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The Complete Guide to Every iOS 27 Feature

How to view electricity usage and rates on iPhone (participating U.S. providers only)

by Emily Long

You can get insight into your home electricity usage and electricity rate information by connecting your utility account to the Home app. It’s for participating U.S. providers, and you must be the utility account owner or an authorized user of the account. Connecting your account allows you to:

  • View your home electricity usage over time and see how it’s trending.
  • View how much electricity you used during cleaner and less clean periods, and find opportunities to shift your usage to help the environment.
  • Learn more about your electricity rate plan, and if you’re on a time-of-use (TOU) plan, see if it’s currently a peak or off-peak time to help you decide when to use electricity, and see how much electricity you used during lower- and higher-cost periods.
  • If you have rooftop solar, know when you used electricity from the grid and when you had a surplus and sent it back, as well as how your imports and exports varied across different rate periods and during cleaner and less clean times.

Electricity usage data is typically displayed with a lag of 24 to 72 hours.

Note: To use these features, you need to have a residential electrical service with a participating utility provider, and you must be the utility account owner or authorized user of the utility account.

Set up electricity usage and rate information

  1. Start the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Home and tap the More button. Then tap Home Settings.
  3. Tap Energy and tap Connect Account.

Note: Participating utility providers are listed under Available Providers. If your utility provider isn’t listed, this feature isn’t currently supported in your area.

  1. Follow the onscreen instructions to link your compatible electricity account.

Set up electricity usage and rate for multiple utility accounts

With multiple utility accounts or providers, you can add them to the Home app by creating an additional home.

  1. Start the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Home, tap the Add button and tap Add New Home. Tap Save.
  3. From the Home tab, tap the More button. Tap Home Settings.
  4. Tap Energy and tap Connect Account.

Note: Participating utility providers are listed under Available Providers. If your utility provider isn’t listed, this feature isn’t currently supported in your area.

  1. Follow the onscreen instructions to link your additional compatible electricity account.

Disconnect your account from electricity usage and rate information

  1. Start the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Home and tap the More button. Then tap Home Settings.
  3. Tap Energy and tap your linked electricity account.
  4. Tap Disconnect Account.
Tag: Home
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How to restore purchased and deleted items to iPhone

by Tyler Stephen

You can redownload items purchased from the App Store, Book Store, Apple TV app, and iTunes Store without repurchasing them. If you’re part of a Family Sharing group, you can download items purchased by other family members, too. And you can recover recently deleted email, photos, notes, and voice memos.

Tag: iPhone
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How to report an issue with Maps on iPhone

by Chris Smith

If you notice something’s missing in Maps, like an address, business, transit stop, or another feature, you can add it. Maps takes other reports, too. You can report other kinds of issues, such as an incorrect step in directions or a business that has closed, and business owners can use Apple Business to help customers find them in Apple Maps, Wallet, Siri, and more.

  1. Start the Maps app on your iPhone.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Touch and hold the map until a pin marker appears, scroll to the bottom of the card, then tap Report Something Missing.
    • Tap your picture or initials next to the search field, tap Reports, then tap Report a New Issue.
  3. Choose an option and then follow the onscreen instructions.

Whether your business is large or small, Apple Business can help your customers find it in Apple Maps, Siri, Wallet, and more.

Tag: Maps
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How to send your location via satellite in Find My on iPhone

by Kevin Hollington

On supported models, the Find My app can share your location via satellite when you’re outside cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. Most Find My features need a cellular or Wi-Fi network, though, so there’s some preparation before you leave coverage, and it requires an active SIM.

Note: Sharing your location via satellite isn’t available in all countries or regions and requires an active SIM.

Before you disconnect from cellular and Wi-Fi coverage

Without a cellular or Wi-Fi network, most Find My features aren’t available. If you want to send your location via satellite to friends, do the following before you head outside cellular or Wi-Fi coverage:

  • Set the iPhone you’re bringing with you as the iPhone that shares your location. On your iPhone 14 or later open the Find My app, tap Me , then make sure Share My Location is turned on. If your iPhone isn’t currently sharing your location, tap Use This iPhone as My Location.
  • Add the contacts you want to share your location with.

Send your location via satellite

If you’re not connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network, you can still use the Find My app to share your location via satellite. To share your location with a friend via satellite, though, you’ll need to be sharing your location with that friend in Find My first.

  1. Start the Find My app on your iPhone.
  2. Make sure that you’re outside with a clear view of the sky and the horizon. If you’re under heavy foliage or surrounded by other obstructions, you might not be able to connect to a satellite.
  3. Tap Me.
  4. Tap Send My Location (below My Location via Satellite) and then follow the onscreen instructions.

Your iPhone provides guidance if connecting to a satellite means turning left or right. Just follow the onscreen instructions.

