Author: Raymond

I am Raymond Oglesby, an Information Technology (IT) specialist with 30 years in the field. I have taught Microsoft Applications and troubleshot computers in 15 countries and many States. My career was focused on mainframes and desktops from application development to implementation. I have written hundreds of programs for various architectures. I decided to start a blog to share my knowledge and experiences with you. I plan on updating this blog at least twice a week about smart phone apps to Windows. Please feel free to leave a Comment or Tweet. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Please mention the app and version that you are using. To help me out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

How to Delete All Facebook Messages/Chats at Once

The post discusses methods for deleting Facebook Messenger chats on iPhone and desktop. It advises changing message retention settings on the iPhone and provides steps for deleting messages on both platforms. It also mentions using Chrome extensions for bulk deletion.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
April 2, 2024

This is for the iPhone and desktop using Google. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17.3 and Windows 10.

I was surprised at the number of Facebook Messenger chats on my iPhone. I started to delete them one at a time. But doing so was too time-consuming; there had to be a better way.

If you research this post, you will find articles that say bulk deletion of chats cannot be done. But with the help of Google Extensions, you can delete all your chats at once.

This blog post is one of my favorites, especially since I have thousands of chats that I want to delete. We had forgotten that the Forever option was selected, which as you may guess, saves your chats forever.

Where is a chat, a message, a conversation, or a thread used?

A chat is a term used in Messenger (owned by Facebook). A message is a term found on Facebook. In Facebook if there is more than one message with a person, group, or entity, that is labeled a conversation. For a thread, that is used in Reddit.

Check Your Settings

Why do you have hundreds or thousands of chats? On your iPhone head to:

Settings > Messages > Keep Messages

and tap the option. If the option is set to Forever you will have lots of chats. Refer to the below image:

FB Messages 1
Your Facebook Message time setting

We recommend you choose another option. When you do so, all older chats will be automatically deleted. We are selecting to delete messages older than one year. On the confirmation screen, tap Delete Older Messages. See the below image:

FB Messages 3
Selecting to delete messages older than one year

Your Keep Messages will now be set to the option you just chose. See the following image:

FB Messages 5
Your Keep Messages setting

Deleting Facebook messages does not have to be incredibly difficult. Whether you are deleting one or an entire history, there are options for you to do both with minimal effort.

Some users may find it easier to delete their entire Facebook account, although we do not recommend this. For now, let’s just clean up your messages/chats.

Using iPhone

Deleting messages on an iPhone or iPad one at a time:

  • Open the Facebook Messenger app.
  • Tap and hold the message that you no longer want, then swipe to the left.
  • When the menu appears, select Delete.
  • Confirm the selection by tapping Delete.

If you want to delete in bulk, it would be best to use a browser.

Using a Browser

  • Log into your Facebook account.
  • Click See all in Messenger.
  • Click on the 3-dot menu icon next to a conversation.
  • Click Delete Chat if you want to erase all the chats.
  • Confirm your deletion by clicking Delete Chat.

But what can you do about multiple messages and multiple conversations? For this, you have to install a third-party browser extension.

Using a Chrome Extension

Extensions become a part of your web browser and allow you to perform various functions on a website. To delete multiple or all of your Facebook message history, we need to install a web browser extension.

Whether it’s Chrome, Firefox, or Internet Explorer, we will begin by using Google to pull up the Web Store.

Note! You will find a lot of Chrome extensions for deletion of messages. We strongly recommend only using the following extensions from the Chrome web store, not from third-party web sites.

Extension: Delete Facebook Messages

You want to use Google Search to find the “Delete Facebook Messages” extension. Once you have found it, click Add to Chrome. Refer to the below image:

FB Messages 6
Adding Delete Facebook Messages Chrome extension

You will be prompted through various pop-ups until that extension is added. To view the added extension:

Click the 3-dot menu icon in the upper right-hand > Exenesions > Manage Extensions

See the below image:

FB Messages 7
Delete Facebook Messages Chrome extension

Now, let’s add the extension icon to the Chrome toolbar. Click the Details option. See the following image:

FB Messages 8
Selecting Details for the Chrome extension

Next, toggle the Pin to toolbar to ON. Refer to the below image:

FB Messages 9
Toggle Pin to toolbar to ON

Now, the Delete Facebook Messages icon will be in your toolbar. See the below image:

FB Messages 10
The Chrome extension icon

Next, click the Delete Facebook Messages icon and choose the Begin Deletion option. See the following image:

FB Messages 11
Launching the Chrome extension

Note! To use this extension more than once, there is a subscription fee.

