iPhone 18 Pro Max

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.

Apple’s introduced iPhones with no Home button.

But some people really miss the Home button and the simplicity with which you can use the Home button to navigate around the iPhone.

For those people who have a new iPhone 18 Pro Max and are missing the Home button that they were used to, we can let you into a secret. You can get the Home button back. Read on to find out what you need to do.

Add a Home button to iPhone screen

iOS includes an accessibility option that displays a software Home button on the screen. This came in very handy on older phones whose Home buttons malfunctioned and stopped working. But it’s equally suited to all-screen iPhone handsets which haven’t got a Home button at all.

To add a software home button to your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max this is what you need to do:

1. Open the Settings app and go to Accessibility.
2. Scroll down to Touch and tap it.
3. At the top of the next page you will see AssistiveTouch. Tap on this.
4. Turn on AssistiveTouch by tapping the slider at the top so it turns green.
5. Now a grey circle will appear on the right side of your iPhone screen. You can move to the position that is least distracting for you, or even place it where the Home button used to be.

Note that the button will become slightly transparent when left alone for a while, and you can adjust how much it does this: in the Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch menu, tap Idle Opacity and adjust the slider. The lower the number, the more transparent it will become.

Using the Home button

To use the AssistiveTouch button, you just need to tap it. This will make it open out into a larger menu with six options, including the bog-standard Home function at the bottom.

Tap this to be taken back to the Home screen, or double-tap it to open the recently opened apps picker, just like on a hardware Home button.

The other options in the menu are mostly self-explanatory:

• Control Center and Notifications bring up those menus.
• Custom is more involved, however: by default it offers Pinch and double-tap gestures, but you can add more in Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch > Create New Gesture.
• Tap Device to open up other hardware functions, such as volume up and down, mute, rotate orientation and so on.

Customising the Home button

Let’s return to the AssistiveTouch menu in Settings. This time tap Customize Top Level Menu.

In this page you can tap one of those six icons and replace it with a different function entirely, such as Speak Screen or SOS. Or you can increase (or decrease) the number of icons in the menu: the maximum is eight.

Tap Reset if you want to undo all your changes and return to the default.

Apple’s handy AirPlay feature can sometimes be quirky. And if that’s your current experience, you’re lucky we’re here to help.

There are many reasons AirPlay won’t stream audio or video content from your devices. Sometimes, it could result from a faulty internet connection. Other times, your Apple device won’t properly send content to the desired destination.

Regardless, you can fix most AirPlay issues using some easy and quick methods. Below, we’ll look at all the possible ways to fix AirPlay when it’s not working on your iPhone 18 Pro Max.

1. Check the Minimum Requirements for AirPlay

To use AirPlay to stream content to a TV, make sure you’re using Apple TV 4K or an AirPlay 2-enabled smart TV.

The AirPlay receiver (the device you’re streaming content to) must support the feature, too.

To confirm a third-party device like a smart TV supports the AirPlay feature, look for an AirPlay-enabled label on the packaging.

2. Adjust AirPlay Receiver Settings in macOS

Modern Macs running macOS Monterey or later can double as an AirPlay receiver. This makes it possible to AirPlay content from another device to your Mac and even share a Mac’s screen via AirPlay, provided the AirPlay Receiver setting is turned on, as discussed below.

To protect your privacy, only devices that use the same Apple Account as your computer are permitted to AirPlay content to your Mac. To change that, venture into System Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff and turn on the AirPlay Receiver setting on the right.

Now, even devices that don’t use the same Apple Account as your Mac can AirPlay to it. To permit any nearby devices to see your Mac as an AirPlay receiver, click Allow AirPlay for, choose Everyone from the menu, and then click the Allow Everyone button.

You can also let new devices AirPlay to your Mac without password verification by turning off the Require password option.

3. Wake Devices and Keep Them Close

If it wasn’t clear enough, remember that all your devices must be turned on and unlocked to use AirPlay. When using AirPlay on your Apple TV, ensure the device isn’t in sleep mode by clicking the remote to wake it from sleep.

