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PhoneGuiding

Practical technology help

Simple answers to everyday tech problems

Clear, step-by-step fixes for iPhone, Apple, Android and the apps you use every day. Find the setting, understand what it does, and get back to what you were doing.

  • Written in plain language
  • Steps you can follow on the device
  • No sign-up required

Featured

Start here

Illustration of an Android app storage screen with a Clear cache button
FeaturedAndroid

Clear app cache on Android

Clear an app's cache on Android to fix crashes and free up space. Step-by-step instructions for Samsung, Google Pixel, Xiaomi and other phones.

6 min read
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Illustration of the iPhone Battery Health screen showing Maximum Capacity and Peak Performance Capability
iPhone

Check iPhone battery health

Find your iPhone's Maximum Capacity in Settings, understand what the percentage tells you, and learn when a battery replacement is actually worth it.

7 min read

Start with the symptom

What is going wrong?

Most people arrive with a symptom rather than a setting name. Pick the one that matches.

Battery draining fastFind what is using the power and which settings actually help.Wi-Fi or Bluetooth droppingWork through connection problems in the order that fixes them fastest.Storage is fullSee what is really taking up space and free it without losing photos.An app keeps crashingNarrow it down to the app, the account or the operating system.A setting has movedLocate features that were relocated in a recent iOS or Android update.The phone will not turn onRule out the simple causes before assuming hardware failure.

Latest guides

All guides
An Apple Watch beside an iPhone
Apple

Pair Apple Watch to new iPhone

Pair Apple Watch to new iPhone the right way: update, back up, set up the new phone and restore. Includes what to do if your old iPhone is gone.

8 min read
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An Apple Watch sitting on a brown table
Apple

Unpair Apple Watch without iPhone

Unpair Apple Watch without iPhone using the watch itself or iCloud.com. See what each method does to Activation Lock and your cellular plan before you sell it.

6 min read
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A row of cell phones with different colors
How-To

What kind of phone

What kind of phone do I have? Find your exact model on iPhone or Android in under a minute with Settings, the back of the phone, the box or your account.

6 min read
Get the answer
Hands typing on a smartphone with a message on screen
How-To

Where is the clipboard

Where is the clipboard on my phone? iPhone has no clipboard app, but Android keyboards do. See how to view, paste, pin and clear what you copied on each.

6 min read
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A cell phone tower against a blue sky
Troubleshooting

Emergency calls only

Phone says emergency calls only? It means your carrier is not accepting your line. Try these 8 fixes for iPhone and Android before you call your carrier.

7 min read
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A person holding a black Android smartphone
Android

Google Messages waiting to connect

Google Messages waiting to connect or stuck on setting up chat features? Check data, your number and the RCS switch, then clear the app data. 7 fixes that work.

6 min read
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A person holding a Samsung phone in their hand
Android

Message blocking is active

Samsung shows message blocking is active and your texts will not send? Check blocked numbers, your carrier block and account settings with these steps.

7 min read
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A smartphone held in front of a smart TV
Android

Pixel can't cast to Samsung TV

Pixel can't cast to Samsung TV or says no devices found? See why Samsung TVs hide from Cast, fix Wi-Fi and permissions, or use a cable or dongle.

7 min read
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Four different colored iPhones sitting on a table
Apple

Trade In value lower

Apple Trade In offered less than the quote after inspection? See why values change, how to accept or decline a revised price and how to avoid a cut next time.

6 min read
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A white Apple Card on a plain surface
Apple

Apple Wallet verification not available

Apple Wallet verification not available when you add a card? Check the bank options, region and date, remove the card and re-add it from your bank app. 7 fixes.

6 min read
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An iPhone and an Apple Watch side by side
Apple

Continue setup on iPhone

Apple Watch says continue setup on iPhone but nothing happens? Finish pairing, restart, reset in pairing mode, or unpair and start again. Steps for each case.

8 min read
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A car dashboard with a phone showing a map
How-To

Change km to miles on iPhone

How to change km to miles on iPhone: set Measurement System for Apple Maps and Distance units in Google Maps. Also change temperature units.

6 min read
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A cell phone with a SIM card attached to it
How-To

Activate eSIM on iPhone

How to activate eSIM on iPhone with a QR code, manual details or your carrier's app. Steps for Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, plus fixes when activation fails.

6 min read
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A hand holding a smartphone that shows a home screen with app icons
How-To

Add a Home button to the iPhone screen

How to add home button to iPhone screen: turn on AssistiveTouch in Accessibility, tap Home, move the button and set shortcuts. Works on every iPhone, no repair.

6 min read
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A white iPad on a wooden table
How-To

Change a document to PDF on iPhone

How to change a document to PDF on iPhone: use Files and Markup, the Print trick, Pages, Word or Google Docs. Free, no extra app needed, for each file type.

5 min read
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A black smartphone showing app icons
How-To

Change AirDrop name on iPhone

How to change AirDrop name on iPhone: edit your iPhone name and your contact card, because AirDrop shows one or the other. Fix a name that won't update.

6 min read
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A colorful wavy gradient of mixed hues
How-To

Change color on iPhone

How to change color on iPhone: use Color Filters, Night Shift, Dark Mode, tinted icons and Lock Screen colors. Also fix a black and white or yellow screen.

6 min read
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A person holding an iPhone
How-To

Change group chat name on iPhone

How to change group chat name on iPhone: open the group in Messages, tap the names and choose Change Name and Photo. Fix a group that can't be renamed.

6 min read
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Pinned locations on a world map
How-To

Change country on iPhone

How to change country on iPhone: change your Apple Account country or region for the App Store, plus the device region. Steps, limits and what to do first.

6 min read
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An iPhone screen showing app icons
How-To

Change your iPhone name

How to change your iPhone name in Settings › General › About › Name. See where it shows in AirDrop, Bluetooth and hotspot, and fix a name that won't save.

6 min read
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Browse

Guides by category

Every guide belongs to one category, so you can work through a device or a topic in order.

iPhone

Settings, features and fixes for iPhone, from battery and storage to Face ID and iOS updates.

81 guides

Apple

Apple ID, iCloud, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and the services that tie them together.

56 guides

Android

Android settings, Google account issues and device-specific fixes explained step by step.

53 guides

Apps

Fixes and walkthroughs for the apps people use every day: messaging, streaming, storage and more.

41 guides

How-To

Straightforward walkthroughs for the things people actually need to do on their phones.

158 guides

Troubleshooting

Something is broken. Work through the likely causes in order, starting with the quickest fix.

16 guides

Guides

Longer explainers for settings and features worth understanding properly, not just toggling.

24 guides

Newsletter

One useful fix a week

A short email with the guides people needed most that week. No promotions, and you can unsubscribe in one click.

Looking for something specific? Search every guide.