DIY iPad Repair Is Here: Apple Adds Tablets to Self Service Program

 Good news for do-it-yourselfers! Apple has recently announced a significant expansion to its Self Service Repair program, adding support for the iPad lineup for the first time. This move allows iPad owners who are comfortable undertaking their own device repairs to access the same resources used by Apple, including manuals, genuine Apple parts, Apple Diagnostics troubleshooting sessions, tools, and even rental toolkits.

The program is set to begin on May 29, 2025. Initially, it will support several recent iPad models: the iPad Air (M2 and later), iPad Pro (M4), iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad (A16). Customers will be able to tackle common repair types such as display, battery, camera, and charging port repairs.

To use the service, a customer would first perform a self-diagnosis. Then, they can order the necessary parts and tools through a special online store. Notably, customers will need to return certain "core" parts, similar to how repair shops operate, to receive a credit towards the initial purchase price of the new part.

This expansion builds on Apple's Self Service Repair program, which first launched in 2022 (initially announced in November 2021 and launched in April 2022). The program was initially intended for iPhone repair, later expanding to Macs. With the addition of iPads, the Self Service Repair Store now supports a total of 65 Apple products, including models like the iPhone 16e, MacBook Air, and Mac Studio. Apple's Vice President of AppleCare, Brian Naumann, stated that the goal is to create products that last as long as possible and this expansion allows users to extend the life of their iPads without compromising safety, security, or privacy.

The program is currently available in the U.S. and Europe and is set to expand to Canada this summer, making it the 34th country to offer Self Service Repair.

Alongside the Self Service Repair expansion, Apple has also shared more details about its Genuine Parts Distributor program. This program is designed to broaden access for businesses that don't have a direct service relationship with Apple. Through third-party distributors like MobileSentrix in the U.S. and MobileSentrix and Mobileparts.shop in Europe, independent mobile repair professionals can order genuine Apple service parts and components. While the program already offers parts for iPhone repairs (displays, batteries, charging ports), iPad parts will also be available through this program starting tomorrow.

This comprehensive approach, including Self Service Repair for individuals, the Genuine Parts Distributor program for independent shops, and existing options like Apple Store locations, Authorized Service Providers, and mail-in repair centers, demonstrates Apple's efforts to accelerate its repair footprint and expand access to genuine parts, tools, and training. While some users have noted that Apple devices aren't designed for easy repair and have expressed desires for support for older models or changes to battery replacement policies, the availability of official resources for self-repair is seen as a benefit to those willing and able to tackle repairs themselves.

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How to set screen time on iPhone and iPad for parental control

 Nowadays, children are spending more and more time using iPhones and iPads. iPhones and iPads are also learning and entertainment tools for children, and there are thousands of great apps for children on them. However, it also brings new challenges for parents to manage their children's use of iPhone and iPad and control their time of use. Today let's talk about how to set screen usage time on iPhone and iPad to achieve parental control to manage electronic devices.

What is screen time?

Apple has added a new "Screen Time" feature in the iOS 12 update. Screen Time is a feature that allows you to restrict and monitor the use of apps on iPhone and iPad; helps you manage the time your kids spend on iPhone and iPad to prevent them from getting addicted to games and control the length of time you use iPhone and iPad to prevent myopia.

If your iPhone or iPad is still on iOS 11 or earlier, you need to consider upgrading your system because Apple has added the "Screen Time" feature in iOS 12.

Setting a password for screen time

We can turn on the screen time by clicking "Settings" > "Screen Time".

After the screen time is turned on, we can set up the application accordingly. However, if you don't set a password for screen time, your child can cancel the restriction at any time, and we can't manage the length of time your child uses the iPhone or iPad.

• Click "Settings" > "Screen Time" and slide the screen to the bottom.
• Click "Set screen time password", and then enter a 4-digit password.
• Note that the password here is not the iPhone or iPad lock screen password, which is easy to forget and you need to record it.

Set screen time for individual apps

Say your child needs to use the iPad for Internet classes and also for playing games. The "Screen time" allows you to set the time and duration of individual apps.

You can manage learning apps and entertainment apps separately. It does not interfere with your child's use of learning applications, but also allows you to manage your child's use of entertainment applications.

• Click "Settings" > "Screen time" > "Deactivation time".
• You can set a deactivation time, or set the deactivation time by a week.
• Click "Settings" > "Screen time" > "App limit".
• Click "Add Limit" and enter the screen time password you set in the above step.

In the list, select the category, or click the category, and in the list, select the individual app.

Set the usage time.

