Latest news with #iOS17
CNET
6 days ago
- CNET
Tired of Your Phone Automatically Changing the Brightness on Your Screen? Here's How to Make It Stop
Auto-brightness is intended to make it easier to see your iPhone screen, no matter where you are. This might mean brightening the screen when the sensors indicate you're in a low light setting, to lowering the brightness when you're in a well-lit environment. The feature can help to ensure you're not straining your eyes when checking your notifications, but it doesn't always work quite as intended. The problem can be that your display automatically dims down even when you're out in the sun. If you're partially in the shade, your phone might get tricked into automatically dimming your screen, even if it doesn't need to. This can make it difficult to see what's on your screen. If you manually increase the brightness, it'll just go back down again because of auto-brightness. Fixing this issue isn't always as easy as toggling off the necessary settings -- but that's a good place to start. We'll show you two settings you need to disable to help prevent your iPhone from automatically dimming. Be advised, your iPhone might still auto-adjust its brightness even when those two settings are disabled. While you're here, you should also check out everything we know about the iPhone 15, and what you need to know about the iOS 17 Beta. First, disable auto-brightness Yes, this may seem a bit obvious, but the first thing you want to do is to make sure that you have automatic brightness disabled in your settings. The feature is pretty self-explanatory -- it automatically adjusts your brightness depending on the light in your environment. If you want to prevent your display from always trying to adjust, you must disable this feature. In the Settings application, go to Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle off Auto-Brightness at the bottom of the page. You would think that this setting would exist in Display & Brightness, so it's not uncommon that auto-brightness would be enabled without you knowing since it's tucked away in Accessibility. Auto-brightness is tucked away in the Accessibility settings. Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET If your brightness continues to automatically adjust, there's another setting you need to disable. You also need to turn off True Tone If you have an iPhone SE (2nd gen) and later, the True Tone feature measures the color temperature and brightness in your environment and then adjusts its display to match it. True Tone is useful when you want it -- it not only helps show more accurate colors across various lighting situations, but it's also easier on the eyes, which you need if you're constantly reading on your phone. Again, if you don't care about the feature, don't use it or are simply annoyed that your brightness continues to automatically adjust, you need to disable it. In Settings, go to Display & Brightness and toggle off True Tone under the Brightness header. As long as auto-brightness is also disabled, turning True Tone off should prevent your iPhone from automatically adjusting your brightness. If Auto-Brightness is disabled and your display continues to adjust on its own, this may be the culprit. Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET One exception applies. Don't let your iPhone overheat Your iPhone has several ways of protecting its internal components, and that includes automatically dimming your display. Even if you have both auto-brightness and True Tone turned off, if your iPhone is overheating, it will automatically adjust the display intensity. According to Apple, to help prevent this from happening, you should use your iPhone in temperatures between 32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (zero and 35 degrees Celsius) and store it in temperatures between 4 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit (between minus 20 and 45 degrees Celsius). If you leave your iPhone in your car or on the sidewalk on a hot day, or even if you try to use it by the pool or beach on a hot day, there's a good chance that it will overheat and cause your display to automatically dim. You'll see a warning message if your phone gets too hot. Jason Cipriani/CNET Overheating doesn't occur only because of a sunny day. A faulty battery can also cause your iPhone to overheat: Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and check if your battery needs to be replaced. Another reason could be buggy software: Go to Settings > General > Software Update and more sure to always be on the latest update to deal with any software bugs and issues.
