Mac 911
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Mac 911
How to tell if an Update Apple ID Settings message is legit
Appleu2019s prompt resembles the kind of fake-outs security experts warn us about.
Mac 911
How to open a stubborn email attachment in Mail on your Mac
Apple Mail may wind up with broken permissions that prevent you from opening files you should have access to.
Mac 911
Is your Mac's pointer disappearing mysteriously? It might be Universal Control
You might run into a confusing scenario if you forget that you have Universal Control on and your devices arenu2019t that close together.
Mac 911
How to find files of particular types across your Mac
Finding files of a particular kind in macOS is a breeze using Spotlight, whether as a search in a Finder window or by creating a smart folder.
Mac 911
How to disable animation effects in Messages for iPhone and iPad
Messages for iOS and iPadOS offers some visually noisy celebrations you can opt out of.
Mac 911
How much storage should you leave unused on a Mac's SSD?
Recommendations vary enormously because free space depends on your driveu2019s purpose. But thereu2019s an easy decision tree you can follow.
Mac 911
How to fix Messages when it shows a phone number instead of a name
Messages may suddenly show the phone number for parties in your contacts for unknown reasons, breaking identified and unified conversations.
Mac 911
What to do when your Mac's internal storage runs out
Most Macs of the last several, and some even longer, require so much effort to replace an internal drive youu2019re better off with a fresh external one.
Mac 911
How to use file sharing on your Mac
File sharing is a click of a button plus many more subtle settings.
Mac 911
How to set per-app Accessibility controls in iOS and iPadOS
Accessibility features can be a boon but may break some apps. You can set exceptions and overrides.
Mac 911
How to see how much space Time Machine backups actually occupy
Appleu2019s method of linking files in Time Machine archives can result in perplexing totals.
Mac 911
How to attach an action to a Mac folder for automatic workflows
macOS lets you trigger behavior just by the contents of a folder changing.
Mac 911
How to transfer an email address and purchases from a shared Apple ID
Apple wonu2019t let you move the email address, but you can forward all incoming messages. Purchased items are a different story.
Mac 911
How to set Private Relay and IP address-tracking settings on a per-network-interface basis
Appleu2019s new protection features collide with a setting you might overlook, and stop protecting your privacy unintentionally.
Mac 911
How to use iOS 15's improved mic isolation and mixing modes in FaceTime and beyond
Apple added a way to switch between audio input modes to remove noise or mix the background.
Mac 911
How to fix mail server errors in Apple Mail for macOS
Server errors could be a temporary blip, a configuration error, or something requiring your mail hostu2019s intervention.
Mac 911
How to reduce notifications by controlling time sensitivity in iOS/iPadOS 15
Tired of your lock screen and notifications being crowded with unimportant stuff? Apple offers interlocking options in iOS/iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey.
Mac 911
Your top questions to Mac 911–and some answers
Many people write in with similar problems. Here's a super-FAQ to help solve the most common iOS , iCloud, and Mac issues.
Mac 911
How to search the text in your photos in iOS and iPadOS without using the Photos app
On devices with Live Text support, you can search for recognized text, but only in via a system-wide search.
Mac 911
What to do when your Mac shows a Wi-Fi message that says your device is paused
A router configuration has blocked your device, albeit politely.
Mac 911
How to use Numbers' keystrokes for cell editing and autofill
Numbers packs a lot of frequently used features into a handful of keys.
Mac 911
How to find your Apple Cash payment address
Apple doesnu2019t make it obvious as it expects youu2019re just using Messages.
Mac 911
How to add your verification codes to Apple Passwords
Apple added support for a form of two-factor verification code in iOS/iPadOS 15 and Safari 15 for macOS.
Mac 911
How to troubleshoot Universal Control and Sidecar
As a feature that works alongside the existing Sidecar, Universal Control might cause some unexpected behaviors.
Mac 911
What to do if you can't log into your Google account on your Mac
You might face a blank screen instead of the Google login page you expected.
Mac 911
How to fix incorrect date and time corrections in Photos
You can re-apply the same tool that caused the problem in the first place to put time-traveling images and videos back when they belong.
Mac 911
How to use Screen Time to set an all-day device schedule for your kids
Appleu2019s tool is a blunt instrument for managing kids kidsu2019 activities. A little manual intervention offers more flexibility.
Mac 911
How to fix sequences in Numbers data by using a text editor
Numbers lacks powerful find and replace to repairing data structured outside its recognition.
Mac 911
Seeing red outlines when you navigate macOS? Here's why
You may have turned on a feature in Accessibility to create this mystery.
Mac 911
How to connect an Apple USB SuperDrive to a newer Mac
Some docks and adapters allow the SuperDrive to work, but it might be cheaper to just buy an up-to-date CD/DVD drive.
Mac 911
How to adjust a Mac's overall sound volume and alert volume
While not a hidden setting, it can make a big difference in avoiding missing beeps or having them blast you out of your headphones.
Mac 911
How to adjust who can disrupt you in Focus mode in iOS and macOS
The powerful and confusing Focus mode in iOS/iPadOS 15 and macOS 12 passes certain communications from anyone you add.
Mac 911
How to split a macOS account into two
Maybe you have an account in which you mixed personal and business purposes, or you had a single account for your family. Here's how to split those out.
Mac 911
When buying a USB-C dock, check if it can provide enough power to your peripherals
Many u201cbus-poweredu201d USB-C docks lack the power to handle all the peripherals you want to connect.
Mac 911
How to record calls on your Mac from Skype, FaceTime, and other VoIP apps
You may need to retain a record, review the call later, turn the audio into a transcript, or have separate tracks for a podcast.
Mac 911
How to untangle a merged set of iCloud Photos
Itu2019s easy to mix up work and personal iCloud accounts, leading to a jumble of media you donu2019t want to share in both places.
Mac 911
Apple's My Photo Stream's days are numbered
Apple hasnu2019t killed My Photo Stream, but itu2019s available to ever fewer iCloud users.
Mac 911
How a Mac can solve the USB-C cable conundrum
USB-C cables can be a mystery due to sometimes absent labeling and a broadly encompassing standard.
Mac 911
Get Apple TV without buying an Apple TV
Roku offers most of what people want from an Apple TV for a fraction of the price.
Mac 911
What to do when you can't copy Mac backups
Itu2019s a frustrating problem with the APFS format that you canu2019t entirely work around.
Mac 911
Want to change a Mac's drive icon? Some limits apply
If you canu2019t update the icon for your drive, check its formatting.
Mac 911
How to sideload podcasts on the iPhone
Your favorite podcast app lets you load files directly.
Mac 911
Why Apple sent you a 2FA text with '@apple.com #123456' at the end
This new style of text for login confirmation is designed to "provide a more secure experience."
Mac 911
How to block and silence robocalls on your iPhone
If robocalls are making your life miserable, you can use your carrier's free and paid tools to get better protection from them.
Mac 911
How to set up a Legacy Contact for your iCloud account
The new feature lets you appoint people who can access your data after youu2019re gone.
Mac 911
What happens to your pics if you had iCloud Photos off, but turn it back on?
You can think of iCloud Photos as a merged superset of all photos on all your linked devices and at iCloud.com.
Mac 911
How Unicode is supported in macOS
The Unicode standard is a numbering system; fonts require individual drawings to represent characters.
Mac 911
How to fix a missing Wi-Fi entry in macOS
The Wi-Fi network item may go astray even when the hardware continues to function.
Mac 911