Extension: Message Cleaner

To install the Chrome extension, search for Message Cleaner using Google Search, then select Add to Chrome. Refer to the below image:

B Messages 13
Adding the Message Cleaner Chrome extension

Follow the directions above to add its icon to the toolbar.

The extension icon will be labeled Delete all Facebook Messages in your Chrome toolbar. When you click the extension icon you can Open Messages and Delete All Messages. For one-click deletion, press the F8 key. See the below image:

FB Messages 12
Launching the Message Cleaner Chrome extension

This extension works best if you scroll down to the bottom of the message list. Once you start the extension, it will recognize all the messages as being selected for removal. You can also then pick individual messages that you may want to save.

If you selected “all” before clicking “confirm,” the only way to get those messages back is to ask the person you sent them to for help or to use data recovery methods to retrieve backed-up information, assuming you have them backed up.

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing. Rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

Quote For the Day

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.

Jim Rohn

Tweet Info

That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.

Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.

Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.

I Would Like to Hear From You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

Author’s E~Book

You can access the E-book from a Kindle device, or the Kindle App for a desktop or smartphone. The apps are free.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

One iPhone Option to Improve Your Battery Life

The post discusses a tip for improving iPhone battery life by adjusting Wi-Fi settings. Turning off the “Ask to Join Networks” feature can save power.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
March 26, 2024

This is for the iPhone. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+

If you struggle to make it through the day or just want to improve your iPhone battery a little, here is one thing you can do.

It all comes down to your phone’s Wi-Fi settings.

Some settings can search for open wireless networks and even notify you when one is available. This setting allows you to connect to open Wi-Fi networks easily, but it does come with a huge disadvantage; it leaves your phone constantly searching for those open networks throughout the day.

While it is not going to drain your battery extremely fast, using the Ask to Join Networks feature can drain your battery a little. By default, Apple has the iPhone set up to Notify you when an open network is available. However, you can turn this off to save power and improve your iPhone battery.

To turn off the Ask to Join Networks feature, head to:

Settings> Wi-Fi > Ask to Join Networks

This option is below the Other Networks section. If it is not set to off, tap on the option and then select OFF from the drop-down that appears to disable the feature. Refer to the below image:

Battery Life 1
Setting Ask to Join Networks to OFF

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

Quote For the Day

Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.

Warren Buffett

Tweet Info

That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.

Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.

Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.

I Would Like to Hear From You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

Author’s E-Book

You can access the E-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

How to Identify Your Car’s Maintenance Symbols Ysing iPhone

The latest iOS version introduced Visual Look Up, allowing iPhone users to easily identify car dashboard symbols by taking a picture. After snapping the photo, users can access the symbol’s meaning and further information. Visual Look Up can also identify objects in photos and videos, but may require adjusting angles and lighting.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
March 19, 2024

This is for the iPhone. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+

Ever run into car trouble, and you are unsure what those symbols on your dashboard mean? Or, do you just want to know information about the symbols? Now, you can use your iPhone to easily identify car dashboard symbols and meanings by simply snapping a picture. Let’s explore how to use this cool new Visual Look Up feature.

With the latest version of iOS, you can now use Visual Look Up to easily identify your car dashboard’s symbols. This handy new feature makes diagnosing your car troubles a breeze.

First, open the Camera app, and snap a picture of the car dashboard symbols you want to identify. It’s best to take the photo in a dark environment. Refer to the below image:

Auto Symbol 1
Your dashboard symbols

Next, tap the Image Preview to open it. Then tap the Info icon at the bottom of the screen. It might change into a Steering Wheel icon. See the below image:

Auto Symbol 2
Accessing the Info icon

Now, tap Look Up Auto Symbol. See the following image:

Auto Symbol 3
Selecting the Look Up Symbol option

Next, your iPhone should display the meaning of the symbols. Refer to the below image:

Auto Symbol 4
Your car symbols result

Now, tap on the result entry to see more information. See the below image:

Auto Symbol 5
More information about the car symbol you selected

Now you know how to use Visual Look Up to identify your car’s maintenance symbols! Visual Look Up can be a tricky feature to get working right. If your iPhone is having trouble identifying your car dashboard symbols, try a different angle, moving closer or further away, different lighting, etc.

