Current:Home > MarketsLooking for technology tips? We've got you covered with these shortcuts and quick fixes. -DollarDynamic
Looking for technology tips? We've got you covered with these shortcuts and quick fixes.
View
Date:2025-04-15 09:54:24
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 use all the time.
Cybersecurity 101: After you download 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.
Get tips like this straight to your email with my free daily newsletter. Join over 509K people and sign up here.
Shhh: You can instantly silence incoming calls on your smartphone by simply 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.”
Perfect podcast: Get tech smarts every single day with my award-winning daily podcast. I pass along the latest tech news, tips and give advice to callers like you.
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.
Getting rid of an old printer? Factory reset it to erase the details of what you’ve printed over the years (like, you know, your tax forms). Unplug the printer, then find the Reset button on the back or bottom. While holding Reset, plug it back in. Once the lights stop flashing, all your personal data has been erased.
Printer out of black ink? Change the color to #010101. It’ll look black, but it’s really 99% gray. While you’re at it, knock down the font size and switch to Courier New or Garamond. They use the least ink.
Hard refresh: Clearing the cache on your browser can fix those annoying displays or loading issues in a pinch. With your browser open, hit Ctrl + Shift + R on Windows or hold down Shift + click your browser’s Refresh button (the one that looks like this – ⟳ – next to the address bar).
Keep your tech-know going
My popular podcast is called “Kim Komando Today.” It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode.
PODCAST PICK:Google date-me docs, light bulb bans & burner email addresses
Check out my podcast “Kim Komando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.
Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, “Komando.”
Learn about all the latest technology on the Kim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website.
veryGood! (199)
Related
- Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
- Katie Holmes Makes Rare Comment About Daughter Suri Cruise While Reflecting on Dawson's Creek Days
- U.S. suspends temporary cease-fire in Sudan, announces new sanctions
- CIA Director William Burns secretly met with Chinese counterpart in Beijing last month
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Meet the startup growing mushroom caskets and urns to enrich life after death
- Britain's Princess Eugenie gives birth to baby boy
- Afghanistan school girls poisoned in 2 separate attacks, officials say, as Taliban vows to find perpetrators
- Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
- 90 Day Fiancé: Love in Paradise Trailer: Meet the Couples Looking to Make Love Last
Ranking
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- How Meghan Markle Will Be Royally Recognized at Gracie Awards
- JoJo Siwa's Ex Katie Mills Reacts to Clout Chasing and Love Bombing Accusations
- Man killed by 40 crocodiles that pounced on him after he fell into enclosure in Cambodia
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Young Ontario couple killed by landlord over tenancy dispute, police say
- Why The Handmaid's Tale Showrunner Suddenly Stepped Down Before Season 6
- Grateful Ryan Seacrest Admits He's Looking Forward to Live With Kelly and Ryan Departure
Recommendation
Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
See Chrishell Stause, G Flip and More Stars at the GLAAD Media Awards 2023 Red Carpet
Rwanda genocide fugitive Fulgence Kayishema, accused of killing 2,000 in church massacre, arrested
How Kieran Culkin Felt About Macaulay Culkin's Home Alone Fame
EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
Gwyneth Paltrow Wins Utah Ski Crash Trial and Is Granted $1 in Damages
Jay Leno Reveals He Has a Brand-New Ear After Car Fire
Plane door opened minutes before landing, leading to immediate arrest of passenger in South Korea