Why your external drive isn’t showing up on Mac and how to get a Mac to recognise it
Macworld Normally when you plug in an external hard drive to your Mac’s USB port you will see it appear on the desktop. You can also see it in a Finder window in the left column under Locations (or Devices in older versions of macOS). If the drive is not showing up on your Mac chances are it has not been formatted correctly, has been corrupted, or is faulty. Alternatively, you may have set a password for the drive that you need to enter before it will connect. We show you how to work out whether the reason the external drive is not mounting on your Mac up is due to a problem with the drive itself, the cable or the port, and how to resolve the problem and access data on your drive. PROMOTIONEaseUS | Check and manage hard drives on Mac Why the hard drive is not showing up on your Mac? How to get it fixed quickly? No worries. EaseUS Partition Master for Mac comes in. To check and find hard drives both internal and external, it scans the devices, gives a clear overview, and diagnoses what happens to your disks. In addition to providing a clear result, it also prompts and guides you to take the next step, quickly solving your disk problem, like disk formatting, creating a boot disk, and converting the disk to be initialized. Now 25% OFF by using code: MACWORLD25. Free Trial Buy and Save 25% This article assumes you have an external drive that should connect to your Mac via the USB-A, USB-C, or a Thunderbolt port. If you have a NAS drive that connects over the network then you should read our article about connecting to a NAS drive. Why is your hard drive not showing up on Mac? We’ll start by trying to identify the reason why your hard drive isn’t showing up on the Mac before explaining what you need to do to find the hard drive on your Mac. If you can identify the cause your should be able to fix the problem that is stopping your external drive from opening on your Mac. Damaged cable, port or insufficient power The first port of call is always to check that it’s plugged in, but we are sure you have done that. The problem might be with the cable. One of the main reasons why drives fail to mount is if the drive isn’t receiving enough power. If the drive is powered via a USB-A cable you need to check that adequate power is being delivered to the drive. Very old Macs may require a USB power cable, a cable that splits into two USB connectors that need to both be plugged into your Mac, in order to deliver enough power to the drive. Similarly, make sure that the drive doesn’t have an external power supply it should be using. On the subject of cables, make sure that it’s not at fault. Try using a different cable with the drive to see if that fixes the problem. Similarly, if you are using a USB port on a hub check that’s not what’s causing the problem. Also check that the port on your Mac isn’t the problem. Try using a different port. Or if you only have one port, plug another device in and see if that works. The next step is to try plugging the drive into another Mac. If it also fails to mount there you will know that there is a problem with the drive while if it does mount then the problem is with your Mac. Problem preferences Hopefully, there is a really easy fix to get the hard drive to mount on your desktop. Try the following to make sure your Mac is set to show mounted drives on the desktop.  Open the Finder. Click on Finder in the menu at the top of your screen.  Click on Settings (Preferences in older macOS versions). Click on General. Make sure that there is a tick beside External disks.  If it was already set up so that the external drive would appear on the desktop then continue to follow the steps below. Password protections You can protect a drive with a password when you initially start using it, so check to see if the reason your drive isn’t mounting is that a password request box has popped up and you didn’t notice it. Sometimes the password popup takes a few minutes to appear as well, so it helps to be patient. Foundry The drive is formatted for a PC It is possible that the drive has been formatted using a file system that your Mac cannot read. Windows PCs use NTFS or ExFAT file formats. Mac computers before Sierra used the HFS+ file format. In High Sierra, Apple introduced a new file system called Apple File System (APFS). There is an old FAT32 format can be read by Window and Mac computers, but has limitation on what files can be stored. An easy way to find out if this is the problem would be to check on a PC. If the drive mounts on the PC it’s likely that you have discovered what the problem is: the drive is formatted for PCs and can’t be read by your Mac. To make sure your drive can be read by Macs and PCs you need to format it using exFAT or the older FAT32. We’ll explain how to do that below. It’s a corrupted or faulty drive If none of the above were the reason why you couldn’t see the external drive on your Mac, perhaps the drive is faulty. If it is, you can use Apple’s Disk Utility program to access the disk and potentially fix whatever is causing the issue. We’ll discuss how to do that below. We’ll also look at ways you can stop a drive failing in the future. How fix an external drive that won’t show up on a Mac If none of the above solved your problem, it is likely the drive is either formatted incorrectly or damaged. Depending on the reason why you can’t see the drive, here is what you need to do to get it working. How to reformat a drive so you can see it on a Mac Hopefully, the drive is fine, but the format is wrong. It is possible that the hard drive has been formatted using a different file system (i.e. on a Windows PC). In that case, if you need to access the data on the drive you’ll need to connect the drive to a Windows PC that does recognize it and copy the data before moving on to the next step because the process will involve reformatting the drive and deleting everything on i). To make sure your drive can be read by Macs and PCs you need to format it using exFAT or the older FAT32. If you want to format the drive to just be used on a Mac you can use the HFS+ or Apple File System (APFS) file formats. Having got the data of the drive via a PC you can reformat the drive so that you can add the data again. Here’s how to reformat your drive so it can be read by a Mac or a PC. Open Disk Utility (as per the steps above). If you don’t require the data on the hard drive, select the disk and click Erase. Before Disk Utility starts to erase the disk it will pick a format for you. You can change this if you click on the Formatting options. Choose your format, ExFAT if you want to make sure it’s compatible with PC and Mac, otherwise, Mac OS Extended (Journaled) is probably the best option.  Click on Erase and wait for your Mac to erase and then reformat the drive. Give the drive a name.  Screenshot Foundry Read more: How to format a drive on a Mac. How to fix the faulty drive with Disk Utility If the various checks above suggest that the disk is faulty then you can use Apple’s Disk Utility program to access the disk and potentially fix whatever is causing the issue. Here’s what to do: Find Disk Utility by opening Spotlight (cmd+Space-bar) and start typing Disk Utility, press enter to open the program. Look in the column on the left to see if the hard drive appears there. If you can see the hard drive in Disk Utility check underneath it for a volume. If it is there click on it and select Mount. If your Mac has already mounted the drive the option Unmount will be displayed instead. (If there is no volume listed your Mac is not able to access the drive. The Mount option will be greyed out.) Your options are First Aid, Erase, and Restore. First Aid will check the disk for errors and then repair the disk if necessary and this is the option to choose. Restore allows you to erase the contents of the drive and replace that with data from somewhere else. Erase deletes all the data stored on the drive. If you need the data on the drive do not choose Erase or Restore! Click the First Aid tab and select Run.  If after running First Aid the Mac finds errors you could fix you may see the option to Repair Disk. If you do, go ahead and run the repairs. Best apps to recover data on a lost drive If your Mac is unable to repair the disk if is likely that the drive is either formatted using a file system that the Mac cannot read, or it is well and truly broken. If it’s the latter we suggest you follow this tutorial about recovering data from a damaged disk. You may also want to consider one of the data recovery apps for Mac we recommend in our round-up of the Best data recovery apps for Macs. Our recommendations include Recoverit from Wondershare, Data Rescue from Prosoft and Stella Data Recovery for Mac. 1. Wondershare Recoverit Price When Reviewed: 1 month/2 Macs: $79.99 (usually $109.99); 1 year/2 Macs: $89.99 (usually $139.99); perpetual license/2 Macs: $139.99 (usually $169.99) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Wondershare (annual) $89.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $89.99 at Wondershare (annual) Read our full Wondershare Recoverit review 2. Data Rescue Price When Reviewed: Standard license: $79 for a 30-day; Professional license: $399 for one year Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Prosoft Engineering (30-day license) $79 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $79 at Prosoft Engineering (30-day license) Read our full Data Rescue review 3. Stellar Data Recovery for Mac Price When Reviewed: Standard edition: $79.99 (currently $69.99) a year, or $129.99 (currently $99.99) for a lifetime license. Professional version: $129.99 (currently $99.99) a year, or $199 (currently $149) for a lifetime license. Premium edition: $209.99 (currently $99.99) a year, or $319 (currently $199) for a lifetime license. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Stellar Info (annual) $79.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $79.99 at Stellar Info (annual) Read our full Stellar Data Recovery for Mac review How to prevent issues with hard drives on a Mac We have final suggestion to make that is more of a guard against this error happening again. Make sure that your external drive doesn’t become damaged in the future by always unmounting the disk properly after using it. Don’t just unplug the USB cable. To unmount your drive you can right-click (control-click) on the icon on the Desktop or in the Finder and choose Eject. Drive issues can occur when the disk is removed without ejecting it properly. Decided there is no hope for your faulty hard drive? We have a round-up of some of the best we’ve seen here: The best Mac hard drives.

