GeeksModo

How to Unlock a Disabled iPad without a Passcode in 2025

Tuesday January 14, 2025 2:35 pm EAT by Moses Johnson

If you enter wrong iPad passcode too many times, (more than 5), you will see the “iPad is disabled” message. If you don’t know your passcode, you will have to take steps to unlock your iPad. In this article, we’ll show you all the ways to unlock a disabled iPad without a passcode.

If your iPhone is disabled, see how to unlock a disabled iPhone without iTunes or computer.

There are a few ways you can unlock a disabled iPad, unfortunately — there’s no way to bypass the passcode without factory resetting your iPad.

Thankfully, you can use iTunes ore Finder to reset your disabled iPad to its factory settings and then restore your apps and data from a recent backup.

If you don’t have access to iTunes or Finder, you can restore the disabled iPad to factory settings using Apple’s Find My iPhone web page.

How to decide which method to unlock a disabled iPad

If you use Find My and iCloud with your iPad, you should use iCloud to erase, then restore your disabled iPad.
If you don’t use iCloud but regularly back up your iPad using Finder or iTunes, you should use that to restore your disabled iPad using a backup.
If the first two won’t work for you, you can use recovery mode to factory reset your disabled iPad.

If you don’t use or can’t access iCloud and you don’t have access to a computer, you can take your disabled iPad to an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can make a reservation for the Apple Store’s Genius Bar.

Unlock a disabled iPad using iCloud

It’s pretty easy to unlock a disable iPad using iCloud. You can access iCloud using most any browser, from a computer or a mobile device.

Using a browser like Safari, Chrome, Edge, etc., navigate to iCloud.com.
Click on the Find My option in the menu of apps.
You may need to reconfirm your sign-in by entering your Apple ID and password. Otherwise, you’ll see a map with all of your current Apple products.
Select All Devices near the top of the page, then select the disabled iPad you need to unlock.
You’ll see three options: Play Sound, Lost Mode, and Erase iPad. You want to click on the last one.
Enter your Apple ID password and your disabled iPad will be erased.
After your iPad restarts, you will be able to set it up as a new device or restore it from an iCloud backup or a backup on your computer using Finder or iTunes.

Unlock a disabled iPad using Finder/iTunes

If you have a Mac running Catalina or later, you can use Finder to unlock a disabled iPad. If you are using a Mac running Mohave or earlier or you are using a PC, you can use iTunes to unlock your disabled iPad.

Unlock your disabled iPad using Finder

Connect your iPad to your Mac using the appropriate USB cable.
If asked, trust the computer.
Open Finder.
Find your iPad in the left sidebar and click on it.
Click on Restore Backup, then choose your most recent backup.
Click on Restore.
Wait for the process to finish before disconnecting your iPad.

Unlock your disabled iPad using iTunes

Connect your iPad to the computer using the appropriate USB cable.
If iTunes doesn’t launch, open it.
Find a button that looks like your iPad and click it.
Click on Summary, then click on Restore iPad. Restore erases your iPad.
Follow onscreen instructions. After your iPad has been restored (factory reset), you can restore from an iTunes or iCloud backup.

Unlock disabled iPad using Recovery Mode

Recovery Mode uses a computer to restore your disabled iPad.

Turn off your iPad

If you are using a PC, make sure that iTunes is installed on the computer.
With your iPad not yet connected to the computer, turn off your iPad. iPad with Face ID: Press and hold both the top and volume down buttons. When you see the power off slider, slide it to the right to power off. iPad with Home button: Press and hold the top button until you see the power off slider on the display. Slide the power off slider to turn off.

Connect your iPad to the computer

After your iPad has powered off, you are going to press and hold one of the buttons while you connect your iPad to the computer. So have the cable already connected to the computer, ready to connect to your iPad.
The button you will use depends on your iPad model. iPad with Face ID: You will use the Top button. iPad with Home button: You will use the Home button.
Now, press and hold the appropriate button while quickly connecting your iPad to the computer. Don’t let go of the button until the recovery mode screen appears on your iPad.

Restore your iPad in Finder or iTunes

On the computer, open iTunes (PC or Mac running Mohave or earlier) or Finder. Click on your iPad. In Finder: Your iPad should be listed in the left sidebar. In iTunes: Your iPad should appear as a button near the top.
You should see a popup with the options Update, Restore or Cancel. Choose Restore.
The process should take a few minutes to complete. If it fails — it takes too long, and your iPad exits the recovery screen — start over from the beginning.
Once the process finishes, you can disconnect your iPad and set it up as new.

Tag: iPad Guides

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12 Best tips to improve iPad Air battery life in 2025

Tuesday January 14, 2025 2:36 pm EAT by Kevin Hollington

Keep your iPad Air running longer on a single charge with these battery-saving tips.

Apple’s iPad Air lineup is known for its battery life. They tend to offer excellent battery life, with all models promising 10 hours of usage as per Apple. However, there are a lot of terms and conditions attached here, and if you are looking to extend the battery life of your iPad Air, follow this guide.

As a user, you can tweak some of the settings in iPadOS to get maximum juice out of your iPad Air battery. In this post, we will talk about the best battery saving tips and tricks to extend the endurance time of your iPad Air.

The battery saving tips explained in this article apply to the following iPad Air Models:

Fifth Generation: 10.9-inch iPad Air released in 2022.
Fourth Generation: 10.9-inch iPad Air released in 2020.
Third Generation: 10.5-inch iPad Air released in 2019.
Second Generation: 9.7-inch iPad Air 2 released in 2014.

Improve iPad Air Battery Life With These Tips and Tricks

1. Reduce screen brightness

It may seem convenient to have your brightness on max, especially when you’re outside, but this can cause your iPad Air battery to drain faster. Turning the brightness down on your iPad Air can certainly help when it comes to extending the battery life.

To adjust screen brightness on your iPad, swipe up to open the Control Center and use the slider on the right to lower your screen brightness. You can also go to Settings > Display & Brightness to adjust the brightness. Also on this settings page is a toggle switch for Auto-Brightness. Unless you are frequently using your iPad Air at the beach or in other brightly lit environments, turn on Auto-Brightness, which adjusts the screen level based on ambient light.

2. Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use

It might seem like a no-brainer to keep your Wi-Fi or data activated at all hours so that you can keep connected day and night. But this can significantly drain your iPad Air battery, as you constantly get notifications, background updates, and more when you don’t necessarily need them.

A Wi-Fi connection consumes less energy than a cellular connection, so use it when you can. But Wi-Fi consumes power, even if you are not using it to connect to a network, so you should consider turning it off when you are not online. During your sleeping hours is a great time to switch off your Wi-Fi.

Similarly, while using your iPad Air, you might have connected your headphones, keyboard or speakers to it using Bluetooth. Most users forget to turn off the option after completing the work. Unnecessarily keeping your Bluetooth on can impact the battery life on the iPad Air. Consider switching it off when you aren’t using it to conserve battery.

Both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can be also toggled on and off by swiping up from the bottom edge of your iPad Air’s screen for the Control Center.

3. Turn off AirDrop

AirDrop is a feature that lets you shuttle files among your iOS devices or between your iPhone or iPad Air and your Mac. It’s super simple to use but, like fellow wireless technologies Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, it can also drain your battery even when you aren’t transferring files. Unless you are using AirDrop to transfer files regularly, why not keep it turned off until you need to use it? To do so, swipe up for the Control Center, tap AirDrop and then tap Receiving Off.

4. Turn off Handoff

I don’t need to answer phone calls on my iPad Air and I rarely use it to finish an email or text I started on my iPhone or Mac (or vice versa). Because I use my iPad Air for different things than my iPhone or Mac, I don’t need Handoff to share activities between these very different devices. If this also describes you, then you can save a bit of battery life by disabling Handoff, another wireless technology that is using battery resources in the background to search for compatible devices even when you aren’t actively using it. To disable Handoff, go to Settings > General > Handoff and toggle off the feature.

5. Don’t push, fetch less

If your iPad Air isn’t your primary device for checking email, you don’t need to have new messages constantly pushed to the device or have it frequently fetch new messages. Check your mail settings to make sure push is turned off and fetch set to Manually, or, if you must, Hourly. You can adjust Push and Fetch settings by following this path: Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Fetch New Data.

You can select to have data fetched for your iCloud account and any email accounts you set up with the Mail app. Choose Fetch or Manual for these accounts, and then select the frequency with which you’d like to fetch data.

6. Reduce Background App Activity

Next on our list is limiting background app activities on your iPad Air. Background apps essentially function even when you’re not directly using them. Examples include VPN, Maps, health, and calendar apps. These apps monitor or control certain aspects of your phone without you intervening, which, while convenient, causes your iPad Air battery to drain faster.

What’s more, you probably don’t need a good number of these apps to be working in the background. So, how can you reduce background app activity?

Head to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and you can turn Background App Refresh off entirely or select which apps you’d like to refresh in the background.

7. Keep an eye on location services

Many people claim you should force-quit out of apps, say, each night before bed. I’m lucky if I get all the dishes cleaned up before hitting the sack, so I certainly don’t have the time or the energy to be closing iPad Air apps on a regular basis. Plus, it has not been definitively proven to me that apps running in the background drain battery life to any great extent. I will, however, force-close Google Maps or any other GPS app, since these do seem to drain the iPad Air’s battery.

There are a huge number of apps that can track your location. While you may think these apps solely track your location when you’re directly using them, this isn’t always the case. This constant location monitoring requires energy and can take a toll on your iPad Air battery life.

