1. Step
   1

   Open the Google Messages app

   

   This comes pre-installed and runs as default on Android smartphones. It may just be referred to as Messages. 

2. Step
   2

   Select a conversation

   

   You can either select a pre-existing conversation or create a new one by tapping the Start chat icon at the bottom right.

3. Step
   3

   Type out your text

   

   Type out your message as you normally would.

4. Step
   4

   Touch and hold the send button

   

   Make sure you tap and hold the send button next to the message. This will then bring up a list of different schedules to choose from.

5. Step
   5

   Select a time

   

   You can either choose a preset time or choose your own by tapping ‘Pick date and time’. If you decide to select the latter, then a calendar will open up to allow you to choose your desired date and time. Follow the steps on screen.
   

6. Step
   6

   Tap Send

   

   Once you’re happy with your chosen options, tap the send icon as you usually would.

How to disable Find My on your iPhone before getting it serviced

1. Step
   1

   Go to your Settings

   

   You can also disable Find My in the Find My app or in your browser, but we’ll be following the Settings route.

2. Step
   2

   Tap your name

   

   This will take you to your Apple ID settings.

3. Step
   3

   Select Find My

   

   Or tap the circular green Find My icon.

4. Step
   4

   Tap Find My iPhone

   

   If Find My iPhone is set to On, tap on it.

5. Step
   5

   Toggle Find My iPhone off

   

   Tap the green button next to Find My iPhone to disable the setting.

1. Step
   1

   Open Google Play

   

   The first step in replacing Google Assistant with Gemini is downloading the Gemini app. To do that, open the Google Play app on your smartphone. 

2. Step
   2

   Download the Google Gemini app

   

   Search for and download the Gemini app from Google Play. If it’s not available in your region just yet, you can download the app from third-party app repositories like APKPure.

3. Step
   3

   Open the Gemini app

   

   Once you’ve downloaded Gemini, tap the app icon (a star) to open it. 

4. Step
   4

   Tap Get Started

   

   On the welcome screen, tap Get Started to begin the setup process. 

5. Step
   5

   Agree to the terms and conditions

   

   Agree to the various terms of service that allow Google’s Gemini assistant to perform its GenAI-powered tasks. 

6. Step
   6

   Activate Google Gemini

   

   Now that Gemini has been configured, it’ll automatically replace Google Assistant on your phone. That means the actions that’d previously summon Google Assistant – by saying Hey Google, swiping from the corner of your screen, holding the power button – will now summon Gemini.
   
   Give it a go, and enjoy the expanded capabilities of the GenAI-powered virtual assistant! 

1. Step
   1

   Open Settings

   

   We’ll be demonstrating on a OnePlus 12 but the steps are near-identical on the OnePlus 12R. Open the Settings app from the app library.

2. Step
   2

   Tap Battery

   

   Scroll down the Settings page and tap Battery.

3. Step
   3

   Tap Power saving mode

   

   Scroll down the Battery settings menu and underneath the “Battery usage by app” graph you’ll see Power saving mode. Tap here.

4. Step
   4

   Turn on Power saving mode

   

   Turn on the toggle next to Power saving mode. This will enable your OnePlus 12 to limit its power consumption to extend battery life. Your phone should continue to work as normal in most scenarios, regardless of this being switched on.

5. Step
   5

   Turn on the Super power saving mode toggle

   

   To further enhance your OnePlus 12’s battery life you can switch on Super power saving mode. This will make your device last longer but it will significantly limit what you can do with your handset.
   
   Once you switch the toggle on, on a pop-up will appear.
   

6. Step
   6

   Select Turn on

   

   Select Turn on to activate Super power saving mode. Super power saving mode limits your access to up to six apps which can all be selected from the home screen. These apps can include phone, messages and contacts, so you won’t necessarily miss any important notifications.

How to check if your iMessage was delivered successfully

1. Step
   1

   Send your message

   

   Simply press the blue arrow to send your message. You’ll need to make sure you have an internet connection to send a message over iMessage. If you don’t have Wi-Fi or a cellular connection, your message might send as a text instead.

2. Step
   2

   Wait while your message sends

   

   How long this takes will depend on your internet connection but it shouldn’t take more than a few seconds. If there’s no status below your message, it has not been delivered yet.

3. Step
   3

   Check for the Delivered status

   

   You’ll know the message has sent when the status below the message changes to Delivered. This means that your recipient has received the message but does not guarantee that it has been read.

4. Step
   4

   You might see the status change to Read

   

   If your recipient has read receipts toggled on, you might see the status change to Read once the message is opened. However, not everyone will have this feature switched on.

