iPhone 18 Pro Max

One of the coolest features most AirPods have is that they can quickly switch between your Apple devices without you doing anything. That way, if you’re listening to music on your Mac but want to watch a video on your iPhone, you can just play that video, and your AirPods will automatically switch over to your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Of course, that can also be annoying sometimes. Fortunately, you can stop AirPods from connecting to other devices with a few taps.

How to Stop Your AirPods From Switching Devices Automatically

One of the best AirPods features you may have missed is the ability to connect automatically to other devices. However, it can become annoying if you use too many Apple devices at once.

Fortunately, you can easily keep your AirPods from switching devices. But before we start, make sure you have your AirPods with you. You’ll need to connect them to your iPhone 18 Pro Max in order to change their settings. Then follow these steps:

1. Connect your AirPods to your Apple device.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Select Bluetooth.
4. Tap the More Info button on the right side of your AirPods’ name.
5. Select Connect to This iPhone (if you don’t see that option, first tap Audio & Routing).
6. Tap When Last Connected to This iPhone.

This will stop your AirPods from switching back and forth between your Apple devices. If you want your AirPods to start switching again, just repeat the steps above but select Automatically.

Which AirPods Support Automatic Switching?

Fortunately, most AirPods support automatic switching, but if you don’t see this feature available, your AirPods are too old to use it.

These are the AirPods that support automatic switching:

• AirPods (2nd generation or later).
• AirPods Pro (1st generation or later).
• AirPods Max.

As you can see, other than the first-generation AirPods, all AirPods can use this feature.

No More Annoying Switching

Now you can wave automatic switching goodbye. You can choose when to stop your AirPods from connecting to other devices, so you never need to struggle with this feature again. And if you’re having other problems with your AirPods, you can probably fix them by yourself, too.

Seeing the “Verification Required” prompt every time you want to install an app from the App Store can be frustrating, especially when it’s free. Here’s how you can stop those annoying verification prompts on your iPhone 18 Pro Max.

1. Add or Update Your Apple Account Payment Method

Having outdated or expired payment methods for your Apple Account could trigger the “Verification Required” pop-up. This can also happen if you haven’t added any payment methods to your Apple Account.

Therefore, adding or updating your payment method information is a good place to start. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone 18 Pro Max and tap your name at the top.

   

2. Go to Payment & Shipping and then tap your current payment method. If you haven’t set up any payment methods, tap Add Payment Method.
3. Verify your card number, expiration date, and billing information. Use the Edit option in the top-right corner to update any details if required.
4. Select Remove Payment Method if the current payment method is no longer available. Then, return to the previous menu to add a new method.

After adding or updating the payment method, head over to the App Store and try downloading an app to your iPhone again.

2. Check for Failed or Pending App Store Purchases

If you have pending payments, possibly from a subscription or in-app purchases, you may encounter the “Verification Required” prompt while installing free apps. To fix this, you need to check for failed or pending App Store purchases and complete them. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to the App Store app on your iPhone.
2. Tap your picture, tap Apps & Purchase History, then tap Purchase History.
3. Look for unpaid or failed payments, and complete them.

3. Sign Out of Apple Account and Sign Back In

In most cases, completing pending Apple Account purchases or updating the payment method should stop the verification prompts when installing apps on your iPhone 18 Pro Max. However, if the issue persists, you can try signing out of your Apple Account and signing back in. This should help fix any potential glitches and stop the persistent verification prompts.

To sign out of your Apple Account on your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap your name at the top.
2. Scroll down and tap Sign Out at the bottom. Enter your Apple Account password and tap Turn Off.
3. Enable all the toggles to keep a copy of your iCloud data before you log out.
4. Tap Sign Out in the top-right corner, then tap Sign Out again when prompted.

Now, restart your iPhone, open the Settings app again, and tap Sign in to your iPhone. Log in with your Apple Account credentials, and then try to download an app from the App Store.