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Have you heard? This MacBook is cheaper than your brand-new iPhone
Macworld The holidays may have put a dent in your pocket, forcing you to participate in low-spend (or no-spend) January. But just because you’re limiting your spending, it doesn’t mean you have to deal with your broken laptop for another year. Just opt for this refurbished MacBook Pro deal instead of shopping brand-new. This 2017 model has had its price tag slashed by over 70%, coming in at only $377.97 instead of $1,499. The only catch is that supplies are super limited. This MacBook has a Grade “A” rating, no scratches on its display, and a minimum of 80% battery health. There might be some light wear on the body, but it’s so minimal you might not even notice. This laptop might not be stocked with features that Apple’s latest MacBooks have, but this one does hold its own. Check out a few of its specs: Intel Core i5 (with speeds up to 3.1GHz) for smooth multitasking 512GB of storage for simple, local storing of your files, photos, and other media Four USB-C ports for extra connectivity A 13.3-inch Retina display with 2560×1600 pixel resolution. It even comes with the infamous Touch Bar and Touch ID, which makes it easy to securely log into your MacBook Pro and other accounts, as well as pay with Apple Pay. Grab your own 13.3-inch MacBook Pro for just $377.97 while supplies last. This offer ends February 2 at 11:59 PM Pacific.   Apple MacBook Pro 13″ Touchbar (2017) 3.1GHz i5 8GB RAM 512GB SSD Space Gray (Refurbished) Only $377.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Why pay a fee for iCloud Drive when you could own 2TB of cloud storage for life?
Macworld Nothing might be worse than paying a recurring fee for iCloud…or getting a storage limit notification and having to upgrade and pay even more each month. Why not own your cloud storage for life? Instead of paying a $10 subscription monthly, you could pay $74.97 once and have FileJump forever! With this plan, you’ll get 2TB of cloud storage that’s actually yours forever. The biggest difference is that FileJump won’t seamlessly integrate with your iOS devices like iCloud, but that’s not a big deal, considering you’re getting $10 back in your wallet every month.  Use the drag-and-drop feature to upload your images, videos, and files under 15GB. All your content will be stored with secure AES encryption as well, so you can rest easy knowing your media and data are protected. And unlike other lifetime cloud storage plans, FileJump even has mobile and desktop apps to complete the experience. You can conveniently see file previews for images, videos, and spreadsheets. Ditch the cloud storage fees this year with FileJump’s 2TB lifetime subscription, now just $74.97 while codes last. This offer ends February 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT.   FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription Only $74.97 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Belkin SoundForm Isolate review: Noise cancelling headphones for those on a budget
At CES 2025, Belkin began shipping its new headphones. They’re the first wireless headphones with active noise cancellation that Belkin has developed, and they come in at just $60 – making them incredibly affordable over-ear headphones. more…

