Security

Those who have reset an iPhone in the past may remember using a computer and following a complicated series of steps to enter Recovery Mode. iOS 15.2 or later skips the computer by allowing the iPhone to reset all on its own. For anyone who's locked out of their device, a complete reset may be the only way forward. Once the device is reset your data and settings can be restored from an iCloud backup.

Activation Lock helps keep your iPhone and personal data safe. In the early days of the iPhone, devices were more easily stolen and wiped for resale on the black market. Thanks to Activation Lock and Find My, devices are kept secure from anyone who's not the rightful owner. A lost iPhone can even be erased remotely. Without your Apple ID and password an iPhone cannot be erased or reactivated, and Find My cannot be switched off.

Spotify has added a new feature to the social component of its music streaming service. Users can now block individual users from the app, without contacting Spotify customer service. Previously there was a button to "Report abuse", but no way to quickly prevent all interactions with another user. The latest functionality started rolling out to Spotify's app users last week.

Some iPhone owners have encountered problems unlocking with Apple Watch. The issue can be especially inconvenient when trying to unlock the iPhone with a face covering. The issue crops up inconsistently on iPhone 13 models with iOS 15 installed. Luckily, Apple has acknowledged the issue and delivered a fix. There are other tweaks included in the fix for minor bugs as well.

Selling or trading in a used Apple Watch? The best way to protect personal data before handing over your old device is to factory reset. Following this procedure wipes the Apple Watch clean, leaving it set up with the default configuration found new in the box. Apple Watch data is largely backed up on iCloud and via the paired iPhone, so owners can transfer this information to a new watch.