iPhone and iPad How-To Guides

iPhone and iPad guides for everyday jobs and fixes, from screenshots, restarts and resets to blocking calls, sharing location and moving photos.

Restart, reset and unlock

How to Back Up iPhone to iCloud or a Computer
Turn on iCloud Backup in Settings and tap Back Up Now, or back up by cable in Finder or Apple Devices. See what each backup keeps and how to check it.
How to Erase an iPhone and Factory Reset It
Back up and sign out, then open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. Delete the eSIM if you sell it.
How to Force Restart an iPhone on Any Model
To force restart an iPhone, press Volume Up, press Volume Down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo. Steps for iPhone 7, 6s and older too.
How to Restart an iPad With or Without a Home Button
To restart an iPad, hold the top button and either volume button, drag the slider, then hold the top button. Home button iPad? Hold the top button alone.
How to Restart Your Phone on Samsung, Pixel and iPhone
On a Galaxy, hold Side and Volume down, then tap Restart twice. On a Pixel 6 or later, hold Power and Volume up, then tap Restart. Frozen phones too.
How to Transfer iPhone to iPhone Without Losing Data
Transfer data from iPhone to iPhone with Quick Start, iCloud or a computer. Move your number and apps, then check everything before erasing the old phone.
How to Unlock iPhone When You Forgot the Passcode
Forgot your iPhone passcode? On iOS 17 or later, try the old code within 72 hours. If not, erase via Forgot Passcode, Find My or a computer, then restore.

Messages, calls and alerts

How to Block a Number or Contact on iPhone
Tap a call, chat or contact, scroll down and tap Block Caller or Block Contact. Add or remove numbers in the Blocked Contacts list in Settings.
How to See Blocked Numbers on iPhone and Unblock Them
On iOS 26 or later, see blocked numbers in Settings > Privacy & Security > Blocked Contacts. Older iPhones use each app's settings.
How to Block Spam Calls on iPhone and Stop Unknown Callers
In Settings > Apps > Phone, set Screen Unknown Callers to Ask Reason for Calling or Silence, then block repeat numbers and turn on your carrier's filter.
How to Change Ringtone on iPhone and Add a Song
Change your iPhone ringtone in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Ringtone, make a song your ringtone with GarageBand, and fix a ringtone that stays silent.
How to Enable iMessage on iPhone and Fix Activation
Turn on iMessage in Settings > Apps > Messages, pick your number in Send & Receive, learn the bubble colours and fix a number stuck waiting for activation.
How to Forward a Text on iPhone to People and Devices
Touch and hold the bubble, tap More, select the messages and tap Forward. Plus email, screenshots, and texts on your own Mac or iPad.
How to Know if Someone Blocked You on iMessage
Apple does not tell you if someone blocks you on iMessage. See what Delivered, Read, green bubbles, voicemail and Focus can and cannot show.
How to Print Text Messages From iPhone or Save a PDF
Show the times, screenshot the chat and print it from Photos, or save a PDF from the print screen. For a long thread, print from Messages on a Mac.
How to Record a Phone Call on iPhone and Get the Transcript
Tap More, then Call Recording during a call on iOS 26 or later. Both people hear a notice, and the recording is saved in the Notes app.
How to Schedule a Text on iPhone (iMessage and SMS)
In an iMessage chat, tap +, then Send Later and pick a time up to 14 days ahead. Apple delivers it even if your iPhone is off. Green texts need Shortcuts.
How to See Deleted Messages on iPhone and Recover Them
In Messages, tap Filters, then Recently Deleted to recover texts within 30 days (Edit on iOS 16 to 18). Older texts need a copy elsewhere, like a backup.
How to Turn Off Do Not Disturb on iPhone and Keep It Off
Open Control Center and tap the moon on the Focus button so it reads Focus. If it returns, something like a schedule, Sleep or Driving is switching it on.
How to Silence Notifications on Your iPhone
Turn off app notifications in Settings, use Do Not Disturb for a break, or mute a Messages conversation while keeping texts.
How to Unsend a Message on iPhone and Edit It
Touch and hold a blue iMessage within two minutes, then tap Undo Send. See what the recipient sees, how Edit works, and why Delete is different.

Photos, screen and sharing

How to AirDrop Photos and Files on iPhone and Mac
To AirDrop, turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, set Contacts Only or Everyone for 10 Minutes, then tap Share, AirDrop and the person. Mac steps and fixes too.
How to Cast Phone to TV on iPhone and Android
To cast your phone to a TV, use Screen Mirroring on iPhone, the Cast button or Smart View on Android, or an HDMI adapter when there is no Wi-Fi.
How to Delete Wallpapers on iPhone and Change Them
Touch and hold the Lock Screen, unlock, swipe up on a wallpaper, tap the trash icon, then Delete This Wallpaper. To change it, use Settings > Wallpaper.
How to Drop a Pin on iPhone (Apple Maps and Google Maps)
Touch and hold the map in Apple Maps until a pin appears, then tap Pin to keep it. Share, move, save or remove it, and do the same in Google Maps.
How to Edit Photos on iPhone With the Photos App
Open a photo in Photos, tap Edit, then use Adjust, Filters and Crop, with Markup under More. Tap Done to save, or Revert to Original to undo it.
How to Print From iPhone With or Without AirPrint
Print photos, web pages, emails and PDFs from iPhone with AirPrint, fix No AirPrint Printers Found, or try the maker's app if your printer lacks AirPrint.
How to Record Screen on iPhone (Sound, Saving and Fixes)
Open Control Center, tap Screen Recording and wait for the countdown. Touch and hold the button to turn on the microphone. Videos save to Photos.
How to Recover Deleted Photos From iPhone and iCloud
Open Photos, tap Collections, then Recently Deleted, and tap Recover within 30 days. Not there? Check Hidden, Shared Library, iCloud.com and backups.
How to Screenshot on iPad (Buttons, Pencil and Keyboard)
Quickly press the top button and either volume button, or top and Home on older iPads. Apple Pencil, a corner swipe and Command-Shift-3 work too.
How to Screenshot on iPhone With or Without Buttons
Press side and volume up together on a Face ID iPhone, or side and Home on a Home button iPhone, then crop, save or capture a full page.
How to Share Location on iPhone (Find My, Messages, Maps)
Open Find My, tap People, tap + and Share My Location, then pick a person and how long. Or in Messages tap + then Location. Maps shares your ETA.
How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Computer (PC or Mac)
Connect an unlocked iPhone by USB, tap Trust and import with Photos on a Windows PC or Mac. No cable? Use iCloud or AirDrop, and keep the originals.

