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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 invite others to control accessories in your home on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

In the Home app, you can invite other people to control all your smart accessories, or invite a guest to control some or all of your doors, locks, and security system accessories during specific times.

There’s a difference between the two. Home Residents get local and optional remote access to all accessories, at any time. Home Guests get local-only access to specific doors, locks, and security system accessories, but only during set times. You can also allow others to access your AirPlay-enabled speakers and TVs.

Note: You’ll need a home hub, like a HomePod speaker or Apple TV 4K, for remote access and guest access.

Invite residents to control accessories

At any time, Home Residents have access to all accessories in the home, locally and optionally remotely.

  1. Start the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. On the Home tab, tap the Add button, tap Add People, and then tap Resident.
  3. Tap the Add button to choose people with an Apple Account from your contacts list, or enter their Apple Account email addresses in the To field.
  4. Tap Invite.
  5. Ask the invitee to do one of the following:
    • In the notification: (iPhone or iPad) Tap Accept.
    • In the Home app: (iPhone or iPad) On the Home tab, tap the More button, tap Home Settings and then tap the invitee’s name.
    • On Apple TV 4K: Tap Show Me on Apple TV and turn on one or more Apple TVs.

Invite guests to control accessories

On a set schedule, Home Guests can access specific doors, locks, and security system accessories, but only locally.

Note: Home Guests access requires iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or later.

  1. Start the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. On the Home tab, tap the Add button and tap Add People. Then tap Guest.
  3. Tap the Add button to choose people with an Apple Account from your contacts list, or enter their Apple Account email addresses in the To field.
  4. Select any of the following for the guest schedule:
    • Anytime: The guest can access the selected accessories anytime.
    • Specific Dates: The guest can only access the selected accessories on the dates specified.
    • Specific Days & Times: The guest can only access the selected accessories on the days and during the times specified.
  5. Select which doors, locks, and security system accessories the guest can access.
  6. Tap Invite.
  7. Ask the invitee to do one of the following:
    • In the notification: (iPhone or iPad) Tap Accept.
    • In the Home app: (iPhone or iPad) Tap the More button, tap Home Settings, and then tap the invitee’s name.

Allow others to access your AirPlay-enabled speakers and TVs

  1. Start the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. On the Home tab, tap the More button and then tap Home Settings.
  3. Tap Speaker & TV and choose an option.

You can allow only people you’ve invited to share the home, anyone on the same network, or everyone. And you can require a password for speaker access, too.

Allow Resident and Guest Attribution

With Attribution, when you arrive, leave, or interact with accessories, your name can appear in notifications and activity history.

Note: Home members who use Face Recognition to identify people based on their photo library will still see your name.

  1. Start the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. On the Home tab, tap the More button and then tap Home Settings.
  3. Tap a person and then enable Attribution.
Tag: Home
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How to set separation alerts in case you leave a device behind in Find My on iPhone

by Emily Long

Separation alerts in the Find My app let you know when you’ve left a device behind. You can set them up for your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or AirPods, and add Trusted Locations, where you can leave a device without getting an alert.

If you have an iPhone Wallet with MagSafe and Find My support, you can get an alert when it detaches from your iPhone, too.

Here’s how to set separation alerts in case you leave a device behind in Find My on iPhone.

Important: In order to receive separation alerts, make sure you allow notifications for the Find My app.

Set up alerts for your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or AirPods

Separation alerts work for an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch with iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or later, a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 12 or later, and AirPods with the Find My network turned on. You can set up a separation alert only from the device sharing your location, and you’ll get an alert every time it separates from the device you set the alert for.

  1. Open the Find My app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Devices, tap the name of the device you want to set up an alert for, and then tap the More button.
  3. Below Notify Me, tap Notify When Left Behind.
  4. Turn on Notify When Left Behind and then follow the onscreen instructions.
  5. If you want to add a Trusted Location, you can choose a suggested location, or tap New Location, select a location on the map, and then tap Done.
  6. Tap the Done button.

Get notified when your iPhone Wallet with MagSafe detaches from your iPhone

If your iPhone Wallet with MagSafe and Find My support gets separated from your iPhone, you can get an alert one minute later. The Find My app then shows its last known location on a map.

