Android Archives

Unleash your inner IT overlord

Bing Image Creator

I read every comment you leave at the end of this newsletter, and one theme always stands out: You want to know all the hidden things your tech can do!

Lucky for you, uncovering those “I had no idea!” moments is my superpower.

🪟 Secret Windows restart trick

Frequent shutdowns can fix most computer issues, but you can try a Shift shutdown to close all processes and apps and clear the RAM completely.

Hold down Shift before you restart.
In the menu, click the Power button > Restart while holding the Shift key and wait for your PC to power down.
Choose Continue when it turns back on.

♻️ Did you know Windows is more environmentally friendly than macOS? Windows puts your deleted files in the Recycle Bin, while macOS throws them in the Trash. (Bet you never thought of that before!)

🧭 Wipe your location from photos

Your phone stores metadata every time you take a picture, including the date you snapped the photo, your camera settings and where you were located when the picture was taken. Before you share a photo, send that data to the intergalactic bit bucket.

On iPhone, open the image you want to share and tap the share button (square with an arrow pointing up). Next, select Options and toggle off Location and All Photos Data.
On Android, open Google Photos, select the photo, tap More (the three-dot menu), then go to Edit and click Remove location.

☎️ Fix your phone’s call audio

Let’s say you’re on the phone with a pal, and your background is so noisy that your friend can’t hear you. Good news if you have an iPhone: There’s Voice Isolation mode.

Place your call, and when your recipient picks up, swipe down from the top right of your screen to access the Control Center.
At the top of your screen, you should see an orange microphone icon next to the word Phone. Tap that, and you’ll see a separate screen with an Audio & Video option. Scroll to and tap Voice Isolation.

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Your camera roll deserves a cleanse

Kim Komando

I remember my parents saying, “Kim, stop wasting the film.” Oh, yes, this was back when we’d put film in a camera, take up to 36 pictures, then wait for the roll to get developed to see if any of the shots were good. Those days are long gone, fortunately.

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Healthy without the pricey

Ready to upgrade your body like it’s your phone? Start here.

😌 Facial glow-up: Red light therapy mask (31% off)

Forget the salon price tag. Pop this on for 20 minutes, tap the massage mode and relax. Stick with it and you should start seeing smoother, brighter skin after about a month.

⌚ Save $80: Wowza, snag a new Fitbit Versa 4 (40% off) while this deal is still hot. Sync it with your iPhone or Android and see your progress instead of guessing.

Feeling sore? Wrap this heating pad (53% off) around your back, shoulders, waist or wherever you need soothing relief. Bonus: FSA eligible. Here’s how to use it.

🏃‍♀️ Go the extra mile: Build strength with a weighted vest (50% off). Great if you’re training, doing cardio or adding “oomph” to your strolls around the block.

Little luxuries: From moms to besties, she’ll love this gift set (33% off) that’s got a candle, diffuser and room spray in one box. Comes prewrapped with a bow. Chic and easy.

🎁 Skip the boring stocking stuffers: Check out my holiday gift guide. The “I put thought into this” present takes only two clicks.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

How to clean up your camera roll fast

Open/download audio

Is your phone begging for more storage? AI host Mara’s got the quick way to ditch duplicate pics on iPhone and Android. Plus, a NordicTrack recall, a 3-year-old hero with Face ID, and the coolest new iOS feature you didn’t know you needed.

Sora’s available on Android: Yep, you can now download the AI video app from the Google Play Store. ICYDK, Sora lets you create videos by describing what you want in plain text, with a TikTok-style layout. There’s also a “Cameos” feature that uses your face to make an AI video starring you. And we thought deepfakes were scary. 😅

Geocaching turns 25, and it’s never been cooler 🎉

ChatGPT

The weekend is here, and it’s hard to believe that geocaching recently turned 25 years old. It’s still going strong with over 3.4 million caches hidden around the world.

I used to do geocaching with my son Ian. It’s a lot of fun.

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Hours left for ‘Prime Big Deal Days’

Amazon

⏰ Tick, tick, tick! Prime Big Deal Days wrap up tonight at midnight. Once they’re gone, that’s it. You’ve still got time to hit “Buy Now” before it’s all over. I saved some of the best for last and pulled together 20 more gems.

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We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

🔍 Find anything on your phone: Stop scrolling through menus like it’s 2010. On Android, swipe up on your home screen and use the search bar at the bottom to find apps, files, settings or contacts in seconds. On iPhone, same deal. Tap the search icon at the bottom and type away.

Mirror Android to TV: Sharing your phone screen on a smart TV is easy as long as both are on the same Wi-Fi. On your phone, go to Settings > Connected devices > Smart View, then select your TV name > Full screen > Start now.

✋ Stop Google Photos auto backup: On Android, you can stop Google Photos from quietly uploading every picture you take. It saves some cloud space and keeps your private (or spicy) photos off the internet. Open Photos, tap your profile icon (top right) > Photos settings > Backup, and toggle it off.

⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Home screen a mess? On Android, long-press a widget or icon and tap Remove. On iPhone, hold the widget, tap Remove Widget > Remove. It won’t delete the app but cleans up space and makes your phone snappier.

Android not receiving texts? Check your signal first by looking for bars in the top corner. Then tap and hold the Messages app, select the “i” icon, scroll to Storage and tap Clear cache. Restart your phone. If messages still don’t come through, make a call or text someone else to check that your SIM is active.

📶 Android hotspot not working? Make sure Mobile data is on, then go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Hotspot and Tethering > Mobile Hotspot. Turn it off, scroll to Network name and rename it. Set the Band to 2.4 GHz, hit Save and turn it back on. Still no luck? Forget the network and rejoin, or restart your phone.

📱 Connect AirPods to Android: AirPods can work without an iPhone. On your Android phone, go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth and turn it on. Put your AirPods in pairing mode by holding the button on the back or double tapping the front light until it turns white. Then select them under Available devices and tap Pair.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Use a mouse with your phone: You can connect a Bluetooth mouse to your Android instead of swiping with your finger. Turn on the mouse and put it in Pairing mode (the light should flash). On your phone, go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth, toggle it on, and select your mouse under Available devices. Tap Pair, and you’re set.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Block pop-ups in Chrome: On mobile Chrome, you can stop those annoying pop-ups and redirects. On Android, tap the three-dot icon > Settings > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects. On iPhone, go to Settings > Content Settings > Block Pop-ups. Heads up, this doesn’t block normal ads, just the extra spammy stuff.

Prime Big Deal Days: 20 genius buys you can’t miss

Amazon

Prime Big Deal Days just kicked off, and the clock’s ticking. This is your last chance to score big before the holiday madness begins.

I dug through the deals (so you don’t have to) and found the ones actually worth your cart space.

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🦆 Ducking autocorrect: Nothing’s worse than your phone “fixing” words you meant to type. On iOS, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement to add your own. On Android, go to Settings > System > Keyboard > Personal dictionary. Or just type the word, tap it in the suggestions bar, and teach your phone who’s boss.

📱 Android app shortcuts: Long-press certain apps for quick access to core features. Chrome lets you open a new tab or jump into Incognito mode. Gmail gives you options like composing a message or switching accounts. Social media apps like Instagram let you post right away or check your activity feed.

⚙️ Unlock hidden Windows tools: On Windows 11, search “Turn Windows features on or off” to open a menu of powerful extras. Want to run Linux or Android emulators? Enable Virtual Machine Platform. Need a safe way to test unknown apps? Use Windows Sandbox. Then there’s Hyper-V that lets you create and manage virtual machines.