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Will iOS 19 redesign look more like visionOS? [The CultCast]
This week on Cult of Mac's podcast: We might see a big iOS 19 redesign based on the look and feel of visionOS, starting with Camera app. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Gurman: Apple Stores performing ‘marketing updates’ next week
According to a tweet from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple will be performing some “merchandise/floor marketing updates” at its retail stores next week. While specific details aren’t confirmed, Apple is likely launching the new Black Unity Apple Watch band for 2025. more…

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Indie App Spotlight: ‘Inscreen’ helps you reassess screen time on your iPhone
Welcome to Indie App Spotlight. This is a weekly 9to5Mac series where we showcase the latest apps in the indie app world. If you’re a developer and would like your app featured, get in contact. Inscreen taps into Apple’s Screen Time API, and aims to help users be more mindful about the time they’re spending on their devices. Rather than forcefully blocking app access, Inscreen takes a different approach, and keeps you aware of how much time you’re spending on each app. more…

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Apple Watch helps responders rescue skier after 1,000-foot drop in freezing temperatures
Apple Watch saves lives—the latest example is a dramatic rescue caught on video in Washington state. Rescuers credit the Apple Watch SOS feature for alerting and helping them locate a skier who fell 1,000 feet, preventing them from freezing to death. more…

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More French-language programming coming to Apple TV+ in EU countries
Apple TV+ will invest more in developing European and French audio and video content in France under a new deal it has signed with the French government.

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Apple @ Work: Breaking down how to best integrate the Mac at work
Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. With so many organizations looking to deploy the Mac, they might want to know the best path for migration. Apple’s Mac Adoption Blueprint answers that question with data-backed information and easy-to-follow steps for IT technicians and internal IT decision-makers. This guide also highlights how significant cost savings are made by switching. The included research from Forrester claims that companies can save $843 per computer over three years compared to Windows. These savings are gained from lower software costs, reduced IT support needs, and higher Mac trade in value (the latter is absolutely critical). Let’s look deeper at the report. more…

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Apple may launch the first foldable iPhone next year: Here’s what we know so far
Rumors about foldable iPhones have circulated for many years, but recent reports have suggested that Apple is finally getting closer to announcing its new product. Apple is reportedly working on two foldable products, a clamshell foldable iPhone and a giant 20-inch foldable iPad, but the foldable iPhone is on track to debut first. more…

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Thin Is In
I see four possible futures regarding phones that are too thin for USB-C ports.

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Severance fans return to Apple TV+ series in big numbers
Severance was among the most-watched streaming series in the week that its long-awaited season two premiered. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple introducing HomePod mini 2 later this year: Here’s what the rumors say
Apple initially introduced the HomePod mini in 2020 alongside the iPhone 12 lineup, and since then, the product has remained mostly untouched. Apple added some new color options in 2021, including blue, orange, and yellow. The company also replaced Space Gray with Midnight this year, which looks the same – except its now 100% recycled mesh fabric. However, for the first time in half a decade, Apple will finally be updating the HomePod mini, with a couple of enhancements. more…

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Apple may transition away from ‘iPhone SE’ branding: Here’s why that makes sense
Earlier this month, some sources begun to claim that the next generation iPhone SE, which is expected to debut this spring, won’t actually be called ‘iPhone SE’ at all. We’re now starting to hear that it’ll be called ‘iPhone 16E’ instead. This may be a weird rumor, but I think it actually makes a lot of sense, given what we know so far about the 4. more…

