Moving all your data, including photos and messages, to a new iPhone 18 Pro Max is usually quite a simple process as long as you have a backup of your old iPhone. In this article we will look at how to make a backup of all your text messages so that they will appear on your new iPhone, and what to do if you set up your new iPhone only to find your old text messages didn’t appear – which can be a real tragedy if they hold sentimental value.

Once we’ve explained how to backup your messages we will look at how to transfer them to your new iPhone.

You can also set things up so that all your text messages appear on all your Apple devices, including your iPad and Mac as well as your iPhone, so we will look at how to do that too.

How to backup text messages on your iPhone

The first thing to do before setting up a new iPhone 18 Pro Max is get your old iPhone and make sure that you turn on Apple’s Messages in iCloud service. This is the simplest way to back up your messages so you can sync them with a new iPhone (although we will look at another way below if you would rather not pay for the additional iCloud storage which might be required for this service).

Apple’s Messages in iCloud service can be used to backup all your text messages to the cloud so that you can download them to your new iPhone – and keep them in sync across all your Apple devices, so that every message and reply can be viewed on every device.

Messages in iCloud is a feature that arrived in iOS 11.4, so you will need to update your iPhone to iOS 11.4 or above to get it. You can check which version you are running in Settings > General > Software Update.

Once Messages in iCloud is turned on, all your messages will be stored in the cloud and synced between all your devices, that’s your iPad, Mac and iPhone. To turn Messages in iCloud on follow these steps:

1. Plug in your iPhone and connect to Wi-Fi
2. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap your name, tap iCloud, then tap Messages. If Messages doesn’t appear, tap See All in the Saved to iCloud section.

   

3. Turn on “Use on this iPhone” (if it’s not already turned on).

It will probably take a while for your message history to upload to the cloud.

How to backup messages without using iCloud

What if you can’t update your old phone to iOS 11.4 – perhaps because it’s an older model. Or maybe you don’t want to pay for the storage required for Messages in iCloud. In that case, you can still sync your old messages – as long as you back up your old phone, your text messages will be saved as part of the backup – either in the cloud or on your Mac or PC.

1. Plug your old iPhone in and make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi.
2. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap [your name], tap iCloud, then tap iCloud Backup. Turn on Back Up This iPhone.
3. You could tap Back Up Now to force a backup. But before doing that, you will want to check that you are backing up Messages as part of this backup.
4. Tap [your name], then tap iCloud. Tap iCloud Backup, then tap your iPhone (This iPhone).
5. You can see how big your Messages back up is.

How to backup messages using a Mac or PC

Alternatively, you could backup to your Mac or PC.

1. Connect iPhone and your computer with a cable. In the Finder sidebar on your Mac, select your iPhone.
2. At the top of the Finder window, click General. Select “Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.” Click Back Up Now. This will store a full back up of your iPhone on your computer. You can download this back up to your new iPhone when you set it up.

In the iTunes app on your Windows device, click the iPhone button near the top left of the iTunes window. Click Summary. Click Back Up Now (below Backups).

How to transfer messages to a new iPhone 18 Pro Max

Now when you are ready to set up your new iPhone you will have a backup that includes all your messages.

You just need to sync your new iPhone 18 Pro Max with the latest backup from your old iPhone. The steps that are most relevant here are as follows.

1. Turn on your new iPhone.
2. Go through the setup process. (Note that if you’ve already been through the setup process and your Messages were missing, but you have now made sure you have a backup of your old messages, you may need to reset your new iPhone and start again: Open the Settings app and tap General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.)
3. Tap Set Up Manually, tap Restore from iCloud Backup, then follow the onscreen instructions. (If you backup over iCloud you may be prompted to make a new backup on your old iPhone – handy if you hadn’t already done so – this new backup will then be synced with your new iPhone when you Restore from iCloud.)
4. Your new phone will start to download everything from your back-up, including all your messages. Expect it to take a while.

If you open Messages you may see a few messages appear. If you watch for a while more may appear, but you are probably best off doing something else and leaving the phone to download the content.

Eventually your new iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max will now display all your messages from the old iPhone, along with all your apps, photos, emails and other app data.

Do you see a zoomed-in view when you open the camera within WhatsApp on your iPhone 18 Pro Max? Does it prevent you from capturing the perfect shot and sharing it with your friends and family or posting it on a status?

If so, there is probably something wrong with your WhatsApp or phone. But how can we figure out what is causing the problem and fix it? Let’s look at different fixes to help solve WhatsApp’s camera zoomed-in problem so that you can capture the perfect photos within the app.

Ensure WhatsApp Backend Isn’t to Blame

To begin with, ensure the problem isn’t coming from WhatsApp’s backend. To confirm this, go to the ServicesDown website, type “WhatsApp” into the top-right search bar, and press Enter.

From the search results, click on WhatsApp to see if the app has any issues. Also, look at the outage graph for the last 24 hours. If there are too many reported issues, WhatsApp may be having problems.

