Whether you’re a teacher or tutor, Google Classroom provides a virtual learning space through which you can give assignments, grades, and feedback to your students.

If you feel your class has run its course and won’t need it again, you can archive or delete the Google Classroom to free up space in your virtual classroom.

How To Delete a Google Classroom

You have to archive a class before deleting it. Deletion is permanent, so take this action only if you’re sure you’ll never use the class again.

You may choose to only archive a Google Classroom (and not delete it) at the end of a term or semester, so you can preserve the learning materials and keep them organized as you move to other courses.

Note: Only a primary teacher can delete a Google Classroom.

How to Delete a Google Classroom on a Computer

You can access Google Classroom from a web browser on your Windows PC or Mac to archive and delete a class.

1. Open Google Classroom on your computer and select More (ellipsis) in the top right of the card for the class you want to archive.

2. Select Archive.

3. In the popup window that appears, select Archive to confirm your action.

4. Select the stacked-line icon in the Classes page to see the archived class, and then select Archived Classes.

Note: The Archived function won’t appear in the menu if you haven’t archived any classes.

5. Next, select More (ellipsis) in the top right of the class card for the course you want to delete.

6. Select Delete.

7. Next, select Delete again to confirm the action.

How to Delete a Google Classroom on a Mobile Device

You can also delete a class via the Google Classroom app on your mobile device.

Deleting a Google Classroom will remove access to any class posts or comments. However, you and your students can use the relevant link to access class files in the Google Drive folder.

Note: You have to archive a class before deleting it. Deletion is permanent, so take this action only if you’re sure you’ll never use the class again.

1. Open the Google Classroom app and tap More (ellipsis) on the card for the class you want to archive.

2. Tap Archive.

3. Open the Google Classroom app and select More (ellipsis) in the top right corner of the class card for the course you’re deleting.

4. Tap Delete.

5. Next, tap Delete again to confirm the action.

What Happens When You Archive or Delete a Google Classroom

You can archive or delete a class when you’re done with it, but there’s a difference between these two actions.

Archiving a class is like “deactivating” it, so it’s dormant and unused. The class won’t appear in your active classes but still exists in a separate area of Google Classroom.

Plus, archiving a class will preserve your work — all class material, attachments, posts, and comments — in the class so you or your students can view and access them. However, they can’t update the materials or unenroll from the archived class.

You can also remove or delete a Google Classroom permanently. Unlike archiving a class, which can be done by a teacher or co-teacher, only the primary teacher can delete the Google Classroom.

Restore an Archived Google Classroom

If you restore the class (that hasn’t been deleted) and use all the materials, posts, assignments, and comments again.

1. Open Google Classroom on your computer or mobile device and select or tap Menu.

2. Select or tap Archived Classes.

3. Next, select or tap More (ellipsis) > Restore on the class card.

4. Select Restore to confirm the action.

Keep Your Google Classroom Organized

Archiving or deleting classes on Google Classroom enables you to manage your classes and keep your homepage neat and organized.

For more tips on virtual learning, check out our guide to the best platforms to create your online course.

Was this guide helpful? Sound off in the comments.

The post How To Archive or Delete a Google Classroom first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Best Free Online Flowchart Creator Tools

Whether you want to build a network diagram, mind map, or create a floor plan, a flowchart tool can help you get your ideas across quickly and visually. Here are our top picks for the best free online flowchart makers you can use.

Lucidchart

Lucidchart is a popular online flowchart creator application that’s simple to navigate and can be used on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.

The intelligent diagramming application integrates seamlessly with almost all popular platforms including Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Jive, and more. Plus, you can use Lucidchart with your team as it allows for easy remote collaboration. 

You can choose from hundreds of template options including everything from flowcharts and organization charts to wireframes, mind maps, and everything in between.

You don’t need to be a pro designer to use Lucidchart, but you do need to explore it a bit to get comfortable using it. Plus, Lucidchart offers offline access so you can continue working on your flowcharts when your internet connection is down.

The free plan limits you to three active documents at a time. If you want to create more, you can pay for individual or team options.

Creately 

Creately is an online flowchart maker that you can use on your desktop or mobile device. The software offers a wide variety of templates for creating flowcharts along with other diagrams like Gantt charts, organizational charts, infographics, wireframes, and maps.

Plus, the tool allows you to collaborate asynchronously and in real-time with other users thanks to video messaging, threaded discussions, and the project notes feature.

The free plan limits you to three documents, which are saved in the cloud so you can access your work from any device wherever you go.

Creately also integrates with Slack, Google Drive, OneDrive, Confluence, and Zapier for easy file sharing.

SmartDraw

SmartDraw makes it easy for you to create any type of diagram or flowchart that represents a process. You can start by picking a flowchart template, and then add steps in a few clicks.

The flowchart maker automatically aligns and arranges all the elements, so you won’t have to worry about rearranging, reconnecting, or formatting steps.

Plus, SmartDraw integrates with your favorite tools – Word, Google Docs, Excel, and PowerPoint, or other Google Workspace apps. This way, you can collaborate with others and make sharing flowcharts with them easier.

You can save your flowchart to shared team folders or get a link to share your diagram with someone who doesn’t have SmartDraw.

Zen Flowchart

Zen Flowchart is a simple, easy-to-use online flowchart creator tool for making flowcharts, process charts, organization charts, sitemaps, and more. 

The tool features a minimal and intuitive user interface that makes it delightful to create diagrams and flowcharts.

Creating flowcharts is just clicks away. Just draw the blocks that represent the main steps in your flowchart, key in the details, and customize the chart with different node colors, texts, and lines.

Plus, you can easily share your work with others using the Export and Publish feature. You can publish it as a live document so that your changes are updated automatically, or download the flowchart as a PNG file for easier file sharing.

Visme

If you need to create professional flowcharts, Visme is worth considering.

The online flowchart maker has an intuitive interface and a flowchart template library with thousands of templates you can choose from. You can also make your own from scratch.

Visme is perfect for novice and professional users looking for an easier and faster way to create flowcharts and other visual content. You also get collaboration features as with other flowchart tools on this list, which make it easier to create content with your team.

And if you need to stay on brand when creating your flowcharts, Visme lets you apply your brand colors and assets easily. You also have the option to import from or save projects to cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.

Build Eye-Catching Flowcharts

Flowcharts turn complex and long workflows into comprehensible, easy-to-follow instructions. If you’ve been looking for an easier way to create flowcharts, these free online flowchart creator tools will help you create professional diagrams easily.

Need more inspiration? Check out our guides on how to make flowcharts in PowerPoint and the best free alternatives to Microsoft Visio.

What’s your favorite flowchart creator tool? Tell us about it in the comments section.

The post The 5 Best Free Online Flowchart Creator Tools first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

When you pin a post, it stays at the top of your profile, page, or group’s timeline until you unpin it. Even if you publish new posts on the page or group, the pinned post will remain at the top of your feed.

Pinning a post also ensures it gets more traction – engagement, likes, clicks, or shares.

No matter your reason for pinning a particular post, this guide explains how to pin a post on a Facebook profile, page, or group, and give it the extra attention it needs.

How to Pin a Post on a Facebook Profile

If you want to pin a particular post on your Facebook profile, so it’s visible to your friends or anyone who lands on your profile, you can do that in a few easy steps. 

Pin a Post on a Facebook Profile on a Computer (Windows PC/Mac)

1. Launch Facebook on your web browser, go to your Facebook profile and find the post you want to pin to the top.
2. Select More (three dots) next to the post.

3. Next, select Pin post.

4. To unpin the post, tap More next to the post, and then tap Unpin post.

Pin a Post on a Facebook Profile on an Android Device

1. Open the Facebook app, sign in, and then select the menu (three horizontal lines) at the top right side of the screen.

2. Tap on your profile name.

3. Find the post you want to pin to the top or create one and tap More (three dots).

4. Tap Pin post.

5. To unpin the post, tap More next to the post, and then tap Unpin post.

Pin a Post on a Facebook Profile on an iPhone/iPad

1. Launch the Facebook app on your iOS device, tap Menu (three horizontal lines) to open your Facebook profile, and tap on your profile name.

2. Find the post you’d like to pin to the top or create and publish a new post and then select More.

3. Tap Pin post.

4. To unpin the post, tap More next to the post, and then tap Unpin post.

How to Pin a Post on a Facebook Page

If you manage a Facebook page for your brand, another company, or nonprofit and want to promote a particular post, you can pin it to the top, so it’s visible to all the page followers.

