Hands-On Apple (Audio)

Hosted by TWiT

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Latest episode

Sep 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Hands-On Apple explores and explains the Mac — and beyond! From clever Terminal commands to little-known iOS settings, Mikah Sargent shares all the best tips and tricks for your Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch. You'll get all the details on Apple's apps and the best apps in the App Store, you'll learn about awesome accessories for your Apple devices, and you'll explore updates to Apple's operating systems — including iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Hands-On Apple is your one-stop shop for Apple know-how. You can join Club TWiT for $10 per month and get ad-free audio and video feeds for all our shows plus everything else the club offers...or get just this podcast ad-free for $5 per month. New episodes every Thursday.

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50 recent

September 24, 202620 min

HOA 250: Create Your Own Wallet Passes

Tired of waiting for your favorite gym, library, or coffee shop to offer digital cards? With iOS 27, you can finally make your own custom Apple Wallet passes for any barcode or QR code, no third-party apps needed. Physical loyalty cards now easily added to Apple Wallet with iOS 27 "Create a Pass" feature lets users digitize any barcode or QR code Three wallet pass templates: Standard, Membership, and Event Apple Intelligence enables automatic code scanning on supported iPhones Passes can include color themes, icons, member info, and custom fields Sharing passes with family members now possible Using wallet passes on iPhone and Apple Watch at checkout Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord . Sponsors: trustedtech.team/twit threatlocker.com/twit

September 17, 202620 min

HOA 249: Explaining Audio Intelligence

Apple Watch's new Audio Intelligence tools promise instant transcriptions and meeting summaries without keeping your recordings. But is the S11 chip's privacy tech strong enough to calm nerves on both sides of the conversation? Apple Watch Audio Intelligence: Four Features, One Secure Chip Sound Recognition and Shazam: Always-On Environmental Listening Live Rewind: 15-Second Instant Replay With Privacy Safeguards Siri Recap: Automated Meeting Summaries, Not Full Transcripts Privacy, Secure Exclave processing, and Cloud Summarization Explained Usage Limits, Age Restrictions, and Launch Timeline for Features Transparency and Social Impacts of New Tools Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord . Sponsor: trustedtech.team/twit

September 10, 202618 min

HOA 248: Options for Backing up Your iPhone

With new iPhones shipping and major iOS updates around the corner, now is the moment to protect your info. Mikah shows the overlooked features and essential steps that keep your data truly safe. You might be missing crucial areas and not even know it! iCloud Backup: how it works, what it includes, and limitations Key differences between synced data and backed-up data Backing up locally to Mac or PC: process and pros How to back up via Finder on macOS and Apple Devices app on Windows Managing and locating your iPhone backups on Mac and PC Importance and benefits of encrypting local backups Using 3rd-party backup tools like iMazing for flexibility Wi-Fi scheduled snapshots, storage locations, and restore caveats Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord .

September 3, 202624 min

HOA 247: The Apple TV App

The Apple TV app's constant renaming and feature shuffling have left users wondering where their watchlists vanished and what each oddly similar label actually means. Mikah Sargent untangles the confusion and reveals why your streaming experience might be missing more than you think. Identifying Watchlist and Continue Watching rows on iOS How to add, find, and remove shows from Watchlist and Continue Watching Syncing watch progress and lists across Apple devices Which streaming services and apps connect to Apple TV app Navigating Apple TV channels vs. third-party connected apps Missing Netflix and YouTube integrations and why some services don't appear Managing app subscriptions, billing confusion, and multi-device login strategy Essential Apple TV settings: autoplay, recommendations, and sports scores Controlling play history, privacy, and clearing recommendations Adjusting streaming and download quality for bandwidth and data usage Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord . Sponsors: outsystems.com/twit joindeleteme.com/twit-biz