One or more of the above tips should stop the “Verification Required” prompts you see while installing free apps on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max. However, if nothing works, consider using the Apple Support app for expert help. An Apple support agent should be able to assist you with troubleshooting steps specific to your situation.

Auto-brightness ensures your iPhone’s screen brightness levels adapt automatically according to the light around you. For example, when you step out in the sun, the brightness increases. And inside a room, it decreases. When your iPhone’s auto-brightness feature doesn’t work, it can spoil your user experience and even consume more battery.

If auto-brightness isn’t working on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max, you can use these solutions to fix it. Once that’s done, it should be more comfortable to use your iPhone during the day, night, and any other times.

1. Clean Your iPhone’s Dynamic Island Area

The ambient light sensor is at the top of your iPhone screen. Body oils, sweat, and other such gunk may stick to this sensor when holding the phone to your ear during long calls. Due to this, it may stop your iPhone’s ambient light sensor working, which is what’s responsible for adjusting the screen brightness according to your surroundings.

To fix this, use a clean, dry cloth to wipe the top portion of your iPhone screen. After this, auto-brightness should work fine. If not, follow the remaining solutions below.

2. Restart Your iPhone

If you haven’t turned off your iPhone in a while, it can cause a few problems, like auto-brightness not working correctly. To fix this, simply restart your iPhone. 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. After the device powers on, everything should work as well as it usually does.

3. Enable and Disable Auto-Brightness

Another quick solution to fix the auto-brightness problem on your iPhone 18 Pro Max is to turn this feature off and on. Here’s how to do that:

1. Open Settings and tap Accessibility.
2. Tap Display & Text Size.
3. Turn off Auto-Brightness.
4. Restart your iPhone.
5. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and enable Auto-Brightness.

4. Update Your iPhone

When you’re running an older version of iOS, some old bugs may still be there causing issues. To fix this, you should update your iPhone to the newest version of iOS. This will ensure your device has all the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches.

To update your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update.

5. Try Turning Off Night Shift

In case none of the above solutions work for you, consider turning off Night Shift. For this:

1. Open Settings and tap Display & Brightness.
2. Tap Night Shift.
3. Turn off Manually Enable Until Tomorrow and Scheduled.

6. Remove Any Thick Screen Protectors

Are you using an abnormally thick screen protector on your iPhone? If yes, it may cause problems with the smooth working of the ambient light sensor. To address this, consider removing your screen protector. If you must use one, opt for a screen protector that’s thinner, or medium thickness, instead.

Similarly, if you have a case that covers the entire front of the device, or even partially blocks the top sensor area, remove that as well.

7. Reset All Settings

When you reset all settings, personal data like downloaded apps, music, photos, videos, and such won’t be deleted. However, all the settings you have customized to your liking will reset and return to the default options. This includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, VPN configurations, Home Screen layout, keyboard settings, and more.

After you reset all your settings, several problems such as auto-brightness not functioning should be fixed. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Settings and tap General.
2. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Tap Reset and choose Reset All Settings.
4. Enter your device passcode to confirm.

Once it completes, your iPhone should adjust the screen brightness correctly based on the light around you.

Problems With Third-Party iPhone Displays

Did you break your iPhone screen and get it repaired by an unauthorized service provider? If yes, it may cause multiple problems, like Face ID not working correctly, True Tone not functioning, and possible auto-brightness issues.

Contact Apple Support to get your device repaired by Apple authorized service providers instead.

Auto-Brightness Makes Your iPhone Easier on the Eyes

After following the above fixes, your iPhone display should automatically adjust the screen brightness to match your environment, ensuring that the screen is always comfortable to look at.

If auto-brightness still doesn’t work, you may want to turn off auto-brightness and adjust it manually until you get your iPhone 18 Pro Max inspected at an Apple Store instead.

Bluetooth has been around for decades now, and the tool has become a vital part of modern gadgets. It might do you good to learn the workings of Bluetooth on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max, especially since the iPhone’s user interface makes essential Bluetooth functions pretty easy to perform.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at what Bluetooth is, what it can be used for, where it can be found, and the basic operations that can be performed on an iPhone, including pairing, enabling, and renaming Bluetooth devices.