Note: You must have page admin or editor permissions to pin posts on a Facebook page.

Pin a Post on a Facebook Page on a Computer (PC/Mac)

You can access your Facebook page from a web browser and select the post you want to pin to the top.

1. Open Facebook and select Pages in the left pane.

2. Select the page with the post you want to pin, and then find the post or create and publish a post to pin to the top.
3. Select More at the top right side of the post.

4. Next, select Pin to top of page.

The post will move to the top of the timeline on your Facebook Page, and a pin icon will appear next to the post, so people know it’s a pinned post.

5. To unpin the post, tap More (three dots) next to the post, and then tap Unpin from top of page.

Pin a Post on a Facebook Page on an iPhone/iPad

Before pinning a post on your Facebook Page, check whether you have editor or admin permissions and then follow the steps below.

1. Launch the Facebook app and tap the Menu (three lines) in the bottom right of the screen.

2. Tap Pages.

3. Go to the Facebook Page and find the post you want to pin to the top of the Page’s timeline. Tap More (three dots) at the top right side of the post.

4. Next, tap Pin to Top.

5. The post will appear at the top of the Page’s timeline with a pin icon that indicates to your Page followers that it’s a pinned post.
6. To unpin the post, tap More next to the post, and then tap Unpin from top.

Pin a Post on a Facebook Page on an Android Device

1. Launch the Facebook app and tap the Menu (three lines) at the top right side of the screen.

2. Tap Pages.

3. Go to the Facebook Page and find the post you want to pin to the top of the timeline. Tap More (three dots) at the top right side of the post.

4. Next, tap Pin to Top.

5. The post will be pinned to the top of your Page’s timeline, and a pin icon will appear to show your Page followers that it’s a pinned post.
6. To unpin the post from, tap More next to the post, and then tap Unpin post.

How to Pin a Post on a Facebook Group

If you manage a Facebook group, you can pin a post to the top of the group page. However, in a group, it’s referred to as an Announcement – not a pinned post. 

You’ll get different options in the group post menu, but the post will still appear at the top of your group under the Announcements section.

Note: You can pin up to 50 announcements at a time on a Facebook Group, but it’s recommended that you have one or two to avoid confusion. Plus, you have to be a group admin to pin a post on a Facebook Group.

Pin a Post on a Facebook Group on a Computer

You can easily pin a post to the top of your Facebook group on your PC or Mac in a few quick steps.

1. Launch Facebook from your preferred web browser and select Groups in the left pane on the homepage.

2. Select the Group where you want to pin the post, and then find or create and publish the post.

3. Next, select More (three dots) next to the post.

4. Select Mark as Announcement.

5. The post will appear at the top of the Group page under Announcements.

6. To unpin the post from the Announcements section, tap More next to the post, and then tap Remove Announcement.

Pin a Post on a Facebook Group on an Android Device

1. Launch the Facebook app and tap Menu.

2. Tap Groups.

3. Next, tap Your Groups.

4. Under Groups You Manage, tap on the Group where you want to pin the post.

5. Tap More (three dots) on the right side of the post.

6. Next, tap Mark as Announcement.

7. The post will be pinned to the top of the Group page under the Announcements section.
8. To unpin the post from the Announcements section, tap More next to the post, and then tap Remove Announcement.

Pin a Post on a Facebook Group on iPhone/iPad

You can also pin a post on a Facebook Group from your iPhone or iPad.

1. Launch the Facebook app and navigate to the group where you want to pin your post.
2. Find the post you want to pin to the top or create and publish a new post, and then tap More.

3. Tap Mark as Announcement.

Note: You can also tap More again and select Pin to top to ensure the post stays at the top.

4. To unpin the post from the Announcements section, tap More next to the post, and then tap Remove Announcement.

Note: When you unpin a post, Facebook will remove it from the top of your group announcements section and restore it to its original position.

Pinning Is Only a Few Clicks Away

Want to draw attention to a specific post on Facebook? Pinning that post will make it appear at the top every time, so it’s visible to your profile viewers, page followers, or group members.

Leave a comment and let us know if this guide was helpful.

The post How to Pin a Post on Facebook first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

How to Print an Email from Gmail

If you use Gmail on your computer or your mobile device via the Gmail app, you can print an email in a few quick steps.

Computer (Windows/Mac)

There’s no Gmail app for computers, but you can open Gmail on your web browser and print an individual email message or all messages in an email thread/conversation.

1. Find and open the email message you want to print and then select More (three dots).

2. Select Print.

3. You’ll see a preview of your email message appear in a new window. Select Print if you’re using a Windows PC.

4. On a Mac, select the printer options in the Print dialog box and then select Print.

5. If the email has replies within the same conversation, you can still print them all together. Open the email conversation and select the Print all icon at the top right side.

Android

On your Android phone or tablet, you can print an email from Gmail through the Gmail app or your web browser if the Gmail app is not working.

1. Launch the Gmail app and tap on the email you want to print.
2. Tap More (ellipsis) on the top right side of the email.

3. Next tap Print.

4. If you want to print an email conversation with multiple emails, tap and open the email conversation and then tap More (ellipsis at the upper right side) > Print all in the top right side of the email window.

Note: If the Print option isn’t available, update the Gmail app and try again.

iOS

You can also print an email from Gmail on your iPhone/iPad via the Gmail app or on your web browser.

1. Launch the Gmail app on your iPhone or iPad and tap on the email message you want to print.
2. Tap More (ellipsis) on the top right side of the email.

3. Next, tap Print.

4. You can also print an email conversation with multiple emails or replies. Just tap to open the conversation and then tap More > Print all.

Note: If you can’t print an email from Gmail, the sender may have enabled Gmail Confidential. This is a Gmail feature that prevents other users from printing email messages and attachments.

If you want to print an attachment, you can download it to your local storage, open it with a suitable app or program, and then choose the Print option.

Yahoo

Yahoo Mail makes it easy for you to print email messages from your computer or mobile device and save the hard copy printout for offline use.

1. Open Yahoo Mail in a new browser window or tab, sign in, and select the message you want to print.  
2. Select the Print in the email message. You can also select More > Print. 

3. Next, select the number of pages, copies, layout, paper size, and other options.

4. Once you’ve set your printing options, select Print.

If there are any attachments to the email and you’d like to print those too, download them to your computer or mobile device. Open and print the files using your device’s printing interface.

Outlook

Outlook is the default email service for Microsoft Office users that comes with a desktop client, mobile app, and Outlook.com (formerly Hotmail) for the web.

Outlook Online

If you’re accessing your email messages from Outlook on the web, there’s a printer-friendly option for you to print an email message.

1. Open the email message you’d like to print and select More (ellipsis) at the top.

2. Select Print.

3. If you’re using a PC, select Print in the new window.

4. On a Mac, select the layout, orientation, pages to print, and the number of copies, and then select Print.

Note: You can’t print all email attachments from Outlook.com. Open each attachment and print them out individually.

Outlook App

The Outlook app offers an easy and convenient way to access your email messages on the go. You can also print email messages using the app on your Android or iOS device. 

1. Launch Outlook on your computer and open the email you want to print. Select File > Print. Alternatively, press Ctrl + P on a PC or Command + P on your Mac to open the Print menu.

2. If you want to print the email instantly, select More > Customize toolbar.

3. Drag the Print button to the toolbar menu and then select Done to add the Print button to the Outlook toolbar. Select Print to print your email.

4. Select Print.

Mail App

Mail app is the default email service provider for macOS and iOS users. Printing an email from the Mail app is just as straightforward as with other email clients.

Mac

You can use the Mail app on your Mac to print an email message.

1. Launch Mail from the Launchpad in the dock and then select the email you want to print.
2. Select File > Print from the menu options.

3. Next, select the printer, number of pages, and print copies, and then select Print.

iOS

Printing from the Mail app on your iPhone or iPad is a bit different from a Mac.

1. Open the Mail app and tap on the email message you want to print.
2. In the email window, tap the back arrow.

3. Tap Print

4. If there are any attachments, you can tap on them to view them, and then tap the Share button.

5. Tap Print.

Print an Email from Anywhere

When you need a hard copy of a particular email message or conversation, you can print it out and keep it for future reference.

If you just want to print the email to read offline, you can save it on paper and opt to increase the font size in your browser or email app, or just save your email as a PDF file.