To keep tabs on which of your apps are using location services. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services to adjust which apps are requesting your location.

To kill four wireless birds — cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS — with one stone, simply turn on Airplane Mode from the top option listed in Settings or from the Control Center.

8. No more notifications

When you install a new app on your iPad Air, the chances are that its notification settings will be automatically activated. But you don’t necessarily need to receive notifications from every app you have, and doing so can have a detrimental effect on the length of your iPad Air battery life. Notifications also wake up an idle iPad Air and turn on the display, which consumes battery power. So, you can deactivate notifications for certain apps to help mitigate battery loss. Go to Settings > Notifications and choose which apps can push notifications your way.

9. See which apps are battery hogs

On the iPad Air, the Battery page in settings is useful because it shows you which apps have used the most battery resources in the last 24 hours and the last seven days. If your iPad Air is running through battery life at a disturbingly fast pace, check here to see which apps are the cause and then quit using those apps until you can charge your iPad Air.

10. Quick trigger for Auto-Lock

Why let an idle iPad Air run down your battery? With Auto-Lock, your iPad Air will shut down after it has been inactive for a period of time. You can set it as short as 2 minutes. To set a time period for Auto-Lock, head to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock.

11. Climate control

Excess heat can affect battery life. Apple recommends keeping your iPad Air between 32 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and points to the range of 62 to 72 degrees as the comfort zone. This means keep your iPad Air in the shade at the beach, out of locked cars in the summer, and off of heaters in the winter.

Also, if you have a case that envelopes your iPad Air and can cause it to heat up when it’s charging, remove your iPad Air from the case before charging it.

12. Update Your iPad Air to the Latest Software

Apple occasionally releases iPadOS updates to keep the iPad smooth and glitch-free. Alongside, Apple also adds some battery-related features to increase the life span of the iPad Air battery. With that in mind, it’s always advisable to keep your iPadOS up to date. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check if an update is available for your iPad Air.

Say Goodbye to a Flat iPad Air Battery With These Power-Saving Tips

It’s always a pain to have your iPad Air die unexpectedly, but with the above-mentioned tips and tricks, you will see an improvement in iPad Air battery life.

If you’re watching full HD movies with the brightness turned all the way up, or you’re performing power intensive tasks like gaming, your iPad Air is still going to die on you in a few hours. But in general use, the above tips should help you get more juice out of your iPad Air.

6 Charging Tips to Maintain Your iPad Battery Health

Friday February 17, 2023 10:03 pm EAT by Dave Johnson

Maintain your iPads battery health with these charging tips.

When you buy a new iPad, you most certainly get the advertised battery life. However, as time passes, your iPad’s battery health will slowly but surely deteriorate.

Battery degradation is natural to lithium-ion batteries used in iPads, smartphones, and most gadgets. Hence, there’s no way to keep your iPad’s battery 100% healthy.

However, you can maintain your iPad’s battery health by adopting optimal charging habits. In this article, we’ll discuss the best charging tips you should embrace to maintain your iPad’s battery health.

1. Don’t Fully Charge or Drain Your iPad’s Battery

As we’ve pointed out above, iPads use lithium-ion batteries, which usually reduce capacity as you continue charging and discharging your device. With each complete charge cycle, the maximum charging capacity of the battery slightly reduces.

Lithium-ion batteries take a big hit if you fully charge them as it makes them susceptible to overheating, which in turn reduces their lifespan. This is why you may have noticed that your iPad’s battery charges faster from 0 to 80%, then enters the slow charging phase from 80% to 100%.

Conversely, fully discharging lithium-ion batteries is just as bad, and hence, Battery University recommends that you keep your charge between 30% and 80% for maximum battery life.

2. Use Apple’s Official Charger

This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s always worth mentioning. When you buy a new iPad, Apple always includes a power adapter and a USB-C charging cable. Using an official power adapter and charging cable is always recommended because they are optimized to ensure your battery’s long-term health.

And it’s not just about maintaining iPad battery health. An official iPad charger is also safer to use. However, it’s worth mentioning that there are some excellent third-party iPad chargers that you can use.

Just avoid cheap third-party iPad chargers from no-name brands, as they can be bad for long-term battery health and might be a safety risk, too. If you’re going to buy a charger, we recommend getting one made by Apple. If not, then get one from reputable accessory makers like Anker, Satechi, or Belkin.

Apple even sells select accessories from third-party companies on its website, so you can use that as a benchmark on which third-party chargers are the best.

3. Enable Optimized Battery Charging

Optimized Battery Charging is a feature available on your iPad that learns your daily charging routine and optimizes charging to help extend battery life. The feature is meant to reduce your battery’s wear and tear.

It does so by delaying charging your battery past 80% if it predicts that you will have your iPad plugged in for a long time. At the same time, the feature also ensures that you’ll have your battery charged by the time you unplug the charger.

You can enable Optimized Battery Charging in iPadOS from Settings. open the Settings app and select Battery > Battery Health > Optimized Battery Charging. Toggle on the feature.

As alluded to before, keeping your battery level between 30% and 80% is the best way to maintain iPad battery health. But, Optimized Battery Charging doesn’t stop your battery from charging past 80%. It only delays it, and keeping tabs on your battery levels.

4. Don’t Leave Your iPad Plugged In Overnight

Having your iPad plugged in overnight is common. Most of us are guilty of this, but iPads are not meant to be plugged in overnight. As noted before, charging your battery to 100% may cause overheating, negatively impacting your iPad’s battery life in the long run. You should, therefore, avoid having your iPad plugged in overnight.

5. Half-Charge Your iPad for Long-Term Storage

If, for some reason, you want to put away your iPad for some time, you need to control the environmental temperature and the battery percentage. These two will affect battery life while your iPad is in storage.

Apple recommends charging your iPad’s battery to about 50% if you need to store it long-term to maintain battery health.

The 50% recommended level is because if you fully charge your battery and store it for an extended period, it may lose some capacity, affecting the battery life. And if you leave it fully discharged for an extended time, Apple says, “the battery could fall into a deep discharge state, which renders it incapable of holding a charge.”

Excess heat can affect battery health. Apple recommends keeping your iPad between 32 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and points to the range of 62 to 72 degrees as the comfort zone. This means keep your iPad in the shade at the beach, out of locked cars in the summer, and off of heaters in the winter. Additionally, you should recharged your iPad to 50 percent every six months (in case you’re storing your device for more than six months). You should also shut down your iPad if you want to keep it for an extended period without use.

6. Charge Your iPad at Moderate Ambient Temperatures

Heat is the biggest enemy of all kinds of batteries. According to Battery University, extreme care has to be taken when charging lithium-ion batteries because of the delicate nature of the process.

Furthermore, Apple says charging your device in high ambient temperatures can damage battery capacity. According to the company, the sweet spot lies between 50 to 95 degrees F.

Also, if you have a case that envelopes your iPad and can cause it to heat up when it’s charging, remove your iPad from the case before charging it.

Use These Charging Tips to Maintain Your iPad’s Battery Health

While batteries can’t last forever, you can at least take good care of them to avoid replacement sooner than required. Besides, replacing a iPad’s battery is costly; it will set you back by at least $99 for regular iPad models and about $199 for iPad Pro models, according to Apple. But by following the tips highlighted, you can make your iPad’s battery last longer.

Tag: iPad Tips

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FaceTime not working on iPhone? 17 solutions to fix it

Friday February 17, 2023 3:52 am EAT by GeeksModo Staff

If FaceTime is not working on your iPhone, here are the steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix the problem.

FaceTime lets you make video and audio calls on your iPhone. At times, FaceTime on iPhone may not work or suddenly stop working due to wrong settings, temporary problems, or network issues. Once that happens, making video and audio FaceTime calls from your iPhone becomes impossible.

To fix this issue, here are 17 reliable solutions. Once you follow these, FaceTime not working, activating, or connecting on iPhone should be a thing of the past. Have a look.

How To Fix FaceTime Not Working On iPhone

1. Close And Reopen FaceTime

The first step to take when FaceTime is not working on your iPhone is to close and reopen it. FaceTime will get a fresh start, which will hopefully fix a minor crash or software bug.

If your iPhone has a Home button, double-press it to open the app switcher. If your iPhone doesn’t have a Home button, swipe up from the very bottom to the center of the screen until the app switcher opens.

Once the app switcher is open, use one finger to swipe the FaceTime app up and off the top of the screen. You’ll know the FaceTime is closed when it no longer appears in the app switcher. Now that you’ve closed FaceTime, tap on its icon on the Home screen to see if it is working again.

2. Sign out of FaceTime and sign in again

If the above solution did not fix the problem, this one should help.

Open the Settings app and go to FaceTime. Toggle off the switch next to FaceTime. After one minute, toggle the switch again to turn it on. See if this quick fix works for you or not.

If not, scroll down and tap on your Apple ID. Next, tap Sign Out.

Now restart your iPhone. Once that’s done, go to Settings > FaceTime and tap Use your Apple ID for FaceTime. FaceTime should start working perfectly.

3. Are You in a Country Where FaceTime is Restricted?

FaceTime is available in almost all countries around the world, with the exception of the United Arab Emirates. To use FaceTime in Saudi Arabia, an ‌iPhone must be running iOS 11.3 or later, and to use FaceTime in Pakistan, devices must run iOS 12.4 or later.

iPhones purchased in certain Middle Eastern countries will also block FaceTime if a SIM card from a non Middle Eastern country is inserted. FaceTime Audio is not available in China. All iPhones sold in China are limited to the standard FaceTime with video feature.

