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8 iPhone Tips for New & Experienced Users

by GeeksModo Staff

Your iPhone is packed with more features than you could imagine. Learning about the functions you didn’t know about can make your life so much easier.

The main goal of Apple is to create its devices and operating systems in a way that would be very simple, intuitive, and, most importantly, functional. However, not all of the features that iPhones can provide are as simplistic as one might think; there are complex ones as well.

Even if you have owned an iPhone for years now, it is hardly possible that you know all of its features. Therefore, in today’s article, we will share 8 iPhone tips for new and experienced users.

Tip #1: Transfer MP3 Files to Your iPhone

If you want to add mp3 to iphone, it will be difficult to do so because the main format for audio files on iPhones is AAC, which is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Looking from one point of view, it is hard to transfer needed files in MP3 format, but on the other hand, ACC format provides better sound quality.

To add mp3 files to your iPhone, go to the Music app, connect your iPhone to the computer, find your phone in the sidebar, then go to the Library, and select the song you would like to transfer. Drag those items onto your iPhone and sync your iPhone afterward.

Tip #2: Use the Measure App

If you use the Measure app, you can find a spirit level feature inside of it. If you are a handy person and enjoy a DIY project now and then, a spirit level will be useful.

To use the spirit level function, open the app, and choose the Level option. Now, all you need to do is place your iPhone on a surface that you want to measure.

Tip #3: Answer Calls & Text With Other Apple Devices

Not having your phone with you when somebody is calling you might be irritating sometimes because when you finally reach your phone, the person that was calling you has already hung up.

To avoid that from happening, you can answer your calls and texts on other Apple devices, such as iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches. But first, you need to enable this feature by going to the Settings app, choose Phone or Messages, and then choose to allow calls or texts on other devices.

Tip #4: Add Custom Ringtones

If you would like to know who is calling you before you have a chance to glance at your iPhone’s screen, you can add customized ringtones to your contacts.

Unfortunately, you can only choose from the original ringtones that are on your phone and can not use your favorite song, but there is still plenty to choose from. To do so, go to the Contacts, choose the contact you want to customize, click Edit, and choose the ringtone you like.

Tip #5: Track Your Movement

At the moment you activate your iPhone, it starts to track your movement. Thus, if you need to remember where you have been on a certain date and certain tap, you can use this feature to help you out with that.

To view your movement, open the Settings app, and go to the Privacy option. Now, open the Location settings, choose System Services, and you will be able to access your Frequent Locations.

Tip #6: Keep Your Audio Messages

You might have noticed that if you send an audio message via iMessage on your phone, it disappears completely after two minutes. However, if it contains some important information, you might want to access it later.

To prevent your audio messages from disappearing, open the Settings app, then go to Messages; under the option Audio Messages, tap Expire and choose Never.

Tip #7: Turn Your iPhone Into a Magnifying Glass

The Magnifying glass is another tool that your iPhone can easily replace. If you are long-sighted or simply want to view a very small object, this tool can come in handy.

To open the Magnifying glass tool, launch the Setting app, tap the Accessibility option, and then open the Magnifier. Now, you can drag it from the App Library once it’s enabled.

Tip #8: Use iPhone as Activity Tracker

If you carry your iPhone everywhere, you can use it as your activity tracker, and you will not even need a smart bracelet. Opening the Health app will show you how many steps you have taken today or on the other days of the week.

More to it, if you own an Apple Watch, it will help you track this data even more precisely because the data collected on your Apple Watch is automatically synced to the data on your iPhone.

Tag: iPhone Tips
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iPhone & iPad: how to protect yourself from hackers

by GeeksModo Staff

Apple products enjoy a solid reputation as some of the most reliable devices on the planet. Each year when a new version is released, thousands of people line the streets, sleep outside the Apple store, and try to get in first to buy the glorious new iOS device. iPads and iPhones are common in most households now, serving many uses – streaming music or video, FaceTiming family, or iMessaging.

The one thing you want to make sure you’re doing is keeping your iPhone or iPad safe from online hackers. Because nowadays, there’s more cybercrime, with these and other types of devices being targeted, especially as they’re all connected to the internet. That’s why we’ve put together some top security tips to help protect yourself from hackers.

First, some alarming stats which show just why you should take notice:

  • According to Security magazine, there is a hacker attack every 39 seconds
  • Cybercrime is more profitable than the illicit drugs trade, says Cybersecurity Ventures
  • Hackers manage to steal 75 records every second, according to Breach Level Index

So, with that in mind, here are ways to protect yourself and your iPhone and iPad.

Keep up to date

It’s easy to let this fall by the wayside, but it’s vital that you make sure your iOS operating system is up to date, and not just to stop it from slowing down. You’ll often get a reminder that your OS needs to be updated, but so many people ignore this. Especially if they don’t have the right amount of battery or enough space on their cell phone. Hackers will find exploits in older versions and can use that to hack your iPhone or iPad. By updating it, you can use Apple’s latest security releases to give you some extra protection. If you don’t update straight away, simply go to the Settings, and under General, you’ll find the Software Update. You can also turn on automatic updates for next time.

Don’t lose it

It sounds simple, but you wouldn’t believe the number of people that lose their iPhones. It’s one of the worst feelings, and then the fear overcomes you as you think about all those precious photos and messages that you hadn’t backed up to the cloud. The first step then is to make sure you don’t put it in silly places, like loose in a bag. But more importantly, make sure you activate Find My iPhone. The last thing you want is for someone to find your lost phone and then hack into it. By activating this, you can track your phone and hopefully find it before anyone else does. If this isn’t possible, you can still remotely wipe it to make sure no hackers can get any of your details.

Stay on top of current trends

It’s always worth knowing about the latest cybersecurity trends and news stories. By being aware of what’s currently going on, you’ll be well placed to take the right measures if and when the time comes. As hackers are always changing their techniques, you never know what could happen next. All you need to do is read the latest cybersecurity news to find out everything you need to know in the world of online privacy and cybercrime.