Were you able to print an email using the steps in this guide? Leave a comment below if it was useful.

The post How to Print an Email from Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and More first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Worse still, you’re not sure whether to slap back, block the person or ignore the comment altogether, especially if you manage a Facebook group or page for a brand.

Fortunately, Facebook allows you to hide comments that may hurt your reputation or business.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to hide comments on Facebook and what happens when you do.

When to Hide a Comment on Facebook

When you get an unpleasant or offensive comment on your Facebook post, the first instinct is usually to delete the comment. However, not all instances of such comments require deletion – you can respond to some and ignore others.

Hiding a comment is easier to do than deleting it or banning the creator entirely from the Facebook page.

Some users just want to promote their own products through your post, spam it with unsafe links or leave comments with inappropriate content or language.

You could delete such comments, but unless you ban the user from your page, they’ll just keep coming back. Even so, it can be hard to keep up with all the comments especially if the page has lots of engaged followers.

While it’s okay to remove any negative sentiments from your posts that can potentially hurt your Facebook page, not all of them should be hidden. Users may quickly notice that you delete their comments, particularly those that criticize your business, and you may end up losing their trust or loyalty.

Others may get agitated or angry if you delete their comments, leave scathing reviews, or vocalize their opinions on their own pages – and you can’t control it.

Hiding comments can help you reduce collateral damage and benefit you.

What Happens When You Hide a Comment on Facebook

When you hide a comment on a Facebook post, you’re essentially keeping other users from seeing the comment except for the person who posted it and their friends.

Unlike deleting a comment, where the user will know that you removed it, they won’t know when the comment is hidden, and you can avoid potential fallout.

You can still unhide or delete the comment later or report it especially if it violates Facebook community standards.

Before you hide a comment, find out whether you can address it. Oftentimes, a user may leave a negative comment out of frustration. Turning a bad experience into a good one could change a distraught follower into a loyal fan or customer. 

You can also address an issue professionally and show other users that you’re ready to resolve any complaints they may have no matter how grave they seem. Many users would be willing to move to a private message to discuss their issue further and you can use that opportunity to assist them.

If you must hide a comment, make sure you catch it before it gets much visibility or engagement.

How to Hide a Comment on Facebook

Whether you’re using a computer or mobile device, you can hide a comment on Facebook in a few easy steps.

Computer

On your Windows PC or Mac, you’ll need to open Facebook on a browser and then hide the comment from your post.  

1. Go to the Facebook post and select the three dots to the right of the comment you want to hide.

2. Select Hide comment.

Android

If you’re using an Android smartphone or tablet, you can hide a comment on Facebook via the Facebook app.

Go to the Facebook post, tap and hold the comment you want to hide and then tap Hide comment.

iOS

You can also hide a comment on Facebook on your iPhone or iPad via the Facebook app.

Go to the Facebook post and tap on the comment you want to hide and then select Hide.

In all three instances – computer or mobile device – you can ban the user or page that created the comment. You can also report the comment if it goes against Facebook’s Community Standards.

Reduce Collateral Damage

Besides the situations and strategies we’ve mentioned, there’s a lot more to consider when hiding comments on Facebook.

Make sure you have good reasons for hiding the comment, address it if other users ask about it, and always consider the most productive alternative before taking action.

Check out our other Facebook guides on how to send self-destructing messages in Facebook Messenger, create an anonymous Facebook account or hide your status from one or specific friends.

Was this guide helpful? Share your feedback in a comment below.

The post How to Hide a Comment on Facebook and What Happens If You Do first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

One of the common errors you may encounter is the Netflix code UI-800-3. There are several variants of this error, each caused by different issues when using Netflix on your preferred video streaming device.

In this guide, we’ll briefly explain what causes the error on Netflix and how you can fix it.

What Is the Netflix Error Code UI-800-3?

When you get the UI-800-3 error code on Netflix, it means that there’s an issue with the app, and it needs to be refreshed.

Sometimes you may get the UI-800-3 error itself, or variants such as:

• UI-800-3 (205040): Indicates that the cached data on your streaming device needs to be refreshed.
• UI-800-3 (10018): Indicates that the cached data on your streaming device needs to be refreshed.
• UI-800-3 (307006): Points to a hardware issue.

The Netflix code UI-800-3 error is common with Smart TVs, gaming consoles, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Blu-ray Disc players.

We’ll show you some steps you can take to help you troubleshoot and fix the Netflix error code UI-800-3.

6 Ways to Fix the Netflix Error Code UI-800-3

No matter the streaming device you’re accessing Netflix from, there are some general things you can do to fix the Netflix error code UI-800-3 until Netflix works again.

Restart Your Device

Restarting your device is a quick way to fix the UI-800-3 error code on Netflix. Shut down the streaming device, unplug it for 1-3 minutes, and then power it back on again.

Note: If you’re using an Amazon Fire TV/Stick, press Home > Settings > My Fire TV (or select System or Device) and then select Restart to restart the device.

Refresh the App Data

You can also log out and log back into Netflix. Doing this refreshes the data stored in the app and clears the Netflix code UI-800-3 error from the device.

If you’re unable to log out of Netflix from the app, you can sign out through your Netflix Account page on your browser.

1. Open your Account page, select the down arrow next to your profile photo and then select Sign out of Netflix. 

2. Log back in, reconnect your device(s) and check if the error UI-800-3 has disappeared from your screen.

Clear Netflix Cache or App Data

Clearing the Netflix cache or app data helps fix some problems such as loading or formatting on the app. However, you should know that clearing the app data will delete any titles you’ve downloaded to your streaming device.

Note: These instructions apply to an Amazon Fire Stick.

1. Press the Home button. 

2. Select Settings > Applications.

3. Select Manage installed applications.

4. Next, select Netflix.

5. Scroll down and select Clear data > Clear data and then select Clear cache. 

6. Next, unplug your Amazon Fire TV from power, wait 30 seconds before plugging it back in and try using Netflix again.

Note: If you don’t see the clear app cache or app data option, restarting your device will automatically clear the app data or cache.

Uninstall and Reinstall Netflix

Sometimes a clean and fresh installation can resolve problems with the Netflix app and comes in handy when you can’t clear the cache or app data. Removing and reinstalling the app can help fix the Netflix error code UI-800-3.

Note: On some devices, Netflix is already pre-installed, so you can’t uninstall it. The steps to perform a fresh installation of the app will vary depending on the device you’re using.

Reset Your Device

Resetting your streaming device will reinstate the Netflix app to the default settings it had the first time you downloaded the app. 

If you’re using a Samsung smart TV, you can reset the Smart Hub to remove all the apps, and then download the apps again. Wait until the apps are all downloaded and installed and then try using Netflix again. 

Other Things to Try

If you’re still not able to resolve the Netflix UI-800-3 error, there are few other things you can do:

• Restart your router or modem and try Netflix again.
• Visit the Netflix Help Center for specific instructions for your streaming device.
• If all else fails, replace your streaming device or try one of our best movie apps to watch movies online.

The post How to Fix Netflix Error Code UI-800-3 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

However, these tools aren’t 100 percent foolproof, and sometimes your credentials can get hacked or leaked. It’s no wonder that tools like password managers and others have built-in security breach checkers to effectively combat such threats. 

Google has some built-in tools in Chrome such as the Enhanced Protection feature that attempts to make browsing safer.

What Is Enhanced Protection in Google Chrome?

Google Chrome’s Enhanced Protection is a browsing security feature that substantially increases safety on the web against dangerous downloads and websites.

If you’re signed into Chrome and other Google apps you use, you can get improved protection based on the attacks against your Google account and threats you encounter on the web.

Plus, if you rely on Chrome extensions to help you improve your browser experience or be more productive, Enhanced Protection helps you choose safer extensions before installing them on your device.

Enhanced Protection is different from the Standard protection on Chrome, which only offers warnings about potentially risky sites, extensions and downloads. Plus, with Standard protection, you can select whether to get warnings about password breaches or improve security on the web by sending more information to Google.

Specifically, Enhanced Protection enables the following:

• Displays a dialog that alerts you whether the extension is trusted or not. Trusted extensions are those that are built by developers who follow the Chrome Web Store Developer Program Policies. 
• Predicts and notifies you about dangerous events before they occur.
• Increases your safety on Chrome and can be used to improve security in other Google apps you’re signed into.
• Warns you if login credentials are exposed in a data breach.
• Offer better protection against risky files you download on the web. Enhanced Protection uses metadata about the file to determine if it’s potentially suspicious and warns you about it. 
• Send additional information to Google about your activity.

