Tech Security Update

• You can change your TikTok profile picture by tapping "Edit profile" on your page.
• Your TikTok profile picture can be a still image or a video.
• If you open someone's profile page on the TikTok website, you can download their profile picture too.
• Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

On TikTok, you've got two ways to represent yourself: With your videos, and with your profile picture. Your profile picture shows up on every video you post, as well as on your profile page of course.

Like most apps, you can change your profile icon whenever you like. But TikTok gives you even more options when it comes to changing your icon — it lets you have a profile picture or a profile video.

And if you see a profile picture on someone else's profile that you really like, there's an easy way to download it for yourself.

How to change your profile picture on TikTok

When you change your picture, you can pick a photo that you have saved or take a new one. So if you want to upload a saved picture, make sure you've got it saved beforehand.

1. Open TikTok and head to your profile by tapping the Profile option in the bottom-right corner.

2. Tap the Edit profile option.

3. Select either Change photo or Change video, depending on what you want. If you're changing the photo, you can select a picture you've saved or take a new one; if you're adding a video, you have to pick one that you've already saved.

4. Once you've picked your new icon, crop it, then hit Save.

Your new photo or video will upload and appear on your profile immediately. You can go through these steps again whenever you want to change your profile photo or video again.

Note that if you've uploaded both a picture and a video, the video is always what will appear as your profile icon. If you want people to see the picture instead, head back to the Edit profile menu and tap your video, then select Remove video.

How to download someone else's TikTok profile picture

If you see a profile picture on TikTok that you want to see (and save) the full version of, it's easy to download. Just note that you can only save still profile pictures this way, not videos.

1. In the TikTok app, head to the profile page for the user whose profile picture you want to save.

2. Tap their profile picture to bring up the sharing menu, then select Copy link.

3. This will copy a direct link to their profile onto your phone. Get that link onto your computer — the easiest way to do this is to email it to yourself.

4. On your computer, open that link in a web browser.

5. Right-click the user's profile picture and select Open Image in New Tab (or a similar option, depending on your browser).

A full-resolution version of that profile picture will open in a new tab. You can now right-click and save it like any other image.

• You can get HBO Max on your Roku by searching for it in your Roku's "Streaming Channels" menu.
• If you log into the Roku website on a computer, you can also add HBO Max through the Channel Store page.
• Although the HBO Max app is free to download, you'll still need to sign up for a subscription.
• Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

HBO Max is quickly catching up with apps like Netflix and Hulu as one of the most popular streaming services around. And with the entire HBO catalog on offer, as well as a suite of movies and shows from studios around the world, it's not hard to see why viewers are excited.

This is all despite the fact that when HBO Max first launched, it wasn't available to any Roku users.

Luckily, things have changed since then. You can now get HBO Max on your Roku device as easily as any other app - and there's even two ways to do it.

How to get HBO Max on Roku with the 'Streaming Channels' menu

This is the easiest way to get HBO Max on your Roku, along with any other app you might want.

1. On your Roku device's home page, go to the left sidebar and scroll down to select Streaming Channels.

2. HBO Max might appear right away in the list of Featured channels; if you see it, scroll to the icon and select it. If it's not there, scroll down to select Search Channels.

3. Search for HBO Max and select the channel when it appears in the results.

4. Click Add Channel.

Head back to your home page, and you'll find HBO Max added to the list of apps. Open it and log into your account to get started.

How to get HBO Max on Roku using the website

Not many users know this, but you can add any app to your Roku device by going through the Roku website.

1. Head to the Roku website and log into your Roku account, if you aren't already.

2. Once you're logged in, hover your mouse over your account icon in the top-right corner, and then select Channel store.

3. Find HBO Max in the list of featured channels and click +Add channel, or search for it and click Details and then +Add channel.

The next time you turn on your Roku, you'll find HBO Max on the home page. Open it and sign into your HBO Max account.

Dave Johnson contributed to a previous version of this article.

• You can get HBO Max on your Roku by searching for it in your Roku's "Streaming Channels" menu.
• If you log into the Roku website on a computer, you can also add HBO Max through the Channel Store page.
• Although the HBO Max app is free to download, you'll still need to sign up for a subscription.
• Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

HBO Max is quickly catching up with apps like Netflix and Hulu as one of the most popular streaming services around. And with the entire HBO catalog on offer, as well as a suite of movies and shows from studios around the world, it's not hard to see why viewers are excited.

