Computer Tricks and Secrets

Short answer: you do not need a cracked phone-manager like Wondershare MobileGo, because free official tools and cloud sync back up everything safely. The best setup combines automatic cloud backup with an occasional local copy. Here is the complete free guide for Android and iPhone. Android: the free tools Photos & videos: Google Photos backs them up automatically across devices. Files & documents: Google Drive syncs them to the cloud. Everything to a PC: connect via USB, set the phone to "File transfer" mode, and copy the DCIM and other folders, no software needed. Full device backup: Android backs up app data and settings to your Google account automatically (Settings > Google > Backup). iPhone: the free tools iCloud backs up and syncs across Apple devices (Settings > your name > iCloud). To a Windows PC: the free Apple Devices app handles backups that iTunes used to. Photos can also go to Google Photos for a cross-platform cop...

Short answer: The easiest way to move contacts is to sync them to a cloud account first. Save contacts to your Google account on Android or iCloud on iPhone, then sign in to that same account on the new phone and they appear automatically. For everything else, export a vCard (.vcf) file and import it. Every time I set up a new phone the very first thing I want back is my contacts. Years ago this meant fiddly SIM copies and desktop software. These days I almost never touch a cable. Here are the modern methods I actually use, ranked from easiest to most manual. Method 1: Google account sync (best for Android) If your contacts are saved to your Google account rather than the phone itself, switching Android phones is basically automatic. On the old phone, open Settings > Accounts > Google and confirm Contacts sync is on. Wait a minute for the sync to finish, or tap the three-dot menu and choose Sync now . On the new phone, sign in with the same Google account during setup....

Short answer: Dial *#06# on your phone to see the IMEI instantly, or find it in Settings, on the original box, or in your Google or Apple account. If the phone is already lost, retrieve the IMEI from your online account and report it to your carrier and the police so they can blacklist the device. Every phone I have ever owned carries a 15-digit fingerprint called the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity). It identifies the physical handset on any mobile network, independent of the SIM card inside it. When a phone is stolen, that number is what lets a carrier blacklist the device so it becomes useless on their network, and it is the first thing the police will ask for. How do I find my IMEI number right now? If you still have the phone in your hand, this takes about five seconds. Here are the reliable methods I use. Dial *#06# Open the phone dialer, type *#06# , and the IMEI appears on screen instantly. You do not press call on most phones; the code triggers automatica...

Short answer: the old trick of decoding an iPhone's manufacturing date from its serial number no longer works, because Apple switched to randomized serial numbers years ago. The reliable way now is to check the warranty and coverage start date on Apple's official coverage site, which tells you effectively how old the device is. Here is how, and what it matters for. Why the old serial-decoding method is dead Older iPhones used serial numbers where specific digits encoded the factory, year and production week. Apple moved to randomized serial numbers, so those digits no longer mean anything. Any guide telling you to read the 3rd digit for the year is outdated and will give you nonsense. The reliable method: check coverage by serial number Find your serial number: Settings > General > About , or on the SIM tray / original box. Go to Apple's official coverage checker at checkcoverage.apple.com . Enter the serial number. It shows your warranty and AppleCare stat...

Short answer: on Face ID iPhones and iPads, press the side/top button + volume up together; on older Touch ID iPhones, press side button + home button . You can also use Back Tap or AssistiveTouch to screenshot with no buttons, and capture full scrolling pages. Here is every method. Button combos by model Device Screenshot combo iPhone with Face ID Side button + Volume Up iPhone with Home button Side/Top button + Home button iPad with Face ID Top button + Volume Up iPad with Home button Top button + Home button Press both together briefly, the screen flashes and a thumbnail appears in the corner. No-button methods Back Tap: Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap, assign "Screenshot" to a double or triple tap on the back of the phone. Very handy. AssistiveTouch: enables an on-screen button you can tap to screenshot, useful if a physical button is broken. Full-page (scrolling) screenshots To capture a whole long web page or document, not...

Short answer: beyond setting timers, Siri can do genuinely useful things most people never try, location-based reminders, hands-free messaging, on-the-fly translation, running custom Shortcuts, and controlling your smart home. Here are ten Siri tricks that actually save time, not gimmicks. 1. Location-based reminders Say "Remind me to call the bank when I get home" or "when I leave work". Siri triggers the reminder based on location, not just time, one of its most underused, genuinely helpful features. 2. Hands-free messaging and calls "Send a message to Mom: running late" or "Call Dad on speaker" lets you communicate while driving or cooking, entirely hands-free. Siri can also read your incoming messages aloud. 3. Quick translation "How do you say good morning in Spanish?" gives an instant spoken translation, handy while traveling without opening an app. 4. Run Shortcuts by voice Create a Shortcut (in the Shortcuts app) f...