What Can You Use Bluetooth For?

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows you to communicate or connect with various devices through radio waves. When your iPhone is within 33 feet of a connected Bluetooth device, you can use Bluetooth on your iPhone to transfer tons of files, images, and more between the two devices.

You can also use Bluetooth to connect to third-party devices, such as speakers, AirPods, keyboards, gaming controllers, and headsets.

How to Enable or Disable Bluetooth on an iPhone 18 Pro Max

You can access the Bluetooth through the Control Center or through your iPhone’s settings. You can enable and disable Bluetooth in the iPhone’s Settings, while the Control Center will only allow you to enable it.

If you do tap on the Bluetooth button in the Control Center to turn it off, it will disconnect your iPhone from paired devices and stop new Bluetooth connections. This happens even though Bluetooth is still enabled in Settings. We’ll describe both methods of enabling and disabling Bluetooth below.

Here’s how you can enable or disable Bluetooth from Settings:

1. Open Settings and go to Bluetooth.
2. Tap on the toggle next to Bluetooth to turn it on or off.

Here’s how you can disconnect Bluetooth from Control Center:

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to access Control Center.

   

2. Tap on the Bluetooth icon to enable it or disconnect devices.
3. If the icon in the Control Center is blue, it indicates that Bluetooth is on. If the icon is gray, it indicates that Bluetooth is disconnected from all devices. If it has a diagonal line across it, it means that Bluetooth is disabled.

How to Pair or Unpair a Bluetooth Device on an iPhone 18 Pro Max

Pairing a device is a quick and easy process. Follow these steps to pair or unpair a device with your iPhone’s Bluetooth:

1. Open Settings and go to Bluetooth.
2. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled.
3. If you are pairing a new device, scroll down to Other Devices and tap on the new device to pair. Ensure the device is in range and in Bluetooth pairing mode.
4. If you are connecting a device you have paired with before, you will find the device under My Devices. Tap on it to connect. Depending on your device, you may be prompted to enter a code that appears on your screen.

To unpair a Bluetooth device from your iPhone, you should:

1. Go to Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Tap on the More Info button next to the device and select Forget This Device. Tap Forget Device to confirm.

If a Bluetooth device moves out of range, or if its Bluetooth is turned off, your iPhone will automatically disconnect from it. However, the device will not be forgotten. If Bluetooth remains enabled, it will automatically connect with previously paired devices when they come back into range.

How to Change the Name of a Bluetooth Device on an iPhone

To change the name of a Bluetooth device, you first need to ensure that your iPhone is connected to the device. You cannot rename a device if it isn’t connected. To rename a Bluetooth device on your iPhone, here’s what you’ll have to do:

1. Open Settings and go to Bluetooth.
2. Tap on the More Info button for the connected device you want to rename.
3. Select Name.
4. Type in your desired name and tap Done to finish the process.

Changing the name of a Bluetooth device will help make identification easier, create an organized and accessible list, maintain individuality, and increase efficiency.

What to Do if Bluetooth Isn’t Working on Your iPhone 18 Pro Max

Bluetooth tends to work seamlessly and is easy to operate. However, like all other technology, it isn’t perfect and might be difficult to work with at some point. There are several obvious troubleshooting tips that will help to get your Bluetooth up and running if you have any issues.

Here is a list of potential solutions to Bluetooth problems:

1. Update iOS

This can be done in Settings > General > Software Update. If your software is already up to date, move on to the next step.

2. Forget a Device and Pair It Again

This is one of the most popular fixes out there. Select Forget This Device from your Bluetooth Settings, disable Bluetooth from devices, enable it again, and try pairing it as a completely new, unrecognized device. Oftentimes, a fresh start is all your iPhone needs to get its bearings.

