Basics

281 'Basics' stories February 2019 - December 2020

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[Update: New with iOS 14.3] How to give your iOS 14 home screen a custom aesthetic with unique app icons

Michael Potuck Dec 14 2020 - 1:27 pm PT

How to create custom iOS 14 aesthetic iPhone walkthrough

iOS 14’s most popular feature has quickly become the all-new widgets that can give your iPhone a personalized touch. However, going further than that, custom iOS 14 aesthetics have become a huge trend. We’ve already covered how to create ultra-customized widgets with Widgetsmith. The other big part is making your app icons tie everything together. Follow along for how to make an iOS 14 aesthetic with custom app icons.

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macOS Big Sur stable enough to upgrade your Mac?

Should I upgrade to macOS Big Sur?

Michael Potuck Dec 14 2020 - 10:05 am PT

macOS 11 Big Sur is now available to the public and it comes with a slew of exciting new features and changes. But you may be wondering, should I upgrade to macOS Big Sur on my Mac? Read on for what the best option is for you.

Update 12/14: macOS Big Sur 11.1 now available…

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iPhone 12 Closeup

How to take a screenshot on iPhone 12 mini, 12, and 12 Pro

Stephen Hall Dec 14 2020 - 1:30 am PT

If you just picked up an iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, 12 Pro, or 12 Pro Max, one of the first things you might need to figure out how to do is take a screenshot. Thankfully, Apple has made the process fairly intuitive and it only takes a minute to learn!

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How to show battery percentage on iPhone 12 mini, 12, and 12 Pro

Stephen Hall Dec 14 2020 - 1:17 am PT

For the longest time, it was super simple to show battery percentage on the iPhone — there was just one little toggle in the Settings app and it would turn on the percentage indicator in the top-right corner of the screen. Things are a little more complicated with the iPhone 12. Here’s how you can view or show the battery percentage on iPhone 12 mini, 12, and 12 Pro…

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How to share Nintendo Switch screenshots to iPhone and iPad

How to share Nintendo Switch screenshots to iPhone and iPad with a Shortcuts automation

Michael Potuck Dec 9 2020 - 7:36 pm PT

Nintendo has made exporting screenshots and videos from the Switch easier with the 11.0 firmware update. Now a new Shortcuts app automation from MacStories takes that further by making it as seamless and fast as possible to share Switch screenshots to iPhone and iPad.

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iPhone 12 Closeup

How to disable Smart HDR on iPhone 12

Scooter Doll Dec 9 2020 - 12:01 am PT

Smart HDR is a camera feature that first appeared on iPhone in 2018 with the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, but to this day it can be a nuisance for photographers that actually prefer images that aren’t so high in dynamic range. Here’s everything you need to know about the feature and how to disable it.

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How to check if your iPhone 11 is eligible for Apple’s new display module replacement program

Chance Miller Dec 5 2020 - 10:50 am PT

iPhone 11 repair program

Yesterday evening, Apple launched a new repair program for a small percentage of iPhone 11 devices affected by touch screen issues. For affected devices, Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will provide service, free of charge. Here’s how to check to see if your device is eligible.

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translate websites with Safari Mac macOS Big Sur

macOS Big Sur: How to translate websites with Safari

Michael Potuck Dec 4 2020 - 12:00 am PT

Safari 14 which is the default browser with macOS Big Sur comes with quite a few improvements. And one of the brand new features (although in beta) is seamless translation of websites. Read along for how to natively translate websites with Safari on Mac.

Apple Music Replay 2020: How to find your top songs, artists, albums, and more

Chance Miller Dec 3 2020 - 8:26 am PT

apple music replay 2020

Apple Music Replay is Apple’s competitor to Spotify Wrapped, allowing Apple Music subscribers to access details on their most listened to songs, albums, and artists of the year. Here’s how to find your Apple Music Replay 2020 year-in-review.

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Customize the menu bar with Control Center macOS Big Sur

macOS Big Sur: Customize the menu bar with Control Center

Michael Potuck Dec 3 2020 - 12:00 am PT

One of the big changes with macOS Big Sur is Control Center arriving on the Mac and this has simplified the default menu bar. However, you may be missing some functionality you’re used to or want to try out the new options. Read along for how to customize the menu bar with Control Center in macOS Big Sur.

How to use Dark Mode on Mac, Big Sur and more

macOS Big Sur: How to use Dark Mode on your Mac

Michael Potuck Dec 1 2020 - 12:00 am PT

macOS Big Sur brings a ton of changes and new features and a small one is a tweak to where you can enable/disable Dark Mode on Mac. Read along for a look at several different ways to use Dark Mode on macOS Big Sur.

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How to view, cancel, and renew subscriptions on iPhone and iPad

Michael Potuck Nov 30 2020 - 1:25 pm PT

Have you ever signed up for a subscription through Apple and forgotten about it? Or maybe you want to cancel a trial right after signing up so you don’t forget, or start back up with one that previously expired. Follow along for how to view iPhone subscriptions as well as cancel and renew them.

