Latest news with #NelsonAguilar
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
Declutter Your iPhone Ahead of iOS 26 and Delete Duplicate Photos Now
It's a common experience: You open your iPhone's camera to snap a quick pic and you end up taking multiple shots that all look identical. But another common experience is forgetting to later delete the duplicates, which end up consuming precious storage space on your iPhone or in your iCloud. Fortunately, there's an easy way around this issue built into your iPhone if you have iOS 16 or later. Apple introduced its "duplicate detection" feature in 2022 and it works just as its name suggests. The tool uses on-device AI to identify identical images and aggregate them in an easy-to-find album in the Photos app. Apple says the iPhone classifies duplicates not only as exact copies but also as photos that appear to be the same but have unique resolutions, file formats or other slight differences. Make sure to turn on iCloud syncing before going through the step-by-step process below. For more, check out every new feature we're expecting Apple to drop with iOS 26 this fall. Remove duplicate photos and videos to get more storage on your iPhone. Nelson Aguilar/CNET Here's how to use the iPhone's built-in tool to free up storage space: 1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone. 2. Tap on the Albums tab at the bottom of the screen. 3. Scroll down to the Utilities section and tap Duplicates. This is where you can view all the duplicate photos on your iPhone and delete them, either individually or at once. 4. For the latter option, tap Select in the top right corner. 5. Tap Select All to merge all the duplicate photos your iPhone detects and delete them at the same time. 6. If you want to delete duplicates individually, scroll up and tap Merge on your chosen selection of duplicate images. Then tap Merge [number] Copies to delete duplicates. Go down the line and repeat this step for all the identical photos you want to delete. Merging keeps the best version of the photo in your library. The duplicates are moved to the Recently Deleted album. If you found this iOS feature helpful, check out CNET's cheat sheet for iOS 18. For more advice on how to save space, read our full list of tips for clearing your iPhone's storage.
CNET
13-06-2025
- CNET
Too Busy to Read? Google's Audio Overviews Summarize Your Search Results Aloud
The next time you wonder why school buses are yellow, you might not have to read a single word to get the answer. Google's latest experimental feature can literally tell you the answer, in a tiny audio clip that loads right inside your results page. Launched Friday in Search Labs, Audio Overviews uses Google's latest Gemini AI models to turn certain queries into 30- to 45-second, podcast-style explainers, complete with on-screen source links for fact-checking. The move pushes Google's AI Overviews beyond text, positioning Search for a semi-hands-free, voice-first future, while also raising more questions about what this means for publishers who rely on clicks. How you can try out Audio Overviews right now You can try out Google's Audio Overviews right now if you're interested. Go to the Google Labs website, opt in to the Search Labs program if you're not already signed up and then toggle on Audio Overviews. You can hit Try an example to test out the feature. Nelson Aguilar/CNET The next time you run a query, like "How do I stop apps from tracking my exact location on my iPhone," Google might show you a button that says Generate Audio Overview, which you'll have to scroll down a little to see. You can then tap on the Audio Overview to process the clip, and then press play. You can speed up the audio, mute the clip and rate it with a thumbs-up or thumbs-down, to better train it. Audio Overviews are only available in the US for now. Nelson Aguilar/CNET Below the player, Google lists the web pages it drew from, so you can click through to fact-check the information or just dig deeper. For those who might have visual impairments, this new feature offers a glimpse at what a voice-first Google might look like. But until Google expands language support and proves the summaries are dependable, consider this a nifty experiment for now, not a substitute for reading the full story.