  1. Open the Find My app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Devices, tap the name of your iPhone Wallet with MagSafe, and tap the More button.
  3. Tap Notify When Detached.
  4. Turn off or on Notify When Detached and tap the Done button.
Tag: Find My
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How to draw and create images in Messages on iPhone

by Kevin Hollington

You can send messages with drawings, doodles, or Digital Touch gestures and effects. You can also use Image Playground to create and send images.

Digital Touch even lets you draw on a black background. And with Apple Intelligence, you can use Image Playground to create images directly in the Messages app, so there’s no need to switch to another app to make one.

Here’s how to draw and create images in Messages on iPhone.

Send a drawing or doodle

  1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. In a conversation, tap the Add button.
  3. Swipe up, then tap Drawing.
  4. Draw using the tools, tap the Done button and tap the Send button to send your image.

    The canvas for drawing in Messages.

To draw on a black background, you’ll use Digital Touch, described below.

Create and send original images

To create images directly in the Messages app, use Apple Intelligence with Image Playground.

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 Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. Start a new message or open a conversation.
  3. Tap the Add button, then tap Image Playground.
  4. Do one of the following:
    • Create a new image: Tap Create at the top, follow instructions to create an image. Tap the Done button.
    • Select an image you previously created: Tap Gallery at the top and select your image. Tap the Done button.
  5. Tap the Send button to send your image.

Screen Time settings include a way to block access to image creation features, like Image Playground.

Send a Digital Touch gesture, animation, or effect

With Digital Touch, you can send animated sketches, taps, kisses, heartbeats, and more, on their own or as an effect on a photo or video. You need iMessage to use Digital Touch.

  1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. In a conversation, tap the Add button.
  3. Swipe up, tap Digital Touch, and then do one of the following:

    • Send an animated gesture: Tap or touch and hold with one or two fingers.

      Your gesture is sent automatically when you finish it. Touch and hold the color dot to choose a color for the one-finger taps.

      Note: If you have Apple Watch or another sensor that records heartbeat data, Messages may use the recorded data when you touch and hold with two fingers to send a heartbeat.

    • Send an animated drawing: Draw with one finger.

      You can change the color, then start drawing again.

    • Add an effect to a new image: Tap the Camera button. Then tap the Take Picture button to take a photo or the Record Video button to record a video.

      To take a new photo or video, or to erase anything you draw on your preview, tap the Back to Preview button.

  4. Tap the Send button to send your drawing or image, or tap the Close button to delete it.

*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 customize apps and widgets on the iPhone Home Screen

by Moses Johnson

You can change how app icons and widgets look on your Home Screen—adjust their size, apply a color tint, or switch between light and dark appearances. Auto gives icons and widgets a dark look at night, and a light appearance during the day.

In large size, the app names disappear, and a clear look makes the icons translucent. You can resize a widget, too. Some apps don’t offer every widget size, though, while others offer sizes up to extra large.

A customized Home Screen clear icons tinted blue and arranged to frame the photo, and controls at the bottom of the screen for customizing icons. Options include Automatic, Dark, Light, and Tinted buttons, options for choosing color and saturation, and Small and Large buttons for setting the icons’ size.

Customize the look of app icons

  1. Go to the Home Screen.
  2. Touch and hold the Home Screen background until the icons begin to jiggle.
  3. Tap the Edit button, then choose Customize.
  4. Do any of the following:
    • Make the icons larger: Tap the Large App Icon button. In large size, the names of the apps disappear.
    • Choose a dark appearance: Tap Dark. To show icons and widgets with a dark appearance at night and a light appearance during the day, tap Auto.
    • Give the icons a clear look: Tap Clear to make the icons translucent, then choose Light, Dark, or Auto.
    • Add a color tint: Tap Tinted. Use the sliders to choose the color and saturation (or use the eyedropper to select a color in your wallpaper). Then choose Light, Dark, or Auto.

Resize a widget

  1. Go to the Home Screen.
  2. Touch and hold the app icon or widget on your Home Screen.
  3. Choose a widget size.

Note: Widget sizes vary by app. Some provide only small and medium widgets, while others go up to extra large.

