TechKnowledge

TechKnowledge

Photo Stream discontinued by Apple end of July 2023

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Did you get an email from Apple about the Photo Stream shutting down?
 
Is this a scam? Am I going to lose my photos? What is the Photo Stream anyways?
 
Well, in short, and respective order; No, no and… good question.
The Photo Stream was Apple’s first attempt at photo synchronization, and not a very good one.
 
These days, most people have all their photos in the cloud with Apple’s iCloud Photos feature. Having your photos in the cloud means that all your photos are accessible on all your devices. When you take a photo on your iPhone, it shows up automatically on your iPad and/or computer. When you delete a photo on one device, it disappears on the other devices. This is exactly how syncing has always worked for other types of data; contacts, calendars, notes, etc. I create a contact here, and it shows up over there. The same thing is true when deleting. Photos however, have not always synchronized in this manner, namely due to their size. Contacts are tiny, and there has always been plenty of room to store contacts in the cloud. Photos are not tiny, and the cloud was limited in its’ ability to store too many.
 
The first model of cloud synchronization for photos, was called Photo Stream. Since cloud space was limited back in the day, you couldn’t just store all your photos in the cloud and sync them to all your devices. Rather, you just sent your photos through the cloud back to your computer for storage and safe-keeping. This means that as I take photos with my iPhone, a copy of the photo stays on the phone, and another copy goes into the Photo Stream. The Photo Stream carries 30 days worth of photos through the cloud and deposits them on my computer. After photos have safely been dropped off at the computer, the photos in the Photo Stream automatically delete. The word ‘delete’ sounds scary, but don’t forget that the photos in the Photo Stream are duplicates. The copy on your iPhone is still there.
 
In the iCloud Photos model, your iPhone, iPad, and computer can all share the same photo library via cloud storage. In the Photo Stream model, the iPhone and the computer have separate photo libraries. The Photo Stream bridges the two libraries, but the two libraries are not syncing. So when I delete a photo on my computer, nothing happens to the same photo on my iPhone, and vice versa. When I add photos to my library on my computer, in similar fashion, nothing happens on my iPhone. Those new photos added to the computer do not sync to my iPhone. The Photo Stream was meant to be a one-way bridge; from iPhone to computer.
 
Geek speak aside, what should you do about that scary message from Apple? Probably nothing. If you would, please take a look at your Settings app; Tap Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Photos. If ‘Sync this iPhone’ is enabled, then iCloud Photos is making sure that your photos are all safely stored in the cloud. It’s possible you may have both iCloud Photos and the Photo Stream enabled, and in that case, these services are competing. iCloud Photos is doing a better job at the same task as the Photo Stream, so you can let the Photo Stream quietly disappear when the timer is up. You may have Photo Stream disabled, which means you’re already not using it, so there is nothing to worry about. You may not even have a Photo Stream setting on the screen described above, which means you really have nothing to worry about. You may have iCloud Photos disabled and Photo Stream enabled. In that case, when Apple’s timer is up, the copy of the photo in the Stream will disappear. The copy in your Photo Library will stay put. Here again, nothing to worry about.
 
The Photo Stream is an old feature that not too many people are using, at least not intentionally. Some people have Photo Stream enabled, but are not sure how or why, and don’t want to mess with a feature they’re not sure they understand. Seriously, don’t worry. You don’t have to turn it Off, Apple will do it for you in the coming weeks, and you won’t lose any photos.
 
Are you still nervous? Let’s do a test. Close the Settings and open your Photos app. Tap Library and find a recent photo that you don’t need to keep, but don’t delete it. Now tap Albums at the bottom, and look for an album near the top labeled Photo Stream. You may need to glide up or down, or right and left to locate it. If you don’t see a Photo Stream album, then you probably already have it turned Off in the Settings. If you do see a Photo Stream album, tap it to open it, and locate the same photo you just saw in your Library. Delete the photo here from the Photo Stream album. Wait 24 hours and then go back to your Photos app and tap Library at the bottom. Now look for the photo you deleted from the Photo Stream the day before… it should still be in the Library. It’s there because what you deleted from the Photo Stream is a copy of the photo in the Library. This demonstrates that even though you see the same photo in both places, that one is a copy, or duplicate, of the other. I wanted you to wait 24 hours to show that the Library and the Photo Stream do not sync with each other. The Library and the Photo Stream operate independently of each other.
 