Note that if you purchase an ‌iPhone in China or the United Arab Emirates and then attempt to use it in another country, the FaceTime features listed above will be disabled. Purchasing an ‌iPhone‌ from China or the Middle East is not recommended unless you live in those places.

Finally, if your office or organization networks use firewalls, the are steps you must take to use FaceTime and iMessage behind that firewall.

4. Set the Correct Date And Time

For FaceTime to work on your iPhone, its data and time settings must be accurate. The easiest way to ensure your phone has the correct date and time is to set them to update automatically.

Start the Settings app on your iPhone and go to General > Date & Time. Make sure your iPhone is set to the correct Time Zone, and that the date and time are correct. Turn the switch next to Set Automatically if it isn’t already.

5. Restart Your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone has the potential to fix minor software problems that’s preventing FaceTime from working properly. All of its programs shut down naturally, giving them a fresh start when you turn your iPhone on again. The way to restart your iPhone varies based on which model you own.

Restart an iPhone X or newer: Press and hold the side button and either volume button until slide to power off shows up on the screen. Swipe the power icon from left to right to shut down your iPhone. Wait 15–30 seconds, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo shows up on the screen.
Restart an iPhone 8 or older: Press and hold the power button until slide to power off shows up on the display. Swipe the power from left to right to turn off your iPhone. Wait 15–30 seconds, then press and hold the power button again until the Apple logo shows up on the display.

6. Check Your iPhone’s Wi-Fi Connection

A weak internet connection is a common reason why video calling apps like FaceTime stop working on iPhone. There are a few different things you can try to troubleshoot your iPhone’s Wi-Fi connection.

Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On

The quickest and easiest fix to try is to turn Wi-Fi off and back on on your iPhone. Open Settings and tap Wi-Fi. Tap the switch once to turn Wi-Fi off, then tap the switch again to turn it back on.

Restart Your Router

Restarting (or rebooting) your router will fix most issues of slow FaceTime calls, stuttering FaceTime video, and the like.

Unplug the router. If your modem is separate from your router, unplug that as well. Wait 1 minute.
Plug the modem back in (if it is separate). Wait another 1 minute.
Plug the router back in. Wait 2 minutes.

Open the FaceTime app on your iPhone and try making a call to see if the problem is solved.

Forget Your Wi-Fi Network

Every time you connect to a new Wi-Fi network, your iPhone makes a record of how to connect to this network in the future. It’s for this reason you only need to enter a Wi-Fi password into your iPhone once. If the process changed, it may be preventing your iPhone from connecting to Wi-Fi. Forgetting the network and setting it up again like new will give your iPhone a fresh start.

Open Settings and tap Wi-Fi. Tap the Information button (blue i) to the right of your Wi-Fi network. Tap Forget This Network.

Go back to the Wi-Fi page in Settings and tap on your network again. Enter your Wi-Fi password to reconnect to the network. Try making a FaceTime call again to see if this fixed the problem.

More Advanced Wi-Fi Troubleshooting Steps

If you think your Wi-Fi network is the cause of FaceTime problem on your iPhone, check out our other article which goes more in-depth on how to fix iPhone Wi-Fi issues.

7. Make Sure Your Cellular Data is On

If you’re trying to use FaceTime on your iPhone over cellular data, make sure that’s switched on in your settings. Go into your Settings app and tap Cellular . Make sure that Cellular Data is enabled at the top of the page. Then scroll down to the Cellular Data section, and make sure FaceTime is enabled for cellular use in the list of apps.

8. Check Apple’s System Status When FaceTime Isn’t Working on iPhone

On rare occasions, it can happen that everything is working on your side. But the fault lies on Apple’s end, due to which FaceTime does not let you make calls.

To check this, visit Apple’s System Status page. If you see a green dot next to FaceTime, it means everything is ok. If you see an orange or red dot next to FaceTime, Apple ID, or iCloud Account & Sign In, please wait until Apple fixes the issue.

9. Update Your iPhone’s Software

One of the most common reasons why FaceTime is not working on iPhone is that the iOS is out-of-date.

To make sure your iPhone’s software is up-to-date, go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, install it. iOS updates always contain bug fixes, so with few exceptions, it’s always a good idea to update your software. If your software is already up-to-date, move on to the next step.

10. Test The Camera and Microphone on Your iPhone

If people can’t see or hear you on FaceTime, there might be a problem with the camera or microphones on your iPhone. The simplest way to test this is to open the Camera app and record a short video of yourself talking into the front-facing camera. Play the video back to find out if there are any problems with the audio or video you recorded. If there are, tap or click here to learn what to do when iPhone Camera is not working.

11. Turn On Your Camera and Microphone in FaceTime

If people can’t see or hear you in FaceTime, it might be because you’ve disabled your camera or microphone for that FaceTime call.

During a FaceTime call, reveal more controls by tapping the screen on an iPhone. Tap the Camera and Microphone icons to turn your camera or microphone on and off during the call.

12. Disable FaceTime Content Restrictions

If the FaceTime app is completely missing from your iPhone, you might have turned on Screen Time restrictions. People usually use these settings to keep young children from accessing certain features on a device.

Start the Settings app and go to Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Go into Allowed Apps and make sure FaceTime and Camera are both turned on. If prompted, enter your Screen Time passcode, which may be different from your standard passcode.

13. Disable VPN

If you use a VPN, it could be preventing your iPhone from connecting to FaceTime.

While VPNs are great for protecting your personal identity online, they can cause internet connectivity issues when configured incorrectly. It’s also possible that your VPN is making it appear you’re trying to connect to FaceTime from a different country or region. Start the Settings app on your iPhone and tap the switch next to VPN to turn it off.

14. Reset Network Settings

If a poor Wi-Fi connection is the reason why Facetime is not working on your iPhone, it’s time to try resetting your phone’s network settings. This will reset all your device’s Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellular, and VPN settings to their factory defaults.

When you connect to a Wi-Fi network after resetting network settings, it’ll be like you’re connecting to that network for the very first time. This completely fresh start will often fix the software problem that prevented your iPhone from connecting to Wi-Fi in the first place. It will also reset any settings you may have changed that could be interfering with your FaceTime calls without you knowing.

Note: Before resetting network settings, make sure to write down all your Wi-Fi passwords, as you’ll have to reenter them after the reset is complete.

To reset network settings on your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Enter your iPhone’s passcode, then tap Reset Network Settings when the confirmation alert appears on the screen.

15. Reset All Settings On Your iPhone

There isn’t a magic bullet that fixes all software problems on iOS devices, but the next best thing if FaceTime is not working on iPhone is Reset All Settings. Reset All Settings restores your iPhone’s settings to factory defaults, but it doesn’t delete any of your apps or personal information.

To reset all settings on your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer Or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings, enter your passcode, and tap Reset All Settings.

16. Delete And Reinstall The Facetime App

Although iOS apps are strictly vetted, they can still run into problems from time to time. When you’re experiencing problems with an app, deleting and reinstalling the app will usually fix the problem.

It’s possible that FaceTime is not working on your iPhone because a software file within the FaceTime app has become corrupted. To address this problem, delete the FaceTime app then reinstall it like new!

First, delete FaceTime by lightly pressing and holding the app icon until all of your apps begin to shake. Next, tap Remove App > Delete App. A pop-up message should appear asking you to confirm this action. To confirm, tap Delete.

Now that FaceTime has been deleted from your iPhone, go to App Store and search for the FaceTime app. Once you’ve found it, tap on the small cloud icon to its right to reinstall it.

17. Repair Options for your iPhone

Although it’s very unlikely, it’s possible the Wi-Fi antenna inside your iPhone is broken, which is preventing it from connecting to your Wi-Fi network. This same antenna connects your iPhone to Bluetooth devices, so if you’ve experienced lots of issues connecting to both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi recently, the antenna could be broken.

If your iPhone is experiencing a hardware problem, I’d recommend scheduling an appointment and taking it to your local Apple Store. There, you can get a diagnosis and repair quote from a licensed Apple technician!

Successfully Fixed FaceTime Not Working on Your iPhone

You’ve successfully fixed the problem and you can now use FaceTime to make video and audio calls on your iPhone . We hope you’ll share this article on other social media platforms so your friends and family can know what to do when FaceTime is not working on their iPhones!

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The 5 Best MacBooks for Engineering Students in 2025

Tuesday January 14, 2025 2:37 pm EAT by Moses Johnson

Here are the best MacBooks for engineering students according to our testing

Apple MacBooks have always been an excellent choice for most students thanks to their power and durability.

We combined firsthand experience with research to determine our picks for the best laptops for engineering students. With that in mind, read on for our picks of the best MacBooks for engineering students.

Which is the best MacBook for engineering students now?

The best MacBook for engineering students remains the MacBook Air, which was updated for 2022. It’s also the best MacBook for computer science students and one of the best MacBooks for IT students. There are other noteworthy models we’ve gathered to help you choose the one that fits your needs best.

The best MacBooks for engineering students you can buy today

1. MacBook Air (2022)

The best MacBook for engineering students who want fresh design and excellent internals

Specifications

CPU: M2 GPU: M2 (Integrated) RAM: 8GB/16GB/24GB Size: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches Display: 13.6-inches, 2560 x 1600 pixels Weight: 2.7 pounds Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB

Why it’s the best MacBook for engineering students

The MacBook Air for 2022 has received an incredible design change and updated internals, making this the Apple laptop most engineering students should purchase to start the new school year. Featuring an Apple M2 chip, the MacBook Air (2022) offers a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display for the first time and provides up to 18 hours of battery life between charges. It’s also available in two fabulous new colors, Starlight and Midnight, although it’s still available in Space Gray and silver.

