How-To

Apple’s focus on accessibility has grown since its first days of larger type and simple setups, and the Sound Recognition setting is possibly the most exciting new example of Apple’s inclusivity initiative. For those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or simply frequent users of noise-canceling headphones, the Sound Recognition feature in iOS 14 can alert them to a whole host of pre-programmed recognizable sounds. I use this feature when I’m working in my studio and can’t quite hear things like the doorbell, running water, or other important sounds. Here’s how to set up Sound Recognition, how to use it, and what to know before you start.

This article will tell you what Picture in Picture is and how to use Picture in Picture on an iPhone. If you use an iPad, Picture in Picture is something you are likely familiar with, but iPhone users may not be familiar with this feature yet. Picture in Picture allows you to watch videos on your iPhone while completing other tasks at the same time. Here’s how it works:

Learn how to protect your data and limit your iPhone's Lightning port to charging only with USB restricted mode. If you lose your iPhone, or even lose sight of your phone in a public place, like plugged into the wall of the coffee shop, your data is susceptible to USB hacking tools such as keyloggers, even if it's locked. USB Restricted Mode is an iPad and iPhone security setting that can help secure your data by disabling access to the Lightning port after your device has been locked for an hour. After USB Restricted Mode turns on, your iPhone's USB/Lightning port is disabled, and you'll have to use Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to unlock your iPhone so you can use USB accessories. Let's go over how to enable restricted mode, and how to turn off or disable restricted mode.

This article will show you how to hide alerts for a group chat, so you only get notifications for group messages in which you are mentioned. Group chats in the Messages app are handy if you have information to relay to several people at once, but the sheer number of text notifications from a group message can get really annoying. Fortunately, you don't need to leave a group message to stop the barrage of notifications. There is a new iOS 14 feature that lets people tag you within a group text so that you are notified when they mention you in the chat. You can use this feature to cut down on the number of group text notifications you get without missing any important messages. Here's how.

How to Unlock a SIM Card on an iPhone

By Amy Spitzfaden Both

This article will tell you how to unlock a SIM card on your iPhone. Fortunately, running into a locked SIM card isn't something that's likely to happen by accident. The only way to get your SIM card locked is by failing to enter your SIM PIN correctly three times in a row. Because of this, it is very important that you do not try to guess your SIM PIN or PUK code. Let's take a look first at how to keep your SIM card from locking, and then how to unlock your SIM.

In addition to the AirPod settings in your iPhone’s Bluetooth menu, Apple’s AirPods Pro have many features to explore in the Accessibilty menu that provide different ways on how to customize your AirPods and change the settings on your AirPods Pro. Whether it is adjusting your AirPods’ click speed, click duration, or noise cancellation features, you are one step closer to customizing your AirPods for your next long-distance run or lunchbreak at work. In the AirPods Pro settings in the Bluetooth menu, users can adjust Noise Control options and take an Ear Tip Fit Test, but in this article, we will teach you how to customize your AirPods and how to change settings on AirPods Pro through the Accessibility menu in your iPhone’s Settings.

When I’m going on a longer bike ride or one in an unfamiliar area, I always consult Apple Maps to plan my cycling route. A new feature from Apple Maps makes this even easier, and more personalized; users can now avoid hills and busy roads! This is excellent news for those of us who are a little out of shape, and who would rather avoid excessive encounters with cars when possible. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to planning a cycling route with no hills and no busy streets in Apple Maps.

If I get a call on my iPhone when I'm busy, I'll tap Decline and immediately forget that someone called me. I was happy to discover that there's a callback feature on my iPhone that will remind me to call back later. Here's how to decline phone calls and get a callback reminder with Remind Me Later, so you won't be playing phone tag for days on end.

This article tells you how to enable app notification badges in the App Library. While the App Library does a wonderful job keeping our Home Screens clear of excess apps, many people may still want to see when their App Library-only apps have notifications. Fortunately, you can turn on iPhone notification badges A.K.A app badges, in your App Library so you can see which apps want your attention. Read on to learn how to enable app notification badges in your App Library. You must be running iOS 14 to use the App Library.

Being able to add pictures to your Notes app is a fun and useful way to increase its value. Whether you want to snap a picture of a shopping list, grab an image for a project, or help yourself remember what image goes with which words, taking pictures with the iPhone Notes app is a great option. It can be frustrating, though, when we expect a picture we took to be in our camera roll only to find it's only in the Note where we originally took the pictures. Here how to save Notes app pictures to your Camera Roll in iOS 14.