1. Step
   1

   Open the Settings app

   

   The first step to enabling bypass charging on your Samsung Galaxy S24 is to open the Settings app. That’s the one with the cogwheel icon if you’re unfamiliar.

2. Step
   2

   Tap the Search icon

   

   Samsung’s bypass charging feature is baked into its Game Booster game mode – a mode that doesn’t actually have a dedicated Settings menu. Instead, tap the search icon (the magnifying glass icon) in the top-right corner.

3. Step
   3

   Search for Game Booster

   

   In the search field, type Game Booster.

4. Step
   4

   Tap Game Booster Settings

   

   From the results, tap Game Booster Settings.

5. Step
   5

   Plug your phone into your charger

   

   Before you can toggle on Samsung’s bypass charging functionality, your Galaxy S24 has to be plugged into a compatible charger.
   
   More specifically, it has to support USB-C Power Delivery (PD) with at least 20W of power, and your smartphone has to have more than 20% charge too. Plug your S24 into a charger and, if necessary, wait for it to hit 20% charge.

6. Step
   6

   Toggle on Pause USB PD charging when gaming

   

   Scroll down to the bottom of the Game Booster Settings menu and toggle on the ‘Pause USB PD charging when gaming’. 
   
   It’s not explicitly called bypass charging like on some gaming phones, but the functionality is the same, essentially bypassing the battery when playing games to stop your phone from overheating and your battery from degrading unnecessarily.
   
   Once active, bypass charging will automatically be enabled when playing any Game Booster-supported game (which is most games, by the way) and your phone is plugged into a charger. Happy gaming! 

How to set up Theater Mode on Apple Watch to avoid distractions at work

1. Step
   1

   Press the side button on your Apple Watch

   

   This will open the Control Center.

2. Step
   2

   Tap the Theater Mode icon

   

   This is the icon that looks like two masks overlapping.

3. Step
   3

   You should receive a notification that Theater Mode/Cinema Mode is on

   

   The notification will disappear after a second but the icon will turn and remain orange as long as Theater Mode is on.

1. Step
   1

   Open System Settings

   

   To do this, either select the Apple Menu in the top left corner of your screen and select System Settings (as shown here) or simply click on the System Settings app in the Launchpad. 

2. Step
   2

   Select Battery

   

   You’ll find this option listed in the side panel of the System Settings app.

3. Step
   3

   Check your Battery Health status

   

   At a glance you’ll be able to see what status your battery health is at: Normal or Service Recommended. 
   
   If you see Service Recommended then this means either your MacBook isn’t able to hold as much charge as it did when it was new, or the battery itself is performing abnormally. Regardless, you should contact Apple or an Apple Authorised Service Provider to find out the root of the problem.

4. Step
   4

   Select the i next to Battery Health

   

   Next to your Battery Health’s status, you’ll see a small i. Click this and a pop-up will open with more information about your MacBook’s health.

5. Step
   5

   Read more information on your MacBook’s battery health

   

   This will show you more information about your MacBook’s battery health, such as its maximum capacity. There is also the option to turn on Optimised Battery Charging, which helps to reduce battery ageing.

1. Step
   1

   Download the APK you’d like to install

   

   The first step in sideloading apps onto your Android smartphone is to acquire the app’s APK – essentially its install file. 
   
   There are no shortages of websites offering APKs for most Android apps, but you’ve got to be careful about your website of choice as it’s easy to slip something malicious into the code – you don’t have Google Play’s protections here, after all.
   
   That said, there are a handful APK repositories online that are trusted by the Android community. These include the likes of APKMirror and APKPure. Simply head to the website of your choice in Chrome on your smartphone, and search for and download the app APK you’d like to install.  

2. Step
   2

   Tap Download Anyway

   

   Once you initiate the APK download, you’ll get a warning from Google Chrome that the file you are downloading could be harmful. If you’ve used a reputable APK storefront, there should be nothing to worry about, so tap Download Anyway. 

3. Step
   3

   Open the APK

   

   Once the download is complete, you should see a pop-up allowing you to open the newly-downloaded file. Tap Open to continue.

4. Step
   4

   Tap Settings

   

   If it’s the first time you’ve installed an app downloaded via Google Chrome, you’ll need to permit Chrome to “install unknown apps” – aka those from outside the Play Store – to do so. To do this, tap Settings on the security pop-up that appears on the screen. 

5. Step
   5

   Toggle on Allow From This Source

   

   From the Settings menu, toggle on Allow from this source to enable Chrome to install the APK you’ve just downloaded. 

6. Step
   6

   Tap Install

   

   Once you’ve enabled Google Chrome to install APKs, a pop-up should appear asking you if you want to install your newly downloaded app. Tap Install to install the app. 

