Everyday tech hacks: from phone shortcuts to webcam magic

You don't know what you don't know. Sounds obvious, but when it comes to tech, that means you might be missing out on features that you’d love if only you knew about them.

Take the hidden apps on your phone. I don’t know why developers don’t talk about these more.

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I make it my mission to tell you about all those little time-savers, productivity helpers and annoyance stoppers built into your everyday devices. Here are three I bet you’ll use again and again.

I write about the latest tech gear, security alerts and digital life hacks in my daily emails. Join 600K+ who get the Current each day. It’s free!

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Your iPhone has a "duplicate photos" folder where you can merge any doubles. It’s so easy to use. Here’s how:

On Android, open the Files by Google app, then select Clean. If you don’t have it, download it for free from the Google Play Store.

That’s all it takes to remove screenshots, memes, duplicates and other junk hiding among the photos you care about.

Sure, you know about "Do Not Disturb," but are you aware you can set it to activate during certain hours automatically? 

Let's say you've got your nightly wind-down routine. You can set "Do Not Disturb" to automatically turn on an hour before bedtime and off when you usually wake up. No more late-night pings or dings that tempt you to check your phone.

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Pro tip: If you don’t want to sleep with a watch or fitness tracker because it's uncomfortable, check out the Withings Sleep Tracking Pad. It fits under your mattress and tracks your sleep cycles and heart rate. It can also detect snoring and breathing disturbances.

Your webcam is good for more than video meetings. Use it as a scanner when you need to get a document onto your computer and don’t want to go through the steps of taking a photo, sending it to yourself and formatting it.

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"Kim Komando Today" is a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts using my last name. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode.

PODCAST PICK: Food delivery bomb prank, Amazon passkeys & hidden Airbnb cam

Plus, hear about a man who tattoos his online trolls' faces on himself in a unique payback plot. Do you lurk on your ex’s social profiles? I reveal the science behind why we do it — even if it’s not good for you. Also, Amazon shopping hacks for snagging deals and tips to ace voice typing.

Check out my podcast "Kim Komando Today" on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.

Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, "Komando."

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Sound like a tech pro, even if you’re not! Award-winning popular host Kim Komando is your secret weapon. Listen on 425+ radio stations or get the podcast. And join over 400,000 people who get her free 5-minute daily email newsletter.

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