The bottom line of the test above shows that when photos are removed from the Photo Stream, nothing happens to the same photo within the Library. So when Apple quietly makes your Photo Stream disappear in the coming weeks, there will be no impact on the photos in your Library. It’s all good. Rest easy.

The scam of a thousand phone calls

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Another season… another new scam. The latest thing going around this season is a series of persistent phone calls. The messages make you aware of a compromise to your iCloud account. But it’s not one call, it’s a TON of calls, and the calls may continue to come in for several days. The persistency of the calls may make you wonder, ‘Is this legitimate?’
 
The answer is ‘No.’ If it were true that your iCloud account had been compromised, Apple would never call to inform you. Apple has way too many customers to keep tabs on every single account. They might send you an email, but even then, it would be months after the compromise had occurred. These things are rarely discovered and reported right away. What lets you know it’s a scam is the sense of urgency and persistence. Scammers love to press your panic button, because they hope panic will bring you to swift action. The faster you move, the less likely you are to calm down and realize the scam before it’s too late. That’s why scam messages always include a sense of great urgency… a telltale red flag! The calls should subside sooner or later, so be patient, ignore the calls, delete the voicemails, and live your life.
 
Now that we know about this scam, let’s talk about the role that you play in protecting your iCloud account. There’s an easy way to find out if your iCloud account (actually called ‘Apple ID’) is protected. This involves enabling a feature called two-factor authentication, or ‘2FA’. 2FA is triggered when you sign in to your Apple account, either on the Web, or when setting up a new Apple device. 2FA prompts you to enter a 6-digit code in addition to your password. You might receive this code on your phone as a text message, or you might receive it on another Apple device you use as a system pop-up message.
Your password is your first method of authenticating yourself. The 6-digit code is your second factor of authentication. Those codes are one-time use, so no need to save them. I expect many people are familiar with 2FA codes, because anytime you sign in online to your bank or investment account website, you are undoubtedly sent a 2FA code to your phone to authenticate that the person signing in really is you.
 
2FA adds an extra step for you, but makes it much harder for cyber-criminals to access your account. A criminal might be able to get your password, but it’s not likely they’ll also have access to your phone. If you’ve got 2FA enabled, then you can rest easy and laugh it off when those scam calls come in and make you think your iCloud account has been compromised.
 
So, how do I enable 2FA? I’m so glad you asked. On your iPhone, open the Settings app, tap [Your Name] at the top, and then tap Password & Security. This screen will tell you if you have 2FA turned On or Off. If it is Off, tap Turn On Two-Factor Authentication, and follow any prompts. That’s it… your Apple account, which includes iCloud, is now protected.
 
I hear people say that they dislike having to deal with this extra step. I also hear people say that they don’t use the cloud or have anything in the cloud worth protecting. I would bet that most people have more in the cloud than they realize. Consider this – Do you sync your Notes between devices? Do you keep your passwords in your Notes app? Do you see where I’m going with this…? It’s the cloud that syncs your notes between devices. Please don’t keep your passwords in your Notes app, but if you insist, then at least make sure 2FA is enabled!
 
To those worried about the extra steps that 2FA presents… You do have the choice to leave 2FA turned Off, however once 2FA is turned On, it cannot be turned back Off. For those a little annoyed by 2FA, I will say that you won’t be bothered with it for every sign in. For example, 2FA is not triggered every time you make an iTunes purchase or download an app. You’ll only see it when you setup a new Apple device, or you access your Apple account from the Web. It’s a really good idea to enable 2FA, and I highly recommend it. It should also give everyone peace of mind that your Apple account is protected, especially when the scammers start calling.
 
It’s a jungle out there. Stay safe. :O)

Don’t close this window, you have a virus! (…not really)

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The latest scam going around is fooling many people, and this article and attached tutorials are designed to help you identify the scam and avoid being taken for hundreds of dollars. Here’s how this scam typically happens…

 

You’re surfing the web when all of sudden, a message pops up that says “Don’t close this window, you have a virus! Call the phone number listed below for immediate assistance.” So you panic. You then try to close the message, but the cursor is frozen and the window won’t close. You can’t quit your browser, and so you panic some more. Even though it doesn’t sound like a good idea, you decide to call the number, where a man or woman with a friendly eastern accent answers (not always true). You are quickly guided through installing software that allows the tech support agent to remotely control your computer. They guide you to some folders on your hard drive that you’ve never seen before, and show you some files that are named strangely. These files are identified as a virus, and the tech support agent offers to install some good anti-virus software for $700. You mention that you can’t afford this much, and so they offer to lower it to only $500. Perhaps you haggle to an even lower price, and then you give them your credit card number. After the money is paid, the warning message is closed and your computer returns to working like normal. You say goodbye to the agent and all is well again. 

