10 common iPhone mistakes people keep making! (do you?)

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In this video, I'll share 10 mistakes I see iPhone owners making, and what I think you should be doing instead.
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Chapters
0:00 - Intro
0:25 - Habitually force-quitting apps
2:02 - Common battery mistakes
5:23 - Not checking Location & Privacy Services
7:19 - Never closing Safari tabs
8:02 - Camera mistakes
10:04 - Not updating your software
11:19 - Giving your phone to a child WITHOUT using Guided Access
12:52 - Not using Dictation
13:48 - Not using Find My
15:00 - Not cancelling App subscriptions

[@ProperHonestTech]

Protect your online privacy with PIA VPN and get 83% OFF + 4 EXTRA months for free! 🔥🔥 Only using my link! piavpn.com/PHT

[@khalidrashid5632]

Please provide your transcript of your statement in English

[@ProperHonestTech]

@@khalidrashid5632 I have no idea what you're talking about I'm afraid.

[@NancyCastro-bk2qk]

⁠anben

[@locobob]

Regarding subscriptions, know that if you are really only planning on using the app during the trial period, you can cancel subscription immediately after you subscribe. You can still use the app during the trial period and you won’t forget to cancel before it’s too late. You can always resubscribe at a later date if you change your mind.

[@daxoxo]

yes this is a pretty valid point. i just want to say this does not work with every subscription service be careful and read the print before you confirm cancellation. some services end trial on cancellation while most other do not & thus allow the trial to continue

[@SuperHans64]

@@daxoxo Yes, Apple subscriptions end the trial as soon as you cancel .. as I found out to my chagrin!

[@riffdex]

@@SuperHans64 was just gonna mention this. It doesn’t work for Apple+ subscription. They too smart for us (but yeah they don’t particularly care if you instantly cancel subscriptions for other app or service providers)

[@JG-kd2hf]

@@daxoxo no no

[@daxoxo]

@@JG-kd2hf yes yes

[@bethcoussou]

I’ve had iPhones for over a decade and heard contradicting info regarding apps running in the background. I normally close them out thinking it was the same as having multiple tabs open in Safari. Thanks for setting the record straight. I will definitely leave my apps open in the future (unless I’m having trouble with one freezing up or not working properly. I will also subscribe to your newsletter. Your channel is very helpful and useful. You speak clearly, show screenshots and videos of what you’re speaking on, and I really appreciate that. Thank you!

[@Richard.Cabeza]

One of if not the best presentations regarding Apple devises and services. I like your verbal and physical presentation and your visual aids. Clean, precise, to the point and professional. Well done. I’ve been watching more of your videos and forwarding them to friends in need of advice with their products.

[@sue7477]

I really like and appreciate the way you list the chapters next to your video. It really helps!!

[@Blackspanishman]

Man am gonna struggle withe not closing all the apps ive been doing that ever since my first smartphone its just habit now 😂

[@WikiPal]

You are one of the best, Tom. Your videos are accurate, clear, spoken in a professional voice and extremely useful. Thanks for your precious activity!

[@worldgonemad1977]

I think closing apps harks back to the days of old computers where there wasn’t enough memory to run several programmes together (oldie here) I have to remind myself not to close apps. I have a behemoth of a computer upstairs and when I think of how slow old computers were, and the original half brick mobile phone I had years ago, I really appreciate the slim little iphone in my pocket and your channel helps me greatly in getting the best out of it. Thank you

[@null-nl5su]

On computers people still usually close apps they don't need because they use up RAM and distract you when switching between apps. There is nothing wrong with closing apps you no longer need and it reduces RAM usage even on iOS. Also it's easier to swipe between apps when there aren't dozens of them floating in the background.

[@zahifar3936]

I keep the apps I use daily in the background. I force close the ones I use occasionally. I also let the phone cool down before charging it should it be warm. I have a feeling that’s useful. Location services and privacy are always in check to avoid needless use and help the battery life. I also found that keeping the screen on automatic brightness is the best thing to do. Hold tab to close all tabs is new to me although not that useful as I don’t keep many tabs open at one time.

