Tips

When Apple rolled out iOS 9, it introduced the possibility of accessing Apple Pay from the iPhone Lock Screen. In iOS 11, you can still use Apple Pay from your Lock screen, but things work a little differently with the iPhone X. When this feature is enabled, it will allow you to quickly access Apple Pay and the passes and loyalty cards found in the Wallet app so you can get ready to make a payment or bring up your boarding pass while you wait in line. Note that Apple Pay only works with the iPhone 6 or later. Let's get started learning how to enable Apple Pay from your iPhone Lock Screen!

New to iOS 9 is Wi-Fi Assist. When using Wi-Fi, if your connection is unreliable, your phone will automatically boost your signal using Cellular data. This can be extremely helpful and save you a trip to Settings; however, if you’re watching your data usage, there’s an easy way to turn Wi-Fi Assist off. 

The Notes app on the iPhone and iPad is a surprisingly useful, multi-functional tool. Whether you want to manage a project, set yourself weekly goals, or create a grocery list you won’t forget at home, it’s easy and efficient. You can add links, insert photos, include sketches, create checkable to-do lists, collaborate with others on a shared note, lock your notes for extra privacy, and more. You can see all our Notes app how-tos here.  But first, let's get started with the most basic function of the Notes app: creating to-do lists.

You can use Hey Siri to perform basic operations on your iPhone, such as turning on your flashlight, making a call, or looking up information on the internet. To set up Hey Siri in iOS 13, start by going to Siri & Search to enable Listen for Hey Siri. Let's dive in with how to set up Hey Siri on the iPhone.

Before iOS 9, sharing Bluetooth devices with more than one iPhone was a hassle. You had to either disable Bluetooth on your device or select Forget this Device in settings; both options were roundabout ways to switch the connected iPhone for another. Now, there's a simple way to temporarily disconnect your iPhone from a Bluetooth device.

You can easily select text on iPad or iPhone by turning your keyboard into a trackpad. This is available on iPads running at least iOS 9 and iPhones running iOS 10. Before, when selecting text, there were multiple steps and your vision was obstructed by your own finger. Now you can press into your keyboard, turn it into a trackpad, and easily move your finger to select text or place the cursor in another place for easy editing. Here’s how to easily select text on iPad or iPhone.

One of the smaller changes with iOS 9 is the appearance of the keyboard when using the Shift key. Before, the keys were uppercase in appearance and the highlighted shift key was the only way to know you were typing in uppercase. With the update, the keys are lowercase except when Shift is active: the entire keyboard changes to uppercase. This can make it easier to know which case you're typing in; however, if you prefer the previous set-up, there's a simple Settings change to turn the lowercase keys off.

Notes receives my award for most improved app of the iOS 9 update. One of the big upgrades is the Sketch feature. Now, Notes combines text, sketch, picture, and sharing to give you many note-taking options. With three different "marker" tips, a ruler, eraser, and color easel, it's a pretty basic sketch application, but it's effective and easily combined with text or images. 

In the days of iOS 8, we had arrows leading from photos to album view. While the navigation arrow is still there, now, there’s an easier way. If you’re viewing a single photo, with one swipe of the finger you can return to viewing the album.