downloads.
  4. Tap Remove Downloads to confirm.
Tag: Podcasts
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How to change video recording settings on iPhone

by Chris Smith

Make changes to the default video recording options on your iPhone, such as Auto FPS settings, sound recording options, HDR recording, and more. In low-light situations, Auto FPS can improve video quality by reducing the frame rate to 24 fps, and it’ll even work in 4K on iPhone 18 Pro models.

Adjust Auto FPS settings

In low-light situations, iPhone can automatically reduce the frame rate to 24 fps to improve the video quality. When you record in 4K on iPhone 18 Pro models, Auto FPS works, too.

Go to Settings > Camera > Record Video, then, depending on your model, do one of the following:

  • Tap Auto FPS, then apply Auto FPS to only 30-fps video, to both 30- and 60-fps video, or turn it off.
  • Turn on Auto Low Light FPS.

Turn Stereo sound off and on

To achieve stereo sound, iPhone uses multiple microphones.

To turn off stereo recording, go to Settings > Camera, then turn off Record Stereo Sound.

On iPhone 16 models or later, your camera records in Spatial Audio by default. To change recording settings, go to Settings > Camera > Record Sound, then tap Spatial Audio, Stereo, or Mono.

Turn HDR video off and on

Supported models record video in HDR. iPhone shares HDR videos with devices using macOS 10.15.4, iOS 13.4, iPadOS 13.4, or later, while other devices receive an SDR version of the same video.

To turn off HDR recording, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video, then turn off HDR Video.

Turn Lock Camera on and off

The Lock Camera setting, off by default on supported models, keeps you from switching between cameras while recording video.

To turn on Lock Camera, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video, then turn on Lock Camera.

Turn Enhanced Stabilization off and on

To provide improved stabilization while you record in Video mode or Cinematic mode, the Enhanced Stabilization setting zooms in slightly. It’s on by default on supported models.

To turn off Enhanced Stabilization, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video, then turn off Enhanced Stabilization.

Turn Lock White Balance on and off

Locking the white balance when you record videos on your iPhone improves accurate color capture based on lighting conditions.

To turn on Lock White Balance, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video, then turn on Lock White Balance.

Adjust default Slo-mo recording frame rate

Slo-mo is set to record at 1080 HD at 240 fps from the back camera and 1080 HD at 120 fps from the front camera. To change the back camera to 120 fps, go to Settings > Camera > Record Slo-mo.

Supported models also get an option in Record Slo-mo to record 4K at 120 fps from the back camera.

Adjust Cinematic mode resolution and frame rate

On supported models, Cinematic video is set to record at 1080 HD at 30 fps. To switch to 4K at 24 fps or 4K at 30 fps, go to Settings > Camera > Record Cinematic.

iPhone 18 Pro models can also record Cinematic video in 1080 HD at 60 fps or 4K at 60 fps.

Adjust default Time-Lapse resolution

On iPhone 18 Pro models, you can record Time-Lapse video in 4K. To change the resolution, go to Settings > Camera > Record Time-Lapse.

Turn on Action Mode Lower Light

On supported models, if you want to use Action mode in lower light, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video, then turn on Action Mode Lower Light.

Tag: camera
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How to get notified when a friend’s location changes in Find My on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

Use the Find My app to get a notification when your friend’s location changes. You can get notified when a friend arrives at a location, leaves a location, or isn’t at a location, and with a larger radius, you’re notified when they’re near it.

Your friend gets an alert after you set the notification up.

Here’s how to get notified when a friend’s location changes in Find My on iPhone.

Important: In order to receive a notification when your friend’s location changes, make sure you allow notifications for the Find My app.

You can also let friends know when your location changes.

Get notified when your friend arrives at or leaves a location

  1. Start the Find My app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap People, tap the name of the person you want to be notified about, and then tap the More button.
  3. Below Notify Me, tap Add Location Alert.
  4. Choose whether you want to be notified when a friend arrives at or leaves a location.
  5. Choose a location, or tap New Location to create a new location and set a location radius.

    With a larger radius, you’re notified when your friend is near the location instead of right at the location.

  6. Choose whether you want to be notified only once or every time.
  7. Tap the Done button, then tap OK.

When you set the notification, your friend receives an alert.

A recurring notification needs your friend’s approval before it’s set. The first time they arrive at or leave the location you chose, they get an alert asking for approval.

