How-To
AblePro How-To

How do I do that?

Clear, straightforward instructions for everyday technology tasks, including computers, phones, email, documents, Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, texting, privacy, account recovery, sharing, scams, and account security.

604 guides

Windows & Files

How to Show File Extensions in Windows 11

Make Windows display .pdf, .jpg, .docx, .exe and other filename extensions.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Find Downloaded Files in Windows

Find files you downloaded from a browser, email, or website.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Show Hidden Files in Windows 11

Display files and folders Windows normally hides from view.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Change the Default App for a File in Windows 11

Choose which program opens PDFs, photos, text files, and other file types.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Zip and Unzip Files in Windows

Compress files into a ZIP archive or extract files from one without extra software.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Take a Screenshot in Windows 11

Capture all or part of your screen using Windows built-in tools.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Find Your Router's IP Address in Windows

Find the local address used to open your router's administration page.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Find a Device's IP Address on Your Network

Use Windows to see local devices and IP addresses your computer has recently communicated with.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

What to Do When Wi-Fi Says Connected but There Is No Internet

Work through the common causes when your device joins Wi-Fi but websites will not load.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Change Your Wi-Fi Password

Change the password devices use to join your wireless network.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Find Downloads on an iPhone or iPad

Find PDFs, documents, images, and other files downloaded from Safari and other apps.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Scan a Document with an iPhone or iPad

Create a clean document scan using built-in Apple apps.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Save a Webpage as a PDF on iPhone or iPad

Turn a webpage into a PDF you can save in Files.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Find a Website's IP Address

Use Windows DNS tools to see the address currently returned for a domain name.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Understand A, CNAME, MX, and TXT DNS Records

A plain-language guide to the DNS records you are most likely to encounter.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Change a Domain's Nameservers

Point a registered domain to the DNS provider that should control its records.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Clear the DNS Cache in Windows

Remove cached DNS answers from your Windows computer.

View guide →Email

How to Find Archived Email in Gmail

Locate messages that were removed from the Inbox but not deleted.

View guide →Email

How to Block a Sender in Gmail

Tell Gmail to send future messages from a sender to Spam.

View guide →Email

How to Add an Email Signature in Gmail

Automatically add your name, company, phone number, or other information to Gmail messages.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Combine PDF Files

Understand the safe ways to merge several PDFs into one document.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Split a PDF into Separate Files

Extract selected pages or page ranges from a PDF.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Reduce the Size of a PDF

Make a PDF smaller for email or uploading.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Save a Word Document as a PDF

Create a PDF directly from Microsoft Word.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Find Large Files in Windows 11

See which files are using the most storage space on your computer.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Change Where Downloads Are Saved in Windows

Move the Windows Downloads folder or change where your browser saves downloaded files.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Change Startup Apps in Windows 11

Control which programs start automatically when you sign in.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Uninstall a Program in Windows 11

Remove an application you no longer need.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Map a Network Drive in Windows 11

Give a shared network folder its own drive letter in File Explorer.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Disconnect a Mapped Network Drive in Windows 11

Remove a mapped drive letter without deleting the files on the server.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Rename a File or Folder in Windows

Change a filename or folder name without changing its contents.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Create a New Folder in Windows 11

Create a folder for organizing files.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Copy or Move Files in Windows

Move files to another folder or make a second copy.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Restore a Deleted File from the Recycle Bin

Recover a recently deleted file that is still in the Windows Recycle Bin.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Empty the Recycle Bin in Windows

Permanently remove files that are currently in the Recycle Bin.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Change What File Explorer Opens To in Windows 11

Open File Explorer to This PC instead of Home/Quick access.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Stop File Explorer from Showing Recent Files in Quick Access

Hide recent and frequently used items from File Explorer Home/Quick access.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Pin a Folder in File Explorer

Keep a frequently used folder easy to reach from File Explorer.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Find Your Windows Version and Edition

See whether you have Windows 10 or 11 and which edition/build is installed.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Find Your Computer's Specifications in Windows

See your processor, installed RAM, system type, Windows edition, and device information.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Check Whether Windows Is Activated

See whether Windows currently reports a valid activation.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Change the Desktop Background in Windows 11

Set a picture, solid color, or slideshow as your desktop wallpaper.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Move Windows 11 Taskbar Icons to the Left

Change Windows 11 taskbar icon alignment from centered to left.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Add a Printer in Windows 11

Install a USB, Wi-Fi, or network printer.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Set the Default Printer in Windows 11

Choose which printer Windows uses automatically.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Clear Temporary Files in Windows 11

Free storage used by temporary system and application files.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Change Screen Resolution in Windows 11

Adjust the number of pixels Windows uses for a display.

View guide →Windows & Files

How to Make Text and Apps Larger in Windows 11

Increase display scaling without lowering screen resolution.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Restart a Modem and Router

Restart home networking equipment without erasing its settings.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Tell Whether Wi-Fi Is 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz

Understand the two common Wi-Fi frequency bands and why some devices require one of them.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Find the Wi-Fi Password on a Windows 11 PC

View a saved Wi-Fi network password when Windows provides access to it.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Forget a Wi-Fi Network in Windows 11

Remove a saved wireless network and its stored connection information.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Change a Windows Network Between Public and Private

Choose the Windows network profile appropriate for the network you are using.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Find a Computer's MAC Address in Windows 11

Find the hardware/network address used by a Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Find Your Public IP Address

Find the internet-facing IP address seen by websites and online services.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

What to Do When Wi-Fi Is Slow on Only One Device

Troubleshoot a phone or computer that is slow while other devices work normally.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

What to Do When Wi-Fi Is Slow on Every Device

Determine whether slow service is coming from Wi-Fi, the router, or the internet connection.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

Ethernet vs. Wi-Fi: Which Should You Use?

Understand when a wired Ethernet connection is preferable to wireless networking.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Connect a Printer to Wi-Fi

Join a wireless printer to your home or office network before adding it to computers.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Find a Printer's IP Address

Find the local network address of a Wi-Fi or Ethernet printer.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Check Wi-Fi Signal Strength in Windows

See whether a weak wireless signal may be causing connection problems.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Change DNS Servers in Windows 11

Set a Windows network connection to use specific DNS resolvers.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Use Ping in Windows

Check whether a network host is reachable and see basic round-trip response times.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Use Tracert in Windows

See the network hops Windows encounters on the way to a destination.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Renew a Windows IP Address

Ask the local DHCP server to issue or renew an IPv4 configuration.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Use Network Reset in Windows 11

Use Windows' broader network reset only after simpler troubleshooting has failed.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

What to Do When Wi-Fi Keeps Disconnecting in Windows

Troubleshoot repeated wireless drops on one Windows computer.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

How to Set Up a Guest Wi-Fi Network

Create a separate wireless network for visitors when your router supports it.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

Wi-Fi Extender vs. Mesh Wi-Fi: What's the Difference?

Understand two common ways to improve wireless coverage.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

What Is DHCP and Why Does Your Network Use It?

Understand how home networks automatically assign IP addresses.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

What Is a Default Gateway?

Understand the address shown as Default Gateway in Windows network settings.

View guide →Wi-Fi & Networking

What Is a Subnet Mask?