If there is a backend issue, WhatsApp will investigate it, and all you need to do is wait. However, if the problem lies solely with you, you can begin applying the fixes listed below.

1. Rule Out Hardware Issues

First, rule out hardware issues to ensure a problem with the hardware isn’t causing the camera to appear zoomed-in on WhatsApp. For that, perform the following checks:

• Verify that the problem isn’t with your cell phone camera. To do this, open your cell phone camera and check whether it opens zoomed in. If the issue lies with the camera, ensure its settings aren’t messed up and get it checked by a technician.

  

• Clean your cell phone camera thoroughly to ensure that the captured image does not appear zoomed-in because of a dusty lens.

If the above checks fail to diagnose the main problem, suggesting there is no hardware issue, move on to the next step.

2. Rule Out Temporary Glitches

To ensure it’s not a temporary glitch that’s causing the issue under discussion, perform the following checks:

• Close the camera app if it is open in parallel with WhatsApp.
• Close the chat or status menu where you have opened the camera, open the chat again, and try capturing the photo again.
• Restart the WhatsApp app to rule out any temporary problems with the app.
• Restart your cell phone once to ensure a temporary glitch isn’t causing the issue.
• Re-login to your WhatsApp account after logging out.

If the above checks do not resolve the problem, continue applying the remaining fixes.

3. Ensure Your iPhone 18 Pro Max Has Enough Storage

It’s common to experience problems with your installed apps if there is insufficient space on your phone. So, if your phone is always running out of storage, you should free up the space to give WhatsApp breathing room to function correctly.

4. Update the WhatsApp App

When was the last time you updated WhatsApp? If you haven’t updated the app in ages and keep the automatic update option disabled, this might explain why you’re experiencing unforeseen issues. So, update the application, and the problem will be resolved automatically.

Follow these steps to update WhatsApp Messenger on iOS:

1. Go to the App Store.
2. In the top-right corner, tap on your profile icon.
3. Tap App Updates.
4. Simply tap on Update next to WhatsApp. If WhatsApp is not listed there, it has already been updated.

If updating the app fixes the issue, keep auto-update enabled on your iPhone 18 Pro Max to avoid experiencing the same problem again. If you’ve already updated the app, or if updating it doesn’t make any difference, move on to the next fix.

5. Clear WhatsApp Cache and Data

The accumulation of cached data can also lead to unforeseen problems with apps. So, when updating the app does not work, you should clear its cache.

To clear the WhatsApp cache on iOS, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app and go to General.
2. Tap on iPhone Storage.
3. From the list of installed apps, select WhatsApp.
4. Tap Offload App.

If clearing the cache doesn’t help, move on to the next step.

6. Reinstall WhatsApp

If none of the fixes listed above work, you should reinstall WhatsApp. Uninstall the WhatsApp app from your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max and install it from the App Store as you usually would.

7. Use the Camera App to Take Photos Instead

Hopefully, reinstalling the app will resolve the issue. But if it doesn’t, try using the mobile camera app instead. This way, you can capture the perfect shots and share them directly on your status or to your contacts without using the WhatsApp built-in camera interface.

Capture the Perfect Shots Within WhatsApp

Hopefully, you should be able to fix the WhatsApp camera zoomed-in issue on your iPhone 18 Pro Max by applying the fixes mentioned in the article. If none of the fixes work, you can contact WhatsApp support. If that doesn’t work, consult a local technician to ensure that a serious hardware issue isn’t the culprit behind this problem.

Did your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max just fail during an update or restore with a computer? If so, you’re probably staring at “an unknown error occurred (14)” popup on your computer. To make matters worse, the chances are you also can’t boot into iOS.

But don’t worry. Working your way through the solution below just might save you a trip down to the Apple Store. Let’s get started.

What Causes Error 14?

The “an unknown error occurred (14)” popup (or simply error 14) occurs while updating or restoring an iPhone that’s close to running out of storage. But that’s not the only reason. A faulty USB cable, an outdated version of macOS or the Apple Devices app, or a corrupt IPSW (iPhone Software) file can all contribute.

Error 14 usually ends up forcing your iPhone 18 Pro Max into a boot loop. To fix the issue, you must enter Recovery Mode. You then have the option to perform another update or restore and get the device functioning correctly again.

Using Recovery Mode

Recovery Assistant helps resolve startup issues by downloading a software package. If Recovery Assistant appears, click Continue to start the recovery process. The recovery process requires a Wi-Fi connection.

As its name implies, Recovery Mode is a recovery environment that you can use to update or restore a malfunctioning iPhone. Connect your device to your computer using a USB cable. Press and release the Volume Up button. Press and release the Volume Down button. Press and hold the Side button. Keep holding the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.

In some instances, encountering error 14 forces your iPhone to boot into Recovery Mode. If you see a screen displaying an image of a computer and a USB cable, you don’t have to enter Recovery Mode manually. Simply connecting it to your Mac or PC should suffice.