How to Enable Enhanced Protection in Google Chrome

Enhanced Protection is available for Chrome on mobile and desktop. The steps to enable the feature are similar on both platforms.

Enable Enhanced Protection on Desktop

You can enable Enhanced Protection on your computer and increase your safety while browsing the web.

1. Open Chrome browser and select More.

2. Select Settings.

3. Select Security under the Privacy and Security section.

4. Next, select the Enhanced protection.

Enable Enhanced Protection on an Android Device

Enhanced Protection isn’t limited to desktop devices only. You can also enable the feature on your Android phone or tablet.

1. Open Chrome and tap More (three dots).

2. Next, tap Settings.

3. Tap Privacy and Security.

4. Next, tap Safe Browsing.

5. Next, select the Enhanced Protection level.

Enable Enhanced Protection on iOS Devices

Initially, the Enhanced Protection feature wasn’t available on iPhone and iPad. Google has since added it on Chrome for iOS devices so you can get alerts about risky extensions, malware, phishing or sites on Google’s list of potentially unsafe sites.

1. Open Chrome on your iPhone or iPad and tap More > Settings.

2. Tap Sync and Google Services.

3. Next, enable Safe Browsing and then select Done.

Protect Your Device from Real Threat Actors

When it comes to web browsers, security and privacy are major concerns.

Google’s Enhanced Protection and other security features have further fortified Chrome against malware, phishing and other cyberattacks. The feature helps you avoid zero-day exploits and makes it safer for you to browse the web.

If you want to further protect your device, check out our top picks for the best antivirus software and how to protect yourself from hackers online.

The post What Is Enhanced Protection in Google Chrome and How to Enable It first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

The background effects in Microsoft Teams allow you to remove the distractions of what’s happening around you in a video call and present a professional image. Plus, the feature helps others in the meeting focus on what you’re saying, not the strange object behind your shoulder.

Whether you want an office environment, a tastefully decorated room, or a silly background, we’ll show you how to change the background in Teams.

How to Change the Background on a Computer or Mobile Device

You can change the background in a Teams meeting before joining or during the meeting. Teams lets you blur, select a pre-made image like a tranquil park or upload a custom image like your company logo as your background. You should know that changing your background may not hide sensitive information like your name or phone number from other people in the call or meeting.

How to Change the Background on a Computer

If you have a Windows PC or Mac, use the steps below to change the background on your computer.

How to Change the Background Before a Meeting Starts

You can change the background in Teams before a meeting starts to avoid interruptions.

1. Select Background filters just below the video image in the same window while choosing your audio and video settings.

2. You’ll see the background options on the right side of the screen.

3. Select Blur to subtly conceal everything around you.

4. You can also select a pre-made image from the ones provided.

5. Select Add new and then choose the image (JPG, PNG or BMP) you want to upload from your computer to upload a custom image of your choice.

How to Change the Background in Teams During a Meeting

Follow the steps below to change the background if you’ve already joined a meeting.

1. Select More actions from the meeting controls.

2. Select Apply background effects.

3. Select Blur or choose a pre-made image to replace your background.

4. Select Add new and upload a custom PNG, JPG or BMP image file from your computer.

Note: The new background you choose will apply in all your calls and meetings until you turn it off or change it again.

How to Turn Off Background Effects in Teams

Follow the steps below if you want to turn off the background effects in Teams.

1. Select the no background icon (circle within a rectangle)

2. Select Preview to see how your background looks without the effect. If satisfied, select Apply.

Note: If you’re a Linux user or use Teams via an optimized virtual desktop infrastructure, you won’t be able to use the background feature.

Change the Background in Teams on Android or iOS Devices

Here’s how to change the background from your Android device or iPhone.

How to Change the Background Before a Meeting Starts

Here’s how to do it on your mobile device.

1. Tap Background effects at the upper side of the screen, while setting up your audio and video preferences.

2. The background options will appear just below your picture.

3. Tap Blur to subtly conceal everything behind you.

4. You can also choose one of the available images.

5. Tap Add (+) to upload a custom PG, PNG or BMP image file from your device.

6. Tap Done at the top to apply the background to your meeting.

How to Change the Background During a Meeting

Here’s how you can change the background during a meeting or call.

1. Tap More options from the call or meeting controls.

2. Tap Background effects and select a background or upload a custom image to be your background.

To turn off background effects just tap on the no background icon (circle within a rectangle) to remove the virtual background.

Hide Your Mess During Meetings

When on a video call or meeting, you want to focus on the task at hand without worrying about whether other participants can see the mess behind you. With the background effects feature in Teams, you can add some professionalism or a little fun to video calls. 

The post How to Change the Background in Microsoft Teams first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Whether you’re making a family album, working on a project, or want to turn your photos into cards or posters, the following collage apps for Android and iPhone will get you beautiful results.

Best Collage Apps for Android and iPhone

1. Pic Collage (Android, iOS)

Pic Collage is a photo collage app for Android and iOS devices that offers dozens of patterns, backgrounds, templates and grids spanning a variety of genres and categories you can use to create your collage. The app has an intuitive layout so you can create your collage quickly and share it easily on social media sites.

A built-in photo editor is included to help you touch up your photos, apply doodles, effects and picture frames. 

The free version of the app comes with ads, but purchasing a subscription removes watermark and ads. The premium version of the app also gives you access to extra features like stickers and layouts.

2. Canva (Android, iOS)

If you want to create professional-looking collages, Canva is an excellent choice. The app offers a wide range of tools, features, and templates and its workflow is quick and easy with consistent results.

The app lets you adjust the photo dimensions to create the collage to share as a Facebook banner or in Instagram Stories.

Once you tap the platform you want, Canva will display several custom layout options with sample text and images. This helps you envision how your photo collage will look and edit them to your liking.

Pick the Photo Collage template you want, add text or graphics on the photos and then download it to your device for sharing.

3. Diptic (iOS)

If you want a photo collage app that offers creative custom layouts, try Diptic.

The app offers a variety of templates that help you tell a better story with your photos. You can adjust the color and size of the frames, cell borders, and fonts among other settings.

Diptic allows you to combine photos, live photos and videos into one template. You can specify video quality, apply various adjustments to your photos, add a song from your iTunes library and save custom layouts for reuse.

You can combine up to nine different photos in a single collage and use more than 200 layouts to create a collage and share it directly on social media.

Diptic is a premium app that costs $2.99. This gives you extra texture packs and layouts, fancy designs like waves, hearts and peace signs and removes the watermarks.

Diptic provides classic and bordered layouts along with animated selections to help you create unique collages.

4. Moldiv (Android, iOS)

Moldiv is a free collage app that gives you the options to perfect your image before loading them onto stylish frames, layouts or magazine covers.

You get access to photo editing tools like crop, exposure, clarity, vibrance or color, and over 180 filters. The app also lets you combine up to 16 photos in a single collage and pick from more than 300 frames.

A Pro Camera is included so you can capture photos and videos.

While Moldiv is free, it comes with intrusive ads and annoying nags to upgrade and is not as user-friendly as similar photo collage apps.

5. PhotoGrid (iOS)

PhotoGrid is one of the best collage apps for iPhone that promises a fun and creative experience while creating collages. The app offers 15 modules that include Snapchat styles, classic collages, Scrapbook, 3D cards and filters that add decorative elements to your photos.

You can pick templates on the app based on their aspect ratio to create photo collages for social media. Once you place your photos on a frame, you can change the background, place stickers or try different shapes as your frames instead of the usual rectangular or square borders.

PhotoGrid allows you to add 15 photos at a time and you can choose from more than 300 grids, over 200 poster templates and over 100 filters and effects to make your collage unique.

The app is free, but it comes with ads. You can upgrade to the Premium version to remove ads and get premium updates.

6. Layout (Android, iOS)

Layout is one of the best collage apps for Instagram, by Instagram. While it may not have as many features as its counterparts, Layout keeps things simple, user-friendly and intuitive.

You can use up to nine photos on 10 different layout styles, frames, borders and editing tools to tweak your design before sharing the collage with others.

Once on Layout, you can select the photos you want to use and they’ll appear in various layout options. You can then rearrange the images, change frame sizes, replace the photos or reorder them using the Mirror or Flip tools.

You can also select Borders to try a new layout, and once you’re done editing, save the collage and share it to Instagram from your device.

