More on phones and computers

Turn on Airplane Mode when not using the phone for long periods to save battery and speed up charging.

Stops data transmission which drains battery.

• Does not stop all data transmission; phone still communicates with Wi-Fi/Bluetooth networks.
• Only stops major transmissions.

one person who lived it

Use your phone's block feature for spam texts instead of replying 'STOP'.

Replying confirms your number is active, whereas blocking forces spammers to waste money on inactive targets.

• Spammers may eventually switch to different numbers after being blocked.

one person who lived it

• Report unwanted texts to SMS providers rather than replying 'STOP' or marking as spam.1

Disable Control Center access from the lock screen to prevent thieves from enabling Airplane Mode.

Thieves can enable Airplane Mode to cut off tracking if access is allowed.

• Thieves might still drain the battery.

one person who lived it

Copy the ID from a deleted video link in your playlist and search for it to find pages mentioning the song title.

• If the video is not archived, try pasting the video URL on Google to get the title.

3 people, independently

Tell the caller that you have passed away.

One person reported rarely getting called twice after doing this; another noted that when someone dies, their number is removed from data.

2 people, independently

Answer the phone using a sultry voice and inform the caller that the service is premium and will bill their number at a high per-minute rate before continuing.

Callers hang up very quickly when told this.

one person who lived it

When adding an old acquaintance on social media, send a personal message explaining the context for your request.

It helps those who accept but don't read the letter, and encourages conversation with those who do.

one person who lived it

Use the Shortcuts app on iOS to automatically activate the red screen filter at a set time and deactivate it when your alarm stops.

Relying on willpower to enable the filter manually often fails.

one person who lived it

Leave a 1-star rating with a comment complaining about in-app review nags to discourage developers from using them.

There is no incentive for developers to change their behavior otherwise.

• One source suggests that individual actions may not matter overall.

2 people, independently

• Leave a poor rating accompanied by a review specifying that annoying popups were the cause.1

Add a minus sign followed by a channel name (e.g., -ChannelName) to your search query to exclude that specific channel from results.

The minus sign filters out channels that are dominating the search results.

one person who lived it

When muting a Facebook group via the app, wait for the 'post hidden' popup to disappear before confirming the mute action.

Pressing the first mute button does not actually mute the group.

one person who lived it

Search for the article title on other websites that may have republished the story without a paywall.

Other sites often carry the same news stories for free.

2 people, independently

Use the mute button in online games to avoid engaging with people who think they are always right.

You can never win against them.

one person who lived it

Sort your Reddit feed by 'new' or 'latest' to interact with real people awaiting responses.

Sorting this way helps you avoid bots or trolls often found in top-sorted posts and allows for real conversation.

one person who lived it

When receiving car warranty scam calls, provide fake vehicle details or pretend to be confused to waste the scammer's time.

One person reported a noticeable decrease in spam calls after doing this.

2 people, independently

Set your default ringtone to silence and assign normal ringtones only to saved contacts so unknown callers do not alert you.

Unknown callers, including autodialers, often hang up before reaching voicemail if they do not hear a ring.

• This may silence important calls from people not in your contacts, such as doctors or interview follow-ups.

one person who lived it

Wait to listen for the specific opt-out instruction in a prerecorded spam message instead of assuming a standard number works.

Not all automated systems use the same digit for removal, and some assign different functions to common numbers.

one person who lived it

Use a password manager.

It helps protect against credential theft.

one person who lived it

Wait two to three days after an app update is released before installing it to check user reviews for issues.

Updates can cause crashes, break functionality, or remove features, and official notes often omit these details.

one person who lived it

Log out and log back into Netflix after changing autoplay settings to force the changes to take effect.

Changes may take time to apply otherwise.

2 people, independently

Log off public Wi-Fi and log back in with a different email address to reset usage tracking.

Many public Wi-Fi spots use emails to track usage, so changing it makes the system treat you as a new user.

one person who lived it

If you receive a spam call, answer it and say nothing to mimic a dead line.

This causes robocallers to hang up or prevents robot starters from initiating speech.

one person who lived it

Rate apps based strictly on product quality rather than developer pleas or personal feelings.

A 5-star rating should reflect a 5-star app, not be given to make someone's day better or circumvent annoyance.

one person who lived it

Ask for a specific, unique selfie (such as holding a paper with a drawn symbol) to verify identity; refusal or excuses suggest stolen pictures.

It helps confirm identity.

• Someone skilled in photo editing can create a fake image.

one person who lived it

Empty Mail folders and delete automatic podcast downloads to free up disk space.

Files consume significant storage, but mail is retrievable from the server.

one person who lived it

Practice the daisy chain folding method until you can perform it quickly.

After getting used to it, the process takes only a short moment.

one person who lived it

Understand that keeping apps in RAM does not use significant battery.

RAM is volatile memory that holds the app's current state without drawing power, and it is cleared when you restart the phone.

one person who lived it

Click on an ad to expand the interface if the reporting or hiding options are missing.

The options may only appear after expansion.

one person who lived it

Ignore unsolicited requests for money or subscriptions; silence is an acceptable response.

You do not owe these people anything.

one person who lived it

Play along with a scammer as if grateful, then act concerned about how they obtained your personal information to confuse them.

The scammer may not know how to respond.

one person who lived it

Be cautious when switching phones or numbers, as voicemails can be lost during data transfer or carrier changes.

4 people, independently

If your internet speed falls below the rate specified in your contract, call your provider to complain and request a bill discount.

one person who lived it

Delete text message history, especially conversations with videos, GIFs, or images, to free up phone storage.

Those files take up space and do not delete from your photos album.

one person who lived it

Avoid clicking on genres you dislike, as the algorithm will heavily focus on those types of content in future recommendations.

Clicking on unwanted genres can cause the feed to become dominated by that specific type of content.

one person who lived it

Click the Share button and check the 'Start At' box to generate a timestamped link automatically.

4 people, independently

Create a private subreddit on an alternate Reddit account to collect and organize links.

Reddit functions as a link collector.

one person who lived it

Add 'Reddit' to your search queries to find community discussions and recommendations rather than just ads.

This approach leads to great discussion and helps identify the actual best options, avoiding the lackluster results of Reddit's own internal search functionality.

• Reddit's own search functionality is lacking.

2 people, independently

Always reset electronics to factory settings before selling or throwing them away.

People often discard devices with accounts still logged in.

one person who lived it

Configure the router to route filtered calls to a silent answering machine instead of blocking them entirely.

The caller does not realize they are on an answering machine.

one person who lived it

Assume that an app failing in airplane mode is likely due to poor coding rather than malicious intent.

It is far more likely that developers are incompetent and did not test the app for offline functionality.

one person who lived it

If you want to hide content from your feed, scroll-based algorithms, quickly scroll past it rather than clicking 'not interested', as the latter may signal engagement by making you linger on the post.

Clicking the button causes you to linger longer on the post, which signals engagement to the algorithm.

one person who lived it

Be aware that disabling in-app ratings on iOS only affects apps using Apple's native API; many developers use custom pop-ups to bypass this restriction.

Developers have found workarounds by creating their own UI or using third-party libraries to prompt for reviews.

2 people, independently

Set up a daily routine on Alexa to automatically disable 'By the Way' suggestions.

The feature may re-enable itself.

one person who lived it

If setting up devices for elderly relatives who cannot configure Wi-Fi, temporarily change your local network's SSID and password to match their home network (or use a mobile hotspot with those credentials) to complete the setup, then ship the device so it connects automatically upon arrival.

The device will connect immediately without requiring the user to perform any configuration steps.

2 people, independently

Check licensing terms carefully for 'free' apps.

Many prohibit commercial or professional use.

one person who lived it

Disable background refresh for apps you do not need.

This reduces cellular data usage and prevents annoying notifications from unused apps.

one person who lived it

Resize the browser window instead of maximizing it to center content, avoid wide white spaces, and keep other apps visible.

This solves embedded video problems without extensions and allows other things to remain open and visible.

one person who lived it

Try using random navigation techniques, such as holding down directional buttons with your eyes closed, to discover unexpected shows.

Randomness can help you find the perfect show that you never would have watched otherwise.

one person who lived it

Connect Wi-Fi devices to your network while they are charging so they are ready to use immediately after unboxing.

This saves time by ensuring instant connectivity.

one person who lived it

In toxic echo chambers, send direct messages to people asking genuine questions instead of replying publicly, to offer calm advice without triggering community backlash or pressuring them to conform.

Public replies showing differing values flood you with toxic comments and pressure the original user to agree with the majority.

one person who lived it

Keep iOS updated.

Updates patch vulnerabilities used by malware and infostealers.

one person who lived it

Support FOSS projects by donating and sharing information about them.

Donations and warm wishes help developers continue their work.

one person who lived it

Mute everyone who irritates you on Facebook until your feed consists mostly of ads and group posts.

one person who lived it

Avoid using Internet Explorer unless you absolutely have to.

3 people, independently

Avoid leaving a personalized outgoing voicemail message.

Robocallers may interpret an active voicemail as confirmation that the line is valid.

one person who lived it

Browse a friend's or partner's Netflix account to discover new recommendations generated by their distinct viewing habits.

