Charonyu Guides
Fix everyday annoyances, step by step
Each guide starts with a real situation: why it happens, the built-in fix, then an easier way. 37 guides in total.
Compress documents and photos
About PassSize → How to shrink an application photo to under 500KB on your phone Application photos often require "under 500KB, set pixel dimensions, JPG format" all at once. Understand the three conditions, then use built-in iPhone tools or PassSize to get the photo under 500KB at the right size. How to convert HEIC photos to JPG on iPhone Convert existing HEIC photos to JPEG with Quick Actions > Convert Image in Files, or export from the Preview app on iOS 26. To shoot JPG from now on, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose Most Compatible. How to compress an iPhone photo to under 2MB Sign-ups, applications and document uploads often say "file must not exceed 2MB". Here are the built-in iPhone options, the pros and cons of each, and how to hit an exact size in one step with PassSize. How to compress a large PDF on your phone PDFs are usually large because of the photos or scanned pages inside. iPhone's Preview app (iOS 26 and later) can shrink a file when exporting but can't hit a target size. To get under a hard limit like 2MB or 5MB, use PassSize to compress to an exact size on your phone. How to crop a photo to exactly 600×800 without distorting it First crop in the Photos app at a 3:4 ratio, then resize to 600×800. With the same ratio, scaling stays proportional and faces aren't stretched or squashed. Don't force a photo of any ratio straight into 600×800. How to combine multiple photos into one PDF on iPhone Save the photos to Files from the Photos app, then in the Files app select them and choose Create PDF from the "..." menu to merge them into one PDF. To control page order, paper size or file size, use PassSize's photos to PDF. How to scan a paper document into a PDF on iPhone Both the built-in Notes and Files apps have Scan Documents. Point at the document, adjust the area and tap Keep Scan to save it as a PDF. To merge other files or compress to a set size, scan and process directly in PassSize. How to batch-shrink photos and convert to JPG with an iPhone Shortcut (no app needed) Chain four actions in the built-in Shortcuts app: Select Photos > Resize Image > Convert Image (JPEG, set quality) > Save to Photo Album, to shrink several photos and convert them to JPG at once. The downside is you can't set a file size, so you check it yourself and lower the settings if it's over. How to remove location data from a photo before sending it On iPhone, tap Options in the share sheet and turn off Location so the file you send carries no shooting location. You can also set a photo to "No Location" in Photos (reversible) or stop the camera from recording location at all. How does image compression work? Why do compressed images get blurry? Images get smaller in two ways, lowering JPEG quality (dropping subtle detail) and reducing pixel dimensions. Compress too much and you get blur and blocky patches. To hit a set size and keep your pixels, lower the quality first and only shrink the dimensions if that isn't enough. Is 1MB 1000KB or 1024KB? How upload size limits are counted Both are in use: decimal 1MB = 1000KB, binary 1MiB = 1024KiB. When an upload site doesn't say which it uses, count in 1000s and leave a small buffer so the size check never blocks you. Is it safe to upload ID photos to online compression sites? Online compressors upload your file to their servers. How long it is kept and whether it is analyzed depends on each site's policy. Fine for ordinary photos, but for IDs and contracts check the privacy policy first or use a tool that works on your phone. Photo must be 300KB to 500KB but your file is too small? What to do A file that is too small usually has too few pixels or too much compression. Re-export from the original photo with higher JPEG quality and a larger pixel size and the file size will rise. Don't stretch a small image or pad the file by changing the format. What does a 1200x1200 photo size mean? Pixels, DPI and file size explained 1200x1200 means 1200 pixels wide and 1200 pixels tall; file size (KB, MB) is how much space the file takes. Upload sites check pixels and file size. DPI/PPI only matters for printing, and changing it won't make the file smaller. Photo is under 2MB and a JPG, but the site still says wrong format? The most common cause is that the file is not really a JPG (for example a HEIC with just a renamed extension). Next: pixel size or aspect ratio mismatch, special characters in the file name, or a size right on the 1000/1024 boundary. Work through the checklist below and you will usually find it. What is HEIC, and why do some websites reject it? HEIC is the iPhone's default photo format. At the same quality the file is smaller than JPEG, but many websites, upload forms, and some Windows PCs do not support it, so it often gets blocked. Converting to JPG before uploading fixes it. Where to compress images: iPhone built-ins, websites, computers, and apps compared For the occasional single image, the iPhone's built-in Preview or Shortcuts is enough. To hit an exact KB target for an ID or contract, an app that processes on your phone and lets you set a target size is easiest. Here is how each option differs.
