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Screen addiction is a very real issue for many smartphone users, and Apple is taking the problem seriously. Since the rollout of iOS 12, there's a Screen Time feature that can help iPhone and iPad users become aware of how much time they spend on their devices, then cut back if they feel the need. One of these settings is called Downtime. What does Downtime in Screen Time do? It's exactly what it sounds like; a set time of day where your device reminds you that it's time to unplug and do something else. Let's get started learning how to set up Downtime in iOS 13 now. 

If you have favorite shows in the Podcasts app, but keep forgetting to check for new episodes, you'll probably benefit from turning on notifications so you can keep up to date. On the other hand; if you're subscribed to lots of podcasts, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the new episode notifications. Let's learn how to customize your Podcasts notifications, so you're informed about the shows you really want to listen to, while silencing notification about the ones you only occasionally tune into. 

Customizing the apps in your Apple Watch Dock puts all the information and functionality you need at your fingertips. To get started, you'll need to open the Watch app on your phone and select the My Watch tab to edit the apps that appear in your Apple Watch Dock. Here's everything you need to know to customize your Apple Watch Dock! 

If you have an older iPad, you may have noticed that it's not as fast as it used to be and asked yourself, "why is my iPad so slow?" There are lots of different reasons why your iPad may be running more slowly than it did when you first bought it, and luckily there are just as many ways to speed it back up again! Whether you have an original iPad, iPad 2, older iPad mini, or a more recent version of Apple's tablet, we'll go over all the possible reasons why your iPad is running slow and lagging, and explore some fixes for these problems. Some of the slow iPad solutions we'll cover include how to check Wi-Fi connection and internet speed, updating to the latest iOS version, how to reset your iPad, how to delete apps on iPad, how to clear the cache or cached data, and even what to do with an old iPad that just can't keep up with your needs any longer. For even more iPad tips and tricks, check out our comprehensive iPad multitasking guide! 

AirPods volume control can be a bit unintuitive. It's not easy for everyone to figure out how to adjust the volume on their AirPods when there are no buttons and no dials! The AirPod controls are hidden in voice commands and gestures. There are two Airpods volume options for increasing and decreasing the volume on your AirPods: One involves using Siri to turn your AirPods up or down, and the other involves using your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac to raise or lower the volume. Let's get started learning how to use these volume control options. 

Did you know that you can customize how you'd like your AirPods' controls and settings to work? Using the iPhone paired with your AirPods, you can name your AirPods and decide which functions you'd like to engage when you double tap your right or left AirPod, such as activating Siri to adjust the volume on your iPhone. Let's get started learning how to change your AirPod's settings with your iPhone! 

You can't effectively use an iPhone without an Apple ID; luckily, it's free and easy to sign up for an Apple ID. Once you create your Apple ID and sign in, you can use it for any Apple account or service, including purchases associated with your Apple ID and iCloud account. In this article, we'll show you how to create an Apple ID using any of the iPad generations or iPhone models, from older versions like the iPhone 6, up through later models like the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (second generation). Let's get started learning how to get a new Apple ID on your iPhone. 

Touch ID and Face ID are great iPhone security features, but if you want the best protection for your device, you need an iPhone passcode. Apple's default six-digit numeric passcode is already pretty hard to crack, but you can change your iPhone passcode to one that's even more secure. You can change the passcode on your iPhone to an alphanumeric code that's six digits or longer. That combination of letters, numbers, and length will bring your iPhone security to the next level. In addition to setting up Face ID or Touch ID, your passcode helps keep your iPhone safe from prying eyes. If you're looking for the best security code possible, an alphanumeric code is your best bet. Let's get started learning how to set a new passcode on your iPhone now. 

If you love podcasts, and also love iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices, you've probably heard that you can sync your podcasts across your devices. Once your devices are synced, you can use the Podcasts app to listen to a podcast on your iPhone, then pick it up right where you left off on your iPad. Syncing across Apple devices includes not only podcast playback positions but also your podcast subscriptions and stations. If this sounds like podcast heaven to you, follow the steps below to sync up your devices and start listening.

When it came to light that Apple was throttling processor speed for older iPhone models, the fallout was ugly. Apple explained that the throttling was meant to prevent iPhone models 6 through 7 Plus from shutting down when their batteries couldn't keep up with the demands of their processors. Apple also lowered replacement battery prices to $29 to assist customers in getting their iPhones back up to speed. Now, with iOS 11.3, Apple is letting go of the automatic throttling plan and allowing iPhone users the ability to decide for themselves whether they'd like to slow processor speeds when their iPhone's batteries aren't able to keep up. Let's learn more about the throttle setting on your iPhone, actually called the applied performance management feature, and where to disable this setting if you choose.

Want to check your iPhone's battery health? Apple landed in hot water with customers a few years ago when a feature designed to slow the processors of older iPhone models to keep them from suddenly shutting down came to light. Critics maintained that Apple was throttling the speed of earlier iPhone models to push customers toward newer devices, while Apple insisted that the feature was necessary to cope with aging batteries. Now, Apple lets iPhone users monitor their battery life. You can also enable a feature that reduces aging by optimizing how your battery behaves when charging. Let's get started with how to check your iPhone's battery health. It's quick and easy, and a valuable piece of information about your device.