Understand the network value Windows often shows beside an IP address.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Check and Free Storage on an iPhone or iPad

See what is using device storage and identify large apps or files.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Change the Default Browser on iPhone or iPad

Choose which installed browser opens web links by default.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Add an Email Account to an iPhone or iPad

Add Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Exchange, or another mail account.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Remove an Email Account from an iPhone or iPad

Stop an account from syncing to the device without deleting the mailbox itself.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Add a Website Shortcut to the iPhone or iPad Home Screen

Create a Home Screen icon that opens a website.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Transfer iPhone Photos to a Windows PC

Copy photos and videos from an iPhone to Windows.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Scan a QR Code with an iPhone or iPad

Open information or a website encoded in a QR code.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to View a Saved Wi-Fi Password on iPhone or iPad

View a Wi-Fi password saved on the device when supported.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Forget a Wi-Fi Network on iPhone or iPad

Remove a saved wireless network and its password from the device.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Use Personal Hotspot on an iPhone

Share an iPhone's cellular data connection with another device.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Use AirDrop on iPhone or iPad

Send photos, documents, links, and other supported items to nearby Apple devices.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Pair a Bluetooth Device with an iPhone or iPad

Connect headphones, speakers, keyboards, and other Bluetooth accessories.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Take a Screenshot on an iPhone or iPad

Capture what is currently displayed on the screen.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Record the iPhone or iPad Screen

Create a video recording of activity on the screen.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Close an App on iPhone or iPad

Remove an app from the app switcher when it is unresponsive.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Restart an iPhone or iPad

Turn the device off and back on to clear many temporary problems.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Update iOS or iPadOS

Install available operating-system updates on an iPhone or iPad.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Find Downloaded Files on Android

Locate PDFs, documents, images, and other downloaded files on an Android phone or tablet.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Check Storage on an Android Phone or Tablet

See which apps and file categories are using device storage.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Take a Screenshot on Android

Capture the current screen on most Android phones and tablets.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Forget a Wi-Fi Network on Android

Remove a saved Wi-Fi network and reconnect from scratch.

View guide →Phones & Tablets

How to Turn On a Mobile Hotspot on Android

Share a phone's cellular data connection over Wi-Fi.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Find Where a Domain Is Registered

Identify the registrar that manages a domain registration.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Find Who Hosts a Website

Use DNS and network information to identify likely website infrastructure.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Check When a Domain Name Expires

Find registration dates and expiration information when the registry makes it available.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Renew a Domain Name

Extend a domain registration before it expires.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How Long Do DNS Changes Take?

Understand why a DNS change can appear in one place before another.

View guide →Websites & Domains

What Is DNS TTL?

Understand the setting that controls how long DNS answers may be cached.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Add an A Record to DNS

Point a hostname to an IPv4 address.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Add a CNAME Record to DNS

Alias one hostname to another hostname.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Add an MX Record for Email

Tell the internet which mail servers receive email for a domain.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Add or Check an SPF Record

Publish which mail systems are authorized to send email for a domain.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Set Up DKIM for Email

Publish the DNS key used to verify cryptographic signatures added by your email provider.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Add a DMARC Record

Publish a policy for mail that fails SPF/DKIM alignment and optionally receive reports.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Check a Website's SSL Certificate

View certificate validity, issuer, hostname coverage, and expiration.

View guide →Websites & Domains

Why Does a Website Say Not Secure?

Understand common reasons a browser warns about a website connection.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Fix Mixed Content on an HTTPS Website

Find HTTP images, scripts, styles, or other resources loaded by an HTTPS page.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Redirect HTTP to HTTPS

Send visitors from an insecure HTTP URL to the HTTPS version.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Redirect WWW to Non-WWW (or the Reverse)

Choose one canonical hostname and redirect the other version to it.

View guide →Websites & Domains

301 vs. 302 Redirect: Which Should You Use?

Understand permanent versus temporary web redirects.

View guide →Websites & Domains

What to Check When a Website Is Down

Separate DNS, server, application, certificate, and local-device problems.

View guide →Websites & Domains

Why Does a Website Work on One Device but Not Another?

Troubleshoot a site that loads elsewhere but fails on one computer or phone.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Clear the Cache in Chrome

Remove cached website files when a page is displaying stale or broken content.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Download Media from WordPress

Retrieve images and other media files from a WordPress site.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Find the URL of an Image in WordPress

Get the direct web address of a Media Library file.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Update a WordPress Plugin Safely

Reduce the risk of breaking a site during a plugin update.

View guide →Websites & Domains

How to Fix WordPress Stuck in Maintenance Mode

Recover when WordPress keeps showing a maintenance message after an interrupted update.

View guide →Email

How to Delete an Email in Gmail

Move a Gmail message to Trash.

View guide →Email

How to Restore a Deleted Email in Gmail

Move a message from Trash back into Gmail before it is permanently removed.

View guide →Email

How to Empty Gmail Trash

Permanently remove messages currently in Gmail Trash.

View guide →Email

How to Mark Gmail Messages Read or Unread

Change whether Gmail displays a message as already read.

View guide →Email

How to Create a Label in Gmail

Organize Gmail messages into named categories.

View guide →Email

How to Create a Gmail Filter

Automatically process messages that match sender, subject, or other criteria.

View guide →Email

How to Forward an Email in Gmail

Send a received Gmail message to another recipient.

View guide →Email

How to Forward an Email as an Attachment in Gmail

Attach an original email message to a new Gmail message.

View guide →Email

How to Set Up Automatic Forwarding in Gmail

Automatically forward incoming Gmail messages to another address.

View guide →Email

How to Set an Out-of-Office Reply in Gmail

Automatically reply while you are away.

View guide →Email

How to Search Gmail More Precisely

Find messages by sender, subject, date, attachment, and status.

View guide →Email

How to Find Large Emails in Gmail

Locate messages with large attachments that may be using mailbox storage.

View guide →Email

How to Download an Attachment from Gmail

Save a file attached to a Gmail message.

View guide →Email

How to Attach a File to Gmail

Add a document, image, PDF, or other file to an outgoing Gmail message.

View guide →Email

How to Increase Gmail's Undo Send Time

Give yourself a longer short window to cancel a message immediately after sending.

View guide →Email

How to Change the Name Gmail Shows When You Send Email

Change the display name recipients see with messages sent from Gmail.

View guide →Email

How to Export Outlook Email to a PST File

Create an Outlook Data File export from classic Outlook for Windows.

View guide →Email

How to Open an Outlook PST File

Open an existing Outlook Data File in classic Outlook for Windows.

View guide →Email

How to Find Outlook Data Files

Locate PST and OST files used by classic Outlook on Windows.

View guide →Email

What to Do When Outlook Email Is Not Syncing

Check connection, account status, offline mode, and server availability when messages are stale.

View guide →Email

Why Deleted Gmail Messages Can Reappear in Outlook

Understand differences between Gmail labels and Outlook delete/archive behavior.

View guide →Email

How to Add an Email Signature in Outlook

Automatically add contact information or other text to Outlook messages.

View guide →Email

How to Archive Email in Outlook

Move older messages out of the primary Inbox while retaining them.

View guide →Email

Why Did My Email Bounce Back?

Understand common delivery failures returned by a recipient's mail server.

View guide →Email

How to Tell Spam from Phishing Email

Recognize messages designed to steal passwords, codes, money, or account access.

View guide →Email

What to Do When an Email Attachment Is Too Large

Send a large file when the mail provider refuses the attachment size.

View guide →Email

What Is the Difference Between CC and BCC in Email?

Understand when recipients can see one another's addresses.

View guide →Email

POP vs. IMAP: What's the Difference?

Understand two common ways email programs retrieve mailbox messages.

View guide →Email

How to Find Incoming and Outgoing Email Server Settings

Locate IMAP/POP and SMTP settings needed for manual email setup.

