You might have noticed some changes to your iPad's Home screen in iPadOS 15, not all of them good. I had my Home screen arranged the way I like it, but now, when I switch from landscape orientation to portrait, the icon grid changes from 6 x 4 to 4 x 6, forcing a rearranged icon configuration. Irritating! But there's got to be a way to fix it, right? Well, kind of. We'll dig into it below.
How-To
How to Use the Interactive Globe in Maps
By Ashleigh Page
Flat earth, no more! In older versions of Apple Maps, zooming out showed you a flat display of the world. But with the recent updates to Apple Maps in iOS 15, you can now zoom out to access an interactive, highly detailed, three-dimensional globe! We'll show you how to use this fun new feature on your iPad and iPhone.
Answered: Should I Shut Down My Mac Every Night?
By Rachel Needell
Like modern Shakespeare: to sleep or not to sleep? That is the question. Well, we've finally got an answer for this age-old dilemma about whether it is better to shut down your Mac or put it to sleep before bed every night. And the answer might surprise you. We'll talk about how to shut down your Mac, what shutting down your Mac does, and how often you should shut it down.
The process of upgrading and transferring data to a new device can be painful, but Apple is seeking to fix that by offering temporary storage through iCloud. Now when you purchase a new iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, you can create a full device backup with temporary iCloud storage, then seamlessly transfer that backup to your new device. Read on to learn how to create a backup with temporary storage for data.
How to Quickly Find the Right Emoji for iPhone Messages
By Hallei Halter
When you type a message in an app that uses your iPhone keyboard, like Messages or Notes, your phone will suggest iOS emoji that you can tap to add to your text. Here's how to quickly find and use the perfect emoji for your text message.
How to Use the iPhone Camera Lock Screen Shortcut
By Conner Carey
iPhone camera access on Lock Screen is incredibly easy, though the method to access the Camera app has changed slightly through the versions. Currently, in iOS 16, there are two different methods for opening the Camera app without unlocking your phone. We'll explain both.
How to Move Your FaceTime Thumbnail Image
By Abbey Dufoe
When you're FaceTiming, you can see the other person and you can also see yourself. But say you’re FaceTiming someone on your iPad or iPhone and they’re trying to show you something from their location, or their face is covered by the small image of you. Luckily, you can easily move the thumbnail image of you!
How to Turn a Live Photo into a Long-Exposure Photo on iPhone
By Conner Carey
I’m no photographer, but Apple's long exposure feature for iPhone allows me to make any Live Photo look almost as good as a real long-exposure picture. Here’s how to use the Long-Exposure iPhone feature with a Live Photo on iPhone.
Does CVS Take Apple Pay? (2024)
By Brian Peters
Apple Pay is a convenient system for making payments from bank accounts and credit cards that comes built into major Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac). It allows you to make payments to stores when there in person, via websites, or even through apps. Unfortunately, not all stores, sites, and apps accept Apple Pay. Among the places that accept Apple Pay, however, there are some that previously did not accept Apple Pay, and have eventually started to allow the use of the payment system in their stores and on their sites. One of these stores is CVS, at least in part.
Does Walgreens Take Apple Pay? (2024)
By Leanne Hays
Does Walgreens accept Apple Pay, and how do you use Apple Pay at Walgreens? Here's how to use Apple Pay on an iPhone at Walgreens.
How to Use the iPhone’s White Noise Machine
By Rhett Intriago
Did you know that the iPhone has a secret built-in sound machine hidden in Settings? Maybe you like to go to bed just a bit earlier than everyone else, or maybe you’re a big reader in a loud household. In these circumstances, being able to use your iPhone as a sound machine is a great solution. In this tip, we’ll go over how to find your iPad or iPhone’s white noise feature.
How to Change Ringtone on iPhone
By Conner Carey
Your ringtone alerts you of incoming calls, and it can be a fun way to customize your phone. I'll teach you how to change your default ringtone and how to get custom ringtones on iPhone!
Quick Apple Pencil Tip Replacement Guide
By Olena Kagui
There are many reasons why you may need an Apple Pencil tip replacement. I will explain when and how to replace Apple Pencil tips to ensure a smooth glide that doesn’t damage your iPad’s display. I’ll also tell you everything you want to know about third-party replacement Apple Pencil tips.
How to Send Messages with Effects on iPhone
By Rachel Needell
You may have heard of Message Effects, the fun animations you can add to any text sent through the Messages app by pressing and holding the blue send button. But do you know the secret code words you can type to automatically trigger iPhone text effects? Not only is this a fun way to impress your friends, iMessage tricks are a super convenient way to make your messages a bit more snazzy with basically zero effort.
How to Add Someone to Favorites in the People Album of Photos
By Conner Carey
Did you know Apple's Photos app allows users to add Favorites to the People album? When you mark someone as a Favorite, the Photos app will place them at the top of your People album, so it’s easy to find their pictures. Here’s how to add someone to your Favorites in the People album on an iPhone.
How to Use Google Maps Offline
By Sarah Kingsbury
Have you ever asked, "Can I save a Google Map offline?" The answer is yes! If you are traveling to a place where you won't have reliable or affordable access to data or Wi-Fi, you can actually download maps in Google Maps, which allows you to save the maps you need ahead of time, and you will be able to access them offline.
How to Factory Reset Your iPhone or iPad: Erase Your iPhone & Restore Factory Settings
By Leanne Hays
If you're getting ready to trade, give away, or sell your iPhone or iPad, you're probably wondering how to erase your iPhone or iPad, then restore your iPhone or iPad to factory settings, so all your data and settings are deleted. If you want to know how to factory reset an iPhone or iPad, there are two methods for accomplishing this.
How to Hide Photos from the People Album on iPhone
By Conner Carey
You can hide a photo from a People album if it's not flattering or you don't want others to see it there. Here's how to hide photos in a People album on iPhone.
How to Retrace Your Steps with Backtrack on the Apple Watch
By Rachel Needell
The small but mighty Apple Watch continues to wow users as it becomes more and more advanced. For example, I just recently learned how to retrace my steps via the Compass app on the Apple Watch, and it's left me with a surprising sense of reassurance about going on hikes in the North Carolina mountains. But whether you live in the country or find yourself navigating a busy city, anyone can learn how to retrace their steps with Backtrack on the Apple Watch so you never get lost again.
How to Rename an Album in the Photos App on iPhone & iPad
By Leanne Hays
Sometimes I’ll expand a photo album or split it if it’s gotten too large. Then, I need to rename the album name to accurately describes the pictures it contains. If you’ve been wondering, "How do I rename an album in Photos," here’s how.