While Apple’s automatic sharing of Wi-Fi passwords feels like magic, it doesn’t work in every situation. For a more reliable manual approach, use the Show Network QR Code feature in the new Passwords app.

If, like us, you’ve been eager to try the Apple Intelligence-enhanced version of Siri that Apple announced at its Worldwide Developer Conference in 2024, we’re sorry to say that we all have longer to wait.

The new Share Item Location feature in Find My enables you to share the location of a lost AirTag or another item tracked by Find My with anyone, including airline reps who can use it to locate lost luggage for you.

You know that the phrase “I read it on the Internet, so it must be true” is absurd, but you should extend that skepticism to Google search results. We’ve seen two recent instances of malicious content bubbling to the top of searches. Trust but verify.

Apple has updated the Mac Studio by swapping the M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips for the M4 Max and new M3 Ultra. The M3 Ultra version also offers a new memory ceiling of 512 GB and a new storage max of 16 TB. It’s a monster machine.

Apple’s latest iPad and iPad Air updates make them faster and more appealing without increasing prices. If you’re in the market for an iPad, the iPad remains a steal and the iPad Air offers all the performance most people will ever need.

Apple’s HomePods can recognize the sound of a nearby smoke or carbon monoxide alarm and notify your iPhone, alerting you when you’re away and allowing you to inform emergency services and neighbors.

You can now create a link directly to text anywhere on a Web page with the handy Copy Link to Highlight command in many Web browsers. Here’s how to invoke the command and an example of why it’s so useful.

Let’s take a step back from how technology can enhance productivity to appreciate watchOS 11’s new Photos watch face. The way it unearths photos from your photo library on every wrist raise is delightful.

Have you ever needed to sign or annotate a PDF you received in the Mail app on your iPhone? With iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, you can manage PDFs directly in Mail. Once you’re finished, you can attach the modified PDF to a reply or a new message.

Did you know that Apple’s Calculator app can repeat the last operation when you press = multiple times, which is helpful for tasks like calculating compound interest? Although this feature had briefly disappeared, it’s back now.

The new Apple Invites app for iPhone simplifies inviting friends and family to social events for iCloud+ subscribers. Anyone can RSVP, even if they don’t use Apple devices.

In macOS 15.2 Sequoia, you can display the current weather conditions in your Mac’s menu bar. Here’s how to enable that feature.

Apple’s built-in text replacement feature expands a short abbreviation you type into something longer, but a simple menu option can prevent it from working in a Mac app. Here’s how to fix it.

Microsoft Office apps save documents in the cloud-based OneDrive by default, but you can easily switch to saving files elsewhere. The apps generally remember your change but may forget after an update.

Many people don’t realize they can choose alternatives to Apple’s Mail and Safari on the iPhone and iPad. A new Default Apps screen simplifies reviewing your options and changing your defaults.

Thing #17 to never do: Follow instructions to drop a text file into Terminal. It’s a great way to install malware and let cybercriminals steal your passwords, financial information, and more.

The iPhone 16’s new Camera Control button is a welcome shortcut, but you may need to retrain your brain so you remember to use it.

Those who are disconcerted by dragged windows suddenly resizing accidentally in macOS 15 Sequoia, take note: you can tweak settings to make Sequoia’s new window tiling feature activate only when you want.

A new shortcut in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 makes it easy to convert an app’s icon on the Home Screen into a widget of any size supported by that app.

If you haven’t explored Apple’s Tips app on the iPhone, iPad, or Mac recently, check it out. Apple has added a lot more content, including device and app user guides, highlights of new features, and interactive practice guides.

Apple has updated the iPad mini with an A17 Pro chip for Apple Intelligence, along with more storage, faster connectivity, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro. It’s still $499 and remains an excellent option for anyone wanting a smaller iPad.

Beware of PayPal invoice scams that might even appear to come from Apple. Should you receive one, report it to PayPal to help protect other people, but don’t mark the message as spam.

If you’d like to allow a child, friend, or colleague to enjoy a specific app on your iPhone or iPad while keeping them focused and preventing access to everything else on the device, check out Apple’s Guided Access feature.

Scams are starting to incorporate personal information stolen in data breaches, so you may get “sextortion” threats that purport to know your phone number, address, and more.

Keep prying eyes—or mischievous children—out of sensitive or important apps by requiring Face ID or Touch ID access before the app opens. You can also hide such apps so they appear only after you authenticate.

People who like using the Mac’s window proxy icons (and if you don’t know about them, you should!) can make them visible at all times with an option deep within System Settings. Here’s how to find it and what you can do with proxy icons.

Apple has renamed Apple ID to Apple Account everywhere as of macOS 15 Sequoia, iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and watchOS 11. Nothing has changed functionally, but keep it in mind when reading tech articles or support documentation.

Don’t forget about local security on your Mac. Make sure to require a password shortly after the screen saver starts or the display sleeps to prevent people from riffling through your email, photos, messages, and more.

Ransomware primarily affects Windows and Linux computers, but if you, or anyone you know, falls prey to it, visit the No More Ransom website for advice and decryption tools.