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407 'how-to' stories August 2011 - July 2022

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A collection of tutorials, tips, and tricks from the 9to5Google team helping you fix and get the most out of Android, Google Assistant, Chromebooks, Android TV, and more.

Google Maps dark theme Android

How to flag and report scam business reviews on Google Maps and Search

Andrew Romero Jul 19 2022 - 1:18 pm PT

Local businesses are getting hit hard by scam one-star reviews on Google Maps and Search. Fortunately, there’s a way to report what you think are scammers trying to sully a local business’ good name. This guide will take you through the steps of flagging scam reviews on Google Maps and Google Search.

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Chromebook

How to type special characters and symbols on a Chromebook

Andrew Romero Jul 18 2022 - 12:00 pm PT

The average keyboard only has so many characters labeled on it for use. Beyond that, there are plenty of other symbols and punctuation that are worth using, yet have no home on a Chromebook’s QWERTY keyboard. This guide will show you how to use Unicode shortcuts to type special characters on a Chromebook.

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sync wordle across devices

How to link Wordle to an account for sync across Android, iOS, and other devices

Andrew Romero Jul 18 2022 - 8:15 am PT

Over the past few months, the absurdly popular word game – Wordle – has taken the world by storm. Up until this point, your scores and winning streaks were only available on the device you played on. Now, however, all of these Wordle stats can sync across devices. Here’s how.

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How to delete app access to Google Drive and why you should

Andrew Romero Jul 15 2022 - 12:23 pm PT

The odds that you come across an app every so often wanting access to Google Drive is generally pretty high. Many apps use your Google Drive as a backup method, making it easy to store your data. Unfortunately, this can also be a security risk. This guide will take you through how to delete app data and revoke access in Google Drive.

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Two Nest Audio speakers w/ Google Assistant

How to play music on multiple speakers in the Google Home app

Andrew Romero Jul 14 2022 - 9:36 am PT

One of the distinct advantages of having Wi-Fi speakers is the ability to wirelessly play music on multiple devices at the same time. It just so happens you can do this through the Google Home app on your phone by creating speaker groups. All you need is a few Google Home compatible speakers and some great music to play.

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How to check your Android version on your Samsung Galaxy phone

Andrew Romero Jul 13 2022 - 12:27 pm PT

With Samsung being so on-the-ball lately with OS and security updates, you’re always changing system versions. In some cases, it’s important to know what version of Android or One UI you’re on. This guide will take you through the steps to finding out what version of Android or One UI your Samsung Galaxy device is on.

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google nest hub alarms list

How to manage Google Nest Hub alarms through the Home app

Andrew Romero Jul 12 2022 - 6:00 pm PT

Have you ever set an alarm only to have something change and suddenly that alarm is no longer needed? On top of that, you may have completely forgotten that you ever set an alarm. That’s enough to ruin your day. To avoid this, you can manage and delete the alarms you set on your Nest Hub in the Google Home app. Here’s how.

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Galaxy Watch 4 QWERTY keyboard Gboard

How to switch to a full QWERTY keyboard on your Galaxy Watch

Andrew Romero Jul 12 2022 - 5:15 pm PT

The Galaxy Watch 4 is, as a whole, a great device. However, dictation and the stock keyboard are not strong points of the watch in any capacity. Fortunately, those who want a full QWERTY keyboard for the Galaxy Watch have options available. This guide will take you through exactly how to set up Gboard’s QWERTY keyboard on the Galaxy Watch.

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Google Nest Camera

How to view and manage your Google Nest Camera or Nest Doorbell video recordings

Andrew Romero Jul 12 2022 - 9:17 am PT

Did something happen and you need to download the video your Nest Camera captured? Or did someone drop by and leave a voice message on your Nest Doorbell? In either situation, viewing and exporting your Google Nest Doorbell and Nest Camera video recordings would be your next move. Here’s how to do that.

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Turn off automatic app updates

How to stop automatic app updates on Android

Andrew Romero Jul 11 2022 - 11:24 am PT

By default, automatic app updates on Android are turned on. This means that during certain times, the apps you get from the Google Play Store will be updated on their own, with no manual activation. But what if you want to turn that off? Here’s how to stop automatic app updates on Android.

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YouTube Music

How to upload your own music to YouTube Music

Andrew Romero Jul 11 2022 - 8:03 am PT

YouTube Music is a vast service that covers tons of genres, playlists, and albums from thousands of artists around the world. That being said, there will be some times when you can’t quite find the track you’re looking for. Fortunately, YouTube Music lets you upload your own music to keep with you in your account. Here’s how to do that.

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Android TV / Google TV universal remote

How to control your Android TV using the Google Home app

Andrew Romero Jul 8 2022 - 12:19 pm PT

Android TV and Google TV are great options for streaming media, playing cloud-based games, or even turning your TV into a virtual fireplace. Ok, well, mostly the first two. But did you know that you can use your phone as a remote control for your Android TV/Google TV? Here’s how.

