Got a tip for us?

How to speed up a video on iPad

by Emily Long

There are a ton of cool things you can do with videos captured on an iPad, without using a third-party app. One feature is the option to speed up a video, which is great for things like unboxings, walk throughs of a venue, cooking videos, vacation videos, and fun effects for all types of content. It’s fairly simple to speed up videos on iPad using just a few easy steps within the pre-loaded iMovie app.

How to speed up a video on iPad using iMovie

  1. Launch the iMovie app on your iPad.
  2. Under Start New Project, tap Movie.
  3. Select the clip or clips you want to speed up.
  4. Tap on Create Movie.
  5. Tap on a clip within the timeline so the menu pops up at the bottom of the screen.
  6. Select the Speed button (it resembles a clock).
  7. Move the yellow bar to adjust the speed of the clip, making it faster (by sliding to the right) or slower (by sliding to the left).
  8. To create different speeds within the same video, drag the yellow range handles to the segment where you want them to land.
  9. Select Add to create another section with a different speed, with range handles and speed settings of its own.
  10. Tap anywhere outside the timeline to indicate that you’re done.
  11. Select Done at the top left to save the movie. You can then access it in iMovie or select Share to send to someone, a social media app, or just choose Save Video to save it to your Camera Roll.

How to speed up a slo-mo video on iPad

If you previously captured a video using the slo-mo option in the Camera app and want it to run at full speed (or faster) now, you can do this right from the Photos app.

  1. Launch the Photos app on your iPad.
  2. Go to Albums and scroll down to Slo-mo.
  3. Find the slow-motion video you want to speed up and tap on it.
  4. Tap Edit at the top right corner.
  5. Drag the two tallest white vertical bars together that show up in the timeline. This will remove the slo-mo effect.
  6. Tap Done. Use the same drag bars and perform the opposite action if you want the video to revert to slo-mo again. If you want to now speed up this version of the video in a customized way, follow the instructions above.

Create cool videos by speeding them up

You can edit cool videos on your iPad using iMovie, one of the best iPad apps, including speeding them up. Yes, that means virtually any video that exists in your iPad’s library is a candidate. Keep in mind that you can only speed videos up to twice the actual speed using iMovie. In order to speed it up more than that, you’ll need to look into third-party software.

While speeding up a video requires iMovie in post-processing, you can slow down videos right from the camera capture stage as long as you choose the slo-mo option built into the Camera app on all the latest iPads before tapping the shutter to begin the recording. If the video wasn’t taken in slo-mo, you’ll have to use iMovie to slow it down in entirety or in certain spots, using similar steps as shown above.

It’s also worth noting that even if you adjust the speed of your video in iMovie to make it slower or faster, the pitch and speed of the accompanying audio (if any) will remain the same. You can, however, select the audio settings and choose "Speed changes pitch" so the audio speeds up with the video as well. Typically, however, you might find it useful to silence the audio and add your own soundtrack to the newly created, sped-up version of the video. Once it’s done, go ahead and share your creation on social media and impress your friends and followers.

Tag: iMovie
Show Full Article

Best Apple Pencil Pro tips and tricks everyone should know

by Dave Johnson

Finally got your hands on an Apple Pencil Pro? It’s a great tool, and with a series of new features such as Barrel roll, Haptic feedback, Double tap, etc, the stylus is more useful than ever.

Apple Pencil Pro

Interested in getting the most out of your Apple Pencil Pro? That’s why we’ve put together this guide. Here are all the best Apple Pencil Pro tips and tricks you need to get started with Apple’s stylus.

The best Apple Pencil Pro tips and tricks

How to pair Apple Pencil Pro

The ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro is compatible with the M2 ‌iPad Air‌ models and the M4 ‌iPad Pro‌ models, so it only works with the May 2024 iPads.

  1. Ensure your M4 iPad Pro or M2 iPad Air is on and unlocked.
  2. Attach Apple Pencil Pro to the magnetic connector on the side of your iPad.
  3. Tap Pair when the onscreen prompt appears.

Just like the Apple Pencil 2, pairing is completely seamless so if you’ve ever used an Apple Pencil before you’ll feel right at home with the Pencil Pro.

How to charge Apple Pencil Pro

Are you worried about the Apple Pencil Pro’s battery life? Fret not, Apple makes charging the Pencil Pro an absolute breeze. Any time the Pencil Pro is connected to the magnetic strip on the side of your iPad it will charge.

  • Make sure that Bluetooth® is turned on in Settings > Bluetooth.
  • Attach Apple Pencil Pro to the magnetic connector on the side of your iPad.

The Apple Pencil Pro uses fast charging technology just like the Apple Pencil 2 and a 15-second charge can get users up to 30 minutes of use. If you constantly use your Pencil Pro with your iPad, however, you’ll never have to worry about the battery as the iPad should always keep the charge topped up.

How to use barrel roll on Apple Pencil Pro

There is a gyroscope in the ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro that allows the rotation of the barrel to change the orientation of certain tools. It basically offers much more precise control of shaped pen and brush tools, similar to how a real pen or brush would function when you tilt it while drawing or sketching.

