Connect with us

Technology

How to send free digital invitations on iPhone

Published

on

How to send free digital invitations on iPhone

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Creating invitations should feel easy, not stressful. Apple’s Invites app makes it simple to create free digital invitations with built-in RSVP tools, even if your guests do not use iPhones.

You can design the invite, track responses, and share photos after the event, all from your iPhone. Below is a clear step-by-step guide with exact instructions so you can get it right the first time.

Oh, and if you want more options beyond Apple’s Invites app, we also cover the best invitation apps for both iPhone and Android.

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter.

Advertisement

HOW TO SHARE YOUR ESTIMATED ARRIVAL TIME ON IPHONE AND ANDROID

Apple’s Invites app lets users create free digital invitations with built-in RSVP tools directly from an iPhone, making event planning faster and easier. (Katharina Kausche/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Why Apple Invites makes event planning easier

Apple Invites keeps everything in one place. You design the invite, manage RSVPs and share memories without switching apps. You can:

  • Create invitations for parties, meetings and family events
  • Let guests RSVP from any device
  • Share photos, playlists and links after the event

Apple Invites system requirements

Before you start, confirm these basics. You need:

  • An iPhone running iOS 18 or newer
  • An iCloud+ subscription to create invitations

Guests can view and RSVP without an iCloud+ subscription. The steps in this article were tested on an iPhone 15 Pro Max running iOS 26.2.

Download Apple Invites from the App Store

First, install the Apple Invites app.

  • Open the App Store.
  • Search for Apple Invites.
  • Download the app named Apple Invites to avoid confusion.

Open the Invites app after installation.

How to create a free digital invitation with RSVP on iPhone

You are now ready to build your invitation.

Advertisement

Start a new invitation in Apple Invites

  • Open the Invites app.
  • If this is your first time, tap Create Invitation.

If you have created invites before, tap the plus icon in the top corner.

Add a background image to your invitation

  • Tap Add Background.
  • Choose one option:PhotosCameraPlayground using Apple Intelligence on supported modelsYou can also select Emoji, Photographic or Color backgrounds.
  • Photos
  • Camera
  • Playground using Apple Intelligence on supported models
  • You can also select Emoji, Photographic or Color backgrounds.

Grant photo or camera access if prompted.

Add event details like title, date and location

Next, fill in the key information.

  • Tap Event Title and enter the name of your event.Choose from four available fonts.
  • Choose from four available fonts.
  • Tap Date and Time.Select a start and end time or mark the event as all day.
  • Select a start and end time or mark the event as all day.
  • Tap Location.Enable Location Services if prompted.
  • Enable Location Services if prompted.
  • Tap Add a Description to include event details or notes.

If you add both a date and a location, the app automatically shows:

  • The weather forecast for that day
  • A Maps link with directions

Add optional features like photos, links and playlists

You can add several optional features to enhance your invitation.

  • Add a shared photo album so guests can view and upload photos by tapping Create Album
  • Add a website link, such as a gift registry, by tapping Add a Link
  • Add a shared Apple Music playlist guests can listen to and add songs to by tapping Add Playlist

Add a Tile to bundle photos, playlists or links in one place by tapping Add Tile

Preview and create your invitation

Before sending, review everything.

  • Tap Preview.
  • Review how the invitation will look to guests.
  • Tap Next in the upper-right corner.
  • Wait a few seconds while the invite is created.

NEVER LOSE YOUR CAR WITH MAPS PARKING TOOLS

Apple Invites allows hosts to design invites, track guest responses and share photos without requiring guests to own an iPhone. (Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

How to send invitations and manage RSVPs on iPhone

Once your invitation is live, you can share it in two different ways.

Invite guests using a public link

  • Under Invite with Public Link, choose how you want to share the link:MessagesMailShare LinkCopy Link
  • Messages
  • Mail
  • Share Link
  • Copy Link
  • Toggle Approve Guests on if you want to review RSVPs before guests are added.
  • Leave Approve Guests off to allow anyone with the link to RSVP automatically.

Guests who accept the invite will appear in your guest list.

Invite guests individually

  • Scroll to Invite Individuals.
  • Tap Choose a Guest.
  • Then you’ll be prompted to access your contacts and click Continue.
  • Click Select Contacts
  • Select only the contacts you want to include for this invitation and click Continue 
  • Tap Allow Selected Contacts 
  • Select a contact to send a one-time invite link.
  • Then click Messages, Mail or Share Link

This option sends a unique link to a single guest.