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Severance fan theories range from mundane to insane [Videos]
A new Apple TV+ video brings in "Severance" cast to discuss fan theories, from the mildly plausible to the utterly outrageous. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Three major Siri upgrades are coming very soon, here’s what they are
Apple released the release candidate builds of iOS 18.3 earlier this week, meaning that we’re just days away from seeing that update ship to the public. That also means iOS 18.4 beta is just around the corner, which is widely expected to include some of the big Siri improvements with Apple Intelligence. Here’s what we’re expecting with Siri in iOS 18.4. more…

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Apple's 2025 iPhone 17 Slim may be the first big redesign in years
Apple's 2025 iPhone lineup could add a new dimension with the iPhone 17 Slim. Here's what the rumor mill believes is on the way.A render of what the iPhone 17 Slim could look likeThe iPhone 17 generation is expected this September, as usual for Apple's flagship device releases. However, the 2025 collection could make a big change to the lineup, with the replacement of one of the models.According to multiple rumors, the iPhone 17 Plus could be removed from the lineup, due to a lack of popularity compared to the other models. In its place, Apple could introduce something brand new. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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iPadOS features you are not using, but should
If you have read or watched any of my content over the last few years, you might have realized that my Pro is my main computer. Yes, I have a Mac Mini, but when it comes to getting actual work done, I always gravitate towards my iPad (I am currently writing this on my iPad). Something about the combination of gorgeous hardware and single app optimization nature of the software really makes the iPad a joy to use. With the release of iPadOS 18 we got an abundance of new features that has helped me double and triple down on this sentiment. We all know the headlining features, but I want to share a few other features that not many people know about. Lets get into it! more…

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Boss BE10ACP Receiver review: Add CarPlay to your vehicle at a low entry-price
CarPlay has come a long way since its release, and four years after install, the Boss BE10ACP remains an affordable gateway to integrating Apple technologies into your car.The Boss BE10ACP CarPlay Receiver head unit and the display. If you need to replace your car stereo, there are options on the market that provide support for Apple's CarPlay system. The problem in many cases is that you could end up needing to use a single-DIN head unit, a compact size that doesn't necessarily offer space for a display.The Boss BE10ACP is a single-DIN head unit with a large display. Rather than being a double-DIN unit that would keep the display within the main unit's dimensions, the display is mounted so it sticks out a short distance from the front of the unit itself. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Who’d have thought this $19 iPhone stand was so versatile?
You can make video calls at your desk, follow recipes in the kitchen or stream movies during flights with this iPhone travel stand. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Today in Apple history: Sun Microsystems almost buys Apple
On January 25, 1996, rumors circulated that Sun Microsystems was in talks to acquire the struggling Apple, then worth just $3.89 billion. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple agrees to French content quotas, commits to ongoing Apple TV+ production in France
Apple has officially agreed to content quota obligations as set out in a 2021 France decree, via Deadline, which means it must invest 20% of Apple TV+ revenues in France to create French and European content. This effectively commits Apple to create French originals for Apple TV+ on an ongoing basis. Recent French-language releases on the service include La Maison and Drops of God; the latter of which was a hit for TV+ and is returning for a second season. more…