Since AirPlay typically relies on peer-to-peer discovery, bring them as close to each other as possible to increase the connection strength.

4. Disable Automatic AirPlay to TVs

An iPhone may automatically AirPlay content to your Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible smart TV every time you use the feature. To stop that from happening, go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity > Automatically AirPlay and choose Never.

Doing so shall stop your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max from automatically connecting to a nearby AirPlay receiver like your Apple TV whenever you want to cast something on your Mac.

5. Turn Off Airplane Mode

When you turn on Airplane Mode initially, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, and cellular networks turn off. AirPlay requires both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so you’ll need to quit Airplane Mode to use AirPlay.

Open the Control Center on your iPhone by swiping down from the top-right corner, then touch a little airplane icon to toggle Airplane Mode. Alternatively, go to Settings > Airplane Mode to turn the feature on or off.

6. Switch on Bluetooth

Bluetooth must be enabled on both ends to allow the sender and receiver to discover each other. You can turn on Bluetooth on an iPhone in a couple of ways.

One way is to pull down from the top-right corner and enable the Bluetooth toggle in the Control Center. Alternatively, you can go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max and use the toggle to enable the feature.

7. Use the Same Wi-Fi Network

Peer-to-peer AirPlay lets AirPlay work even if the devices aren’t on the same Wi-Fi network or any network for that matter. If peer-to-peer discovery isn’t working for you, you should ensure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network for best results.

To check what network you’re currently using on your iPhone, visit Settings > Wi-Fi to view the current network name.

To check the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to on macOS, click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar or go to System Settings > Wi-Fi.

Apple TV users can check their current network in the Settings > Network menu.

If your Apple TV uses an Ethernet connection, be sure to connect it to the same router that creates your home’s Wi-Fi connection.

8. Restart Your Devices

Sometimes, the best solution is to restart all the devices you wish to use with AirPlay. On iOS, choose Settings > General > Shut Down. Drag the slider to turn off iPhone. On tvOS, select Settings > System > Restart. To restart your Mac, click the Apple menu and choose Restart.

9. Reboot Your Router

Among the reasons AirPlay cannot stream your content could be an issue with your router. It might be that your router is restricting content due to a minor problem with its firmware. In most cases, you can fix connection issues by turning a router off and back on.

10. Update Your Devices to the Latest Software

All AirPlay devices should be using the latest software version available for them.

• Updating your iPhone: Settings > General > Software Update
• Updating your Mac: System Settings > General > Software Update
• Updating your Apple TV: Settings > System > Software Updates > Update Software
• Updating your HomePod: Home app > More (…) > Home Settings > Software Update

Other Options for Connecting Apple Devices

It can be frustrating when AirPlay stops functioning when you need it most. Trying out the tips outlined above should fix your AirPlay woes. If not, it’s probably time to contact Apple Support.

AirPlay isn’t the only way to connect your iPhone 18 Pro Max to a smart TV. You should explore other ways to cast content to a TV whenever AirPlay doesn’t work for one reason or another.

Even in our increasingly wireless world, iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max owners still have to plug in to their computers every now and then. Whether it’s for backups, quick music or video transfers, or other reasons, sometimes there’s no way around it. First, you need to dig out a USB cable. And then you have to remember how to connect to iTunes (or Finder if you use a Mac with macOS Catalina or later).

But this time, there’s something wrong. Whether it’s iTunes not recognizing iPhone connections at all or you’re getting a cryptic “0xE” error, you just can’t get iTunes to work. The same applies while using Finder on newer versions of macOS. While this can be a tough problem to solve, the fix is often surprisingly easy.

Try the solutions below to fix iTunes.

1. iPhone 18 Pro Max Won’t Connect to iTunes? Start Here

There are a few extremely simple factors to check before you move on to any other solutions. First, make sure that your iPhone is unlocked and on the Home Screen. If it wasn’t in the first place, unplug it, then plug it back in. Also, make sure the cable is fully inserted into both your iPhone and computer.