Recovery Mode presents you with two different options. The first option (Update) lets you update your iPhone without losing your data. The second option (Restore) resets your device to factory settings. If you have a backup, you can restore your iPhone backup at a later time.

Change USB Port or Cable

The most likely reason for the error 14 on the iPhone 18 Pro Max is a frayed out or faulty cable. Try changing USB ports or use a different cord.

Disable Third-Party Security Software

Third-party security software can interfere with the Finder or the Apple Devices app and prevent the software from communicating with your iPhone. Try deactivating any security software applications on your PC or Mac and check if that helps.

Update iTunes or Finder

Update your Mac to the latest version of macOS or the latest version of iTunes.

However, if you use a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, you need to use Finder to interact with your iPhone. The only way to update Finder is by updating the Mac’s system software. To do that, open the Apple menu and go to System Settings > General > Software Update.

Delete the IPSW File and Retry

iTunes and Finder download an IPSW file while updating or restoring your iPhone. It’s what contains the data needed to update or reinstall iOS.

However, a corrupt IPSW file can also result in error 14. Deleting it should force iTunes or Finder to re-download a fresh copy of the file the next time you update or restore the device.

How to Delete an IPSW File in macOS

Open Finder. Then, select Go > Go to Folder on the menu bar and run the following path:

~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates

Control-click the IPSW file within the directory and select Move to Trash.

How to Delete an IPSW File in Windows

Open File Explorer. Then, copy and paste the following path into the address bar and press Enter:

%appdata%\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates

Right-click the IPSW file inside the directory and select Delete.

Try DFU Mode

If you still keep coming across error 14, try putting your iPhone 18 Pro Max in DFU (Device Firmware Update) Mode. That’s an advanced recovery environment that helps reinstall both the firmware and system software.

Still Coming Up With Error 14?

If DFU Mode fails to fix your iPhone as well (or if you find it too complicated to deal with), your only option is to take your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max to the nearest Apple Store.

Some of us have been using AOL for a long time. Even before the days of smartphones, we were using AOL to chat with friends and send pictures to one another. Most people who have AOL email accounts don’t want to get rid of them since they’ve had them for so long.

While other people are moving to Gmail and other popular platforms, AOL still maintains a loyal customer base. Like Gmail, AOL also has a specific app for its service. However, some users report having issues with the AOL app on occasion.

If the AOL app isn’t working on your iPhone 18 Pro Max, try these fixes.

1. Hard Restart the AOL App

The first and easiest fix for the AOL app is to do a hard restart. A hard restart means closing the app, and all other apps you have opened, and opening the AOL app again.

Sometimes we exit out of the app thinking it closed, but it’s still running in the background. To do a hard reset, swipe up from the bottom edge, pause in the center of the screen, and swipe the app off the top. This assures that the app closes.

Be sure to do this for all other apps open at the same time, as sometimes another app can conflict with the AOL app.

Alternatively, you can turn your iPhone 18 Pro Max off and on again. This will clear it up just as efficiently. Simultaneously press and hold the side button and either volume button until the sliders appear, then drag the Power Off slider. Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

2. Remove and Reinstate Your AOL Account

Sometimes, there might be an issue with your AOL account. For example, if you recently changed your password, it may not have updated in the AOL app. In which case, you’ll need to remove and update your AOL account to fix it.

There are also some cases where your account might not be loading due to an app error; removing and replacing your account can resolve this.

To do this, open the AOL app and tap the Profile icon in the upper-left, then tap Manage Accounts.

Once here, tap Edit in the top-right corner and you’ll see an option to remove your account. Tap here to remove your account.

Once it’s removed, in the top-left corner you will see an option to sign in again. Do this using the same email and your current password.

3. Reset Multiple Accounts Through Settings

If you have multiple AOL accounts in the AOL app, it might be cumbersome to remove each one individually. Luckily, there is a way to reset all the accounts at once. Sometimes, this can resolve any issues you’re having with the app as well.

To do this, open Settings, tap Apps, and scroll down until you see AOL. Once here, tap AOL and select Reset All Accounts. This will reset your accounts within the app. You’ll then have to log back in and sign in to each one individually.

4. Update the AOL App

Occasionally, the AOL app might be buggy because of a system error and there is nothing you can do to fix it. Luckily, the AOL team is good at catching software bugs and releases regular updates for the app to patch them.

If you haven’t updated the AOL app in a while, an update might fix the bug that is causing your AOL app to stop working.

To update the app, head to the App Store and tap on your profile picture in the top-right corner. Then, tap App Updates. If you see the AOL app listed, tap Update and it will update the app.

5. Delete and Reinstall the AOL App

If removing all your accounts and updating the AOL app still didn’t work for you, consider deleting and reinstalling the app.

Sometimes, our phones store data that can’t be erased anywhere else. By removing the app, you remove all the additional stored data as well. To do this, tap and hold an app in the App Library, choose Remove App, then tap Delete App.

Once you remove the app, reinstall it by searching for it in the App Store. Once you download it, you will need to log back in to your account.

