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Fix mds_stores on Mac Using Excess Memory & CPU

Some Mac users may discover the mds_stores process has run amuck, consuming absurd amounts of CPU and memory when viewed in Activity Monitor. Typically this is accompanied by unusually sluggish system performance on a Mac, which is what inspired the visit into Activity Monitor to begin with, and there you may find that mds_stores is ... Read More
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Mac Saying ChatGPT is Malware? Here’s Why & How to Fix It

A fair number of people who use the ChatGPT app for Mac have recently run into a strange and alarming malware message when attempting to open and use ChatGPT. The error says that “Malware Blocked and Moved to Trash” and informs the user that “ChatGPT.app was not opened because it contains malware. The action did ... Read More
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Why iPhone Records Voice Message Randomly & How to Stop It

If your iPhone suddenly starts recording a voice message seemingly at random while you’re in the Messages app, you’re probably unintentionally triggering a feature called Raise to Listen. This feature is part of the iOS Messages app, where lifting the iPhone to your ear can automatically start to play or record an audio message. The ... Read More
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How to Secure Erase Disks on MacOS Tahoe & Sequoia

Whether you’re preparing to sell, recycle, or repurpose a Mac, or you’re going through old hard drives and storage disks that you wish to clear all data from, securely erasing the drive is an important step. Simply deleting files or formatting a disk isn’t always enough, especially for hard drives and external storage, since data ... Read More
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How to Clean Install MacOS Tahoe

Performing a clean install of macOS Tahoe can be a necessary task in some situations, offering a way to start fresh on a Mac. Since a clean install removes everything and reinstalls MacOS from scratch, you are presented with basically a brand new Mac from a software standpoint. Clean installations can be useful for users ... Read More
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How to Tell if a Mac Needs More RAM Using Memory Pressure

MacOS includes a built-in way to assess memory usage, called Memory Pressure, and it can give you a lot of insight into your Macs performance, and whether or not you need more RAM. This is particularly informative if you feel like your Mac is slow, apps and media are stuttering, or you’re experiencing the annoying ... Read More
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Why WindowServer Uses High CPU & Memory on MacOS Tahoe and How to Fix It

If you have felt your Mac is curiously sluggish, you may have opened Activity Monitor to investigate at some point and noticed a process called “WindowServer” using a large amount of CPU or memory. High CPU usage and memory consumption of WindowServer has been a long reported issue on MacOS with various system software versions, ... Read More
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How to Disable Liquid Glass on iOS 26 for iPhone As Much As Possible

The Liquid Glass interface is highly translucent and layered with various depth and visual effects, and while some users may like the glitz and shine, there are others who find the transparency and reduced contrast to be difficult to use. Introduced with iOS 26, the Liquid Glass look has been a hit with some and ... Read More
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iPhone Volume Buttons Not Working on Calls? Here’s How to Fix It

If you have ever been on a phone call and tried to adjust the volume on iPhone and found the volume buttons aren’t responding, you’re not alone. This is a frustrating presumed bug that can happen on iPhone, and the volume buttons seem to stop working during phone calls, even though they can sometimes still ... Read More
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How to Highlight the Active Foreground Window on Mac with HazeOver (MacOS Tahoe Fix)

One common complaint of MacOS Tahoe users is that it can be difficult to determine which window is active or in the background. With all of the flatter and low contrast design elements in Tahoe, there is a significant reduction in contrast between background and foreground apps and windows, which can make visual focus less ... Read More
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StillColor for Mac Disables Temporal Dithering to Reduce Eye Strain and Flicker

Some Mac users who are sensitive to eye strain and PWM display flickering have turned to a small free utility called StillColor to modify how MacOS renders colors on their screen. The StillColor tool has a feature that can disable something called “temporal dithering”, a usually imperceptible display technique that alternates pixel colors at the ... Read More
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iPhone Missing Calls & Texts, Not Ringing? Here’s How to Fix It

A significant number of iPhone users run into situations where they discover their iPhone is not ringing or making sounds with incoming phone calls, text messages, and alerts, leading to missed calls and texts. This is hugely frustrating, but for most situations the reason why this happens is pretty simple; the iPhone has accidentally been ... Read More
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How to Downgrade from MacOS Tahoe to MacOS Sequoia

macOS Tahoe 26 has been a controversial release of MacOS system software, mostly due to it’s completely redesigned interface built around what Apple calls Liquid Glass, which has a new look, but includes some major usability and legibility issues. Tahoe is also just buggier and less refined than other Mac operating systems like Sequoia. Accordingly, ... Read More
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PSA: iOS 26.4 Age Verification in UK Fails for Some, Leading to Device Restrictions

If you’re an iPhone user in the UK, you might want to hold off on the latest iOS 26.4 update for a bit, as many UK users are reporting problems with the new mandatory online Age Verification system that is included in the latest versions of iOS. Failures and issues with the age verification system ... Read More
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PSA: Automatic Software Update Enables Itself with MacOS Tahoe 26.4 & iOS 26.4

If you’re the type of Mac, iPhone, or iPad user who likes to update their operating systems manually, you will want to pay attention to your devices after you have installed the latest iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, and MacOS Tahoe 26.4 software updates, because installing those updates will enable automatic updates for system software. If ... Read More
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How to Access Portrait Camera Mode in iOS 26 on iPhone

Camera app received a dramatic redesign with iOS 26, and many iPhone users have found that the new interface is confusing, leading them to believe that some prominent features of iPhone Camera have been removed. For example, many iPhone users running iOS 26 now think Portrait Mode camera has been removed or is no longer ... Read More
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How to Clean Install MacOS Sequoia

A clean install of macOS Sequoia installs the operating system onto a freshly erased Mac, removing all existing data, settings, and even the previous MacOS versions from the Mac. This approach is sometimes preferred by advanced users who want a completely fresh start, are troubleshooting persistent system issues, or simply want to run MacOS Sequoia ... Read More
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Fix Bluetooth Mouse or Keyboard Disconnecting in MacOS Tahoe

Some Mac users have noticed an annoying issue with recent MacOS updates (including both MacOS Tahoe and Sequoia) where Bluetooth accessories like a mouse or keyboard randomly disconnect, briefly stop responding, or disconnect for 10-30 seconds and then reconnect leading to lengthy lags in using the cursor or keyboard. Some users even report that some ... Read More
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“Device Added to Your Account” Message on iPhone, iPad, or Mac? Here’s What To Do

Some iPhone, iPad, and Mac users may have noticed a message that appears suddenly on their device that reads something like this; “Device Added to Your Account – An iPhone/Mac/iPad now has access to FaceTime. If you don’t recognize this device you can remove it in System Settings.” Getting this notification out of the blue ... Read More
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How to Fix Error Code 1109 When Restoring or Updating iPhone

A frustrating error message may appear for some iPhone users when they’re using a computer to restore an iPhone or install an update. The error code in question here is “Error Code (1109)” which is cryptic and vague, and if you experience this error it typically comes with a failure to update or restore the ... Read More
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