3. Pair the Bluetooth Device to Another iPhone

This will rule out any defects in the device you’re trying to pair. If the problem persists while connecting with another iPhone, then there might be a Bluetooth issue in the device itself. You can also do this by attempting to connect your iPhone with another Bluetooth device instead to see if your phone is working.

4. Reset the Network Settings

When all else fails, or your Bluetooth problems get too frequent, you can reset the network settings by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will wipe out all saved Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and VPN configurations on your iPhone. Just make all those connections again like you did when your phone was new.

Bluetooth Is an Indispensable Tool, So Use It Well

Bluetooth can be found in your iPhone’s Settings, and there are a number of things you can do with it. On your iPhone, you can pair, unpair, rename devices, and enable or disable Bluetooth. You can also find Bluetooth in the Control Center, which provides quick and easy access to connect or disconnect from paired devices.

Summary

• Properly pair an Apple Watch and iPhone 18 Pro Max by having both devices nearby and charged to at least 50 percent.
• Fix pairing issues by ensuring both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled and unpairing if needed.

Communication between your Apple Watch and iPhone might not always be as seamless as Apple intended. Software bugs and connectivity issues can prevent them from working together. Try these fixes if you can’t pair or connect your Apple Watch to an iPhone 18 Pro Max.

How to Pair Your Apple Watch With an iPhone Properly

To pair your Apple Watch and iPhone properly, ensure both devices are nearby and charged to at least 50 percent. Wait until you see a pop-up on your iPhone that says, “Use your iPhone to set up this Apple Watch.” Then press Continue to begin the process.

You’ll see a pairing screen on your iPhone and a unique pairing animation on your Apple Watch. Point your iPhone’s camera at this pairing animation and align it with the on-screen viewfinder. You can also pair the devices manually by tapping the “i” icon on the bottom-right corner of the Apple Watch screen and following the on-screen instructions.

Once you pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone, you can go through the rest of the initial setup, like customizing watchOS settings, signing in with an Apple Account, creating a passcode, selecting apps, and more.

How to Fix Apple Watch Pairing Issues

If you’re unable to pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone 18 Pro Max, there are a couple of things you can do.

On your iPhone, swipe down to bring up the Control Center and make sure both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are active. You need both for your iPhone to communicate with your Apple Watch.

During the pairing process, the Apple Watch’s screen should show the setup dialog box. If you see the regular watch face instead, you need to unpair your Apple Watch first because it’s already paired with another iPhone.

To prepare your Apple Watch for pairing, head to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings in watchOS.

5 Fixes if Your Apple Watch Is Not Connecting to an iPhone

Even after you’ve completed the first-time pairing process, your Apple Watch might have issues connecting to your iPhone. Here’s what to do to get the devices talking again.

1. Confirm Your Apple Watch Isn’t Connected to an iPhone

To confirm that your Apple Watch isn’t connecting to an iPhone, press the Side button to bring up the Control Center.

If you see a red X icon at the top of your Apple Watch’s screen, it means it isn’t connected to your iPhone. While on the same screen, make sure that Wi-Fi is turned on.

Next, head to your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max and confirm both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are on as well.

2. Restart Your Apple Watch and iPhone

The next step you can take is to restart both the Apple Watch and the iPhone.

On the Apple Watch, press the Digital Crown and Side button simultaneously for 10 seconds until you see the Apple logo. Wait until you see the watch face.

Then, it’s time to move on to your iPhone. 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.

3. Check for Software Updates

If your Apple Watch is still not connecting to an iPhone, make sure that both your Apple Watch and iPhone are running the most recent software.

To check for a software update on the Apple Watch, head to Settings > General > Software Update in watchOS. Likewise, you can update your iPhone software by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

4. Reset Your iPhone’s Network Settings

Another step you can take when your Apple Watch doesn’t pair or connect is to reset the Network settings on your iPhone 18 Pro Max. Doing this won’t wipe the data on your iPhone, but it will restore all network-related settings, like Wi-Fi passwords and saved Bluetooth connections, to factory default values.