CNET
03-06-2025
- Business
- CNET
Unimpressed by AI So Far? Your Step by Step Guide to Turning Off Apple Intelligence
Apple is taking heat over its AI features -- especially in comparison to Google's Gemini -- making next week's Worldwide Developer Conference all the more interesting to watch. But if you'd rather wait and see if Apple Intelligence advances before jumping into its features, there are easy steps to turn it off entirely or selectively switch off individual features. A new ZDNET/Aberdeen survey reveals that the majority of US adults say they will not use most AI features, and just 8% would consider paying extra for them. Some AI features are more welcome than others, with 58% of respondents saying using AI for photo editing would be valuable. I'll even admit that Priority Notifications have been helpful -- but I won't hold it against you if you want to press pause or simply pass on Apple Intelligence for now. See also: Did a well-meaning friend send you a message about Apple Intelligence possibly reading your private information? I explain what's actually going on. Why turn off Apple Intelligence in the first place? Since the first Apple Intelligence features rolled out in iOS 18.1, some people have opted out of the new technology. Tools such as Image Playground, Genmoji and message summaries can use up to 7GB of your device's internal storage -- a sizable chunk, especially if you tend to run against the upper limit of its free space. Even if storage is not an issue, you just may not be interested in Apple's set of AI features. According to a new survey by SellCell, 73% of Apple users think AI adds little to no value to the experience. In a separate survey, CNET found that 25% of smartphone owners aren't interested at all. Or, honestly, you may not want to deal with features that are creating inaccurate summaries or that can be replicated without Apple Intelligence. The trainer killed someone? Screenshot by Nelson Aguilar/CNET (Earlier iOS 18 updates re-enabled Apple Intelligence automatically even if you had turned it off, but as of iOS 18.4, the setting is honored.) The good news is that it's easy to turn off Apple Intelligence entirely. Or if you'd prefer to pick and choose, you can selectively disable some of the features. Doing so also lets you reclaim the storage it's using. Is Apple Intelligence really ready to be on by default? I'm not an AI crank -- I appreciate features such as notification summaries and the Clean Up tool in the Photos app. And yet, Apple Intelligence is also a work in progress, an evolving set of features that Apple is heavily hyping while gradually developing. I wouldn't hold it against you if you wanted to not be distracted or feel like you're doing Apple's testing for them (that's what the developer and public betas are for). Remember that Apple Intelligence works only on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16E, iPhone 16 Pro or M-series Macs and iPads, plus the newest iPad mini. Here's what you need to know about disabling it. Now Playing: Does Apple Think We're Stupid? Apple Intelligence Ads Say Yes 06:15 How to see the amount of storage Apple Intelligence is using If you're concerned about the storage requirements of Apple Intelligence, you can find out how much the system is using by going to Settings > General > iPhone (or iPad) Storage > iOS (or iPadOS). See how much space Apple Intelligence is using in Settings. Screenshots by Jeff Carlson/CNET Note that even after turning off Apple Intelligence, that storage still shows up in the iOS Storage list. However, I was able to confirm that if the phone's storage fills up and the system needs that now-inactive space, iOS reclaims what it needs. Once I filled my iPhone's storage, the inactive Apple Intelligence data was purged to accommodate the added files, dropping from 5.89GB to 2.87GB. Screenshots by Jeff Carlson/CNET How to turn off Apple Intelligence entirely (iPhone, iPad and Mac) Open Settings (iPhone or iPad) or System Settings (Mac) and choose Apple Intelligence & Siri. Then turn off the Apple Intelligence option. Confirm your choice in the dialog that appears by tapping Turn Off Apple Intelligence. Turn off Apple Intelligence entirely with one switch. Screenshots by Jeff Carlson/CNET Here's what you lose: (Curiously, the Clean Up tool in Photos sticks around even when Apple Intelligence is turned off, perhaps because the first time you use it the app downloads resources for it and holds onto them.) How to turn off individual Apple Intelligence features Maybe you're finding some Apple Intelligence features helpful while others are annoying (or just highly amusing). You can turn off specific features in the settings for apps to which they apply. For example, to disable text summaries in Messages notifications, go to Settings > Apps > Messages and switch off the Summarize Messages option. Turn off Messages summaries while still using other Apple Intelligence features. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Some features are not as app-specific. Writing Tools, which use Apple Intelligence to proof or rewrite text, appear as an option when you select text, regardless of the app. To turn that off, you need to disable Apple Intelligence system-wide. Also note that nearly every app includes an Apple Intelligence & Siri option in Settings, with a Learn from this App option (turned on by default). That applies just to whether Apple Intelligence and Siri can monitor how you use it to make suggestions; it doesn't affect any particular Apple Intelligence features. How to turn off Apple Intelligence features in Screen Time settings Another option for restricting what Apple Intelligence can do is buried in the Screen Time settings. Screen Time is designed to control which apps and features can run on another device, such as the iPhone used by a child in your household. But it's also helpful for tracking how much time you're spending on the device and, in this case, turning off some components of Apple Intelligence. Open the Settings app and go to Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Turn on the Content & Privacy Restrictions option if it's not already enabled. If this is the first time you're flipping this switch, don't worry -- everything is allowed by default. Tap Intelligence & Siri. Tap on the following three features and decide whether to allow or don't allow their use: Image Creation (such as Image Playground and Genmoji), Writing Tools and the ChatGPT Extension (which uses ChatGPT to process requests that are beyond the built-in Apple Intelligence capabilities). Turn off selected Apple Intelligence features in the Screen Time settings. Screenshots by Jeff Carlson/CNET For more on iOS 18.4, see how the Mail app sorts messages into categories and if you haven't upgraded already, make a good backup first.