To change the widget back to an app icon, touch and hold it, then tap the App Icon button.

Tag: Home Screen
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What Switch Control is and how it works on iPhone

by Chris Smith

Switch Control is an assistive technology for anyone with limited mobility. It enables you to interact with iPhone by activating a switch, such as pressing an external adaptive button, performing a head movement, or making a voiced or voiceless sound. You can even use the iPhone screen itself as a switch, with no extra hardware.

Using one or more switches, you can move a cursor around the screen and use the Scanner menu to choose an action, like tap, zoom in, or zoom out. A switch can be an external hardware device, or even a feature on your iPhone, like Back Tap or simple sounds.

What is a switch?

Your switch might be a feature on your iPhone or an external hardware device.

Switches on iPhone work without any additional hardware, such as:

  • Screen: Use a tap or long press anywhere on the iPhone screen. You can set up tap and long press as two different switches with separate actions.
  • Camera: While in view of the front-facing iPhone camera, move your head to the left or right, or pinch your left or right index finger and thumb. You can set up each gesture as a different switch with a separate action.
  • Back Tap: Double-tap or triple-tap the back of iPhone. You can set up double tap and triple tap as two different switches with separate actions.
  • Sound: Make simple voiced sounds (such as “Oo”) or voiceless sounds (such as a pop). You can set up each sound as a different switch with a separate action.
  • AirPods: Nod or shake your head while wearing supported AirPods that are paired with your iPhone. You can set up nod and shake as two different switches with separate actions.
  • Gaming: Turn any switch into a virtual game controller to play your favorite games on iPhone.

External switches connect to iPhone instead, through Bluetooth® or the Lightning or USB-C connector, and they include:

  • Adaptive accessory
  • Joystick
  • Game controller
  • MFi switch or switch interface

How does Switch Control work?

Each switch in Switch Control performs a specific action. Move To Next Item, for example, moves the cursor to the next item on the screen. You perform the switch’s action by activating the switch, like making a sound, moving your head, or pressing the adaptive button.

Depending on how you like to work, you can use just one switch or multiple switches for different actions. You might move the cursor from one item to the next with your Move to Next Item switch, for example, then activate your Select Item switch once the cursor highlights the item you want.

Tag: accessibility
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How to track menopause stages in Health on iPhone

by Stacey Butler

Cycle Tracking in the Health app can provide notifications when your logged cycle patterns are suggestive of perimenopause. You can track related symptoms and find support with educational resources.

You can log stages of perimenopause or menopause, and after logging, you can log related symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep changes. When you track menopause, your perimenopause history is saved, and cycle deviation detection, predictions, and fertile window estimates are turned off.

Important: Cycle Tracking in the Health app should not be used for birth control or to diagnose a health condition. Cycle deviation notifications are based solely on the user’s logged cycle history. Cycle deviation notifications inclusive of perimenopause are for ages 40 and above. These notifications are not intended to replace traditional methods of diagnosis, monitoring, or treatment of perimenopause or menopause.

Log stages of perimenopause or menopause

  1. Start the Health app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Browse, then tap Cycle Tracking.
  3. Scroll down, then tap Menopause Stages.
  4. Tap the Add button and tap Next.
  5. Do one of the following:
    • Log perimenopause: Tap I’m in perimenopause.
    • Log menopause: Tap I’ve reached menopause.

To learn more, tap Learn About Perimenopause and Menopause.

  1. Follow the onscreen instructions.

To track menopause after perimenopause, tap Menopause Stages, tap the Add button, then follow the onscreen instructions. Your perimenopause history is saved and all cycle deviation detection, predictions, and fertile window estimates are turned off.

Once you’ve logged perimenopause and menopause, you can log related symptoms, such as night sweats, hot flashes, sleep changes, and more.

Log bleeding after menopause

  1. Start the Health app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Browse, then tap Cycle Tracking.
  3. Swipe to select a day and tap Bleeding After Menopause.
  4. Tap Had Bleeding and tap a bleeding level. Tap Done.

Note: When you log bleeding after menopause, you receive a notification recommending that you contact your doctor.

About your health data and privacy

The information you add about yourself in Health is yours to use and share. You can decide what information is stored in Health as well as who can access your data.