View guide →Email

What to Do When an Email Mailbox Is Full

Free server storage so new mail can be received again.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Combine Multiple PDF Files

Put several PDF documents into one PDF in the order you choose.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Split a PDF into Separate Files

Extract selected pages or divide a large PDF into smaller PDFs.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Save Only Certain Pages from a PDF

Create a new PDF containing only the pages you need.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Rotate Pages in a PDF

Correct PDF pages that are sideways or upside down.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Change the Order of Pages in a PDF

Move PDF pages into the correct sequence.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Delete Pages from a PDF

Remove unwanted pages from a PDF document.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Convert a PDF to Word

Turn a PDF into an editable Word document.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Save an Excel Spreadsheet as a PDF

Create a PDF from an Excel worksheet or workbook.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Turn a JPG or PNG into a PDF

Create a PDF from one or more image files.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Convert a PDF Page to JPG or PNG

Save a PDF page as an image.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Print Anything to a PDF in Windows

Create a PDF from an application that supports printing.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Fill Out a PDF Form

Type information into an interactive PDF form and save it.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Sign a PDF Electronically

Add a basic electronic signature to a PDF document.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Password-Protect a PDF

Require a password to open or modify a PDF when your PDF software supports encryption.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Remove a Password from a PDF You Own

Save an unprotected copy when you know the password and have permission to remove protection.

View guide →PDF & Documents

What to Do When a PDF Will Not Open

Troubleshoot a damaged, incomplete, unsupported, or blocked PDF.

View guide →PDF & Documents

Why Does a PDF Show Blank Pages?

Troubleshoot a PDF that opens but displays missing or blank content.

View guide →PDF & Documents

What to Do When a PDF Will Not Print Correctly

Fix missing content, wrong scaling, blank pages, or printer errors when printing PDFs.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Check the Page Size of a PDF

Determine whether a PDF is Letter, Legal, A4, or another page size.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Make a Scanned PDF Smaller

Reduce the file size of a PDF made from high-resolution scans or photos.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Scan a Document on a Windows PC

Create a digital file from a paper document using a connected scanner.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Scan Multiple Pages into One PDF

Create a single multi-page PDF from several paper pages.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Make a Scanned PDF Searchable

Use OCR so text in scanned page images can be searched or copied.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Use Track Changes in Microsoft Word

Record edits so another person can review what was added, deleted, or changed.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Add Comments in Microsoft Word

Attach review notes to selected text without changing the document text itself.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Add Page Numbers in Microsoft Word

Number document pages automatically.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Make One Page Landscape in Word

Change one section of a Word document to landscape while leaving other pages portrait.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Use Find and Replace in Word

Replace repeated words, phrases, or formatting efficiently.

View guide →PDF & Documents

How to Recover an Unsaved Word Document

Look for Word's AutoRecover or unsaved-document copy after a crash or accidental close.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Create a Strong Password

Use long, unique passwords so one compromised account does not expose others.

View guide →Security & Privacy

What Is a Password Manager and Should You Use One?

Understand how password managers create and store unique credentials.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Turn On Two-Factor Authentication

Add a second verification step to an online account.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Use an Authenticator App

Generate temporary verification codes for accounts protected by two-factor authentication.

View guide →Security & Privacy

What to Do If You Lose Access to Your Authenticator App

Recover an account when you no longer have the device or verification codes.

View guide →Security & Privacy

What Are Account Recovery Codes?

Understand backup codes supplied when two-factor authentication is enabled.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Check a Suspicious Link Before Clicking It

Reduce the risk of opening a fake login or malicious website.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Recognize a Fake Login Page

Spot pages designed to steal usernames, passwords, or verification codes.

View guide →Security & Privacy

What to Do If an Online Account Is Hacked

Take immediate steps after unauthorized access to an email, social, shopping, or other account.

View guide →Security & Privacy

What to Do If Your Email Account Is Hacked

Secure an email account that may have been accessed by someone else.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Check Where Your Account Is Signed In

Review devices and sessions that currently have access to an online account.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Sign Out of an Account on Other Devices

End sessions on computers or phones you no longer trust or use.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Use Public Wi-Fi More Safely

Reduce exposure when using hotel, airport, restaurant, or other shared Wi-Fi.

View guide →Security & Privacy

What to Do If Your Browser Says a Password Was Compromised

Respond when a browser/password manager reports that credentials appeared in a breach.

View guide →Security & Privacy

Why Software Updates Matter for Security

Understand why phones, computers, browsers, and apps need updates.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Run a Windows Security Virus Scan

Scan a Windows PC with Microsoft's built-in security tools.

View guide →Security & Privacy

What to Do If You Think Your Computer Has Malware

Respond to suspicious pop-ups, redirects, unknown programs, or unusual system behavior.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Stop Fake Virus Alerts from Browser Notifications

Remove permission from websites sending deceptive notification pop-ups.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Recognize a Tech Support Scam

Avoid callers and pop-ups falsely claiming your computer, account, or subscription has a problem.

View guide →Security & Privacy

What to Do If You Gave a Scammer Remote Access to Your Computer

Respond after installing remote-control software or allowing an unknown person to control your PC.

View guide →Security & Privacy

Why You Should Never Give Someone Your Verification Code

Understand how criminals use one-time codes to take over accounts.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Check a QR Code More Safely

Reduce risk from QR codes that open websites or payment pages.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Check Whether an Online Store Looks Legitimate

Evaluate an unfamiliar shopping website before entering payment information.

View guide →Security & Privacy

Safer Ways to Pay Online

Reduce financial exposure when buying from websites.

View guide →Security & Privacy

What Is the 3-2-1 Backup Rule?

Use multiple copies so one hardware failure, theft, or ransomware incident does not destroy important files.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Back Up Important Files on Windows

Protect documents, photos, and other files from hardware failure or accidental deletion.

View guide →Security & Privacy

What Is Ransomware?

Understand malware that encrypts or blocks access to files and demands payment.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Check Website Camera, Microphone, and Location Permissions

Review which websites can use sensitive browser permissions.

View guide →Security & Privacy

How to Remove a Suspicious Browser Extension

Uninstall an extension that changes searches, injects ads, or behaves unexpectedly.

View guide →Security & Privacy

What to Do Before Selling or Giving Away a Phone or Computer

Protect personal data before transferring an old device to someone else.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Find Your Active Subscriptions

Locate recurring subscriptions that may be billed through websites, Apple, Google, or payment accounts.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Cancel an Online Subscription

Stop future recurring charges from a website or online service.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Cancel a Free Trial Before It Renews

Prevent a trial from converting to a paid recurring subscription.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to View or Cancel Apple Subscriptions

Manage subscriptions billed through your Apple Account.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to View or Cancel Google Play Subscriptions

Manage Android subscriptions billed through Google Play.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to View or Cancel a Microsoft Subscription

Manage Microsoft 365, Xbox, and other subscriptions tied to a Microsoft account.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Find Automatic Payments in PayPal

Review merchants that have permission to charge a PayPal account automatically.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

What to Do About an Unknown Recurring Charge

Identify a repeating card or bank charge before deciding whether it is legitimate or fraudulent.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

What to Do If You Are Charged After Canceling a Subscription

Document the cancellation and determine whether the charge was already scheduled, a different account, or an error.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Request a Refund for a Subscription

Ask a service or app marketplace to reverse an eligible subscription charge.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Delete an Online Account

Permanently close an account when the service provides account deletion.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

Deactivate vs. Delete Account: What's the Difference?

