How-To

I frequently receive Amazon gift cards and claim codes for my birthday or as bonuses for paying my cellphone bill on time from the carrier I use. Here's how to redeem an Amazon gift card or claim code on your iPhone or iPad or on your computer. You'll need to have an Amazon account and be signed in. Redeeming the credit stores it to your account balance until you're ready to use it on a purchase. 

You've gotten your Apple TV all set up, and you're ready to play some games or watch some television. If you have a third-generation Apple TV or older, you're limited to pre-installed apps. If you have the Apple TV 4K or the fourth-generation Apple TV, though, you have access to the App Store and can download from a selection of thousands of free or paid apps. Whether you're looking for fitness, sports, games, recipe, or even shopping apps, let's get started learning how to find and download apps so you can get the most out of your Apple TV.

My new Apple Watch just came in the mail, and since I've never owned one before, I'll need to learn how to set up and pair my watch to my iPhone. If you're wondering how to get your Apple Watch working as well, read on to learn along with me about how to get your iPhone ready for pairing, how to turn on your Apple Watch and sync it to your phone, how to set up your watch, customize your settings, and choose features and apps for your new device. Let's open up those Apple Watch boxes and get started! 

Starting with watchOS 5 for Apple Watch Series 3 or later, you can raise your wrist to get Siri's attention without saying "Hey Siri." Here's how to use raise to talk, or raise to speak, for Siri voice commands on your Apple Watch. I've found this tip to be especially useful at work since when I say "Hey Siri" it can trigger my personal phone, the company phone, or the office HomePod. So I can use Siri on my watch without any confusion!

So you've just purchased a new iPad? Congratulations! Now you may be wondering, "how do I set up my device?" particularly if you've never owned an iPad before or it's been a long time since you upgraded. If this isn't your first iPad, you may be wondering, "how do I transfer my data?" Don't worry, we'll cover how to set up an iPad, as well as how to make sure your data, apps, and settings transfer. Let's get started.

I like adding events and to-do list items for certain days in my iPhone Calendar app. Here's how to widen the daily Calendar display to make it easier to read and to display any additional information included with the event. I usually do this in the morning since reading densely packed words before I've had coffee is nearly impossible.

Got a new pair of AirPods? Once you know how to set up, connect, and configure them, you'll discover why everyone who owns a pair of Apple's wireless earbuds loves them. We're here to help get you started with this AirPods guide, which will cover everything from Siri setting and volume controls, to battery life and charging, and much more. We'll also update this article when the AirPods 2 are released. The AirPods offer crisp, clear sound quality for both listening and speaking through the built-in microphones, as well as a charging case with 24-hour life for easy battery management, and the ability to pair and unpair with many different Apple products. Apple CEO Tim Cook describes AirPods as "practically magic" and explains, "the pairing is seamless, and as someone is talking to you, if you take one out the music will automatically stop, and if you replace it starts again." Let's get started learning how to use your "magical" new AirPods! 

Sometimes Do Not Disturb will still let messages and calls through in certain circumstances depending on your Do Not Disturb settings. Want to use your phone without receiving ANY notifications and calls? Here's the best way to set Do Not Disturb so your phone won't go off for any reason. I use it for when I'm listening to podcasts or just trying to get some work done.

Setting up a brand new HomePod is exciting, but it can also be a frustrating process. In this article, we'll cover how to set up your HomePod as well as basic troubleshooting tips for if your HomePod and iOS device refuse to communicate. From where to place your HomePod for the best sound to how to avoid enabling your grandkids to order off Amazon, we've got you covered. Read on to learn all about how to set up your HomePod and which security options are right for you.

With the latest iOS update, you can do more with your iPhone even before unlocking it. Here's how to respond to your notifications directly from the Lock screen. For iPhone 6s or later, you'll use 3D Touch. For the iPhone XR, you'll just use long press or swipe and tap. 

FaceTime video calls automatically use the front view camera. Here's how to flip the camera from front to rear view during a FaceTime call. It's helpful for showing the other person a quick house tour, the odd sleeping position your cat is in, or anything that's not directly next to you. 

When your phone is locked, you can glance at the notification previews to see if you need to respond to something. But that means other people can too. Fortunately you don't have to turn off notification previews altogether to ensure your privacy. Instead you can set your notification previews to only be visible when your iPhone is unlocked. For iPhone X and later, Face ID works to keep your information secure. But if you have an older phone and have at least iOS 11 or later, this tip also works by using Touch ID.

If you're reading News in landscape mode on your iPad, you'll want to close the sidebar so there's more room for articles. To get rid of the sidebar in News on your iPad, you'll have to have the iPad updated to iOS 12.1.1 or newer.

The new Apple Watch ECG app works with your Apple Watch Series 4 to read your heart's rhythm and detect any irregularities that might indicate atrial fibrillation (AFib), while letting you take note of any additional symptoms you want to record. To use the ECG app, your Apple Watch Series 4 with watchOS 5.1.2 or later needs to be paired with iPhone 5s or later with iOS 12.1.1 or later. Older Apple Watches do not have this feature.

When you're taking photos with your iPhone, sometimes you have to finagle your phone a bit to get the right shot by tilting it or holding it on its side to use the volume buttons to snap a picture. But while the photos usually appear right-side up in the iPhone's Photos app regardless of how you were holding the phone when you snapped the picture, sometimes they don't. And sometimes the photos appear upside down when you're trying to upload the photos to your computer or when you send them in an email. Here's how to fix upside-down photos on your iPhone.

I'll confess that when I first learned about the Apple TV, I thought that it was, well, a TV. I remember being surprised at the price; "Wow! $149 for an HDTV, that's so reasonable for an Apple product!" Clearly, I had no idea what an Apple TV is, let alone how to hook one up or use one. Things have changed, though (it was a steep learning curve), and now I actually know how an Apple TV works, what's needed to connect one, how to set up an Apple TV, and even how to pair the remote or use your iPhone as a remote. Let's get started setting up your Apple TV!