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The Complete Guide to Every iOS 27 Feature

How to use the music player controls on iPad

by Dave Johnson

You can play and control music in the Music app in two different ways—the MiniPlayer and the Now Playing screen. The MiniPlayer shows the song that’s currently playing, and the Now Playing screen lets you adjust the volume, scrub to any point in a song, and stream music to Bluetooth® or AirPlay-enabled devices.

Quick tip: If you swipe left or right across the track title in the MiniPlayer or on the Now Playing screen, you’ll move between tracks.

Use the MiniPlayer

Along with the song that’s currently playing, the MiniPlayer gives you controls to play or pause music, or skip to the next track.

The Albums tab, showing the MiniPlayer near the bottom. The MiniPlayer shows the title of the song that’s playing.

Use the controls in the Now Playing screen

The Now Playing screen showing the various controls and buttons.

  1. Open the Music app on your iPad.
  2. While a song is playing, tap the MiniPlayer to open to the Now Playing screen.
  3. Do any of the following:

    • Adjust the volume: Drag the volume slider.

      You can also use the volume buttons on the side of iPad.

    • Scrub to any point in a song: Drag the playhead.
    • Go to the artist, album, or playlist: Tap the artist name below the song title. Choose an option.
    • Turn animated album cover art on or off: Open Settings, tap Apps and tap Music. Tap Animated Art and choose an option.

To get additional control over your music, tap any of these buttons:

Control Description
The Dismiss Now Playing Screen button. Dismiss the Now Playing screen.
The Favorite button. Mark the song as a favorite. See Mark items as favorites.
The More button. Tap for more options.
The Shuffle button. Tap to play your songs in random order (shuffle).
The Repeat button. Tap to repeat an album, playlist, or the entire queue. (Or double-tap to repeat a single song.)
The AutoPlay button. Tap to use AutoPlay, which adds similar songs and plays them at the end of the queue.
The AutoMix button. Tap to use AutoMix, which seamlessly transitions between songs, like a DJ. (Available for Apple Music subscribers.)
Tap to use Crossfade, which fades in each song (gradually increase its volume) while the previous song is fading out.
The Translation and Pronunciation button. Tap when you need help pronouncing or translating the lyrics. This button only appears when a translation or pronunciation is available that matches your iPad device’s Preferred Languages list. (You can view this list and add languages directly to it in Settings > General > Language & Region.) Not available in all languages.
The Previous Track button. Go back to the beginning of the song. Tap again to play the previous song in an album or playlist. Touch and hold to rewind through the current song.
The Pause button. Pause playback.
The Play button. Play the current song.
The Next Track button. Skip to the next song. Touch and hold to fast-forward through the current song.
The Lyrics button. Show time-synced lyrics (lyrics not available for all songs).
The Playback Destination button. Stream music to Bluetooth or AirPlay-enabled devices.
The Playing Next button. Show the queue.

Stream music to Bluetooth® or AirPlay-enabled devices

  1. Open the Music app on your iPad.
  2. While a song is playing, tap the MiniPlayer to open the Now Playing screen.
  3. Tap the Playback Destination button and then choose a device.

For speakers like HomePod, see our guide, Play audio on HomePod and other wireless speakers.

Note: Multiple AirPlay 2-enabled devices, like two or more HomePod speakers, can play the same music. And by pairing two sets of AirPods to one iPad, you and a friend can enjoy the same song or movie together. See our article, Play audio on multiple AirPlay 2-enabled devices.

See also

Tag: Music
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How to answer or decline incoming calls on iPad

by Stacey Butler

You can answer, silence, or decline an incoming call on iPad. If you decline a call, it goes to voicemail, and you can also respond to a call with a text.

You can still answer a silenced call, too, until it goes to voicemail. Before deciding whether to answer, you can even ask the caller for more information, and their reply will appear on your screen as text. In some countries or regions, though, declined calls are disconnected without being sent to voicemail.