Stuff.tv
24-07-2025
- Stuff.tv
The iOS 26 public beta is coming to your iPhone very soon – here's how to download it
It's time for the latest upcoming Apple phone software to be available for you to download as a public preview ahead of its official launch in early September. iOS 26 could be available for your iPhone as early as later today, according to rumour. Indeed, iOS 17 and 18 went into the public beta phase in mid-July, so a release now would be a little later. The iPhone software will debut as part of the Apple Beta Software Program which will also see all of Apple's upcoming software releases emerge in early form. So we can expect public betas for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, tvOS 26, HomePod software 26, watchOS 26 as well as upgraded firmware for your AirPods. As usual there are plenty of updates in the new software. Liquid Glass design language has already proved quite a talking point and Apple has already revised certain aspects of it as a result of feedback in the previous developer betas. As you have probably noticed, Apple's software has taken a bit of a leap this time around in terms of its name – the software releases now have next year's date appended to them rather than a version number per se (so while we got iOS 18 last year we aren't getting iOS 19 this time around). How to install iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 on your iPhone or iPad 1. Make sure your device is compatible. iOS 26 doesn't run on all of the same devices that could run iOS 18 and this version officially ditches support for the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max – all of which are from 2018. Check out the iOS 26 system requirements. 2. Note that early release software can be buggy, even in public beta form. We strongly recommend you don't install any kind of pre-release (beta) software on an iPhone or iPad you use every day and especially not if it's something you rely on. Remember to always back up your data first. 3. Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and choose the iOS 26 Public beta (we don't recommend you choose the Developer beta unless you really know what you're doing and never do this on a device your regularly use). Plug your phone in or place on a wireless charger if compatible. 4. Once you've done so, go back out to Settings > General > Software Update. It may take a little while, but you'll see the beta become available for download in the same way as any other software update for your Apple device. You'll most likely get several updated beta releases between now and early September's full release. If you want to install the final version instead of another beta after the full iOS 16 release, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and turn them off. Apple Passkeys explained: how passwords are old news and how Microsoft and Google are involved, too
New York Times
30-06-2025
- New York Times
This iPhone Feature Makes It Much Harder for Thieves to Ruin Your Life
First, make sure your iPhone is running iOS 17.3 or later (earlier versions don't have this feature). Then open the Settings app, tap Face ID & Passcode , and toggle on Stolen Device Protection . (If you have an older iPhone with Touch ID, your settings will look different.) After you enable Stolen Device Protection, your iPhone will require additional authentication for the user to access some information, and it will also prevent certain changes if it detects that it isn't at a trusted location such as your house or your workplace. For example, if you try to change your Apple account password or your phone's passcode when your iPhone isn't at a trusted location, Stolen Device Protection requires you to wait an hour and then authenticate your identity a second time with Face ID or Touch ID. Even if a thief knows the passcode to unlock your iPhone, that delay gives you time to use Apple's Find My tool to remotely lock or wipe the stolen device. Without the delay, a thief could deactivate the anti-theft and security features using only your iPhone's passcode. You can also require a one-hour security delay on changes to your Apple account, even if you're at a familiar location. To activate it, go to the Stolen Device Protection page in Settings, and check Always in the section labeled Require Security Delay. This can prevent accidental changes, for example from handing your phone to a child to play with, but also guard against malicious activity in familiar locations. Stolen Device Protection also limits what information a thief can access on your iPhone by requiring biometric authentication (Face ID or Touch ID, depending on which iPhone you have) to do things like view saved passwords or make changes to an Apple savings account. This prevents thieves from using your unlocked iPhone to steal your money or open an Apple credit card in your name. The changes may in part be a response to reports of thieves snatching devices after observing iPhone owners logging in with their PIN. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, iPhone thieves were able to steal money, open credit card accounts, and more once they access the devices. And thieves can completely lock victims out of their Apple accounts, making it very difficult for the victims to disable or track their stolen iPhones with Apple's Find My feature. Victims are sometimes unable to access their photos and files saved on iCloud as well. Stolen Device Protection makes it harder for thieves to use a stolen iPhone to ruin your life. It might pose an inconvenience for you in some moments, but it's still worth switching on.