Apple says when your iPhone is locked with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode, all of your health and fitness data in Health, other than your Medical ID, is encrypted. Any health data synced to iCloud is encrypted both in transit and on Apple servers. And if you have a version of iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS (if you’re using iPad and Apple Watch for cycle tracking) with default two-factor authentication and a passcode, your health and activity data is stored in a way that Apple can’t read it.

This means that when you use the Cycle Tracking feature and two-factor authentication, your health data synced to iCloud is encrypted end-to-end, and Apple doesn’t have the key to decrypt the data and therefore cannot read it.

Tag: Health
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How to get walking directions in Maps on iPhone

by Kevin Hollington

You can get detailed walking directions to your destination. You can preview the elevation for your walk and choose a route that best avoids hills, stairs, or busy roads.

Maps speaks walking-specific directions for turns and other maneuvers, like walking up stairs, and Siri can give you walking directions home, too. Immersive walking instructions aren’t available in all countries or regions, though.

Here’s how to get walking directions in Maps on iPhone.

Note: Turn-by-turn spoken directions and immersive walking instructions aren’t available in all countries or regions.

Get walking directions

  1. Start the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. Touch and hold anywhere on the map or enter an address in the search field and then tap the directions button.
  3. Tap Go or Steps for the route you want to take.

If you tap Go, as you walk along your route, Maps speaks walking-specific directions for turns and maneuvers like walking up stairs.

Siri: You can also ask Siri something like, “Give me walking directions home.” For thousands of trails in parks across the U.S., you can find out their length, preview elevation information, see photos, and more.

Avoid hills, busy roads, or stairs

  1. Start the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. Touch and hold anywhere on the map or enter an address in the search field and then tap the directions button.
  3. Tap Options (below Directions), make your choices (below Avoid) and then tap the Done button.

Automatically see directions in augmented reality

Immersive walking instructions show you where to turn using augmented reality and the iPhone camera.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apps, then tap Maps.

Below Directions, tap Walking, then turn on Raise to View.

Get walking directions, as above.

Raise iPhone, tap the Pedestrian AR button, then follow the onscreen instructions.

  1. To return to the map, tap the Close button.

Improve how accurately iPhone determines your location while walking

To improve how accurately your iPhone determines your location, and which direction you’re facing as you walk, you can use the camera and motion sensors.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apps, then tap Maps.

Below Directions, tap Walking, then turn on Enhanced.

To decrease battery usage, you can turn off this feature.

Tag: Maps
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How to change Face ID and attention settings on iPhone

by Abigail Shilets

On an iPhone with Face ID, you can adjust Face ID and attention settings if you have physical or vision limitations. If you can’t move your head in a full circle during setup, you can use Accessibility Options. Face ID is attention-aware, too, and you can turn that check off.

Set up Face ID with Accessibility Options

Face ID setup usually asks you to gently move your head in a circle so it can see all the angles of your face. If the full range of head motion isn’t possible for you, you can still set up Face ID without moving your head.

  1. Open Settings and then tap Face ID & Passcode.
  2. Tap Set Up Face ID and then tap Get Started.
  3. Position your face within the frame and tap Accessibility Options.

It’s still secure, but Face ID requires more consistency when you unlock iPhone.

Change attention settings

Face ID is attention-aware for additional security, so iPhone only unlocks when your eyes are open and looking at the screen. Attention-aware features also let iPhone lower the volume of alerts, reveal notifications and messages, or keep the screen lit when you’re reading.

If you don’t want iPhone to check for your attention, do the following:

  1. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, and then tap Face ID & Attention.
  2. Turn on or off any of the following:
    • Require Attention for Face ID: Provide an additional level of security by unlocking iPhone only when you’re looking at it.
    • Attention Aware Features: iPhone checks for attention before dimming the display, expanding a notification when locked, or lowering the volume of some alerts.
    • Haptic on Successful Authentication: Play a haptic when Face ID successfully unlocks iPhone, authorizes Apple Pay, or verifies iTunes and App Store purchases.

If you turn on VoiceOver when you first set up iPhone, these settings are off by default.

Note: Requiring attention makes Face ID more secure.