To activate barrel roll, simply rotate the Pencil Pro while using a compatible app like Notes or Freeform. This feature works particularly well with non-circular brushes and the "Hover" feature: Hover the Pencil tip near the screen without touching it, and you will see the precise angle of contact as you rotate the brush or pen. Barrel roll unlocks calligraphy on iPad like never before, allowing you to perfect your handwriting by adding a new dimension to your strokes. It works best with brushes that aren’t a perfect circle point, and really well alongside the ‘Hover’ feature — put your Pencil tip near the screen without touching it, and you’ll see the exact angle that the brush will touch down on as you rotate it.

How to use Squeeze on Apple Pencil Pro

The squeeze gesture allows the ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro to sense when pressure is applied to the sides of the device. Using squeeze brings up a palette so that you can do things like switch tools, line weights, and colors.

It’s up to the developers of each individual app to decide how they want to use the Squeeze gesture but at the moment Apple’s own Notes and Freeform allow you to use the gesture to access a tool palette. Squeeze can also be customized in Settings, allowing you to choose between different functionality like the ability to Squeeze to erase or to switch to the last tool you used.

To use Squeeze, simply Squeeze the sides of your Apple Pencil Pro, it couldn’t be more easy to activate.

By default, Squeeze invokes the tool palette in the app you are using (Apple Notes and Freeform, for example), but you can change what the Squeeze gesture does, and you can even trigger a shortcut with it.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select Apple Pencil.
  3. Tap Squeeze.
  4. Choose between the following functions: Show Tool Palette, Switch Between Current Tool and Eraser, Switch Between Current Tool and Last Used, Show Color Palette, Show Ink Attributes, Shortcut, and Off.

Note that you can also adjust Squeeze sensitivity from this screen, so you can lower it if you tend to trigger it unintentionally.

How to use Double-Tap on Apple Pencil Pro

Double-Tap, a feature that is incredibly useful for Apple Pencil 2 owners, returns on Apple Pencil Pro with all the same settings you know and love. The flat side of the Pencil Pro acts as a Double-Tap input that you can use to do different things like switch between a tool and an eraser in certain apps or show ink attributes. Another fantastic use of Double-Tap is the ability to select using the Pencil Pro without touching the screen, this allows you to hover above selection choices and choose them by tapping twice on the side of your Pencil. Here’s how to turn it on:

  1. Open the Settings app
  2. Select Apple Pencil
  3. Choose Double-Tap
  4. Toggle on Allow Double Tap Only with Hover

Get used to haptic feedback

A built-in haptic engine offers haptic feedback when using the ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro’s gestures. A light haptic pulse will respond when using a squeeze or double-tap gesture, plus there is feedback when using the snap to a Smart Shape feature. While there’s nothing you need to learn in terms of using haptic feedback, it’s worth noting that every time you Squeeze or interact with your iPad’s display in a certain way you’ll feel a light haptic tap.

So just be prepared for haptic feedback and know that when you feel a little rumble, your Pencil Pro isn’t broken. It’s part of Apple’s magic way of making a stylus feel more like an actual drawing instrument.

Track your Apple Pencil Pro with Find My

Find My is available for the ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro so it can be tracked right alongside the iPad and other devices in the ‌Find My‌ app. here’s how:

  1. Open Find My
  2. Tap Devices
  3. Select Apple Pencil Pro
  4. Your iPhone or iPad will now direct you to the location of your Apple Pencil Pro, giving you an indication of distance as you get closer to the device. It’s a nifty feature that comes in really handy for those of us who leave things around the house on a regular basis.
Tag: Apple Pencil pro
Show Full Article

What is Tandem OLED on the New M4 iPad Pro? Know here!

by Dave Johnson

Apple introduced the new iPad Pro and its Tandem OLED display. The technology, which Apple calls “Ultra Retina XDR,” creates a new display that will soon be seen in more of the company’s devices. So what is this Tandem OLED, the technology behind the Ultra Retina XDR display? Here is a short explanation.

What is Tandem OLED and how it differs from regular OLED displays

Tandem OLED is a unique display technology that includes two layers of OLED pixels layered on top of each other to create one consistent screen. By combining light from both panels, iPad Pro can achieve an impressive full-screen brightness of 1,000 nits for both SDR and HDR content, with maximum HDR brightness reaching 1,600 nits.

The Ultra Retina XDY display showcasing beautiful landscape scenery on the new iPad Pro.
Photo credit: Apple

In contrast, regular OLED displays typically have lower brightness levels, as increasing brightness can lead to potential burn-in issues and reduced display lifespan. The Tandem OLED structure addresses these challenges by spreading the load across two panels, resulting in higher brightness and better performance.

What are the advantages of Tandem OLED

There are many benefits of Tandem OLED. Above all, unmatched brightness levels of 1,000 nits for full-screen content and 1,600 nits for premium HDR content deliver a stunning viewing experience that outperforms other mobile devices. This makes iPad Pro ideal for use in a variety of lighting conditions, from dimly lit indoors to bright outdoor environments.

Precise control over each pixel enables the display to reproduce colors with exceptional accuracy, making it ideal for professional content creation and consumption.

Finally, submillisecond control over pixel color and luminance provides a more responsive and smooth display, improving the user experience while gaming and video playback.

What problems does Tandem OLED fix?

There are two main issues with OLED screens, whether that’s on the OLED TVs, laptops or smartphones.

