Ask a tech expert: How can I stop annoying group text notifications?
Someone added me to a long chain of useless text messages. Now, I’m getting constant notifications. Can I delete the entire thread without suffering through every annoying response? I have an iPhone.
— Susan in Illinois
Here’s the deal: Group chats are fun when you’re happy to be there and awful when you don’t care about the convo.
The adult move is to ask whoever added you to remove you. Or you can do the ol’ Irish exit if you have an iPhone. Tap the thread, then select the group icon at the top. Scroll and tap Delete and Block this Conversation.
You can also go the subtle route and mute the convo. (This is what I usually do.) Tap the group text message, select the group icon at the top of the thread, then scroll and enable Hide Alerts.
Not all texts are annoying. In fact, some are from loved ones that you’d like to keep forever.
Best ways to save precious text messages
For Apple devices: iExplorer
While you have many backup choices for Android, the same can’t be said for Apple devices. iExplorer lets you access, view and transfer music, messages, photos and files from any iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iPod) to any Mac or PC.
The iExplorer SMS client works with text messages, including groups and messages containing media such as videos and images. iExplorer lets you access and save your iPhone’s messages to your Mac or PC as .PDF, .TXT, or .CSV documents.
You’ll need to be running Windows 7, 8, 10 or later and have an iTunes account.
Here’s how to transfer text messages from your iOS device to your computer:
The best Windows feature you’re not using yet
Tech problems can be pretty complex, which makes them hard to describe over the phone. A built-in Windows tool you may not know about helps both parties to find a solution more effectively. Steps Recorder boosts long-distance understanding.
How much free storage should you have on your computer?
If your computer is slow, check its hard drive. You may need to clear storage space to make your PC run more smoothly. Simply put, your device needs a certain amount of free space to work correctly.
How much free space your computer needs will depend on the brand and model. We’ll give you details in this tech tip. In the meantime, you should also look for signs that your hard drive is failing. Watch for things like strange sounds.
Adobe Flash is dead — Forget that and you could end up with malware
As time passes, support for older programs and apps slows down or stops completely. If you’re still running Windows 7, you really need to upgrade to get the latest security patches from Microsoft. Here are three great new features from Windows 11.
Top 14 security, speed and productivity tips for your PC
If you’re working from home, you may leave your PC vulnerable to security and productivity issues without even realizing it. Most offices have IT departments that maintain machines, install security software, and check for updates, but you’re in charge of your PC’s health at home.
Updates in space! Mars probe gets an upgrade from Windows 98 software
We constantly remind you to keep your devices and gadgets updated, but there comes a time when that’s not enough.
Companies eventually drop support for older products and you’ll stop getting software updates. This can be dangerous, as those updates contain vital security patches, and without them, you’re vulnerable to cyberattacks. Tap or click here for outdated tech devices you need to get rid of.
One thing you must do before you upgrade to Windows 11
Software updates are a necessary part of technology — and something that can drive us up the wall when they happen when you’re trying to get things done.
If you’re ready to make the jump from Windows 10 to Window 11, you can download a clean copy of Windows 10 to save for future use just in case. This download is legal, free and fairly simple to do. Plus, it will ensure you have a way to reboot Windows 10 in the future if problems occur.
If you're using an old version of Windows, do this now to get Windows 11 for free when it comes out
The next generation of Microsoft’s operating system is dropping later this year. Microsoft is promising a new look, more features, better performance and all the other bells and whistles that come with a new OS.
If you’re itching to try out Windows 11 right now, you can do so through the Windows Insider Program. But be careful, as fake sites are popping up claiming to offer a beta version of the OS. What you actually get is malware and worse. Tap or click here to find out what to look out for.
How to wipe a hard drive on your Windows PC or Mac
The idea of erasing your entire hard drive can be terrifying. You definitely wouldn’t want to clear your hard drive accidentally, or you’d lose important files, images, and other data forever.
But, there are times when erasing your hard drive is perfectly acceptable and even recommended — like when you need to get rid of an old computer or are selling a laptop you no longer need. You don’t want someone else to have access to your files and other information that could be left on your computer. RELATED: 5 downloads to secure your devices.
4 reasons to upgrade your old PC or Mac - even if it still works
We use computers for everything from checking email, work, school stuff and more. But as your computer ages, it gets more difficult to install new programs and operating system updates. Tap or click here to see how Microsoft ending support for Windows 7 is impacted users.
Still using Windows 7? It's time to upgrade
If you don’t ditch Windows 7, you could poison your water supply. Last week, a cybercriminal attacked a Florida city’s online system. They remotely manipulated the chemical levels, skyrocketing the amount of lye that slipped into the drinking water.
You won't believe how many PCs are still running Windows 7
If you’re using Windows 7, there’s a target on your back. Although Windows stopped adding security updates on Jan. 14, 2020, one in 10 computers still run on Windows 7. That means millions of people are at a heightened risk of being hacked.
Google Chrome will stop running on millions of Windows PCs
Google Chrome has approximately 2.9 billion users, making it the most popular web browser of all time. Unfortunately, a big chunk of these users may be unable to access new versions of Chrome after support runs out for their operating system of choice.
Easy way to keep Chrome from slowing down your computer
There’s almost nothing more annoying than dealing with a slow computer. The only thing that makes slow load times and lags worse is being on a tight work deadline.
Even with regular upkeep, computers can slow down due to glitchy programs or tools, causing your programs’ issues. There are tricks you can try to speed up slow browsers, but these tricks won’t speed up slow CPUs.
Hackers exploiting new Windows vulnerability - Is your system at risk?
The biggest tech companies may be rivals, but that doesn’t mean they won’t help each other out once in a while. Project Zero, a group of bug-hunters working for Google, find dangerous security flaws for other companies all the time.
How to safely delete data forever on your PC or Mac
When you delete a file on your PC or Mac, by sending it to the “Trash,” it’s easy to assume that the file is gone forever. But really, it’s just been sent to another place. Not only does that mean these files can be seen by others later, but they could be slowing down your machine. Tap or click here for ways to speed up your device.
Windows users, are you making this huge privacy mistake?
It’s normal to be resistant to change. After all, moving to a new device or operating system can be a frustrating experience. There are new things to learn, old things to unlearn and plenty of bugs and glitches to go around.
Microsoft finally kills Internet Explorer. Should you use Edge?
When you boot up your computer, what’s the web browser you use to check Komando.com? For most of us, it’s Google Chrome — currently the most popular browser in the country. For others, it’s Mozilla Firefox — a privacy-centric browser that we recommend for savvy users. And let’s not forget our Mac users running Safari, of course.
Free way to turn your phone into a webcam
With many working from home for the first time, video conferencing is a new part of the daily routine. However, built-in laptop webcams are notoriously bad, and standalone webcams can be pricey and hard to find now that everyone needs one. Luckily, there’s an easy solution: using your phone as your computer’s webcam.
7 DIY tools for fixing PC problems
Months go by, and Windows works. Then, out of nowhere, your computer slows down. Files don’t open right away. Programs freeze or shut down. Your system probably needs some TLC, but what should you do?
You don’t want to throw away your computer, although if it is slow, doesn’t meet the latest operating system (OS) requirements or is making strange noises, it may be time to say goodbye.