Understand whether an account is temporarily disabled or permanently removed.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

What to Do If You Forgot Your Password

Recover access without guessing or repeatedly locking the account.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

What to Do If You Cannot Access Your Recovery Email

Recover an account when its password-reset address is no longer available.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Change the Email Address on an Online Account

Move an account to a new login/contact email when the service permits it.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Change the Phone Number on an Online Account

Update a phone number used for login, recovery, or two-factor authentication.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Remove an Old Credit Card from an Online Account

Delete a saved payment method that is no longer needed.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Update an Expired Card on a Subscription

Replace billing information so an intended subscription can continue.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Find a Receipt for an Online Purchase

Locate proof of purchase for software, subscriptions, or online services.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Download an Invoice from an Online Account

Save a PDF or printable copy of a past bill.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Check How Much Cloud Storage You Are Using

Review storage usage before paying for more space or deleting files.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

What to Do When iCloud Storage Is Full

Find what is using iCloud space and decide what to remove or upgrade.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

What to Do When Google Storage Is Full

Review storage shared by Google services and identify large items.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

What to Do When OneDrive Storage Is Full

Find large files and understand which Microsoft storage is consuming the quota.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Stop a Folder from Syncing to the Cloud

Prevent selected content from continuously synchronizing when the cloud app supports folder selection.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

Cloud Sync vs. Backup: What's the Difference?

Understand why synchronized files are not always a complete independent backup.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Find Your App Purchase History

See apps and digital purchases associated with an Apple or Google account.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

What Is an In-App Purchase?

Understand charges made inside an app after it has been installed.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Remove a Saved Credit Card from Your Browser

Delete card information stored by browser autofill.

View guide →Accounts & Subscriptions

How to Change Saved Addresses in Browser Autofill

Correct old names, addresses, phone numbers, and other form information stored by a browser.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

What to Do When a Printer Says Offline

Restore communication between Windows and a printer that appears unavailable.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Clear a Stuck Print Queue in Windows

Remove print jobs that will not print or cancel normally.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

What to Do When Windows Cannot Find Your Printer

Troubleshoot a USB, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet printer that does not appear during setup.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Install or Update a Printer Driver

Install software Windows needs to communicate correctly with a printer.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

Why Is My Printer Printing the Wrong Size?

Fix documents that print too large, too small, or on the wrong paper size.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Change Between Color and Black-and-White Printing

Choose whether a print job uses color or grayscale/black ink.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Print Double-Sided

Use automatic duplex printing when supported, or manually print both sides.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Print a Windows Printer Test Page

Check whether Windows and the printer can communicate without involving another application.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Add a Network Printer by IP Address

Connect Windows directly to a known network-printer address.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

Why Does My Default Printer Keep Changing?

Stop Windows from automatically choosing the most recently used printer.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

What to Do When Windows Cannot Find a Scanner

Troubleshoot a scanner or multifunction printer that does not appear in scanning software.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Scan with the Windows Scan App

Scan a photo or document using a compatible scanner in Windows.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

What Scan Resolution Should You Use?

Choose a practical DPI setting for documents, photos, and OCR.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Scan an Old Photograph

Digitize a printed photograph while preserving useful quality.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

What to Do When Windows Says USB Device Not Recognized

Troubleshoot a USB drive, printer, camera, or accessory Windows cannot identify.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

What to Do When a USB Port Is Not Working

Determine whether the problem is the port, cable, device, driver, or power.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

What to Do When an External Drive Does Not Appear

Troubleshoot an external hard drive or SSD missing from File Explorer.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Change or Assign a Drive Letter in Windows

Give a detected disk or partition a letter so it can appear in File Explorer.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Safely Eject a USB Drive in Windows

Reduce the chance of file corruption before disconnecting removable storage.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Format a USB Drive in Windows

Erase and prepare a removable drive with a selected file system.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

What to Do When Bluetooth Cannot Find a Device

Troubleshoot headphones, speakers, keyboards, mice, and other accessories that do not appear.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

What to Do When a Bluetooth Device Keeps Disconnecting

Troubleshoot intermittent Bluetooth audio or accessory connections.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

What to Do When Your Webcam Is Not Working in Windows

Fix a built-in or USB camera that is unavailable or displays no video.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Allow or Block Camera Access in Windows

Control which applications can use the computer's camera.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

What to Do When Your Microphone Is Not Working in Windows

Fix a built-in, headset, USB, or Bluetooth microphone that is not recording.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Choose the Default Microphone in Windows

Select which microphone Windows and applications should use.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

What to Do When Windows Does Not Detect a Second Monitor

Troubleshoot an external display that remains blank or missing.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Duplicate or Extend Your Windows Display

Choose whether multiple monitors show the same desktop or create more workspace.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Change the Main Monitor in Windows 11

Choose which display contains the primary desktop and taskbar behavior.

View guide →Printers, Scanners & Devices

How to Change Which Speakers Windows Uses

Switch sound between speakers, headphones, monitors, docks, and Bluetooth devices.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Transfer Photos from a Phone to a Windows PC

Copy photos and videos from a phone to a computer for storage or editing.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Find Photos on a Windows PC

Locate pictures stored in common Windows folders and other locations.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Organize Digital Photos

Create a simple system that makes years of pictures easier to find.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Find and Remove Duplicate Photos

Reduce wasted storage from repeated copies of the same pictures.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

What to Do When a Photo Has the Wrong Date

Understand why imported or scanned pictures may sort under an incorrect date.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Resize a Photo or Image

Change pixel dimensions so an image is smaller or meets a website requirement.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Make an Image File Smaller

Reduce image file size for email, websites, or uploads.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Crop a Photo

Remove unwanted edges or change an image's framing.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Rotate a Photo

Correct an image that displays sideways or upside down.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

JPG vs. PNG: Which Image Format Should You Use?

Choose a common image format based on the type of picture and need for transparency.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Convert HEIC Photos to JPG

Make iPhone HEIC images easier to use with software that expects JPG.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Convert PNG to JPG

Convert a PNG when a site or application requires JPEG.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Convert a WebP Image to JPG

Convert a web image into a more widely requested photo format.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

What Does Image Resolution Mean?

Understand pixel dimensions and why they matter for screens, websites, and printing.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

What Resolution Do You Need to Print a Photo?

Estimate whether an image has enough pixels for the intended print size.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Remove the Background from a Photo

Isolate a subject so the background becomes transparent or can be replaced.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

Where Are Screenshots Saved in Windows?

Find screenshots created with common Windows screenshot shortcuts.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Use Snipping Tool in Windows 11

Capture part or all of the screen without taking a full traditional screenshot.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Record Your Screen in Windows

Create a video of activity on your Windows screen using built-in or trusted recording tools.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Trim the Beginning or End of a Video in Windows

Remove unwanted footage from the start or end of a video.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Send a Video That Is Too Large for Email

Share a large video without exceeding attachment limits.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Make a Video File Smaller

Reduce video size for storage, uploading, or sharing.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

What Is an MP4 File?

Understand one of the most common containers for video and audio.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Convert MOV Video to MP4

Create an MP4 copy when software or a website does not accept MOV.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

What to Do When a Video Has No Sound

Troubleshoot a video that plays but produces no audio.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

What to Do When a Video Will Not Play

Troubleshoot an unsupported, incomplete, damaged, or codec-dependent video.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Back Up Photos to an External Drive

Create a second copy of an important photo library on separate storage.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How iCloud Photos Works with Windows

Understand how Apple photos can appear and synchronize on a Windows PC.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Download Photos from Google Photos

Save selected cloud photos or videos onto a computer or device.

View guide →Photos, Video & Media

How to Share a Group of Photos with a Link

Send many photos without attaching each image to an email.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Find a Lost File in Windows

Locate a document, photo, spreadsheet, or other file when you do not remember where it was saved.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Find Downloaded Files in Windows

Locate files downloaded from a browser, email, or website.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Change Where Downloads Are Saved

Choose a different folder for files downloaded by your web browser.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

Copy vs. Move: What's the Difference?

