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The Complete Guide to Every iOS 27 Feature

How to control what you share on iPad

by Dave Johnson

Apps ask for permission the first time they want to use something on your iPad, and you control what you share. You can control which apps can access your data, location, camera, and microphone, and manage safety protections.

A messaging app, for example, may request access to your contacts, to find friends who use the same app. When an app is using Location Services, its icon appears in the status bar, and you can turn access on or off for any individual app.

The Privacy & Security screen, with settings for Location Services and Tracking, and settings to control which apps can access your data.

Control which apps have access to information on your iPad

Third-party apps can use information in your iPad apps, like Contacts, Photos, and Calendar, if you let them, and that’ll help you get things done more quickly. A messaging app might request access to your contacts to find friends using the same app, for example. And you can turn access on or off for each app individually.

How to allow access to information in iPad apps

The Location Services screen, with settings to share the location of your iPad with apps.

Control which apps can use the location of your iPad

Apps with access to your iPad’s location can help you get directions, get assistance in an emergency, and more. A ride-sharing app, for example, may ask for your location so it can pick you up. Whenever an app’s using Location Services, its icon shows in the status bar.

How to allow access to the location of your iPad

The Privacy & Security screen, with settings to control whether apps can use the camera, microphone, and other parts of your iPad.

Control which apps have access to the camera and microphone on your iPad

Letting apps use the camera and microphone makes it easier to upload content directly to them. A social networking app might ask to use your camera, for example, so you can take and post pictures there. A green indicator appears any time an app uses the camera, even when the camera and microphone are working together.

How to allow access to the camera and microphone

The Tracking screen, with a setting to control whether apps can ask to track you across websites or apps owned by other companies.

Control which apps can track you or your iPad across websites or other apps

Apple says all apps are required to ask your permission before tracking you or your iPad across websites or apps owned by other companies (for example, advertising or to share your information with data brokers). After you grant or deny permission to an app, you can change permission later. You can also stop all apps from requesting permission.

How to allow access to your web activity

The App Privacy Report screen, where you can turn on a report to show how often apps use the permissions you’ve granted them, along with their network activity.

Review how apps are using the permissions you grant them

You can see how apps are using the permissions you’ve granted them, and their network activity, by reviewing an App Privacy Report.

How to view an app privacy report

Tag: Privacy & Security
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How to subscribe to Apple Music on iPad

by Tyler Stephen

Apple Music is an ad-free streaming music service that lets you play millions of songs and your music library. As a subscriber, you can listen any time, online or off, and create your own playlists, stream and download lossless and Dolby Atmos music, get personalized recommendations, follow artists, see music your friends are listening to, and watch exclusive video content.

You can subscribe to Apple Music or to Apple One, which includes Apple Music and other services. New subscribers can start a trial, qualified students can get a discounted student subscription, and you can share Apple Music with up to five other family members.

Note: Apple Music, Apple One, lossless, and Dolby Atmos aren’t available in all countries or regions.

Subscribe to Apple Music

  1. Start the Music app on your iPad.
  2. Follow the onscreen instructions to subscribe to Apple Music.

    If you don’t subscribe to Apple Music when you first open the Music app, you can subscribe later—go to Settings > Apps > Music, then tap Join Apple Music.

A new subscriber can start a trial and cancel at any time. Ending your Apple Music subscription means you can no longer stream Apple Music songs, and Apple Music songs you downloaded won’t play either.

Qualified students can purchase a student subscription at a discounted price.

Share Apple Music with family members

When you subscribe to Apple Music, or to Apple One Family or Apple One Premier, you can use Family Sharing and give up to five other family members access to Apple Music. After your family is set up, they don’t have to lift a finger. Apple Music shows up when they first open the Music app after your subscription begins.

Say you already subscribe and join a family group that’s subscribed to Apple One Premier, Apple One Family, or Apple Music. Your subscription won’t renew on your next billing date, since you’ll be on the group’s subscription. If the family group you join doesn’t subscribe, it uses your subscription.

Note: There are a few ways to stop sharing Apple Music with a family group: cancel the subscription or leave a Family Sharing group, or remove a member from a Family Sharing group.

Change or cancel your Apple Music subscription

You can change or cancel your subscription plan.