Answer a call

When a call comes in, you can answer it in either of these ways:

  • Tap the Answer Call button.
  • If your iPad is locked, drag the slider.

Silence a call

Press the top button or either volume button when a call is coming in.

You can still answer a silenced call until it goes to voicemail.

Note: You can also have iPad automatically screen and silence calls from unknown numbers. See our article, Screen or silence unknown numbers.

Decline a call and send it directly to voicemail

To send an incoming call to voicemail, do one of the following:

  • Press the top button twice quickly.
  • Tap the Decline Call button.
  • Swipe up on the call banner.

You can also swipe down on the call banner for more options. Do any of the following:

  • Tap Remind Me, then choose when you want a reminder to return the call.
  • Tap Message, then choose a default reply or tap Custom.

    To create your own default replies, go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Respond with Text, tap any field below Respond With, then type your own reply.

Note: In some countries or regions, declined calls are disconnected without being sent to voicemail.

Ask a caller for more information without answering a call

Before deciding whether to answer a call, you can type a message that asks the caller for more information.

Tap Type to Reply, then type the message you want your iPad to say to the caller. Their reply will appear on your screen as text.

See also

Tag: Phone
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How to read local news in News on iPad

by Moses Johnson

In Apple News, you can set up a local news feed to stay up to date on news, events, and weather in the places that matter to you most. You can follow your preferred locations and customize them to prioritize news from a specific city, town, or neighborhood.

Stories from the primary location you follow also appear in your Today feed, and you can use your current location to find a news feed. You can also search for a news feed by state or country.

Note: Apple News isn’t available in all countries or regions. The Local News feed is available in the U.S. only.

Set up a local news feed

  1. Start the News app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Local in the sidebar and then do either of the following:
    • If you don’t follow any locations: Tap Get Started.
    • If you follow one or more locations in Local News: Tap Locations and tap Manage Locations.
  3. Do any of the following:
    • Search for a news feed using your current location: If you’re getting started with local news, tap Current Location. If you follow one or more locations, tap the search field and tap Current Location.
    • Search for a location: Tap the search field and enter a city, town, or zip code. Then select a location from the search results.
    • Search by state or country: Scroll down and select a state or country. A list of available feeds appears under Local News Feeds.
  4. Tap the Add button next to the location you want to follow. Tap the Close button or the Back button to go back to the list of locations.
  5. Tap the Close button to go back to the local news feed.

The sidebar lists locations you follow under Local News.

Read local news

  1. Start the News app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Local in the sidebar and tap a story to read it.

Customize the news feed for a location

For news and weather, you can prioritize a specific city, town, or neighborhood within a location you follow.

  1. Start the News app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Local in the sidebar and tap Locations.
  3. Tap Manage Locations.
  4. Tap Customize under the name of a location you follow. If you already added a specific location, tap the location’s name to change it.
  5. Tap the search field and enter a city, town, or zip code. Then select a location from the search results.

Change locations in your local news feed

  1. Start the News app on your iPad.
  2. In the sidebar, scroll down to Local News. Then select the location you want to view.

Follow local publishers

You can follow local publishers directly when you search for local news feeds by state or country.

  1. Start the News app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Local in the sidebar and tap Locations.
  3. Tap Manage Locations and then scroll down and select a state or country.
  4. Scroll down to Local Publishers and tap the Add button next to the publishers you want to follow.

See also

Tag: News
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How to clear your reading history in News on iPad

by Chris Smith

In the News app, you can clear your reading history and adjust how you get reading recommendations. You can remove your reading history and the information used to recommend stories, and you can have News recommend stories based only on what you read in the app.

Clear your history

  1. Open the News app on your iPad.
  2. Tap History in the sidebar.

    If you don’t see the sidebar, tap the Sidebar button.

  3. Tap Clear and then do any of the following:

    • Remove your reading history: Tap Clear History.
    • Remove information used to recommend stories: Tap Clear Recommendations.