On your iPhone, head to Settings > General and choose Transfer or Reset iPhone at the bottom of the list. Tap Reset to reveal additional options and choose Reset Network Settings. Enter your iPhone passcode when prompted.

5. Reset Your Apple Watch

As a final and more drastic step, it’s time to unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch with an iPhone. To start the process, go to Settings > General in watchOS. Scroll down to the bottom and select Reset. Then, select Erase All Content and Settings.

To complete the process, you’ll need to remove your Apple Watch’s Activation Lock.

Once you’ve wiped your Apple Watch, you can hopefully re-pair it with your iPhone. If that’s successful, you can set it up as a completely new device or restore it using a previous backup during the initial setup process.

As you can see, even when your Apple Watch is having communication problems, it just takes a few steps to get your wearable back up and running.

Apple’s flagship iPhone 18 Pro Max is an amazing technological achievement, but for some users there is one area where it could be greatly improved. Due to the positioning of the hardware buttons, it’s far too easy to accidentally take screenshots when picking up the device.

In this article we explain how to stop taking accidental screenshots.

How to take a screenshot on iPhone 18 Pro Max

The reason for all the accidental screenshots is down to how easy it is to take one in the first place.

Quickly press and release the side button and the volume up button at the same time.

You should see the screen flash white and hear a shutter sound effect. After you take a screenshot, it appears in full screen by default.

Now, this button combination (side button + volume up) is a potential headache. Because one is on the left and the other is on the right, and because they are both at roughly the position where your fingers and thumbs would go when picking up the device, it’s easy to take a screenshot by mistake when getting it out of your pocket.

How to prevent accidental screenshots

Unlike the Apple Watch, the iPhone doesn’t let you disable screenshots in Settings. Nor are there any third-party apps we know of that can remap the buttons or prevent the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max from taking screenshots.

Simply being aware of how the problem arises may be enough to make you more careful about grabbing the buttons when picking up the phone, but there are some common-sense solutions that may help too.

Some cases, for instance, cover over the side and volume buttons rather than exposing them through a cut-out, and such cases may make the buttons less sensitive. (Normally this would be a negative, but for these purposes it may be a positive.) If you have access to a few different cases, experiment to see if any make accidental screenshots happen less often.

In any case, iPhones won’t take a screenshot when the display is switched off – instead, pressing the side and volume up buttons merely turns the screen on.

There will still be ‘pocket screenshots’, because the screen can be woken up by movement thanks to the ‘raise to wake’ feature, and contact with the buttons at this point will grab a screengrab as before. To turn off Raise to Wake, go to the Settings app, then tap Display & Brightness.

Picture this: You’re going about your day when you receive an email from Apple saying it declined the payment option attached to your subscription service. You’re prompted to update your payment method to continue enjoying the service, but you weren’t aware your card needed updating.

Or perhaps you want to add a payment method to your Apple Account, but it gets declined. What do you do in either situation? Below, we’ll list a few steps you can take when Apple declines your payment method on your iPhone 18 Pro Max.

1. Check Your Payment Information

When Apple declines your payment method, the first thing to try is to check your payment information to ensure it’s accurate and up-to-date. If your billing details, such as your address or ZIP code, are incorrect, this can cause your payment method to be declined.

If your current payment method has expired, you must renew your credit card and update your payment information or add a new payment method.

To check your payment information on an iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max:

1. Go to Settings, then tap your Apple Account name at the top.

   

2. Tap on Payment & Shipping, then under Payment Methods, select your credit card.
3. Tap Edit, then check your card number, expiry date, CVV, and billing information. If you notice any discrepancies, update them.
4. Tap Done in the top-right corner.

There you go. You’ve successfully checked and updated your payment information.

2. Try a Different Payment Method

If Apple still declines your payment method, try a different payment method. You can add a new card to your Apple Account and see if it works.

Besides cards, you can try alternative payment methods like your Apple Account balance, an Apple Gift Card, a debit card, PayPal, or Apple Pay, depending on whether or not they’re valid in your country or region.