CNET
02-06-2025
- General
- CNET
Make Your iPhone Work Smarter With These 24 Quick iOS Setting Changes
If you haven't taken a closer look at your iPhone settings lately, you're probably missing out on features that could save time, reduce distractions and personalize your experience in a big way. Every iOS update quietly adds tools and upgrades that make your phone smarter and easier to use -- but only if you know where to find them. Don't miss: 13 Hidden iOS 18.4 iPhone Features You Should Probably Know About From decluttering your home screen to maximizing battery life, we've rounded up 24 iOS settings that let you take full control of your device. Some you may already know, and others might surprise you. Take a Closer Look at the iOS Settings You Should Change Right Now +7 More See all photos 1. Stop apps from tracking your exact location Apps like Doordash and Postmates require your exact location to deliver food to the right location or directly to you. That doesn't mean every application on your iPhone needs to know precisely where you are at every moment. That's why you can prevent an app from tracking your exact location. In the Settings app, choose an application (like Instagram, for example), tap Location and then toggle off Precise Location. Any app with Precise Location off will only know your approximate location, within a few miles. Don't toggle this feature off for apps that require exact location, like food delivery and navigation services. Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET 2. Turn the back of your iPhone into a button The back of your iPhone can be used as a secret button to activate certain actions such as taking a screenshot, enabling low power mode or running a shortcut that can automatically play music when you arrive at the gym. The Action Button on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, and iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models do the same, but if you have an older model, the back of your iPhone works. The option is hidden deep in your settings; here's how to find it. In the Settings app, go to Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap and choose one of two options: double tap or triple tap. You should see a list of actions you can run by tapping the back of your iPhone, like opening your camera, turning on the flashlight and scrolling up and down. Tap an action or shortcut to enable it with Back Tap. Tap on the back of your phone to do all kinds of fancy tricks. Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET 3. Extend the lifespan of your battery On the iPhone 15 and later, head to Settings > Battery > Charging and move the Charge Limit slider. You can choose from 80% all the way up to 100%. (This is the default. Your iPhone will charge to within a few points of your chosen percentage and then stop charging.) Why do this? Well, lithium-ion cells last longer when they spend less time fully charged, which improves its lifespan. Try the 95% option and see how well it works for you throughout the day. If that's more than enough battery life, you can try some of the lower percentage point options. Even with a Charge Limit below 100%, your iPhone will sometimes top up to a full charge so it can recalibrate its battery-percentage readings. Nelson Aguilar/CNET 4. Enable Live Voicemail to get real-time voicemail transcriptions You get a call and don't want to necessarily pick up unless it's important. Unfortunately, the only way you'll know is if you listen to a voicemail left after the call. With iOS 17, you can read a real-time transcription of any voicemail being left. That's right: If someone is leaving you a voicemail, you can read it on your phone and choose to pick up the call, connecting you with the person leaving the voicemail. The Live Voicemail feature isn't on by default, so go to Settings > Phone > Live Voicemail and turn it on. That's it. 5. Bring back full-screen incoming call alerts If your iPhone is unlocked and you receive a phone call, a banner-style notification appears at the top of your screen, with a small photo and name or number of the person calling, and the options to pick up or deny the call. This wasn't always the default option. In the past, incoming calls would take over your entire display when your iPhone was unlocked. It was disruptive, sure, but it also got the job done. The banner may be a welcome change for many because it's more discreet and allows you to use your phone while receiving a call. If for any reason you're not a big fan of the banner and want to revert to the more attention-grabbing full-screen alert, go to Settings > Phone > Incoming Calls and tap Full Screen. This incoming call alert isn't ideal for everyone. Jason Cipriani/CNET 6. Turn off 5G coverage you don't want or have Apple touts a Smart Data feature that's specific to its 5G phones that will automatically switch between 4G LTE and 5G networks based on how you're using your device. You may find that your iPhone's battery