Also, Visual Look Up can be used to identify various objects in photos and videos.

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

Quote For the Day

I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think. That is very uncommon in American business. I read and think. So I do more reading and thinking, and make less impulse decisions than most people in business. I do it because I like this kind of life.


Warren Buffett

Tweet Info

You are finished Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.

Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.

Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.

I Would Like to Hear From You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

Author’s E-Book

You can access the E-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

How to Show Your Digit Ticket on iPhone Lock Screen to Prevent Unauthorized Access

This post discusses a solution for showing digital tickets on an iPhone lock screen to avoid unlocking the phone for scanning. It describes how to set up a lock screen wallpaper displaying the ticket, enabling easy access without compromising security. The process involves taking a screenshot, setting the image as a wallpaper, and switching back afterward.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
March 12, 2024

This is for the iPhone. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+

What to Know

  • Problem With Apple Wallet
  • Lock Screen Solution
  • Show Digital Tickets on the Lock Screen
  • Summary

We hate giving our iPhones to strangers asking to scan a digital ticket with an unlocked screen. Yes, it’s incredibly easy to pull up a barcode or QR code on the screen so you can prove you have a valid ticket, loyalty program membership, or discount. And it’s very easy to add most of these digital tickets to Apple Wallet. In fact, you should do that whenever you can.

There will be instances where you may not perform the scan yourself. In such cases, you will have to unlock the iPhone, open the app that contains the digital ticket, and show or hand your phone to your friend. Now, we know the person handling my iPhone has better things to do than swipe up and snoop on our texts and photos. But it’s the principle of the thing.

The iPhone’s security is only as good as the Lock Screen password. And who knows what else can happen in a crowded place with people waiting for their tickets to be scanned?

But the iPhone’s Lock Screen offers a brilliant solution. We can set temporary wallpapers that display whatever digital ticket we might have to show to gain entry to an event or place. And we will never have to unlock the iPhone when handing it over to others to have a ticket scanned.

It’s incredibly easy to set up, and it’s an easy way to have all your digital tickets and subscriptions ready, whether they support Apple Wallet or not.

Problem With Apple Wallet

We mentioned Apple Wallet a few times, which is the place to store your credit cards, digital keys, and tickets. But to access its contents, you would still have to authenticate via Face ID, Touch ID, or your PIN to unlock the screen.

Also, not all apps support Apple Wallet. Or you might not be using Apple Wallet to begin with. Maybe you are using a code you photographed in real life. In such scenarios, you will not be able to add your digital tickets to Apple Wallet.

We also would point out that you can use both the Apple Ballet and the Lock Screen trick at the same time.

Lock Screen Solution

After the iOS 16 upgrade, we could use the Lock Screen customization support to set up as many wallpapers as we wanted and then just switch between them.

That is, screenshots of the digital ticket were the only way to do it is to hand off our iPhones.

Show Digital Tickets on the Lock Screen

Longtime iPhone users may have realized how the whole thing works. But if you still do not know how to pull it off, we will describe the steps below.

First, go to the app that shows the digital ticket. Maybe it’s an email or an app for an airline. Or a ticket to a concert, or a loyalty card you have to scan often. Whatever it is, find the barcode or QR code and take a screenshot.

You can crop the code if there’s a lot of stuff in the screenshot you do not need. We usually take a few seconds to crop the image.

Next, go to the Lock Screen, tap, and hold it until the wallpaper carrousel pops into view. Refer to the below image:

Lock Screen 1
Your lock screen

Now, tap on the Add New icon. See the below image:

Lock Screen 2
Selecting to add a wallpaper

Next, go to Photos and tap All. See the following image:

Lock Screen 3
Accessing your photos

Now, select the screenshot of the digital ticket you have just saved. Refer to the below image:

Lock Screen 4
Your QR screenshot

Next, comes the tricky part. Whether you have cropped the digital ticket in the screenshot or not, you will have to fit it on the Lock Screen. That means some cropping will follow as you will want to ensure that the code is not covered with any other elements, like screen widgets, the clock, or the Flashlight and Camera buttons. See the the below image:

Lock Screen 5
Your finished lock screen with the QR code

As you can see, we have squeezed a QR code between the Flashlight and Camera buttons.

