Indeed, there are a select few children’s books on iPad that are beautifully illustrated, enabling children to immerse themselves in the magic of storytelling. The power of a captivating picture book lies not just in the written words, but also in the vibrant illustrations that breathe life into the narrative. In this article, I’ve curated a list of the top 10 children’s book apps for 2023, featuring stunning illustrations that bring stories to life.

The Cat in the Hat

Check out Dr. Seuss’s “The Cat in the Hat” iPad app to explore a fun and magical world. It’s not just an electronic version of the much-loved story; it’s also a lively, interactive space that brings the tale to life. Kids will love to tap, drag, and tilt their devices to find fun surprises and get more into the story.

The unique feature of this app is its educational aspect. Apart from just being entertaining, it also includes learning activities. These activities have been designed with the help of literacy experts, focusing on enhancing kids’ skills in spelling, phonics, rhyming, and reading comprehension. They are in line with kindergarten level English Language Arts (ELA) standards. Hidden as stars throughout the book, these activities encourage kids to learn at their own speed and keep coming back for more.

To top it all off, parents can keep track of their child’s learning journey. They can check the number of minutes their child spends reading and the pages they have read in a dedicated section. This way, the app not only brings joy but also provides significant value.

• Author and Illustrator: Dr. Seuss
• Publisher: Oceanhouse Media

Fairy Tales ~ Bedtime Stories

The “Fairy Tales ~ Bedtime Stories” app lets your child dive into a magic-filled world of classic fairy tales. This amazing collection includes popular stories like “Puss in Boots”, “The Beauty and the Beast”, “Cinderella”, and “The Snow Queen”, plus so many more.

But this isn’t just about reading – the app brings each story alive. It does this with interactive scenes, characters who move and talk, and even educational games hidden inside the stories. This way, every fairy tale becomes an exciting way to learn.

Designed especially for children, this app is super easy to use. The “Read to Me” and “Read it Myself” modes let kids pick how they want to enjoy each story.

• Author and Illustrator: Vincent Herriau
• Publisher: AmayaKids

Nighty Night Forest

“Nighty Night Forest” is the delightful follow-up to the internationally adored bedtime apps “Nighty Night” and “Nighty Night Circus”. This third part takes kids on a magical journey into a sleep-filled forest with seven cute and playful animals. Designed to become part of your child’s nightly routine, it allows kids to help animals get ready for bed by switching off the lights. From deer to foxes, each animal performs funny and surprising activities before going to sleep.

Developed by renowned artist Jeremy Kool, this app masterfully combines 3D modeling and lighting with 2D drawings and textures to bring stunning landscapes to life. Features include an autoplay mode, hidden treasures, personalized sound effects and music, plus narration in 13 languages. Because of its perfect length, it’s an excellent way to establish a calming bedtime routine for children aged 2 to 5.

• Author and Illustrator:Jeremy Kool
• Publisher: Fox and Sheep GmbH

Little Stories: Bedtime Books

“Little Stories” is a fun collection of fairy tales designed to make your kid the star of the story. All you need to do is put in your child’s name and gender, and you’ll get a bunch of stories tailored just for them, complete with lovely pictures and captivating music. The app even lets you turn these stories into your own audiobooks. Parents can narrate the tales, adding a layer of comfort and familiarity.

This story collection has more than 50 thrilling tales and over 2200 stunning illustrations. It’s been awarded numerous times, even bagging 1st place in the “Entertainment” category at the 2018 Rating Runet.

• Publisher: Diveo Media OU

Even Monsters Get Sick

Children aged 3 to 7 are sure to enjoy this sweet tale about a little boy, Harry, and his unwell monster friend. The story is brought to life with cartoon-style drawings, enhanced with bold, eye-catching textures that make the lovable monster truly stand out.

• Author and Illustrator: Michael Bruza
• Publisher: Busy Bee Studios

Little Fox Music Box

Little Fox is a sing-along book that’s perfect for kids aged 2 to 6. This musical app allows you to teach your kids timeless tunes like “London Bridge” and “Old Mac Donald Had A Farm”. The award-winning artist, Heidi Wittlinger, has filled the app with fun characters, created using a unique style of textured illustrations and paper cutout art.

• Illustrator: Heidi Wittlinger
• Publisher: Fox & Sheep

The Heart and the Bottle

Oliver Jeffers, a celebrated author of children’s books, has crafted a book for kids aged 2 to 8. It’s all about a curious little girl who loves to discover new things. The book combines traditional art and digital illustrations to create fun, modern, doodle-like drawings.

• Author / Illustrator: Oliver Jeffer
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Mr. Wolf and the Ginger Cupcakes

Mr. Wolf and the Ginger Cupcakes has a fresh new twist that kids aged between 1 to 8 years will surely enjoy. Lucia Mascuillo spices up the traditional fairytale vibe with her illustrations. She uses a mix of watercolor and pencil to give her artwork a unique touch.

• Illustrator: Lucia Mascuill
• Publisher: BlueQuoll

Cinderella

This award-winning app breathes life into the timeless tale of Cinderella through fun animations and unique music. Kids aged 3 and up will be thrilled to engage with the story. The app also features beautiful illustrations, which blend real-world textures with paper cutout styles, adding a contemporary touch to the story.

• Illustrations: Edward Brya
• Publisher: Nosy Crow

Monster Games on StoryBots

This Halloween book is perfect for kids aged two to eight! It’s all about a little kid who goes on an adventure to a scary castle. You can make the story extra special by adding a picture of your child. Children will surely enjoy the fun and unique character illustrations by Nikolas Ilac. His art style beautifully combines bold shapes with delicate details.

• Illustrator: Nikolas Ilac
• Animator: Amelia Lorenz
• Publisher: JibJab Media Inc

The post 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books for iPad in 2023 appeared first on Hongkiat.

This will allow you to create a passkey, simplifying the process of signing in to your Google account. In this article, we will explore how to integrate Google Passkey with your Google account.

What is a Security Key?

Security keys are small physical devices that can be used to add an extra layer of security to your online accounts, and in this case, your Google account. They work by generating a unique code that is required in addition to your usual password when logging in to your account.

