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The Complete Guide to Every iOS 27 Feature

How to personalize your memory movies in Photos on iPhone

by Emily Long

In the Photos app, you can edit your memory movies to make them even more personal. Try Memory Looks, which let you apply different songs paired with a matching photographic style. You can also choose new songs, edit the title, change the length, and add or remove photos.

Apple Music subscribers have even more to choose from, since they can add songs from the millions of songs in the Apple Music catalog. You can also reorder photos and change transitions.

Change the look of a memory movie

Memory Looks change the look and feel of a memory movie with curated combinations of different songs, pacing, and styles.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Swipe left under Memories to scroll through a selection of your memories, or tap Memories to view them all.
  4. Tap the Play button in the bottom-right corner of a memory to play it.
  5. Tap the screen, then tap Customize.
  6. Tap Customize Look, then swipe left to view different Memory mixes. You can also do the following:
    • Tap the Filters button to view all of the Memory Looks at the same time.
    • Tap the Music button to change the song.
  7. Tap the screen to apply the Memory Look.

Change the music of a memory movie

To change a memory movie’s music, choose from memory soundtracks or suggested songs in Apple Music. If you’re an Apple Music subscriber, you can also access your Apple Music library and view suggested songs based on your musical preferences or the content of the memory.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Swipe left under Memories to scroll through a selection of your memories, or tap Memories to view them all.
  4. Tap the Play button in the bottom-right corner of a memory to play it.
  5. Tap the screen, then tap Customize.
  6. Tap Music, then tap Change Song.

Apple Music subscribers can tap Browse to search for songs in the Apple Music library.

Add or remove photos in a memory movie

To choose the photos that appear in a memory movie, choose photos directly from your library, or add or remove suggested photos.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Swipe left under Memories to scroll through a selection of your memories, or tap Memories to view them all.
  4. Tap the Play button in the bottom-right corner of a memory to play it.
  5. Tap the screen, tap the Browse button, and do any of the following:
    • Add a photo: Tap the photos you want to add (tap All to see your entire library),then tap the Done button.
    • Remove a photo: Deselect a photo to remove it from the memory. Tap the Done button.
    • Search for photos in your library: Tap All and tap the Search button. Then type what you’re looking for. Tap the photos you want to add. Then tap the Done button.
  6. Tap the Back button to return to the memory movie.

Reorder photos in a memory movie

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Swipe left under Memories to scroll through a selection of your memories, or tap Memories to view them all.
  4. Tap the Play button in the bottom-right corner of a memory to play it.
  5. Tap the screen, then tap the Browse button.
  6. Touch and hold a photo, then drag it to a new position in the grid.
  7. Tap the Back button to return to the memory movie.

Change the length and transitions of a memory movie

You can change a memory movie’s length to short, medium, or long, depending on how many photos it has, and your choice automatically adjusts the number of photos included. It’s up to you how the transition between photos appears, too, like crossfade or rotate.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Swipe left under Memories to scroll through a selection of your memories, or tap Memories to view them all.
  4. Tap the Play button in the bottom-right corner of a memory to play it.
  5. Tap the screen and tap Customize. Tap Transition and Duration.
  6. Make your selections, then tap the Done button.

Edit the memory title, subtitle, and key photo

Edit a memory’s title or subtitle, and change the key photo that appears with its title.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Swipe left under Memories to scroll through a selection of your memories, or tap Memories to view them all.
  4. Tap a memory to view the collection.
  5. Tap the More button, tap the current title, and then do any of the following:
    • Edit the memory title or subtitle: Enter a new title or subtitle in the text fields.
    • Change the key photo: Tap the photo icon in the bottom-right corner of the current key photo. Then select a new photo in the photo grid.
  6. Tap the Done button.
Tag: Photos
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How to use passwords on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

The Passwords app gathers all your passwords, passkeys, and verification codes in one place. They’re available on every device where you sign in with the same Apple Account and turn on Passwords & Keychain in iCloud settings. Here are all your types of password credentials:

The Home Screen for the Passwords app, with buttons for All, Passkeys, Verification Codes, W-Fi, Security, and Deleted, along with a list of Shared Groups.