      Choosing this option can change the types of channels, topics, and stories shown in the Today and other feeds in Apple News on all your Apple devices.

    • Remove your history and recommendations: Tap Clear All.

      Your News history and recommendation information are removed from all devices where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account.

When you clear your history, the identifier used by Apple News to report statistics to news publishers is also reset. You can reset the identifier at any time by going to Settings > Apps > News, then turning on Reset Identifier.

Recommend stories based on News app reading only

If you turn off Siri & Search for the News app, recommendations reflect only your reading habits in the News app, and not in Safari and other apps.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Apps, then tap News.
  3. Tap Siri and turn off Show in App.

See also

Tag: News
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How to turn off Find My on iPad

by Abigail Shilets

You can turn off Find My on your iPad if you no longer want to share your location or view the location of your friends, devices, and items. You’ll need your Apple Account password to turn it off. You can also share your location in Find My on iPad.

  1. Open Settings, tap [your name], and then tap Find My on your iPad.
  2. Tap Find My iPad. Then tap to turn it off.
  3. Enter your Apple Account password, then tap Turn Off.

See also

Tag: Find My
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How to add links in Notes on iPad

by Tyler Stephen

In the Notes app, you can add links to webpages or sections in a note. You can also link to related notes, like a trip itinerary and a list of recommended restaurants.

When you add street and email addresses, phone numbers, and dates, they automatically become underlined text that you can tap to take action on. And if the title of a linked note changes, the link updates automatically. You can link to a section of a note, too, once you’ve organized it with sections and headings.

Adding a link to a section in a note in the Notes app.

Link to a webpage

  1. Start the Notes app on your iPad.
  2. In the note where you want to insert a link, select the text or tap to place the insertion point.
  3. Tap the Forward button, tap Add Link, and enter the URL to specify the link destination. Optionally, you can add a name for the link.
  4. Tap the Done button.

Link to a note or section of a note

Note: To link to a section of a note, first Organize a note with sections and headings.

  1. Start the Notes app on your iPad.
  2. In the note where you want to add a link, select the text or tap to place the insertion point.
  3. Tap the Forward button and tap Add Link. Do any of the following:

    • Link to a section in the same note: Tap Link to Section, then select a section. To customize the link name, turn on Use Section Title or enter a custom link name.

      Note: If the title of a linked note or section changes, any link that uses the note or section title as its name is updated automatically.

    • Link to another note: Start typing the title of the target note and then select it. To customize the link name, turn on Use Note Title or enter a custom link name.

      Tip: To quickly link to another note, type “>>” in the note body, then enter the title of the target note. You can then link to a section in that note by typing “/,” then selecting a section.

    • Link to a section in another note: Link to another note, tap Link to Section. Then select a section.
  4. Tap the Done button.

To edit or remove the link, touch and hold the link, then choose an action.

Take action on addresses, phone numbers, dates, and more

In your notes, an underline appears below text that’s recognized as a street or email address, phone number, date, or other data. Tap the underlined text to take action on it. For example, you can see a street address in Maps, compose an email, call a phone number, add a calendar event, or convert units and currency.

Note: Data detection is available when the system language of your iPad is set to a supported language in Settings > General > Language & Region.

See also

Tag: Notes
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How to make onscreen elements easier to see on iPad

by Kevin Hollington

You can make onscreen elements—like controls, buttons, and the Control Center—easier to see by adding a border around them. You just turn on Show Borders. You can also customize visual accessibility settings for specific apps, and customize onscreen motion on iPad.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Accessibility, then tap Display & Text Size.
  3. Turn on Show Borders.

See also

Tag: accessibility
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How to navigate and present scenes in your Freeform boards on iPad

by Abigail Shilets

You can save scenes—saved views of your board—to organize your boards into sections, then quickly navigate and present those parts of your board to others.