Another simple fix is to restart your iPhone. This is a basic step, but works for a number of issues. Just head over to Settings > General > Shut Down to turn off the device. Then, hold down the side button to reboot it.

2. Review Trust Issues

Occasionally, when you plug your iPhone into a computer, you’ll see a prompt on the Home Screen asking if you trust the computer. If you don’t select Trust, you’ll have trouble with your iPhone not showing up in iTunes or Finder.

If you accidentally selected Don’t Trust in the past, don’t worry—there’s a way to fix that. On your iPhone, open Settings and go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy.

Now you’ll see the prompt when you plug your phone back into your computer. This time, make sure to tap Trust.

3. Check Your USB Cable

Another common problem that can lead to your iPhone 18 Pro Max not connecting to iTunes or Finder is a bad cable. First, have a look at both ends of your cable. If it seems wrinkled or frayed on either end, this is a bad sign.

However, a cable can also have connection issues even without any visual signs of damage. Perhaps one of the inside prongs is bent, or it came in contact with water and was ruined.

The cable must support both data and charging. If you have spare USB cables, try using a different cable to see if it solves your problem. Try buying a replacement USB cable if you need a new one.

4. Inspect Your Ports

Cables aren’t the only part of the physical connection that can lead to iTunes not detecting your iPhone. Your charging port can get dust and debris in it, causing incomplete connections.

If you see lint or anything else in your charging port, you may need to remove it.

The USB port on your computer can lead to trouble as well. If your iPhone 18 Pro Max won’t connect to iTunes and you’re using a USB hub, try plugging directly into your computer instead. If you’re already plugging in directly, try using a different port if one is available.

5. Update iTunes

At this point, you’ve ruled out most of the basic issues, but there’s one left. If you’re getting errors saying “iTunes could not connect to the iPhone,” try updating iTunes. If you’re using a PC, use the latest version of the Apple Devices app or iTunes.

On a Mac, click the Apple icon in the upper-left portion of the screen, then select System Settings. Click General, then Software Update. This will check for macOS system updates, which include updates to core system apps like Safari. The same goes when using Finder—updating the operating system also updates Finder.

On Windows, there are two different ways to update iTunes. The one you should use depends on how you installed the app: from Apple’s website, or via the Microsoft Store.

For the version of iTunes downloaded via the Apple website, select Help in the menu bar at the top of the app, then click Check for Updates. Follow the prompts to update iTunes through the Apple Software Update app.

If you’re using the Microsoft Store version, it should check for updates automatically. You can run a manual check by opening the Microsoft Store app. Select Library > Get updates.

Check that you’re using the latest version of iOS.

6. Mac Users: Check Your System Report

If you’ve already gone through all the relevant steps above on your Mac and your iPhone still won’t connect to iTunes or Finder, it’s time to pull out the big guns.

Hold down the Option key and click the Apple logo in the top-left portion of the screen. Then, select System Information or System Report. On the window that appears, select USB from the list on the left.

If you see your phone displayed, but Finder or iTunes won’t connect to the iPhone, you likely have a software issue. Try updating macOS or uninstalling third-party security software like antivirus and anti-malware apps.

On the other hand, if your iPhone isn’t displayed in the USB section of the menu, there may be a hardware issue. Try connecting your phone to another computer or retry the above tips about checking cables and ports.

7. Windows Users: Reinstall the Apple Mobile Device USB Driver

If you’re running Windows and none of the above steps have worked for you, there’s a likely culprit. The Apple Mobile Device USB driver can cause problems, so reinstalling it may fix your problem. This is often the case when your iPhone won’t connect to your computer at all, not just iTunes.

No matter which way you downloaded iTunes, start by disconnecting your iPhone from your computer if you haven’t already. Then, unlock your phone and make sure it’s on the Home Screen.

Now reconnect your iPhone. If either version of iTunes opens, close it.