Now, once you have figured out the position of the digital ticket, save the wallpaper.

That’s it. You are now ready to have your ticket scanned.

Summary

Next time you give the phone to someone else to check their ticket, just hand them your iPhone without unlocking it. Tell them to tap the screen, and the ticket will come into view. Ask them to keep tapping the screen if they need more time because the screen will turn off quickly when your iPhone is locked.

Once you are done, switch back to the wallpaper you want to use.

You can repeat this for any type of digital ticket/membership you routinely have to show around. You can save as many Lock Screens as you want, so they cover all your memberships.

Remember, you should delete the Lock Screens once the digital tickets showing on them are no longer valid.

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

Quote For the Day

Don’t find customers for your products, find products for your customers.

Seth Godin

Tweet Info

That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.

Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.

Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.

I would Like to Hear From You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

Author’s E-Book

You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

How to Clear All Your iPhone Notifications At Once

This post provides a guide on clearing notifications on the iPhone, either individually or all at once. It also includes a disclaimer on the evolving nature of technology. The post ends with a quote and information on sharing the post and accessing the author’s eBook on the Battle of Tra Bong Vietnam.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
March 5, 2024

This is for the iPhone. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+

Notifications on your iPhone provide important updates and information at a glance. However, if you are like us and do not dismiss or interact with your notifications, they can start to pile up. When your Notification Center becomes cluttered and clogged up, you can easily clear notifications on your iPhone simultaneously. Let’s explore this easy feature.

Clear All Your iPhone Notifications

If you are feeling overwhelmed by all the unread notifications in your Notification Center, clearing them might help.

Unlock your phone and swipe down from the top left of your screen

OR

swipe up from your Lock Screen to pull them up.to open the Notification Center.

Tap and hold the “X” icon for a moment. Refer to the below image:

Clear Notifications 1
Selecting the icon to clear all notifications

Tap Clear or Clear All Notifications when it pops up. See the below image:

Clear Notifications 2
Clear all notifications

Once you tap Clear or Clear All Notifications, all of your notifications will instantly disappear from the Notification Center. Now you do not have to deal with hundreds of notifications clogging up your phone every day!

Clear One

You can delete them one at a time by swiping the notification to the left, and then tap Clear or Clear All. See the following image:

Clear Notifications 3
Clear one notification

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

Quote for the Day

The way to get things done is not to mind who gets the credit for doing them.

Benjamin Jowett

spacer

Tweet Info

That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.

Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.

Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.

Author’s E-Book

You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

Eleven Ways to Get More Out of Windows 10

Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 11, has high requirements many users cannot meet with their current PCs. Consequently, many users might stick with Windows 10, which will receive Microsoft’s official support until 2025. Tips and tricks, some old and some specific to Windows 10, can enhance the user experience.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
February 27, 2024

This is for devices running Windows 10. Screenshots are from Windows 10

Windows 11 is the latest and greatest operating system from Microsoft, but it will be a few years before it surpasses Windows 10 as the most popular desktop OS in the world. Despite the company’s desire to get us all to upgrade, Microsoft has made it difficult with high requirements many users can not meet with their current PCs.

If you are sticking with Windows 10 instead of buying a new computer, you have until 2025 before Microsoft begins to wind down official support. So there’s still plenty to learn to get the most out of your aging operating system. Personally, we do not like Windows 11. We will wait for Windows 12 before upgrading from Windows 10.

Whether you do not consider yourself a power user or made the jump from macOS, these tips will help you get more out of your Windows 10 experience. Some of these tricks originated from an older generation of Windows, while others are new to this iteration.

The Secret Start Menu

If you are a fan of that old-school (i.e. non-tiled) Start menu experience, you can still (sort of) have it. Right-click on the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner to prompt a textual jump menu with several familiar destinations, including Apps and Features, Search, and Run. All these options are available through the standard menu interface, but you can access them quickly here.

Note! In this post your can access Settings from the Start menu as noted below or in the Sortana type “Settings”, then click on the Settings app in the Search results.