Setting the screen usage time for individual apps separately and setting the usage time for individual apps separately brings you trouble in setting, but the one-time setting also makes your management more humanized, more rational, and more technological.

Always need a password

If your child knows about downloading apps and can download apps at any time. You may really need to do the above settings. Because after entering the password once when downloading the app, by default, you need to enter the password every 15 minutes or even without the password to download the app. How to set always need the password?

• Click "Settings" > "Screen time" > "Content and privacy access restrictions".
• Open "Content and Privacy Access Restrictions", if it is already on, please
• Click on "iTunes Store and App Store Purchases"
• Under the "Require password" option, select "Always require".

This will prevent your child from downloading apps without your knowledge. Of course, you need to keep the password for yourself and not tell your child.

Close the App Store to restrict your child from downloading apps

At the same time, you can also close the App Store to completely restrict your child from downloading and installing apps. Continue with the above steps.

• Click on "Settings" > "Screen Time" > "Content and Privacy Access Restrictions".
• Click on "iTunes Store and App Store Purchases".
• Under "Store Purchases and Redownloaded Items", click "Install App" and select "Do not allow".
• Then, the App Store on the home screen of your device will disappear, and the App Store will be restored when you select "Allow".
• You can also set "In-app purchases" and disable in-app purchases by selecting "Disallow".

Set content access restrictions

If your child often uses Safari to search for information or pictures, you need to set "Content Access Restrictions". This is because Apple classifies content.

• Click "Settings" > "Screen Time" > "Content and Privacy Access Restrictions".
• Click on "Content Access Restrictions" > "Web Content"
• Under the "Web Content" option, select the option you want.

Of course, you can also disable safari apps.

Disable Safari apps

If you don't want your children to use the Safari app, you can also disable it. You can disable (delete) and restore Safari by following the steps below.

• Click on "Settings" > "Screen time" > "Content and privacy access restrictions".
• Click "Allowed Apps", and the list of apps in it is all Apple's own apps.
• Select the apps you want to disable.

The above settings are our suggestions, you can set them according to your actual usage. You can also create a child account for your child. Through the "Family Sharing" feature, you can set up your child's Apple ID to make it easier to set screen time on iPhone and iPad and achieve parental control management. If you think the article is helpful, please forward and share it with us.

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18 solutions to fix widgets not working or refreshing on iPhone and iPad

 Widgets on the iPhone and iPad Home Screen and Today View show helpful information at a glance. They cut or reduce the need to open the app. Weather, Stocks, Maps, and most other widgets must frequently refresh to give you the latest, correct, up-to-date information. 18 solutions to fix widgets not working or refreshing on iPhone and iPad?

However, if Apple and third-party app widgets are not working, updating, or refreshing on your iPhone or iPad, here’s what you should do to fix these issues.

Operating systems that support widgets

Widgets in Today View (accessed by swiping right on the first Home Screen or Lock Screen) has been on iPhone and iPad since iOS 8, released in 2014.

Starting with iOS 14, released in 2020, you can also place widgets on the iPhone Home Screen (except the Dock).

Related: How to find, add, and remove Home Screen widgets on iPhone

18 solutions to fix widgets not working or refreshing on iPhone and iPad

Here’s how to fix widget problems in iOS and iPadOS:

Ensure internet connectivity

Most widgets need Wi-Fi or Cellular data (5G, 4G, or 3G) to refresh their information. For example, you can only get the latest stock numbers, weather reports, or new emails in their respective widgets if they can fetch new data with the help of internet connectivity.

Visit any webpage in Safari or play a YouTube video to see if you’re connected to the internet or not. In case you aren’t, fix Wi-Fi and Cellular data issues.

Restart your iPhone

In many cases, the widgets may not refresh due to minor, temporary glitches that can be easily addressed by switching off your iPhone and switching it back on.

Edit the widget

You have to edit some kinds of widgets after adding them to the Home Screen for relevant information to be displayed on it. Here’s how to do that. We’re using the example of the weather widget.

1. Press the widget on the Home Screen and tap Edit Widget.
2. Tap Location and select the right city. Note: You will see the cities here only if you had added them in the Weather app.

Edit Widget preferences on iPhone

This is also true for third-party widgets apps like Widgetsmith. Until you edit the added widget, you may not see any useful information, and the widget may just occupy the space showing a black or white area.

