Quick tech tricks: Save printer ink, avoid malware, speed browsing and more

You need a timer, and you need it fast. Do a Google search for “timer” and one appears right there for you to use. There’s a stopwatch option, too. Easy, right?

Here’s another smart tech tip I’m surprised so many people mess up. Most people fill in the email recipient section before writing the message. That’s a mistake. Make that your very last step — that way, there’s a much lower chance you’ll send an email before it’s truly ready to send.

Don’t stop there. Let’s dive into easy, quick tech tips you’ll always use.

Cybersecurity 101: After downloading a PDF file online, look at the file extension. You’re looking for .pdf. If the filename ends with .exe, delete it — it’s likely malware.

Shhh: You can instantly silence incoming calls on your smartphone by pressing the side button, volume up or volume down button once. Nice.

YouTube shortcuts: On your computer, tap keys 0 through 9 to skip to a specific percentage of the video. Press 5 for 50%, 8 for 80% and so on. But wait, there’s more! Press J to rewind and L to fast forward. (“JLo” is an easy way to remember that.) But press K to pause first.

Forgetful? Do this! Are you that person who reads an email or text, mentally reminds yourself to reply later … and never does? Stop relying on memory alone! Mark the text or email as unread. You’ll find this in the options of your email or convo. You can also say, “Hey Siri/Google, remind me to share Kim’s newsletter at noon.”

Skip the garage: Next time you hang a frame, grab your phone instead of finding a level. On iPhone, open the pre-installed Measure app. Tap Level, then hold your iPhone against an object. On Android, open the Google app and search for “bubble level.”

Quick text search: You know you sent someone a pic but can’t find it. On iPhone, open Messages, tap a convo, then the person’s profile photo or group name. Scroll to Photos > See All. On Android, open Messages, then tap the search bar at the top.

Get perfect action shots: Touch and hold the shutter button if you have an iPhone X or earlier. Swipe the shutter button to the left if you have an iPhone Xs or later. Either way, lift your finger to stop burst mode. Select the best shots by tapping Burst > Select > Done. On Android phones, hold down your camera’s shutter button to enable burst mode.

Tab shortcuts: Here’s a faster way to navigate when you have lots of tabs open. Hit Ctrl + 1, 2, 3 and so on to go to that tab number. On Mac, it’s Command + a number. To cycle through tabs, hit Ctrl + Tab on Windows or Cmd + Tab on Mac.

Send it later: It’s 9 p.m. and you’re writing an email. Instead of sending it immediately, schedule it for the morning when you know your recipient will see it. In Gmail, click the arrow next to Send, then Schedule send. Most providers have something similar.

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Search smarter, not harder [List]

Think of Google as a Swiss Army Knife. If you know how to use the hidden tools, you can get just about anything done. Here are a dozen not-so-conventional ways to use Google way beyond regular searches.

Hey, relax. Most of the great tips below work on whatever search site you use.

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Beep! Ding! Buzz!

The other day, I was at a friend’s house, and she used her microwave as a timer. I’m all for multitasking, but come on — terrible interface, beeping buttons and you have to walk across the room to turn it off! Forget that. Get one of these instead. 

  • Digital: Set your timer easily by rotating this model’s big, bright screen. Read: No repeated button pressing! It’s magnetic, too, so you can stick it to your fridge or exhaust hood. Grab it on sale now for 30% off ($14.03)
  • Visual: Countdown timers are usually seen in classrooms, but I find them useful for tracking time left! This one maxes out at an hour, so it’s perfect for quick timers. Plus, it’s 33% off ($16.14) and comes in 14 fun colors.
  • Verbal: I used to joke that in our house, Alexa was mostly an expensive kitchen timer, but honestly, she’s a great kitchen timer (no hands!) and not that expensive. This colorful Echo Dot is 50% off ($19.99) and available in four great colors. Love the teal!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Are you still watching? (No, I dozed off five episodes ago.) Set a timer to avoid unexpected time jumps. For iPhone, open the Clock app > Timer > When Timer Ends and scroll to Stop Playing so Netflix will close when the time expires.

Every iPhone and Android user should know these genius commands

Look up next time you’re outside and guess where the airplane above you is headed. Los Angeles? New York? Paris? Ask Siri this phrase, “What flights are overhead?” You’ll see the carrier, flight number and altitude in seconds. I love sharing simple digital life tips that make things easier.

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Your tech is gross! 5 things you forget to clean

Bad habits can catch up with you. Like any other chore, keeping your tech clean can almost feel like a full-time job. Tap or click for steps to clean tech the right way.

You probably give your smartphone screen a good wiping down now and then. You might even dust your PC keyboard from time to time. But we’re sure there are tech gadgets that you don’t think about cleaning. No worries. We can help.

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Goodnight, moon: Have an Echo? Alexa can help you drift off to sleep. Say something like, “Alexa, play rain sounds” (or whatever your favorite soothing sounds are, whether it’s waves or ambient noise), then say, “Alexa, set a sleep timer for one hour.” That way, the audio will shut off once you’re asleep.

You look good: The best selfies don’t have half the frame obscured by your arm. Instead of taking them the normal way, prop your phone against something and use the timer function to take your snap, giving yourself (and your pals) a few seconds to look your best.

10 Google Search tricks to help you find what you’re looking for

How often do you turn to Google? Every day? Multiple times a day? If you’re focused on privacy, there are better options. Tap or click for alternatives to Google that work well without gathering so much of your data.

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Hidden iPhone timer turns off music or podcasts after you fall asleep

Sleep doesn’t come as easy for some as it does for others. While the National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get between seven and nine hours of shuteye a night, that’s often impossible.

You could try this military sleep hack to help you fall asleep in two minutes. Tap or click here to see a viral video that includes a tip to help you get some much-needed rest.

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15 new Alexa commands you’ll wish you knew about sooner

Alexa may very well be the ultimate smart home companion. She does it all: she keeps track of our schedule, entertainment, and even our kitchen timer are all taken care of when she’s on the job.

According to Amazon, there are more than 50,000 unique tasks and commands that you can entrust this energetic little bot with. You probably know the usual suspects like asking Alexa for today’s weather or to call your mother, for example. She’s capable of so much more than adjusting the volume, though.

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Summer essentials: 9 home gadgets under $25 on Amazon

This summer is the perfect time to invest in home gadgets. Get some smart tech, upgrade your office setup, improve your TV viewing experience and get the most from your essential oils.

Worried about the cost? Don’t be. You can get all the cool gadgets you need to improve your office, kitchen, living room, bathroom and even your garden, all for less than $25.

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Hey Siri:' 10 tips to take your productivity to the next level

Siri has been around for more than a decade and it’s evolved into a solid voice assistant. This AI is quick to answer your questions and tell you jokes, but did you know it’s capable of answering more than just, “What’s the weather like today?”

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Snooze your tabs so you can easily go back to them later

We’ve all been here before, right? A bogged down computer due to too many open browser tabs. Your browser, notorious memory hog as it is, uses up your resources and before you know it, your computer freezes and you struggle to gain control. Thankfully, there are browser extensions you can use to temporarily suspend your open tabs to get back to them later.

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One life-saving app for anyone who lives alone

The thermostat is always at a comfortable temperature. You can be as messy or as neat as you like. And you never have to share the remote! Living alone can be pretty awesome!

But it can also be a little bit scary. If there’s an emergency but you can’t reach your phone then how will you get help?

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