How to Save Battery Life by Turning Off 5G on iPhone

Connecting to lightning fast 5G networks, requires a sacrifice: battery life. But Apple baked a Smart Data Mode setting into new iPhones to give you more control over using 5G.

Connecting to lightning fast 5G networks, requires a sacrifice: battery life. But Apple baked a Smart Data Mode setting into new iPhones to give you more control over using 5G.

Apple gives you three options: You can keep 5G on all the time, switch over to LTE and never use 5G, or allow your iPhone to make that decision for you with an auto mode. There is no reason to upgrade to an iPhone 12 just for the 5G feature because the network carriers are behind the iPhone hardware. 6G is already in the works and Apple is planning on using it in its iPhone 13 lineup.

But, if you have an iPhone 12, here is how to easily turn off 5G to save your battery life.

This is for iPhone 12 lineup

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First, open Settings (the gear icon) on your iPhone. Refer to below image:

5G 1
Accessing Settings

Next, tap the Cellular option. See below image:

5G 2
Accessing the Cellular option

Next. tap the Cellular Data Options. See following image:

5G 3
Accessing the Cellular Data Options

Now, tap the Voice & Data option. Refer to below image:

5G 4
Accessing Voice & Data option

Next, select LTE from the list to disable 5G completely. Not shown in the below image are the options 5G On and 5G Auto because the screenshot is from an iPhone XR. See below image:

5G 5
Selecting the LTE option to save draining the battery

The option, 5G Auto, allows the iPhone to automatically deactivate 5G to save battery life when it is not needed.

Now, exit Settings. 5G is now disabled on your iPhone. If you ever need to turn it back on, just revisit the above steps and select 5G On or 5G Auto.

That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.

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How to Clear Your Google Chrome Browsing Data

Need to clear your Google Chrome browsing data? Your browsing data is stored in a “cache” and at times, may cause a problem with the actual data stored on a website. By clearing your browsing data, you are starting with a “fresh cache” to avoid inconsistencies.

Need to clear your Google Chrome browsing data? Your browsing data is stored in a “cache” and at times, may cause a problem with the actual data stored on a website. By clearing your browsing data, you are starting with a “fresh cache” to avoid inconsistencies.

This is for PCs, Macs, iPhone and iPad

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FIRST, before doing any of the following, launch your Google Chrome app. For the iPhone or iPad

  1. Open an article or your account and tap the the hamburger icon (the 3 dots) in lower right-hand corner.
  2. Tap History. (It may be labeled More History). Also, you can view more of your history at historygoogle.com
  3. At the bottom, tap Clear Browsing Data.
  4. Check Browsing history. It may be checked by default.
  5. Uncheck any other items you don’t want to delete.
  6. Tap Clear Browsing Data. Tap Clear Browsing Data again or Cancel if you do not want to proceed.
  7. At the top right, tap Done, then tap Done again.

Refer to below image:

Chrome 1
Clearing Chrome browsing data on an iPhone or iPad

For Windows, Mac, or Linux

  1. Press Cntl+Shift+Delete keys for Windows or Linux. Press Command+Shift+Backspace for a Mac. The backspace key is labeled “Delete”.
  2. Uncheck any items you don’t want to delete.
  3. Press Clear data button in lower right.
  4. Hit Enter or Return key.

See below image:

Chrome 2
Clearing Chrome browsing data for Windows, Mac, or Linux

IMPORTANT: Be sure and close/quit your browser and restart it after clearing your browsing data.

Your browsing history will be cleared to the level you have chosen. You may repeat the above process to clear any unchecked items.

That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter, as mentioned below.

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How to View Notifications on iPhone and iPad

By now you familiar with notifications and how they can be overwhelming. It’s like having another Inbox to wade through. I have way too many notifications because of way too many apps on this iPhone. Luckily, Apple provides a single location where you can view and manage them called the Notification Center.

By now you familiar with notifications and how they can be overwhelming. It’s like having another Inbox to wade through. I have way too many notifications because of way too many apps on this iPhone. Luckily, Apple provides a single location where you can view and manage them called the Notification Center.

Ii is a centralized interface for reviewing notifications on your device that have been received from apps or the operating system itself.

This is for the iPhone and iPad

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View From Unlocked Screen

To view the Notification Center while your iPhone or iPad is unlocked, swipe downward from the center of the upper edge of the screen. If you have iOS 14 or above you may also swipe down from upper left of your screen.

As a side note, swiping down from upper right will bring up the Control Center. Swiping down from the center will launch the Search screen.

View From Locked Screen

To view Notification Center on the Lock screen, swipe upward from the middle of the screen until it appears.

