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The Complete Guide to Every iOS 27 Feature

How to measure dimensions with iPad

by Tyler Stephen

You can use your iPad camera to measure nearby objects and surfaces. You can manually set the start and end points of a measurement, have iPad automatically detect the dimensions of rectangular objects, and more.

For best results, use Measure on well-defined objects 0.5 to 3 meters (2 to 10 feet) from iPad. Measurements are approximate. While you’re measuring, a green dot appears at the top of the screen to show that the camera is in use.

A screen showing the measurement of the dimensions of a box in the Measure app. The area of the box is calculated from the measurements of the dimensions.

Note: Measure works on external displays without turning on mirroring in Control Center, and the image you see on your iPad appears larger on the external display.

Start a measurement

  1. Start the Measure app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPad.
  2. Use the iPad camera to slowly scan nearby objects.
  3. Position iPad so that the object you want to measure appears on the screen.

Note: For your privacy, when you use Measure to take measurements, a green dot appears at the top of the screen to indicate your camera is in use.

Take an automatic rectangle measurement

  1. Start the Measure app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPad.
  2. Use the iPad camera to slowly scan nearby objects.
  3. When iPad detects the edges of a rectangular object, a box frames the object; tap the box to see the dimensions.
  4. To take a photo of your measurement, tap the Take Picture button.

Take a manual measurement

  1. Start the Measure app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPad.
  2. Align the dot at the center of the screen with the point where you want to start measuring. Tap the Add button.
  3. Slowly pan iPad to the end point. Then tap the Add button to see the measured length.
  4. To take a photo of your measurement, tap the Take Picture button.
  5. Take another measurement, or tap Clear to start over.

    To start over on supported models, tap the History button, then tap Clear All.

Use edge guides

Guide lines that appear automatically on supported models help you measure the height and straight edges of countertops, furniture, and other objects.

  1. Start the Measure app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPad.
  2. Position the dot at the center of the screen along the straight edge of an object until a guide appears.
  3. Tap the Add button where you want to begin measuring.
  4. Slowly pan along the guide and tap the Add button at the endpoint to see the measured length.
  5. To take a photo of your measurement, tap the Take Picture button.

Use Ruler view

Supported models also offer Ruler view, for more detail in your measurements.

  1. Start the Measure app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPad.
  2. After measuring the distance between two points, move iPad closer to the measurement line until it transforms into a ruler, showing incremental units of length.
  3. To take a photo of your measurement, tap the Take Picture button.

See also

Tag: Measure
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How to measure a person’s height with iPad

by Dave Johnson

On supported models, you can instantly measure a person’s height from the floor to the top of their head, hair, or hat, and even measure a person’s seated height in the Measure app.

A line appears at the top of the person’s head, with the height measurement just below it, and you can take a photo of the measurement. You can access and share that image from Photos or Files whenever you want, and reset the height to take the measurement again.

  1. Go to the Measure app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPad.
  2. Position iPad so that the person you want to measure appears on the screen from head to toe.

    A line appears at the top of the person’s head (or hair, or hat), with the height measurement showing just below the line.

  3. To take a photo of the measurement, tap the Take Picture button.
  4. To save the photo, tap the screenshot in the lower-left corner, tap Done, and choose Save to Photos or Save to Files.

    You can easily access and share the height measurement image from Photos or Files on iPad whenever you want.

To reset the height and take the measurement again, turn iPad away for a moment.

Tag: Measure
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How to contribute to a shared album on iPad

by Emily Long

You can add and delete photos and videos in a shared album. You can also save photos and videos from a shared album to your photo library.

When you add new photos, everyone you share the album with is notified automatically, and everyone can react with emoji and comments. Those comments and reactions are visible to all participants, and you can view shared album activity, too.

Here’s how to contribute to a shared album on iPad.

Add photos and videos to a shared album

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap Shared Albums and tap an album.
  4. Tap the More button and then tap Add Photos.
  5. Select the photos and videos you want to add, then tap the Done button.