The first is brightness. OLED screens are not especially bright compared to what you can do with LED/LCD screens. And this is a problem with any device that will be used in sunlight or any bright environment, because it means you’ll face reflections that interfere with what you’re seeing.

The second is ‘burn-in’. OLED screens are prone to an problem where images that stay on an OLED screen for a very long time, such as the Taskbar in Windows, or the floating ‘Home’ bar on iPadOS, may become imprinted on the display permanently, leaving a ghost image that’s always there, even when you have something else displayed.

These two problems are somewhat connected: you could make OLED screens brighter by pushing more power through them, but that generates a lot more heat, and heat is a big factor in causing burn-in.

Tandem OLED screens, like the new iPad Pro’s, are supposed to solve both of these issues by, essentially, throwing pixels at the problem.

With two layers of OLED pixels, there is literally twice as much light being produced, because OLED pixels generate their own light. This allows Apple to reach 1,600 nits of peak HDR brightness and 1,000 nits of fullscreen HDR brightness, which is exactly what the previous iPad Pro could achieve using a mini-LED screen. This is way beyond what other large OLED screens manage, especially for the fullscreen brightness. For comparison, the brightest fullscreen OLED TV measurement we’ve ever taken is 318 nits, during our Samsung S95D review. Apple is delivering triple that – albeit, in a much smaller screen.

That solves the brightness issue, but what about burn-in? Well, the other advantage of using two layers of pixels is that if you’re using the device at a more standard brightness (as you will be the vast majority of the time), each layer can run less bright than a single layer would have to, making each more efficient in terms of energy and heat use. That helps to reduce a key cause of burn-in, and should help to keep the screen going for longer in general.

At least, these are the goals of Tandem OLED as a technology. And all while keeping the things that OLED is renowned for, including excellent image quality from all viewing angle, superb color reproduction and – of course – unmatched per-pixel contrast and realistic black tones.

Tag: iPad Pro
Show Full Article

iPhone 16: Everything We Know

by Dave Johnson

What Happened: The tech giant is expected to release its iPhone 16 series in September, continuing its tradition of annual launches. The new series is anticipated to feature larger screens, a revamped design, and improved performance, among other upgrades.

Screen Size And Display: The iPhone 16 is expected to have a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Plus will feature a 6.7-inch display. The Pro models are anticipated to be even larger, with the iPhone 16 Pro sporting a 6.3-inch display and the iPhone 16 Pro Max having a screen of 6.9 inches. Previously, it was speculated that this iPhone with a gigantic screen was named iPhone 16 Ultra.

The new models are also rumored to feature a new OLED display with micro-lens array or MLA technology, offering improved brightness and energy efficiency. However, this will be a new technology for Apple smartphones. Therefore, it is possible that iPhone enthusiasts will have to wait longer, in case the technology is not ready for the iPhone 16 lineup.

Design And Camera: The iPhone 16 is expected to have a new design, with the addition of the iPhone 15 Pro’s Action buttonand a potential haptic Capture Button on the iPhone 16 Pro. The camera array is also expected to be revamped for spatial video content, with a pill-shaped design being rumored.

The iPhone 16 Pro may also feature a super telephoto periscope camera for improved long-distance photography. It has also been reported that the iPhone 16 Pro could adopt molded glass lenses to reduce the thickness and weight of the camera.

Software, Battery And Performance:Performance-wise, the iPhone 16 series is expected to be powered by the **A17 Bionic **chip, with the Pro models potentially featuring an A18 Bionic chip. The new models are also expected to feature a graphene heat sink to address heating issues reported with the iPhone 15.

Moreover, it is almost certain that the 2024 iPhone models will be powered by iOS 18 and one consistent rumor surrounding this software update is improved AI-powered functionalities. This could entail a revamped Siri, capable of efficiently executing complex tasks through voice commands.

A leaked report previously suggested that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Max may come with an increase in battery capacity. There’s also a possibility that the iPhone 16 Plus might experience a reduction in its battery size. It was also reported that the tech giant might be considering adopting Wi-Fi 7 technology for the iPhone 16 Pro lineup.

Polished Titanium Outlook And More: It has been reported that Cupertino might introduce a new polished titanium finish for iPhone 16 Pro models — more polished than its predecessor, along with being better scratch-resistant.

Some leaks have also suggested that new iPhone 16 models could feature "space black" and "rose" colors. The leak also suggests that the "Natural" and "White Titanium" hues are set to undergo slight modifications. It’s expected that the "Natural Titanium" shade will have a more grayish tone, while "White Titanium" will resemble a "Silver White" shade similar to the iPhone 14 Pro’s silver model.

Tag: iPhone 16
Show Full Article

iPhone 16 Pro to launch in these four colors

by Kevin Hollington

The iPhone 16 series is coming in September this year, almost certainly. Having said that, a tipster has just revealed the iPhone 16 Pro colors. We presume that this goes for both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, though there could be one exclusive color for each.

The iPhone 16 Pro is coming in four colors, and they have seemingly been revealed

In any case, according to ShrimpApplePro who dug up the info from Weibo, the iPhone 16 Pro is coming in Space Black, Gray, White, and Rose colors. Apple could use different names for these colors, so do take these names with a grain of salt.

The tipster also noted that Apple will use color-infused glass with matte texture back once again. That’s a well-known process that makes those nice-looking matte backs that iPhone users like so much.

