With Macworld ’s Mac 911 column , we take your question and do our best to aid . We love being the lieu you come to for happen answer to nagging job . While the Mac 911 name predates iOS , iPadOS , and iCloud , we ’re well-chosen to answer questions about all those matter as well as macOS and any Apple ironware , software , or servicing .
We can help save you some prison term if you consult this list of the most ordinarily ask motion we get . This ace FAQ provides brief answer to way out that comprise a substantial portion of all the electronic mail we receive , along with link to our full - length column with more details . Some of these columns date back a few long time , but they continue up to appointment for the steps you require to take , even if the appearance of some user interface elements has changed .
Focus on Photos and iCloud Photos
Ever since Apple resign photograph for macOS , we ’ve received ahugenumber of questions about the Photos apps for macOS , iOS , and iPadOS , as well as iCloud Photos ( formerly iCloud Photo Library ) .
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Here are the questions ask most frequently about Photos and iCloud Photos .
Erase, revive, restore, and reinstall macOS
After Photos , we get a lot of questions related to macOS , particularly dealing with cleaning up a system for cut-rate sale or reestablish one that seems to have gone kaput . permit ’s start with delete a Mac , accidentally or intentionally wipe out data file , or a Mac that wo n’t start up macOS or kick at all :
Find answers to other common macOS questions
Here are a few other enquiry that unremarkably arise around macOS .
Figure out your maximum displays (and expand it)
Apple has so much variety among its Macs about how many external display you may add and of what potpourri , we ’ve pick up that information — plus a fillip .
Manage Time Machine snapshots and volumes
Apple rent Time Machine through a transition across its teddy from the HFS+ ( MacOS Extended ) drive format to its modern APFS ( Apple Filing System ) that phase in starting a few age ago . You might have an old Time Machine volume formatted as HFS+ or an sometime Mac using that data format on its inauguration loudness . Interacting with APFS can be tricky — as can deal snapshots hive away on the local volume or as part of Time Machine backups .
Pick the right cable, adapter, or dock
The USB - C gob / plug format is a pleasure for being succinct , standard , and two-sided across its long memory access — no more fumbling with the rectangular USB Type - A hoopla to see it ’s the ripe way “ up ” ! But because USB - C can be used for USB 3.1 and 3.2 , USB4 , Thunderbolt 3 and 4 , and DisplayPort , as well as sorrel and hubs , confusion abounds .
Sort out Apple ID issues
While the Apple ID account has survive for many years now , Apple still put up no way to merge , split , transfer , or mostly manipulate most of what ’s associated with an explanation . You ca n’t split purchases among two accounts for mass who shared one ; you ca n’t merge synced data , purchases , or other information from two or more accounts into one . As a result , we get a number of Apple ID questions all the metre . Here are the most vulgar .
“ Why is Apple tell me that my ‘ Apple ID has not yet been used with the App Store’?”This in all likelihood set out snip up in late 2021 and we ’ve had quite a few reports of it . Our best advicecan be discover here , but you may need to contact Apple directly to resolve it .
“ I have two Apple IDs ( or my married person / spouse / etc . and I each have one).”Many people have wound up with two Apple IDs that manage unlike part of their Apple experience because of how Apple launched dissimilar services . I use one account that was register first as an iTools explanation , for all of my synchronization , while another , which started as my personal email address , for iTunes and App Store leverage .
Many people also write in because two or more hoi polloi in their sept group ( whether a distich or let in children or parents or others ) have alone Apple IDs and they want to partake in purchase or information among them , wondering if Family Sharing is a honorable choice .
There ’s really nothing you may do about any of these situations , but multitude who have been told this in the past by Apple and supposed gurus like yours truly go forward to ask , because it ’s so frustrating and seems unreasonable .
I do have some general advice , however :
“ I share an account with someone else ; can we split it in two ( because they are now an grownup child of mine , I and the other person have split up , we now desire freestanding accounts)?”This is actually easier than merging two account into one , with the elision that items purchase in one bill remain with that pop business relationship . However , other data can be migrate ; learn “ What to do when break up a shared Apple ID account . ” And , if the person you ’re part out into another account is part of a Family Sharing group , they can retain access to most or all of the purchases in the Apple ID they were formerly part of ; see “ How to split up an Apple ID among family members and forrader their email . ”
“ I have an Apple ID in one country ; how can I change the country for that Apple ID ’s registration?”you may , but youlose access to all your purchase . you could sustain separate Apple IDs that are registered in unlike countries , but that can be knotty when you need to change among them to get at unlike purchases or data point , as I explain in “ How to apply different iTunes accounts for different languages . ”
No, Siri, no!
Siri has limitations around right spell affair you mouth and right pronouncing words and names . There are some workarounds .
Sorry, we can’t help you with correcting Apple Maps
Because we have written about how to report mistake in Apple Maps to Apple , many hasty and fooling discoverer of Macworld ’s land site think we either are Apple or have a magic conduit to that land of fruit and Al . We do not .
However , wedohave this column that explains how to file correction yourself — or , if you do n’t have an Apple equipment , how to get someone with an iPhone , iPad , or Mac to file a correction for you . Read “ Apple Maps lists your location incorrectly ? you could report it . ”
Ask Mac 911
We ’re always look for new trouble to solve ! e-mail yours tomac911@macworld.com , including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used . Not every question will be answered , we do n’t answer to electronic mail , and we can not provide direct troubleshooting advice .
