In this detailed guide, I’ll explain what HEIC format is and how you can convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone, Mac, and Windows PC.

• What is HEIC format?
• How to convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone or iPad
• How to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac
• How to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows 11

What is HEIC format?

HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image Container, a file format adopted by Apple for storing images and image sequences. The format is known for its high compression efficiency, which allows captured photos to have smaller file sizes without any reduction in image quality.

With iOS 11, Apple introduced HEIC as the default file format for photos clicked with the iPhone or iPad camera. This allows users to store more number of images in the limited free storage space they get.

While this new file format has its benefits, JPG or JPEG (interchangeable file extensions) continues to be the universal standard. So, if you were wondering how you can convert HEIC photos to JPG, here’s all you need to do:

How to convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Photos app → Go to Library → Select the photos you want to convert.
2. Next, tap the Share button at the bottom left → Choose Copy Photo(s) from the pop-up menu.
   
   
3. Then close the Photos app and launch the Files app.
4. Here, create a New Folder or head to an existing folder.
5. Long press any empty space in the folder until a pop-up menu appears.
6. Finally, tap Paste in the pop-up menu.
   
   

As soon as you hit Paste, all the HEIC photos you copied will automatically convert to JPEG and be available in the Files app.

While converting HEIC photos to JPEG on iPhone is fairly easy, selecting and copy-pasting each photo can sometimes get overwhelming. In that case, you can head to the Camera app settings and change the format in which the Camera app captures the shots.

How to take JPEG photos on iPhone instead of HEIC

1. Open the Settings app → Head to Camera settings.
2. Next, locate and tap on Formats.
3. Select Most Compatible from the available options.
   
   

Now, every time you capture an image using your iPhone’s Camera app, the resulting photo will be in JPEG format.

Automatically convert HEIC photos to JPEG while transferring to Mac

When you select Most Compatible as the format on iPhone, the size of the images clicked will increase.

If you are not in favor of this storage issue, instead of changing the iPhone’s image format, you can set the HEIC photos to automatically convert to JPEG when exported to a Mac or Windows PC. To do this:

1. Open Settings → Navigate to Photos settings.
2. Next, scroll down to the bottom and select Automatic under the Transfer to Mac or PC section.
   
   

How to convert HEIC to JPG on Mac

Selecting the Automatic format in Photos settings will apply to all the images you transfer to your Mac or PC from here on.

However, you still need to convert the HEIC photos already saved on your Mac manually.

1. Launch Finder on your Mac.
2. Select the photos you want to change the file format of and control-click on the selection.
3. From the pop-up that appears, select Quick Actions → Convert Image.
   
   
4. Next, click the drop-down menu next to Format → Select JPEG.
   
   
5. After that, click on the Convert to JPEG button.
   

This will create a duplicate of the selected image in JPG format.

How to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows 11

Now that you know how to convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac, it’s important to know how to do the same on Windows if you don’t own a Mac. 

1. Open the HEIC image you want to convert to JPEG using a supported photo app.
2. Next, click the Three Dots button at the top center and choose Save As.
   
   
3. Click the drop-down button next to Save File as field and select JPEG.
   
   
4. Finally, click on the Save button.
   
   

Conclusion

And that’s it; this is all you need to know about how to convert HEIC photos to JPG on iPhone, iPad, Mac or Windows PC. Remember that keeping the Camera app format to High Efficiency is the best option to save space on your iPhone without compromising the image quality.

Still left with some doubts or queries? Comment below, and I’ll be happy to respond.

Read more:

• How to convert picture to PDF on iPhone and iPad
• How to batch edit photos on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
• How to convert WebP images to JPG or PNG on Mac

The post How to convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone, Mac, and Windows appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

• How to send a voice message on iPhone in iOS 17
• Limitations of sending voice messages on iPhone

How to send a voice message on iPhone in iOS 17

There are a few things you need to take into account before sending voice messages on iPhone.

First, you need to ensure iMessage is active for both the sender and receiver. Otherwise, the audio recording will be sent as an MMS.

Next, if you are using iOS 16, the Audio option (blue waveform icon) is available right under the text field in the Messages app. You can just tap on it and record your voice message.

Now, if you are using iOS 17, you need to tap the + button next to the text field to select the Audio option and send voice messages. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

How to record and send an audio message on iPhone

1. Open the Messages app → Head to an iMessage conversation or start a new one.
2. Tap the + button to the left of the text field.
3. Select Audio from the pop-up to begin recording your voice message.
   
   
4. Tap the red Stop button to pause or end the recording. Then, tap the Play button to review it.
   • You can also tap the “+ (with the message duration)” button to continue the recording.
5. If you are satisfied with the recorded message, tap the Send button (blue arrow). If not, tap the X button to discard it.
   
   

If you send a voice note accidentally, don’t worry. You can unsend it, just like how you can unsend text messages on your iPhone. Just press and hold the voice message and select Undo Send from the pop-up.

