Handy hidden features on Instagram, X and Facebook
If you’re one Facebook argument away from lighting your social media accounts on fire, I don’t blame you. But before you log out for good, I’ve got a few hidden features that’ll make using your social media accounts stink a little less
Stop video autoplay
- Facebook: Maybe you want to scroll at work undetected or you just prefer the sound of silence. On desktop, disable autoplaying videos under Settings and privacy > Settings > Videos. On mobile, go to Settings & privacy > Settings > Preferences > Media.
- X: On desktop, click More > Settings and privacy > Accessibility, display and languages > Data usage. On mobile, tap your profile picture to find Settings and privacy.
You can’t stop autoplay on Instagram, which is a dang shame — unless it’s one of my vids that pops up!
Love it and list it
- X: Organize people in private or public lists without following them. Maybe you make a list for cooking tips and another for gadget news — whatever floats your boat. Easy.
- Instagram: Sort your saved posts into Collections — just like you do on Pinterest. Create a new collection by tapping and holding the bookmark icon below a post, then tapping the + (plus sign). Enter a name, like “Recipes,” and voila! View your collections by tapping the three lines in the top right of your profile, then Saved.
Pin your DMs
- Instagram: Pin up to three chats to the top of your list for quick access. Just press and hold down on a conversation, then select Pin. No more scrolling to find your besties!
- Messenger: You can pin an individual message in a chat. Super handy for remembering shared addresses or recipes! From a chat, tap and hold the message you want to pin and tap Pin. To see pinned messages in a chat, tap View Pins.
Say ‘shhhh’
If you’ve got a turbo-posting friend you want to see a little less from on Facebook or Instagram, tap the three dots on one of their posts and pick Hide. You’ll see their posts a little less often — without the drama of unfollowing them. You can also choose to Mute your pal altogether on the next screen.
Shake to report
Something not working correctly on Instagram? Don’t throw your phone across the room — shake it! This brings up the option to report a technical error. Pretty clever. FYI, this isn’t the place to report stalkers or abuse. To do that, tap the three dots next to a post or a username.
Unlock your iPhone's full potential: 12 must-know tips
Fun fact: When you set up your iPhone, invisible dots create a detailed map of your face so you can open your phone by looking at it. How many dots are used to map a face? Quiz your friends and family over the holidays. The answer is 30,000. Whoa.
Hidden apps on your smartphone and how to find them
There’s a slew of features baked into smartphones most people don’t know about. Tap or click here for my favorites, from seeing where a plane overhead is going to quickly delete your last few searches.
Some of the most valuable tricks are hiding in your phone’s accessibility menu. These features make things easier for folks with vision, hearing, and motor impairments. Tap or click for 10 handy accessibility settings anyone can use.
Hidden Mac features everyone should know
Whether you use your computer for work, gaming or browsing, you’ll want to keep it in tip-top shape. The more programs and files you add, the slower your computer will run. Here’s a quick tip to give your Mac or PC a boost.
There's a hidden trackpad on your iPhone - Here's how to use it
Your smartphone comes with enough cool features to keep you entertained for hours at a time. But there are probably hidden features built into your device that you don’t even know about. Tap or click for 10 new iPhone tricks you’ll use all the time.
Hidden features to try now on your Windows PC or Mac
I’m often asked if the latest Mac or Windows update is ready for prime time. Unfortunately, most of us have dealt with enough buggy software that we’re hesitant to hit “install” on a significant upgrade.
If you haven’t jumped up to macOS Monterey or Windows 11, I can safely say it’s time. Before you update, take one important step and make sure you have enough space for it. Tap or click here to see how much storage is available on your computer.
The best new features coming to Android 13
You get excited when an entirely new operating system version is released for your smartphone if you’re anything like us. Still getting to know Android 12? Tap to click here for eight hidden features you should be using.
You can screenshot an entire webpage on your iPhone - Here's how
Do you know everything your iPhone is capable of? There are plenty of hidden features that you might not be utilizing. Tap or click for seven hidden iPhone features you wish you knew before now.
The ability to take a screenshot on your iPhone has long been a handy feature. But what if you wanted to save an entire webpage and view it later to avoid taking dozens of screenshots?
Free app to make smartphones easier to use for older folks
Your Android phone comes with many hidden features and tricks. Whether it’s a shortcut or an easier way to accomplish a task, there’s always something new to discover.
Did you know that you can set your Android phone to automatically lock depending on whether or not it’s moving or where it is currently located? Tap or click here to check out some of the best Android features you may not know about.
Careful, Android users: There's a sneaky reason your alarm might be muted tomorrow morning
What’s scarier than jolting out of bed with the dreaded feeling of oversleeping? While not thinking clearly, you are simultaneously trying to get your bearings together while figuring out what happened or why the alarm didn’t go off.
The clock on your phone has a bunch of hidden features - 4 to try now
The clock on your Android phone’s home screen is great for a quick glance at the time. Tap or click here to see the five best smartwatches you can buy right now. But did you know that the Clock app can do so much more than simply display time?
12 hidden iPhone features you'll wish you knew sooner
With every iOS update or release of newer models, the iPhone’s functions just keep on growing. There are so many that it is almost impossible to be aware of them all.
For example, did you know that you can take a screenshot just by tapping the back of your phone? Or that you can set up almost any action through triple tapping the back? You can even identify a song you’re listening to with the simple tap of a finger. Tap or click here to find out how.
10 secret Fire TV tips only the pros know
Once you cut the cord, it’s hard to go back and leave all that streaming content behind. There are many ways to stream your favorite movies and TV shows and one of the easiest and most convenient is through a smart TV.
The common mistake that will lock you out of your own Netflix account
Since the pandemic began, streaming services have become more popular than ever with a major surge in the number of subscriptions. Netflix alone added 15.6 million new paid subscribers in the first quarter of 2020.
But, are you utilizing everything Netflix has to offer? There are tons of hidden features that not everyone knows about like secret discovery codes and how to download shows to view offline. Tap or click here for 7 Netflix pro tips.
Kids use 'secret apps' to hide photos, videos and files
Your kids are hiding a dangerous online world from you. It’s your responsibility as a parent or grandparent to make sure they’re safe. You must read this! These are the apps and tricks they’re using to hide from you.