Refer to the below image:

Win 10 Tricks 1
Start Menu

View Your Desktop Quickly

You do not have to minimize all your open windows just to look at the desktop. There’s a secret button in the bottom-right corner of the taskbar. If you do not see it, look all the way to the bottom and right, beyond the date and time. There, you will find a small sliver of an invisible button. Click it to minimize all your open windows at once; click it again to bring everything back. See the below image:

Win 10 Tricks 2
Accessing View Your Desktop

There’s also the option to minimize windows when you hover over the small silver button versus clicking. Select your preference in:

Settings > Personalization > Taskbar

then flip the switch to ON under Use Peek to preview the desktop… See the following image:

Win 10 Tricks 3
View your Desktop option

Change Windows Search Settings

If your PC searches are taking too long in Windows, narrow things down under:

Settings > Search > Searching Windows

Set search to Classic, which only applies searches to your libraries and desktop. The Enhanced option indexes your whole computer, which can take longer and uses more power. You can further narrow your search by marking certain folders as excluded. Refer to the below image:

Win 10 Tricks 4
Search Settings

Enable God Mode

This may be a little too niche for most users, but if you are a power user or IT professional who wants access to all of Windows’ control panels from one folder, God Mode is for you. Right-click on the desktop and select:

 New > Folder

.Re-name the new folder with this bit of code:

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

To enter God Mode or the Windows Master Control Panel shortcut, as it is officially called, simply double-click the folder. See the below image:

Win 10 Tricks 5
God Mode

Customize the Command Prompt

If you like to dig into the innards of Windows with the Command Prompt, you will be happy to know you can customize the tool. Open the Command Prompt from the Cortana search box, right-click on the window’s top bar, and select Properties to personalize your experience.

The Properties window allows you to change the controls, font, layout, colors, and cursor within the Command Prompt. You can also turn the window transparent by opening the Colors tab and moving the Opacity slider. This lets you code while simultaneously observing the desktop. See the following image for the color setting:

Win 10 Tricks 6
Command Prompt colors

Dark and Light Mode

Windows 10 gives you a significant amount of control over color themes. Open:

Settings > Personalization > Colors

 and you can set the operating system to either Dark mode or Light mode. These themes change the color of the Start menu, Taskbar, Action Center, File Explorer, Settings menus, and any other compatible programs. There is also a custom option that will let you set one theme for Windows menus and another for apps. Want a little more color? There are swatches of color themes available to choose from that can help your menus and taskbars really pop Refer to the below image:

We all use the Windows Clipboard to cut and paste, but did you know you can save multiple items at once and paste across devices? Use the command Win + V to view the last 25 clippings saved to the Clipboard. Go to: 

Win 10 Tricks 7
Dark and Light mode

Bulk Copy and Past

Settings > System > Clipboard

 to control this feature and to sign into your Microsoft Account for cross-device usage. See the below image:

Win 10 Tricks 8
Bulk Copy and Paste

Use Sandbox to Test Files and Apps

Windows 10 Pro users have an extra asset to protect them against dangerous apps and files. If you enable Windows Sandbox inside the Control Panel, it will create a virtual instance of Windows inside Windows. In the Cortana search box, type in Control Panel then click the Control Panel app in the Search results. Now, click:

Programs > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off link. > Windows Sandbox in the popup > Select a program

Note! If you receive a message about Sandbox virtualization support is disabled in the firmware, then click here on how to enable.

You can then safely open anything you are unsure about before introducing it to your Windows installation. Once you close out of Sandbox, everything inside it goes away without hurting your computer. See the following image:

Win 10 Tricks 9
Sandbox

Quickly Open Task Manager

Back in the day, Ctrl + Alt + Delete was the go-to command if your PC was acting up. If you are sick of having to select Task Manager from the menu that appears, there’s a quicker option. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc to immediately open the Task Manager and make things a little easier. Refer to the below image:

Win 10 Tricks 10
Task Manager

View File Extensions

By default, Windows hides file extensions in File Explorer, requiring you to dig into the file’s properties to see if it’s a .jpg or .png file. But you can set it so Windows shows you the file extension automatically. Open:

File Explorer >View > Options > View

Scroll down to the option for Hide extension for known file types and uncheck the box. Click Apply, and now file types will be listed at the end of all file names inside File Explorer. See the below image:

Win 10 Tricks 11
Do not hide the File Extensions option

Set New Start Menu Shortcuts

Have you ever noticed the shortcut options that Windows offers when you open the Start menu? Just above the power button, you should have links to Settings, Documents, and Pictures. However, if you do not find those options useful, Windows lets you change them.