The iOS 14 Sleep tool in the Apple Health app is one of the many features Apple is offering to improve your health. You can set a bedtime, complete with a Wind Down Mode and Do Not Disturb, so your phone isn't buzzing or pinging with notifications while you try to sleep. And if you have an Apple Watch you can track your sleep. While this is a very helpful feature to those trying to get more serious about catching Z's, not every wants to go to bed at the exact same time every night of the week. A weekend or a regular early morning might lead you to need the option for different routines depending on the day of the week, so here is how to set up multiple bedtimes in the Sleep section of the Health app.

The new App Library is arguably one of the best things about iOS 14. It sorts your apps automatically and enables you to search for them alphabetically or with a Search bar, keeping you from scrolling through page after page of apps, looking for the right one. Best of all, you can organize your iPhone Home screen even further by downloading apps to the app library only, instead of having every new download appear on your Home screen. Let's take a look at how.

Besides being able to translate words, phrases, and conversations, the Translate function of iOS 14 also offers translations of whole web pages on Safari. This is a great function for when you're traveling and the default language on your browser and webpages are a language you aren't proficient in, or if you just happen to stumble across something you don't understand while browsing the internet. Turns out, it's very easy to translate a webpage to English on your iPhone, so let's take a look at how.

This guide will show you how to switch out SIM cards for all models of the iPhone. Sometimes, you just need to start over. Whether you are switching out SIM cards because you have a new carrier, because your old one stopped working, or simply because you want to swap a SIM card from an old iPhone, changing the the SIM card is easy when you know where to look. But each model is different. Fear not! We've got you covered. Read on to learn all about how to switch SIM cards by opening up the SIM tray on your iPhone.

Everyone depends on a good iPhone network connection these days. We use it at home, at work, at restaurants; it’s everywhere, and for good reason. Our iPhones are our lifeline to our friends, family, and the internet, and if you have to use your iPhone as a Wi-Fi hotspot, non-Wi-Fi data can add up quickly. So, what happens when your iPhone can’t connect to Wi-Fi? By the end of this article, you will know several tricks to help you get your Wi-FI connection back if your iPhone won't connect to Wi-Fi.

If you’re wondering how to block a website on Safari, never fear. In this tutorial, we’ll explain how to block websites on iPhone and how to block websites on an iPad running iPadOS. Most smartphone users keep their devices to themselves and have no real need to share their phones except to share pictures or lend it to a friend to make a call. There are times, however, when restricting website access is necessary. Say your kids or grandkids are over, and they want to check out your apps. You’ll want to be sure to block explicit content. Or maybe some malware or ransomware is circulating. Knowing how to block a website or sites on your iPhone or iPad will keep things safe and blocking content will automatically apply to all installed browsers, including Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Opera Touch.

How to Manage Your Apple CarPlay Apps

By Amy Spitzfaden Both

Apple CarPlay is the smarter and safer way to use your iPhone while driving. The Apple CarPlay apps available to you are designed to make changing songs, getting directions, and checking your schedule easy and safe. We’ll show you how to add and remove apps on CarPlay, and how to change their layout on your screen. You can also check out our suggestions for the best Apple CarPlay apps to try.

Prior to iOS 13.5, iPhones had the option to store a Medical ID, which could be viewed from the Lock screen by selecting it from the emergency call screen. On iOS 13.5 and later, you can conveniently automatically share your Medical ID information with emergency dispatchers. By immediately giving access to your medical conditions and blood type, among other information, dispatchers and first responders can waste less time gathering that data. They can then spend more time attending to your needs! Follow our guide to set up your iPhone to automatically send your Medical ID information during an emergency call.

Learn how to use Podcast settings to limit the number of automatic podcast episode downloads on your iPhone. Podcasts are entertaining, educational, and free in the Podcast app, so there's a temptation to subscribe to every one that catches our fancy. Unfortunately, though, if the podcasts you've subscribed to are automatically downloading, they can very quickly eat up a lot of your iPhone storage. There's a way to limit the number of episodes that your iPhone automatically downloads, so you can stop podcasts from using too much storage space. You can even set this episode limit at different numbers for different podcasts you're subscribed to! Let's get started learning how to limit podcast downloads.

Pages