Passcode protected

When you created your passcode for your iPhone and iPad, did you use one that you use for everything else? If you have both devices, have you used the same passcode for both? And when was the last time you changed it? There are hackers out there who can find out a simple 4-digit code – and we hope you haven’t got 1234 or 0000 as your passcode? What you need to do to protect yourself from hackers is have a long password that’s made up of numbers and letters. It’s also worth changing it every so often, just to keep any hacker off the scent.

Don’t lose your photos

Okay, it’s not necessarily you losing your photos, but rather hackers getting them from you. You probably remembered the massive celebrity leak a few years ago. While iPhones and iPads are notoriously safe devices, there are always extra steps you can take to keep your photos safe. First of all, make sure any embarrassing ones are deleted or stored safely offline somewhere. Then make sure you’ve turned off Photo Sharing and iCloud backup – if you want to send or back up photos, do it manually in a safe, controlled way. As so many of us use iPhones as a camera, we have lots of photos that we want to keep private. Be sensible and make sure you keep your privacy too.

Bye-bye Siri

It’s always fun to ask Siri stupid questions, but more often than not, Siri’s a hindrance rather than a help. Hackers are sophisticated and can also use Siri to get personal data, so do away with the nonsense and just disable the little iOS robot voice.

These are some of the basic steps you can do to ensure your iPhone and iPad is kept safe away from hackers. They’re pretty easy to do, too, meaning you can carry on using your device while keeping these in mind and staying safe.

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iPhoneGeeks: New blog for everything apple

by GeeksModo Staff

Readers interested in learning more about their Apple devices should take note of iPhoneGeeks, an emerging blog covering all things apple.

Find out more about iPhoneGeeks, and its founder Moses Gitari, below.

According to Gitari, “iphonegeeks.com focuses on producing and delivering authentic and unbiased content. for Apple fans, providing them with the latest information regarding Apple products and exciting trends in technology. We troubleshoot iOS problems and reveal the latest rumors on Apple products. Technologies are in our DNA, and that’s why discovering new things and give a hands-on to that become our habits.” His team of professional bloggers cover Apple news from an accessibility viewpoint, as well as more mainstream news that extends beyond the realm of accessibility.

iPhoneGeeks Helps thousands of Apple fans solve problems with their iPhones, iPads , Macs and other devices through easy to understand tutorials and its support community lead by experts.

“Moreover, according to Gitari, ” we teach people how to better use their Apple devices and apps, and review the latest product releases.”

Gitari began the blog last year amid numerous personal and professional doubts. He has spoken candidly about his struggles with writing and impostor syndrome, and with finding his own niche in the increasingly crowded tech blogging space. His passion and that of his team for Apple products, and his deep-seeded love of teaching and personal improvement, help him to continue the work that he loves. “I learn things better through teaching them in my blog posts, as teaching is the best way to learn,” Says gitari.

iPhoneGeeks writers pride themselves on their professionalism and informative writing. According to Gitari, “The iPhoneGeeks team shares an outstanding passion for innovative gadgets, common interests in exploring Apple devices, and the unmatched desire to play with the latest gadgetry.” This enables them to provide premium content, which has been refined through countless hours of writing and testing.

Currently, iPhoneGeeks offers a mix of factual instruction pieces, just like my own articles, and opinion pieces about the state of Apple in 2021.

For more on iPhoneGeeks, check out their mac, iphone, iPad and apple watch content.

Source: iPhoneGeeks.

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10 Best iOS Apps to Make Students’ Life Easier

by Dave Johnson

Very soon, schoolchildren and students will go to classes, where they will communicate with each other and teachers, study sciences and explore the world, as hundreds of thousands of other people did in the past. The new generation also has something special – iOS devices, which can also simplify the learning process and make it much more attractive. Read on to learn about 10 best iOS apps for college students to make your life easier.

If there is one thing for certain about College students, is that they love anything that can make their life easier and more efficient. For a long time, iOS apps were only for fun and games, but now there are tons of iOS apps that will make your College life a breeze.

Many of these apps are available for both iPhones and iPads and they have all proven to be some of the most useful apps for College students out there. Check them out!

Best iOS apps for college students

Without further ado, here are some of the best iPhone apps for college students:

1. iStudiez Pro – the perfect diary.

The iStudiez Pro app has been in the App Store for about five years, there have been many updates throughout the entire time, but the original idea remained unchanged – to create the perfect digital diary. The developers have achieved this and made the program suitable for both school and university. The user can enter the schedule of classes, divide them into categories (lectures, practical work, laboratory), enter homework, fill out grades, maintain a list of teachers – everything that can be useful in organizing training. The program must be able to integrate entries from calendars into the schedule, and also allows you to share the schedule with friends in the form of a public calendar (it can be connected to any application with support for external calendars).

2. Translator – foreign languages don’t scare.

The modern learning process requires consuming materials that are not available in the native language. Many applications help to cope with translation, but the best can be called online services with constantly updated databases, especially the program from Google. The application stands out from the latter with such a useful function as an extension that allows you to translate sites in Safari – on a page with an unfamiliar language, click “Share”, send the text to Google. Done. Google translate can work without an Internet connection, for this, you must first download the language packs.

3. EssayShark. Save students in the fight against deadlines.

Whether you are a high school, college, or university student and do not have time to hand over the work, or do not understand any subject, this app will become an indispensable assistant.

4. Quizlet is the perfect way to memorize and review material.

The Quizlet service is designed to study materials using flashcards: on the one hand, a term is written, on the other, a definition, you can also study language pairs. Also, the program supports pictures, which will be convenient when studying biology and geography. The learning process is built classically for cards: we choose which side to show, and we name the turn ourselves. Several game modes speed up the learning and self-test process, and language pairs are fun to practice in a mode where the user must accurately specify the translation.

