Are you trying to launch a YouTube video in a new web browser tab, but it doesn’t open? Either YouTube is experiencing issues or your web browser has a problem. Luckily, there are a few ways to get around this problem, and open your videos in new web browser tabs on your computer. We’ll show you what those ways are.

Sometimes, YouTube doesn’t let you open videos in a new tab because your web browser has a faulty extension or adblocker, your web browser cache is corrupted, or your web browser configuration is faulty.

Use an Alternate Way to Open Videos in New Tabs

There isn’t only one way to launch YouTube videos in a new tab; you have at least two ways. When one method doesn’t work, use the alternate one.

The first method is to press and hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and Left-Click the video you want to open in a new browser tab. This key and click combination tells your browser to open the selected link (video, in this case) in a new tab.

If you’ve tried that method but to no avail, the alternate method is to right-click the video and select Open link in new tab. This launches the selected video in a new tab.

Turn Off YouTube’s Video Previews

If you’ve noticed, YouTube plays video previews when you hover over a video. Sometimes, this causes the site not to open videos in new tabs. In this case, turn off video previews and see if your issue is resolved.

1. Launch your web browser and go to YouTube.com.
2. Select your profile icon in the top-right corner and choose Settings.
3. Select Playback and performance in the left sidebar.
4. Turn off Video previews on the right pane.

5. Try launching a video in a new tab.

Use Another Web Browser

If the issue persists, try using another web browser on your computer and see if you can open videos in new tabs. This method can help you identify any problems with your current web browser.

If you’re currently with Edge, switch to Firefox, open YouTube, and see if you can open videos in new tabs. If the problem persists, use the following troubleshooting tips in your current and previous browsers.

Turn Off the Web Browser Extensions and Adblockers

If you’ve installed ad blockers and extensions in your web browser, they might interfere with YouTube and break some of the site’s functionality. Verify that by turning off all your browser’s installed extensions and adblockers.

In Google Chrome

1. Select the three dots in the top-right corner and choose Extensions > Manage Extensions.
2. Turn off the toggles for all the extensions.

3. Close and relaunch Chrome, then try opening a video in a new tab.

In Mozilla Firefox

1. Select the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner and choose Add-ons and themes.
2. Disable all the installed add-ons.

3. Quit and re-open Firefox, then try launching a video in a new tab.

In Microsoft Edge

1. Choose the three dots in the top-right corner and select Extensions > Manage extensions.
2. Deactivate all the installed extensions.

3. Quit and relaunch Edge, then try accessing a video in a new tab.

Clear Your Browser’s Cache and Cookies

If your web browser’s cache or cookies are corrupted, you might be unable to open YouTube videos in new tabs. In this case, clear the cache and cookies for YouTube and Google in your web browser.

In Google Chrome

1. Select Chrome’s address bar, type the following, and press Enter:
   chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
2. Select All time from the Time range drop-down menu, enable Cached images and files, and choose Clear data.
3. Open YouTube.com, select the View site information icon beside the address bar, choose Cookies and site data > Manage on-device site data, and select the trash can icon next to each entry in the Data from the site you’re visiting section.

4. Repeat the above step for Google.com.

In Mozilla Firefox

1. Open YouTube.com and select the padlock icon beside the address bar.
2. Choose Clear cookies and site data.

3. Select Remove in the prompt.

In Microsoft Edge

1. Launch YouTube.com, select the padlock icon beside the address bar, and choose Cookies.
2. Select a cookie on the list and choose Remove.

3. Repeat the above step until all cookies are cleared.
4. Go to Google.com and remove all the cookies.

Reset Your Web Browser

If your web browser’s configuration is faulty, that might be the reason you can’t open videos in a new tab. This usually happens when a browser option is misconfigured.

You can fix that by resetting your Chrome, Firefox, or Edge web browser. This will restore all the browser settings options to their default values.

Contact YouTube Support

If you still have the issue, reach out to YouTube’s support team to see if they can help.

1. Launch a web browser and head to the YouTube Help site.
2. Scroll down the page and select Contact us.

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to send YouTube a message.

Temporary Workaround: Manually Paste the Video Link in a New Tab

A temporary workaround you can use to open videos in new tabs is to copy the video link and manually paste the link into a new browser tab. This launches your selected video in a new tab of your web browser.

You can copy a YouTube video’s link by right-clicking the video and selecting Copy link address. Then, open a new tab, select the address bar, paste the copied link, and press Enter.

Of course, this method isn’t as convenient as the Ctrl + Left-Click or the context menu method, but at least you have something to use until your issue is fixed.

Force YouTube to Launch Videos in New Web Browser Tabs

YouTube fails to load videos in new browser tabs for various reasons. If the issue persists, apply the methods outlined above to resolve the problem.

The post How to Fix It When YouTube Won’t Open in New Tab first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Don’t let your Discord profile changes disappear into the void. Discord may sometimes struggle to save your profile changes. This is especially frustrating if you spent hours crafting your profile section.

In this guide, we’ll explore what can be causing this issue and provide solutions for troubleshooting it in Discord.

Why Discord Fails Saving Profile Changes

While the problem with Discord not saving changes is often related to a buggy server, several factors could contribute to this problem. Here are some of the most common of them.

• Server Overload: Discord servers may sometimes experience heavy traffic or overload, resulting in delays or failures in processing profile changes.
• Network Issues: Poor internet connectivity or intermittent network disruptions can interfere with the communication between your device and Discord servers, preventing profile changes from being saved.
• Software Bugs: Like any software, Discord isn’t immune to bugs or glitches. An underlying software issue could be causing profile changes to fail to save properly.
• Cache and Cookies: Accumulated cache and cookies in your browser or Discord app may sometimes interfere with the saving process, preventing profile changes from being applied.
• Permissions: In some cases, restricted permissions or account settings may prevent you from saving certain profile changes, especially if they involve sensitive information.
  

How to Fix Discord Not Saving Profile Changes

Now that you understand potential reasons for Discord failing to save your profile changes, you can troubleshoot them more effectively. We recommend trying every method outlined below one by one, checking whether each of them solves the Discord issue.

1. Restart Discord

When Discord fails to save profile changes, a quick fix might be as simple as restarting the application. When you do it, you can establish a fresh connection to the Discord servers, potentially resolving any glitches or synchronization issues.

Here’s how to restart Discord on different devices:

• Windows: In the Windows taskbar, select the Show hidden icons button, then right-click on Discord, and choose Quit Discord.
• macOS: Go to the Discord menu and select Quit, or press Command + Q on your keyboard to quit.
• Android: Launch the Recent Items window and slide Discord from the edges of the screen to completely close it.
• iPhone: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen, locate the Discord app, and swipe up to remove it and close the application.

After closing Discord, restart the app and check if the profile changes are saving correctly.

2. Update the Discord App

Keeping your Discord app updated is crucial for resolving errors like Discord not being able to save your profile changes, among others. Discord frequently releases updates to address bugs and glitches, including issues with account management.

Usually, Discord updates automatically each time you start the app. However, if you’re still encountering the error, manual intervention might be necessary.

If automatic updates fail to resolve the issue, you can manually download and install the latest version from the Discord website. This ensures you have the most recent fixes and improvements.

3. Switch to Another Device

If you’re encountering issues with Discord not saving profile changes, consider switching to another device as a potential solution. Sometimes, variations between the app and web versions can cause syncing problems, and using a different device can trigger a system refresh, resolving the issue.

Experiment with changing your profile theme or other settings on your mobile and desktop apps. That way, you can determine if one version of the app allows you to successfully save the changes.

4. Clear Discord’s Cache

Clearing Discord’s cache can often resolve issues like Discord not saving profile changes. The Discord app stores a significant amount of data, including messages, images, and links, in its cache folder. When this cache folder becomes too large, it can lead to performance issues.

Here’s how you can clear Discord’s cache on different devices.

On Mac or PC

On your computer, navigate to the dedicated Discord’s Cache folder and delete the contents of this folder.

On Android

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
   
2. Scroll down and select Apps or Applications.
   
3. Find and select Discord from the list of installed apps.
   
4. Select Storage or Storage & cache.
   
5. Select Clear cache to clear Discord’s cache.
   

On iPhone or iPad

Unfortunately, there isn’t a direct option to clear Discord’s cache on iOS devices. Your best option is to offload or delete the Discord app and reinstall it. Keep in mind that this will also remove any saved login credentials and app settings.

By clearing Discord’s cache, you can potentially resolve issues related to profile changes not being saved and ensure smoother performance of the app.

5. Disable Community Mode

Disabling Community Mode can be an effective solution if you’re encountering issues with Discord server settings. Despite being a longstanding feature, Community Mode may still interfere with server settings, causing users inconvenience.

If you find yourself unable to modify server settings, temporarily disabling Community Mode can provide a workaround. To disable Community Mode, follow the steps below. The instructions are the same for both mobile and desktop users.

1. Open the Discord app on your device.
   
2. From the list of server options, select your server and open Server Settings.
   

3. In the sidebar menu on the left side of the screen, find the Community section.
   
4. In the Overview tab, scroll down and select Disable Community.
   

5. Confirm the change by selecting the Save Changes button.
   

Once you’ve made the necessary adjustments to your profile, you can choose to re-enable Community Mode. However, if you frequently encounter issues with server settings, leaving Community Mode disabled permanently may offer a smoother Discord experience.

6. Try Enabling or Disabling VPN

Network issues can sometimes disrupt Discord’s ability to save changes effectively. If your server is unresponsive despite other troubleshooting methods, try using a VPN to see if it resolves the issue.

Enabling a VPN can provide a more stable network connection, potentially resolving any connectivity issues that may be hindering Discord’s functionality. At the same time, if you’re already using a VPN, try disabling it temporarily to see if it makes a difference.

Switching to cellular networks can also improve your chances of successfully implementing server changes. By changing your network environment, you may bypass any network-related issues that could be affecting Discord’s performance.

7. Check for Timeout

Frequent changes to server settings, such as altering the server icon or profile theme, can trigger a timeout mechanism within Discord. If you’re unable to save changes despite multiple attempts, it’s possible that your server has entered a timeout state.

If you’ve encountered a timeout, it’s best to wait for approximately 20 minutes before attempting to make further changes. This waiting period allows Discord to reset and mitigate any issues related to excessive modification attempts.

To avoid triggering a timeout in the future, avoid making multiple modification attempts in quick succession.

8. Contact Support and Submit a Bug Report

If you’ve exhausted all troubleshooting options and continue to experience issues with Discord not saving profile changes, submitting a bug report can help resolve the underlying problem.

Here’s how you can submit a bug report to the Discord support team.

1. Open a web browser and navigate to the Discord Support website.
   
2. In the upper-right corner, select the Submit a request option.
   
3. Under What can we help you with, open the dropdown menu and select Bug Reporting to report the issue.
   

4. Fill in the required details, including a detailed description of the problem you’re experiencing, any relevant error messages, and steps to reproduce the issue.
   
