🧠 Excel in PowerPoint: Incredible. Google’s NotebookLM can now make video explainers in over 80 languages using your uploaded notes. Slides, voiceover, zero hallucinations. It’s like a multilingual teacher who lives in your laptop. It’s not sexy, but it’ll explain your white paper while you fold laundry.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Want page numbers in Google Docs? Go to Insert > Page elements > Page numbers and choose the position. Docs update them automatically.
📄 Type faster in Google Docs: Instead of retyping long phrases, create shortcuts that expand into full text. Go to Tools > Preferences > Substitutions and tick Automatic substitution. To add your own, type “YTV” under Replace and “YouTube video” under With, then hit OK. Next time you type YTV, it auto-changes to YouTube video. Nice.
⚙️ Reset your browser: If Chrome or Firefox is running slow, faulty settings or extensions may be the issue. In Chrome, go to Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults. On Firefox, open Menu > Help > More Troubleshooting Information, then click Refresh Firefox and confirm.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Chrome, right-click any tab and select Duplicate. It opens the same page in a new tab. Handy when you want to compare two sections side by side.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Trying to close an app fast? Press Alt + F4 on Windows or Cmd + Q on Mac. It shuts the whole program. I use it when I’m stuck on a loading screen.
📶 Check your internet speed: Strong Wi-Fi doesn’t always mean fast internet. Run a test and check your download speed. For 4K Netflix, you’ll need 15 to 25 Mbps down. If the whole family’s streaming, gaming and scrolling, 100 Mbps or more will keep the peace. Upload should be at least 10 Mbps, too.
🔍 Track down contact info: Type “Jane Doe” with keywords like “email, phone or profile” into Google. If you know where they work, narrow it down with “Jane Doe” site:company.com. For social media, try site:linkedin.com Jane Doe, site:facebook.com Jane Doe or site:instagram.com Jane Doe. Still nothing? Reverse image search.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Gmail on desktop, you can change how closely emails are spaced in your inbox. Go to Settings > Density and choose Default, Comfortable or Compact.
📚 Reading help on Kindle: Struggling with long pages? Kindle has a special font that makes words easier to follow. Open any book, tap near the top and select the Aa icon. Under Font > Font Family, choose OpenDyslexic. FYI: You can also adjust Boldness and Size here to suit your eyes. Cool, right?
✍️ Add a signature in Gmail: Go to Settings > See all settings > General > Signature. Click Create new, give it a name and type in details like your contact info and job title. You can also insert an image of your real signature. Then choose whether it appears on new emails, replies or both. Scroll down and hit Save Changes.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Chrome, quickly mute a noisy tab by right-clicking it and selecting Mute site. Saves your ears from those annoying autoplay videos that pop up out of nowhere. You’re welcome.
Send Chrome pages to your phone: On your computer, open the website you want and click the three-dot menu (top right). Go to Cast, save and share > Create QR Code. A QR code will pop up. On your phone, open the Camera app (or Scan QR code), and the link opens in your mobile browser. Nice.
Protect your Word doc: Got sensitive info you’d rather keep private? Lock the file with a password. Go to File > Info > Protect Document > Encrypt with Password. Enter and confirm your password, then click OK and Save. Just don’t forget it, because Microsoft can’t recover it for you.
WhatsApp’s new Writing Help: Rewrite your messages in different styles to make them sound more professional, funny (think Kim jokes) or supportive. To try it: Tap the icon on the right of the text, then the pencil icon under your message and select the tone you want.
✍️ On the dotted line: Sign PDFs fast without extra apps. On a Mac, open the PDF and select Show Markup Toolbar (circle with a pin icon) at the top. Hit Signature (cursive icon) to sign with your trackpad or camera. For Windows, open the PDF in Microsoft Edge and click Draw (pen icon) in the toolbar to sign.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Some TVs let you watch two shows at once. Go to Settings > Display (or Picture) and look for Multi-View or Picture-in-Picture.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Need a new Google Doc or Spreadsheet? Skip the menus. Type “doc.new” or “sheet.new” in your browser. Instant blank page, and it saves you a few clicks. I use this one a few times a day!
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: In Google Docs, right-click a word and select Define for a full definition and synonyms. It’s a built-in dictionary without having to leave the document.