Hot Gadget Hacks Posts
![iOS 18 Tips, Tricks, How-Tos, News](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/15/56/63854300537190/0/ios-18-secrets-revealed.600x696.jpg)
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How To: 20 Surprisingly Practical Uses for Apple AirTags
Apple AirTags are super helpful for keeping track of your keys, backpack, and other frequently misplaced items, but there are some pretty clever things you can do with them beyond finding regularly used stuff.
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How To: The Trick That Lets You Link to Specific Start Times in YouTube Videos Right from Your Phone
You can add a timestamp to any YouTube video in just a few clicks from the desktop website on your computer but not from YouTube's iOS or Android app. Until YouTube adds a "start time" when sharing videos from the mobile app, you'll have to use one of these workarounds on your phone or tablet.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/71/33/63734419048754/0/warning-sensitive-info-you-black-out-images-can-be-revealed-with-few-quick-edits-your-iphone.1280x600.jpg)
Warning: Sensitive Info You Black Out in Images Can Be Revealed with a Few Quick Edits on Your iPhone
These days, most images we post online or share with others come from our smartphones. Whenever personal data is in them, such as debit card numbers, addresses, phone numbers, passwords, and other sensitive information, it's easy to jump into your iPhone's markup tools to black out the text before sharing. But a digital marker may not hide everything.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/66/79/63651104947329/0/use-odin-flash-samsung-galaxy-stock-firmware.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Use Odin to Flash Samsung Galaxy Stock Firmware
If you own a Samsung phone and enjoy rooting or modding your device, flashing official firmware can be very useful. Odin is Samsung's own internal program for loading such updates for testing purposes, and it's quite easy to use for your own custom modification needs.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/39/81/63616280929351/0/twrp-101-make-nandroid-backup-restore-your-entire-phone.1280x600.jpg)
TWRP 101: How to Make a NANDroid Backup & Restore Your Entire Phone
A custom recovery is a very powerful tool. You can flash ZIPs that modify your Android device in ways that not even root can accomplish, and of course you can use it to install custom ROMs. But when you're applying all of these cool mods, there's always a chance that something could go wrong, and you might even end up bricking your device.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/69/51/63778293722670/0/16-harry-potter-spells-for-siri-turn-your-iphone-into-magical-elder-wand.1280x600.jpg)
How To: 16 Harry Potter Spells for Siri That Turn Your iPhone into a Magical Elder Wand
Your days as an ordinary Muggle are over — as long as you have an iPhone. With just a word or two, you can use your iPhone and newfound Muggle-born powers to cast spells or utilize charms just like Harry Potter and team. Only your "wand" is from Apple, not Ollivanders in Diagon Alley.
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How To: Test Your Samsung Phone by Using Secret Code *#0*#
Besides obvious features like a touchscreen and biometric sensors, the modern smartphone comes with an array of state-of-the-art hardware in the form of various sensors that help your device sense the environment around it. And if you have a Samsung handset, chances are, you have a handy feature built in that enables you to check if these sensors are functioning 100 percent.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/64/78/63855181023792/0/get-rcs-messaging-your-iphones-messages-app-for-imessage-like-chats-with-android-users.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Get RCS Messaging in Your iPhone's Messages App for iMessage-Like Chats with Android Users
Things are about to get a lot better in your iPhone's Messages app, and the most significant change will let you text Android users with iMessage-like features such as typing indicators, read receipts, large file sharing, high-quality photos and videos, and even emoji reactions. If you can't wait for its official release, there's a way you can try RCS on your iPhone right now.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/18/51/63700268253831/0/see-passwords-for-wi-fi-networks-youve-connected-your-android-device.1280x600.jpg)
How To: See Passwords for Wi-Fi Networks You've Connected Your Android Device To
You've probably connected your Android device to dozens of Wi-Fi networks since you've had it, and your phone or tablet remembers each of them. Whether it's a hotspot at home, school, work, the gym, a coffee shop, a relative's apartment — or even from a friend's phone — each time you type in a Wi-Fi password, your Android device saves it for safekeeping and easy access later.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/46/84/63818831262499/0/access-all-your-macs-files-right-your-iphone-ipad-no-third-party-software-needed.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Access All Your Mac's Files Right on Your iPhone or iPad — No Third-Party Software Needed
When you need a file on your Mac as soon as possible, you usually have to get your MacBook or hop on your iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro, or Mac Studio. But that's too much work if you're in bed, lying on the couch, or outside in the fresh air. Why even bother when you can access that file directly on your iPhone or iPad — without moving an inch?