When you add new photos, the people you share the album with are automatically notified.

Comment and react to shared album content

You can react to content in a shared album with emoji and comments that all participants can see.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap Shared Albums and tap an album.
  4. Tap a photo or video and then tap the Reactions button to react with an emoji, or tap the Comment Lines button to enter a comment.

To delete a comment, touch and hold it, then tap Delete. You can delete only your own comments, unless you’re the album organizer, who can delete any comment.

View shared album activity

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap Shared Albums and tap Activity.
  4. The latest contributions to your shared albums are shown here.

    Tap the Updates button to see a detailed feed of all activity in your shared albums.

Tap the Reactions button or the Comment Lines button below a contribution to leave a reaction or comment. Tap the More button to save content someone else contributed or to delete content that you contributed.

To view activity for a specific shared album, tap the album, then tap the Conversation button.

Filter shared album content

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap Shared Albums and tap an album.
  4. Tap the Sort and Filter button, tap Media Types or Shared By, and tap a filter option.

To remove the filter, tap the Sort and Filter button, then tap Remove Filter.

Delete photos, videos, and comments from a shared album

An organizer can delete any photos, videos, or comments in a shared album, while participants can’t delete anything but the content they personally added. Anything deleted disappears automatically from the shared album on all your devices and on every participant’s devices.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap Shared Albums and tap an album.
  4. Do either of the following:
    • Delete multiple items: Tap Select, tap the items to delete and tap the Delete button. Then tap Delete from All Devices.
    • Delete a single item: Tap the photo or video, tap the Delete button, and then tap Delete from All Devices.

To delete a comment, touch and hold it, then tap Delete. You can only delete your own comments unless you’re the album organizer, who can delete any comment.

Save photos and videos from a shared album to your library

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap Shared Albums and tap an album.
  4. Tap the More button. Then tap Save All Shared Items or Save Remaining Items.

To save a single photo or video, tap the image to open it, then tap the Save button.

See also

Tag: Photos
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How to add and remove people in a shared album on iPad

by Moses Johnson

If you created a shared album, you can invite more participants to join the album. You can also remove participants, manage album notifications, let other participants manage the album, and turn posting for participants off and on.

By default, all participants can view and comment on album content, but you can change each person’s permissions to Can Manage Album and Photos, Can Add Photos, or Can View and Comment.

Here’s how to add and remove people in a shared album on iPad.

Add participants to a shared album

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap Shared Albums and tap an album.
  4. Tap the Manage Shared Album button and tap Invite Participants.
  5. Tap a share method, enter the recipients’ details, and then send the invite.

Manage participant permissions

The organizer of a shared album can manage participant permissions. By default, all participants can view and comment on album content, contribute photos and videos, and remove any content they contributed. You can change these permissions:

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap Shared Albums and tap an album.
  4. Tap the Manage Shared Album button, tap a participant, and then tap one of the following:
    • Can Manage Album and Photos: The participant can invite other participants, rename the album, update permissions, and delete photos or videos added by others.
    • Can Add Photos: The participant can share photos and videos and remove content they contributed.
    • Can View and Comment: The participant can view and comment on photos and videos.
  5. Tap the Done button.

When participants post or comment in a shared album you’re a part of, notifications about the activity appear in the Albums Activity tab.

Remove participants from a shared album

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap Shared Albums, then tap an album you created.
  4. Tap the Manage Shared Album button.
  5. Tap the participant you want to remove.
  6. Tap Remove Participant at the bottom of the screen.

See also

Tag: Photos
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How to create shared albums in Photos on iPad

by Stacey Butler

With Shared Albums, you can create albums to share with just the people you choose—and they can add their own photos, videos, and comments for everyone to see. If you set up a shared album, you can also rename or delete it.

You need to be signed in to your Apple Account on each device you use with Shared Albums. You can also join a shared album someone else created.

Before you begin

Make sure you’re signed in to your Apple Account on your iPad and any other devices you want to use with Shared Albums.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap your name and tap iCloud. Tap Photos.
  3. Turn on Shared Albums.