What the security key does is, you simply plug it into your computer or connect it via Bluetooth to your mobile device, and then enter your username and password as usual. The key then generates a unique code that is sent to the server and compared to the expected code. If the codes match, you are granted access to your account.

The security key is a great way to protect your online accounts from hackers and other malicious actors, as they are much harder to hack or replicate than passwords or other forms of authentication.

What is a Passkey?

Passkeys, on the other hand, serve as a convenient and safe substitute for passwords. By using a passkey, you can access your Google Account through your fingerprint, facial recognition, or the device’s screen lock, such as a PIN, depending on what your device supports.

These passkeys offer the most robust defense against risks such as phishing. After setting up a passkey, you can effortlessly log in to your Google Account.

What Does This Mean for Me?

Passkeys significantly simplify the process of signing in to your account. To provide some context, here is a comparison of the steps required to log in to your Google account using a security key, such as the YubiKey 5 NFC, and a Google Passkey.

Using a Security Key:

1. Enter your username.
2. Enter your password.
3. Plug in the security key.
4. Press the button on the security key.
5. You are now signed in to your account.

Using a Passkey:

1. Enter your username.
2. Verify your identity using facial recognition or fingerprint authentication on your phone.
3. You are now signed in to your account.

How to Set Up Google Passkeys

You can set up Google Passkeys either on a desktop browser or a mobile phone browser. The latter option is easier and more direct. This guide will demonstrate how to accomplish this task on both platforms.

Setting Up Google Passkeys on Desktop

1. To begin, navigate to g.co/passkey and sign in using your Google account credentials.
2. On the following page, you will see a list of your existing security keys, if any. To create a new passkey, click “Create a passkey” and then click “Continue.”



3. This action will generate a passkey for google.com on your current device. Click “Continue” once more to proceed.



4. Depending on the browser you are using, you may receive a prompt stating that the browser needs to verify your identity on google.com. Enter your device’s password and click “OK” to continue.



5. When you see this screen, it indicates that the passkey has been set up.

You will also notice a new section called “PASSKEYS” added, displaying information about your device.

Setting Up Google Passkeys on Mobile Device

1. Open a browser on your mobile device and sign in to your Google account.



2. Once signed in, you will be prompted with a screen asking if you want to set up a passkey. Click “Continue” in your browser. If you are using an iOS device, ensure that “iCloud Keychain” is enabled. To enable it, go to Settings > iCloud > Passwords & Keychain, and turn it on.



3. Next, tap “Continue” when prompted by your mobile device.



4. Finally, click “Continue” once more, and your setup is complete.

Now what?

Once completed, you can effortlessly sign in to your Google account (Gmail or other services) on mobile devices. Simply enter your email address, and then verify your identity using either facial recognition or fingerprint authentication. There’s no need to enter a password or go through a second step of verification.

The post How to Integrate Google Passkey for Your Google Accounts appeared first on Hongkiat.

There’s an easy way to do just that.

Enter the Image Capture.

Image Capture is a useful app that ships with macOS. It allows you to transfer photos/videos from iOS/iPadOS devices to your Mac or any external devices connected to your Mac, i.e., an external hard drive or a NAS.

How to Backup with Image Capture

Instructions:

1. Connect your device to your Mac with a cable.
2. Unlock your device, and launch the Image Capture app on the Mac. You may need to select “Trust” or “Trust this device” wherever you are prompted if you are doing this for the first time.
3. Image Capture will then retrieve and display all your device’s photos and videos.



4. In Image Capture, Command + A to select all your photos/videos.



5. Go to “Import to:” and select the location to which you want them transferred. Select Other if you don’t see the desired location.



6. Click “Download All” to initiate the transfer.

That’s it. All photos and videos will now be downloaded from your device to your selected location. Now, this may take a while, depending on the number of photos and videos you have.

Last but not least, here are a few things you should know:

• The transferred items remain on your device.
• The green check icon in Image Capture indicates that the file has been downloaded/transferred.



• You can also use Image Capture to bulk delete photos/videos on your device. To do that, select the photos/videos you want to delete, right-click, and select “Delete items”.

The post How to Backup iPhone Photos to Mac (or External Device) appeared first on Hongkiat.

This post will highlight some ways to back up the data on your iPad. We will show you how to backup iPad to your Mac or Windows computer, or on the iCloud.

Method 1. Backup iPad on Mac

macOS Catalina eliminates the use of iTunes to connect and control your Apple devices. Instead, it uses the Finder app.

Instructions:

1. Connect your iPad to your Mac with a cable. Tap “Trust” if required.
2. On your Mac, launch Finder. In the sidebar, under "Location", select your iPad. Click “Trust” if required.



3. On the top of the Finder window, click the "General" tab, then check “Back up all the data in your iPad to this Mac”.
4. Click "Back up Now".

Instructions:

1. Connect your iPad to your Mac with a cable.
2. Launch the iTunes app, then click the Device button on the top left corner of the iTunes window.



3. Click "Summary" under "Settings".



4. Click "Back Up Now" below "Backups".

Method 2. Backup iPad on PC

Windows users will require the iTunes app to perform a backup. Make sure you are using the latest version of the iTunes app. Click here to download iTunes if you have not already.

Instructions:

1. Connect your iPad to your PC with a cable.
2. Launch the iTunes app, then click the iPad button on the top left of the iTunes window.



3. Click "Summary".



4. Under "Backups", click "Back Up Now".

Method 3. Backup iPad to iCloud

There are two ways to backup your iPad’s data to iCloud. You can either set up the iPad to backup automatically, or you can do it manually.

Backup to iCloud automatically

Instructions:

1. Go to "Settings".
2. Click on your name/apple ID on the top left.
3. Tap "iCloud".



4. Under "Device Backups", tap "iCloud Backup".



5. Turn on “Backup Up This iPad”.

Once enabled, your iPad (or iPad Mini) will automatically do a daily backup when locked, connected to a power source, and connected to the Wi-Fi.

Backup to iCloud manually

You can also back up your iPad to iCloud manually at any specific time. To do that, follow the steps above, and tap “Back Up Now”.

This may take a while, depending on how much data it needs to send to iCloud. To optimize the process, ensure you are connected to a stable Wi-Fi connection and the iPad is connected to a power source.

