I’ve been the person who watches someone else do something on a computer and thinks “wait, there’s a shortcut for that?” more times than I’d like to admit. Tech moves fast, and it’s easy to feel like you’re always playing catch-up. The truth is, most people don’t know these simple tricks that can save minutes — or even hours — every single day. Let me share some of my favorites.
## Keyboard Shortcuts That Actually Matter
I’ll be honest: I used to think keyboard shortcuts were for “power users” and that normal people didn’t need them. I was wrong. Once I started using these, I couldn’t go back.
**Ctrl+Z is your best friend.** Accidentally deleted something? Press Ctrl+Z immediately. It undoes almost anything — deleted text, moved files, closed tabs. I’ve saved myself countless times with this one. Also works with Ctrl+Shift+Z to redo if you undo too much.
**Alt+Tab (or Cmd+Tab on Mac) switches windows instantly.** Instead of clicking through all your open windows, just hold Alt and tap Tab to cycle through. It’s so much faster than hunting for the right window with your mouse.
**Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F) finds text on any page.** This works in documents, in web browsers, in emails — everywhere. Don’t scroll through a 50-page document looking for a specific word. Just press Ctrl+F and type what you’re looking for. Game changer.
**Windows Key + D (or F11) shows your desktop.** When you have a million windows open and need to see what’s actually on your desktop, this instantly minimizes everything. Perfect for when you’re at work and need to look focused.
**Ctrl+Shift+T reopens the last closed tab.** Closed a tab by accident? This brings it back instantly. I use this multiple times a day.
## Phone Tricks You Probably Never Discovered
Our phones are basically computers in our pockets, but most people barely scratch the surface of what they can do.
**Shake to undo on iPhone.** This one’s fun. If you’ve typed something and want to undo it, just shake your phone and tap “Undo.” It’s especially handy when you’ve been typing fast and made a mistake. You can also shake to redo.
**Long-press app icons on iPhone or Android.** On iPhone, pressing hard (or long-pressing) on many app icons reveals shortcuts. Want to quickly take a selfie? Long-press the camera icon and select “Selfie.” No need to open the app first. Android has similar functionality with app shortcuts.
**Swipe to delete or archive in email.** Instead of opening an email and looking for the delete button, just swipe left on your phone’s email app. Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail — they all support swipe actions. It feels so much faster once you get used to it.
**Set a timer by voice.** “Hey Siri, set a timer for 10 minutes” or “OK Google, set a timer for 5 minutes” while you’re cooking. It’s faster than opening the timer app and tapping around.
**Reduce screen brightness below minimum.** On most phones, you can drag the brightness slider lower than its normal limit in quick settings. This is a lifesaver when you’re reading in bed and don’t want to blind yourself — or kill your battery.
## Browser Tricks That Feel Like Magic
I spend half my life in a web browser, so these shortcuts have been worth their weight in gold.
**Ctrl+Shift+T reopens closed tabs** (works in Chrome, Firefox, Edge). Same as the email shortcut. I’ve recovered so many accidentally closed tabs with this.
**Type “www.” before a site.** Okay, this one’s simple, but it trips people up. If a site isn’t loading, try adding “www.” to the beginning. Some sites redirect better with it.
**Use the address bar as a calculator.** Chrome and many other browsers let you type “5+5” or “sqrt(16)” directly in the address bar and hit enter to get the result. No need to open a calculator app.
**Ctrl+Shift+N opens an incognito window** (or Cmd+Shift+N on Mac). Useful when you want to browse without saving history or cookies — great for looking up gifts or checking email on someone else’s computer.
**Drag tabs around to organize.** You can reorder tabs in your browser by just clicking and dragging. You can also drag a tab out to create its own window, or drag it into another window to move it there.
## Simple Tech Habits That Make Life Easier
Beyond shortcuts, there are some basic habits that will make your digital life smoother.
**Restart your devices regularly.** I know, it sounds basic. But so many tech problems — slow performance, weird glitches, wifi issues — get solved by simply turning your device off and on again. Once a week is a good habit.
**Use strong, unique passwords (and a password manager).** I used to use the same password for everything. Then I learned about password managers and realized how much easier (and safer) life could be. You only need to remember one password, and the app generates and remembers all the rest. Bitwarden is free and excellent. 1Password and LastPass are popular too.
**Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere.** Yes, it’s a slight hassle to enter a code when you log in. But having your account hacked is so much worse. Enable 2FA on your email, social media, banking — anywhere it’s offered.
**Back up your phone.** iPhone users, just plug into your computer and back up with iTunes or Finder. Android users, Google automatically backs up a lot, but Samsung and other manufacturers have their own backup tools. Do this at least monthly, or set it to auto-backup if your phone supports it.
## The “I Didn’t Know That Was a Thing” Category
These are the little discoveries that make me feel like I’ve learned a secret.
**You can screenshot on iPhone without pressing buttons.** On newer iPhones, you can use “Back Tap” to screenshot by tapping the back of your phone twice. It’s in Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. Once you try it, you’ll wonder how you lived without it.
**Swipe typing on Android is incredible.** Google’s Gboard has swipe typing that’s shockingly accurate. I was skeptical at first, but now I type way faster by swiping than I ever did tapping each letter.
**Your phone can scan documents natively.** iPhone has a built-in document scanner in the Notes app (tap the plus sign, then “Scan Documents”). Android’s Google Drive or Samsung Notes has similar features. No need for a separate scanning app.
**Smart displays can show your calendar and photos.** If you have a Google Nest Hub or Amazon Echo Show, you can set it to display your calendar, show photo albums from Google Photos, or display the weather. It’s basically a digital picture frame that’s actually useful.
**Voice typing is surprisingly accurate.** Most phones now have voice typing built in (tap the microphone on your keyboard). I’ve written entire emails by dictating. It’s not perfect, but it’s way faster than typing for longer messages.
## Wrapping Up
The thing about these tech tricks is that they seem small individually, but together they add up to serious time savings. You don’t need to learn them all at once. Just pick one or two that sound useful and start using them. Before you know it, they’ll become second nature.
Technology should work for you, not the other way around. These little tricks are like finding money in your pocket — unexpected, welcome, and just a little bit satisfying.
What tech tricks have changed your life? I’m always looking for new ones to try.