Ask Computer Dean

Ask Computer Dean All-around Computer & Electronic Support for your home, small & medium-businesses and other personal high-tech needs!

08/13/2026

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN — TIP OF THE DAY #272
📅 Thursday, August 13, 2026

📶 STOP SPELLING OUT THAT WI-FI PASSWORD!

We've all done it:

“Capital B… small r… seven… no, that's an L, not a one…” 😂

There are much easier ways to help someone connect to your Wi-Fi.

🍎 iPhone:
Apple devices can share a Wi-Fi password directly between nearby compatible Apple devices when the proper requirements are met. Your guest selects your Wi-Fi network and your iPhone can offer a Share Password prompt.

🤖 Android:
Many Android phones make this even easier. Open your connected Wi-Fi network's details and look for Share or QR Code. Your guest simply scans the code with their phone to connect.

Samsung Galaxy phones, for example, can display a QR code for the Wi-Fi network you're currently using.

No typing.
No spelling.
Fewer mistakes. 👍

⚠️ One reminder: Only share access to your Wi-Fi with people you trust. For frequent visitors, consider setting up a separate Guest Wi-Fi network if your router supports one.

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN TIP:
Next time someone asks, “What's your Wi-Fi password?”—you may not have to tell them at all. Just SHARE it!

08/13/2026

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN — TIP OF THE DAY #271
📅 Wednesday, August 12, 2026

📱 TOO SMALL? MAKE IT BIGGER!

Do you sometimes find yourself squinting at your phone—or holding it farther away just to read a message? 😄

You may not need new glasses or a bigger phone. Try increasing the text size first!

🍎 On iPhone:
Go to Settings → Display & Brightness → Text Size, then move the slider until the text is comfortable to read.

For even larger text, check Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Larger Text.

🤖 On Android:
The exact menu varies by phone, but on many devices you'll find it under Settings → Display → Font size and style. Adjust the slider until it feels comfortable.

And don't worry—you can always change it back.

This is especially helpful for text messages, menus, settings, notifications and many everyday apps. A small adjustment can make using your phone much more comfortable.

💡 ASK COMPUTER DEAN TIP:
Don't struggle with tiny text. Make your phone adjust to YOU—not the other way around!

08/11/2026

Ask Computer Dean — Tip of the Day #270
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Save That Confirmation! ✅

Booked a flight? Paid a bill? Ordered something online? Registered for an event?

Before closing the page, take a quick screenshot of the confirmation screen.

It can save you a lot of searching later if the confirmation email is delayed, gets buried, or lands in Spam.

Good things to capture include:

• Confirmation numbers
• Appointment dates and times
• Order numbers
• Pickup instructions
• Reservation details

Afterward, delete the screenshot once you no longer need it so it doesn't become permanent photo clutter.

One caution: avoid keeping screenshots containing full credit-card numbers, passwords, or other highly sensitive information.

Ask Computer Dean Tip:
A five-second screenshot can save a five-minute search later.

08/11/2026

Ask Computer Dean — Tip of the Day #269
Monday, August 10, 2026
Small Print? Use Your Phone! 🔎📱

Having trouble reading tiny print on a label, menu, medication bottle, serial number, or instruction sheet?

Your smartphone can become a handy digital magnifying glass.

On an iPhone, look for the built-in Magnifier app. On Android phones, you can often use the camera and zoom in, or use the phone's accessibility magnification features.

This can be especially handy for:

• Tiny serial numbers
• Product labels
• Restaurant menus
• Instruction manuals
• Hard-to-read plugs and ports

You can even take a photo first and zoom in afterward.

Ask Computer Dean Tip:
Before reaching for your reading glasses—or giving up—let your phone make the small stuff BIG.

08/10/2026

Ask Computer Dean – Tip of the Day #268
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Windows Tip: Pin Your Favorite Apps

Do you open the same few programs every day?

Instead of searching for them each time, pin them where they're always just one click away.

To pin an app:

Open the Start menu.
Find the app.
Right-click it.
Choose Pin to Start or Pin to Taskbar.

Great apps to pin include:

📧 Outlook
🌐 Chrome or Edge
📄 Microsoft Word
📊 Excel
📁 File Explorer

It's a simple change that can save you time every single day.