5. Once you’ve provided all the necessary information, select the Submit button to send your bug report to Discord support.
   

By submitting a detailed bug report, you’re helping Discord’s support team identify and address the issue more effectively, ultimately contributing to a smoother user experience for all Discord users, not just yourself.

Learn How to Fix Any Discord Issue

Encountering issues with Discord not saving profile changes can be frustrating, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can resolve the issue and get back to customizing your Discord experience.

Remember to stay patient and thorough in your troubleshooting efforts, and don’t hesitate to contact Discord support if necessary.

The post Discord Profile Changes Not Saving? 8 Fixes to Try Right Now first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

PDF files have long been a staple for sharing documents, but when it comes to dynamic presentations that engage audiences, Google Slides offers a wealth of interactive features. Whether you’re repurposing existing content or seeking a more collaborative platform, knowing how to convert PDF files to Google Slide presentations is a valuable skill. In this article, we’ll explore various methods and tips to seamlessly transition your static PDF documents into dynamic presentations that captivate your audience.

Why Convert PDF Files into Google Slides?

Google Slides allows you to create an interactive presentation with embedded videos, transition effects, and animations. If you already have material in PDF form, you don’t want to waste time creating the same or similar material in Google Slides. Instead, you can just implement your PDF file into the Google Slide presentation.

Another reason why you might want to convert PDF into a Google Slide is the ease of sharing. PDF files can be large and it can take quite some time to send them as an attachment via email. But if you create a Google Slide presentation you can simply share a link to it.

Google Slides also allows other people to join your work, or leave notes and feedback directly in the presentation you’re making. This way ideas can be shared in real time, in a dynamic way. Although PDF files allow you to leave comments, it’s a more static environment not suitable for collaboration.

If you’re looking to convert PDF files into Google Slide presentations, you should understand that you’ll be working with two different file formats. That’s what makes it difficult to convert PDFs to Google Slides. Essentially, they’re not compatible. So what you need to do is convert your PDF file into a file format that can be easily implemented into Google Slides Presentation such as PowerPoint or Jpeg files. Let’s see all the ways in which you can convert your PDF to Google Slide Presentations.

1. Convert PDF to PowerPoint With Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat is a PDF editor which contains some very powerful tools. You can use it to create new PDF files, edit the existing ones, convert them to different file formats, sign, and share your PDFs. The best part is that it supports both native and scanned PDF files.

You can use Adobe Acrobat to convert your PDF files to PowerPoint which can then easily be implemented into your Google Slide presentation. Here’s how:

1. Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
   
2. In the Tools section of the Ribbon located at the top left corner of the screen, select Convert.
   

3. Select Microsoft PowerPoint from the offered file extensions.
   

4. Finally, click the blue Convert button and wait until Adobe Acrobat finishes the task.
   

Now you can upload this newly made PowerPoint file into your Google Slides. Here’s how:

1. Open Google Slides and create a blank presentation, or open the one you previously worked on.
   
2. Select Files in the top left corner, and then select Import Slides.
   

3. In the Import dialog box, select the Upload tab.
   

4. Click the Browse button to select the PowerPoint file you previously created and import it. Alternatively, you can just drag and drop it into the import dialog box.
   

5. Select all the slides you want to import, and then click on the Import Slides button.
   

And that’s it. You can now continue making your Google Slides Presentation with converted PDF files.

2. Convert PDF to PowerPoint With a Free Online Tool

If you don’t use Adobe Acrobat, some free online tools can convert your PDF into a PowerPoint file. The most popular ones are Zamzar and ilovePDF. Both these websites will convert your PDF files to high quality.

Another great thing about Zamzar and ilovePDF is that they don’t have a bunch of distracting advertisements on their web pages. Instead, they’re pretty straightforward online converters. Let’s see how online converters work taking Zamzar as an example:

1. Go to the Zamzar website.
   
2. Select the Choose Files button and select the PDF file you want to convert. This will upload the file to the website.
   

3. In the Convert To drop-down menu, select PPT or PPTX as an output.
   

4. Select the Convert Now button to start the conversion process.
   

5. Once the process is finished, Download the converted file to your device.
   

You can import converted PPT files into Google Slides by using the same method as described in the previous section.

3. Convert PDF to an Image

You can convert your PDF files into images and then implement them into the Google Slides presentations. There are several ways you can convert a PDF into an image. Let’s check them out

1. Use Adobe Acrobat to Convert PDF to JPEG

If you decide to use Adobe Acrobat to convert your PDF into an image:

1. Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat and go to Convert in the Tools menu.
   

2. Select the Image Format and then choose JPEG from the drop-down menu. Select the Convert button.
   

2. Use an Online Tool to Convert PDF to JPEG

Zamzar and ilovePDF let you convert your PDF files into multiple file extensions, not just PowerPoint. Instead of selecting PPT or PPTX, you’ll just need to select the JPEG file format to convert to. Here’s how:

1. Go to Zamzar.com.
   
2. Upload the PDF file you want to convert to an image by selecting the Choose Files option.
   

3. From the Convert To drop-down menu, select JPEG under the Image File section.
   

4. Select Convert Now.
   

5. Download the converted file to your device.
   

3. Take Screenshots of Your PDF to Convert to Images

If you don’t want to use Adobe Acrobat, or you prefer not to use the conversion websites, you can take screenshots of your PDF file to convert them to images. This will require some manual work on your part, but it’ll get the job done. The images you create by screenshotting your PDF file can then be used in Google Slides just like any other images.

1. Open your PDF file in the Web Browser or in the PDF viewer application.
   
2. Take a screenshot of each PDF page (or part of the page you want to use in the Google Slides presentation) by pressing the Print Screen button on your keyboard. Make sure you know where your device will save the screenshots you just took.
   
3. If using Windows 11, pressing the Print Screen button will open up the Snipping Tool which you can use to modify the screenshot and decide where to save it on your device.
   

4. Insert the newly created images into your Google Slide presentation.
   

5. Share Your PDF as a Link Within Google Slides Presentation

Google Slides lets you implement clickable links within the presentation. This can be a great way of sharing your PDF file with the audience without converting it. However, you’ll have to upload your PDF file into Google Drive first, and then share it as a link in Google Slides. But the process is very simple. Here’s how:

1. Go to Google Drive and Sign in with your Google account.
   
2. Select New from the Tools Menu in the top left corner.
   

3. Select File Upload.
   

4. Find and Open the PDF file you want to upload to Google Drive.
   

5. Find the uploaded PDF file and right-click it. Select Share from the menu, and then Copy Link.
   

6. Now go to the Google Slides presentation where you want to share the link to this PDF.
   
7. Make sure you click the mouse cursor where you want to implement the link in the presentation. Paste the link by simply pressing Ctrl+V (Cmd + V on Mac) shortcut on your keyboard.
   

Converting PDF files to Google Slide presentations opens up a world of possibilities for sharing information in a more engaging and interactive manner. By following the steps outlined in this article and leveraging the power of Google Slides, you can breathe new life into your presentations, making them more dynamic, visually appealing, and impactful for your audience. So, don’t hesitate to explore the possibilities and elevate your presentation game with the seamless conversion of PDF files to Google Slide presentations.

The post How to Convert PDF to Google Slides Presentations first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Among all digital note-taking apps, there are two names that stand out – GoodNotes and Notability. Let’s delve into the GoodNotes vs. Notability comparison, explore the similarities and differences between the two, and find out which note-taking app is better for you.

Launched in 2011, GoodNotes, a brainchild of Time Base Technology, markets itself as an AI note-taking app “loved by millions.” On the other hand, Notability, created in 2010 by Ginger Labs, proudly claims the title of the “best-selling paid note-taking app on the App Store,” catering particularly to students.

GoodNotes vs. Notability: First Impressions

For iOS users navigating the Apple ecosystem, GoodNotes and Notability are both familiar names when it comes to digital note-taking. Even though in this article we’ll be focusing on what makes these two apps different, they also have a lot in common, including features like PDF annotation, audio recording, and numerous note-taking templates.

GoodNotes shines with its latest iteration, GoodNotes 6. This version refines handwriting, rich formatting, iCloud syncing, and introduces cross-platform functionality – it’s now available for Android users too. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is a new impressive feature that translates handwritten notes into text across 17 languages. Other unique features like Flash Cards and interchangeable templates add to its appeal.

Notability, tailored for iPad and Mac users only, simplifies note creation and editing with diverse input methods. It accommodates images, PDFs, web clips, and audio recordings seamlessly. Robust markup tools and a noteworthy audio recording feature enhance its utility. The Notability gallery provides user-created templates and well-executed handwriting recognition.

Both apps seem like decent choices for digital note-taking. But which one should you give your preference to? Let’s find out.

Features & Tools

Let’s have a look over the main writing features that both of these note-taking apps offer their users.

GoodNotes Features:

• AI Writing Support: Automated spelling checks and word prompts enhance writing.
  
• AI-Guided Study Sessions: AI Math Assistant aids interactive SAT exam-prep materials.
  
• Handwriting-to-Text Conversions: Automatic transformation of handwritten text into typed notes.
  
• Flashcards: Converts notes into flashcard-based study sets with spaced repetition.
  
• Edit and Annotate PDFs: Easily sign, highlight, and annotate PDFs.
  
• Audio Record: Syncs audio clips with typed or handwritten notes.
  

Notability Features:

• Audio Transcription: Provides time-stamped transcripts synced with handwritten or typed notes.
  
• Handwriting-to-Text Conversions: The “Scribble” feature transforms handwritten notes to text.
  
• Math Conversion: Recognizes handwritten mathematical expressions and transforms them.
  
• Multi-Note: Allows simultaneous work on two notes in horizontal or vertical view.
  
• Reminders with Siri: This enables setting up reminders for notes using Siri.
  

While both apps boast an extensive set of note-taking features, GoodNotes seems to be ahead with its AI-powered writing support and learning tools that students can use for exam preparation.

Selecting between GoodNotes and Notability often comes down to the tools they offer, crucial for your enjoyable note-taking experience. So let’s take a look at what tools both apps have available.

GoodNotes Tools:

• Pen tools include fountain, ballpoint, and brush with 12 color variants.
  
• The highlighter tool goes behind notes without dimming them.
  
• Basic eraser tool that easily deletes texts and lines.
  
• Additional tools like Zoom and Lasso enhance functionality.
  

Notability Tools:

• Two pen tools, a fountain, a ballpoint, and a pencil tool.
  
• Slider for adjusting stroke width.
  
• Ruler and Tape tools (unique to Notability). Ruler aids in drawing straight lines, while Tape helps in blocking sections for focused study.
  
• Lasso tool allows the selective picking of items on a page.
  

In this category, Notability claims a slight edge due to its comprehensive toolset that makes note-taking easier and more efficient.

User Interface: Layout and Navigation

Both GoodNotes and Notability have user-friendly interfaces that you’ll have no problem navigating. Each of the apps comes with subtle differences in their layout setups.