 

Sound familiar? No doubt either you or someone you know has been affected by this scam. Some people pay the charges, while others hang up the phone before giving out their credit card number. Even if you avoid the charges, the agent will call you repeatedly over the next few months to try again to get payment.

 

So how do you avoid these scams? It’s best to understand what to look for and how to resolve these situations. Avoiding the pop-up warning messages can be tricky because it’s hard to know what was clicked to prompt the message. These messages seemingly pop up when viewing very innocent websites, which means that this scam can potentially appear anywhere. Often times, the messages appear when an advertisement is clicked, perhaps accidentally. It can also happen if you type in an accidental, but incorrect website address that’s off by even a single letter. Because you never know when one of these messages will appear, it’s best to know how to identify a scam and what to do to get out of these panic inducing situations.

 

I stumbled across one of these virus warning messages the other day while helping a client look for printer drivers online. The message that appeared even had a recorded voice telling me about all the malware on the computer. I knew what these messages looked like and how to resolve it, and so my client and I just had a good laugh instead of panicking. We closed the window and went on with life. You can do the same…

 

I hope to complete this article in more depth on this blog, but in the meantime, I’ve got a couple documents in PDF that you can download that will give you more information on what to look for, and what to do if you get caught in one of these situations. There are three documents below; one is for Mac users, one for PC users, and one for iOS users (iPhone/iPad). I recommend downloading the document(s) you need, printing them out, and keeping them near your computer so the information is handy when the situation arises.

 

For Mac users: Click Here

For PC users: Click Here

For iOS users: Click Here

Messages in the cloud (Updated)

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We’ve known this was coming… And on Tues, May 29, Apple did in fact release the iOS 11.4 software update for iOS devices (iPad, iPhone, iPod). This update does in fact provide mobile device users with the opportunity to use iCloud to synchronize their text messages with their other devices… for the most part (see The Hiccup below…). In the past, you could use any mobile device, and even a Mac computer to sign into the Messages app and receive text messages from your iPhone. But this was only for receiving messages, it didn’t truly synchronize. If it did truly sync, then when you delete a message here, it should delete over there, just like email does (should).

 

Messages couldn’t truly sync because it didn’t use the cloud, which is what enables synchronizing. Now in the latest update to iOS 11.4 for mobile devices, the option is now present. I expected that after running the update to iOS 11.4, that something would appear on the screen asking me if I’d like to enable this feature, but nothing like that happened. I discovered that Apple quietly placed the On switch for this feature in the iCloud settings page. If you’d like to see it, you can find it after you’ve done the update in your Settings app. From there, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Glide up and you’ll see what wasn’t there before, a new item in the list; Messages.

 

Now, before you flip the switch to enable Messages in the cloud, there is something you need to know. This feature requires two factor authentication (2FA).  I’ve got a more in depth article on 2FA that you can read by clicking here, but for now, 2FA is a security feature that makes it harder for criminals access your Apple account, which protects your iCloud data. 2FA also makes it harder for YOU to access your own Apple account, and for that reason, some people prefer to disable 2FA. The choice to use 2FA or not is your choice, but if you want to use Messages in the cloud, you must also use 2FA. I thought I might try to be clever and just disable 2FA after setting up Messages in the cloud.  Well, it didn’t work… Messages in the cloud was automatically disabled when I disabled 2FA. No other features of iCloud require 2FA, but Messages do. This is probably because Messages may contain data that could be more sensitive than say, a list of contacts, or a bunch of vacation photos.

 

So, understanding that 2FA comes with Messages in the cloud, if you still like the idea of having your text messages sync across all your devices, tap that On switch in the iCloud settings screen so that it appears green. Make sure that the same switch you’ve enabled on your iPhone is also enabled on your iPad, or this won’t work the way it’s supposed to. It may take a little time to get all your messages uploaded to the cloud, but it should begin syncing relatively quickly.

 

So, who should use this feature? I think most people will benefit from this feature. Not only can your messages be kept in sync across all your devices, but it also frees up space on your device because the content of your Messages app is leaving the device and migrating to the cloud. This is really a pretty good feature that many have been waiting a long time to see.