If You Downloaded iTunes From Apple

Open a File Explorer window. At the top of window, enter the following into the address bar and press Enter:

%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers

In the panel that opens, right-click on either usbaapl64.inf or usbaapl.inf (only one will be present) and select Install.

While you may see other similarly named files here, you should only install the file ending with the .inf extension. If you can’t see file extensions, expand the View tab at the top and check the box labeled File name extensions.

Once installation is complete, disconnect your iPhone and restart your computer. Now reconnect your iPhone and launch iTunes.

If You Downloaded iTunes From the Microsoft Store

Reinstalling the Apple Mobile Device USB driver is easier if you installed iTunes via the Microsoft Store. To do so, right-click the Start button, then select Device Manager.

Scroll down until you spot the Portable Devices section. Expand this section and look for your iPhone. Then, right-click on the icon and select Update driver. In the window that pops up, select Search automatically for updated driver software.

After the installer runs, try opening iTunes and, hopefully, it will recognize your iPhone. If you still have issues with iTunes not recognizing iPhone connections, you might try completely uninstalling and reinstalling the app.

iTunes Still Doesn’t Recognize Your iPhone?

In the vast majority of cases, one of the above tips should sort out your problem. That said, your iPhone 18 Pro Max not showing up in iTunes or Finder can have many causes. When you’ve run out of fixes to try, it’s probably time to contact Apple support.

Does the audio in your AirPods keep moving from side to side while you’re listening to it? It turns out this isn’t a bug, it’s a feature: Dynamic Head Tracking. And you can turn it off in the Control Center.

Below, we’ll explain what Dynamic Head Tracking is and how to customize it for each app on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max.

What Is Dynamic Head Tracking?

Apple introduced Dynamic Head Tracking alongside Spatial Audio on the iPhone to create a more immersive audio experience. Essentially, it uses sensors in your AirPods to track your head movement, then adjusts the audio so it always sounds like it’s coming from the direction of your iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Dynamic Head Tracking is also available when you’re using your AirPods with Mac or Apple TV 4K.

This is great when you’re watching a movie: whenever you turn your head, the audio still sounds as though it’s coming from your screen, rather than moving with your head. But it’s not so great if you’re listening to a podcast with your phone in your pocket, when you always want the audio to be centered regardless of which direction you turn your head.

How Do I Turn Off Dynamic Head Tracking?

To disable Dynamic Head Tracking completely, go to Settings > Accessibility > AirPods, tap your AirPods, and disable the Follow iPhone option.

This is quick, but it’s overkill if you still want to benefit from head tracking while watching videos or using certain apps. Instead, it’s better to edit your Dynamic Head Tracking settings on an app-by-app basis, which you can do from the Control Center:

1. Use your AirPods to listen to audio from the app you want to edit.
2. Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.

   

3. Touch and hold the volume control to reveal more options.
4. Tap the Spatial Audio (or Spatialize Stereo) button in the bottom-right corner and choose Fixed or Off from the following three options:
   • Off: Disables Dynamic Head Tracking and Spatial Audio (or Spatialize Stereo)
   • Fixed: Disables Dynamic Head Tracking while enabling Spatial Audio (or Spatialize Stereo)
   • Head Tracked: Enables Dynamic Head Tracking and Spatial Audio (or Spatialize Stereo).
5. Repeat these steps for any other apps you want to fix the audio for.

Some Sounds Are Best Fixed in Place

Dynamic Head Tracking is a cool feature and it works well for movies and videos, but it’s usually little more than a distraction when you’re listening to music, audiobooks, or podcasts. That’s especially true if you aren’t looking at your iPhone 18 Pro Max while listening to audio.

Use this guide to customize Dynamic Head Tracking so it’s there when you want it, and not when you don’t.

Apple’s products aren’t known for being easy to repair – in fact you could accuse Apple of making them difficult to repair by gluing and soldering components into place and using special security fixtures which make them difficult or impossible to remove.

