How-To

Apple's new operating system, iOS 12, has a set of Screen Time features that can be used to combat smartphone and device addiction by setting app limits. There are some apps, though, that you may want to have constantly available; luckily you can choose some apps that will always be allowed in your Screen Time settings. Let's get started learning how to set Always Allowed apps on iPhone and iPad. 

In the past, if we wanted to use our iPhones as a QR code scanner, we needed to download an app. Then, at last, iOS 11 made it possible to use the Camera app as a QR scanner. Now, with iOS 12 things have gotten even more convenient; we can add a QR code reader to the Control Center on our iPhones, so it's always just a swipe away. If you frequently use QR codes and would like to add this feature to your iPhone or iPad's Control Center and learn how to use your device as a QR scanner once you've installed the QR reader feature, read on. 

Is your iTunes library getting a little unwieldy and taking up too much space on your hard drive? If you've been wondering how to transfer or move your iTunes library to an external hard drive, then this is the article for you. Read on to learn how to export your iTunes library to an external hard drive, so you always have it with you regardless of internet or iCloud connection. 

I love getting Notifications from News in my iPhone's Notification Center, but I get new ones so quickly that a story I didn't have time to read right away can get buried. That's why I was excited to find out that I can save these stories for later, so I don't miss out on the news I really want to read. Let's get started learning how this feature works so you can do the same! 

iPhone notifications and alerts can be really helpful, or they can be disruptive; luckily there's a way to change the way we receive Lock Screen notifications on iPhone, so we're not overwhelmed. With previous operating systems we'd have to go into the Settings app to change email, app, and iMessage notifications, but with iOS 12 on iPhone, a Lock Screen notification is easy to customize without entering Settings. Apple calls this process Fine Tuning; let's get started learning how to Fine Tune your iPhone notifications without leaving the Lock Screen. 

Apple's Photos app lets you do location-based searches. Now, instead of trying scrolling through vacation pictures looking for the photos you took in a specific place, you can just search for that area, and all the pictures from that location will pop right up! Let's get started learning how to use this Photos search feature right now. 

FaceTime, the Apple live video chat app, is a fun way to connect with friends and family when hearing their voice just isn't enough. Now FaceTime is getting even better with a new filter feature in iOS 12. There are lots of filters to choose from, so you'll always find something to fit your mood: a cartoon filter, a few black and white choices, and much more. Let's get started learning how to use FaceTime filters on iPhone or iPad. 

If you're worried that your child is spending too much time on their iPhone or iPad, and may even have a screen addiction, Apple's new operating system, iOS 12, is here to help. With iOS 12, parental restrictions are easy to put in place, and you can limit not only the total amount of time spent on a device but also set restrictions for individual apps, as well as content and privacy. Let's get started learning how to set up Screen Time restrictions for a child or teenager on iPhone or iPad.  

Apple's new operating system, iOS 12, is supposed to bring improved battery performance to every iPhone, even older ones. You don't have to take anyone's word for it though, because one of the new features being rolled out with iOS 12 is improved battery health tracking (Battery Health was first introduced with iOS 11). Your iPhone's battery usage is broken down app by app in this new set of data so that you can see not only the percentage of battery life used by each app but also how long you spent on individual apps. Let's get started learning how to check your iPhone's battery health. 

Here's a fun thing to try with Apple Maps on your iPhone; did you know you can change your Maps settings from Map to Satellite and see all the real-life detail of the area you're viewing? This setting is Apple's version of the popular Google Street View. Let's get started learning how to change Apple Maps' settings to Satellite now. 

Screen addiction is a very real issue for many smartphone users and Apple is taking the problem seriously. With the rollout of the latest operating system, iOS 12, there's a new feature called Screen Time 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, and 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 12 now. 

Apple's new operating system, iOS 12, introduces a new, useful measurement app that also includes a level (the Compass app no longer has a level feature). Third-party developers have long offered a level app, a tape measure app, or both, so it's great that owners of the iPhone 8 and later can now enjoy this Apple app for free. I've written about how to use the augmented reality (AR) tape measure portion of the Measure app in a previous tip, so now it's time to go over how to use the level feature; let's get started! 

Adding a picture to a text message in Apple's Messages app used to be quick and easy; you just tapped the little camera icon to the left of the text field, chose an image, or multiple images, to attach, and sent your text as usual. With iOS 12, the familiar process for sending photos in Messages has changed: The camera icon is still there, but it only offers the option to take a new image to send and no access to your Photos app. Don't worry though, while access to your photo library has moved, it's still very simple to send images from the Photos app on your iPhone; let's learn the new way right now!

The iPhone's latest operating system, iOS 12, groups notification topics and message threads together in the Notification Center to help users see all their updates at a glance. But what if you don't like how your Notifications are sorted and want to ungroup them? If you don't like the way your Notification Center is organized in iOS 12, it's easy to ungroup some or all of your Notifications. Let's get started learning how to ungroup Notifications in your iPhone's Notification Center now. 

If you've been frustrated with your inability to stop wasting time on your iPhone, iOS 12 has just the features you need to combat technology addiction. The new iOS update comes with Screen Time, a set of tools that track how much time you spend on your device in general, as well as on particular activities, sites, and apps. If you've been wanting to spend less time on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or any other addictive app, read on to learn how to use Screen Time to set an amount of time per day that you'd like to limit yourself to for specific applications on your iPhone. 

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 find out whenever there's new content waiting for you. On the other hand; if you're subscribed to lots of podcasts, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the notifications about new episodes. Let's learn how to customize your notifications from Podcasts, so you're informed about the shows you really want to listen to, while silencing the ones you only occasionally tune into. 

iOS 12 has added tons of helpful and fun new features to your iPhone's software, one of my favorite new ones is the ability to add cool effects and Animojis (and Memojis!) while taking a picture or video in the Messages app.

Apple's Stocks app was formerly a pretty bare-bones affair, but with iOS 12 it's receiving a much-needed update. In addition to expanded data on the markets and stocks you're interested in, there's a section with business news stories relevant to your interests. The Stocks app has always been included on the iPhone and is now also available for iPads. This new-and-improved version comes with the ability to tailor and manage the stocks you are following in a Watchlist, so you always have the information you need to make informed financial decisions. Let's get started learning how to customize your Watchlist in the Stocks app now. 

If you haven't used Apple's Do Not Disturb feature yet, it's a great way to silence notifications from calls, texts, and apps while your iPhone is locked. With iOS 12, DND is now more versatile and useful than ever before with some long-awaited upgrades, including a location-based setting. If you've been wanting to turn on Do Not Disturb for specific places, then your wish has been granted! Let's get started learning how to turn on Do Not Disturb for a specific location, so your device doesn't start buzzing and beeping just when you need it to be quiet.