Although Layout has limited layouts and lacks multiple customizations like similar apps, it’s free to use, simple to understand and ad-free.

Which is your favorite collage app for Android or iPhone? Tell us about it in a comment.

The post 6 Best Collage Apps for Android and iPhone first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

The built-in audio hardware works well, but adding an advanced sound card can provide better sound quality, especially if you’re looking to buy a surround sound system and connect it to your Windows 10 PC.

Whether you’re a gamer, audiophile, or you just want the best in audio quality, take your audio experience to the next level with these best sound cards for your PC.

What to Look for in a Sound Card for PC

Finding the best sound card for your PC can be daunting if you’re unsure what to look for. Here are a few factors to consider while you’re out shopping for one:

• Overall audio quality: A good sound card comes with a SNR of over 100dB, but the best ones are in the 124dB range.
• DAC quality: DAC stands for digital-to-analog converter and is the main component responsible for bit-depth, audio sampling rate, and playback. The better the DAC quality, the more noise-free your audio will be. You can tell the DAC quality by the SNR level, which should be at least 100dB for good audio.
• Channel audio: A decent sound card supports 5.1 channel audio. Look for a sound card that can handle 7.1 surround sound or upmix 5.1 to 7.1 channel audio.
• Multiple ports: Look for a sound card that has multiple connection ports so you can plug in all your audio equipment. Basic sound cards come with 3.5mm audio input or output ports that work fine with most headsets and headphones. However, if your audio equipment requires TOSLINK optical connection or RCA jacks, find a sound card that provides these features.

Other factors to consider include software features like Virtual Surround Sound, advanced audio features like equalizer settings, and customizable frequency response. If possible, check whether the sound card has a user-friendly, intuitive interface and a swappable operational amplifier so you can customize the sound to your liking.

1. Creative Sound Blaster Z

Creative is one of the oldest PCle audio cards and PC sound card manufacturers. The Sound Blaster Z is a high-performance gaming and entertainment sound card with updated features designed for effortless enjoyment.

The sound card features high-quality audio specifications at a reasonable price. Plus, it has been further boosted with microphone EQ presets and gaming acoustic profiles to enhance your entertainment and gaming needs.

Optimized Gaming Profiles are included for games like Fortnite and PUBG, but you can tweak the EQ settings further to make a profile unique to you.

In addition, you can select a pre-tuned microphone EQ for voice chat that compensates for your preferred headset’s built-in microphone. This way, you can sound clearer and more natural while communicating.

The sound card also supports up to 7.1 virtual on speakers and headphones, DTS Encoding, and Dolby Digital Live for the best digital audio quality. Coupled with that is a multi-core Sound Core3D, which ensures you get pristine audio without burdening your primary processor. 

For connectivity, you get a set of gold-plated connectors where you can plug in your headphones or home theatre system.

Through its Audio Stream Input/Output (ASIO) support feature, the Sound Blaster Z delivers high-fidelity and low-latency audio, even for your recordings. You can use the sound card on PCs running Windows 7, 8, and 10.

2. ASUS Xonar SE

If you want exceptional sound but don’t have the budget for a top-tier PC sound card, the ASUS Xonar SE sound card is the perfect upgrade from the basic motherboard audio.

The PCIe gaming sound card is built with high-quality components for the best multimedia and gaming experiences and is compatible with Windows 10.

With its exclusive Hyper Grounding Technology, the Xonar SE ensures reduced audio distortion, crossover interference, and effective noise blocking.

Plus, the Xonar Audio Center software suite and its intuitive, user-friendly interface give you full control over the sound quality from equalization to 5.1 speaker-level balancing.

On top of that, the sound card delivers a 116dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for high-fidelity immersive sound. You also get 192kHz/24-bit hi-res audio output, 5.1-channel playback, and a 300-ohm headphone amplifier for clear, detailed sound and enhanced bass.

3. Creative Sound Blaster Audigy

The Sound Blaster Audigy is powered by Creative’s SBX Pro Studio technology that provides high-quality cinematic sound for your entertainment and gaming needs.

The sound card comes with an Fx Control Panel that gives you complete control over your SBX Pro Studio settings. Plus, you get 5.1 channel outputs, so you can easily connect your multi-channel speakers.

The half-height PCIe sound card fits perfectly into your home theatre PC and delivers 106dB SNR and 600-ohms of power so you can elevate the level of immersion in your cinematic experience.

You can plug in two different audio sources to your PC through the independent line-in and microphone connectors. For example, if you want to record a singing session, you can plug in your MP3 player and sing along in karaoke style.

The Stereo Direct feature allows you to listen to your music at 24-bit 192 kHz, which is the highest bit rate in the industry.

4. EVGA Nu Audio 712-P1-AN01-KR

While many audio enthusiasts had written off sound cards as obsolete, the EVGA Nu audio card dispels that myth. The sound card delivers great performance for gamers and audiophiles through its intuitive software features and thoughtful engineering.

The card provides crystal clear, powerful audio with a suite of equalizer software. In addition, the EVGA Nu Audio comes with Nichicon and WIMA capacitors and an ADI OP275 op-amp that you can swap out if it doesn’t satisfy your needs.

The design features an SNR of 123 dB for noise reduction and a front panel connection on the side that’s directly tied to the main headphone output. This way, you won’t experience any loss in audio quality.

The EVGA Nu Audio card supports a 5.1 setup with a 3.5mm line input and output, microphone input, a 6.3mm headphone input, and optical S/PDIF output. An ultra-low noise linear power supply keeps the sound clean and undistorted by the electric signals from your PC’s components.

The sound card is easy to set up and install, and you can tinker with the equalizer levels until you get the perfect sound for you.

5. Diamond XtremeSound Sound Card

If you want to improve your sound experience for games, MP3s, music, and movies, the Diamond XtremeSound sound card is worth considering.

The card allows you to experience high-level, theater quality sound while gaming, listening to music, and watching videos in true 7.1 channel surround sound. This helps you increase your computer audio experience and frees up your precious computer system resources to handle other processes.

The card also comes with Audacity, a multi-track recording and editing studio that can record live audio through a line-in or microphone on the sound card. Level meters help you monitor volume levels as you record, and you can copy over existing tracks to create multi-track recordings.

You can also import and edit sound files and then combine them with new recordings or other files. Once you’re done, you can export the recordings in MP3 or WAV, among other common file formats.

Enjoy Spectacular Audio on Your PC

Most modern computers have onboard sound expansion cards, but this configuration allows for a slightly less powerful audio system. However, if you’re an audiophile, a dedicated sound card will improve your audio experience on a PC.

Do you have a favorite sound card for your PC? Tell us about it in a comment.

The post 5 Best Sound Cards for Your PC in 2021 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Fortunately, Facebook lets you add people as admins or moderators of your group. The admin role can access the group and has full control over group roles, settings, posts, comments, ads, and more.

If the person no longer works in your company, or you feel the group has lost its relevance, you can remove the admins and close the group altogether.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps you need to take to add or remove an admin from a Facebook group on your computer or mobile device.

How to Add an Admin to a Facebook Group

A Facebook group admin has full access and control over the group. The admin can perform all the following functions:

• Make someone else an admin or moderator.
• Remove other admins or moderators.
• Manage group settings such as the group name, privacy settings, cover photos, and more.
• Approve or deny membership requests or posts in the group.
• Remove and block people from the group, posts, and comments on posts.
• Pin and unpin a post.

If you’re ready to give someone else the admin role on your Facebook group, here’s how to go about it on your computer or mobile device. 

Add an Admin to a Facebook Group from a Computer

You can add an admin to a Facebook group from your Windows PC or Mac using the steps below.

Note: You must be a current group admin to make another group member an admin.

1. Select Groups from your Facebook News Feed in the left menu.

2. Next, select your group under the Groups you manage section. Select See More if you can’t see the Groups option.

3. Select Members just under your group’s cover photo or select More if you can’t see the Members option.

4. Find the person you want to make an admin and then select More (three dots) next to their name.

5. Select Add as admin.

6. Tap Send Invite.

Note: A group member has to visit the Facebook group to be made an admin. Once you add them as an admin, they have full access and control over the group activities and settings.

Cancel an Invitation to Make Someone an Admin of a Facebook Group

If you accidentally sent an invitation to be an admin to the wrong person or you no longer want them to be an admin, you can cancel the invitation using these steps.