The entire iPhone 16 series won’t exactly be groundbreaking, based on rumors. Apple won’t be changing things much from the design standpoint. Major changes are expected with the iPhone 17 in 2025.

Apple will slim down the bezels on the ‘Pro’ models even further

What we do know, based on rumors, is that the company will use teh ‘Border Reduction Structure in order to reduce bezels. That applies to the ‘Pro’ models only, though, most probably.

On top of that, the iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to arrive with slightly larger displays. Considering that their bezels will be slightly thinner, the two devices should not be much larger than the iPhone 15 Pro models are.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus could retain the same displays sizes. Nothing is set in stone just yet. All models will be made out of metal and glass, though the iPhone 16 Pro series is expected to utilize a titanium frame.

Unlike the design of these smartphones, iOS 18 is expected to deliver major changes. It’s actually rumored to become the biggest update since the launch of the first iPhone.

Tag: iPhone 16 Pro
Show Full Article

The iPhone May Get a Big Dose of AI This Year

by GeeksModo Staff

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have played an important role in the iPhone for years, powering features like Portrait Mode for the camera and the ability to copy and paste text from photos. But at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference, we’re expecting to learn about how Apple could take that to the next level by potentially bringing generative AI to the iPhone.

Generative AI, or AI models trained on large volumes of data that create content in response to prompts, has exploded in popularity following the success of ChatGPT. Tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, Samsung and Amazon, among many others, have introduced generative AI into their biggest products over the past year. Apple, however, has been quiet about its plans for generative AI, although CEO Tim Cook teased updates for 2024.

"But we’ve got some things that we are incredibly excited about that we’ll be talking about later this year," Cook said in response to a question about generative AI on the company’s most recent earnings call.

Between Cook’s comments, new research papers and the acquisition of AI startups, Apple is clearly on to something. Here’s what Apple’s AI plans for the iPhone might look like based on reports that have circulated in recent months.

iOS 18 will likely be full of AI features

Apple’s next major iPhone operating system, which will probably be called iOS 18, is expected to introduce a ton of new AI features to the iPhone. It could be the most significant update since the original iPhone in Apple’s eyes, according to Bloomberg.

Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, has been tasked with implementing a bunch of new tools into iOS fueled by the company’s large language model, reports Bloomberg. It’s unclear precisely what that means for iOS 18, but the report says we could see improvements in the Messages app and Siri. What we won’t see is an Apple alternative to ChatGPT, Bloomberg also reports.

Samsung and Google have already provided a glimpse into how generative AI is changing smartphones. Both companies offer features that can rewrite text messages in a different tone before hitting the send button and photo editing tools that can refill blank spaces in a photo after moving an object. It’s possible Apple could take a similar approach, although we won’t know for sure until iOS 18 arrives.

Google could power some new AI features

Apple is reportedly in talks with Google and OpenAI about using their respective AI models to power certain upcoming iPhone features, according to reports from Bloomberg, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. These models would likely be used for AI features that must be processed in the cloud, reports Bloomberg. Apple is reportedly planning to use its own models for future software tools that can be processed on-device without requiring a cloud connection.

On-device AI is generally considered to be more secure and private since data doesn’t have to leave your device but typically requires more powerful processors. That’s why Siri is only capable of answering health-related questions on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, which run on the company’s newest smartwatch chips.

Based on the reports, it sounds like Apple is focusing its efforts on new AI models designed to run locally, while seeking a partner for cloud-based AI. That wouldn’t come as too much of a surprise; Apple prides itself on creating new features and technologies that take full advantage of how hardware and software work together. It’s much easier to do that when you don’t have to rely on a third-party for data processing.

It also wouldn’t be the first time Apple has partnered with another company on certain technologies and components. Google already pays Apple billions of dollars to be the default search engine on iPhones, for example, and Qualcomm supplies Apple with 5G modems for the iPhone.

A smarter Siri

Siri seems like a natural area for Apple to apply any AI advancements, and reports from The Information and Bloomberg suggest it may do just that. The Information reported last year that Apple has doubled down on efforts to make Siri better at automating tasks. The report cites the ability to ask Siri to create GIFs from your last five photos and then share it as an example of the types of use cases Apple has in mind.

We won’t know what Apple’s plans are until it announces them. But automation features like those mentioned above would feel like a fitting evolution for Siri that builds on its existing Shortcuts functionality.

An AI App Store

Apple may launch a new AI App Store, according to Ben Reitzes, head of technology research at Melius Research, who spoke with CNBC.

"In June we should start to see them lay the groundwork for this new app store, for how it’s going to work with AI, how you can buy AI apps through the App Store, " he said during the CNBC interview.

There are a lot of unanswered questions, such as whether this supposed AI app store would be for the iPhone, the Mac or all of Apple’s products. It’s also unclear if Reitzes is referring to a separate App Store entirely, or a new section in the current App Store focused on AI apps. The latter seems more in line with Apple’s usual approach. Either way, emphasizing AI in the App Store would be a testament to the technology’s importance from Apple’s perspective.

A new chip with more AI processing power

Apple’s next iPhone processor, presumably called the A18, is expected to offer better AI performance for the iPhone 16 lineup, according to Taiwanese news outlet Economic Daily News and analyst Jeff Pu, as MacRumors reported. AI has been a big area of focus for years, with Apple increasingly expanding the capabilities of the neural engine inside its A-series chips. But given that Apple is expected to develop new AI-powered iPhone features that rely on local processing, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more significant upgrades.