Create a shared album

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Collections, then tap Shared Albums.
  3. Tap the Add button, then do the following:

    • Add photos and videos to the album: Tap Add Photos, select the items you want to add, and then tap the Done button.
    • Name the album: Type a name in the Shared Album Name text field.
    • Set sharing permissions: Tap Sharing Options. Then select People You Choose or Anyone with the Link.

      Note: If you select People You Choose and the link is shared with someone you didn’t invite, they can request access to the album. You can grant or deny the request.

    • Allow the album to expire: Turn on Make Album Temporary to set the album to expire after 30 days.
  4. Tap the Done button.

For inviting people to join the shared album, read our guide, Add and remove people in a shared album.

Note: A shared album’s content uses the organizer’s iCloud storage space, but albums set to expire don’t use any iCloud storage.

Join a shared album

Select the link you received, then select Join. You may need to ask for access, provide your email, or sign in to your Apple Account.

If you join by email and want to save the album to your account, select Join, then sign in to your Apple Account.

To view pending invitations, tap Collections, then tap your Apple Account profile.

View shared albums

You can view all of your shared albums in one place.

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap Shared Albums to see all of your shared albums and tap an album to view it.

    Tip: Tap Activity to view updates to your shared albums, such as new photos, reactions, and comments. See View shared album activity.

Rename a shared album

The creator of a shared album can change its name.

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap Shared Albums and tap an album.
  4. Tap the More button, then tap the album name.
  5. Enter a new name in the text field and then tap the Done button.

Delete or remove yourself from a shared album

  1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap Shared Albums and tap an album.
  4. Tap the More button. Tap Delete Shared Album if you created the album, or tap Leave Shared Album if you’re a participant.

Any photos you’ve saved or downloaded from a shared album to your photo library remain there, even if the shared album is deleted or its creator stops sharing it. See our article, Contribute to a shared album on iPad.

See also

Tag: Photos
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How to change your Mail settings on iPad

by Stacey Butler

You can adjust your preferences for the Mail app in Settings. Customize your email signature, mark addresses outside specific domains, and more.

You can add and remove email accounts, set a fetch schedule, and choose whether Siri makes suggestions based on the way you use Mail. You can also allow content from Mail to appear in Search, and group emails in a conversation together with Organize by Thread.

Here’s how to change your Mail settings on iPad.

The Add Account screen showing a field to enter your email address.

Customize your Mail settings

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Apps and then tap Mail.
  3. Adjust any of the following settings:
    • Mail Accounts: Add and remove email accounts.
    • Fetch New Data: Set a fetch schedule for your email accounts.
    • Siri: Allow Siri to make suggestions across apps based on the way you use Mail.
    • Search: Allow content from Mail to appear in Search.
    • Default Mail App: Choose the email app for new emails you draft outside of a specific app, such as emails you create using Siri.
    • Message List: Change settings for your message list, such as showing To/Cc labels, choosing the length of email previews, and assigning swipe actions.
    • Messages: Turn on Privacy Protection, Ask Before Deleting, and Follow Up Suggestions.
    • Threading: Turn on Organize by Thread to group emails in a conversation together in your message list. Adjust other settings for how threads appear and muting threads.
    • Composing: Customize settings for writing emails such as including attachments with replies, showing link previews, and more.
    • Undo Send Delay: Set a time period of up to 30 seconds to allow yourself to unsend a message.

Customize your email signature

Your email signature, which appears automatically at the bottom of every message you send, is customizable.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Apps and then tap Mail.
  3. Tap Signature (below Composing).
  4. Tap the text field and then edit your signature.

    You can only use text in your Mail signatures.

Quick tip: With more than one email account, you can tap Per Account and set a different signature for each one.

Mark addresses outside certain domains

Addressing an email message to a recipient who isn’t in your organization’s domain? The recipient’s name can appear in red as an alert.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Apps and then tap Mail.
  3. Tap Mark Addresses (below Composing).
  4. Enter the domains that are in your organization—ones that you don’t want marked in red.

