Last Tuesday, I woke up in the middle of the night and grabbed my iPhone to check the time. Immediately, it turned on the flashlight at full brightness and jolted me fully awake. There’s a specific iPhone feature behind these random activations: Back Tap.

Back Tap lets you tap your phone’s back to perform quick actions, including enabling the flashlight. The frustrating part is that it fails miserably when you intentionally try to use it, yet it activates randomly throughout the day. I’ve dealt with this nonsense on my iPhone 18 Pro Max, but there’s actually a simple fix.

What is Back Tap, and how does it work?

The hidden accessibility feature most people don’t know about

You’ll find Back Tap hiding in Settings > Accessibility > Touch. Think of it as turning your iPhone’s back into one big touch button. Apple introduced this with iOS 14 to give people quick access to screenshots, Control Center, flashlight controls, and other functions.

The feature lets you assign two different actions: one for a double-tap and another for a triple-tap. The available actions include system controls, accessibility features, and custom shortcuts from the Shortcuts app. Setting the flashlight as a Back Tap action seems like a great idea until you actually live with it.

Unfortunately, Back Tap’s sensitivity is maddeningly unpredictable. When you deliberately try to activate it in a dark hallway, it often ignores your taps completely. But set your phone down normally or shift your grip, and suddenly you’re blinded by an LED spotlight.

Why Back Tap keeps triggering your flashlight accidentally

The sensitivity problem that Apple hasn’t quite solved

The core issue isn’t hardware—it’s software sensitivity that behaves erratically across all compatible iPhone models. Normal phone handling becomes a minefield of potential triggers. Just placing your phone on a surface, slipping it into your jeans pocket, or adjusting your grip while texting can make the sensor think you meant to activate something.

Nighttime activations are the worst. Your phone rests on the nightstand when something minor—maybe a notification buzz or your furniture settling—sets off the Back Tap sensor. Next thing you know, you’re squinting at what might as well be a tiny flashbang at 3 AM.

Cases don’t fix the problem either. I’ve tried different case thicknesses and materials, but the detection system stays just as unreliable. This frustrating inconsistency spans iPhone models and accessories—it’s a fundamental software issue.

How to check if Back Tap is causing your flashlight issues

Finding the culprit in your iPhone 18 Pro Max settings

Head to Settings, then Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. You’ll find Double Tap and Triple Tap settings here. Check what each one does by tapping on it.

Look for Flashlight listed under either option. When this is active, double or triple tapping your phone’s back will turn on the flashlight. Don’t stress if you can’t remember setting this up—it sometimes gets turned on during phone setup or when you’re poking around in the settings.

Your options for fixing the random flashlight problem

Three ways to stop the unexpected light show

Disable Back Tap Completely

The nuclear option: set both Double Tap and Triple Tap to None. This eliminates any possibility of accidental activation, since the feature becomes inactive. You lose the shortcut capability but gain peace of mind.

If both settings show None, but flashlight surprises keep happening, you’re looking at either another accessibility setting or a hardware issue.

Change to a Less Disruptive Action

Alternatively, keep Back Tap active, but assign it to something harmless like taking screenshots. Accidental activation just creates an extra photo you can delete—no more surprise light shows. Other benign options include opening Control Center or triggering a custom shortcut that does something innocuous. You can even set the double and triple taps to trigger productivity tools.

Move Flashlight to Triple Tap Only

If you actually use the flashlight shortcut, assign it to Triple Tap while setting Double Tap to None. Triple taps require more deliberate action and rarely trigger accidentally during normal phone handling.

Alternative ways to quickly access your iPhone’s flashlight

Better methods that won’t surprise you at 3 AM

Control Center remains the most reliable flashlight access method. On modern iPhones, swipe down from the upper-right corner. Then tap the flashlight button. This approach never lets me down.

The Lock screen offers another dependable route. Look for the flashlight symbol in the bottom-left corner and press until it lights up.

Siri handles voice requests reliably—just say “Hey Siri, turn on the flashlight.” This works great when you’re carrying something or trying to navigate in pitch-black conditions.

Take back control of your iPhone 18 Pro Max flashlight

Random flashlight activations almost always trace back to Back Tap’s flashlight setting. This accessibility feature suffers from inconsistent sensitivity that makes it more annoying than useful. The good news is that fixing it takes seconds—disable Back Tap entirely, change its action to something harmless, or move the flashlight to triple-tap.

With reliable alternatives like Control Center and lock screen shortcuts readily available, you can ditch the problematic Back Tap feature and finally sleep soundly without unexpected illumination ruining your night.

Buying and setting up a new iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max is a pleasant experience, but there are some headaches. One potential problem is when you realise that your friends’ calls, texts and iMessages are still being directed to the old device – either as well as, or even worse instead of, your new device. This could be embarrassing if you’ve sold the old device or passed it on to a loved one.

In this article we go through the various problems associated with old iPhones picking up calls, texts and iMessages, and a series of solutions to fix them.

Stop messages being sent to old devices

The easiest way to stop an old iPhone getting your new messages and calls – and absolutely the one you should follow if you’re selling it – is to completely wipe the device. This will remove all your accounts and settings as well as apps and files.