  1. Start the Music app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Show Sidebar button. Then tap your name at the bottom of the sidebar.
  3. Tap Your Name and tap Subscriptions. Then follow the onscreen instructions.

With an Apple Music subscription, the Ambient Music widget can play music from a playlist, too. To add it, see our guide, Add a widget to your Home Screen.

See also

Tag: Music
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How to find and use your apps in App Library on iPad

by Abigail Shilets

App Library shows your apps—including any you’ve removed from your Home Screen—organized into categories, such as Social, Entertainment, and Productivity & Finance. At the top of the screen, Suggestions shows the apps you use most, and Recently Added shows your newest apps.

App Library is always available, and you can bring it closer by hiding Home Screen pages. You can open it quickly from the Dock, too, or browse an alphabetical list, and easily move an app back to the Home Screen.

App Library on iPad showing the apps organized by category (Entertainment, Productivity & Finance, and so on).

Note: The apps in App Library land in categories intelligently, depending on how you use your apps. And while you can add apps in App Library to your Home Screen, moving one to another App Library category isn’t possible.

Find and open an app in App Library

  1. Go to the Home Screen and swipe left past all your Home Screen pages to get to App Library.

    You can also open App Library quickly by tapping the App Library button, the rightmost button in the Dock at the bottom of the screen.

  2. Tap the search field at the top of the screen. Then enter the name of the app you’re looking for.

    Or scroll to browse the alphabetical list.

  3. To open an app, tap it.

If a category in App Library has a few small app icons, you can tap them to expand the category and see all the apps in it.

Move an app from App Library to the Home Screen

If you moved an app from the Home Screen to App Library, you can easily move it back to the Home Screen.

  1. Go to App Library.
  2. Touch and hold the app until the app icons begin to jiggle and the app moves to the Home Screen and then lift your finger.

Hide and show Home Screen pages

Because you can find all of your apps in App Library, you might not need as many Home Screen pages for apps. You can hide some Home Screen pages, which brings App Library closer to your first Home Screen page. (When you want to see the hidden pages again, you can show them.)

  1. Go to the Home Screen. Then touch and hold the Home Screen wallpaper until the app icons begin to jiggle.
  2. Tap the dots at the bottom of the screen.

    Thumbnail images of your Home Screen pages appear with checkmarks below them.

  3. To hide pages, tap to remove the checkmarks.

    To show hidden pages, tap to add the checkmarks.

  4. Tap the Done button.

With the extra Home Screen pages hidden, you can go from the first page of the Home Screen to App Library (and back) with only one or two swipes.

Note: Apps you download from the App Store while Home Screen pages are hidden may show up in App Library, not on the Home Screen.

Reorder Home Screen pages

Multiple Home Screen pages can be reordered. Gather your favorite apps on one page, for example, and then make that page your first Home Screen page.

  1. Go to the Home Screen. Then touch and hold the Home Screen background until the app icons begin to jiggle.
  2. Tap the dots at the bottom of the screen.

    Thumbnail images of your Home Screen pages appear with checkmarks below them.

  3. To move each Home Screen page, touch and hold it. Drag it to a new position.
  4. Tap the Done button.

Change where new apps get downloaded

You can put new apps you download from the App Store on the Home Screen and in App Library, or in App Library only.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Home Screen & App Library.
  3. Choose Add to Home Screen or App Library only.

Note: For app notification badges to show up on apps in App Library, turn on Show in App Library.

See also

Tag: Home Screen
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How to get apps in the App Store on iPad

by Chris Smith

In the App Store app, you can discover new apps, featured stories, tips and tricks, in-app events, and offers.

Today shows featured stories, apps, and in-app events, while Games and Apps let you explore new releases and top charts. You can also get information about an app, buy and download it, and share it. You need an internet connection and an Apple Account to use it.

Here’s how to get apps in the App Store on iPad.

The information page for an app in the App Store. The page shows the Get button, ratings, age ratings, the developer, screenshots, and more. At the top center, from left to right, are the following buttons: Today, Games, Apps, Arcade, and Search.

Note: You need an internet connection and an Apple Account to use the App Store. The availability of the App Store and Apple Arcade varies by country or region.