[@cheska9999]

Thanks for another very helpful video and for not overloading it with distracting music.

[@elizabethyoung8150]

Thanks great content! Always looking forward to your weekly update. I always learned something new! Keep up the great work you do. 😊

[@rikspector]

Well done, This is invaluable especially for newbies, but it's always good to check and recheck settings! Cheers, Rik Spector

[@ricwestdoesitwork]

Very informative information and thank you for the advice.

[@tshwaranangtshule1223]

I have become more confident with using my iPhone since I’ve subscribed to your channel. Thank you so much ❤

[@derekjarembo9709]

Very informative, thank you!

[@harrisonandrew]

Superb video, I learned so much. Thank you.

[@aoerel11]

Thank you!

[@sammayet9002]

Wow, very interesting ❤❤❤thanks again for the tips

[@rllaneso]

Thank you!🎉

[@Allam_Games]

I think you provide quality content, subscribed to something after a long time

[@garycard1826]

Great video Tom. I’ve had an iPhone since 2012 and have continued to hear conflicting advice about leaving Apps open, so this is really good to know. I assume this also applies to the Mac M1 running Ventura. Is that correct?

[@gbear768]

thank you , your channel is absolutely excellent

[@genehager8481]

Thanks!

[@arashy]

Another helpful video!

[@Quince828]

Really helpful tips. I don’t know why Apple keeps listing subscriptions I have cancelled or the subscription has run out. Sometimes one wants to try something new for a few weeks but ultimately decide it’s not for them. As for Find My, randomly my phone or iPad will say it has found my right AirPod when it’s not lost and I didn’t ask for it to be found.

[@tutubeos]

Fantastic 💙 thank you 🙏

[@viktorsirin]

So as I watched on my iPad and checked settings on my phone for each section, I STILL kept swiping up and closing open apps. It is definitely a habit, but I’m learning…. After moving into the Apple ecosystem from Windows a few years ago, I am getting things slowly worked out. I have a Mac mini, iPhone, iPad, and a brand new 15-inch MBA which I love. Still trying to figure out how to make all the Bluetooth and iCloud and other settings work seamlessly. I’m trying to use the built in apps as much as possible and the more I do the more I realize how they work together. Thanks for an informative channel and a low-key way of presentation.

[@carrs01]

Thank you for these tips. Especially keeping apps open, I always thought you should close. Is there a finite number you can keep open? Does your phone close apps not used or left open after a certain amount of time? Excuse the rookie question.

[@saibal86]

I am an existing customer of PIA for some time now. I had contacted their customer support and requested a discounted price and they quoted 25 USD for one year. Been a happy customer since. I specially love the feature that you can set your custom DNS via the PIA app. This helps to eliminate any ads in your phone in any app.

[@tiffcat1100]

V useful thank you esp re subscriptions ❤

[@imranbohari1]

Great video ❤

[@sharimissmanmiller1185]

Love your videos!!!❤

[@frankieking1941]

Love your work, always excellent videos. Honest question, re MFI leads, power bricks, and I assume chargers. Do they all need to be MFI? For example, a non MFI lead plugged into the IPhone but connected to the correct PSU.

[@vasterbottning]

thank you for explaining so even a senior like me understands, (at least most of it.) I was looking for explanations about iCloud or Google for storing my pictures. I always had Google Photos, which I understand and can make files. For some reason, I also have iCloud, and having both confuses me. did you make a movie explaining this?

[@shaunmckenna1923]

Thank you very much I am learning but very slow to catch on , I am 71 . I would to know what you think of using the car charging pad , I dont use mine as the iphone gets very hot , the problem is on long trips and you are using Apple car play I need the phone charged up. I wouls like to know in the reminders app which I really like is there any way of getting any audio alert. Thanks again .

[@raidraid6672]

Very informative video as usual. thank you. My photos info shows that its HEIF as apposed to your HEIC. Why is that and what's the difference?

[@null-nl5su]

The advice for Safari tabs applies to apps too, and tabs are also unloaded when they use too much RAM and have to be reloaded later.

