With Macworld’s Mac 911 column, we take your questions and do our greatest to assist. We love being the place you come to with a purpose to discover solutions to nagging issues. Whereas the Mac 911 identify predates iOS, iPadOS, and iCloud, we’re pleased to reply questions on all these matters in addition to macOS and any Apple {hardware}, software program, or service.

We will help prevent a while should you seek the advice of this checklist of essentially the most generally requested questions we obtain. This tremendous FAQ supplies transient solutions to points that characterize a considerable portion of all the e-mail we obtain, together with hyperlinks to our full-length columns with extra particulars. A few of these columns date again a couple of years, however they continue to be updated for the steps it is advisable take, even when the looks of some interface components has modified.

Give attention to Images and iCloud Images

Ever since Apple launched Images for macOS, we’ve obtained a big variety of questions in regards to the Images apps for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, in addition to iCloud Images (previously iCloud Picture Library).

As a common tip, should you’re in search of assist in managing Images for macOS libraries, I extremely suggest Fats Cat Software program’s PowerPhotos. Amongst different issues, it could actually migrate iPhoto and Aperture libraries. PowerPhotos can also be the one software that may merge Images libraries, and works with Apple’s database format to search out and take away duplicates. For its $30 price ticket, you get each PowerPhotos and a replica of iPhoto Library Manager, which will help prep or handle iPhoto libraries.

Listed here are the questions requested most continuously about Images and iCloud Images.

• “I can’t delete a photograph.” A quite common drawback is that the Images app in iOS/iPadOS doesn’t allow them to delete a picture. This sometimes pertains to a earlier sync through iTunes that is still in impact even should you forgot that you simply ever used iTunes for media synchronization. See “How to delete photos in iOS when the trash can icon is grayed out.”
• “If I delete a photograph, will I delete it in all places?” If iCloud Images is enabled on the gadget from which you’re deleting a picture or video, then sure: it’s deleted on your whole gadgets (iPhones, iPads, and Macs) logged into the identical iCloud account which even have iCloud Images enabled.
• I deleted photographs and so they got here again! See “The problem with deleting photos from your device with iCloud Photo Library enabled” and “If you delete a photo from iCloud Photo Library, is it gone forever?”
• “I wish to retailer my Images library on an exterior drive.” See “How to move an Apple Photos for OS X library to an external drive” and “How to copy your Photos Library and keep its organization.”
• “I wish to again up my iCloud Images however I don’t have a completely hooked up drive that’s giant sufficient to retailer the complete decision of my photos and movies.” See “How to make a local backup of your iCloud Photos synced library.”
• “I deleted photographs and movies in Images, and wish them again.” Images has a Not too long ago Deleted album that retains media for 30 days, from which you’ll restore gadgets. Nevertheless, should you emptied that album or it’s been greater than 30 days, you’ll be able to solely retrieve the lacking media from backups.
• “How do I again up iPhone photographs and video with iCloud Images turned off?” The reply is in this column.
• “I turned iCloud Images off and wish to flip it again on. What’s going to occur to my libraries?” You’ll wind up with a merged superset of all of your media, as I clarify in “What happens to your pics if you had iCloud Photos off, but turn it back on?”
• “iCloud Images stopped syncing.” Here’s how to fix it.
• “I by accident modified the date and/or time on a bunch of photos and movies in Images for macOS! Can I roll this again?” You possibly can’t carry out an undo, however you’ll be able to repair the issue with a sensible albums. Seek the advice of “How to fix incorrect date and time corrections in Photos.”
• “After syncing photographs from two gadgets I didn’t imply to, can I untangle a mixed iCloud Images library?” Sure: I present methods to determine which photographs and different media belong to which account in “How to untangle a merged set of iCloud Photos.”