6. Update Your iOS Version

While not a problem with the AOL app directly, there are some cases where bugs with your iPhone’s operating system, iOS, can impact how mail is fetched through third-party apps. There are also cases where an outdated version of iOS can interfere with how certain apps work.

To check if your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max is updated to the latest version, head to Settings > General > Software Update. If it says your iOS is up to date, you don’t need to do anything.

If iOS needs to be updated, performing the update could potentially resolve issues with your AOL app. After updating, you might want to delete and reinstall the AOL app, just to be sure it’s a fresh install.

Still Can’t Get the AOL App to Work? Try This Instead

While the AOL mail app is designed specifically for your email account, there are some cases where it just might not be working for you. This can be due to an outdated version of iOS, an older phone, or even just bad luck.

If you still want to keep your AOL email, but don’t want to deal with the app anymore, you can use the standard iPhone Mail app and add your AOL account instead.

While you won’t get all of the features that you normally would with the AOL app, you can still access your email on the go.

The AOL App Is Buggy, but It’s Usually Easy to Fix

The AOL app has been known to have various issues for users. Over time, most issues have lessened, though some still persist. If you’re having issues with the AOL app, the above fixes are the most common solutions.

If you try all of them and still can’t get the app to work, consider using the standard Mail app until the AOL app works for you again. Also, be sure to contact the AOL support team to see if someone can help you resolve your issue. After all, AOL can potentially help if you’ve tried everything else.

Last Tuesday, I woke up in the middle of the night and grabbed my iPhone to check the time. Immediately, it turned on the flashlight at full brightness and jolted me fully awake. There’s a specific iPhone feature behind these random activations: Back Tap.

Back Tap lets you tap your phone’s back to perform quick actions, including enabling the flashlight. The frustrating part is that it fails miserably when you intentionally try to use it, yet it activates randomly throughout the day. I’ve dealt with this nonsense on my iPhone 18 Pro Max, but there’s actually a simple fix.

What is Back Tap, and how does it work?

The hidden accessibility feature most people don’t know about

You’ll find Back Tap hiding in Settings > Accessibility > Touch. Think of it as turning your iPhone’s back into one big touch button. Apple introduced this with iOS 14 to give people quick access to screenshots, Control Center, flashlight controls, and other functions.

The feature lets you assign two different actions: one for a double-tap and another for a triple-tap. The available actions include system controls, accessibility features, and custom shortcuts from the Shortcuts app. Setting the flashlight as a Back Tap action seems like a great idea until you actually live with it.

Unfortunately, Back Tap’s sensitivity is maddeningly unpredictable. When you deliberately try to activate it in a dark hallway, it often ignores your taps completely. But set your phone down normally or shift your grip, and suddenly you’re blinded by an LED spotlight.

Why Back Tap keeps triggering your flashlight accidentally

The sensitivity problem that Apple hasn’t quite solved

The core issue isn’t hardware—it’s software sensitivity that behaves erratically across all compatible iPhone models. Normal phone handling becomes a minefield of potential triggers. Just placing your phone on a surface, slipping it into your jeans pocket, or adjusting your grip while texting can make the sensor think you meant to activate something.

Nighttime activations are the worst. Your phone rests on the nightstand when something minor—maybe a notification buzz or your furniture settling—sets off the Back Tap sensor. Next thing you know, you’re squinting at what might as well be a tiny flashbang at 3 AM.

Cases don’t fix the problem either. I’ve tried different case thicknesses and materials, but the detection system stays just as unreliable. This frustrating inconsistency spans iPhone models and accessories—it’s a fundamental software issue.

How to check if Back Tap is causing your flashlight issues

Finding the culprit in your iPhone 18 Pro Max settings

Head to Settings, then Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. You’ll find Double Tap and Triple Tap settings here. Check what each one does by tapping on it.

Look for Flashlight listed under either option. When this is active, double or triple tapping your phone’s back will turn on the flashlight. Don’t stress if you can’t remember setting this up—it sometimes gets turned on during phone setup or when you’re poking around in the settings.

Your options for fixing the random flashlight problem

Three ways to stop the unexpected light show

Disable Back Tap Completely

The nuclear option: set both Double Tap and Triple Tap to None. This eliminates any possibility of accidental activation, since the feature becomes inactive. You lose the shortcut capability but gain peace of mind.

If both settings show None, but flashlight surprises keep happening, you’re looking at either another accessibility setting or a hardware issue.

Change to a Less Disruptive Action

Alternatively, keep Back Tap active, but assign it to something harmless like taking screenshots. Accidental activation just creates an extra photo you can delete—no more surprise light shows. Other benign options include opening Control Center or triggering a custom shortcut that does something innocuous. You can even set the double and triple taps to trigger productivity tools.

Move Flashlight to Triple Tap Only

If you actually use the flashlight shortcut, assign it to Triple Tap while setting Double Tap to None. Triple taps require more deliberate action and rarely trigger accidentally during normal phone handling.