The M2 chip makes this MacBook Air up to 1.4 times faster than the previous model. It features an 8-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. In addition, the entry-level model comes with 8GB of unified memory, which can be increased to 16GB or 24GB. On the storage side, you can purchase one with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB.

This MacBook Air also comes with a MagSafe port that connects easily and quickly releases if the charging cable is accidentally pulled. There’s also an all-new 1080p FaceTime HD camera for those critical video online presentations. At just 2.7 pounds, this is the lightest MacBook Air you can currently buy, making it easy to carry it to lecture halls and library.

If there’s one negative about the MacBook Air (2022) is its price. For many years, this model started at $999. However, the entry-level model is now $1,199, which pushes it very close to the entry-level MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,299.

The MacBook Air is a gorgeous machine and a practical choice for most engineering students today. It’s also our favorite Mac of the year.

Pros

Apple M2 chip
13.6-inch Liquid Retina display
Up to 18 hours of wireless web between charges
MagSafe
Lightweight

Cons

Only two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
Maximum storage is 2TB
No longer "cheap."

2. 13-inch MacBook Pro M2 (2022)

The best MacBook for engineering students who want an excellent battery life

Specifications

CPU: Apple M2 (8-core) GPU: Apple M2 GPU (10-core)RAM: 8GB/16GB/24GB sSize: 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches Display: 13.3 inches, 2560 x 1600 pixel Weight: 3.1 pounds Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB

Why it’s the best MacBook for engineering students

Like the MacBook Air (2022), the 13-inch MacBook Pro (2022) includes an Apple M2 chip. It has an 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine. You can purchase one with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of storage and up to 24GB of unified memory. This model also includes Apple’s Touch Bar, which can be viewed as a pro or con, depending on your preferences. It’s the last MacBook to have the Touch Bar.

The recently updated 13-inch MacBook Pro is very similar to the MacBook Air (2022) in terms of its internals. However, critical differences on the outside keep this from being our favorite MacBook for engineering students.

But unlike the MacBook Air (2022), the 13-inch MacBook Pro (2022) spots a 13.3-inch Retina display, a 720p FaceTime HD camera, and no MagSafe. It also weighs more at 3 pounds vs. the Air’s 2.7 pounds.

On the positive side, you’ll get up to 20 hours between battery charges on this model, so if you want a MacBook with an excellent battery life, you may opt for this one.

There’s much to love about this machine, which offers ever-so-slightly better internals than the MacBook Air.

Pros

Same internals as MacBook Air
Apple M2
20 hours between battery charges

Cons

No MagSafe
Older design
Slightly smaller display

3. 16-inch MacBook Pro (2023)

The best MacBook for engineering students who want extremely powerful laptop

Specifications

CPU: 3.3GHz Apple M2 Pro 12 cores (8P/4E) Gam: 32GB LPDDR5 Size: 0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches Display: 16-inch 3,456×2,234 254ppi 3:2 aspect ratio; 500 nits SDR, 1,600 nits HDR Weight: 4.7 lbs/2.2kg Storage: 2TB Apple SSD AP2048Z, SD card slot

Why it’s the best MacBook for engineering students

Internally, the third-generation 16-inch MacBook Pro (2023) is the best MacBook engineering students can currently buy. Like the 14-inch MacBook Pro (mentioned below), this model offers an M2 Pro or M2 Max SoC with up to 96GB of unified memory and 8TB of SSD storage. That’s a lot of storage for your photos and videos. In addition, you get a 12-core CPU and up to 38-core GPU.

But there’s much more. The latest 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with a Liquid Retina XDR display (3456 by 2234 pixels) with ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. It’s also packed with up to 22 hours of battery life between charges and comes with an all-new 1080p FaceTime HD camera with an advanced image signal processor and computational video.

The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook models (2023), some of the best MacBooks available, also include MagSafe, an HDMI port, and an SDXC card slot, besides its three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports. If you’re looking for any negatives, understand this is the heaviest MacBook Pro in many years (4.7 pounds). It’s also costly, even at the base level.

Pros

Class leading performance
Crisp retina display
Excellent battery life

Cons

Very expensive
Heavy (4.7 lbs)

4. 14-inch MacBook Pro (2023)

The best MacBook for engineering students who want versatility at a lower price

Specifications

CPU: M2 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU or 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU), with optional M2 Max with up to 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU GPU: 16GB to 96GB Size: 12.3 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches Display: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display (3024×1964 pixels, 254ppi) Weight: 3.5 pounds (M2 Pro) – 3.6 pounds (M2 Max) Storage: 512GB to 8TB

Why it’s the best MacBook for engineering students

The new MacBook Pro 14-inch 2023 raises the bar for laptop performance, with the M2 Pro chip delivering incredible speed in our testing. The M2 Max is even faster, especially when it comes to graphics performance. You also get a stellar mini-LED display, plenty of ports and over 14 hours of battery life. Yes, it’s pricey, but the new MacBook Pro cannot be beat.

This is the best MacBook for engineering students who want everything on the 16-inch MacBook Pro but with a smaller display. In addition, it offers similar internals for less. Nonetheless, it’s still an expensive computer, which is something to keep in mind.

Our best advice for students is to buy as much memory and storage as they can afford. And remember, you can’t change these options after purchase since upgrades aren’t possible. With this in mind, consider the option of an Apple M1 Pro with a 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine that comes with 1TB of storage and at least 32GB of unified memory.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro is nearly identical to the 16-inch model except for the smaller display and price.

Pros

Blistering performance
Vibrant mini-LED display
Superb battery life
Good port selection includes HDMI and SD Card
Faster Wi-Fi 6E

Cons

Expensive
Notch is distracting
No Face ID support

5. MacBook Pro 2021 (16-inch)

Best MacBook for engineering students who want a machine that delivers best-in-class performance

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU: M1 Pro (10-core CPU) | M1 Max (10-core CPU) GPU: Integrated 16-core GPU) RAM: 16GB to 64GB Size: 14 x 9.8 x 0.7 inches Display: 16.2 inches; 3456×2244 pixels Weight: 4.7 pounds (M1 Pro) | 4.8 pounds (M1 Max) Storage: 512GB to 8TB

Why it’s the best MacBook for engineering students

The MacBook Pro 2021 (16-inch) is an across-the-board improvement over its predecessor, so if you’ve been considering investing in a 16-inch Pro this is unquestionably the model to buy. With its remarkable battery life, outstanding speed, smartly redesigned chassis and big, beautiful screen, this is a versatile pro laptop that will serve you equally well in your engineering studies. And if you’re willing to pay the price, configuring it with one of Apple’s brawny new M1 Max chips will guarantee you some of the best performance you can buy in a MacBook.

The 2021 MacBook Pro replaces the Touch Bar with function keys, continues the resurgence of Mac keyboard with an excellent scissor-switch design, and adds more ports – including the long-absent SD card slot.

It even brings back MagSafe, and finally overhauls the 720p camera system we’ve had for far too long, all while expanding the power of the M1 with the M1 Pro or M1 Max – magnitudes more powerful than even last year’s laptops. Apple is even happy for the laptop to be a little on the heftier side, with increased thickness and weight.

All of this extra power makes it perfect for resource intensive tasks, which is why we’re it as one of the best MacBooks for engineering students.

It feels like a MacBook mea culpa, and it’s better for it – and that’s without getting to the gorgeous new display which absolutely blows away premium Windows models. It even makes the prior MacBook Pro’s screen look a little old-fashioned. Some will scoff at the notch that houses the camera, but as far as accuracy and vibrancy goes, it’s the best laptop display out there.

Pros

Gorgeous Liquid Retina XDR display
Outstanding battery life
Great speakers
Extremely powerful
Plenty of ports

Cons

Display is sub-4K
Camera notch
Expensive, especially with M1 Max

Engineering students pet

In 2023, our best MacBook for engineering students is the MacBook Air (M2, 2022). It’s the best choice for most students. This incredible device offers Apple’s new M2 SoC processor and includes Touch ID, Magic Keyboard, Force Touch trackpad, and two Thunderbolt 3 ports. There’s also a 1080p FaceTime HD camera and MagSafe. It’s also pretty lightweight and has 18 hours of battery life, so you can attend lectures uninterrupted.

If the Air doesn’t have you convinced, perhaps the 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2, 2022) is a an excellent choice. There’s a Touch Bar, two more hours of battery life, and a better GPU at the entry point. Finally, if money is less than an object and you want maximum internals, consider the 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro models. They each feature a powerful M2 Pro or M2 Max chip.

How we test the best engineering students laptops

To find the best Apple laptop for engineering students, we run each through our gauntlet of benchmarks and real-world tests, and then use them as our main computer for as well. Only then are we comfortable recommending them (or not) for your purchase.

We use a Klein K-10A colorimeter to test each MacBook’s screen to find its average brightness and color quality (so we don’t just assume Apple’s ratings are correct). When it comes to general performance, we use the Geekbench 5 (CPU performance) benchmark, and time how long the Macs will take to transcode a 4K video to 1080p.

We also run the BlackMagic storage speeds test to see how fast these MacBooks’ SSDs are (spoiler alert: they’re all pretty fast). Then, we run our custom battery test to see how long each MacBook (at 150 nits of brightness) can last browsing the web over Wi-Fi until it runs out of juice.