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Everything you need to know about iPhone Mirroring on the Mac
iPhone mirroring on the Mac lets you control your phone using your computer — a convenience when your phone is in your pocket or backpack. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Here’s how to stop your MacBook sleeping when the lid is closed
Macworld There are a lot of different reasons why you might want to use your MacBook with the lid closed. You might want to plug into an external display and move your MacBook out of the way to free up space on your desk (although you could always use both screens). Alternatively, you might want to download a software update or play music from your Mac and have found that as soon as you close the lid the download or music will stop. If you want to stop your Mac from sleeping when you close the lid then you’ll find out how to do that below including the MacBook closed lid settings you need. One related problem you might come across if you are using your Mac with the lid closed is that when it comes to turning your Mac on it would seem that you have to open the lid to press the power switch… Luckily there is a workaround for that scenario that you might find useful. So we have also included advice about how to turn on your Mac without opening the lid below. See also: Best stands for MacBook and Best MacBook docking stations. How to use a MacBook with the lid closed The good news is that using a MacBook with the lid closed is a lot simpler than it used to be if you are using a newer Mac and a newer version of the Mac operating system. In fact, if you are experiencing issues using your Mac with the lid closed then it is likely that you could address this by updating your Mac to a recent version of macOS, assuming your Mac supports it (see our macOS compatibility checker). The crucial ingredient is an external monitor. Connect an external keyboard (can be wireless). Connect an external mouse (can be wireless). Connect an external monitor. If you are using a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, make sure that Bluetooth is on and that the peripherals are paired with the Mac. After your Mac notebook’s Desktop appears on the external display, close the computer’s lid. Your external monitor may flash off for a moment but it will then show your Desktop (you may need to wake your Mac by pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse). You may find that your MacBook needs to be plugged in via the power adapter for the screen to appear on the external monitor, but ours didn’t. You can about using a second display with your Mac here. But even with these settings, if you aren’t attached to an external monitor closing the lid will cause the Mac to sleep. What if you don’t want to plug in an external display? Foundry How to stop a MacBook from sleeping when the lid is closed Suppose you don’t want your MacBook to sleep when you close the lid? Maybe it is busy downloading something and you don’t want it to stop, but you need to carry it somewhere. Or maybe you’ve left it downloading an update overnight or syncing your Time Machine backup, and you’d prefer not to see the backlit keyboard. In another scenario you might want to play music from the MacBook without having to have the lid open–something likely to appeal to a few DJs. The problem is that your Mac will go to sleep when you close the lid if it’s not plugged in and connected to an external display. Prior to changes that came with macOS Ventura there was an option to set your Mac never go to sleep in System Preferences (macOS Monterey or older). In macOS Monterey and older Open System Preferences. Go to Battery (or Energy Saver). Select “Prevent your Mac from automatically sleeping when the display is off.” In macOS Ventura and later If you are running macOS Ventura or later you might be wondering where the energy saver and battery settings are that you need, and if it is still possible to set your Mac to sleep or wake at a particular time. We answer those questions below. Open Terminal Enter the following command: sudo pmset -a disablesleep 1 That should stop your Mac sleeping. However, a better option may be to use a third-party app, such as Amphetamine or Caffeinated. Amphetamine is a free download from the Mac App Store here. Amphetamine keeps your Mac awake by overriding the Energy Saver settings. We review Amphetamine here. Caffeinated is available on the Mac App Store here for$3.99/£3.99, this app also overrides the Energy Saver settings to keep your Mac awake, preventing your Mac from going to sleep. How to play music with your Mac’s lid closed You can use the free Amphetamine app to keep your Mac awake while the display is closed, here’s how: Once installed on a Mac you will find a pill-shaped icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen. You can choose from options such as Start New Session While File is Downloading or While App is Running. If you want to keep Music (or what app you are using)running with the lid closed, first, you need to have that app open. Then follow these steps: Click on the Amphetamine icon in the menu bar. Click on Quick Settings. In the Session Defaults section, deselect “Allow system sleep when display is closed.” Go back to the main menu and select While App is Running and pick Music or the app you are using. If your app is not open, it will not appear in the list. Only apps that are running appear. You will now be able to shut your Mac’s lid and continue listening to Music. Foundry How to continue a download with a MacBook lid closed You could also use Amphetamine if you wanted to download something with the screen closed, but you can also set your Mac to wake for network access, which should mean your Mac can still run updates in the background even if it’s sleeping. In macOS Ventura and later Open System Settings. Go to Battery. Click on Options. Make sure that “Wake for network access” is set to Always. In macOS Monterey and older There is a similar setting in Monterey and older that you can use to make sure downloads continue in the background. Open System Preferences. Go to Battery (or Energy Saver). Choose “Wake for network access.” See: How Apple has revamped System Preferences in macOS Ventura. Foundry How to turn on the MacBook with the lid closed If your setup means your MacBook is attached to a display you will be able to use it without having the display open–but what about when you need to turn it on? At that point, you will need to open the lid to press the Power button right? Not necessarily. It’s easy to wake your MacBook from sleep without opening the lid. Just click or move the mouse or tap on the keyboard. But what if you want to start the Mac up without opening the lid to reveal the power button? Can it be done? It can! (Sort of) macOS Ventura and later In older versions of macOS it was possible to set your Mac to switch on and off at certain times of the day. Unfortunately, this is no longer as simple to set up. To schedule your Mac to turn on or off in macOS Ventura or later you need to use Terminal. Follow these steps: Open Terminal. enter one of the following pmset commands: pmset -g sched (See the current schedule).sudo pmset repeat wake M 8:00:00 (Schedule your Mac to wake at 8:00 a.m. every Monday.)sudo pmset repeat cancel (Cancel the current schedule.) Press Return. For more advice about how to do this consult Apple’s support page. We also cover How to schedule your Mac to turn on and off separately and How to set the power scheduler that disappeared in macOS Ventura. macOS Monterey and older: There is a setting in Monterey and older that lets you set your Mac to switch on at a particular time. Open System Preferences. Click Battery (or Energy Saver in older versions). Click Schedule. Now click beside Start Up or Wake and choose the days and times you want your Mac to start up. Note that the Mac will only turn on when it is plugged into power–you could just leave the Mac unplugged, and then when you want it to start up, simply plug it in. Foundry

