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iCloud

In the Journal app, there are a number of ways you can protect your journal entries. You can lock your journal, sync your journal entries with iCloud, and include them in your iPad backup if you encrypt your backup and store it locally on your computer or external storage device.

Your entries, and any changes you make, show up on your iPad, iPhone, and Mac signed in to the same Apple Account, and Journal entries aren’t included in iCloud backups. With an encrypted backup, you have a copy of your entries in case your iPad is replaced, lost, or damaged.

Keep your entries in sync across your devices with iCloud

Your entries, plus any changes you make to them, show up on any iPad, iPhone, or Mac where you’ve turned on Journal in iCloud settings and signed in to the same Apple Account.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap your name, then tap iCloud.
  3. Tap See All next to Saved to iCloud, then turn on Journal.

How do I back up my journal entries?

If you want your entries included in a backup of your iPad, your iPad backup has to be encrypted and stored locally on your computer or an external storage device. iCloud backups don’t include Journal entries, but you can check that they sync to iCloud in Settings.

With encrypted backups, you’ve got a copy of your entries to use if your iPad is ever lost, damaged, or replaced.

Lock your journal

Keeping your journal private means only you can access it, using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

A screen that prompts you to use Touch ID to unlock your journal

There are a few ways to lock your journal:

  • From the Home Screen or App Library: See Lock or hide an app.
  • In the Journal app: Above the Insights summary, tap the More button, then tap Lock Journal.
  • In the Settings app: Go to Settings > Apps > Journal, then tap Lock Journal.

See also

iPhone has an easy setup process to help you get going when you first turn on your device. Whether you’re just getting started or want to make sure you have the basics set up, you’re in the right place.

You can transfer your apps and info from your previous iPhone, set up cellular service and connect to Wi-Fi, and sign in to your Apple Account. Face ID or Touch ID, Find My iPhone, and iCloud are part of it, too.

Transfer your apps and info onto your new iPhone

During setup, the first time you turn on your iPhone, you can wirelessly move many of your apps, settings, and content from your previous iPhone straight to your new iPhone. Bring the two devices close together, then follow the onscreen instructions.

The Wi-Fi options screen in Settings. Wi-Fi is turned on, and a network is selected.

Set up cellular service and connect to Wi-Fi

Depending on your model, use an eSIM from your carrier or install a physical SIM card to connect to your cellular network. To check if your iPhone is connected to your cellular plan, go to the Settings app , then tap Cellular.

To connect your iPhone to your home Wi-Fi network, go to the Settings app , tap Wi-Fi, turn on Wi-Fi, then choose your network. iPhone automatically connects to your Wi-Fi network whenever you’re home.

The Apple Account sign-in screen.

Sign in to your Apple Account

Your Apple Account is how you get into Apple services like iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Music, Apple Books, the App Store, the iTunes Store, and more.

To sign in to your Apple Account, go to the Settings app , then tap Apple Account. If you have an iPad (with iPadOS 17 or later) or another iPhone (with iOS 17 or later) that’s signed in, you can simply bring your iPhone near your other device. Otherwise, you can manually sign in.

To verify that you’re signed in, go to the Settings app , then tap your name. Your Apple Account appears below your name.

The Face ID recognition setup screen. A face is shown on the screen, enclosed in a circle. Text below the face instructs the user to move their head slowly to complete the circle.

Set up Face ID or Touch ID

Face ID (face recognition) or Touch ID (your fingerprint) can securely unlock your iPhone, sign you in to many apps, and make purchases. Face ID and Touch ID data stays on your device for your security, and it isn’t saved anywhere else.

What you do here depends on your iPhone model:

  • Set up Face ID: Go to the Settings app , tap Face ID & Passcode, tap Set up Face ID, then follow the onscreen instructions.
  • Set up Touch ID: Go to the Settings app , tap Touch ID & Passcode, tap Add a Fingerprint, then follow the onscreen instructions.

The Find My screen showing two devices at home.

Turn on Find My iPhone

With Find My iPhone turned on, you can find your iPhone if it’s ever lost or stolen.

Go to the Settings app , tap your name, tap Find My, tap Find My iPhone, then turn on Find My iPhone.

You can see the location of your devices in the Find My app or the website Find Devices.

The iCloud settings screen showing the iCloud storage meter and a list of apps and features.