Note: Expect it to take a few minutes to send your location via satellite, and keep following the onscreen instructions until the message is sent.

There’s a limit, though: you can send your location once every 15 minutes. And when you send your location via satellite, you won’t see your friend’s location in the Find My app.

See a friend’s location sent via satellite

To see a friend’s location sent via satellite, your iPhone needs iOS 16.1 or later installed. An iPhone 14 or later isn’t required. A satellite icon appears next to a contact’s picture when they send you their location via satellite, and Satellite Location shows up in the text in the Find My app. For up to 7 days, you can view their most recent location.

Tag: Find My
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How to create and work with photo albums on iPhone

by Abigail Shilets

Use albums in the Photos app to view and organize your photos and videos. You can also rename, rearrange, and delete albums and create folders to contain multiple albums.

If you use iCloud Photos, albums are stored in iCloud. They’re up to date and accessible on devices where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account. You can also sort and filter your albums, or put them in a custom order.

Create a new album

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap Albums, then tap the Add button.
  4. Tap New Album and then name the album, add photos, and choose a key photo to represent the album.
  5. Tap Create.

Sort and filter albums

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections.
  3. Tap Albums and tap the More button. Choose a sort option.

    If you choose Sort by Custom Order, touch and hold an album, then drag it to a new position.

  4. To show only albums or only folders, tap Filter and tap Albums or Folders.

To change the format of the albums list, tap the More button, then tap List View or Album Cover.

Update an album

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections and tap Albums.
  3. Tap the album to open it, then tap the More button.
  4. Tap the current title and then do any of the following:
    • Change the name: Enter a new name in the text field.
    • Change the key photo: Tap the photo icon in the bottom-right corner of the current key photo. Then select a new photo in the photo grid.
    • Add or remove photos: Tap Add Photos and then tap the photos you want to add (tap All to see your entire library), or deselect photos to remove them from the album. Tap the Done button to save your changes.
  5. Tap the Done button to close the album.

Share photos from an album

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections and tap Albums.
  3. Tap the album to open it and tap Select.
  4. Tap the items you want to share, or tap Select All to share everything in the album.
  5. Tap the Share button and then choose a sharing option such as AirDrop, Messages, or Mail.

Create a shared album from a personal album

Want to share an existing album with friends and family? You can copy all of its photos and videos into a new shared album.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections and tap Albums.
  3. Tap the album to open it, then tap the More button.
  4. Tap Create Shared Album, then tap the Done button.

Delete an album

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections and tap Albums.
  3. Touch and hold the album you want to delete.
  4. Tap Delete Album.

Note: You can delete an album without losing the photos and videos within it. They stay in your photo library and in any other albums they were added to.

Organize albums in folders

Folders help you organize your albums, and once you create one, it appears in the Albums collection.

  1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Collections and tap Albums.
  3. Tap the Add button, then tap New Folder.
  4. Name the folder in the text field, tap Add Albums, select the albums you want to add and tap the Done button.
  5. Tap the Done button to save and close the folder.

To remove an album from a folder, tap the folder to open it, touch and hold an album, then tap Remove from Folder.

Tag: Photos
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How to customize a workout in Fitness on iPhone

by Tyler Stephen

You can create a custom workout on your iPhone to support your fitness goals. Add warmup and cooldown times; add work and recovery intervals; set time, calorie, and distance goals; set a pace; and more.

Each one starts from a workout type in the Fitness app, and you can include a warmup, repeating work and recovery intervals, and a cooldown. You’ll need an Apple Watch paired to your iPhone, too.

Here’s how to customize a workout in Fitness on iPhone.

The Fitness Custom Workout screen showing warmup, work, and recovery intervals. At the bottom of the screen are buttons to add a step, repeat an interval, and reorder intervals.

Note: To use custom workouts, you need an Apple Watch with watchOS 26 or later that is paired to your iPhone. Any you create on your iPhone sync to your Apple Watch automatically.

Create a custom workout

You can tailor your workouts with a warmup period and a time to cool down, plus repeating work and recovery intervals.

  1. Open the Fitness app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Workout, scroll to a workout type, and tap the Goals button.
  3. Tap Custom, then tap the Add button.
  4. Do any of the following:

    • Add a warmup or cooldown period: Tap Warmup or Cooldown and tap Goal Type. Tap Time, Distance, or Open.

      Note: If you want to skip a warmup or cooldown interval, tap Warmup or Cooldown, then tap Skip.

    • Add work and recovery intervals: Tap Add Step and tap Work or Recovery. Next to Goal Type, choose Time, Distance, or Open.

      Tip: You can also tap Add Repeat to repeat a work or recovery interval as many times as you want in your custom workout.