Discover and find apps

  1. Open the App Store app on your iPad.
  2. Tap any of the following:
    • Today: Browse featured stories, apps, and in-app events.
    • Games: Find your next game across dozens of categories including action, adventure, racing, puzzles, and more.
    • Apps: Explore new releases, see the top charts, or browse by category.
    • Arcade: Enjoy the curated collection of premium games from Apple Arcade (subscription required) without ads or in-app purchases.
    • Search: Tap the Search button, then enter what you’re looking for. You can search by app name, category, developer, and more. You can also explore different categories or browse the suggested apps.

Get information about an app

  1. Open the App Store app on your iPad.
  2. Tap an app’s name or icon to see the following details:
    • Screenshots or previews
    • Ratings and reviews
    • In-app events and offers
    • Developer
    • File size
    • Compatibility with other Apple devices
    • Supported languages
    • Age rating
    • Game Center and Family Sharing support
    • Supported accessibility features
    • Privacy information

Buy and download an app

  1. Open the App Store app on your iPad.
  2. Go to the app you want and tap Get (if the app is free) or the price.

    If you see the Redownload button instead of Get or the price, you’ve already purchased this app before. Tap the Redownload button to download it again for free.

  3. If required, authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to complete your purchase.

    Purchases are made with the payment method associated with your Apple Account.

The app shows up in the Recently Added category in App Library, and while it’s downloading, its icon displays a progress indicator. For more, see our article, Find and use your apps in App Library, and our guide, Change where new apps get downloaded.

Share and approve purchases with Family Sharing

You can view and download eligible apps other family members purchased if you’re part of a Family Sharing group.

Note: You only see purchases made by family members if they choose to share their purchases. Once a family member leaves the family group, purchases made with Family Sharing may not be accessible.

The family organizer can review and approve eligible purchases made by other family members under a certain age.

See also

Tag: App Store
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How to change iPad sounds

by Chris Smith

You can change the sounds iPad plays when you get a call, message, and alert.

With Silent Mode on, iPad won’t play ringtones, alerts, or system sounds, though alarms, timers, music, and audio from videos still play. You can even change the sounds iPad plays for certain people. And you can change your ringtone, change the sound for alerts and other actions, and set separate volumes for alarms and alerts, which match your ringtone volume by default.

Turn Silent Mode on or off

Silent Mode keeps iPad from playing ringtones, alerts, or system sounds, but alarms, timers, music, and audio from videos still play.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Sounds and turn Silent Mode on or off.

You can also open Control Center, then tap the Mute button.

Change ringtone settings

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Sounds. Do any of the following below Ringtone:
    • Change your ringtone: Tap Ringtone and tap a ringtone to preview it and select it.
    • Adjust ringer volume: Drag the volume slider.
    • Control ringer volume with buttons: Turn Change with Buttons on or off.

You can also change the sounds iPad plays for certain people. Go to the Contacts app, tap a person’s name, tap Edit, then choose a ringtone and text tone.

Change the sound for alerts and other actions

Different sounds can go with calendar alerts, text messages, AirDrop, new mail, sent mail, reminder alerts, and new voicemail.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Sounds.
  3. Tap a sound category, such as Text Tone or Calendar Alerts. Tap a sound to select it.

Set separate volumes for alarms and alerts

Your ringtone volume sets the level for alarms, timers, alerts, and system sounds by default. Or set two separate volumes instead, one for alarms and timers and another for alerts and system sounds.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Sounds and turn off Match Ringtone Volume under Alarms and Timers or Alerts and System Sounds.
  3. Drag the slider to set the volume.

Change other sound settings

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Sounds and then do any of the following:
    • Play a click when you type on the keyboard: Turn Keyboard Clicks on or off.
    • Play a sound when you lock iPad: Turn Lock Sound on or off.

See also

Tag: Settings
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How to use Hide My Email in Safari on iPad

by Kevin Hollington

When you subscribe to iCloud+, you can use Hide My Email to keep your personal email address private. With Hide My Email, you can generate unique, random email addresses that forward to your personal email account, so you don’t have to share your real email address when filling out forms on the web or signing up for newsletters.

If you don’t like the suggested address, you can get a new one, and you can delete a Hide My Email address at any time.

  1. When you’re asked for your email address on a website, tap the email address field.
  2. Tap Hide My Email above the keyboard.