Update: Follow along for how to fix the Apple One cancelation bug and other related issues.

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Set custom Safari backgrounds Mac walkthrough

Mac: How to set custom Safari backgrounds

Michael Potuck Nov 27 2020 - 12:00 am PT

macOS Big Sur comes with some major changes and Safari 14 includes a number of enhancements. One of the simple but nice aesthetic changes is the option to set your own image for Apple’s browser. Read on for how to set custom Safari backgrounds.

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check Universal macOS apps M1 support

Five ways to check if apps are optimized for M1 Macs

Michael Potuck Nov 25 2020 - 1:39 pm PT

Now that M1 Macs are available and developers are updating their apps for official M1 support, you might be trying to figure out which of your apps (as well as ones you might want) are optimized for Apple Silicon. Read along for five free ways to check Universal macOS apps.

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How to check M1 app compatibility for all of your Mac software

Check M1 compatibility for all your Mac apps with this free open source tool

Michael Potuck Nov 24 2020 - 10:25 am PT

We’ve seen some valuable app and game databases recently keeping track of all the software out there that’s optimized for Apple Silicon. Now a free open source app – from developer DigiDNA who makes iMazing – means it’s super easy to check all the apps on your Mac locally for M1 app compatibility.

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How to turn on/off optimized battery charging Mac M1 and Intel

How to manage battery health and optimized charging on Intel and M1 Macs

Michael Potuck Nov 20 2020 - 3:16 pm PT

Over the last year, Apple has introduced battery health management to its devices like iPhone, AirPods, Apple Watch, and the Mac got it this past April. Follow along for how to turn on/off optimized battery charging and battery health management on Intel and M1 Macs.

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How to watch Apple November event

How to watch Apple’s ‘One more thing’ November Mac event on any device

Michael Potuck Nov 10 2020 - 5:42 am PT

Apple’s “One more thing” special event is all set for November 10 and there’s already a live stream placeholder on its YouTube channel. Read on for how to watch Apple’s November Mac event on any device, how to set an event reminder, and everything we’re expecting.

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Pick up an iPad Air? Here’s how to get the most out of iPadOS 14 and Apple Pencil

Michael Potuck Nov 6 2020 - 2:03 pm PT

How to get the most out of your iPad Air, Apple Pencil, and iPadOS 14

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Whether you’ve recently picked up the 2020 iPad Air or will be getting one soon, there are a number of great new capabilities and features to enhance your experience between the new hardware, iPadOS 14, and Apple Pencil. And even if you’re keeping your existing iPad, follow along for how to get the most out of iPadOS 14 and Apple Pencil.

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How to get 100 new iPhone emoji with iOS 14.2 and how to find them

How to update to iOS 14.2 to get over 100 new emoji on iPhone

Michael Potuck Nov 5 2020 - 1:07 pm PT

iOS 14.2 has arrived for iPhone, and it brings a host of notable changes and new features. One of those is over 100 new emoji to have fun with and better express yourself. Read on for a look at what’s included with the new batch, how to get the 117 new iPhone emoji with iOS 14.2, and how to find them.

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How to use new iPhone and iPad Markup color tools iOS 14

iOS 14: How to use the new Markup color tools on iPhone and iPad

Michael Potuck Nov 4 2020 - 12:00 am PT

Another one of the less-flashy improvements with iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 is revamped Markup color tools. Read along for what’s new and how to use the new iPhone and iPad Markup color tools.

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How to get free year Apple TV+ iPhone iPad Mac iPod touch Apple TV

Here’s how to get your free year of Apple TV+

Michael Potuck Oct 30 2020 - 12:00 am PT

Ready to check it out Apple TV+ and all of the original content? Read on for how to get your free year of Apple TV+ on iPhone, Mac, Apple TV, and more.

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How to use iPhone sound recognition iOS 14

Hands-on with iOS 14’s Sound Recognition feature that listens for doorbells, smoke alarms, more

Michael Potuck Oct 28 2020 - 12:00 am PT

iOS 14 brings a range of valuable new features, and some of them are designed as Accessibility options but happen to be useful for just about everyone. Read along for a hands-on look at how to use iPhone Sound Recognition to get alerts for things like doorbells, running water, smoke alarms, crying babies, animals, and more.

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Take Night mode selfies iPhone 12

iPhone 12: How to shoot Night mode selfies with the front-facing TrueDepth camera

Michael Potuck Oct 27 2020 - 2:17 pm PT

Apple’s iPhone 12 lineup features a number of improvements to the camera systems and one of those is Night mode expanding beyond the standard rear-facing wide lens and landing on the ultra wide lens and the front-facing TrueDepth camera. Let’s take a look at how to take Night mode selfies on iPhone 12.

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iPhone emoji search in iOS 14

iOS 14: How to use the iPhone emoji search option

Michael Potuck Oct 26 2020 - 12:00 am PT

It’s great to see big changes like home screen widgets with iOS 14, but sometimes the tiny changes can add up to offer some valuable improvements in day-to-day use. One of these small new features is the iPhone emoji search option in iOS 14.

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