    • Reorder work and recovery intervals: Tap Reorder, touch and hold an interval, and reposition it. When you’re finished, tap the Done button.
    • Delete a work or recovery interval: Tap an interval, then tap Delete Interval.
    • Name the custom workout: Tap New Custom Workout, then enter a name.

      Note: Tap Target to add a goal to an interval. You can also name each interval of the workout.

  5. When you’re finished, tap the Done button.

Add a workout goal

For each workout type, you can set time, distance, and calorie goals.

The Fitness Workout screen showing details for an Outdoor Run workout. Below Outdoor Run are options to choose media and set up Workout Buddy. In the center, from top to bottom, are options to start a workout, a custom workout, a pacer workout, and workouts with distance and calorie goals.

  1. Open the Fitness app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Workout, scroll to a workout type, and tap the Goals button.
  3. Tap Goals, then tap the Add button.
  4. Do any of the following:
    • Set a calorie goal: Tap Calories, tap the number, and then choose an option.
    • Set a distance goal: Tap Distance, tap the number and unit of measure, and then choose an option.
    • Set a time goal: Tap Time and tap the time. Then choose an option.
  5. When you’re finished, tap the Done button. To immediately start your workout after setting a goal, tap Start Workout.

Create a Pacer workout

For a running or outdoor cycle workout, you can choose a target pace. Your iPhone and Apple Watch then show if you’re ahead of or behind it.

  1. Open the Fitness app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Workout, scroll to Outdoor Run, Indoor Run, or Outdoor Cycle, and tap the Goals button.
  3. Tap Pacer and then tap the Add button.
  4. Do the following:
    • Set a distance goal: Tap the number and unit of measure next to Distance. Then choose an option.
    • Set a time goal: Tap the time, then choose an option.
  5. When you’re finished, tap the Done button. To immediately start your workout after setting your pace, tap Start Workout.

Your iPhone and Apple Watch show your average and current pace during your workout, along with a graph showing whether you’re ahead of or behind your chosen pace.

Use Race Route to race against your last or best time

If you run or cycle a route often, you can race against your last or best time. Once you’ve traveled the same route at least twice with little to no deviation, it’s automatically generated and available to you.

  1. Open the Fitness app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Workout and scroll to Outdoor Run or Outdoor Cycle. Tap the Goals button.
  3. Swipe left below Music and Media, tap Race Route, and tap Personal Best or Most Recent.
  4. Tap Start Workout.

Share or delete custom workouts and goals

  1. Open the Fitness app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Workout, scroll to a workout type, and tap the Goals button.
  3. Tap a workout goal, custom workout, or Pacer workout and tap the More button.
  4. Do one of the following:
    • Share an option: Tap Share Workout and choose a sharing option.
    • Delete an option: Tap Delete Workout.
Tag: Fitness
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How to set up HomePod in Home on iPhone

by Dave Johnson

You can use the Home app to set up HomePod and control many HomePod settings.

You can send and receive Intercom messages, and choose when you can receive them and who is allowed to send them. use HomePod and HomeKit Secure Video to announce guests, and add and edit HomePod alarms and timers. You can also change HomePod settings right from Home.

Here’s how to set up HomePod in Home on iPhone.

Note: HomePod is not available in all countries or regions.

Use Home to send and receive Intercom messages

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. On the Home tab, tap the More button and then tap Home Settings.
  3. Tap Intercom, then configure these settings:
    • When you can receive Intercom messages
    • Who is allowed to send or receive Intercom messages
    • Which HomePod speakers can use Intercom

Note: Any member of the Home can choose when they receive Intercom messages. Only a home owner or admin can choose who can send or receive Intercom messages and which HomePod speakers can use Intercom.

  1. Tap Back, then tap Done.
  2. Tap the Intercom button, say something like “Who ate the last cookie?” then tap Done.

Intercom messages reach all the HomePod speakers in your home, as well as the iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS devices of home members who can send and receive Intercom messages.

Use HomePod and HomeKit Secure Video to announce guests

When someone you know is at the door, HomePod can notify you with a HomeKit Secure Video camera or doorbell, and it can send you a message if the person isn’t recognized.

Note: To start announcing guests, first turn on Face Recognition.

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. On the Home tab, tap the More button and then tap Home Settings.
  3. Tap Cameras & Doorbells and then tap your camera or doorbell.
  4. Tap Doorbell Chime and then choose which HomePod speaker or speakers to enable.