Understand whether the original file stays where it is after an operation.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Copy Files or Folders in Windows

Create a duplicate of files in another folder or drive.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Move Files or Folders in Windows

Relocate files without intentionally keeping a duplicate in the original folder.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Rename a File or Folder in Windows

Change a file or folder name without changing its contents.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Create a New Folder in Windows

Make a folder for organizing files.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Select Multiple Files in Windows

Select several files so you can copy, move, delete, or share them together.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Show File Extensions in Windows 11

Display endings such as .pdf, .jpg, .docx, and .exe so you can identify file types.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

What Is a File Extension?

Understand the letters after a filename such as .pdf, .jpg, .docx, or .xlsx.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Change Which Program Opens a File Type

Choose the default application for PDFs, photos, documents, and other file types.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Create a ZIP File in Windows

Combine files into one compressed archive for storage or sharing.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Open or Extract a ZIP File

Restore files contained inside a ZIP archive.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

Can Windows Password-Protect a ZIP File?

Understand the limitations of Windows' built-in ZIP features.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Recover a Deleted File in Windows

Restore a file that was recently deleted when it is still in Recycle Bin.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Empty the Windows Recycle Bin

Permanently remove files currently stored in Recycle Bin.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

Why Was a Deleted File Not Put in Recycle Bin?

Understand why some deleted files bypass Recycle Bin.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to See What Is Using Storage in Windows 11

Identify apps, temporary files, documents, photos, and other categories consuming disk space.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Free Disk Space in Windows Safely

Remove unnecessary files without randomly deleting system data.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Use Storage Sense in Windows 11

Let Windows automatically clean selected temporary files and other eligible content.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

What to Do When Your Windows Drive Is Full

Restore enough free space for Windows and applications to work properly.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

What Do the OneDrive Cloud and Checkmark Icons Mean?

Understand whether OneDrive files are online-only, locally available, or always kept on the device.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Keep a OneDrive File Available Offline

Make a cloud file stay downloaded on the Windows computer.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Free Local Space with OneDrive

Remove the local downloaded copy while keeping the file in OneDrive.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

Why Are Desktop and Documents Inside OneDrive?

Understand OneDrive folder backup that redirects common Windows folders into cloud synchronization.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Stop OneDrive Backing Up Desktop or Documents

Turn off OneDrive folder backup when you no longer want a known folder synchronized.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

What Is a File Path in Windows?

Understand addresses such as C:\Users\Name\Documents\file.pdf.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Copy the Full Path of a File in Windows

Copy a file's exact location for troubleshooting, commands, or sharing internally.

View guide →Files, Folders & Storage

How to Customize Quick Access/Home in File Explorer

Control which folders appear prominently in File Explorer and reduce unwanted recent-item clutter.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

What to Do When a Program Is Frozen in Windows

Close or recover an application that has stopped responding.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Open and Use Task Manager

See running programs and basic computer activity in Windows.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Stop Programs from Opening at Startup

Reduce unnecessary applications that launch when Windows starts.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

What to Do When Windows Starts Slowly

Identify common reasons a PC takes too long to become usable after sign-in.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

Restart vs. Shut Down: What's the Difference in Windows?

Understand why Restart can sometimes fix a problem that Shut down does not.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Check for Windows Updates

Install available Windows security, reliability, and feature updates.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

What to Do When Windows Update Is Stuck

Troubleshoot an update that will not download, install, or finish.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Check Which Version of Windows You Have

Find your Windows edition, version, and OS build.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Check Your Computer's Basic Specifications

Find processor, installed RAM, system type, and Windows information.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to See How Much Storage Your PC Has

Check total and available disk space.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Show or Hide Desktop Icons

Control whether This PC, Recycle Bin, Network, and other standard icons appear on the desktop.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Customize the Windows 11 Taskbar

Change taskbar items, alignment, behaviors, and system-tray options.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Pin an App to the Windows Taskbar

Keep a frequently used program available from the taskbar.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Use Multiple Desktops in Windows 11

Create separate desktop workspaces for different groups of windows.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Close an Extra Windows Desktop

Remove a virtual desktop without closing the applications that are open on it.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Turn Windows Notifications On or Off

Control which applications can display notifications.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Use Do Not Disturb in Windows 11

Temporarily reduce notification interruptions.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Change the Default Browser in Windows 11

Choose which browser opens ordinary web links by default.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Change Default Apps in Windows 11

Choose which programs open PDFs, photos, music, videos, and other files.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

Local Account vs. Microsoft Account in Windows

Understand the main difference between signing in locally and using a Microsoft account.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Add Another User to a Windows PC

Create a separate Windows sign-in for another person.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Change Your Windows Sign-In Password

Update the password associated with your Windows sign-in.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

Windows PIN vs. Password: What's the Difference?

Understand why Windows Hello PIN and account password are not the same credential.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Change Your Windows Hello PIN

Replace the PIN used to sign in to a Windows device.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Make Text Larger in Windows 11

Increase text size without necessarily changing the size of every screen element.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Make Everything Larger on the Windows Screen

Increase display scaling so apps, icons, and text appear larger.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Change Screen Resolution in Windows 11

Set the pixel resolution used by a monitor.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Turn On Night Light in Windows 11

Reduce blue-toned screen light during selected hours.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Use Clipboard History in Windows 11

Access more than the most recently copied item.

View guide →Windows Everyday Help

How to Restart Windows Explorer

Refresh the desktop, taskbar, and File Explorer when the Windows shell is acting incorrectly.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

New Tab vs. New Window: What's the Difference?

Understand the basic ways browsers organize websites.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Reopen a Tab You Closed by Accident

Restore a recently closed browser tab.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Bookmark a Website

Save a website so you can return to it easily.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Organize Browser Bookmarks

Keep saved websites manageable with folders and meaningful names.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Find a Website You Visited Earlier

Use browser history to locate a page you previously opened.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Clear Browser History

Remove the browser's record of visited pages for a selected period.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

What Are Browser Cookies?

Understand small pieces of website data used for sign-ins, preferences, sessions, and tracking.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Clear Cookies for One Website

Reset one site's stored browser data without signing out of every website.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

What Does Incognito or InPrivate Browsing Actually Do?

Understand what private browsing does and does not hide.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Allow or Block Pop-Ups for a Website

Change pop-up permissions when a legitimate site needs a new window or unwanted sites keep opening them.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Stop Website Notifications in Chrome or Edge

Remove permission from websites that send unwanted desktop notifications.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Change Your Browser Home Page

Choose what page appears when you use the browser's Home button or startup controls.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Change the Default Search Engine

Choose which search provider the browser uses from the address bar.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Make a Website Larger or Smaller

Zoom a webpage without changing the entire Windows display.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Enter or Exit Full Screen in a Browser

Hide most browser controls temporarily to maximize page space.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to See Your Browser Downloads

Find files recently downloaded through Chrome, Edge, or another browser.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

Why Did My Browser Block a Download?

Understand why a browser may warn about or prevent a file download.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Save a Web Page as a PDF

Create a PDF copy of a webpage using the browser's print function.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Print a Web Page

Print useful webpage content while avoiding common layout problems.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Find a Word on a Web Page

Jump directly to text on a long webpage.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Change Browser Autofill Information

Correct saved names, addresses, phone numbers, and form information.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to View Saved Passwords in Your Browser

Review credentials stored by the browser when device authentication permits it.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Remove a Saved Password from Your Browser

Delete an outdated or unwanted saved login.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

What Does Browser Sync Do?