This is all despite the fact that when HBO Max first launched, it wasn't available to any Roku users.

Luckily, things have changed since then. You can now get HBO Max on your Roku device as easily as any other app - and there's even two ways to do it.

How to get HBO Max on Roku with the 'Streaming Channels' menu

This is the easiest way to get HBO Max on your Roku, along with any other app you might want.

1. On your Roku device's home page, go to the left sidebar and scroll down to select Streaming Channels.

2. HBO Max might appear right away in the list of Featured channels; if you see it, scroll to the icon and select it. If it's not there, scroll down to select Search Channels.

3. Search for HBO Max and select the channel when it appears in the results.

4. Click Add Channel.

Head back to your home page, and you'll find HBO Max added to the list of apps. Open it and log into your account to get started.

How to get HBO Max on Roku using the website

Not many users know this, but you can add any app to your Roku device by going through the Roku website.

1. Head to the Roku website and log into your Roku account, if you aren't already.

2. Once you're logged in, hover your mouse over your account icon in the top-right corner, and then select Channel store.

3. Find HBO Max in the list of featured channels and click +Add channel, or search for it and click Details and then +Add channel.

The next time you turn on your Roku, you'll find HBO Max on the home page. Open it and sign into your HBO Max account.

Dave Johnson contributed to a previous version of this article.

• Twitter Blue is a subscription service that gives you the power to undo tweets, read news articles without ads, and more.
• Signing up for Twitter Blue also unlocks Labs, a feature that lets you try out new features early.
• You can sign up for Twitter Blue on your smartphone or computer for $2.99 per month.
• Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

It's become a meme for Twitter users to wonder how the website has stayed free for so long. And while it still costs nothing to make a Twitter account, getting the full Twitter experience isn't so free anymore.

Twitter Blue is a premium subscription service that can enhance your Twitter experience in a variety of ways. It's especially useful for users who use Twitter to find great articles or follow news stories. And after a long trial run in Australia and Canada, it's now available for all users in the United States and New Zealand.

Here are some of Twitter Blue's most important features, and a quick guide on how to sign up.

Twitter Blue's features

Blue's features make it easier to send tweets, as well as read them.

Undo tweets

Ever sent a perfect tweet, only to realize that there's a typo right in the first word? Twitter Blue can help with that.

Whenever you hit "Send" on a tweet, you'll have a few seconds to undo the tweet and edit it before anyone can see. The era of running to hide your typos is over.

Find articles that are relevant to you and read them without ads

For a lot of people, Twitter is the go-to place for reading the news. Twitter Blue's "Top Articles" feature tracks which articles your followers have shared the most over the last day, and pushes them to the top of your timeline. It's a great way to catch up on the latest news without scouring through hundreds of tweets.

Additionally, iOS and desktop users can read articles from sites like The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and even Insider without ads. And a portion of the money Twitter earns from every Twitter Blue subscription will go towards supporting these publishers.

Test out new features with Twitter Blue Labs

Sites like Twitter generally don't roll out new changes without testing them first. You can be part of the testing process by heading to Twitter Blue's Labs page.

On the Labs page, you'll find new "experimental" features that Twitter is considering rolling out to everyone. Any Blue subscriber can enable the features for their account and start using them right away.

The features here will change regularly - as of this writing, you can test out pinning DMs to the top of your inbox and uploading videos up to 10 minutes long. And even if features show up on this page, there's no guarantee that they'll ever be released publicly.

How to sign up for Twitter Blue

Twitter Blue costs $2.99 per month in the United States, and you can sign up from the iPhone app, Android app, or desktop website.

1. Open Twitter and log into your account, if you haven't already.

2. In the smartphone apps, tap your profile picture in the top-left corner; on the desktop site, click More in the left sidebar.

3. Select Twitter Blue.

4. Click Subscribe for $2.99/month and enter your payment information, or pay with your Apple ID or Google Play account.

Once your payment goes through, head back to Twitter. You'll be logged into Twitter Blue.

