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The Complete Guide to Every iOS 27 Feature

How to update iPadOS

by Dave Johnson

When you update to the latest version of iPadOS, your data and settings remain unchanged. You can also automatically install system file updates to improve the features of your iPad without updating iPadOS.

Before you update, you can set up iPad to back up automatically, or back up your iPad manually. Updates can install automatically overnight while iPad is charging and connected to Wi-Fi, and you’re notified before an update is installed. You can also update iPad manually, or with your computer.

Update iPad automatically

If you didn’t turn on automatic updates when you first set up your iPad, do the following:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap General and tap Software Update. Tap Automatic Updates.
  3. Turn on one of the following:
    • Automatically Install: When an update is available, iPad downloads and installs it overnight while charging and connected to Wi-Fi. You’re notified before an update is installed.
    • Automatically Download: Downloads an update automatically when your iPad is connected to Wi-Fi, charging, and locked so you can install the update later. To see this option, first turn off Automatically Install.

Update iPad manually

At any time, you can check for and install software updates.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap General, then tap Software Update.

    The currently installed version of iPadOS is shown, and whether an update is available.

  3. If an update is available, tap Download and Install, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Update using your computer

  1. Connect iPad and your computer with a cable.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • On a Mac (macOS 10.15 or later): In the Finder sidebar, select your iPad. Then click General at the top of the window.
    • On a Mac (macOS 10.14 or earlier) or a Windows device: Open the iTunes app, click the button resembling an iPad near the top left of the iTunes window, and then click Summary.
  3. Click Check for Update.
  4. To install an available update, click Update.

Automatically update system files only

Without updating iPadOS, iPad can automatically download and install system file updates that improve iPad features.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap General and tap Software Update. Tap Automatic Updates.
  3. Under iPadOS Updates, turn off Automatically Install.
  4. Under System Files, turn on Automatically Install.
Tag: iPadOS
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iPhone vision accessibility features: VoiceOver, Magnifier, Zoom, and more

by Chris Smith

With built-in accessibility features for vision on iPhone, you can make it easier to see what’s on the screen, or you can hear what’s on the screen spoken out loud. You can even use your iPhone as a magnifying glass, and hold it up to get descriptions of what’s around you if you can’t see it.

The built-in screen reader, VoiceOver, speaks what’s on the screen and lets you navigate with gestures, a connected keyboard, or a braille display. And even when VoiceOver is off, iPhone can read all the text on the screen, or what you’re typing, out loud.

To explore accessibility features for vision, go to Settings > Accessibility. Vision features are at the top.

Hear what’s on the screen

Use Braille Access with a braille display

Turn iPhone into a braille notetaker that can launch apps, perform calculations, open Braille Ready Format (BRF) files, transcribe conversations, and more. Use Braille Access with a braille display

Read or listen to text in apps

Customize text appearance for any app with Accessibility Reader. You can also listen to spoken text. Read or listen to text in apps with Accessibility Reader

Control iPhone with VoiceOver

Have the built-in screen reader speak what’s on the screen. Navigate your iPhone with gestures, or with a connected keyboard or braille display. Turn on and practice VoiceOver

Speak onscreen text

Even when VoiceOver is off, have iPhone read all text on the screen, what you’re typing, and more. Hear iPhone speak the screen, selected text, and typing feedback

Hear descriptions of video

Get spoken descriptions of visual content in movies, TV shows, and other media, when available. Hear audio descriptions for video content

iPhone can also play a sound effect when it’s turned on and off.

Quick tip: Siri and Dictation let you complete common tasks and enter text using just your voice.

Get information about your surroundings

Point at text and hear it spoken

Have iPhone read text on household appliances, ATMs, and more. Read aloud text and labels around you

Hear about your surroundings

Hold up iPhone and get information about what your camera is pointed at, including when people, doors, or text are detected. Get live descriptions of visual information around you

Get a closer look

Use iPhone as a magnifying glass to zoom in on items around you. Magnify and examine objects around you

Make text and other onscreen content larger

Zoom in

Enlarge what you’re viewing—the entire screen or one part of it. Zoom in on the iPhone screen

Make text bigger and bolder

Adjust the reading size for text across iPhone apps and system features. Make text easier to read

Enlarge text as you type

Display a separate window with a larger version of the text that you’re typing. Use Hover Typing

With a mouse or trackpad connected to iPhone, you can also make the pointer easier to see, or show a larger version of text when you hover over it.