Guests can RSVP even if they do not own an iPhone.

Advertisement

How to send invitations and manage RSVPs on iPhone

Once your invitation is live, you can share it in two different ways.

Invite guests using a public link

  • Under Invite with Public Link, choose how you want to share the link:MessagesMailShare LinkCopy Link
  • Messages
  • Mail
  • Share Link
  • Copy Link
  • Toggle Approve Guests on if you want to review RSVPs before guests are added.
  • Leave Approve Guests off to allow anyone with the link to RSVP automatically.

Guests who accept the invite will appear in your guest list.

Invite guests individually

  • Scroll to Invite Individuals.
  • Tap Choose a Guest.
  • Then you’ll be prompted to access your contacts and click Continue.
  • Click Select Contacts
  • Select only the contacts you want to include for this invitation and click Continue 
  • Tap Allow Selected Contacts 
  • Select a contact to send a one-time invite link.
  • Then click Messages, Mail or Share Link

This option sends a unique link to a single guest.

Guests can RSVP even if they do not own an iPhone.

Manage event settings and RSVP notifications

You stay in control after sending.

  • Tap the Settings icon inside the invite.
  • Adjust guest permissions and RSVP options.
  • Enable notifications to receive alerts when guests respond.
  • Set plus one limits or block additional guests if needed.

Your invitation appears on the app home screen under Upcoming.

Edit an invite after sending it

Plans change, and edits are allowed.

  • Open the invite from the Upcoming list.
  • Tap the More Button (three horizontal dots in the upper-right corner)
  • Click Edit to update details.
  • Changes sync automatically for guests.

5 BEST APPS TO USE ON CHATGPT RIGHT NOW

With Apple Invites, users can manage event details, RSVPs and shared content all in one place using iOS 18 or newer. (Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Advertisement

Pro tip: duplicate invitations for recurring events

If you host a recurring event, such as a book club, save time.

  • Open an existing invitation.
  • Tap the More button. (three horizontal dots in the upper-right corner)
  • Select Duplicate.
  • Adjust the date, time or details as needed.

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Kurt’s key takeaways

Apple Invites makes event planning feel simple again. You can create free digital invitations, send them in seconds and track RSVPs without chasing people down. Everything lives in one place, from guest lists to shared photos, which saves time and reduces stress. Best of all, guests do not need an iPhone to respond. That makes Apple Invites practical for real life, not just Apple users. Whether you are planning a birthday, a family dinner, or a casual meetup, this app helps you focus on the event rather than the logistics.

Would you consider replacing paper invites or group texts with Apple Invites, or are you still planning events the old way? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

Advertisement

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter. 

Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.

Advertisement

Technology

Apple launches iOS 26.4 with AI playlists, purchase sharing, and more

Published

on

Apple launches iOS 26.4 with AI playlists, purchase sharing, and more

iOS 26.4 is here, and it comes with a bunch of small but notable updates. That includes a new Playlist Playground launching in beta in Apple Music, which uses AI to generate a song playlist — complete with a title, description, and tracklist — based on a text prompt.

Apple Music is also adding a new concert discovery feature, allowing you to find nearby shows featuring artists from your library, as well as new ones recommended by the app. Other updates include full-screen backgrounds for album and playlist pages, along with a new Offline Music Recognition tool that “identifies songs without an internet connection and delivers results automatically when you’re back online.”

Apple’s Family Sharing feature, which allows you to share Apple subscriptions with up to six other people, will now let each adult member add their own payment methods to make purchases (instead of just using the method belonging to the group organizer). Additionally, iOS 26.4 adds eight new emoji, including an orca, trombone, landslide, ballet dancer, and distorted face. It also improves the accuracy of its keyboard when typing quickly, according to Apple.

There are a few new accessibility features, too, including an update to Apple’s “reduce bright effects” setting that now minimizes flashes that occur when tapping on certain elements like buttons. Apple is making subtitle and caption settings easier to find as well, and says its “reduce motion” setting now “more reliably reduces the animations of Liquid Glass.”