Open the Settings app and go to General. Swipe down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, enter your Apple Account and password – this is important for this process to work – then confirm. (Note that it’s wise to turn off Find My iPhone before wiping, too, although this isn’t strictly relevant to this discussion.)

If you want to keep most of your settings intact, however, then you can stop messages being delivered by going to Settings (while the old SIM is still in the phone) and going to Apps > Messages > Send & Receive. Tap your Apple Account at the top and sign out.

To stop FaceTime calls coming through, do the same thing via Settings > Apps > FaceTime – again, tap your Apple Account and sign out.

Having problems updating your iPhone 18 Pro Max to the latest version of iOS? There are a few reasons why you can face these issues. Don’t be disheartened, though—there’s usually a simple solution to the problem.

Let’s look at some fixes that will help you get the latest system software running on your device properly. Here’s how to fix your iPhone when it won’t let you update iOS.

1. Charge Your iPhone

Let’s start with some basics before diving into more advanced troubleshooting. As you probably know, your iPhone won’t let you upgrade if you don’t have enough battery power. This is to prevent your device from shutting off in the middle of an update, which can cause serious problems.

Make sure you plug in your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max and have plenty of battery charge before starting the OS update. It’s a good idea to leave it on the charger while the process runs, too. That way, if it takes longer than expected, your phone won’t run out of power.

2. Wait a While Before Updating

If you try to update to the latest version of iOS as soon as it comes out, you might run into trouble. Apple’s servers go under heavy load when many thousands of people are trying to update all at once.

If you receive an error when trying to update to the latest version of iOS, try waiting for a while. You should have better luck later when the update servers aren’t under as much strain.

The update menu lets you schedule a system update to run overnight, when most people in your area won’t be trying to update. Try that, and if it doesn’t work either, wait a few days before giving it another shot.

3. Force-Restart Your Device

A one-off bug can prevent you from updating your iPhone. Restarting your phone will restart its processes and hopefully clear up any temporary glitches. If iPhone isn’t responding, and you can’t turn it off then back on, try forcing it to restart. Press and quickly release the volume up button. Press and quickly release the volume down button. Press and hold the side button. When the Apple logo appears, release the side button.

Once you’ve done this successfully, you’ll see your screen turn black. Afterward, an Apple logo will appear and you’ll be greeted by your lock screen. Your device is now fully refreshed, so you can go ahead and try to update again.

4. Free Up Space on Your Device

A lack of device storage is a common culprit for a faulty update process. Luckily, modern versions of iOS help you free up space easily. Here’s how:

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap General.
3. Tap iPhone Storage.

In this menu, you’ll see how much storage you have used and remaining. Depending on what’s taking up space, your phone will provide a few recommendations, including:

• Review Your Photos & Videos
• iCloud Photos

Offload Unused Apps deletes the install data for any apps that you rarely use. This won’t delete any of your personal files; only the app data itself is deleted. When you want to use the app again, you can redownload it as long as it’s still available on the App Store. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Apps, tap App Store, then turn on Offload Unused Apps.

iCloud Photos allows you to back up all your photos to iCloud. After doing this, you’re free to delete as many images as you want from your device, since they’re available in the cloud. However, if you do this, you’ll only be able to access your photos when you have an internet connection, since they’re no longer stored locally on your device.

You can delete messages and attachments that are older than 30 days or a year old, on an ongoing basis. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Apps, then tap Messages. Scroll down, tap Keep Messages (below Message History), then choose an option.

Once you’ve increased your free space, try the iOS update again.

5. Run the Update via iTunes or Finder

While most people are used to updating iOS right on their iPhone, you can still run a system update through your computer with iTunes or Finder. It’s not quite as convenient, but can come in handy if the over-the-air update isn’t working for you. This is also a solution if you can’t create enough free space on your device.

Connect iPhone and your computer with a cable. On a Mac (macOS 10.15 or later): In the Finder sidebar, select your iPhone, then click General at the top of the window. On a Mac (macOS 10.14 or earlier) or a Windows device: Open the iTunes app, click the button resembling an iPhone near the top left of the iTunes window, then click Summary. Click Check for Update. To install an available update, click Update.

After doing this, the update should install onto your device. If you have trouble, see what to do when your iPhone won’t connect to your computer.

6. Delete Old Update Data (Including Beta Versions)

If you try to install an iOS update and it fails, the update data sits on your device so you don’t have to re-download it. But if there’s something wrong with what you downloaded, you need to delete it to force your iPhone 18 Pro Max to run the update again. See iPhone 18 Pro Max Update Stuck on Resume Download.

To do this, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage again. In the list of apps, look for an iOS update. If you see one, tap it and choose Delete Update. Then go back to the update page and try to run it again.

Similarly, if you have installed beta system software on your device, try uninstalling the beta version of iOS before attempting the update again.

7. Check Your Network and Reset Network Settings

If you can’t update through iTunes or Finder, the next step is to take a look at your network connection. A slow or unreliable Wi-Fi connection means you may not be able to update properly, both on your iPhone and through your computer.

Make sure you’re connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network when you try to update. It’s worth restarting your router if you haven’t done so in a while. If you have continued issues, you might also try connecting to another network and seeing if you have the same issue there.