Understand how bookmarks, passwords, history, tabs, and settings can follow you between devices.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Reset Chrome or Edge Settings

Restore many browser settings when unwanted changes, extensions, or configuration problems persist.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

What Is a Browser Extension?

Understand add-ons that change or expand what a browser can do.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Remove a Browser Extension

Uninstall a browser add-on you no longer want.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

What to Do When One Website Will Not Load

Troubleshoot a website that fails while other sites work.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Search the Web More Effectively

Use specific words and phrases to get more useful search results.

View guide →Browsers & Searching

How to Search for an Exact Phrase

Find pages containing a particular sequence of words.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

Why Was My Online Card Payment Declined?

Understand common reasons an online purchase does not go through.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

What Does a Pending Card Charge Mean?

Understand a card transaction that has been authorized but not fully posted.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

What to Do If You See a Duplicate Card Charge

Determine whether two transactions are true duplicate charges or temporary authorizations.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

How to Identify an Unfamiliar Merchant Name on Your Statement

Investigate a charge whose billing descriptor does not match the store or service name you remember.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

What Does Card on File Mean?

Understand why a website or app can charge a previously saved card.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

How to Remove a Saved Card from an Online Store

Delete payment information you no longer want stored with a merchant.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

How Long Does an Online Refund Take?

Understand why a merchant-approved refund may not immediately appear on a card or bank account.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

Refund vs. Void: What's the Difference?

Understand two ways a merchant reverses a payment.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

How to Request a Refund for an Online Order

Ask a merchant to return payment for an eligible purchase.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

How to Return Something You Bought Online

Follow a retailer's return process and preserve proof of shipment.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

How to Print a Return Shipping Label

Print the label supplied for an online return.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

How to Track an Online Order or Package

Check shipment progress without relying on suspicious delivery messages.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

What to Do When Tracking Says Delivered but You Do Not Have the Package

Check common delivery locations and begin the appropriate missing-package process.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

What to Do When an Online Order Is Delayed

Determine whether a shipment is still moving and when to contact the seller.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

What to Do If an Online Store Sends the Wrong Item

Document the error and request the correct product or refund.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

What to Do If an Online Order Never Arrives

Escalate an undelivered purchase after checking legitimate tracking and seller information.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

How to Check an Online Marketplace Seller Before Buying

Evaluate seller history and listing details on a marketplace.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

Why You Should Be Careful When a Seller Wants Payment Outside a Marketplace

Understand the risk of leaving a marketplace's payment and dispute system.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

When Is an Online Price Too Good to Be True?

Recognize unusually low prices that may indicate counterfeit goods, nonexistent inventory, or a scam site.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

What Is a Digital Wallet?

Understand services that store payment credentials for use on phones, computers, and supported checkouts.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

How Apple Pay Works for Online Purchases

Understand the basic flow when a website or app offers Apple Pay.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

How Google Wallet or Google Pay Works at Checkout

Understand the basic flow when a supported website or app offers Google's payment option.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

What Is a Virtual Card Number?

Understand card numbers designed to reduce exposure of the underlying physical card number.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

Credit Card vs. Debit Card for Online Shopping

Understand practical differences when paying directly from a bank account versus a credit line.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

What Is the CVV or Security Code on a Card?

Understand the short verification code requested by many online checkouts.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

Why Does an Online Store Say My Billing Address Does Not Match?

Fix a checkout failure caused by address verification.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

What Is a Credit Card Chargeback?

Understand the card-dispute process for eligible billing problems.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

Should You Contact the Merchant Before Disputing a Charge?

Know when merchant resolution is the sensible first step and when fraud needs immediate issuer attention.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

How to Save Receipts for Online Purchases

Keep useful proof of orders, returns, warranties, and subscriptions.

View guide →Shopping, Payments & Orders

How to Recognize a Fake Package-Delivery Text

Avoid messages pretending a shipment needs an address update, small fee, or urgent action.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Find Downloaded Files on an iPhone or iPad

Locate PDFs, documents, ZIP files, and other items downloaded from Safari or apps.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Change Where Safari Downloads Files on iPhone or iPad

Choose whether Safari downloads go to iCloud Drive or local device storage.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Use the Files App on iPhone or iPad

Browse documents stored locally, in iCloud Drive, and in supported cloud services.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Save a PDF to Files on iPhone or iPad

Keep a PDF where you can find and reopen it later.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Create or Open ZIP Files on iPhone or iPad

Compress files into a ZIP archive or extract files from one.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

What to Do When iPhone or iPad Storage Is Full

Find large apps, photos, downloads, messages, and other content consuming device storage.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Check iCloud Storage on iPhone or iPad

See how much iCloud space is being used and by which services.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Back Up an iPhone or iPad to iCloud

Create an iCloud backup of supported device data and settings.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Check When Your iPhone or iPad Was Last Backed Up

Verify whether a recent iCloud backup exists.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

What Does iCloud Photos Do?

Understand how photos and videos synchronize across devices using the same Apple Account.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Keep Full-Resolution Photos on an iPhone or iPad

Choose whether the device stores originals locally instead of primarily optimized versions.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Merge Duplicate Photos on iPhone or iPad

Use Apple's duplicate-detection feature when duplicate photos or videos are identified.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Recover a Recently Deleted Photo on iPhone or iPad

Restore a photo or video before it is permanently removed from Recently Deleted.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Change the Default Mail Account on iPhone or iPad

Choose which configured account Mail uses by default for new messages when applicable.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

What to Do When iPhone Mail Is Not Updating

Troubleshoot messages that are not appearing or synchronizing in Apple's Mail app.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Clear Safari History and Website Data

Remove Safari browsing history and associated website data.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to See Safari Downloads on iPhone or iPad

Open the recent-download list and locate downloaded files.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Find Saved Passwords on iPhone or iPad

View account credentials stored in Apple's password system.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to View a Saved Wi-Fi Password on iPhone or iPad

Reveal the password for a Wi-Fi network when supported.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

What to Do When iPhone or iPad Wi-Fi Is Not Working

Troubleshoot a device that will not connect or has no internet through Wi-Fi.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

What to Do When an iPhone or iPad Will Not Connect to Bluetooth

Troubleshoot headphones, speakers, vehicles, and accessories that fail to pair.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

What to Do When AirDrop Is Not Working

Troubleshoot Apple devices that cannot see or send to one another.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Turn Notifications On or Off for an iPhone App

Control alerts, sounds, badges, and notification presentation for individual apps.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Use Focus or Do Not Disturb on iPhone or iPad

Reduce interruptions while allowing selected people or apps when desired.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Check App Permissions on iPhone or iPad

Review access to location, photos, camera, microphone, contacts, and other private data.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Change Location Access for an iPhone App

Control whether an app can use your location and under what conditions.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

What Do the Orange and Green Dots on iPhone Mean?

Understand Apple's privacy indicators for microphone and camera use.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Update Apps on iPhone or iPad

Install newer versions of apps from the App Store.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Delete an App from iPhone or iPad

Remove an installed app and its local app data when you no longer need it.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

What Does Offload App Mean on iPhone or iPad?

Free app storage while retaining documents and data for possible reinstall.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Find an App That Is Not on Your iPhone Home Screen

Locate apps stored in App Library or hidden from a particular Home Screen page.

View guide →iPhone & iPad

How to Record the Screen on iPhone or iPad

Create a video recording of activity displayed on the device.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Use the Files App on Android

Browse downloads, documents, images, videos, audio, and device storage.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

What to Do When Android Storage Is Full

Find apps, photos, videos, downloads, and cached data using device storage.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Free Space on an Android Phone

Safely reclaim storage without randomly deleting important files.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Check Google Account Storage on Android

See storage used by Google Drive, Gmail, Photos, and account backups.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Back Up an Android Phone to Your Google Account

Back up supported device settings, app data, contacts, and other eligible information.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Check Whether Your Android Phone Is Backed Up

Verify that a recent Google/device backup exists.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Back Up Photos with Google Photos

Automatically upload selected device photos and videos to Google Photos.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

What Happens When You Delete a Photo from Google Photos?