Alternatively, you can ask Siri on your iPhone to send a voice message to a particular contact.

Further, by default, every voice message you send or receive expires within 2 minutes of sending or listening to it.

So, if you want to keep the voice message in the iMessage conversation, you need to tap Keep under the voice message or head to Messages settings and change the expiration settings.

How to listen and reply to voice messages on iPhone

There are a couple of ways you can listen or reply to voice messages. Additionally, you can save the voice messages you receive to the Voice Memos app. I’ll walk you through each process one by one.

Listen to voice messages

• Tap the Play button on the voice message you received.
• Alternatively, you can raise the iPhone to your ear, and the message will start playing automatically.

If Raise to Listen isn’t working for you, make sure the feature is enabled in Settings → Messages.

Reply to a voice message

You can obviously respond to a voice message with text as usual. But if you wish to respond with an audio message of your own, here’s how you can do it:

1. Press and hold the voice message you received → Pick Reply from the pop-up.
2. Tap and hold the red wave icon in the text field to record your reply.
   You can directly come to this step if you don’t wish to point out which particular message you’re replying to.
3. Once you’re done speaking, tap the red Pause button to stop recording.
4. Finally, to send the recording, tap the Send button at the right of the text field.
   
   

Alternatively, if you want to respond without tapping your iPhone display, you can lower your iPhone and raise it back to your ear → Once you hear a tone, you can start recording your response. Please note that this method works only for the last audio message you received in an iMessage thread.

Save voice messages

You can easily save a sent or received audio message to the Voice Memos app.

1. To save a voice message to the Voice Memos app, you must first select the Keep option underneath it.
2. After that, long press the audio message → Select Save to Voice Memos from the pop-up that appears.

To find the recording in the Voice Memos app, go to All Recordings → Look for a clip titled Audio Message from <contact name>.

I’d highly recommend renaming the title of the audio clip to something you can recall later because there’s no way you can search for an audio message in the Messages app.

To rename, tap the audio file → Select the three-dot menu → Edit Recording → Tap the title and edit it.

Limitations of sending voice messages on iPhone

While voice messages allow you to express yourself more accurately, they certainly come with a few drawbacks:

• Privacy concerns: If you are in a public place or a meeting, sending an audio message can get awkward – especially if you are passing on confidential or private information.
• Accessibility: People with hearing impairment may find it hard to access voice messages. Also, sometimes, listening to an audio message isn’t feasible if the user is in a noisy environment.
• Search issues: Unlike text messages, searching for a particular voice message in a thread using Search is impossible.
• Transcription issues: You may not always get an accurate transcription, due to different accents, background noise, and so on.
• Stable internet connection: While you can send a text message even when your iPhone’s internet speed is slower, voice messages require a stable internet connection.
• Compatible issues with non-iOS devices: While you can anytime use a third-party messaging app to send audio messages to a non-iOS device, the same is not possible with iMessage.

Conclusion

There you go; this is how you send voice messages on iPhone. By now, you must agree on how convenient recording and sending a voice message can be, when compared to typing those long texts. However, just to be sure of what you’re doing, always review a recorded message before sending.

If you have any doubts or questions regarding voice messages, feel free to comment below. I’d be happy to respond.

Read more:

• How to turn off read receipts in iMessage on iPhone and Mac
• How to send a text message instead of iMessage on iPhone
• How to send iMessage with effects on iPhone and iPad

The post How to send voice messages on iPhone in iOS 17 appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

Homebrew lets you use commands to download and install Python, Ruby, MongoDB, PHP, Git, Node.js, cask, colordiff, Nmap, and other Unix command-line utilities. In this guide, I’ll show you how to install Homebrew on macOS.

• What is Homebrew?
• How to install Homebrew on macOS
• How to install packages with Homebrew
• How to uninstall packages with Homebrew
• How to turn off Homebrew analytics
• How to update apps with Homebrew
• How to uninstall Homebrew on Mac

What is Homebrew?

Homebrew is an open-source package manager for Mac. You can use Homebrew to quickly find, install, and manage numerous command-line utilities and apps on your Mac. From its developers, “Homebrew is a software that installs the stuff you need, but Apple didn’t.”

Homebrew offers a vast collection of software packages that are easy to install, update, and uninstall using simple Terminal commands. This makes it ideal for those who need to frequently install software without jumping through hoops.

With Homebrew’s command-line interface, you can quickly install several developer tools like Python or open-source apps like Chromium-based web browsers that you use daily. It’s designed to be flexible, allowing you to completely customize the installation process to suit your specific needs.

Benefits of using Homebrew

• You can save a lot of time by using Homebrew. It automates downloading, compiling, and installing apps. It eliminates the requirement to hunt down software installers and manually run installation procedures.
• Homebrew is easy to install and set up. You’re only required to execute a few simple commands in Terminal.
• Homebrew is an open-source tool that offers a centralized repository of software packages, making it easy to find the software you need.
• With Homebrew, you can easily choose which version of a particular software package you want to install and customize the installation.
• The program is designed to be secure and doesn’t require root access to install software. This helps to eliminate security vulnerabilities.

