This post provides a guide on clearing notifications on the iPhone, either individually or all at once. It also includes a disclaimer on the evolving nature of technology. The post ends with a quote and information on sharing the post and accessing the author’s eBook on the Battle of Tra Bong Vietnam.
This is for the iPhone. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+
Notifications on your iPhone provide important updates and information at a glance. However, if you are like us and do not dismiss or interact with your notifications, they can start to pile up. When your Notification Center becomes cluttered and clogged up, you can easily clear notifications on your iPhone simultaneously. Let’s explore this easy feature.
Clear All Your iPhone Notifications
If you are feeling overwhelmed by all the unread notifications in your Notification Center, clearing them might help.
Unlock your phone and swipe down from the top left of your screen
OR
swipe up from your Lock Screen to pull them up.to open the Notification Center.
Tap and hold the “X” icon for a moment. Refer to the below image:
Selecting the icon to clear all notifications
Tap Clear or Clear All Notifications when it pops up. See the below image:
Clear all notifications
Once you tap Clear or Clear All Notifications, all of your notifications will instantly disappear from the Notification Center. Now you do not have to deal with hundreds of notifications clogging up your phone every day!
Clear One
You can delete them one at a time by swiping the notification to the left, and then tap Clear or Clear All. See the following image:
Clear one notification
Disclaimer
Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.
Quote for the Day
The way to get things done is not to mind who gets the credit for doing them.
Benjamin Jowett
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You can start Google Chrome to open a specific page, a new tab, or continue where you left off from the On starup option. We will show you how to set this option to load your Google Apps. You can use the same procedure to load any website at startup or create a bookmark.
This is for the Desktop and iPhone. Screenshots are from Windows 10 and iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+
You can start Google Chrome to open a specific page, a new tab, or continue where you left off from the On startup option. We will show you how to set this option to load your Google Apps. You can use the same procedure to load any website at startup or create a bookmark.
Setup the On Startup Option
Your Google Apps can be displayed using the On startup option. First, to set this option, open Chrome and click the Menu (the 3 dots) in the upper right corner, then navigate to:
Settings > On startup
Next, under the Open a specific page or set of pages option, enter the following:
chrome://apps/
Refer to the below image:
Setting On startup option to your Google Apps
Now whenever you start Chrome, your Google Apps page will be displayed.
By doing the above, you can just click the Home button next to the address bar to display your Google Apps anytime. See the below image:
Accessing the Home button to view your Google Apps page
Clicking the Home button next to the address bar will display the page you have set as the On startup page.
Setup the Google Apps Bookmark on Desktop
If you do not have the On startup option set to Google Apps, why not create a bookmark for it. Following are the steps to do this.
First, open the Google Apps page you want to bookmark in Chrome. See the following image:
Setting your Google Apps page to bookmark
Next, click the Star icon in the address bar. Refer to the below image:
Adding your Google Apps page as a bookmark
Now, choose a name and location for your bookmark then hit Done. See the below image:
Editing your Google Apps bookmark
Next, head to your saved bookmark to see your Google Apps entry. See the following image:
Your saved Google Apps bookmark
Setup the Google Apps Bookmark on iPhone
First, open the Google Apps page you want to bookmark in Chrome then tap the Share button. Refer to the below image:
Setting your Google Apps page
Next, tap the Add to Bookmarks option. See the below image:
Adding your Google Apps bookmark
Edit the Google Apps Bookmark on iPhone
First, tap the Menu (the 3 dots) at the bottom right corner. See the following image:
Accessing the Menu option
Next, tap the Edit Bookmark option. Refer to the below image:
Choosing to edit your Google Apps bookmark
Now, change as necessary, then tap Done. See the below image:
Editing your Google Apps bookmark
Not only do bookmarks save you time as you do not need to type in a URL or search for your most frequently visited sites on Google every time you visit, but they are also great for keeping track of articles and videos you plan to head back to later. If you do not have Google Apps set as your startup page, creating a bookmark allows you to easily display the page.
Disclaimer
Technology is constantly changing; there is rarely static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.
Quote for the Day
“The best vision is insight.”
Malcolm Forbes
Tweet Info
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Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.
Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.
Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.