GoodNotes:

Upon opening GoodNotes, you’ll see a clean, minimalist screen emphasizing organization. Documents are displayed in list or grid formats, and a sidebar opens with a press of the GoodNotes icon on the upper left.

Notability:

Opening Notability reveals a list of folders on the left, with notes inside appearing on the right upon selecting a folder. You can choose a grid or list format and employ collapsible toggles for folder organization.

When it comes to layout, Notability takes the lead by allowing users to preview notes from the home screen, providing a visual advantage. GoodNotes’ alphabetical order system slightly hinders its otherwise efficient design.

Navigation

Efficient navigation is crucial for a seamless user experience, and both apps offer straightforward systems.

GoodNotes:

GoodNotes provides simple navigation with sorting options like “Name,” “Date,” “Type,” and more. The search bar facilitates quick access to specific notes, even handwritten ones.

Notability:

Notability’s navigation is sleek, displaying subjects within folders upon opening. Users can sort notes by name, modified date, or created date. However, essential tools are behind a paywall.

Despite slightly fewer navigation tools, GoodNotes offers them all in the free version, making it the preferred choice for seamless navigation.

In the battle of GoodNotes vs. Notability for user interface and navigation, each app brings its strengths. Notability excels in home screen previews & layout but introduces paywall limitations. Meanwhile, GoodNotes provides efficient navigation tools, providing you with a user-friendly experience without unnecessary barriers.

Templates

Templates play a vital role in kick-starting projects and shaping the course of your ideas. Both GoodNotes and Notability offer basic page templates, but the extent of their template libraries and customization options is different.

GoodNotes has an extensive library of pre-designed templates catering to diverse needs, including class notes, project planning, and journaling. From simple lined paper to intricate designs, GoodNotes covers a broad spectrum of styles. The app also empowers users to create their custom templates, providing flexibility for specific note requirements or unique layouts.

Notability also provides a range of templates, although with a library that may not match GoodNotes in size. The templates are designed for note-taking, drawing, sketching, and more, showcasing practicality for various situations. While Notability allows some template customization, it may lack the diversity and flexibility found in GoodNotes.

Custom Template Creation

In GoodNotes, while you can’t directly create custom templates, you can modify an existing page to serve as a template. Additionally, the app allows the importation of custom templates into the library for future use.

Notability introduces the Gallery feature, enabling users to craft their custom templates within the app. This feature enhances the template customization experience for Notability users.

When it comes to templates, GoodNotes emerges as the victor for its diverse template library and robust customization options, offering users a versatile and tailored note-taking experience.

Writing Experience

The writing experience is crucial in choosing a note-taking app, and both GoodNotes and Notability deliver top-tier performances. Your personal preference will largely influence your choice between these two contenders.

GoodNotes:

Renowned for replicating the feel of traditional handwriting, GoodNotes excels in delivering a natural writing experience, particularly appealing to those people who cherish the fluidity of pen and paper.

The app supports a wide range of pen sizes, colors, and styles, providing a high level of customization. GoodNotes’ palm rejection feature allows comfortable writing while resting your hand on the screen, making it suitable for Apple Pencil and pen input.

Among other things, the app introduces an impressive generative AI tool as a writing aid, generating text, spell-checking, and correcting errors in your unique handwriting style. The latest update, GoodNotes 6, even suggests words. Users have the flexibility to disable spell check and suggestions if desired.

Notability:

Notability provides an effortless and responsive writing experience, offering a variety of pen and pencil options to suit your preferences. A standout feature is the ability to capture audio while taking notes, syncing your written notes with audio recordings – a valuable asset for lectures or meetings.

Optimized for the Apple Pencil and other styluses, Notability ensures precise and natural handwriting. The palm rejection technology prevents accidental marks on your digital paper while writing.

Notability also offers a remarkable handwriting-to-text feature with the “Scribble” option, ensuring automatic transformations. This feature supports 23 languages, enhancing the app’s accessibility.

While both apps provide handwriting-to-text conversions, Notability supports a broader range of languages. However, GoodNotes stands out with its advanced generative AI writing aid, offering personalized text generation, spell-checking, and error correction. GoodNotes could enhance language support, but its innovative AI tool secures a win in this round.

Compatibility & Integrations

Both GoodNotes and Notability offer online versions that you can use in your web browser, desktop versions to use on your computer, and mobile versions. However, while GoodNotes is available for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac, Notability only has apps for iPad, Mac, and iPhone, making this an obvious limitation for Android users.

Integrations also play a crucial role in shaping the user experience of note-taking apps, and here GoodNotes emerges as a winner.

GoodNotes:

Even though it now has an Android version as well, GoodNotes is still primarily tailored for Apple users. The app works seamlessly with the entire Apple ecosystem.

The integration with iCloud ensures a smooth flow of note synchronization across all Apple devices and provides you with a reliable and connected experience. The compatibility extends to the Apple Pencil, allowing for precise and fluid handwriting.

However, GoodNotes goes beyond this by supporting various file-sharing and cloud storage services, including Google Drive and Dropbox. You can export your notes to different storage facilities. Plus, the introduction of Beta versions for Android and Windows marks GoodNotes’ commitment to broadening compatibility and going further beyond the Apple ecosystem.

Notability:

Notability also functions seamlessly within the Apple environment. Using iCloud for efficient note synchronization across Apple devices, the app ensures robust backup capabilities.

The app’s compatibility also extends to the Apple Pencil, making it the preferred stylus for users. Notability further facilitates PDF file import/export and annotation, making it compatible with other file-sharing and cloud storage services.

While both apps share similarities in integrating with various tools and software programs, GoodNotes takes the lead by allowing users to create an account and use the app on Android devices.

Pricing

One last important aspect that we need to cover is pricing.

GoodNotes:

• Free version
  
• Full version available for iOS for $9.99 annually or a one-time purchase of $29.99
  
• Full version for Android/WIndows for $6.99 annually
  

GoodNotes adopts a straightforward pricing strategy tailored for Apple users. The full version of GoodNotes for iOS offers users the flexibility of a one-time purchase at $29.99 or an annual subscription priced at $9.99. For those venturing into the Windows or Android domain, GoodNotes extends a cost-effective option with a subscription of $6.99 per year. The limited plan comes free of charge, allowing users to explore essential features without a financial commitment.

Notability:

• Free version
  
• Plus version for $14.99 annually
  

Notability presents a pricing model with a single payment option for its premium plan. Users opting for the Plus plan can get it for $14.99 annually. Similar to GoodNotes, Notability also provides a free limited plan, allowing users to experience the app’s core functionalities without incurring any costs.

Overall, GoodNotes stands out as the winner, offering a more budget-friendly option with a slightly lower cost compared to Notability.

GoodNotes vs. Notability: Which App is Best?

Choosing between Notability and GoodNotes is a matter of taste. GoodNotes shines with AI innovations, making it a note-taking marvel. Notability’s sleek interface caters to a streamlined experience.

Our winner is GoodNotes, lauded for its cutting-edge AI, interactive SAT exam-prep materials, and timed flashcards. It’s the epitome of note-taking excellence.

Notability boasts unique features, like math conversion, securing its spot as a solid but slightly pricier option.

Before making the ultimate choice though, we recommend you check out all of the top options of note taking apps out there.

The post GoodNotes vs Notability: Which Is Better? first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Exit and Relaunch Steam via the Steam App

If the Steam app is responsive on your PC or Mac, you can exit it directly through the app before relaunching it. To do this, follow these steps.

1. Bring up the Steam client interface and select Steam in the upper left corner of the window.
   
2. Choose Exit from the dropdown menu. Steam will close.
   

3. Re-launch Steam via its desktop icon or the Start menu on your PC. If you’re on a Mac, select the icon on the Dock, Launchpad, or the Applications folder.
   

If you’re experiencing connectivity issues with Steam, you might want to toggle Offline Mode—select the Go Offline option in the Steam menu—before exiting the application. After restarting Steam, re-open the Steam menu and choose Go Online to reconnect to Steam’s online services.

Force-Quit and Relaunch Steam

If Steam is unresponsive, forcibly closing and relaunching the application might get it working correctly again. The method you’ll need to follow differs depending on whether you’re on a Windows PC or an Apple Mac.

Force-Quit and Relaunch Steam—Windows

If you’re on a Windows PC, use the Task Manager to shut down the Steam client. Here’s how:

1. Press Control + Shift + Escape to open the Task Manager.
   
2. Locate and highlight the Steam process under the default Processes tab.
   
3. Select the End Task button to force-close the process.
   

4. Close any other Steam-related processes that continue to appear within the list of processes, such as Steam Client Service and Steam Client WebHelper.
   
5. Exit the Task Manager.
   
6. Re-launch Steam from the desktop or Start menu.
   

Force-Quit and Relaunch Steam—macOS

If you’re on a Mac, use the Force Quit Applications dialog to force-close Steam. Just:

1. Press Option + Command + Escape to open the Force Quit Applications dialog.
   
2. Select Steam within the list of open programs.
   
3. Select the Force Quit button.
   

4. Select Force Quit again on the confirmation pop-up.
   
5. Relaunch Steam via the Dock, Launchpad, or Applications folder.
   

An alternative method is to use the Activity Monitor on your Mac to force-quit Steam. Start by opening the Launchpad and selecting Other > Activity Monitor. Next, highlight Steam under the CPU tab, select the X button on the top of the window, and choose Force Quit.

Restart Steam via Command Line

Suppose you have trouble quitting an unresponsive instance of Steam through the Windows Task Manager or the Force Quit Applications dialog on a Mac (or the Activity Monitor). In that case, you can resort to your computer’s command line to end and relaunch the Steam process.

Restart Steam via Command Line—Windows

On Windows, use the Command Prompt console to shut down and re-open Steam. Here’s how:

1. Open the Start menu, type cmd, and select Open as administrator on the search results.
   
2. Type taskkill /F /IM steam.exe and press Enter to force Steam to close.
   

3. Run the cd C:Program Files (x86)Steam and start Steam.exe commands one after the other to re-launch Steam. Or, exit the Command Prompt console and reopen Steam from the desktop or Start menu.
   

Restart Steam via Command Line—macOS

You can use Terminal on a Mac to quit and re-open Steam. Just:

1. Open the Launchpad and select Other > Terminal.
   
2. Type killall Steam and press Enter to force Steam to close.
   

3. Type open -a Steam to relaunch Steam. Or, exit the Terminal and re-open Steam via the Dock, Launchpad, or Applications folder.
   

Clear Steam Download Cache

Another way to force-restart Steam is by deleting its download cache. Unlike the standard and force-restart techniques mentioned above, this method can address various issues related to downloading or updating video games.