5. Dictionaries – when a translation is not enough.

People who have been studying foreign languages for more or less a long time know that the best way to learn new words is not to translate them into their native language, but to interpret the word. The best in this direction (at least for the English language) is the Dictionary.com service. The official app is distributed free of charge, but additional pieces (idioms, grammar, hints) will have to be purchased inside the program.

6. Google Drive – all files are always at hand.

Cloud storage allows you not to think about where this or that file is saved because all of them are always at hand, you just need an Internet connection. The solution from the search giant attracts convenient software, an easy way to share access to a document via a link and the ability to co-edit files, applications for auto-syncing data from laptops and PCs to the cloud and vice versa, as well as as much as 15 GB of free space.

7. TextGrabber – digitize paper.

ABBYY is known to many users for its language products. At the same time, the company’s portfolio includes other software, including TextGrabber, which can read text from a photo and transfer it to a text editor. Or you can use the cloud storage for scanned materials and also send them to the translator. TextGrabber costs money.

8. Apple Books – textbooks and books on one shelf.

The standard Apple Books application, which is installed in all iPads and iPhones, does an excellent job with books and textbooks, as well as PDF, and not only commonplace text products, but also interactive books. Marks in books, bookmarks, a table of contents, beautiful animation, switching fonts, and setting the color of the background – the necessary minimum of possibilities are available, while each function works with a bang.

9. iTunes U – Free Courses from Top Universities in the World.

Every parent wants his child to study at Harvard, Yale, or at least Oxford, but the cost of education in such institutions is prohibitive. However, their goal is not to capitalize on the exclusivity of materials, but to teach students to think. And therefore they offer many of their courses free. iTunes U is a good aggregator for such materials. Audio and video lectures, notes, additional materials – all this the user will find in a free application from Apple.

10. Photomath – Take a picture of an example and get a solution.

Use your iPhone or iPad camera to take a picture of an example or equation. photomath will recognize it and solve it. The program features allow you to recognize not only printed but also handwritten text, as well as make edits to scanned formulas and equations. PhotoMath can build graphs, solve linear, square, trigonometric equations, and easily solves all the exercises with roots, modules, powers, fractions, integrals, factorials, matrices, and polynomials.

Your best iOS apps for college students?

I use many of these apps regularly. If you are struggling with writing tasks, this app can offer you the support you need. Have we missed some iPhone apps for college students here? Let us know in the comment section below!

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How Can Independent Apple Repair Shops Keep Up with the Brand?

by GeeksModo Staff
How Can Independent Apple Repair Shops Keep Up with the Brand?

In a world of fast-moving consumer technological goods, it is almost inevitable that one of them will give us an issue at some point. Take Apple, for example. They have billions of active devices, with new ones being conceived annually. So, the older ones may begin to wear down. That’s where Apple repair shops come in. But how can independent Apple repair shops keep up with the global brand?

Is an Apple Repair Shop a Viable Business?

There is a market for Apple repairs. Indeed, the average American household has two Apple products in it. It is likely that some will need fixing. Some of these device fixes are small, such as a smashed iPhone screen. This is fairly common as almost half of Brits have smashed their phone screen. The study actually found that 20% smashed it within a month of getting the phone.
So many would opt not to spend money on a new one, but to repair their existing one. Other fixes may take longer, such as hardware or software issues in a MacBook. But the technical professionals have made it their bread and butter to fix these problems.
Apple may be trusted to provide phones and computers, but its own repair services are expensive. Independent specialist repair companies can gain business through their lower prices. But they need to treat the brand that customers hold in high regard with respect.

Broken iPhone screen

How Can Apple Repair Shops Gain Customers’ Trust?

One of the main issues for these kinds of businesses is gaining people’s trust. Apple already have, but these repairers must find a way to ensure the brand trust of Apple transfers to them, too. It’s important, then, that the repair business invokes the trust customers feel towards Apple.
By building a website that reflects the ideals of the Apple brand, customers can trust the repair business. These features include images of Apple’s products, a similar font, and a color scheme that matches the global brand. This can be achieved through free website builders or can be built by a professional. The former is simpler to do without hiring outside help, which would suit many businesses who can use their resources to focus on fixing Apple products.
For example, Boxmode allows you to make your own free website using a series of templates. Many of these can be customized to appeal to those who trust Apple’s branding. By creating a simple, intuitive website in the style of Apple, customers who need repairs will be more likely to use the repair business.
The website can use video features, images, and text to convey the knowledge of the business. The repair business can list prices and gain custom through its services. It can also showcase consumer reviews and blogs about Apple-related issues. Apple’s customer loyalty came from them being an expert in their field, so the repair business would also need to prove its own expertise.
Creating a business that repairs Apple products can be lucrative. There is a major need for it and custom can be frequent. But this hinges on the ability to ensure you can also gain the trust that customers place in Apple.

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iMessage not working on iPhone 12/12 Pro? Fix

by GeeksModo Staff

So, you have the iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro or 12 Pro Max and iMessage is not working. That hurts and makes you worried. After all, you did pay a high price for this coveted device!

Just like others, you too, are asking the same question – how to fix iMessage not working on iPhone 12 series?

We have a couple of troubleshooting tips for you that could help! Let’s find out what you can do!

Tips to fix iMessage not working on iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max

iOS 14 added a couple of add-on features as well as system enhancements, making it more stable and fun to use. In case you’re having trouble using iMessage on your new iPhone, I’ve lined up a few handy tweaks you can use. Read on to find out what to do if all of a sudden, you can’t send or receive iMessages because iMessage just stopped working on your iphone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro or 12 Pro Max.