Author’s E-Book
You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
This post provides instructions on finding Wi-Fi passwords on Windows and iPhone devices. For Windows, it details how to access and reveal the password in plain text. For iPhone, it explains the steps to reveal the Wi-Fi password. The post also includes a disclaimer about technology changes and a quote by Thomas Sowell.
This is for Windows 10/11 and iPhone. Screenshots are from Windows 10 and iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+
Are you connected to Wi-Fi on one device, but need the password to log in on another? Here’s how to find Wi-Fi passwords in Windows and iOS.
Struggling to connect to Wi-Fi? Maybe your laptop is connected but your phone is not, or you need to share your network with a guest but can not remember the password. There are ways to wirelessly share passwords between devices, but that’s not always an option.
Below, we will outline how to grab a Wi-Fi password from already-connected devices by viewing it as plain text. This way you do not need to reset the network security or hack the Wi-Fi network so everyone can get online.
View Password Using Windows
Windows makes this easy, as long as you are connected to the network.
For Windows 10, open:
Settings > Network & Internet
then click the Change Adapter Options button. Refer to the below image:
Accessing your network
For Windows 11, open:
Advanced network settings > More network adapter options
then right-click on your computer’s Wi-Fi adapter in the list and choose:
Status > Wireless Properties
Open the Security tab, and you should see a password box with dots in it. Click the Show Characters box to see the password in plain text. See the below image for Windows 10:
Viewing your password in plain text on Windows 10
If you are trying to view the password for a network you are not currently connected to, things are a tad more complicated. You can download a third-party app like Wi-Fi Password Revealer which will show you the passwords of all saved networks. See the following image :
Viewing Password Revealer software
View Password Using iPhone
iPhone users could not view Wi-Fi passwords as plain text until iOS 16. First, open:
Settings > Wi-Fi
Refer to the below image:
Accessing your Wi-Fi network
Now, tap the “i” icon for the current network. See the below image:
Tapping the informational icon
Next, select the Password entry and verify your identity with FaceID, Touch ID, or a Passcode. See the following image:
Tapping the hidden password
Now tap the password box with dots in it to reveal the password in plain text. Refer to the below image:
Revealing the hidden password in plain text
Disclaimer
Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.
Quote For the Day
It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong.
Thomas Sowell
Tweet Info
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Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.
Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.
Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.
Author’s E-Book
You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
This post provides comprehensive tips for fast iPhone charging without degrading battery life. It emphasizes using Apple’s 20W charger and USB-C cable, along with additional tricks like Low Power Mode and closing apps. It concludes with a disclaimer on changing technology and a quote by Arthur Koestler. Always keep your device and OS up to date for the best experience.
This is for the iPhone. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+
One of the most controversial topics when talking about the iPhone is related to charging and battery life. Even with a former Apple employee giving life-saving iPhone battery tips, you can always do more.
We have compiled a comprehensive guide to help you charge your iPhone as fast as possible without degrading your battery too fast. The process is more straightforward than you might imagine, but there are a few tips and tricks to make the most of it.
Charging Your iPhone Quickly
Newer iPhones charge at 20W maximum, so you do not need to use a Mac’s 96W plug or any fancy GaN charger that could give enough juice to your car, iPad, Mac, and phone simultaneously. For example, Apple’s own 20W charger solution is perfect for that.
You do not need to overthink, going all-in with Apple already ensures you can hit the fastest charge possible on your device.
That said, it does not mean you can not use Samsung’s charger with a Belkin USB-C to USB-C cable. Of course, you can, but you do not need to worry that much if you already have Apple’s accessories.
Now that you know that Apple’s 20W charger and its USB-C to USB-C cable are fully capable of charging your iPhone 15 at maximum speed, there are other tips and tricks to ensure you will get the fastest charging possible.
Tips for Faster Charging
Now that you have the proper plug and the right cable, you can do a little more to ensure your device charges as fast as it can. Just follow these tips:
Turn on Low Power Mode: Since the iPhone consumes energy even if it’s charging, putting on hold background activity, ProMotion, and other technologies will help improve the charging speeds. See Settings >Battery
Close your apps: With no apps opened, they do not require more power from your iPhone.
Check for the right temperature: If it’s too hot or cold, your iPhone might not charge properly. That said, never put your iPhone with the sun on it while charging or avoid freezing temperatures as well.