  • App passwords
  • Website passwords
  • Sign in with Apple
  • Passkeys
  • Verification codes
  • Wi-Fi passwords
  • Passwords shared with groups

Find a password by sorting or searching. Then tap Edit to reveal the password, or to change or delete the password. Tip: In Passwords, tap Security for recommendations to change weak passwords.

Tag: Passwords
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How to play music together using SharePlay on iPhone

by Abigail Shilets

You can use SharePlay while playing music on a HomePod, Apple TV 4K, or other third-party Bluetooth® speaker, and everyone can control the music with their iPhone.

Only the host needs to be an Apple Music subscriber. Everyone needs an iPhone with iOS 18 or later, an internet connection, and Bluetooth turned on, and participants can join SharePlay with the iPhone camera. And you can leave SharePlay whenever you want.

Before you begin

  • The host must have an iPhone with iOS 18 or later and be an Apple Music subscriber.
  • Participants must have an iPhone with iOS 18 or later, but don’t need to have an Apple Music subscription.
  • Everyone must have an internet connection and Bluetooth turned on.
  • Everyone must allow their contacts to discover them when playing music to a speaker—go to Settings > Apps > Music, then turn on Discoverable by Nearby Contacts if it isn’t on already.

Start SharePlay from Music on your iPhone

To play music together with SharePlay, you’ll start on your iPhone as the host.

  1. Start the Music app on your iPhone.
  2. While a song is playing, tap the MiniPlayer to open the Now Playing screen.
  3. Tap the Playback Destination button and select a playback destination.

    The music starts playing to the device you selected.

  4. Tap the MiniPlayer to open the Now Playing screen. Tap the SharePlay button.

    A QR code appears; tap the QR code to enlarge it.

  5. To begin controlling the music, participants can scan the QR code on your iPhone.

Join SharePlay with the iPhone camera

  1. Start the Camera app on your iPhone.
  2. Point the camera at the QR code on an iPhone that’s already joined SharePlay.

    A button appears below the picture of the QR code.

  3. Tap the button, then tap Connect.

    The host receives a notification and must tap the Checkmark button on their iPhone to allow you to join.

Quick tip: You only need to approve a participant to join SharePlay once. They’re automatically approved the next time they join.

Leave SharePlay

Tap the SharePlay button at the bottom of the Now Playing screen, then tap Leave or End.

Tag: Music
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How to share photos and videos on iPhone

by Dave Johnson

You can share photos and videos in Mail or Messages, or other apps you install. You can also use AirDrop to instantly share photos with anyone nearby on an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Vision Pro.

You can adjust the information you share about a photo or video, and even share photos and videos by bringing one iPhone close to another.

Here’s how to share photos and videos on iPhone.

Note: Sharing a photo or video includes sharing its associated metadata, such as date and time, location, device, and captions.

Share photos and videos

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Do any of the following:

    • Share a single photo or video: Open the photo or video and tap the Share button. Then choose a sharing option such as Mail, Messages, or AirDrop.

      A selected photo is displayed in the top half of the iPhone screen, with a row of share options below. Additional options appear below those, including Copy Photo, Add to Shared Album, Add to Album, and Use as Wallpaper.

    • Share multiple photos or videos: While viewing a screen with multiple thumbnails, tap Select. Then tap the thumbnails of the photos and videos you want to share. Tap the Share button, then choose a sharing option such as Mail, Messages, or AirDrop.

      The iPhone screen is filled with a grid of photos, some of which are selected. At the bottom of the screen are the Share and Delete buttons.

      Tip: If you’re sharing multiple items, tap Show Selected to view or modify your selections before you share.