1. Go to the group page, tap Members, and then scroll to the Invited admins & moderators section.

2. Select More next to the invitee’s name.

3. Next, select Cancel admin invite.

4. Select Cancel invite to confirm the action. 

How to Remove an Admin from a Facebook Group on Desktop

If you want to take back control over the group or you plan to shut it down, you can easily remove an admin using these steps. 

1. Open the Facebook group and select Members.

2. Scroll to the Admins & Moderators section and tap More (three dots) next to the name of the person you want to remove as admin.

3. Select Remove as admin.

4. Tap the blue Confirm button to complete the process.

How to Add an Admin to a Facebook Group Using the Facebook App

You can add someone as an admin to your Facebook group from your Android device or iPhone. Here’s how.

Add an Admin to a Facebook Group on Android

If you’re using an Android phone or tablet, use these steps to add an admin to your Facebook group.

1. Tap the menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner of the Facebook app.

2. Next, tap Groups.

3. Tap Your Groups.

4. Select the Facebook group under the Groups you manage section. Tap See more if you can’t see the Groups option.

5. Next, tap the badge icon at the top right corner of the group page.

6. Tap Members.

7. Find the name of the person you want to add as an admin and then select More (three dots). 

8. Tap Add as admin.

9. Next, tap Send Invitation to confirm the action. The person will receive a notification with the invite, and once they confirm, they’ll be added as an admin on your Facebook group.

Add an Admin to a Facebook Group on iPhone

If you’re using an iPhone, use these quick steps to add an admin on your Facebook group.

1. Tap the menu > Groups. 

2. Next, tap Your Groups.

3. Select your Facebook group from the list. 

4. Next, tap the badge icon.

5. Under Members tap See all.

6. Next, tap the name of the person you want to add as admin and then tap Make (name of invitee or member) admin.

7. Tap Confirm to complete the process.

Cancel an Invitation to Make Someone an Admin of a Facebook Group From the Facebook App

You can cancel the invitation to make someone a Facebook group admin using these steps.

1. Go to the main page of your Facebook group and tap on the group name. 

2. Next, tap See all next to the Members section.

3. Tap the Invited tab.

4. Find the name of the person you invited to be an admin of the Facebook group and tap on More (three dots).

5. Tap Remove Invitation.

6. Next, tap Remove Invitation again to confirm the action, and the person will no longer be invited to join the group.

How to Remove an Admin from a Facebook Group Through the Facebook App

If you no longer need the services of the admin you added, you can remove them easily from your Facebook group in a few quick steps. 

1. Tap the badge icon at the top right side of the screen. 

2. Next, tap Members under Tool Shortcuts.

3. Tap More (three dots) next to the name of the person that you want to remove as admin.

4. Next, tap Remove as Admin.

5. Tap Remove admin to confirm the action.

Manage Your Facebook Group Successfully

Having a Facebook group admin who can handle everything about the group makes it easier for you to manage your growing community. 

Whatever your reason for adding or removing an admin from your Facebook group, leave a comment and let us know if this guide helped you achieve your goal.

The post How to Add or Remove an Admin from a Facebook Group first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

There are many reasons why you’d want to convert a PDF file to Word, the main one being to create an editable version of an existing document. Whatever your reason, this guide explains how to convert a PDF to Word. 

How to Convert PDF to Word in Windows

Whether you’re using a Windows PC or a Mac, we’ll show you a few ways to convert a PDF file into a Word document. The best method largely depends on the apps you’re most comfortable using such as Word, Google Docs or Adobe Acrobat, and your personal preference. 

Convert a PDF File to Word Using Microsoft Word

You can convert a PDF file to Word within Microsoft Word. This method will automatically convert your PDF into a DOCX file where the PDF is mostly text.

Note: Once your PDF is converted, its formatting, which includes line and page breaks, may be different from the original file.

1. Open a Word document, select File > Open, find the PDF file and select Open. This will open the PDF file within Word.

2. You may get a prompt that says Word will now convert your PDF to an editable document. Select OK to continue.

3. Word will convert the PDF file to an editable Word document so you can edit, copy, cut or format the text. Once you’re done, Word will automatically save the edited file as a DOCX file in the default location.

Convert a PDF File to Word Using Adobe Acrobat

It’s possible to convert a PDF to Word format in Adobe Acrobat but the feature is only available in premium versions of Adobe Acrobat.

1. Open Adobe Acrobat DC, select the Open file, choose the PDF file and then select Open.

2. In the left pane, select Export > Microsoft Word (*.docx).

3. Select Convert.

4. If prompted, log in to your Adobe account and your converted PDF file will open in Word.

Convert PDF to Word Using Google Docs

Google Docs has improved over the years with more sophisticated editing, formatting and markup features. You can use Google Docs to convert a PDF to Word and easily format text and paragraphs using its smart editing and styling tools.

1. Open Google Docs and select the plus sign to open a Blank document. 

2. In the new Google Docs page, select File > Open.

3. Select the Upload tab and then click Select a file from your device > Open.

4. The document will open in a new tab. Select Open with > Google Docs to open the PDF as a Google Doc file.

5. Select File > Make a copy.

6. Select the location you’d like to save the converted document to and then select OK.

Note: You can also select File > Download to download the converted PDF file as a Word document onto your computer.

Convert a PDF File to Word Format Using CamScanner

If you want to convert a PDF file to Word and maintain the file’s original layout, you can use CamScanner PDF to Word converter. The online tool converts files in PDF to Word format and works with any web browser so you don’t have to install any program or download an app.

1. Open CamScanner PDF to Word converter and select Files in PC/Mac to import your PDF file. You can also drag and drop the PDF file onto the CamScanner web page.

2. Wait for the conversion to complete and then select Download to save the file.

How to Convert PDF to Word on Mac

There are different options you have on your Mac for converting a PDF file to Word format easier editing and formatting. These include using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, Automator, or a free web-based converter tool.

Convert PDF to Word Using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is a premium plan that allows you to convert a PDF file to Word format directly from the PDF itself. You can use the seven-day free trial version of the software if you just want to convert a few files or pay the monthly subscription if you need to convert PDFs to Word on a regular basis.

1. Go to https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/acrobat/how-to/pdf-to-word-doc-converter.html and select Start free trial.

2. Select Get started.

3. Next, center your email address, choose the plan you’d like to sign up for and then select Continue.

Note: If you’re just using the service for a one-time document conversion, make sure you cancel the plan before the seven-day trial lapses otherwise payment will be collected on the 8^th day. If you cancel, you can still use the service to view PDFs, fill forms and comment.

4. Create or log in to your Adobe account.

5. Enter your payment information and select Start free trial.

6. Select Get started and the software will be downloaded to your Mac. Once the download completes, double-click on the Adobe Pro DC file download to start the installation.

7. Download and install Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. Sign in with your Mac’s username and password, and sign in with your Adobe Acrobat logins. Select Continue.

Note: If your Mac has the Apple silicon chip, you’ll get a prompt asking you to install the Intel-based version of the software on your device as Adobe is still developing a new version of the app for Apple silicon.

8. Select Start installing and wait for the installation process to complete, after which the application will open automatically.

9. Next, select File > Open and select the PDF file you want to convert to Word.

10. Select Export PDF in the vertical menu on the right side.

11. Next, highlight the Microsoft Word option and then select Export.

12. Choose the location you’d like to save your file to on your Mac, rename the file if you want, and then select Save. The converted file will open automatically in Word once the conversion process is complete.

Convert PDF to Word Using Automator

Automator is an often overlooked application installed on all Mac computers that’s used for creating workflows. The app automates certain repetitive tasks and can make using your Mac a lot easier than it already is. 

You can use Automator to save a PDF as a rich text file, which you can open in Word and save as a Word document.

1. Select Go > Applications > Automator.

2. In the Choose a type for your document popup, select Workflow > Choose.

3. Next, select Files & Folders from the column on the left side.

4. Select Ask for Finder Items and drag it into the open space. A new box will appear in the space you just dragged the entry into.

5. Go back to the column on the left side and select PDFs.

6. Select Extract PDF Text in the middle column and drag it into the open space under the Ask for Finder Items box.

7. Next, select Rich Text in the Extract PDF Text box.

8. Select File > Save and give the new workflow a name.

9. Instead of Workflow, select Application next to File Format and save the workflow anywhere you want on your Mac.

10. Double-click the folder containing the workflow you just created, and then double-click the robot icon with the name you gave it.

