https://www.howtogeek.com We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions. Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:01:36 GMT en-US hourly 60 You don't need any special software to transfer photos and videos from an iPhone to a Windows PC. You don't even need iTunes. All you need is the Lightning-to-USB cable you use for charging.

]]> Fri, 20 Oct 2023 15:00:25 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/345540/how-to-transfer-photos-from-an-iphone-to-a-pc/ You may have noticed that some messages in iPhone's Message app are green, while some are blue. What do those colors mean and does it even matter?

]]> Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:01:45 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/214560/why-are-some-iphone-messages-green-and-some-blue-does-it-matter/ Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’ve forgotten your iPhone password and wondered if there’s a way to unlock it without restoring it? Or maybe you snagged a second-hand iPhone, only to realize you’re locked out without a clue about its passcode?

]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:01:36 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-unlock-iphone-without-password-4ukey/ Stickers might just be the iMessage feature you’ve been missing out on as an iPhone owner. With recent iOS updates, Apple has made using and creating stickers more compelling than ever.

]]> Mon, 09 Oct 2023 11:01:32 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/you-should-be-using-stickers-on-your-iphone/ Apple’s Shortcuts app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac lets you add powerful workflows to speed up or simplify common tasks—but far too many people overlook it. Let's investigate how it works and how to start creating and downloading shortcuts.

]]> Thu, 05 Oct 2023 13:01:39 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/what-are-iphone-shortcuts-and-how-do-i-use-them/ The iPhone 15 Pro is a hot commodity, but is it too hot? Some of the earliest iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users say that their phone overheats while using apps or charging. These reports are completely anecdotal, of course, but they're common enough to be worth your attention.

]]> Fri, 29 Sep 2023 20:22:21 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/does-the-iphone-15-pro-have-an-overheating-problem/ Tired of your email inbox and text messages getting cluttered up by two-factor authentication messages? You can now have your iPhone automatically tidy up behind you after you verify your logins. Here's how.

]]> Fri, 29 Sep 2023 13:00:33 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-automatically-delete-2fa-messages-on-your-iphone-and-ipad/ Apple’s introduction of the A17 Pro system-on-chip sees Apple’s chip production move to a newer, smaller process and adds a new GPU core to boot. So what’s the real-world implication of this change?

]]> Fri, 29 Sep 2023 11:00:33 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/a17-vs-a16-apple-chip/ Apple makes some of the most long-lived mobile devices out there — iPhones and iPads basically just keep on ticking. Nothing is perfect, though, and sometimes things do go wrong. Here's how you can enter Recovery Mode to fix your device.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 15:01:28 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/396530/how-to-put-your-iphone-or-ipad-into-recovery-mode/ By default, the iPhone's Messages app shows you the date and time for the first message on any given day, but not for every message sent and received. However, the exact time each message was sent is hidden — but there's an easy way to show all the exact timestamps.

]]> Tue, 19 Sep 2023 15:01:34 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/263443/how-to-see-when-a-text-message-was-sent-on-your-iphone/ Today marks the launch of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. These long-awaited updates add several features to the iPhone and iPad, including StandBy Mode, improved AirDrop sharing, a Journal app, and personalized full-screen calling cards. Unfortunately, some of the features introduced in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 won't be available until later this year. If your iPhone or iPad doesn't update automatically, you can trigger a manual update by opening Settings, tapping "General," and selecting "Software Update."

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 17:04:42 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/apple-ios-17-ipados-17-release/ iOS 17 is here and, in addition to larger changes like StandBy view and contact posters, there are lots of little changes that can be easy to miss. Here are some of our favorites.

]]> Mon, 18 Sep 2023 11:00:27 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/10-best-hidden-ios-17-improvements/ Your iPhone has a "Low Power Mode", which you'll be prompted to activate it when your phone reaches 20% battery. You can also enable Low Power Mode before that point to stretch your battery life further. Here's how it works.