Requirements to use Homebrew on Mac

Before you learn how to install Homebrew on Mac, let’s make sure your Mac matches the basic prerequisites for running the tool:

• CPU/Chipset: M1/M2/M3 series Apple Silicon or 64-bit Intel
• Operating System: macOS Big Sur 11 or later
• Command Line Tools (CLT): Xcode, Terminal
• Shell: Any Bourne-compatible shell like Bash, zsh, fish, etc.

How to install Homebrew on macOS

Homebrew relies on several dependencies to work, so you’ll have to download each of them. After that, the next step is fetching Homebrew from its GitHub repository.

Here’s the detailed five-stage process for installing Homebrew on Mac.

1. Install Xcode from App Store

Xcode is a native Integrated Development Environment (IDE) in macOS that provides a set of tools for developers to use in creating software and building complex development systems, like compilers and debuggers.

Because Homebrew relies on Xcode, the first step is to download it from the App Store.

Note: It’s not mandatory to download Xcode to install Homebrew on a Mac. However, I still recommend doing so to ensure a smoother user experience.

1. Launch the App Store → Search for Xcode → Click Get.
   
   
2. Once the download finishes, open Xcode → Click Install.
3. Then, click Continue to complete the installation.

You might be asked to pick the platform you’d like to develop for—choose macOS.

2. Install command line tools for Xcode

Once you install Xcode on your Mac, you also need to install command line tools for Xcode. These tools allow your Mac to accommodate some of the Homebrew package components.

1. Open Terminal on your Mac using Launchpad or Spotlight search.
   You can also open Terminal from Finder → Applications → Utilities.
2. Type xcode-select --install in the Terminal → Hit return.
   
   
3. When a prompt appears, click Install.
   
   
4. Go through the License Agreement, then click Agree.
   
   
5. If the Mac is not connected to power, you’ll be prompted to do so. You may click Continue on Battery Power If your Mac’s battery is at 50% or above.
   
   
6. Once the Xcode command line tools are downloaded and installed, click Done.
   
   

3. Get Homebrew from its GitHub repository

Once you have Xcode and command line tools for Xcode ready, you can use the Terminal on your Mac to fetch Homebrew from its official GitHub repository.

While there are various Homebrew forks available out there, I’d highly recommend installing the original one to ensure maximum compatibility.

1. Open Terminal on your Mac.
2. Paste the below command into the Terminal window → Press return.
   /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
3. Now, enter your Mac’s password → Then, hit return to continue.
   Note: You can’t see the password as it’s typed, but it gets recorded in the background.
   
   
4. Hit the return key again to continue.
5. After running a few commands, your screen will display an Installation successful message.
   
   

4. Add Homebrew path

It’s necessary to add Homebrew to your Mac’s system path once you finish installing it. Adding Homebrew to the system path makes finding, installing, using, and managing software packages easier.

If you wish to skip this step, you can still use Homebrew without it. However, you’ll need to specify Homebrew’s installation directory every time you access it via the Terminal. We recommend avoiding this hassle, since adding a system path makes things quite a bit easier.

1. Open Terminal on your Mac.
2. Paste the given commands one by one and hit return after each one.
   • cd /opt/homebrew/bin/
   • ls
   • PATH=$PATH:/opt/homebrew/bin
   • cd
   • touch .zshrc
   • echo export PATH=$PATH:/opt/homebrew/bin -> .zshrc
   • brew doctor
     
     
3. After entering these commands, you’ll see a message that says “Your system is ready to brew.”

That’s it! You can verify if Homebrew has been installed correctly and get moving!

5. Verify if Homebrew is installed correctly

After you finish installing Homebrew on your Mac, it’s recommended that you verify if Homebrew is installed correctly. Here’s how you can do this:

1. Open Terminal on your Mac.
2. Type brew -v into the Terminal window → Press Return.
   If Homebrew is installed correctly, you’ll see a version number for it.
   
   
3. In case the last command didn’t work, type brew doctor → Hit Return.
   This command will scan the Homebrew installation for potential errors.
   
   

If you see brew -v and the Homebrew version, it means Homebrew has been installed properly. If you see the second error message, just follow the instructions and repeat the process.

How to install packages with Homebrew

This is where all the hard work comes to fruition. Once Homebrew is successfully installed on your Mac, you can follow the steps provided below to quickly find and install the apps of your choice.

1. Open Terminal on your Mac.
2. Type brew search (SearchTerm) into the Terminal window.
   Replace (SearchTerm) with the package you’re looking for. Here, I have gone with Firefox.
   
   
3. Type brew info (PackageName) to retrieve details about a package.
   Replace (PackageName) with the name of the package.
   
   
4. Type brew install (PackageName) into the Terminal window.
   Replace (PackageName) with the name of the package. In my case, I’m installing the Firefox browser, so I’ve typed firefox.
   