We’ve also tested various computer games on MacBooks, with Civilization VI: Gathering Storm being one of our current favorites to run because it runs well on both macOS and Windows, giving us a good point of comparison.

No matter which Apple MacBook you buy, be sure to check out these MacBook Ventura tips and tricks to make the most of your Apple laptop.

Tag: Mac Products

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The 5 Best MacBooks for Media Students in 2025

Tuesday January 14, 2025 2:56 pm EAT by Moses Johnson

These are the best MacBooks for media students according to our testing

Apple MacBooks have always been an excellent choice for media students thanks to their power and durability.

We combined firsthand experience with research to determine our picks for the best laptops for media students. With that in mind, read on for our picks of the best MacBooks for media students.

Which is the best MacBook for media students now?

The MacBook Air (M2, 2022) is the best MacBook for media students. It has enough power to face almost any academic challenge. There are other MacBooks to consider depending on your situation, as you can see below.

These are the best MacBooks for media students you can buy today

1. MacBook Air (M2, 2022)

The best MacBook overall for media students

Specifications

CPU: M2 GPU: M2 (Integrated) RAM: 8GB/16GB/24GB Size: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches Display: 13.6-inches, 2560 x 1600 pixels Weight: 2.7 pounds Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB

Why it’s the best MacBook for media students

In mid-2020, Cupertino announced Apple silicon, starting with an impressive M1 processor. The 2022 MacBook Air, which we gave five stars, is the first to house the second-gen M2 processor. The 2022 MacBook Air is the best MacBook for media students, along with being our favorite Mac for all users, because it packs a punch for anyone on a smaller budget, starting with its battery life — up to 18 hours between charges, depending on what you’re doing.

At 2.7 pounds, the MacBook Air is the lightest Mac on the market despite having the same screen size as the smallest MacBook Pro model. Besides being less weighty, the MacBook Air also contains the same essential internals, including Apple’s all-new M2 SoC. The laptop also features a backlit Magic Keyboard and a Touch ID sensor.

No doubt, the MacBook Air is appealing. However, it has drawbacks, including fewer Thunderbolt 3 ports, less display brightness, and more inferior speakers than most MacBook Pro models. It also offers two hours less battery life between charges than the 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2, 2022). None of the disadvantages should stop you from buying it, however.

Pros

Same screen size as 13-inch MacBook Pro
Up to 18 hours of wireless web battery between charges
Relatively low price
Apple M2!

Cons

Only two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
Lower display brightness than other models

2. 16-inch MacBook Pro (2023)

Best MacBook for media students who need extremely powerful laptop

Specifications

Why it’s the best MacBook for media students

Apple’s 2023 flagship, the MacBook Pro 16-Inch marries a proven, immaculate design with a fireball M2 Max CPU for fierce power in media creation, gaming, and high-end professional tasks. (Plus, it lasted nearly 27 hours on our battery test.)

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the computer to get if you need the most power possible. You can configure it with several options, whether you need that M2 Max processor, 96GB Unified Memory or 8TB of storage.

Even at its base configuration, a 12-core M2 Pro with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a 19-core GPU, the 16-inch model will handle any task a student throws at it. So if you want a no-doubt-about-it machine, get this MacBook Pro.

Pros

Unmatched laptop power
Exceptional battery life
Top-class mini LED display
Unbelievable speakers
Apple’s best laptop design

Cons

Expensive across the board
Limited upgradability
Camera notch still takes getting used to

3. 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2, 2022)

The best MacBook for media students who want long battery life

Specifications

Why it’s the best MacBook for media students

The 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2, 2022) is a great middle-ground. It packs an M2 processor, excellent graphics, more ports, and a long battery life.

Three factors stand out when comparing the 13-inch MacBook Pro (M2, 2022) with the MacBook Air (M2, 2022). First, the Pro model offers a Touch Bar, while the Air only has a Touch ID. Second, the former offers up to two more battery life hours. The Pro model also offers more screen brightness and better speakers. You’ll pay at least $200 extra for these extras, but it may be worth it depending on your needs.

Pros

Comes with potential extras
Great battery life
Touch Bar included
Slightly better display than MacBook Air

Cons

Dated design
Touch Bar might not be for you
Price can rise quickly as you add components

4. MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

The best MacBook for media students on a budget

Specifications

CPU: M1 GPU: M1 (integrated) RAM: 8GB/16GB Size: 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches Display: 13.3 inches, 2560 x 1600 pixel Weight: 2.8 pounds Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB

Why it’s the best MacBook for media students

One of the first Apple silicon Macs, the MacBook Air (M1, 2020), still packs a punch, even though there’s a newer model now that’s a better choice for most media students. The No. 1 reason to get the 2020 model? Price — assuming you can find one with a huge discount.

The MacBook Air (M1, 2020) still contains plenty of power for the media students on a smaller budget, starting with its battery life. When we reviewed this device two years ago we were impressed with its up to 18 hours of battery life between charges, depending on what you’re doing. At 2.8 pounds, this model is one of the lightest laptops on the market. Besides an M1 chip, it offers a backlit Magic Keyboard and a Touch ID sensor.

Pros

Incredible performance-per-watt
Huge battery improvement over Intel-based MacBook Air
Classic design with new scissor-switch keyboard

Cons

Not that much cheaper than 2022 model
Older design
Poor webcam

5. 14-inch MacBook Pro (2023)

The best MacBook for media students who are looking for the most potent MacBook current available but need a slightly smaller display

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Specifications

CPU: M2 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU or 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU), with optional M2 Max with up to 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU RAM: 16GB to 96GB Size: 12.3 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches Display: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display (3024×1964 pixels, 254ppi) Weight: 3.5 pounds (M2 Pro) – 3.6 pounds (M2 Max) Storage: 512GB to 8TB

Why it’s the best MacBook for media students

Powered by the new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, the new MacBook Pro 14-inch is faster and more powerful than any 14-inch on the market. Throw in over 14 hours of battery life in you’ve got a nearly perfect laptop on your hands.

The current 16-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro are identical inside and offer the same chip, RAM, and storage options. Therefore, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is an excellent choice for media students who are looking for the most potent MacBook current available but need a slightly smaller display. That’s a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with 3024-by-1964 pixels.

No matter what your configuration, the MacBook Pro 14 is in a class of its own. The laptop retains its stunning good looks, powerful speakers, high-resolution camera, and comfortable keyboard. But the real stars of this story are the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, which bring even more power and efficiency to the table.

There are a few noticeable negatives to consider regarding this MacBook, including the price (it’s still super expensive), weak color choices (just two), and the divisive notch that some might not like.

Still, if you want the best MacBook with a smaller screen, this is a good way of getting both without missing out too much.

Pros

Impressive performance
Over 14 hours of battery life
Great port selection
Beautifully vibrant display with crisp detail
Excellent audio

Cons

Expensive
Off-putting notch
Still no Face ID

Quite a few choices

Whether you need a new computer or want to upgrade from an existing one, the most recent MacBook Air is the best MacBook for media students this year. So whether you’re writing papers, putting together a Powerpoint, or even editing some images for a media class, the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) will be a reliable performer in your academic pursuits.

The current MacBook Air has a lot going for it, including the all-new M2 chip, a beautiful new design, fantastic color choices, and more.

If budget is your top concern, the MacBook Air (2020) is another excellent choice. It still includes a blazing-fast M1 chip, a backlit Magic Keyboard, and a Touch ID sensor. Plus, it can be found at great discounts depending on where and when you look. Although it’s not the newest Air on the market, it’s still powerful and will receive several macOS updates for years, including the latest macOS 13 Ventura.

For the media students who need the most power, consider the MacBook Pro range with the latest M2 Pro or M2 Max chip on the 2023 models, ensuring fantastic performance. It may be excessive for some, but it’s sure to last for the entirety of college years and beyond.

How we test the best media students laptops

To find the best Apple laptop for media students, we run each through our gauntlet of benchmarks and real-world tests, and then use them as our main computer for as well. Only then are we comfortable recommending them (or not) for your purchase.

No matter which Apple MacBook you buy, be sure to check out these MacBook Ventura tips and tricks to make the most of your laptop.

Tag: Mac Products

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iPhone Not Making or Receiving Phone Calls? 14 Best Fixes

Wednesday February 8, 2023 9:27 pm EAT by Dave Johnson

Is your iPhone not making or receiving phone calls? Here is what you can do to fix the problem.

If your iPhone is not making or receiving phone calls, don’t worry! You can try a few fixes before turning to your cell carrier’s customer support line.

When you can neither make nor receive calls on an iPhone, the cause might be any number of issues. Here’s where to start when trying to get back on speaking terms with your phone.

There is nothing new about the problem of iPhone not making or receiving phone calls as it has existed on almost all iPhone models. The issue has affected many iPhone models, including iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, XS Max, iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone SE.

Getting a good hang of the problem is key to discovering the cause and finding a possible solution. In that regard, we have first discussed what could be the possible reason why some iPhones don’t make or receive phone calls before learning the different ways to resolve the issue.

Why Won’t My iPhone make or receive phone calls?

The first reason why your iPhone won’t make or receive phone calls may be due to a software glitch. Even a minor software bug could prevent you from making or receiving phone calls on your iPhone.

Finally, there’s also a possibility the cell service is to blame. Check the upper left-hand of your iPhone’s display. Does it show “No Service” error?

If your iPhone is displayinga “No Service” error, that may explain the reason why it can’t send or receive text messages. Our first troubleshooting steps in this guide will help you diagnose and fix network related problems your iPhone is experiencing.