[@HerroYuy246]

I force close apps to free up the background bandwidth they can sometimes use. It helps when in lower signal areas.

[@mattmorrisson9607]

Great video! Any idea why my iPhone keeps asking me if I want to trust my MacBook when I plug it in to charge? I keep saying yes, but every few weeks, it asks me if I want to trust it, as if it's a new device.

[@N1ftyNick]

Does the charging recommendations change for the new USBc adapters?

[@artfartzy]

The problem with leaving apps open in the background is that some social media apps actually use battery even when running in the background, I read an article about it the other day and it confirmed what i've noticed myself, that some apps like IG, FB and others use more battery if you leave it open in the background. Is why I always close apps when im not using them, the power it takes to open the app again from scratch is so little anyways.

[@HaruhiSuzumiya93]

Not if you have “background app refresh” turned off. Settings»General»Background App Refresh» turn it off. Problem solved. Don’t close your apps.

[@ClintThomsen]

Thanks for the reminder on subscriptions. I just checked and was able to cancel a bunch I didn’t want before they renewed.

[@k-pm6iy]

When advising people to close their Safari tabs, you might want to let them know that they don’t have to lose all of those pages. They can add them to the reading list before closing those tabs.

[@richardrubin120]

Thank you! Another great u tube. One quick question. How do I stop flagged junk mail?

[@brianbowring9616]

Thanks

[@ProperHonestTech]

Thank you very much!

[@kidnextdxxr]

1. I close all apps I use rarely and keep open the ones I use the most usually abt 4-10. Or I’ll forget and close them all before bed 2. I always use baker brand. Best chargers ever. Rn I use 20w nano pro with Apple cable 3. I usually have over 200 tabs but I go and close unnecessary ones like once a week or few weeks

[@Mr450pro]

You earned a sub 👌🏻

[@ottomatic7823]

Great content! Where else can I hear the word "whilst".... not here in the USA.

[@jeffswanson3740]

I always force quit. Always have , always will. No issues on a 5-6 yr old XR.

[@EtherBunny1]

Guided Access great for friends who always want to “wander” around your phone.

[@EdwinvandenAkker]

2:55 _"…Always avoid letting your iPhone get too hot…"_ I use my iPhone for navigation on a daily base, for long rides. I have a wireless charging station on my car's air vent. This cools the phone. When I got my new iPhone, the Apple Store checked my battery status. The battery health state was 89% after 2.5 years. Cooling it down pays off!

[@dereckabackus5411]

On use Location services for dating apps or transportation app.

[@iamveryhappy3433]

New kid on the block just got my first apple device the iPhone 14 plus i love it my girlfriend now has my Samsung S22+ of which is a very good device as well thank you for your review

[@freddemeisterman3439]

Hi, i have to ask, do you know how magsafe effect iphone battery? I have read on internet that iphone battery lifetime get shorter if you charge your phone during night if it takes 2 hour to charge to 100% and then it charge after 100% last 5 hrs, that if you do this everyday its not good for your iphone battery, so how is it working ? Thanx in advance for help

[@afdil13]

i have iphone recently and not included charger, so i'm using macbook air m1 charger for it, it is good?

[@MrAntonisG]

About RAW photos, you may took the same picture but its not about editing. If you zoom in, you will notice a major difference. I dont edit but when i zoom in, which i do, i want it as perfect as it gets! Anyway, is there any way to disable fast charging and so overheating?

[@paulguy2545]

I would advise against installing iOS Betas (unless you have access to a nearby charger & you have a Spare iPhone for testing) because those can be more of a drain than the Public Releases are, particularly iOS & iPadOS 16 and Betas are more focused on trying to get newer features working properly than Battery Life. I myself can attest to that as my iPhone 13’s Battery overall Health has been impacted more this year than with older models & public OS releases. Otherwise I’m usually pretty mindful and I still get a pretty decent battery performance (at 90% since New in April 2022). I didn’t know about the Shortcut to closing ALL of Safari’s tabs in one shot until you pointed it out in this video, so thanks for that great time-saving tip ;)👏!