   

After you install a software using Homebrew, it will automatically show up in the Launchpad. But If you want to access the downloaded packages (known as casks), you can find them under /opt/homebrew/caskroom in Finder.

How to uninstall packages with Homebrew

If you want to uninstall or delete specific packages or apps on your Mac, you can effortlessly do so by executing the following Homebrew command.

1. Open Terminal on your Mac.
2. Type brew list into the Terminal windows → Then press return.
   This command will list down all the apps you installed via Homebrew.
   
   
3. Type brew uninstall (PackageName) into the Terminal window.
   Replace (PackageName) with the name of the package. In our case, we’re removing the Firefox browser, so we’ve typed Firefox.
   
   

How to turn off Homebrew analytics

Homebrew, while open-source, collects and shares analytical data with the developers to help them improve the tool. As a result, if you don’t want to contribute and share your data, you may turn off Homebrew analytics.

Remember that this step is optional, but I recommend you follow the steps given below and turn off analytics to keep your data safe and secure.

1. Open Terminal on your Mac.
2. Type brew analytics off into the Terminal window → Press Return.
   
   

How to update apps with Homebrew

Besides installing and uninstalling software packages, Homebrew also offers a convenient way to keep your apps updated. Here’s how you can do this:

1. Open Terminal on your Mac.
2. Type brew outdated into the Terminal window → Then, press return.
   This command will list down all the apps that need to be updated.
3. Type brew upgrade (PackageName) into the Terminal → Press return.
   Replace (PackageName) with the name of the package.
   
   

The steps above can help you update individual apps. However, if you want to update all apps at once, you may type brew upgrade → Then hit return.

How to update Homebrew on Mac

Like any other app on your Mac, Homebrew also receives periodic updates with new features and refinements. Here’s how you can update Homebrew:

1. Open Terminal on your Mac.
2. Type brew update into the Terminal window → Press Return.
   
   

How to uninstall Homebrew on Mac

If you didn’t find Homebrew useful and want to remove it from your Mac, you may do so easily by following the quick instructions outlined below.

1. Open Terminal on your Mac.
2. Paste the given command into the terminal window → Press Return.
   /bin/bash -c "$(curl fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/uninstall.sh)"
   
   
3. Type y in the Terminal window → Then, press Return.
   
   
4. Then, enter your Mac’s password.

After that, Homebrew will be uninstalled from your Mac.

Wrapping up…

Homebrew offers a seamless way to manage apps on Mac, regardless of whether you’re a developer, sysadmin, or regular user. If you want to install Homebrew on your Mac, the steps outlined in this guide can help. However, if you’re facing any difficulties, please let us know in the comments section.

Also, let us know what you think about Homebrew. Do you see yourself using it regularly, or you wouldn’t go through the hassle?

You may also read:

• Most useful Terminal commands for macOS
• How to open Mac app from unidentified developer
• How to uninstall apps on Mac

The post How to install Homebrew on Mac M1, M2, M3 (2024 Updated) appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

9 ways to fix Handwashing Reminder is not working on Apple Watch

I’m pretty sure that one of the following solutions will help you to fix this issue on your Apple Watch.

1. Make Sure Handwashing Timer is Enabled on Apple Watch
2. Do Not Stop Washing to Check the Timer
3. Restart or Force Restart Your Apple Watch
4. Make Sure Microphone is Enabled
5. Turn ON Significant Locations
6. List your Home Address in your Contact Card
7. Remove any Cover or Protector
8. Update to the Latest Software
9. Unpair and Repair the Apple Watch

1. Make Sure Handwashing Timer is Enabled on Apple Watch

This handy feature is disabled by default. Therefore, the first step is to ensure Handwashing is turned on.

Secondly, only Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, and the newest Series 6 and SE running watchOS 7 have this option.

Note: Though Series 3 supports watchOS 7, it does not have ambient sound detection, so the hand-washing feature (and the Noise app) aren’t available. Many publications falsely mention that Series 3 supports this.

2. Do Not Stop Washing to Check the Timer

When you start washing your hands, the Apple Watch sensors read your hand movements and the sound of flowing tap water. Soon, the 20-second Handwashing timer automatically starts displaying on the screen.

You do not have to stop washing to check the timer. If you do, it pauses and asks you to continue. So, make sure to keep washing regularly. After 20 seconds, you will feel haptic feedback and sound (if you have turned these on) and also see a message on the screen.

3. Restart or Force Restart Your Apple Watch

One of the quickest fixes to solve the Handwashing problem is to restart the Apple Watch. Switching off and then switching on the wearable takes care of several temporary glitches. In case a simple restart fails to bring success, go ahead with a hard reboot.

4. Make Sure Microphone is Enabled

Handwashing uses the microphone to recognize the sound of tap water. Thus it is essential to ensure that settings for this are perfect.