The most straightforward way to clear the Steam download cache is through the Steam app’s Settings console. Just:

1. Open Steam and select Steam > Settings on the menu bar.
   
2. Select the Downloads tab on the sidebar.
   
3. Select the Clear Cache button next to Clear Download Cache.
   

4. Select Confirm—Steam should turn off and reboot automatically.
   
5. Log in to your Steam account again.
   

Clear Steam Download Cache—Alternative Method

If you have trouble accessing Steam’s Settings console, use the following workarounds to clear the Steam download cache.

Clear Steam Download Cache—PC

You can use a Run command to clear the Steam download cache on the PC. Just:

1. Press Windows + R to open a Run dialog.
   
2. Type steam://flushconfig and select OK.
   

3. The Steam client should launch and display a confirmation pop-up—select Confirm.
   
4. Wait until the Steam client clears its cache and relaunches itself.
   
5. Sign in to Steam with your Steam account credentials.
   

Clear Steam Download Cache—Mac

On the Mac, you must run a command through a browser to clear Steam’s download cache. Just:

1. Open Safari or another web browser.
   
2. Type steam://flushconfig into the address bar of a new tab and press Enter.
   

3. Select Open Steam. The Steam client should launch and display a confirmation pop-up—select Confirm.
   
4. Wait for Steam to relaunch itself.
   
5. Sign in to Steam.
   

Start Fresh

Restarting the Steam app on a PC or Mac can resolve many issues and is also a great starting point for more advanced fixes. Try quitting and relaunching Steam normally first. If that doesn’t work, force-closing the Steam processes, using your computer’s command line, or clearing its download cache should help.

The post How to Restart the Steam App first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Instagram’s Notes feature allows you to leave notes for your friends to read and reply to. If you don’t see this feature in Instagram on your iOS or Android device, your app may be faulty, or you may be using an old app version on your phone. A few other reasons you can’t access the Notes feature are that you’ve turned off Activity Status, you’re using a VPN on your phone, your recent app update was faulty, and more.

We’ll show you how to fix those issues and access the Notes feature.

Update Instagram to the Latest Version on Your Phone

When you can’t access a feature in your app, the first action to take is to update your app. Doing so allows you to get access to newer features in your app. This can fix your Notes not showing in the Instagram app.

On Android

1. Open Google Play Store on your phone.
   
2. Search for Instagram.
   
3. Select Update next to the app to update your version of Instagram.

On iPhone

1. Launch App Store on your phone.
   
2. Select Updates in the bottom bar.
   
3. Tap Update next to Instagram.

Clear Instagram’s App Cache on Android

If your Instagram app’s cache files are corrupted, that may be why you can’t access the Notes feature and create new notes. One way to fix your app’s bad cache is to remove the cache. Doing so doesn’t delete your account data, and your app will rebuild this cache as you use the app features.

Note that you can’t clear an app’s cache on an iPhone. You must remove and reinstall the app to delete the app’s cache.

1. Locate Instagram in your phone’s app drawer, tap and hold on the app, and select App info.
   
2. Choose Storage usage on the following screen.
   
3. Select Clear cache to delete the app’s cached files.

4. Launch the app.
   

Enable Activity Status to Fix Instagram Notes Not Appearing

Activity Status in Instagram allows your friends to see when you’re online and also lets you see when your friends are online. User reports suggest that enabling this feature can help restore the Notes option in the app.

1. Launch Instagram on your phone.
   
2. Select your profile icon in the bottom bar.
   
3. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
   
4. Select Messages and story replies on the following screen.
   
5. Tap Show activity status.
   
6. Turn on Show Activity Status.

Turn Off the VPN on Your Phone

If you’re using a VPN on your smartphone, turn that feature off and see if Instagram’s Notes feature works. This is because the app may have restricted your access to the feature due to the VPN usage.

You can turn off your VPN service by launching your VPN app and toggling off the main toggle. Then, launch Instagram and see if you can access the feature.

Sign Out and Back Into Your Instagram Account

If your Instagram login session has a problem, that can cause certain app features not to work. In this case, log out and back into your account in the app to possibly fix your issue.

You’ll need your Instagram logins to log back in, so keep those details handy.

1. Open Instagram on your phone.
   
2. Select your profile picture in the bottom bar.
   
3. Choose the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
   
4. Scroll to the bottom and tap Log out [Username].

5. Sign back into your account.
   

Uninstall Instagram’s App Updates on Android

If you had access to the Notes feature, but you lost access after updating the app, your recent app update was faulty. In this case, roll back the update, and your issue should be resolved.

Note that you can only remove app updates on Android; the iPhone doesn’t allow you to do that.

1. Tap and hold on Instagram in your app drawer or home screen and select App info.
   
2. Select the three dots in the top-right corner and choose Uninstall updates.

3. Select OK in the prompt.
   
4. Launch the app.
   

Remove and Reinstall Instagram on Your Phone

If you still can’t use the Notes feature, your app may be faulty. This can make various app features unavailable to users. In this case, uninstall and reinstall the app to fix your issue.

Note that you don’t lose your account data when you reinstall the app.

On Android

1. Tap and hold on Instagram in your app drawer and select Uninstall.
   
2. Choose Uninstall in the prompt.

3. Open Google Play Store, find Instagram, and select Install.
   

On iPhone

1. Tap and hold on Instagram on your home screen.
   
2. Select Remove App > Delete App in the menu.
   
3. Open App Store, find Instagram, and tap the download icon.
   

Wait Until Instagram Rolls Out the Feature in Your Region

If you can’t access the Notes feature despite following all the above troubleshooting tips, Instagram may have yet to roll out the feature in your region. The platform states on its website that Notes isn’t available to everyone.

In this case, wait until the platform makes the feature available in your region.

Use Instagram Notes Feature on Your iPhone or Android Phone

If you see your friends sharing notes on Instagram but you don’t have access to that feature, use the methods outlined above to gain access to the feature. Tweaking a few options here and there should make the feature available to you.

We hope the guide helps you access the feature so you can start sharing your thoughts with your friends on this social media network.

The post How to Fix Instagram Notes Not Showing first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Don’t waste your time looking for a magic button that will hide followers on Instagram—it doesn’t exist. Instead, we’ll show you all the workarounds you can use to hide your followers and the following list from other people, depending on whether you have a public or private account on Instagram.

Can You Hide Your Followers on Instagram?

Currently, Instagram does not provide an official “hide followers” feature for general Instagram users. However, there have been reports and indications that Instagram might be in the early stages of testing a new feature, particularly for verified Instagram profiles with blue checkmarks. Some users report that they’ve seen a message stating, “Only (username) can see all of their followers” when viewing certain celebrity and video game company profiles.

Note that this testing phase seems limited and is not universally applicable. The majority of Instagram accounts, even those with verification status, don’t have the option to hide their followers. Additionally, many users can still access the follower lists of those accounts participating in this test.

How to Hide Followers & Following List on Instagram

For those who care about their account privacy – aside from your list of followers, you can hide likes & views from your Instagram posts and your activity status from others even if you don’t have a private Instagram account.

If “hide my followers” is your only goal, here are a few ways you can try to hide them from specific users.

1. Make Your Account Private

The easiest way to limit the visibility of the list of people who follow you on Instagram is to set your account to private. This ensures that these followers lists are accessible only to those who follow you, enhancing your privacy on the social media platform.

Follow this step-by-step guide to making your Instagram account private. The instructions are the same for iOS and Android users.

1. Open Instagram on your smartphone.
2. Tap the profile icon located at the bottom-right corner of the Instagram app to open your profile page.
3. Open the Settings menu by tapping the three horizontal lines at the top-right corner of the screen.

4. In the Settings menu, tap Privacy or select Settings and privacy (depending on the app version you have).
5. Scroll through the privacy settings and select Account privacy.

6. Toggle the switch next to Private Account to activate it and make your profile private.

By setting your account to private, you create a more closed network where only your approved followers can see your followers and those you follow. One downside is that you’ll need to manually approve every new follower request after you set your account to private, which can be time-consuming.

2. Remove People From Your Instagram

After making your Instagram account private, you have the ability to control who sees your followers. If there’s a particular user in your followers list whom you’d prefer not to have access to this information, you can easily remove them.

To remove followers from your Instagram, follow the steps below.

1. Open Instagram and tap your profile photo at the bottom right of the Instagram app.
2. Navigate to the Followers section at the top.
3. Scroll through the list and locate the specific person you want to remove.
4. Select Remove next to the username of the person you wish to remove.

5. Confirm your action by tapping Remove again.

By following these steps, you effectively remove the selected person from your followers list. This restricts their access to your follower and following lists, Instagram Stories, and posts. However, they can see the follower count on your Instagram profile (the number of followers you have). This method provides a level of control over who has insight into your account activities while maintaining your privacy preferences.

This is an effective solution for maintaining a level of privacy, but it works best with private personal accounts. If you’re a content creator, an influencer or a brand aiming for broader exposure, it may be more beneficial to have a public account. If that’s your case, try another solution to hide your followers on Instagram.

3. Block People on Instagram

If you have a business account or if you’re working on increasing your reach on Instagram, turning your account private might not be a great option.

In this case, the only way to hide followers on a public Instagram account is by blocking specific people.

This is an alternative approach for those looking to control who can view their followers and following lists without going completely private on the app. The obvious downside here is that you cannot hide your followers from everyone at once. Instead, you’ll have to go to each individual profile and block them.

Here’s how you can block a user on Instagram.

1. Open Instagram and navigate to the profile of the user you want to block.
2. On their profile page, tap the three dots icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.

3. From the options, select Block. Instagram will provide you with the option to block only this specific account or all accounts that may be created by the user. Choose the appropriate option and tap Block again.

Once blocked, the user won’t be able to find your page, and consequently, your followers, following lists, and content on Instagram will be hidden from them. It’s important to note that blocking one account also extends to all accounts linked to the same email or number.

While this method effectively hides your followers, keep in mind that a determined user can create a new account using a different email or phone number. Blocking someone on Instagram not only conceals your followers but also prevents them from accessing your posts, stories, or reels, and the ability to contact you. This is a practical solution for selectively restricting access without making your entire account private.

If you later change your mind, you can simply go to their page and unblock them.

Keep Your Instagram Followers Private

Even though Instagram doesn’t offer a direct way to hide followers and following lists on Instagram from other users, several workarounds will help you do just that.

Whether you opt to make your account private, remove specific followers, or use the blocking feature, the goal is to maintain your Instagram privacy according to your preferences. Each method has its advantages and considerations, so choose the approach that aligns best with your online presence and social media objectives.

The post How to Hide Followers on Instagram and Protect Your Privacy first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Gmail works great except when it doesn’t. If you’re facing issues sending emails with this email provider, check if the service is down or if your web browsers or apps have a problem. We have a few solutions that you can use to resolve the outgoing email issue with Gmail on your desktop computer, iPhone, and Android phone.

Some reasons Gmail fails to send emails are that your internet connection is faulty, the entered recipient email address is invalid, your web browser cache is corrupted, the Gmail app on your phone is problematic, and more.

On Both Desktop and Mobile

Whether on a desktop computer or a mobile phone, follow the following tips to resolve the Gmail email issue.