Do not use your phone while charging: It might be difficult, but try to do another activity when charging your phone. Go read a book, walk in the park, or watch some TV.
Turn on Airplane Mode and turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: If you want to quickly charge your iPhone, turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while turning on Airplane Mode will help charge your iPhone as fast as it can. See Settings
Summary
With these tips and tricks, it’s easier to charge your iPhone as fast as possible. Also, do not forget that your phone will charge 50% in 30 minutes, but to get full power, you might also need to follow these little tricks.
Disclaimer
Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.
Quote For the Day
Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears.
Arthur Koestler
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Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.
Author’s E-Book
You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
Google Drive’s latest update allows users to scan documents directly to cloud storage on iPhone, a feature previously available on Android only. The new design includes a Camera button for initiating the scan and saving it as a PDF file. The app also uses machine learning to suggest relevant titles for saved images. The post cautions that the information is only valid at the time of writing due to the constant evolution of technology.
This is for the iPhone using the latest update for Google Drive. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+
Google Drive users will be glad to know the cloud storage app has a new handy feature. The app lets you scan documents directly to your cloud storage on your iPhone. The feature is already available on Android; the same functionality has made its way to iPhone.
The new Google Drive redesign comes with a new Camera button above the “+” button in the lower right corner. Another option to start a scan from the Google Drive home page is to tap that “+” sign and choose the Scan option. Both will take you to the iPhone’s Camera. Refer to the below image:
Selecting options to scan
Tap the button to initiate a document scan that will feel familiar. Just place the document or receipt from the Camera and take the photo.
The document-scanning feature lets you capture multiple images to scan a document with more than one page.
Once the photo is taken, you can perform the usual edits for such types of images. You can crop and rotate the image and change the color. That can be useful if you want your photo to look like a scanned document.
When you are ready to save the scan, press the Save button, and Google Drive will use machine learning to suggest a relevant title for the image or set of images that will be saved as a new PDF file. See the below image:
Save your scan as a PDF file
That’s another handy feature, as it will save you time and ensure you find and retrieve the scan with ease in the future.
As a reminder, your iPhone already has a built-in document scanner feature. You can scan documents directly into the Notes app with similar ease. If you sync Notes across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, you will always have the scanned document available.
However, the Google Drive alternative is also a great option. Some iPhone users might prefer scanning documents to Google’s cloud storage directly.
Disclaimer
Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.
Quote For the Day
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”
Vince Lombardi
Tweet Info
You are finished. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.
Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.
Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.
Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.
Author’s E-Book
You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
TechSavvy.Life explores an iPhone Camera app setting called Prioritize Faster Shooting, which allows quick, successive photography, specifically for iPhone models XS/XR or later running on iOS 14 and above. However, enabling this feature reduces photo quality due to shorter image processing time. Users can personalize this setting in their iPhone settings.
This is for the iPhone XS/XR or later running iOS 14 or higher. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+
The iPhone is a great camera out of the box. Just set the phone up and start taking photos and recording videos without worrying about advanced settings. However, if you do want to take your photo skills to the next level, all sorts of iPhone photo tricks can help you improve your game. The iPhone’s Camera app holds settings that can also enhance the pictures and clips coming out of your iPhone.
One of those image settings can come in handy when you do not want to miss a shot. But it can also ruin photo quality, as the iPhone might devote less time to processing the image.
Disable Prioritize Faster Shooting Feature
Called Prioritize Faster Shooting, the setting is straightforward. It does what it says; it enables faster shooting, especially if you take lots of burst photos. The setting lets the iPhone capture more shots per unit of time, which can be useful if you are following certain events and want to capture everything. But it might not be worth taking so many shots if the quality of the resulting images has to suffer.
The setting comes enabled by default. To disable this feature, head to:
Settings > Camera > Prioritize Faster Shooting
and toggle to the OFF position. Reger to the below image:
To disable, turn the option to OFF
To enable, set the toggle to the ON position.
If you do not find the setting, you probably use an older iPhone or iOS. You must either update the software or get a new iPhone to take advantage of Prioritize Faster Shooting.
Disclaimer
Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.
Quote For the Day
. “You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing and falling over.”