]]> Sat, 16 Sep 2023 16:00:27 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/229224/how-to-use-low-power-mode-on-an-iphone-and-what-exactly-it-does/ You can create cool animated stickers using Live Photos on your iPhone. Akin to the background remover on iOS 16, Apple has introduced a new feature in iOS 17 that picks the subjects from Live Photos and converts them into animated stickers.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 13:00:27 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/create-animated-stickers-from-live-photos-on-iphone/ Your elevation is usually measured as your height above sea level. This is useful information, especially if you enjoy climbing mountains. You can find your current elevation by looking at your iPhone, and you already have the app to do it.

]]> Tue, 12 Sep 2023 15:30:26 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/435563/how-to-measure-elevation-on-your-iphone/ If you live in an apartment complex, or anywhere else with a lot of wireless networks, you've probably noticed more than just the passive-aggressive network IDs that your neighbors use — you've probably had problems with your wireless connections dropping out, or just not being as fast as you'd like. This often has to do with the Wi-Fi channels in your area.

]]> Mon, 11 Sep 2023 13:30:31 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/197268/how-to-find-the-best-wi-fi-channel-for-your-router-on-any-operating-system/ Apple AirTags are great for finding personal belongings, but what about shared items? Fortunately, you can easily share AirTags with other iPhone users in just a few taps.

]]> Sun, 10 Sep 2023 13:01:28 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-share-an-airtag/ Let friends and family know when you’ve arrived safely with Check In, a feature that’s designed to replace those “I’m home!” texts you might forget to send. Here’s what it does and how to use it.

]]> Sat, 09 Sep 2023 16:00:29 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-use-check-in-on-iphone/ Contact posters let you make a great first impression by letting you decide how you appear on other Apple devices when calling, exchanging contact info, and more. Here’s how to get started and customize yours.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 16:00:29 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-create-customize-contact-poster-iphone/ If you own any Apple hardware, it's time for a quick software update. Researchers at The Citizen Lab have discovered a zero-day exploit that allows hackers to install malware on an iPhone without any interaction from the victim. This exploit has already been used to distribute NSO Group's Pegasus spyware. To address the vulnerability, Apple is pushing security updates to the iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch.

]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2023 14:55:36 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/update-your-iphone-and-mac-to-patch-a-critical-zero-click-exploit/ The iPhone’s StandBy mode puts useful information on your iPhone display at night while your device is on your nightstand. Here’s how it works, how to customize it, and how to disable it.

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2023 13:00:27 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-enable-and-optimize-iphone-standby-mode/ If you've accidentally deleted a photo on your iPhone, there are several ways you might be able to recover it. We're going to run through a few of the ways you might be able to recover a deleted photo, and while they may not all be specific to your situation, hopefully at least one will get your photo back where it belongs — in your photo library.

]]> Thu, 07 Sep 2023 12:31:27 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/403598/how-to-recover-a-deleted-photo-on-your-iphone/ The iPhone has been around for a long time, and yet there's still no easy way to add your own custom ringtones — but it is possible. If you don't want to buy ringtones or use the ones that came with your iPhone, you can create your own with iTunes.

]]> Wed, 06 Sep 2023 14:31:28 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/248489/how-to-add-custom-ringtones-to-your-iphone/ Passing your phone to someone can feel like granting them access to your entire life. The iPhone and iPad have a feature that's perfect for these situations. It's called "Guided Access," and it restricts users from exiting a designated app.

]]> Thu, 31 Aug 2023 12:00:28 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-lock-an-app-to-the-screen-on-iphone-and-ipad/ Back in 2021, Google Photos introduced "Locked Folder," a feature that allows you to hide images behind a password or biometric verification. But Locked Folder has two major limitations — it only works on Android, and it doesn't support cloud backups. That's changing today, as Google announces Locked Folder support for iOS, plus cloud backups for locked photos. (You still have the option to keep locked photos out of the cloud, of course.)