If you can’t update on any Wi-Fi network, you can reset your iPhone’s network settings to start fresh. Note that this will clear out all network preferences you’ve saved, so you’ll need to reconnect to all previously saved Wi-Fi networks again. This will also reset any VPN configurations you use, as well as Bluetooth connection settings.

To reset network settings on your iPhone 18 Pro Max:

1. Open Settings and tap General.
2. Scroll down to Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Select Reset at the bottom, followed by Reset Network Settings.
4. Enter your passcode and confirm you want to do this.

Once you reset your Wi-Fi configuration, reconnect to a strong Wi-Fi network and try the iOS update again.

If you are using a VPN or a proxy service, they may cause issues. Temporarily try disabling them. Use the app to turn off its features, then see if the issue continues.

8. Reset All Settings, Then Factory Reset

If none of the above has fixed your problem, you should consider completely wiping your device. In the same Reset menu mentioned above, you can either reset all settings on your device or perform a factory reset to erase everything.

Resetting your settings probably won’t fix an update issue, but it’s worth a try first if nothing else has worked. Keep in mind that this will change all options back to their defaults, so you’ll have to configure options like privacy preferences and notifications again:

1. Launch Settings > General.
2. Choose Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Select Reset > Reset All Settings.
4. Confirm with your passcode.

All your settings are now reset; try to update again once you reconnect to Wi-Fi. If it works, great! You’ll need to put all your settings back as they were. If that didn’t fix your problem, you can go to the most extreme route and reset your device to factory defaults.

Keep in mind that factory resetting will erase all the data on your iPhone. Make sure you’ve backed up your iPhone before proceeding so you don’t lose any information.

Here’s how to factory reset your device:

1. Open Settings > General.
2. Hit Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Select Erase All Content and Settings from the bottom of the page.
4. Walk through the steps, including entering your passcode to confirm.

Your device will now revert back to its factory state. Because everything is fresh again, you’ll hopefully be able to update without issue. You can restore your iPhone backup during the setup process.

iPhone Updating Troubles: Fixed!

It’s frustrating when your iPhone 18 Pro Max won’t let you update. Hopefully, one of these fixes solved your problem and you can now enjoy the latest version of iOS.

Aside from keeping current with updates, make sure you’re taking good care of your iPhone so it serves you for many years.

There are different scenarios where you may find that your iPhone’s sound is not working. For example, maybe there’s no sound on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max when you receive a call. Or maybe your iPhone speaker doesn’t play any sound even after you adjust the volume.

Whatever’s going on, let’s look at how you can fix it when there’s no sound on your iPhone.

1. Test Your iPhone’s Speaker and Your Audio Devices

When your iPhone’s sound is not working, you should first try checking whether it’s a software or hardware problem. Here’s how:

1. Go to the Settings app.
2. Select Sounds & Haptics.

   

3. Under the Ringtone section, tap and slide the volume slider to the right. This increases the speaker volume.
4. If there is sound, your iPhone’s speaker is functional. If not, it’s likely a hardware issue that needs repairing.

Also, check that it’s not your audio devices, such as AirPods, causing the “no sound” problem. Test this by connecting them to other smartphones or computers. If they’re working like usual, it means that the issue is with your iPhone and you can now focus on solving it through this article.

2. Clean Your iPhone’s Speakers

Before moving on to troubleshooting software issues, there may simply be dust and dirt affecting speaker function, causing no sound to play on your iPhone. Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth—for example, a lens cloth. Avoid getting moisture in openings.

If it’s not dust and dirt, try to recall whether you accidentally dropped your iPhone in water recently. While iPhones are water-resistant, water may still get into your speakers. You can use the Sonic app to eject water from the speakers if this is the case.

3. Turn Off Silent Mode and Do Not Disturb

It’s convenient to use Silent Mode and Do Not Disturb to focus at work. Therefore, a simple reason why there’s no sound on your iPhone 18 Pro Max could be that these features are still turned on.

Here’s how to turn off Silent Mode:

Press and hold the Action button to turn Silent mode on. Press and hold the Action button again to turn Silent mode off. If your Action button isn’t set to Silent mode, go to the Settings app on your iPhone, tap Sounds & Haptics, then turn Silent mode on or off.

Here’s how to turn off Do Not Disturb or Focus:

1. Open Control Center, then tap Focus.

   

2. Tap the Focus that’s on to turn it off.

4. Check Your iPhone’s Audio Output

There may be no sound on your iPhone because you have Bluetooth turned on and it has automatically connected to an active Bluetooth audio device, such as wireless earbuds. Therefore, your iPhone’s sound is actually playing from those instead of the speakers.

You can disconnect the devices easily by turning off your iPhone’s Bluetooth:

1. Open the Control Center.

   

2. The Bluetooth button is blue when switched on. Tap to turn it off.

Also, check that your AirPlay isn’t connected to an external speaker. See AirPlay Not Working on iPhone 18 Pro Max. In the Control Center:

1. Tap the AirPlay button in the top-right corner.
2. Check that iPhone is selected.

Another audio-output-related issue is headphone mode. If you see a persistent headphone icon on your iPhone’s status bar, we have a guide on how to fix an iPhone stuck in headphone mode.

5. Check Your iPhone’s Sound Settings

If your iPhone isn’t on Silent Mode or connected to any Bluetooth device, the problem of the sound not working may lie in your sound settings. First, adjust your volume buttons. You may think that there’s no sound on your iPhone because you accidentally turned the volume too low. To correct this, simply press the Volume Up button on the side of your iPhone 18 Pro Max.