Richard Branson
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Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.
Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.
Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.
Author’s E-Book
You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
The “always-on display” feature, exclusive to Pro versions of the iPhone 14 or 15 running iOS 17+, allows users to view important information without unlocking the device. The feature can be turned off in various situations, including when the phone is face down or connected to CarPlay, when low power mode is on, or through setting up a Sleep Focus. It can be turned off or adjusted through the Display & Brightness menu in Settings. Apple plans future updates to detail the feature’s battery consumption and introduce additional focus modes.
This is for the iPhone 14 or 15 Pro. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+
An “always-on display” lets you see important information at a glance. Those with a Pro version of the iPhone 14 or 15 have this feature. It’s exclusive to iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max on iOS.
Those with older iPhones need to update their phones to see any information (or use the Rise to Wake feature), but “always-on” changes all that by dimming the Lock Screen so you can still see certain data without touching your phone. Let’s explore how to take control of the iPhone’s “always-only displays” (and even turn it off if it’s not your thing).
When the Feature Turns Off
If you feel uneasy about a phone screen that never turns off, do not worry. Despite the name, Apple has done a few things to ensure the feature is not unnecessarily draining your battery (and a future iOS update may detail “always-on” battery consumption). If you do any of the following actions, the “always-on display” will turn off:
Place the phone face down, in your pocket, or in a bag. When charging your iPhone, we recommend placing your phone face down and when you are not using your iPhone. By doing this, your battery will last longer between charges.
Set up a Sleep Focus for certain times.
Connect to CarPlay.
Use the Continuity Camera feature.
Have low power mode turned on.
Additionally, if you have an Apple Watch connected to your iPhone, it will use your proximity to turn the screen on and off automatically. For example, if you leave your phone in the kitchen and walk upstairs, the display will turn black. When you return to the kitchen, the screen will light up.
How to Turn Off/ON
To disable the feature, head to:
Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display
and toggle OFF the Always On Display option. Refer to the below image:
Always On Display option
To enable the feature, toggle ON the Always On Display option.
Other Options
If you are not ready to give up on the “always-on display” completely, there are a few options you can adjust. You can disable Show Wallpaper to prevent your phone’s wallpaper from appearing on the display. Or disable Notifications to make the screen less distracting.
Since iOS 16.4, Apple has let you schedule or automate when your iPhone’s “always-on display” is enabled using Focus modes. So you could add a filter to make the display stay on during working hours, for example, but turn it off in the evenings.
Other options coming to future updates include seeing how much battery life the “always-on display” consumes and controlling it with additional Focus modes.
Disclaimer
Technology is constantly changing; there is rarely static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.
Quote For the Day
. “Don’t worry about failure; you only have to be right once.”
Drew Houston
Tweet Info
That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.
Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.
Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.
Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.
Author’s E-Book
You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
The iPhone’s Messages app has numerous little-known features. Users can track live flights, unlock animations with secret codes, mark messages as unread, stop spam messages, and use Visual Lookup on sent messages. The recently released iOS 17 introduced features to quickly access photos and Check-In, which notifies contacts when the user arrives safely at a destination. The information shared via Check-In is end-to-end encrypted and can provide safety assurance.
This is for the iPhone. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+
Even if you use the iPhone’s Messages app every day, there’s a chance you do not know everything it’s capable of. To fully appreciate the app, here are a few of the most hidden secrets Messages offers users. Let’s explore these features.