]]> Tue, 29 Aug 2023 15:00:27 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/google-photos-update-will-help-you-hide-private-pictures/ Modern smartphones (and many digital cameras) embed GPS coordinates in each photo they take. Yes, those photos you're taking have location data embedded in them — at least by default. You may want to hide this information when sharing sensitive photos online.

]]> Tue, 29 Aug 2023 12:30:26 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/211427/how-to-see-exactly-where-a-photo-was-taken-and-keep-your-location-private/ From setting a timer that pauses music, using the hidden backspace key in the Calculator app to leveling surfaces using the hidden Spirit Level—there are a lot of hidden features in your iPhone that can change how you use the device.

]]> Tue, 29 Aug 2023 12:00:26 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/hidden-ios-features-that-will-change-the-way-you-use-your-iphone/ By saving a route on Google Maps, you can quickly get directions to your specified destination. You can save routes on your iPhone, iPad, and Android phones, and we'll show you how.

]]> Sun, 27 Aug 2023 15:00:30 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/774749/how-to-save-a-route-on-google-maps/ Using an authenticator app for two-factor authentication (2FA) is more secure than SMS messages, but what if you switch phones? Here's how to move your 2FA accounts if you use Microsoft Authenticator.

]]> Sat, 26 Aug 2023 16:00:28 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/682273/how-to-move-microsoft-authenticator-to-a-new-phone/ If you've ever needed to access your router's setup page to make some configuration changes, you know you need your router's IP address to gain access. If you've forgotten what that IP address is, here's how to find it on just about every platform.

]]> Sat, 26 Aug 2023 12:00:27 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/233952/how-to-find-your-routers-ip-address-on-any-computer-smartphone-or-tablet/ Paid apps used to be $5 or less upfront. Nowadays, it's increasingly common for paid apps to cost that same amount each month. App subscriptions have become increasingly common and, in many cases, it's completely justified. Here's why.

]]> Fri, 25 Aug 2023 13:00:26 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/heres-why-app-subscriptions-actually-make-sense/ If you're fed up with your iPhone's battery draining too quickly and are looking for simple ways to go longer without plugging it in, here are some easy tricks to improve battery life.

]]> Fri, 25 Aug 2023 12:00:27 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/easy-ways-to-increase-iphone-battery-life/ AI tools have been making waves. First, it was AI image generators, then came ChatGPT with the ability to generate human-like text conversations. The potential for this technology is incredible, and you can use it right now.

]]> Thu, 24 Aug 2023 14:30:27 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/871065/chatgpt-how-to-use-the-ai-chatbot-for-free/ Tesla does an excellent job of constantly releasing software upgrades with new features and other improvements, including the latest update for Tesla's iOS companion app. While CarPlay is still missing, you can now tell Siri to open the trunk or lock the doors thanks to iOS shortcut support.

]]> Mon, 21 Aug 2023 14:42:11 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/tesla-app-update-lets-siri-control-your-car/ Every network-connected device — computers, smartphones, tablets, smart home gadgets, and more — has an IP address and a unique MAC address that identify it on your network. Here's how to find that information on all the devices you might have lying around.

]]> Thu, 10 Aug 2023 16:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/236838/how-to-find-any-devices-ip-address-mac-address-and-other-network-connection-details/ An HEIC file is to other image files you're probably familiar with, like JPEGs or PNGs. The critical difference is that HEIC images are encoded using HEVC, which is most commonly used to compress streaming video to save data. In practice, that means that HEIC images are don't take up much storage space and they're high quality.

]]> Wed, 09 Aug 2023 16:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/345504/how-to-open-heic-files-on-windows-or-convert-them-to-jpeg/ Google Chrome 115 was just released on all platforms about two weeks ago, but Google likes to roll out features independently of major version updates. Today the company announced changes coming to the search functionality in Chrome for Android, iPhone, and iPad.