Check Your Internet Connection

When Gmail doesn’t send emails, ensure your internet connection is active and stable. An inactive connection prevents Gmail from establishing a connection with the company’s email servers, failing to send outgoing emails.

You can check your internet connection by opening a web browser on your device and loading a site. If the site loads, your internet connection is working. In this case, use the following troubleshooting tips. If the web browser fails to load the site, your connection is the culprit. In this case, restart your router, give your device a reboot, fix the network adapter problems, or contact your internet service provider (ISP).

Check if Gmail Is Down

After ensuring your internet connection is working, check if Gmail’s servers are down. This might be why you can’t send emails.

You can check if the servers are down by visiting Gmail’s page on the Downdetector site. This site tells you if an online service is experiencing problems

If the site says Gmail is down, wait until Google brings the servers back up.

Check Recipient’s Email Address

Gmail (like all other email providers) requires a valid email address to send emails to. Check the email address you’ve typed in the To field and ensure it’s valid and correct. If needed, fix the email address before pressing the send button.

If you’re sending an email to someone who has given you their email address using another medium, ask them to re-check the email address and ensure it’s correct. An invalid or incorrectly typed email address might be why you can’t send emails.

On Desktop

If you’re on a Windows, Mac, Linux, or Chromebook computer, the following troubleshooting tips will help fix your Gmail issue.

Clear Your Web Browser’s Cache

Your web browser’s cache might be corrupted, causing the Gmail site not to load as expected. As a result, this prevents you from sending emails. In this case, clear your web browser’s cache files, and your issue will be resolved.

We have a guide on how to clear the cache in various web browsers, like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, so check that out to learn how to perform the process.

Log Out and Back Into Your Gmail Account

It’s possible a minor login session problem is causing Gmail not to send emails. In this case, sign out and back into your Gmail account to possibly fix the issue. Keep your Gmail login details handy, as you’ll need these details to log back in.

1. Open the Gmail site in your web browser.
2. Select your profile icon in the top-right corner.
3. Choose Sign out or Sign out of all accounts.

4. Close and relaunch your web browser.
5. Launch the Gmail site and sign in to your account.

Use Another Web Browser

If the problem persists, use another web browser and see if you can send Gmail emails. This helps you verify if your current web browser has issues.

If you’re with Chrome, for example, open Firefox and see if you can send emails with Gmail. If you can, your previous web browser was likely faulty. If you still can’t send emails, your newly launched web browser might have problems. In either case, clear your web browser’s saved data and see if the issue is fixed. You can also reset your web browser to the default settings to fix the problem.

On iPhone and Android

If you’re on an iPhone or Android phone, the following solutions will help fix the Gmail not sending email issue.

Use the Official Gmail App

If you’re using Gmail in a third-party email client like Outlook, switch to the official Gmail app for iPhone or Android and see if you can send emails. Your third-party email client might be experiencing issues, preventing you from sending emails.

Update the Gmail App

If you’re using the official Gmail app, ensure the app is up to date. Your phone might have an older app version, likely having bugs. In this case, simply update the app, and your issue will be resolved.

On iPhone

1. Launch the App Store on your iPhone.
2. Select Updates in the bottom bar.
3. Choose Update next to Gmail.

On Android

1. Launch Google Play Store on your phone.
2. Find and select Gmail.

3. Tap the Update button.

Clear Gmail’s Cache on Android

If the issue persists, clear the Gmail app’s cache files on your Android phone. This deletes the app’s temporary files, which sometimes helps fix many app problems. Note that you can only perform this procedure on an Android phone.

1. Launch your phone’s app drawer, find Gmail, tap and hold on the app, and select App info.
2. Select Storage usage on the following screen.

3. Choose Clear cache to delete the app’s cached files.

4. Launch the app and send your email.

Uninstall and Reinstall Gmail

If nothing works, your last resort is to remove and reinstall the Gmail app on your phone. This deletes all the existing app files, some of which might be faulty. You don’t lose your email data when you delete the app, as the app can resync your emails when you sign back in.

Note that Gmail is a stock app on most Android phones, so it’s very likely your phone won’t let you remove the app. In this case, simply disable and re-enable the app to fix the issue.

On iPhone

1. Tap and hold on Gmail on your iPhone’s home screen.
2. Select Remove App > Delete App in the menu.
3. Open the App Store, find Gmail, and tap the download icon.

On Android

1. Tap and hold on Gmail in your app drawer and select App info.
2. Choose Uninstall or Disable, depending on the option you find.

3. Select OK if you chose Uninstall or Disable app if you chose Disable.

4. If you uninstalled the app, open Google Play Store, find Gmail, and select Install. If you disabled the app, choose Enable.

Get Gmail to Send Your Emails Without Any Issues

Gmail’s email issues are rare, but if you’re experiencing one, the methods above will help you fix the problem. More often than not, it’s a simple tweak that resolves the problem and lets you start exchanging emails with your favorite email provider. Good luck!

The post Gmail Not Sending Emails? 10 Ways to Fix It first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

If you want to flip an image in Google Docs, you’re (almost) out of luck. There’s no button you can press to flip an image, but you can use a few workarounds instead.

These include editing your images using the built-in drawing tool and third-party tools like Adobe Express online. You can also change an image in Google Slides and import it back into Google Docs.

Using the Drawing Tool In Google Docs

The Drawing tool in Google Docs isn’t designed to be the best tool for image manipulation, but it’ll do the job if you need to create diagrams or enhance images.

Technically, the Drawing tool is an extension of Google Drawings, a basic, standalone app for making diagrams and basic images. The Drawing tool allows you to make further changes to your images, such as rotating, cropping, and adding text.

Most importantly, one feature it does allow you to do is to flip images, which you can use to edit your Google Docs images. To flip an image in Google Docs, follow these steps.

1. Open your Google Docs document and position the cursor where you want the image to appear.

Press Insert > Drawing > New.

Choose the image icon within the Drawing dialog box to upload your desired picture.

Hover over Rotate, and then select either the Flip horizontally or Flip vertically options, depending on your requirements.

After flipping, click Save and Close to insert the modified image into your document.

Once you’ve inserted the modified image, it’ll replace the original in your document.

Using the Free Image Flipping Tool in Adobe Express Online

Adobe Express is an online, paid-for tool that you can use to edit images from your web browser. While much of its functionality requires payment, you can use some of its more basic features for free.

That includes the ability to flip images, and the process is straightforward. To flip an image using Adobe Express, follow these steps.

1. Open your web browser and navigate to the landing page for the Adobe Express image flipping tool.
2. Press Upload Your Photo to begin the process. If prompted, sign in with your Adobe account credentials.

3. Once you’ve signed in to Adobe Express, press the Upload from device button in the panel on the left.

4. Check if the image fits as intended, or use the corners to resize it accordingly.
5. With your image selected, use the options in the left panel to flip your image. You can choose Flip Horizontally or Flip Vertically based on your needs.

6. Once you’re satisfied with the orientation, press the Download button on the top-right corner to save the modified image.

7. Choose the file format you want to use, then press Download in the pop-up menu.

8. Next, open your Google Docs and press Insert > Image > Upload from computer.

9. Select your image from your PC. Once inserted, move and resize the image, as required.

Using the Flip Image Tools in Google Slides

Can’t flip your images in Google Docs? Switch to another Google app instead—Google Slides. While Docs doesn’t have a button to press to flip your images, Google Slides does, and you can use this feature to help you flip your images before moving them back to your Docs document.

To flip an image in Google Slides, follow these steps.

1. Open a new presentation in Google Slides.
2. Press Insert > Image and select your preferred method for inserting it (such as Upload from computer) to add the image you want to flip into the slide.

3. Select Arrange > Rotate and then select either Flip horizontally or Flip vertically.

4. Resize the image to fill the entire slide.
5. Once you’re satisfied with the flip press File > Download and choose either the JPEG or PNG options to save the image to your computer.

6. Wait for the image to download. Once it does, open your Google Docs document and press Insert > Image > Upload from computer to insert your flipped image into your document.

At this point, your flipped image should be ready for Google Docs, maintaining the changes you applied in Google Slides.

Editing Images in Google Docs

Google Docs isn’t designed as a fully-fledged image editing tool, but you can quickly flip an image in your Google Docs document using the steps above.

Have you got Microsoft Word? You can always flip an image in Word instead before importing the document (and your image) into Google Docs.

The post How to Flip Images in Google Docs first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has always been transparent about logging all ChatGPT interactions. They use the chat history feature to keep these records and to enhance its language model. Despite assuring users that the data is solely for training purposes, this raised privacy concerns among many users.

In response, OpenAI introduced a new feature called Incognito mode, which allows you to use ChatGPT without having your interactions recorded.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to use this new privacy feature, as well as show you other ways you can use it to keep your ChatGPT chats hidden.

How to Use Private ChatGPT Mode to Hide Your Chats

The ChatGPT Incognito Mode is available to both free users and paid subscribers. In this mode, your chats are not stored, ensuring privacy. Plus, Open AI will not use your data for internal testing.

If you change your mind, you can always re-enable it. Just remember, chats in this mode automatically vanish after 30 days.

Here’s how to activate Incognito Mode on your computer:

1. Go to the ChatGPT website and log into your account.
2. In the bottom-left corner of the screen, select the three dots icon next to your username (or your profile pic) to open the menu.

3. From the menu, choose Settings.
4. In the Settings window, select Data Controls.

5. Toggle the switch off next to Chat History & Training to enter Incognito mode and disable recording of your chats.

That’s it, now your chat history is incognito. If you’re using ChatGPT on different devices or in different browsers, you’ll need to follow the same steps to enable the Incognito mode on each of them individually.

If you later change your mind, or need to access your conversations in normal mode, simply select Enable Chat History from the sidebar on the left.

Other Ways to Hide Your ChatGPT Chats on Computer

The Incognito mode isn’t the only method you can use to keep your ChatGPT conversations completely private. Here are a few more ways you can use to hide your chats.

Use ChatGPT Without Signing In (With the Help of Merlin AI)

Logging into your account brings up all your previously recorded chats, as your chat history on ChatGPT is tied to your OpenAI account. One way to avoid OpenAI keeping records is to skip the login part.

Merlin AI is a chatbot assistant that comes in the form of an application and browser extension that can help you use ChatGPT without signing into your OpenAI account. All you need to do is download the Marlin app or extension and start using ChatGPT inside it. You’ll need to create an account with Merlin to do it, but the information from this account won’t be shared with OpenAI, thus keeping your conversations private.

Wish to use ChatGPT without signing in? Here’s how to do it using Merlin for ChatGPT:

1. Download the Merlin AI extension from the Chrome Web Store.
2. Go to the webpage where you want to use Merlin AI. Then select the Merlin extension icon in the Chrome toolbar.

3. Select Sign in.
4. You can use the same or a different email address. Merlin won’t link it to your OpenAI account.
5. Select Chatbot from the sidebar on the left and start your conversations.