• You can unmatch from anyone on Tinder by opening a chat with them and using the Safety Toolkit.
• The person you unmatch from won't be notified, but you'll disappear from each other's Match lists.
• Once you've unmatched from someone on Tinder, they won't appear in your feed anymore.
• Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

Tinder has a pretty simple setup: Swipe left to reject someone, and swipe right to match with them. It's great for browsing casually, but can also lead to some awkward moments if you accidentally make a wrong choice.

Luckily, Tinder lets you unmatch from anyone that you've matched with. You'll just need to open a chat with them.

How to unmatch with someone on Tinder

If you've matched with someone - meaning that you've both swiped right on each other - you can unmatch on the chat page.

1. Open Tinder and tap the chat icon in the bottom toolbar.

2. Tap the picture of the person you want to unmatch with. If they don't show up under Messages or New Matches, you can search for them.

3. In the chat window that opens, tap the shield icon in the top-right corner.

4. Tap Unmatch From [Name], then confirm your choice.

Unmatching is permanent. Once you unmatch from someone, they'll disappear from the Chat page and won't show up in your feed again.

• If your Amazon Firestick remote isn't working, you should try resetting its connection to your device.
• Make sure that there's a clear path between your remote and the Firestick so they can connect.
• Your Firestick remote's batteries might need to be replaced, too.
• Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

With more and more people getting rid of cable television, streaming devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick (also known as the Firestick) are becoming more popular. And the Firestick is a great device - when it's working correctly.

If your Firestick's remote control stops working, it means no movies and no TV. In some cases, it might mean that you can't turn on your television at all.

Thankfully, there are a variety of ways to fix a Firestick remote that's not working.

How to fix your Firestick remote when it's not working

Change the batteries

It might seem too simple to work, but hear us out. Your Firestick might be small, but it uses power whenever you press a button. And over the course of a year, that adds up.

Remove the battery cover on the back of your Firestick remote to remove the batteries and replace them with fresh ones. Most Firestick remotes take two AAA batteries.

Once you've replaced the batteries, try using the remote again.

Remove any obstructions

Your Firestick remote might be wireless, but it still needs space to connect with the Firestick. Make sure that there's nothing blocking your remote or Firestick, like a game console or pile of books. Also move any nearby devices sending off radio signals, like Wi-Fi routers or even microwaves.

For the best results, there should be a clear line between your remote and the Firestick.

Unpair and reconnect the remote

If the batteries aren't the issue and you've got a clear line of sight, your remote's connection to the Firestick might need a refresh. Unpairing the remote from your Firestick and re-pairing it might do the trick.

1. Use another Firestick remote to wake your Firestick and open the Settings menu. If you don't have another physical remote, you can connect your iPhone or Android device and use that as a virtual remote.

2. In the Settings menu, select Controllers & Bluetooth Devices, and then Amazon Fire TV Remotes.

3. Scroll down to the remote that's not working - it'll probably just be called Amazon Fire TV Remote - and press the Menu button and then the Select button. Your remote will disappear from the list.

4. Scroll down and select Add New Remote, then press and hold the Home button on the unpaired remote.

5. When the Firestick prompts you, press the Select button on the "old" remote you used to navigate the menus.

Your Firestick will re-pair with the remote, which will hopefully get it working again.

Reset the remote

If unpairing it didn't work, you can try resetting the remote. This not only refreshes the connection, but also restarts the remote's internal software and hardware.

The exact steps it'll take to reset your remote differ depending on what kind of remote you have, so check out our full guide on how to reset your Firestick remote for more information. Basically, you'll need to press and hold certain buttons on the remote and unplug the Firestick from its power source.

Reset your Firestick

While most connection issues stem from the remote, there's always a chance that your Firestick is really the one causing problems. If none of the previous steps worked, you can factory reset your Firestick.

Factory resetting the Firestick will erase all of its data, returning it to the state it was in when you bought it. This means that you'll have to redownload your apps and log into your accounts. It's annoying, but also a great way to fix issues.

Just note that you'll need to have at least one remote that can connect for this, even if it's just the virtual remote in the Fire TV smartphone app.

1. Open the Settings menu on your Firestick and select My Fire TV.

2. Scroll down and select Reset to Factory Defaults, then confirm your choice.

Give the device a few minutes to reset. Once it's done, set it up like new.

