Why does this happen? Well lets explore a couple of culprits;

Bluetooth Problems; Just like any wireless headphones AirPods rely on Bluetooth technology to transmit audio. If there are connectivity issues or interference it can result in no sound even if the connection seems established.

Outdated Software; It’s important to ensure that both your iPhone software and AirPods firmware are up, to date. Outdated versions of operating systems or firmware can lead to syncing and pairing problems.

Incorrect Output Setting; Sometimes the audio output might accidentally be set to play through your iPhone speaker of automatically routing it to the AirPods.

App Permissions; Certain applications require additional permissions in order to send audio output via Bluetooth devices. This could explain why sound works in some apps but not others.

By addressing these causes and following troubleshooting steps accordingly you should be able to resolve the issue of your AirPods staying connected while the sound plays through your iPhone speaker.
Potential Hardware Issues; In instances problems like debris stuck in the charging ports, battery malfunctions or other hardware faults with the AirPods themselves might be causing the problem.

How to Resolve AirPods Playing Sound from iPhone Instead

Before attempting any troubleshooting steps it’s always best to start with the basics;

Restart Both Devices; Power off and then power on both your iPhone and AirPods. This will refresh their connections.

Check AirPods Fit; Ensure that both AirPods fit properly in your ears and that there are no obstructions affecting the sound.

Bring Devices Closer; During testing place your iPhone and AirPods within range in the same room to maintain a strong Bluetooth connection.

If you’re still experiencing issues with sound playing reliably through your AirPods proceed to try these steps;

1. Access Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone. Select “Forget Device” for your AirPods. Then. Hold the button on the back of the AirPod case to re pair them.

2. Confirm Audio Output Settings; Go to Settings > Bluetooth > tap on the “i” next to your AirPods. Choose “iPhone” as the audio source.

3. Check App Permissions; Under iPhone Settings locate and select each app > Bluetooth. Toggle on permissions to allow access to Bluetooth.

4. Update iOS Software; Make sure you have installed all software updates, for both your iPhone and AirPods firmware.

5.
To reset the network settings on your iPhone go to the “General” menu then select “Reset ” and finally choose “Reset Network Settings.” Just be aware that doing this will cause your device to forget all saved Wi Fi passwords and other network related preferences.

Next inspect the charging ports of AirPods for any signs of dust and debris. If you notice any issues carefully then clean them out.

Try using your AirPods with a device like an iPad or Mac. If the problem persists on another device it might indicate a hardware problem with the AirPods.

During troubleshooting pay attention to the sound cuts out. If it disconnects immediately before stopping it could suggest issues compared to cases where there was never proper audio routing from the beginning.

The key is to re establish and verify every link in the audio chain. Once you’ve ensured that basics like fitting, pairing and output are functioning correctly you can fine tune permissions and check for updates. It’s best to rule out software related culprits before delving into hardware problems.

Are you experiencing sound coming from your iPhone instead of your AirPods? In that case it might be necessary to replace your AirPods if you’ve already tried all troubleshooting steps such, as resetting them cleaning their ports updating firmware and checking app permissions. Intermittent sound disruptions, volumes that sound muffled or distorted at times during playback are common signs of a potential hardware defect.If your AirPods are giving you troubles it might be more worthwhile to consider getting a set rather than spending money on extensive troubleshooting or repairs. It’s also an idea to check out AppleCare for future protection of your AirPods investment.

The key here is to understand the symptoms and systematically try out different solutions starting from the simplest ones and moving towards more complex ones. Before assuming that there’s a hardware issue make sure to review Bluetooth settings and software configurations. With the troubleshooting approach you should be able to enjoy uninterrupted sound, from your AirPods in no time.

The post AirPods Connected But Sound Coming From Phone appeared first on TechdrivenHome.

Before Spotify came around, music lovers had to rely on lyric videos floating around YouTube and other streaming services (or simply Google search the lyrics while the music is jamming in the background).

Spotify higher-ups thought that bringing song lyrics onto the same page as the songs themselves would give more value to the users, and they were absolutely right. You can now have karaoke parties, learn the words of your favorite tracks, and sing along to entire albums on the Spotify app.

If you haven’t already figured out how to bring up lyrics on Spotify songs, I’m here to help you do it, so let’s get started.

How To See Lyrics On Spotify

You can view song lyrics on Spotify in songs that feature them. Lyrics are available on the Spotify desktop app and the Spotify mobile app, and the owners of both Free Spotify and Premium Spotify accounts can access them. Spotify lyrics are sourced from Musixmatch, a premier Italian company specializing in music data.

Opening Spotify lyrics is a breeze, regardless of which device you are using, although the process is a bit different for desktop and mobile versions of Spotify. All you need to do is open your Spotify app and start playing a song.