Apple released its macOS 26.4 update as well, which introduces a new compact tab bar option in Safari and the ability to set charging limits from 80 to 100 percent to help preserve the lifespan of your device’s battery.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Technology

DocuSign email scam targets healthcare workers

Published

on

DocuSign email scam targets healthcare workers

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Most of us sign documents online without thinking twice. A quick DocuSign request appears in your inbox. You click the link, review the document and move on with your day. That convenience is exactly what scammers rely on. Recently, we received a message from a CyberGuy reader that shows how convincing these scams can look. In this case, the email appeared to come from a health licensing authority and asked the recipient to review a document tied to a professional license renewal.

Advertisement

Here is the email we received from Susie, a registered nurse in Florida who nearly fell for the scam.

“I am a Registered Nurse, and my bi-annual renewal is approaching. Last month, I received a surprising (at least to me) email with a document to DocuSign from the state Board of Health. It didn’t feel right, even though I have used DocuSign multiple times in the past. Those experiences were known transactions. I contacted the state board, and they confirmed that it IS a SCAM. I sent them screenshots, etc. and reported the message for phishing. I want to thank you, Kurt, because it was thanks to you that I questioned the veracity of this outreach. Reading the articles and tips you provide saved me a great deal of trouble. Thanks again, and all you nurses out there renewing your license, be wary.” – Susie C, Orlando, FL

Susie did exactly what security experts recommend. She paused and verified the message before clicking anything. That one step likely prevented a phishing attack.

SCAMMERS ARE USING DOCUSIGN EMAILS TO PUSH APPLE PAY FRAUD
 

Security experts warn that DocuSign scams exploit routine online habits to steal passwords and access personal or professional accounts. (ilkercelik/Getty Images)

Advertisement

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter

What the suspicious DocuSign email looked like

Susie also shared a screenshot of the message she received. At first glance, the email looks familiar. The blue layout resembles real DocuSign notifications. There is even a large yellow Review Document button. But one detail stood out immediately.

The email address sending the message was:
info.florida-department-of-health-email-notification@cc.ncu.edu.tw

That address has nothing to do with a U.S. state health department. 

Why DocuSign scams work so well

DocuSign is used by millions of businesses and government agencies. Because people expect these requests, they often click without hesitation. Scammers exploit that habit. A typical DocuSign phishing email tries to create urgency. It may claim a license renewal, a contract update, or a payroll form requires immediate action. Once you click the button, several things may happen:

Advertisement
  • You may land on a fake login page designed to steal your email password.
  • The site may prompt you to download a malicious file.
  • The link may redirect you to several phishing pages.

In many cases, the goal is simple. Attackers want your email credentials so they can take over your account or launch more scams.

10 WAYS TO PROTECT SENIORS FROM EMAIL SCAMS
 

A Florida nurse avoided a DocuSign phishing scam after spotting a suspicious email tied to a fake health license renewal request. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Red flags in the DocuSign scam email

A few warning signs can help you spot a fake request quickly.

Suspicious sender address

Always look closely at the sender’s domain. Government agencies rarely send messages from foreign academic domains like .edu.tw. That alone signals something is wrong.

Unexpected documents

Legitimate DocuSign requests usually follow a known interaction. For example, a contract you discussed or paperwork you expect. An unexpected document should always raise questions.

Advertisement

Pressure to act quickly

Many phishing emails include language that urges immediate action. The goal is to stop you from thinking. Take a moment before clicking any button.

Generic document descriptions

The message shown in the screenshot simply states that a document is ready to review. It provides no real context or explanation. Legitimate documents often include details about the transaction.

How clicking the link could compromise you

Many people assume they will recognize a fake page. In reality, phishing sites look very convincing. Some scams even use cloned DocuSign pages. Once victims enter their credentials, attackers gain access to their email accounts.

From there, criminals can:

  • Reset passwords for financial services
  • Send phishing emails to contacts
  • Search inboxes for sensitive documents

In healthcare professions, that risk can also expose licensing information or patient-related communications.

APPLE APP PASSWORD SCAM EMAIL WARNING
 

Advertisement

Cybercriminals are using fake DocuSign emails to trick users into clicking malicious links and handing over sensitive login credentials. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Ways to stay safe from DocuSign phishing scams

Fortunately, a few habits can dramatically lower your risk.

1) Verify the request separately

If a document claims to come from a government agency or employer, contact them directly using a known phone number or website. Never use the contact information inside the suspicious email.

2) Hover over links before clicking

Move your cursor over the button and check the destination link. If the URL looks unfamiliar or unrelated to DocuSign, do not click it.