If you already have your device’s volume turned up, but still find that your iPhone sound is not working—for example, incoming texts have no alert sounds—here’s how to check your other sound settings:

1. In the Settings app, select Sounds & Haptics.
2. Tap a sound category, such as Text Tone or Calendar Alerts, then tap a sound to select it.
3. Make sure that None is not selected for anything.

6. Check Third-Party App Sound Settings

If there’s no sound on your iPhone when you’re using a specific app, you should check the sound settings within the app itself. For messaging apps like WhatsApp, check that you chose a notification sound and that None is not selected. For games, make sure that you didn’t mute the audio or turn off some of the music settings.

You’ll need to root around in the relevant in-app settings to find these options as they move around for every app.

7. Exit and Relaunch the Third-Party App

If you’ve already gone through all the sound settings and they’re all switched on correctly, your iPhone’s sound not working may just be an app glitch.

For instance, you may notice that an Instagram video has no sound, despite showing the audio icon. Even if you pressed your Volume Up button, the volume bar doesn’t appear either. On social media platforms like this, you can save the post, exit the app, open it again, and go to your Saved collection to enjoy the video.

You can also opt to view the video through another route. Instead of watching the video in your Instagram feed, tap into that Instagram profile and select the video from there instead.

8. Update iOS and Your iPhone Apps

Updates often come with fixes for bugs and glitches, so you can solve the issue of no sound on your iPhone by simply keeping your iOS and apps up-to-date. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap General, then tap Software Update.

9. Force Restart Your iPhone

If there’s still no sound on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max, the next method you can try is to force restart your iPhone. Don’t worry, you won’t lose any data when you force restart your iPhone. Press and quickly release the volume up button. Press and quickly release the volume down button. Press and hold the side button. When the Apple logo appears, release the side button.

10. Restore Your iPhone to a Previous Backup

Another potential solution is to restore your iPhone to a previous backup made when the sound was still working. However, take note that you will lose any new data that was added to your device since you made that backup. Even so, that might be worth it if it means fixing the sound on your iPhone again. If you already set up your device, you need to erase all of its content before you can use these steps to restore from your backup. Tap Set Up Manually, tap Restore from iCloud Backup, then follow the onscreen instructions.

11. Reset All Settings on Your iPhone 18 Pro Max

If you tried all the suggestions above but they don’t work, the last solution is to reset your iPhone’s settings. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap General, tap Transfer or Reset iPhone, then tap Reset. Then tap Reset All Settings. All settings—including network settings, the keyboard dictionary, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards—are removed or reset to their defaults. As long as you don’t select the Erase All Content and Settings option, rest assured that you will not lose any data. That said, you may need to erase all the content and set your iPhone up as new to fix the issue, so try that if the first option doesn’t work.

Fix No Sound on Your iPhone Easily

It’s common for technology to have a hiccup here and there. By following the list of solutions above, you should be able to quickly fix the problem of your iPhone’s sound not working. However, if the problem persists, it’s best to contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider for a technician to examine your device and possibly carry out a repair.

An iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max is almost useless without a working microphone. A broken microphone means no FaceTime, phone calls, or Siri. Sometimes, videos shot on your iPhone may not have any audio. But before you pay Apple for a costly repair, try these fixes first.

1. Find Out Which Microphone Isn’t Working

Before you begin fixing your iPhone’s microphone, you’ll need to know which microphone isn’t working. Your iPhone 18 Pro Max has four studio-quality microphones, including one on the bottom of your phone for phone calls, one on the front of your phone for speakerphone, and one on the back for the camera.

Test each microphone by recording using Voice Memos (bottom microphone), making a phone call on speakers (front microphone), and recording a video (back microphone). If all the microphones aren’t working, it’s most likely a hardware issue. If only one microphone isn’t working or sounds muffled, continue to the next step.

2. iPhone 18 Pro Max Microphone Muffled or Muted? Try Cleaning It

One of the simplest ways to fix your microphone is by cleaning it. If one of your microphones sounds muffled when you speak, you might just need to clean it. iPhone microphones are sensitive, and a small piece of dust or dander can affect how they sound.

To clean your microphone, avoid blowing into it at first. Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe, 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipe, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the exterior surfaces of your iPhone. Avoid getting moisture in any openings, and don’t submerge your iPhone in any cleaning agents.

While you’re at it, clean your entire iPhone thoroughly if it’s not in a good shape.

3. Disconnect From Bluetooth Devices

Being connected to a Bluetooth device could mean that your iPhone is activating an external microphone, and you can’t use the built-in one.

This is a common issue with those who use Bluetooth headphones like AirPods or smart home systems. Check if you’re connected to a Bluetooth device by opening your iPhone’s Control Center, then toggle Bluetooth off. Alternatively, tap and hold it to view all your connected devices.

4. Make Sure Apps Have Microphone Permissions

If your microphone isn’t working in a specific app, you might not have granted that app permission to use your microphone.

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security. Tap a hardware feature, such as Camera, Bluetooth, Local Network, or Microphone. You can turn access on or off for any app on the list.