If you’re using the Spotify desktop app or Spotify Web Player, you’ll need to look for the microphone icon in the bottom-right of the screen. On the mobile Spotify app, it’s even easier to see Spotify lyrics; as soon as the song plays, you’ll get to see the lyrics roll down below the track control bar.

How to See Lyrics on Spotify Desktop App

Log into your Spotify account and choose the song that you wish to enable lyrics on. Unlike the mobile version of Spotify, lyrics won’t automatically appear on your desktop Spotify, so you’ll have to click on the microphone icon (located next to the “Queue” function to the right of the track control).

This will enable the lyrics screen, allowing you to use text lines as time markers, skipping to the parts that you wish to listen to.

The lyrics screen will remain open until you either shut the Spotify app down or tap on the microphone icon again. The latter only disables the lyrics and will take you to the track selection screen (meanwhile, the song will still continue playing).

How to See Lyrics on Spotify Mobile App

The first steps to watching lyrics on Spotify mobile app or the Spotify TV app are exactly the same as with the desktop version. Open your Spotify app, log in if you haven’t enabled automatic authentication, and choose the song you want to play.

Then, in the Spotify mobile app, tap the song once for it to start playing, and a second time to be taken to the song page. Scroll down, and you’ll see a section titled “Lyrics”. To open full lyrics, tap anywhere on this box.

The lyric navigation controls are the same as with the desktop app; tap on the line of text that you wish to fast-forward or rewind back to, and use swiping controls to move the lyrics screen up and down.

Using Lyrics on Spotify to Control Song Time

The Spotify lyrics feature is a bit more advanced than just a wall of text placed on the screen. Lyrics on Spotify are interactive, meaning that you can click on different lines to fast-forward (or rewind) the song to the moment when this particular part is supposed to be sung.

This is just one of the many reasons why using Spotify Lyrics is better than watching lyric videos or opening countless tabs to find them online.

Once you’ve opened the lyrics screen on your Spotify app, you may notice that some lines are white and some are black. The song lyrics that are white indicate that these lines have already passed while the song lyrics in black tell you that these parts are coming. By sliding the bar on the “Now Playing” section, the color of the lyrics will change as well depending on the slider’s position.

You can tap (or click if you’re using the Spotify desktop app) on the line that you wish to return or fast-forward to. This is much easier and more accurate than trying to pinpoint the exact second of the song lyrics manually.

Spotify Lyrics & Playlists

One of the things I like about Spotify the most is that the lyrics screen doesn’t disappear once your song is done. If you queued a playlist up for playing, the screen will be updated with the lyrics of the next song on the list automatically.

The same goes for albums and “Made For You” playlists; as soon as one song is finished and the next one starts (even if it’s shuffled), you’ll get to see lyrics on Spotify’s songs are updated with new text; the only thing that will remain the same is the background color of the lyrics screen.

FAQ

If you’re still unsure about how to enable lyrics on your Spotify app, please consult this section for answers to the most frequently asked questions.

How do I get karaoke on Spotify?

Spotify already features karaoke-style lyrics, sourced from the Italian firm called Musixmatch. Simply open the lyrics on your Spotify app, and the text will continue rolling as the song plays.

Can I see song lyrics on my Spotify mobile app?

Yes, Spotify song lyrics are available on all three Spotify app versions (desktop, browser, and mobile).

Why can’t I see lyrics on Spotify?

Some compositions and instrumental songs do not feature any lyrics, hence they will never be available. That’s why you can’t view Spotify lyrics. It is also possible for new releases not to feature lyrics yet but they may appear in the future.

Wrapping Up

Spotify became my go-to music-listening app long before it introduced the lyrics screen feature, but I must admit, it is absolutely amazing. Using it is simple and convenient, and it works on all devices, so there’s not much more to ask for. The only thing I dislike about it is that you can’t change the background color of the lyrics screen (yet).

Whether you’re using the desktop Spotify app or you’re on mobile, all you have to do to watch the lyrics of your favorite songs as they are playing is use the correct function; on mobile, just tap “Lyrics” below the track lyrics control bar while on desktop Spotify, it’s the microphone icon.

The post How To See Lyrics On Spotify appeared first on TechdrivenHome.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through several methods to identify your iPad’s model and year it was released to determine its age.

Check Your iPad’s Settings

The easiest way to find out your iPad’s age is to check its settings.

To view your iPad’s model and year:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPad’s home screen.

2. Select “General” and then “About.”

3. Under “Model,” you’ll find details about your specific iPad model.

4. The model year is typically in the name itself or in parentheses right next to it.

For example, you might see “iPad Air 2 (2015)” or “iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2021).” This tells you your exact model and the year it was released.

Match Your Model Number

You can also find your iPad’s age by matching its model number to its release year.