Alternative ways to quickly access your iPhone’s flashlight

Better methods that won’t surprise you at 3 AM

Control Center remains the most reliable flashlight access method. On modern iPhones, swipe down from the upper-right corner. Then tap the flashlight button. This approach never lets me down.

The Lock screen offers another dependable route. Look for the flashlight symbol in the bottom-left corner and press until it lights up.

Siri handles voice requests reliably—just say “Hey Siri, turn on the flashlight.” This works great when you’re carrying something or trying to navigate in pitch-black conditions.

Take back control of your iPhone 18 Pro Max flashlight

Random flashlight activations almost always trace back to Back Tap’s flashlight setting. This accessibility feature suffers from inconsistent sensitivity that makes it more annoying than useful. The good news is that fixing it takes seconds—disable Back Tap entirely, change its action to something harmless, or move the flashlight to triple-tap.

With reliable alternatives like Control Center and lock screen shortcuts readily available, you can ditch the problematic Back Tap feature and finally sleep soundly without unexpected illumination ruining your night.

Buying and setting up a new iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max is a pleasant experience, but there are some headaches. One potential problem is when you realise that your friends’ calls, texts and iMessages are still being directed to the old device – either as well as, or even worse instead of, your new device. This could be embarrassing if you’ve sold the old device or passed it on to a loved one.

In this article we go through the various problems associated with old iPhones picking up calls, texts and iMessages, and a series of solutions to fix them.

Stop messages being sent to old devices

The easiest way to stop an old iPhone getting your new messages and calls – and absolutely the one you should follow if you’re selling it – is to completely wipe the device. This will remove all your accounts and settings as well as apps and files.

Open the Settings app and go to General. Swipe down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, enter your Apple Account and password – this is important for this process to work – then confirm. (Note that it’s wise to turn off Find My iPhone before wiping, too, although this isn’t strictly relevant to this discussion.)

If you want to keep most of your settings intact, however, then you can stop messages being delivered by going to Settings (while the old SIM is still in the phone) and going to Apps > Messages > Send & Receive. Tap your Apple Account at the top and sign out.

To stop FaceTime calls coming through, do the same thing via Settings > Apps > FaceTime – again, tap your Apple Account and sign out.

Having problems updating your iPhone 18 Pro Max to the latest version of iOS? There are a few reasons why you can face these issues. Don’t be disheartened, though—there’s usually a simple solution to the problem.

Let’s look at some fixes that will help you get the latest system software running on your device properly. Here’s how to fix your iPhone when it won’t let you update iOS.

1. Charge Your iPhone

Let’s start with some basics before diving into more advanced troubleshooting. As you probably know, your iPhone won’t let you upgrade if you don’t have enough battery power. This is to prevent your device from shutting off in the middle of an update, which can cause serious problems.

Make sure you plug in your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max and have plenty of battery charge before starting the OS update. It’s a good idea to leave it on the charger while the process runs, too. That way, if it takes longer than expected, your phone won’t run out of power.

2. Wait a While Before Updating

If you try to update to the latest version of iOS as soon as it comes out, you might run into trouble. Apple’s servers go under heavy load when many thousands of people are trying to update all at once.

If you receive an error when trying to update to the latest version of iOS, try waiting for a while. You should have better luck later when the update servers aren’t under as much strain.

The update menu lets you schedule a system update to run overnight, when most people in your area won’t be trying to update. Try that, and if it doesn’t work either, wait a few days before giving it another shot.

3. Force-Restart Your Device

A one-off bug can prevent you from updating your iPhone. Restarting your phone will restart its processes and hopefully clear up any temporary glitches. If iPhone isn’t responding, and you can’t turn it off then back on, try forcing it to restart. Press and quickly release the volume up button. Press and quickly release the volume down button. Press and hold the side button. When the Apple logo appears, release the side button.

Once you’ve done this successfully, you’ll see your screen turn black. Afterward, an Apple logo will appear and you’ll be greeted by your lock screen. Your device is now fully refreshed, so you can go ahead and try to update again.

4. Free Up Space on Your Device

A lack of device storage is a common culprit for a faulty update process. Luckily, modern versions of iOS help you free up space easily. Here’s how:

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap General.
3. Tap iPhone Storage.

In this menu, you’ll see how much storage you have used and remaining. Depending on what’s taking up space, your phone will provide a few recommendations, including:

• Review Your Photos & Videos
• iCloud Photos

Offload Unused Apps deletes the install data for any apps that you rarely use. This won’t delete any of your personal files; only the app data itself is deleted. When you want to use the app again, you can redownload it as long as it’s still available on the App Store. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Apps, tap App Store, then turn on Offload Unused Apps.

iCloud Photos allows you to back up all your photos to iCloud. After doing this, you’re free to delete as many images as you want from your device, since they’re available in the cloud. However, if you do this, you’ll only be able to access your photos when you have an internet connection, since they’re no longer stored locally on your device.