Check relevant widget permissions

Let us assume you use weather, maps, or reminders widget that relies on your location to refresh and show the correct data. If that app isn’t permitted to access your location or if you have turned off location, then the widget would naturally fail to work. Here’s how to fix that:

1. Open the iPhone or iPad Settings app and scroll to the bottom.
2. From here, tap the app name whose widget isn’t working.
3. Tap Location and make sure the app is permitted to use the location. For that, select While Using the App or Always.
4. In addition to location, make sure other relevant and necessary permissions are given to the app.

Note: In case you don’t see the Location toggle in step 3, go to iPhone Settings > Privacy > Location Services and make sure it’s on. Next, tap the app name and allow it to access the location.

Enable Background App Refresh

Apps and their widget can fetch new content in the background when Background App Refresh is enabled. If you had turned it off to save battery, here’s how to enable it again to ensure the widgets update with the latest information on time:

1. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
2. Tap Background App Refresh and make sure it’s set to Wi-Fi & Cellular Data.
3. Optional: Go back, and you can turn off Background App Refresh for unnecessary apps. Doing so will help save some battery.

Update the app whose widget isn’t working

Many times the widgets may not work due to a bug in the app. For example, if a third-party widget doesn’t refresh or work properly, go to the App Store and update the app. Doing so should make the widget work properly.

Disable Low Power Mode

In Low Power Mode, several activities like Background App Refresh, Mail fetch, and such are limited to conserve battery. If the relevant widgets aren’t updating with new information, go to iPhone Settings > Battery and turn off Low Power Mode.

Turn off Low Data Mode

With Low Data Mode, available for both Wi-Fi and Cellular, your iPhone uses less data on that particular network. If you’re on a limited plan, this may help but also create some annoyances like widgets failing to work properly.

To address this, go to iPhone Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Mode and turn off Low Data Mode. If you use two SIM cards, make sure to select a line to see the Low Data Mode toggle.

Next, go to the first Settings app screen, tap Wi-Fi > (i) next to your Wi-Fi network, and make sure Low Data Mode is off.

Update your iPhone or iPad

Suppose third-party or built-in widgets like Batteries, Weather, Stocks, News, Music, Notes, Reminders, App Store, Smart Stack, Calendar, Clock, Contacts, Files, Find My, Fitness, Game Center, Mail, Maps, Photos, Podcasts, Screen Time, Shortcuts, Siri Suggestions, Sleep, Tips, or TV aren’t working. In that case, the best solution is to update your iPhone or iPad.

To do that, go to Settings > General > Software Update and get the latest version of iOS or iPadOS that has most likely fixed the bug due to which widgets do not work or refresh.

Remove and add the widget again

If the widget continues to not work as expected, follow these steps to remove it and add it again to the iOS Home Screen:

1. Press the widget and tap Remove Widget > Remove.
2. Restart your iPhone.
3. Add the widget once again by pressing any empty area on the Home Screen > plus icon > select the app > select widget size > Add Widget.

Once you do this, the widget should work properly. And in case it doesn’t show the correct info, make sure you edit it with the right option (explained above).

Delete the app and reinstall it

In some cases, the widgets may continue to stay stagnant and refuse to work unless you delete the main app and reinstall it. You can start by offloading the said app, and if that doesn’t work, delete it entirely and reinstall it.

Temporarily change the device region or language

You can give this little hack a shot if widgets are still not working, refreshing, and showing the right data.

Go to Settings > General > Language & Region > iPhone Language and choose a different language than you know. For example, instead of English (US), try selecting English (UK) or English (India). You can also go with something entirely different like French or Spanish if you know these. After this, go to the iPhone Home Screen and see if the widgets work in a few seconds or not.

If not, you back to Settings > General > Language & Region > Region and select a different region. Again, go to the Home Screen and see if this region change has forced the widget to refresh and work or not.

Once you have an answer, follow the same steps and set your correct language and region as before.

Tap the widget to refresh it

Most widgets are designed to offer you information right on the Home Screen. However, in some cases, you might have to tap the widget so that it can refresh and then display the latest relevant information inside the app.

This phenomenon mostly happens with third-party widgets.

Unlock your iPhone to fix blurred widgets

Some widgets like Screen Time, Contacts, or a bank app may not show any data in the Today View when the iPhone is locked. This is by design to prevent sensitive data from being visible on the Lock Screen. As of iOS 15, there isn’t a toggle in iPhone settings to give you a choice to show information on such widgets even when the device is locked.

Widgets not working on the iPhone Lock screen

I swiped right on my iPhone Lock Screen to access the Today View. You can see that the big Screen Time widget and the Contacts widget have blurred the information. Once I unlock my iPhone with Face ID (or Touch ID), these widgets will become active.

