Reader Mode displays pages in a simplified view for easy reading. The tool works best with articles and other similar content, providing a more digestible format.

Why Google feels the need to bury the feature is unclear. But locating the appropriate settings is straightforward once you know where to look. Here’s how to enable Google Chrome reader mode.

Enable Google Chrome’s hidden reader mode on desktop

If you prefer to read news and articles in a more simplified format, here’s how to enable Reader Mode in Chrome on desktop:

READ MORE: How to stop Chrome from saving history on Windows and Mac

Whenever Reader Mode is available, the icon will appear on the right of the address bar (shown above). All you need to do is click the button, and the page will transform for easy reading.

Enable Google Chrome’s hidden reader mode on mobile

READ MORE: How to view and edit saved passwords in Google Chrome

For those of us who prefer to digest content through our smartphones, here’s how to enable Reader Mode in the Chrome mobile app:

1. Launch Google Chrome and tap the More menu

2. Go to Settings > Accessibility

3. Tick Simplified view for web pages

Whenever you visit a compatible page, a prompt will appear asking if you want to switch to a simplified view (shown above). Tapping View when prompted activates the feature.

Why does Google hide its Reader Mode in Chrome?

Locating Reader Mode on most popular browsers doesn’t involve an epic quest into the settings. For some reason, however, Google has decided to hide the feature.

Why? Because sometimes epic settings quests are fun. But once you know where to find it, Chrome’s Reader Mode lets you see a more simplified version of a webpage.

And with easy prompts on both desktop and mobile versions of Chrome, Reader Mode is easy to use after its initial setup.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to record your screen on Chromebook
• Here’s how to stop Google Chrome from constantly logging you out
• How to transfer photos to iCloud from Google Photos
• Here’s how to update Google Chrome on basically any device

The post How to turn on Google Chrome’s secret Reader Mode appeared first on KnowTechie.

Luckily, Gmail offers a useful labeling system you can use to maintain some level of order.

So, what’s a label? It’s basically a folder for your emails. If you’re super serious about organization, you can even automate the labeling process via filtering.

Are you ready to restore order to the chaos of your inbox? Let’s discuss how to create, apply, and automate labels in Gmail

How to create a folder or label in Gmail (web app)

You can create a label, which acts like a folder, in the Gmail web app by following these steps:

Your new label should now be available for use in your mailboxes.

If you need to modify your label at any time, you can click the remove or edit buttons in the label settings, depending on the action you want to take.

How to create a folder or label in Gmail (mobile app)

If you’re using the Gmail mobile app for iOS, you can create a label by following these steps:

1. Tap the More (hamburger) button

2. Scroll down to the Labels section and tap Create new

3. Name your label and tap Done

If you need to edit or delete a label on your iOS device, you can do so within Settings (accessible from the Hamburger menu).

From here, you’ll need to go to Inbox customizations → Inbox customizations → Labels and select the label you want to modify.

Unfortunately, Gmail for Android doesn’t allow you to create labels, so you’ll need to use the web app or an iOS device to do the job.

How to label emails in Gmail (web app)

If you’ve already got some labels ready to go, you can label emails in the Gmail web app by following these steps:

1. Select an email and click the Labels icon

2. Tick the label you want to use and click Apply

From the labels menu, you’ll also see Create new and Manage labels options, granting you quick and easy access to key settings.

How to label emails in Gmail (mobile app)

You can apply pre-created labels to emails in the Gmail mobile app by following these steps:

1. On Android, long-press an email to select it. On iOS, tap the sender’s profile picture. If necessary, you can select multiple messages

2. Tap the More (three dots) button in the top right corner and select Change labels

3. Select one or more labels and tap OK (Android) or Apply (iOS)

Alternatively, you can open a singular email and follow the same process if you don’t want to work from your inbox.

How to automatically apply labels in Gmail

When it comes to productivity, automation is key. If you don’t want to manually slap a label on every message, you can organize Gmail by using a filter to do the work for you.

Here’s how to automatically label emails in the Gmail web app:

1. Click the Show search options button in the search bar

2. Enter the appropriate variables and click Create filter

3. Tick Apply the label, choose the appropriate label, and click Create filter

You can edit or delete your filters by going to Settings → See all settings → Filters and Blocked Addresses.

Benefits of organizing Gmail

Call them labels, folders, or something else entirely—anything that brings order to an over-stuffed inbox is worth exploring.

As they say, an uncluttered inbox leads to an uncluttered mind. If they don’t actually say that, they should start now. Because only by organizing your Gmail inbox can you know true inner peace.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to customize Gmail’s side panels
• How to disable Gmail offline mode and clear the cache
• How to disable Gmail offline mode and clear the cache
• How to change your Gmail password and reasons you should

The post How to organize your Gmail inbox with folders and labels appeared first on KnowTechie.

As long as the world keeps spinning, winter will always come.

If you purchased your Tesla during one of the sunnier seasons and haven’t yet experienced any icy conditions, you may want to prepare yourself—and your vehicle.

Winter itself shouldn’t come as a surprise, but your Tesla may not behave as expected when the frost strikes.

Are you and your vehicle ready to face extreme Arctic conditions? And how are Teslas in winter conditions?

Let’s discuss how you can prepare your Tesla for winter and avoid moments of frosty frustration.

Equip your Tesla with winter tires

If your town turns into a frozen tundra during winter, you’d be wise to dress your Tesla in the appropriate tire wear.

Winter tires use specialized rubber designed to stay soft and grippy in cold weather. Whereas regular tires can become hardened in extreme cold and leave your Tesla sliding across the ice like an uncontrolled hockey puck.

Tesla sells a winter tire package, but the general consensus is that piecing together a tire package on your own is likely to be cheaper.

During winter, you should also ensure that your tires maintain the correct pressure.

Tire pressure will drop in cold conditions, and you’ll need to add more air. Plus, low tire pressure means less range.

Thankfully, your Tesla should warn you whenever tire pressure is critically low.

Keep your Tesla plugged in when possible

Whenever possible, you should leave your Tesla plugged in and charging when it’s not in use. Doing so allows your vehicle to retain heat via the charging system rather than draining the battery.

Also, you’ll get more range during the colder months if you precondition your Tesla while it’s connected to power.

More on that next.

Preheat and defrost your Tesla

On particularly frigid days, you can use the Tesla mobile app to initiate your vehicle’s precondition and defrost modes.

Once preheating completes, most snow and ice from the windows and windshield should’ve melted away.

If you use the defrost setting and don’t turn it off once the desired temperature is reached, it will continue to drain your battery until you reach your destination.