Privacy and security

How to Block Websites on iPhone (Safari and Kids' iPhones)
Use Screen Time. Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions, open Web Content, choose Limit Adult Websites, then add each site under Never Allow.
How to Change Password on iPhone (Passcode or Apple Account)
Change your iPhone passcode in Settings, Face ID & Passcode. Your Apple Account password is in Sign-In & Security, and saved logins start in Passwords.
How to Clear Cookies on iPhone (Safari and Chrome)
Open Settings, Apps, Safari, Advanced, Website Data and tap Remove All Website Data to clear cookies on iPhone and keep your history. Chrome is separate.
How to Clear Search History on iPhone (Safari and Google)
Open Settings, tap Apps, Safari, then Clear History and Website Data. Check that All history is ticked, then clear the Google app and Chrome too.
How to Find Hidden Apps on iPhone (and Missing Ones)
Open App Library, scroll to the bottom and tap Hidden, then use Face ID or the passcode. If Search finds the app, look in folders and hidden pages instead.
How to Unhide Apps on iPhone and Find Hidden Apps
Open the Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library, touch and hold the app and tap Don't Require Face ID, then drag it back to your Home Screen.
How to Find Passwords on iPhone and See Saved Logins
Open the Passwords app, use Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode and tap All. Wi-Fi has its own tile. On iOS 17 or earlier, use Settings > Passwords.
How to Look Up the MAC Address on an iPhone
Open Settings, General, About to find your iPhone's hardware MAC address, and check private addressing before matching it to a router.
How to Hide Apps on iPhone and Lock Them With Face ID
Touch and hold the app, tap Require Face ID, then Hide and Require Face ID. It moves to a locked Hidden folder at the bottom of App Library.
How to Track an iPhone With Find My and iCloud
Open Find My on another Apple device, or sign in at icloud.com/find in a web browser, then pick your iPhone to see it on a map, play a sound or lock it.
How to Turn Off Find My iPhone in Settings or iCloud
In Settings, tap your name > Find My > Find My iPhone, turn it off and enter your Apple Account password. Sold it? Erase, then remove at iCloud.com/find.
How to Turn Off Location on iPhone (All Apps or Just One)
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and turn it off, or set one app to Never. See what stops working and what can still find you.

Apps, storage and accessories

How to Cancel Subscriptions on iPhone (and Free Trials)
Open Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions and Cancel Subscription. Cancel over 24 hours before it renews. Paid plans run to the end date.
How to Change iPhone Name and Where the New Name Shows
Go to Settings, General, About, Name, tap Clear Text, type a new name and tap Done. Bluetooth and Personal Hotspot use it, and AirDrop for non-contacts.
How to Delete Apps on iPhone and What Gets Removed
Touch and hold the app, tap Remove App, then Delete App and Delete. Offload keeps its data, and deleting an app does not cancel its subscription.
How to Recover Deleted Apps on iPhone With the App Store
Recover deleted apps on iPhone through the App Store and tap Redownload, or check App Library for an installed app with a missing icon.
How to Delete Stickers on iPhone, Including Memoji
Delete a sticker you made from the Messages Stickers drawer or Photos Markup. Recents, sticker apps, Memoji and Genmoji each sit in their own place.
How to Get More Storage on iPhone by Freeing Space
Open Settings > General > iPhone Storage, then offload unused apps, optimize iCloud Photos and remove downloads. iCloud+ adds cloud space, not phone space.
Subaru Apple CarPlay Not Working? How to Fix It
Reconnect your unlocked iPhone to Subaru's CarPlay USB port, or enable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Auto-Join for wireless CarPlay.
How to Set Up Apple Pay on iPhone and Apple Watch
Open Wallet, tap Add Card, choose Debit or Credit Card and hold your iPhone to the card. Verify it with your bank, then pay with iPhone or Apple Watch.
How to Unpair Apple Watch From iPhone (or Without It)
Open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap All Watches, the info button, then Unpair Apple Watch. No iPhone? Erase the watch and clear Activation Lock online.
How to Update Apps on iPhone (and Fix Missing Updates)
Open the App Store, tap your picture, then App Updates and Update All. Automatic updates are in Settings > Apps > App Store, plus fixes for stuck updates.

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