Switch to actual, individual widgets instead of Smart Stack and Widget Stack

Are you using the Smart Stack widget or your custom Widget Stack and relying on it to automatically show you the appropriate information? In an ideal world, there is nothing wrong with this approach. But if due to bugs or any other conflicting issues, these smart widgets aren’t showing the right information, remove them and instead switch to the relevant individual widgets. Surely, this will take up a lot of space on the Home Screen pages, but you can put a few important ones on the Home Screen and the rest in Today View.

Use fewer widgets

If your Home Screen pages are loaded with dozens of widgets, consider reducing the number by getting rid of unnecessary or less important ones.

Reset all settings

Finally, if nothing helps, go ahead and reset all settings. This will almost certainly fix the problem of the ongoing widgets without affecting your photos, videos, apps, app data, and other personal stuff.

Contact the app developer or Apple Support

This is how you can fix the issue of widgets not working, updating, or refreshing on your iPhone or iPad.

In rare cases, if the problem continues and your widget issues have not been solved, please get in touch with the app developer and inform them of the problem or ask for help.

If all widgets don’t work or some specific widgets of built-in Apple apps don’t work, you can chat with Apple Support to get more answers.

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How do print documents from your iPhone and iPad

 Trying to print something directly from your iPhone or iPad can be a bit convoluted, and you might think sending it to yourself and printing it from a desktop is more convenient. Rest assured, printing from your mobile device has only gotten easier over the years; How do print documents from your iPhone and iPad? here are the steps needed to make it happen.

In this guide, we’ll help take you through the process of printing from your iPhone or iPad with a couple of different methods to suit your needs.

Looking to offload content? Lucky for you, we have a guide on how to transfer photos from an iPhone to your Mac or PC.

How to print using Apple AirPrint

AirPrint-enabled apps let you create and print full-quality documents and graphics without the chore of installing drivers or configuring the printer queue. The requirements are rather minimal: You need any model iPad, an iPhone 3GS or later, or a third-generation iPod Touch -- as well as the latest version of iOS and an AirPrint-compatible printer with the latest firmware. Check Apple’s AirPrint basic support page for a comprehensive list of all compatible devices, including popular models from Canon, Epson, HP, Samsung, Brother, and a ton of other manufacturers. AirPrint functionality is also the same across all iPhone models, which makes the software easy to use whether you have an iPhone 5 or an iPhone 12 Pro.

Step 1: Connect to Wi-Fi

To use AirPrint, both your printer and iPhone must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Keep in mind there may be multiple networks available in an office setting, and you might have to enable the AirPrint function depending on which one your printer is using. Check your printer’s manual or the manufacturer’s website for more detailed instructions about how to turn on the function and connect to Wi-Fi.

Step 2: Select the printer

Check the connection between your iPhone and the printer by opening an AirPrint-supported app such as Mail, Safari, or Evernote. Most apps will feature a familiar arrow that resembles a forward or reply email icon. Tap the icon, select Print, and your printer should appear as the selected device by default. Otherwise, tap Select Printer at the top and allow your iPhone to scan for nearby printers.

Step 3: Choose the number of copies

Select the number of copies you want to print by tapping the addition and subtraction arrows to the right of Copy. At least one copy is mandatory, but you can print up to a total of 99 pages at once if you’re feeling trigger-happy. You can also tap Options to reveal color options and which pages to print if there are multiple pages.

Step 4: Print

Once you have selected the printer and the number of pages you want, hit Print in the top-right corner of the page. You can cancel your print job or check its status by double-tapping the Home button, choosing Print Center while in the App Switcher, and tapping Cancel Printing.

How to print using email

Did you think people were the only ones with email addresses? Many of Epson and HP’s new models feature HP ePrint or Epson Email Print for printing anywhere in the world by simply emailing a photo or document file to your printer’s assigned email. Once set up, the process is relatively easy and straightforward, merely requiring you to send an email from your iPhone to your email-compatible printer. This is obviously not an option for all users and printer models, but it is available for many models, such as the Epson Expression and WorkForce series, as well as most recent HP printers.

Step 1: Activate email printing

Assuming you have an email-compatible printer, the first thing you need to do is activate the email function. The enabling process will vary from device to device -- Epson users are going to want to activate Epson Connect, for instance -- but the entire process should be outlined in greater detail in your printer’s manual or on the manufacturer’s website. The printer will be assigned a default email address upon activation -- which will likely amount to a series of random characters at a specified domain name -- but you can change this later to something you will actually remember. Although your iPhone doesn’t need to be connected to the same wireless network as your printer to use email printing, the printer will still be required to connect via Wi-Fi as opposed to a standard USB cable.