You can enable or disable Notification Center on the Lock screen by going to

Settings > Touch ID & Passcode or Face ID & Passcode

Then enter your Passcode and scroll down till you see the toggle for Notification Center.

Your Notifications

Once launched, you will see a special screen titled Notification Center that lists your recent notifications. If an app has sent more than one notification, the notifications may be stacked (there will be a number in the notification). Tap the stack to see all of the notifications expanded. Refer to below image where I have 19 stacked notifications :

Center 1
Your Notification Center

Now, you can swipe to the right on a particular notification to open it in the originating app. If you swipe quickly to the left, you can clear that notification away. Or if you want to clear all notifications at once, this is a two step process. First, tap the small “X” button beside the Notification Center heading. See below image:

Center 2
About to Clear all notifications

Second, tap the Clear text button (where the “X” was) to clear all notifications. See following image:

Center 3
Accessing to Clear all notifications

You can also turn off certain notifications from this screen by slowing swiping your finger to the left of a notification. Next, tap Manage in the options that appear. Refer to below image:

Center 4
Manage a notification

If notifications continue to get on your nerves, you can disable them on a per app basis in Settings. Head to

Settings > Notifications

then tap an app you would like to manage. There, you can select the type notifications you would like to receive or disable them completely. For your apps, enable or disable the Allow Notifications toggle as you wish. When finished, tap the Back text button and exit Settings. See below image:

Center 5
Toggle for Allow Notifications on per app basis

That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter, as mentioned below.

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How to Make Chrome the Default Browser on iPhone and iPad

The iPhone has been out for over a decade, and for most of that time, Apple has only allowed one browser to be the default. Safari, the one they built; till iOS 14 and higher, has been the only supported browser.

The iPhone has been out for over a decade, and for most of that time, Apple has only allowed one browser to be the default. Safari, the one they built; till iOS 14 and higher, has been the only supported browser.

This means that Google Chrome fans can finally set the app as their default, and use it for all their browsing.

As long as your device is running the latest version of the operating system, this setting should be available to you.

You can change the default browser in the Settings app. First, though, make sure you have downloaded the latest version of Chrome from the App Store and opened it at least once.

This is for iPhone and iPad

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First, launch your Settings app (the gear icon). Refer to below image:

Browser 1
Accessing Settings

Next, scroll way down to the Chrome section and tap on it. See below image:

Browser 2
Selecting Chrome app settings

Now, tap the Default Browser App option. See following image:

Browser 3
Selecting Default Browser App option

You will see a list of installed browsers. Tap the Chrome app to place a checkmark by it. Refer to below image:

Browser 4
Selecting Chrome as the default browser

To ensure your setting, tap the Back text button. You may now exit Settings.

That’s all you need to do! Chrome is now your default browser on your iPhone and/or iPad.

You may still see Safari if an app uses this browser by default. If this happens, you can simply tap the associated browser icon to reopen the page in Chrome.

If you want to revert back to Safari or choose another browser, navigate back to the Default Browser App section in the Chrome or Safari settings.

You are done. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter, as mentioned below.

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WhatsApp to Delay Privacy Policy Update After Users Flee to Other Services

A privacy policy update that subtly points out data can be shared with Facebook prompted a user exodus, so WhatsApp is now giving them until May 15 to agree to the changes.

A privacy policy update that subtly points out data can be shared with Facebook prompted a user exodus, so WhatsApp is now giving them until May 15, 2021 to agree to the changes.

This is for WhatsApp users

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WhatsApp is hitting the brakes on a privacy policy update that has prompted users to flee the Facebook-owned platform for rival messaging apps like Signal.

Background

WhatsApp’s original plan required people to agree to the new privacy policy on February 8, 2021. If they did not, the app implied it would shut down their accounts. To make things more confusing, the update also said WhatsApp partnered with Facebook on new “integrations,” without specifically saying how the data sharing works.

But on Friday, WhatsApp said it was postponing the plan amid an apparent user exodus. “We’re now moving back the date on which people will be asked to review and accept the terms. No one will have their account suspended or deleted on February 8. We are also going to do a lot more to clear up the misinformation around how privacy and security works on WhatsApp,” the service said in a blog post.

The Problem

The heart of the problem is trust (or the lack of it). WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, which has a notorious tecord on digital privacy. The social network has repeatedly tried to clarify that the updated WhatsApp policy will not result in real changes for users when talking with friends or family. But many refuse to give Facebook the benefit of the doubt.

Users Fleeing

This became apparent last week when Telsa CEO Elon Musk urged his followers on Twitter to use competing messaging app Signal. Since then, Signal has seen a massive influx of new users, numbering in the tens of millions.