The post How to Backup Your iPad and iPad Mini appeared first on Hongkiat.

In this post, I will tell you how to turn your favorite song or music into a personalized ringtone for your iPhone. The best part is you can do everything right on your iPhone.

Requirements:

• TikTok app
• RingtoneMaker app
• GarageBand app

Instructions:

1. Go to the video in TikTok you want to set as your ringtone, and download the video.



2. Go to the App store, search for and download the RingtoneMaker app.



3. Open RingtoneMaker, tap the + icon, and import the TikTok video you just downloaded.



4. Tap Make, and then select Garageband. This will launch the Garageband app.



5. In Garageband, long-press the video and tap Share.



6. On the next screen, tap Ringtone.



7. Finally, give it a name, and tap Export when done.

That’s it. Your customized ringtone is now created and you’ll be able to apply it through your Settings app.

More posts related to mobile ringtones:

• Create and customize ringtones in Android
• Create custom ringtones and text tones for iPhone

The post How to Turn TikTok Video into iPhone Ringtone appeared first on Hongkiat.

Well, through this post, I can solve this issue for all those who want to create and sell their mobile app without any knowledge in app development – that too, for free. Here are the eight best services to build and sell your mobile app. Let’s check the list after the jump.

Glide

Glide helps you in creating an app using your business data. Without prior knowledge in coding or programming, you can create powerful tools from data in any format.

The tool enables you to design your app through an intuitive editor. You can add different elements to your design like color and layout etc., create computed columns, and turn different actions into workflows.

Glide lets you publish your app privately that you can share with your team or publicly with anyone. Plus, your app and data can stay synced so anything you modify in your data reflects in your app.

Bubble.io

Bubble lets you create dashboards, apps, marketplaces, social media platforms, and CRMs quickly and easily. You can create efficient prototypes of your digital products without writing a single line of code.

It offers an intuitive editor that helps you design your digital product. You can add styles, workflow, plugins, and data, and customize styles as your requirements.

The apps created by Bubble are fully scalable without any limits. Plus, you can expand your app’s functionalities with various integrations and API connections.

Adalo

Aldo is a versatile no-code app builder. Anyone can develop a professional and fully-functional web, desktop, or mobile app using this tool.

There are many customization options to add your branding details to the app. The tool also offers a built-in database to manage content. You can also get an analytics dashboard to measure and manage the growth of your digital products.

Mobincube

Mobincube is a great solution for creating native mobile apps for Android and iOS. It is built from the ground up to help you make money through your apps, and offers built-in monetization features , which can be easily activated. Mobincube also lets you build unlimited apps for free, but limits some functionalities.

What I like is it supports push notifications, Google Maps, and Google Analytics natively, allowing you to embed them in your app easily, but what I found odd is its interface that’s not as catchy as that of Dropsource (discussed below).

Some of its additional features include support for a mobile store, audio/video streaming, web embeds, and databases. Also, it lets you code for adding custom functionalities.

Mobincube’s single project works for all supported platforms. Also, you can test the app right in your browser but you need to publish it manually to the stores. Also, as I said before, it poses a few limits on the free plan such as a number of push notifications, the option to remove ads, and cloud, analytics, and optimization features.

Dropsource

Dropsource is an innovative solution for creating native mobile apps – right from your browser. This platform offers tools for the whole development process and support docs to help you get started with it. That said, if you have Dropsource, you do not require any other tool to design, review, develop, test, and publish your apps, unlike Mobincube.

Dropsource provides a robust drag-and-drop user interface editor which helps to prototype and build your apps with native elements and customized logic. You can integrate data in your app using REST APIs.

After you are done, you can build and test your app in its browser based emulator, and share it to get feedback from others. When the app is ready, you can download code or publish directly to the App Store or the Google Play Store.

However, I did not like that it creates an app for a single platform per project. That means you need to create two projects, i.e., two apps if you need both Android and iOS apps. Moreover, one cannot publish apps or download source code in its free plan. However, if you are fast enough to create an app during its one-month trial period, then you can download it.

Thunkable

Thunkable is yet another cloud solution to build native mobile apps for Android and iOS. It has a fantastic interface unlike Mobincube; however, it does not offers as many features as offered by the latter. Yet, it does not support creating apps for Windows Phone. However, I liked that Thunkable helps you create and monetize gorgeous-looking apps.

Though Thunkable is not as mature as Mobincube, yet it offers nice documentation, as well as video tutorials for getting started with its platform, which I found, is very helpful for beginners. Some of its features include modern interface elements, support for image and speech recognizers, various databases, Admob, Google Maps, and the IoT.

You can live test your apps on your mobile device or an emulator, and after you are done creating, you can download and publish your app manually. Also, like Dropsource, Thunkable projects are platform-dependent. That said, if you require apps for Android as well as iOS, then you need to create and work on two separate projects.

Andromo

Andromo is one of the known mobile app creators for building Android apps. What I found interesting is that its apps are multilingual by default with support for 20+ languages – a feature I find missing in all other solutions on this list.

It offers built-in features and templates, which are easy to add to your apps. Some of them include an audio player, support for integrating Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube, support for adding content from a website, radio and podcast player, PDF and RSS support, etc. It also features adding the essentials like contact info, about page, and photo gallery.

However, Andromo allows creating just one app in its free plan (unlike Mobincube and Dropsource) and put limits as you can neither disable ads nor opt for its monetization feature. After you have created the app, you can publish it on the Google Play Store, the Amazon Store, and other app stores, and monetize it if you are on a premium plan.

AppsGeyser

AppsGeyser is one of the oldest mobile app makers that does not require coding knowledge, but I find it is the not best-featured solution. What I find lacking in comparison to Dropsource and Thunkable is it is not as featureful and intuitive as the former ones. It does not support creating iOS apps and is best suited for assembling web content into apps.

That said, if you are looking to create beautiful apps, you may consider using any one of the above solutions. However, if you are looking to create a mobile app for your website as quickly as possible, then AppsGeyser can work for you. It offers 70+ app templates to start building your app smoothly and whole process is done right in the browser.

You can include web content in your apps, use HTML5 features, send pop-up notifications, add social sharing and analytics features as well as geolocation features. You can view or test your app in the browser itself and monetize it by showing ads or selling it.