To find your model number:

1. Go to Settings > General > About like in the steps above.

2. Scroll down to “Model Number” and you’ll see a long alphanumeric code. This is your iPad’s specific model number.

3. Search online for “[your model number] Apple” to bring up specific details about your iPad model. Online specs will list the release date or year it first went on sale.

For instance, the iPad Pro 12.9-inch 5th generation has a model number iPad13,1. Searching for this brings up results showing this specific model was first released in April 2021.

Use Your iPad’s Serial Number

Still unsure on the manufacture date? You can use your iPad’s unique serial number to look up the exact date it was produced.

To find and check your serial number:

1. Locate the serial number printed on the back of your iPad near the bottom. It will be a long combination of letters and numbers unique to your device.

2. Go to Apple’s Online Service Assistant tool and enter your serial number. This will look up details linked to that serial and show you the exact date your iPad was manufactured.

3. Subtract the production year from the current year and that gives you your iPad’s age.

So if your serial number shows a June 2017 production date, and it’s currently 2024, your iPad would be nearly 7 years old.

Identify Physical Features

Sometimes it’s possible to estimate your iPad’s age by examining its physical features alone. Things like the logos, connectors, cameras, and bezels can provide clues as to whether you have an older or newer generation.

For instance, an iPad with a 30-pin dock connector is likely older than one with a Lightning port. An iPad mini with touch ID built into the home button indicates a newer 2nd, 3rd or 4th generation versus a 1st gen.

While the physical design cues alone won’t tell you an exact age, they can help you roughly narrow it down before investigating further using the steps above.

Check Your Purchase History

If you purchased your iPad directly from Apple or a major electronics retailer like Best Buy, you may be able to find the order date in your purchase history.

Dig through old emails for receipt confirmations from Apple or look up past orders on websites of major retailers. The exact purchase date, if available, will tell you precisely how long you’ve had your iPad.

Rebuild from iCloud or iTunes Backup

If none of the other methods provide a clear idea on your iPad’s age, you may be able to pinpoint it by examining any stored backups of the device.

When you back up an iPhone or iPad to iCloud or iTunes, details like the date and iOS version are associated with that backup snapshot.

You can view backup metadata by going into your iCloud settings or iTunes app preferences on a computer. Look for the date of the latest available backup of your iPad. If the date was when your first got your iPad, this can indicate how long you’ve had it.

In Summary

Figuring out your iPad’s age and model details is fast and simple by following our guide:

– Check Settings > General > About to see Apple’s model name with year
– Match the iPad’s model number to online specs showing release year
– Lookup manufacture date via serial number on Apple’s tool
– Examine physical design features for clues pointing to general age
– Retrieve purchase date from old receipts and order history
– View backup metadata in iTunes or iCloud settings

Knowing exactly how old your iPad is helps with troubleshooting, determining resale value and whether to upgrade. Follow the methods above to easily discover your iPad’s age.

The post How Old Is My iPad? appeared first on TechdrivenHome.

Understanding Hotel Wi-Fi Limitations

Hotels strive to provide quality internet access for all guests, but gaming consoles consume significant bandwidth for online gameplay, downloads, and streaming. To ensure availability for everyone, hotels commonly implement:

Speed reductions for high-bandwidth devices
Blocking of gaming-related ports
Splash screen login requirements
MAC address filtering to restrict unauthorized devices
Bypassing these restrictions is often possible by taking the right approach.

Instructions

Step 1: Connect PS5 to Hotel Wi-Fi

In PS5 Settings menu, go to Network settings. Select the hotel Wi-Fi network and enter password from room paperwork or check-in info. If Wi-Fi requires web login via another device first, connect a phone/tablet/laptop to that portal before connecting PS5.

Step 2: Resolve Connection Problems

If PS5 has no internet access, try restarting it to clear any network conflicts. Check for hotel Wi-Fi terms restricting bandwidth without request. Contact the front desk to inquire about policies. Verify PS5 MAC address status – request authorization if filtered.

Step 3: Adjust MTU Settings

Lowering MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) value may fix connectivity issues by optimizing packet size.

In Settings, go to Network > Settings > Advanced Settings. Select MTU Settings. Change the default 1500 value to 1300 or 1400. Test connection to see if lowering MTU helped.

Additionally, enable alternate PS5 ports (443 and 1935) in Network settings which may bypass gaming port blocks.

Workaround: Use Phone as Mobile Hotspot

Activate smartphone mobile hotspot feature. Connect phone to hotel Wi-Fi for internet access. Connect PS5 to phone’s Wi-Fi hotspot instead of hotel network. Test games and connection. PS5 now leverages phone’s internet access.

Conclusion

By adjusting MTU settings, switching ports, contacting hotel staff and utilizing phone mobile hotspot workarounds, connecting a PS5 to hotel Wi-Fi is achievable, allowing you to game online while traveling. Share any other hotel gaming tips in the comments!