]]> Wed, 02 Aug 2023 16:00:26 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/google-chromes-search-is-changing-on-iphone-android/ Most social networks use ads to make money, but that might be most apparent on Instagram for Android and iPhone. There's tons of ads and promoted content in the Feed and Stories. We'll show you how to avoid them.

]]> Fri, 28 Jul 2023 11:01:26 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-avoid-ads-on-instagram/ The UK Parliament is currently seeking feedback for its Online Safety Bill, a proposal that's intended to regulate online interactions and fight child abuse. But several companies, including Apple, are threatening to pull services from the UK if this bill goes into law.

]]> Fri, 21 Jul 2023 18:12:24 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/159106/apple-threatens-to-shut-down-imessage-and-facetime-in-the-uk/ Plex is best known as the server software you can use to host your own streaming movie and TV collection, but it also supports music libraries. Even better, the dedicated Plexamp application gives you a more streamlined music player for your mobile devices and computers. Plex is now making the Plexamp player available to everyone, but with a few catches.

]]> Thu, 20 Jul 2023 18:51:19 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/plexamp-is-now-free-for-all/ Earlier this year at WWDC, Apple revealed the next major updates for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Now those updates have reached public beta status, so they are ready for wider testing -- and you can try them today.

]]> Wed, 12 Jul 2023 18:34:06 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/904080/you-can-now-try-ios-17-and-macos-sonoma-in-public-beta/ There's nothing like a loud bang and a bright flash of light to really make an occasion feel special. New Year's Eve, Halloween, and of course, the Fourth of July are all celebrated with fireworks. They're a pretty tricky subject to photograph, though, so let's break down what you need to know.

]]> Tue, 04 Jul 2023 12:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/314903/how-to-take-photos-of-fireworks/ OpenAI finally released an official ChatGPT app back in May, but it didn't have access to all the functionality of the web version. That's now changing.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 14:35:24 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/901896/chatgpt-on-iphone-can-now-search-with-bing/ Smart displays are great. They provide you with information at a glance when they're set down on a table, like the time, the weather, or some old pictures. Now, Apple will turn your iPhone into one.

]]> Tue, 06 Jun 2023 16:36:11 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/897143/standby-will-turn-your-iphone-into-a-smart-display/ It can be annoying to create a new contact for someone in person, which either involves reading a number or email address out loud, or handing someone your phone. Apple is working on a new option, based on AirDrop.

]]> Tue, 06 Jun 2023 16:31:25 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/897138/your-iphone-will-let-you-swap-numbers-with-airdrop/ Apple's WWDC 2023 conference gave us new hardware such as the new 15-inch MacBook Air and the Apple Vision Pro headset, but it was first and foremost a software event. The company unveiled iOS 17 as well as one of its biggest changes: Contact Posters.

]]> Tue, 06 Jun 2023 14:09:53 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/897132/contact-posters-are-coming-to-your-iphone/ Apple occasionally releases a new app for its devices, like the Freeform app that arrived last year. Today at WWDC, Apple revealed the new Journal app.

]]> Mon, 05 Jun 2023 13:41:59 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/896986/your-iphone-is-getting-a-journal-app-from-apple/ How much energy do your smartphone, laptop, and tablet chargers really use? What about laptop and tool chargers? Should you unplug them when you aren't using them to save power and money? We measured exactly how much power a variety of common chargers use---and how much keeping them plugged in will cost you each year.

]]> Sat, 03 Jun 2023 16:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/231886/tested-should-you-unplug-chargers-when-youre-not-using-them/ Scanners had their moment, but nowadays it's not as necessary to own one. However, that doesn't mean you never need to scan a document or photo. Thankfully, you probably have some tools to do it without a scanner.

]]> Thu, 01 Jun 2023 16:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/209951/the-best-ways-to-scan-a-document-using-your-phone-or-tablet/ Notifications are an essential part of the iPhone and iPad experience, but you may not always be happy with them. There are numerous ways to silence notifications, optimize the Notification Center, and only be alerted when you want to be.