After your app is ready to distribute, you can manually submit the app to the Google Play Store.

The post 8 Best Tools to Build and Sell Mobile Apps appeared first on Hongkiat.

If, for any reason, you would like to convert the images on your iPhone from one format to another, this post will guide you on how to do that. Methods we are covering include:

• Using the native Files App,
• Convert with a shortcut,
• Installing third-party apps, and
• Using a web tool.

Convert Images with Files App

Requirements:

• iPad or iPhone running iOS 16 or later.
• Files App.

The Files app in iOS is more than just a file explorer. You can use it to convert images into different formats. Here’s how to use the Files app to convert images on your iPhone:

1. Locate your image in Files App.



2. Tap and hold to see more options.



3. Go to Quick Actions > Convert Image.

Note: You can convert images into either JPG, PNG, or HEIF using the Files App.

Convert Images with Apple Shortcuts

You can also convert an image format with the Shortcut app in iOS. For this, you’ll first need to create a shortcut that converts images to a specific format, and then you can execute it anywhere on the device whenever needed.

Requirement:

• iPad or iPhone running iOS 16 or later.
• Shortcuts App.

Instructions:

1. Launch Shortcuts, then tap the + sign to add a new shortcut.



2. Tap “New Shortcut” and then select “Rename” and give your shortcut a name.



3. For iOS users, tap “Add Action” and search for the “Select Photos” action.
4. For iPadOS users, search for “Select Photos” directly from the right column.



5. Tap to add it, then tap the arrow beside “Select photos” and turn “Select Multiple” on.



6. In the search bar (bottom in iOS, right side in iPadOS), type in “Convert Image” and then tap to add it to your shortcut.



7. This will allow the shortcut to later convert to JPEG format. Tap on the JPEG to change it to other formats if you prefer. Or tap the arrow to make changes to Quality and Preserve Metadata.



8. Back to the search box, search and add “Save to Photo Album”. This will save converted images to the Recent folder in the Photos app.



9. Tap the Info icon, and turn on “Show in Share Sheet”.

That’s it. Now, click the Run button on top to test run your new shortcut.

Whenever you want to use this shortcut, just tap the Share icon on any selected image or images and select the shortcut you created to convert the images.

Convert Images with a Third-party App

I don’t see a reason to use a third-party app for simple image conversion, but if, for some reason, the above two methods do not work for you, then you can install an app to do just that.

There are many apps out there that convert images for you. Here are a few you can try:

• Image converter: JPG to png
• The Image Converter
• Image Converter: Vector File

Convert Images with Web Tools

Last but not least, you can also rely on the web tool for this simple task. All you need to do is to go to the respective site with your browser to get your images’ format converted.

Here are a few recommendations.

• Online-convert.com
• Convertio
• FreeConvert
• Cloudconvert
• Img2Go
• PicGhost

The post How to Convert Images on iPhone and iPad appeared first on Hongkiat.

But we are mere humans, and humans being humans do, we sometimes tend to be forgetful. And if you, unfortunately, forgot the passcode to your Android phone, you will be locked out, leaving your phone inaccessible.

This post will discuss the workarounds to regain access to your phone if you forget your passcode.

Why Would I Need This?

But first, let’s talk about why you need to guard yourself with the know-how to force-unlock your Android phone.

1 – Forgot the passcode

Like I said earlier in the intro, we tend to be forgetful. Contrary to popular belief, getting locked out of one’s phone because we forget our passcode happens more often than we think.

2 – Acquired a locked pre-owned phone

You might also end up in the same situation if you bought a pre-owned phone but failed to check if it has been unlocked and clean-wiped.

3 – Fingerprint and face unlock fail to work

If, for some reason, the fingerprint and face unlock are not working, then you will also need an alternative workaround to bypass the lock screen.

Use Smart Lock

Smart Lock is a feature that ships with most android phones. It allows you to bypass your lock screen if you have, unfortunately, forgotten your passcode.

However, for Smart lock to work, it MUST BE set up beforehand. If you have already forgotten your passcode but have yet to setup up Smart Lock, then this method will not help.

If you still have access to your phone, then it’s essential to get this set up ASAP as a precautionary measure.

You will require your current passcode to set it up, and you can choose among these options to regain access to your phone.

• On-body detection – The phone remains unlocked if it senses that it’s with you, whether you are carrying it in your pocket or your hand.
• Trusted places – Add a trusted location, and the phone will stay unlocked if it detects that it’s at a particular location.
• Trusted devices – Add trusted devices that the phone can connect via Bluetooth. It can be another smartphone, a wireless headphone, your car play, or even a smart tv. As long as the phone is connected to any of them, it stays unlocked.
• Voice match – Lastly, you can set up a voice unlock. If the voice matches, the phone can be unlocked too.

Use Find My Device

You can also go to the Find My Device website. Created by Google, this web tool is pretty simple to use. And be able to use it to unlock your phone, you must first meet the following criteria:

• You need to sign in to your Google account.
• Your device needs to be connected to the Internet.
• Your device needs to have the Google Find My Device app, and it’s turned on.

With all these criteria met, here’s how to unlock your android device.

1. Go to the Find My Device page, sign in with the Google account that you used to sign in to your Android device.
2. You will see all of your Android devices registered on the same Google account. Select the one that you would like to unlock.



3. Once you select the required Android device, it will receive a notification that ‘Find My Device’ has located this device. You will also see a map highlighting the current location of your device.
4. There are different options for what kind of action you’d like to take – like play sound or secure device etc. However, to unlock your device, you can opt for the Erase Device option. By doing this, you erase all data and settings from your device, including the screen lock. So once the erasing is done, you can access your device and set a new screen lock if required.

Using a 3rd-party App

Unlocking with Smart Lock requires it to be set up beforehand; unlocking with Find My Device requires the app to be turned on beforehand too. You’ll probably have no luck unlocking your phone if you’ve done neither.

A 3rd-party app serves as the last resort if all else fails.

Enter DroidKit. DroidKit is a desktop app that allows you to unlock an Android phone locked with PINs, passwords, fingerprints, or face recognition.

This app works on both Windows and Mac. You only require a USB cable, the locked phone, and a PC or laptop to start the unlocking process.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to unlocking your phone with DroidKit.