    The Hide My Email screen suggests a new, randomly generated Hide My Email address.

  3. If you don’t want to use the suggested address, tap the Reload button to see a new suggested address.
  4. Tap Continue.

At any time, you can delete the Hide My Email address; read our guide, Create and manage Hide My Email in Settings.

See also

Tags: iCloud, Safari
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How to track your pregnancy with Apple Watch

by Tyler Stephen

When you log a pregnancy in the Health app on iPhone or iPad, you can view your gestational age on Apple Watch and log bleeding and symptoms.

The Health app on iPhone and the Cycle Tracking app on Apple Watch can help you better understand your data during pregnancy by making adjustments and recommendations to reflect changes in your physical and mental health. On iPhone or iPad, you can log the first day of your last period or an estimated due date.

Log a pregnancy on iPhone or iPad

A screen in the Cycle Tracking app, showing a logged pregnancy with a logged symptom at the bottom of the screen.

  1. Go to the Health app on iPhone or iPad.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • On iPhone: Tap Browse, then tap Cycle Tracking.
    • On iPad: Tap the sidebar, then tap Cycle Tracking.
  3. Scroll down and tap Factors. Then tap the Add button.
  4. Tap Pregnancy, then tap Begin.
  5. Do one of the following:

    • Log the first day of your last period: Tap Last Menstrual Period.
    • Log an estimated due date: Tap Estimated Due Date.
    • Log how far along the pregnancy is in weeks: Tap Estimated Gestational Age.
    • Log when the embryo was transferred during IVF: Tap Embryo Transfer Date.

    Note: To log a previous pregnancy, tap Log a Past Pregnancy.

  6. Tap Next, follow the onscreen instructions and tap Next.
  7. Tap Next and then do the following:

    • Turn on mental health questionnaire reminders (optional): Tap Turn On Notifications.
    • Add your pregnancy to your Medical ID (optional): Tap Turn On Notifications.
    • Review your medication information: Tap Learn More below a medication to learn about any potential impact on your pregnancy and tap Next.
  8. Review the Cycle Timeline and tap Done.

While logging a pregnancy, you get a variety of recommendations of notifications that should be turned on or off during and after pregnancy:

  • Walking Steadiness: Recommended to be turned on. Walking Steadiness can alert you more quickly during your third trimester, when the risk of falling can increase.
  • High Heart Rate (Apple Watch only): If your high heart rate notification threshold is set below 120 beats per minute (bpm), you’re asked to review and adjust it.
  • Cardio Fitness (Apple Watch only): Cardio Fitness notifications are recommended to be turned off during and until 12 weeks after the end of your pregnancy.

View your pregnancy summary

A screen in the Cycle Tracking app showing a pregnancy summary, with a gestational age and due date at the center of the screen.

  1. Open the Cycle Tracking app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap the Info button to view your gestational age, estimated due date, and last menstrual period.

Log bleeding and other symptoms

  1. Open the Cycle Tracking app on your Apple Watch.
  2. Do any of the following:

    • Log bleeding: With the day showing in the timeline, tap Log. Tap Bleeding During Pregnancy, tap Had Bleeding, tap a bleeding level, and then tap Done.

      Note: If you’ve logged bleeding during your pregnancy, you receive a notification recommending that you contact your doctor or care team.

    • Log symptoms or other information: With the day showing in the timeline, tap Log. Tap Symptoms, choose an option, and then tap Done.

      Your most recently logged symptoms appear below Recent Symptoms.

See also

Tag: Health
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How to clean and care for your Apple Watch band

by Dave Johnson

Many third parties make accessory bands for Apple Watch, but such bands may not fit properly, and they may interfere with the Apple Watch Wrist Detect feature or with Compass. They may contain materials that cause skin sensitivities or other health concerns, and may even damage Apple Watch.

For best results, use only Apple-branded or Apple-authorized bands. Cleaning them takes a little care, too, starting with removing the band from your Apple Watch.

How to clean Apple-branded bands. Remove the band from Apple Watch before cleaning. See Remove and change Apple Watch bands.

Note: This cleaning information is only for Apple-branded bands. For other bands, follow the care information that came with the band.