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Your $10 solution to actually understanding how to use ChatGPT
Macworld Have you wanted to use ChatGPT to streamline your workday but don’t know how exactly to use it? No worries, it’s a little tricky fiddling with prompts to get the results you want. But if you want to learn tips and tricks to use ChatGPT like a pro and prepare for ChatGPT-5’s upcoming release, study with this introductory course. Rather than struggle with correctly wording prompts, you can learn how to communicate with this AI chatbot for more optimized help and responses. Grab lifetime access to this ChatGPT beginner course for only $9.99 (reg. $50). ChatGPT can do a little bit of everything to make your daily workload a little lighter, whether that’s answering questions, writing copy, summarizing web pages, or generating images. That’s where this online ChatGPT course comes in—it’s designed to help you work with the chatbot better to make your day go smoothly. Here’s what this course can teach you so you can apply it: How to write effective ChatGPT prompts to get accurate information How to use ChatGPT to write content and effective copy like poetry, song lyrics, biographies, etc. How to use ChatGPT to research people, places, and things How to use ChatGPT to brainstorm creative and tactical project ideas Master ChatGPT with this beginner digital course while it’s available for just $9.99 for life.   ChatGPT for the Absolute Beginner Only $9.99 StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Tax season’s approaching…digitize receipts, forms, and other docs with this app
Macworld 2025 has arrived, which means that tax season (unfortunately) isn’t too far behind. Hate gathering all your documents and powering up your scanner just to digitize them? Ditch the clunky scanner that’s an eyesore in your office for iScanner. This smart document-scanning app is designed to make scanning any document from your iPhone—from tax forms and driver’s licenses to handwritten notes and receipts—seamless. It even comes with AI-powered tools to help you adjust your documents for perfect scans and edit PDFs when needed, and it’s only $24.99 (reg. $199) with code SCAN. There’s a reason why iScanner has a 4.8-star App Store rating and 1.2+ million downloads, and it’s not because it adds a smart scanner to your phone that’s super helpful once tax season arrives. This app can also help you solve tricky math problems, complete equations, and even count how many objects are in your images (handy if you’re doing home renovations or need to calculate the area from a photo). Use code SCAN when you check out to grab this iScanner lifetime subscription for just $24.99. That’s its lowest price ever, but only until February 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT!   iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription Only $24.99 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change.

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iPhone 17 may not sport a smaller Dynamic Island
A reputed analyst claims Apple's 2025 iPhone lineup will not come with a smaller Dynamic Island as initially rumored. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Amazon slashes Apple's M4 Pro MacBook Pro to $1,749 with coupon
Apple's latest M4 Pro MacBook Pro 14-inch has fallen to $1,749 thanks to a bonus on-page coupon at Amazon.Get an M4 Pro MacBook Pro for $1,749 this weekend.Amazon's $250 price cut on the standard M4 Pro MacBook Pro 14-inch delivers the lowest online price available, according to our 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 Pro Price Guide.Buy for $1,749 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple Enlists Veteran Software Executive To Help Fix AI and Siri
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Bloomberg: Apple executive Kim Vorrath, a company veteran known for fixing troubled products and bringing major projects to market, has a new job: whipping artificial intelligence and Siri into shape. Vorrath, a vice president in charge of program management, was moved to Apple's artificial intelligence and machine learning division this week, according to people with knowledge of the matter. She'll be a top deputy to AI chief John Giannandrea, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the change hasn't been announced publicly. The move helps bolster a team that's racing to make Apple a leader in AI -- an area where it's fallen behind technology peers. [...] Vorrath, who has spent 36 years at Apple, is known for managing the development of tough software projects. She's also put procedures in place that can catch and fix bugs. Vorrath joins the new team from Apple's hardware engineering division, where she helped launch the Vision Pro headset. Over the years, Vorrath has had a hand in several of Apple's biggest endeavors. In the mid-2000s, she was chosen to lead project management for the original iPhone software group and get the iconic device ready for consumers. Until 2019, she oversaw project management for the iPhone, iPad and Mac operating systems, before taking on the Vision Pro software. Haley Allen will replace Vorrath overseeing program management for visionOS, the headset's operating system, according to the people. Prior to joining Giannandrea's organization, Vorrath had spent several weeks advising Kelsey Peterson, the group's previous head of program management. Peterson will now report to Vorrath -- as will two other AI executives, Cindy Lin and Marc Schonbrun. Giannandrea, who joined Apple from Google in 2018, disclosed the changes in a memo sent to staffers. The move signals that AI is now more important than the Vision Pro, which launched in February 2024, and is seen as the biggest challenge within the company, according to a longtime Apple executive who asked not to be identified. Vorrath has a knack for organizing engineering groups and creating an effective workflow with new processes, the executive said. It has been clear for some time now that Giannandrea needs additional help managing an AI group with growing prominence, according to the executive. Vorrath is poised to bring Apple's product development culture to the AI work, the person said. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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MasterCard DNS Error Went Unnoticed for Years
The payment card giant MasterCard just fixed a glaring error in its domain name server settings that could have allowed anyone to intercept or divert Internet traffic for the company by registering an unused domain name. The misconfiguration persisted for nearly five years until a security researcher spent $300 to register the domain and prevent it from being grabbed by cybercriminals.

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Chinese Innovations Spawn Wave of Toll Phishing Via SMS
Residents across the United States are being inundated with text messages purporting to come from toll road operators like E-ZPass, warning that recipients face fines if a delinquent toll fee remains unpaid. Researchers say the surge in SMS spam coincides with new features added to a popular commercial phishing kit sold in China that makes it simple to set up convincing lures spoofing toll road operators in multiple U.S. states.

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Microsoft: Happy 2025. Here’s 161 Security Updates
Microsoft today unleashed updates to plug a whopping 161 security vulnerabilities in Windows and related software, including three "zero-day" weaknesses that are already under active attack. Redmond's inaugural Patch Tuesday of 2025 bundles more fixes than the company has shipped in one go since 2017.