5. Use an External Microphone or AirPods

If you’ve tried all the above fixes but nothing is working, you can still use an external microphone with your iPhone. You can use this while you wait for a repair or even use an external microphone indefinitely if you can’t afford a repair.

Most headphones, including Apple’s AirPods, have built-in microphones. Since they connect via your iPhone’s USB-C port or Bluetooth, you won’t have to rely on the built-in microphones for most tasks.

6. Other Generic Fixes

In some cases, your iPhone’s microphones might not work due to a software bug. Fortunately, updating your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max can fix various problems, including a microphone that doesn’t work. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to quickly check for a newer iOS version.

If updating iOS doesn’t resolve the issue, you may want to restore your iPhone’s settings to their default values. Sometimes, apps can customize settings, which can cause your iPhone’s microphone to stop working. Head to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings to do this.

If none of the troubleshooting methods helped, you should contact Apple to repair or replace your iPhone. It’s easy to make an Apple Store appointment at a Genius Bar, but expect to pay a hefty fee unless your iPhone is still under Apple’s limited warranty or you’ve purchased an AppleCare+ warranty.

One of the apps most used by iPhone owners is iMessage. This is because it’s a great way to keep in touch with friends and family, while being able to access messages across all of your Apple devices, be it an iPhone, an iPad, or even a Mac.

In this article we show how to get the service up and running on iPhone 18 Pro Max.

What is iMessage?

Essentially, it’s Apple’s own instant messaging service, allowing users to send text or multimedia content to others with Apple devices. Instead of needing a telephone number, as you’ll find with the likes of WhatsApp, it works via your iCloud account, which is why you can send and receive messages from your iPad and Mac as well as your iPhone.

One of its other advantages is compatibility with Memoji and Animoji, alongside various apps that can be plugged into the platform. In some regions you can even send money to recipients via Apple Cash in iMessage.

Enabling iMessage on iPhone

When you initially set up your iPhone 18 Pro Max you would have been asked to create or use an existing iCloud account. Providing you did so, then half of the job is already done, as you’ll need an iCloud account for iMessages to work.

It’s very likely that iMessages was already turned on during the setup process, but there’s no harm in being thorough. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Apps, then tap Messages.

You’ll see a new page with an option at the top to enable iMessage. Tap on the button to the right of the name so that the background turns green.

The service will now activate, which means you should also see dialog boxes appear on your iPad or Mac asking if you want your iPhone number to be added to iMessage and FaceTime.

Click Yes and now any messages sent to your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max via iMessage will also sync with your other devices.

If you’re receiving notifications of missed calls yet didn’t hear your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max ringing for incoming calls earlier, it’s likely due to misconfigured settings, software bugs, or hardware problems. When these issues persist, continuing to unknowingly miss important family and work calls is never good.

But don’t worry. We’ll walk you through the solutions so that you won’t miss a call this way again. Let’s look at what you can do when your iPhone can receive calls but doesn’t seem to ring at the time the call comes in.

1. Test Your iPhone’s Speakers

The first step is to test your iPhone’s speakers to rule out hardware issues. Open YouTube or any other music app and play something. Use the Volume Up button on the side of your device to increase the volume level.

Once you’re confident that the speaker is working, the likely reasons your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max doesn’t ring are bad settings or temporary software glitches.

2. Turn Off Silent Mode

If your iPhone 18 Pro Max is set to Silent mode, it won’t ring when you get a call. Press and hold the Action button to turn Silent mode on. Press and hold the Action button again to turn Silent mode off.

If your Action button isn’t set to Silent mode, go to the Settings app on your iPhone, tap Sounds & Haptics, then turn Silent mode on or off.

Check your Focus settings: Your calls may be silenced if you turned on a Focus Mode, like Do Not Disturb. You can check this by opening Control Center. You can also check this by going to Settings > Focus.

You can also choose to silence calls from unknown callers and send them directly to voicemail.

1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap Apps, then tap Phone.
3. Choose one of the following:
   • Never: Call Screening is turned off and your iPhone will ring when you receive a call from an unsaved number.
   • Ask Reason for Calling: Calls from unknown numbers will be asked for more information before iPhone rings.
   • Silence: Calls from unsaved numbers will be silenced, sent to voicemail, and appear in the Recents list.

3. Disconnect Bluetooth Audio Devices

If you leave wireless audio devices like AirPods connected to your iPhone, your incoming call ringtone may play through these instead of the phone’s speakers. This mostly happens with third-party earbuds that don’t automatically sense when you’re wearing them.

You can disconnect all wireless devices by opening the Control Center and tapping the Bluetooth icon. Your Bluetooth accessories and devices disconnect from your iPhone until the next day.

To disconnect devices individually instead, head to Settings > Bluetooth. Tap the Info (i) button next to the device and tap Disconnect. Once your Bluetooth devices are disconnected, incoming calls should play via your iPhone’s speakers.

4. Turn the Ringtone Volume Up

If your ringtone volume is too low, you may not hear a call coming in if your iPhone is in your bag. So, it may appear that your iPhone didn’t ring at all. You can quickly fix this by increasing the ring volume. Here’s how:

1. Open Settings and tap Sounds & Haptics.
2. Drag the Ringtone slider to the right. The further right it is, the louder your ringtone will be.