To save on battery life, it’s best to use the preconditioning feature and remember to turn it off once your car is warm.

Bonus tip: Scheduled Departure

If you know the exact moment you’ll need to use your Tesla, you can utilize the scheduled departure tool to precondition your vehicle and have it ready to drive at a specified time.

You can configure the feature under the climate control settings on your touchscreen.

Set wipers to service mode

To avoid having your wipers freeze in place, you should set them to service mode when you’re done driving.

You can activate this feature by going to Controls > Service > Wiper Service Mode on your touchscreen and switching the setting on.

Disable auto-fold for mirrors

Your Tesla’s side mirrors are another moveable component that could get frozen in place on an icy day.

Therefore, when you’re expecting a freeze, you should disable the mirror auto-fold feature.

• If you have a model S or X, you’ll find the setting in Controls > Vehicle > Mirror Auto-Fold.
• For a Model 3 or Y, you’ll need to navigate to Controls > Quick Controls > Mirrors > Mirror Auto-Fold.

Unfreeze stuck door handles

Frozen door handles can be a major issue when a big freeze hits. While using the defrost feature will remove some ice, your doors may remain stuck on super-frosty days.

Fortunately, Tesla has an official solution to the problem. If winter freezes your door shut, you should “bump the handle with the end of your fist until the ice is broken.”

In short, you should punch your door until it stops being frozen. Sometimes violence is the answer.

But there has to be another way to skirt around this, right? Thankfully, Tesla figured out a solution to frozen door handles with a clever new in-app feature.

The app feature is called “Unlatch Door,” and it opens a frozen door with a simple push of a button.

When you press the button in the Tesla app, the door opens slightly, so you don’t have to touch those icy door handles and risk breaking them. It’s a pretty convenient feature.

Are you and your Tesla ready for winter?

In most situations, a preconditioned Tesla with a good set of winter tires should be able to handle chilly temperatures and icy terrain.

Ideally, you should park your vehicle under cover whenever possible to avoid most of the pitfalls that can accompany a cold day.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Tesla is once again raising its prices
• What the state of home charging looks like in 2022
• Sony and Honda forge new partnership to make electric cars
• Segway’s new electric scooter can reach breakneck speeds up to 43 mph

The post The best Tesla winter driving tips (FSD, battery, tires, and more) appeared first on KnowTechie.

Hoarding applications you don’t use is a reckless waste of space. The time has come to ditch the junk and only keep the apps that have earned their place on your sacred streaming device.

Let’s discuss how you can delete Apple TV applications from the home screen and Settings app.

Delete Apple TV apps from the home screen

Removing apps also removes any data associated with those items, which you should keep in mind before going on a deleting spree.

You can, however, always reinstall the applications themselves from the App Store.

Here’s how to delete an app from the Apple TV home screen:

READ MORE: How to free up iCloud storage by reducing your iPhone backup size

Now you know how to delete apps on Apple TV. This is the quickest method, as long as the app is on the home screen. If not, follow the steps below.

How to delete Apple TV apps from Settings

If your Apple TV is especially cluttered, locating unwanted applications on the home screen could prove difficult. In this case, viewing and removing apps from Settings may be easier.

Applications in the list appear from largest to smallest, which means you can easily locate the items that are taking up the most space.

Here’s how to delete an app from your Apple TV Settings:

1. Go to Settings > General

2. Then, select Manage Storage

3. Select the Trash icon next to the app you want to remove

4. Choose Delete when prompted

And now the app is deleted from your Apple TV device. You can always download the app again in the future if you decide you want it back.

Which apps should you delete from your Apple TV?

As a rule, it’s not a bad idea to delete Apple TV apps you haven’t used in the past few months and don’t foresee using any time soon.

However, you should leave any applications that contain irreplaceable information alone, as deletion could cause data loss.

Therefore, any apps you’ve thoroughly neglected that don’t hold important information can safely meet their demise.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to convert WebP images to JPEG on Mac and Windows
• Here’s how to automatically show the full URL in Safari
• How to sign out of Netflix on any TV
• The best Spotify alternatives for streaming music

The post How to delete Apple TV apps appeared first on KnowTechie.

What does the “i” icon look like on the Apple Watch? That’s an easy one to answer. You may have seen an “i” icon during the pairing process when setting up your Apple Watch.

Or perhaps you’ve noticed the same symbol in the Watch app on your iPhone.

Wherever the “i” icon appears, you can be fairly certain that tapping it will reveal some sort of information.

What is the ‘i” icon on the Apple Watch, and what does it mean?

In the case of the Apple Watch, the info usually relates to the pairing—or unpairing—process.

Let’s discuss what the “i” icon does and where you can find it on your Apple Watch and iPhone.

How to manually pair the Apple Watch using the “i” icon

If the automatic pairing process isn’t working, you can manually pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone.

The “i” icon is a key part of the process, in the sense that you’ll have to tap the “i” icon on your Apple Watch.

If the codes match, the pairing process should be complete, and the union between your two devices will be official.

How to unpair the Apple Watch using the “i” icon

Your Apple Watch isn’t the only place the infamous “i” icon appears.

If you ever need to unpair your device, you’ll need to locate the same symbol within the Watch app on your iPhone.

Here’s how to unpair your Apple Watch:

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone

2. Go to My Watch and tap All Watches

3. Tap the “i” icon beside the watch you want to unpair

4. Tap Unpair Apple Watch and tap again to confirm

You have now successfully unpaired your Apple Watch. Enjoy a life free of constant wrist notifications.

Information leads to understanding

Universally—at least in the English language—“i” symbolizes info. Information appears when you tap the icon on your Apple Watch or iPhone. So far, the concept makes sense.

But until you tap the icon, you don’t know what type of information you’ll get.

And sometimes, additional menu options, such as the unpair option in the Watch app, are mixed in with the info. It’s like a lucky dip with boring prizes.

In most cases, tapping an unknown “i” icon is a relatively harmless affair.

Therefore, if you’re the curious type, you can safely tap every “i” in your path, and the worst that can happen is information overload.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to change your iPhone passcode
• Here’s how to factory reset your iPhone
• How to take a screenshot on any iPhone
• How to lock your Chrome incognito tabs behind Face ID on iPhone

The post Where is the ‘i’ icon on the Apple Watch and how do you use it? appeared first on KnowTechie.

If you’re a Facebook user, you’ve probably received unsolicited message requests from random people. But do you know how to check Facebook Messenger requests?

While some messages may be legitimate, others will undoubtedly be from scammers making outrageous—and often entertaining—offers.