View what’s on the screen more comfortably

Reduce onscreen motion

Pause animated images, and slow down the motion of interface elements. Or dim your display when media you’re viewing depicts strobe or flashing lights. Stop or reduce onscreen motion

Use iPhone more comfortably in a car

Get animated dots on the edges of the screen that may help reduce motion sickness. Use iPhone more comfortably while riding as a passenger in a vehicle

Use Dark Mode

If you prefer light text on a dark background, choose a dark color scheme for the iPhone interface. Turn Dark Mode on or off

Adjust the display colors

Differentiate content on the screen more easily by inverting colors, applying a color filter, and more. Change display colors on iPhone to make it easier to see what’s onscreen

Quick tip: Use Control Center or the click of a button to control your go-to accessibility features and settings.

Tag: accessibility
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How to export Safari data to another browser on iPad

by Stacey Butler

You can export selected data from Safari, and then import that data into another browser on iPad. If you created profiles in Safari, you can export data from one profile or all of them, and it’s saved as a .zip file in your Downloads folder.

You can export the following data from Safari:

  • Bookmarks
  • History
  • Extensions
  • Credit cards
  • Passwords

WARNING: Your exported data is not encrypted and is visible to anyone who can access the file. After you import the data into another browser, delete the file you exported.

The Export Browsing Data screen, showing the data you can export from Safari to another browser.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Apps, then tap Safari.
  3. Below History and Website Data, tap Export.
  4. Select the data to export.

    If you created profiles for your browsing in Safari, choose the profile you want to export data from, or choose All Profiles.

    Each profile has its own history and extensions data. The data for bookmarks, credit cards, and passwords is the same across all profiles.

  5. Tap Save to Downloads.
  6. Tap Done.

See also

Tag: Safari
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How to import data from another browser into Safari on iPad

by Stacey Butler

You can import data into Safari that you exported from another browser. Browser data can include bookmarks, history, extensions, credit cards, and passwords.

The data can come as a ZIP file, and there might be individual files for each piece of browsing data, like bookmarks or history. After you import it, a description of the browser data appears, and any passwords go into the Passwords app. For security, you’ll want to delete the file or folder you imported, since it may include unencrypted data.

The Import Browsing Data screen, showing the data from another browser to be imported into Safari.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Apps, then tap Safari.
  3. Below History and Website Data, tap Import.
  4. Tap Choose File and then choose a file (or a ZIP file of files) to import.

    Individual files might be available for each piece of browsing data, such as bookmarks or history.

  5. Tap Import to Safari.

    A description of the browser data you imported appears.

    Note: Any passwords you import go into the Passwords app.

  6. Tap Done.

    WARNING: For security, delete the file or folder you imported. It may include unencrypted data and could be visible to anyone who can access it.

See also

Tag: Safari
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How to sell, give away, or trade in your iPad

by Kevin Hollington

Getting iPad ready for a new owner takes a backup, signing out of iCloud, and erasing all content and settings, which also removes Activation Lock if you turned on Find My. Before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPad, be sure to perform the following tasks:

  • Back up iPad. If you replace one iPad with another, you can use the setup assistant to restore the backup to your new iPad.

    If you’re replacing your iPad with another one you have on hand, you can use extra free storage in iCloud to move your apps and data from one iPad to another. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Get Started, then follow the onscreen instructions.

  • Sign out of iCloud, the iTunes Store, and the App Store. Go to Settings > [your name], scroll down, tap Sign Out, then follow the onscreen instructions.
  • Erase all content and settings that contain personal information. If you previously turned on Find My for your iPad, Activation Lock is removed when you erase iPad, making it ready for a new owner.
Tag: iPadOS
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How to locate a device in Find My on iPad

by Abigail Shilets

Use the Find My app to locate and play a sound on a missing iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, or Beats headphones (supported models). In order to locate a device, you must turn on Find My [device] before it’s lost.

If the device is online, you see its location on a map. AirPods and supported Beats headphones can be located when they’re near your device and connected to Bluetooth®.

Note: To see how far away your devices are from you, turn on Precise Location for the Find My app. For details, see our guide, Control the location information you share. And if you lose your iPad without access to the Find My app, Find Devices on iCloud.com can still locate your device or play a sound on it.