   

On the same page, you might also want to toggle off Change with Buttons. Doing so will prevent you from accidentally lowering the ringtone volume when you’re changing the volume in gaming or video apps. When this option is disabled, the volume buttons only change the volume for media, not your ringtone.

5. Choose a Different or Louder Ringtone

Sometimes, you might miss phone calls because your ringtone isn’t loud or piercing enough. In this case, you should try out other ringtones and use the one that’s the easiest to hear.

Follow these steps to change your iPhone’s ringtone:

1. Open Settings and tap Sounds & Haptics.
2. Tap Ringtone.
3. From here, tap to hear the different tones. When you’ve found one that suits you, hit Back.

6. Check for Custom Contact Ringtones

The ringtone you set above applies to all contacts unless you’ve added a custom tone to someone. If you miss calls from only certain people, follow these steps to ensure their custom tone is clear:

1. Open the Phone app and go to the Contacts tab.
2. Select a contact, tap Edit, tap Ringtone, then choose a ringtone.

7. Restart Your iPhone 18 Pro Max

Restarting your device is a simple and effective way to fix common issues without much trouble. If your phone doesn’t ring even after trying the above solutions, restart your iPhone by manually turning it off and back on. Simultaneously press and hold the side button and either volume button until the sliders appear, then drag the Power Off slider. Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

Fortunately, it’s easy to restart your iPhone, even if its buttons are broken.

8. Enable Cellular Data or Connect to a Wi-Fi Network

This particular solution applies if you’re receiving notifications of missed calls on apps like WhatsApp and Messenger, yet found that your iPhone did not ring at all when the caller was contacting you.

Such messenger apps require an active internet connection to work. Therefore, if your iPhone isn’t connected, the apps will only inform you that you have missed calls when your device has an internet connection later.

If you frequently use third-party apps for texts and calls, it’s best to enable mobile data or connect your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network throughout the day. In the Control Center, tap the Cellular Data toggle. It turns green when enabled. For a Wi-Fi connection, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and select an available network to connect.

9. Fix an iPhone Stuck in Headphone Mode

In rare situations, your iPhone may incorrectly think it is still connected to wired earphones, even though it isn’t. As a result, there may be no sound from the built-in speakers when you play media or receive phone calls.

To get out of this inconvenience, fix an iPhone stuck in headphone mode.

10. Try Turning Off Calls on Other Devices

If you own other Apple devices and have opted to receive iPhone calls on your Mac, consider turning this feature off to see if it fixes the ring issue for you. See How to Stop iPad Ringing When iPhone 18 Pro Max Rings. Here’s how:

1. On your iPhone, open Settings, tap Apps, then tap Phone.
2. Tap Calls on Other Devices.
3. Toggle off Allow Calls on Other Devices.

11. Update Your iPhone and Reset All Settings

By this point, one or more of the above solutions should work if your iPhone 18 Pro Max has been receiving calls but not ringing. But in case you’re still having problems, make sure you update your iPhone.

Go to Settings > General > Software Update to see if a new iOS version is available for your device. Additionally, update your iPhone apps like WhatsApp and Zoom to ensure app-specific bugs aren’t causing the issue.

Finally, if nothing else works, open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This won’t erase personal data like music, photos, and apps. However, all the settings you’ve changed, like Wi-Fi, your Home Screen layout, notifications, and more, will return to default.

It’s a bit of a hassle, but it confirms that no settings prevent your iPhone from ringing when you get a call or text.

Hopefully, Your iPhone Rings Perfectly Now!

The problem with your iPhone 18 Pro Max not ringing should be fixed by now, ensuring you don’t miss any future calls or texts. To check, ask a friend or family member to call you, or try calling yourself from a Google Voice number instead.

However, if the issue persists, it’s best to contact your mobile carrier or Apple Support for assistance.

The Lock Screen with its support for Depth Effect improves the appearance of your wallpaper.

However, you may wonder why Depth Effect does not work when selecting a wallpaper on your iPhone 18 Pro Max. This guide will show you how to fix Depth Effect on your iPhone’s Lock Screen if it isn’t working.

What Is Depth Effect on the Lock Screen?

To distinguish between the subject and the background, your iPhone employs AI-based image processing. As a result, the Lock Screen has a multi-layered effect.

The primary subject comes to the foreground, and the clock moves between the foreground and background, making the subject stand out. However, depending on the subject’s placement, a small portion of the Lock Screen clock is cut off.

For instance, if you choose a wallpaper with yourself in the foreground and a great background, the Lock Screen clock will be between you and the background.

Requirements for Lock Screen Depth Effect on iPhone

Before troubleshooting Depth Effect on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max, ensure you’ve met the prerequisites. What you’ll need for Depth Effect to work on your iPhone is as follows:

• A suitable wallpaper with prominent foreground

Troubleshooting Tips to Fix Depth Effect Not Working on iOS Lock Screen

If you have met all the Depth Effect’s requirements and cannot get it to work, try these troubleshooting tips to ensure it works again.

1. Update Your iPhone 18 Pro Max

Since Depth Effect is a software feature, it can be buggy. Sometimes, Apple releases fix for these bugs with the latest iOS updates, which is one of the reasons why you need to update iOS on your iPhone.