Store your data in iCloud

iCloud keeps your important info safe and in sync across your devices. So if your iPhone is lost, stolen, damaged, or replaced, your photos, videos, and more stay secure in iCloud.

To turn on or change the features you want to use with iCloud, go to the Settings app , tap your name, then tap iCloud.

These guides walk you through the next steps:

Apple notes that not all features are available for all iPhone models.

Tags: iCloud, iPhone

You can use iCloud Mail Cleanup to help keep your inbox uncluttered and free up storage by deleting old promotions, unsubscribing from mailing lists, and more. When you set up iCloud Mail Cleanup recommendations, they work on any device that has iCloud Mail turned on.

Your inbox isn’t affected until you turn on a recommendation, and you can turn on iCloud Mail Cleanup on iCloud.com, too. Each recommendation can be based on status and age.

Note: iCloud Mail Cleanup may not be available in all languages.

Turn on iCloud Mail Cleanup

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap [your name], then tap iCloud.
  3. Below Saved to iCloud, tap Mail, tap iCloud Mail Cleanup. Turn on Use iCloud Mail Cleanup.

    Note: Your inbox isn’t affected until you turn on a cleanup recommendation.

You can also turn on iCloud Mail Cleanup on iCloud.com.

Turn on a cleanup recommendation

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap [your name], then tap iCloud.
  3. Below Saved to iCloud, tap Mail. Then tap iCloud Mail Cleanup.
  4. Tap Get Recommendation under one of the cleanup recommendations. For example, you can choose Clean up Transactions or Clean Up Promotions.
  5. If necessary, tap the pop-up menu for a rule. Choose another option.

    • Action: What happens to the email
    • Status: Whether the action applies to unread emails, read emails, or all emails
    • Age: How old the emails need to be before the action applies

    Tip: You can edit the rules for a recommendation at any point. Tap an active recommendation, then tap a pop-up menu to choose an option.

  6. Tap Turn On.

Delete a cleanup recommendation

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap [your name], then tap iCloud.
  3. Below Saved to iCloud, tap Mail. Then tap iCloud Mail Cleanup.
  4. Tap an active cleanup recommendation and turn it off.

Use iCloud Mail Cleanup recommendations to unsubscribe

For senders in the Updates and Promotions categories, iCloud Mail Cleanup can recommend unsubscribing in bulk and send future messages to the Trash automatically.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap [your name], then tap iCloud.
  3. Below Saved to iCloud, tap Mail. Then tap iCloud Mail Cleanup.
  4. Tap Get Recommendations under Unsubscribe Recommendations.
  5. Select each sender you want to unsubscribe from and tap Unsubscribe.

    Note: If you don’t see any recommendations, iCloud Mail Cleanup doesn’t have any recommendations at this time.

Remove a sender from the Unsubscribed list

To start receiving emails again from a sender you unsubscribed from, just remove them from the Unsubscribed list.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap [your name], then tap iCloud.
  3. Below Saved to iCloud, tap Mail. Then tap iCloud Mail Cleanup.
  4. Tap Unsubscribed and tap Edit.
  5. Tap the Delete button next to each sender you want to remove from the Unsubscribed list.

    To receive emails again from a sender you were previously unsubscribed from, you can sign up for updates and promotions through their website. After you resubscribe, future messages from that sender will go to your inbox.

Turn off iCloud Mail Cleanup

If you turn off iCloud Mail Cleanup, iCloud Mail quits managing old messages. It also erases your list of unsubscribed senders and leaves their messages alone.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap [your name], then tap iCloud.
  3. Below Saved to iCloud, tap Mail, tap iCloud Mail Cleanup. Then turn off Use iCloud Mail Cleanup.

See also

Tags: iCloud, Mail

You can create your own watchlists to organize the stocks you follow. For example, you could organize them according to categories such as entertainment or sustainability.

You can switch between watchlists, and view them on your other devices. Symbols you add to a watchlist also go into the My Symbols watchlist, and you’ll be able to add or remove symbols, rename a watchlist, or delete one.

Here’s how to manage watchlists in Stocks on iPad.

A list of customized watchlists in the Stocks app: My Symbols, Mom’s Portfolio, Sustainability, and Entertainment.

Create a new watchlist

  1. Open the Stocks app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the More button, then tap New Watchlist.
  3. Name the watchlist, then tap Save.

To switch between watchlists, tap the Watchlist menu next to the name of the current watchlist you’re viewing, then tap the name of the watchlist you want to see.