Clean up your photo library by swiping
About Swipee → Too many photos on your iPhone? How to clean them up and delete them quickly Delete screenshots, big videos and duplicates first, use Select and drag your finger to pick a whole stretch at once, and check Recently Deleted afterwards. Built-in methods, where things moved in the newer Photos app, and the swipe cleanup flow in Swipee. An app can only see some of your photos? How to change photo permissions on iPhone An app sees only some photos because its photo access is set to Limited Access. On iOS 18 and later go to Settings > Apps > the app > Photos, or Settings > Privacy & Security > Photos, and switch to Full Access or pick different photos. How to back up iPhone photos to a computer or external drive without paying for iCloud On a Mac, connect with a cable and use Import in the Photos app. On Windows, install the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store and import with Microsoft Photos. Or plug a flash drive or hard drive into iPhone and choose Export Unmodified Original in Photos. Check the files open before deleting from your phone. How to find and delete duplicate photos on iPhone iOS 16 and later has a built-in Duplicates album in Photos. On iOS 26, go to Collections > More > Duplicates and tap Merge to keep the best-quality copy. Burst shots and similar photos you pick yourself, for example with Swipee's photo compare. iPhone storage full because of photos? How to free up space Check how much space Photos uses in Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Turn on Optimize iPhone Storage if you have iCloud space, back up to a computer or external drive if you don't, or delete long videos, screenshots and duplicates. Deleted photos stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days. Deleted lots of photos but iPhone storage didn't increase? The most common reason is that the photos are still in Recently Deleted for 30 days. Next: with Optimize iPhone Storage on, the phone only holds small versions, so deleting saves little. Or the space may be going to app caches (LINE, etc.) or System Data. Why does tidying your photo library never end? Photo cleanup rarely stays unfinished because you are lazy. Every photo needs a keep-or-delete decision, there are piles of near-identical shots, and "I'll do it all in one go" keeps you from starting. Short daily sessions, going month by month, quick decisions, and room to undo make it finishable.
Customizable Home Screen widgets
About Lumee → How to customize your iPhone Home Screen Start with the wallpaper, icon appearance (Dark, Tinted, and Clear on iOS 26), widgets and Smart Stacks, then use Focus to switch Home Screen pages. For photos and cute-style widgets, use Lumee's 17 styles and widgets. How to add widgets to your iPhone Lock Screen On iOS 16 and later, press and hold the Lock Screen > Customize > choose the Lock Screen > tap the widget area or Add Widgets. Up to 4 small or 2 rectangular widgets fit under the time, and iOS 26 lets you move them to the bottom. Lumee also offers weather, countdown and step widgets. How to put your own photos in a widget on iPhone Press and hold an empty spot on the Home Screen > Edit > Add Widget > Photos to add the built-in Photos widget. From iOS 17 you can pick an album to cycle through in Edit Widget, but you can't choose a single photo directly. For a fixed favorite photo in different styles, use Lumee. iPhone widget not updating, black, or photo missing? How to fix it iOS decides when widgets update, so they are never truly real time. If one is stale, open the app once, check Background App Refresh and Low Power Mode, then check photo and location permissions. For a black or blank widget, removing and re-adding it or restarting usually fixes it.
Copy the shots you love
About SamePhoto → How to turn on the iPhone camera grid and level Go to Settings > Camera and turn on Grid and Level, and the camera shows a 3x3 grid and a level line to help you align your composition and keep the horizon straight. How to turn them on, how to use them, and what to do when you need more guide lines. How to use the rule of thirds in phone photos (people and landscapes) The rule of thirds splits the frame into a 3x3 grid with two horizontal and two vertical lines. Put the subject on a line or near an intersection and the horizon on the upper or lower third. How to place people and landscapes, when to break the rule, and how to turn on the iPhone grid. How to take a photo that matches a reference photo from the internet To recreate a reference photo, first work out its lens zoom, camera height, distance, subject position and light direction, then match them one by one on location. Includes a pre-shoot checklist and how to overlay the reference on your camera with SamePhoto. Phone photo composition: 12 types explained The common phone compositions: rule of thirds, center symmetry, top/bottom space, side space, upper/lower-third horizon, center reflection line, single-subject frame, two-person zones, three-object triangle, leading lines, and foreground framing. What each is, when to use it, and what it suits.
Photo collages and video memories
About Picsy → How to make a Polaroid-style photo collage on iPhone The Polaroid look comes from a white frame (with an extra-wide bottom edge), slightly tilted placement, washi tape or handwriting, and a paper texture. The iPhone Photos app has no collage layouts, so lay it out yourself in a presentation app, or use a collage app with Polaroid templates (such as Picsy), then export in Story or post proportions. How to turn travel photos into a memory video on iPhone Put your trip photos in one album and play it as a Memory slideshow in the Photos app, then change the music, look, and length before sharing. iPhones with Apple Intelligence can also build one from a text description. For more editing room use iMovie Magic Movie; for a fixed 9:16 output use an app that lets you pick a ratio, such as the video templates in Picsy.
Organize jobs and prep for interviews
About Job Pocket → How to prepare an interview self-introduction: a 1-minute example and structure Build your interview self-introduction in three parts, present, past, and why you fit the job, in about 1 minute (roughly 250-300 words). Pick experiences by matching the job description instead of reading your resume aloud. Includes a full example, common mistakes, and how to practice with Job Pocket. How to track job applications and openings when applying to many companies Keep one row per job to record company, posting link, salary, deadline, date applied, status, contact, and interview date. Use a fixed set of statuses and update weekly. Includes a column template, status flow, follow-up timing, and how to save jobs from 104 and LinkedIn with Job Pocket. Does AI mock interview practice actually help? How to use AI to prepare for interviews AI mock interviews are good for repetition and tightening how you tell your experience, but they can't replace real-person pressure or industry judgment. What AI does well, a practice routine that works, and privacy checks.