    You can enter multiple domains separated by commas (for example, “apple.com, example.org”).

    The names of recipients in domains outside your organization appear in red, whether you send them an email or receive one from them.

Customize the Mail toolbar

To keep the actions most useful to you front and center, choose which buttons appear at the top of the Mail app.

  1. Open the Mail app on your iPad.
  2. In the menu bar, tap View and then choose Customize Toolbar.
  3. Drag buttons to add or remove them from the toolbar.

See also

Tag: Mail
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How to make a Group FaceTime call on iPad

by Tyler Stephen

In the FaceTime app, you can talk with up to 32 participants in a Group FaceTime call.

Each participant appears in a tile on the screen, and the person speaking, verbally or with sign language, becomes more prominent. You can stop that from happening. Any tiles that don’t fit on the screen sit in a row at the bottom, and you can also start a Group FaceTime call from a group Messages conversation.

Here’s how to make a Group FaceTime call on iPad.

Note: Group FaceTime calls aren’t available in all countries or regions.

A Group FaceTime call showing four participants in individual tiles at the top of the screen. Two additional participants appear together in a tile at the bottom left. At the bottom right are FaceTime controls: the Video, Microphone, More, and End Call buttons.

Start a Group FaceTime call

  1. Start the FaceTime app on your iPad.
  2. Tap New.
  3. In the field near the top of the screen, enter the names, numbers, or emails of the people you want to call.

    You can also tap the Add Contact button to open Contacts and add people from there, or tap suggested contacts.

  4. Tap FaceTime to make a video call or tap the Call button to make a FaceTime audio call.

Each participant appears in a tile on the screen. When a participant speaks (verbally or by using sign language) or you tap the tile, that tile becomes highlighted or more prominent. Tiles that can’t fit on the screen appear in a row at the bottom. To find a participant you don’t see, swipe through the row. The participant’s initials may appear in the tile if an image isn’t available.

To prevent the tile of the person speaking from becoming more prominent during a Group FaceTime call, go to the Settings app, tap Apps, tap FaceTime, then turn off Speaking below Automatic Prominence.

Note: The presenter needs a supported model for sign language detection, and both the presenter and participants need to have iOS 14, iPadOS 14, macOS 11, or later.

Start a Group FaceTime call from a group Messages conversation

From a group iMessage conversation, you can start a Group FaceTime call that includes everyone you’re chatting with in Messages.

  1. Tap the FaceTime button at the top right of the iMessage conversation.
  2. Tap FaceTime Audio or FaceTime Video.

Add another person to a call

Any participant in a FaceTime call can add another person at any time.

  1. Do one of the following:
    • During a one-on-one FaceTime call: Tap the screen to show the FaceTime controls (if they aren’t visible) and tap the More button. Then tap Add People.
    • During a Group FaceTime call: Tap the people count at the top of the screen and tap Add People.
  2. Enter the name, email, or phone number of the person you want to add, or tap the Add Contact button to add someone from Contacts. You can add multiple people.
  3. Tap Add People.

Join a Group FaceTime call

If someone invites you to join a Group FaceTime call, you get a notification of the incoming call, and you can join or decline. Check out our guide, Answer a FaceTime call.

Leave a Group FaceTime call

To leave a group call at any time, tap Leave.

If one or more participants remain, the call stays active.

See also

Tag: FaceTime
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How to flash the iPad screen or indicator light for notifications

by Abigail Shilets

On an iPad with an indicator light, you can set the LED Flash, screen, or both to blink when you receive a notification. That can be useful if you can’t hear the sounds that announce incoming calls or other alerts, or if you might miss them in a noisy environment. The indicator light is the LED on the back of iPad, next to the camera lens. You can have the indicator light flash even when iPad is unlocked or in Silent mode.

Note: Flash for Alerts is available for iPad Pro (9.7-inch), iPad Pro (10.5-inch), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation) and later, iPad Pro 11-inch (all models), and iPad mini (6th generation).