3) Don’t click links and use strong antivirus software

If an email seems suspicious, do not click the link or open any attachment. Strong antivirus software can help block malicious downloads, warn you about dangerous websites and catch threats before they spread across your device. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

Advertisement

4) Use a data removal service

Scammers often gather personal details from data broker sites and public records to make phishing emails seem more believable. A data removal service can help reduce your exposed information online, which may make it harder for criminals to target you with convincing messages. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com 

5) Access documents through official accounts

If you regularly use DocuSign, sign in directly at the official website and check your pending documents there. That approach avoids email traps entirely. 

6) Report phishing attempts

Forward suspicious messages to your organization’s security team or the Federal Trade Commission phishing reporting system at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC also advises forwarding phishing emails to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org. Reporting scams helps protect others from the same attack.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Scams succeed because they blend into everyday routines. Signing documents online has become normal for work, healthcare licensing and financial paperwork. That convenience also gives criminals a perfect disguise. Susie’s story shows how a small moment of doubt can stop a phishing attack before it begins. A quick call to the licensing board revealed the truth. The message was never legitimate.

Now the question is one every reader should consider. If a DocuSign email arrived in your inbox right now, would you notice the warning signs before clicking the button? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

Advertisement

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM newsletter 

Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.  
 

Continue Reading

Technology

The US government just banned consumer routers made outside the US

Published

on

The US government just banned consumer routers made outside the US

In December, the Federal Communications Commission banned all future drones made in foreign countries from being imported into the United States, unless or until their maker gets an exemption. Now, the FCC has done the exact same for consumer networking gear, citing “an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”

If you already have a Wi-Fi or wired router, you can keep on using it — and companies that have already gotten FCC radio authorization for a specific foreign-made product can continue to import that product.

But since the vast majority — if not all — consumer routers are manufactured outside the United States, the vast majority of future consumer routers are now banned. By adding all foreign-made consumer routers to its Covered List, the FCC is saying it will no longer authorize their radios, which de facto bans new devices from import into the country.

Now, router makers need to A) secure a “conditional approval” that lets them keep getting new products cleared for US entry while they work to convince the government that they’ll open up manufacturing in the US, or B) make the decision to skip selling future products in the US, like dronemaker DJI already did.

Like with the foreign drone ban, the FCC has a National Security Determination that it says justifies these actions, one which claims that “Allowing routers produced abroad to dominate the U.S. market creates unacceptable economic, national security, and cybersecurity risks,” and that “routers produced abroad were directly implicated in the Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon cyberattacks which targeted critical American communications, energy, transportation, and water infrastructure.”

Advertisement

“Given the criticality of routers to the successful functioning of our nation’s economy and defense, the United States can no longer depend on foreign nations for router manufacturing,” reads another passage.

It is true that a great many router vulnerabilities have surfaced over the years, which make them a popular target for hackers and botnets. It is also true that one China-founded company, TP-Link, is dominant in the US consumer market; US authorities had previously considered a specific TP-Link ban due to that dominance and national security concerns. (TP-Link has been attempting to distance itself from China, splitting off from the Chinese entity in 2022, establishing a global headquarters in California in 2024, and suing Netgear in 2025 for suggesting that TP-Link had been infiltrated by the Chinese government.)

It is not clear how simply moving production of routers domestically would make them safer. In the Volt Typhoon hack, Chinese state-sponsored hackers primarily targeted Cisco and Netgear routers, routers designed by US companies, according to the Department of Justice. They were vulnerable because those US companies had stopped providing security updates to the specific targeted routers, which had been discontinued by those companies.

While the FCC’s Covered List makes it sound like the US is banning all “routers produced in a foreign country,” it’s defined a bit more narrowly than that. It’s specifically banning “consumer-grade routers” as defined in NIST Internal Report 8425A, which refers to ones “intended for residential use and can be installed by the customer.”

“Virtually all routers are made outside the United States, including those produced by U.S.-based companies like TP-Link, which manufactures its products in Vietnam,” reads part of a statement from TP-Link via third-party spokesperson Ricca Silverio. “It appears that the entire router industry will be impacted by the FCC’s announcement concerning new devices not previously authorized by the FCC.”

Advertisement

Update, March 23rd: Clarified how TP-Link has distanced itself from China, and added company statement.

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.

Continue Reading

Trending