drains faster than it did before. If you don't want to sacrifice battery life for faster 5G speeds, shut it down. You can always turn 5G back on when you want it, or when service in your area improves. To turn off 5G on your iPhone, forcing it to always use 4G LTE (even if you have 5G coverage), open the Settings app, then go to Cellular > Primary > Voice & Data and tap LTE. Alternatively, if you want your iPhone to exclusively use a 5G connection when available, you can select 5G On. 5G is nice if you have access, but it can also be a battery hog. Patrick Holland/CNET 7. Fine-tune how much data is used by a 5G connection If you're happy with your 5G performance, here's a network-related setting you should check out. Go to Settings > Cellular > Primary > Data Mode, where you'll find three options: Allow More Data on 5G, Standard and Low Data Mode. Even though you can read brief descriptions below the three settings, they don't paint a complete picture of the first option. According to an Apple support document, allowing more data on 5G will give you high-quality video and FaceTime calls. It also lets your phone download software updates and stream high-definition Apple TV and Apple Music content, and it allows third-party developers to improve their respective apps. The default setting on this page will depend on your carrier and data plan, so it's a good idea to check your iPhone and make sure it's correctly set to your preference. 8. Stop apps from cluttering up your home screen The App Library is a place where you can quickly find and access all of your applications. And while apps are housed here, all newly downloaded apps also appear on your home screen. This may not be a problem if you download apps sparingly, but if you're installing new apps on a consistent basis, they can quickly clutter up your home screen. To stop downloaded apps from appearing on your home screen, go to Settings > Home Screen & App Library and select App Library Only. If you want to find the app, you'll have to swipe left on your home screen until you reach the App Library. This setting will prevent your home screen from getting too messy. Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET 9. Unlock your phone while wearing a face mask If you wear a mask in public, unlocking your iPhone with Apple's Face ID technology can be frustrating. Because half of your face is covered, Face ID just doesn't work. And while entering your passcode to unlock your phone works, it's not as convenient. With iOS, you have the option to turn on a face unlock feature that makes it easy to unlock your iPhone when you're wearing a face mask. Before the update, you could only unlock your iPhone if you owned an Apple Watch. To unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch, open the Settings app on your iPhone and then open the Face ID & Passcode option. Scroll down until you find the Unlock with Apple Watch section (you must be connected to an Apple Watch for the setting to appear), where you can turn on the feature for any watches linked to your iPhone. If you have an iPhone running iOS 15.4 or later, you can unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask without an Apple Watch. Go to the Settings app and open Face ID & Passcode. From there, you can toggle on the Face ID With a Mask option. It's pretty awesome. You can unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch if Face ID isn't working. Lisa Eadicicco/CNET 10. Put the address bar in Safari back on top The address in Safari migrated to the bottom of the screen a few years back; welcome for those with smaller hands who had difficulty reaching it with one hand at the top. This move might feel more natural, since it's closer to the keyboard and where you typically place your thumbs, it can be off-putting since some people are used to seeing the URL bar near the top of the screen. If you want to put the address bar back at the top of the screen, go to Settings, tap Safari and choose the Single Tab option under the Tabs subheading. 11. Add features that can be used when your iPhone is locked There are times when you might want to have certain info handy even when your phone is locked. That's why Apple allows you to enable some features without having to unlock your devices, such as the notification center, Control Center, the ability to reply to messages and the Wallet app. To customize the features you'd like to access on the lock screen, launch the Settings menu, tap Face ID & Passcode and enter your passcode when prompted. Scroll down until you see the Allow Access When Locked section, and toggle the sliders based on your preferences. You can decide which features you want to access when your phone is locked. Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET 12. Make your favorite email app or web browser your default It's not all about Safari. On your iPhone, you have the ability to choose your own default apps, at least for email and web browsing. That means that when you tap a link or an email send button, your iPhone will automatically launch the web browser or email provider of your choosing rather than Safari or Mail. To get started, open the Settings menu and select the app you'd like to set as a default (such as Google Chrome or Outlook). You should then see a button that says Default Mail App or Default Browser App. Tap that option and select the app of your choosing instead of Safari or Mail. You no longer have to use Safari or Mail as default apps. Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET 13. Get full notifications on your lock screen The first time you experience Apple's Face ID tech, you'll notice that you can't see the content of new alerts and notifications on the lock screen. For example, instead of seeing who sent you a text message and what it says, you'll only see a generic Messages alert. By default, all iPhones with Apple's Face ID tech will hide the content of an alert until you pick up your phone and unlock it. It's a privacy feature that I rather enjoy, but I also understand how it could be annoying (I've heard a few complaints from readers and family members alike). You can change how notifications appear on your lock screen by going to Settings > Notifications > Show Previews and selecting Always. Conversely, you can select Never if you want to keep the content of your notifications always hidden from the lock screen. 14. Turn off (or on) HDR video for sharing videos The iPhone can record high dynamic range (HDR) video with Dolby Vision. That means your videos are typically brighter, with more accurate colors and improved contrast. That may be ideal for some, but if you don't want videos that are automatically adjusted because you want to do it on your own, there is a way to disable the feature. You can turn off HDR video by going to Settings > Camera > Record Video and turning the switch next to HDR Video to the Off position. Going forward, all videos will be captured in the standard dynamic range. HDR video looks great, but it doesn't work everywhere yet. Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET 15. Customize your home screen with fancy wallpaper Another home screen tweak you should make involves your wallpaper or background. Apple has many wallpapers of its own, with a pretty cool twist. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and select Wallpaper from the list. Make sure the switch labeled "Dark Appearance Dims Wallpaper," which you'll see below the two thumbnail previews of your wallpaper, is turned on. Now, tap Choose a new wallpaper and select either Stills or Live. Look for the circle near the bottom of each wallpaper. It's half black, half white. That circle means that the wallpaper has both light and dark mode versions and will change automatically based on the system status of your phone. You can also set live wallpapers as your background if you're not sold on dark and light mode. On an iPhone with 3D Touch, you can use a third-party app to play longer-duration "Live" photos on your lock screen. GIF by Patrick Holland/CNET 16. Turn on dark mode to save your battery Speaking of dark mode, if you don't want to have to repeatedly adjust your screen's brightness, you can use your phone's dedicated dark mode. Dark mode converts all of the white backgrounds in apps to, more often than not, a black background. In turn, your phone is able to save battery power thanks to the darker colors. Turn it on by going to Settings > Display & Brightness and selecting the Dark option at the top of the screen. You can also just swipe down from the top-right of your iPhone and tap the Dark mode icon in the Control Center. Apple's apps will automatically switch to a dark color scheme, and most third-party apps have also adopted the feature. Dark Mode on the iPhone sure looks good. Jason Cipriani/CNET 17. Manage your notifications with Focus Mode We get a lot of notifications every day, but not all of them are relevant all the time. That's why Apple introduced a feature called Focus Mode. Think of it as a custom Do Not Disturb feature that's tailored to specific circumstances. Focus Mode blocks less relevant alerts while allowing notifications from important people and apps to come through so that you don't miss anything. You can set up different types of Focus Modes for specific circumstances. Apple currently offers options for Do Not Disturb, personal, sleep, work, driving, fitness, gaming, mindfulness and reading, but you can also create your own custom mode. You can schedule Focus Modes so that they turn on automatically when needed and display your status in apps so that others know you have notifications silenced. To get started, open the Settings menu, tap Focus and choose one of the available options to set up your notification preferences. Tap the plus (+) symbol in the top right corner to add a new Focus. 