Erase, revive, restore, and reinstall macOS

After Images, we get a whole lot of questions associated to macOS, significantly coping with cleansing up a system on the market or restoring one which appears to have gone kaput. Let’s begin with erasing a Mac, by accident or deliberately erasing information, or a Mac that received’t begin up macOS or boot in any respect:

• “I’m promoting my Mac. How do I wipe it correctly earlier than sale?” I like to recommend making at the least one, if not two, full backups that you simply confirm for accuracy, after which observe our directions: “How to prepare a Mac for sale or a return to an employer.” With a Mac working macOS 12 Monterey, you need to use a less complicated “erase all” possibility—learn “There’s a super easy way to clean-install macOS Monterey.”
• “I can’t restart my new Mac into restoration mode.” Apple’s new M-series Macs, beginning with the Apple silicon M1 chip, have a completely completely different technique to entry the particular restoration mode used for troubleshooting, sharing simply volmes on the startup and different hooked up drives with out beginning up in macOS, and making sure system safety settings. See “How to find every troubleshooting boot mode on an M1 Mac.”
• “I by accident deleted all my information. How can I get them again?” For those who don’t have any backups through Time Machine, a web based hosted backup, or synced variations of your information, read this column for more ideas. The information could also be gone for good. (It is best to beginning backing up at present: learn “How to create a backup strategy with terabytes of files.”)
• “I can’t get macOS to begin.” If the recoveryOS quantity in your drive stays energetic, you’ll be able to energy up with the suitable mixture of keys for an Intel Mac or an Apple Silicon M-series Mac, and use macOS Recovery to reinstall macOS. If it’s lacking, on an Intel Mac, you can try internet Recovery. With an Apple Silicon M-series Mac, if the Mac is non-responsive, you must use both the “revive” or “restore” choices, which require entry to a different Mac, the right peripheral cable, and an web connection; learn “How to revive or restore an unresponsive Mac from another Mac.” You can even attempt to reinstall macOS from an exterior USB drive: see “How to create a bootable macOS Big Sur installer drive. (We have now articles on create installers for older variations of OS X and macOS, too.)
• “My Mac received’t present a drive or restoration choices.” For those who get a flashing query mark, your drive might have failed or change into broken. You could possibly use web restoration with an Intel Mac or the revive/restore choices for an Apple silicon Mac. Apple suggests several other options, too. If none of that works, search out assist from Apple Assist or a restore store that works on Macs.

Discover solutions to different frequent macOS questions

Listed here are a couple of different questions that generally come up round macOS.

• “My Mac says Wi-Fi not put in. Why?” This one is a poser, because it might be a community configuration corruption drawback in macOS (or OS X), a {hardware} failure, or one thing else completely. I’ve some recommendation in “What to do when your Mac says Wi-Fi hardware isn’t installed” and “How to fix a missing Wi-Fi entry in macOS.” Sadly, it’s sometimes a {hardware} failure that might require restore or alternative of the principle circuit board. As a substitute, you should purchase a $25 USB-based Wi-Fi adapter, the Edimax AC1200, although it requires USB Kind-A. As of April 2022, the required driver is barely out there for macOS releases by way of 10.15 Catalina.
• “Why am I seeing a message that claims ‘Wi-Fi is paused’?” It’s not your Mac (or iPad or iPhone), however a router you’re related to that’s blocking your entry. The answer is in “What to do when your Mac shows a Wi-Fi message that says your device is paused.”
• “My keyboard received’t let me sort sure keys.” Check out “Your Mac won’t type U, I, O, J, K, L, and M? Here’s why” and “What to do whe you caot type certai letters o your MacBook.”
• ”The place did All My Recordsdata disappear to within the Finder?” Folks cherished the Finder’s All My Recordsdata” search, which appeared by default within the sidebar and when opening new tabs or home windows. For unknown causes, Apple dropped it after macOS 10.13 Excessive Sierra, changing it with a a lot worse Recents possibility, which is extra restricted in some ways. You possibly can add a alternative for All My Recordsdata by following a couple of not-that-complicated steps in “How to use Spotlight’s query language to create an All My Files-like feature.”
• “I can’t discover my FileVault Restoration Key!” No worries, except you want it to reset a login. Seek the advice of “How to find your FileVault recovery key in macOS” and likewise “Is your macOS FileVault Recovery Key current? Here’s how to check.” If it is advisable entry your Mac through the Restoration Key, learn “How to unlock your Mac with its Recovery Key and FileVault active.”
• “I’m following your directions to unenroll from macOS beta releases, and it’s not working.” Whereas we have now directions at “How to leave the macOS beta program,” a number of readers haven’t been in a position to get this to work.
• “How can I cut up one shared macOS account into two separate ones?” For those who’ve been utilizing a macOS account that’s shared with a number of different folks, I provide methods on splitting them into two in “How to split a macOS account into two.”