Diagnosing the Issue with iMessage on Your iPhone 12

You might have noticed that when you send a message through iMessage on your iPhone, the color of the bubble could be green or blue. If it’s blue, that means that you sent the message using iMessage. If it was green, that means that you sent it through a cellular plan. That could be either using SMS or MMS. SMS is traditional text messaging, while MMS stands for multimedia messaging. iMessage can use data to send messages instead of the text messaging plan offered by your cell service provider.
If you are having a problem with the iMessage functionality on your iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, or 12 Pro max, then it can be one of two things. The first possibility is that you’re having a problem sending and receiving texts from a single entity. The other is that you can’t send or receive texts from anybody.
If iMessage does not work with just one of the contacts on your list, then likely the issue is something happening on their end. If you cannot communicate through iMessage with anyone, then the problem is with your iPhone.
Do a Test with iMessage to Further Narrow Down What’s Happening
Find someone on your contact list who you know has an iPhone or iPad. Then, try sending them a message. If the bubble that you send out is blue, then you know your iMessage is working. That would mean that if you’ve been having trouble getting or sending messages with a single person, then the problem is definitely with their Apple device.
If, on the other hand, the bubble that you send out is green, then you will know that iMessage is not working on your iPhone 12. You can still send messages; it’s just that you are using your cellular plan rather than data, which is not ideal.

Turn iMessage Off for Your iPhone, then Back On

Let’s say that you have determined the problem to be with your iMessage rather than with someone else’s device. What can you do about it? The first thing that is worth trying if for you to turn off iMessage on your iPhone. Then you can reboot, and finally, you can turn iMessage back on.
Head over to Settings, then Messages. Toggle the switch next to iMessage to the off position. Now, hold down the side button together with any of the volume button until the Slide to Power Off slider appears on the display. Drag it to from left to right, turning off the iPhone. Turn the device back on by pressing the Power button again until The Apple logo appears on the screen. Once the iPhone reboots, head over to Settings, then Messages. Toggle the switch next to iMessage back to the on position.
This works to fix problems with your iMessage functionality most of the time.

iMessage on Your iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro or 12 pro max Still Not Working? Make Sure It Is Set Up Correctly

The next thing you can try is to go to Settings, then Messages. You should see an option to Send and Receive. Tap that to open the menu. There will be a list of phone numbers and email addresses for your contact list. There will be a section called Start New Conversations From. There should be a checkmark next to your phone number. If there isn’t one, that means that your number has not been set up for iMessage.
Tap your phone number. When you see the checkmark, that should solve the problem.

Your Internet Connection Could Be What’s Wrong

iMessage will only work for you if you have a steady Wi-Fi connection or you are using a cellular data connection. You need to make sure that you are connected to the internet. Launch Safari on your iPhone and check to see if you can access any website. If you get a message saying that you’re not connected, or the site will not load, then your iMessage will not work either.
Try turning off Wi-Fi and then sending your iMessage. If that works, then the problem was with your Wi-Fi, and not with iMessage.

Sign Out of iMessage on the iPhone, and then Back In

Head over to Settings, then Messages. Tap where it says Send and Receive. Tap where it says Apple ID, and then hit Sign Out. Sign back in with your Apple ID and password. Try sending an iMessage to a friend who has an Apple device.
If it works, then the problem is solved. If you’re still not having any luck, then proceed to the next solution.

An iOS Update for the iPhone Could Make a Difference

If there is an iOS update available, that might restore your iMessage capability if a software glitch is the problem. To check on this, head to Settings, then General. Go to Software Update. If there is one, tap it, so that it downloads. Once the new version has successfully installed, see if that makes any difference.

Reset the Network Settings for Your iPhone

Resetting the network settings for your iPhone would be another move for you to try. Restoring the network settings to their factory defaults can sometimes fix minor iMessage issues.
Head over to Settings, then General, and then Reset. Next, tap on Reset Network Settings. Make sure you have all your Wi-Fi passwords handy before you do this, though. When the iPhone reboots, you will need to type in the passwords both for your home and also your work, if you use your iPhone there. Remember that your Bluetooth and VPN settings will also be reset.

iMessage Still Not Working on the iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro or 12 Pro max? Time to Call in the Reinforcements

If the above troubleshooting steps didn’t fix iPhone 12 iMessage not working issue, now would be the time to contact Apple Support. You can talk with them over the phone or online via Live Chat. You could also take your iPhone to an Apple Store with a Genius Bar. There could be something more unusual happening with iMessage that is beyond your power to fix. Apple Genius bar should be able to try some troubleshooting methods that are more advanced than what we have explained here.

Conclusion

One of the above methods will surely fix iMessage not working issue on your iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro or 12 Pro Max. Try them and continue chatting with your friends through iMessage.

Tag: iMessage
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iPhone 12, Pro, or Pro Max App store not Working? Fix

by GeeksModo Staff

The App Store is a convenient function of every iPhone. It’s where you can get free apps, purchase others, and browse the new ones that are being launched. It’s also where you download the latest versions of the apps that are on your device already to keep them working Properly. But what can you do if you find iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max App Store not working? Let’s talk about the cause of this problem and what you can do to fix the issue.

iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max App Store not working? Fix

without any further ado, here is how to fix it when iPhone 12 cannot connect to app store:

Close Your App Store App and then Reopen It if iPhone 12 cannot connect to app store

The most likely reason that the App Store on your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max is not working, can’t be opened, or aspects of it aren’t working is software glitches of various kinds. The first thing you might try to resolve this issue is to close the App Store app on your iPhone and then reopen it.
Swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone screen. That will launch the App Switcher. You may then swipe back and forth to see what apps are open and running on the phone at that moment. When you see the App Store icon, use your finger and swipe it off the top of the screen, closing it. Next, try reopening it and seeing if it’s working any better. If not, try the next solution.