You can delete messages and attachments that are older than 30 days or a year old, on an ongoing basis. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Apps, then tap Messages. Scroll down, tap Keep Messages (below Message History), then choose an option.

Once you’ve increased your free space, try the iOS update again.

5. Run the Update via iTunes or Finder

While most people are used to updating iOS right on their iPhone, you can still run a system update through your computer with iTunes or Finder. It’s not quite as convenient, but can come in handy if the over-the-air update isn’t working for you. This is also a solution if you can’t create enough free space on your device.

Connect iPhone and your computer with a cable. On a Mac (macOS 10.15 or later): In the Finder sidebar, select your iPhone, 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 iPhone near the top left of the iTunes window, then click Summary. Click Check for Update. To install an available update, click Update.

After doing this, the update should install onto your device. If you have trouble, see what to do when your iPhone won’t connect to your computer.

6. Delete Old Update Data (Including Beta Versions)

If you try to install an iOS update and it fails, the update data sits on your device so you don’t have to re-download it. But if there’s something wrong with what you downloaded, you need to delete it to force your iPhone 18 Pro Max to run the update again. See iPhone 18 Pro Max Update Stuck on Resume Download.

To do this, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage again. In the list of apps, look for an iOS update. If you see one, tap it and choose Delete Update. Then go back to the update page and try to run it again.

Similarly, if you have installed beta system software on your device, try uninstalling the beta version of iOS before attempting the update again.

7. Check Your Network and Reset Network Settings

If you can’t update through iTunes or Finder, the next step is to take a look at your network connection. A slow or unreliable Wi-Fi connection means you may not be able to update properly, both on your iPhone and through your computer.

Make sure you’re connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network when you try to update. It’s worth restarting your router if you haven’t done so in a while. If you have continued issues, you might also try connecting to another network and seeing if you have the same issue there.

If you can’t update on any Wi-Fi network, you can reset your iPhone’s network settings to start fresh. Note that this will clear out all network preferences you’ve saved, so you’ll need to reconnect to all previously saved Wi-Fi networks again. This will also reset any VPN configurations you use, as well as Bluetooth connection settings.

To reset network settings on your iPhone 18 Pro Max:

1. Open Settings and tap General.
2. Scroll down to Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Select Reset at the bottom, followed by Reset Network Settings.
4. Enter your passcode and confirm you want to do this.

Once you reset your Wi-Fi configuration, reconnect to a strong Wi-Fi network and try the iOS update again.

If you are using a VPN or a proxy service, they may cause issues. Temporarily try disabling them. Use the app to turn off its features, then see if the issue continues.

8. Reset All Settings, Then Factory Reset

If none of the above has fixed your problem, you should consider completely wiping your device. In the same Reset menu mentioned above, you can either reset all settings on your device or perform a factory reset to erase everything.

Resetting your settings probably won’t fix an update issue, but it’s worth a try first if nothing else has worked. Keep in mind that this will change all options back to their defaults, so you’ll have to configure options like privacy preferences and notifications again:

1. Launch Settings > General.
2. Choose Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Select Reset > Reset All Settings.
4. Confirm with your passcode.

All your settings are now reset; try to update again once you reconnect to Wi-Fi. If it works, great! You’ll need to put all your settings back as they were. If that didn’t fix your problem, you can go to the most extreme route and reset your device to factory defaults.

Keep in mind that factory resetting will erase all the data on your iPhone. Make sure you’ve backed up your iPhone before proceeding so you don’t lose any information.

Here’s how to factory reset your device:

1. Open Settings > General.
2. Hit Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Select Erase All Content and Settings from the bottom of the page.
4. Walk through the steps, including entering your passcode to confirm.

Your device will now revert back to its factory state. Because everything is fresh again, you’ll hopefully be able to update without issue. You can restore your iPhone backup during the setup process.

iPhone Updating Troubles: Fixed!

It’s frustrating when your iPhone 18 Pro Max won’t let you update. Hopefully, one of these fixes solved your problem and you can now enjoy the latest version of iOS.

Aside from keeping current with updates, make sure you’re taking good care of your iPhone so it serves you for many years.

There are different scenarios where you may find that your iPhone’s sound is not working. For example, maybe there’s no sound on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max when you receive a call. Or maybe your iPhone speaker doesn’t play any sound even after you adjust the volume.

Whatever’s going on, let’s look at how you can fix it when there’s no sound on your iPhone.

1. Test Your iPhone’s Speaker and Your Audio Devices

When your iPhone’s sound is not working, you should first try checking whether it’s a software or hardware problem. Here’s how:

1. Go to the Settings app.
2. Select Sounds & Haptics.

   

3. Under the Ringtone section, tap and slide the volume slider to the right. This increases the speaker volume.
4. If there is sound, your iPhone’s speaker is functional. If not, it’s likely a hardware issue that needs repairing.

Also, check that it’s not your audio devices, such as AirPods, causing the “no sound” problem. Test this by connecting them to other smartphones or computers. If they’re working like usual, it means that the issue is with your iPhone and you can now focus on solving it through this article.