    • Share all the photos in a collection: While viewing a collection of photos, tap Select. Then tap Select All. Tap the Share button. Then choose a sharing option such as Mail, Messages, or AirDrop.

      On iPhone, a collection is open in the Photos app, and all of the photos are selected.

You can also create a shared album and share photos and videos there with a group of friends and family, who can contribute to the album as well.

Note: Your service provider sets the size limit of attachments. On devices or services that don’t support Live Photos, a Live Photo goes out as a still photo.

Adjust the information you share about a photo or video

Before you share a photo or video, you can adjust its format, its file type, and the information shared with it.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Open a photo or video, tap the Share button, tap Options, and then do any of the following:
    • Don’t share keywords: Turn off Keywords.
    • Adjust the file format: Tap Automatic for the best file format for the destination, tap Current to prevent a file format conversion, or tap Most Compatible and files may convert to JPEG or MOV.
    • Send all photo data: Turn on All Photos Data to share the original file with edit history and metadata; the recipient can view and modify the current version (available with AirDrop only).
  3. Tap the Close button.

Share photos and videos by bringing one iPhone close to another

To transfer photos and videos from one iPhone to another, bring the two devices close together.

  1. Make sure each iPhone is turned on, unlocked, and has AirDrop turned on.
  2. On the iPhone with the items you want to share, open the Photos app and then do one of the following:
    • Share a single photo or video: Open the photo or video you want to share and keep it on the screen.
    • Share multiple photos or videos: Tap Select and tap multiple photos or videos to share from your library.
  3. Bring the devices together and then tap Share.

The recipient’s Photos library gets the shared items.

Save or share a photo or video you receive

You can save photos that others share with you from other apps.

Depending on the app, tap the Save button next to the image, or touch and hold the photo or video, then tap the Save button.

You can see your saved photos and videos in your photo library.

Note: Photos and videos people share with you in the Messages app get saved in your photo library automatically. If you’d rather turn off this feature, go to the Settings app , tap Apps, and then tap Messages. Tap Shared with You and turn off Photos.

Tag: Photos
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How to connect with friends in the Apple Games app on iPhone

by Emily Long

It’s more fun to play games with friends. In the Apple Games app, you can invite friends, see friend requests, and more.

You can also add a friend from their contact card in the Contacts app, see your friends’ recent activity, and report a user or remove a friend. When you get a friend request, there are several ways to respond.

Here’s how to connect with friends in the Apple Games app on iPhone.

Add friends

  1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Friends, then tap the Invite Icons button.
  3. Find a contact by entering their name and tap Invite.
  4. Tap the Send button to send the invitation using the Messages app.

You can also add a friend in the Contacts app. Open their contact card, then tap Add Friend on Game Center.

Respond to friend requests

When a contact sends you a friend request in the Apple Games app, you can respond from a few different places:

  • In the Apple Games app: Tap your avatar, then tap Friend Requests.
  • In the Messages app: Tap the friend request link.
  • In the Settings app: Tap Game Center, then tap Friend Requests.

See your friends’ recent activity

Besides sending friends invite links and party codes, you can see their shared gaming history and compare achievements.

  1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Friends.
  3. In Friends & Groups, scroll down to see your friends’ recent activity.

You can also see your friends’ profiles and recent activity by going to the Settings app, tapping Game Center, then tapping All Friends.

Report a user or remove a friend

If a user is cheating or has an inappropriate picture or nickname, or there’s another problem, you can report them. And you can remove someone from your Friends list.

  1. Start the Apple Games app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap your avatar and then tap All Friends.
  3. Tap the friend you want to report or remove and tap the More button. Choose Report Friend or Remove Friend.
Tag: Apple Games
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How to set up multiple calendars on iPhone

by Abigail Shilets

In the Calendar app, you can set up multiple calendars to keep track of different kinds of events. You can keep track of all your events and appointments in one calendar, but additional calendars are easy to set up and a great way to stay organized.