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A Day in the Life of a Prolific Voice Phishing Crew
Besieged by scammers seeking to phish user accounts over the telephone, Apple and Google frequently caution that they will never reach out unbidden to users this way. However, new details about the internal operations of a prolific voice phishing gang show the group routinely abuses legitimate services at Apple and Google to force a variety of outbound communications to their users, including emails, automated phone calls and system-level messages sent to all signed-in devices.

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U.S. Army Soldier Arrested in AT&T, Verizon Extortions
Federal authorities have arrested and indicted a 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier on suspicion of being Kiberphant0m, a cybercriminal who has been selling and leaking sensitive customer call records stolen earlier this year from AT&T and Verizon. As first reported by KrebsOnSecurity last month, the accused is a communications specialist who was recently stationed in South Korea.

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Happy 15th Anniversary, KrebsOnSecurity!
KrebsOnSecurity.com turns 15 years old today! Maybe it's indelicate to celebrate the birthday of a cybercrime blog that mostly publishes bad news, but happily many of 2024's most engrossing security stories were about bad things happening to bad guys. It's also an occasion to note that despite my publishing fewer stories than ever this past year, we somehow managed to attract near record levels of readership (thank you!).

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14-inch M4 MacBook Pros on sale for $200 off MSRP at Amazon, prices start at $1399
Amazon is offering a $200 discount on Apple's 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros (Silver and Black colors) right now. Shipping is free. These are the lowest prices currently available for M4 MacBook Pros and equal to the prices Amazon offered on Black Friday. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party seller: - 14" M4 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB): $1399, $200 off MSRP - 14" M4 MacBook Pro (16GB/1TB): $1599, $200 off MSRP - 14" M4 MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB): $1799, $200 off MSRP For the latest sales and prices, keep an eye on our 14-inch MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Apple Watch Series 10 models back on sale for $70 off MSRP
Retailers have Apple Watch Series 10 models on sale right now for $70 off MSRP with prices available starting at $329. These are the lowest prices available for Series 10 Watches this weekend: Apple Watch Series 10 (aluminum cases): - Amazon: $70 off MSRP, prices start at $329 - Best Buy: $70 off MSRP, prices start at $329 - Walmart: $70 off MSRP, prices start at $329 Sale prices at Best Buy and Walmart are for online orders only, in-store prices may vary. Order online, and choose free shipping or free local store pickup (if available). For the latest prices & sales, keep an eye on our Apple Watch Price Tracker, updated daily.

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14-inch M3 Pro/M3 Max MacBook Pros available at Apple for $400-$570 off original MSRP, prices start at $1599
Apple has clearance 14" M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pros available, Certified Refurbished, starting at $1599 and ranging up to $570 off original MSRP. Each model features a new outer case, shipping is free, and an Apple 1-year warranty is standard. These models are the cheapest M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pros currently available for sale at Apple: - 14" M3 Pro MacBook Pro (18GB/512GB/Black): $1599 $400 off MSRP - 14" M3 Pro MacBook Pro (18GB/1TB/Black): $1949 $450 off MSRP - 14" M3 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB/Black): $2629 $570 off MSRP - 14" M3 Pro MacBook Pro (18GB/512GB/Silver): $1599 $400 off MSRP - 14" M3 Pro MacBook Pro (18GB/1TB/Silver): $1949 $450 off MSRP - 14" M3 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB/Silver): $2629 $570 off MSRP See our 14" MacBook Pro Price Tracker for the latest prices & deals from Apple's retailers, updated daily.

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16-inch M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pros available at Apple, Certified Refurbished, starting at only $2039
Apple has a full line of clearance 16" M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pros available, Certified Refurbished, starting at $2039 and ranging up to $700 off MSRP. Each model features a new outer case, shipping is free, and an Apple 1-year warranty is standard. These models are the cheapest 16-inch M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pros currently available for sale at Apple: - 16" M3 Pro MacBook Pro (18GB/512GB/Black): $2039 was $2119 - 16" M3 Pro MacBook Pro (36GB/512GB/Black): $2379 was $2459 - 16" M3 Pro MacBook Pro (18GB/512GB/Silver): $2039 was $2119 - 16" M3 Pro MacBook Pro (36GB/512GB/Silver): $2379 was $2459 - 16" M3 Max MacBook Pro (14-Core/36GB/1TB/Black): $2889 was $2969 - 16" M3 Max MacBook Pro (16-Core/48GB/1TB/Black): $3299 was $3399 - 16" M3 Max MacBook Pro (14-Core/36GB/1TB/Silver): $2889 was $2969 - 16" M3 Max MacBook Pro (16-Core/48GB/1TB/Silver): $3299 was $3399 See our 16" MacBook Pro Price Tracker for the latest prices & deals from Apple's retailers, updated daily.