The suggestion algorithms will present different options based on their history.

one person who lived it

Contact parents beforehand to obtain their WiFi password or set up access so you have connectivity upon arrival.

This ensures you have access and avoids troubleshooting passwords later, especially if parents are unable to manage it themselves.

one person who lived it

Be aware that instant messages can be easily dismissed or lost from view, so important messages might go unnoticed for months until you search for them again.

one person who lived it

Do not use cold water bottles as phone lanterns.

Condensation from the cold bottle can cause water damage to the phone.

one person who lived it

Use a wired Ethernet connection instead of WiFi to get gigabit speeds.

Most people will only get gigabit speed with a direct wire connection and properly rated cables.

one person who lived it

Give elderly relatives a simple MP3 player with a memory card for easy music updates via mail.

It is simpler than streaming services and requires only pressing play.

one person who lived it

Turn sharpness down to zero on LCD/LED TVs used as monitors to improve text legibility.

Further sharpening ruins clarity by finding edges where there aren't any.

one person who lived it

Prefer carrying cash over banking cards to cut down on financial exposure if stolen.

This helps limit your losses.

one person who lived it

Take screenshots of computer errors using the print screen button or snipping tool to send to tech support.

This prevents technicians from claiming they cannot reproduce the error.

one person who lived it

Avoid using Styrofoam for SD card storage.

It builds up static electricity that can damage or destroy the card.

one person who lived it

Choose a larger TV for parents who may have difficulty reading small text like news tickers.

Parents often have a harder time reading small text on the bottom of news programs.

one person who lived it

Focus on stable internet connections with minimal packet loss and high uptime over raw bandwidth speed.

Telecom companies often do not disclose these statistics.

one person who lived it

Accept that amateur recordings in loud environments will have poor audio quality.

Recordings made at high decibel levels sound like farts.

2 people, independently

Compare streaming audio side-by-side with local library files to verify quality settings.

Local files downloaded at higher bitrates may sound clearer and punchier than streamed versions.

one person who lived it

Clean monitors with the screen turned off or dimmed.

It prevents damage and makes fingerprints and smudges easier to see.

one person who lived it

Do not use Creative Commons licenses for code.

Creative Commons suggests against it because their licenses are designed for media.

one person who lived it

Keep old social media posts to revisit your mindset from different points in time.

It allows for more accurate comparison to your current self than memory alone, which can be inaccurate.

one person who lived it

Avoid using salt to dry electronics.

It is corrosive.

one person who lived it

Use Office Lens for scanning business cards.

One user found it faster and more accurate than other options in their experience.

one person who lived it

Manually wipe the SD card when selling a phone to prevent data recovery tools from retrieving personal files.

Data recovery software can find files that were previously on the SD card.

one person who lived it

Disable dynamic contrast.

It often crushes black levels and makes the image look worse.

one person who lived it

Inspect prepress hardware at printers to understand current equipment standards for professional work.

Knowing what is available helps in deciding whether to upgrade or replace existing gear if it fails to do the job.

one person who lived it

Increase touch sensitivity settings on your phone when using thick screen protectors.

This makes it easier for the phone to detect touches through the protector.

one person who lived it

On protected devices where printing or saving is restricted, take photos of the screen showing file names, sizes, and dates to detect future alterations.

Discrepancies in file size or content can reveal tampering in legal contexts.

one person who lived it

Remove phone cases when using a phone as a continuous camera to reduce overheating.

Cases will worsen temperature issues.

one person who lived it

Avoid enabling high-quality streaming if you have limited data plans or slow internet connections.

Higher quality music uses more data, which can exceed caps on cellular networks.

3 people, independently

Digitize tapes stored in garages, humid regions, or places with minimal HVAC controls sooner rather than later.

These conditions are unsuitable for tapes, and finding qualified technicians to repair aging equipment like VCRs becomes difficult as parts rot and break.

one person who lived it

Manually adjust individual frequency bands in the equalizer rather than relying on standard presets.

Standard EQ presets are often not very good to taste.

one person who lived it

Recognize the significant differences between CMYK offset, CMYK home inkjet, Pantone spot, and RGB displays for accurate color management.

These mediums produce vastly different results.

one person who lived it

Assume all traffic on company Wi-Fi is tracked and logged, including every address visited.

IT administrators can see general activity and lists of websites visited over time.

one person who lived it

Be aware that streaming interfaces vary between accounts, even among people with similar tastes, due to algorithmic differences.

Algorithms may generate wildly different recommendations for users with very similar movie preferences.

one person who lived it

Buy a dedicated lamp or torch designed for reading instead of using a phone.

3 people, independently

Rely on 'date modified' metadata remaining original when transferring photos, provided you do not edit the image itself.