Work out your most shows (and broaden it)

Apple has a lot selection amongst its Macs about what number of exterior shows you’ll be able to add and of what selection, we’ve collected that info—plus a bonus.

Handle Time Machine snapshots and volumes

Apple took Time Machine by way of a transition throughout its shift from the HFS+ (MacOS Prolonged) drive format to its trendy APFS (Apple Submitting System) that phased in beginning a couple of years in the past. You may need an previous Time Machine quantity formatted as HFS+ or an older Mac utilizing that format on its startup quantity. Interacting with APFS could be difficult—as can managing snapshots saved on the native quantity or as a part of Time Machine backups.

Choose the suitable cable, adapter, or dock

The USB-C jack/plug format is a delight for being compact, customary, and reversible throughout its lengthy entry—no extra fumbling with the oblong USB Kind-A plug to make sure it’s the suitable manner “up”! However as a result of USB-C can be utilized for USB 3.1 and three.2, USB4, Thunderbolt 3 and 4, and DisplayPort, in addition to docks and hubs, confusion abounds.

• “What’s the suitable port or cable to make use of?” One in all our most typical class of questions is how to determine what port or cable is correct for connecting docks, exterior drives, Macs to different Macs, and including different peripherals. You possibly can learn this common information to understanding USB and Thunderbolt, “Learn to untangle USB and Thunderbolt,” together with which cables work greatest for the 2 requirements. If you wish to add a drive to your Mac, “Which Mac port is the best to use for external storage?” will information you to the perfect mixture of value and throughput.
• “Why does my onerous drive unmount after I plug it different periperhals right into a dock hooked up to my Mac?” Your dock might lack the mandatory energy to deal with all of the gadgets you’re attaching. Work out necessities utilizing “When buying a USB-C dock, check if it can provide enough power to your peripherals.”
• “How can I exploit my Apple USB SuperDrive with a USB-C connection?” The SuperDrive has some odd energy traits that make it incompatible with some adapters and docks. You’ll find out join a SuperDrive efficiently in “How to connect an Apple USB SuperDrive to a newer Mac.”

Kind out Apple ID points

Whereas the Apple ID account has existed for a few years now, Apple nonetheless presents no technique to merge, cut up, switch, or principally manipulate most of what’s related to an account. You possibly can’t cut up purchases amongst two accounts for individuals who shared one; you’ll be able to’t merge synced knowledge, purchases, or different info from two or extra accounts into one. Because of this, we get quite a few Apple ID questions on a regular basis. Listed here are the commonest.

“Why is Apple telling me that my ‘Apple ID has not but been used with the App Retailer’?” This most likely began cropping up in late 2021 and we’ve had fairly a couple of experiences of it. Our greatest recommendation can be found here, however you could must contact Apple on to resolve it.

“I’ve two Apple IDs (or my associate/partner/and so forth. and I every have one).” Many individuals have wound up with two Apple IDs that handle completely different components of their Apple expertise due to how Apple launched completely different companies. I exploit one account that was registered first as an iTools account, for all of my synchronization, whereas one other, which began as my private electronic mail tackle, for iTunes and App Retailer purchases.