Check Apple’s Support page to see what payment methods you can use with your Apple Account.

3. Sign Out and Sign Back In

Sometimes, a simple sign-out is all you need to fix payment issues on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max. If your payment method is declined in the App Store, you can sign out and sign back in to see if it fixes the issue.

To sign out of the App Store on an iPhone:

1. Open Settings and tap your name.
2. Tap Media & Purchases, then tap Sign Out.

To sign back in, tap the profile icon in the top-right of the App Store and enter your Apple Account username and password.

4. Take Care of Outstanding Payments

Your card may be declined in places like the App Store or iTunes Store if you have outstanding payments. To check for unpaid purchases, view your App Store purchase history.

Do the following to view your App Store purchases on an iPhone 18 Pro Max.

1. Go to the App Store app on your iPhone.
2. Tap your picture, tap Apps & Purchase History, then tap Purchase History. You may be required to sign in.

After resolving any outstanding payments, you should be able to make purchases using your payment method. However, ensure you have sufficient funds first.

5. Contact Your Bank or Credit Card Company

If you have sufficient funds in your bank account and your payment information is accurate, but you still can’t add or use your payment method, contact your bank or credit card company. They should be able to explain the issue and help you resolve it.

6. Contact Apple Support

If all else fails, contact Apple Support as soon as possible. You can visit Apple’s Get Support site to explain your problem. An expert technician should be able to assist you with your payment method problem.

Troubleshoot Your Apple Account Payment Issues

It can be frustrating when Apple declines your payment method, but the good news is that you can try a few things to get to the root of the problem and fix it. Start by checking your payment information, then proceed from there.

Sometimes, resolving your payment issue might take a while, so be patient and ensure you try every possible solution. Eventually, you should be able to resolve the problem.

Apple’s AirTags and third-party Find My items proved a boon as people returned to travel in earnest to the extent that some airlines even recommended dropping a tracker into your luggage as an extra finding aid. However, what if you check in and then check Find My, and it looks like your bag was left behind?

This is the special nature of Find My items, Apple’s and licensed third-party ones: they rely on nearby iPhones and Macs with internet connections to relay up-to-date location information. Nearby means within Bluetooth range, which can be hundreds of feet without obstructions and a clear line of sight. However, with trackers inside luggage, with a mass of bags piled up or in bins, and with no baggage handler with an iPhone close enough for the signal to penetrate, no update will occur.

The sheer density of iPhones is high enough that it’s usually only a temporary matter before an AirTag’s weak ping over Bluetooth is picked up and passed on (encrypted, securely, without personal information attached) by someone’s device.

You can see a humorous version of this if you track your luggage during a flight. Because the cellular radios should be off on all onboard devices and because many planes offer in-flight Wi-Fi, a distorted notion of the current location of bags whose Bluetooth reaches up into the main cabin can be passed along. Your suitcase didn’t get shoved out over Lake Erie or land in the middle of a parish in Louisiana. Rather, the inaccurate current location approximation of an in-flight device was paired with your tag.

Most of us have been frustrated by how our phones handle auto-rotation at some point. Occasionally, your iPhone 18 Pro Max might not recognize that you’ve rotated it, leaving you with a less-than-optimal viewing experience.

If you’re turning your iPhone and it’s not going into landscape mode, there are several possible issues that we will go over. You might also want to know whether it’s possible to force your iPhone into landscape mode. So, let’s get started.

Troubleshooting iPhone Landscape Mode Problems

Remember, although all the methods below will let you change the screen orientation on an iPhone, your phone should theoretically adjust itself whenever you physically rotate it. If it doesn’t, here are a few troubleshooting tips to try:

1. Check the Rotation Lock

Are you sure that you haven’t accidentally enabled the rotation lock? You’ll find this toggle in the Control Center, which many iPhone users accidentally enable but realize much later when landscape mode isn’t working.

Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen.