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Android Basics: How to See What Kind of Processor You Have (ARM, ARM64, or x86)
Starting with the release of Android Lollipop, the process of installing the Xposed Framework got a bit more complicated. Not only are there separate installers for each Android version, but now, you also need to know exactly what type of processor is in your device to make sure you're downloading the right files. In fact, CPU architecture is becoming a factor in more and more scenarios these days, including certain sideloaded app updates and, of course, custom ROMs.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/68/23/63832717294213/0/use-facetimes-secret-hand-gestures-and-reaction-buttons-add-animated-screen-effects-your-video-feed.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Use FaceTime's Secret Hand Gestures and Reaction Buttons to Add Animated On-Screen Effects to Your Video Feed
Apple's Messages app has long had visual effects you could apply manually after long-pressing the send button, and there are even hidden keywords you could use to trigger full-screen effects automatically. FaceTime's latest update also gives you some full-screen effects to play around with during video calls, but the triggers are an entirely different concept — hand gestures.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/70/27/63784337756887/0/clone-any-android-app-your-samsung-galaxy-phone-without-using-any-third-party-tools.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Clone Any Android App on Your Samsung Galaxy Phone Without Using Any Third-Party Tools
Samsung has a cool security feature built into One UI that has an interesting side effect, one that lets you have two separate copies of any Android app on your Galaxy phone. And that's not the only integrated Samsung tool for cloning apps.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/51/07/63716753107441/0/your-oneplus-home-screen-has-built-step-counter.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Your OnePlus Home Screen Has a Built-in Step Counter
A great way to incorporate a healthy exercise routine is by taking lots of steps throughout the day. While most smartphones can track and report your steps via a third-party app, you can check them right from your home screen if you have a OnePlus phone.
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How To: Easily Change Your Play Store Country to Download Region-Locked Apps & Games
What you see when you open the Play Store is completely dependent on your country settings. Search results and top charts are specific to each region and there are lots of popular apps and games that simply won't show up unless your Play Store country matches up.
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How To: Why Your Lost AirPods Say 'Offline' or 'No Location Found' in the Find My App
If you lose your AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max, you can turn to Find My to locate them. But sometimes, things don't go according to plan, and many things can go wrong. For example:
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/29/00/63658971120105/0/permanently-stop-any-app-from-updating-play-store-no-computer-needed.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Permanently Stop Any App from Updating on the Play Store — No Computer Needed
App updates bring new functionality, but they can also break old features or introduce changes no one wants. Unfortunately, if you're holding onto an older app version because you don't want to accept the update, it becomes a lot harder to keep the rest of your apps updated.
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How To: Set a Charging Limit on Your Android Device to Avoid Excess Battery Wear
There's a lot of conflicting information out there when it comes to the best habits for charging a smartphone's battery, so let's clear some of that up right off the bat. Lithium ion batteries (the type used in most modern electronics) start to lose their ability to hold a charge over time, and the two biggest factors that contribute to this are excess heat and overcharging.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/17/30/63731018405410/0/find-recover-apple-notes-stored-gmail-yahoo-outlook-aol-other-third-party-mail-accounts.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Find & Recover Apple Notes Stored in Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, AOL & Other Third-Party Mail Accounts
If you can't locate a specific entry in the Notes app on your iPhone, chances are that it's hiding in a different place than you thought, connected to a third-party email service such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook. When one of those notes gets lost or accidentally deleted, you're going to run into issues, but it's possible to recover it.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/67/44/63850160245918/0/apples-repair-mode-for-ios-makes-prepping-your-iphone-be-fixed-easier-and-more-secure.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Apple's Repair Mode for iOS Makes Prepping Your iPhone to Be Fixed Easier and More Secure
You no longer have to worry about repair technicians accessing the personal information on your iPhone when you send it in for repairs. With Apple's new security feature, you'll no longer have to erase your iPhone to ensure your photos, messages, accounts, and other private data remain for your eyes only.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/48/42/63573870828571/0/tor-for-android-stay-anonymous-your-phone.1280x600.jpg)
Tor for Android: How to Stay Anonymous on Your Phone
Keeping your online data and identity private is an uphill battle, but with the anonymity network Tor, you have a pretty decent line of defense from prying eyes.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/38/92/63644376171019/0/unlock-bootloader-your-pixel-2-pixel-2-xl.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Unlock the Bootloader on Your Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL
Root, TWRP, Xposed, Magisk, custom ROMs — before you can have any of these, the first thing you should do is unlock your bootloader. Thankfully, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are some of the most modder-friendly phones out there, so you only need to send a single fastboot command to unlock the bootloader.