The Find My screen open to the Devices list. The devices listed include Danny’s iPad, Danny’s iPhone, Danny’s Apple Watch, and Danny’s AirPods Pro. Their locations are shown on a map near Santa Cruz.

About locating a device

  • You can use Find My on your iPad to see the location of your device on a map. If the device is online, you see its location, and it plays a sound to help you find it. If the device is offline, you see its location, but it doesn’t play a sound.
  • For AirPods and supported Beats headphones, you can locate them when they’re near your device and connected to Bluetooth®. For supported AirPods, you can also see their location via the Find My network for up to 24 hours after they last connected to your device, even if they’re not nearby.
  • For iPhone Wallet with MagSafe and Find My support, you can see its location when it’s attached to your iPhone and its last known location if it detaches from your iPhone.

See the location of your device on a map

Your device’s current or last known location appears in the Find My app.

Tap Devices at the bottom-left side of the screen, then tap the name of the device you want to locate.

  • If the device can be located: It appears on the map so you can see where it is.
  • If the device can’t be located: You see “No location found” below the device’s name. Below Notifications, turn on Notify When Found. You receive a notification when it’s located.

    Important: Make sure you allow notifications for the Find My app. See Change notification settings on iPad.

Play a sound on your device

  1. Open the Find My app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Devices at the bottom-left side of the screen. Tap the name of the device you want to play a sound on.
  3. Tap Play.

    • If the device is online: A sound starts after a short delay and gradually increases in volume. Then plays for about two minutes. If applicable, a Find My [device] alert appears on the device’s screen.

      A confirmation email is also sent to your Apple Account email address.

    • If the device is offline: You see Sound Pending. The sound plays the next time the device connects to a Wi-Fi or cellular network. For AirPods and Beats headphones, you receive a notification the next time your device is in range of your iPhone or iPad.

Separated AirPods give you additional options to play a sound.

Stop playing a sound on a device

Once you find your device, do one of the following to turn off the sound before it stops automatically:

  • iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: Press the power button or a volume button, or flip the Ring/Silent switch. If the device is locked, you can also unlock it, or swipe to dismiss the Find My [device] alert. If the device is unlocked, you can also tap OK in the Find My [device] alert.
  • Apple Watch: Tap Dismiss in the Find My Watch alert, or press the Digital Crown or side button.
  • Mac: Click OK in the Find My Mac alert.
  • AirPods or Beats headphones: Tap Stop in Find My.

Get directions to a device

The Maps app gives directions to a device’s location.

  1. Open the Find My app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Devices at the bottom-left side of the screen. Tap the name of the device you want to get directions to.
  3. Tap Directions to open Maps.

To get there with Maps, see our article, Get directions.

Locate or play a sound on a friend’s device

If your friend loses a device, they can sign in to their Apple Account at Find Devices on iCloud.com and locate it or play a sound on it.

Find My can also help you locate a family member’s missing device if you set up Family Sharing.

Locate your Apple Pencil Pro

If your Apple Pencil Pro goes missing, the Find My app on your iPad or iPhone can locate it.

  1. Open the Find My app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Devices at the bottom of the screen. Then tap Apple Pencil Pro.
  3. Follow the prompts to locate your Apple Pencil Pro.

    The onscreen circle grows and the text changes from “far,” to “near,” to “within reach” as you get closer.

Note: You can add Apple Pencil Pro to Find My for only one Apple Account at a time.

See also

Tag: Find My
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How to find group photos and videos on iPhone

by Moses Johnson

The Photos app recognizes groups of people and pets who often appear together in pictures and videos, and sorts them into group collections. For example, if you have many pictures of your family or a group of friends, Photos creates a collection for each of those groups.

You’ll find them in People & Pets, below Groups. From there, you can view pictures of a group with additional people, or share the photos of the group.

Groups is open in the People & Pets section of the Photos app, showing a list of collections labeled with the names of the people included in the group.

Find group photos and videos

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections, then tap People & Pets.
  3. Swipe the collections below Groups to browse, or tap Groups to view them all.
  4. Tap a group to view all the photos and videos in that collection.

Quick tip: Tap the Sort and Filter button and tap View Options, then tap Other People to see pictures of this group with additional people.

To share the photos of the group, tap the More button, then tap Share.