Get notified when your friend isn’t at a location

When you set a schedule, you can get a notification if a friend or family member isn’t at a specific location during it. You could be notified if your child isn’t at school during school hours, for example.

  1. Start the Find My app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap People, tap the name of the person you want to be notified about, and then tap the More button.
  3. Below Notify Me, tap Add Location Alert.
  4. Below When, tap [your friend’s name] Is Not At.
  5. Choose a location, or tap New Location to create a new location and set a location radius.

    With a larger radius, you’re notified when your friend is near the location instead of right at the location.

  6. Select when you want to be notified.

    • Time: Select a start and end time.
    • Days: Select the days of the week.
  7. Tap the Done button, then tap OK.

Your friend has to approve the notification before it’s set. On the time and day the notifications start, they get an alert asking for approval.

Change or turn off a notification you set

  1. Start the Find My app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap People, tap the name of the person you want to be notified about, and then tap the More button.

    This could be a notification you receive about a friend, or a notification your friend receives about you.

  3. Tap the notification.
  4. Do either of the following:

    • Change a notification: Change any details and then tap the Done button.
    • Turn off a notification: Tap Delete Notification and tap Delete Notification again.

You can create up to 25 Notify Me notifications.

Note: Recurring notifications only work for friends who have two-factor authentication turned on.

Tag: Find My
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How to control VoiceOver using the rotor on iPhone

by Chris Smith

You can use the onscreen VoiceOver rotor to change how VoiceOver works. You can adjust the VoiceOver volume or speaking rate, move from one item to the next on the screen, select special input methods such as Braille Screen Input or Handwriting, and more.

When you use Magic Keyboard to control VoiceOver, use the rotor to adjust settings such as volume, speech rate, use of pitch or phonetics, typing echo, and reading of punctuation. On the screen, you use the rotor by rotating two fingers as if you’re turning a dial.

Use the VoiceOver rotor

  1. When VoiceOver is turned on, rotate two fingers on your screen as if you’re turning a dial. If you prefer to use one finger on each hand, simultaneously drag up with one finger and drag down with the other.

    VoiceOver speaks the rotor setting. Keep rotating your fingers to hear more settings. Stop rotating your fingers when you hear the setting you want.

  2. Swipe your finger up or down on the screen to use the setting.

    The available rotor settings and their effects depend on what you’re doing. For example, if you choose Headings when you’re browsing a webpage, swipe down or up to move the VoiceOver cursor to the next or previous heading.

Customize the VoiceOver rotor

  1. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, and then tap VoiceOver.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • Add or reorder the rotor settings: Tap Rotor. Then choose the settings you want, or drag the Reorder button to reorder settings.
    • Add another voice to the rotor:
    • Have VoiceOver confirm rotor actions: Tap Verbosity, then turn on Speak Confirmation.
Tags: accessibility, VoiceOver
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How to scan text and documents in Notes using the iPhone camera

by Emily Long

In the Notes app, you can use the camera to scan text and documents.

In supported languages, you can insert scanned text right into a note. When you scan a document, iPhone can capture it automatically once it detects the page boundaries, or you can capture it yourself. Either way, it’s saved as a PDF right in the note.

Here’s how to scan text and documents in Notes using the iPhone camera.

A screen showing a document being scanned. The Take Picture button is at the bottom center.

Scan text into a note

Using the camera, you can insert scanned text in supported languages.

  1. Open the Notes app on your iPhone.
  2. In a note, tap the Attachments button. Then tap Scan Text.
  3. Position your iPhone so that the text appears within the camera frame.
  4. Drag or use grab points to select text and tap Insert.

Scan a document into a note

  1. Open the Notes app on your iPhone.
  2. In a note, tap the Attachments button and tap Scan Documents.
  3. Position your iPhone so that the document page appears on the screen, adjust any settings such as Flash or Filters and then do one of the following:
    • Automatic capture: Keep your iPhone steady. Your iPhone automatically captures the document when it detects the page boundaries. To make adjustments, tap the thumbnail and tap an option such as Adjust, make your changes. Tap the Back button.
    • Manual capture: Tap the Automatic document capture button. Tap the Take Picture button. Adjust the corners as needed. Tap Retake or Keep.
  4. Scan additional pages and tap the Done button when you’re done. The document is saved as a PDF in the note.
Tag: camera
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