Transferring files does not change this metadata unless the picture is edited.

one person who lived it

Reframe your perspective on smartphones by viewing them primarily as pocket computers rather than just telephones.

one person who lived it

Open msconfig and uncheck unnecessary startup items to reduce boot time and remove bloatware.

Removing items that boot with Windows can cut boot time down by multiple minutes.

one person who lived it

Install an SSD in your laptop to improve speed with a small investment.

SSDs are getting cheaper and will make the computer run much faster.

one person who lived it

Reformat drives and reinstall the operating system to remove accumulated crud and restore speed.

PCs gather crud like barnacles; scraping everything and starting over yields the best results.

• This is time consuming. Ensure you regularly backup data and have install disks or download access for apps.

one person who lived it

On a brand new Windows machine, complete the initial setup and reach the desktop before performing a clean reinstall to ensure the BIOS-embedded product key is activated.

This prevents activation issues when you reinstall.

one person who lived it

Keep the old hard drive in a caddy or external enclosure for additional storage after upgrading to an SSD.

4 people, independently

Provide undivided attention and positive reinforcement when the cat uses the designated alternative spot.

Cats love complete, undivided attention; this makes the alternative spot more rewarding than the keyboard.

one person who lived it

Do not reattach the keyboard immediately after freezing it.

Condensation from temperature differences may cause short circuits.

one person who lived it

If you work in dusty environments like tree cutting, leave your phone in the truck rather than keeping it in your pocket.

Sawdust can fill the phone, making it difficult to charge.

one person who lived it

Choose headphones with detachable cables so you can replace just the cable if it breaks.

This allows you to easily replace the separate cable piece without discarding the entire headset.

one person who lived it

Fold earphone cords in half and tie an overhand knot in the bundle, ensuring it is not too loose.

This creates a stable configuration for various cords.

one person who lived it

If compressed air fails to clear a charging port, scrape out the compacted lint with a wooden toothpick or plastic floss pick.

Blowing into the port is ineffective because the lint becomes compacted inside.

one person who lived it

Acquire computer components like CPUs, monitors, RAM, keyboards, and mice from Freecycle to build a free system.

It allows building a computer without cost.

one person who lived it

Buy Arriva Leo Bluetooth headphones for a wireless, durable option if sound quality is not a priority.

They are pricey but considered a buy-for-life item with the benefit of no wires.

• Not recommended if you are worried about sound quality.

one person who lived it

Use a data vac instead of compressed air to clean tech hardware.

Compressed air is expensive and less effective.

one person who lived it

Ask IT departments at workplaces that issue cell phones for spare earbuds.

One person found brand-new, durable extra earbuds lying around in their workplace's IT department.

one person who lived it

Opt for rechargeable lamps or batteries to avoid the cost and hassle of replacing disposable batteries frequently.

You will use the light often and do not want to spend money on endless batteries.

one person who lived it

Buy Anker charging cables and battery packs instead of the cheapest options.

More expensive chargers last way longer than cheap ones.

one person who lived it

Consider bone conduction headsets if you prefer headphones that sit outside the ear canal.

One user found them easier to use regularly because they do not go into the ear canal.

one person who lived it

Improve speaker sound quality by removing dust with a vacuum or compressed air.

Dust removal can improve sound.

one person who lived it

If you use a pearl earring as a SIM card ejector, apply gentle pressure to avoid breaking the earring.

• Pushing too hard can break the earring.

one person who lived it

Fold earphone cables into a daisy chain pattern to prevent tangling.

The pattern makes the wire stiff enough to resist entanglement while remaining easy to open.

one person who lived it

Fix a Dyson vacuum found next to a dumpster by replacing motor brushes, which can cost around 9 Euros including postage.

one person who lived it

Do not assume teardown videos accurately reflect the difficulty of disassembling your device; rely on your specific device's physical layout instead.

Repeated disassembly makes popping screens off easier, making it look like they fall off when a firm pull is actually required.

one person who lived it

Do not rely solely on third-party cloud storage for important data; maintain independent backups.

Vendors may change their policies unexpectedly.

2 people, independently

If you frequently update encrypted files synced to cloud services like OneDrive or Dropbox, create separate VeraCrypt containers for different categories of documents rather than one large container.

Cloud sync services cannot detect changes inside an encrypted file and will re-upload the entire file instead of just the modifications.

one person who lived it

To recover unsaved work in Microsoft Office, navigate to File > Info > Manage Document > Recover Unsaved Documents instead of searching your file explorer.

This opens the specific folder where Office stores these files, regardless of their location on your network.

one person who lived it

Implement off-site or cloud-based data backups, such as business-class cloud services or replication to another facility via a dedicated routed link.

This is described as the best option for disaster recovery.

one person who lived it