Clear Your App Store’s Cache if iPhone 12 cannot connect to app store

Much like on a laptop or a PC, clearing the cache of one of your phone apps will sometimes resolve minor errors or bugs. To clear the App Store cache, you simply need to tap ten times on any of the tab icons located at the bottom of the App Store’s screen. After doing this, close and then reopen the App Store app. It might be working properly now.

iPhone 12 still cannot connect to app store? Check the Internet Connection

So your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max App Store not working, still? The next step you’ll need to check is whether your iPhone is connecting to the internet properly. If you do not have a totally stable internet connection, then the App Store app is not going to work as it should. It’s worth noting that the App Store app uses different technology than other websites and apps. Because of this, even if those others are working perfectly on your iOS device, you should still check to see if internet connectivity is an issue.
To do this, you can shut off the Wi-Fi on your iPhone, so that it switches over to cellular data. This might come up as LTE on the top of your screen, or in some cases 4G, depending on your signal quality and wireless carrier.
Next, turn on the Wi-Fi on your iPhone. To do this, head over to Settings, then press Wi-Fi to open the menu. Toggle the switch to green so that the phone is back on your network again. Now, try opening the App Store one more time. If it’s still being problematic, proceed to the next solution.

Turning Your iPhone Off and On Again May Get Your App Store Working

Next you can try turning your iPhone off and on again. Press and hold the side button, also referred to as the Sleep/Wake button together with any of the volume buttons. A Slide to Power Off slider Will appear on the screen. Drag it from left to right to turn off the iPhone. Press and hold the Power button again until you see the Apple logo on the screen. Now you can attempt to open the App Store once more.

You Can Sign Out of the App Store and Then Back In

The next thing that you might try if your iPhone 12 app store is not working is to sign out of your device’s App Store app and then back in. Open your Settings app, then tap your name located at the top of the screen. Now, tap Media & Purchases. Finally, tap Sign Out. Sign back in by hitting the Sign In button, and then enter your Apple ID and password when you see the prompt to do so. Check on the status of the App Store app.

Reset Your Network Settings

Next up, you can reset your network settings. Doing so causes your iOS device to forget all of the Wi-Fi networks to which it has ever been connected. Once The reset is complete, you’ll need to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network, so make sure that you have your network name and password handy.
Start the settings app and go to General.
Scroll down and tap Reset, then Reset Network Settings.
Follow The on screen prompts, then see if you can access the App Store app again.

Make Sure Your iPhone’s 443 Port is Open

iPhone 12 pro App store not working still an issue for you? Try this solution. The way your iOS device connects to the internet is through two ports. These are called the 80 and 443 ports. These are the two specific ports that must be open for the App Store and iTunes to work properly. If one of those ports is blocked, that could be the reason why your iPhone 12 App Store app is not working.
The one that most commonly becomes blocked on the iPhone is port 443. To rule out this problem, try to access Google on your iPhone. If Google is working as expected, then that port is working correctly

You Can Restore Your iPhone to the Original Factory Settings

The last troubleshooting step that you might try before taking your iPhone to an Apple Store is to restore the Device to factory settings. First, back up your iOS device with iCloud or iTunes, whichever method you find convenient. The vast majority of people prefer iTunes since they might have it on their laptop or PC already to manage their music collection.
To use iTunes to restore an iOS device to factory settings, you must build a connection between your iPhone and computer using a USB cable. It’s recommended to use an Apple original cable for best results. Where you see the iPhone come up under the list of devices on the left-hand side of the screen, select it. Click Restore. iTunes will erase your device. Then, it will restore it with the latest version of iOS. Wait for the device to be restored with the factory settings, then try the App Store again.

iPhone 12 App Store Not Working last resort: Take your device to an Apple Store

If you have tried all the above troubleshooting steps, including wiping the phone clean and restoring it, and the iPhone 12 App Store still doesn’t work, then your device could be having a hardware issue. What you’ll need to do then is take your iPhone to an Apple Store near you with a Genius Bar. They’ll be able to inspect it and hopefully diagnose the problem. If the device is still under warranty, then getting it fixed shouldn’t cost you anything.

Tag: App Store
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iPhone 12, Pro, or Pro Max Overheating? Fix it Here

by GeeksModo Staff

Apple renovated the iPhone 12 selection style this year, initiating flat edges that are different from the round edges of the previous designs and are the same in layout as the iPad Pro. However, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max getting hot can spoil the experience of using the OS for many users. If you’re having iPhone 12 overheating problem, there’s no need to panic. There are quite a few potential reasons why your iPhone 12 is overheating, and there are steps that you can take to fix this problem for good!

How to fix iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 pro max overheating problem

Here are some of the common reasons why your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max is overheating and how to fix the issue:

Take Your iPhone 12 Out of the Sun To Prevent Overheating

The most obvious reason that your iPhone 12 could feel warm to the touch is if you have left it out in the sun for too long. The time this is most likely to happen would be the warmer months of the year. Maybe you’ve simply left the device sitting on a windowsill, and the midday sun is shining straight down on it for hours at a time, this can cause iPhone 12 overheating problem.
What’s more common, though, is if you’ve got the iPhone sitting on the dashboard of your vehicle in one of the different holders that are available for the purpose. Maybe you’re using Google Maps for navigation on a long car trip. If you are engaged in this activity in the middle of the summer, for instance, then the interior of the car can get quite toasty. Having the air conditioner on isn’t going to help your iPhone if it is under the relentless glare of the sun for multiple hours.
You should periodically touch your iPhone to see if it is overheating in such conditions. You might also see it shut down, and a temperature warning will appear on the screen. If that happens, take it out of the sun and put it in a cool, shadowy place, like the glove compartment or under the seat. If you notice your iPhone 12 getting warm, don’t ever attempt to put it in a refrigerator or a freezer to try and cool it down faster. That can damage various internal components permanently. If you give the device a little time to recover, it should be okay in a while.