What to Do When Your iPhone Isn’t making or receiving calls

1. Verify that you’re in network

While relatively rare, dead spots still exist. You might encounter this when underground (in a basement or on mass transit) or in a rural area. Reception issues can also happen if you’re near another country’s border and your phone thinks you’re roaming.

Sometimes, if you tried to make a call from your iPhone, you’ll find that it’s not going through, you can’t hear the outgoing dial tone, or the call attempt ends abruptly. Your iPhone may also show an error message, saying “Call Failed.” If this is happening to you, there’s a high chance that you’re in a spot that has bad cellular reception — good enough that your device thinks it has network coverage, and you’ll see a bar or two of signal strength at the top of your phone — but bad enough that it can’t actually complete a connection. If you’re indoors, go outside, or otherwise try moving to a different location and dial again.

2. See if Airplane mode is on

Airplane mode turns off all wireless antennas, including mobile data, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. It’s common to turn it on accidentally (or at least it happens to me all the time!). Go ahead and check if this happened to you. Swipe down from the top right of your iPhone’s screen to bring up Control Center, or go to Settings and look for Airplane mode. There will be a toggle next to it. Tap on it to turn it off.

Furthermore, turning airplane mode on and off can reset settings and bring everything back to normal. If your device wasn’t in Airplane mode, Turn on Airplane mode, wait a few seconds and then tap Airplane mode again to re-enable the wireless networks. Now check if that gets your iPhone making or receiving calls again.

3. Restart your iPhone

Sometimes the most obvious fix is the most reliable one. If your iPhone won’t make or receive calls, one of the first things you should try is turning your phone on and off.

On iPhone X and later models: Hold down the volume up/down button and the side button until the power off slider shows up. After that, drag the power off slider to shut down your device. Then, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

On iPhone 8 and earlier models: Press and hold the side/top button and then drag the power off slider to turn off your device. After that, press and hold the side/top button to reboot your device.

Alternatively, you can go to Settings > General > Shut Down.

4. Force Restart Your iPhone

Force restart (also known as hard reset) flushes out the cache and deletes useless temporary files, which often works in fixing many software bugs, on your iPhone. Thus, you should give this nifty solution a chance if your iPhone is not making or receiving phone calls.

On iPhone 8 or later: Press the volume up button. Then, quickly press and release the volume down button. After that, press and hold the power button until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
On iPhone 7/ 7 Plus: Press and hold the power button and the volume down button simultaneously until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
On iPhone 6s/ 6 Plus or earlier: Hold down the power button and the home button at once until the screen goes black and the Apple logo appears.

5. Check Your Mobile Plan

As we’ve already pointed out, you need an active mobile plan with sufficient call credit or minutes to make a phone call using your iPhone’s phone app.

Therefore, check with your network to see if your mobile plan has expired or has insufficient credit. If this is the case, simply reload your account, switch to a more suitable plan if needed, and you should be able to start making calls again.

6. Take out and readjust your SIM card

If your iPhone still won’t make or receive calls even after trying the steps above, the problem might lie in an ill-positioned SIM card. Eject it using the SIM card removal tool and carefully reposition it in its tray. Be careful when inserting it back into your iPhone. Once you’re done, your iPhone should start making or receiving calls. If you see other SIM card issues, such as an “invalid SIM” or “no SIM card installed” error, it’s best to contact your network carrier and get a replacement SIM.

7. Make sure the number isn’t blocked

Is your iPhone not receiving calls from a specific phone number? If this is the case, it’s possible you’ve blocked that particular phone number. Here’s how to check for any blocked contacts on your iPhone:

Go to Settings.
Scroll down and tap on Phone.
Tap Blocked Contacts.
Scroll through the list of blocked numbers (if there are any) and look for the phone number you are not receiving calls from.

8. Check for a carrier settings updates

If you’ve tried everything up to this point in the article and you’re still not able to make or receive calls on your iPhone, you might want to update your carrier Settings, if you haven’t already. This will fix fix network related glitches on your iPhone.

Start by connecting your iPhone to Wi-Fi or enable cellular data. Then, follow the steps below to update carrier Settings on your iPhone:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Head into General.
Select About.
If an update is available, you’ll see a Carrier Settings Update prompt. Simply hit Update to begin the installation.

9. Check for iOS updates

While unlikely, it’s possible that an iOS update could fix your call problem. Check if there are any updates that need to be installed on your iPhone.

Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
Go into General.
Hit Software Update and install any available updates.

10. Reset network settings

If you tried all of the above but your iPhone isn’t making or receiving calls, it’s time to take a slightly more drastic step. Resetting your network settings. Remember that this step will erase all network settings, including saved Wi-Fi networks, paired Bluetooth devices, and so on.

Here is how to reset network settings on your iPhone:

Open Settings, then go into General.
Find Transfer or reset iPhone. Tap on it.
Select Reset.
From the list, tap Reset network settings.
You will be asked to enter your Passcode if you have one. Do so and tap Reset Network Settings to confirm.

11. Reset All Settings to fix iPhone not making or receiving calls issue

If you’ve tried everything else in this list and you still can’t make or receive calls on your iPhone, it might be time to reset all your phone’s settings.

Resetting iOS settings can be a pain, however, this might get your iPhone to start making and receiving calls again.

Here’s how to reset all settings on your iPhone:

Open the Settings app.
Select General.
Go into Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Tap Reset.
Hit Reset All Settings and follow instructions to complete the process.

12. Perform a factory reset

A hard reset can take care of issues that a simple restart doesn’t, but make sure you’ve backed up important data before doing so.

13. Contact your cell carrier

Have you paid your bill? Even if you have auto-pay set up, that can fail due to problems with your bank or a technical glitch. Your carrier should alert you to this, but it may be via snail mail. If there isn’t a payment issue, technical support can help you check for other problems and alert you to area outages.

You can always contact your carrier through social media, but sometimes a good old-fashioned call might address your concerns better.

Here are the customer support numbers of the major US providers:

Verizon Wireless: 800-922-0204
AT&T: 611 from an AT&T phone or 800-331-0500
T-Mobile: 611 from a T-Mobile phone or 1-877-746-0909 from another phone
U.S. Cellular: 611 from a US Cellular phone or 1-888-944-9400 from another phone

14. Get your iPhone checked out for hardware problems

Sometimes, iPhone not making or receiving calls is due to a faulty hardware. If you’ve recently dropped your iPhone, that could have damaged the antenna or other internal components. Take it to an Apple authorized repair shop to get it checked out.

If your device is brand new, on the other hand, but still experiencing consistent call issues, you might have a faulty unit. Contact Apple support or carrier you bought it from immediately. You will have to send in your device to get it checked out. Make sure to backup your iPhone before handing it in. If faulty, you should get a replacement unit in a reasonable amount of time in most cases.

This is how to fix iPhone not making or receiving calls issue

iPhone call issues may be brought about by problem with your cellular provider or your phone. To fix the problem, you should toggle Airplane mode, restart your phone, and reset your SIM card. You can also reset your iPhone’s network settings, but that will erase passwords.

Did we manage to help you solve your iPhone call issue? Let us know in the comments section below.

Tag: iPhone Troubleshooting

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iPhone not sending or receiving text messages? 13 Best Fixes

Wednesday February 8, 2023 9:09 pm EAT by Dave Johnson

Staying in touch with friends and family isn’t easy if your iPhone is not sending or receiving text messages!

Despite many modern alternatives, SMS messaging apps are still a standard tool. This is why we can understand how frustrating it can be when iPhone is not sending or receiving text messages. Thankfully, most problems can be solved with some troubleshooting, and we’re here to help with that.

There is nothing new about the problem of iPhone not sending or receiving text messages as it has existed on almost all iPhone models. The issue has affected many iPhone models, including iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, XS Max, iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone SE.

Getting a good hang of the problem is key to discovering the cause and finding a possible solution. Hence, we have first talked about what could be the possible reason why some iPhones don’t send or receive text messages before learning the different ways to resolve the issue.

Why Won’t My iPhone send or receive text messages?

The reason why your iPhone won’t send or receive text messages may be due to a software glitch. Even a minor software crash could prevent you from sending or receiving messages from your family and friends!

If your iPhone won’t send SMS but will make phone calls, you might need to check your mobile plan. To send a SMS using your iPhone’s Messages app, you need an active mobile plan with sufficient SMS credit or texts.

Some plans may state they include unlimited SMS, but the catch is that this feature may not apply to all types of phone numbers, or you can only use it during certain times of the day.

There’s also a possibility the cell service is to blame. Check the upper left-hand of your iPhone’s display. Does it show “No Service” error?

If your iPhone is displayinga “No Service” error, that may explain the reason why it can’t send or receive text messages. Our first troubleshooting steps below will help you diagnose and fix network related problems your iPhone is experiencing.

13 ways to fix iPhone not sending or receiving text messages issue

1. Check Your Phone Signal

While very uncommon, there is a chance your carrier network is having an outage. This could be why you have problems sending or receiving text messages on your iPhone. Some carriers may have status pages, and they often send announcements when there are any widespread issues.

Another way to check is by using an online tool like DownDetector.com. Just enter the website and search for your carrier name. This website collects user reports and lets you know if there is an outage. You can even check out their live maps, which show if any local outages are going on.

If your iPhone won’t send or receive text messages, there’s also a good chance that you’re in a location that has poor service — good enough that your phone thinks it has cellular service, and you’ll see a bar or two of signal strength at the top of your phone — but bad enough that it can’t actually enable you to send or receive text. If you’re indoors, go outside, or otherwise try to change your location and check if you can send or receive text messages.