Add symbols to a watchlist

  1. Open the Stocks app on your iPad.
  2. In any watchlist, enter the name of a ticker symbol, company, fund, or index in the search field.
  3. Tap the Add button next to the symbol in the search results.
  4. Tap the Close button.

Quick tip: It’s possible to add a symbol to another watchlist, too. Swipe left on the symbol and tap Lists, then choose the watchlist you want to add it to and tap the Done button.

Any symbol you add to a watchlist also goes into the My Symbols watchlist.

Remove symbols from a watchlist

  1. Open the Stocks app on your iPad.
  2. In any watchlist, swipe left on the symbol and tap Remove.

    Note: When you remove a symbol from a watchlist you created, that symbol remains in the My Symbols watchlist. If you remove a symbol from the My Symbols watchlist, that symbol is also removed from your other watchlists.

Rearrange or sort symbols in a watchlist

How the symbols in your watchlists are sorted is up to you.

  1. Open the Stocks app on your iPad.
  2. In the watchlist you want to sort, do any of the following:

    • Rearrange a watchlist manually: Touch and hold a symbol. Then drag to place it elsewhere in the list.
    • Sort a watchlist automatically: Tap the More button, tap Sort Watchlist By, and tap how you want to sort the list. To return to manual order after automatically sorting, tap Manual.

      To reverse the order of the symbols in an automatically sorted watchlist, tap the More button, tap Sort Watchlist By, then tap Ascending or Descending.

Change the value displayed in a watchlist

You decide which value appears below each symbol’s price in a watchlist.

  1. Open the Stocks app on your iPad.
  2. In any watchlist, tap the More button.
  3. Tap Watchlist Shows and then tap one of the following options:
    • Price Change
    • Percentage Change
    • Market Cap

Tap Currency to show or hide the currency for each symbol in the watchlist.

Note: If you make changes to the currency display, they’ll apply everywhere in the app.

Reorder, rename, or remove watchlists

  1. Open the Stocks app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Menu button next to the name of the watchlist and tap Manage Watchlists. Then do any of the following:
    • Reorder your watchlists: Touch and hold the Reorder button and then drag the watchlist to a new position.
    • Rename a watchlist: Tap the Pencil button, type a new name and tap Save.
    • Remove a watchlist: Tap the Delete button, tap Delete Watchlist, and then tap Delete Watchlist to confirm.
  3. Tap the Done button.

View your watchlists on all your devices

Your watchlists follow you to any iPhone, iPad, or Mac that’s signed in to the same Apple Account.

  • On your iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud, tap See All (next to Saved to iCloud), then turn on Stocks.
  • On a Mac with macOS 13 or later: Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click your name at the top of the sidebar, click iCloud, then turn on Stocks.

See also

Tags: iCloud, Stocks

You can create rules to automatically move, delete, forward, or mark new or already-received emails as read based on specific criteria. For example, you can create a rule that sorts emails from a particular sender into a specific folder, and you can edit and delete these rules at any time.

When you have multiple rules, they’re applied in the order they appear in the list, and you can reorder them. You can also change a rule’s conditions later.

Note: You may need to wait up to 15 minutes before new or changed rules take effect on incoming emails.

Create a rule

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap your name, then tap iCloud.
  3. Below Saved to iCloud, tap Mail, tap iCloud Mail Rules and then tap Add Rule.
  4. Enter a name for the new rule.
  5. Use the pop-up menu next to Message and the text field to specify the type of emails you want to manage.
  6. Use the pop-up menu next to Action to specify an action for the rule.
  7. Tap the Add button.

Important: If you apply rules to a folder and then delete the folder or change its name, make sure to update the rules for that folder accordingly. For example, you can’t forward emails to a deleted folder.

Change a rule

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap your name, then tap iCloud.
  3. Below Saved to iCloud, tap Mail. Tap iCloud Mail Rules.
  4. Tap a rule and then specify new conditions in the pop-up menus and text fields.
  5. Tap the Done button.

Reorder rules

Multiple rules take effect in the order in which they appear in the list.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap your name, then tap iCloud.
  3. Below Saved to iCloud, tap Mail. Tap iCloud Mail Rules.
  4. Tap Edit.
  5. Press and hold the Grab button and drag a rule up or down in the list.
  6. Tap the Done button.