11. Select your PDF file and then select Choose. This way, the file will be converted and saved as a Rich Text file in the same folder that contains your PDF file.

12. Right-click on the Rich Text document, hover your mouse pointer over Open With and then select Word.

When the file opens in Word, you can save it as a standard Word document. From here on, anytime you want to convert a PDF file to Word format, you can use the workflow app you just created.

Note: Once you’re done editing in Word, you can select Export to convert it back to a PDF file.

Convert a PDF File to Word Using a Free Online Tool

If using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC or Automator seems long and tedious, you can convert a PDF file to Word format using an online converter tool. Some of the best free online converter tools include Smallpdf, Nitro, UniPDF, CamScanner or WPS PDF to Word converter.

For this guide, we used Smallpdf to convert PDF to Word format on a Mac.

1. Go to Smallpdf PDF to Word in a browser on your Mac. 

2. Select Choose Files to find your PDF file and upload it to Smallpdf or drag and drop the file into the blue space on the Smallpdf web page. You can also select the arrow next to Choose Files and select the location you want to open your PDF file from.

3. Select Convert to Word and wait for the file to be converted.

4. Once done, select the down arrow next to the file name to download it as a DOCX file. You can save the file to Google Drive or Dropbox or select the envelope icon to generate a link on the web.

Convert PDFs to Word for Easy Editing

Converting a PDF file to Word format isn’t hard to do if you know how to go about it. The easiest method is to use a web-based tool because all you do is upload your file and the tool quickly converts the PDF into a Word document that you can download, edit and save to your device or cloud storage. 

Leave a comment and let us know which method worked best for you. And if you need it, we also have a guide covering how to convert PDFs to Google Slides.

The post 7 Best Ways to Convert a PDF File to Word Format first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Widgets are like mini mobile apps on your phone that combine helpfulness with style. These small displays are a useful addition to your phone’s home screen as they give you easy-to-digest information snapshots. 

You can add widgets to your phone’s home screen and tap on each widget to fully open the corresponding app. For example, you can add a widget for the Weather or Calendar app on your home screen to get the weather or see your appointments at a glance without having to open the apps.

This guide explains how you can add widgets to the home screen or lock screen on your Android or iPhone. 

How to Add a Widget on Android

Android devices come pre-loaded with several widgets which you can use to customize your home screen based on your needs. These widgets provide conveniences like prominent notifications, app shortcuts, and handy information that’s updated continuously throughout the day. 

You can resize some widgets to show less or more data depending on what you want the app to display. 

Here are a few easy steps you can take to add widgets on Android and personalize your device’s home screen.

Add a Widget to Android Home Screen

Some Android devices come with certain default widgets. You can add new widgets to your Android device, but you’ll first have to download the corresponding app.

1. Tap and hold on any empty space on the home screen and then tap Widgets tab.

2. Next, tap and hold the widget you want to add.

3. Choose the widget display size you want, and then drag and drop the widget onto the empty space on your home screen.

Adjust the Widget Size

You can adjust the size of the widget to be smaller or larger on your Android phone’s home screen. 

1. Tap and hold the widget until you see a blue box appear around the widget. 

2. Drag the box to make the size of the widget smaller or bigger.

3. Tap the space around the blue box to save your changes.

Note: Not all devices allow you to resize widgets, and not all widgets can be resized.

Adjust Widget Settings 

Once you’ve added widgets on your phone’s home screen or lock screen, you can adjust the settings to add more details, change background color, or enable dark mode. 

1. Tap and hold the widget until you see a blue box appear around the widget. 

2. Next, tap Widget settings. 

3. Adjust the settings based on your preferences and then tap Save to effect the changes.

Delete a Widget 

It’s easy to remove or delete a widget from your phone’s lock screen or home screen using a few quick steps.

1. Tap and hold the widget to select it. 

2. Next, tap Remove from home. The widget will be removed from your phone’s home screen, but if you wish to add it back, you can find it in the Widgets tab.

Check out our guide on the best Android home screen widgets you can use to customize and access the app’s functionality on your device’s home screen.

How to Add Widgets on iPhone

On your iPhone’s home screen, you’ll find icons for all of your apps, sometimes with notifications displayed on the upper right corner of the icon. However, this doesn’t offer as much information as what you’d get from a widget.

A widget can sit alongside your favorite apps on the home screen and provides details you may want to see at a glance. Plus, widgets come in small, medium and large sizes so you can adjust them to see a small amount of pertinent information.

With the launch of iOS 14, iPhone users are now able to add customized widgets. They can also change the widget’s appearance and location. 

1. Tap and hold an empty area on your iPhone’s home screen until the apps jiggle. 
2. Next, tap the Add (+) button in the upper left side of the screen. 

3. Tap on the widget you want to add to the home screen, select the widget size and then tap the Add widget button.

4. Tap Done at the upper right side of the screen. 

Add a Widget to Today View

Today View is a handy feature on your iPhone that you can tailor to house your shortcuts. The feature gives a quick glimpse at the date, time, stock prices, weather, next appointment at a glance. 

You can add widgets to your home screen to keep your favorite widgets available when you unlock your iPhone.

1. Swipe right on your iPhone’s home screen to bring up the Today View.

2. Tap and hold an empty area in the Today View until the apps jiggle, and then tap the Add button at the upper left corner of the screen. 

3. Select a widget, choose your preferred widget size, and then tap Add Widget.

4. Tap Done and the widget will appear on your phone’s home screen. 

Edit a Widget on iPhone

With iOS 14, you can edit and configure widgets on your iPhone’s home screen based on your preferences. 

1. Tap and hold the widget to access the quick actions context menu.

2. Next, tap Edit Widget, edit the settings and then tap outside the widget to exit.

Note: You can put your favorite widgets where they’re easier to find by tapping and holding the widget until it jiggles and then moving it around on your iPhone’s screen. 

Create a Smart Stack

With iOS 14, you can build a Smart Stack and create a collection of widgets to save space in Today View or on your home screen. 

Smart Stacks display the right widget based on the date, time, activity, or your location. In addition, the Smart Stack rotates the widgets automatically to display the most relevant information every day. 

1. Tap and hold an empty area in Today View or on your home screen until the apps jiggle. 
2. Next, tap Add (+) in the upper left side of the screen.

3. Tap Smart Stack.

4. Next, enter the name of the widget you want to add in the search bar. 

5. Tap Add Widget. 

Note: You can also create your own widget stacks by dragging and dropping a widget on top of another widget. With this method, you can stack up to ten widgets in a widget stack.

Edit a Widget Stack 

You can edit the stack’s settings to change the appearance or order of widgets in a widget stack.

1. Tap and hold the widget stack, and then tap Edit Stack.

2. Drag the grid icon to reorder the widgets in the stack. 

3. If you want iOS to show relevant widgets all day, toggle the Smart Rotate switch to green/on.

4. To delete a widget from the widget stack, swipe left over the widget. Tap the X at the upper right side of the widget stack when you’re done to exit.

Remove a Widget 

If you no longer need the widget, here’s how to remove or delete it from your iPhone’s home screen. 

1. Tap and hold the widget you want to remove and then tap Remove Widget.

2. Next, tap Remove to confirm your action. 

Add Shortcuts to Your Favorite Apps

Widgets are a neat way to customize your phone’s home screen with items like a clock, search bar, calculator, weather details, or countdown calendar. 

Leave a comment and let us know if you were able to add widgets to your phone’s display using the steps in this guide.

The post How to Add Widgets on Android and iPhone first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

You can sync your Outlook calendar to Google Calendar to easily access and manage all your calendars in one place. This prevents scheduling conflicts and makes the management of calendars easier.

How to Add Outlook Calendar to Google Calendar

A task that you enter on your smartphone may not appear in Outlook automatically, but you can add Outlook calendar to Google Calendar by following the steps below so that tasks will sync.

Add Outlook Calendar to Google Calendar

While you don’t need any extensions or plugins to sync your Outlook calendar to Google Calendar, you will need to get a link from Outlook first to use in Google later.

1. Sign in to your Office 365 account, select Outlook, and choose Settings > View All Outlook Settings.

2. Select Calendar and Shared Calendars.

3. Go to the Publish a calendar section, select Calendar and Can view all details.

4. Select Publish.

5. Click on the ICS link that you’ll need to finish syncing both calendars and select the Copy link option.

6. Go to Google Calendar and select Other calendars+.

7. Select From URL.

8. Paste the ICS link you copied from Outlook and then select Add calendar.

9. The new calendar will appear among other calendars on the list, meaning the sync process is complete. You can save your calendar, rename it and change its colors.