Facebook can be a busy place, and sometimes messages get missed. However, if you think an important request escaped your attention, you can check at any time using the web or mobile app.

Let’s discuss how to view all Facebook Messenger requests.

How to see message requests on Messenger (web version)

Here’s how to view Facebook Messenger requests on the web app:

If you hover your cursor over a request and click the three-dot (…) button, you’ll have the option to Delete or Report the chat. You can also mark the message as unread or view the sender’s profile.

Finally, to approve a request, all you need to do is reply to the message.

How to check Messenger message requests (Facebook website)

Facebook and Messenger have been split into two websites for a while now. But you can still access messages, and message requests, from the regular Facebook website.

Here’s what you want to do:

1. Log into Facebook’s website and select the Messenger icon in the top right

2. Select the three-dot menu at the top right

3. Click Message requests from the menu

4. Select either You may know or Spam to view related message requests

Like the Messenger website, you can use the three-dot (…) button menu to delete, report, and mark chats as unread. You can also accept any message request by simply replying to the message.

How to see message requests on Facebook (mobile)

Here’s how to view Facebook message requests on the mobile app:

1. Launch the Messenger app and tap your the hamburger menu in the top left

2. Tap Message requests

3. Select either You may know or Spam to view related message requests

You’ll need to Long-press a listed chat to view the actions menu. This lets you delete the request, open a chat head, mark the message as unread, or block the sender.

Don’t trust message requests from unknown senders

Often, the most difficult part of receiving unsolicited Facebook messages is sorting the spam from legitimate requests.

In fact, many of the Messenger requests you receive are likely to be attempted scams. That’s why if someone offers something that seems too good to be true, you’d be wise to ignore, delete, or report the message.

Or, better yet, reply with an outrageous counteroffer and beat them at their own game.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Can I use Messenger without a Facebook account?
• How to download Facebook videos
• Here’s how to use Facebook Live for livestreaming
• How to set up Facebook Pay

The post How to check Facebook Messenger message requests appeared first on KnowTechie.

The advantage of shooting RAW photos is that the photographs contain a large amount of information, which provides more freedom and better results when editing and converting files.

Due to a lack of compression, RAW images can get quite large, taking up a lot of space on your device or SD card. Therefore, you should only consider using the format if you plan to do some serious editing.

When you save photos in other formats, you lose the ability to make meaningful adjustments to attributes such as color, exposure, and sharpness.

But because RAW files contain uncompressed information direct from your camera sensor, you can manipulate the uncooked images and achieve the desired results.

READ MORE: How to convert WebP images to JPEG on Mac and Windows

Not all smartphones are capable of taking RAW photos. If the option is missing from your device and you want to go RAW, you may need to consider upgrading or purchasing a digital camera.

Let’s discuss how to shoot RAW photos with a compatible Samsung, Google, and Apple phone.

How to shoot RAW photos on Samsung

Here’s how to shoot RAW photos on a Samsung phone:

READ MORE: How to convert screenshots from PNG to JPEG on iPhone

To take RAW photos, you must be in Pro mode. Also, saved images will appear in the usual location, which should be the Gallery app unless otherwise specified.

How to shoot RAW photos on Google Pixel

Here’s how to shoot RAW photos on a Google Pixel:

1. Launch the Camera app and tap the Settings (gear) icon

2. Select More settings

3. Tap Advanced

4. Toggle on Raw+JPEG control

As a note: Before taking a photo, you may need to tap the Settings (gear) icon and select RAW beside RAW+JPEG.

How to shoot RAW photos on iPhone

Here’s how to shoot RAW photos on an Apple iPhone:

1. Go to Settings > Camera

2. Then, tap Formats

3. Toggle on Apple ProRAW under Photo Capture

4. Launch the Camera app, tap the RAW button, and take a photo

And there you go. That’s how you take iPhone pictures in RAW format.

Should you take photos in RAW format?

Going RAW probably isn’t worth the storage space if you’re a casual photographer and aren’t doing any serious editing.

You can still edit images saved in other formats, and most people won’t notice or care that your social media post of a salad went direct to JPEG.

If, however, you’d prefer to work with photographs in a more natural state, the benefits of RAW photos may be worth the effort.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The best apps to make your photos really stand out
• How to quickly call emergency services on iPhone
• The best Photoshop alternatives available right now
• This trick lets you share photos between iPhone, iPad, and Mac faster than AirDrop

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s but one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post What are RAW photos and how to shoot them appeared first on KnowTechie.

Developments in OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology means that screen burn-in is rare. But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.

Imagine spending big dollars on a slick new OLED TV only to have the logo of your favorite television station permanently burned into the display. That’s not how expensive technology should work.

Fortunately, you can take steps to avoid rare instances of permanent image retention. Let’s discuss OLED burn-in and how you can avoid it.

What is OLED burn-in?

READ MORE: Are OLED TVs actually better than QD-OLED TVs?

OLED burn-in occurs when a static image appears on the screen for an extended period of time.

Depending on your age, you may have encountered similar behavior on old CRT monitors, which require screen savers to avoid colors and images burning into the display.

While image persistence in LCD screens is usually temporary, OLED burn-in can be permanent, as the behavior stems from damaged pixels.

However, most of us aren’t going to create the conditions necessary for long-lasting damage to occur.

On top of that, manufacturers design modern OLED displays to avoid most image persistence issues. But, in extreme circumstances, damage can still occur.

Therefore, knowing how to avoid OLED burn-in is useful. We’ll break down some of the best tips below.

How to prevent OLED burn-in

Static images displayed continuously for many hours or multiple days can create burn-in. For this to happen, you’d also need to set the screen brightness extremely high for a long period of time.

Here are some steps you can take to prevent OLED burn-in:

• Don’t display static images, including logos and video game UIs, for extended periods of time
• Change the channel frequently
• Lower your screen brightness
• Use a sleep timer if you’re prone to doze off in front of the TV
• Don’t leave anything paused for too long
• Use a screen saver when necessary
• Switch the display off when not in use

If you follow most of these suggestions, the chance of experiencing OLED burn-in on a monitor or smart TV is low.

Also, you can prevent and remedy most instances of temporary image retention by enabling pixel shift if available, lowering screen brightness, and watching a video with no static elements.

TV burn-in is rare but not extinct

OLED burn-in is rare, but so is getting hit by a meteorite. Sometimes unlikely events do occur.

If you’re one of the unlucky ones whose screen experiences permanent image retention, you may have to pay for an out-of-pocket repair. Most display manufacturers don’t accept responsibility for OLED burn-in.

Sometimes, depending on costs, it might be better (and cheaper) to get a new TV. In those cases, check out our smart TV shopping guide.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to fix a Samsung Smart TV not connecting to WiFi
• The best TVs for the PS5 and Xbox Series X, Series S
• The best soundbars to elevate your gaming experience
• Is your Roku Smart TV displaying banner ads on live TV? Here’s how to turn them off

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post What is OLED burn-in and how can you avoid it? appeared first on KnowTechie.

The iPhone is one of the most popular smartphones in the world. That’s despite Apple not letting you change your iPhone app icons.

Changing app icons is something I imagine would be easy for Apple to figure out, development-wise.

And maybe they did and have a good reason why they never let folks swap out their app icons.

Thankfully, that changed slightly with iOS 14.

Why would someone need to change their iPhone’s app icons?

Perhaps you don’t like the look of one particular icon. Maybe there are a few that deserve changing.

Or perhaps all of the default icons sicken you to your core. Whatever your level of loathing, Apple’s Shortcuts app is the solution.

This article will show you everything you need to know to customize iPhone app icons on iOS.

How to change app icons on iPhone

If you are ready to make your iPhone your own, it’s time to dive in.

Once you hit Add, the Shortcuts app will close automatically and take you to your home screen, where the new icon should appear.

From here, you’re free to move the shortcut to wherever you want it to be.

READ MORE: How to turn on your iPhone’s camera flash

To avoid confusion, remove the original app from the Home Screen so it’ll only be in the App Library.

To do that, long-press on the app icon, tap Remove App, then Remove from Home Screen. Now you’ve got a Home Screen full of customized app icons.

Anything else I need to know?

Besides how long it takes to create Shortcuts for every app, there are a few things you should know.

You’ll lose any interactivity features if you replace all your app icons.

READ MORE: How to fix an iPhone not receiving texts from Android phones

That includes the notification bubble that shows unread messages or emails. It also includes any additional menu options you see when you long-press an app icon.

The other thing is that because you’re replacing them with Shortcuts, you’ll see the Shortcuts app open every time you open an app.

You can reduce this annoyance slightly by going into the Accessibility menu and selecting the reduce motion option.

Where can I get free app icons?

You might have seen links advertising iOS app icon packs before.

Etsy is full of them, as are many other websites. Did you know those are just collections of images, usually PNG files?

That means you can make your custom app icons if inclined to.

However, we won’t stop you from downloading icon packs or even paying for them if you like the artist’s work.

Many websites let you download free icons, such as Flaticon or icons8.

Finding a collection that has enough of the apps you use might take a while, and that alone could be worth the price of buying a ready-made collection.

Use new app icons to personalize your iPhone

Once you know how to change your iOS app icons, you can use pretty much any image as a replacement.

If you want something slick, you can find professionally-designed icons online or create your own.

If you want something more personalized, you could snap photos of your friends and attach their mug shots to the apps that best represent them.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to take a screenshot on any iPhone
• Here’s how to update iPhone apps
• How to record an outgoing or incoming call with the iPhone
• Here’s how to print documents and photos from your iPhone and iPad

The post How to change app icons on iPhone appeared first on KnowTechie.

When it comes to connecting two pairs of AirPods to an iPhone, Apple doesn’t limit your ability.

If you have a second set of ears or want to share a song with someone else, pairing multiple AirPods to one device may be useful.

Can you connect two AirPods to one phone? Luckily, Apple’s iOS software has all the right features to make the magic happen.

The procedure isn’t complicated but does involve quite a few steps. Let’s run through the process of connecting two pairs of AirPods to one phone.

Connect two pairs of AirPods to one device

The short explanation of the process goes like this: connect your AirPods and then use AirPlay to send audio to both sets. In reality, it’s that simple, but sometimes we get lost along the way.

READ MORE: How to make AirPods and AirPods Pro louder

If you’d prefer to know the step-by-step procedure of connecting two AirPods to one device, you’ve come to the right place.

READ MORE: How to check your AirPods battery level

From the Control Center, you can deselect a pair of earbuds when you want to disconnect them.

Also, you should keep each set within Bluetooth range of your device to avoid losing the connection.

Do you need to connect two pairs of AirPods?

Situations where you would need to pair two sets of AirPods aren’t common, but they do occasionally arise.

READ MORE: Can you use AirPods on in-flight TVs?

If you connect to someone else’s earphones, you should remember to disconnect them when you’re done.

You wouldn’t want someone to discover your questionable taste in music accidentally.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How do Apple’s AirTags work?
• How to locate and disable an unknown AirTag on Android and iOS
• How to transfer WhatsApp messages from Android to iPhone without a computer
• How to enable the iPhone’s new App Privacy Report in iOS 15.2
• AirPods microphone not working? Here’s how to fix it

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post How to connect two pairs of AirPods to one phone appeared first on KnowTechie.

When you look at your phone, one of the first things you see is your wallpaper. So, you might as well choose something visually appealing, right?

Some people prefer simple, unobtrusive backgrounds, while others opt for photos of pets, family members, or celebrities.

But the image is a dying medium. Now, it’s all about video.

If you consider yourself a bit of a modernist—or just like looking at cool stuff—you can ditch that old-still background and set live wallpapers on your iPhone or Android device.

With iOS 16, Apple removed the live wallpaper feature in favor of a Dynamic Lock Screen. If, however, you’re running an older OS, you should still have the option.

Convert TikTok Videos to live photos on iPhone

When using a pre-iOS-16 iPhone, you can convert videos from TikTok to Live Photos, which you can then use as wallpapers. The process is swift and simple. Here’s how to do it.

How to convert a TikTok video to a live photo in iOS by following these steps:

1. Launch the TikTok app and locate the video you want to use

2. Tap the Share icon

3. Select Live Photo to save the video to your device

Once you’ve saved the video as a live photo, you can set it as a wallpaper via the Settings app using the standard process.

If your Android phone happens to be a Samsung Galaxy, you’re in luck. You can set a live wallpaper without downloading a third-party app.

Here’s how to set live wallpapers on a Samsung Galaxy phone

1. Launch the Gallery app and select the video you want to use

2. Tap the More (three dots) button and select Set as wallpaper

3. Select either Lock screen or Call background

4. Tap the Scissors button to trim the clip if necessary and tap Set… when done

If you’re using a non-Samsung phone, you’ll need to get a third-party app involved to create a live wallpaper.

Luckily, you have several solutions to choose from. While the process varies between apps, the basic idea is the same.

For example, here’s how to set a live wallpaper using ‘Video to Wallpaper’ for Android:

1. Download and install Video to Wallpaper from the Google Play Store and launch the app

2. Tap the Plus (+) button to add a new wallpaper

3. Tap Choose, select the video you want to convert, rename if necessary, and tap OK

4. Tap the wallpaper you want to use and tap Set wallpaper

5. Select either Home screen or Home screen and lock screen

That’s it. Your wallpaper is now live. Note that the free version of Video to Wallpaper will only let you save one wallpaper at a time.

You can either delete your wallpaper when you want to set a new one or pay to upgrade the app.

While live wallpapers may be nice to look at—or horrific, depending on the content—they don’t come without a cost.

Continually running a video in the background of your phone can quickly drain your battery and affect overall performance.

If you set a live wallpaper and notice serious battery drain or clunky performance, it may be time to switch back to an antiquated still image and save yourself the trouble.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Does the iPhone 14 have USB-C?
• How to watch YouTube ad-free on Android now that Vanced is gone
• You can now install Android apps from the Windows 11 Store – here’s how
• How to disable Crash Detection on iPhone

The post How to create a live wallpaper on iPhone and Android appeared first on KnowTechie.

Apple’s Dynamic Island — an on-screen overlay that hides your phone’s front camera hardware — is currently unique to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

The pill-shaped box shows alerts and information about in-progress activities, such as phone calls, on your device.

Dynamic Island is a creative way to conceal hardware without resorting to the not-so-attractive notch of the past. Take a look at the video below if you’re unfamiliar:

However, not everyone will be ready to embrace the new overlays. Perhaps you don’t want animations distracting you every time something is happening on your phone.

Unfortunately, you can’t completely disable Dynamic Island, but you can dismiss animations with a quick flick of your finger.

At this stage, dismissal is the best—and only—option. Let’s discuss how to turn off Dynamic Island animations on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

How to stop Dynamic Island animations

If animations are causing a distraction, you can stop them in their tracks by swiping left or right across the Dynamic Island.

When you dismiss an activity or alert, you only end the animation, not the task itself. Anything that’s occurring in the background will continue as normal.

When performing multiple tasks, Dynamic Island splits into two segments, one big and one small.

If you want to elevate the smaller task, you can dismiss the larger island by swiping left or right across it. The small island will then expand to take its place.

Can you turn off Dynamic Island?

While you can’t disable Dynamic Island animations completely, you can quickly dismiss them when they occur.

It’s not the ideal solution, but—aside from switching to a different iPhone model—it’s all we’ve got.

Like any new feature, some of us will love Dynamic Island, and some will loathe it. Some may even feel nothing towards it.

Apple isn’t fond of granting us too much control over our tech, so the option to disable Dynamic Island is unlikely to appear.

While the animations can be distracting, it’s still fresh technology, and we haven’t had time to adapt yet.

Besides, some people were utterly disgusted by the notches of yore, so an overactive island may be the more attractive solution.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to disable the always-on display on iPhone 14 Pro
• Is the iPhone 14 worth buying? Here’s what the reviews say
• How to update your iPhone
• Does the iPhone 14 have Touch ID?

The post How to turn off Dynamic Island animations on iPhone appeared first on KnowTechie.

If you’ve ever had to type a word and couldn’t figure out how to add letter accents on Mac, you’re not alone.

Moments of uncertainty can interrupt your workflow and leave you searching for answers.

Luckily, typing letter accents and other Mac special characters is simple in macOS once you know how. And you have several viable options. Some are swift, while others take additional time.

Let’s discuss several ways to type special characters on a Mac.

How to type letter accents on Mac

READ MORE: How to type an en dash and em dash on Windows and Mac

One of the quickest ways to type letter accents is to hold the key of the character you wish to modify, and a menu with available options should appear.

For example, holding the e key brings up: è, é, ê, ë, ē, ė, and ę. You can either click the character you wish to use or press the corresponding number key.

Learning the various key combinations is worth the effort if you use letter accents a lot.

Once your fingers familiarize themselves with the appropriate actions, adding accents becomes a normal part of typing.

How to type accents on Mac using key combinations

1. Hold Option and press the key that corresponds to the appropriate accent. For example, e=´, n=˜, u=¨, i=ˆ, and `=`

2. Release Option and press the letter you want to accent

You can only modify letters that normally have an accented version, which means you can’t go throwing a squiggly line over any old character.

With enough practice, accented letters soon flow onto the page like any other standard symbol.

How to type special characters in macOS

If you’d prefer to see a complete list of accented letters and other special characters, the symbol viewer has the goods.

Using key combinations may be the quickest way to drop an accent on a character, but the symbol viewer provides a comprehensive list of all available options.

Letter accents and special characters are yours to command

You now have the knowledge to accent letters and type special characters on Mac without interruption.

Whatever technique you choose—swift fingers, button presser, or constant clicker—your workflow should improve, and moments of idle head-scratching should reduce.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to quickly record your Mac’s screen
• Sleep vs. shutdown: what’s better for your Mac?
• This app turns your iPhone into a wireless mouse for your Mac
• How to type out emojis on a PC

The post How to type letter accents and special characters on a Mac appeared first on KnowTechie.

While most modern iPhones are water-resistant, that doesn’t mean they automatically repel all liquid.

If you drop your phone in a pond, you may have to deal with some wet holes, including the speaker grill and charging port.

So, how do you eject water from your iPhone? There’s an app for everything because the iOS Water Eject shortcut can help rid your device of unwanted moisture.

We live in amazing times. Let’s discuss how you can download the Water Ejection shortcut and use it to eject water from your iPhone.

How to use an iOS shortcut to eject water from iPhone

Before we start, first, you’ll need to make sure you have the Shortcuts app downloaded.

Once you’ve done that, here’s how to get water out from your iPhone speaker with the shortcut:

READ MORE: Can you use AirPods on in-flight TVs?

When the process completes, your phone will stop vibrating, and you’ll hear a confirmation sound accompanied by a notification.

If, after inspection, some holes are still wet, you can run Water Eject again and repeat until satisfied.

Alternatively, there are other methods to get water out of iPhone if you don’t want to use an iOS shortcut.

For example, you could use a third-party water remover app, dry your iPhone with silica gel, or drop it in raw uncooked rice.

How to add a Water Eject iPhone shortcut to your home screen

In emergency moisture situations, having Water Eject easily accessible is handy.

Here’s how to add the shortcut to your iOS home screen:

1. Locate Water Eject in the Shortcuts app and tap More options (…)

2. Press the Share icon on the bottom menu bar

3. Choose Add to Home Screen and tap Add

Water Eject will now appear on your home screen for easy access.

If you inadvertently submerge your iPhone in liquid a lot, placing the shortcut in an easy-to-reach location is wise.