Track Live Flights
If you have a friend or family member flying, you can see exactly where they are as long as you know the flight number. Let’s say the flight is AA7262, and they just sent you the flight number. Long press the flight number, then tap on Preview Flight. You will see all the details about the flight. Refer to the below image:
Track Live Flights
Unblock Animations With Secret Codes
You can get custom animations depending on the phrase you sent on iMessage. While you can long press the Send button before sending a message to choose a proper animation, you can also trigger them depending on the message. Here are some examples:
Happy Birthday! – balloons will appear
Congratulations! – confetti rain
Happy New Year! – fireworks
Happy Chinese New Year! – red explosion
Pew pew – laser light show
See the below image:
Unlock Animations
Unread a Message
One of the best features available with the Messages app on your iPhone running iOS 16 or above is the ability to mark a message as unread. If you have already read it but do not have time to reply at the moment, you can leave a notification badge on it. To mark messages as unread, tap and hold a conversation in the app’s Inbox and select Mark as Unread. See the following image:
Unread a Message
Stop Spam Messages
iMessage has a great feature that can split your Messages Inbox by different senders. Head to:
With that, you will not be notified about spam or messages from people you do not know. You just need to check the Unknown Senders tab every now and then. Refer to the below image:
Stop Spam Messages
Visual Lookup On Sent Messages
Visual LookUp works like Google Lens, which can tell you what’s in an image. An example, to view info about a plant:
Take a photo of a plant
Open Photos and find the image
Swipe up on the image
Tap Look Up
Now, view the results from Siri knowledge. See the below image:
Visual Lookup of a plant
Quickly Open Photos
With iOS 17, there’s a new feature to access your Photos in your Messages. Just long press the “+” icon in the bottom left-hand corner and select a photo to place in your message. To access a new menu of options, just press the “+” sign. See the following image:
Open Photos in Messages
To access a new menu of options, just press the “+” sign. Refer to the below image:
Photos Options
Check In
This is a new iOS 17 feature. It works when a user wants to notify a family member or friend that they have safely made it to their destination. After a user initiates a Check In, their friend or family member will automatically be notified when the user arrives. If they are not making progress toward their destination, useful information will be temporarily shared with the selected contact, such as the device’s location, battery level, and cell service status.
One of the primary benefits of Check In is the safety assurance it provides. Personal safety is paramount, whether navigating the streets late at night, venturing into unfamiliar territory, or heading home, Check In serves as a digital guardian. It offers security, letting your contacts know you’ve safely arrived at your intended destination. Any information shared is end-to-end encrypted. Both the recipient and sender must have iOS 17 or higher installed.
To use this feature:
Open the Messages app. Tap on the conversation where you want to use Check In.
Next, tap the plus (+) button, choose More, and select Check In.
If it’s your first time, follow the on-screen instructions. You must decide between Limited or Full data-sharing access. These options give you control over the level of location access.
Tap the Continue button as you read through the on-screen explanations until you see the Send a Check In button and tap it.
After that, if you do not reach your destination within the set time or place an Emergency SOS Call, your iPhone will prompt you to check if everything’s okay. If you do not respond within 15 minutes, Check In will alert your contact.
Disclaimer
Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.
Quote For the Day
If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.
Nora Roberts
Tweet Info
That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.
Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.
Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.
Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.
Author’s E-Book
You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
Apple’s iOS 17+ introduces new customization features for iPhones, including kaleidoscopic wallpapers that change appearance throughout the day. Users can explore these options in the Wallpaper menu within the Settings app and select images for Lock and Home screens. There are two categories of images to choose from: Jewels and Flowers. Widgets can also be added to the Kaleidoscope screen for further customization. Unfortunately, one can’t set up two different kaleidoscopic images for Lock and Home screens.
This is for iPhones running iOS 17+. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro.
The iPhone is boring, some people often say. As if Apple had to come up with a new design every year. As if it could significantly and regularly update the external appearance at this particular point in smartphone history, where nearly every device features an all-screen display. But you can make the iPhone a lot more fun by customizing the look of the software. You can change the icons to custom images, set wallpapers for each Focus mode, and then rotate them regularly.
Apple has plenty of good options in the Wallpapers gallery. And it so happens that iOS 17 brings over new kaleidoscopic wallpapers to iPhone that you can start using right away. Let’s find out about the Kaleidoscope wallpapers.
How to Find the Wallpapers
The new wallpapers might not be immediately visible, as you might need to do a bit of scrolling to find them. But they are there, and we will tell you exactly where to go.
What’s so special about the Kaleidoscope wallpapers, you ask? Well, there’s an algorithm at work here that will apply changes to them as the day passes.
First of all, since iOS 16, you have two ways of customizing the wallpaper on your iPhone. One involves pressing and holding your finger against the Lock Screen wallpaper until the customization menu pops up. The other is the one you might have been using since the early days of the iPhone. It involves going to the Settings app and looking for the Wallpaper menu.
Add a Kaleidoscope Wallpaper
Whatever the route, you will get to an Add New Wallpaper menu to select new images for your Lock and Home screens.