In addition, the company has always indicated that only authorised service providers should perform repairs and upgrades. Changing a broken iPhone 18 Pro Max screen at home isn’t considered safe for consumers. In fact, only businesses with an Apple-certified technician are supposed to perform repairs on Apple products.

With no choice but to pay for an expensive repair or buy a new iPhone, consumers frequently choose to replace their Apple product. The problem is that, according to the Right to Repair website, over 53 million tonnes of electronic waste is produced each year, and only a fraction of this is recycled.

Added to this, the fact that Apple stops supporting software updates for various products after a number of years, and the availability of parts for servicing becomes more scarce the older the product gets, means that the lifespan of Apple products isn’t as long as it could be.

Apple is by no means the only electronics company guilty of making hard to fix products that end up being thrown away before their time, but it can certainly do its part by improving the repairability of its products, and making repairs easier and cheaper.

Whether you are an environmentally conscious person looking for a new product that will have a good few years ahead of it before it becomes landfill, or someone who doesn’t want to be landed with an expensive or difficult to repair device, we have details of just how repairable Apple’s products are. And if you are looking to get an Apple product repaired we also have advice for you.

Can I repair my Apple product?

People do attempt repairs and upgrades at home, but they risk damaging their machines – and will void their warranty.

Apple sends genuine Apple parts to authorised service providers, and, since August 2019 for iPhone, independent repair businesses can also get access to genuine parts. In the past iPhones have shown error messages if non-Apple parts are used, so this isn’t an issue you can ignore.

iPhone should only be serviced by a trained technician.

For the average person we’d recommend making an appointment at an Apple Store or seeking an Apple Authorised Service Provider to carry out the repair for you. We’ll discuss how to do that next.

How do I get my Apple products repaired?

The next question is where can you go to get Apple products repaired. The obvious answer is Apple, but that’s not your only choice. We’ll run through your options below:

Apple offers you three different ways to get a product repaired, you can:

1. Visit an Apple Store.
2. Send your product to Apple.
3. Use an Apple Authorised Service Provider.

The latter option might be best if you don’t have an Apple Store nearby and don’t want to be without your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max while it’s being fixed.

Some people might be wondering if they can just walk into an Apple Store for a repair. Unfortunately that’s not an option. We’ll summarise the steps below.

How to book a repair with Apple

1. Go to Apple’s website.
2. Enter your Apple Account and password.
3. Choose your product.
4. Click Start a Service request.
5. Choose the topic that best represents your problem.
6. You’ll eventually be offered the options to talk to Apple Support, Chat, or Bring in to Repair. The latter option will allow you to make an appointment at a Genius Bar. Click on that option.
7. Enter your Apple Account and password again if required.
8. Enter your serial number. Click on the correct model.
9. The next screen will ask you to Bring in for Repair. You will be able to search for your closest Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider.

How to ship a product to Apple for repair

If you’d prefer not to go to a shop then Apple will send you a box you can use to ship it to an Apple Repair Centre. You need to ship it within 30 days.

You can arrange shipping your device to an Apple Repair Centre either over the phone or online. Apple says this service is available for most Apple products.

1. Go to Apple’s repair website.
2. Click Start a repair request.
3. Choose the product you wish to send to Apple (or enter your serial number if the product isn’t listed).
4. Choose one of the options, e.g. Set Up Online or Express Replacement (which might be an option for you if you have AppleCare+).

Does Apple repair or replace?

If you have AppleCare+ you can take advantage of the Express Replacement Service that is available for some Apple products. In this case Apple will send you a replacement product before your damaged or non-working product is returned to them (you have ten days or you will pay the full price of the replacement). There may be an additional fee.

How long do Apple repairs take?

If you are able to take your Apple product to an Apple Store or an Apple Service Provider they might be able to fix it there for you, depending on whether they have the equipment.

However, some problems may be more complex and require being sent on to an Apple Repair Centre, in which case it should take from 6-8 days.

Apple advises that iPhone repairs take between 6-8 days if you send your iPhone 18 Pro Max to an Apple Repair Centre, for example.