2. Is Airplane mode on?

It may seem like a silly suggestion, but you have no idea how often we accidentally switch settings on and off. Maybe you inadvertently turned Airplane mode on, which will obviously stop your iPhone from sending or receiving text messages.

Here’s how to turn Airplane mode on/off:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Toggle off Airplane mode.

Furthermore, turning airplane mode on and off can reset settings and bring everything back to normal. If your iPhone wasn’t actually in Airplane mode, then go ahead and turn the feature on and off and see if that gets your iPhone sending or receiving text messages again.

3. Restart the device to fix iPhone messaging problems

This is a very common troubleshooting step. While it might sound a bit silly, it very often fixes iPhone messaging issues! We don’t know what kind of magic happens when you restart an iPhone, but it’s worth giving a try.

Here’s how to restart your iPhone:

Alternatively, follow the steps below to restart your iPhone:

Start the Settings app.
Go into General.
Tap Shut Down.
Wait for a few minutes then press the power button to turn your iPhone back on.

Images of iPhone models showing buttons

4. Force Restart Your iPhone

Force restart (also known as hard reset) flushes out the cache and deletes useless temporary files, which often works in fixing many software glitches, on your iPhone. Thus, you should give this nifty solution a try if your iPhone is not sending or receiving SMS.

On iPhone 8 or later: Press the volume up button. Then, quickly press and release the volume down button. After that, press and hold the power button until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
On iPhone 7/ 7 Plus: Press and hold the power button and the volume down button simultaneously until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
On iPhone 6s/ 6 Plus or earlier: Hold down the power button and the home button at once until the screen goes black and the Apple logo appears.

5. Check your mobile plan

Did you try to send a text message from your iPhone, but it’s not going through? If you see an error message saying “message send failure,” or “not delivered,” there is a good chance you forgot to pay your monthly cellphone bill. It happens to the vast majority of us. Additionally, automatic payments can sometimes be declined for no apparent reason. This may have happened to you.

As we’ve already pointed out, you need an active mobile plan with sufficient call credit or texts to send SMS using your iPhone’s Messages app.

6. Inspect the SIM card

Sometimes SIM card pins can get out of line. If your iPhone is not sending or receiving text messages, it’s always a good idea to check the SIM card and see if that gets your messaging app up and running again. Pull it out and reinsert it. Maybe try to clean it a bit? It won’t hurt to try!

Image shows SIM on left side of iPhone

7. Make sure the number isn’t blocked

Make sure that the number that’s trying to text you isn’t blocked. If it is, you will need to unblock it in order to receive texts messages from this number.

Here’s how to check for any blocked contacts on your iPhone:

Go to Settings.
Scroll down and tap on Phone.
Tap Blocked Contacts.

8. Check for a carrier settings updates

If your iPhone won’t send or receive text messages after trying the above solutions, go ahead and check if your carrier provider has network-related updates. First, connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi or enable cellular data. Then, follow the steps below:

Go to the Settings app.
Select General.
Tap About.
If an update is available, you’ll see a Carrier Settings Update prompt. Tap Update to begin the installation.

9. Check for an iOS software update

A common but effective fix for most tech issues is to simply update your device. Apple’s iOS software updates often come with bug fixes that fix minor software bugs. Sometimes, you can resolve your iPhone’s messages issues by simply keeping your iPhone up to date.

Here’s how to update your iPhone:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Select General.
Tap Software Update.
If an update is available, hit Download & Install.

10. Reset the network settings to fix iPhone messaging problems

Sometimes resetting the network settings may fix the problem of iPhone not sending or receiving text messages. This is because SMS messaging operates directly through your carrier network instead of mobile data. Resetting the network settings will get everything back to default and undo any discrepancies.

Here’s how to reset network settings:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Select General.
Go into Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Hit Reset.
Tap on Reset Network Settings.

11. Reset All Settings to fix iPhone not sending or receiving SMS issue

If your iPhone still can’t send or receive messages, it’s time to reset all the settings on your iPhone. This process can be time consuming especially if you have a lot of data on your device. Before trying this solution, please consider whether the problem could actually be with the network glitch in your location before spending more time resetting settings on your own device.

Here’s how to reset all settings on your iPhone:

Open the Settings app.
Select General.
Go into Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Tap Reset.
Hit Reset All Settings and follow instructions to complete the process.

12. Factory reset your iPhone

This is an extreme measure, but it fixes most issues, and it might get your iPhone sending and receiving text messages again. A factory data reset will clean your device and bring it back to how it was when you first turned it on. All your files and apps will be deleted, so make sure to back up all your important data before proceeding.

Here’s how to factory reset your iPhone:

Open the Settings app.
Select General.
Go into Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Hit Erase all Content & Settings.
Follow instructions to finish the process.

13. Seek professional help

If you’re still having issues sending or receiving texts messages on your iPhone, maybe it’s time you let a professional help you out. The best option is likely to go with your carrier. They will provide both network and hardware support, and also have access to their systems, which probably have more in-depth information that could help.

Here are the customer support numbers of the major US carriers:

Verizon Wireless: 800-922-0204
AT&T: 611 from an AT&T phone or 800-331-0500
T-Mobile: 611 from a T-Mobile phone or 1-877-746-0909 from another phone
U.S. Cellular: 611 from a US Cellular phone or 1-888-944-9400 from another phone

If the problem is not on your carrier side, your iPhone may be having a hardware problem. Contact Apple Support if the iPhone is still under warranty, or your insurance provider if you have one.

If you don’t have an official Apple store near you, there are also third-party options. You can seek help from any Apple authorized repair shop.

Your iPhone is sending and receiving text messages Again

If you’ve been stuck wondering why you can’t send or receive text messages on your iPhone, we hope this list of fixes and suggestions has helped you to fix the messaging problems you were experiencing. If the issue persists, it’s always a good idea to contact your mobile carrier or Apple Support for further help.

Tag: iPhone Troubleshooting

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30 Siri Apple Music Commands on HomePod: A Complete List

Tuesday February 7, 2023 9:34 pm EAT by Kevin Hollington

If you want to take charge of the music on your HomePod, we’ve broken down the most useful Siri commands to know below.

Whether you have a HomePod Mini or a second-gen HomePod, you can use Siri as a personal DJ to control song playback, queue up songs, find song facts, add songs to your library, play your favorite playlists, or even play something new.

Getting results on HomePod depends on using the right phrases, so here’s a look at some of the most important Siri commands that works with Apple Music.

Playback commands

"Hey Siri, play some music"
"Hey Siri, next/previous song"
"Hey Siri, pause this song"
“Hey Siri, resume playing”
"Hey Siri, repeat this song"
"Hey Siri, play this song from the start"
"Hey Siri, skip this song"
"Hey Siri, shuffle songs"
“Hey Siri, increase the volume by 10%”

Song commands

"Hey Siri, play [title] by [artist]"
"Hey Siri, play the newest song by [artist]"
"Hey Siri, play [radio station]"
"Hey Siri, play my favorites mix"
"Hey Siri, play something new"
"Hey Siri, play more like this"
Hey Siri, play the song that goes…." and insert the bit of lyrics you recall at the end
"Hey Siri, play something [mood]"
"Hey Siri, play the number one song right now"
"Hey Siri, play a live version of this song"
"Hey Siri, after this song, play [name] by [artist]"
"Hey Siri, play the top songs from 1991"
"Hey Siri, add this song to my [name] playlist"
"Hey Siri, add this song to my library"
"Hey Siri, love this song"
“Hey Siri, never play this song”

Song queries

"Hey Siri, who sings this song?"
"Hey Siri, who’s the drummer in this song?"
"Hey Siri, when was this song recorded?"
"Hey Siri, what album is this from?"
"Hey Siri, what song is this?" or "What’s this song?"

Have any useful ‌Siri‌ commands that work with ‌Apple Music‌ on HomePod that we should add to the list? drop a comment to let us know.

More about Siri and the HomePod

Tag: HomePod

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The 5 best MacBooks for teachers in 2025

Tuesday January 14, 2025 2:38 pm EAT by Dave Johnson

These are the best MacBooks for teachers based on our testing

Choosing the best MacBook for teachers isn’t easy. Though there are only two MacBook lines right now — the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro — each contains a range of models. But depending on your needs, there’s a MacBook that’s most suitable for you. We’re here to help you pick the best one.

We’ve compiled a list that includes everything from relatively affordable Apple laptops suitable for most teachers to more expensive machines for heavy workloads. While these MacBooks may serve different purposes, they all have excellent battery life – which is important when you are teaching all day.

All the Apple laptops included on this list also pack the powerful Apple M1 or M2 chips. And since even older MacBooks receive the latest macOS updates, the machines we’ve listed should last you for many years.

We combined firsthand experience with research to determine our picks for the best laptops for teachers. With that in mind, read on for our picks of the best MacBooks for teachers.

What’s the best MacBook for teachers now?

The MacBook Air M2 may hold the top spot in the best laptops and best MacBooks lists, but for this particular buying guide, the MacBook Air M1 reigns supreme. Though it runs on the older M1 chip, it’s still a solid laptop with more than enough power and energy efficiency to suit your needs. Plus, it’s the cheapest MacBook, making it ideal for teachers.

But if you can afford it, the MacBook Air M2 makes an excellent choice. It’s more powerful than its predecessor and boasts a redesigned chassis that’s akin to 2021’s MacBook Pros. Plus, it has MagSafe support for charging.