Once there, scroll until you find the Kaleidoscope category to select one of the new wallpapers. You might see the category in the Featured section, so you might not need to scroll. Refer to the below image:
Add a Kaleidoscope wallpaper
You will discover six Jewels kaleidoscope images and eight Flower ones. The Jewels will also feature Dark and Light modes, which means they will change appearance depending on how you have set up your iPhone. Unfortunately, the Flowers kaleidoscopes do not. But we would say the color palette is even better for the Flowers options.
Once you have selected the one you like best, you can set it as a Wallpaper Pair for both the Lock and Home screens. Or you can customize the Home screen with a separate image. You can always select a kaleidoscope for the Lock Screen and a different image for the Home Screen. Sadly, you can not set up two different kaleidoscopes, one for each screen.
Add a Widget to Your Kaleidoscope Wallpaper
Just like other Apple wallpapers, you can add widget(s) to your Kaleidoscope screen. See the below image:
We have TechSavvy.Life stats and Google Lens widgets for our wallpaper. Your new wallpaper will look similar to the one below. See the following image:
Your added Widgets
That’s all you have to do to take advantage of the new Kaleidoscope wallpapers on iPhone after updating to iOS 17 or higher.
Disclaimer
Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.
Quote For the Day
If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.
Jim Rohn
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Author’s E-Book
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The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
The post provides a guide on how to invert colors on an iPhone running iOS 17+, which can assist color-blind individuals or those who find phone screens hard to read. However, if this function results in ghostly blue screenshots, the post advises heading to Accessibility in the Settings app and turning off both Smart Invert and Classic Invert.
This is for the iPhone running iOS 17+. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro.
Are you considering inverting the colors on your iPhone? It can be a useful feature; especially for those with color blindness or for those who find phone screens difficult to read. The process of inverting your iPhone’s display colors is simple and can be done in no time. Let’s explore using the side button to toggle inverted colors on or off.
But first, what if you take a photo like the one below?
Your photo
Next, you take a screenshot of your photo and it turns out ghostly blue as displayed below.
Your ghostly blue screenshot
Yikes! How did this happen? We spent hours searching on Google how to fix this to no avail. Then we chatted with two Apple Support specialists before we got an answer on how to resolve this. This issue goes back to iOS 11.
How to Fix the Ghostly Blue Screenshot
To fix this problem:
Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Accessibility.
Select Display and Text Size.
Scroll down to Smart Invert and Classic Invert.
Smart Invert will only invert the colors within the app you are currently using.
Classic Invert will invert all the colors on your iPhone, including photos and videos.
Turn both options to the OFF position.
This will make the screenshot resemble your photo. Refer to the below image:
Turn OFF both options
Note! When you update your iOS, the Smart Invert option is reset to the ON position. If your iPhone is still displaying ghostly images from your Camera Roll or the Photos app while using Dark Mode, turn the Smart Invert and Classic Invert to the OFF position.
In Settings > Display & Brightness resetting the Options, True Tone and Night Shift options has no effect in eliminating the ghostly images as noted in various help articles..Only the steps described in this blog post fixes the problem.
Setup Shortcut to Invert Colors
To quickly turn the inverted colors on or off on your iPhone, you can set up an Accessibility Shortcut. To do this, go to the Accessibility section of the Settings app then scroll down to select Accessibility Shortcut. Now, click either Smart Invert or Classic Invert. Once done, triple-click the power button on the side of your iPhone to toggle the inverted colors. To disable the shortcut, triple-click the power button again.
Why Would You Want to Invert Colors
Inverting the display colors on your iPhone can be a helpful tool for those who struggle with bright screens or color blindness, as it creates more contrast and, for some, an easier-to-read display. It’s important to note that while inverted colors can be a useful feature, they are not for everyone, and it may take some time to get used to inverted colors. However, if you find inverted colors to be helpful or think they do improve your overall viewing experience on an iPhone, it’s definitely worth enabling.
Disclaimer
Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.
Quote For the Day
The best vision is insight.
Malcolm Forbes
Tweet Info
That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.
Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.
Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.
Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.
Author’s E-Book
You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.
The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath
Tech Savvy Life 