Delete a rule

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap your name, then tap iCloud.
  3. Below Saved to iCloud, tap Mail. Tap iCloud Mail Rules.
  4. Tap Edit, tap the Delete button next to the rule you want to delete, and then tap the Trash button.
  5. Tap the Done button.

See also

Tags: iCloud, Mail

You can use iPad as a portable recording device to record personal notes, classroom lectures, musical ideas, and more, using the built-in microphone, a supported headset, or an external microphone. You can fine-tune your recordings with editing tools like trim, replace, and resume.

When Voice Memos is turned on in iCloud settings, your recordings appear and update automatically on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac signed in to the same Apple Account. You can also filter out background sounds and record in stereo or mono.

A Voice Memo recording, showing a waveform of the recording that’s in progress, along with a time indicator, a button to pause the recording, and a button to view the transcription.

Make a basic recording

  1. Go to the Voice Memos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Record button to begin recording.

    To adjust the recording level, move the microphone closer to or farther from what you’re recording.

  3. Tap Done to finish recording.

Your recording is saved with the name New Recording or the name of your location, if Location Services is turned on in Settings > Privacy & Security. To change the name, tap the recording, then tap the name and type a new one.

To fine-tune the recording, check out our guide, Edit a recording.

Note: For your privacy, when you use Voice Memos to make recordings, an orange dot appears at the top of your screen to indicate your microphone is in use.

Filter out background sounds

Your Mono and Stereo recordings can include background sounds or leave them out.

  1. Open the Voice Memos app on your iPad.
  2. Open Control Center.
  3. Tap Voice Memos at the top of Control Center.
  4. To filter out background sounds and record only your voice, select Voice Isolation.

Record stereo or mono

Which recording mode you select determines how the recording sounds on playback.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Apps and tap Voice Memos.
  3. Tap Recording Mode, then choose one of the following:

    • Mono: Audio playback is the same in both ears.
    • Stereo: Separates audio playback between the left and right ears.

    When Stereo is selected, Voice Memos records using multiple microphones on your iPad and with right and left audio channels. If you listen to a Stereo recording through headphones, you hear different sounds from different microphones; however, the waveform display still looks the same.

Use the advanced recording features

Pausing and resuming as you record lets you make a recording in parts.

  1. Open the Voice Memos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Record button to begin a recording.

    To adjust the recording level, move the microphone closer to or farther away from what you’re recording.

    To see more details while you’re recording, swipe up from the top of the waveform.

  3. Tap the Pause button to stop recording; tap Resume to continue.
  4. To review your recording, tap the Play button.

    To change where playback begins, drag the playhead right or left across the small waveform at the bottom of the screen before you tap the Play button.

  5. To save the recording, tap Done.

Your recording is saved with the name New Recording or the name of your location, if Location Services is turned on in Settings > Privacy & Security. To change the name, tap the recording, then tap the name and type a new one.

To fine-tune your recording, read our article, Edit or delete a recording.

Mute the start and stop tones

Turning on Silent mode mutes the start and stop tones.

Open Control Center, then tap the Silent Mode Off button to turn on Silent mode.

Use another app while recording

You’re free to use another app while you’re recording, as long as it doesn’t play audio on your iPad.

  1. Open the Voice Memos app on your iPad.
  2. Tap the Record button to begin recording.
  3. While recording, you can open the Home Screen and open another app.

    If the other app starts playing audio, Voice Memos stops recording.

  4. To return to Voice Memos, tap the orange icon at the top of the screen.

With Voice Memos turned on in iCloud settings or preferences, iCloud saves your recording, and it shows up automatically on any iPhone, iPad, or Mac where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account.

Unless you turn on Stereo Recording in Settings, recordings using the built-in microphone are in Mono. To record in Stereo, you can also connect an external stereo microphone or audio interface that works with iPad. Look for the Apple “Made for iPad” or “Works with iPad” logo on the accessory.

See also

The Freeform app gives you a boundless canvas for creativity. Bring everything together on an online whiteboard, including photos, drawings, links, and files, and invite others to work with you.

Brainstorm, sketch ideas, take notes, and collect your thoughts, either by yourself or with a group. Just about any kind of file can go on a Freeform board, with no layouts or page sizes to worry about. You can also invite people to start working together.

An iPhone with the Freeform app open. The board includes handwriting, text, drawings, shapes, photos, videos, sticky notes, links, and other files.

Gather ideas freely

You can put just about any kind of file in a Freeform board without worrying about layouts or page sizes. To create a board, tap the New Board button, then tap the Add Text Box button or another option to start adding your ideas.