Here, tap on the Lock Rotation button (which looks like a lock with a circular arrow) to turn it on or off. The lock will remain in place until you disable it again.

Force Landscape Mode Using AssistiveTouch

You can use AssistiveTouch to force rotate your iPhone’s screen into landscape mode, even if you’re using the device in portrait mode. This is the only built-in way to force-rotate your iPhone screen.

To use AssistiveTouch, you first need to activate it in your iPhone’s Settings:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch.
3. Make sure the toggle at the top of the screen is in the On position.
4. Tap one of the three options (Single-Tap, Double-Tap, or Long Press) and set it to Open Menu.
5. Return to your iPhone’s Home Screen.

You should now see a new floating AssistiveTouch menu button on the screen. Perform whichever action you set to Open Menu in the above steps, then go to Device > Rotate Screen. You can force-rotate left, right, or upside down.

If you’re concerned about the new onscreen icon being distracting, don’t worry. It will fade when not in use, and you can tap and drag it to move it around your screen.

Unfortunately, if you force iOS into landscape mode and then move your phone, the landscape setting will be overridden. So, you’ll have to use this option each time it resets.

The force rotate feature will not work on apps that do not support landscape view.

Use a Video Rotation App

One of the main reasons people want to rotate the screen on their iPhones is to watch videos in the correct format. Of course, videos are naturally better in landscape mode, but the nature of smartphones means many people record their videos in portrait instead.

It’s easy to rotate videos from the Edit option in the Photos app on your iPhone. But not everyone keeps their videos in this app. Thankfully, some third-party apps on the App Store allow you to rotate your iPhone videos from portrait to landscape and vice-versa. One of the best video rotation apps on iOS is Video Rotate + Flip. It’s free to use with ads, which you can remove with a one-time fee of 99 cents.

Once you’ve converted your video from portrait to landscape in the app, it will export a copy to your iPhone’s Camera Roll. You can force-rotate videos of any length, and the app does not leave watermarks. It also works with videos in your Files app or those you download from Google Drive.

Lastly, because the videos get rotated at the frame level, the output is compatible with all video players on your Mac or Windows PC. Since these videos are saved to your Photos app, you can access them from iCloud.

Download: Video Rotate + Flip (Free, premium version available)

Is Your iPhone’s Accelerometer Broken?

If you’ve checked all the solutions above but still can’t rotate your iPhone into landscape mode, it’s possible your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max has a broken accelerometer. The accelerometer is what tells your device that it’s been rotated and then rotates the screen to match.

The best way to check if your accelerometer is broken is to open an app that rotates like Notes and rotate it. If that doesn’t switch to landscape mode as it should, and Rotation Lock is off, then you might have an accelerometer issue.

It’s a possibility if you’ve eliminated every other probable cause. If you suspect this, you can make an Apple Store appointment at a Genius Bar to get it handled by experts. However, if you don’t have an Apple Store nearby, you’ll have to take your device to an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

If your iPhone is covered by Apple’s one-year limited warranty or you pay for AppleCare+, you can get its accelerometer repaired for free.

Is There Any Other Way to Rotate Your iPhone Screen?

Unfortunately, there is no other way to rotate your iPhone 18 Pro Max screen into landscape mode. This is Apple’s choice, as it discontinued landscape mode on several devices.

Because of this, many apps won’t support rotating screens either. While some do, if you’re trying to rotate the screen in an app and it’s not rotating, the app most likely doesn’t support it.

While some potential fixes exist, like removing the rotation lock and using AssistiveTouch, if you’ve tried all the methods here and your screen isn’t rotating, a broken accelerometer might be the culprit.

When your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max is in your pocket or bag, a vibration helps to inform you about an incoming call or text if you’re unable to hear the sound of your alert tone. If you’re in a quiet place like a library, it’s even more important to ensure your iPhone vibrates instead of rings so that you don’t disturb others.

To ensure your iPhone can vibrate to notify you at all times, here’s what you can do when you notice your iPhone is not vibrating on Silent or Ring mode.

