© Dmitrii Melnikov | Dreamstime.com
There are so many tech tricks you only know if someone clues you in. Take the humble USB.
If you’re always plugging in the wrong way, here’s the secret: The symbol on one side isn’t just for branding or decoration. That symbol will point up if you’re plugging in horizontally, and if you’re plugging in a cable vertically, the USB symbol will face you.
I love passing along clever tech tricks you’ll use time and time again. Here are a few goodies for your computer. If you learn something new, share this article with a pal!
Use a Windows PC?
Learning a new shortcut takes some time. Think back to before you used Ctrl + C to copy and Ctrl + V to paste and you had to make those a habit. Now, pick one (or more) of the tricks below and try it out. Use it a few times, and it’ll become second nature in no time.
- Windows key + Shift + S brings up the screenshot tool. Drag the box that pops up, and voila — a screenshot of whatever you want. It’s so much easier to send a screenshot (and even mark it up to show your recipient something) than trying to explain in words.
- Looking for a file? Hit the Windows key and start typing the name. That’s it. So simple and it saves so much time.
- Pressing the Windows key + . (period) opens the emoji picker. You can easily insert emojis into your documents, messages or other text areas. The emoji picker also includes symbols and special characters.
For my Mac folks
Do you use your laptop for both work and personal life? Or maybe you share your MacBook with someone else. There’s a genius way to keep your profiles separate.
Set up different user accounts attached to different fingerprints. Maybe your work profile uses your pointer finger and your personal account uses your ring finger. Or maybe you and your spouse have your fingerprints linked to your own accounts.
- Hit the Apple menu > System Settings > Touch ID & Password to set these up. You can save up to five fingerprints and have three active ones. From this screen, you can also choose what the Touch ID function can do, including unlocking the computer, using Apple Pay and autofilling passwords.
Now, on to some great keyboard shortcuts for you, too.
- Ctrl + Cmd + spacebar: This shortcut opens the Character Viewer, which lets you browse and insert special characters, symbols and emojis into your documents, emails, texts or anything else. It works in most programs and is a lot easier than opening a website to copy emojis.
- Option + Cmd + V: When you copy text or files, they’re usually pasted in the original format. Using this shortcut, you can paste the copied content without the source formatting. This is one you’ll use day after day.
😂 Let me tell you, jokes about tech support really turn me off … and then back on.
✅ Keep that tech know-how going! Over at my site, I have a list of more awesome keyboard shortcuts to quickly lock your device, zoom in and create a snazzy virtual desktop. I couldn’t squeeze them all here.
