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PhoneGuiding

iPhone help and fixes

Practical iPhone guides written for real situations: something stopped working, a setting moved, or you need to know where a feature lives in the current version of iOS.

66 guides

Two iPhones sitting next to each other on a table
FeaturediPhone

iPhone stuck on Preparing to Transfer

iPhone stuck on preparing to transfer during setup? Learn how long to wait, what to check on both phones and how to use iCloud or a computer instead.

7 min read
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A person holding an iPhone that shows apps
iPhone

iPhone stuck on Update Requested

iPhone stuck on update requested and not downloading? Check Wi-Fi and storage, delete the update, reset network or update from a computer. 7 fixes.

7 min read
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Black and brown rotary phone near gray wall
iPhone

iPhone contacts missing

iPhone contacts missing or disappeared? Check your Lists, iCloud and Gmail sync, then restore contacts from iCloud.com or a backup. 7 ways to get them back.

5 min read
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Person using smartphone and laptop computer
iPhone

iPhone Mail not updating

iPhone Mail not updating or not syncing new emails? Check Fetch settings, Background App Refresh, Low Power Mode and storage, then re-add the account. 8 fixes.

5 min read
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A white Lightning charging cable
iPhone

iPhone stuck on charging screen

iPhone shows a battery icon or charging screen and will not start? Charge it for an hour, check the cable and port, force restart, and know when the battery needs replacing.

2 min read
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An iPhone and a MacBook on a white desk
iPhone

iPhone won't pair with laptop

iPhone Bluetooth not pairing with your Windows or Mac laptop, or the code never shows? Keep Bluetooth settings open, forget the device on both sides and restart.

2 min read
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A man walking down a street with a cell phone in his hand
iPhone

iPhone not tracking steps

iPhone steps stuck at zero or not counting? Turn on Fitness Tracking, check Health data sources, carry the phone right and try 3 more fixes, with or without an Apple Watch.

2 min read
Show me the fix
Black and white photo of drops of water
iPhone

iPhone water eject

Water in your iPhone speaker? Learn if the Water Eject shortcut and speaker cleaner apps work, how to use them safely, and what to do if the sound stays muffled.

3 min read
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A white cell phone with a blank screen
iPhone

iPhone white screen

iPhone screen turned white? Tell a software glitch from a hardware fault, force restart by model, use recovery mode to update without data loss, and know when to repair.

3 min read
Show me the fix
The back of a black iPhone showing its two camera lenses
iPhone

iPhone camera unknown part

iPhone camera unknown part message after an update or repair? Learn what Unknown, Genuine and Used mean, how to check, and when it is worth fixing.

7 min read
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A blue SIM card on a dark surface
iPhone

iPhone eSIM unknown number

iPhone eSIM shows Unknown or no phone number? Often it is cosmetic. Check that calls and texts work, then set My Number or ask your carrier to fix it.

4 min read
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An iPhone connected to a laptop with a USB cable
iPhone

iPhone keeps asking to trust this computer

iPhone keeps asking to trust this computer every time you plug in? Learn the three real causes and Apple's six-step fix to make the alert stop for good.

6 min read
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A person in a dark room lit only by a phone screen
iPhone

iPhone auto brightness not working

iPhone auto brightness not working or the screen keeps changing? Check the Accessibility switch, light sensor, Low Power Mode and heat, then try 3 more fixes.

6 min read
Show me the fix

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