Step 2: Print

If set up properly, all you need to do is email a document or image from your iPhone to your printer and it will automatically print the file to the default specifications -- typically letter size on plain paper, unless you adjusted the default settings during activation. Your printer won’t accept all file formats but should be able to handle files from Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, as well as JPEGs, GIFS, and PNGs, among others. Check your printer for details regarding acceptable file formats, size, and the number of printable attachments you can include per email.

How to print using other software

If neither AirPrint nor e-mail printing are viable options, you can always settle for software directly from your printer’s manufacturer or another third-party source. We recommend snagging Presto (formerly FingerPrint) and downloading the free iOS app, which is compatible with nearly all printers. You can also get this app on Android and Chrome. It works by connecting your printer and computer to third-party devices as long as they are both on the same Wi-Fi network.

Alternatively, you can use your printer manufacturer’s free proprietary app, such as Epson iPrint or Brother iPrint&Scan. That said, there are plenty of printers that do not support printing apps, and many printer companies haven’t even created apps to control their printers.

Step 1: Download and install the application

Once you decide on an application, head to the manufacturer’s website or the app’s corresponding page in the App Store. Then, download and install the app.

Step 2: Launch the application

Next, launch the application either on your computer or iPhone.

Step 3: Connect to Wi-Fi

Presto also has a feature known as Magic Queue that allows you to save print jobs until you’re connected to Wi-Fi again. It’s perfect for those situations where you have something to print but aren’t near a network or printer. To enable the feature, begin by launching an app like Notes or one that has a box with an arrow pointing out of it icon. Tap said icon, select the More option, and toggle Presto on. When you have something you want to save, hit the same box icon in the top-right corner, then tap Presto. You will be directed to a new page where Presto’s Magic Queue has already been chosen as the default printer. Hit Print to save your print job.

Step 4: Select the printer

Check the connection between your iPhone and the printer by opening an app such as Mail, Safari, or Evernote. Most apps will feature a familiar arrow that resembles a forward or replies icon or a box with an arrow pointing up. Tap the icon, select Print, and your printer should appear as the selected device by default. If not, tap Select Printer at the top and allow your iPhone to scan any printers you checked in Step 2. Also, your computer must be awake to access the printer.

Step 5: Choose the number of copies

Select the number of copies you want to print by tapping the addition and subtraction arrows to the right of Copy. At least one copy is mandatory, but you can print up to a total of 99 pages at once if you’re feeling trigger happy.

Step 6: Print

Once you’ve selected the printer and the number of pages you want, hit the Print button in the top-right corner of the page. You can cancel your print job or check its status by double-tapping the Home button to bring up the App Switcher and choosing Print Center -- or the print summary equivalent for the app you’re using.

How to print with Google Cloud Print

You can do nearly anything with Google, and printing is no exception. You can use Google Cloud Print to print from any Google app including the Chrome browser, Gmail, or Google Docs. You just need to be signed in to your Google account. You can also print other things via Google Cloud Print by using a third-party app.

Step 1: Get a Google account

If you have somehow made it this far without creating a Google account, make one now by going to Google and clicking Sign Up. Then, follow the steps to create a profile.

Step 2: Download the PrintCentral Pro app for your iPad or iPhone

Cloud Print only works on certain Google apps, and there’s no Google Cloud Print app for iOS. Instead, you can use PrintCentral Pro. Thankfully, the app is available for $6 from the App Store. Once downloaded, launch it.

Step 3: Choose something you want to print

Select the menu that resembles three horizontal lines; it’s located above and left of the PrintCentral app. Once you’ve opened the menu, choose a file, image, email, document, or webpage to print. Keep in mind, if you’re hoping to print an email, you’ll need to check beforehand that your email account is synced to the app. With specific files, be sure they’ve been added to the iCloud first. For printing images, Google will simply request access to them, and you’ll need to approve that request. After you’ve found the content you wish to print and set your affairs in order, select the printer icon in the top-right corner.

Step 4: Add printers

From there, a Printer (WiFi) page will appear on your device’s screen. In the top-right corner, you can choose to add a printer by tapping the Addition symbol. Then, select Google Cloud Printing, enter your Gmail address and tap the blue button that says Save.

Step 5: Print

Everything should run smoothly from there. Google Cloud Printing will select the correct file, and your device will direct you to a print preview page. You’ll see the file or document you’re trying to print along the top of the screen. Two options will also appear on the screen: You can Save to Google Drive or Modify Your Printer Settings. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find the options to Preview, Print, or Print Later to schedule your printing requests.

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