Contact Amazon

If you've tried all these steps and your Firestick remote still won't work, the problem probably runs deeper than you can fix. In this case, contact Amazon directly for help.

Amazon's customer service representatives can help you with nearly any Fire TV issue. If even they can't figure out the problem, there's a chance that they'll let you send in your Firestick for a replacement.

• The latest macOS version is macOS Monterey, which released in October 2021.
• You can check what version of macOS you have by opening the "About This Mac" menu.
• If you don't have the latest version of macOS, you can update your Mac from this menu too.
• Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

It's been nearly 40 years since Apple released the first version of Mac OS, the operating system inside all of their computers. Nowadays, Mac OS is known as "macOS," and each version is named after a location in California.

The latest version as of this writing is macOS Monterey, released in October 2021. A new major macOS version debuts every year, and every almost every update comes with big changes.

Unless you're a programmer or tech journalist, you probably don't need to know the name of every Mac operating system ever. You just need to know what the latest is, how to check which macOS version you currently have, and how to update it if you need to.

How to check if you have the latest macOS version

To check what version of macOS you have:

1. Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen, then select About This Mac.

2. A new window will appear. It should open to the Overview tab by default, but if it doesn't, click Overview at the top of the window.

On this page, you'll be able to see what macOS version your computer is running, right down to the build number (something like 10.14.6).

Underneath the OS name, you'll find a collection of basic information about your computer, including its serial number, processor, and model name. If you click System Report… at the bottom of the window, you'll be able to explore even more information about your device.

How to update macOS to get the latest version

If you think your Mac is outdated, try to update it.

1. Again, open the About This Mac screen from the Apple logo in the top-left corner. And again, go to the Overview page.

2. At the bottom of the window, next to the System Report option, click on Software Update…

3. Your Mac will connect to the internet to check if there's a more current version of macOS for you to install. If there is, it'll prompt you to install the update. If you have the most current version, it'll let you know that, and you can close both windows without worry.

Steven John contributed to a previous version of this article.

• To redeem an Amazon gift card, head to your account's "Gift Card Balance" page.
• If you have the code, you can also redeem your Amazon gift card while checking out.
• The Gift Card Balance page also lets you set up an automatic reload schedule, so you'll always have a gift card.
• Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

You can buy nearly any item on Earth from Amazon. The only obstacles in your way are space - Where will you fit your 15th flatscreen TV? - and money. But if you've received an Amazon gift card for your birthday, money doesn't have to be an issue.

You can redeem Amazon gift cards you've received using the website or app. And once you've redeemed a gift card, you can keep track of how much money is left on it.

How to redeem an Amazon gift card via the app

These steps work for both the iPhone and Android apps.

1. Open the Amazon app and tap the three stacked lines in the bottom-right corner, and then tap Account.

2. Scroll down to the Payments section and select Manage gift card balance.

3. You'll be brought to the page where you can redeem a gift card or add balance to an existing one. Tap Redeem another gift card to activate your gift card by entering its code or scanning it.

Alternatively, you can redeem a new gift card straight from the checkout page. In the Payment information section, just type or scan your gift card number.

How to redeem an Amazon gift card via the website

The process is pretty similar if you go through Amazon's website.

1. Head to Amazon and log in, then hover your mouse over the Account & Lists option in the top-right.

2. In the menu that appears, click Gift Card Balance.

3. You'll see your current gift card balance and transaction history. To redeem a new gift card, click Redeem a Gift Card and enter its code.

You can also redeem an Amazon gift card right from the checkout page. Under Add a gift card or promotion code or voucher, type your gift card number and then click Apply.

Christine Kopaczewski contributed to a previous version of this article.

• You can update your Amazon Firestick through the Settings menu.
• Your Firestick should be checking for updates every day, but the Settings menu lets you update it manually.
• Keeping your Firestick updated is important for keeping your data secure and receiving new features.
• Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick (also known as the Firestick) lets users to watch their favorite content on apps like Netflix and HBO Max, as well as shop on Amazon. But like any internet-connected device released nowadays, the Firestick requires regular updates to run properly and unlock new features.

By default, your Firestick should check for updates automatically every day. But if you want to check for updates yourself, you just need to open the Settings menu.

How to update your Amazon Fire Stick

1. Turn on your Firestick and get to the home screen, then select the Settings option - depending on your Firestick, it might just look like a gear icon.