[@marcrodet4900]

I have been using many (public) betas and never got any special issues, including in terms of battery life. But by definition, beta versions, especially early ones, are potentially subject to bugs and performance lags

[@epiphoney]

I think when there's a lot of apps in the background, the ram memory usage gets high, and then new apps might crash on launch, something that's seemingly never been addressed. That's when I go through and kill all the apps. If I'm having trouble with something in car mode, I'll try the same thing. Also, what drives me crazy is if I set 16x9 photos, when I go to crop I have to turn on "freeform crop" every time.

[@satxrnhimself]

I have a iPhone 14 Pro, but it has some issues. The issues are poor battery life, overheating, scrolling stuttering screen issues and lags in games issues of my iPhone 14 Pro. Software updates didn’t help and Apple Store employee checked it and said that the phone is ok. Therefore I want to either buy a 13 Pro from parallel importer store or trade in to the 15 Pro / Pro Max. Or maybe wait for the 16 Pro / Pro Max because it’s a S year of the iPhone (since the 13 Pro), so therefore they will be more stable and reliable phones with better battery life. What do you recommend to do?

[@petecoventry6858]

That's a specific handset issue. I have the 14 pro max and none of those issues exist.

[@hsko8007]

I do get poor battery life and overheating on my 14 pro as well, but I live in a country where it's 42C outside on a good day, so overheating comes from it. Battery life is worse when the phone is hot - so that's it. I don't play games so idk about that but no stuttering appears for me? Don't buy the 15, wait for the 16. The 13 is not that different from the 14 too, I had one.

[@artfartzy]

Is live photos enabled by default ? I do have the option turned on in preserve settings, so if I turn off live photos in the camera it doesnt turn it back on the next time i open the camera. I really don't understand why live photos is enabled by default.

[@sylvainalain6637]

With the new iPhone 15 with the usb C port , how can we slow charge and iPhone maybe to preserve a little bit more the battery health ? Every Apple chargers that a know are usbc(20w) or their old usbA(12-10 and 5w).

[@hippopotamusbosch]

Does force quitting work the same on iPadOS, especially with memory hunger graphics apps?

[@hippopotamusbosch]

@@kelticd5397 💛 Thanks friend.

[@Oldnose63]

13:38 you are right that voice recognition has become much better now. I’m impressed for English and German but Dutch still is utter nonsense. Also in iOS 17 the carefully developed dictionary of my personally most used words and expressions in all languages seems to have disappeared for all languages when I installed iOS 17 so I have to teach my iPhone again what I mean. That puzzled me. So there still are languages that can’t really use dictation without correcting complete sentences.

[@md_studios9819]

Been looking for a way to change which keys from other languages are on your keyboard at the same time ex: ß and ł on the same keyboard or having the Dutch ij as a single key. Does anyone know how to do that or where to find out about it?

[@chweehar]

Since installed pvn on my phone, I have had many problems with the operation of some apps/sites, Please help

[@user-xj7hn6uk8b]

Where is the photo on the computer? the one with an island? is it Porto Santo?

[@WikiPal]

I will let open, after having heard your advice, all apps I used in the background. But... what about an App that use the location, like maps? Doesn'it continue to localize my iphone, therefore using battery even if I don't need to consult the App anymore?

[@HaruhiSuzumiya93]

It will only ping the location if the app setting for location is set to “while using the app” or if you have “always” then change it to while using the app

[@vtara718]

I have to connect to my employers wifi at work otherwise I have no mobile service at all. I’ve tried connecting only when it’s needed and disconnecting but I often forget and often it takes forever to reconnect. So if I get a vpn will they still be able to see everything I do on my device? I’m not doing anything wrong I just don’t like the idea that they can see what I do even during my time off the clock. I am not allowed to leave the building (teacher) but if I want to watch a show on my break or do some shopping I feel like I should be able to without my employer all in my business. Ope it’s 12:05 and she is online shopping. Or 12:15 and she is scrolling KZbin videos.

[@tomaszkpl]

Guided Access is great but very risky feature. At least three times (on different versions of IOS) one game locked itself into this mode and I was not able to get out of this mode. I had to wait until my battery will discharge completely and iPhone will switch off by itself. Luckily battery was about 20-30% so it wasn't full day of struggle and misery.