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Accessibility, tap Audio & Visual and tap Flash for Alerts. Then turn on Flash for Alerts.
  3. Select any of the following:
    • LED Flash: The indicator light on the back of the iPad flashes.
    • Screen: The iPad screen flashes.
    • Both: Both the iPad indicator light and the iPad screen flash.
  4. Turn any of the following on or off:
    • Flash While Unlocked: The indicator light flashes even when iPad is unlocked.
    • Flash in Silent Mode: The indicator light flashes even when iPad is in Silent mode.

See also

Tag: Notifications
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How to search for music on iPad

by Tyler Stephen

Using Search in the Music app, you can quickly browse through music categories, see recent searches, and search Apple Music or your library. You can browse a category such as Pop or Fitness, or search for a song, artist, or lyric. You can even find a song in Apple Music based on its lyrics.

Quick tip: To search, just describe what you’re looking for in natural language, for example, “hit songs from movies” or “nostalgic songs from the ’90s.”

  1. Open the Music app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Search in the sidebar. Then do any of the following:

    • Tap a category such as Pop or Fitness.
    • Tap the search field to quickly find items you recently searched for—a song or artist, for example.
    • Tap the search field, tap Apple Music, then enter what you’re searching for (such as a song, artist, or lyric).

      Tip: You can search for a song in Apple Music based on its lyrics. In the search field, enter a few of the words you remember to find a song.

    • Tap the search field, tap Library, then enter what you’re searching for (such as a song, album, or playlist).
  3. Tap a result to play it.

Siri: Ask Siri something like, “Play the song with the lyrics” and then say a key phrase from the lyrics. Learn how to use Siri.

The Search tab showing the sidebar at the left and a search field at the top. Below the search field, various categories of music appear. The MiniPlayer is at the bottom.

Services and features, Apple says, aren’t available in all countries or regions, and features may vary by region.

See also

Tag: Music
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How to use Adaptive Temperature and Clean Energy Guidance on iPad

by Kevin Hollington

Using the Home app and your compatible Matter thermostat, you can turn on automatic adjustments for comfort and cleaner energy guidance.

Adaptive Temperature uses settings and temperature ranges for your At Home, Night, Away, and Extended Away states, and with compatible occupancy sensors, it can adjust the temperature based on room occupancy. It can even predict arrivals. With Clean Energy Guidance, Home makes small thermostat adjustments to help reduce electricity usage while energy sources are less clean.

Adaptive Temperature

  1. Start the Home app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Home tab, tap your thermostat, tap the Settings button, and tap Adaptive Temperature.
  3. Turn on Adaptive Temperature. Choose your settings and temperature range for your At Home, Night, Away, and Extended Away states.
  4. Turn on any of the following:
    • Switch Thermostat Modes: When enabled, your thermostat will switch between Heat, Cool, Auto, and Off based on your temperature preferences. When disabled, your thermostat will stay in its current mode.
    • Occupancy Detection: With compatible occupancy sensors, Adaptive Temperature can adjust the temperature based on room occupancy.
    • Predict Arrival: Use daily routines, Apple Maps, Calendar, and more to predict arrivals and automatically precondition to your chosen At Home temperature range.
    • Activity History: Adaptive Temperature changes are logged to Activity History.

Turn off Adaptive Temperature

  1. Start the Home app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Home tab, tap your thermostat, tap the Settings button, and tap Adaptive Temperature.
  3. Turn off Adaptive Temperature.

Clean Energy Guidance

When energy sources are less clean, Home can make small adjustments to the thermostat to help reduce electricity usage.

  1. Start the Home app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Home tab and tap your thermostat. Then tap the Settings button.
  3. Turn on Optimize for Clean Energy.

Turn off Clean Energy Guidance

  1. Start the Home app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Home tab and tap your thermostat. Then tap the Settings button.
  3. Turn off Optimize for Clean Energy.

See also

Tag: Home
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