Cooling Down iPhone 12 Overheating

When your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 pro max is overheating and you’re trying to get it to cool down, one thing that you can do is to take it out of its case or cover. The iPhone’s outer shell is built to allows heat to dissipate. A case or cover will prevent it from doing that. Also, if you notice your iPhone 12 overheating while charging, then unplug it immediately.
You can also shut off the apps and features. Turn off Bluetooth by navigating to Settings and shutting it off. You can head to Settings again, and then tap Privacy. Make sure that your Location Services are off.
Next, swipe up from the bottom of your screen, and see what apps you have running in the background. Shut all of them down. You can also turn off your GPS and Wi-Fi. Finally, Head over to Settings. From there, disable iCloud.
Once your iPhone has cooled down completely, you can turn on all of these features again.

Your Charger Can Cause iPhone 12 Overheating problem

Your charger May cost Overheating Issue particularly if the integrity has been compromised. Look for loose wires or signs of other damage, and if you spot anything like that, replace it. Also, if you are using a third-party charger, that can lead to problems, like the battery overloading, which can cause the iPhone 12 to heat up. A licensed Apple iPhone charger might cost a little bit more than some of the knockoffs you can find on eBay or elsewhere, but it’s better to pay the extra money and get a quality product.

Background Refresh is a Prime Cause of iPhone 12 Overheating problem

The Background Refresh feature on your iPhone does exactly what the name indicates. It refreshes your apps again and again, even when you are not actively using them. The newest content will always be waiting for you when you launch the apps, which is why some users enjoy this feature.
There are some problems with it, though. Your iPhone is like a mini-computer, and the constant app refreshing means that your device is working overtime. Those refreshing apps generate heat, and if the air around the phone is hot too, that can be a lethal combination. You might get a damaged battery or other elements if you let it go on for long enough. It’s better to turn off Background Refresh and let the iPhone cool down.
Start the settings app on your iPhone. Tap General, and then scroll down to Background App Refresh. Toggle the switch to the Off position. You will know that you’ve done it right when it turns from green to clear. You don’t need to have it turned off all of the time, but doing so for at least some of the time is going to prolong your iPhone’s life quite a bit.

iPhone 12 Overheating – Check Your Apps in iPhone Storage

Your apps can be another factor when it comes to how much heat your iPhone is generating. An overheating iPhone 12 might mean that a single app is using a lot of your phone’s processing power, and it’s struggling with that strain.
To get an indication of whether this is happening, head over to Settings, and then General. Go to iPhone Storage and take a look at the list of your apps. You will be able to see how much space each one is taking up. It is usually third-party apps, which is to say non-native apps that you have downloaded to your phone, that will take up the most space.
The apps with the most space have the highest chance of causing your iPhone 12 to overheat. If you just downloaded a new third-party app, and then start experiencing iPhone 12 overheating problem soon afterward, then that app is probably to blame. It’s not likely that an app that you have had for a while will suddenly cause your iPhone 12 to start overheating. The most likely culprit would be that third-party app that is newly installed.
Probably the best thing for you to do will be to uninstall it. You could contact the App developer through the App Store to let them know about the problem if you paid for the app. If the app happened to be free, then you might be able to find an alternative that serves the same purpose and doesn’t cause your iPhone 12 to overheat.

A Faulty Battery Cause iPhone 12 Overheating problem

If The above troubleshooting steps have failed to fix iPhone 12 Overheating Issue, then you can take your device to an Apple Store with a Genius Bar so that they can take a look at it. It might be that the battery is faulty. A replacement battery should be covered as long as the phone is still under warranty, or you have an AppleCare+ plan.

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iPhone 12, Pro, or Pro Max not Backing Up? Fix it Here!

by GeeksModo Staff

Backing up your iPhone is something that you need to do periodically. If your iPhone 12 is not backing up, then you could potentially lose some of your data. When we say “data,” what we mean is the configuration of your iPhone and everything that makes it uniquely yours. That includes your apps, pictures, videos, podcasts, music, etc. Your iPhone should back up with iCloud automatically. Sometimes, though, conditions arise where that does not happen. If you find your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max not backing up, you’ll need to figure out what the problem is, then how to fix it.

How to fix it if your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max is not backing up

Here are some of the common reasons why your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max won’t back up and how to fix the issue:

Your iCloud Settings Might Be the Reason Your iPhone 12 Backups are Not Working

The first thing that you should think of as a possibility if your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max is not backing up successfully is your iCloud settings. The feature needs to be switched on. If you have not taken the needed steps to enable it, then your iPhone 12 won’t back up.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone then tap your name located at the top of the screen. This will launch your Apple ID settings.
  2. Select iCloud, then scroll down to where it says iCloud Backup. Tap it.
  3. You will see an iCloud backup button. Toggle it to the on position, and it will change to green.
  4. When the prompt appears, tap Okay.

Now, automatic iCloud backups are on. Your iPhone should back up every time that you plug it into a power outlet and connect to Wi-Fi. Make sure that your iPhone is locked when you do this as well. Otherwise, it won’t work.

Your Wi-Fi Connection Could be Why Your iPhone 12 Won’t Back Up

Another common reason for your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max not backing up with iCloud could be your Wi-Fi connection not working. If you’ve got a working Wi-Fi network at home, that is the ideal place for you to back up your devices. If your Wi-Fi connection is shaky, though, the process could be interrupted, or it might not even be able to start.

If you don’t see the Wi-Fi icon on your iPhone, then you know that it’s not connected. You can easily do it, though.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone then tap Wi-Fi.
  2. Tap the Wi-Fi button, moving it to the green On position. Your iOS device will automatically join your network if you have set it up to do so. If you haven’t done this, then you’ll need to select your Wi-Fi network and type in your password.

