How-to

1,992 'How-to' stories September 2011 - October 2021

A collection of tutorials, tips, and tricks from the 9to5Mac team helping you fix and get the most out of your favorite gear.

Here are 10 tips for an Apple device security checkup for Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Michael Potuck Oct 28 2021 - 2:50 pm PT

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October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and whether you’re an expert or are new to iPhone, iPad, Mac, and more, it can be useful to audit your security settings. Let’s look at 10 tips for an Apple device security checkup.

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Hands-on: iOS 15 upgrades the Notes app with support for tags; here’s how they work

Michael Potuck Oct 27 2021 - 3:00 am PT

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Apple’s Notes app takes another step forward in iOS 15 with several new features. Follow along for a look at how to organize iPhone Notes with tags, search them, quickly create new notes in a tag group, use smart folders, and more.

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Here’s how to upgrade your Mac to macOS Monterey

Michael Potuck Oct 26 2021 - 11:47 am PT

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Want to check out all the new features and changes landing with macOS 12 Monterey? Follow along for how to install macOS Monterey on your Mac to get going with Shortcuts, the new Safari, Focus mode, AirPlay to Mac, and much more. We’ll also look at Mac hardware compatibility, how much disk space you’ll need, and Monterey’s stability.

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Here’s how to use SharePlay in iOS 15.1 to share music, videos, and more

Michael Potuck Oct 25 2021 - 3:51 pm PT

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How to SharePlay on iPhone and iPad in iOS 15

SharePlay is one of the most highly anticipated features that was pushed back a bit from the initial iOS 15 launch. Now that it’s officially arrived with iOS 15.1, here’s a hands-on look at how to use SharePlay on iPhone and iPad to share music, videos, and your whole screen.

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Should I upgrade to macOS Monterey?

Michael Potuck Oct 25 2021 - 10:56 am PT

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macOS 12 Monterey is now available to the public and it comes with a range of new features and changes. But you may be wondering, should I upgrade to macOS Monterey on my Mac now? Read on to figure out what the best option is for you.

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How to use iPhone Reminders with tags in iOS 15 lead

Hands-on: Here’s how tags work in the Reminders app on iOS 15

Michael Potuck Oct 22 2021 - 12:00 am PT

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Apple’s Reminders app is leveled up in iOS 15 with tags. Let’s look at how to organize iPhone Reminders with tags, search, quickly create new reminders in a tag group, with Smart Lists, and more.

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iOS 15 lets you set new iCloud recovery options, here’s how

Michael Potuck Oct 21 2021 - 8:00 am PT

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Apple is making it easier to recover iCloud data in the event of forgotten passwords or device passcodes with iOS 15. There are two options. Let’s look at how iCloud Data Recovery Service works with iCloud Recovery Contacts and the iCloud Recovery Key.

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iOS 15 brings new Announce Notifications feature for Siri, here’s how it works

Michael Potuck Oct 20 2021 - 3:00 am PT

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iOS 15 expands on the previously available “Announce Messages” and “Announce Calls” features with the ability to have Siri “Announce Notifications” from first- and third-party apps. The functionality works with certain AirPods and Beats headphones as well as CarPlay, and there’s also the ability to customize which apps can use the feature.

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PSA: If you’re trading in for a new MacBook Pro, upgrade to Monterey for the new system restore feature

Parker Ortolani Oct 19 2021 - 5:55 pm PT

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If you’re planning on trading in an existing Mac toward the new MacBook Pro next week, you’ll want to install macOS Monterey when it’s released on Monday. Monterey comes with an all-new “erase all contents and settings” feature that makes it easier than ever to prepare a Mac for a trade-in or if you’re planning to sell it.

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How to watch October MacBook event 10/18

How to watch Apple’s ‘Unleashed’ October event on any device

Michael Potuck Oct 18 2021 - 6:10 am PT

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Apple’s “Unleashed” event is set for today, October 18 at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET. Expectations are for the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro notebooks to be unveiled and possibly more. Read on for several ways to watch Apple’s MacBook event on any device.

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How to upgrade to your new Apple Watch Series 7 without losing data

Michael Potuck Oct 15 2021 - 8:57 am PT

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Ready to switch from your Series 6 or earlier Apple Watch to the new Series 7? Or maybe you’re upgrading to the SE from an older model? Follow along for how to upgrade to your new Apple Watch Series 7 without losing data, including how to force Apple Watch backups.

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How offline Siri works on iPhone in iOS 15

Hands-on: Here’s what does and doesn’t work with offline Siri in iOS 15

Michael Potuck Oct 13 2021 - 3:00 am PT

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One of the subtle but valuable new features with iOS 15 is that Siri works even when offline for some commands. That means faster performance, but offline requests won’t work for everything. Let’s look at what does and doesn’t work with offline Siri in iOS 15.