Scenes let you label content so you can present your board section by section, and rearrange the order you present it in. You can also use scenes to pick the parts of your board you want to print or export as a PDF, and you can save scenes in any order, then edit their sequence after you capture them.

A Freeform board with the Scene Navigator open and several saved scenes.

Set up different parts of your board as scenes

To present or print parts of your board section by section, use scenes to identify and label content. You can also rearrange the order in which you present or print them.

  1. Go to the Freeform app on your iPad.
  2. Open a board with content.
  3. Zoom and scroll until you frame the part of your board you want on the screen for your first scene.
  4. Tap the Scenes button.

    The Scene Navigator opens at the bottom-left of your board.

  5. Tap the Scene Navigator button, then tap Add Scene.
  6. Repeat these steps until you capture all the scenes you want: Frame your next scene, tap the Scene Navigator button and then tap Add Scene.

    Tip: Don’t worry about saving scenes in order. You can edit their sequence after you capture them.

Navigate scenes

  1. Start the Freeform app on your iPad.
  2. Open a board with saved scenes.
  3. Tap the Scenes button and then do any of the following:
    • Tap the Scene Navigator button, then tap the scene you want to go to.
    • Tap the Back button and the Forward button to move between scenes.

Note: If you’re on a different device or using a different view than the person who captured a scene, it may look different to you. Say someone captured a scene on a Mac: When you view it on an iPad in portrait orientation, it may be framed differently.

Edit scenes

  1. Start the Freeform app on your iPad.
  2. Open a board with saved scenes.
  3. Tap the Scenes button and tap the Scene Navigator button. Then do any of the following:
    • Change the name of a scene: Touch and hold the scene whose name you want to change and tap Rename Scene. Enter a new name, then tap the Done button.
    • Reframe a scene: Move to another part of the board, touch and hold the scene you want to reframe, and then tap Replace Scene.
    • Rearrange the view order: Tap Edit and touch and hold the Reorder button. Then drag the scene up or down, then tap the Done button.
    • Delete a scene: Swipe left on the scene, then tap Delete.

Print or export scenes

  1. Start the Freeform app on your iPad.
  2. Open a board with saved scenes.
  3. Tap the Actions Menu button and then do one of the following:
    • Print all scenes: Tap Print and tap Scenes. Then tap Print.
    • Export all scenes: Tap Export as PDF, tap Scenes, and then choose how you want to share the file or tap Save to Files.

Printed and exported scenes default to the size of the device you’re on. To print the scenes as they were originally framed, tap Freeform Options, then select Capturing Device.

Quick tip: You can print or export a single scene. Just touch and hold its name in the Scene Navigator and choose an option.

All participants can access any scenes saved in a board.

See also

Tag: Freeform
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How to customize the tab bar in News on iPad

by Dave Johnson

In the News app, you can use the tab bar to quickly access feeds like Today, News+, Sports, Puzzles, and Food. You can customize your tab bar with Saved Stories, Shared with You, History, and any channel or topic you follow.

Items you can add are highlighted. Today, Audio, and News+ remain in your tab bar as defaults, and you can add items to the tab bar or remove them, including Saved Recipes.

  1. Start the News app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Edit in the sidebar.

    If you don’t see the sidebar, tap the Sidebar button.

  3. Drag any highlighted item to or from the tab bar, such as:

    • Shared with You
    • Saved Recipes
    • Saved Stories
    • History
    • Any channel or topic you follow

See also

Tag: News
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How to track menopause stages in Health on iPad

by Emily Long

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. Open the Health app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Browse button and tap Cycle Tracking.
  3. Tap Menopause Stages.
  4. Tap the Add button at the top right and then 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.

  6. 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.

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

Log bleeding after menopause

  1. Open the Health app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Browse button and 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.

When your iPad 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, according to Apple. Any health data synced to iCloud is encrypted both in transit and on Apple servers. And if you have a version of iPadOS, iOS, and watchOS (if you’re using iPhone 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.

See also

Tag: Health
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