If your Wi-Fi isn’t working, then you can turn off your router and then turn it back on. If that doesn’t work, then check all the connections. If you’re still experiencing problems, then contact your internet provider. There may be a temporary outage in your area.

See also: iPhone connected to Wi-Fi but no Internet access?

Is Your iPhone Connected to a Power Source?

If you’re using iCloud to backup your iPhone, then it will need to be plugged to a power outlet. If an outlet is not available to you, you can also connect your iOS device to a computer, either a laptop or a desktop machine.

When you plug it in, make sure that the USB cable you are using is working properly. If it is, a battery icon will appear at the top right of your iPhone’s screen. It’s recommended to use the official Apple cable. If you use a third-party cable, it might be cheaper, but these might not work correctly.

Make Sure You Have Sufficient iCloud Storage to Back Up Your iPhone

iPhone backups are what take up most of your iCloud storage space. If you don’t have enough storage space, then your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 pro max won’t back up to iCloud.

There is no specific amount of space that you’ll need. That’s going to depend on how much data is on your iOS device. You might need only 1GB, or you might need as many as 4 or 5GBs. You can run out of space faster, but there are ways to resolve this problem.

To see how much space you have left, start the Settings app on your iPhone. Then, tap your name located at the top of the screen. Tap iCloud, and choose Manage Storage. Now the iCloud storage page will launch, and you will see how much you have used and how much is left. If all 5GB of the free storage for your iPhone has been used, you’ll know that’s why your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max cannot back up.

What Can You do if You’re Out of Storage for Your iPhone?

If your iOS device is out of storage space, then you’ll need to check what you have on there. Deleting old, backed up data is one options. That might be from the iPhone itself, or some of the apps. Deleting your iPhone backup will free up the most space, but then if you restore it as it was, you’ll run into the same problem. Because of that, deleting data related to your apps or the apps themselves is usually the Best option.

Head over to the iCloud storage page, and tap the app for which you would like to delete the backed-up data.
You’ll need to tap Delete Data. In some cases, it will say Delete Documents and Data instead, or Turn Off and Delete. Any of these options performs the same task.
Press Delete again to confirm your action.
You Can Also Upgrade Your Storage Plan
Upgrading your iCloud storage plan is another option offered by Apple. It’s at least worth considering. Usually, it costs just a few extra bucks a month on your phone bill, and you get to avoid this hustle of having to choose which apps to eliminate. You will find an option to upgrade on the iCloud storage screen. You’ll get a lot of new space, and now you can take more pictures, shoot more video, or whatever else you find useful.

Check the Status of iCloud

It is also possible sometimes for iCloud servers to go down for a while. The system is imperfect, and while it’s a rarity, that might be why your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max is not backing up. If you feel like the iCloud servers might be down, you can rule out that by visiting the Apple’s System Status page. If there is an outage in service, then it will indicate there, and it will also provide updates and an approximate timeframe when it will be up and running again. Usually, Apple is quick to fix the problem.

Sign Out of iCloud, then Back in Again

Signing out of iCloud and then back in again is essentially a way of resetting your iPhone’s presence on the network. That can be a solution sometimes with backup issues.

  1. Start the settings app on your iPhone then tap your name located at the top of the screen.
  2. Scroll down through your Apple ID settings and tap Sign Out.
  3. When prompted, type in your Apple ID, followed by your password. Next, tap Turn Off, deactivating Find My iPhone.
  4. Tap Sign Out, then tap Sign Out again when the prompt appears.

From there, you can tap Sign into Your iPhone and sign back in. After entering your Apple ID and password, your iPhone should be recognized again. If you have another Apple device connected to your ID, a code might be sent to it that you will be prompted to enter.

Once you are signed back in, plug your iPhone to a power outlet, and see if the backup goes forward as it should. Usually, that will have fixed the issue.

Try Restarting Your iPhone

One last troubleshooting step you can try when your iPhone 12 won’t back up is restarting your device. It’s a simple fix for many problems, so it’s worth giving it a shot too.

  1. Press and hold down any of the volume button together with the side button. After a few seconds have passed, a power slider Will appear on the screen and the option to shut down the phone.
  2. Drag the slider from left to right, and the Device will shut down.
  3. Wait a few seconds for the phone to shut down completely and then press and hold the side button again. The phone will power back on.

Now try plugging your iPhone to a power outlet to see if the data will back up.

If you’ve tried everything that we’ve mentioned but your iPhone 12 won’t backup to iCloud, then you can either contact Apple Support through online life chat, or you can take the device into an Apple Store and talk to the Geniuses about the problem. Be sure to book a Genius Bar appointment before making a visit to avoid any inconvenience. Explain to them everything that you’ve tried, and they can inspect your device to see if there is some kind of hardware issue or another possibility that you’ve been unable to detect.

Tags: Backup, iCloud
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iPhone 12 not receiving texts messages? Fix

by GeeksModo Staff

If your iPhone 12 is not receiving SMS messages, it could be because there aren’t just any text messages sent to your device/number at the moment or something in your iPhone is blocking incoming SMS messages. If it is the former, then there’s nothing to troubleshoot, otherwise, you’ll need to figure out the barrier and eliminate it. This post will attempt to address the latter. Continue reading to find out what to do if your iPhone 12 cannot receive SMS messages in iOS 14.

Troubleshooting an iPhone 12 that cannot receive SMS messages after the latest iOS update

There are many possible reasons why your iphone 12 can’t receive text messages. Some users states that the problem started after installing the recent update and so it’s very likely that an iOS bug is the underlying cause. Nonetheless, it’s important to eliminate other common factors that can prevent an iPhone 12 from getting SMS messages as it should. Feel free to refer to this troubleshooting guide.

Fix #1: Restart your iPhone.