Apple isn’t usually first to market with new product categories. Instead, it’s known for popularizing technologies, as it did with smartphones, smartwatches and tablets. Regardless of Apple’s approach, all eyes will be on the company to do the same with AI and generative AI.

Tag: iOS 18
Show Full Article

How to Turn off Journal Notifications on iPhone

by Dave Johnson

Apple’s Journal app lets you record your daily thoughts and activities, incorporating data like photos, music listened to, workouts, and more, plus it suggests topics to write about.

Journal App iOS 17 Feature Green  

A common issue that iPhone users have is that they keep getting Journal notifications even though they do not use the app. By default, notifications for the Journal app are enabled. Depending on your settings, the number of notifications you get will vary. For example, if you turn on the Journaling Schedule feature, your notifications will increase.

Getting constant Journal notifications is not only overwhelming but it is also distracting. Checking your iPhone constantly, only to see alerts from an app you don’t use can be frustrating. Also, while you swipe away all the notifications from Journal, you may miss essential announcements from other apps. The good news is you can put a stop to this by learning how to turn off Journal notifications.

If you are not using the Journal app, you can remove it from your iPhone. To remove it, find the app icon on the Home screen, press and hold it, then tap Remove App. When the app is gone, its notifications will be gone too.

If you do not want to remove the app but only stop its notifications, you can change your settings:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Notifications.
  3. Scroll down and find Journal and Journal Suggestions from the list of apps. They are listed alphabetically.
  4. Open each and turn off the Allow Notifications option.

Alternatively, you can also change your notification settings via the Journal app settings. Here is how:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and tap Journal.
  3. To turn off Journal notifications fully, tap Notifications and turn off Allow Notifications. Then, tap Journal Suggestions and Suggestions Notification Settings and turn off Allow Notifications.
Tag: Notifications
Show Full Article

Does Green “Sent as Text Message” Mean You Are Blocked?

by Kevin Hollington
  • If your iPhone says “Sent as Text Message,” it does not necessarily mean you’re blocked. It means they’re being sent as SMS texts rather than iMessages.
  • You’ll always see green when texting Android users, or when you’re not connected to the internet.
  • If all of your iPhone messages are green, you should make sure iMessage is turned on in Settings.

iMessages are texts and media sent between Apple devices over an internet connection. A successfully sent iMessage appears as a blue text bubble in your chat conversation.

An iPhone showing an iMessage message
Photo Credit: Apple

However, you’re probably here because you noticed your messages are sent as a green text bubble instead of blue or perhaps saw a "Sent as Text Message" note at the bottom of the bubble.

What does this mean? Have you been blocked? Below, we explain why you’re probably not blocked, why iMessage says sent as a text message, and how to fix it if you think it’s a mistake.

An iPhone showing an SMS/MMS message
Photo Credit: Apple

Does green Sent as text message mean you are blocked?

The answer to the question is maybe. You cannot send an iMessage to someone who blocked you. It will say “Sent as Text Message,” but still, the person will not get the message. However, your iMessages may send as SMS text messages in green bubbles instead of blue bubbles even when you are not blocked.

If you’re used to seeing blue iMessage text bubbles but they are suddenly green, it can be an indication you’ve been blocked – but that’s just one possibility, and isn’t necessarily the most likely.

6 Reasons Why Your iMessage Is Sent as a Text Message

When your iMessage is sent as a text message, it could be due to the following reasons:

1. There is a problem with iMessage on your iPhone

When your iMessage is sent as a text message, it’s worth checking whether the root cause of the issue lies with your iPhone first.

iMessage texts sending in green instead of blue is a common problem when the service stops functioning as it should.

You may experience iMessage issues after switching your SIM card or adding a new device to your Apple ID, so apply various troubleshooting methods to fix iMessage on your iPhone first.

2. The Recipient’s Device Is Not Connected to the Internet

For a text to be successfully sent as an iMessage, the recipient’s Apple device must also be connected to the internet. Otherwise, the iMessage will be sent as a text message to their device, or you might see an "iMessage Not Delivered" error on your iPhone if it’s not sent out.

3. The Recipient Wasn’t Using an Apple Device at the Time

Remember, iMessage only works between Apple devices. So, if your family or friend switches from an iPhone to an Android smartphone, for example, your iMessage will automatically be sent as a text message to them.

Your iPhone does not notify you that they have changed devices, even if your previous chat conversations were held using iMessage.

4. The Recipient’s Device Was Turned Off

Another simple reason is that your contact may have turned off their iPhone, or their device had shut down because it ran out of battery. When this happens, you can still continue to message them. However, your iMessage will be sent as a text message or simply remain pending until the other party turns on their device again.

5. The Recipient Disabled iMessage on Their iPhone

iMessage is a feature that can be enabled and disabled in the iPhone’s Settings app. For whatever reason, your contact may have chosen to turn off iMessage.

If this happens, you’ll be unable to send and receive iMessages from them. However, both of you can still reach each other with SMS text messages.

6. There’s a chance that iMessage is down on Apple’s end

When iMessage is not available for you or the recipient due to outages, the messages will be sent as SMS. Visit Apple’s System Status page and check if iMessage service is having known technical issues.