You can see multiple calendars at once, change a calendar’s color, move an event to another calendar, and turn on calendar event alerts. You can also unsubscribe from a calendar.

The Calendars list, with checkmarks indicating which calendars are active. The Done button for closing the list is in the top-right corner.

Set up a calendar

  1. Open the Calendar app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Calendars button, then tap Add Calendar.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Create an iCloud calendar: Tap Add Calendar and enter a name for the calendar. Choose a color for it.
    • Subscribe to an external, read-only calendar: Tap Add Subscription Calendar, enter the URL of the .ics file you want to subscribe to (and any other required server information), and then tap Find.
    • Add a Holiday calendar: Tap Add Holiday Calendar, then tap the holiday calendar you want to subscribe to.

You can also subscribe to an iCalendar (.ics) calendar by tapping a link to it.

Unsubscribe from a calendar

When you unsubscribe from a calendar you’re subscribed to, you can also report it as junk.

  1. Open the Calendar app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Calendars button.
  3. Tap the Info button next to the calendar you want to unsubscribe from.
  4. Tap Unsubscribe and tap Unsubscribe or Unsubscribe and Report Junk.

Note: If you tap Unsubscribe and Report Junk, the calendar gets reported to Apple as a suspected junk subscription.

See multiple calendars at once

  1. Open the Calendar app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Calendars button and then do any of the following:
    • Select the calendars you want to view.
    • Tap US Holidays to include national holidays with your events.
    • Tap Birthdays to include birthdays from Contacts with your events.

Turn on calendar event alerts

For calendars you create or subscribe to, you can turn on event notifications.

  1. Open the Calendar app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Calendars button.
  3. Tap the Info button next to a calendar.
  4. Turn Event Alerts on or off.
  5. Tap the Done button.

Change a calendar’s color

  1. Open the Calendar app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Calendars button.
  3. Tap the Info button next to the calendar, then choose a color.
  4. Tap the Done button.

For some calendar accounts, like Google, the server sets the color.

Move an event to another calendar

  1. Open the Calendar app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the event and tap Calendar. Select a calendar to move the event to.
Tag: Calendar
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How to adjust audio settings on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

You can use mono audio, adjust left-right stereo balance, and—with supported headphones—amplify soft sounds and adjust certain frequencies to best suit your hearing needs.

With Mono Audio on, the left and right speakers play the same content. Stereo Audio Balance lets the sound lean toward the left or right. And with Headphone Accommodations on supported Apple and Beats headphones, you can make soft sounds louder and make dialogue in videos sound clearer.

Balance the audio

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Accessibility, then tap Audio & Visual.
  3. Adjust any of the following:
    • Mono Audio: Turn on Mono Audio to make the left and right speakers play the same content.
    • Stereo Audio Balance: Drag the Balance slider left or right.

Use phone noise cancellation

By using air pressure to reduce ambient background noise, phone noise cancellation helps you hear better in certain noisy environments when you’re holding the receiver to your ear. It’s available on iPhone 12 and earlier, where it’s on by default, but you can turn it off for your comfort.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Accessibility, then tap Audio & Visual.
  3. Turn Phone Noise Cancellation off or on.

Adjust certain frequencies and soft sounds

Headphone Accommodations can adjust certain sounds to best suit your hearing on supported Apple and Beats headphones. Soft sounds get louder, and boosting some frequencies makes phone calls and media sound crisper and clearer.

  1. Make sure you’re in a quiet environment and that you’ve paired your AirPods or paired other supported Bluetooth® headphones.
  2. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  3. Tap Accessibility, then tap Audio & Visual.
  4. Tap Headphone Accommodations and turn on Headphone Accommodations.
  5. Adjust any of the following:
    • Frequencies: Below Audio Tuning, choose an option to boost different frequencies.
    • Soft sounds: Drag the slider to set an amplification level for soft sounds.
  6. Scroll down and then do any of the following:
    • Turn on Phone to apply the settings to phone calls.
    • Turn on Media to apply the settings to media playback like music, movies, and podcasts.
    • Turn on Transparency to apply the settings to transparency mode, if you’re using AirPods model with Transparency Mode.