Many individuals additionally write in as a result of two or extra folks of their household grouping (whether or not a pair or together with youngsters or dad and mom or others) have distinctive Apple IDs and so they wish to share purchases or info amongst them, questioning if Household Sharing is an efficient possibility.

There’s actually nothing you are able to do about any of those conditions, however individuals who have been advised this previously by Apple and supposed gurus like yours actually proceed to ask, as a result of it’s so irritating and appears unreasonable.

I do have some common recommendation, nonetheless:

• If what you’re doing is working however annoying, it is best to be taught to just accept it, as a result of it appears unlikely Apple will ever change this. I’m typically pissed off in organising new gadgets or coping with sudden password requests for iCloud, the App Retailer, and different Apple properties resulting from my two-account scenario, however it does work reliably. I haven’t misplaced any knowledge, and I can all the time entry my purchases.
• For those who’re utilizing electronic mail through iCloud with one account, and have all of your purchases on one other, you’ll be able to transition every thing besides electronic mail to your buying account, and swap to have every thing sync by way of that account for iCloud. You possibly can tie iCloud in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS to the acquisition account, and arrange an email-only connection to your email-focused iCloud account. I counsel a plan in “Can you merge synced data from multiple Apple IDs?” and “How one can merge two macOS accounts into one.”
• Household Sharing may match in some instances, although I don’t love the implementation. Chris Breen wrote up a transition suggestion in 2014 that also works, however not for everybody.

“I share an account with another person; can we cut up it in two (as a result of they’re now an grownup little one of mine, I and the opposite particular person have cut up up, we now need separate accounts)?” That is truly simpler than merging two accounts into one, with the exception that gadgets bought in a single account stay with that beginning account. Nevertheless, different knowledge could be migrated; learn “What to do when breaking up a shared Apple ID account.” And, if the particular person you’re separating out into one other account is a part of a Household Sharing group, they will retain entry to most or all the purchases within the Apple ID they had been previously a part of; see “How to split up an Apple ID among family members and forward their email.”

“I’ve an Apple ID in a single nation; how can I modify the nation for that Apple ID’s registration?” You possibly can, however you lose access to all your purchases. You possibly can preserve separate Apple IDs which can be registered in several international locations, however that may be problematic if you wish to swap amongst them to entry completely different purchases or knowledge, as I clarify in “How to use different iTunes accounts for different languages.”

No, Siri, no!

Siri has limitations round appropriately spelling belongings you communicate and appropriately saying phrases and names. There are some workarounds.

• “Siri received’t spell one thing appropriately.” Siri might transcribe a reputation or phrase incorrectly. You possibly can add the appropriately spelled model of the phrase or identify to a contact identify, and that may make things better. You can even swipe down on the Siri display and kind to right misspelled phrases in its model. It’s purported to get higher over time as you make these corrections, however Siri nonetheless transcribes “Offie” as a substitute of the app “Authy,” regardless of what number of instances I right it.
• “Siri received’t pronounce my identify or another person’s identify appropriately.” You possibly can inform Siri that it received it incorrect, and Siri provides alternative pronunciations from which you’ll decide, or you’ll be able to add a phrase or identify to a contact and use a hidden phonetic subject in Contacts to supply the right technique to say it. Sadly, this doesn’t all the time work, both, to guage by reader experiences.

Sorry, we will’t show you how to with correcting Apple Maps

As a result of we have now written about report errors in Apple Maps to Apple, many hasty and informal discoverers of Macworld’s web site consider we both are Apple or have a magic conduit to that land of fruit and aluminium. We don’t.

Nevertheless, we do have this column that explains file corrections your self—or, should you don’t have an Apple gadget, get somebody with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to file a correction for you. Learn “Apple Maps lists your location incorrectly? You can report it.”

Ask Mac 911

We’re all the time in search of new issues to resolve! E mail yours to mac911@macworld.com, together with display captures as applicable and whether or not you need your full identify used. Not each query shall be answered, we don’t reply to electronic mail, and we can not present direct troubleshooting recommendation.