]]> Sun, 28 May 2023 16:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/206516/how-to-manage-notifications-on-iphone-and-ipad/ Safari is a good browser, but if you're using an iPhone, you've probably been tempted by the many choices that are present on the Apple App Store. Now, a new one is joining the list, as the Vivaldi browser is working on an iPhone version.

]]> Fri, 26 May 2023 11:59:16 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/895452/the-vivaldi-browser-is-coming-to-iphone/ Two screens are better than one---at least, that's what some people think. If you have an iPad, you already have a second monitor that can be used with a Windows or Mac computer. It's probably easier than you think, too.

]]> Wed, 24 May 2023 16:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/100886/how-to-use-your-ipad-as-a-second-monitor-for-your-pc-or-mac/ Apple doesn't believe in excessive tutorials, so some handy tricks slip through the cracks. One such trick that you may find particularly useful is the ability to move multiple app icons at once on the iPhone or iPad home screen.

]]> Mon, 22 May 2023 13:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/344170/how-to-move-multiple-apps-at-once-on-iphone-or-ipad/ Apple has added an increasingly sophisticated app permission system to the iPhone and iPad over the years. You get to decide whether an app gets access to everything from your device's sensors and personal information to notifications and cellular data.

]]> Sun, 21 May 2023 15:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/211623/how-to-manage-app-permissions-on-your-iphone-or-ipad/ iPhones and iPads are known for their ability to "just work," but no technology is perfect. If you've pressed the Power button and the screen won't turn on, don't worry. You can probably make it boot again.

]]> Sat, 20 May 2023 13:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/216839/what-to-do-when-your-iphone-or-ipad-wont-turn-on/ It seems like storage space is one of the biggest complaints from iPhone and iPad users, thanks to apps taking up more and more real estate, and media becoming more storage-hungry than ever. Here's how to fix that.

]]> Fri, 19 May 2023 15:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/191264/how-to-free-up-space-on-an-iphone-or-ipad/ Microsoft Loop entered public preview earlier this year as a new collaborative notes tool, like Notion or Google Workspace Spaces. The public preview was limited to a desktop web app, but now the mobile apps are rolling out more widely.

]]> Thu, 27 Apr 2023 14:07:37 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/888866/microsoft-loop-is-now-available-on-more-phones/ Wi-Fi calling allows your iPhone to place and receive phone calls and text messages over a Wi-Fi network. If you have a weak cellular signal but a solid Wi-Fi signal, your iPhone can make calls and send texts via Wi-Fi.

]]> Sat, 22 Apr 2023 13:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/229216/how-to-enable-and-use-wi-fi-calling-on-an-iphone/ A home media server lets you watch videos and listen to music files that you already own over your local network or remotely over the internet. Pick the device you want to use, load it with storage, install your media server of choice, and get streaming.

]]> Wed, 19 Apr 2023 13:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/210739/how-to-set-up-a-home-media-server-you-can-access-from-any-device/ If your Android phone's battery always feels a little low, you can find out exactly where that power is going. Android's Battery screen shows you what's used battery power since your last charge, from apps to system services.

]]> Tue, 18 Apr 2023 16:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/244748/how-to-see-which-apps-are-draining-your-battery-on-an-android-phone-or-tablet/ Most websites have mobile versions that are optimized for smartphone screens. Sometimes, you might need to see the full desktop version of the site. iPhone and Android devices allow you to switch between desktop and mobile mode.

]]> Sun, 16 Apr 2023 15:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/176932/view-desktop-sites-on-iphone-and-android/ Unless you're living under a rock, you've probably seen the outrageous trade-in deals offered by carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. These deals show up in TV advertisements, automated emails and text messages, and even on billboards. But why are carriers so desperate to buy your old phone?