1. Press the Digital Crown and tap on the Settings icon from the bubble of apps.
2. Scroll down and tap on Privacy. Enter the Screen Time passcode if asked.
3. Tap on Microphone.
4. Make sure the toggle for Measure Sounds is enabled.

5. Turn ON Significant Locations

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on Privacy.
2. Tap on Location Services → System Services.
3. Scroll down to the bottom and tap on Significant Locations. On the next screen, ensure the toggle for Significant Locations is ON.

6. List your Home Address in your Contact Card

For the Handwashing reminders feature to work correctly, you must have your home address listed on your contact card. After this, Apple Watch can remind you to wash your hands when you reach home.

1. Open the Contacts app and tap on My Card from the top. You may also open the Phone app and tap on the Contacts tab.
2. Tap on Edit.
3. Tap on add address. Fill in all the details and tap on Done.

7. Remove any Cover or Protector

Many people use full-body covers or cases to protect their expensive Apple Watch. Cases from reputed brands have proper cutouts for the speaker, microphone, and sensor. However, if you use a fully covered case that blocks the microphone, remove it.

Secondly, you may also consider cleaning the microphone using a soft, tiny brush or cloth. Make sure to take extreme care.

8. Update to the Latest Software

Apple brings bug fixes and improvements with each watchOS update. To have the best possible user experience, you must have the latest version of watchOS on your Apple Watch. You can easily update straight from your watch or follow the steps below.

1. Open the Watch app on the companion iPhone and ensure you are in the ‘My Watch‘ tab.
2. Tap on the General → Software Update.
3. Tap on Download and Install or Install Now if you see either.

Note: If you are running developer or public beta of watchOS, consider switching to the regular (non-beta) version.

9. Unpair and Repair the Apple Watch

Finally, if nothing works, unpair the Apple Watch and pair it again. This will erase everything currently on the watch. However, when you unpair using the Watch app, it creates a backup automatically. You can use it to restore the current data.

Signing Off

These are some of the ways to get Handwashing working again on your Apple Watch. I hope the solutions above work for you. Kindly share your opinion in the comments section below.

READ NEXT:

• What is Apple Watch Family Setup and How It Works?
• How to Use the Blood Oxygen App on Apple Watch Series 6
• Apple Watch Not Getting Notifications? Here Are 9 Ways to Fix It
• All Apple Watch Icon and Symbol Meanings (A Complete Guide)

The post How to fix Handwashing Timer not working on Apple Watch appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

How to dial an extension on your iPhone

Dialing an extension on an iPhone is as easy as making a conference call. You just need to use the * and # keys like when dialing secret codes on an iPhone. 

1. Open the Phone app and enter the primary number (e.g., 999-999-9999) you wish to call. 
2. Long press the asterisk button (*), and you will hear a beeping sound followed by the “,” symbol next to the original number. 
3. Now, enter the extension code after the comma → Hit the Dial button.
   
   

Also, some voice systems require you to wait before dialing an extension. In such cases, you can enter a semicolon (;) after the primary number by long-pressing the “#” button instead of the asterisk. 

Once you know the extension code for the number you often call, you can save it as a contact. This allows you to reach the desired person directly.

How to add an extension to iPhone contact 

1. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone. 
2. Now, select an existing contact → Hit Edit.
   • If you’re creating a new contact, tap the green + (plus) icon and manually enter the number in the add phone section.
3. Tap at the end of the phone number. A dialing pad will appear.
   
   
4. Select the symbol key (+*#) in the bottom left of the dialing pad. 
5. Now, to add a comma after the number, tap Pause.
6. Finally, enter the extension number → Tap Done at the top right.
   
   

Calling off… 

And that’s it; this is how you dial an extension on iPhone. With these steps, you can no longer navigate through automated voice systems and can reach your contact directly.  

I hope you find this quick guide. If you have any doubts or suggestions, comment below, and I’ll be happy to respond. 

Read more:

• How to record a FaceTime call on iPhone and Mac
• iPhone call failed? What does it mean and how to fix it?
• How to recover deleted call history on iPhone

The post How to dial an extension on iPhone appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

Whatever your reason, let me show you how you can quickly change your name on Facebook from iPhone.

How to change your name on Facebook using an iPhone

1. Open the Facebook app and tap the hamburger icon (three lines) at the bottom right.
2. Tap Settings & Privacy → Settings.
3. Now, under the Accounts Centre section, pick Personal details.
   
4. Go to Profiles → Select the profile for which you wish to change the name.
5. Tap Name and enter a new name.
   
   
6. Tap Review Change.
7. Double-check as you cannot change it again for the next 60 days. Also, choose how you want your name to appear.
8. Choose desired name that you want to show on your Profile → Tap Save Changes.
   
   

Understanding Facebook’s name change policy

Facebook requires users to use their original name to make it a safer place and easier for friends and family to recognize and connect with you.