18. Make your screen text bigger or smaller With a couple of taps on your iPhone's screen, you can adjust the font size to make it easier to read. Open Settings and go to Display & Brightness > Text Size where you can use the slider until you're happy with the font size. For a little added oomph, you can turn on Bold Text (it's just below the Text Size button). 19. Add an alternate appearance to Face ID Apple's facial recognition feature, Face ID, constantly learns different aspects of your face with each scan. If you're struggling to get Face ID to consistently recognize you, try the Alternate Appearance option. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > enter your PIN > Set Up An Alternate Appearance and go through the process of enrolling your face again. Face ID doesn't always get it right. Óscar Gutiérrez/CNET 20. Disable auto-brightness for longer battery charge Your iPhone's screen brightness level can have a big impact on battery life. By default, iOS will automatically adjust the display's brightness based on how much light its ambient sensor detects. If you want to take complete control, you can disable auto brightness, meaning the brightness level will stay where you set it until you adjust it again. Open Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and at the bottom of the page, you'll find a switch to turn off Auto-Brightness. Now, whenever you want to adjust your screen, you can do so by opening Control Center with a swipe up from the bottom of the screen on a device with a home button, or a swipe down from the top-right corner on newer iPhones. Keep your screen dim to save battery life. Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET Now Playing: 11 Hidden Features in iOS 18 06:44 21. Triage your privacy settings The first time you set up an iPhone with all of your apps, you're bombarded with prompts asking for permission to access personal information ranging from tracking your location to your Apple Health information or your camera roll. It's far too easy to get in the habit of approving everything just so you can use the app, but take a few minutes and go through your privacy settings to tailor what each app can and can't see. We walk you through the whole privacy process in two quick steps. Apple has put all of its privacy controls in one place. Jason Cipriani/CNET 22. Use the Control Center to access apps with a swipe or tap The iPhone's Control Center is a convenient spot to quickly change songs, turn on airplane mode, connect to Wi-Fi or start a timer, but there's so much more to it than that. You can quickly turn on your flashlight, check on a timer or start recording your screen with a quick swipe and tap. Customize which apps and features are available in Control Center by opening Settings > Control Center. Remove an option with a tap on the red minus button or add an option by selecting the green addition button. Drag features up or down using the three-line icon on the right side of the screen. I like having quick access to the Wallet app and toggles for low-power mode and dark mode. As a reminder, if you have an iPhone with a home button, like the iPhone SE, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open Control Center. If you have an iPhone with Face ID, you'll need to swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen where the battery icon is. Control Center has a lot of potential; you just need to customize it. GIF by Jason Cipriani/CNET 23. Organize alerts with Notification Summary Apple wants to help you manage your notifications in iOS, starting with the Notification Summary feature. Rather than letting notifications pile up on your home screen, you can schedule alerts that aren't urgent to arrive in a bundle at a specific time of day. Important notifications like calls, direct messages and other time-sensitive alerts (like the status of your Uber or Lyft ride, for example) will still appear immediately. To try this out, open Settings, press Notifications and tap Scheduled Summary. 24. Change Siri's voice If you've recently set up a new iPhone, you may have noticed that Siri no longer defaults to a female voice. Instead, you'll be asked which Siri voice you want to use, including several more recent options. Once you've made your selection, Apple will change Siri's voice across all of the devices linked to your Apple ID. You can check out the voice options by going to Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Voice. To learn more, check out our complete guide to changing Siri's sound. Apple also added a gender-neutral Siri voice option for English speakers. A pro iPhone battery tip No matter how many settings you toggle off and on, battery life will always be an issue, especially if you're traveling and don't always have access to your fast charger. If you're constantly on the go and need some juice, consider getting this affordable and slim MagSafe charger that can charge your iPhone from zero to 50% in just 30 minutes. Details $40 at Amazon For more, here are 17 hidden features on our iPhone you should know about and annoying iPhone features you can do something about.