Create a group collection

A group collection you create can include any combination of people and pets from the People & Pets collection.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections, then tap People & Pets.
  3. To the right of Groups, tap the Add button. Then tap Create New Group.
  4. Select the people and pets you want in the group. Tap the Done button.
  5. Optionally, you can enter a new name for the group or add more people and pets to the group.
  6. Tap Create.

Edit or delete a group collection

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections, then tap People & Pets.
  3. Below Groups, touch and hold the group you want to edit. Then do any of the following:
    • Rename the group: Tap Edit Name and People, enter a new name, and then tap the Done button.
    • Remove someone from the group: Tap Edit Name and People. Then tap the Remove button at the top-left corner of their picture.
    • Add someone to the group: Tap Edit Name and People. Then tap Add People & Pets. Select who you want to add. Then tap the Done button.
    • Edit the group photo: Tap Edit Name and People and then tap the photo icon in the bottom-right corner of the current group photo. Select a new photo and then tap the Done button.
    • Delete the group: Tap Delete Group.

Change the order of group collections

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections, tap People & Pets, and tap Groups.
  3. Touch and hold a group, then drag it to a new position.
Tag: Photos
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How to subscribe to Apple Creator Studio in Freeform on iPad

by Chris Smith

You can sign up for a monthly or annual subscription to Apple Creator Studio using your Apple Account. To begin your free trial, you just sign up, and you can cancel your subscription at any time. You can also share your subscription with up to five other family members.

In Freeform, you can subscribe when you use an Apple Creator Studio feature, such as Auto Crop, or remove the watermarks from a premium image. If you cancel, premium content and features stay available until your billing period ends.

Available with subscription: These features require a subscription to Apple Creator Studio.

Subscribe to Apple Creator Studio from Freeform

  1. Go to the Freeform app on your iPad.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • Use an Apple Creator Studio feature, such as Auto Crop.
    • Tap the Content Hub button, tap a premium image to add it to the board, then tap Remove Watermarks.

      Note: If you currently subscribe to Apple Creator Studio but still see an option to subscribe, scroll down, click Already Subscribed? and follow the onscreen instructions.

  3. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Cancel or change your Apple Creator Studio subscription

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap your name, tap Subscriptions, and tap Apple Creator Studio.

    Note: If you don’t see your subscriptions, make sure you’re signed in to your Apple Account in the App Store.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • Modify your subscription plan: Tap See All Plans and select a new plan. Tap Subscribe.
    • Cancel your subscription: Tap Cancel Subscription and then follow the onscreen instructions.

Even after you cancel your subscription, you still have full access to premium content and features until your billing period ends.

Since some Apple Creator Studio apps use iCloud to sync projects, documents, and content between devices, it’s best to subscribe to Apple Creator Studio with the same Apple Account you use for iCloud.

See also

Tag: Freeform
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How to add a reaction to a collaborative playlist in Music on iPad

by Kevin Hollington

If you subscribe to Apple Music and you join a collaborative playlist, you can react to songs in the playlist with emoji. You just choose a reaction on the Now Playing screen. That might be a thumbs up emoji, for example, or you can find a specific emoji you’d rather use.

Note: Apple Music isn’t available in all countries or regions.

  1. Open the Music app on your iPad.
  2. Tap a collaborative playlist. Tap the MiniPlayer to open the Now Playing screen.
  3. Tap the Reaction button and choose a reaction (for example, a thumbs up emoji) or tap the Add button to find a specific emoji.

    The Now Playing screen with the Reactions button showing several emoji and an Add button that you can click to find more emoji.

See also

Tag: Music
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How to search for or rename a recording in Voice Memos on iPad

by Moses Johnson

You can search for recordings or rename any recording in Voice Memos. A new recording is first named New Recording or the name of your location, and you can even search a transcript for a word or phrase.

Here’s how to search for or rename a recording in Voice Memos on iPad.

Search for a recording

  1. Go to the Voice Memos app on your iPad.
  2. Swipe down from the middle of the list of recordings to reveal the search field.
  3. Tap the search field, enter part or all of the recording name, and then tap Search.

Note: This field can also search transcripts for a word or phrase you enter.

Rename a recording

A recording is initially saved with the name New Recording or the name of your location, if Location Services is turned on in Settings > Privacy & Security.

To change the name, tap the recording, tap the name, then type a new one.

See also

Tag: Voice Memos
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