7. Step
   7

   Tap Open to use your new app

   

   Once the installation is complete, tap Open to access your newly sideloaded Android app. 
   
   It’s worth noting that, if the app isn’t usually available in your region, you won’t be able to update it via Google Play like most other apps. Instead, you’ll have to download updated APKs for the app yourself.

1. Step
   1

   Open the Google Wallet app on your smartwatch

   

   The first step to using Google Wallet on your smartwatch is a rather simple one; open the Google Wallet app on your watch. 
   
   It should be installed by default on most Wear OS watches, but if you can’t find it, it can be installed from the Play Store on your smartwatch. 

2. Step
   2

   Tap the plus icon to add a new card

   

   Tap the big plus icon to begin the process of adding a new card to Google Wallet on your smartwatch. 

3. Step
   3

   On your phone, tap Add to Watch

   

   The next few steps have to be completed using the smartphone connected to your smartwatch. It’d be pretty awkward inputting all your card details on such a tiny screen, after all! 
   
   With that in mind, unlock your smartphone and you should see a Wallet pop-up appear on screen. Tap Add to Watch to continue with the process. 

4. Step
   4

   Select a previously used card or tap Add new card and verify your details

   

   From here, you can either select a card you’ve previously used with Google Wallet (likely on your smartphone) or add a new card. Tap your existing card or Add new card, and enter your details. 

5. Step
   5

   Accept Google Wallet Terms and Conditions

   

   Before you can use Google Wallet, you’ll need to accept Google’s terms and conditions. Tap accept to continue.  
   

6. Step
   6

   Verify with your bank

   

   The next step is to verify that you are who you say you are – it’d be easy for someone else to add your card to their phone and splash your cash if not! 
   
   The methods of verification depend on your bank, but most will either allow you to verify by logging into your banking app and confirming there, or by calling your bank. Choose your method of verification and follow the instructions. 
   

7. Step
   7

   Tap OK

   

   Once your card has been verified, it’ll be added to Google Wallet on your smartwatch. Tap OK on your smartphone to wrap up the setup process. 
   

8. Step
   8

   Open the Wallet app and tap on the card reader to buy products with your smartwatch

   

   To use Google Wallet to pay for products or to gain entry to public transport, simply open the Wallet app (most smartwatches offer some kind of shortcut, but it depends on the manufacturer) and bring your watch near to the contactless reader at any supported retailer to complete the purchase. 
   

How to turn off Facebook’s web browser history

1. Step
   1

   Open the Facebook app 

   

   The following steps will work in the iOS and Android apps.

2. Step
   2

   Open any external link 

   

   This will take you to Facebook’s Mobile Browser. Make sure to click a link you trust from a person or page you trust on your timeline. Alternatively, you can find your Browser Settings in the Facebook mobile app by heading to the Settings section.

3. Step
   3

   Tap the three dots in the corner 

   

   This will bring up a dropdown menu with more options.

4. Step
   4

   Select Go To Settings 

   

   This will take you to your Facebook Mobile Browser Settings.

5. Step
   5

   Tap Clear next to Your Browsing Data

   

   This will clear your phone’s cookies and cache from any websites you’ve visited in the Facebook Mobile Browser. You can also switch off your Link History at this stage (if the feature is available to you) to prevent Meta from using this data to personalise ads.

1. Step
   1

   Open the Settings app

   

   We’ll be demonstrating with an iPhone but the steps are exactly the same with an iPad.

2. Step
   2

   Select Family

   

   This option will be at the top of the Settings page, under your Apple ID profile.

3. Step
   3

   Tap the Add icon

   

   This is in the top right corner of the screen, as shown below.

4. Step
   4

   Choose Create Child Account

   

   A Child Account can be created for children under the age of 12.

5. Step
   5

   Fill in the information

   

   Here you’ll be prompted to create an account for your child, which will require you to set up an email (or use one they already have) and a password. 
   
   You may also need to enter your Apple ID password and any other passwords associated with your Apple account.
   

6. Step
   6

   Set up Screen Time

   

   After you set up your child’s account, you’ll be instantly prompted to establish their screen time preferences. Select Continue.

7. Step
   7

   Turn on Age Restrictions

   

   The first prompt doesn’t actually involve screen time but rather the content your child will be allowed to access. Here you can adjust the ratings across Web Content, Apps, Movies and more.

8. Step
   8

   Turn on App and Website Activity

   

   You’ll now be prompted to turn on Screen Time tracking for your child’s account, allowing you to receive weekly reports about their screen time, schedule downtime and set daily limits for app usage.

