⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Hold the period key on your phone to access hidden punctuation options. Sweet.
🆘 Lifesaving tip: Here’s how to trigger Emergency SOS, fast. On Android, press the power button five times or more. For iPhones, press and hold the side button and either volume button until the slider pops up. Know this before you need it.
⌚ Get a grip: Your smartwatch works best when it fits right. A loose strap can throw off tracking accuracy. Swap it for an adjustable one, like these for Apple (10% off) and Samsung (25% off).
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🙈 No peeking: Disabling message previews keeps prying off your texts. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notifications > Messages. For Android, it’s Settings > Notifications > App Notifications > Messages > Lock screen. Now that “urgent code” from your bank won’t show up while your phone’s unattended at a café.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Use voice typing in Google Docs: Tools > Voice typing.
Speed up your Android: If your phone feels sluggish, your home screen might be the problem. Too many widgets, like weather or news feeds, can put extra stress on the system each time you wake it up. Ditch the ones you don’t need: Long-press a widget and tap Remove.
📱 Android app fix: If an app keeps crashing or acting up, try clearing its cache. Go to Settings > Apps, pick the app, then tap Storage & cache (or Storage) and hit Clear cache. Very important: Don’t select Clear data. It will delete your settings, log you out and reset the app to default.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Ask Siri or Google to “Set a timer for 10 minutes,” and it’s done.
Quick Android refresh: Hold the power and volume-up buttons simultaneously to do a soft reboot. Think of it as a fast way to end processes and speed up your phone.
👇 Android app shortcuts: Long-pressing certain apps gives you quick access to the features you use most. For example, Google Maps shows your favorite locations like Home or Work. Gmail lets you compose a new message or switch accounts. And Instagram? You can post something new or hop straight into your DMs.
Swipe for screenshots: On a Samsung Galaxy, there’s a quicker way to capture your screen without pressing buttons. Go to Settings > Advanced features > Motion and gestures > Palm swipe to capture. Turn it on, and now swiping your hand left or right across the screen will take a screenshot instantly.
🔎 Where’s my remote? If it’s a Google TV remote, press the button on the back of your streaming device. Your remote will beep for 30 seconds, so you can find it. You could even say, “Hey, Google, find my remote.” Hit any button on your remote to stop the sound once you find it. I remember the first time I saw a universal remote. I thought, “This changes everything!”
Set digital boundaries: Create a Samsung account for your child, so you can watch and manage what they see on their phone. Go to Settings > [your name] > Family > Add family member > Create child account and follow the prompts. Once you’re set up, your child will be added to your Family Group.
⚡️ 3-second tech genius: Lost your cursor? On Mac, shake your mouse. The pointer temporarily enlarges so you can find it.
⌚ Watch these moves: Control your smartwatch with just a flick of your wrist. On an Apple Watch, head to Settings > Accessibility > AssistiveTouch. For a Samsung Galaxy Watch, go to Settings > Accessibility > toggle on Universal Gestures. When you’re done setting up, both offer a tutorial on the hands-free moves you can do. Neat.
📨 Size matters: Want to make that email bigger and shrink your inbox? If you’re on Gmail or Google Chat with an Android tablet, you can. Google just added draggable dividers. Grab the gray bar between your inbox and message view, then slide it left or right to adjust the layout.
On the grid: Turning on the grid on your phone’s camera helps you line up your shot. Using the rule of thirds, it splits your screen into nine boxes. On iPhone, go to Settings > Camera and toggle on Grid. For Android, open your Camera app > Settings (gear icon) > switch Grid lines on.
🔔 See old notifications: Swiped an alert away too fast? Turn on Notification history on your Android. Go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings > Notification history and toggle it On. Bonus: If a text or DM popped up before it was deleted, you might still catch it here.
📵 This will be on the test: Do your kids have Androids? School Time on Google Family Link keeps them focused by turning off notifications and limiting apps. Select your child, tap the Screen time (three bars) > Schedules > School time. You can set breaks for lunch, recess or vacations, too.
🖼️ Before texting your pic: Remove the location data to hide where you snapped it from snoops. On Google Photos, just find the pic and tap the three-dot icon in the top right. Then, hit the pencil icon next to the location and select Remove Location. This helps protect your privacy.