With some supported headphones, you can use Headphone Accommodations to personalize your audio based on what sounds good to you. You can use an audiogram to help customize your audio, and depending on your country or region, you may see the option to customize your transparency settings. Tap Customize Audio, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Quick tip: The Headphone Accommodations button in Control Center gets you to Headphone Accommodations quickly. If the button isn’t there, you can add it: Tap the Add button and tap Add a Control, then scroll down to Hearing Accessibility and tap Headphone Accommodations.

Make dialogue sound clearer in videos

Turn on voice isolation, and the dialogue is easier to hear when you watch supported video content. During dialogue, it isolates voices and substantially reduces all other audio.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Accessibility, tap Audio & Visual, and then turn on Add Voice Isolation.
  3. While watching a supported video in the Apple TV app, tap the More Controls button. Tap Audio.
  4. Tap Enhance Dialogue and then tap Enhance or Enhance More.

Have iPhone play a sound effect when it’s turned on and off

If you have an iPhone 14 or later, iPhone can play a sound when you turn it on and off.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Accessibility, then tap Audio & Visual.
  3. Turn on Power On & Off Sounds.
Tag: accessibility
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How to share Apple and App Store subscriptions with family members on iPhone

by Chris Smith

When you’re in a Family Sharing group, you can share Apple subscriptions and eligible App Store subscriptions with other family members. If your Family Sharing group has purchase sharing turned on, any subscriptions shared with the group are billed directly to the organizer’s default payment method.

The family organizer can also require that children in the family group request approval for eligible purchases or free downloads.

Here’s how to share Apple and App Store subscriptions with family members on iPhone.

Note: Not all services are available in all countries or regions, and some selections are subject to content restrictions set in Screen Time. Age restrictions for Ask to Buy vary by country or region. In the United States, the family organizer can turn on Ask to Buy for any family member under age 18; for children under age 13, it’s on by default.

Share Apple subscriptions

  1. Open Settings and then tap Family.
  2. Tap Subscriptions and then do one of the following:
    • Tap a subscription you want to share, then follow the onscreen instructions.
    • Tap Manage Subscriptions, then tap a subscription.
  • Apple Arcade: All members of your family can download and play Apple Arcade games from the App Store. Each player gets a personalized account—your progress is carried over between devices.
  • Apple Fitness+: All members of your family can access workouts in the Fitness app on their iPhone or iPad.
  • Apple Music: With a family subscription, each family member gets their own music library and personal recommendations.
  • Apple News+: All members of your family can read Apple News+ publications for no additional charge.
  • Apple TV: Each family member can watch on their iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple TV 4K, and supported smart TVs and streaming devices, using their own Apple Account and password.
  • iCloud+: When you share iCloud+, all family members have access to iCloud+ features and storage. For storage, you only share the space—your photos and documents stay private and everyone keeps using their own accounts.

Share App Store subscriptions

Which eligible App Store subscriptions you share with family members is your call.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Family and tap Subscriptions. Then tap Manage Subscriptions.
  3. Do either of the following:
    • Share all new subscriptions: Turn on Share with Family. When you purchase a new subscription that’s eligible for sharing, it’s shared with your Family Sharing members by default.
    • Change the settings of a specific subscription: Tap a subscription and turn Share with Family on or off.

If you don’t see Share with Family, the subscription isn’t eligible for sharing.

Tag: App Store
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How to view your calendar with CarPlay

by Moses Johnson

Upcoming events appear in CarPlay Dashboard. You can also use your vehicle’s built-in controls to open Calendar in CarPlay to view upcoming events. Calendar is with the rest of your apps, on the pages of all of your CarPlay apps in CarPlay Home. When you select an event, you can see more information about it. Some events give you options to get directions to the event or phone into it.