The post How To Connect PS5 To Hotel WiFi? appeared first on TechdrivenHome.

But what exactly causes Nest batteries to prematurely drain? And how can you properly recharge while avoiding continuous low battery conditions plaguing your thermostat? From battery basics to charging tips and replacement decisions, this article explores the ins and outs of maintaining optimal power for your Nest smart home climate controller. Read on to give your thermostat the battery boost it deserves.

What Drains A Nest Thermostat Battery?

The built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery within Nest Learning and E Thermostats generally lasts multiple months on a charge with moderate usage. So when low battery warnings creep up frequently, something is excessively taxing that power pack. Common battery drain culprits include:

• Frequent temperature adjustments and Home/Away mode switching

• Overly bright screen illumination and aggressive motion activation

• Connectivity issues forcing constant WiFi/Bluetooth reconnections

• Defective or aging batteries unable to hold max charge

Additionally, extreme cold weather demands added heating system workload, compelling the thermostat hardware to consume extra electrical current. So winter necessarily draws more battery charge compared to temperate seasons.

How To Recharge The Nest Thermostat Battery

Rather than allowing your Nest thermostat to fully discharge, best practice is charging proactively once battery levels dip around 15-20% to ensure continuous climate control. Here are your at-home recharging options:

Plug In USB Charger
Simply connect any USB charging cable (like from your smartphone) into the USB port on the thermostat’s base then plug the other end into any USB power adapter.

Dock On Charging Base
The Nest Stand charging base (sold separately or sometimes included) provides an integrated dock to magnetically attach and charge the thermostat continuously – just be sure the base is plugged into an active wall outlet.

Enable HVAC Power Accessory
Some heating and cooling systems feature integrated C or G wire power connectors that a professional can splice into to provide constant power if recharging proves frequently necessary in your environment.

Maximizing Battery Life

Beyond reactive charging when your Nest reports low, employing a few battery maximization best practices keeps your thermostat fully powered longer term:

• Install latest software updates for efficiency fixes

• Set Eco Mode to minimize usage during very low/very high periods

• Reduce motion detection sensitivity to limit actuation

• Lessen display brightness and duration settings

• Ensure charger or Home/Away Assist features enabled for sleep mode optimization

When To Replace The Battery

If your Nest thermostat battery flashes empty within days or weeks of a full charge, the internal rechargeable lithium-ion power cell likely reached its usable lifespan – replacement becomes necessary. Contact Nest support for details on battery replacement options, or consider upgrading to a newer model altogether.

Prevent Future Low Battery Headaches

Rather than continually reacting to low power warnings, avoid battery frustrations by:

• Purchasing a Nest Stand charging dock for 24/7 charging

• Connecting C wire directly if compatible HVAC system for constant power

• Configuring notifications for proactive alerts before battery fully drains

While occasional circumstances might still tax batteries faster than expected, applying charging accessories, maximization tips and notifications should keep your Nest Smart Thermostat battery humming along smoothly through many heating/cooling seasons ahead.

The post Nest Thermostat Low Battery? appeared first on TechdrivenHome.

If your Spotify keeps pausing on you, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Many Spotify users deal with this pesky problem from time to time. The good news is, there are usually some simple troubleshooting steps you can take to get your music flowing again. In this blog post, we’ll break down the most common reasons why Spotify pauses and buffers, along with some tips to fix it.

Reasons Why Spotify Keeps Pausing

There are a few key culprits that typically cause Spotify streaming interruptions:

Poor Internet Connection
The most obvious and common reason Spotify keeps pausing is a slow, unstable, or congested internet connection. Spotify streams a constant flow of music data to your device. Any hiccups, lag, or bandwidth constraints with your home Wi-Fi network or cellular data service can disrupt that stream. Verify you have a strong, high-speed connection whenever using Spotify.

Bandwidth-Hungry Apps
Do you tend to have multiple browsers windows open while streaming Spotify? Or maybe you’re also running bandwidth-heavy applications like video chat or gaming services. When there’s too much bandwidth demand from different apps and services on your device, Spotify gets starved of data flow and pauses to buffer more music. Close out any unnecessary apps hogging your internet bandwidth.

Server Hiccups
Once in a while, the cause of Spotify buffering has nothing to do with your device or internet connection. Spotify’s servers also can occasionally glitch on their end, leading to music disruptions. Not much you can do when it’s an internal server issue, apart from trying again later.

Outdated App Version
Like any software application, the Spotify app releases updated versions periodically. Failure to update to the latest Spotify version can sometimes lead to performance issues that mangle music playback. Be sure to regularly check for and install app updates to stay current.

Extensive Ad-Blocking
Do you utilize an aggressive ad-blocker to limit promotional ads? That might inadvertently block crucial music streaming data. Try whitelisting Spotify under your ad-block settings. Also check your network firewall to ensure it’s not choking the data flows.