Wipe the leather portions of the bands clean with a lint-free, nonabrasive cloth, lightly dampened with fresh water if needed, and let the band air dry thoroughly before re-attaching it to Apple Watch. Leather bands are not water resistant, so don’t soak them in water, and don’t store them in direct sunlight, at high temperatures, or in high humidity.

All other bands and clasps can be wiped clean with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth that’s lightly dampened with fresh water if necessary. Before re-attaching the band to Apple Watch, dry it thoroughly with a nonabrasive, lint-free cloth. Stainless steel bands aren’t water resistant.

Tag: Legal & Regulatory
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How to share Apple Watch faces

by Stacey Butler

You can share watch faces with friends. Shared faces can include the complications included in watchOS as well as those created by third parties.

You share a watch face from your iPhone, and you can receive shared watch faces in Messages or Mail, or by clicking a link online. If a face has a third-party complication, you can download the app from the App Store. You might also find a shared face link on your iPad or Mac.

Note: Whoever receives the watch face also needs an Apple Watch with watchOS 7 or later.

Share a watch face from your iPhone

  1. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap a watch face from your collection or Face Gallery.
  3. Tap the Share button and then choose a sharing option.

Receive a watch face

Shared watch faces can reach you in Messages or Mail, or you can get one by clicking a link online.

  1. Open a text, email, or link that contains a shared watch face.
  2. Tap the shared watch face and tap Add.

If you receive a watch face with a complication in a third-party app, tap the price of the app or Get to download the app from the App Store. You can also tap Continue Without This App to get the watch face without the third-party complication.

You might find a shared watch face link while using your iPad or Mac. In this case, you can tap or click the link to download the watch face file. Then use AirDrop or the Files app to send the file to your iPhone. Tap the file on your iPhone and choose to open it in the Apple Watch app, then tap Add to My Faces.

See also

Tag: Watch Faces
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Apple Watch Ultra features for the outdoors: Action button, siren, and satellite messaging

by Tyler Stephen

The most rugged and capable Apple Watch yet, Apple Watch Ultra models can provide the information you need during a hike, run, or dive. They make interactions easy with a single press of the Action button, help maintain your night vision when you’re active after hours, and emit a loud pulsing sound if you need help.

With its corrosion-resistant titanium case, flat sapphire crystal face, raised Crown Guard, and 100-meter water resistance rating, Apple Watch Ultra models can stand up to your next backpacking trip, triathlon, or ocean free-dive. You can even match the Modular Ultra and Wayfinder watch faces to your activity.

The Modular Ultra watch face showing elevation on the left and right (feet on the left and meters on the right), Music, Compass, and Compass Waypoints complications along the top, a digital clock below, a Compass Heading complication in the middle, and the Messages, Sunrise, and Workout complications near the bottom. At the very bottom is the current elevation.

Match the watch face to your activity

You can edit the Modular Ultra and Wayfinder watch faces on Apple Watch Ultra models to provide the information you need most. Open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap Face Gallery, swipe up to the Modular Ultra or Wayfinder watch faces, then choose complications appropriate for your run, hike, or dive.

Change the watch face

The Quick Switch screen showing the actions that can be assigned to the Action button, such as Workout, Stopwatch, Waypoint, and Backtrack.

Take action

Apple Watch Ultra models have a third button not found on other Apple Watch models. You can customize the Action button for a variety of tasks. Simply press and hold the Action button, then choose a different function for it.

Customize the Action button

The Waypoint watch face with night vision display.

Maintain your night vision

To help preserve your night vision, the Modular Ultra and Wayfinder watch faces can automatically turn red after dark. Touch and hold either watch face, tap Edit, swipe to Night Mode, then choose Auto.

Apple Watch faces and their features

The Siren screen.

Signal for help

The siren on Apple Watch Ultra models can help alert those around you. If things get out of hand, press and hold the side button, then swipe the Siren slider to the right to sound the siren. You can also press and hold the Action button to turn on the siren.

Activate the siren

A screen showing a satellite icon over a curved view of Earth, a green connection indicator, and “Keep Pointing at Satellite” text.

Communicate off-grid via satellite

With Apple Watch Ultra 3, you can connect to a satellite to text emergency services, message friends and family, or share your location—all while you’re off the grid without cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. (Satellite features aren’t available in all countries or regions.)

Set up satellite communications on Apple Watch Ultra

Tag: watchOS
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