August 27, 202620 min

HOA 246: Set-It-And-Forget-It Accessibility Upgrades

You're missing out if you haven't explored Apple's accessibility menu. Mikah spotlights simple tweaks that solve real problems for everyone, not just those who need them. These are features you can toggle once, and love forever! Reducing car sickness with Vehicle Motion Cues and customizable dots Flash for Alerts: flash notifications with LED or screen for incoming calls and texts Custom haptic vibrations for messages and contacts Built-in white noise machine: Background Sounds on iPhone, iPad, and Mac Music Haptics: feeling rhythms and beats through the Taptic Engine Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord . Sponsor: threatlocker.com/twit

August 20, 202611 min

HOA 245: Retrain Your Fingers for watchOS 27

Confused by the Apple Watch's shifting gestures and button functions? Mikah Sargent breaks down the new logic, revealing how a simple mantra can help you master your device's next overhaul. watchOS 27 overhauls Apple Watch button functions and navigation Breaking old muscle memory: changes to Digital Crown, side button, Siri Digital Crown press reveals new dynamic app switcher and app list Scrolling Digital Crown now brings up the Smart Stack of widgets Side button revamps: Control Center, Apple Pay, Emergency SOS/Power Dynamic app grid's recent and context-based app selection Updated Apple Watch gestures: double tap, single tap, wrist flick for navigation Quick mantra: press for apps, turn for widgets, side for control, hold for Siri Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord .

August 13, 202615 min

HOA 244: Live Text & Visual Look Up

Stop fumbling with serial numbers, plant names, or care tags. Discover quick, practical tricks to turn your iPhone's camera into a powerhouse for instant web answers and hassle-free text capture. Enabling Live Text and checking device and language compatibility Using Live Text in Photos, Camera, and Notes for text selection Tips for extracting phone numbers, emails, and addresses with Live Text Scanning serial numbers and copying image text across Apple devices Identifying plants, animals, landmarks, and more with Visual Lookup Visual Lookup for laundry symbols and car dashboard lights Troubleshooting fussy features Best practices for clear OCR and uncluttered frames Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord .

August 6, 202620 min

HOA 243: iPhone Display vs. Your Eyes

If you have kids using iPhones, Screen Distance might already be enforcing healthy habits without you knowing it. Find out how iOS screen features, like Bold Text and True Tone, are shaping digital wellness for your eyes and your family. Setting up and using Screen Distance on Face ID devices Night Shift: color temperature adjustments and sleep science skepticism True Tone vs. Night Shift: real-time white balance adaptation Additional display tweaks: Auto-Brightness, Reduce White Point, Larger Text Tracking outdoor time with Apple Watch's Time in Daylight Outdoor time as a proven method to reduce myopia risk Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord .

July 30, 202614 min

HOA 242: Understanding Apple Upgrade

Apple just replaced its iPhone Upgrade Program with a device leasing model run by Klarna, and you might end up paying more for devices you never actually own. Find out what happens when your monthly payments end in this episode covering Apple Upgrade! Apple launches Apple Upgrade device lease, replacing iPhone Upgrade Program Klarna partnership explained: application, credit check, and payment limitations Lease requirements: activation, payments, trade-ins, and pickup rules Device condition, damage, and loss policies under Apple Upgrade Canceling early, returns, and keeping financed accessories End-of-term options: upgrade, return, or buy device outright Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord . Sponsor: threatlocker.com/twit

July 23, 202615 min

HOA 241: iOS Home Screen Customization

iOS 26 conveniently puts you in charge of your iPhone home screen with deep design tools hidden behind a single long press. Discover how Apple's new Liquid Glass and tinted themes finally let your wallpaper and icons reflect your style. Jiggle mode and edit tools enable deep icon appearance tweaks Exploring Light, Dark, Clear, and Tinted home screen styles Using tints and saturation sliders for unique color coordination Rearranging app icons to highlight wallpaper and key visuals Adding, editing, and customizing widgets on the home screen Hiding, deselecting, or deleting home screen pages safely Removing unused home screen apps without uninstalling them Switching between app icons and widgets for streamlined access Face ID and privacy tweaks for individual apps on the home screen Host: Mikah Sargent Download or subscribe to Hands-On Apple at https://twit.tv/shows/hands-on-apple Want access to the ad-free audio and video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord .