New Tricks Daily

Every app on your Android phone asks for permissions, but do you really know what each app can access? A simple torch app does not need your contacts, and a photo editor does not need your location all the time. Checking permissions takes only a few minutes, and it is one of the easiest ways to protect your privacy. Illustration: App permissions control what each app can access, from camera and location to contacts and microphone. What Are App Permissions? Permissions are the doors you open for an app. Camera, microphone, location, contacts, photos, files and notifications are all permissions. When you grant one, the app can use that feature while you use it, or in the background if you allow it. Android now lets you give access only while using the app, only this time, or all the time, so you can be much more precise than before. How to Check App Permissions — Step by Step Follow these steps on your Android phone: Open Settings, then tap Apps or Apps and notifications. Tap an app to o...

If your WiFi suddenly feels slow, or the lights on your router blink furiously late at night, it is natural to wonder who else might be connected. The good news is that most routers let you see every connected device in a few taps, and you do not need any special app or technical skill to do it. Illustration: Your router's device list shows every phone, laptop and smart device using your WiFi. Why Your WiFi May Feel Slow or Busy Before you assume someone is stealing your WiFi, remember that your own home can be busy too. Phones, laptops, smart TVs, speakers, cameras and game consoles all share the same connection, and many of them download updates in the background. Still, if the slowdown is sudden or happens at odd hours, checking the device list is a sensible first step. How to Check Connected Devices on Your Router — Step by Step Follow these steps on a phone connected to your own WiFi: Open your phone's browser and go to your router's login page, usually printed on a st...

Not every story is meant for everyone who follows you. Some moments are for your best friends, your family, or a small circle you trust. That is exactly what Instagram Close Friends is for: a private list of people who can see selected stories, while everyone else simply does not see them at all. Illustration: Close Friends lets you share stories with only a small, trusted circle. What Is Instagram Close Friends? Close Friends is a list you create inside Instagram. When you share a story with Close Friends, only the people on that list can view it. Other followers will not see the story, and they will not be told that a Close Friends story exists. The people on your list will know they are on it, because your story will show a green ring around your profile picture instead of the usual pink and orange one. How to Create Your Close Friends List — Step by Step Follow these steps in the Instagram app: Open Instagram and go to your profile. Tap the three-line menu in the top-right corner. ...

Your WhatsApp chats hold years of memories, family photos, work messages and important contacts. If you lose your phone or switch to a new one without a backup, all of it can be gone in a moment. The good news is that WhatsApp on Android can back up your chats to Google Drive automatically, so restoring them later takes just a few taps. Illustration: Backing up WhatsApp to Google Drive keeps your chats safe if you lose or change your phone. What You Need Before You Back Up Before you start, make sure you have a Google account signed in on your phone, enough free space in Google Drive, and a stable Wi-Fi connection. Backups over mobile data can be slow and can eat into your data plan, so Wi-Fi is the safer choice. Also check that WhatsApp is updated to the latest version from the Play Store. How to Back Up WhatsApp to Google Drive — Step by Step Follow these steps on your Android phone: Open WhatsApp and tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner. Tap Settings, then Chats, then Chat...

Losing your phone is a horrible feeling. One minute it is in your pocket, the next minute it is gone — and with it your photos, contacts, messages and bank apps. The good news is that most Android phones already have a free tool built in that can help you find it: Google Find My Device. The best part? You do not need to install anything new or pay anything. You only need to set it up once, before the phone goes missing. Let us walk through everything in simple steps.   Illustration: Find My Device can locate, ring, lock or erase a lost Android phone. What Find My Device Needs Beforehand Find My Device only works if a few things are already switched on. Take two minutes to check them today, while your phone is safe in your hand: Your phone must be signed into a Google account. Almost every Android phone already is, because you need a Google account to use the Play Store. If you are not sure, go to Settings and check the Google account shown at the top. Location must be turned on. Go...