[@Rapkyrpang]

Lol you can just force restart the iphone man by tapping the volume up then volune down then hold the lock buuton

[@alexthemtaandr211weatherfa2]

Or device restore will reset most settings temporarily and turn off guided access after restoring your device is stuck in a specific app caused by it and use a pc

[@zeyy84]

8:01 how can I edit the safari home page to become like this?

[@jamesbright6720]

My iPad (7thgeneration) acts badly if I don't fully stop programs and get out of RAM. I am afraid to leave programs in background of iPhone even if it slows down the phone or uses more battery.

[@donaldnorth3714]

Stumped…..what steps do I take to make sure what I’ve selected on my iPhone is synced with my iPad and my iMac, e.g. text messages, mail, etc.?

[@IanBerg]

Be sure to sign into all the Apple devices with the same Apple ID so they are linked to the same iCloud account. And on each of them be sure to enable sync and backup to the iCloud.

[@tesla-spectre]

regarding the closing of apps: that is true for the iphone but eg I swipe off the Tesla app because otherwise it regularly checks with my car and that costs little but unnecessary batterie in the car because it wakes up 🎉

[@michelekendzie]

So we should leave our apps open but shouldn't keep a bunch of Safari tabs? How is those different? In fact, it seems to me that since I keep Safari closed when I'm not using it, my ~10 saved tabs aren't doing any harm. I prefer to only keep apps open that I'm using; having a bunch of apps open is clutter to me. Is it really a significant battery drain to reopen them?

[@leniwsek]

Payette Forward channel says closing apps isn't bad and should be used sooo... people have different opinions

[@ScottMicale]

Sonos app kills battery if you keep it running. So does the nest app.

[@susanjohnston4066]

So appreciate your brilliant, thoughtful, and extremely informative videos. You are making such a positive difference in our lives. Thank you. ❤

[@cartmanuser]

I’m glad the general public don’t use dictation. My family uses it and you can hear them speaking messages to their friends from across the room

[@jaestreets751]

😂😂😂😂🤦🏽‍♂️💀😂😂

[@ljacobs357]

The biggest mistake I made was buying an iPhone.

[@birdbird7685]

😂

[@darenbayliss7173]

In my car I have a contactless charger where when I put the iPhone in the charger, it charges it. However I’ve noticed that the phone has got very warm by the time I take it out of the charger. Is this harming the phone and should I stop using the in car charger?

[@lcph94]

All wireless chargers will damage the battery. Heat is the #1 enemy for batteries. If you change the battery after 2 years you shouldn’t worry about it degrading. However if you want to preserve battery life as much as you can, use wired charging and avoid the phone being heated (wireless charging, using in direct sunlight, etc.) hope this helps

[@MikeWarner75]

I don’t know if it does anything, but once every few weeks I’ll quit all apps and do a forced reboot. In my head this just cleans the slate, but it probably does nothing! I decided this year to start buying cables from good brands only! I threw away my cheap ones. Going forward I’m only buying cables with their spec written on them (speed, wattage, HDMI spec etc.).

[@freddymiguelponce]

Another fantastic video! Thank you so much for putting valuable information available for all of us in a simple way that everyone can understand I wish you a Productive and Healthy day!

[@petecoventry6858]

I just spent £200 on an Anker Prime power bank and wireless charger as well as magsafe - as I want my phones to last 3-4 years at a time. It's £75 to get a battery replaced at an apple shop so the battery should never be a reason to change a phone IMHO

[@0-9880]

HI there I have followed you advises but My iphone 14 pro max picture in picture is not workinganymore . I want it back what do I have to do ?

[@HaruhiSuzumiya93]

Settings » General » Picture in Picture » Switch it on.

[@medounelo4417]

I kill apps not to save battery or anything but because I don’t like having to look for the app I want to use in between a lot of open apps. I use a lot of apps throughout the day and when I’m circling around a couple apps at a particular time of the day I wanna be able to see only those apps when I open the switcher…

[@laissezfaire9762]

“Hey Siri, open XYZ.” Problem solved.