CNET
05-05-2025
- CNET
Messaging in Plain Sight? This Notes App Hack Is Wildly Clever
Our phones have made it easier than ever to stay connected, but keeping conversations truly private is a lot harder than it used to be. Whether you're sharing something personal or planning a surprise, there's always the risk that someone might glance at your screen. The good news is, you don't need a fancy app to keep things discreet. If you're using an iPhone, the built-in Notes app can double as a private messaging space without downloading anything new. Apps like Signal and WhatsApp are great for privacy (unless you add the wrong person to your group chat), but sometimes the simplest tools are right under your nose. The built-in Notes app for iOS is a secret weapon for private conversations. It's always fun when you find a way to use an app outside of its intended use. It's almost like you're using it in a sneaky way that you shouldn't be, but all the parts are there to make this a simple way to have private conversations with someone. We'll lay it all out for you below. For more iOS tips, check out the new features in iOS 17.5 and how to easily view and copy Wi-Fi passwords on your iPhone or iPad. Create a note in the Notes app On your iPhone, launch the Notes app, and tap the compose button on the bottom right to create a new note. Next, type anything into the note to keep it, or else it'll automatically be deleted when you exit from the note. You can also just go into an existing note, but it's better to start fresh with a new one. First, create a new note or go into an existing one. Nelson Aguilar/CNET Adjust your note's share options to add collaborators Once your note is up and ready to go, you can begin the process of adding another person as a collaborator, which means they can read and edit whatever is in the note. To start, tap the More button on the top right, and then hit Share Note. Now tap Share Options and make sure the Can make changes option is selected under Permission. You should also toggle off Anyone can add people in case you want to be the only person who can add collaborators to your note. Go back to the last page when you're finished configuring these settings. Second, manage what your collaborators can do. Nelson Aguilar/CNET Add people and share the link Next, choose a method to share the note: You can send it via text message, email, social media and more. If you swipe on the share options, you can also select Copy Link, which copies the note link to your clipboard and allows you to paste it wherever you want. For this example, I'll choose the Copy Link option to share the note. At the top of the Copy Link page, enter the email address or phone number of the person you want to access the note. You can also tap the Add icon to search through your contacts. Adding a contact to the note is required. If you share the link without adding a contact, the other person won't be able to see or edit the note, even with the link. Lastly, hit Copy Link to copy the note link to your clipboard and share it with your collaborator. Next, add your collaborator(s). Nelson Aguilar/CNET Send secret messages using Notes The person on the receiving end must now open the note link and accept the invitation. If they accept, they'll be redirected to the Notes app and to the collaborative note you just created. To communicate, simply type something into the note, which the other person will be able to see in real-time without you having to hit send. They'll also receive a notification any time the note is altered. Each person in the note will have a corresponding color appear (only for a moment) so that everyone else knows who typed what. You can also swipe right from the middle of the note to see the name of who wrote the message, as well as a time stamp for when the message was written and any corresponding colors. Now you can secretly communicate with your friends or family. Nelson Aguilar/CNET You can also tap the Share Note button (with the check mark icon), go to Manage Shared Note and then toggle on Highlight All Changes. That way, all messages will stay permanently highlighted in their corresponding color, making it easier to read the conversation. If you want to keep your communications more low-key, delete your message or the other person's message to strike it from the note. That way your conversation is more like it would be on Snapchat, with ephemeral or short-lived messages that outsiders can't see if they snoop through your notes. You can do this with any text in the notes, as well as photos, videos, links, drawings or any other attachments you add to the note. Delete your secret chat for good Not all secret conversations can go on forever, so it's time now to end it. If you're the owner of the note and want to keep the note intact for everyone but prevent them from editing it, you can easily do so. On the top right, tap the View Participants button and then hit Manage Shared Note. To remove a participant, you can either swipe left on their name and then hit Remove or you can tap on their name and then tap Remove Access. To end the conversation, remove any collaborators or stop sharing the note. Nelson Aguilar/CNET Additionally, you can tap the Stop Sharing option, which will not only remove participants from the note but also delete the note from all of their devices. If you're not the owner of the note, you can just delete the note from the Notes application. For more tech tips, don't miss how to save money by borrowing an Airtag for travel and the two settings to change on your iPhone to go to sleep faster.