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How To: 9 Hidden Audio Mods for Your Galaxy on One UI
Though more well known for their OLED displays and advanced cameras, Galaxy phones like the S8, Note 10 & 10+ and S10 series are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to audio. In fact, flagships from the S9 on up feature AKG-tuned stereo speakers, along with a slew of software enhancements that make listening to music a truly pleasurable experience.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/52/08/63755214545327/0/make-spoofed-calls-using-any-phone-number-you-want-right-from-your-smartphone.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Make Spoofed Calls Using Any Phone Number You Want Right from Your Smartphone
Spoofed phone calls originate from one source that's disguising its phone number as a different one, and you probably get these calls all the time. Maybe they're numbers from your local area code or for prominent businesses, but the callers are just hijacking those digits to fool you into picking up. Turns out, making a spoofed call is something anybody can do — even you.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/76/49/63751681122219/0/dial-these-secret-codes-see-if-someone-is-hijacking-calls-texts-your-iphone.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Dial These Secret Codes to See if Someone Is Hijacking Calls & Texts on Your iPhone
Malevolent hackers can divert your incoming calls and texts to any number they want, and they don't need to be a criminal mastermind to do it. Even friends and family members can reroute your incoming calls and messages so that they know exactly who's trying to reach you, and all it takes is seconds of access to your iPhone or wireless account. These secret codes can help uncover them.
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How To: 13 Tips Every Apple Pencil User Needs to Know for iPad
While it doesn't come with any iPad models out of the box, the Apple Pencil is perhaps the best iPad accessory you can get. It's a powerful writing and drawing tool with an intuitive design and user-friendliness that makes it easy to take notes, draw sketches, mark up documents, and more. And there's a lot you can do with it — some of which you may not have noticed yet.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/32/52/63692378661610/0/add-unsupported-cards-and-passes-apple-wallet-for-quick-easy-access-your-iphone.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Add Unsupported Cards and Passes to Apple Wallet for Quick, Easy Access on Your iPhone
Apple's Wallet app lets you store boarding passes, concert tickets, gym memberships, vaccination cards, movie stubs, rewards cards, insurance info, student IDs, and more in one place on your iPhone, and you just double-click the Home or Side button to access them. Unfortunately, many cards and passes are not officially supported — but that doesn't mean you can't add them.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/38/53/63666840074131/0/100-secret-dialer-codes-for-oneplus-phones.1280x600.jpg)
How To: 100+ Secret Dialer Codes for OnePlus Phones
There's actually more to the dialer screen on your OnePlus than meets the eye. Besides its obvious purpose of calling people, there's a vast array of secret codes that you can input to troubleshoot your device, in addition to revealing important information, making anonymous phone calls, and so much more.
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How To: Prevent People Who Have Your Contact Information from Finding Your Instagram Account
Sharing your personal information can come up for any number of reasons: you may want to get in touch with a colleague after work or you've been involved in a car accident and need to stay in contact with the other driver. Unfortunately, giving out information can be the key for others to find your social media accounts, such as Instagram, whether you want it to happen or not.
