There are many technologies that we use every day and it is essential to know how they work. If you are a mobile user, there are many tips that you can apply to your device to improve your productivity.
Here are some of the best tech tips that you can use to make your life easier. These tips can help you save money and stay safe from cyber threats.
Keyboard shortcuts for macOS
If you’re looking for ways to maximize your time on your Mac, keyboard shortcuts can be a huge help. These shortcuts work with almost every app and can save you a lot of time by automating common tasks.
A few of these shortcuts are universally known, while others might not be so well-known. But they’re still worth knowing, since they’ll save you a lot of time and effort.
Command-Tab enables you to step through each open window on your desktop without swiping or clicking on the Dock. Holding down the Command key while tapping the Tab key will cycle through all of your apps and bring each one to the front.
Using this shortcut can be a lifesaver if you’re working in an app that has multiple windows open and need to quickly switch between them. Simply hold down the Command key while tapping the Tab key to step through each window and let go when you’re ready to return to the app you were previously working in.
Another useful shortcut is the Command-Shift-P keyboard combination, which allows you to print the current item when in most any app. When you tap this shortcut, a print dialog will appear where you can select the location of the file and choose to print.
This is a great way to capture what’s on your screen if you want to keep a screenshot or share it with someone else. It’s also useful for printing text in other apps, too.
When working with text in a word processor or email application, use this shortcut to undo a formatting mistake, such as a word, phrase, or entire sentence. It works with most of these applications, but you may need to change it in some if you’re using an older version of these programs.
You can edit and remove these shortcuts from the list, or even add your own by heading to System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts tab -> App Shortcuts. Here you can see the menu title of each shortcut, along with its corresponding key combination. To remove a shortcut, just click the minus button (-) below the panel and it will be removed.
Keyboard shortcuts for Windows
If you use a Windows-based PC, there are tons of keyboard shortcuts to help you save time. These hotkeys allow you to control windows, open apps pinned to the Taskbar, open specific features like Narrator and Magnifier, and complete other tasks more quickly than you could with the mouse.
You don’t need to memorize every Windows key shortcut, but it pays to have a few handy ones on hand for when you need them most. The following are some of the most useful Windows key shortcuts for the desktop experience:
Ctrl + A is one of those universal shortcut keys that works across all your programs. It lets you select all the text, files, folders, or elements on any page. This is especially useful for grabbing all the items in a window without needing to click and drag the mouse.
Another keyboard shortcut that’s been around for a while and has improved with upgrades to Windows is Alt + Tab. This shortcut will switch you to the next tab or screen in your current application, saving you from having to navigate back and forth between different applications.
Similarly, Ctrl + F is another shortcut that’s useful for a variety of tasks, but it’s especially helpful when working in File Explorer. You can press this key combination to quickly search for files in File Explorer by entering the full path of the file, including the extension.
You can also use the shortcut to snap a window to the left or right side of the screen, making it easy to compare two windows side-by-side without needing to switch between them. This will keep your workspace organized and reduce eye strain, too.
Keyboard shortcuts for Android
When it comes to keyboard shortcuts, Android has an impressive set of baked-in options. But it also offers plenty of ways to customize them. For example, Gboard allows you to change the position of your keys, and you can even use gesture typing on most models.
There are also many keyboards available for Android that can help you type faster and more accurately. These apps have years of experience and user feedback to back them up, and most of them offer a wide range of customizations.
For example, you can set up text shortcuts for your email address, phone number, personal and office addresses, and any other information you use on a regular basis. Creating custom shortcuts can be a great way to save time on repetitive tasks and improve your productivity.
Using a virtual keyboard can be frustrating when you’re used to a physical one, but with the right shortcuts and settings, it can become an easy process. And the best part is that Android makes it easy to use a virtual keyboard without sacrificing touch-screen usability.
You can turn the arrow key into a magnifying glass to help you see smaller text. Simply hold the comma key and then slide your finger up to the magnifier icon in Gboard’s upper row (or if that doesn’t appear, tap the three-dot menu icon in that same area).
Another hidden shortcut that Gboard has is letting you control the cursor with just your thumb. Just touch your finger to the space bar and then slide it to the left or right. That’ll cause your cursor to move accordingly, so you can place it exactly where you want it.
This works best with lowercase letters and numbers, though you can still type in capitals. Just make sure that the toggle next to “Capitalize” is in the on position within Gboard’s text correction settings.
It’s also possible to prevent Gboard from offering up random characters and phrases that you would never say in the first place with a simple hidden shortcut: Just press and hold the word or phrase that appears in the top bar and drag it over to Gboard’s trash can icon.
Keyboard shortcuts for iOS
For iOS users, keyboard shortcuts can make a huge difference when it comes to getting work done on your phone. Whether you are using an iPhone or iPad, these nifty tricks will help you type faster and get your work done much quicker.
One of the most important and useful iPhone keyboard shortcuts is the ability to switch between the numeric and alphabetical keyboards with a single tap of your finger. To do this, simply hold down the “123” key and then swipe your finger to the number or symbol you want, releasing when it’s reached what you need.
Another handy shortcut is the ability to change the case of words with a quick double tap of the shift key. This is a great option for anyone who wants to shout at someone or really makes a point in their text messages or emails.
This is also a handy shortcut for typing in em-dashes or bullet points, as it can be hard to hit the right symbol when you are typing on an iPhone keyboard. For example, tapping on the hyphen symbol will give you the choice of a long em-dash or a small degree circle (the same symbols you can get by tapping the zero key).
If you have a Smart Keyboard Folio for your iPad Pro, these iPhone keyboard shortcuts aren’t necessary as it can be used like a Mac keyboard.
A good way to remember these iPhone keyboard shortcuts is to write them down and practice them on your phone. It’s a great way to save time and get better at iPhone texting!
The most common shortcuts are shown at the top of this list, but you can scroll horizontally to find more. You can even search for specific shortcuts by pressing and holding the Command key.
Apple added a new menu in iPadOS 15 that lets you see all of the keyboard shortcuts for the OS and apps you are currently using, just like on a desktop computer. You can also tap the Globe key to quickly open this new tabbed menu and search for specific keyboard shortcuts.