The Water Ejection shortcut is impressive

The days of burying wet iPhones in bags of rice are over because you can now eject water from your phone’s speakers with an app. Brilliant.

Next, someone should test the shortcut on a fully-submerged iPhone to see if there’s any propulsion potential there.

If so, the next logical step is to start racing iOS devices underwater.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to update your iPhone
• Here’s how to set a sleep timer for Apple Music on iPhone
• Did Apple drop support for built-in noise cancellation on the iPhone 13?
• How to use Apple Pay to pay someone with your iPhone

The post How to eject water from a wet iPhone with a simple shortcut appeared first on KnowTechie.

When diving into the comments section of a Reddit post, there’s almost nothing more disappointing than seeing a deleted comment or thread that you know had good entertainment value.

Wouldn’t it be nice to see deleted Reddit posts and comments?

It’s the forbidden fruit effect in action. The moderator—or Redditor—who nuked the material is saying, “I don’t want you to see this,” which, naturally, makes you want to see it more.

Thankfully, “removed” doesn’t mean erased from history. Let’s discuss how to view deleted comments and threads on Reddit.

How to view deleted Reddit posts and comments with Unddit

Unddit is one of the quickest solutions for viewing deleted Reddit content.

By adding a bookmark to your browser, you can revive dead comments and threads with the click of a button.

User-deleted comments appear in blue; whereas those removed by a moderator appear in red.

Content that was either deleted too quickly or too long ago won’t appear on the page, which means timing is important.

If an archiver didn’t capture a comment before it vanished, it may be lost forever. However, older content may still be salvageable.

Use Wayback Machine to view deleted Reddit content

Internet archivers, such as Wayback Machine, may retain information longer than tools that focus specifically on Reddit.

However, to view deleted content, a snapshot must exist of the time when the comment or thread was still alive. In many cases, the timing won’t line up.

As a last resort, pasting the Reddit URL—especially if it’s an older post—into Wayback Machine is worth a try. But don’t be disappointed if your efforts are in vain.

Should you dare gaze upon deleted Reddit comments?

Now that you know you can resurrect deleted comments and threads, you should probably ask yourself whether you should.

Often, content gets nuked for a reason, and absorbing all of that too-hot-for-Reddit material may have unforeseen consequences.

For example, reading a particularly contentious comment could cause your brain to liquefy and boil inside your skull.

This is a known side effect of encountering internet trolls or particularly controversial content.

But if you’re the brave and adventurous type, the potential entertainment value in reviving deleted content may be worth the risk.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to turn on Reddit’s dark mode
• Reddit adds comment search to make the website even better
• These websites let you browse Reddit at work while looking productive
• Reddit’s new Discover tab should help people find more communities to join

The post How to see deleted Reddit posts and comments appeared first on KnowTechie.

But what about the less trumpeted additions to Apple’s mobile OS? Not all of the best features are obvious, and some of the most useful tools take a little digging.

If you don’t have time to explore every nook and cranny of your iPhone’s OS, don’t stress. We’ve compiled a list of the best iOS 16 features you may not have noticed.

1. Unsend emails in the Mail app

If you’ve ever sent an email and immediately regretted it, iOS 16’s Undo Send feature could be a godsend.

Perhaps you typed a few choice words to a colleague that you’d like to take back. Or maybe you signed off an email with “I love you” when a simple “best regards” would have been more appropriate.

Whatever your reason for wanting to recall a sent email, Apple has you covered. You can enable iOS 16’s Undo Send Delay for Mail by following these steps:

1. Go to Settings → Mail

2. Scroll down and tap Undo Send Delay

3. Select a delay time of either 10, 20,or 30 seconds. You can also switch the feature off from here

Now, when you send an email, Undo Send will appear at the bottom of the screen for the duration specified in the settings—so act quickly!

2. Battery percentage in status bar

Have ever wanted to know your iPhone’s exact battery percentage at a glance? Well, now you can. This new iOS 16 feature shows your remaining charge clearly in the status bar with a quick flick of the settings.

1. Go to Settings → Battery

2. Toggle on Battery Percentage

Your iPhone’s remaining charge will now conveniently show on the status bar’s battery icon.

3. View, copy, and share WiFi passwords

Forgetting your own WiFi password is a forgivable offense. How often are you really required to type it in? Rarely, right?

However, when you get a new device or a friend needs to use your WiFi, you may find yourself scrambling to remember the password. Luckily, Apple offers a simple solution.

With this iOS 16 feature, you can view, copy, and paste any of your saved WiFi passwords by following these steps:

1. Go to Settings → WiFi

2. Tap the Info icon on the relevant saved network

3. Select Password and authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode

4. Tap Copy to copy the password to the clipboard

You’re now free to paste the password wherever you please. If you’re sharing it with a friend, sending it via a secure instant message may be the quickest method.

For security, you should delete the message on both devices when done.

4. Prevent lock button from ending calls

Hitting your iPhone’s side button can be a handy way to end a call. However, it can also be a frustrating way to end a call accidentally.

In iOS 16, you can disable the lock button for ending calls by following these steps:

1. Go to Settings → Accessibility

2. Select Touch

3. Toggle on Prevent Lock to End Call

Now you can avoid the embarrassment of prematurely ending calls and having to explain yourself to the other party.

5. Automatically lift subjects from photos and remove backgrounds

Perhaps the most magical new iOS 16 feature is the ability to automatically lift a subject out of a photo, essentially removing the background.

However, the feature only works on iPhones using the A12 Bionic chipset. You can lift a subject from a photo in iOS 16 by following these steps:

1. Open the Photos app and select the relevant photo

2. Tap and hold the subject you want to lift out of the image

3. Select Copy or Share

4. Paste the subject to a different location or share to another app

Who needs fancy photo editing software when you’ve got iOS 16? Clearly, we’re one step closer to AI taking all of our jobs and rendering us obsolete.

6. Copy and paste photo edits

Apple offers another enhancement to its Photos app in iOS 16. The ability to reuse the same edits on multiple images is a serious time saver.

You can copy and paste edits in Photos using these steps:

That’s it. Your copied edits will now apply to the new photo and any others you repeat the process with.

7. Hidden and recently deleted photo folders are now locked

To mention the Photos app one more time—in iOS 16, the Hidden and Recently Deleted folders now require Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode authentication to access.

The new iOS 16 security feature makes a lot of sense. If you’ve placed photos in the hidden folder, you likely don’t want people to have easy access, right?

On top of that, most of us don’t want people to be able to peruse our deleted items. Some of those things were purged for a reason.