[@PeterDunnPhotographer]

I only force close apps when there are 30+ open and new apps open but dont perform (black screen, no cursor) as normal.

[@RobertSavage1985]

For some reason my phone never automatically updates. I have it switched on, but I always have to manually start the update when I notice that it’s there. Same thing for my watch and IPad.

[@patriciaenglish1027]

Under Find My Phone should ‘send last location’ be turned on?

[@patriciaenglish1027]

Never mind. You answered it. I love your videos!

[@anisurrahmannikul8689]

All the best

[@lindaj5492]

Good grief! First few seconds - don’t ’force quit’ apps you’re likely to revisit - and I’ve already learned something really important! Does this also apply to iPad?

[@sukihitz291]

In doing some research I have found that yes, this does apply to IPads as well…

[@T_210]

Love to see how to set volume for Calls (Ringer) and for various Notifications (New email, Appt reminder, Meeting) to have different volume levels. My 14Pro does far more than I know, but I sure can't find how to do this (nor goes Google know or be willing to share). Thanks!

[@Beth_tx79]

YES!

[@vtara718]

Yes! I turn my ringer down then can’t hear the alarm! It’s frustrating.

[@vtara718]

Also I would like a better explanation about the vpn. So when connected to public wifi should you only open the vpn and not use the actual apps?

[@iantroup]

I thought there was a feature that if you are wearing your Apple Watch if you left your iPhone at home it would alert you to tell you that you had left your iPhone at home to prevent you leaving home without your iPhone? I love watching your videos btw.

[@ellenhagen447]

My Apple Watch tells me if I leave my phone at home

[@Itwontfitn]

The app is frozen unless you allow it to keep refreshing in the background.. Right?

[@marcus_cole_2]

I'm curious about why you created this video. Mistake number two: not using MFi (Made for iPhone). Considering Apple has been advised to adopt the universal USB Type-C system, something they can't control, why are they going to charge an MFi tax on their USB-C cables? Furthermore, they might limit power delivery if it's not MFi-certified. Did you receive payment for this?

[@ProperHonestTech]

I created the video because it was a topic I wanted to discuss. If I’d received payment, it would have been declared.

[@beckamsalvatore1422]

I always allowed apps to access my location because I didn’t really mind and now I get 3 hrs of screen time on my iPhone 8 Plus 😬

[@robinthomasmathew9873]

What ever u say!! Apple not providing uhd in amazon and netflix is a big thumbs down for me!! What a pity😅😅😅

[@dalshadhasan4225]

It was so annoying to close all tabs one by one, I even reached 500 tabs open and I had to close them one by one , I’m so thankful for sharing you made my life easier 😂

[@RobertSavage1985]

Me too. I would get so annoyed thinking “how could there not be a close all tabs?” button.

[@MikeSellersGA]

Tim Apple 😂😂😂

[@fleetcomm1]

My battery has been at 84% for a while. Is it true that you should get a new battery when it’s below 80%?

[@ProperHonestTech]

Apple will replace your battery (if you have Apple Care cover for the phone) when the battery drops below 80%, but not before. So you'd assume that this is the generally accepted level.

[@petecoventry6858]

I am not sure Apple Care is worth it - Well not for the UK - it's £75 to replace a battery but around £200 for the 2 years of cover + the one off payment per time.

[@ProperHonestTech]

@@petecoventry6858 Valid point, although keep in mind it covers more than just battery replacements (I've got the loss and theft included, as I reckon my most likely claim is going to be a dropped phone, or a stolen phone)

[@berritanner3250]

An iPhone I had for over a year started to have issues. Apple replaced it free of charge. The cost of Apple Care was definitely worth it in that instance.

[@supersparkie]

On force-quiting: major exception for apps that uses gps in the background. Closing these will save lots of battery life. How can u not mention this…?

[@wicked_observer]

No one I know forces apps closed to free up memory they do it for privacy reasons

[@ProperHonestTech]

Can you elaborate? I don't understand how force closing apps enhances privacy?

[@Cjmboo]

privacy reasons i never heard of that