Turn on iMessages so your messages appear in blue bubbles when able

In order to send and receive the "blue text bubbles" when chatting with other iPhone, iPad, and Mac users, iMessage must be enabled on your iPhone.

If you have recently bought a new iPhone and set it up using your Apple ID already, iMessage will already be enabled and ready to use.

But if iMessage isn’t enabled, here’s how to do it:

  1. First, unlock your iPhone and launch the Settings app from the home screen.
  2. In Settings, scroll down until you find ”Messages” and tap on it.
  3. At the top of the screen, find iMessage.
  4. If the slider on the right is green, iMessage is already enabled. If not, tap the slider to enable iMessage
  5. If iMessage is already turned on, turn iMessage off by swiping the button to the left.
  6. Turn off your iPhone, then turn it on again.
  7. Go back to the Settings app, tap Messages, and turn iMessage back on by swiping the button to the right.

After activation, you will now be able to send and receive the "blue text bubbles" when chatting with other iPhone, iPad, and Mac users.

How to Test if Someone Blocked You From Contacting Them

There are a few ways you could try to check if you’re blocked. First, you could try calling the person. An iPhone user can’t choose to block you on iMessage without blocking you entirely. Therefore, if the call goes through, it confirms that you’re not blocked.

If the call doesn’t go through, you shouldn’t immediately start panicking either. There are a variety of reasons why you’re unable to make phone calls on your iPhone. Poor call signal in an area is one of the biggest culprits.

Therefore, you can also reach out to your recipient via social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Whatsapp. If you’re still connected on those platforms, it’s unlikely that the person has blocked you. If person is set to block you, they would have most likely block you in social media platforms as well. So, the issues of being unable to call them or send them an iMessage were likely minor technical hiccups.

Don’t Panic When Your iMessage Is Sent as a Text Message

Due to the reasons we’ve discussed in this article, it’s totally normal for iMessage to fail and be sent as a text message instead.

If you’ve been worried that you were blocked because your iMessage was sent as a text message, we trust our explanation has helped you understand why it’s probably not the case.

Therefore, don’t panic or jump to conclusions quickly. Contact the person using other channels if you need to communicate to them urgently.

Tags: iMessage, Messages, text message
Show Full Article

How To Fix iPhone Not Receiving Texts From Android Issue

by Moses Johnson
  • To fix iPhone not receiving text from Android issue, check your cellular reception and make sure you’re not blocking the Android’s phone number.
  • You should also try restarting your iPhone, enabling MMS Messaging, and checking for iOS update.
  • If all else fails, contact your carrier for assistance.

One of the most commonly asked questions on GeeksModo is how to fix the iPhone not receiving texts from Android problem.

Many of our readers ask us why their iPhone is not getting text from Android phones.

In this article, we will show you how to fix the iPhone not receiving text from Android issue so your messages can start coming through again.

Why Your iPhone is Not Getting texts From Android

The most common reason for iPhone not receiving text messages from Android is due to a glitch with your cellular network. This means that when a text message is sent out from an Android phone it may not make it into your iPhone.

It is also possible you’ve blocked the Android phone number and that’s why you’re not getting those texts.

If you have trouble receiving texts from Android users with embedded photos or videos, MMS might be turned off on your iPhone.

Your cellular provider may also be having a problem with their network coverage – maybe their SMS service is down.

With that said, let’s take a look at how to fix the iPhone not receiving text from Android issue.

Fixing iPhone not receiving Texts From Android Issue

Try the suggestions below in this order until your issue is fixed:

1. Toggle Airplane mode

Not getting a text you’re expecting? Perhaps you’re not getting any messages because there’s a glitch with your cellular radio or the wireless software. Turning your phone’s cellular radio off and back on again may resolve the issue. Swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to reveal the control center, then tap Airplane mode to turn it on. Wait a few seconds, then tap it again to re-enable your wireless networks.

2. Make sure you have cellular connectivity

If you’re having trouble getting SMS messages from Android users, remember that these can only arrive via your cellular network — not WiFi. Be sure to check your wireless signal strength in the status bar at the top of the screen, and move outdoors if needed. Toggling Airplane mode can also help reestablish a solid cellular signal.

3. Doublecheck MMS options in Settings

If you have a problem receiving texts from Android users with embedded photos or videos, MMS might be turned off. Here’s how to check:

  1. On your iPhone, open the Settings app,
  2. Scroll down and select Messages.
  3. Make sure MMS Messaging is enabled.

4. Check your blocked contacts

It’s possible that the problem is relatively mundane — you might have blocked the Android contact and that’s why you’re not seeing text messages from that number. Here’s what to do:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Messages.
  3. Scroll down, and select Blocked Contacts.
  4. If you recognize any names or numbers in the list that you want to hear from again, tap Edit and then the red circle next to each entry.
  5. When you’re finished, tap Done.

5. Update iOS

It’s also possible that there’s a more pervasive problem with your phone, such as a software bug or incompatibility that’s preventing your iPhone from receiving Messages from Android. Check to make sure iOS is up to date and then install any available updates, if needed.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go into General.
  3. Tap Software Update.
  4. If an update is available, tap Update Now and follow onscreen instructions.