Company Response

On Friday, WhatsApp reiterated that it will continue to use end-to-end encryption, meaning no one—not even Facebook—will be able to read your messages. “We also can not see your shared location and we don’t share your contacts with Facebook,” the app added.

The company went on to say the policy update itself deals primarily with businesses using WhatsApp to send and store messages with consumers. “This update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook,” it added.

Doubt Remains

Nevertheless, the updated privacy policy is still a reminder that WhatsApp does share some user data with Facebook. A FAQ outlines how the data from businesses messaging with you can be used for ad targeting over Facebook.

At the same time, the updated privacy policy itself uses broad, but abstract language concerning the data sharing, making it unclear what Facebook can collect from your WhatsApp usage and why.

We will have to wait and see if WhatsApp can clear up the confusion and win back users. In the meantime, the company is indicating it will not begin asking users to opt into the privacy policy until May 15. “We are going to do more over the coming weeks to make sure everyone knows how WhatsApp secures your messages,” added Will Cathcart, the head of WhatsApp.

This blog post is courtesy of PCMag.com updated January 15, 2021.

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How to Automatically Change Dark Mode Wallpaper on iPhone or iPad

Changing the wallpaper or background on your iPhone and iPad is a great way to update the appearance of your device, especially with the Dark Mode Apple wallpaper options to choose from. You need to have your device updated to at least iOS 13 or iPadOS 13. It’s best to update to iOS 14 if you’re looking to stay up to date

Changing the wallpaper or background on your iPhone and iPad is a great way to update the appearance of your device, especially with the Dark Mode Apple wallpaper options to choose from. You need to have your device updated to at least iOS 13 or iPadOS 13. It’s best to update to iOS 14 or higher if you are looking to stay up to date.

By using special wallpapers provided by Apple, they will automatically operate in both light and dark modes.

Let’s get started finding and changing our device’s wallpaper to a Dark Mode option.

This is for the iPhone and iPad

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Copyright Scott Adams, Inc./Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

First, launch Settings (the gear icon). Refer to below image:

Wallpaper 1
Accessing Settings

Next, tap the Wallpaper option. See below image:

Wallpaper 2
Selecting Wallpaper option

Now, in its settings, tap the Choose a New Wallpaper option. See following image:

Wallpaper 3
Selecting the new Wallpaper option

On the Choose screen, tap the Stills category. Refer to below image:

Wallpaper 4
Selecting the Stills category

In the Stills category, select a wallpaper that includes the dark mode icon. This looks like several concentric circles with the center cut out of them. If you scroll down, you will notice stills without the icon; these will not work for our purposes. See below image:

Wallpaper 5
Choosing a Dark Mode Wallpaper

The wallpapers with the dark and light mode icon will change automatically between dark and light versions when dark or light mode is activated.

Once you have selected a still, tap the Set option. See following image:

Wallpaper 6
Selecting the Set option

Now, decide whether you want to see the wallpaper on your Lock screen, Home screen, or both; or Cancel your selection. Refer to below image:

Wallpaper 7
Choosing where to apply the new Wallpaper

Next, exit Settings and switch from light to dark mode (or vice versa) by opening Control Center, (swipe down from upper right-hand corner in iOS 14 or higher). Now, hold down the brightness slider, and tap the dark or light mode button to switch modes. After you switch, you will notice that the wallpaper you set changes automatically to match.

That’s it. Pretty neat trick. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter, as mentioned below.

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Check out TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.

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Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing 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 that you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question..

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How to Insert an Outlook Contact Into Word

There are a number of ways to insert contact information into a Word document, like using Mail Merge. But what if you just wanted to insert specific Outlook contacts. The easiest way is by adding an Address Book button to the Quick Address Toolbar (QAT) so that you can add contacts on-the-fly and at the touch of a button in any Microsoft Office application.

There are a number of ways to insert contact information into a Word document, like using Mail Merge. But what if you just wanted to insert specific Outlook contacts. The easiest way is by adding an Address Book button to the Quick Address Toolbar (QAT) so that you can add contacts on-the-fly and at the touch of a button in any Microsoft Office application. Lets explore how to insert an Outlook contact into Microsoft Word.