 

So, who should not use this feature? I don’t think too many… maybe people who don’t like change, or people who don’t want to pay Apple .99/month for upgraded iCloud storage. You can’t increase the storage space on your device, but you can increase your storage space in the cloud. It’s nice to have the option to send more data to the cloud, which in effect, frees up more of the valuable space on your device.

 

The Hiccup – We’re still missing a small piece of this puzzle. In order for messages to truly sync with all our Apple devices, we need this feature to appear on our Mac computers. It’s not there as of May 29, but it is expected to arrive in the next MacOS update (any day now). When Apple releases a new feature, they usually release updates for both Mac and iOS at the same time, so that users can get the full benefit of the new feature on both computers and mobile devices. Not so this time. So right now, you can at the very least, get your messages uploaded to the cloud by enabling the switches on your iPhones/iPads, but your Mac computer can’t sync yet until Apple releases MacOS 10.13.5.

 

What about Windows computer users? The Messages app is only made for Apple devices, so syncing messages between your iPhone and iPad is as good as it gets (which is still pretty good). Mac users on the other hand, will soon have the ability to sync messages to all three devices (iPhone, iPad, and Mac). It’s coming soon, so check back here on this blog for more information. I’ll keep you posted :O)

 

[Update]

 

Apple released the MacOS 10.13.5 update on Friday, June 1. This update adds the expected Messages in the Cloud feature that was previously released for iOS. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find the switch to enable the feature on the Mac.

 

[Sidenote]

 

Dear Apple, it would’ve been nice to have found the switch for Messages in the Cloud in the iCloud settings screen on the Mac, just like it appears on the iPhone or iPad. If you could make that a little more consistent, that’d be great. Sincerely, Gregg

 

OK then, if you’ve already enabled Messages in the Cloud for your iPhone and/or iPad, here’s how to enable the feature on your Mac after it’s been updated to 10.13.5. Open the Messages application, which looks like blue and white speech bubbles. Once open, in the menu bar across the top, click Messages, then click Preferences. In the window that pops up, click the Accounts button. In this window, click the small box next to, ‘Enable Messages in iCloud.’ That’s it, you can now close all the windows we just opened. That should begin the syncing process. Soon, you should see the same text messages on all your Apple devices.

 

This means that you can now receive and respond to text messages on whatever device is closest to you when a text message arrives. Don’t forget that now, unlike before, when you delete a text message on one device, it deletes on your other devices! I’ve been using the feature now for a few days and am enjoying the convenience of having my text messages synchronize between all my devices. Hope you enjoy it as well. Cheers!

Understanding Your Apple ID

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It’s not uncommon for me to receive a call from a client complaining about a few things that may seem unrelated, but in fact are all connected. The complaints could sound like this… “My contacts aren’t synchronizing between devices.” “Music I purchased on my iPhone I can’t get on my iPad.” “My device keeps asking me for an iCloud password, but I don’t know if I have one…” All these questions relate to your Apple account, which effects synchronizing data, music purchases, iCloud, and a lot more.

 

Your Apple account is accessed with two pieces of information; your Apple ID and password. Just as your Amazon account or any  online account has a User ID and a password, your Apple account is no different. However, Apple calls your User ID, an Apple ID. Your Apple ID borrows your email address (like many online accounts), which uniquely identifies you when you sign in. Think about it… lots of people may use the same first and last names as you, but nobody else in the world has the same email address!

 

Your Apple account connects you to Apple’s various digital media stores and services. If you’ve been an Apple device user for a long time, you may remember the precursor to what is now your Apple account: An iTunes account. These two account names can cause a little confusion, so here’s the story.

 

Many moons ago Apple created the iTunes application, which made it possible to listen to the music CD’s that you own, using your computer. iTunes could even import the songs from the CD into a digital music library on your computer. At that time, there was no need for an account.

 

Soon after, the iTunes Store was created as a new feature in the iTunes application. This made it possible to purchase new (and digital) music directly from Apple. Enter now the need to create an account. This involved providing Apple with contact and payment information. A password was created, and together with your email address this became your iTunes account.

 

Fast forward to today, Apple now sells more digital media than just music. The iTunes Store now sells movies, tv shows, books, apps for  iPhone/iPad, and more. Some of Apple’s digital media stores have spun off from the iTunes Store into a dedicated app. One example  is the iBooks app, which sells digital books on both Mac and  iPhone/iPad.

 

There’s also a dedicated App Store, again on both Mac and iPhone/iPad. Now that Apple sells more than music, the term ‘iTunes account’ is inaccurate. So what was once your iTunes account, is now your Apple account. There are, however, still moments when you will see a request for your iTunes account password. Rest assured, your iTunes account and your Apple account are one in the same account.