Hindustan Times
24-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
iPhone feels unresponsive? Fix long-press speed with this simple iOS setting
Many iPhone users find the device fast and responsive, but one feature often feels slower than expected: Haptic Touch. This feature controls how quickly your iPhone responds when you press and hold an item on the screen. If the response feels delayed, it can make the phone seem sluggish when opening menus or previews. Here's how to speed up your iPhone's response time by adjusting the 'Haptic Touch' setting in just seconds.(REUTERS) Haptic Touch duration determines how long you must press before the menu or action appears. A slower setting can help prevent accidental long presses, which might be useful for users who need extra time to control their touch input. However, this slower response can also make everyday interactions feel less smooth. Also read: Think that new Minecraft mod is safe? It could be malware stealing your data - over 1,500 players already hit Starting with iOS 17, Apple introduced an accessibility setting that lets users speed up Haptic Touch. This update aims to bring the responsiveness closer to what users experienced with the older 3D Touch feature. For context, 3D Touch was first introduced in 2015 with the iPhone 6s. It allowed the phone to detect varying levels of pressure and unlock extra functions such as "Peek and Pop" gestures. This feature was removed in 2018 with the launch of the iPhone XR and replaced by the simpler Haptic Touch, which only recognises a single level of pressure. Because Haptic Touch relies on a timed press rather than pressure sensitivity, it tends to feel slower compared to 3D Touch. Many users who preferred the speed of 3D Touch found Haptic Touch less responsive. The new setting in iOS 17 changes this by letting you choose a faster response time for Haptic Touch. Also read: Starlink Mini Launch – How portable satellite internet is changing connectivity in remote America To speed up Haptic Touch on an iPhone running iOS 17 or later, follow these steps: Open the Settings app. Select Accessibility. Under the "Physical and Motor" section, tap Touch. Tap Haptic Touch. Choose from Fast, Default, or Slow settings. Test the selected speed by pressing the flower image on the screen. Also read: How to easily compress data on your iPad to save storage space This adjustment can make a significant difference, which will make menus and previews appear more quickly and improve the overall feel of the device. Apple's decision to remove 3D Touch remains unclear, with some suggesting it was hard to discover, while others think it helped standardise gestures across iPhone and iPad. Whatever the reason, the new fast Haptic Touch option offers a way to retain some of the responsiveness users once enjoyed. Mobile finder: iPhone 16 Pro Max LATEST price, specs and all details
Scottish Sun
20-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
‘Invisible' iPhone setting blocks spam & scam calls automatically – but it only appears if you make little-known change
There are some other tricks you'll want to try too CALL KILLER 'Invisible' iPhone setting blocks spam & scam calls automatically – but it only appears if you make little-known change Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BLOCK scam calls in an instant with a hidden iPhone setting that very few people know about. Spam phone calls aren't just annoying – they can also be a dangerous tactic by criminals to steal your info or money. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Don't let your iPhone experience be ruined by dodgy callers Credit: Apple 5 This setting will only appear if you've downloaded call ID apps Credit: The Sun / Apple 5 You can set your iPhone up to screen calls using a list of known scam and spam numbers Credit: The Sun / Apple Some unlucky phone owners will be plagued by dozens of these dodgy calls every single week. But there's a little-known iPhone setting that can block out calls from these numbers automatically. It's called Call Blocking & Identification, but it's invisible on your phone – at least until you download the right app. Once you download a call ID app, the feature will then show up in your settings. There are loads of call ID apps out there. They maintain giant databases of phone numbers that are known to be linked to spam or scam operations. So once you've got the app and the feature switched on, your calls will be screened to see if there's a match with a dodgy database. That way, you can avoid having to put up with non-stop spam calls. HOW TO TURN IT ON First, you'll need to go to the official Apple App Store and download some call ID apps. Some popular options are Truecaller and Whoscall, but there are loads out there. Apples's big announcements from WWDC with a flurry new features for the gadgets you already own And the more you have installed, the greater your chance of catching a dodgy number. Once you've downloaded them, you can go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification. This setting will only appear if you have at least one call ID apps installed. Chose the option to Silence Junk Callers (which works based on your carrier) and then activate any Call Identification apps that you've installed. 5 Truecaller is just one of the many call ID apps that you can try Credit: The Sun / Apple TRY SILENCING UNKNOWN CALLERS Here's another trick that's worth trying... You can actually set your iPhone up to silence all phone calls from unknown callers. If you turn the setting on, unknown callers will be sent straight to voicemail. Just go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Calls > Silence Unknown Callers and toggle it on. Also, if you've got iOS 17 or later (go to Settings > General > Software Update to check) then you can read transcriptions of your voicemail so you don't have to listen to them. And they should show up in real-time as the voicemail is being left. Picture Credit: The Sun / Apple You'll need to toggle them to the green "on" position for them to become active. COMING SOON! There's another handy feature coming soon that will help you avoid even more phone scammers. It's called Call Screening, and it's a new trick due out in the upcoming iOS 26 update for your iPhone. That won't be out until September at the earliest, but it'll make a big difference. 5 A future iOS update will introduce a Call Screening feature that uses a robot to vet your calls for you Once it's out, go to Settings > General > Software Update to claim the new features. Then when that's installed, your phone will use a virtual AI robot to automatically screen your calls. It will ask the person's name and reason for calling – all using a robot voice – and then write out the answer for you in real-time on your screen. Once that appears, you can decide whether to answer, or instead send it to voicemail if you think it's a scam. IOS 26 SUPPORTED DEVICES – THE FULL LIST Here are the iOS 26 supported devices... iPhone 16e iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone SE (3rd gen) iPhone SE (2nd gen) Picture Credit: Apple It's also a handy way to stop scammers from hearing or recording your voice and then cloning it for future cons.