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New study reveals the top problems people face with Apple products in each state

Staff Writer Oct 11 2021 - 8:00 am PT

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Did you ever forget how to take a screenshot on the iPhone or Mac? Do your parents know how to back up their data? A study claims to reveal what Apple users struggle with the most.

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Here’s how to turn on the new AirPods Pro Conversation Boost feature in iOS 15

Michael Potuck Oct 6 2021 - 12:54 pm PT

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After first announcing Conversation Boost as coming with iOS 15 back in June, Apple officially released the feature with the latest AirPods Pro firmware update. However, the toggle is quite buried in Accessibility settings, here’s how to turn on AirPods Pro Conversation Boost with iPhone.

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How to change iOS 15 Safari address/search bar on iPhone

iOS 15 Safari: How to change the address/search bar design on iPhone

Michael Potuck Oct 5 2021 - 1:00 pm PT

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Apple’s latest iOS release comes with an all-new Safari design that places the address/search bar at the bottom of the screen by default. But you can switch back to the classic iOS Safari design with a top bar. Here’s how to change the iOS 15 Safari address/search bar on iPhone.

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iOS 15: Here’s how to use the most popular features for iPhone and iPad

Michael Potuck Oct 1 2021 - 1:58 pm PT

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Most popular iOS 15 features for iPhone and iPad

iOS 15 is officially here and even though there aren’t as many flashy features as we saw in iOS 14, there are a number of great changes and improvements. While there are over 300 new features and tweaks, let’s narrow things down, here’s how to use the most popular iOS 15 features.

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How-to: Power off, force restart iPhone 13, enable recovery mode, DFU mode, etc. [Video]

Jeff Benjamin Sep 29 2021 - 5:03 pm PT

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Last week Apple released four new iPhone models: the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Like all iPhones that Apple sells these days, with the exception of the iPhone SE, feature “edge to edge” displays, and lack a physical Home button. For these modern devices, you’ll utilize the Volume buttons and Side buttons to facilitate force restarts, invoke recovery mode, enter DFU mode, and more. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough for the details.

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How to personalize your iPhone 13 pictures with the new Photographic Styles feature

Michael Potuck Sep 28 2021 - 12:05 pm PT

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How to use iPhone 13 Photographic Styles walkthrough

Among the many iPhone 13 camera improvements is the new Photographic Styles. The feature allows you to save a preset for the default Camera app and you can also quickly change between the five available options in the moment. Let’s look at how to use iPhone 13 Photographic Styles.

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upgrade to iPhone 13 without losing data

How to upgrade to your new iPhone 13 without losing data

Michael Potuck Sep 23 2021 - 10:57 am PT

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The new iPhone lineup is on its way to the first customers. Read on for a look at how to upgrade to iPhone 13 without losing any data, including what to do if you’re running the iOS 15.1 beta.

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iOS 15 brings back the popular dial picker from iOS 13 and earlier with a twist

Michael Potuck Sep 22 2021 - 5:22 am PT

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Across the system, iOS 14 brought a new dial picker that was quite the departure from the tried and true version we had in the years before. As we first reported in June, with iOS 15, Apple has brought back its popular wheel dial picker but with a small twist for those who prefer numpad entry.

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Hands-on: Here’s how iPhone’s Live Text OCR works in iOS 15

Michael Potuck Sep 21 2021 - 1:29 pm PT

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One of the handy new features arriving with iOS 15 is the option to quickly recognize text and select, copy, paste, and lookup in both the Camera and Photos app. Let’s looks at how iPhone Live Text OCR works from photos to screenshots and handwriting too.

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Here’s how to install iOS 15 on iPhone

Michael Potuck Sep 20 2021 - 11:00 am PT

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Ready to use all the new features arriving with iOS 15 like Focus mode, Live Text, offline Siri, all-new Safari, redesigned Notifications, and more? Follow along for how to install iOS 15 on iPhone.

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What time will Apple release iOS 15 to the public?

Michael Potuck Sep 20 2021 - 7:45 am PT

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Apple took the wraps off iOS 15 at WWDC in June with beta testing happening since then for developers and the public. With September 20 right around the corner, the official release for the latest iPhone software is close and comes with an all-new Safari, Focus mode, Live Text, redesigned Notifications, Background Sounds, and more. Let’s look at answering the question “when does iOS 15 come out?”

Update 9/20 10 am PT: iOS 15 is now officially available for all users.

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Here’s how the new iPad mini compares to the iPad mini 5 and iPad Air

Michael Potuck Sep 15 2021 - 1:28 pm PT

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After a two and a half year wait since the last update, a totally redesigned iPad mini has officially arrived alongside the iPhone 13. The exciting overhaul for Apple’s compact tablet comes with a larger all-screen design, USB-C, the A15 Bionic chip, camera upgrades, 5G, Apple Pencil gen 2 support, and much more. Read on for a detailed look at the new iPad mini vs the iPad mini 5 and iPad Air.

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