]]> Fri, 14 Apr 2023 17:43:39 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/151165/why-carriers-are-desperate-to-buy-your-old-phone/ Your Android phone, iPhone, or iPad home screen isn't just for apps. Whatever device you're using, you can add a website shortcut to the home screen for easy access. In some cases, you can even make the website work like an app.

]]> Sat, 08 Apr 2023 13:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/196087/how-to-add-websites-to-the-home-screen-on-any-smartphone-or-tablet/ Plex Media Server is a user-friendly way to store and stream your movies, shows, and other media in from one place, whether you're at home or on-the-go. If you're looking for a no-headache way to watch TV and movies anywhere, this is it.

]]> Fri, 07 Apr 2023 15:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/252261/how-to-set-up-plex-and-watch-your-movies-on-any-device/  

]]> Thu, 06 Apr 2023 17:13:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/103613/what-is-telegram-and-why-you-should-try-it/ You don't need a smartwatch or fitness band to track your steps. The phone you carry every day can track how many steps you take and how far you walk all by itself. It's easier than you might think.

]]> Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/238904/how-to-track-your-steps-with-just-an-iphone-or-android-phone/

]]> Thu, 16 Mar 2023 17:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/269206/how-to-print-a-text-message-conversation/ All web browsers remember a list of the web pages you've visited. You can delete this list at any time, clearing your browsing history and erasing the tracks stored on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. Each browser has its own separate history, so you'll need to clear the history in multiple places if you've used more than one browser.

]]> Sat, 25 Feb 2023 18:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/304218/how-to-clear-your-history-in-any-browser/ If you watched the Super Bowl, you may have caught an advertisement for Google's Pixel 7 smartphone. This ad focused on the Magic Eraser, an exclusive tool that removes unwanted objects from images. Well, the Magic Eraser isn't exclusive anymore.

]]> Thu, 23 Feb 2023 17:00:41 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/146611/googles-magic-eraser-no-longer-requires-a-pixel-phone/ A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, allows you to create a secure connection to another network over the Internet. VPNs can be used to access region-restricted websites, shield your browsing activity from prying eyes on public Wi-Fi, and more.

]]> Sat, 18 Feb 2023 16:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/133680/htg-explains-what-is-a-vpn/ Web browsers are complex applications and need to be constantly patched to keep malicious web pages from breaking out of their sandbox. Apple is now rolling out a fix for a Safari that addresses a critical security vulnerability.

]]> Mon, 13 Feb 2023 16:29:38 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/872604/safari-is-under-attack-update-your-iphone-and-mac-now/ Chromecasts aren't just useful for watching TV. They also let you easily cast content from your PC, including mirroring your computer's screen. Here's how to cast your desktop, browser tabs, and streaming video.

]]> Sat, 11 Feb 2023 13:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/199565/mirror-anything-from-your-computer-to-your-tv-using-google-chromecast/ It's easy for the contacts on your iPhone or iPad to get unorganized. Thankfully, there are multiple ways to deal with messy contacts, especially pesky duplicates. We'll show you how to merge duplicate contacts or delete duplicates entirely.

]]> Tue, 07 Feb 2023 19:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/215533/how-to-clean-up-duplicate-contacts-on-your-iphone/ You don't need an antivirus for your iPhone or iPad. In fact, any "antivirus" apps you see advertised for iPhones aren't even antivirus software. They're just "security" programs that can't actually protect you from malware.

]]> Sat, 04 Feb 2023 14:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/352613/the-best-antivirus-for-iphone-is-none/ The Mastodon social media platform has exponentially risen in popularity over the past few months, following Elon Musk's botched acquisition of Twitter. Several new third-party Mastodon apps have popped up since then, and the latest is from a company you might recognize.

]]> Tue, 24 Jan 2023 14:05:24 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/867654/the-iphone-just-got-a-fantastic-new-mastodon-app/ Apple revealed last year that it was adding new security features to its devices and online accounts. The last update for iPhone, iPad, and Mac added encrypted iCloud backups, and now iOS 16.3 and macOS Ventura 13.2 have arrived with another feature.