2. Clean Your iPhone’s Speakers

Before moving on to troubleshooting software issues, there may simply be dust and dirt affecting speaker function, causing no sound to play on your iPhone. Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth—for example, a lens cloth. Avoid getting moisture in openings.

If it’s not dust and dirt, try to recall whether you accidentally dropped your iPhone in water recently. While iPhones are water-resistant, water may still get into your speakers. You can use the Sonic app to eject water from the speakers if this is the case.

3. Turn Off Silent Mode and Do Not Disturb

It’s convenient to use Silent Mode and Do Not Disturb to focus at work. Therefore, a simple reason why there’s no sound on your iPhone 18 Pro Max could be that these features are still turned on.

Here’s how to turn off Silent Mode:

Press and hold the Action button to turn Silent mode on. Press and hold the Action button again to turn Silent mode off. If your Action button isn’t set to Silent mode, go to the Settings app on your iPhone, tap Sounds & Haptics, then turn Silent mode on or off.

Here’s how to turn off Do Not Disturb or Focus:

1. Open Control Center, then tap Focus.

   

2. Tap the Focus that’s on to turn it off.

4. Check Your iPhone’s Audio Output

There may be no sound on your iPhone because you have Bluetooth turned on and it has automatically connected to an active Bluetooth audio device, such as wireless earbuds. Therefore, your iPhone’s sound is actually playing from those instead of the speakers.

You can disconnect the devices easily by turning off your iPhone’s Bluetooth:

1. Open the Control Center.

   

2. The Bluetooth button is blue when switched on. Tap to turn it off.

Also, check that your AirPlay isn’t connected to an external speaker. See AirPlay Not Working on iPhone 18 Pro Max. In the Control Center:

1. Tap the AirPlay button in the top-right corner.
2. Check that iPhone is selected.

Another audio-output-related issue is headphone mode. If you see a persistent headphone icon on your iPhone’s status bar, we have a guide on how to fix an iPhone stuck in headphone mode.

5. Check Your iPhone’s Sound Settings

If your iPhone isn’t on Silent Mode or connected to any Bluetooth device, the problem of the sound not working may lie in your sound settings. First, adjust your volume buttons. You may think that there’s no sound on your iPhone because you accidentally turned the volume too low. To correct this, simply press the Volume Up button on the side of your iPhone 18 Pro Max.

If you already have your device’s volume turned up, but still find that your iPhone sound is not working—for example, incoming texts have no alert sounds—here’s how to check your other sound settings:

1. In the Settings app, select Sounds & Haptics.
2. Tap a sound category, such as Text Tone or Calendar Alerts, then tap a sound to select it.
3. Make sure that None is not selected for anything.

6. Check Third-Party App Sound Settings

If there’s no sound on your iPhone when you’re using a specific app, you should check the sound settings within the app itself. For messaging apps like WhatsApp, check that you chose a notification sound and that None is not selected. For games, make sure that you didn’t mute the audio or turn off some of the music settings.

You’ll need to root around in the relevant in-app settings to find these options as they move around for every app.

7. Exit and Relaunch the Third-Party App

If you’ve already gone through all the sound settings and they’re all switched on correctly, your iPhone’s sound not working may just be an app glitch.

For instance, you may notice that an Instagram video has no sound, despite showing the audio icon. Even if you pressed your Volume Up button, the volume bar doesn’t appear either. On social media platforms like this, you can save the post, exit the app, open it again, and go to your Saved collection to enjoy the video.

You can also opt to view the video through another route. Instead of watching the video in your Instagram feed, tap into that Instagram profile and select the video from there instead.

8. Update iOS and Your iPhone Apps

Updates often come with fixes for bugs and glitches, so you can solve the issue of no sound on your iPhone by simply keeping your iOS and apps up-to-date. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap General, then tap Software Update.

9. Force Restart Your iPhone

If there’s still no sound on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max, the next method you can try is to force restart your iPhone. Don’t worry, you won’t lose any data when you force restart your iPhone. Press and quickly release the volume up button. Press and quickly release the volume down button. Press and hold the side button. When the Apple logo appears, release the side button.

10. Restore Your iPhone to a Previous Backup

Another potential solution is to restore your iPhone to a previous backup made when the sound was still working. However, take note that you will lose any new data that was added to your device since you made that backup. Even so, that might be worth it if it means fixing the sound on your iPhone again. If you already set up your device, you need to erase all of its content before you can use these steps to restore from your backup. Tap Set Up Manually, tap Restore from iCloud Backup, then follow the onscreen instructions.

11. Reset All Settings on Your iPhone 18 Pro Max

If you tried all the suggestions above but they don’t work, the last solution is to reset your iPhone’s settings. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap General, tap Transfer or Reset iPhone, then tap Reset. Then tap Reset All Settings. All settings—including network settings, the keyboard dictionary, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards—are removed or reset to their defaults. As long as you don’t select the Erase All Content and Settings option, rest assured that you will not lose any data. That said, you may need to erase all the content and set your iPhone up as new to fix the issue, so try that if the first option doesn’t work.