1. Download and install DroidKit app on your Windows or Mac.
2. Launch the app, click the Unlock Screen option.



3. Connect the Android phone with your computer using a USB cable. Upon connection established, click Start.



4. You will see a Preparing Device Configuration File screen with a progress bar that shows you the status of the configuring process. When this is complete, click the Remove Now button.





5. Select your device from the options that appear on the screen, then click Next.



6. You will be required to put your device into Recovery Mode and remove the cache partition on your device. For this, follow the instructions for your particular phone manufacturer and do the procedure on your device.



7. Once this process is completed, you will see the Removing Screen Lock screen with the progress bar. The process is going to take a few minutes and once done, you will be able to regain access your Android device again.

Preventing This From Happening Again

Take note of the following ways to prevent history from repeating itself.

• Set up the Smart Lock feature.
• Install and turn on Google’s Find My Device app.
• Keep a copy of your passcode/password somewhere secure. (I.e., password manager)
• Use a strong and easy-to-remember passcode/password.
• Bookmark this article.

The post How to Unlock Android Phone if I Forgot the Password appeared first on Hongkiat.

To prevent the latter from happening, you must guard yourself with the knowledge of how to regain access to your phone again.

In this post, I’m going to share some tips on bypassing FRP on your Samsung model Android phone shall you forget your password and get locked out.

Features of iToolab UnlockGo for Android

AFAIK Samsung hasn’t developed a tool to help bypass FRP, and if you are to regain access to your locked phone, a 3rd party app could be your solution.

Enter iToolab’s UnlockGo for Android.

This app works without requiring any root permission from your device. Within clicks – literally five – it removes Google’s lock entirely.

Here are more features of this app that make it a great Samsung FRP unlocker:

• It has 99.3% effectiveness in bypassing Google FRP lock on Samsung devices from android version 5 to 12.
• It is compatible with most Samsung phone and tablet models.
• It is easy to use for novice users.
• Completes job fast.

How to Unlock Samsung Phone with UnlockGo (Android)?

Below is a step-by-step guide to using iToolab UnlockGo to bypass the Samsung FRP lock. If you are not into reading, there’s a video guide too.

Step 1: Download UnlockGo on Your PC

Download the UnlockGo app from its official website. Install and run the app. UnlockGo is available for both Windows and Mac.

Download iToolab UnlockGo (Android)

Step 2: Start the Process

Connect the locked Samsung device to your PC via a USB cable. Click "Remove Google Lock (FRP)" and then "Start" to continue.

Select "All Android Versions" on the next screen, then click "Next".

Step 3: Open Samsung Diagnostics Menu

A pop-up window will appear with instructions on how to enter the Samsung Diagnostic menu. Follow the on-screen instructions, then click "Next" to enable "USB Debugging" on your device.

Step 4: Remove Google FRP

The app will take a couple of seconds to bypass, and the device will be rebooted once the process is complete.

Unlocking Samsung Phone w/o Password or Google Account

Additionally, the UnlockGo app provides a simple way to unlock your android phone without needing a password.

Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Connect Your Device

Connect your Samsung device to your PC or Mac via a USB cable. Click on the "Unlock Screen Lock", then click "One-click remove screen lock from Samsung".

Step 2: Unlock Your Device

Follow the on-screen instructions and click the "Unlock" button to continue. The lock screen then goes away, and your device will restart.

When Bypassing Google Lock is Needed?

I’ve shown you the how; now let’s take a look at the when. Here are some possible scenarios when you will need to bypass Google lock on your Samsung device.

1. Selling a Samsung device, but forgot the password

You can’t and shouldn’t sell your current Samsung device without removing your Google account. If you intend to sell but forgot the password to your Google account, then the bypassing operation will be needed.

2. Bought a pre-owned locked Samsung device

If you have unfortunately sold a locked Samsung device from a merchant or seller, then bypassing it yourself may save you a lot of hassle.

3. Running a phone buyback and re-selling business

If you are in the buyback and pre-owned phone-selling business, you will encounter various problems with the phones you acquire. And the Google FRP problem is definitely one of the most common ones. The ability to bypass FRP yourself should be one of the knowledge you should know.

Bonus: Prevention

Last but not least, if you want to avoid being locked-out entirely, it is recommended that you remove the Google account first before performing a factory reset. And to do that:

1. Go to “Settings” > “Accounts and Backup”
2. Tap “Manage Accounts”, then select your Google account
3. Select “Remove Account”, then confirm it.
4. When prompted, verify your identity and get rid of the Samsung FRP lock.

The post Bypassing Google Lock on Any Samsung Phones with UnlockGo appeared first on Hongkiat.

Here are several methods you can try to resolve the issue. But first, let’s explore the reasons why this happens.

Why Causes the Samsung Logo to Keep Flashing?

• Software bugs: If your phone has an update that’s not yet been installed, the bug may cause the phone to crash or in this case, freeze.
• Failed hardware: A faulty internal hardware component, like the phone’s battery, may cause it to fail to start up properly.
• Stuck after an update: If the phone did not update successfully, then it may not start properly after installing an update.
• Damaged internal storage: If your device’s internal storage is corrupted, not only will it be unable to store data, but it may also cause the device to be stuck at start-up.
• Malfunctioning apps: Apps installed on the phone can be the culprit, too, especially if they are buggy or coming from a not-so-reputable developer.

5 Ways to Fix a Frozen Samsung Phone

Here are five different fixes to solve the problem. You are encouraged to try the next if one does not work for you.

1. Give it a soft reset

First, perform a soft reset to see if it works. Soft reset varies from one device to another.

The typical way is to hold down the Power button for 8 – 10 seconds and then release it. Some models, however, require you to hold down the Power and Volume-up buttons simultaneously.

2. Repair it with Tenorshare’s ReiBoot for Android

If a soft reset does not solve the problem, you can turn to a third-party repairing tool like ReiBoot for Android.

Created by Tenorshare, this app helps troubleshoot and fix various issues on Android devices. One plus point about this app is that rooting your phone is unnecessary.

To fix the phone stuck on the Samsung logo with Tenorshare ReiBoot for Android, follow the steps below:

1. Download and install Tenorshare ReiBoot for Android on your computer. Launch the app, connect your Samsung device to your computer via a USB cable, and click “Repair Android System.”