This is for devices running Microsoft Word

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Adding the QAT Address Book Button

(If you have already done this, you may skip this step). To add the button, click the arrow icon in the QAT. This icon opens a drop-down menu that allows you to customize the QAT. Refer to below image:

Contacts 1
Accessing the Quick Access Toolbar

Now, from the available options, choose More Commands. See below image:

Contacts 2
Choosing More Commands

Next, click the Quick Access Toolbar from the left sidebar. Now, choose Commands Not in the Ribbon from the Choose Commands From drop-down menu. See following image:

Contacts 3
Accessing commands not on the ribbon

Now, choose Address Book. Next, click the Add button to add it to the QAT. Refer to below image:

Contacts 4
Adding the Address Book button to the ribbon

Finally, click OK to add the Address Book button. See below image:

Contacts 5
Saving your change for the ribbon

Inserting Contacts Into a Word Document

To insert a contact, position the cursor where you would like to add the contact information. Next, from the Quick Access Toolbar, click the Address Book icon you just added. See following image:

Contacts 6
Selecting the Address Book button to insert a contact

Now, contact names from your address book should appear. If you have multiple address books, select one from the drop-down box to view its contacts. Click the contact you would like to add, then click the OK button. Refer to below image:

Contacts 7
Inserting an Address Book contact into Word

Now, any information that you have for the contact should appear in the document. This, however, is almost entirely up to how thorough you are in creating the contact. For some, it will be just a name and an email address. For others, you will get the full details that includes address, phone number, and the like. It all depends on what you added when you created a new contact (or edited it later).

You are finished! Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter, as mentioned below..

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How to Use Smart Invert on iPhone

If you love Dark Mode but your favorite iPhone or iPad app or website does not support it, you can force a simulated Dark Mode everywhere using Apple’s built-in Smart Invert accessibility feature.

If you love Dark Mode but your favorite iPhone or iPad app or website does not support it, you can force a simulated Dark Mode everywhere using Apple’s built-in Smart Invert accessibility feature.

This is for the iPhone

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Defining Smart Invert

Smart Invert is an Apple accessibility feature that inverts the colors on your screen (like a negative image), but with a twist. It’s “smart” because it usually prevents images, videos, and some apps that are already dark-colored from getting inverted. It was designed for people with vision loss, low vision, or other vision issues that might benefit from an inverted screen but might not want to see inverted images.

How About Dark Mode

Apple’s system wide Dark Mode (first introduced in iOS 13) generally works well and is supported by a large number of iPhone and iPad apps, but some apps with largely white interfaces still do not support it. Also, if you want to browse the web at night without waking a sleeping buddy, Smart Invert keeps the light low.

Enabling Smart Invert

First, launch Settings (the gear icon). Refer to below image:

Invert 1
Accessing Settings

Now, navigate to the Accessibility option. See below image:

Invert 2
Accessing Accessibility option

Next, tap the Display & Text Size option. See following image:

Invert 3
Accessing Display & Text Size option

In its settings, scroll down until you see Smart Invert toggle. Tap it to turn it on. Your screen will immediately be inverted (a black screen). Refer to below image: (Note! This iPhone will not capture the inverted screen).

Invert 4
Enabling Smart Invert

Now, exit Settings and use your apps as usual.

Disable Smart Invert

If you want to to turn it off, revisit

Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Smart Invert

and toggle off the switch. Or you can use a shortcut. Let’s see how to setup a shortcut.

Use a Shortcut

Using a built-in feature called Accessibility Shortcut on your iPhone, you can triple-click your Home button (on older iPhones or your Side button on newer models) to quickly launch an accessibility function such as Smart Invert.

To set it up, launch Settings and navigate to Accessibility. Next, scroll down and tap Accessibility Shortcut. See below image:

Invert 5
Accessing Shortcut option

Now, you will see a list of Accessibility functions you can toggle with the shortcut. Tap Smart Invert then tap the Back button. See following image:

Invert 6
Enabling Smart Invert shortcut

Now, whenever you triple-click your Home or Side button (depending on which iPhone model you have), you will launch Smart Invert. If you triple-click it again, Smart Invert will turn off.

Use a Back Tap

Starting with iOS 14 and higher, if you have an iPhone 8 or above, you can use the Back Tap feature to toggle Smart Invert. To do so, go to

Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap

Now, select whether you want to trigger Smart Invert using a double-tap or triple-tap on the back of your iPhone. In the list of actions that appears, select Smart Invert. Refer to below image where we selected the triple-tap action:

Invert 7
Assigning Smart Invert option to Back Tap

Now, go back one screen and exit Settings. With Back Tap enabled, you can tap on the back of your iPhone two or three times to quickly turn Smart Invert on or off. That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter, as mentioned below.

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Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing 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 that you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

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How to Enable Full Screen Incoming Calls on iPhone or iPad in iOS or iPadOS 14

In iOS and iPad OS 14, Apple introduced persistent call banners instead of full-screen notifications. This means that when your device is unlocked, regular, FaceTime, and third-party VoIP incoming call banners take only a small space at the top.

