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The telephone in your hand tin practise more than the computers we had years ago. It's a advice device, a photographic camera, a scanner, a fitness tracker, a camcorder, a GPS, a game console — I could go on.

There's also a lot your phone can do that you would not think was possible. Tap or click for seven brilliant means your smartphone tin can help yous get things done, from measuring someone's peak to remoting into your computer.

Simply sometimes, you just need to talk. If your service is spotty, there are a few means to boost your signal strength.

When information technology comes to texts, it's nice to know if your message went through and the person read it.

On an iPhone

Apple's default text messaging app, iMessage, makes it like shooting fish in a barrel to know if your recipient has read your message. There is one caveat. Both the sender and recipient must be using iMessage on an iPhone or iPad and have Read Receipts enabled.

When you text someone with Read Receipts turned on, you'll notice the discussion "Read" below your message, and the fourth dimension information technology was opened.

To turn on your Read Receipts in the iMessage app, click Settings, coil downwards, and tap Messages. Enable Send Read Receipts. These steps piece of work with Macs and iPads as well.

Speaking of texts, I know you're sick of spam messages. I am, besides. Tap or click for tricks to end all the junk.

On an Android

Like iPhone users, Android read receipts require both sender and recipient enable the characteristic. Instructions may vary according to your device's manufacturer, model, and operating organisation.

Outset, open your Messages app and navigate to the settings. Depending on your telephone model, operating system, and cellular provider, y'all volition notice ane of the post-obit: Read Receipts, Transport Read Receipts or Request Receipt. Turn on the applicative pick.

On a Samsung phone, get to Messages > Card > Settings > Chat settings. Here, you lot can enable read receipts.

In Google Messages, open Messages. Tap the three-dot menu (More) > Settings > Chat features. Tap Ship read receipts.

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What nigh Facebook?

Read receipts are enabled past default in Facebook Messenger. If you lot wish to plough them off at some bespeak, sorry, Charlie. Yous tin can't. A sneaky workaround allows you to read letters without producing a read receipt.

Just plow off your Wi-Fi and cellular connection to read all received letters. Open the app, then plow on Aeroplane mode. When yous end reading your messages, force quit the Messenger app.

Are you lot 1 of those people with a perpetually low phone battery? Here's how to go more life out of your smartphone.

File photo - The Facebook Messenger logo seen displayed on a smart phone. 

File photo - The Facebook Messenger logo seen displayed on a smart phone. (Photo past Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

WhatsApp lets yous choose

Dissimilar its parent visitor Facebook, you can opt out of read receipts in WhatsApp.

How practice you know when someone views your message using WhatsApp? Look for the checkmarks:

A unmarried gray checkmark indicates a successfully sent message.

The appearance of a 2nd gray checkmark shows your message was delivered to the recipient's phone.

The ii checkmarks will turn blueish if the recipient has viewed your message.

To plow off this feature, click Settings and tap Account. Choose the Privacy option and disable Read Receipts.

Once y'all have your read receipts enabled on all your apps, you will no longer have to wonder or worry almost whether a recipient has viewed your bulletin.

File photo: The WhatsApp messaging application is seen on a phone screen. (REUTERS/Thomas White)

File photograph: The WhatsApp messaging awarding is seen on a phone screen. (REUTERS/Thomas White)

Bonus Tip: Essential tech cleanups to do before 2022

Is your digital life in demand of a niggling TLC? Heed for smart means to tidy upward your tech, inside and out. Yous'll learn a few cleaning secrets, along with simple methods of sorting the clutter, immigration out junk and freeing upwardly space on your devices. Information technology looks like you but found your new holiday project.

Cheque out my podcast "Kim Komando Explains" on Apple, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast player.

Mind to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my terminal proper name, "Komando."

What digital lifestyle questions exercise you have? Call Kim's national radio testify and tap or click here to observe it on your local radio station. You tin listen to or watch The Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet, television, or figurer. Or tap or click here for Kim's costless podcasts.

Copyright 2022, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved. By clicking the shopping links, you lot're supporting my research. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products I believe in.

Learn nigh all the latest technology on The Kim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters, and more than, visit her website at Komando.com.