Tag: face id
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How to make calls using Wi-Fi on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

When your iPhone has a low cellular signal, use Wi-Fi Calling to make and receive calls through a Wi-Fi network. When it’s available, you’ll see “Wi-Fi” after your carrier name in the status bar, and your calls go through Wi-Fi. Emergency calls go through cellular service when it’s available, though.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Cellular, then—if your iPhone has Dual SIM—choose a line (below SIMs).
  3. Tap Wi-Fi Calling, then turn on Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone.
  4. Tap Enable and then follow the onscreen instructions.

Note: Emergency calls on your iPhone are routed through cellular service when available. In the event that cellular service isn’t available, and you have enabled Wi-Fi Calling, emergency calls may be made over Wi-Fi, and your device’s location information may be used for emergency calls to aid response efforts, regardless of whether you enable Location Services. Some carriers may use the address you registered with the carrier when signing up for Wi-Fi Calling as your location. When connected to Wi-Fi calling, your iPhone may not receive emergency alerts.

Note: Wi-Fi calling isn’t available with all carriers or in all countries or regions. Contact your carrier for feature availability. When Wi-Fi Calling is available, “Wi-Fi” is displayed after your carrier name in the status bar, and all your calls go through Wi-Fi. If the Wi-Fi connection is lost when you make calls, calls switch automatically to your carrier’s cellular network using VoLTE (Voice over LTE), if available and turned on. (VoLTE calls also switch to Wi-Fi when a Wi-Fi connection becomes available.)

Tag: Wi-Fi
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How to send and receive audio messages in Messages on iPhone

by Kevin Hollington

You can record and send audio messages, along with transcripts of what’s said in the message. Audio messages are automatically deleted to save space on your iPhone, but if you want to save them, you can.

With Raise to Listen, you can play and reply to an audio message just by moving your iPhone. It’s quick. You can also listen to or reply to a recorded audio message, and switch to FaceTime from Messages.

Note: Audio message transcription is available in select languages.

A Messages conversation with an audio message.

Record and send an audio message

Instead of writing a text message, record an audio message, which can be played right in the Messages conversation.

  1. Start the Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. In a conversation, tap the Add button.
  3. Tap Audio, then begin speaking.
  4. Tap the Stop button to pause or end your recording. Then do any of the following to your message:

    • Send it: Tap the Send button.
    • Listen to review it: Tap the Play button.
    • Add to the end of it: Tap the Continue Recording button (with the message duration).
    • Cancel it: Tap the Close button.
  5. Tap Keep to save an incoming or outgoing audio message on your iPhone.

    Otherwise, the recording is deleted from the conversation—on your iPhone only—2 minutes after you send or listen to it. Recipients can play your recording any time after they receive it. To save it, they need to tap Keep within 2 minutes after listening to it.

Quick tip: For quicker follow-up audio messages, touch and hold the Record Audio button in the text field.

Audio messages are transcribed automatically in the language set in the sender’s Settings.

Always keep audio messages

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apps, then tap Messages.
  3. Tap Expire (below Audio Messages) and tap Never.

Listen to or reply to a recorded audio message

  1. Start the Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a conversation with an audio message and tap the Play button to play it.
  3. Do any of the following:
    • Slide right and left on the audio message to fast-forward or rewind.
    • Touch and hold the Play button or the Pause button to adjust the playback speed.
  4. Tap Keep to save an audio message in the conversation.

To save the message in the Voice Memos app , touch and hold the audio message, then tap Save to Voice Memos.

Use Raise to Listen

When you receive an audio message, moving your iPhone lets you play and reply to it. Do either of these:

  • Play an audio message: Raise your iPhone to your ear.
  • Reply to an audio message: Lower your iPhone and raise it to your ear again, then speak after you hear a tone. Tap the Send button to send your reply.

Turn off Raise to Listen

You can turn the feature off if you’d rather audio messages didn’t play when you raise your iPhone to your ear.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Apps, then tap Messages.
  3. Turn off Raise to Listen.

Switch to FaceTime from Messages

You can quickly make an audio or video call instead of sending a message by switching to FaceTime. In a Messages conversation, tap the FaceTime button.

Tag: Messages
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