How much do Apple repairs cost?

The cost of Apple repairs depends on a number of factors. Generally battery and screen replacements are cheaper than other replacements. And if you have AppleCare+ you may be able to get your Apple product fixed for nothing or just a small fee – and a replacement product almost immediately.

How much does an iPhone 18 Pro Max repair cost?

iPhone battery repair

If your iPhone is still in the one year warranty period, or you have AppleCare+ the repair is free.

Can I get my Apple product repaired somewhere else?

You could use an independent repair shop but be aware that they cannot provide repairs covered by Apple’s warranty or AppleCare plans.

In 2020 Apple extended a scheme that allows small independent shops to legitimately fix iPhones.

Does Apple do free repairs?

If your product is within warranty – which is one year from the point of sale (even if you were purchasing a refurbished Apple product) – and goes wrong you can get Apple to fix it for free.

Other reasons that might help you get a free repair is if your product has been recalled or qualifies in a repair program.

How easy to repair are Apple products?

When you are choosing a new Apple product you would be wise to take into account how likely it is to get broken and how easy it will be to repair. One of the main killers of smartphones these days are batteries, another is the ease at which we break the screens – despite all the technical advances of the glass used in the manufacture of smartphones.

Apple has improved the repairability of the iPhone in terms of the screen and battery.

French legislation has already forced Apple to label products to show a repairability score. The result of the changes should lead to more reparable products with extended lifespans so that they are less likely to end up in landfill early.

Apple – and other companies – now have to indicate a ‘repairability index on products.

The repairability of a product should be part of the decision when choosing a new product to buy, and thanks to the French legislation Apple is now being forced to reveal this information.

The company includes a repairability score for many of the products it sells on its French Apple Store.

Apple’s scores are based on the following:

1. Access to documentation.
2. Disassembly (how easy it is, what tools are required, etc).
3. Availability of spare parts.
4. Price of spare parts (compared to buying new).
5. Access to software updates, free technical support and the ability to reset the software.

Apple isn’t the only one revealing how easy (or hard) it is to repair Apple products. iFixit is famous for offering guides to the repairability of various Apple products where they highlight the issues that might lead you to needing a repair in the first place – for example, the smashable glass on the front and back of the iPhone. Luckily the glass front of the iPhone is pretty simple and relatively inexpensive to repair, but replacing the glass back could be an expensive job.

Another thing to bear in mind is that there comes a time in every Apple products life when it becomes Obsolete or Vintage. Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago. Once a product is vintage Apple will only repair it if it has the parts (and then at a price, obviously). Once a product is Obsolete then there is no possibility that Apple will repair it.

How easy to repair is the iPhone 18 Pro Max?

Wondering what is the easiest iPhone to repair? Unfortunately the iPhone isn’t getting any easier to repair, although the two things most likely to need repair – the screen and the battery – are easy enough to access (although even those aren’t repairs you could perform at home).

So to wrap up, Apple products aren’t easy or cheap to fix. Apple has made it easier to replace the screen and battery in the iPhone, which is a bonus, but given that they are the things most likely to go wrong, an essential bonus.

Smashing the screen on your iPhone 18 Pro Max is sadly a common issue. We’ve all been there: you drop your beloved device, reach down and pick it up – of course it landed screen down – and inspect the damage, only to have your worst fears confirmed. The screen is shattered.

Well, chin up. It’s bad, but it’s not disastrous. You have options. In this article we round up the best ways of repairing a damaged iPhone display, and explain the pros and cons of each. We’ll have that screen repaired in no time, don’t you worry.

The tips in this article, by the way, are all about mending iPhone displays that are visibly broken.

Get Apple to repair the screen

Apple will come to the rescue and repair your cracked screen, but it won’t do this for free, even if you’re still in the warranty period, as accidental damage isn’t covered by the standard warranty.

If you went the extra mile and paid for AppleCare+ then the cost won’t be too high. But there’s still an excess fee.