]]> Mon, 23 Jan 2023 14:27:41 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/867326/ios-16.3-lets-you-lock-your-apple-id-with-a-physical-key/ For a long time, you could only post photos from Snapchat's camera to your Story. This was really annoying if you took a great photo on your phone and wanted to share it to Snapchat: you just couldn't do it. Thankfully, things have changed. Here's how to share a photo from your phone to Snapchat.

]]> Fri, 20 Jan 2023 20:30:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/307606/how-to-post-a-photo-from-your-phone-to-your-snapchat-story/ Apple's iPhone runs the iOS operating system, while iPad run iPadOS---based on iOS. You can find the installed software version and upgrade to the latest iOS right from your Settings app if Apple still supports your iPhone or iPad.

]]> Thu, 12 Jan 2023 21:30:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/351912/whats-the-latest-version-of-ios-for-iphones-and-ipads/ What's the password to your Wi-Fi network, anyway? Whether you've changed the default password or not, it's simple to find your Wi-Fi password. You can also look up any Wi-Fi network password if you've previously connected to that network from a Windows PC or Mac.

]]> Mon, 19 Dec 2022 19:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/233159/how-to-find-your-wi-fi-password/ Apple released this year's big update for the iPhone in September, iOS 16, and followed it up with iPadOS 16 for iPads and macOS Ventura for Mac computers in October. Now there's one last update going out before the new year arrives.

]]> Tue, 13 Dec 2022 13:45:10 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/854516/apple-has-one-last-big-iphone-ipad-and-mac-update-for-2022/ Proton Drive was officially launched last September, but it has been missing one key component --- a mobile app. Finally, there are iPhone and Android apps for the secure cloud storage service.

]]> Wed, 07 Dec 2022 12:01:18 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/853305/the-proton-drive-app-for-iphone-and-android-is-finally-here/ Your Chrome browser's Incognito mode is about to get more powerful. The browser now gives you the option to open external links from other apps in incognito mode by default.

]]> Wed, 30 Nov 2022 10:23:16 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/851739/chrome-on-iphone-and-ipad-has-a-new-incognito-mode-feature/ If there's a techy person in your life, you've probably heard that you shouldn't buy phones directly from your carrier. While that's a good general rule, it's not always true. Let's talk about the pros and cons.

]]> Thu, 24 Nov 2022 16:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/328105/the-pros-and-cons-of-buying-phones-directly-from-your-carrier/ It's that shop-til-you-drop time of year again, and retailers have already spent most of November with teaser sales and ads for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Here's how to score the best deals and avoid getting ripped off.

]]> Mon, 21 Nov 2022 17:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/176453/the-how-to-geek-guide-to-black-friday-and-cyber-monday-sales/ Money's tight right now. If you're hurting for a new iPhone, there's a good chance that the budget-minded iPhone SE is on your radar. But unless you get a ridiculously good deal, the iPhone SE just isn't worth buying anymore.

]]> Mon, 14 Nov 2022 18:12:16 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/136075/why-you-shouldnt-buy-the-iphone-se/ Steve Jobs set the standard for product announcements in Apple Events. His keynote appearances became so popular that fans dubbed his speeches "Steve Notes." Now, it's a tradition for Apple to send colorful invitations to the press members for upcoming events, with a tagline teasing what's to come.

]]> Mon, 31 Oct 2022 15:23:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/127447/the-secret-meaning-behind-every-apple-event-name-since-2001/ The humble QR code often feels like a trend or an annoyance. But this technology, which is over 25 years old, is much more useful and brilliant than it seems. And once you learn how they work, you may find yourself generating QR codes and sticking them around your home!

]]> Tue, 25 Oct 2022 15:23:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/131221/how-do-qr-codes-work/ You've been emailed a document, and you have to sign it and send it back. You could print out the document, sign it, and then scan it back in and email it. But there's a better, faster way.