So it’s best to check for updates and install them on your iPhone. Here’s how to check for the latest iOS version and install it on your iPhone:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to General > Software Update.
3. Tap Update Now if there is a new update available.

Wait for it to finish and select Install once it downloads the update. Your iPhone will restart and install the latest iOS update. Once restarted, check if Depth Effect is working or not.

If there’s no new update available on your iPhone, try the following fixes.

2. Enable Depth Effect on the Lock Screen

You might have disabled the Depth Effect option even if you have set the suitable wallpaper on your Lock Screen. Depth Effect won’t work if you have disabled the option. Here’s how to turn it on:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Wallpaper and tap Customize under the Lock Screen wallpaper.

   

3. Hit the three-dot menu on the bottom right and select Depth Effect from the context menu.
4. Tap Done once enabled.

Depth Effect should work on your iPhone’s Lock Screen wallpaper if you have had it disabled before.

3. Remove Lock Screen Widgets

If you place any widgets on your Lock Screen, Depth Effect will not work. You’ll have to remove the widgets from the Lock Screen and here’s how:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to Wallpaper and select Customize under the Lock Screen.
3. Tap on any widget and then the minus (-) icon to remove a widget on the Lock Screen.
4. Hit Done once you’ve removed all the Lock Screen widgets.

Removing the Lock Screen widgets should automatically enable the Depth Effect feature. If not, allow the Depth Effect option from the Lock Screen.

4. Try a Different Lock Screen Wallpaper

You’ll need a wallpaper with a subject that can reach the clock on the Lock Screen. Also, the wallpaper should have an acceptable resolution for the Depth Effect feature to work.

Some wallpapers, even with a prominent and clear foreground subject, might not work with Depth Effect. In such cases, it’s best to switch to a different wallpaper.

However, if you want to stick with your current wallpaper, you must make some changes. You can use online tools to blur parts of the image, especially the background, to make the foreground more eminent.

Try setting the edited wallpaper, and Depth Effect should start working now. If not, you should switch to a different wallpaper.

Alternatively, you can search Google for some amazing Depth Effect wallpapers. However, check the r/deptheffectwallpaper Reddit community for some sure-shot wallpapers that work with Depth Effect.

5. Check the Wallpaper’s File Format

For some reason, the Depth Effect feature in iOS doesn’t work well with PNG formats. It currently supports only the JPEG and HEIC formats without any issues. If you don’t know how to check your wallpaper’s file format, follow these instructions:

1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Select the photo whose file format you want to check.

   

3. Tap the Info (i) button at the bottom or swipe up on the image.

You’ll find the file format right next to the metadata of the image under the Adjust option. If you see PNG as the file format, converting the PNG image to JPG on your iPhone would be ideal.

6. Reposition the Wallpaper Subject

The wallpaper should automatically switch to Depth Effect once you pick a suitable wallpaper. However, it doesn’t always work like that. iOS might fail to separate foreground from background, given that it’s an AI algorithm.

Sometimes, you’ll need to reposition the wallpaper carefully for Depth Effect to work. Here’s how you can move your current Lock Screen wallpaper:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to Wallpaper and then Customize under the Lock Screen wallpaper.
3. Drag the wallpaper with two fingers slowly until it’s right below the Lock Screen clock.

   

As a result, Depth Effect should start working itself. If not, you’ll have to look for a better wallpaper for Depth Effect.

7. Restart Your iPhone

Restarting or rebooting is the best way to fix a software bug on any device. As a last resort, you should restart your iPhone 18 Pro Max to see if it fixes the issue. Simultaneously press and hold the side button and either volume button until the sliders appear, then drag the Power Off slider. Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Fortunately, there are ways to restart your iPhone, even if the buttons aren’t working.

After restarting your iPhone, Depth Effect should be working perfectly. If it isn’t working still, trying different wallpapers is your best choice.

Use Depth Effect on Your iPhone 18 Pro Max Without Problems

We hope you finally got Depth Effect to work with your iPhone wallpaper. It’s an excellent way to redefine your Lock Screen, making it unique to iPhones. Furthermore, Depth Effect works with multiple image formats and filters.

However, it’s not perfect and might possess issues like these for some time. So, you must ensure that you have chosen a suitable wallpaper for Depth Effect.

iPhones are extremely reliable devices, but even the best can experience trouble from time to time. One of the most feared problems is the so-called ‘White Screen of Death’, which keeps your iPhone 18 Pro Max stuck in a frozen state with only white light showing on the screen.

Thankfully, this isn’t as permanent as it may first appear and can often be fixed through a variety of easy methods. We explain how to fix the White Screen of Death without the need for special tools or technical knowledge.

What causes the White Screen of Death?

There are two main culprits when it comes to this particular ailment: software or hardware. Now, we know that practically all problems fall into one of those camps, but the White Screen of Death is known to be caused by either, which can make diagnoses a little more problematic.

On the software side of things, users often experience the WSoD (we’ll just keep it short from now on) if they’ve tried to install an update, or attempted to jailbreak their phone.

A failed installation, due to a corrupt file or something going wrong during the process, can easily result in the condition, but this is actually the best-case scenario, as it’s not too difficult to fix yourself.

The other suspect is a hardware problem, one that is normally experienced after the phone has sustained impact damage from being dropped. If the internal components have been damaged or any of the connecting cables have disconnected then you might want to visit the Apple Store to have it repaired professionally.