6. Restart your iPhone

If all else has failed so far, rebooting your iPhone might get your texting working again.

Follow these steps to restart iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, or iPhone 15:

  1. Press and hold both the Side button on the right side of the iPhone and any of the volume buttonson the left side. Release the buttons when you see the power off screen.
  2. Drag the power off slider to the right. Doing this will turn off the iPhone.
  3. Wait for at least 30 seconds.
  4. Press the Side button and release it when you see the Apple logo on the startup screen. In a few seconds, your iPhone will turn on.

Follow these steps to restart iPhone SE (2nd generation) and iPhone SE (3rd generation):

  1. Press and hold the Side button until you see the power off screen.
  2. Drag the power off slider to the right. Your iPhone is switched off now.
  3. Wait for at least 30 seconds.
  4. Press and hold the same Side button until you see the startup Apple logo.

7. Check for a carrier settings update

Carriers regularly push out network-specific settings updates meant to solve flaws or ensure compatibility. Normally you’ll be automatically prompted to install these, but if you think you missed one, you can install them manually.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap About. If an update is available, you should see a pop-up in a matter of seconds. It may be worth waiting a minute or two to be sure.

8. Turn Off Message Filtering

iPhones allow you to filter text messages from unknown senders. While this is off by default, you may have accidentally turned it on. If that’s the case, you could be missing text messages from Android numbers you don’t have saved on your phone.

To resolve this, turn off message filtering on your device. You can do this by following the steps below:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Messages
  3. disable Filter Unknown Senders. You should start receiving text messages again if it was enabled all this time.

Once you turn it off, head to the Messages app to find any unread messages that the filter hid. Filtered messages don’t get deleted. Instead, they get stored in another folder. Once you turn off Message Filtering, you’ll see them in the Messages app.

9. Delete old text messages

When the iPhone’s storage is full, it might not have the room to accommodate incoming messages. If you have a bunch of messages, it might be time to delete some of them to free up some space for new ones.

  1. Start the Messages app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Edit in the top left corner of the screen.
  3. Tap Select Messages.
  4. Tap on any text message that you don’t need – it will have a checkmark on the left to indicate that you have selected it.
  5. After you’ve selected all the messages you want to remove, tap Delete in the bottom right corner.
  6. Tap Delete to confirm your action.

Quick tip: If you want to keep your old messages but still need to free up space on your iPhone, you can try other methods. For example, you can delete or offload apps you don’t need.

10. Reset your network settings

Sometimes, third-party apps, iOS updates, and bugs can cause your network settings to malfunction. If this happens, you might not receive text messages from Android phones.

Before contacting your carrier, you should try resetting your network settings. Some users reported that this does fix many issues related to your iPhone not receiving texts from Android.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go into General.
  3. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  4. Tap Reset.
  5. Select Reset Network Settings and follow onscreen instructions.

11. Contact Your Carrier

If you tried the above fixes and your iPhone still isn’t receiving text messages from Android, it’s time to call your carrier. After all, there are many other ways your carrier can help you. For example, there could be a cell tower outage near you that they can inform you of, or you could have an issue with your account.

If you pay your carrier for service and aren’t receiving text messages from Android, the carrier is responsible for restoring your text messaging. The carrier can verify your plan, check for outages, and try resetting your account if necessary. You may also want to consider trying a new SIM card and see if that helps.

When calling your carrier, just let them know you aren’t receiving text messages from Android. If the carrier can’t help you, consider switching to a different network provider unless you have a carrier-locked phone.

iPhone Not Receiving Texts from Android? There Are Things You Can Do

You could miss important events or updates if your iPhone is not receiving text messages from Android phones. This can be difficult for anybody. Because of this, you’ll want to get this fixed as soon as possible. After all, you might have already missed some important messages and don’t want to miss them anymore.

Luckily, there are several things you can try before contacting your carrier. Sometimes, a simple setting can change whether you receive messages. There are also cases when resetting your network settings fixes your carrier issues, so you don’t need to call and wait.

No matter what the issue with your iPhone is, you have several steps to try, and hopefully, you can get it fixed and start receiving messages from Android again.

Tags: Android, Messages, Text messages
Show Full Article

How to fix iPhone not sending texts to android issue

by GeeksModo Staff
  • If your iPhone is not sending texts to Android phones, there are a number of ways to troubleshoot the problem.
  • Make sure that your iPhone is configured to send SMS and check that the Android’s phone number isn’t registered with Apple’s iMessage system.
An iPhone showing an SMS/MMS message
Photo Credit: Apple

Are you frustrated by your iPhone not sending text to Android?

As an iPhone user, you need to send text messages to your Android friends and family.

In this article, we’ll show you the easy way to fix iPhone not sending text to Android.

Why your iPhone is not sending texts to Android

  • You don’t have an active mobile service plan.
  • There is something wrong with your cellular connection.
  • Your iPhone is not configured to send SMS.
  • The Android’s phone number could be registered with Apple’s iMessage system.

Here are 11 ways to troubleshoot if your iPhone isn’t sending texts to Android phones.

Fixinh iPhone not sending texts to an Android phone

Please try the steps below. Please ensure to check the Messages app after each step to see if texts sending to Android contacts starts working.

1. Make sure Your Mobile Plan is Active

The first thing to check is whether you currently have an active mobile service plan. If you don’t have one, you won’t be able to send texts to Android users.

