We all know that tech gadgets and devices can make our lives a lot easier. But sometimes, the manufacturers don’t make things as easy as they could be! Here are some great tech life hacks that will make your life easier – hopefully these will save you some time and money in the long run.
1. Use your keyboard to scroll on webpages
If you’re tired of accidentally closing tabs when you’re trying to scroll on a webpage, there’s a simple keyboard shortcut that will fix that. Just hold down the ‘Command’ key (on a Mac) or the ‘Control’ key (on a PC) while you scroll. This will prevent your tabs from closing accidentally.
2. Your headphones double as a mic
One of the most annoying things about headphones is that they always seem to get tangled up. But did you know that you can use them as a microphone as well? Just plug your headphones into your devices’ microphone jack, and voila – instant hands-free operation! This is great for when you’re trying to type or do something else while you’re on a call.
3. Spelling, grammar and definition help
If you’re constantly misspelling words or forgetting grammar rules, there’s a great extension for Google Chrome that can help you out. It’s called Grammarly, and it can be a lifesaver if you’re working on something important. Just install the extension and start writing – it will automatically check your spelling and grammar and give you suggestions for improvements. If you’re ever in a situation where you need to know the definition of a word but don’t have a dictionary handy, there’s a great website that can help you out. It’s called Merriam-Webster Dictionary, and it’s an online dictionary that you can use for free. Just type in the word you’re looking up and hit enter – it’s that simple!
4. Use emoji on desktops
You can actually use emoji on your desktop computer or laptop – you just need to install an emoji keyboard. This can be a great way to add some personality to your emails or social media posts, and it’s also a lot of fun.
5. Quickly reopen a closed tab
Ever accidentally close a tab that you were still using? It happens to all of us. But did you know that there’s a keyboard shortcut to quickly reopen it? Just press Command + Shift + T on a Mac, or Control + Shift + T on Windows.
6. Find the cheapest place to stream a movie from
Alternatively if you’re a cord cutter, you’ll enjoy this site: CanIStream. It shows you where any movie is available to stream – and at the best price.
7. No internet? Play a game
No internet? No problem! There are plenty of great offline games that you can play on your phone or tablet. For instance, try Monument Valley, Alto’s Adventure, or Plants vs. Zombies. You’ll be surprised at how addictive these games can be – and you don’t need an internet connection to play them.
8. Hide people on Twitter without blocking them
Go to their profile, click on the three dots in the top right corner, and select “Turn off retweets.” This way, you won’t see anything they retweet in your timeline, but you can still follow them if you want.
9. Remotely log out of Facebook
If you’re fed up with Facebook, there’s an easy way to remotely log out of your account – even if you’re on a public computer. Just go to the Facebook home page, click on the down arrow in the top right-hand corner, and select “Log Out.” This will log you out of your account no matter where you are or what device you’re using.
10. Improve your WiFi signal
If you’re experiencing intermittent WiFi at home, it might be due to interference from your neighbor’s WiFi interfering with yours. The Wifi Analyzer software might be the solution to your problems. This program analyses frequencies and recommends the best channels to use on your network to avoid channel overlap. As a result, WiFi is quicker and easier to use.
11. Find direct download links to music
Another great tip is to find direct download links to music. This can be a great way to save time and money, especially if you’re someone who likes to download a lot of music. Simply search for the artist or song name followed by the words “direct download.” This will usually lead you to a website where you can download the song directly, without having to go through a third-party site.
12. DIY cord protector
Here’s a clever way to protect your Apple charging cables and other cords from fraying: take the spring from a ballpoint pen, extend it, and wrap it around the section of the cord that bends, and it’ll keep it straight forever, keeping it from fraying over time.
13. Use Spotlight search as a calculator
Did you know that you can use Spotlight search on your Mac as a quick and easy calculator? Just open up Spotlight (Cmd+Space) and type in the equation you want to solve. For example, try typing “56+78” – the answer will appear instantly.
14. Quickly dial back your last caller
If you have an iPhone, you can dial back your last caller by simply tapping the “recents” icon on your phone, and then tapping the little “i” in the top right corner.
15. Shortcut for pausing a YouTube video
One of the most annoying things about watching YouTube videos is that you can’t pause them without opening up the video itself. But there’s a simple shortcut that will let you do just that: next time you’re watching a YouTube video, just press the spacebar on your keyboard to pause or play the video. No more fiddling around with your mouse!
16. Use Google to find your Android
If you’ve ever misplaced your Android phone, you know the frustration of trying to find it. But did you know that you can use Google to help you locate it? Just go to google.com/android/find on any computer or another device and log in with your Google account. You’ll see a list of all the devices associated with your account, and you can select the one you’re looking for to see its location on a map.
17. Convert Wiki pages into books
Did you know that you can convert any Wikipedia page into a PDF book? This is great for long articles that you want to read offline or for saving reference material. Just go to the Print/export tab at the top of any Wikipedia page, select ‘Create a book’, and voila! You can even choose to download the PDF if you want.
18. Google can help you study
If you’re trying to learn something new, turn to Google. You can find almost anything on the internet – including helpful guides and tutorials. Google can be your best friend when you’re trying to figure out how to do something new.
19. See if your email is involved in a data breach
If you’ve ever had an email account that’s been involved in a data breach, you know how frustrating it can be to change all your passwords and update your security settings. But did you know that there’s a way to see if your email address has been compromised? Just go to haveibeenpwned.com and enter your email address. This site will tell you if your email address has been involved in any known data breaches.
20. Easily close any online account
We’ve all been there – you sign up for an online service or product, use it for a while, and then decide you no longer want or need it. But when you go to cancel your account, you find that the process is more difficult than it should be. There are often multiple steps involved, and sometimes you have to jump through hoops just to get in touch with a customer service representative. But there’s an easy way to close any online account, no matter how difficult the company makes it. Just go to this website and enter the URL of the account you want to cancel. The site will take care of everything for you – all you have to do is provide your email address and password.
These are just a few of the best tech life hacks out there! Do you have any to add? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
By following these tips, you can save time, money and energy in your everyday life.