Excessive Downloads
Downloading Spotify songs or playlists for offline listening requires bandwidth too. If you’re actively downloading a queue of songs while trying to stream music, pauses can occur. Hold off downloading until you’re done streaming.

Account Limitations
In rare cases, pausing arises from limits imposed on free or ad-supported Spotify accounts. Premium Spotify subscribers get priority bandwidth allocation, so upgrading your account could help.

How to Troubleshoot and Fix Spotify Pausing

The key is pinpointing the exact culprit causing your Spotify streaming interruptions. Here are some general troubleshooting steps to uncover and remediate what’s disrupting your musical flow:

Check Internet Strength
Run a speed test of your Wi-Fi or cellular data connection to quantify bandwidth rates, latency levels and overall health. If speeds are low or the connection seems unreliable, address any network issues or switch to a stronger signal.

Inspect Bandwidth Usage
Use your device’s task manager to view all processes and apps consuming bandwidth in the background. As noted above, things like browsers, video apps, updates, games, etc. could be hogging capacity needed to stream smoothly. Close out unused processes.

Update the App
Go into your device’s app store, search for Spotify, and see if any pending app updates are available to install. Keeping Spotify fully updated often fixes performance glitches.

Toggle Online Mode
Open Spotify’s settings and ensure ‘Online Mode’ is enabled under ‘Playback.’ This may have gotten switched off, forcing Spotify into a problematic offline mode.

Reinstall the App
If all else fails, a fresh reinstallation of the Spotify app can work wonders. Uninstall completely, reboot your device, then download and reinstall Spotify as if new. Log back into your profile and see if that cleared up any lingering issues.

Contact Support
For recurring Spotify pausing that you just can’t seem to resolve on your end, submit a support request to Spotify describing your issues in detail. There may be an obscure technical glitch on Spotify’s servers only fixable on their end. Provide logs and specifics that can aid their troubleshooting process.

Embrace Offline Mode Temporarily
Since streaming hiccups typically stem from bandwidth constraints somewhere, you can sidestep the whole mess by intentionally switching Spotify into offline mode. Download whichever playlists or albums you want available and disable the need to stream from Spotify’s servers. Playback locally until you get your connection issues fully straightened out.

Investigate ISP Throttling
In rare cases, internet service providers intentionally throttle or deprioritize bandwidth for Spotify’s streaming music data. See if you can find any information on potential ISP throttling practices related to Spotify or multimedia streaming protocols. Switch ISPs or complain loudly to customer service if intentional squeezing of your Spotify data is confirmed.

Wrap Up
With millions of songs at your fingertips, interruptions to your Spotify streaming are especially disruptive. Diagnosing the exact points of failure along the pathway from Spotify’s servers to your ears is key to smoothing out the playback. In most cases, common issues like poor Wi-Fi, crowded bandwidth, outdated apps or temporary glitches can be easily corrected once identified. But even the occasional need to embrace offline mode is better than a musical experience plagued by repeated pausing. Hopefully with the troubleshooting tips above you’ll have your Spotify snags sorted out promptly. Now get back to singing along horribly off-key to all your favorable tracks!

The post Why Does My Spotify Keep Pausing? appeared first on TechdrivenHome.

With the latest watchOS software update, Apple finally enabled the capability to easily clear notifications right on the watch itself. Read below for full details on quickly deleting individual messages or entire threads to keep communication clutter under control. Take advantage of the Apple Watch’s messaging versatility without the usual deletion hurdles!

Why Delete Apple Watch Messages?

Before diving into the deletion details, let’s review why periodically clearing notifications directly on your Apple Watch proves important:

Regain Screen Space – Messaging alerts occupying space vertically in the notifications center quickly pushes older alerts out of view. Deleting conversations liberates room for visibility.

Maintain Privacy – Relying on automatic message deletion settings on a paired iPhone isn’t always reliable enough when sensitive messages arrive on all devices.

Reduce Distractions – Work meetings or appointments require avoiding unnecessary electronic intrusions. Deleting alerts allows focus.

Improve Accessibility – Lengthy notification history becomes increasingly difficult to parse visually on such a compact screen. Deleting obsolete messages enhances accessibility.

Conserve Storage – While not a prime storage hog, keeping thousands of message notifications does occupy storage better used for apps and media.

How to Delete Apple Watch Messages and Threads

watchOS 9 introduces a quick action menu activated by force pressing any messaging notification from the watch face or notification center:

1. Navigate to the message you wish to delete.

2. Firmly press the display over that specific message notification for 2 seconds until haptic feedback vibrates.

3. A contextual menu pops up – select Delete to remove that individual message alert or Delete Thread to erase the entire conversation history.

4. Further choose to remove that notification from all devices to sync deletion across iPhone and other connected devices.