 

Not only can you purchase music, movies, and apps with your Apple account, you can also use this account to access other Apple services. Using FaceTime, Messages, and iCloud all require your Apple account. Your Apple account is used for so many things that your Apple ID and password should be kept at the ready. If your password is lost or forgotten, it can be reset. Apple won’t tell you what the password is, but they will let you change it. Visit iforgot.apple.com to change your Apple account password.

 

On a final note, it’s critical to address a misconception that often comes up after it’s too late. It goes like this: “My Apple ID is using an old email address that I no longer use. I guess I should create a new Apple account with my new email address, right?” The answer is ‘No’, never create a second Apple account when you’ve changed your email address!

 

This is important for several reasons. When you download an app to any Apple device, the app will at some point request an update. To complete the update, you’ll need to enter the password for the Apple account that purchased it. If you have apps purchased from two different Apple accounts, then you have two passwords to remember on the same device.

 

Multiple Apple accounts can also prevent devices from synchronizing with each other. Many people like to have their iPad and iPhone sync contacts and calendars. Synchronizing requires use of the same Apple account on all devices. Therefore, an iPad using an old Apple account and an iPhone using a new Apple account will not sync.

 

Additionally, if you begin using a new Apple account, then purchases like music or movies can get lost. Imagine you’d like to download an album you’ve already purchased in the iTunes Store. If your device is using a new Apple account, then purchases made with an old account will not be available to you.

 

Sound like a nightmare? It is… and there are even more reasons why you should never create a second Apple account. For many people, it’s too late. So what do you do if you’ve already created two Apple accounts before you read this article? Unfortunately, you can’t merge two accounts. You can update an Apple account to use a new email address, but not if it’s already in use with a second Apple account.

 

If you’ve already created a second Apple account, you’ll want to choose one of your Apple accounts to use moving forward. Don’t use the other account, let it fade into obscurity. Choose the account that has the most purchased content associated with it.

 

If you have one Apple account, but it is using an old email address, you’ll want to update your Apple account with your new email address. Visit appleid.apple.com, and sign in with your Apple ID and password. Once inside your account profile page, click Edit to change the email address. The new email address must be verified. This means that Apple will send a link or a code to that email address to confirm that you own that email address. Check your email, and either click the link, or enter the code on the website. Once the new email address is verified, you’ve successfully updated your Apple account.

 

This is not a new Apple account, it is an old account that has a new Apple ID. The new email address becomes your Apple ID for the same account that you’ve always used. We could liken this process to someone getting their legal name changed. They may have a new name, but are still the same person.

 

It should be known that at times when attempting to sign in to your Apple account, that you may see a link or button that says “Create Apple ID.” The language here is a little strange, as this really means creating a whole new Apple account. This is only for those who do not already have an Apple account. It might become tempting to do this when it becomes difficult to sign into your Apple account. Don’t forget you can always reset your password.

 

In summary, everyone should be using only one Apple account on all devices they own.

iOS 8.1 has arrived.

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What is iOS 8.1? iOS 8.1 is the Operating System software for your iPad and/or iPhone. This is a minor software update but everyone should complete it. iOS 8.1 is a follow up to iOS 8, which first released on Sep 17, 2014. A few things to know before you initiate the update;

 

1. Make sure your device is plugged in and charging before you begin. You will need to be connected to a WIFI network to complete the update.

 

2. Minor updates like this one usually will squash a few bugs, but can also bring in some new features. People may have heard that there was a major problem with iOS 8, and to be precise, that problem came in with version 8.0.1, which fixed one bug but created another BIG bug. That bug was then corrected with version 8.0.2. The update to version 8.1 will include the fix for the bug that was introduced with 8.0.1. For a minor update, version 8.1 brings in quite a few new features, including; support for ApplePay (Apple’s new digital payments initiative), Continuity (features that allow the iPhone and iPad to interact with a Mac computer in some interesting ways), a new Health app (to help users monitor healthy living), and the return of the Camera Roll in the Photos app, among a few other small features.

 

3. During the update, your device screen will go black on it’s own and that’s OK, it will power back on when the update has completed. Please do NOT turn off your device while it’s conducting the update, which could also prove seriously problematic. During the installation of the update the device will be unusable and will not receive any calls or texts, but any messages coming in during that time will be there waiting for you when the device completes the install and reboots. If the device screen has been black for a while, tap the Home button once to see if it wakes up for you. The Home button is the only button on the front screen surface of your device.