1. Check Your iPhone’s Current Mode

Before proceeding to tweak your iPhone’s sound settings, check if your iPhone is in the mode you want. 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.

2. Turn On System Haptics

Haptic feedback is an iPhone feature that provides a physical response, usually in the form of a subtle pulse or vibration, as you interact with your device.

To turn on System Haptics, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics. Then, toggle on System Haptics.

3. Enable Vibration in Accessibility

Besides Sounds & Haptics, another place you need to check is your Accessibility settings. If vibration isn’t enabled here, your iPhone 18 Pro Max will not vibrate on Silent or Ring mode either.

Therefore, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch, and then toggle on Vibration.

4. Check Your Vibration Setting for Ring and Silent Mode

Now, if your iPhone vibrates on Silent mode but doesn’t on Ring mode (or vice versa), it’s likely because you set a different vibration preference for each mode. To check this, go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics.

If you want your iPhone to vibrate regardless of the mode selected, tap Haptics and choose Always Play.

5. Check the Selected Vibration Pattern for Each Alert

If you have gone through the troubleshooting methods above, but your iPhone 18 Pro Max is still not vibrating on Silent or Ring mode, it’s time to check your vibration pattern settings.

Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics. Let’s start by tapping on Ringtone. Then, tap Haptics.

This is where you can set custom vibration alerts on your iPhone. But among the vibration options available, notice that one of them is None, which means your iPhone will not vibrate at all if you select this.

Check that you have Synchronized or one of the Standard vibration patterns selected, such as Accent or Alert. If you have Custom selected, tap on it to play the vibration recording and make sure it’s not just an accidental replica of None.

After you select a valid vibration pattern for Ringtone, go back to Sounds & Haptics. Repeat these steps for Text Tone, New Voicemail, New Mail, and so on.

6. Update Your iPhone

Apple’s iOS software updates often come with bug fixes and performance improvements. So, if the above methods don’t work for you, it may simply be a bug in the software itself.

Therefore, updating your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max may be the solution when your device doesn’t vibrate on Silent or Ring mode. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap General, then tap Software Update.

7. Restart Your iPhone

Software glitches can sometimes prevent your iPhone from vibrating, whether it’s on Ring or Silent mode. In such cases, simply restarting your iPhone will resolve the problem, making this troubleshooting step worth trying. 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.

8. Reset All Settings

If all else fails, you can attempt to reset all settings on your iPhone. This procedure returns all settings on your device to the default factory state.

If you have a lot of data on your device, the process can take quite a while, so you should only try this method when you don’t need to use your iPhone immediately.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset. Choose Reset All Settings.

Do not accidentally select Erase All Content and Settings, as this will delete all the data on your iPhone.

Can You Enable Vibration for Calls and Texts Only on Your iPhone?

If the solutions above worked and your iPhone 18 Pro Max can vibrate on Silent and Ring mode again, there’s still a dilemma—what if you want your iPhone to only vibrate for incoming calls and texts, but not system haptics?

You’re not alone if you find the vibration from haptic feedback irritating and uncomfortable.

You can sacrifice vibration on Ring mode to make your iPhone vibrate only in Silent mode. To get this, you need to:

1. In Sounds & Haptics, tap Haptics and choose Play in Silent Mode.
2. Toggle on Vibration in Accessibility > Touch.

Additionally, to cut down on system haptics as much as possible on Silent mode, you can also go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Keyboard Feedback and toggle off Haptic. This way, you’ll at least avoid experiencing tapping vibrations each time you type a letter on your iPhone’s keyboard.

Use Your iPhone’s Vibrations to Be Aware of Alerts

We hope this list of fixes helped you solve the problem if your iPhone wasn’t vibrating in Silent or Ring mode. Since the old days of Nokia phones, vibrations have always helped us make sure we don’t miss out on a call or text.

When it comes to the iPhone, the key is turning on Vibration and ensuring you have a functioning vibration pattern selected for the alerts.