You don’t need to do anything to lock your Hidden or Recently deleted folders. The OS automatically applies security based on the authentication methods you’ve configured.

8. Install security updates without updating iOS

Software updates can take a while to install, and sometimes we put off downloading them because we don’t want our phones out of action for any longer than absolutely necessary.

However, delaying critical security updates could leave your device vulnerable to hackers and their nefarious ways.

Thankfully, iOS 16 has a new feature that allows you to install security responses separately from major OS updates.

You can enable automatic security updates by following these steps:

1. Go to Settings → General → Software Update → Automatic Updates

2. Toggle on Security Responses & System Files

If you only want to install security updates automatically, you can toggle off automatic updates for iOS itself. You can always manually update when needed.

9. Hang up calls with Siri

If you’re sporting an iPhone 11 or newer, you can command Siri to end your phone calls for you. To enable the iOS 16 feature, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings → Accessibility

2. Scroll down to General and select Siri

3. Tap Call Hang-up

4. Toggle Call Hang-up on

Once you’ve enabled the setting, simply say, “Hey, Siri, hang up” to end the call. As the new iOS 16 feature grows in popularity, it will inevitably become the new “goodbye.”

Some of the best iOS features aren’t obvious

Every iOS release is full of slick new features, but some of the best don’t always get the attention they deserve. We aim to change that.

Security, convenience, and digital voodoo are the focus of the hidden features we’ve chosen to discuss. Some you may never use. Others could change your life.

Well, maybe not. But some of the iOS 16 features are pretty damn sweet.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Apple VR headset: Release date, features, and price
• How to disable Crash Detection on iPhone
• How to force restart an iPhone 13 and enter recovery mode
• How to disable the always-on display on iPhone 14 Pro

The post 9 hidden iOS 16 features you may not have noticed appeared first on KnowTechie.

With the release of Twitter Blue—an enhanced version of the platform accessible only to subscribers—comes a lot of questions.

What is it? What does it do? And is Twitter really worth paying for? While we don’t have all the answers, we can address the important questions.

The service is still in its infancy, and the company hasn’t rolled out all of the planned features, but the initial release has some tools worth exploring.

Are you curious about Twitter Blue? If so, read on because we’re subscribed and ready to give the rundown.

Twitter Blue features

Twitter wouldn’t have the gall to ask you for money if it didn’t have something to offer. While some subscriber tools are interesting, others are a little underwhelming.

Current Twitter Blue features include:

• Undo tweet
• Top Articles
• Bookmark folders
• Custom navigation and Twitter app icon displays
• Top articles
• Ad-free articles
• Reader Mode
• Edit Tweets
• Verified Blue checkmark

Let’s discuss each of these features in more detail.

Twitter Blue Undo Tweet

With a Twitter Blue subscription, you can undo a tweet after you hit send.

When you press the Tweet button, a countdown starts—the time you can adjust under Feature Settings—giving you a chance to preview, edit, or ditch the tweet when necessary.

Currently, the available timer settings are 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 seconds. The five-second countdown is ideal for those who enjoy stressful situations.

But if you’re less reckless than that, you can set your timer to 60 seconds and enjoy the subscriber safety net. You’ll find the relevant settings in Settings > Twitter Blue > Undo Tweet.

Twitter Blue Top Articles

When you subscribe to Twitter Blue, a Top Articles entry will appear in your main menu.

Top articles are your network’s most shared pieces within the last 24 hours, and the feed allows you to see what’s trending and relevant easily.

Many subscribers will welcome this new addition, as the feature lessens the need for endless scrolling to find out what’s hot.

Twitter Blue bookmark folders

Twitter now provides a way to organize your bookmarks using folders.

If you have a Blue subscription, you can create new folders from the bookmarks menu on your mobile device. Saving a tweet will also prompt you to store it in a specified location.

Right now, you cannot view or access your folders on the web app, but hopefully, that feature will come soon. Until then, the mobile application gets the job done.

Twitter Blue ad-free articles

Ad-free articles allow publishers to make money from content shared on the platform.

The feature lets you, as a subscriber, access a site’s content without pesky ads getting in the way, with a portion of your subscription going to the publisher.

On Twitter, eligible articles will display a small Ad-free with Twitter Blue banner at the bottom of the tweet.

So far, only a small selection of publishers have joined the program. However, as the pool of content providers grows, access to a sizable selection of ad-free content will become attractive.

How to join Twitter Blue

Subscribing to Twitter Blue is easy enough for anyone with a credit card, a working mobile device or web browser, and $2.99 in the bank. The subscription process is similar on all devices.

Subscribe to Twitter Blue with a web browser

And there you have it, a quick guide to setting up Twitter Blue through a web browser.

Subscribe to Twitter Blue on a mobile device

To subscribe to Twitter Blue using the Twitter app and Android and iOS, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Twitter application
2. Tap the Profile menu
3. Select Twitter Blue
4. Follow the prompts and enter payment details
5. Hit Subscribe

Is Twitter Blue worth the money?

If you’re a heavy Twitter user, and the new subscriber features sing to you, the upgrade may be worth the coin. For the average consumer, justifying the expense will be a tougher sell.

While some of the new tools are useful, many—like bookmark folders and undoing a tweet—hardly seem like premium features. The real meat of the service is in the way it delivers news.

Adding a Top Articles feed and ad-free content will appeal to many and make the price worth the payoff.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Twitter added a search button to profile pages making it easier to find someone’s bad tweets
• Instagram link previews finally work on Twitter again
• How to host a Twitter Space on iOS and Android
• Twitter opens up its new tipping feature for just about everyone and you can even send Bitcoin

The post How to sign up for Twitter Blue appeared first on KnowTechie.

Clicking the new double thumbs rating tells Netflix that you “Love this!” That will train your recommendation algorithm, so you see even better matches.

Netflix spent a year testing the new feature to see if users preferred two thumbs up or the universal icon of a heart.

The two thumbs up won, possibly because of movie critics Siskel and Ebert, who used “Two Thumbs Up” as their trademarked top mark.

The feature is available on desktops, smart TVs, Android, and iOS. Let’s discuss how to use double thumbs up on Netflix.

Where to find Netflix’s double thumbs up button

Netflix’s double thumbs are easy to locate and generally hang around the Play button on most devices. The new “Love this!” rating icon appears alongside the classic “I like it” and “Not for me” options.

Here’s where to find Netflix’s double thumbs up on desktop, mobile, and TV

Regardless of your device, here’s where to locate the button that helps shape Netflix’s algorithm:

Desktop: Either hover over the Rating button for a movie/series on the Home screen or on the More info panel.