2. In Settings, scroll and click on the My Fire TV tab. On some Firesticks, you might see Device or System instead.

3. In the menu that opens, click About and then scroll down to Check for Updates. You'll see a note on the right side of the page telling you what version of the OS your Firestick is running, and the last time it checked for an update.

4. Click Check for Updates to see if your device is up to date. If an Install Update option appears, it means that there's an update available for you. If it just says Your Fire TV is up to date, you're running the latest software.

5. If the Install Update option appears, select it. Your Firestick should turn off, and then turn back on a few minutes later with the update installed.

Taylor Lyles contributed to a previous version of this article.

• The size of your Instagram post will vary depending on how you upload the photo or video.
• A standard Instagram post should be shaped like a perfect 1:1 square, but Stories are shaped like a phone screen.
• You can edit the size of your photos in Instagram, or through your phone's Photos app.
• Visit Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

Instagram is very particular when it comes to the size of your photos. It's not like Facebook, where you can upload any sort of picture and then just tap to enlarge it - if a photo you post on Instagram gets cropped weirdly, whole chunks of it will get deleted.

But while this does mean that you have to be precise when editing your photos for Instagram, it also means that it's easy to predict what your photos will look like once uploaded.

Every kind of Instagram post has an exact aspect ratio that works best for it. Here's a full guide to Instagram's post size requirements, and how to edit your photos to match them.

What size should your Instagram posts be?

There are a few different places to post pictures on Instagram, and each takes a different size of photo.

But when we talk about size, how many pixels they have is less important than their aspect ratio. An aspect ratio is a number that compares how wide a picture is to how tall it is.

For example, a square is in a 1:1 aspect ratio because it's exactly as wide as it is tall. Most TVs, meanwhile, are 16:9 - almost twice as wide as they are tall.

Here are the most important ratios on Instagram.

Regular Instagram posts

By default, standard Instagram posts are perfectly square - they're in a 1:1 aspect ratio. If you're looking for a specific resolution, shoot for 1080 x 1080 pixels (px).

If the picture you're uploading isn't a square, you can tap a button to zoom out. A landscape (horizontal) photo should be in a 1.91:1 ratio, and a portrait (vertical) photo should be a 4:5 ratio. Their resolutions should be 1080 x 608 px and 1080 x 1350 px, respectively.

Videos work the same way as photos, and use the same ratios.

Instagram Story posts

Unlike regular posts, Instagram Stories can take up your entire vertical phone screen. This means that they should be a 9:16 ratio, or 1080 x 1920 px.

IGTV and Reels video posts

Just like Stories, Instagram Reels and IGTV posts are meant to take up the entire screen. Post them in a 9:16 ratio, or 1080 x 1920 px.

The difference is that IGTV and Reels posts can also show up on your feed or profile. When an IGTV or Reels video appears in your feed, it'll be cropped into a 4:5 ratio - you need to tap it to expand it. And on your profile, it'll show up as a 1:1 square.

When uploading an IGTV video, you'll also be asked for a cover photo. This cover should have a 1:1.55 ratio, or 420 x 654 px.

In all these cases, it means that you should keep the video's most important text or content near the center of the screen so it doesn't get cut off.

Your Instagram profile picture

While it's not the same as a public post, your Instagram profile picture needs to fit a certain ratio too.

Like normal posts, you should upload a perfect 1:1 square as your profile picture. But unlike posts, it doesn't need to have a high resolution - you can keep it at 360 x 360 px.

How to resize your photos for Instagram

Most people don't take perfectly square photos (although most high-end phones have a setting for it). This means that if you want to post your photos on Instagram, you should crop them.

There are a few ways to resize your photos to make them fit on Instagram. Of course, there are hundreds of apps that offer exact size templates - for example, you can use a free site like Canva or a premium suite like Adobe Spark.

But Instagram has its own photo editor. When you try to upload a photo to the Instagram app from your phone's camera roll, you can crop it into a square or rectangle right from the selection screen.

And if you want a more private cropping experience, head to your camera roll app directly. Both the iPhone Photos app and Android Google Photos app let you crop your photos into the ratios needed for Instagram posts. You can also freeform crop them to fit the ratios manually.