While the vast majority of phone plans offer standard unlimited texting, you might have exceeded your monthly limit of text messages if you have a limited plan.

In either case, you should contact your network provider to ensure there are no issues with your account services.

2. Check the Number You’re Texting

If you’re trying to send a text message from your iPhone to an Android user, but they aren’t receiving it, the next thing you should do is make sure you’re sending the message to the correct number.

Often, many people tend to ignore small mistakes like this, and mistyping a digit or two of a phone number could be the reason your message isn’t getting delivered.

This should be no problem when you message a contact stored on your iPhone, but it can require care when entering a new number. So take your time when entering numbers.

If you continue to have trouble, contact your intended recipient by other means to confirm the number.

3. Close and reopen the Messages app

Another solution for your iPhone not sending texts to Android phones is to restart the Messages app. Here’s how:

iPhones With Face ID

  1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher. You should see all of your apps represented as cards.
  2. Swipe side-to-side through your apps until you find the Messages app.
  3. Swipe Messages up and off the top of the screen to close it.
  4. Tap the app icon to reopen it.

iPhones Without Face ID

  1. Double-press the Home button. This starts the app switcher, where you should see all of your apps represented as cards.
  2. Swipe side-to-side through your apps until you find the Messages app.
  3. Swipe Messages up and off the top of the screen to close it.
  4. Tap the app icon to reopen it.

4. Configure your iPhone to send SMS messages

You won’t be able to send text to Android if you haven’t enabled the Send as SMS option on your iPhone. So, turn it on to send SMS to Android from your iPhone. Here’s how:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and then tap Messages.
  3. Turn on Send as SMS by swiping the button to the right.

5. Toggle Airplane mode

One of the most common reasons iPhone can’t send text to Android is because of a glitch with your cellular connection. You can generally fix this by toggling it off and then back on again. To do this, enable and disable Airplane Mode. You can toggle your iPhone’s Airplane Mode on and off from the Control Center.

  1. To reveal the Control Center on iPhone with Face ID, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen. If you’re on iPhone without Face ID, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
  2. Tap on the Airplane Mode icon, which is represented by a plane inside a circle. When the icon is orange, Airplane Mode is enabled; when it’s grayed out, it’s disabled.

Quick tip: You can also turn Airplane Mode on or off by opening the Settings app and tapping the toggle for Airplane Mode.

6. Restart the iPhone

Sometimes, the problem is related to a software problem on your iPhone, but toggling Airplane mode didn’t do the trick.

In a situation like this, try turning your iPhone off, wait a minute, and then turn it back on again. Restarting the phone can flush out any misbehaving software or corrupted data and restore it to full operation.

iPhones with Face ID

  1. Press and hold down the side button and either the volume up button or volume down button.
  2. When the power slider appears, swipe the power button inside it to the right.
  3. After the iPhone has completely shut down, press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears.

iPhones without Face ID

  1. Press and hold down the side button.
  2. When the power slider appears, swipe the power button inside it to the right.
  3. After the iPhone has completely shut down, press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears.

7. Ask the Android owner to deregister iMessage

This problem can catch a lot of people off-guard. If the Android user previously had an iPhone and transferred the SIM card to an Android without changing the phone number, that phone number may still be registered as an iPhone in Apple’s database, and so when iPhone users text a number that’s still in the iMessage system, the text goes to iMessage and can’t be delivered to the Android phone. The solution? Ask the Android user to deregister his or her phone number from Apple’s iMessage system.

8. Check for iOS updates

You should always keep your iPhone updated with the latest version of iOS. New updates for iOS can iron out software issues and bugs. So if your iPhone still can’t send text messages to Android, it’s a good idea to update.

To update, you need to have your iPhone connected to a Wi-Fi network and a power source. You should then do the following:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap Software Update.
  4. At this point, your iPhone will check if an update is available. When one is found, tap Update Now.

9. Check for a carrier settings update

Carrier settings update may potentially fix this problem, so see if there is any pending update that need to be installed. Here’s how:

  1. Connect to a cell phone or Wi-Fi network of your choice.
  2. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  3. Tap General.
  4. Tap About. Should an update be available, you’ll be able to do so from this screen.

10. Reset your network settings

You shouldn’t take resetting your iPhone’s network settings too lightly. Network settings save data such as Wi-Fi networks and passwords, so it isn’t ideal to erase them.

That said, it’s worth doing if you’ve tried everything above and your iPhone still won’t send text messages to Android phones.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Select Transfer or Reset iPhone at the bottom.
  4. Tap Reset.
  5. In the menu that appears, tap Reset Network Settings.

11. Contact your carrier network or Apple Support

If your iPhone still won’t send SMS to Android after all this, your last option is to contact your carrier. Try calling the customer service line. If they can’t help you, it’s likely a hardware issue, and you should contact Apple or an authorized service provider for expert assistance.

Depending on your location, you can book an Apple Store appointment at a Genius Bar. You may have to eventually replace the iPhone, but that should be the last case scenario.

Fix Your iPhone Messaging Issues

Congratulations, you’ve fixed iPhone not sending texts to android issue.

If you’ve tried everything we listed above but your iPhone still can’t send text messages to Android, it might be time to get another device.

Tags: Android, Messages, Text messages
Show Full Article