Moreover, scams, phishing, threats, abuses, etc., can be checked with real names. And when you use your real name, it becomes easy to recover your account if you lose access as Facebook accepts Government and non-Government IDs to verify you and get your account back.

Besides, if you wish to run Facebook ads related to social issues, elections, or politics, having the actual name is necessary.

These are the essential points you must keep in mind while setting or editing your name on Facebook.

1. Your Facebook name cannot include the following:
   1. Symbols, numbers, unusual capitalization, repeating characters, or punctuation.
   2. Characters from multiple languages.
   3. Titles of any kind (e.g., professional, religious).
   4. Words or phrases instead of a name.
   5. Offensive or suggestive words of any kind.
2. You must not try to impersonate anything or anyone via the new name.
3. You might not be able to change your name if you already changed it in the last 60 days (or tried changing it too frequently).
4. If Facebook previously asked you to confirm your name, but you didn’t, it might cause problems now (when you are trying to change your name.)
5. The name change process can also fail if the set name does not match the proof you sent to Facebook (if it was asked).

Note: Facebook profiles are for individuals. If you have a business, organization, idea, etc., create a Facebook page for that.

Add alternative names on Facebook using iPhone

If you just want people to recognize you on Facebook by your nickname or another name, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Facebook app and tap the three lines icon from the bottom right.
2. Tap Settings & Privacy → Settings
3. Head to Account centre, and → Tap Personal details
4. Tap Name → Manage other names under Other names section.
   This will redirect you to the other names tab in the browser.
5. Now, choose Nickname, Maiden Name, Alternate Spelling, Married Name, Father’s Name, Birth Name, Former Name, Name with Title, etc.
6. Type the name.
7. Choose if you would like to show this name at the top of your Facebook profile.
8. Finally, tap Save.
   

Note: Other names are always public and shown to all.

This is how you can change your name on Facebook using your iPhone. The steps for Android are almost similar.

I hope this short guide helped you. If you still face problems, you can request Facebook for a name change using the form here.

Have more questions? Put them in the comments section below.

The post How to change your name on Facebook from iPhone (2024) appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

However, there are instances when AirPods may not remain up to date. Fortunately, you can check the AirPods firmware version and manually update it using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Here’s all you need to know.

Latest AirPods firmware updates

Apple’s release notes for the latest firmware updates were published on its official support page on April 3, 2024.

Based on that, I can confirm that the following are the latest firmware versions available for your AirPods model:

• AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C): 6B34
• AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with MagSafe Charging Case (Lightning): 6B34
• AirPods Pro (1st generation): 6A321
• AirPods (2nd and 3rd generation): 6A321
• AirPods Max: 6A325
• AirPods (1st generation): 6.8.8

Now, let us see how to check your AirPods existing firmware and, if needed, how to ensure it updates.

How to check AirPods or AirPods Pro firmware version

You can check the AirPods firmware version from your connected iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Below are the steps to do so

On iPhone or iPad

To check your AirPods firmware on your iPhone or iPad, be sure to update your iOS or iPadOS to the latest version. Then do the following:

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Select the info (i) button next to the AirPods.
3. You can see the version of your AirPods under the About section.
   
   

If the version displayed here is the latest, you do not have to do anything. Enjoy!

If outdated, your iPhone will automatically download and install the firmware on your AirPods.

On Mac

First, make sure your Mac runs the latest macOS, then do the following.

1. Go to Apple Menu → Press and hold the Option key to view System Information.
2. Now, select System Information → Pick Bluetooth in the left pane.
3. Now, look under your AirPods to find its firmware version.

Alternatively, if you’re using a Mac running macOS Ventura or later:

1. Head to the Apple Menu → System Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Then click the Info (i) button next to your AirPods.
   
   

How to force update AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max

As mentioned previously, Apple automatically delivers firmware updates to your AirPods. If it doesn’t seem to work, you can manually force a firmware update on AirPods. Here’s how:

1. Put the AirPods inside their charging case and connect them to power via a Lightning cable or Wireless charger.
   In the case of AirPods Max, you just need to plug the charging cable into the headphones.
2. Make sure your iPhone is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. It would also help to put the iPhone in charging. Also, ensure Low Power Mode is off.
3. Now, keep the iPhone and the AirPods case close and wait for a few minutes.

This process should complete the firmware update in the background. After about 20 minutes, you can go back and check to see if your firmware version has been updated.

Wrapping up…

This is how to update your AirPods and enjoy all the latest features Apple has for your wireless audio device. If you have additional questions, please reach me via the comments section below.

Read more:

• AirPods Pro keeps disconnecting? 11 Ways to fix it!
• How to reset AirPods and AirPods Pro
• iPad Pro not charging? Here’s how to fix it
• Which AirPods do I have? 7 Ways to check your AirPods model

The post How to update firmware on AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

This allows you to block message requests from strangers and spam bots. Let’s get straight into it and learn how to turn off Direct Messages in Instagram on iPhone.