 

4. As always, repeat the steps below from time to time to see if their are any new updates to complete. You can also visit my blog again and I’ll keep you posted on when important updates are released.

 

So how do I do this update?

 

1. Find and tap the Settings app on your iPad and/or iPhone. This app looks like silver gears.

 

2. Tap ‘General’ in the list. (In the left sidebar if on iPad)

 

3. Tap ‘Software Update’ in the list (Located top right on iPad)

 

4. Tap ‘Download and Install’

 

5. That’s it! If by chance you don’t get a ‘Download and Install’ button but instead you get a ‘Usage Settings’ button, then it means you have too much stuff on your device to do the update. Delete some unused apps, undesired photos or other media to free up some space and then try again. Don’t delete emails to release space, emails are very small and depending on what type of email account you have, they aren’t really taking up space on your device anyways.

 

6. When your device has completed the update, it may ask you a few questions. If it asks you about something called Location Services, choose the option to Enable Location Services. Without Location Services enabled, features like Mapping and tracking a lost or stolen device become more difficult and/or impossible. You may also be asked to log into iCloud. Log into iCloud using your Apple ID and password, the same information you use to download apps/games. If you are asked about upgrading to iCloud Drive, go ahead and follow the prompts to complete that upgrade. Finally, you may also be asked to create a passcode to lock your device. Create one if you like, but I find most people don’t want or need one. There should be a small button on this screen that says ‘Skip’, or, ‘Don’t Add Passcode’, so tap that button to bypass creating a passcode.

 

Good luck!

iOS 8 has arrived!

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What is iOS 8? iOS 8 is the Operating System software for your iPad and/or iPhone. This is a major software update that everyone should do. It’s possible that older devices may not support this new update, but I would expect most devices out there to be able to handle it. A few things to know before you initiate the update;

 

1. Make sure your device is plugged in and charging before you begin. Running out of juice mid update could potentially mean erasing the device to remedy any problems. You will also need to be connected to a wifi network, the update will not complete using cellular data service.

 

2. Major updates like this one will add in some new features which will be nice, but in these updates Apple often may change the way things look and potentially move buttons around. So don’t panic, this just means being diligent to scan the entire device screen if by chance you can’t find the button you’re looking for in the place where it was before. It won’t look completely different, but a little different should be expected.

 

3.  Your device screen will go black on it’s own and that’s OK, it will power back on when the update has completed. Please do NOT turn off your device while it’s conducting the update, which could also prove seriously problematic. It may take a while to do the update, hard to say how long, depends on the speed of your wifi connection, maybe 30 min, maybe several hours. During this time the device will be unusable and will not receive any calls or texts, but any coming in during that time will be there waiting for you when the device completes the install and reboots. If the device screen has been black for a while, tap the Home button once to see if it wakes up for you. The Home button is the only button on the front screen surface of your device.

 

4. I usually wait a few days/weeks after the initial release date (which was Sep 17, 2014) to update my mobile devices, in order to hear what the public reaction is and to see what bugs people are experiencing. A good place to read about these issues is; macrumors.com. After a major update like this one to version 8.0, there is usually another update that comes out fairly quickly to address any initial bugs. So after you do this major update, check back again in a few days/weeks (using the same steps below) to see if there are any more smaller updates to do.

 

So how do I do this update?

 

1. Find and tap the Settings app on your iPad and/or iPhone. This app looks like silver gears.

 

2. Tap ‘General’ in the list. (In the left sidebar if on iPad)

 

3. Tap ‘Software Update’ in the list (Located top right on iPad)

 

4. Tap ‘Download and Install’

 

5. That’s it! If by chance you don’t get a ‘Download and Install’ button but instead you get a ‘Usage Settings’ button, then it means you have too much stuff on your device to do the update. Delete some unused apps, undesired photos or other media (excluding email) to free up some space and then try again.

 

6. When your device has completed the update, it may ask you a few questions. If it asks you about something called Location Services, choose the option to Enable Location Services. Without Location Services enabled, features like Mapping and tracking a lost or stolen device become more difficult and/or impossible. You may also be asked to log into iCloud. Log into iCloud using your Apple ID and password, the same information you use to download apps/games. Finally, you may also be asked to create a passcode to lock your device. Create one if you like, but I find most people don’t want or need one. There should be a small button on this screen that says Skip, or, Don’t Add Passcode, so tap that button to bypass creating a passcode.

 

Good luck!