Head to:

Settings > Personalization > Start > Choose which folders appear on Start link

You can then add a shortcut for File Explorer, Downloads, and a few others. See the following image:

Win 10 Tricks 12
Start Menu options

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

Quote For the Day

You will either step forward into growth or you will step back into safety.

Abraham Maslow

Tweet Info

That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.

Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.

Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.

I Would Like to Hear From You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

Author’s E-Book

You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

How to Add a Google Apps Bookmark on Desktop and iPhone

You can start Google Chrome to open a specific page, a new tab, or continue where you left off from the On starup option. We will show you how to set this option to load your Google Apps. You can use the same procedure to load any website at startup or create a bookmark.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
February 20, 2024

This is for the Desktop and iPhone. Screenshots are from Windows 10 and iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+

You can start Google Chrome to open a specific page, a new tab, or continue where you left off from the On startup option. We will show you how to set this option to load your Google Apps. You can use the same procedure to load any website at startup or create a bookmark.

Setup the On Startup Option

Your Google Apps can be displayed using the On startup option. First, to set this option, open Chrome and click the Menu (the 3 dots) in the upper right corner, then navigate to:

Settings > On startup

Next, under the Open a specific page or set of pages option, enter the following:

chrome://apps/

Refer to the below image:

Apps 1
Setting On startup option to your Google Apps

Now whenever you start Chrome, your Google Apps page will be displayed.

By doing the above, you can just click the Home button next to the address bar to display your Google Apps anytime. See the below image:

Apps 5
Accessing the Home button to view your Google Apps page

Clicking the Home button next to the address bar will display the page you have set as the On startup page.

Setup the Google Apps Bookmark on Desktop

If you do not have the On startup option set to Google Apps, why not create a bookmark for it. Following are the steps to do this.

First, open the Google Apps page you want to bookmark in Chrome. See the following image:

Apps 2
Setting your Google Apps page to bookmark

Next, click the Star icon in the address bar. Refer to the below image:

Apps 6
Adding your Google Apps page as a bookmark

Now, choose a name and location for your bookmark then hit Done. See the below image:

Apps 3
Editing your Google Apps bookmark

Next, head to your saved bookmark to see your Google Apps entry. See the following image:

Apps 4
Your saved Google Apps bookmark

Setup the Google Apps Bookmark on iPhone

First, open the Google Apps page you want to bookmark in Chrome then tap the Share button. Refer to the below image:

Apps 7
Setting your Google Apps page

Next, tap the Add to Bookmarks option. See the below image:

Apps 12
Adding your Google Apps bookmark

Edit the Google Apps Bookmark on iPhone

First, tap the Menu (the 3 dots) at the bottom right corner. See the following image:

Apps 9
Accessing the Menu option

Next, tap the Edit Bookmark option. Refer to the below image:

Apps 10
Choosing to edit your Google Apps bookmark


Now, change as necessary, then tap Done. See the below image:

Apps 11
Editing your Google Apps bookmark

Not only do bookmarks save you time as you do not need to type in a URL or search for your most frequently visited sites on Google every time you visit, but they are also great for keeping track of articles and videos you plan to head back to later. If you do not have Google Apps set as your startup page, creating a bookmark allows you to easily display the page.

Disclaimer

Technology is constantly changing; there is rarely static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

Quote for the Day

 “The best vision is insight.”

Malcolm Forbes

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I Would Like to Hear From You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

Author’s E-Book

You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

How to View Saved Wi-Fi Passwords

This post provides instructions on finding Wi-Fi passwords on Windows and iPhone devices. For Windows, it details how to access and reveal the password in plain text. For iPhone, it explains the steps to reveal the Wi-Fi password. The post also includes a disclaimer about technology changes and a quote by Thomas Sowell.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
February 13, 2024

This is for Windows 10/11 and iPhone. Screenshots are from Windows 10 and iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+

Are you connected to Wi-Fi on one device, but need the password to log in on another? Here’s how to find Wi-Fi passwords in Windows and iOS.