1. Turn off DMs from certain Instagram followers or unknown users

By default, any new message from a stranger arrives in the Instagram Message requests tab. Luckily, you can disable message requests and control who can send you messages.   

1. Launch Instagram → Tap the profile icon → Select the hamburger menu.
2. Tap Messages and story replies → Select Message controls.
   
   
3. Tap Your followers on Instagram → Select Don’t receive requests.
   
   
4. Now, to turn off messaging from other people, go back to the previous menu.
5. Tap Others on Instagram → Select Don’t receive requests.
6. Similarly, tap People on Facebook → then Do not receive requests to limit messages from Facebook users.
   
   

2. Disable Instagram Story DMs

When someone comments on your story, the responses go to your Instagram DM. You can turn off those Direct Message replies on Instagram Stories on your iPhone with these simple steps: 

1. Go to the profile icon → Tap the hamburger menu. 
2. Go to Messages and story replies → Story replies. 
3. Choose Don’t allow story replies.
   
   

3. Turn off Instagram DM notifications on iPhone

If it’s the notification and not the actual messages that are irking you, you can simply turn off request notifications. This ensures that you don’t get disturbed by constant pings.

1. Launch Instagram → Select the profile icon → Tap the hamburger menu.
2. Tap Notifications → Pick Messages.
3. Choose Off for all the features listed.
   
   

Optionally, you can toggle on Pause All → Choose the temporary time slot of your choice to stop all sorts of notifications from Instagram.

4. Turn off IG DMs by muting chat on iPhone

This is another workaround to mute Instagram DMs. If you don’t like constant pings from a particular user, you can mute the entire chat to avoid receiving DM notifications.

1. Launch Instagram on your iPhone → Tap the Messenger icon at the top right.
   You can also just swipe left from the home screen.
2. Swipe right on the contact you want to mute → Select More.
3. Pick Mute → Choose Mute messages.
   
   
4. Select your desired time frame.
   You can choose from 1 hour, 8 hours, 24 hours, and Until I change it.
   
   

That’s it! It doesn’t get simpler than that. However, there are many other locations on the app from where you can perform the same action. To learn about them, keep reading.

5. Restrict Instagram account to turn off DMs

When you restrict an Instagram account, any new message from the account goes to the message requests folder instead of the regular chat thread. So you will not get any notifications from them.   

1. Go to the Instagram messaging section.   
2. Tap the chat thread of the person you want to restrict.   
3. Select their name.   
   
   
4. Tap Options → Restrict.
5. Lastly, tap Restrict Account in the popup.
   
   

6. Block users on Instagram

Blocking is your final resort to stop getting messages from someone. To block an Instagram user, you must follow the given below steps: 

1. Go to the Instagram chat section.
2. Tap the name of the person you want to block.
3. Next, select their name.
   
   
4. Tap Options → Block.
5. Pick either of the options appearing on the popup.
6. Tap Block.
   
   

Read our guide on how to block someone in Instagram on iPhone to learn about more ways to block a user on Instagram.   

7. Turn off Instagram notifications from iPhone Settings to mute DMs

You can easily disable Instagram notifications from iPhone Settings as well.

While this method doesn’t explicitly turn off Instagram DMs, it definitely can mute the notifications for all the DMs you receive.

However, taking this action also means that you won’t receive notifications for any Instagram activity. So, give it a good thought before proceeding.

1. Go to Settings → Notifications.
2. Pick Instagram → Toggle off Allow Notifications.

Wrapping up 

This is how you can turn off Direct Messages in Instagram on your iPhone. As mentioned earlier, once you turn off message requests on Instagram, people you do not follow won’t be able to send you a message.

They will still see a Message button if they visit your profile (maybe Instagram will gray it out in the future). But when they try to send you a message, it will show ‘[username] can’t receive your message. They don’t allow new message requests from everyone.’

If you need any other help related to this, please reach me via the comments section below.

Read more:

• How to hide Instagram Stories from someone on iPhone 
• How to remove followers on Instagram: 2 Ways Explained
• How to download Reels in Instagram on iPhone

The post How to turn off Direct Messages (DMs) in Instagram on iPhone appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

Irrespective of whether your iPhone is waterproof, this article explains how to water out of speakers and clean water from the Phone’s speaker grills.

How does the iPhone water eject work?

All the ways below use a sound of a certain frequency to push the water out of the iPhone speaker grills. The working principle is similar to the official water eject feature on the Apple Watch. Feel free to use any method you like.

Before you begin:

• Make sure to wipe the iPhone (you recently dropped it in a pool or splashed water) using a soft, dry cloth.
• If you spilled anything other than water (tea, coffee, juice, wine, etc.), clean the affected area with fresh water. Make sure the tap’s water pressure is not too high.
• Ensure Lightning cable, earphone, or any accessory is not connected.
• Do not plug your wet iPhone into charging. Forget charging for the next 5 hours!
• Do not open the SIM tray of a wet iPhone.
• Do not insert anything inside the Lightning connector or the tiny speaker grills to dry water inside them.

