Monthly Archives: January 2020

fixed : how to safely block caller without calling the untrustworthy number

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Question :

Over the past few days I’ve had several incoming phone calls from an unknown phone number. Since my iPhone warned me that these were from Algeria (the actual phone number started with +213…) and I don’t know anyone who currently is in Algeria, I did not answer any of these calls as I was expecting them to be fraudulent scams…

Now, I want to block this phone number from ever calling me again…

How do I do that safely ?

 

Answer :

By ‘safely’, you probably mean ‘without running the risk of accidentally calling this number’ right ?

To safely block a caller, this is the procedure :

  1. switch on Flight Mode
  2. block the caller
  3. delete the call from the recent calls list
  4. switch off Flight Mode

Since it isn’t clear from your question if you want to block a caller from calling you over regular mobile network (a.k.a. cellular) or from Whatsapp or from any other audio-calling app, I will outline the exact procedure for cellular (GSM) and Whatsapp-audio below.

Here’s how to safely bock a caller  from cellular (GSM) calls :

  • put your iPhone in Flight Mode
    • swipe down from the top right corner of the screen
    • in the window that opens, click on the Airplane-icon
    • now the Airplane-icon will turn orange and the icons for cellular (GSM), Bluetooth and WiFi will dim (grey out)
    • now your iPhone is in Flight mode
  • then, open the Phone.app (the green icon with the old-fashioned telephone hand-piece in it)
  • in the next window, click on “Recents” (in the bottom row, with the clock-icon)
  • in the “Recents” list, find the untrustworthy caller and click on the info-icon at the far right of it (the blue circle outline with the letter “i” in it)
  • in the next window, scroll down completely
  • there, click on “Block this Caller”
  • then, click on “< Recents” top right to return to the Recents list
  • in the “Recents” list, click “Edit” (top right)
  • now find the untrustworthy caller and click on the red “No Entry” icon that has appeared in front of it (far left of the phone number)
  • then, click “Done” (top right)
  • then, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to get back to the main screen
  • then, switch Flight Mode off
    • swipe down from the top right corner of the screen
    • in the window that opens, click on the orange Airplane-icon
    • now the Airplane-icon will turn gray and the icons for cellular (GSM), Bluetooth and WiFi will switch on (turn blue or green)
    • now Flight Mode is turned off

And here’s how to safely block a caller from Whatsapp calls :

  • put your iPhone in Flight Mode
    • swipe down from the top right corner of the screen
    • in the window that opens, click on the Airplane-icon
    • now the Airplane-icon will turn orange and the icons for cellular (GSM), Bluetooth and WiFi will dim (grey out)
    • now your iPhone is in Flight mode
  • then, open the Whatsapp.app (the green icon with the old-fashioned telephone hand-piece in a cartoon speech balloon)
  • in the next window, click on “Calls” (in the bottom row, with the telephone hand-piece icon)
  • in the “Calls” list, find the untrustworthy caller and click on the info-icon at the far right of it (the blue circle outline with the letter “i” in it)
  • in the next window, scroll down completely
  • there, click on “Block Contact”
  • then, click on “< Calls” top right to return to the Recents list
  • in the “Calls” list, click “Edit” (top left)
  • now find the untrustworthy caller and click on the red “No Entry” icon that has appeared in front of it (far left of the phone number)
  • then, click “Done” (top left)
  • then, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to get back to the main screen
  • then, switch Flight Mode off
    • swipe down from the top right corner of the screen
    • in the window that opens, click on the orange Airplane-icon
    • now the Airplane-icon will turn gray and the icons for cellular (GSM), Bluetooth and WiFi will switch on (turn blue or green)
    • now Flight Mode is turned off

As mentioned, the procedure is similar for all voice-audio calling apps.

That’s it !

Now the caller has been blocked from sending new messages, and you can no longer accidentally call back.

enjoy 😉

fixed : fingerprint not recognised when installing apps on new 2019 iPad

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Question :

Every time I try to download a new app from the AppStore on my new 2019 iPad, I am asked to install using my fingerprint, but when I put my finger on it, my finger isn’t recognized…

What is wrong ?

 

Answer :

What do you mean by ‘it’ ?

Do you mean that your finger isn’t recognized when you press it on the fingerprint-icon on-screen ? If so, you aren’t the first person that happens to misunderstand Apple’s directions, which can be quite confusing : on the 2019 iPad your fingerprint can only be scanned by the actual click-able menu-button that is below the screen (on the front-facing side, beneath the display), so just put your finger on the menu-button and it will be recognized 😉

note : since 2019, only the ‘regular’ iPads have Touch ID and a ‘traditional’ menu-button below the screen, the 2018 iPad Pro and newer all have Face ID (so those have face-recognition instead of fingerprint-scanning)

If that wasn’t the problem, check these :

  • make sure your fingers aren’t wet or greasy ; wipe them with a dry towel and try again
  • make sure the menu-button isn’t wet or greasy ; wipe it with a dry towel and try again

If that wasn’t the problem either, do this to reset your fingerprints :

  • login to your iPad using your on-screen unlock code
  • goto Settings.app (Gear-icon/Sprocket-icon)
  • in the list on the left, click on “Touch ID & Passcode”
  • in the window that opens, typ your passcode (the one that you use to unlock your iPad’s screen)
  • then, at FINGERPRINTS, click on “Finger 1” and delete
  • then delete all other fingerprints (like “Finger 2” and “Finger 3”) if there are any
  • then click on “Add a Fingerprint” and follow the on-screen directions
  • this info from the Apple-website might come in handy if you think this isn’t working as intended : https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201371
  • tip 1 : it is wise to replace all fingerprint namings like “Finger 1” and “Finger 2” to something that makes more sense like “Right Index Finger” to enable yourself to only redo one fingerprint if it turns out that one of your fingerprints isn’t recognized properly
  • tip 2 : the current version of iPadOS seems to have some problems recognizing fingerprints when holding the iPad in landscape-mode (so sideways, for instance when watching a full-screen video) ; this is probably due to the fact that the initial fingerprint-scans were all made while holding the iPad in portrait-mode ; so, as an extra, also include a fingerprint-scan of your right tumb while grabbing your fingers around the bottom-left side of your iPad (so a 90 degree clockwise rotated fingerprint-scan ; as if you were holding the iPad in landscape-mode)
  • then, back in the “Touch ID & Passcode”  make sure that both “iPad Unlock” and “iTunes & App Store” are switched ON (“Apple Pay” and “Password AutoFill” should be turned ON only if you intend to use them on a regular basis, else the should be turned OFF)
  • then exit Settings.app and go test if your fingerprints are being recognized (e.g. by getting a new app from the AppStore)

If that still doesn’t work, try setting up a fingerfrint-scan from a different finger and try again.

If you keep on having problems, go to your local AppleStore or the Apple-dealer where you bought the iPad (or else to an authorized Apple Repair Centre) and have your iPad checked for a hardware-failure of the menu-button.

That’s it 😉

enjoy !