iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear

How to Lock the Journal App

The Journal App, a fun new app that came with iOS 17.2, is a great way to keep a digital journal directly from your iPhone. The Journal app has a straightforward user interface that allows you to write, upload media, add links, and keep track of important memories. For this reason, it's important to be able to keep that information private. Here's how to lock the Journal app to protect your entries from prying eyes.

How to Organize Your Calendar in 2025

(Sponsored Post) By Amy Spitzfaden Both on Thu, 02/13/2025

Apple is pretty good about updating its products, but it seems to have forgotten about the Calendar app and its many downsides. The makers of Informant 5, on the other hand, do not forget to regularly improve their app based on user experience. The latest updates to this calendar and task-management app are a productivity game-changer.

When you set out to learn coding, it can be overwhelming. There is a lot to learn, and the best way to learn something big is to break it down into manageable sections. For this reason, I was immediately drawn to Mimo. I tested competing code-learning apps and quickly felt like what I didn't know was pilling up around me. But with Mimo, I chose my goal (ie. build an app, make a website, etc.). Then the app set me up on a Track starting with the absolute basics. Plus, at the end of each course, Mimo has a section for practicing what you’ve learned. I’ll go over more on what the Mimo app does and why we love it below.

If you've just bought your first iPhone, or if you're one of the many people who just never got around to setting up their voicemail until now, you may be wondering how to open and listen to voicemail on your phone. You'll also want to learn how to delete voicemail messages, since too many undeleted messages will mean new messages can't be added to your voicemail. Voicemail on your iPhone is quick and easy to use; let's get started learning how to play voicemail messages on your iPhone, and how to delete voicemails as well, so you'll never miss a message. 

In the 87th episode, discover the best apps and gear for summertime, from a mini waterproof Bluetooth speaker to the American Red Cross apps that will help keep you safe during your outdoor adventures. Also, David shares how to set up your Nest thermostat to save the most money on utilities during summer, Donna teaches you how to create an Apple ID (and when you really shouldn't), and Sarah explains how to make the best use of your iPhone's Home screen real estate.

How to Make AirPods Louder & Quieter the Easiest Ways

Wondering why your AirPods are so quiet? AirPods Pro and AirPods volume control can be a bit non-intuitive. It's not easy for everyone to figure out how to adjust the volume on their AirPods when there are no buttons and no dials! If you've been wondering how to work AirPods and AirPods Pro volume control, read on to learn how to make your AirPods louder or lower the volume.

Find my iPhone is an Apple security feature that can help you locate a missing or stolen iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch by signing into icloud.com or using the Find My iPhone app on another iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch or on a Mac. Find my iPhone is essentially an iPhone tracker that can help locate your missing device even if the battery is dead or your phone is offline. With Send Last Location enabled, your device will transmit its location when the battery is about to die so that you have a place to start searching for it. I can't recommend highly enough that you follow the directions in this article to enable Find my iPhone and the Send Last Location feature. There are times, though, when you'll want to know how to disable Find my iPhone, such as if you're giving away or selling your device. If you're wondering how to turn off Find my iPhone, read on, and we'll go through three ways to accomplish the process, step by step. 

The iPad mini 5; to be released, or not to be released, that is the question. I'd already come to my own conclusion about Apple's iPad mini line; I felt that with the advent of larger displays on iPhones, plus the less expensive 2018 iPad that was released earlier this year, iPad minis will be discontinued. It turns out that the Apple fans who vehemently disagree with me were correct, though; the iPad mini 5 was just announced! Below are the ideas we had about features to expect if and when the latest in the mini 5 was released, including release date and features might we expect to see in a new version of the iPad mini. Finally, we wondered how much the latest iPad mini would cost. Let's get started discussing the iPad mini 5 rumors, then you can compare them to the newly-released tablet and see how close we were to accuracy! 

The developer of anxietyhelper, Amanda Southworth, was one of the recipients of Apple’s WWDC scholarship program this year. Her main focus is on helping people, and both of the apps she’s created so far have already done this. anxietyhelper is a mental health toolkit that provides easy-to-access information, resources, and tools for anyone struggling with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, bipolar disorder, or recovery. Her app has already made a big difference in my life; but I’m just one of many, which quickly becomes apparent reading the reviews. Learn more on what this app does and why we love it below.

Solo isn't just the name of a swashbucking scoundrel from the Star Wars movie of the same name. It's the name of a New-York-City-based bag manufacturer whose products you've probably seen in Staples or Best Buy. But you might not see the Kilbourn Leather Backpack ($229.99) in person, as it is only available in limited quantities from select retailers, or online at www.solo-ny.com. 

how to edit slow mo on iphone

Editing a slow-motion video is incredibly simple with your iPhone slow-mo video editor. After you’ve taken your video, you can edit it in the Photos app; choose when you want the slow motion to start, when the video clip begins and ends, what filters to use, what rotation or cropping you want, and even exposure and saturation settings. Let’s get started learning how to edit slow-motion videos on the iPhone.

If you're like me, and most Apple users, you probably have multiple iOS devices. But even if you and your household have a mixed environment of Android and Apple gear, the Udoq (starting at $124.80) universal docking system has you covered. This beautiful, award-winning, aircraft-grade aluminum docking station hides away charging cables so there's just one cable running to the A/C outlet. Speaking of aircraft, it even looks a bit like an airplane wing.


These days we have a plethora of options when it comes to finding a Qi wireless charger that best suits our needs. While these convenient charging pads have many similarities, no two are the same. In fact, one of the biggest differences I find between charging pads, aside from obvious variances in style and appearance, would have to be the charging wattage that they deliver and therefore how fast they charge. In my testing I found that all of these Qi chargers work well even with iPhones in rugged protective cases.

If you like to download and try out new apps, you know how quickly the Home Screen on your iPhone can become a disorganized mess. We've already gone over how to move apps on the iPhone, as well as how to create app folders; but there's a cool trick that makes it easier than ever to rearrange an entire Home Screens of apps at once or to drag multiple apps in to a folder at once on your iPhone. Let's get started learning how to quickly and easily get all those app icons where you want them on your Home Screen. 

I've been a fan of audiobooks since they were books on tape, and I clearly remember the very first one I ever listened to, Brahm Stoker's Dracula. Thanks to my local library, this classic audiobook was free; and as the years rolled on, I checked out the new-and-improved books on CD, until I finally modernized and started streaming audiobooks on my iPhone. I don't have a lot of time to sit down and read anymore, so the Audible app has been a great way to keep up with my favorite authors. One problem, though; I listen to far more than one book per month, and it's getting expensive to keep purchasing extra credits. That's why I'm excited to report that I've ended right where I began, with free audiobooks from my local library! There are two apps, called Libby and OverDrive, that let me borrow e-books and audiobooks, read or listen to them, and then return them all on my iPhone or iPad.  Let's get started learning how to find audiobooks on Libby and OverDrive, so you can have as much fun exploring and "reading" these free audiobooks as I am! 

Seagate has been in the data storage business since the prehistoric PC days. But unlike the dinosaurs, the company has continued to evolve its capabilities to match the changing technology market. With mobile devices superseding the PC market, Seagate has developed a mobile-friendly product that combines its spinning disk drive storage platform with wireless connectivity. Seagate's Wireless Plus Mobile Storage ($179.99) device allows users to wirelessly connect to the portable hard drive to store over a terabyte of photos, videos, documents, and other files. The device can also connect to Macs and PCs via a wired USB 3.0 connection. The same wired connection is how the device's battery can be recharged for up to 10 hours of portable use.

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