Technology is deeply woven into our daily lives, making it essential to know how to use it efficiently. Whether you’re a seasoned techie or just someone trying to keep up, these 17 tips and tricks will help you navigate your devices with ease and confidence.
Table of Contents
1. When All Else Fails, Reboot
Sometimes, the simplest solution is the best. If your computer, smartphone, or tablet is acting up, try rebooting it. This can solve many common problems, like freezing, slow performance, or apps not working correctly. Rebooting clears temporary files, closes stuck processes, and can refresh your device’s memory, often bringing it back to full functionality.
2. Use a Secure Password Manager
Remembering passwords for various accounts can be a hassle, especially when each one needs to be strong and unique. A password manager helps you generate, store, and autofill secure passwords, keeping your accounts safe from breaches. With features like two-factor authentication (2FA) and encrypted storage, password managers like LastPass or 1Password are vital tools for protecting your digital life.
3. Take a Screenshot
Taking a screenshot is an essential skill, whether you need to capture an error message, save a recipe, or share an amusing text conversation. For Windows users, pressing the ‘PrtScn’ button captures the screen, while Mac users can use ‘Command + Shift + 4’ for a customizable screenshot. Smartphones have their own shortcuts too—typically pressing the power and volume buttons simultaneously.
4. Automate Laptop Screen Brightness for Your Tired Eyes
Staring at a bright screen all day can strain your eyes. Most laptops have an option to automatically adjust screen brightness based on ambient light. On Windows, you can find this in the display settings under “Brightness and color.” Mac users can go to “System Preferences” and select “Displays” to adjust brightness settings. This feature not only reduces eye strain but also conserves battery life.
5. Quickly Re-Open a Closed Tab in Your Web Browser
We’ve all accidentally closed a tab and then realized we still needed it. Fortunately, reopening a closed tab is easy. On most browsers, simply press ‘Ctrl + Shift + T’ (or ‘Command + Shift + T’ on a Mac) to bring it back instantly. This shortcut can save you time and frustration, especially if you were in the middle of something important.
6. Search From the Browser Bar
Gone are the days when you needed to visit a search engine’s website to perform a search. Now, you can search directly from your browser’s address bar. Just type in your query, hit enter, and the browser will fetch results from your default search engine. This feature works on all major browsers, making searching faster and more convenient.
7. Use Quotation Marks
When searching for something specific online, use quotation marks around your search terms. This tells the search engine to look for the exact phrase rather than individual words, providing more accurate results. For example, searching for “best Italian restaurants in New York” will yield more relevant results than just typing the words without quotes.
8. Use Google to Find Your Android
Losing your phone can be a stressful experience, but Google’s “Find My Device” feature can help you locate it. Simply search “find my device” in Google, and if you’re logged into your Google account, you’ll see the location of your Android phone on a map. You can also make it ring, lock it, or erase its data remotely if necessary.
9. Set Up Email Filters in Microsoft Outlook
Managing a flood of emails can be overwhelming, but setting up filters in Microsoft Outlook can help. Filters automatically sort incoming emails into folders based on criteria you set, like the sender or subject line. This keeps your inbox organized and ensures important emails don’t get lost in the clutter.
10. Schedule Emails to Be Sent Later in Microsoft Outlook
Sometimes, you might want to draft an email now but send it later. Outlook allows you to schedule emails to be sent at a specific time. After composing your email, go to the “Options” tab, select “Delay Delivery,” and choose your desired send time. This feature is handy for sending emails during business hours or when your recipient is in a different time zone.
11. Set Microsoft Teams Quiet Hours in the Mobile App
Work-life balance is crucial, and setting quiet hours in Microsoft Teams can help. This feature mutes notifications during your designated quiet times, such as evenings or weekends. To set it up, go to the Teams app on your mobile device, tap on your profile picture, select “Notifications,” and then “Quiet hours.” Customize it to your needs, and enjoy uninterrupted personal time.
12. Mute and Unmute Zoom Meetings With the Space Bar
Zoom meetings are a staple of modern work life, and knowing a few shortcuts can make them more manageable. You can quickly mute or unmute yourself by pressing and holding the space bar. This trick is especially useful when you need to chime in quickly without fumbling for the mute button.
13. Automate Your Meeting Availability with Calendly
Scheduling meetings can be a back-and-forth hassle, but Calendly simplifies the process. By syncing with your calendar, Calendly lets others see your availability and book meetings during open slots. This eliminates the need for long email chains and ensures meetings are scheduled at mutually convenient times.
14. Keyboard Shortcuts
Learning keyboard shortcuts can dramatically speed up your workflow. Common shortcuts like ‘Ctrl + C’ (copy), ‘Ctrl + V’ (paste), and ‘Ctrl + Z’ (undo) save time and effort. Each software program has its own set of shortcuts, so take the time to learn the ones for the applications you use most.
15. Use YouTube Keyboard Commands
YouTube has several keyboard shortcuts that make video watching more convenient. For instance, pressing ‘K’ pauses or plays a video, ‘J’ rewinds 10 seconds, and ‘L’ fast-forwards 10 seconds. These shortcuts are especially useful when watching tutorials or lengthy content, allowing you to control playback without reaching for the mouse.
16. Expand Your Vocabulary in Documents
Writing tools like Microsoft Word and Google Docs offer built-in dictionaries and thesauruses. Right-clicking on a word provides synonyms and definitions, helping you refine your writing. This feature is great for expanding your vocabulary and ensuring your documents are clear and professional.
17. Texting Hack
If you’re constantly typing out the same phrases in text messages, create text shortcuts. For example, on an iPhone, go to “Settings,” then “General,” followed by “Keyboard,” and tap “Text Replacement.” You can create shortcuts like “omw” for “On my way!” This saves time and ensures you respond quickly.
FAQs
1. Why should I reboot my device if something goes wrong? Rebooting helps clear temporary files, refresh system resources, and close stuck processes, which often resolves issues like freezing or slow performance.
2. Is it safe to use a password manager? Yes, reputable password managers use strong encryption to protect your passwords and are safer than reusing or storing passwords in an unsecured manner.
3. How do I take a screenshot on my smartphone? On most smartphones, press the power and volume down buttons simultaneously to take a screenshot.
4. Can I use quiet hours in Microsoft Teams on my desktop? No, quiet hours are currently only available in the mobile app version of Microsoft Teams.
5. How does Calendly know when I’m available? Calendly syncs with your existing calendar (Google, Outlook, etc.) and only shows your availability based on your current schedule.
These 17 tech tips and tricks can significantly enhance your daily tech interactions, making you more efficient and tech-savvy. Implement them into your routine, and you’ll find that technology becomes less of a challenge and more of a helpful tool.