An iPhone with the Freeform app open, showing a sticky note with feedback from another person.

Collaborate with others

Tap the Share Board button to invite people to start working together in real time on a board. To conduct a brainstorming session or provide feedback, add a sticky note—tap the Media button, then tap Add Sticky Note.

An iPhone with the Freeform app and its drawing tools menu open. The board includes handwriting and drawings.

Get creative with the drawing tools

Tap the Drawing and Handwriting Tools button to start drawing. Tap a tool to adjust the line’s thickness, transparency, color, and more. Pinch to zoom in and out as you work.

An iPhone with the Freeform app open to the Content Hub in Apple Creator Studio.

Everything you need in one place

Subscribing to Apple Creator Studio gives you access to a rich library of premium content, along with AI-powered features like automatic cropping and photorealistic image generation.

A Mac, iPad, and iPhone with the same Freeform board open.

Start on your iPhone, keep working on your iPad or Mac

The Freeform boards you store in iCloud—and any changes you make to them—stay up to date on all your Apple devices when you’re signed in to the same Apple Account. To use iCloud with Freeform, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > See All (in the Saved to iCloud section), then turn on Freeform.

You can share your Accessibility settings with another iPhone or iPad temporarily. Say you’re borrowing a friend’s iPhone or using a public iPad: You can share your settings with that device, then remove them once you’re done. Here are some of the settings you can share with another device:

  • Zoom
  • Hover Text and Hover Typing
  • Display & Text
  • VoiceOver
  • Touch Accommodations
  • Read & Speak
  • Full Keyboard Access
  • Live Speech
  • Music Haptics
  • Audio & Visual
  • Top Button and Home Button

Note: Your Accessibility settings are the only thing shared with the other device during the sharing session.

An iPad showing a notification that Danny’s iPhone is requesting to share accessibility settings.

Share your Accessibility settings with another device

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Accessibility, then tap Share Accessibility Settings. (You may need to scroll down.)
  3. Tap Share Accessibility Settings, then tap Continue.
  4. Make sure both devices have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on and then do one of the following:

    • Select a device: Tap a device in your contacts or a device signed in to your iCloud account.
    • Bring your iPad to another device: Tap Search People Nearby and tap and hold the screen on the other device with three fingers to create a six-digit code. Enter the code on your device and select the name of the device.

      Note: To hear the six-digit code spoken aloud, continue to tap and hold the screen on the other device with three fingers.

  5. Do either of the following on the other device to accept your request to share your accessibility settings:

    • Tap Accept.
    • Tap and hold the screen on the other device with three fingers.
  6. Start using the other device with your Accessibility settings.
  7. When you’re finished using the device, do any of the following:

    • Tap the Share Accessibility Settings button in the Status Bar, then tap Stop Sharing.
    • Lock your device and let it go to sleep.
    • Triple-click the top button or Home button.

      Note: If you move more than 30 feet away from the device you’re sharing your Accessibility settings with, the session automatically ends.

Adding Share Accessibility settings to your Control Center lets you start sharing directly from Control Center; see our guide, Customize controls.

Sync your Share Accessibility Settings to iCloud

Syncing your preferences to iCloud helps if you use different Accessibility settings on different devices, since they’re then available when you share Accessibility settings between devices. For example, after you sync your iPad settings, you could later use your iPhone to share with another iPad, and your iPad accessibility preferences can be used.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Accessibility, then tap Share Accessibility Settings. (You may need to scroll down.)
  3. Turn Sync to iCloud on or off.

See also

If you sign in with your Apple Account, your health and fitness information in the Health app is stored automatically in iCloud. Your information is encrypted as it goes between iCloud and your device and while it’s stored in iCloud.

In addition to using iCloud, or if you aren’t using iCloud, you can back up your Health data by encrypting a computer backup. You can also stop storing your data in iCloud at any time. Your Health app data syncs across devices that are signed in to the same Apple Account.

Note: For your Health app data to sync across devices, make sure your devices are signed in to the same Apple Account, are connected to the internet, and are updated to the latest OS version.

Manage your Health data in iCloud

Check that your Health data is synced across all of your devices, or stop storing your data at any time.

  1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone
  2. Tap your name, then tap iCloud.
  3. Tap Show All and tap Health. Then turn Sync with iPhone on or off.
Tags: Health, iCloud