Fix No Sound on Your iPhone Easily

It’s common for technology to have a hiccup here and there. By following the list of solutions above, you should be able to quickly fix the problem of your iPhone’s sound not working. However, if the problem persists, it’s best to contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider for a technician to examine your device and possibly carry out a repair.

An iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max is almost useless without a working microphone. A broken microphone means no FaceTime, phone calls, or Siri. Sometimes, videos shot on your iPhone may not have any audio. But before you pay Apple for a costly repair, try these fixes first.

1. Find Out Which Microphone Isn’t Working

Before you begin fixing your iPhone’s microphone, you’ll need to know which microphone isn’t working. Your iPhone 18 Pro Max has four studio-quality microphones, including one on the bottom of your phone for phone calls, one on the front of your phone for speakerphone, and one on the back for the camera.

Test each microphone by recording using Voice Memos (bottom microphone), making a phone call on speakers (front microphone), and recording a video (back microphone). If all the microphones aren’t working, it’s most likely a hardware issue. If only one microphone isn’t working or sounds muffled, continue to the next step.

2. iPhone 18 Pro Max Microphone Muffled or Muted? Try Cleaning It

One of the simplest ways to fix your microphone is by cleaning it. If one of your microphones sounds muffled when you speak, you might just need to clean it. iPhone microphones are sensitive, and a small piece of dust or dander can affect how they sound.

To clean your microphone, avoid blowing into it at first. Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe, 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipe, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the exterior surfaces of your iPhone. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don’t submerge your iPhone in any cleaning agents.

While you’re at it, clean your entire iPhone thoroughly if it’s not in a good shape.

3. Disconnect From Bluetooth Devices

Being connected to a Bluetooth device could mean that your iPhone is activating an external microphone, and you can’t use the built-in one.

This is a common issue with those who use Bluetooth headphones like AirPods or smart home systems. Check if you’re connected to a Bluetooth device by opening your iPhone’s Control Center, then toggle Bluetooth off. Alternatively, tap and hold it to view all your connected devices.

4. Make Sure Apps Have Microphone Permissions

If your microphone isn’t working in a specific app, you might not have granted that app permission to use your microphone.

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security. Tap a hardware feature, such as Camera, Bluetooth, Local Network, or Microphone. You can turn access on or off for any app on the list.

5. Use an External Microphone or AirPods

If you’ve tried all the above fixes but nothing is working, you can still use an external microphone with your iPhone. You can use this while you wait for a repair or even use an external microphone indefinitely if you can’t afford a repair.

Most headphones, including Apple’s AirPods, have built-in microphones. Since they connect via your iPhone’s USB-C port or Bluetooth, you won’t have to rely on the built-in microphones for most tasks.

6. Other Generic Fixes

In some cases, your iPhone’s microphones might not work due to a software bug. Fortunately, updating your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max can fix various problems, including a microphone that doesn’t work. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to quickly check for a newer iOS version.

If updating iOS doesn’t resolve the issue, you may want to restore your iPhone’s settings to their default values. Sometimes, apps can customize settings, which can cause your iPhone’s microphone to stop working. Head to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings to do this.

If none of the troubleshooting methods helped, you should contact Apple to repair or replace your iPhone. It’s easy to make an Apple Store appointment at a Genius Bar, but expect to pay a hefty fee unless your iPhone is still under Apple’s limited warranty or you’ve purchased an AppleCare+ warranty.

One of the apps most used by iPhone owners is iMessage. This is because it’s a great way to keep in touch with friends and family, while being able to access messages across all of your Apple devices, be it an iPhone, an iPad, or even a Mac.

In this article we show how to get the service up and running on iPhone 18 Pro Max.

What is iMessage?

Essentially, it’s Apple’s own instant messaging service, allowing users to send text or multimedia content to others with Apple devices. Instead of needing a telephone number, as you’ll find with the likes of WhatsApp, it works via your iCloud account, which is why you can send and receive messages from your iPad and Mac as well as your iPhone.

One of its other advantages is compatibility with Memoji and Animoji, alongside various apps that can be plugged into the platform. In some regions you can even send money to recipients via Apple Cash in iMessage.

Enabling iMessage on iPhone

When you initially set up your iPhone 18 Pro Max you would have been asked to create or use an existing iCloud account. Providing you did so, then half of the job is already done, as you’ll need an iCloud account for iMessages to work.

It’s very likely that iMessages was already turned on during the setup process, but there’s no harm in being thorough. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Apps, then tap Messages.

You’ll see a new page with an option at the top to enable iMessage. Tap on the button to the right of the name so that the background turns green.

The service will now activate, which means you should also see dialog boxes appear on your iPad or Mac asking if you want your iPhone number to be added to iMessage and FaceTime.

Click Yes and now any messages sent to your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max via iMessage will also sync with your other devices.