3 Ways to eject water from your iPhone speakers

1. How to eject water from iPhone speakers using Siri Shortcut

All you need to do is install the water Eject shortcut and run it as detailed in the steps below:

1. Get the Water Eject shortcut.
2. Tap on Get Shortcut → Add Shortcut.
   
   
3. Now, tap the Water Eject shortcut to run it.
   You can also say, “Hey Siri, Water Eject,” to activate the shortcut.
   
   
4. Tap Begin Water Ejection and ensure that volume is set to max.
5. Hit the Stop button to end the process.

2. How to get water out of your iPhone using Sonic App

1. Install Sonic from the App Store → Open the Sonic app on your iPhone.
2. Tap and hold down the water drop icon.
3. Now, swipe anywhere on the screen to adjust the frequency.
   You can also use the plus (+) and minus (-) buttons.
4. Repeat this process multiple times until all the water is pushed out. 
5. Hit Stop to end the process.
   
   

3. Use tone-generator website to get water out of iPhone

1. Visit a website like FixMySpeakers.
2. Tap the water droplet to start playing a sound.
   
   
3. Once water droplets stop coming out of the speaker grills, pause the sound.

Other recommendations:

• Dry water using a fan or blower: Apple recommends using a fan or blower to accelerate the water evaporation. Make sure to take proper caution while following this.
• Silica gel (better than rice): Yes, unboiled rice works. However, it is a slow process that may take over 24 hours. I suggest using silica gel to get better and quicker results. For this, keep your iPhone in a closed box with a few packets of silica gel.
• Apple support: Finally, if you believe that your iPhone speakers still sound muddy, give it some hours, and then contact Apple Support. You may also take your device for inspection at an Apple Store or authorized service center.

Wrapping up…

I hope this guide helped you. If you have further questions, please reach me via the comments section below;.

Read more:

• How to check warranty status of Apple products
• Dropped your AirPods in water? 7 Ways to fix water damage
• Best waterproof cases for iPhone 14 Plus and 14 Pro Max
• 8 Ways to fix Liquid detected in Lightning connector error on iPhone

The post How to get water out of iPhone speakers appeared first on iGeeksBlog.

Not just confetti. You can send messages with various effects to express yourself creatively.
But there is one caveat. This feature is limited to iMessage and not available for standard SMS. Now that we have got the basics out of the way, let’s learn how to send messages with Effects on Mac.

What types of Message Effects can you use on Mac?

If you have used iMessage Effects on your iPhone before, you must know that these effects are categorized into Bubble and Screen effects. On Mac, you also get the same number of effects; the difference is that there is no categorization.

Instead, all the Message Effects are listed horizontally below the text box. Here’s the complete list of effects you can add to your iMessage on Mac:

• Love 
• Balloons 
• Invisible Ink 
• Confetti 
• Slam 
• Lasers 
• Loud 
• Celebration 
• Echo
• Spotlight
• Fireworks 
• Gentle  

Before proceeding with the steps to use Effects, make sure you have set up and enabled iMessage on your Mac. The recipient of your messages should also have iMessage enabled on their device to view the Effects.

How to use iMessage Effects on Mac

1. Open the Messages app and head to a conversation.
   
   
2. Click on the text box at the bottom and type in your Message. 
3. Once done, click the App Store icon on the left of the text box. 
4. Select Message Effects in the pop-up menu.
   
   
5. Now, choose the desired Effect from the available exciting options like Love, Confetti, Echo, and more.
6. Once done with the selection, click the blue Upward Arrow (Send) button next to the text to send the iMessage with the selected Effect.
   
   

Tip: Choose the Invisible Ink effect if your message contains something special or you want to add a surprise element. The invisible ink effect will blur the iMessage until the recipient clicks on it. 

Automatically trigger Message Effects on Mac

Most of the Effects you send with an iMessage get triggered automatically in the chat box of both the sender and recipient. You don’t have to take an extra step.

Every time you type in certain words and phrases, such as  Happy Birthday, Congrats, Pew Pew, Congratulations, and Happy New Year, the Messages app will automatically add the Effect that best suits the message. 

For example, in an iMessage conversation, type in Happy New Year and click Send, and the messages app will automatically add the Fireworks effect. 

How to view special Message Effects on Mac

As mentioned earlier, most Effects received will automatically appear when you open the iMessage conversation.

However, if you get certain special effects like Invisible Ink, a little extra effort will be required to view the Effect.

1. Open the iMessage conversation. 
2. Now, hover the pointer over the message with an Invisible Ink effect and wipe it clean to view it. 
3. The message will get blurred again once you remove the pointer from it.
   
   

That is quite fancy!

Happy messaging…

That’s how you can use the Message Effects on Mac to spice up your conversations. As someone who heavily relies on iMessage for text conversations, I often use these effects to personalize and add excitement to my messages.

What do you think of this feature? Will you be using it in your iMessage chats? Let me know in the comments below!

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