Enjoy asking questions on ChatGPT without the hassle of your chat history being saved. Merlin ensures a secure and anonymous ChatGPT experience. Now you don’t have to worry about your interactions being tied to your OpenAI account.

Hide Your Chats by Archiving Them

If you just want to hide your conversations, you can archive them using another built-in feature in ChatGPT.

It’s important to note that ChatGPT’s archiving feature provides a simple way to organize and hide chats, but it doesn’t add an additional layer of security. Hidden chats are accessible to anyone who navigates to the settings menu, ensuring transparency in the archiving process.

Still, you can use this feature to keep your ChatGPT chats somewhat discreet. Here’s how to archive your chats in ChatGPT:

1. Visit chat.openai.com and log in with your OpenAI account credentials.
2. Select the chat you want to hide from the sidebar on the left.
3. Next to the chat’s name, select the three dots icon to open options and choose Archive chat from the context menu.

4. Alternatively, select an Archive button next to the chat’s name.

The chat disappears instantly, but you can always retrieve it from the ChatGPT settings. If you want to view your archived chats, you can access them or even bring back hidden conversations with these simple steps.

1. Select your OpenAI account name in the bottom-left corner.
2. Select Settings.
3. In the Settings menu, select Manage next to Archived chats.

4. To view a hidden chat, select its name. To unhide a chat, select Unarchive conversation next to the Trash icon.

Remember, hidden chats aren’t password-protected and can be accessed by anyone. Keep this in mind for a secure ChatGPT experience.

Hide Your ChatGPT History With a Browser Extension

You can hide your ChatGPT conversations using the Hide ChatGPT Sidebar Chrome extension. It helps you hide your chat history by hiding the sidebar on the left where all of your conversations are listed. This is another method to avoid someone else snooping in your chat history with ChatGPT.

To set it up, follow these steps below.

1. Download and install the Hide ChatGPT Sidebar extension from the Chrome Web Store.
2. Open an active ChatGPT session.
3. Click on the extension icon in Chrome and select Hide ChatGPT Sidebar from the extension options.
4. Select Toggle Sidebar to hide or show the ChatGPT sidebar. Now you can use the Close Sidebar option to hide your conversation list.

This extension conceals the left sidebar, securing your ChatGPT conversation history from prying eyes. You can keep your chats private with this simple and effective browser extension.

How to Hide Your ChatGPT Chats on Smartphone

If you often use ChatGPT on your smartphone, you may want to keep your chats there hidden as well. The two main ways to hide your ChatGPT chats on your smartphone are using the Incognito Mode feature and archiving your chats. Here’s how to use both of them.

Use Incognito Mode on Your Smartphone

In order to use Incognito Mode on your mobile phone, open the ChatGPT app on your smartphone and follow the steps below.

1. Open the ChatGPT app on your Android or iOS device.
2. Open the menu and select the three dots icon next to your username.

3. From the list of options, select Data Controls.

4. Toggle the switch off next to Chat History & Training to enter Incognito Mode and keep your chats hidden.

Archive Your Chats on the ChatGPT Mobile App

If you simply want to remove your chats from the conversations list on the app, you can use the Archive chats feature on ChatGPT.

This feature is currently available for the ChatGPT Web users and for iOS users. To archive your chats on your iPhone, follow the steps below.

1. Open the ChatGPT app and log into your account.
2. Open the chat list and select the chat that you want to hide.
3. Long-press on the chat you want to archive (hide) and select Archive from the context menu.

4. Select Archive again to confirm.

If you don’t see the option to archive your chat, check if your ChatGPT app is up to date.

To view your archived chats on the mobile app, open ChatGPT and open your account menu by selecting the three dots icon next to your username. In the Settings menu, you’ll find your hidden chats under Archived Chats in the Account section. You can then choose to View or Unarchive your hidden chats.

Keep Your ChatGPT Chat History Private

Securing your ChatGPT conversations is now simpler with the introduction of features like Incognito Mode, Archive chats, and others.

Whether disabling chat history, using external applications like Merlin, or leveraging browser extensions, you now have diverse options to enhance your privacy. Follow this tutorial if you’re concerned about keeping your ChatGPT conversations private and your personal information safe from prying eyes.

The post How to Use Private ChatGPT Mode to Hide Your Chats first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Whether you’re recording your first TikTok video or you’re eager to explore trending challenges, encountering the dreaded “no internet connection” error can quickly put a damper on your TikTok experience. But don’t worry, we’ll delve into the underlying causes behind this error to offer you practical solutions and troubleshooting steps to get you back to scrolling, creating, and sharing without interruption.

1. Check Internet Connection

The most obvious, and common reason behind the “No Internet Connection” error on TikTok is an inactive, or unstable internet connection. That’s why before taking any other action, you should check what’s the status of your internet connection. It could be that your internet is slow, or the connection got interrupted.

The quickest way to check if your internet is acting up is to open a web browser on your device and try loading any website. If it loads, your internet is fine and the error is coming from somewhere else. But if the website won’t load, your internet is not working properly. Try connecting to another WiFi network, or reconnect to your mobile network by turning the airplane mode on your phone on and off again.

2. Check if the TikTok Server Is Down

If your internet is working but you still receive a “No Internet Connection” error when you try to load a video on the TikTok app, you should check if the platform’s server is down. If TikTok servers are down they can’t deliver the content to your device.

Visit Downdetector and type TikTok in the search bar. Then hit the enter button on your keyboard, or the search button on the website and wait for the results.

Once you get the results for your search, you’ll see if the TikTok servers are down and if other users are reporting server problems.

If Downdetector shows that the TikTok server is down, you can’t do anything about it. Wait for some time and see if the app will work properly in an hour. Platforms like TikTok or Facebook might shut down their servers due to maintenance, or because they’re experiencing a major glitch.

3. Relaunch the TikTok App

If your app is having technical problems, it could display a “No Internet Connection” error. Various errors and bugs can easily prevent the TikTok app from working properly on your device. If this is the case, the solution is easy. All you have to do is close the app and relaunch it. However, you’ll want to do a hard reboot of the app. It could solve many minor issues your app is experiencing.

To do a TikTok app reboot on an Android device:

1. Press the Recents button to access all the recently opened apps.
2. Scroll to the right until you find TikTok.
3. Swipe up to close the TikTok app.

To reboot it on iPhone:

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen, but stop in the middle.

2. Find the TikTok app, and swipe up to close it.

Once the app is closed this way, open it as you would normally. Now your app will start afresh and the “No Internet Connection” error might disappear.

4. Restart Your iPhone or Android Phone

Sometimes, it’s not the app that’s experiencing a glitch, but your phone. Whether you’re using an iPhone or an Android, it doesn’t matter. All mobile devices are prone to errors which can influence how your apps are working. Restarting allows your device to start its iOS or Android operating system fresh. Rebooting your phone can resolve many other issues you might be having with your apps.

To restart an Android phone:

1. Press and hold the power button until a menu appears.
2. Select Restart from the menu.

3. Wait until your phone turns off and on again.
4. Once the system is up, open TikTok and see if this resolves your issue.

For iPhone users:

1. Press and hold down the Volume Up + Side button, or Volume Down + Side button, depending on the model.
2. Once the slider shows up on the iPhone’s screen, drag it to turn off your phone.

3. Press and hold the side button to turn on your phone. Release the button once the Apple logo shows up.
4. Launch the TikTok app and see if the “No Internet Connection” message disappeared.

5. Clear TikTok Cache Files

Apps store temporary files on your device that help them load content faster every time you use them. However, these temporary files can get corrupted and prevent the apps from functioning properly. TikTok is no exception. If you suspect a corrupted cache file is causing the “No Internet Connection” error to appear, you can simply clear cache files from your device and see if this fixes the issue.

To clear TikTok cache files on Android and iPhone:

1. Launch the TikTok app and tap the Profile icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.

2. Select the lines menu at the top right corner.

3. Select the Settings & Privacy option from the menu.

4. Scroll down until you find the Cache & Celular section. Tap Free up space.

5. Tap the Clear button next to Cache.

Note that clearing TikTok cache files won’t delete any of your videos or saved app settings. It’s completely safe to clear the cache.

6. Update the TikTok App

If you’re using the old version of the TikTok app, it could be why you’re seeing the “No Internet Connection” error message. The new version of the app comes with fixes for known bugs and glitches that TikTok users reported over time. One of the bugs that the developers fixed could be causing you to experience the error. So go ahead and update your TikTok app. Here’s how:

1. If you’re an Android user, open the Google Play Store and find the TikTok app. Tap the Update button next to the app.

2. If you’re an iPhone user go to the App Store. Find TikTok and tap the Update button next to it.

7. Reinstall the TikTok App on Your Device

If none of the above methods works for you, and you’re still experiencing the “No Internet Connection” every time you try to watch a TikTok video, the issue might be within the app’s system files. These files can also get corrupted, but clearing them is not as easy as clearing the cache. That’s because you’ll have to completely remove the app from your device, and install it again. Reinstalling the app this way will delete all the potential problematic files.

Reinstalling the app won’t delete any videos you might have uploaded on your profile. However, you’ll lose all the draft videos, so make sure you either publish them or save them somewhere else on your device.

To remove the TikTok app from an Android phone:

1. Find TikTok on your home screen, or in the app drawer.
2. Tap and hold the icon of the app until a menu appears.
3. Select Uninstall.

4. Tap OK when prompted.

5. Visit the Play Store and reinstall the TikTok app.

For iPhone users:

1. Find the TikTok app on your Home screen.
2. Tap and hold the app.
3. Select the Remove app option.

4. Tap Delete app to confirm.

5. To reinstall it, visit the App Store, and select the Get button next to the TikTok app.

8. Use a VPN Service

The “No Internet Connection” error might also appear if TikTok finds your geographical location or the IP address conflicting with the app. You can resolve this issue by downloading and installing a VPN.

The VPN services will hide your actual IP address and replace it with a new one. By doing this, you’ll bypass certain internet restrictions set by your provider. Select the country where TikTok is not banned and the app will consider the new IP address appropriate. Now you can proceed to use TikTok normally.

Remember, persistence and patience are key as you work through each step, and don’t hesitate to reach out to TikTok’s support team if needed or leave us a comment in the comment section below.

The post 8 Ways to Fix TikTok “No Internet Connection” Error first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Do you find the content Instagram shows you on the Explore page annoying or boring? Like the app never actually shows you anything you’d find interesting? The good news is that you can control what you see on this page and trick the Instagram algorithms into showing you more of what you like.

Follow our guide to find out how to reset your Instagram Explore Feed and get more interesting content shown to you on the app.

How to Reset Your Instagram Explore Feed

Instagram creates your Explore page based on your activities. Consistently liking, commenting, following, searching, or sharing similar content shapes what you see, creating a personalized experience.