2. On the next screen, click “Repair Now”.



3. Enter all information regarding the device. That includes its brand, serial number, model, country, and carrier. Click “Next” to proceed to the next step.



4. The appropriate firmware package will now be downloaded, and when it’s complete, click “Repair Now”, and then “Continue”.



5. Proceed according to the instructions on the screen to start the repair process. When it’s done, you’ll receive a message stating that it’s complete.

Your Samsung boot loop or stuck-on logo issue should now be resolved. As soon as your device reboots, it will start working properly again.

Aside from fixing the stuck Samsung logo, Tenorshare ReiBoot also allows you other common problems like blue screen, frozen apps, slow browsing speeds, and more.

3. Pressing the Power Button

You’ve probably done this a few times when the problem arises, but do try it again to see if it works.

If the power button is not responsive, you might want to consider bringing the phone to a technician to check if there’s a problem with the button’s internal wiring.

4. Get help from Samsung Support Center

If you are not getting any luck from the methods above, then it would be wise to get help from the Samsung Support Center to assist you with fixing the phone.

You will likely be required to send the device in for a diagnosis, repair, or even parts replacement. Please be aware that this may involve paying for service.

It might be worthwhile to call or email Samsung Support Center to get an idea of the problem and its estimated cost before going down.

5. Reset to Factory Settings

Factory reset your device may be the last resort if all else fails. By doing this, you will restore the device to its original state with all its existing data (including installed apps) completely wiped.

So before you do that, you are advised to first create a backup of your Android phone.

Here’s how to perform a factory reset:

1. Connect it with a USB Type-C cable to a computer, then hold the Power key for a few seconds to turn off the device. (Press and hold the Power and Home keys together for older devices.)
2. Release the Power button when you see the Android logo on the screen; the Recovery Menu will appear once you continue to hold the other button.
3. Select Factory Reset from the menu by pressing the Volume down key.
4. Confirm your options by pressing the Power key.

The phone will reset itself to factory settings once it has completed the process, and it will automatically restart once the process is complete. As long as it reaches the home screen successfully, the problem will be resolved.

The post Phone Stuck on Samsung Logo? Here’s 5 Ways to Fix it appeared first on Hongkiat.

In case you did a factory reset on your Android phone, there are ways to recover your lost data with or without backup. In this post, I will be discussing some ways to restore your data through backup and even when you don’t have a backup.

Recovering Android Data with Backup

I cannot emphasize enough on the importance of keeping a regular backup of all your data. There are many ways to backup data in your Android device but most common and reliable ones include backing up your data locally within the device or backing up your data in Google.

In the following, I am going to talk about the process of restoring your data from both these backup options.

Local Backup

Android OS offers different ways to backup your data locally. These include backing up on an external storage device like an external hard drive or SD card or on Samsung Cloud (for Samsung users).

Being a few taps process, I backed up my Android device’s data on the Samsung Cloud and here is how you can restore it through the same after a factory reset.

1. On your Android device, go to Settings > Accounts and backup and under Samsung Cloud, tap Restore data.



2. Samsung Cloud will ask for secondary verification. Choose any of the given verification methods.



3. Once verified, you will see your Android device’s name. If you have multiple Android devices backed up on the same Samsung Cloud account, you’ll be able to see all of those there.



4. You’ll see all the backed-up data and you tap Restore to get all of it back on your device.

Google Backup

The above-mentioned method is ideal for Samsung device users. However, a more universal way to backup and restore your data nevertheless of the device you use is through Google One.

If you have your data backup in Google One, here’s how you can restore it after a factory reset on your Android device.

1. Go to the Google Drive app and login to the account that you used to backup your Android device’s data.
2. Tap on the hamburger menu on the left and then tap Backups.



3. You will see all the data backups created on the drive. Tap on the device’s name that you want to restore the backup for and you’ll see all types of data that has been backed up. You can restore any or all of it from here.

Recovering Android Data without a Backup

The aforementioned methods discuss how to recover data when you have a backup either locally or in Google Drive.

However, if for some reason you were not able to backup your Android device’s data and lost all your data due to factory reset, then a third-party app called DroidKit may be able to help you out.

Droidkit

DroidKit is a versatile system solution by iMobie that helps resolve many issues with both Android and iOS devices. From the aspect for data recovery for Android, the tool features different recovery modes

• Quick Recovery – for faster data recovery without rooting your device.
• Deep Recovery – for more in-depth data recovery with device rooting.

There are 13 different types of data that DroidKit can help you recover. These include photos, videos, text/audio messages, WhatsApp, contacts, call logs, calendars, APK files, documents, and a lot more. You can even select only a specific type of data to be recovered to your device.

Moreover, it supports more than 20,000 Android device models from just about any manufacturer and works with all versions of the Android OS.

DroidKit is safe to work with and you can install it on your Windows or Mac computer.

How to Recover Lost Android Data with DroidKit

So you lost all the data on your Android device and want to get it back but without backup available? Well, you can follow these few simple steps to recover your lost data through DroidKit.

1. Download and install DroidKit on your Windows and macOS computer and then launch the program. From the many options on the home screen, click Data Recovery.



2. You’ll be asked to connect your device via USB. Once the connection is successfully established, and the tool completely recognizes your device, click Start to begin with the process.



3. You’ll see 13 different types of data on the screen. Select any or all types of data and click Start to proceed.



4. DroidKit will scan all the data on your Android device and give you a preview of your files.



5. You can select the ones you want to recover and also where you would like to receive them i.e., in your computer or your device. It will give you a preview of the formats. Click Continue.



6. You’ll see the Transfer data progress bar and then the Recovered successfully notification.

That’s it, all the data that you selected for recovery will be restored in your device or computer and you’ll be able to access it again.

Conclusion

It’s always wise to keep a backup of your data on an Android device either locally or using a third-party app. But even if you don’t have a backup of your data and factory reset your device, you can take help from DroidKit to recover most of your data in a few steps.

DroidKit can provide solutions for other types of Android system issues as well. So it won’t be too bad to keep it handy. Try out the tool and let use know of your experience.

The post How to Recover Android Data After Factory Reset appeared first on Hongkiat.