Many of us will be looking for a cheaper repair than this. So, what other options are available?

Go to a high-street retailer

The high street. The one-stop shop for all your needs – including iPhone 18 Pro Max screen repairs.

The high street is where most of us will go when we break our phone or tablet screen because, generally speaking, people like the personal touch, which is something you tend not to get when using online repair services. Another point for the ‘high street vs online’ argument is that if anything goes wrong with a high-street repair then you know where to go to complain (unlike with most online services).

Repairs performed by untrained individuals or using non-genuine Apple parts may affect the safety and functionality of the device.

Down sides of high-street screen repairs

High-street retailers are an obvious option, but what of the lesser known high-street shops promising to fix your iPhone? Using a high-street retailer could be a risky process because when you leave the store, you don’t know who’s handling your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max or what they’re doing to it.

People like to keep their private lives private – and what is at the centre of most people’s lives? Smartphones. From email to texts to photos, our digital world revolves primarily around smartphones. When you take your iPhone to a high-street retailer, you’re handing over your central hub, so to speak, and there’s a small risk that your data could be browsed and even remotely stored. A lack of security regulation in smaller, independent shops could be risky, especially for business users.

Replacement screen parts are fairly easy to come across and can be bought fairly cheaply online. The issue with this is that cheap screens and parts seem to have a tendency to break more often than official Apple parts. What does that result in? More trips to the shop to get it repaired and more money spent.

Send your device to an online repair service

The next option to consider is an online repair service. With these you send the device to the company, who then completes the repair and returns it to you.

iPhone should only be serviced by a trained technician.

Poor battery life is a common complaint among smartphone owners. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an iPhone or Android user; if you use your phone a lot during the day, the battery will be lucky to make it to sundown.

However, did you know that something as simple as calibrating your iPhone’s battery can help? Let’s take a closer look at how to calibrate an iPhone’s battery and why calibration is important. Once you do this, your iPhone can last longer and be ready when you need it.

Why You Should Calibrate Your iPhone’s Battery

Calibrating your iPhone’s battery (also referred to as resetting an iPhone’s battery) is a surprisingly important part of iPhone maintenance. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize its benefits, and even fewer take the time to perform the necessary steps.

Without a correctly calibrated battery, you’re likely to experience inaccurate and erratic battery percentage readings, quicker battery drain, and a shorter total lifespan for your battery. If your iPhone 18 Pro Max shuts down unexpectedly when your battery life percentage hits single digits, poor calibration is almost certainly to blame.

Many factors can cause a battery to become incorrectly calibrated. Software updates, background app refresh, new features, and even plain old day-to-day use can all cause discrepancies. And even if you haven’t noticed an incorrect calibration, performing the steps below will ensure all the ions in the battery are flowing, thus improving the battery’s peak performance.

While you shouldn’t need to calibrate regularly, it’s worth a try if your iPhone is older or you’ve had battery issues that other steps didn’t resolve.

Preparing to Calibrate Your iPhone’s Battery

Before starting the calibration process, you should take a few steps in preparation. They all revolve around disabling features and services, so as few tasks as possible draw power.

This will help lead to an accurate reading later in the process. After you’ve reset the battery, you can re-enable all of these options. It’s also worth ensuring you haven’t accidentally enabled Low Power Mode by going to Settings > Battery > Power Mode.

Disable Location Services

To disable location services on your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap on Privacy & Security
3. Tap Location Services at the top.

   

4. Now, toggle off Location Services.

Remember, you can use Location Services to track a lost iPhone, so make sure you don’t forget to re-enable this after you’re done calibrating.

Disable Background Refresh

Follow the instructions below to turn off the background app refresh feature on your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app and tap General.
2. Select Background App Refresh.
3. Tap on Background App Refresh a second time.
4. Select the Off option.

Decrease Your Screen Brightness

Here’s how to lower the screen brightness on an iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and select Display & Brightness.
3. Move the Brightness slider all the way to the left.

