iPhone Life - Best Apps, Top Tips, Great Gear

There are many frontiers to protect in today’s world. Maybe it’s not enough to install smart blinds to hide from nosy neighbors and add security cameras and smart locks to deter unwanted guests. Now, with cybercrime a multi-billion-dollar global industry, we might also want to choose a secure app to manage our passwords, find a better backup solution to protect our digital archives from cyber theft, and make sure to keep our credentials unique. Check out our selections for the best home security systems, cyber security apps, and media to learn more about how it all works.

The second you download your shiny new OS, you’ll want to start playing with all the new features. But where to start? Here are the iOS 17 features to enjoy as soon as your installation is complete!

With iOS 17, users can now turn any photo that has a defined subject into a sticker. Live photos can be turned into live stickers that move like GIFs. These fun stickers are great to share with friends and family, and our guide will teach you how to make the perfect static and live stickers to wow your contacts with!

If you've recently changed the iPhone passcode, you can set your iPhone to temporarily use the old passcode when you forget the new passcode on iPhone. This is a great way to ensure you don't get locked out of your phone before you've gotten in the habit of remembering the new passcode. In order for this option to show up, you will need to have recently changed the passcode, and you will need to have updated to iOS 17. 

Most apps on the Apple Watch need to be downloaded via the iPhone before you can download them directly from the App Store. However, if you've downloaded the app previously and it's still in your iCloud, you can re-download it to your Apple Watch without your iPhone. But did you know that you can automatically download the companion watchOS version of an app you’ve added to your iPhone? You can also turn this feature off and choose only specific apps to download to your Apple Watch if you'd like to save space. Here's how it works!

Whether you’re looking to reduce anxiety, balance emotions, or get better sleep, there’s an app that can help. I’ve hand-tested apps featuring stress-busting games, artsy digital crafts, interactive ASMR animations, meditation, breathwork, and yoga; so if you’re looking to unwind, read on to find one that works for you.

If you’ve recently upgraded to an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, you might have noticed that the Ring/Silent switch has been replaced with a button. Apple calls this the Action button. By default, this button toggles Silent mode off and on but can be customized to perform other functions as well.