Mobile: Open the More info panel for a movie/series and tap Rate.

TV: Open the More info panel for a movie/series, and all available thumbs will appear above the Play button.

And there you have it. A quick guide to understanding where to find the newest rating system on Netflix.

Netflix should add more thumbs

The addition of the double-thumbs-up button should help the streaming platform offer more relevant recommendations to its users. In the interest of fairness, the streamer should add a double-thumbs-down option.

That would give a better indicator of which shows Netflix should cancel.

The only feature we don’t want back is user reviews. Netflix’s personalized recommendation algorithm should be trained by every individual user, not influenced by others.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to sign out of Netflix on any TV
• Can you still use a VPN with Netflix?
• How to download Netflix shows and movies on basically any device
• Can you watch Netflix without an internet connection?

The post How to use the double thumbs up feature on Netflix appeared first on KnowTechie.

Biometric methods, such as fingerprints and facial recognition, are convenient, helpful options for unlocking your phone.

But Smart Lock gives you additional ways to manage your device.

Smart Lock offers different ways to unlock your device without using a passcode. Here’s everything you need to know about your options.

What is Smart Lock on Android devices?

Enabling a lock screen security method is essential for keeping your data safe. Many smartphone owners use their devices in places they know to be safe, like at home.

That’s a lot of PIN code entries, biometric unlocking, or even hard-to-remember pattern unlocks.

Smart Lock reduces the number of times you have to unlock your phone or tablet by keeping your device unlocked.

Those include using on-body detection to keep your device unlocked after you’ve opened it, leaving it unlocked in trusted places like your home, or if it is connected to a trusted Bluetooth device.

Smart Lock used to also have options for voice match and trusted faces, but those are less secure and are in the process of being phased out.

How to unlock your Android phone with on-body detection

On-body detection in Smart Lock comes in clutch for runners or if you use your phone as a grocery list.

It will keep your device unlocked as long as it detects movement, so you can keep using it.

Once it detects you have stopped, your Android device will ask for your password again to open your lock screen.

Here’s how to use on-body detection to unlock your Android phone:

1. Go to Settings > Lock screen > Smart Lock and enter your PIN or password when prompted

2. Tap On-body detection

3. Switch on Use On-body detection and tap Continue

As the warning suggests, on-body detection keeps your device unlocked when it senses you’re moving.

If someone snatches your phone from you and keeps moving, they may retain access.

It will automatically lock if you drop your phone.

Unlock Android phone with Trusted Places

Trusted Places uses geolocation to keep your device unlocked in places you feel safe.

That could be your home, office, or any location you choose. You will need GPS to be enabled, so your battery will drain slightly faster.

Here’s how to use Trusted Places to unlock your Android phone:

You’ll see options to Delete, Rename, and Edit when you tap an already-added place.

The entry will appear automatically in the list if your home address is connected to Google Maps. You can enable this as a trusted place by tapping it and choosing Turn on this location.

Using this Smart Lock feature comes with obvious drawbacks. If someone in a trusted place picks up your phone, they’ll automatically have access to your data.

While they can’t physically take your device far from the authorized location, they could send your private information wherever they want.

How to unlock an Android phone with Trusted Devices

The trusted devices Smart Lock feature keeps your phone unlocked whenever it’s connected to a trusted Bluetooth product, such as a smartwatch, wireless speaker, or computer.

Here’s how to use Trusted Devices to unlock your Android phone:

1. Go to Settings > Lock screen > Smart Lock and enter your PIN or password when prompted

2. Tap Trusted devices

3. Switch Bluetooth on and tap Add trusted devices

4. Select a device from the list or tap Pair new device and complete the pairing process

5. Tap Add when prompted

Trusted Devices are an excellent option if you wear an Android Wear OS smartwatch daily. Your phone will still lock if it gets out of Bluetooth range, keeping you safe if you misplace it.

Unlock an Android phone with Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi unlocking is a less-secure solution, as anyone with the right motivation could spoof a wireless network and gain access to your device.

For this reason, Google doesn’t include the option in its operating system.

Some third-party solutions exist, but most apps only work with older versions of Android OS and produce unpredictable results.

Is Android Smart Lock safe?

Using Smart Lock is safer than having no protection, but enabling the feature comes with additional risks.

A motivated thief could use specific unlocking triggers, such as a trusted place, to gain access to your device and data.

When considering whether to enable Android Smart Lock, you should ask yourself: what’s more important, convenience or security?

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to watch YouTube ad-free on Android now that Vanced is gone
• Android users: Delete these apps – they’re harvesting your data
• You can now install Android apps from the Windows 11 Store – here’s how
• Android 13: News, features, rumors, leaks, release date, and everything we know so far

The post How to use Android Smart Lock appeared first on KnowTechie.

If you own a Galaxy, you can add emergency contacts and medical info that is accessible even when the device is locked.

The two safety tools not only help you call in the cavalry when things get dicey, but they also help first responders better navigate the situation if you’re incapacitated.

Both features are simple to set up and easy to access. Let’s discuss how to add emergency contacts and medical info to your Samsung Galaxy phone.

How to add emergency contacts to a Samsung phone

If you have someone you’d like contacted in an emergency, here’s how to add an emergency contact to a Samsung Galaxy phone.

Once you’ve added one or more emergency contacts, you—or someone else—can call them from the lock screen without unlocking your phone.

To do so, simply swipe up to display the unlock prompt, Then, tap Emergency call, and select the appropriate contact.

How to add medical information to a Samsung phone

As well as adding emergency contacts, you can also add medical info that’s accessible when your phone is locked. Here’s how to do it.

1. Open the Contacts app on your phone and tap your profile name

2. Scroll down and select Medical info, read the prompt, and tap Confirm

4. Enter your medical info and tap Save

Now, when you attempt to make an emergency call while the phone is locked, a Medical info button will appear on the keypad once you’ve added the information.

Is adding emergency contacts a good idea?

Having emergency contacts on your phone can make life easier. It provides a way for others to contact people on your behalf.

On top of that, if you have a serious medical condition or you’re taking medication, adding your medical info could help first responders better understand the situation in an emergency.

However, anyone who picks up your phone will have access to this information, so it would be wise to avoid adding anything you wouldn’t want falling into the wrong hands.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to take a screenshot on the Samsung Galaxy S21
• How to block text messages on Samsung Galaxy phones
• Does the Samsung Galaxy S21 have an SD slot?
• Can you wirelessly charge the Samsung Galaxy S21?

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s but one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post How to add emergency contacts on a Samsung Galaxy phone appeared first on KnowTechie.