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How To: Use a Different Apple ID for Apple Music Without Using Family Sharing
Your Apple Music subscription is tied to the Apple ID that subscribed, so you can stream content from any iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, or watchOS device that your Apple ID is signed in to. However, things get slightly more complicated when you want to listen to Apple Music on another device you use with a different Apple ID, such as a work iPhone. Complicated, but not impossible.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/32/00/63721168272666/0/boot-your-galaxy-s20-into-recovery-mode-download-mode.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Boot Your Galaxy S20 into Recovery Mode or Download Mode
Recovery mode and download mode are useful for modding and they can come in handy in a pinch. Booting into recovery mode to do a factory reset or wipe cache fan save your Galaxy S20 from a soft brick, and entering download mode lets you install firmware with utilities like Odin and Smart Switch.
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VLC 101: How to Stream Movies from Your Computer to Your Android Phone
Even though your phone has a built-in media player, it's got nothing on VLC. The popular third-party video player supports virtually every codec and file format, and even better, you can use it to stream movies, shows, and other video files from your computer to your phone.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/77/12/63793841051833/0/see-whos-viewed-your-tiktok-profile-and-stop-them-from-knowing-you-visited-theirs.1280x600.jpg)
How To: See Who's Viewed Your TikTok Profile (And How to Stop Them from Knowing You Visited Theirs)
Most of you have probably wondered at least once who has been checking out your social media profiles. While most platforms prohibit you from seeing who's viewed your profile, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, TikTok is one of the few places that lets you track profile visitors. And unlike with LinkedIn, you don't have to pay for the privilege.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/08/29/63809208545326/0/turn-your-samsung-galaxy-smartphone-tablet-into-second-display-for-your-computer.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Turn Your Samsung Galaxy Smartphone or Tablet into a Second Display for Your Computer
An iPad can serve as a second screen for a Mac via Sidecar, available since iPadOS 13, but Apple isn't the only manufacturer to support such a feature. Samsung has had a similar tool since One UI 3.1 that lets you turn certain Samsung Galaxy tablets into second displays for your PC — and there's a hidden feature that expands it to more tablets and even Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/25/49/63674331856532/0/install-facebook-lite-your-iphone.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Install Facebook Lite on Your iPhone
In an ongoing effort to improve its services and become more accessible to users from all regions, Facebook has released a streamlined version of its social media app. Though the leaner Facebook Lite is only officially available in Turkey for now, there's a simple workaround you can use to get the app in any country.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/81/52/63696116095175/0/unlock-bootloader-your-pixel-3a.1280x600.jpg)
How To: Unlock the Bootloader on Your Pixel 3a
The first thing you'll always have to do before getting your customization game on with most phones is to unlock the bootloader. Doing so opens the true potential of the device, allowing you to root, install TWRP, Magisk, custom ROMs, and other mods. No matter your wants or needs, there's no way around it — the bootloader must be unlocked to modify the system.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/10/95/63685498922489/0/20-privacy-security-settings-you-need-check-your-google-pixel.1280x600.jpg)
How To: 20 Privacy & Security Settings You Need to Check on Your Google Pixel
Android's settings menu is actually pretty daunting. There are options for nearly everything, so in the sea of various menus and submenus, it's easy to overlook important privacy and security settings. On Google's Pixel phones in particular, there are 20 such settings that you should double check.
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How To: Invite People to Messenger Group Chats with a Link So They Can Join Right Away or Wait on Approval
While some of our group chats should probably remain private and closed off, others will only get better with more people. Whether you're organizing an event and need a headcount or you want to share a funny YouTube video with a large crowd, you can add all the friends you wish to on Facebook Messenger by sending them a unique link.
![](https://img.gadgethacks.com/img/99/20/63851675189236/0/youre-using-lidar-your-iphone-and-ipad-and-you-dont-even-know.1280x600.jpg)
How To: You're Using Lidar on Your iPhone and iPad — And You Don't Even Know It
Lidar, a technology first used by meteorologists and aerospace engineers and then adopted in self-driving vehicles, has slowly crept into consumer electronics over the last five years. If you have a Pro model iPhone or iPad, there's a good chance it has a lidar sensor, and you're likely using it whether you know it or not.
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How To: Set Up Wireless Debugging on Android 11 to Send ADB Commands Without a USB Cable
From booting into Fastboot mode with a single command to installing mods without root access, there's no shortage of reasons to use ADB. The catch, though, you had to be tied to a computer with a USB connection. However, a new feature in Android 11 finally allows you to run ADB commands over Wi-Fi instead of being tethered.