There are several solutions to access your locked iPhone, and using a 3rd party app like EaseUS MobiUnlock is one of them.

In this article:

EaseUS MobiUnlock In a Nutshell

EaseUs MobiUnlock, is an iPhone-unlocking tool created by EaseUS, a one-stop multimedia management solution company, that allows you to unlock your iPhone shall a problem arise.

This tool allows you to unlock your iPhone locked under the:

• 4-digit PIN
• 6-digit PIN
• Touch ID
• Face ID

Apart from unlocking the main screen passcode on your iPhone or iPad, EaseUs MobiUnlock claims to be able to help you unlock the screen time passcode, and Apple ID password and bypass Apple ID security questions as well.

How to Erase iPhone with EaseUs MobiUnlock

In a few simple steps, you can erase and unlock your iPhone in no time. Here’s how to do it, but first, you will need to download and install EaseUS MobiUnlock for your OS.

1. Launch the app, and select the Unlock Screen Passcode.



2. Connect your iPhone to your computer through the USB cable and click Start. Once your device is recognized, confirm the firmware and click Next.



3. Firmware downloading will now commence.



4. Once the firmware is ready, click Unlock Now



5. You’ll be prompted with a warning that this action will erase all the data from your device. If you agree, then type in the code and click Unlock.

And that’s all! All data, including its previous passcodes, has been erased and the iPhone is as good as brand new.

How to Erase iPhone with Password?

Well, if you already know the password to your iPhone and have full access to it, you can erase or factory reset it through the iPhone settings.

For this, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.This will remove all data from your iPhone including photos, videos, contacts, call logs, passwords, messages, browsing history, calendar, chat history, notes, installed apps, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrapping up

Either you bought a second-hand locked iPhone or got locked out of it due to multiple failed attempts at entering the wrong password, there can be any reason to wipe your iPhone.

My experience with EaseUS MobiUnlock is that it gives you a reliable and quick way to wipe your iPhone so you’re able to access it again. If you find yourself in such a situation, do try it out.

The post Erasing Your iPhone Without Passcode with EaseUS MobiUnlock appeared first on Hongkiat.

I recently faced an iPhone system issue myself and used FoneGeek iOS System Recovery tool to resolve it. In this post, I am going to talk about some pros and cons of the tool and how you can use it to resolve iOS system issues.

What does FoneGeek iOS System Recovery do?

This app, in a nutshell, is a system recovery tool for all iOS. It offers a clean UI and a simple three-step process to fix an array of iOS system issues. The app has two system recovery modes to chose from:

• Standard Mode – Works for more than 200 common iOS problems. Doesn’t remove the device data.
• Advanced Mode – Works for more complex iOS system related issues when the Standard mode doesn’t work. But erases all the device data.

From the technical aspect, I used FoneGeek for fixing my iPhone SE, but the tool supports all iOS devices and iOS versions from iOS 7 to the latest version, iOS 16. FoneGeek is available for both macOS and Windows.

Download FoneGeek iOS System Recovery

What Kind of Issues The App Solves?

FoneGeek iOS System Recovery tool solves more than 200+ different iOS system issues, and they include the following:

• Device issues – iOS device stuck at Apple logo, iPhone keyboard, Siri, Bluetooth, WiFi, or cellular data not working, etc.
• Screen issues – iOS device screen freezing, flickering, unresponsive, or ghost touch problem
• iOS mode issues – iOS device recovery mode not working, device stuck on configure mode, Guided Access mode, or won’t go in DFU mode, etc.
• Device update issue – iOS device unable to check for updates, not updating to the latest version, stuck on Restore Screen, or Update Request.
• iTunes issues – iOS device facing different iTunes Errors

If you’re not able to fix the aforementioned and many other issues in the Standard Mode, then you can always try the Advanced mode, and it has worked for me every time. But remember to regularly back up your data if the tool has to remove your data to fix the issue with your iOS device.

FoneGeek iOS System Recovery’s Features

When looking for a system recovery solution, you first look at its best features. Here are some of the features of the FoneGeek iOS System Recovery tool.

Limitations:

There’s no perfect tool ever created, and so like all other tools, FoneGeek has certain downsides. The things that are missing in the tool are as follows:

How to Use FoneGeek iOS System Recovery?

By now, you would have gotten an overview of the tool and its different features. If you’re currently stuck in an iOS system issue, FoneGeek may be able to help you out of that. In the following, I am going to walk you through the simple process of using the tool:

1. Download and install the tool on your Windows or macOS computer and select the Standard or Advanced Mode for recovery.



2. Now connect the problematic iOS device to your computer via USB cable and hit Next.



3. If the tool cannot detect your device, you may have to put it in DFU Mode to go on with the process. Follow the on screen instructions to put your device in DFU Mode.
4. Once the tool recognizes your device, confirm the model and click Download to start the firmware download process.



5. After the firmware download completes, click on Fix Now to let the tool fix the issue with your iOS device.

The process is going to take a few minutes, and you will be notified with a ‘Process successful’ message.

How Much The App Cost?

Regarding pricing, I find FoneGeek quite affordable compared to other tools in the market. You can get a 1-Month plan for $23.95, a 1-Year plan for $33.95, and the Lifetime Plan (one-time fee) for $45.95. All three plans are for 5 devices and 1 PC.

There’s also a free trial available for FoneGeek to let you experience the basic features before deciding on a payment plan. Plus, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, though it is conditional.

Is FoneGeek Worth a Try?

It doesn’t matter if you’re using a new iOS device or an old one; it can get into trouble for any reason. For iOS users, it is important to keep an iOS system repair tool handy. I have used FoneGeek to resolve iOS system-related issues and found it to be quite useful.

At a good price point, FoneGeek does offer a lot of solutions, but it depends on your own requirements and the issue you’re facing. If still indecisive, you can check the basic features through the free trial and experience the tool for yourself.

Download FoneGeek iOS System Recovery

The post FoneGeek iOS System Recovery Tool – Review appeared first on Hongkiat.

WhatsApp transfer from Android to iPhone is most commonly done through the Move to iOS Android app. But in many cases, this app cuts a sorry figure when your WhatsApp transfer is incomplete or fails altogether.