Turn Off Automatic App Updates

Finally, to turn off automatic updates, follow these three steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Apps, then tap App Store.
3. Under Automatic Downloads, toggle off App Updates.

How to Calibrate Your iPhone’s Battery

Now, you’re ready to calibrate your iPhone 18 Pro Max battery. Be warned that it takes quite a bit of patience; you’ll need to wait around for a couple of complete charge and drain cycles to finish.

Luckily, you don’t need any third-party tools or apps. Anything you see in the App Store promising to reset your iPhone’s battery is, at best, unnecessary and, at worst, a scam. iPhone’s battery calibration is easy to perform without extra help.

Step 1: Drain Your iPhone’s Battery

The first step is to completely drain your iPhone’s battery. You can do so during normal usage. If you want to speed up the process, you can play a long video on YouTube with the volume turned up to the maximum level.

Step 2: Wait Three Hours

You may have noticed that your iPhone 18 Pro Max will automatically shut down even if the battery has a small percentage left. This process is by design; it gives the device a chance to save the current state of your apps so you don’t lose data.

It’s important to let the last embers of the battery life die away. The only way to do this is to wait. The longer you wait, the better, but you should wait at least three hours. If you have time, letting it sit overnight is preferable.

Step 3: Charge Your iPhone

Now, it’s time to refill the battery. To ensure optimal performance, make sure you follow these tips:

• Use a wall socket rather than a computer to charge.
• Ideally, use an official Apple charger. At the very least, make sure you use a high-quality USB-C cable and not a cheap knockoff.
• Continue to charge for a couple of hours even after your phone shows the battery as 100 percent full. You need to ensure you squeeze in every drop of power to ensure the calibration works correctly.
• If charging pauses at 80% (Optimized Battery Charging), go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Battery, then tap Resume Charging.

  

• If you set a Charge Limit, go to the Settings app, tap Battery, then tap Charge to 100%.

  

Step 4: Drain Your iPhone

Now, you need to repeat the whole process a second time. It’s the same drill as before: completely drain the power out of your device. Either use it as you normally would or play videos on loop to move it along faster.

Step 5: Wait Another Three Hours

It’s getting repetitive by now but stick with it. Once again, you need to ensure you drain that last bit of battery power from your iPhone 18 Pro Max. Like before, the longer you can leave it, the better.

Step 6: Charge Your iPhone Again

To finish the process, you need to recharge your device. Follow the same guidelines as earlier, ensuring you let your phone continue charging for a couple of hours even after it’s full.

Finally, you need to re-enable the services and functions you disabled earlier. Turn Location Services, Background Refresh, and Automatic Updates back on and turn the screen brightness back up.

And that’s it. Now, your iPhone’s battery has been recalibrated.

Enable Optimized Battery Charging and Charge Limit After Calibration

Once your iPhone is successfully calibrated, it’s time to ensure your battery won’t need another calibration, at least for a long time.

The best way to do this is by turning on Optimized Battery Charging on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max. When this is on, your iPhone learns from your typical charging routine and won’t charge past 80% until you’re about to use it.

Head to Settings > Battery > Charging > Optimized Battery Charging to toggle this on. This slows down the aging of your iPhone’s battery, keeping its maximum capacity from degrading quickly.

You can set a maximum battery level—like 80%—to help reduce battery wear, especially if you charge your iPhone frequently or keep it connected for long periods. To set it, go to the Settings app, tap Battery, then tap Charging. Choose the charge percentage that works best for you. Your iPhone will occasionally charge to 100%—even with a lower limit set—to keep the battery percentage display accurate.

Other Battery-Saving iPhone Tips

If recalibration hasn’t fixed your iPhone’s battery problems, it might be time to spend some money on a new battery. An iPhone battery should only be repaired by a trained technician to avoid battery damage, which could cause overheating, fire, or injury.

Therefore, it’s always better to make an Apple Store appointment at a Genius Bar and get it replaced with professional help. A new battery and the required labor aren’t as expensive as you might think.