Struggling to connect to Wi-Fi? Maybe your laptop is connected but your phone is not, or you need to share your network with a guest but can not remember the password. There are ways to wirelessly share passwords between devices, but that’s not always an option.

Below, we will outline how to grab a Wi-Fi password from already-connected devices by viewing it as plain text. This way you do not need to reset the network security or hack the Wi-Fi network so everyone can get online.

View Password Using Windows

Windows makes this easy, as long as you are connected to the network.

For Windows 10, open:

Settings > Network & Internet

then click the Change Adapter Options button. Refer to the below image:

Password 1
Accessing your network

For Windows 11, open:

Advanced network settings > More network adapter options

then right-click on your computer’s Wi-Fi adapter in the list and choose:

Status > Wireless Properties

Open the Security tab, and you should see a password box with dots in it. Click the Show Characters box to see the password in plain text. See the below image for Windows 10:

Password 2
Viewing your password in plain text on Windows 10

If you are trying to view the password for a network you are not currently connected to, things are a tad more complicated. You can download a third-party app like Wi-Fi Password Revealer which will show you the passwords of all saved networks. See the following image :

Password 3
Viewing Password Revealer software

View Password Using iPhone

iPhone users could not view Wi-Fi passwords as plain text until iOS 16. First, open:

Settings > Wi-Fi

Refer to the below image:

Password 4
Accessing your Wi-Fi network

Now, tap the “i” icon for the current network. See the below image:

Password 5
Tapping the informational icon

Next, select the Password entry and verify your identity with FaceID, Touch ID, or a Passcode. See the following image:

Password 6
Tapping the hidden password

Now tap the password box with dots in it to reveal the password in plain text. Refer to the below image:

Password 7
Revealing the hidden password in plain text

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

Quote For the Day

It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong.

Thomas Sowell

Tweet Info

That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.

Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.

Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.

I Would Like to Hear From You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

Author’s E-Book

You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

How to Change Your Desktop Google Background

This post provides instructions for customizing the Google homepage on both the Google website and Google Chrome. It covers enabling Dark Mode, changing the homepage color and background, managing shortcuts, and installing themes from the Chrome Web Store. The post also includes a disclaimer about technology changes and a quote for the day.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
February 6, 2024

This is for devices using Google. Screenshots are from Windows 10

How many times a day do you navigate to Google.com to look up something on the internet? Modern browsers allow you to search directly from the address bar, so there are a few reasons to load up Google Search’s homepage, but some people can not shake the habit. If that’s you, at least customize it to your needs. Here’s how to customize your Google Homepage.

Enable Google Search Dark Mode

The barebones aesthetic of Google.com keeps things simple…and bright. Turn down the lights with Dark Mode. Click the Settings button in the lower-right corner of the screen, where you can toggle the Dark theme on and off to change the theme you see on Google Search results pages. Refer to the below image:

Google Background 1
Set Dark Mode

Customize Google Chrome Homepage

Are you a Google Chrome user? If so, chances are your homepage is set to Google already, which adds a few shortcuts to Google’s usually minimalist screen. Unlike the Google website, this version of Google Search only follows the default theme setting of your operating system.

To customize Chrome’s Homepage, click the Customize Chrome link in the bottom-right of the screen to open options related to appearance, shortcuts, and what Google calls Cards. Change the color of Chrome’s homepage and menus by choosing one of the preset colors in the menu or selecting the color picker option. See the below image:

Google Background 2
Set your color

For more options, click Change Theme to see several available categories. You can set your homepage to feature Chrome’s brand colors or select among collections of landscapes, space, art, and various artists. Each option gives you a background and color theme. You can also upload your own picture to use as a background. See the following image:

Google Background 3
Set your background

From the Customize Chrome menu, you can also tell Google whether or not you want to show shortcuts on the Homepage. Enable My shortcuts to manually set what websites should be included or the Most visited sides to have Google suggest websites based on how often you visit them. Lastly, Google has a Cards section that allows you to see recent Google Drive files, shopping carts, and recipes. You can turn this section off or disable certain components.