Restarting your iPhone

The first thing to try is simply restarting your device. As the device isn’t responsive, you won’t be able to use the usual combination of buttons to turn it off, because this also requires swiping the Power Off slider on the screen. So instead you’ll need to do something Apple calls a Force Restart. This won’t wipe any data or anything like that, but it should allow you to quickly power down the iPhone.

How to force-restart iPhone 18 Pro Max

Press and quickly release the volume up button. Press and quickly release the volume down button. Press and hold the side button. When the Apple logo appears, release the side button.

Using Recovery mode with your Mac or PC

If restarting your iPhone doesn’t solve the problem, you can always try plugging it into your Mac or PC to use Recovery mode and reinstall iOS.

Using Recovery mode on macOS

In older versions of macOS, you would have used iTunes to recover your iPhone. But, since Apple ditched the ageing software in Catalina, you’ll need to use Finder instead for newer iterations of the Mac operating system.

To do this, plug your iPhone into the Mac, open Finder and select the iPhone from the sidebar.

As when restarting the device, as outlined above, you’ll need to press and release the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button, followed immediately by pressing and holding down the Side button. Keep holding the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.

Go back to your Mac and you should see new options have appeared: Update or Restore. Click Update and your Mac will now try to reinstall iOS on the iPhone, leaving the user data and files in place.

Using Recovery mode with iTunes

If you have a Windows PC or Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier then you’ll be able to use iTunes to put your iPhone in Recovery mode.

Connect the iPhone to your computer with a cable, then launch iTunes. You should see your device appear at the top of the screen with a little icon. Click that to open up the iPhone page.

Next, you’ll need to use some button combinations on your iPhone to enter Recovery mode. These are the same as those outlined in the previous section, so follow the steps to get your iPhone back up and running.

Using DFU mode

Should neither of the above options give you any joy then you can try entering the Device Firmware Update (DFU) mode. This differs from Recovery mode in that it doesn’t allow the iPhone to start its boot loader or iOS, but is still able to communicate with iTunes or Finder.

Using this technique you can restore the iPhone to its original settings, then use your iCloud or iTunes backups to reload your data.

Entering DFU mode is something of a challenge, and there’s a good chance you might get it wrong due to the arcane combination of buttons presses and times required to enter the mode. We’re not sure why Apple makes it so tricky, but give it a few goes and eventually you should be able to repair iOS.

First off, connect your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max to your PC/Mac using its USB-C cable, then launch iTunes or Finder and click on the iPhone icon. Now, press the Volume Up button briefly, do the same with the Volume Down button, then press and hold the side button on the right side of the iPhone until the screen goes black.

Keep the side button pressed down, but now press and hold the Volume Down button again. Count to five then release the side button, but keep the Volume Down button depressed for a further ten seconds or so. The screen should be black, so if you see the Apple logo appear at any time it means you’ve accidentally gone into Recovery mode.

On your PC/Mac you should see a message from iTunes or Finder saying that it has detected an iPhone in recovery mode, and giving you the option to Restore iPhone. Click this and hopefully you’ll have a fully working system when the process completes.

To exit DFU, just use the button combination for your device which would normally put it in recovery mode.

Time to take a trip to the Apple Store

If, after all these routes, you still can’t get the iPhone working again then it looks like you have a hardware issue. We’d recommend booking an appointment at the Genius bar, at least to work out what’s wrong.

Hopefully it won’t be fatal, but if you find it is you can at least peruse the latest handsets available while you’re there.

While it’s great to have every album you own always in your pocket, putting all your music on an iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max can present storage issues, leaving you with no space for videos, photos, and games. Thankfully there are solutions to this issue.

In this article, we show how to delete the music on your iPhone and explain how you can still access the tracks without storing them on your device.

Delete one album or song at a time

Open the Music app. From the Library tab, select Albums or Songs, and find the track or album you wish to delete. Long-press an album or tap the small three-dot menu and you’ll be presented with a list of options, one of which is a red trash icon labeled Delete from Library. Tap this and you’ll be asked to confirm the deletion.

Go to the Music app on your iPhone, touch and hold an item that you downloaded, then tap Remove Download. The item is removed from iPhone, but not from your music library on your other devices.

Note that if you’ve purchased the music and don’t have it backed up in the cloud, you might lose the album. If you previously bought the music from iTunes or subscribe to Apple Music, you will be able to download it again for free.

Delete music all at once

If you’ve got a lot of albums stored on your iPhone 18 Pro Max, or just want to wipe the slate clean and start again, then there’s a quick way to delete everything in one go. To do this, go to Settings > Apps > Music > Downloaded Music, tap Edit, then tap the Delete button next to All Songs or the artists whose music you want to delete.

How to keep accessing the music you deleted

Any music you buy from the iTunes Store is always available to download again if you delete it, and Apple’s iTunes Match means that you can have access to your entire catalog. There’s also Apple Music, which offers a huge collection of music and videos ready to stream at any time.

The great thing about iTunes Match and Apple Music is you can download any track from your collection and listen to it whenever you want (as long as you have a data connection). It’s also good because you can delete any tracks on your phone if you need to and be confident that they will still be there in the cloud the next time you want to play them.