Yet, sometimes, you might encounter content that is not aligned with your preferences. This could be influenced by interactions with users who have different preferences or region-specific viral content. Instagram’s intricate algorithms also play a role, suggesting content based on what you do and what type of content you view when you use the app.

See too many posts you dislike on your Explore page? No worries – we’ve got your back with a complete guide on resetting your Instagram Explore page. Use the following methods to completely reset your Explore page and get fresh content on Instagram.

Regularly Refresh the Explore Page

If you keep getting the same posts and Reels on the Explore page and want to check out something new, you can use the following quick method to refresh your Explore content.

To refresh the Explore page on Instagram, follow the steps below. The instructions are the same for both Android and iOS users.

1. Open Instagram on your smartphone and select the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen to open the Explore page.

2. Pull down from the top of the page. This simple action clears out your Explore page, creating a fresh batch of new posts and Reels.

Remember, though, that while this method refreshes your content, it might not change the type of content Instagram suggests to you.

So, you might still come across content similar to what you’ve seen before. For a more tailored approach, check out the following methods to improve your Explore page for a more tailored approach.

Personalize Instagram’s Algorithm

If your Explore page is cluttered with unwanted content, you can let Instagram know what you don’t want to see. While it may take a while for the algorithm to catch on, marking posts as Not Interested is an effective method for refining your recommendations.

Here’s a quick guide on how to use the Not Interested option to reset your Explore page on Instagram.

1. Launch Instagram on your smartphone and select the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the page.
2. Choose the post you want to remove, select it, and tap the three dots icon above it.
3. Then select Not interested.

Instagram will immediately hide this particular post and try not to show you similar posts in the future. You’ll also see a box with suggestions, from which you can choose: Don’t suggest posts with certain words, Manage suggested content (more about this option in a bit), and This post made me uncomfortable. Feel free to choose any of these options to tailor your Explore page content even further.

By doing this, Instagram learns your preferences gradually, improving your content suggestions. If similar content keeps appearing, repeat the process for those posts. Consistently marking posts as Not interested sends a clear signal to Instagram’s algorithm that you’re not a fan.

While the change may not be instant, this method proves to be the most effective for resetting your Explore page. The more you continue marking posts as Not Interested, the more tailored and enjoyable your Explore experience becomes.

Clear App Data & Cash

The next method you can try to reset your Instagram Explore feed is to clear the data and cache on your smartphone. Before you do it, keep in mind that clearing data will most likely change the type of posts that you see on your Explore page. However, this action will also wipe all your saved data and log you out of the Instagram app, so you’ll need to sign in again.

If you don’t want to clear all your saved data, you can only clear the cache. This will not remove your account’s data but might improve your Explore page content.

Clear Data & Cache on Android

Follow the steps below to clear your Instagram data and cache on an Android.

1. On your Android smartphone, open Settings, scroll down and locate Apps.
2. Find Instagram in the app list or use the search bar to find the app and select it.
3. Select Storage usage.

4. Then select Clear data and/or Clear cache.

These instructions differ slightly for various Android devices, but the options should be similar.

After you finish, restart the Instagram app and check the Explore feed for fresh content.

Clear Data & Cache on iPhone

Unfortunately, iOS lacks a direct data/cache clearing option. Instead, you’ll need to delete and reinstall the app to clear Instagram data and cache. To do that, follow the steps below.

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings and select General.

2. Scroll down and select iPhone Storage. Here, you’ll see a list of apps using up storage on your device.

3. Find Instagram in the list of apps and select it.
4. Select Delete App and follow the on-screen instructions to confirm.

After you’re finished, reinstall the app from the App Store and sign in again to check if the content on your Explore page changed.

Clear Your Instagram Search History

Another method you can use is erasing your Instagram search records. Clearing your Instagram search history will also give you a fresh start regarding the content you see on your Explore page.

To clear your Instagram search history, follow the steps below.

1. Open Instagram on your device and select your profile icon at the bottom to open your profile page.
2. Select the hamburger menu icon in the upper-right corner of the screen and select Settings and privacy.
3. Select Accounts Center from the menu.

4. Next, under Account settings, select Your information and permissions from the options.

5. Select Search history.

6. Finally, select Clear all searches at the bottom of the page.

For a more selective approach, you can manually delete searches by tapping your account under Your accounts & profiles. After you choose an account, it’ll open your Search history and you can manually delete individual search entries from the list that you don’t want to have effect on your Instagram suggestions.

Additionally, you can select the Keep searches for option and pick a duration: 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 30 days, or Default which stores your Facebook searches for a year and your Instagram searches for 30 days.

Clearing your search history is the ultimate way to ensure a fresh Explore page based on your evolving interests.

Control Your Suggested Content

If your Instagram is up to date, you can use the newly added functionality that allows you to control what type of content Instagram suggests for you.

1. Open the Instagram app on your device and go to your profile page.
2. Open the hamburger menu and find the What you see section. Select Suggested content.

3. There you’ll find five different options to control your Suggested content. Here’s what all five of them represent.

Interested

This section has all the posts you’ve marked as Interested in the past 30 days. If you remove a certain post from this list, Instagram will take a note and show you less of similar content.

To remove a post from the Interested section, tap Select in the upper-right corner of the screen, choose one or multiple posts you don’t want to see and select Remove.

Sensitive Content

Sensitive content is not something that goes against Instagram Community Guidelines, but instead it’s the content that some people don’t want to see.

Here, you can choose between the three options: More, Standard, or Less. If you find the posts on your Instagram Explore feed inappropriate, select Less to see less sensitive content.

Snooze Suggested Posts In Feed

Aside from the Explore page, Instagram also shows you suggested content from accounts you don’t follow on your Home feed. This option temporarily hides these suggested posts from your feed for 30 days.

If you never want to see this content, you can return to this setting every 30 days and switch on the toggle to hide the suggested posts.

Not Interested

This section contains the posts that you’ve previously marked as Not interested. If you decide to remove a post from this list, Instagram will take a hint and start suggesting more similar content to you.

1. Tap Select in the top right corner of the screen.
2. Choose posts that you want to restore in your Explore feed.
3. Select Remove at the bottom of the screen.

Specific Words And Phrases

In the last section, you can input words, phrases, and even emojis you don’t want to encounter on Instagram. As a result, Instagram will filter out the content containing these specific words and phrases, and you won’t see them displayed in your feed anymore.

These controls provide a unique opportunity to shape your Instagram experience. By using these options, you can actively control content that resonates with your preferences, ensuring your Explore page aligns with your interests.

Make the Instagram Explore Feed Great Again!

Turning your Instagram Explore into a personal haven is about tweaking and tuning. From clearing the app’s cache, to marking interests, to handling sensitive stuff – you’ve got the power to mold your Explore feed the way you like.

The post How to Reset Your Instagram Explore Feed first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

While Instagram encourages swift responses, you don’t always want people to know whether you’ve read their messages already or not.

Until recently, Instagram didn’t have a direct way to turn off read receipts. Now they’ve implemented this feature, but not in the most convenient way – you have to go through all of your chats to turn off read receipts for them individually. In this article, you’ll find out how to turn off read receipts using the new feature as well as how to use different workarounds to read direct messages on Instagram without alerting the sender.

Related: Learn how to hide followers on Instagram to better protect your (and their) privacy.

How to Turn Off Read Receipts on Instagram

Instagram finally came up with a feature that allows you to read messages on Instagram without the app sending the read receipt to the sender.

For now, this function is only available on the Instagram mobile app for Android and iOS users, and not on the Instagram web. You also have to make sure your Instagram app is up to date before you go searching for the new function.

To update your Instagram app on Android, open the Play Store, search for Instagram in the search bar, and select Update next to Instagram.

To update the Instagram app on iPhone, open the App Store, search for Instagram, and select the Update option next to it. Then wait for a few minutes for the app to update and launch it again.

If you have the latest updates already installed, you won’t find the Update option next to the app’s name, but see an option to Open it instead.

After making sure the app is up to date, follow the steps below to turn this feature on in your Instagram chats.

1. Open the Instagram app on your smartphone.
2. Open the list with your chats and select the chat where you want to turn off read receipts.

3. Inside the chat, select the username on top of the screen. This will open the chat menu.

4. Select Privacy & safety.

5. On the Privacy & safety page, toggle the switch next to the Read receipts to turn them off.

That’s it, as long as this setting is off, the person in this particular chat won’t see the Seen notification when you read the messages they send you. This is a handy way to avoid people getting upset when you read their messages and don’t reply straight away.

Other Ways to Turn Off Read Receipts on Instagram

The only problem with this new feature is that you can only turn it on for each individual chat. This means that if you want to turn off Read Receipts on Instagram completely, you’ll have to go through each of your chats and toggle this option off. If you’re an active Instagram user, this process can get pretty tedious after you do it for the first few conversations.

If you want to avoid Instagram sending that Seen notification to more than one person on the app, here are a few other ways you can use to disable those Read Receipts.

Read Instagram Messages From Notification Panel

One of the easiest ways to read Instagram messages without the app sending the read receipt to the sender is via your smartphone’s notification panel. This is the only method that doesn’t require any other manipulations with the app at all.

Reading Instagram messages without triggering read receipts is a simple trick, and here’s how to do it using your notification panel.

1. When you receive an Instagram message notification, resist the urge to click on it immediately. Opening the message directly activates the Seen receipt. If this is the only new notification you have, you may be able to read the whole message from the notification. If not, proceed to the next step.

2. Open the Instagram app and select the chat icon in the upper-right corner of the Home page.
3. Refresh your Inbox. After you see the new messages appear on top of the screen, swipe down from the top of your phone screen to access the notification panel.
4. Disconnect from the internet. You can do it by switching off Wi-Fi or your mobile data (or both).
5. While the internet connection’s off, you can click on the Instagram message you want to read from the notification panel. This way the sender won’t receive the Seen notification (yet).

This method is simple but comes with one downside – it’s a temporary solution. Once you reconnect to the internet, the sender will receive the Seen notification and know that you’ve read their message.

Disable Instagram Notifications to Avoid Triggering Read Receipts

As we mentioned before, when you click on the Instagram message from the notifications panel with your internet connection on, the sender receives the Seen notification showing them you’ve read the message. One way to avoid doing that by accident is to turn off the Instagram message notifications completely.

To disable message notifications on your Instagram app, follow the steps below. The instructions are the same for both Android and iOS mobile apps.

1. Open the Instagram app and select your profile icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
2. On your profile page, open the hamburger menu in the upper-right corner.

3. From this menu, select Settings.
4. In the Settings menu, scroll down and select Notifications.

5. In the Notifications section, select Messages and calls.

6. Find the Messages from individual and group chats section and select Off to turn off the notifications. You can also turn off the Message requests if you want to avoid sending read receipts to new followers as well.

Now, message and message request notifications won’t interrupt your phone, reducing the risk of accidentally opening messages and triggering read receipts. You can keep your read status under control on Instagram with this straightforward method, or try one of the following techniques as well.