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13-inch 8GB M3 MacBook Airs available starting at only $829 at Apple, Certified Refurbished
Apple has clearance 13" 8GB M3 MacBook Airs available, Certified Refurbished, starting at only $829. These are the cheapest M3-powered MacBooks for sale at Apple. Apple's one-year warranty is included, shipping is free, and each MacBook has a new outer shell: - 13" M3 MacBook Air/8-Core M3 CPU, 8-Core GPU/8GB RAM/256GB SSD: $829, $170 off MSRP - 13" M3 MacBook Air/8-Core M3 CPU, 10-Core GPU/8GB RAM/512GB SSD: $999, $200 off MSRP According the Apple, “You will receive a 'like new' device with genuine Apple replacement parts (as needed) that has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected. Every device will come with all accessories, cables and operating systems. All Apple Certified Refurbished products are packaged in a brand new white box and will be sent to you with free shipping and returns.” Note that stock status may vary, check Apple's site for availability. For the latest sales & prices, see our 13" MacBook Air Price Tracker, updated daily.

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16-inch MacBook Pros with M4 Pro CPUs are on sale for $250-$270 off MSRP
B&H Photo is offering a $250-$270 discount on new 16-inch MacBook Pros with M4 Pro CPUs right now. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: - 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/512GB/Black): $2249, $250 off MSRP - 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/512GB/Silver): $2249, $250 off MSRP - 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (48GB/512GB/Black): $2629, $270 off MSRP - 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pro (48GB/512GB/Silver): $2629, $270 off MSRP Their prices are the lowest available today for new 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pros among the Apple retailers we track. For the latest sales and prices, keep an eye on our 16-inch MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Here are the latest iPhone trade-in values at Apple
Get up to $630 on the purchase of new or refurbished iPhone at Apple using their official Trade In program. Trade in your old iPhone, and Apple will apply its appraised value toward the purchase of any new iPhone. According to Apple, "Answer a few questions to find out your device’s trade-in value. Then give us your device and we’ll put the value on an Apple gift card (or e-credit) you can use anytime. If it’s ready to recycle, we’ll do it for free. Trading in your device is as easy as buying a new one. We’ll give you a prepaid trade-in kit or shipping label to send it off. Or you can bring it to an Apple Store. We’ll either give you instant credit toward the purchase of a new product or send your device on to our recyclers." Current max trade in values (January 2025) are as follows...

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Here are the latest iPhone trade-in values at Apple
Get up to $630 on the purchase of new or refurbished iPhone at Apple using their official Trade In program. Trade in your old iPhone, and Apple will apply its appraised value toward the purchase of any new iPhone. According to Apple, "Answer a few questions to find out your device’s trade-in value. Then give us your device and we’ll put the value on an Apple gift card (or e-credit) you can use anytime. If it’s ready to recycle, we’ll do it for free. Trading in your device is as easy as buying a new one. We’ll give you a prepaid trade-in kit or shipping label to send it off. Or you can bring it to an Apple Store. We’ll either give you instant credit toward the purchase of a new product or send your device on to our recyclers." Current max trade in values (January 2025) are as follows...

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Here are the latest iPhone trade-in values at Apple
Get up to $630 on the purchase of new or refurbished iPhone at Apple using their official Trade In program. Trade in your old iPhone, and Apple will apply its appraised value toward the purchase of any new iPhone. According to Apple, "Answer a few questions to find out your device’s trade-in value. Then give us your device and we’ll put the value on an Apple gift card (or e-credit) you can use anytime. If it’s ready to recycle, we’ll do it for free. Trading in your device is as easy as buying a new one. We’ll give you a prepaid trade-in kit or shipping label to send it off. Or you can bring it to an Apple Store. We’ll either give you instant credit toward the purchase of a new product or send your device on to our recyclers." Current max trade in values (January 2025) are as follows...

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Amazon is offering slight discount, ranging up to 6% off MSRP, on new M4 Mac minis
Amazon has the new M4 and M4 Pro Mac minis discounted up to 6% off MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Their prices are the lowest currently available for these popular new minis: - Mac mini M4 (16GB/256GB): $569, $30 off MSRP - Mac mini M4 (16GB/512GB): $744, $54 off MSRP - Mac mini M4 (24GB/512GB): $939, $60 off MSRP - Mac mini M4 Pro (24GB/512GB): $1369.99, $30 off MSRP For the latest prices and sales, keep an eye on our Mac mini Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Unreal Mobile is offering a $100 instant discount on any new iPhone
Unreal Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile's networks, is offering a $100 discount on any new iPhone with service. This includes new iPhone 16 models as well as iPhone 15, 14, 13, and SE phones. New phones come with their Unlimited 20GB high-speed plan for $30 per month, billed at $90 every 3 months. Slower speeds apply after 20GB per month. Phones are locked to Unreal Mobile for 12 months of service. This deal is live today at Unreal Mobile. For the latest prices & sales, keep an eye on our iPhone Price Tracker, updated daily.

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New sale at B&H: 14-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros for $300 off MSRP
B&H Photo is offering a $300 discount on new 14-inch MacBook Pros with M4 Max CPUs right now, both Silver and Black colors. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: - 14" M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB): $2899, $300 off MSRP Their price is among the lowest available today for a new 14" M4 Max MacBook Pro among the Apple retailers we track. For the latest sales and prices, keep an eye on our 14-inch MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.

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