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Google Home Nest Doorbell Camera

How to extend your Nest Doorbell’s battery life

Andrew Romero Jul 8 2022 - 10:25 am PT

When it comes to deciding whether to buy a wired-in Nest Doorbell or a battery-powered one, there are a couple of things to consider: How long does the battery actually last, and how can I extend it? This guide will take you through just that and hopefully help you extend your Nest Doorbell battery life.

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google pay pixel 4

How to manage payment methods in your Google Account

Andrew Romero Jul 7 2022 - 12:28 pm PT

Buying things and paying for subscriptions online has been completely normalized and is one of the easiest ways to do so. Google lets you add and keep debit and credit card information stored in your Google Account, so you have that info wherever you go. One important aspect of this is being able to manage payment methods in your Google Account, whether that’s adding or removing them. Here’s how to do that.

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samsung galaxy s22

How to remove Samsung Wallet from your Galaxy device

Andrew Romero Jul 7 2022 - 9:09 am PT

Each OEM has its own little touches on Android – that’s especially the case with Samsung, which has an app for just about anything, including your touchless payment methods. In the case that you don’t want to use Samsung Wallet, you can deactivate it, uninstall or remove it from your device, and disable homescreen shortcuts. Here’s how.

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How to screen record Pixel

How to quickly screen record on your Google Pixel

Andrew Romero Jul 6 2022 - 12:51 pm PT

Forget taking screenshots! Capturing screen recordings on Google Pixel is the way to go. That’s mostly a joke, although screen recordings do come in handy more often than you think. Here’s how to create them.

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Change autofill settings Android

How to change your password autofill settings on Android

Andrew Romero Jul 5 2022 - 1:31 pm PT

With so many password management services out there, it can be tempting to make one of them your default autofill provider on your Android device. Unfortunately, our experience has resulted in bug after bug when using third-party password services. This guide will help you change your Pixel or Samsung device password autofill settings and adjust them to your liking.

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twitter auto-refresh

How to customize your navigation bar on Twitter for Android

Andrew Romero Jul 5 2022 - 9:32 am PT

Coming in as a new Twitter Blue feature for Android, the app now lets you customize your navigation bar. You can switch out that Spaces tab for other ones, like direct messages and communities. Here’s how to switch it up in Twitter Blue for Android.

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How to use your Google Nest Doorbell in an apartment

Andrew Romero Jul 1 2022 - 9:15 am PT

Install Nest Doorbell apartment

You’re tired of it, and I’m tired of it. Tired of the lack of options out there for apartment dwellers who want to deck their space out in smart home products. The Google Nest Doorbell is no different. Fortunately, we found an easy and safe way to install a Nest Doorbell in an apartment without having to drill a single hole or unpeel a single sticker.

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How to change Nest Doorbell ringtone

How to change your Nest Doorbell ringtone

Andrew Romero Jun 30 2022 - 1:02 pm PT

Doorbells don’t have to make the classic “ding dong” we’re so accustomed to hearing. In fact, the Nest Doorbell offers a few different ringtones so you can switch things up and not have to settle for the played-out sound you’re used to hearing. Here’s how to do it.

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How to use Google Docs new ‘Pageless’ feature

Andrew Romero Jun 29 2022 - 1:54 pm PT

We live in the cloud. That’s just how things are now. Pages are being printed less often and most of our work is done online and shared with others through programs like Google Drive. To embrace that shift, Google Docs has added a feature called “Pageless” editing. Here’s how it works.

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Store export Google Hangouts data

How to download your Google Hangouts data before it shuts down for good

Andrew Romero Jun 29 2022 - 9:06 am PT

Google Hangouts has a ticking clock hanging over its head and is set to shut down for good. Fortunately, you can move your Google Hangouts data by downloading it and keeping it safe locally. This guide will take you through exactly how to do that.

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How to empty trash on Android

How to clear some space and empty trash on your Google Pixel

Andrew Romero Jun 28 2022 - 11:54 am PT

While modern-day smartphones are fantastic for keeping large files in the cloud, you will inevitably find yourself downloading at least some locally onto your device. Over time, that download folder can get larger and larger until your Android device almost can’t take anymore. This guide will take you through the “Files” app and help you empty some of that trash on your Pixel.

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How to use Google Tasks

How to use ‘Google Tasks’ to create to-dos and get stuff done

Andrew Romero Jun 28 2022 - 8:45 am PT

There are plenty of task programs out there, and many of them work perfectly fine. Some of them work really well, given what they can do and how they can integrate with other apps and programs. Google Tasks, for instance, not only reminds you on the device you set it up with, but it also reminds you everywhere else you have a Google Account set up. This guide will take you through the basics of using Google Tasks more effectively.

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