Understand how deletion can affect synchronized cloud and device copies.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Recover a Recently Deleted Photo on Android

Restore a photo from Google Photos Trash or the device gallery's recycle/trash area before permanent removal.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Add an Email Account on Android

Connect Gmail, Outlook, or another mailbox to an Android device.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Remove an Email Account from Android

Stop an account from syncing mail and other enabled data to the device.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

What to Do When Gmail Is Not Updating on Android

Troubleshoot missing or stale Gmail messages.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Change the Default Browser on Android

Choose which installed browser opens web links by default.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Find Chrome Downloads on Android

See files downloaded through Chrome.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Find Saved Passwords on Android

View credentials stored in Google Password Manager when device authentication permits it.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Share or View a Saved Wi-Fi Network on Android

Use Android's network-sharing controls for a saved Wi-Fi connection.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

What to Do When Android Wi-Fi Is Not Working

Troubleshoot a phone or tablet that cannot connect or has no internet.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Pair a Bluetooth Device with Android

Connect headphones, speakers, vehicles, keyboards, and other accessories.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

What to Do When Android Bluetooth Will Not Connect

Troubleshoot an accessory that fails to pair or reconnect.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Use Quick Share on Android

Send files, photos, and links to nearby supported devices.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Turn Android App Notifications On or Off

Control which apps can alert you and what types of notifications they send.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Use Do Not Disturb on Android

Reduce interruptions while allowing selected people, apps, alarms, or exceptions.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Check App Permissions on Android

Review access to camera, microphone, location, contacts, photos/files, and other data.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Change Location Access for an Android App

Choose whether and when an app can use your location.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

What Does the Green Camera or Microphone Indicator Mean on Android?

Understand Android's privacy indicator when an app accesses the camera or microphone.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Check for Android System Updates

Install available security and operating-system updates.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Update Apps on Android

Install newer versions of apps from Google Play.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Uninstall an App on Android

Remove an app you no longer want.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

What Does Disable App Mean on Android?

Understand why some preinstalled apps cannot be fully uninstalled.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Find an App on Android

Locate an installed app when you cannot see it on the Home screen.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Add an App Back to the Android Home Screen

Create a Home screen shortcut for an installed app.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Record Your Android Screen

Create a video of activity on the phone or tablet screen.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to Restart an Android Phone or Tablet

Restart the device to clear many temporary software problems.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

What to Do When an Android Phone Is Frozen

Force a restart when the touchscreen or interface no longer responds.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to See Which Apps Are Using Android Battery

Identify apps consuming a large share of battery power.

View guide →Android Phones & Tablets

How to See Which Apps Are Using Mobile Data

Identify apps consuming cellular data.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What to Do When the Internet Is Not Working

Determine whether the problem is the device, Wi-Fi connection, router/modem, or internet provider.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

Wi-Fi Is Connected but There Is No Internet

Troubleshoot a device that joins Wi-Fi but cannot reach websites or online services.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What to Do When Wi-Fi Keeps Disconnecting

Find common causes of intermittent wireless connections.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What to Do When Your Internet Is Slow

Determine whether poor speed comes from Wi-Fi, the device, congestion, or the internet service.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

How to Run an Internet Speed Test

Measure approximate download speed, upload speed, and latency.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

Download vs. Upload Speed: What's the Difference?

Understand the two primary speed numbers shown by internet plans and tests.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What Is Ping or Latency?

Understand why an internet connection can feel delayed even when its speed is high.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

Modem vs. Router: What's the Difference?

Understand the roles of common home-network equipment.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What Do the Lights on a Modem or Router Mean?

Use status lights as clues when internet or Wi-Fi is down.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

How to Find Your Wi-Fi Network Name

Identify the SSID that phones, computers, and smart devices should join.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

How to Change Your Wi-Fi Network Name

Rename the wireless network shown to nearby devices.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz Wi-Fi: What's the Difference?

Choose between longer-range and higher-performance Wi-Fi bands when a router exposes separate networks.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What Is 6 GHz Wi-Fi?

Understand the newer Wi-Fi band used by compatible Wi-Fi 6E/7 equipment.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What Is a Guest Wi-Fi Network?

Provide internet access to visitors or selected devices without putting them directly on the primary home network.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

How to Fix a Wi-Fi Dead Zone

Improve coverage in a room where the wireless signal is weak or unreliable.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

Where Should You Put Your Wi-Fi Router?

Improve wireless coverage by choosing a better router location.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What Is Mesh Wi-Fi?

Understand systems that use multiple coordinated access points to cover a larger home.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

Wi-Fi Extender vs. Mesh Wi-Fi

Understand two common ways to improve wireless coverage.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What Is an Ethernet Connection?

Understand wired networking between computers, routers, switches, and other devices.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What to Do When Ethernet Is Not Working

Troubleshoot a wired network connection with no internet or no link.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What Is a Network Switch?

Add more wired Ethernet connections to a local network.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

How to Find Your Router's IP Address in Windows

Locate the local gateway address used to reach many router administration pages.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

How to Find Your Computer's Local IP Address

See the address assigned to a Windows PC on the home network.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

Public IP vs. Private IP: What's the Difference?

Understand internet-facing addresses versus addresses used inside a home network.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What Is DHCP?

Understand how home routers automatically assign network settings to devices.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What Is DNS?

Understand the system that translates website names into network addresses.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

How to Tell If You May Have a DNS Problem

Troubleshoot cases where internet connectivity exists but website names fail to resolve.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

How to Forget and Rejoin a Wi-Fi Network in Windows 11

Remove saved Wi-Fi settings and connect again from scratch.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

When Should You Use Network Reset in Windows?

Understand the more disruptive Windows option that reinstalls network adapters and resets networking settings.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

How to Check Whether Your Internet Provider Is Down

Determine whether an outage is outside your home.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

How to Open Your Router's Settings Page

Access local router configuration without relying on a cloud account when the router supports local administration.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

Router Admin Password vs. Wi-Fi Password

Understand two passwords that are often confused.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

WPA2 vs. WPA3 Wi-Fi Security

Understand common modern Wi-Fi security modes.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What to Do If You See an Unknown Device on Your Wi-Fi

Investigate a device listed by your router that you do not recognize.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

What Is a MAC Address?

Understand the hardware/network identifier shown in router device lists.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

Why Do Some Smart-Home Devices Require 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi?

Understand why plugs, bulbs, cameras, and other IoT devices may fail during setup on some networks.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

How to View a Saved Wi-Fi Password in Windows

Retrieve the password for a network saved on the PC when Windows permits it.

View guide →Wi-Fi, Internet & Home Networking

How to Tell Whether a Network Problem Is Your Device, Router, or ISP

Use a simple sequence to isolate where connectivity is failing.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When a Smart TV Will Not Connect to Wi-Fi

Troubleshoot a television that cannot join the home wireless network.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When a Streaming App Is Not Working on a Smart TV

Fix an app that freezes, crashes, or will not load.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

How to Check for Smart TV Software Updates

Install manufacturer firmware/software updates when supported.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

How to Change the Input or Source on a TV

Switch between cable boxes, streaming devices, game consoles, and other HDMI inputs.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When a TV Says No Signal on HDMI

Troubleshoot a connected device that does not appear on the television.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What Are HDMI ARC and eARC?

