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.
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.
♻️ 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!)
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.
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.
It’s Saturday, which means two things:
So let’s channel that procrastination energy into productivity. I’m talking about the satisfying kind where you fix stuff in under a minute and feel wildly accomplished.
🖥️ Bought a high refresh rate monitor? Make sure it’s actually running at full speed and not stuck at 60 Hz. Go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display. Select your monitor (top right), then pick 144 Hz or 240 Hz under Choose a refresh rate. If you don’t see those options, get an HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort cable.
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Speed up your startup: If your computer feels slow when it first turns on, too many apps might be launching in the background. Go to Settings > Apps > Startup to see what’s set to open automatically. Look for anything marked “High impact,” and toggle off what you don’t need (like Microsoft Edge). It’ll free up some memory.
⌚ Use Water Lock for kids: On your Apple Watch, open Control Center and tap the little water droplet icon to turn on Water Lock. It makes the screen unresponsive until you long-press the Digital Crown to disable it. It’s meant for swimming, but perfect for keeping tiny hands from changing your settings.
🔎 Find anything on your computer: On macOS 26, press Command + space bar to open Spotlight search, and type what you need. You can narrow results by hovering over the search field and selecting Apps, Files, Actions or Clipboard. On Windows, press Windows key + S to do the same, and filter by Documents, Settings or Folders.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Want more engagement on your social media posts? Reply to comments within 30 minutes. Turn on post notifications under Settings > Privacy > Notifications, so you never miss one.
Add another user on Windows: Someone else using your PC? Give them their own space and keep your data separate. Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users > Add account. Done.
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.
Use WhatsApp on your iPad: Yes, it finally works. Download WhatsApp from the App Store, open it and get a QR code. On your phone, go to Settings > Linked devices > Link device and scan the code. Your chats and contacts will sync so you can message or call right from your iPad.
✋ 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.
Set out-of-office replies in Outlook: Leaving for vacation? Let people know you’re away. Go to Settings (top right) > Accounts > Automatic replies. Select your email, toggle on Turn on automatic replies, choose a start and end date, and type your message. Hit Save at the bottom, and Outlook handles the rest while you relax.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Set up bank alerts for every purchase, so you’ll know right away if someone steals your card. In your banking app, go to Settings > Alerts or Notifications and turn on Text and Email. So smart.
If the broom fits, fly it: Most smart doorbells let you change the tone to something more festive around the holidays. For Halloween, yes, I’m talking about a witch cackle or howl. Open your doorbell app, go into the settings and look for something like “chime tones” or “doorbell theme.” In the Ring app, it’s under Devices > Audio Settings > Chime Tones.
Boost your mic volume on Windows: If your mic sounds too quiet, go to Settings > System > Sound > More sound settings. In the pop-up, open the Recording tab, find your mic, right-click and select Properties. Under Levels, set Microphone to 100, then hit Apply and OK. If that doesn’t fix it, unplug the mic, Restart your PC and plug it back in.
Blur your lock screen: Don’t want your full wallpaper showing when your iPhone’s locked? In iOS 26, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display. Toggle on Show Wallpaper and Blur Wallpaper Photo. Your wallpaper stays sharp when unlocked but blurs on the lock screen for extra privacy.
Translate pages in Chrome: Chrome can automatically translate websites for you. Click the three-dot menu (top right), go to Settings > Languages > Google Translate, and toggle on Use Google Translate. Then choose your preferred language under Translate into this language. Voilà, you can read foreign pages.
🔊 Fix crackling laptop speakers: Open Device Manager > Audio inputs and outputs > find your speaker > right-click > Update driver > Search automatically for drivers. No luck? Go to Settings > System > Sound > More sound settings > Playback. Select your speaker > Properties > Advanced, untick Enable audio enhancements, then hit Apply and OK.
Add multiple emails to Outlook: You can connect Gmail, Yahoo or any other account to Outlook. Go to Settings (top right) > Accounts > Your accounts > Add account. Enter your email, tap Continue and sign in. Grant access, then select Open Outlook when prompted, and your new inbox will appear in the left panel.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Social media apps update often, and your privacy settings can reset without you knowing. Each month, check who can see your posts and tag you under Profile > Settings > Privacy.
