Q About a month ago I tried to update my iPhone 7 Plus to iOS version 12.1.2, but it is still stuck on “estimating time remaining”. I tried to force restart the phone but the problem persists.

Tashi

The best way to solve this problem is to connect your iPhone to a Windows PC that has the latest version of iTunes installed. Launch iTunes and connect your iPhone to the computer. Switch off the iPhone by pressing the power button and then swiping to shut it down. Now you have to put the phone into DFU (device firmware update) mode.

This mode is generally used for troubleshooting among other things. Press and hold the power button on the right of the phone for about three seconds. After that keep holding the power button, and press and hold the volume down button on the left of the phone for about 10 seconds. Release the power button but continue to hold the volume down button for another five seconds. The iPhone 7 Plus screen should remain black. You will get an alert in iTunes saying an iPhone has been detected. Now all you have to do is click to update the phone from iTunes. It will get updated to iOS version 13.2.2. If the iPhone screen comes on or shows an Apple logo or iTunes logo, then you did not enter DFU mode correctly and you have to start the whole process again.

This is the best way to get out of any errors you might encounter while updating your iPhone. If you connect your iPhone to a Mac running macOS Catalina the phone will appear in the Finder app and you can update the phone from the Mac.

Not hotspot

Q How can I update one iPhone from another using its Personal Hotspot? Whenever I try the signal is weak, both from Jio and Airtel, and the update fails.

A.K. Sen

Do not try to update an iPhone using a mobile hotspot because the 4G signal from most providers is very poor these days. Moreover, the speed varies wildly and could corrupt the update that you are downloading. You will then get into all sorts of problems on the phone. It is best to have a proper broadband connection with WiFi. The rates have come down. You could opt for Airtel, BSNL or Alliance depending on who is reliable in your area.

Surviving phone switch

Q The photos and videos that I receive through WhatsApp are not being stored in my Nokia 8.1 phone’s SD card. I recently updated the phone to Android 10.

Sabyasachi Ganguly

Open Settings on your phone and scroll down to ‘about phone’. Press it and look for something called “build number”. Tap on it till you see a prompt saying, “You are now a developer”. You have just enabled “developer options” on your phone. Go back to Settings—Developer options and look for “force allow apps on external”. Turn this on. Go back to Settings again and under Apps find WhatsApp. You will now get an option to change the storage location. Tap on it and choose your SD card as the default location.

Forgotten password

Q I forgot my Facebook password, and do not have an email address associated with the account. But I have two-factor authentication on for the account.

Kumaresh Malo

Click on “Forgotten account” on the Facebook login page and you will be asked to enter a phone number or email address. Enter your phone number. Since you have two-factor authentication on, you will receive a code by SMS that will enable you to reset your password. If you still face problems let Facebook know at `https://m.facebook.com/help/contact/357439354283890`. Describe your problem and Facebook will get back to you in the email address you provide.