Previous watchOS Software Workarounds

Before this watchOS 9 enhancement, Apple Watch users had to rely on a couple indirect deletions methods like:

– Scrolling to bottom of notifications list then selecting Clear All Notifications option to wipe everything.
– Accessing messages on paired iPhone notifications settings and deleting specific threads to remotely sync removal back to the watch.

Neither allows targeted conversation removal right on the wrist like now possible.

Key Deletion Takeaways

Becoming adept as selectively removing obsolete messages or wiping entire notification history directly makes interacting with notifications way more practical day to day. Just remember:

– Haptic touch individual alerts then confirm delete onscreen
– Remove both messages and source threads to maximize space
– Leverage new remote sync deletion to apply across Apple devices
– Use regularly to maintain only relevant alerts visible

Fumbling through cluttered notification center chaos is finally avoidable. Everyone receiving regular messaging pings on their Apple Watch should absolutely utilize these updated deletions capabilities to keep just current conversations within sight.

Between dictation, scribbling and now deletion right from the wrist, handling communication and notifications proves smoother than ever thanks to the Apple Watch’s remarkable versatility and practicality!

The post How To Delete Messages On Apple Watch? appeared first on TechdrivenHome.

How To Turn Off Apple Watch’s Theater Mode — 4 Easy Steps

The first method for turning off Theater Mode is through your Control Center:
Tap your Apple Watch display to wake up the device, or press its Digital Crown.
Swipe up from the lower part of your screen, and go into the Control Center
Find the Theater Mode icon—with the default icon settings, it appears as a pair of theater masks. If the Theater Mode is turned on right now, the icon will be highlighted in yellow. Tap the icon to turn off Theater Mode. Once it’s off, the yellow highlight will disappear. You can activate Theater Mode once again by tapping the icon.

What Does Theater Mode Do On The Apple Watch?

As we’ve mentioned above, Theater Mode basically stops your display from automatically turning on based on wrist movement. However, it’s a bit more than that — there are other ways in which Theater Mode prevents you from disturbing others. For instance, with Theater Mode on, you’ll also find that haptic feedback and audio are muted. Plus, the screen won’t turn on automatically; in this mode, it only responds to a button press. So, how is it different from Do Not Disturb? You’d be right to ask this question, seeing as the two sound familiar based on our description. However, unlike in Do Not Disturb, your watch will still receive alerts and notifications; they just won’t be followed by sound or on-screen changes. Once you decide you don’t need Theater Mode and switch it off, all of your notifications will be there. And you can still see them even in Theater Mode, you just need to turn on Apple Watch’s display manually.

Troubleshooting Guide

Don’t worry; it’s common to occasionally encounter minor issues while operating tech devices like the Apple Watch. That’s why we’ll discuss a couple of prevalent problems you might face while trying to deactivate Theater Mode on their Apple Watch, along with solutions. For instance, you might tap the Theater Mode button in the Control Center, and nothing happens. If the button doesn’t respond, the simplest solution is usually to restart your Apple Watch:
Press and hold the side button until you see the Power Off button. Press it to turn off the watch. To turn it back on, hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.

Another issue could be that the Control Center won’t open when you swipe up. This is often due to an active application or the watch face not being the active display. To solve this, follow these steps:
Press the digital crown to ensure you’re on the watch face. Try swiping up again. If that doesn’t work, try restarting your device. If the problem persists, it could be a touch sensitivity issue or a bug that might require professional assistance or a software update.

Other Useful Modes on the Apple Watch

While Theater Mode is a great solution when you want to avoid disturbing others in quiet or dark areas, it’s far from the only option in such situations. Luckily, Apple Watches come equipped with several other handy modes aside from Theater Mode. Some of these can enhance your experience when you need to be more discreet as well. Here are a few suggestions:
Do Not Disturb Mode – Silences calls and notifications, but your watch will still light up when you lift your wrist. It’s ideal when you want peace without complete silence.
Sleep Mode – Activates Do Not Disturb and prevents your watch’s screen from waking while pairing with the Sleep app to track your rest.
Workout Do Not Disturb – Automatically enables Do Not Disturb when a workout is detected, avoiding unwanted distractions, sounds, and alerts from your device.
Airplane Mode – Goes a step further by disconnecting your Apple Watch from all wireless connections, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Useful when you are on a flight or want to conserve battery life.
If you want to use your Apple Watch more effectively or in a more personal way, these are all useful modes to try out besides Theater Mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that we’ve discussed ways to turn off Theater Mode on an Apple Watch, we’ll go over some of the most frequently asked questions we’ve come across on this topic—read on for detailed answers!
Why Can’t I Turn Off Theater Mode?
One of the reasons you might have a hard time switching Theater Mode off is that you can’t access the Control Center. There are a number of reasons why this might be happening:
Your screen protector might be worn out, making it less responsive to gestures
Your hands might be damp or wet, preventing you from swiping on the screen properly
You might be experiencing a software error

How to Turn off Theater Mode on Apple Watch When I Can’t Swipe Up?
If your Control Center is unresponsive, one of the easiest ways to deal with the issue is to switch to another Apple Watch Face. After that, try accessing the Control Center again from that Watch Face. This should also fix any issues with swiping and gestures, if they were software-related. Besides swapping out your screen protector for a new one, you should also try to simply restart your watch. Do this by holding the side button until the Power Off option appears. Then, wait a few minutes and power the Watch on again.