Install Themes

You can also customize your Google Homepage on Chrome with the help of themes from the Chrome Web Store. Open the Customize Chrome menu and click Change Theme, then choose the Chrome Web Store listing at the bottom. (Or open Settings > Appearance > Theme.) Refer to the below image:

Google Background 4
Search the Chrome Web Store

Choose the Themes tab on the web store sidebar to search through various categories. Click into a category, then select a theme you like and choose Add to Chrome to download the theme and apply it to your Google page. See the below image:

Google Background 5
Select a theme

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

Quote For the Day

Think big. Start small.

Seth Godin

Tweet Info

That’s it. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.

Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.

Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.

I Would like to Hear From You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

Author’s E-Book

You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath

How to Charge Your IPhone Fast

This post provides comprehensive tips for fast iPhone charging without degrading battery life. It emphasizes using Apple’s 20W charger and USB-C cable, along with additional tricks like Low Power Mode and closing apps. It concludes with a disclaimer on changing technology and a quote by Arthur Koestler. Always keep your device and OS up to date for the best experience.

RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
January 30, 2024

This is for the iPhone. Screenshots are from iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 17+

One of the most controversial topics when talking about the iPhone is related to charging and battery life. Even with a former Apple employee giving life-saving iPhone battery tips, you can always do more.

We have compiled a comprehensive guide to help you charge your iPhone as fast as possible without degrading your battery too fast. The process is more straightforward than you might imagine, but there are a few tips and tricks to make the most of it.

Charging Your iPhone Quickly

Newer iPhones charge at 20W maximum, so you do not need to use a Mac’s 96W plug or any fancy GaN charger that could give enough juice to your car, iPad, Mac, and phone simultaneously. For example, Apple’s own 20W charger solution is perfect for that.

You do not need to overthink, going all-in with Apple already ensures you can hit the fastest charge possible on your device.

That said, it does not mean you can not use Samsung’s charger with a Belkin USB-C to USB-C cable. Of course, you can, but you do not need to worry that much if you already have Apple’s accessories.

Now that you know that Apple’s 20W charger and its USB-C to USB-C cable are fully capable of charging your iPhone 15 at maximum speed, there are other tips and tricks to ensure you will get the fastest charging possible.

Tips for Faster Charging

Now that you have the proper plug and the right cable, you can do a little more to ensure your device charges as fast as it can. Just follow these tips:

  • Turn on Low Power Mode: Since the iPhone consumes energy even if it’s charging, putting on hold background activity, ProMotion, and other technologies will help improve the charging speeds. See Settings >Battery
  • Close your apps: With no apps opened, they do not require more power from your iPhone.
  • Check for the right temperature: If it’s too hot or cold, your iPhone might not charge properly. That said, never put your iPhone with the sun on it while charging or avoid freezing temperatures as well.
  • Do not use your phone while charging: It might be difficult, but try to do another activity when charging your phone. Go read a book, walk in the park, or watch some TV.
  • Turn on Airplane Mode and turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: If you want to quickly charge your iPhone, turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while turning on Airplane Mode will help charge your iPhone as fast as it can. See Settings

Summary

With these tips and tricks, it’s easier to charge your iPhone as fast as possible. Also, do not forget that your phone will charge 50% in 30 minutes, but to get full power, you might also need to follow these little tricks.

Disclaimer

Technology is always changing and rarely is there static tech for smartphones and desktops. Thus, the contents of this post are only valid at the time of writing. Blog posts older than six months may have directions incompatible with your device or OS. Hopefully, older post content will continue to work as advertised. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life for Technology at Work For You.

Quote For the Day

Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears.

Arthur Koestler

Tweet Info

You are finished. Please feel free to share this post! One way to share is via Twitter.

Just click the Tweet icon below. This will launch Twitter where you click its icon to post the Tweet.

Checkout TechSavvy.Life for blog posts on smartphones, PCs, and Macs! You may email us at contact@techsavvy.life for comments or questions.

I Would Like to Hear From You

Please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. Do you have a computer or smart device tech question? I will do my best to answer your inquiry. Just send an email to contact@techsavvy.life. Please mention the device, app, and version you are using. To help us out, you can send screenshots of your data related to your question.

Author’s E-Book

You can access the e-book from a Kindle device, the Kindle App for the desktop or smartphone, which is a free app.

The author’s Vietnam eBook on the Battle for Tra Bong Vietnam: Events and Aftermath