Ask Computer Dean Tip:
One click is always better than five.

08/08/2026

Ask Computer Dean – Tip of the Day #267
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Mac Tip: Clean Up Your Desktop

Is your Mac desktop covered with dozens—or even hundreds—of files and folders?

A cluttered desktop doesn't just make it harder to find things; it can also become distracting and, in some cases, affect performance.

Take just a few minutes to tidy things up:

✅ Create folders for Work, Personal, Photos, and Documents.
✅ Move older files into the Documents folder.
✅ Delete shortcuts or files you no longer need.
✅ Empty the Trash when you're finished.

Bonus Tip:
On macOS, you can right-click on the Desktop and choose Use Stacks. Your Mac will automatically group similar files together, making your desktop much easier to manage.

Ask Computer Dean Tip:
A clean desktop helps create a clear mind—and finding your files becomes much easier.

08/06/2026

Ask Computer Dean – Tips of the Day #265 & #266
Thursday & Friday – August 6–7, 2026
Two Simple Settings. Big Difference.

Sometimes it's the little settings that make the biggest difference in how your phone performs. Here are two quick tips—one for iPhone users and one for Android users—that take only a couple of minutes to set up.

🍎 Tip #265 – iPhone (iOS)
Automatically Delete Old Messages

Did you know that years of old text messages can quietly consume valuable storage space on your iPhone?

If you don't need to keep every message forever, consider changing how long they're stored.

Go to:

Settings ➜ Apps ➜ Messages ➜ Keep Messages

Choose:

• 30 Days
• 1 Year
• Forever

Most people find that 1 Year is a good balance between keeping important conversations and reducing clutter.

Ask Computer Dean Tip:
Less clutter means more storage for the things that matter most.

🤖 Tip #266 – Android
Optimize Your Phone

Many Android phones, including Samsung Galaxy models, include a built-in tool that automatically cleans up memory, checks battery usage, and helps keep your phone running smoothly.

Go to:

Settings ➜ Device Care
(or Battery & Device Care, depending on your phone)

Then tap:

Optimize Now

It only takes a few seconds and can help improve performance by closing unnecessary background processes and checking your phone's overall health.

It's a good habit to run this every week or two.

Ask Computer Dean Tip:
A little preventive maintenance today can help your phone perform better tomorrow.

Final Thought

Whether you use an iPhone or an Android phone, spending just two minutes exploring your settings can often improve performance, free up storage, and make your device easier to use.

Technology doesn't always require expensive upgrades—sometimes the best improvements are already built into your phone!

08/06/2026

Ask Computer Dean – Tip of the Day #264
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
If Something Happened Tomorrow...

Here's a question most of us don't like to think about...

Would your family know how to access your digital life?

Today, so much of our lives exists online:

📱 Phones
💻 Computers
📧 Email accounts
☁️ Cloud storage
📷 Family photos
💳 Online subscriptions
🏦 Financial accounts
🔐 Passwords

Many people have carefully organized their important papers—but very few have organized their digital information.

You don't have to share your passwords with anyone today.

But it is a good idea to start thinking about how your loved ones could locate important accounts and digital memories if you were ever unable to help them.

It's not just about technology...

It's about making life a little easier for the people you care about.

Ask Computer Dean Tip:
Your digital life deserves a plan, too.

Coming soon... a new Ask Computer Dean service designed to help families organize and protect their digital lives.

08/05/2026

Ask Computer Dean – Tips of the Day #262 & #263
Monday & Tuesday – August 3–4, 2026
Two Quick Tech Tips You Can Do Today!
📱 Tip #262
Turn On Emergency Contacts

Your smartphone can display emergency contacts even when it's locked.

Take two minutes today to make sure they're set up.

iPhone
Health App ➜ Medical ID

Android (Samsung & others)
Settings ➜ Safety & Emergency

This information can help first responders or a Good Samaritan contact your loved ones if you're unable to.

🔋 Tip #263
Charge Smarter

Modern phone batteries last longer when you avoid constantly draining them to 0%.

Whenever possible:

🔋 Keep your battery between 20% and 80%.

Most newer iPhones and Android phones even have battery optimization features that help extend battery life automatically.

Your battery will thank you in the long run.

Ask Computer Dean Tip

Small habits today can prevent big problems tomorrow.

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