The post How To Turn Off Theater Mode On Apple Watch? (It’s Easy) appeared first on TechdrivenHome.

If you’re ready to cancel Spotify and want all personal data and usage history erased from their systems, this guide covers the proper steps to completely delete your Spotify account.

Should You Delete Your Spotify Account?
Here are common reasons you may want to fully delete your Spotify membership and wipe the slate clean:

– You switched to another streaming music provider exclusively like Apple Music and no longer access any Spotify features.

– You want all listening history, saved playlists, personal data and account details permanently erased from Spotify’s records.

– Someone else gained access to your account without permission, necessitating complete closure.

– You’re no longer using any streaming music apps and want to cut ties with Spotify.

Before deleting, remember any playlists you created or liked songs saved within Spotify will be gone permanently once deleted. So be sure to export anything you want to keep first!

How To Permanently Cancel Spotify Premium

If currently paying for Spotify Premium, you must first end the paid subscription via:

1. Visiting the Spotify account management page while signed into your profile.

2. Navigate to the Your Plan section and select Change Plan.

3. Click Cancel Premium button to terminate automatic billing and paid access.

Your still accessible account will revert to the free ad-supported version. Now to delete everything…

Request Account Closure Via Privacy Form

Unlike most apps, Spotify purposefully buries complete account deletion options deep within their privacy policy site, requiring a formal request form submission.

Follow these steps to submit account removal request:

1. Go to Spotify’s Privacy Contact Form while signed into the Spotify account you want deleted.

2. For inquiry type, select My Data Request then choose to have your account closed permanently.

3. Enter your login credentials again when prompted to confirm account ownership.

4. Explain why you want your Spotify account deleted in the provided box.

5. Check your email after submission to access verification link to complete the erasure process.

6. Spotify will process the request within 10 business days, obliterating all personal data from their systems.

Once accomplished, you cannot rescind deletion or ever access that account’s data again. A whole new account signup would be necessary if you return to Spotify later on.

Key Takeaways

Having a direct path to Spotify account deletion empowers users tired of the platform to cut ties completely. Just remember:

– Cancel any paid Spotify Premium auto-renewing subscription first to stop billing.

– Utilize the privacy form to submit an account closure request for permanent data deletion.

– Account deletion is irreversible, erasing all history and playlists with no option to restore anything deleted later on.

While closing a Spotify account takes more effort than typical app deletion, submitting a formal privacy request eliminates all personal data from their records permanently. So for true Spotify abandoners, account termination delivers complete separation.

The post How To Delete Spotify Account? appeared first on TechdrivenHome.

Sometimes, a voice feature can be more trouble than it’s worth. We’ll outline all the reasons why you might want to learn how to turn off voice on PS5, while also teaching you:
How to turn off voice commands on the PS5
How to turn off the screen reader option and change basic settings

If you don’t want to fiddle around with the PS5 Settings menu, the quickest temporary way to turn off voice is via your DualSense controller.

Your wireless controller has a built-in microphone, which is the default input device for any voice commands and voice reading features. If you want to disable voice chat quickly, the controller also has a dedicated mute button.

It’s the small horizontal button located in the middle of the DualSense controller, under the PS button. A simple press is all it takes to mute yourself temporarily. Once you do, the button will become orange to indicate your current voice status. Press it again to unmute.

For more permanent solutions, check out the rest of our tutorial. Don’t worry, it’s a relatively straightforward process and we’ll guide you through it right here!

What are Voice Commands on the PlayStation 5?

The PlayStation 5 is one of the most advanced consoles on the planet, but it doesn’t support Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, or any other third-party voice assistant. However, PlayStation has included its proprietary voice assistant, which you can direct through voice commands.

It’s not as advanced as full-fledged voice platforms, but you can still use it to open and close games and control your media playback apps on the PS5.

While every PS5 was shipped with the necessary hardware to run voice commands, the feature is relatively new—Sony only introduced it as a software update in late 2022. As a result, voice commands are still a work in progress.