CarPlay showing Maps, Music, and Calendar in the Sidebar. To the right are events for the current day.

Note: If you’re on CarPlay Dashboard, tap the Home button to see pages of all your CarPlay apps, Calendar included.

To see more information about an event, select it. Options may allow you to get directions to the event or phone into it.

Tag: carplay
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How to use Voice Control commands to interact with CarPlay

by Kevin Hollington

With Voice Control, you can use your voice to navigate CarPlay and apps, and interact with what’s on the CarPlay touchscreen. While it’s listening, the Voice Control icon appears in the sidebar, and you can pause or resume Voice Control and use it in Maps and Music.

Note: Voice Control is available only in supported languages. CarPlay is available only in supported countries and regions.

Turn Voice Control on or off

  1. In CarPlay, open Settings and then tap Accessibility.
  2. Turn Voice Control on or off.

When Voice Control is on, the Voice Control icon appears in the sidebar to show that Voice Control is listening for commands.

Start using commands

To use Voice Control in CarPlay, just say a command.

Voice Control: Say, for example, “Open Maps,” “Pan left,” or “Go back.”

Pause about half a second between commands when you say multiple commands in quick succession.

Pause or resume Voice Control

If you don’t want the words you say interpreted as commands, pause Voice Control. Once you’re ready for Voice Control to listen for commands again, resume it.

Voice Control: Say “Stop listening” or “Start listening.”

Commands for navigation and interaction

Command Description
“Open [app]” Open an app.
“Go Home” Return to the Home Screen.
“Go back” Return to the previous screen (in apps with a Back button).
“Tap [item]” Tap an item on the touchscreen. In some apps, if you’re not sure what to call an unlabeled item, you can refer to it based on its position relative to other items. For example, if you see a row of icons with no text labels, you can try saying “Tap first” or “Tap second” to tap the first or second icon in the row, respectively.
“Single tap” Tap the touchscreen. This can be useful in an app like Maps where some items are hidden after a period of inactivity. Tapping the screen causes hidden items to reappear.
“Double-tap” Double-tap the touchscreen. This can be used in an app like Maps to zoom in on the map.
“Double-tap [item]” Double-tap an item on the touchscreen.
“Swipe left” or “Swipe right” Swipe between pages in CarPlay Home or CarPlay Dashboard.
“Swipe up” or “Swipe down” Navigate up or down in a list.
“Pan left,” “Pan right,” “Pan up,” or “Pan down” In an app like Maps, move around the map.
“Open Siri” Activate Siri (instead of pressing the voice command button on the steering wheel).

Use Voice Control in Maps

If you use Voice Control in the Maps app in CarPlay and don’t know what to call a button, you can use the button names in the table below.

If a button has a text label, use the text shown as the name of the button. For example, to tap a button labeled Go, just say “Tap Go.”

Button Name
Zoom In
The Zoom Out button. Zoom Out
The Pan button. Pan
The Tracking button. Tracking
The Overview button. Overview or Route Overview
The Expand button. Expand or Up
The Collapse button. Collapse or Down
Close or Dismiss
The Report button. Report
The Speaker button. All Guidance or Speaker
The Alerts Only button. Alerts Only
The Mute button. No Guidance or Mute
The Siri button. Siri or Dictation
The Keyboard button. Keyboard

Use Voice Control in Music

If you use Voice Control in the Music app in CarPlay and don’t know what to call a button, you can use the button names in the table below.

If a button has a text label, use the text shown as the name of the button. For example, to tap a button labeled Cancel, just say “Tap Cancel.”

Button Name
The Play button. Play
The Pause button. Pause
The Fast Forward button. Fast Forward
The Rewind button. Rewind
Shuffle
The Repeat button. Repeat
The Autoplay button. Autoplay
The Favorite button. Favorite
The More button. More
The Go Back button. Go back
The List button. List
Tag: carplay
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