With AutoFill, you can have your credit card information stored right on your iPhone, so you won't need to go through your wallet for online purchases made through the Safari browser. If you have iCloud set up and iCloud Keychain enabled, iCloud Keychain will securely store AutoFill information from Safari, including credit card information, across all your devices. Here's how to update credit card information, so your AutoFill data is always helpful and correct. 

Apple Pay Cash gives iPhone users a convenient way to send and receive money right from the Messages app on the iPhone. Apple Cash doesn't need any new accounts or app downloads to work; it functions within your normal iMessages as long as you already have Apple Pay set up. While Apple Pay is a super convenient way to receive money, not everyone will want to keep their entire balance on their Apple Cash card. We've already gone over how to use Apple Pay in the Safari browser on your iPhone, and how to send money with Apple Pay. Now, if you've been wondering, "how do I transfer money from Apple Pay to my bank account?" we'll show you how to use the Wallet app to transfer money from Apple Cash to your bank account of choice, instantly, or in one to three days. 

Apple just announced its new iPad Pro, and a new Magic Keyboard with a trackpad. If you want to buy some iPad accessories or to sell your iPad online so you can purchase a new iPad Pro, seventh-generation iPad, or the previously released iPad Air or iPad mini 5, you might be stuck on one question, "what iPad model do I have?" We've already shown you how to find your iPad's serial number, but the easiest way to identify which iPad version you own is to find your iPad's model number. With so many models of Apple's tablet available, this is the quickest way to discover the type and generation of iPad you own, so you can buy parts for needed repairs, or sell your iPad online and upgrade to a newer, faster, more versatile device. Whether you have an iPad Pro, an iPad Mini, an iPad Air, or you're just not sure which type of iPad you have, it's time to learn which of the Apple iPad models is yours. Our iPad comparison list of generations and models includes this year's new iPad, so you'll be able to find your device no matter when it came out. 

The Apple Watch is an ideal purchase for on-the-go people who need an ultra portable device that can offer both functionality and durability. Many of the iPhone's best loved features are included in the Apple Watch, including fitness tracking and health monitoring, the ability to play music, and of course text messaging and calling. The Apple Watch also accommodates health apps with safety features designed to notify wearers of medical concerns and offer help to contact emergency services if needed. These features have been credited with everything from alerting Apple Watch owners to life-threatening health crises to enabling the Coast Guard rescue of an Apple Watch user stranded off the California coast after a kiteboarding mishap. Sometimes, though, it can be a little too easy to get in touch with Emergency Services via an Apple Watch; there have been multiple reports of accidental calls to 911 from Apple Watch owners who unwittingly triggered their device's SOS setting. How can you keep from joining their number and accidentally dialing 911 on your Apple Watch? Let's figure it out! 

Before buying a used iPhone, you'll want to check one of three different ways to know if your new or used iPhone is unlocked or not. You can check if the iPhone is unlocked in Settings, with the SIM card, or using an online resource. We’re going to go over each of those methods so you can easily check if your iPhone is unlocked or locked. But what does "unlocked phone" mean? An unlocked iPhone is not associated with any particular cellular service provider and can therefore connect to any carrier. Unlocked iPhones, when sold used, are worth more as well. There are a few reasons you might have a locked or unlocked iPhone, which we’ll go over in detail below. Once we cover what it means when an iPhone is unlocked, I’ll show you how to check if your iPhone is unlocked.

Face ID can be used to unlock apps on the iPhone. For example, when I open my Day One journaling app, it pretty quickly recognizes it’s me and lets me in. This saves me from needing to enter the passcode. Whether or not Face ID works with an app depends on the app’s developers and what they’ve programmed the app to be able to do. But you can easily see which of your apps will work with Face ID within Settings; you can also turn Face ID on for apps in the same place. Here’s how to turn on Face ID for apps in settings on the iPhone.

When you want lines to draw within or a grid to help you stay on track, you can choose a one-time paper style or set up a default paper style to automatically appear in your Notes. To change the style of paper to a lined or grid pattern in the Notes app, tap on the export icon and select Lines & Grids to open the style sheet. When you type, the paper style disappears in that part of the tip; but for drawing by hand in the Notes app, choosing the paper style can make a big difference. Here’s how to change the paper style in Notes on the iPhone.

We’ve talked before about how to schedule Do Not Disturb on your iPhone, but did you know that certain alerts can barge right through that setting? These include AMBER Alerts (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response), and government alerts about imminent threats, such as extreme weather. These alerts are extremely important to leave on as they can literally save lives, but you may have the occasional need to turn them off. One recent example I can recall is when a tornado warning set my phone blaring. My kids, dogs, and I went to the basement and were as prepared as we could be, but the alerts kept going off.  This was not helpful in my efforts to calm everyone down, and I didn’t want to turn off my phone because I was messaging friends and family to tell them we were safe.

I wish I had known then what I know now!

Do you find it totally creepy when an ad pops up on your iPhone for just exactly the sort of thing you’d like to purchase? Does it seem like your phone has just a little too much inside information about your preferences, and you’d like to establish some boundaries between yourself and the wide world of capitalism? If so, it’s time for you to learn how to limit ad tracking in Apple Apps on your iPhone.