Use Home to add and edit HomePod alarms and timers

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the right side of a HomePod tile, swipe up, and do any of the following:
    • Add an alarm: Tap New Alarm, create the alarm, then tap Done.
    • Edit an alarm: Tap the alarm, change the time, then tap Done.
    • Turn alarms on or off: Tap the switch next to an alarm.
    • Delete an alarm: Tap the alarm and tap Delete Alarm.
    • Create a new timer: Tap New Timer, enter a timer label (optional) and choose the length of the timer. Tap Start.
    • Pause and restart a timer: Tap the Pause button; tap the Play button to restart the timer.
    • Remove a timer: Tap the Delete button.

Change HomePod settings

Two HomePod speakers of the same kind in the same room can become a stereo pair, and you can also assign HomePod to a different room, add an automation, and more.

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the right side of a HomePod tile.
  3. Tap the Settings button and then configure HomePod settings.

Use HomePod to listen for alarm sounds

If an alarm sound is detected in your home, HomePod can let you know.

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the right side of a HomePod tile.
  3. Tap the Settings button, then tap Sound Recognition.
  4. Turn on Smoke & CO Alarm, then choose which HomePods will listen for alarms.

Your HomePod listens for certain sounds and notifies you when alarm sounds may be recognized.

Important: Sound Recognition may detect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm sounds and send you notifications when recognized. Sound Recognition should not be relied upon in circumstances where you may be harmed or injured, or in high-risk or emergency situations.

Add a Siri-enabled accessory

By enabling Siri on compatible Apple Home accessories, you can extend access to HomePod throughout your home. With Siri on, you can play your favorite music and podcasts, get help with everyday questions or tasks, and control those accessories with your voice.

Tag: Home
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How to open and close tabs in Safari on iPhone

by Abigail Shilets

Use tabs to help you navigate between multiple open webpages.

You can open a link in a new tab, view a tab’s history to see which webpages you previously visited in it, close tabs, and even open a recently closed tab. And to stay on the current webpage when you open new links, you can have them open in a separate tab in the background, right in Safari on iPhone.

Open a link in a new tab

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPhone.
  2. Touch and hold the link. Then tap Open in New Tab.

To stay on the current webpage when you open new links in a separate tab, go to the Settings app , tap Apps, then tap Safari. Tap Open Links, then tap In Background.

View a tab’s history

In this tab, you can see which webpages you’ve previously visited.

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPhone.
  2. Touch and hold the Back button or the Forward button.

Close tabs

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Tabs button. Then tap the Close button in the upper-right corner of a tab to close it.

Quick tip: You can close every tab in this Tab Group at the same time. Just touch and hold the Done button and tap Close All [number of] Tabs.

Open a recently closed tab

  1. Open the Safari app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Tabs button.
  3. Touch and hold the New Tab button. Choose from the list of recently closed tabs.

    Previews of open tabs are visible on the screen. At the bottom left of the screen, the New Tab button is selected, revealing a list of recently closed tabs.

Tag: Safari
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How to install and manage fonts on iPhone

by Chris Smith

You can download fonts from the App Store app and use them in documents you create on iPhone. It works through apps, so you get an app containing fonts from the App Store, it installs the fonts for you, and you can manage fonts later in the Settings app on your iPhone.

Install fonts

  1. Start the App Store app on your iPhone.
  2. Get an app containing fonts.
  3. Open the app to install the fonts.

Manage fonts

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General, then tap Fonts.
Tag: iPhone
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How to use Grid Forecast to plan energy use in Home on iPhone (U.S. only)

by Chris Smith

The electricity powering your home comes from different sources, which can include renewable energy, like solar and wind, or fossil fuels, like coal and natural gas. And those sources can change throughout the day.

In the Home app on your iPhone, you can see a forecast for your area that highlights cleaner times, which can help reduce carbon emissions, and less clean times, to help you choose when to use electricity. You can even receive Grid Forecast notifications. To see it, you need an internet connection and Location Services on for the Home app.

To view the Grid Forecast, you must be connected to the internet, and Location Services must be turned on for the Home app.

Note: Grid Forecast is available only in the contiguous United States; it’s not available in Alaska or Hawaii.

Show Grid Forecast

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Home.
  3. Tap the Energy category at the top of the screen to show the Grid Forecast widget.

The widget’s green bars show when cleaner energy is available in your area, such as from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. No bars? Then cleaner energy isn’t forecast for the near future.

When you’re traveling, Grid Forecast shows energy information for your home location and for wherever your iPhone is.

Note: The Grid Forecast widget appears when you open the Home app if you haven’t added accessories to your home yet.

Receive Grid Forecast notifications

To receive notifications when the electricity powering your home is being generated by cleaner or more renewable sources of energy, tap the Notifications button in the Grid Forecast widget in the Home app, then tap Notify Me.

Turn off Grid Forecast

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone.
  2. On the Home tab, tap the More button and then tap Home Settings.
  3. Tap Energy, then turn off Show Grid Forecast.
Tag: Home
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