Understand HDMI features used to send TV audio to a soundbar or receiver.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When a Soundbar Has No Sound

Troubleshoot a soundbar connected by HDMI ARC/eARC, optical cable, or Bluetooth.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

How to Change TV Audio from Speakers to a Soundbar

Select the external audio device instead of built-in TV speakers.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When Roku Will Not Connect to the Internet

Troubleshoot a Roku device or TV with a network connection problem.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

How to Restart a Roku

Restart Roku without necessarily unplugging it.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When Fire TV Will Not Connect to Wi-Fi

Troubleshoot an Amazon Fire TV device with wireless connection problems.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

How to Restart an Amazon Fire TV

Restart a Fire TV device to clear temporary problems.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When Apple TV Will Not Connect to Wi-Fi

Troubleshoot an Apple TV network connection.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

How to AirPlay from an iPhone or iPad to a TV

Send supported video, photos, audio, or screen content to Apple TV or an AirPlay-compatible television.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When AirPlay Is Not Working

Troubleshoot Apple devices that cannot see or connect to an AirPlay receiver.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

How to Cast from a Phone to a TV

Send supported app content to a compatible TV or streaming device.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When Casting to a TV Is Not Working

Troubleshoot a phone or computer that cannot find or connect to a casting device.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When Streaming Video Keeps Buffering

Reduce pauses caused by internet speed, Wi-Fi quality, device performance, or service congestion.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

Why Does Streaming Video Look Blurry?

Understand why a service may temporarily lower video quality.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

How TV Streaming Sign-In Codes Work

Understand activation screens that ask you to visit a website and enter a short code.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

How to Set Up a Smart Plug

Connect a Wi-Fi or Matter smart plug and add it to a home-control system.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When a Smart Plug Says No Response

Troubleshoot a plug that worked previously but is now offline.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

How to Set Up a Smart Bulb

Connect a compatible smart light to its app, hub, or Matter controller.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When a Smart Bulb Goes Offline

Restore a smart light that no longer responds.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When a Wi-Fi Camera Goes Offline

Troubleshoot a security or monitoring camera that stops responding.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When Apple Home Says No Response

Troubleshoot HomeKit/Matter accessories that appear unavailable.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What Is a Smart-Home Hub?

Understand devices that coordinate accessories and enable automations or remote access.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What Is Matter for Smart-Home Devices?

Understand the interoperability standard used by many newer smart-home products.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What Is Thread in a Smart Home?

Understand the low-power mesh network used by some Matter and HomeKit accessories.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What Is a Thread Border Router?

Understand why some Thread-based Matter accessories need a compatible bridge between Thread and the home IP network.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When Alexa Says a Smart Device Is Unresponsive

Troubleshoot a device that no longer responds through Alexa.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When Google Home Shows a Device Offline

Troubleshoot a smart device unavailable in Google Home.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

Why Smart-Home Setup Often Has Problems with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi

Understand why some smart devices fail to join modern dual-band networks.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do with Smart Devices After Replacing Your Wi-Fi Router

Reduce the work of reconnecting plugs, bulbs, cameras, and other devices.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What Happens to Smart Devices When You Change the Wi-Fi Password?

Understand why devices go offline after wireless credentials change.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

When Should You Factory-Reset a Smart-Home Device?

Use reset as a last resort when normal reconnection steps fail or ownership is changing.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

How to Review Smart-Home Camera and Microphone Privacy

Check access, recordings, accounts, and permissions for connected home devices.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What to Do When a TV or Streaming Remote Is Not Working

Troubleshoot batteries, pairing, line-of-sight, or device problems.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

What Is HDMI-CEC?

Understand how HDMI-connected devices can control TV power, volume, and input switching.

View guide →TV, Streaming & Smart Home

How to Tell Which Account a Streaming App Is Using on Your TV

Identify the signed-in profile/account before changing subscriptions or troubleshooting access.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Reset a Facebook Password

Recover access when you forgot your Facebook password.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

What to Do If Your Facebook Account Is Hacked

Secure a Facebook account after unauthorized access.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Review Facebook Privacy Settings

Control who can see posts, profile information, and other activity.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Block or Unblock Someone on Facebook

Prevent or restore certain interactions with another Facebook account.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

Unfriend vs. Unfollow on Facebook

Understand two ways to reduce someone's content or connection.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

Deactivate vs. Delete a Facebook Account

Understand temporary deactivation versus permanent account deletion.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Save a Photo from Facebook

Download a photo when Facebook and the uploader's permissions allow it.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Block Messages on Messenger

Stop unwanted Messenger communication.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

What Are Message Requests in Messenger?

Understand messages from people who are not normal contacts/friends.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Reset an Instagram Password

Recover access to an Instagram account.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

What to Do If Your Instagram Account Is Hacked

Recover and secure an Instagram account after unauthorized changes.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Make an Instagram Account Private

Limit ordinary post visibility to approved followers.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Block or Unblock Someone on Instagram

Control interactions with another Instagram account.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

What Does Restrict Mean on Instagram?

Understand a less visible way to limit another person's interactions.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Download a Copy of Your Instagram Information

Request an export of account information through Meta's account tools.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Back Up WhatsApp Chats

Create a supported cloud backup of WhatsApp chat history.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Block or Unblock Someone on WhatsApp

Stop messages and calls from a WhatsApp contact.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Turn WhatsApp Read Receipts On or Off

Control blue-check read receipts where WhatsApp permits it.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Change Who Can See Your WhatsApp Last Seen or Online Status

Control visibility of presence information.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Move WhatsApp to a New Phone

Transfer or restore chats when changing devices.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Start a Group Text Message

Send one conversation to multiple people using the phone's messaging app.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Leave or Mute a Group Text

Reduce unwanted group-message notifications or leave when the messaging protocol supports it.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Block a Phone Number on iPhone

Stop ordinary calls/messages from a selected number using iPhone blocking controls.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Block a Phone Number on Android

Stop calls or messages from a selected number on an Android phone.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

What to Do with a Spam Text Message

Handle suspicious texts without confirming your number or opening malicious links.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

Why 'Wrong Number' Texts Can Be Scams

Recognize unsolicited friendly conversations designed to build trust.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

Delivered vs. Read in Text Messages

Understand common messaging status indicators.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

SMS/MMS vs. iMessage: What's the Difference?

Understand Apple's internet-based messaging versus carrier messaging.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

What Is RCS Messaging?

Understand newer carrier/internet-enhanced messaging features used by supported phones.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

What to Do When a Photo Will Not Send in a Text Message

Troubleshoot image messages that fail.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Send Several Photos in a Text or Message

Attach multiple photos to a conversation without sending them one at a time.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Send a Video That Is Too Large for a Message

Share a large video when messaging limits prevent direct attachment.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Share Your Location in a Message

Send a current or live location using a supported messaging/map service.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

What to Check Before Sharing Your Live Location

Understand the privacy implications of continuous location sharing.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Turn On Two-Factor Authentication for Social Media

Add a second login step to Facebook, Instagram, and other supported accounts.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Spot a Fake Social Media Profile

Evaluate suspicious accounts before accepting requests or sending money/information.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Recognize a Romance Scam on Social Media

Recognize relationship-building used to obtain money or sensitive information.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Recognize a Fake Social Media Giveaway

Avoid fake prize messages that request fees, credentials, or payment information.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

What to Do If Someone Is Impersonating You on Social Media

Report an account pretending to be you or someone you represent.

View guide →Social Media & Messaging

How to Delete or Archive a Social Media Post

Remove content from public view or archive it when the platform supports that option.

View guide →