How-to

1,982 'How-to' stories September 2011 - November 2018

A collection of tutorials, tips, and tricks from the 9to5Mac team helping you fix and get the most out of your favorite gear.

How to enable rotation lock on iPad

Peter Cao Nov 15 2018 - 12:01 am PT

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iPad (Pro or not) is a fantastic device to use in landscape mode. However, iPad defaults to the portrait orientation. Follow along to learn how to enable rotation lock on iPad.

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How to turn Apple Watch on and off

Michael Potuck Nov 15 2018 - 12:00 am PT

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Whether you’re new to Apple Watch or you just haven’t needed to power your wearable on or off in a while, follow along for how to turn Apple Watch on and off.

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How to force quit apps on iPad Pro

Peter Cao Nov 14 2018 - 12:01 am PT

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In iOS 12 Apple slightly changed the method in which you access multitasking and close apps. Especially with the 2018 iPad Pros and beyond, Apple has fully adopted a gesture based navigation system that may need some time to get used to. Follow along to learn how to force quit apps on iPad Pro…

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How to find out which Apple TV model you have

Michael Potuck Nov 14 2018 - 12:00 am PT

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You may want to identify which Apple TV model you’ve got for a variety of reasons. Whether you’re selling yours or just want to check software compatibility, read on for how to find out which Apple TV model you have.

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How to turn off Walkie-Talkie on Apple Watch

Peter Cao Nov 13 2018 - 12:01 am PT

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With watchOS 5, Apple introduced a new feature called Walkie-Talkie. It allows Apple Watch users to communicate quickly between one another by voice. Think: text messaging but with voice. By default, when using Walkie-Talkie for the first time, you’re marked as always available. Follow along to learn how to turn off Walike-Talkie on Apple Watch.

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How to get Spotify on Apple Watch

Michael Potuck Nov 13 2018 - 12:00 am PT

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After launching a beta for its Apple Watch app earlier this month, Spotify has today made it available to all users. Read on for how to get Spotify on Apple Watch.

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How to turn off iPad Pro

Peter Cao Nov 12 2018 - 12:01 am PT

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With the lack of a Home button on the latest generation iPad Pro, Apple had to move some hardware gestures around to accommodate a device without a Home button. This includes a new button combination to turn off iPad Pro.

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iPad
How-to

How to open Safari links in Apple News

Michael Potuck Nov 12 2018 - 12:00 am PT

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Apple News offers a clean reading experience, but what if you’re already looking at a page in Safari that you’d like to see inside of the News app? Follow along for how to open Safari links in Apple News.

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How to invoke Siri on iPad Pro

Peter Cao Nov 9 2018 - 12:01 am PT

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Siri helps you get things done by asking for it. With recent revisions iOS devices, the method in which you invoke Siri has changed. Follow along to learn how to invoke Siri on iPad Pro….

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How to charge Apple Watch and check battery life

Michael Potuck Nov 9 2018 - 12:00 am PT

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Whether you’ve just got your first Apple Watch or want to learn how to check battery life numerically while you’re powering up your wearable, follow along for how to charge Apple Watch and check battery life.

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iPad
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How to customize hardware keyboard settings on iPad

Peter Cao Nov 8 2018 - 12:01 am PT

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With Apple’s Smart Keyboards or any other third-party keyboards capable of connecting to an iPad, Apple has a set of options that allow you to customize the hardware keyboard, regardless of which keyboard you decide to go with. Follow along to learn how to customize hardware keyboard settings on iPad…

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How to adjust Display Zoom on iPhone and iPad

Peter Cao Nov 7 2018 - 12:01 am PT

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As displays get larger, text is seemingly getting smaller. On certain iOS devices, Apple offers an option to adjust Display Zoom, which not only makes text larger, but things like the Home screen icons.

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How to setup Face ID on iPad Pro

Michael Potuck Nov 7 2018 - 12:00 am PT

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Whether you’re setting up Face ID for the first time with the iPad Pro or it’s just been a while since you’ve done so on iPhone, read on for how to setup Face ID on iPad Pro.

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How to customize Spotlight results on macOS

Peter Cao Nov 6 2018 - 12:01 am PT

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By default macOS’ Spotlight feature searches anywhere it can to populate results, both locally and on the web. However, especially with shared computers, you’ll want to dial down what it shows. Follow along to learn how to customize Spotlight results on macOS.

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How to turn up haptic vibration feedback on Apple Watch

Michael Potuck Nov 6 2018 - 12:00 am PT

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If you’re missing alerts and notifications on Apple Watch, there may be an easy fix to solve the issue. Follow along for how to turn up haptic vibration feedback on Apple Watch.

For the latest details, read our newest article on this.

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How to disable Apple Music listening history on iPhone and iPad

Peter Cao Nov 5 2018 - 12:01 am PT

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We’ve already covered how to disable Apple Music listening history on HomePod. Now we’ll show you how to do the same on iPhone and iPad.

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How to change between Fahrenheit and Celsius on iPhone

Michael Potuck Nov 5 2018 - 12:00 am PT

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No matter if you’d like to switch up your temperature units for fun or maybe practice in preparation for travel or moving across the globe, follow along for how to change between Fahrenheit and Celsius on iPhone.

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How to use gesture controls on HomePod

Peter Cao Nov 2 2018 - 12:00 am PT

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HomePod’s primary interface is by using voice with Siri. However, sometimes it’s simply more convenient to go up to HomePod and control it with the touch surface. Follow along to learn how to use gesture controls on HomePod.

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How to customize the expiration time for audio messages on iPhone and iPad

Peter Cao Nov 1 2018 - 12:01 am PT

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There’s a feature in iMessage that allows you to send and receive audio messages. By default, these messages automatically delete after two minutes to save space in iCloud and on your device. Follow along to learn how to customize the expiration time for audio messages.

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How to set timers on iPhone

Michael Potuck Nov 1 2018 - 12:00 am PT

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iPhone can be great at keeping us on top of lots of different tasks and one way it can help with that is the use of timers. Follow along for how to set timers on iPhone, including the best way to set multiple timers.

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How to charge Apple Pencil

Peter Cao Oct 31 2018 - 12:00 am PT

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With the release of the new Apple Pencil and the inherent compatibility issues between models, charging the device may become confusing depending on which model you have. Follow along to learn how to charge Apple Pencil….

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How to enable eSIM and Dual SIM on iPhone XS or iPhone XR

Peter Cao Oct 30 2018 - 4:25 pm PT

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We reported that Dual SIM support for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR would be coming in a software update later this year. With today’s release of iOS 12.1, Apple is now officially supporting Dual SIM and eSIM on the latest round of iPhones.

Follow along to learn how….

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How-to

How to stream Apple’s iPad Pro & Mac event on iOS, Mac, Apple TV, and more

Chance Miller Oct 30 2018 - 5:02 am PT

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In just a few hours in New York City, Apple is likely to unveil brand new iPad Pro models, a refreshed Mac lineup, and more. Head below for full instructions on how to watch the Apple event livestream on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and more devices.

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How to enable prominent haptics on Apple Watch

Peter Cao Oct 29 2018 - 12:01 am PT

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Prominent haptics on Apple Watch is pretty self-explanatory. It’ll give you a much more noticeable vibration on your wrist. For some users, the standard vibration patterns are tough to notice, and with older versions of watchOS you were able to modify the vibration strength.

Now, you’ll need to rely on prominent haptics if the standard vibration strength isn’t good enough.

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