In iOS and iPad OS 14, Apple introduced persistent call banners instead of full-screen notifications. This means that when your device is unlocked, regular, FaceTime, and third-party VoIP incoming call banners take only a small space at the top.

Call 1
Incoming Call banner mode

This compact UI feature is turned on by default. While you can swipe down on a banner to quickly expand the incoming call to the full-screen mode, it is not a permanent solution.

However, if you want a big contact picture in incoming calls, or do not like the new style, or it’s too easy to miss and you prefer the old way, here is how to activate this feature in iOS and iPadOS 14.

This is for iPhone or iPad running iOS or iPadOS 14

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Open the Settings app (the gear icon). Refer to below image:

Call 2
Accessing Settings

Next, scroll down to the Phone section. See below image:

Call 3
Accessing the Phone option

Now, choose Incoming Calls option. See following image:

Call 4
Accessing Incoming Calls option

Next, checkmark the Full Screen option. Refer to below image:

Call 5
Selecting Full Screen for incoming calls

The next time you receive a phone call (a cellular or a VoIP call), you will see a full-screen incoming call notification. See below image:

Call 6
Incoming Calls full screen mode

That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.

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Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love hearing 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 that you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

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How to Use Sound Recognition on iPhone in iOS 14

Sound Recognition, first introduced in iOS 14, lets iPhone users with hearing loss receive visual alerts when the iPhone detects certain sounds like smoke alarms, sirens, door knocks, or dogs barking.

Sound Recognition, first introduced in iOS 14, lets iPhone users with hearing loss receive visual alerts when the iPhone detects certain sounds like smoke alarms, sirens, door knocks, or dogs barking. It does this with onboard intelligence, so no network connection is required. Let’s explore how to setup and use this feature.

This is for the iPhone running iOS 14+

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Setup Sound Recognition

First, launch Settings (the gear icon). Refer to below image:

Sound 1
Accessing Settings

in Settings, scroll down and tap Accessibility. See below image:

Sound 2
Accessing Accessibility

In Accessibility, navigate to the Hearing section. Now, tap Sound Recognition. See following image:

Sound 3
Accessing Sound Recognition

Enabling Sounds

In Sound Recognition settings, tap the switch beside Sound Recognition to turn it on. Next, tap Sounds below that to choose which sounds to recognize. Refer to below image:

Sound 4
Enabling Sound Recognition

Siri is Disabled

Once you enable a Sound, a message will be displayed about Siri being disabled if you Turn On Sound Recognition, or you may Cancel. See below image:

Sound 5
Hey Siri message if a Sound is enabled

Now, you will see a list of switches that correspond to types of sound your iPhone can recognize, such as sirens and water running. As of iOS 14, here’s the full list:

  • Fire Alarm
  • Siren
  • Smoke Alarm
  • Cat
  • Dog
  • Appliances
  • Car Horn
  • Door Bell
  • Door Knock
  • Water Running
  • Baby Crying

Tap the switch beside each sound that you would like for your iPhone to recognize. You can enable any combination of them, or all of them. See following image where I enabled Fire, Smoke, and Dog:

Sound 6
Enabling Sounds

Now, to save your selection(s), press the Back link in upper left-hand corner, then exit Settings.

The Notifications

If you wouldd like to test the Sound Recognition feature, try searching for sounds like “Smoke Alarm” or “Dog Barking” on YouTube. When triggered, Sound Recognition will place an alert notification at the top of your screen. Later, you can see a list of these alerts in your iPhone’s Notification Center. Refer to below image:

Sound 7
Sound Recognition notifications

If you wish to activate other sounds or disable them, navigate back to the Sounds in the Sound Recognition screen. Also, you could create a shortcut in the Control Center to activate/deactivate the Sounds.

A Viewpoint

I usually don’t comment on what Apple engineers intended to do or how a feature is to work. This feature does work as advertised. But, if my house was on fire and the alarm goes off, I want my iPhone to blast our a fire alarm sound. What good is a notification alert; yikes, my house is burning! I don’t have time to grab my iPhone and launch the Notification Center. To me, this is a flaw.

While sleeping, I would like for my iPhone to blast out the sound of a fire or smoke alarm and call 911. Other sounds you might wnat to hear through your iPhone is Baby Crying and Water Running. For these reasons, this is a poorly designed feature.

At the same time,I realize that Apple wants no liability claims for missing sounds, like smoke or fire. They chose not to use the iPhone as an alarm in Sound Recognition.

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