10. To disconnect your Outlook calendar and Google Calendar, hover over the calendar’s name in Google Calendar and select X.

Add Outlook Calendar to Google Calendar on iOS Devices

If you use Outlook calendar and Google Calendar on your iPhone or iPad, you can sync both calendars by adding them to the iPhone or iPad Calendar app to see all your meetings clearly and in a more organized way.

1. Tap Settings > Calendar and tap Account to add your Outlook and Google accounts.

2. Next, toggle to green to sync all your calendars.

Once completed, all your data will appear automatically on the calendar app.

Add Outlook Calendar to Google Calendar on Android

If you use your Android device to view your Outlook and Google calendars, you can install the Microsoft Outlook app to connect both calendars. 

1. Download and install Microsoft Outlook from the Google Play Store. 
2. Open the app and tap Open.

3. Next, link your Outlook account to other accounts to add the calendar.

Add Outlook Calendar to Google Calendar on Mac

You can use Outlook calendar and Google Calendar on your Mac, but you’ll need to install the Outlook app and connect it to the Google account you use. 

1. Open Outlook and select Outlook > Preferences.

2. Select Accounts and then select Add (+) at the bottom left side.

3. Next, select New Account.

4. Sign in to your Google account with your username and password and select Continue.

5. Select the Google account you want to link with Outlook.

6. Select Allow when asked to authorize Microsoft Apps to access your calendar.

7. Select Done.

8. Finally, select the calendar icon to view your Outlook and Google Calendar entries.

How to Export Your Outlook Calendar to Google Calendar

You can also export your Outlook calendar to Google Calendar and sync both calendars to view them simultaneously.

1. Open the Calendar in Outlook and select the calendar you want to export.

2. Select File > Save Calendar, go to the File name box, type a name for the iCalendar file or enter the default name.

3. Next to More Options, you’ll find a summary of the calendar name, date range, and detail level. If you want to change the details, select More Options > Date Range and select the data you want to include in the iCalendar file or select Specify dates to enter a custom range for the date.

Note: It may take a while to generate the calendar if you pick an extensive date range or select Whole calendar. If the calendar is empty, you’ll get a message asking you to cancel saving the file.

4. Select Detail, choose what you want to show, and then select OK > Save.

5. Next, sign in to your Google Calendar account and select the Settings gear > Settings.

6. Select Import & Export on the left side of the screen.

7. Click Select file from your computer, pick the file you created earlier when you exported the calendar from Outlook, and select Open.

Note: For multiple Google calendars, select the calendar you want to receive your imported items from the Add to calendar drop-down box and then select Import.

View Your Outlook and Google Calendars Together

Having one calendar with all your meetings, tasks, and appointments makes life easier.

If adding Outlook calendar to Google Calendar using the steps above seems like a tedious and cumbersome process, third-party apps like SyncGene, CalendarBridge, and Sync2 can get it done quickly and easily. 

Was this guide helpful? Share with us in the comments section below.

The post How to Add Your Outlook Calendar to Google Calendar first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Previously, it was easy to tell a suspicious email or link because of the typos and poor grammar in the messages. Today, creators of these phishing emails and unsolicited links do their best to make them look as genuine as possible with the aim of getting more people to click their links.

Whether you received a link in a text message, email via social media, or messaging apps, a link checker can confirm whether the link is safe or dangerous. Link checkers analyze links for any security issues and alert you if the link takes you to safety risks like compromised sites, malware, and ransomware.

How to Check if a Link Is Safe

Here are some link checkers you can use to protect your device and confidential data.

1. Norton Safe Web

Norton Safe Web analyzes links for any security or safety problems to see how they will affect you and your device. This way, you’ll know how safe a website is before viewing it.

The link checker also gives you a summary of security issues it detects after analyzing the website that’s linked. You can see whether the website has any computer or identity threats and view proof of safety validation. This is especially important if you’re making digital purchases because it will protect your personal and financial data on the site.

To scan a link, paste the URL into the search field and select the search button.

Norton Safe Web will scan the URL and display a rating based on different tags. A green OK tag means the link is safe, yellow or orange means caution, while a red tag means the link isn’t safe.

If a link is rated Caution (yellow or orange), it means the site may have a small number of annoyances and threats, but it’s not considered dangerous enough to warrant a warning. Even then, open the link with caution.

Norton Safe Web also displays community reviews about the site so you can read what other users are saying about it and add your own voice to the reviews thread.

Norton Safe Web also offers the Safe Search and Home Page Chrome extensions, which also test links for safety before you click them.

2. Google Transparency Report

Google’s Transparency Report leverages Google’s Safe Browsing technology to examine billions of links every day looking for unsafe sites. The site uncovers thousands of new unsafe sites, many of which are legitimate but compromised. This can happen when a site is infected with a virus even when the site owner may not realize it.

To check if a link is safe or dangerous, plug it into the free online tool, and if the link checker detects an unsafe site, it will display a warning. The tool also displays warnings in your browser or on Google Search.

3. URLVoid

URLVoid is a website reputation checker that helps you detect potentially malicious websites. The service can gauge a link or website’s online reputation and safety, identify if it’s ever been involved in a phishing or malware incident, and detect any malicious or fraudulent behavior.

URLVoid filters links across more than 30 online website reputation and blacklist engines. You also get a safety report that contains website details, including IP address, domain creation date, server location, and blacklist status.

4. ScanURL

ScanURL helps inform you of potentially scammy, suspicious, or dangerous sites so you can browse the web more safely. The service checks for malware, phishing, viruses, and poor reputation using third-party services like Web of Trust, Google Safe Browsing Diagnostic, and Phish Tank.

Although ScanURL is ad-supported, it delivers good results that indicate whether or not you should visit the site.

If ScanURL lists the site as dangerous, avoid it. You can also let other users know where you saw the link and what makes you suspicious of it so that they can avoid it as well.

To use the tool, enter the URL you want to check in the checking field, type a nickname, comment, and then select the Check this URL button to start the scan.

Once the result page loads, you can copy the permanent URL.

Note: ScanURL doesn’t follow redirected or shortened URLs.

5. PhishTank

PhishTank is a data and information clearing house that works differently from other link checkers as it focuses mainly on phishing sites. 

The tool checks any link that you suspect is a phishing site and if the link is already in the tool’s database, you’ll get instant results.

To use PhishTank, enter the URL of the site into the search field and select the Is it a phish button.

If PhishTank identifies the site as a phishing site, you’ll get an alert and a tracking number. You can also track the status of your submissions and verify links submitted by other users.

6. VirusTotal

VirusTotal is a handy online tool that analyzes suspicious URLs and files to detect different types of malware. You can enter a link and VirusTotal will scan the entire page for malicious links.

The tool uses various antivirus engines to scan the site and give you instant results whether you’re using a computer or mobile device. You can also scan a file, archives like ZIP and RAR of up to 550MB, a domain, or an IP address.

VirusTotal also offers a browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer so you can scan links or files for viruses before downloading them.

General Safety Tips for Avoiding Suspicious Links

If a link looks suspicious, here are a few tips to help you tell whether it’s safe or dangerous:

• If the URL seems too short, you can use a browser plugin or CheckShortURL to inspect the short link and reveal its true intended destination. 
• Check with your bank or financial institution before opening any unsolicited emails purporting to be from your bank.
• Use a URL Decoder to decode links with strange character strings that some malware distributors use to mask the destination of phishing sites or malware. The URL decoding tool will reveal the link’s real destination.
• Enable active or real-time scanning options in your antivirus or antimalware software to catch malware before it gets into your computer or device.
• Keep your antivirus or antimalware software up to date with the latest virus definitions so it can catch the latest threats that may infect your device. You can set the software to auto-update regularly and check the date of the last update to ensure that the updates actually take place.

Test a Suspicious Link Without Clicking It

Whether you’re using a computer or mobile device, there’s a strong chance that you’ve received a text message or email that’s attempting to get your personal data. With a link checker, you can double-check the URL without clicking on it and check whether it’s safe or dangerous to protect your information and devices.

Do you have a favorite tool that checks suspicious links for malware or phishing? Tell us about it in a comment.

The post How to Check If a Link Is Spam or Safe to Click first appeared on Online Tech Tips.