A similar thing happened when I tried to transfer WhatsApp from Android to my shiny new iPhone. So I searched the Internet to find an alternative solution, and I found this – iToolab WatsGo.

Following is a brief look at my experience with this WhatsApp transfer tool and a walkthrough of how to use it.

Problems with "Move to iOS" App

First, let’s talk about some of the problems with Move to iOS that I encountered and found online. As I’ve mentioned earlier in the article, this app is the official way to migrate all kinds of data from an Android device to iOS (iPad, iPhone).

Image: Move to iOS Android app

It claims to be able to help you transfer your data automatically and securely, but the reality can be slightly different. Many people, including yours truly, have faced issues while migrating from Android to iOS using the app, especially WhatsApp, and here’s why:

1. The app is not working. There are cases when the data migration from Move to iOS needs to be recognized by the iOS device, even after restarting and being on the same WiFi network.
2. Limited data transferred. Move to iOS cannot transfer all data from Android to iOS. The unsupported data includes certain apps, files, music, call logs, and settings.
3. WhatsApp is not recognized. Though WhatsApp is among the apps that are supported by Move to iOS in transferring from Android to iOS, there have still been cases when WhatsApp failed to be recognized by the app at all.
4. Incomplete WhatsApp transfer. When you’re transferring from WhatsApp from Android to iOS, your chats and media, etc., are migrated, but call history and display name, etc., aren’t. Plus, in some cases, the chat history fails to transfer completely.
5. iOS device must either be wiped or new. For the Move to iOS app to pair with an iOS device, your iOS device should either be factory reset or new. You will not be able to transfer data from Android to an old iOS.

Alternative Way to Transfer WhatsApp to iOS

After facing problems with Move to iOS, I look an alternative and found iToolab WatsGo, and decided to give it a test.

This app is a WhatsApp data transfer tool between Android and iOS; you can transfer from Android to iOS, iOS to Android, Android to Android, and iOS to iOS.

You can use it to migrate all kinds of WhatsApp data, including video/audio/textual messages, contacts, media, call history, wallpapers, files, links, shared locations, and much more.

Unlike Move to iOS, you don’t need to wipe or factory reset your iOS device to transfer WhatsApp data.

As for device compatibility, I used the tool to migrate WhatsApp from a Samsung device to an iPhone. It also supports Android devices from other manufacturers, including Pixel, Huawei, Vivo, Oppo, Xiaomi, OnePlus, etc., and all iPhone/ iPad models.

Another thing that I found interesting about this tool is that apart from transferring WhatsApp data, you can also use it to back up and restore WhatsApp data. Whether you’re using an iOS or Android device, you can back up all your WhatsApp data on your computer instead of saving it locally.

I used WatsGo to transfer my personal WhatsApp data from Android to iOS, but the tool also has the option to transfer your WhatsApp Business data. Also, the tool clearly mentions that your data is secured with encryption during transfer and does not store any data on its servers.

At the time of this writing, WatsGo is fully compatible with Android 13 and iOS 16, which are the latest versions (so far) of both operating systems. Plus, it is available for Windows, though I think it would be good to make it available for macOS users.

Transferring WhatsApp from Android to iOS with WatsGo

As mentioned above, I used WatsGo to move WhatsApp from Android to iPhone. In my experience, the process was quick, and I could transfer all of my WhatsApp data.

Also, as someone who shies away from too much technical maneuvering of a tool, I like that WatsGo offers a simple three-step process.

1. Download and launch iToolab WatsGo on your Windows computer and select WhatsApp from the left panel.



2. In the next window, you’ll be prompted to connect the source and destination devices to the computer via USB.



3. Once the connection is successful, you’ll be able to see the names/models of your source and destination devices, and you can click Transfer to start the process.



You might need to activate the USB debugging option on your Android device. You can get the instructions for your specific device online or in the tool.
4. The process is going to take a few minutes, and then you’ll receive a notification that your WhatsApp data has been transferred successfully.

That’s it. You’ll be able to use the same WhatsApp with all the data on your new device.

Summary

When it comes to migrating WhatsApp from Android to iOS and shall Move to iOS fails, iToolab WatsGo can be a great alternative to consider for Windows users. It’s straightforward, making transferring data a breeze.

iToolab WatsGo is, however, a paid-app; but there’s a 30% discount offer as of now, for a limited time. So perhaps you can try it out and experience it yourself.

The post Transfer WhatsApp from Android to iOS Without ‘Move to iOS’ appeared first on Hongkiat.

The best part is, you don’t need to rely on any 3rd party apps to download the videos. All it requires is to install some simple shortcut on Apple’s Shortcuts App, and it will work like a charm.

Installing the shortcut

Here’s how to install the shortcut for Apple Shortcuts. This will work on iPad too.

1. Launch Safari on your iPhone and go to this URL



2. Tap Get Shortcut and then tap Open to open it in the Shortcuts app.



3. Tap Set up Shortcut, and then Add Shortcut to include this shortcut to your Shortcuts App.

That’s all! To find this newly added shortcut, tap Shortcuts on the bottom left, and it should be listed as R Download on the All Shortcut page.

Downloading videos with a shortcut

To demonstrate how to download a video with the newly added shortcut, we will use Instagram as an example.

1. Go to any video on Instagram and tap the triple-dot icon (Kebab menu).



2. Tap Share, and then tap R Download. This will activate the downloading video shortcut.



3. Tap Allow Once twice or three times, depending on how many times it appears. This allows the script to download and save the video in your iPhone’s Photo album.
4. Now, head over to your Photo album. The downloaded video should be sitting inside the album already.

Supported websites

This shortcut supports downloading multimedia files (videos, audio, photos, reels, stories, etc.) from the following websites:

• Instagram
• YouTube
• Dailymotion
• Video
• Flickr
• Snapchat
• Facebook
• Snapchat
• VK
• Likee
• LinkedIn
• Tumblr

Deleting the shortcut

In case you’re no longer using the shortcut and want to delete it, here’s how you can do it:

1. Launch the Shortcut app, then tap Edit on top.



2. Tap R Download once to select it, then tap Delete > Delete Shortcut to remove it.

The post How to Download Videos on iPhone With Shortcuts appeared first on Hongkiat.