]]> Mon, 17 Oct 2022 21:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/164668/how-to-electronically-sign-documents-without-printing-and-scanning-them/ Microsoft's SwiftKey keyboard on Android phones is frequently updated, but while the keyboard also has a version for iPhone, it hasn't been updated for a year. Now we know why. Microsoft is officially discontinuing SwiftKey on iPhone and iPad, and pulling the app in a few days.

]]> Thu, 29 Sep 2022 15:07:20 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/836910/say-goodbye-to-swiftkey-keyboard-on-iphone-and-ipad/ Have you ever wished you could download Wikipedia in its entirety, and have a copy of it for yourself? There are a handful of ways to do just that --- all you need is a third-party program and about 150 gigabytes of storage.

]]> Thu, 29 Sep 2022 14:19:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/260023/how-to-download-wikipedia-for-offline-at-your-fingertips-reading/ Every year Apple releases a new major update for iPhone and iPad devices, but some devices won't receive the update, usually around seven years after they first debuted. Here are the devices that are compatible with iOS 16 and iPadOS 16.

]]> Mon, 12 Sep 2022 15:23:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/809665/will-ios-ipados-16-run-on-my-iphone-ipad/ Shortly after the iPhone 14 launch event, Apple revealed a release date for its iOS 16 software update. The highly-anticipated update, which is most notable for its advanced home screen customization features, rolls out on September 12th.

]]> Mon, 12 Sep 2022 13:50:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/128710/when-does-ios-16-launch-and-which-iphones-are-compatible/ Tech is constantly being outdated. Because of that, you might have a small gadget graveyard built up in your house. You spent a decent amount of money on all that stuff. It shouldn't go to waste! So before you get rid of it, let's go over some cool things you can do with those dated pieces of tech.

]]> Thu, 08 Sep 2022 16:34:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/53199/16-ways-to-repurpose-your-old-gadgets/ If you thought there weren't enough ads in your life, iPhone users could see them in the Maps app in 2023. That's according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in a recent subscriber-only edition of his Power On newsletter.

]]> Sun, 28 Aug 2022 19:00:55 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/127226/apple-maps-will-contain-ads-in-2023/ Most people use terrible passwords. If you're one of them, you should change all your important passwords to something a lot more secure --- and believe it or not, that includes Facebook.

]]> Sun, 21 Aug 2022 22:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/332500/how-to-change-your-facebook-password/ Android has a major issue. Sending texts, photos, and videos between phones is an unreliable, unencrypted mess. To make matters worse, iPhone users will bully you for the color of your texts, let alone everything else. So why is texting on Android stuck in the past?

]]> Sat, 20 Aug 2022 13:00:26 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/124545/why-texting-on-android-is-so-bad/ This week, Apple released critical updates for all devices running iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. The updates fix an actively exploited security flaw in the Safari web browser.

]]> Fri, 19 Aug 2022 15:46:16 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/126431/update-all-of-your-apple-devices-to-fix-critical-security-flaw/ Bright blue-white light blasting in your face at night isn't so great for your sleep or general health, but don't worry; iOS supports color shifting so you can warm up the light of your iPhone for easy nighttime reading.

]]> Mon, 15 Aug 2022 17:13:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/246582/how-to-enable-night-shift-on-your-iphone-for-easy-nighttime-reading/ Spotify offers two tiers---a free, ad-supported plan and a few different Premium plans. What are the differences between using Spotify for free and paying for it? Let's take a look at what you get.

]]> Sat, 06 Aug 2022 21:00:00 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/350288/spotify-free-vs-premium-is-it-worth-upgrading/ Apple showed off iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 last month at WWDC, the next major updates for the iPhone and iPad, respectively. Following several developer builds, the public beta is now ready for everyone to try.

]]> Mon, 11 Jul 2022 15:37:43 GMT https://www.howtogeek.com/817487/you-can-now-try-the-ios-16-and-ipados-16-public-beta/