Use Airplane Mode to Read Instagram Messages Without Read Receipts

The next solution is to use Airplane Mode on your smartphone. You can temporarily dodge Instagram read receipts by using the Airplane Mode trick.

Before toggling the Airplane Mode on your phone, open the Instagram app to load messages but refrain from opening them. This method allows you to read messages discreetly, as read receipts won’t be triggered until you reconnect to the internet. This simple trick allows you to keep your Instagram reads incognito.

Here’s a quick step-by-step guide for iPhone and Android on how to turn on Airplane mode.

On iPhone:

• Swipe down from the top of your screen to access the Control Center.
• Select the Airplane Mode button to disconnect from the internet.
• Alternatively, you can go to Settings, toggle on Airplane Mode, and disable Wi-Fi.

On Android:

• Swipe down to open the notifications area.
• Select the Airplane mode icon to activate it.
• Ensure Wi-Fi is off by selecting the Wi-Fi button.

Disable Your Activity Status on Instagram

Another way to get rid of the read receipts for all chats is to turn off your Activity Status on Instagram. The app has a Show Activity Status option, and when this setting is on people you follow and anyone you message on the app will see when you were last active or if you’re currently active on Instagram.

You can turn your Activity status off at any time. In that case, people won’t be able to see whether you’re active on Instagram or not. Accidentally, this also turns off read receipts, but only for you. Meaning, that if the other person has their Activity Status on, they’ll still see read receipts and get the Seen notification when you read their messages.

However, if you know for sure that the person you’re messaging has their activity status off, then you can actively disable read receipts for both of you by turning your Activity Status off as well.

Here’s how you can disable your Activity Status on Instagram in a few easy steps.

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page.
2. Open the hamburger menu in the top right corner, then select Settings.
3. Scroll down to the How others can interact with you section. Select Messages and story replies.

4. Under Who can see you’re online, select Show activity status.
5. Switch the toggle next to Show Activity Status off to disable the feature.

Now, your activity status won’t be visible, and other users won’t be notified when you’re active on Instagram. This ensures discreet messaging without revealing your online presence.

Restrict the Sender

One drastic measure you can take to keep your read receipts hidden is restricting the sender (temporarily) on Instagram.

Here’s how to keep the read receipts on Instagram off by restricting the sender.

1. Open the Instagram app and navigate to the profile of the message sender.
2. Select the three dots icon in the top right corner of the screen.

3. From the options menu, select Restrict.

Once the person’s restricted, check your Inbox. You’ll find the message you’re looking for in the Message Requests folder. Restricted users need your permission to send a DM. This way, you can read their messages without triggering read receipts.

If you want to reply to the message, go back to the sender’s profile and select Unrestrict from the options. This little manipulation ensures you control when read receipts are activated.

Keep Your Reads Under Wraps

These handy methods allow you to navigate your Instagram messages discreetly. Whether toggling airplane mode or managing notification settings, you can read messages at your convenience.

Think of it as maintaining your privacy and controlling the timing of your responses. Give these techniques a spin, and revel in a more relaxed Instagram experience without the worry of instant-read receipts.

The post How to Turn Off Instagram Read Receipts first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Trello is a popular web-based project management app that’s good for individuals and teams looking to organize their tasks and projects. Trello operates on a system of boards, lists, and cards that help users visualize and manage their tasks.

Trello Premium offers advanced features like enhanced automation, advanced integration capabilities with other apps, larger file attachments, and better administrative controls. But, Trello Premium isn’t free. If you’re no longer needing these advanced features, you can cancel Trello Premium and save some money.

Things to Consider Before Canceling Trello Premium

Before canceling Trello Premium, take some time to consider how the cancelation could potentially disrupt your workflow. This isn’t to dissuade you from canceling the subscription, but to avoid unexpected issues and ensure a smooth downgrade.

• Access to Premium Features: Post-cancellation, you will lose access to Premium features (once your billing cycle ends). Consider how this will impact your ongoing projects, especially those that are heavily reliant on these features.
• Team Collaboration: Consider how downgrading will affect your team’s ability to collaborate. Certain automations and integrations may no longer be available which could have an impact on your workflow. Have a new system ready to implement before you cancel your subscription.
• Exporting Data: Trello allows you to export your data, but some data may not be fully accessible once you revert to the free version. Make sure you have all of the important info backed up.
• Documenting Workflows: If you’ve set up complex workflows using Premium features, document these processes. This can help in transitioning to the new system you’re putting in place, or adapting to the free version of Trello.

Now that you’ve taken time to consider these things, here’s how to cancel your Trello Premium subscription.

How to Cancel Trello Premium

1. Open the Trello project that’s using Trello Premium.
2. Click Workspace settings > Billing.

3. In the Change subscription group, click Cancel subscription.

4. Click Switch to free to confirm.

You’ve now successfully canceled Trello Premium. You won’t be charged on the next billing cycle.

What Happens After You Cancel Trello Premium?

Your account will automatically transition to the free version at the end of your current billing cycle after canceling Trello Premium. This means you’ll lose access to Premium features mentioned earlier.

Also, only your 10 most frequently-used boards will remain accessible, so again, be sure to back up your data in advance. The other boards will be deleted, and the data will be lost.

Here are a few important things that happen:

• Your Workspace can only have up to 250 Butler commands per month.
• You can’t add new checklist item assignments.
• You can’t add due dates.
• You’ll lose access to views like Table, Timeline, and Dashboard.
• Any custom dropdowns, selections, or other fields you’ve added to cards will be removed.
• File attachments will be limited to 10MB.

The transition to the free plan happens once your Premium billing cycle is complete, so don’t waste time doing this. Ideally, you should have everything backed up before ever canceling the subscription.

Saying Goodbye to Trello Premium

Canceling Trello Premium can certainly save costs, but make sure you’re prepared for the transition. Consider the loss of Premium features and the impact on your team. With poor planning, canceling Trello Premium could cost you more time and money than keeping it.

The post How to Cancel Trello Premium first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Your digital footprints are closely monitored, and the privacy of online activities is a pressing concern for many. DuckDuckGo, a privacy-focused search engine, promises a solution to those wary of having their search history tracked and used for targeted advertising or other purposes.

But does DuckDuckGo really fill this tall order? Is it a safe alternative to search engine giants like Google and Bing? Here’s what you need to know.

What Is DuckDuckGo?

DuckDuckGo is a search engine that prioritizes user privacy, avoiding the collection and use of personal data for ads. It promotes itself by claiming to give you a private, secure search experience, distinguishing itself from competitors by not tracking its users.

DuckDuckGo started as a small project to improve the overall search experience by reducing spam and protecting user privacy. It grew in popularity over the years, especially now that user privacy is a part of the conversation more frequently than it was in the early 2000s.

Here are some of the key privacy features of DuckDuckGo:

• No Tracking: Unlike many search engines, DuckDuckGo doesn’t track your searches or link them to your personal information. This means your search history isn’t used to tailor ads or results to you.
• Encryption: Searches made through DuckDuckGo are encrypted. This adds an extra layer of security and helps make your search activity more private.
• Embedded Social Media Protection: DuckDuckGo blocks social media trackers embedded in websites. This keeps Facebook from tracking your web activities.
• Privacy Grade Ratings: Each website you visit through DuckDuckGo search results gets a privacy grade from A to F. This rating helps you understand the site’s privacy practices at a glance.
• Global Privacy Control (GPC): It supports GPC, which lets you automatically communicate privacy preferences to websites, requesting that your browsing data not be sold or shared.
• Digital Rights Management (DRM) Permissions: DuckDuckGo manages permissions related to digital rights, so you have control over content access and distribution settings.
• Search Leakage Prevention: When you click on a result in DuckDuckGo, it prevents your search terms from being shared with the site you’re visiting, a common practice on other search engines that can compromise your privacy.
• Device Location Services: Sometimes you need a more localized search, which requires knowing your location. DuckDuckGo will prompt you to share your location with a site instead of it just doing it automatically. DuckDuckGo also won’t store your location details on its servers.

Why Privacy Matters in Search Engines

Search engines are a gateway to the internet. This convenience, though, comes at the cost of personal privacy. Major search engines collect data from users, like search queries, browsing history, locations, and even device information.

This data collection is driven by the business model of monetizing user information through targeted advertising, which raises important privacy concerns. The major concern is that your data is used to build a profile of yourself.

This profile can include intimate details about your interests, habits, behaviors, health concerns, financial status, and personal preferences. It allows for highly targeted ads, which is beneficial for marketing but terrible for your right to privacy.

Also, the collection and storage of your personal data by search engines brings up security risks. What happens if your data is exposed in a data breach? Your sensitive information is exposed, potentially resulting in identity theft, financial loss, or worse.

There’s also the concern of surveillance and censorship. There have been cases where search engines have been compelled by government authorities to hand over data, leading to concerns about the implications for freedom of speech and the right to privacy.

DuckDuckGo’s Limitations and Misconceptions

In response to these concerns, DuckDuckGo has built its platform with privacy as a foundational principle. However, its focus on privacy does lead to certain limitations in functionality compared to mainstream search engines like Google.

One notable area is personalized search results. Because DuckDuckGo doesn’t track search history or user behavior, it can’t tailor search results based on past queries. This means you may need to be more specific in your search terms to find what you’re looking for.

Another limitation is in local search capabilities. Without tracking location data, DuckDuckGo’s ability to provide localized search results is less precise than search engines that use location tracking. So you’ll need to include more geographic-specific info in your query to get relevant local results.

With its limitations in functionality, but strong focus on privacy, there’s a common misconception that DuckDuckGo offers complete online anonymity. It does enhance privacy by not tracking searching or storing personal data, but it doesn’t anonymize your internet activity. Your ISPs or network admins can still potentially see what sites you’re visiting, even if the searches leading to those sites aren’t tracked.

So, Is DuckDuckGo Safe?

DuckDuckGo uses several security measures mentioned earlier to protect user data. It doesn’t track or store your information, and it encrypts all search queries. So, there’s no eavesdropping, and the risk of personal data being exposed or used is significantly reduced.

When available, DuckDuckGO also uses HTTPS connections for all sites that it links to. This keeps the data transferred between the user and the website secure and not easily intercepted. DuckDuckGO also blocks trackers on websites.

So, DuckDuckGo is generally regarded as a safe and secure search engine, especially from a privacy perspective. But, again, no search engine can offer complete online anonymity. You should use DuckDuckGo in conjunction with other privacy tools, like VPNs and secure browsers, for a higher level of security and anonymity online.

Dodging Digital Trackers and Peeping Toms

DuckDuckGo champions privacy where digital surveillance is commonplace, offering a nice alternative for those cautious about their online footprint. Its many privacy-focused features directly address the growing issue of data privacy and security.

Just remember that your search results won’t be as personalized or offer the same local precision as Google or Bing. If you care about privacy over convenience, though, give DuckDuckGo a try.

The post What is DuckDuckGo and Is It Safe? first appeared on Online Tech Tips.