Your iPhone may be just enduring some minor post update glitch and it so happened that the incoming services, particularly SMS are adversely affected. To clear out random issues like this, performing a soft reset will possibly resolve your issue. As such, this should be among the first potential solution you should try. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Press and hold both the Side button and Volume Up button for a few seconds.
  2. Let go both buttons when you see the Slide to Power off slider.
  3. Swipe or drag the slider to turn your device off.
  4. After about 30 seconds, hold down the Side button and then release when the Apple logo appears.

Wait for your iPhone to finish rebooting and then re-establishes cellular network signal. Once the signal is stable, retry sending a sample SMS from another device and see if you can receive it on your iphone 12.

Fix #2: Refresh cellular network connections on your iPhone.

Another reason why iPhone 12 can’t receive sms is due to cellular network problems. This is very possible, especially if the network system tends to become a bit shaky from the recent update. To fix the problem, refreshing your iPhone’s cellular feature can help. You can do this by turning Cellular option on your phone off and on or carry out the Airplane Mode trick instead. Here’s how it works:

  1. Start the settings app on your iPhone
  2. Now, tap on Airplane Mode.
  3. Toggle the Airplane Mode switch to turn the feature ON. Doing so will disable your iPhone’s wireless radios and associated features like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

While Airplane Mode is turned on, reboot or soft reset your iPhone to clear out network cache.
After it reboots, go back to Settings-> Airplane Mode menu.
Then toggle the Airplane Mode switch to turn it OFF again.
Performing this trick can help rectify random errors affecting the iPhone’s wireless functions including cellular services. That said, there’s a good chance that it will be able to fix random post-update cellular errors that caused problems to your phone’s SMS functions.

Fix #3: Install carrier settings updates to fix your iPhone 12 that cannot receive SMS messages.

Carriers typically address widespread network problems by rolling out carrier updates containing the required fix patch. These updates are different from the updates released by Apple periodically. To check if there are any new updates released by your carrier for your device, Here is how:

  1. Connect your iPhone to a computer and launch iTunes. Be sure to use the latest version of iTunes app to avoid bumping into some system conflicts.
  2. Wait for your device to sync and back up with iTunes.
  3. Click to select your iPhone 12 when it appears in iTunes.
  4. Navigate to the Summary section and then hold down the Shift key on the keyboard and click Check for Update. Doing so will prompt iTunes to install an iOS image (*.ipsw).
    Change the file type to iPhone/iPad Carrier Configuration File (*.ipcc).
  5. Select the desired file and then follow the rest of the onscreen instructions to complete the process.

If your iPhone doesn’t have any trouble connecting to the internet, then you can use this simpler method to check for any available carrier settings updates for your device:

  1. Start the settings app on your iPhone
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap About.
  4. An option to update your carrier settings will show up if an update is available. You can view the version of carrier settings on your iPhone by going to Settings-> General-> About menu then scroll down to the Carrier section.

Fix #4: Reset all settings on your iPhone 12.

Some system updates would end up ruining system configurations or customization on your device. As a result, adverse symptoms will arise depending on which system component has been directly affected. To clear this out, try to reset all settings on your device. This doesn’t affect any saved data on your iPhone storage so you won’t lose any personal information afterwards. Just follow these steps whenever you’re all set for the reset:

  1. start the settings app on your iPhone 12
  2. Tap General.
  3. Scroll down and tap on Reset.
  4. Select Reset all settings from the list of options.
  5. Type in your passcode if prompted to continue.
  6. Tap on Reset all settings again to confirm action.

Wait for your iPhone to finish resetting all settings and then restarts when done. After the restart, you can start re-enabling individual features that you want to use on your device, particularly those that are disabled by default.

Last resort: Remove then reinsert the SIM card on your iPhone.

Some SMS problems are attributed to SIM card issues from a corrupted SIM card system or worse, damaged SIM card in use. To rule out SIM card system corruption, reinstalling the SIM card on your iPhone can help. Please follow these steps:

  1. Power off your iPhone completely.
  2. While your phone is turned off, insert the SIM ejector tool into the small hole on the SIM tray located on the side of your device. If you don’t have the SIM ejector tool, you can use a bent small paper clip instead.
  3. Gently push the SIM ejector or paper clip into the hold until the tray pops out.
  4. Remove the SIM card from the tray.
  5. Check the SIM card and tray for any indications of damage like scratches or liquid traces.
  6. If everything looks fine, place the SIM card back into the tray in the same orientation before removing it.
  7. Secure the SIM card in place and then push the tray back into the phone.

When the SIM tray is secured in place, you can turn the phone back on and see if the problem is gone.

Inserting the SIM card to another phone (that uses the same SIM card type) can also help you determine whether or not the problem is due to a faulty SIM card. If your other device is able to receive SMS using the same SIM card, then the SIM card is working and the problem is more likely from within your iPhone system. Otherwise, you may need to consider asking your carrier for a new SIM card replacement.

What to do if your iPhone 12 still cannot receive SMS messages?

An alternative temporary solution you can try is to set up and use text message forwarding on your iPhone. Doing so allows you to view all SMS and MMS messages that were sent to your iPhone on your other Apple devices like an iPad, iPod touch, and Mac computers. You can also continue the conversation from any of your preferred device. Just follow these steps to set up text message forwarding on your iPhone 12:

  1. Start the settings up on your iPhone
  2. Scroll down and tap Messages.
  3. Tap Send & Receive.
  4. Then verify and ensure that you are signed into iMessage using the correct same Apple ID used on all your devices.
  5. After verifying your Apple ID, go back to Settings-> Messages menu and then tap the Text Message Forwarding option.
  6. Select which devices you’d want to send and receive text messages from your iPhone 12.
  7. If prompted with a verification code on each of your other devices, enter that code on your iPhone 12.

By then, you can start sending and receiving SMS and MMS messages on your devices for as long as your iPhone 12 is turned on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular network.

For further assistance and recommendations, you can contact your network service provider or contact Apple Support instead.

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