Right now, you have to fulfill the following conditions to control your PS5 via voice:
You have to speak English
You have to use US or UK dialects
You must join Sony’s software beta program
You need an active PlayStation Network Account
The account must be registered in the US or UK

How To Turn Off Voice Commands on PS5

The process for turning off voice commands on the PS5 is simple:
Boot up your PlayStation 5
Navigate to the Settings menu
Go to Voice Command
Toggle it off

How To Change Voice Command Settings

If you’re unhappy with a certain aspect of voice commands on the PS5, you don’t have to turn them off completely. The same Voice Command menu in your Settings lets you customize your experience by tweaking other voice-related options:
Speech Volume — changes how loud your console will respond to instructions
Speech Speed — changes how fast the console will respond
Response Timeout — adjusts the length of time your console will wait for a specific command after being activated via “Hey Playstation!”
Listen for Hey PlayStation — toggles whether Voice Command mode is activated with this specific sentence

If you set a longer Response Timeout, the console will wait for a command longer before it stops listening and resumes normal activity. With the default settings, the console waits for commands around four seconds.

In case you don’t want the console to constantly listen for “Hey PlayStation!” you can disable this voice prompt. You’ll still be able to activate Voice Command mode by following these steps:
Press the PS Button
Choose the Voice Command option in the control center
Speak the desired command

List of Voice Commands on PS5

Right now, the PS5 only supports a small number of voice commands. Here’s a breakdown of the main ones:
Voice command Description
Open [insert name] Opens the desired application or game on the console
Find [insert name] Navigates to the page of a game or app in your library. If you don’t own the game, it automatically navigates to its page in the PlayStation store.
Previous Opens the previous media file
Next Opens the next media file
Rewind Rewinds the current media file
Pause Pauses the current media file
Resume Resumes playback of the current media file
Cancel Cancels voice command and stops console from listening

What is Screen Reader on PS5?

Besides Voice Commands, the PS5 has another voice-based feature called Screen Reader. It’s an accessibility feature that enables screen reading for people with eyesight issues. Once you enable Screen Reader, the PS5 will read all the screen text aloud, including all the chat messages you receive in Call Of Duty or any other online multiplayer game. You’ll also receive audio guidance while navigating menus.

While the PS5 is reading text via the screen reading feature, you can use the DualSense controller to interact with the system. There are two button combinations you need to know here:
PS button + triangle button — Play and Pause text voiceover
PS button + R1 button — Replay the voiceover from the beginning

Like the Voice Command, the Screen Reader only supports a limited number of languages. Thankfully, the list of available languages extends beyond English. You can also use Screen Reader in:
Spanish
Portuguese
Polish
Dutch
Arabic
Japanese
French
Korean
German
Italian
Russian

According to Sony, more languages might become available in the future, both for Screen Reader and Voice Commands.

How to Turn Off Screen Reader on PS5

To turn off Screen Reader, follow these guidelines:
Go to your home screen
Select the Settings icon
Open the Accessibility menu
Enter the Screen Reader section
Toggle off the Enable Screen Reader option

Frequently Asked Questions

After showing you various ways to turn off voice on the PS5, we’ll answer a bunch of frequently asked questions about the initial setup process. We hope this will clarify how voice-powered features work on the PS5 even further!
How do I turn off the voice assistant?
It depends on which voice assistance you want to turn off — if you want to turn off Voice Commands, you can do so from the dedicated Voice Command section of your PS5 settings. If it’s the Screen Reader, you can find the related options in the Accessibility menu.
How do I turn off voice commands on PlayStation?
You can either mute your DualSense controller via a dedicated button, or by disabling Voice Commands in the PlayStation 5 settings.
How do I turn on the voice assistant on PS5?
The quickest method requires going to the PS5 settings and toggling on the Voice Command prompts.
Does YouTube work with voice commands on the PS5?
Yes — after enabling Voice Commands, the media-related ones will work inside the YouTube app. You can find the full list of PS5 voice commands above.
Which PlayStation devices detect my voice?
You can find a full list of devices supported by PlayStation’s voice command feature below:
PlayStation media remote
PULSE 3D headset
Any external mic connected to a DualShock wireless controller
Internal mic in the DualSense wireless controller
Does Voice Command listen to my voice all the time?
If you’ve toggled on the Listen for Hey Playstation option, your PS5 will listen for that specific phrase. After that phrase has been detected, the console will also record your voice while you issue commands. Once a command has been detected, the console stops recording.
Can voice commands be enabled on child accounts?
Bear in mind that Voice Command can’t be enabled on child accounts — neither speech nor other data are collected.
Voice Command also can’t be used to edit child account settings, even if you’re logged in as a guardian or parent with an adult account. Any related changes must be performed via the controller.
Can I issue voice commands in other languages?
Right now, voice commands are only available in English. As Sony continues testing the feature in other regions, more languages might become available in the future.

The post How To Turn Off Voice On PS5 (It’s Easy!) appeared first on TechdrivenHome.