Speaking of power efficiency, no Apple laptop we’ve tested outdoes the MacBook Pro M2, which lasted well over 18 hours in our testing. It’s the longest-lasting battery of any laptop on the market.

If you need an Apple laptop with power to rival a workstation, you should go for the 2021 MacBook Pros. The MacBook Pro 14-inch and MacBook Pro 16-inch are the most pricy laptops on this list, but you get what you pay for as they deliver unprecedented power with outstanding performance thanks to their respective M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. Again, they’re expensive but they will definitely last you for a long time.

The best MacBooks for teachers you can buy today

1. MacBook Air with M1

The best MacBook Air for teachers on a budget

Specifications

CPU: M1 GPU: M1 (integrated) RAM: 8GB/16GB Size: 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches Display: 13.3 inches, 2560 x 1600 pixel Weight: 2.8 pounds Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB

Why it’s the best MacBook for teachers

The MacBook Air M1 is still one of the best laptops even two years after its release. Though it’s been somewhat overshadowed by its latest iteration, it’s still a great Apple laptop for teachers. This is especially true for teachers who are on budget since this machine is the most affordable MacBook on the market.

Apple’s decision to replace its Intel processors with its own Apple Silicon, starting with the M1 chip in the MacBook Air, was a blessing. This laptop’s 14 hours and 41 minutes of battery life in our battery test is incredible.

The MacBook Air’s webcam has also received a notable upgrade, as the M1 chip provides signal processing tricks to improve clarity and color accuracy. And, of course, the Magic Keyboard is still here, which provides a comfy typing experience. Dolby Atmos audio support makes some movies and TV shows sound even better than before.

Though the MacBook Air M2 is our top pick, the MacBook Air M1 is still a great Apple laptop for teachers.

Pros

Super-fast performance
Excellent battery life
Slim unibody aluminum chassis
Great speakers
Comfortable keyboard

Cons

Still has thick bezels
Few ports

2. Apple MacBook Air M2 (2022)

The best overall MacBook for most teachers

Specifications

CPU: M2 GPU: M2 (Integrated) RAM: 8GB/16GB/24GB Size: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches Display: 13.6-inches, 2560 x 1600 pixels Weight: 2.7 pounds Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB

Why it’s the best MacBook for teachers

The MacBook Air M2 is arguably the best overall MacBook for most teachers. And that’s not to say the previous MacBook Air M1 wasn’t great — it helped introduce the world to the power of Apple silicon. It’s just that cramming revolutionary performance in the same old chassis didn’t feel (or look) like a leap forward.

This new Air lives up to its name by shrinking down the design 20% by volume and measuring just 0.44 inches thick. And it’s pretty light at 2.7 pounds. And yet the M2 chip inside this laptop delivers power that outperforms most Windows machines by far. It’s a multitasking superstar, and if you ever need more graphics might you can upgrade to a 10-core GPU.

We are also astounded by the beautiful bright display on the new MacBook Air M2, which rivals the MacBook Pro M2, and it’s now bigger at 13.6 inches with slimmer bezels. Other notable features include a sharp 1080p webcam, MagSafe charging and four color options.

Lasting over 14 hours on our web surfing battery test, the MacBook Air M2 should last you most of the day on a charge. The only strikes against this system are the somewhat distracting notch and somewhat slow SSD.

Pros

Fast M2 performance
Bright, colorful display
1080p webcam
Comfortable keyboard
Very long battery life

Cons

Notch distracting
SSD somewhat slower than M1 Air

3. MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 (2022)

The best MacBook for teachers who want long battery life

Specifications

Why it’s the best MacBook for teachers

The 13-inch MacBook Pro 2022 was the very first M2-powered Apple laptop to hit the market. While the design hasn’t changed, it’s a solid laptop with epic battery life.

And based on our tests, the M2 chip delivers, offering performance that destroys many competing Windows laptops. The M2 also beats the M1 chip by a huge margin in various benchmarks. Plus, the new MacBook Pro 2022 delivers among the longest battery life we’ve seen from a modern laptop, surpassing 18 hours of runtime.

However, while this machine features a new slice of Apple silicon, the design shows its age. You get the same form factor, same ports, same display and same webcam. Meanwhile, the new MacBook Air 2022 offers a larger display with thinner bezels, a 1080p webcam and a thinner, lighter design.

It’s arguably easy to say the new MacBook Pro isn’t worthwhile and that it’s better to get the MacBook Air instead. There’s some element of truth to that sentiment, but it wouldn’t be wise to dismiss this product, which is still one of the best laptops for teachers who want extra power.

Pros

Blazing-fast performance
Excellent battery life
Great webcam
Sharp, vibrant display
Comfortable keyboard

Cons

Stagnant design
Few ports

4. MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021

The best MacBook for teachers who need more ports

Specifications

CPU: Apple M1 Pro/Apple M1 Max GPU: Apple M1 Pro (Integrated) RAM: 16GB/32GB/64GB Size: 14.1 x 9.7 x 0.6 inches Display: 16-inch, 3072 x 1920-resolution Weight: 4.3 pounds Storage: 512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB/8GB

Why it’s the best MacBook for teachers

The 14-inch MacBook Pro is the Mac to get if you have 1) the budget and 2) the need for more ports. Its Liquid Retina XDR display with a 120Hz refresh rate is stunning, so your favorite movies, and everything else, will simply look amazing. Oh, and the M1 Pro (and pricier M1 Max) chips deliver even more speed than ever before, while still enabling all-day battery life.

On top of that, Apple’s brought MagSafe charging, HDMI-out and a SD memory reader back to the MacBook Pro. This means you won’t need to bring a USB-C dongle to connect to a display or use external memory. That said, there’s still no USB-A, which is something we’re starting to realize Apple has no plans of bringing back.

Other notable changes include the death of the Touch Bar (which never proved its worth), which has been swapped out for physical F1-F12 keys. Apple’s also bumped up the internal webcam to 1080p, from 720p. The MacBook Pro definitely feels like a Pro-level laptop again.

Pros

Sleek, stunning design
Plenty of ports
Amazingly fast
Beautiful mini-LED display
Excellent battery life

Cons

No USB-A port
Expensive entry point

5. MacBook Pro 16-inch 2021

Best MacBook for teachers who want powerful processor

Specifications

CPU: M1 Pro (10-core CPU) | M1 Max (10-core CPU) GPU: 16-core to 32-core integrated GPU RAM: 16GB to 64GB Size: 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.6 inches Display: 16.2 inches; 3456×2244 pixelsC Weight: 4.7 pounds (M1 Pro) | 4.8 pounds (M1 Max) Storage: 512GB – 8TB

Why it’s the best MacBook for teachers

Want it all? Then you may want to consider the beastly 16-inch MacBook Pro, which features either M1 Pro or M1 Max chips, that deliver shocking amounts of performance. An upgrade over the previous intel-based model, this laptop features thinner bezels to give more space to the gorgeous mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR displays. Once you get over the notch, you’ll be wowed by its contrast and smoothness, especially with its 120Hz refresh rate.

This model’s battery life lasts up to 21 hours, which is incredible for a laptop of this size and compute power. It has a a ton of ports—including three Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C ports, an HDMI port an SDXC card slot and a MagSafe 3 port—so you won’t be stuck using an adapter or hub to plug in your camera and other external devices, either. On top of that, you’ve got a 1080p webcam, a trio of improved microphones and a stellar six-point speaker system.

Pros

Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display
Incredible performance trounces competition
Apple’s design at its best
Incredibly long battery life

Cons

Display still isn’t 4K
No Touch Bar
Expensive with M1 Max

How to choose the best teaching laptop for you

Performance: If you know you don’t push your laptops to their limits, get the MacBook Air M1 and get the entry-level model. Its 8-core M1 chip and 8GB of RAM are going to surprise you with their speed. Upgrade that RAM to 16GB if you keep a lot of applications open at once. Teachers who work with more demanding applications will either want to get the M1 MacBook Pro (check with your favorite applications to see if they’re updated for Apple silicon) with 16GB of RAM, or consider getting an Intel-based MacBook with 32GB of RAM. Storage is fast up and down the lineup. The new M2-powered MacBooks provide somewhat of a middle-ground between the original M1 MacBooks and the M1 Pro and M1 Max laptops.

Graphics and gaming: For M1-based MacBooks, you either get a 7-core or 8-core integrated GPU, and we’ve seen amazing results on the 8-core version. The M2-powered MacBook Pro comes with 10 GPU cores as standard. So upgrade if you want to game on your Mac. Yes, you can play serious video games on the Mac now. It’s impressive.

Size and weight: The 13-inch MacBook Air and Pro are only distinguished by the Air’s wedge shape and slightly lighter weight. The MacBook Pro (3.0 pounds for M1, 3.1 pounds for Intel) is 0.2 – 0.3 pounds heavier than the 2.8-pound MacBook Air. Unsurprisingly, the 16-inch MacBook Pro — which is a heavier 4.3 pounds — is best for teachers who either don’t mind the heft in their bag or don’t move around as often.

Battery life: The 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro is the longest-lasting MacBook there is, rocking battery test time of 18:20. This beats the M1 Air (14:41) and the 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021 (15:31) by a solid margin.

How we test the best teacher’s laptops

To find the best MacBook for teachers, we run each through our gauntlet of benchmarks and real-world tests, and then use them as our main computer for as well. Only then are we comfortable recommending them (or not) for your purchase.

No matter which Apple MacBook you buy, be sure to check out these MacBook Ventura tips and tricks to make the most of your laptop.

Tag: Mac Products

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