9. Step
   9

   Turn on Downtime

   

   Downtime allows you to set a schedule for time away from the screen. During this time period, you’ll need to give your child permission to use their phone. Simply tap on the start time to set when you’d like this to begin (for example, before their bedtime) and choose the end time (which can be the next morning.)
   
   You can also opt to skip this entirely by choosing Set Up Later.
   

10. Step
    10

    Set up a Parental Controls Lock

    

    To make future changes to Screen Time settings, you’ll need to set up a child lock. Make sure it’s something you can remember but isn’t guessable by your child.
    
    Once this is set up you’ll be given a few optional extras to tweak, including location tracking.

11. Step
    11

    Tap Done

    

    Once you’ve gone through all the steps, select Done.

1. Step
   1

   Open the Camera app

   

   To temporarily turn off live photos, start by opening up the Camera app.
   

2. Step
   2

   Tap the Live Photos icon

   

   This is the icon in the top right corner of the Camera screen. As shown here, the icon shows that live photo is turned on. Simply tap this icon and it’ll display a slash across the icon, indicating the feature has been switched off.
   

3. Step
   3

   To turn off live photos permanently, go to your iPhone’s Settings

   

   If you know you rarely use live photos and want a more permanent fix, visit your iPhone’s Settings.
   

4. Step
   4

   Tap Camera

   

   Scroll down until you find the Camera option, which is about halfway through the list of options.
   

5. Step
   5

   Tap Preserve Settings

   

   Towards the top of the listed options you’ll see Preserve Settings. Tap this. 
   

6. Step
   6

   Turn off Live Photo

   

   The last option on the list, tap the toggle off next to Live Photo. This will preserve the live photo setting rather than automatically reset your camera to have Live Photo turned on. When you return to the camera app, you should check the live photo icon to make sure it’s off. 
   

How to take a photo with a blurred background on a camera

1. Step
   1

   Increase the aperture on your camera

   

   This is controlled by the f-stop and how you adjust it will depend on your camera make and model. The lower the f-stop number, the wider the aperture and the more blurred your background will be. 
   
   Make sure to adjust the shutter speed and ISO as well to keep the exposure level, or use the aperture priority mode to tell the camera to do this automatically.

2. Step
   2

   Point the camera at your subject

   

   You can use a tripod or hold the camera in your hands.

3. Step
   3

   Adjust the focus

   

   Make sure your subject is in focus and the background diffused. You can do this manually or using autofocus.

4. Step
   4

   Press the shutter release button

   

   This will take the picture. Check your image – you can adjust the aperture and take the photo again if you want more or less blur.

1. Step
   1

   Open System Settings on your Mac

   

   We’ll be demonstrating on a Mac that’s running on the MacOS Sonoma 14. If you are running on macOS Monterey 12 or below then scroll down to our Troubleshooting section and follow the steps listed there. 
   
   To open System Settings, either look for the above app icon in the bottom panel or in the Launchpad, or select the Apple menu in the top-left of the screen and then choose System Settings.
   

2. Step
   2

   Select Users & Groups from the left sidebar menu

   

   You may need to scroll down to find this option. Otherwise you can search for Users & Groups in the search panel at the top of the sidebar. 
   

3. Step
   3

   Click the info icon next to the user’s name

   

   The info icon is a lowercase i in the middle of a circle. Clicking this will open a pop-up window with more options about the select user’s account.
   

4. Step
   4

   Toggle on Allow this user to administer this computer

   

   Once you turn this toggle on, you’ll be prompted to enter the admin account’s password.
   

5. Step
   5

   Enter the admin’s password

   

   Enter the password for your Mac here and then select Unlock. You may be told that you need to restart your computer at this point.
   

6. Step
   6

   Select OK

   

   Once you’re happy with the new admin, click OK. If you weren’t prompted to restart your Mac earlier then make sure you do soon after you click OK.

1. Step
   1

   Turn on your Chromecast-enabled TV

   

   The first step is to turn on your Chromecast-enabled TV. If you’ve got Chromecast tech built into your smart TV, this is all you need to do. If you’re using a Chromecast dongle, however, you’ll need to switch the source on your TV to Chromecast. 

2. Step
   2

   Swipe down on your smartphone to access Quick Settings

   

   On your Android smartphone, swipe down from the top of your screen to access Quick Settings. This is usually nestled in the notification shade, but some phones – like those from Honor and Xiaomi – are separate, available from swiping down on the top-right of the screen. 

3. Step
   3

   Tap Screen Cast

   

   From the Quick Settings, tap Screen Cast. This is a feature that goes by many names depending on your phone manufacturer; stock or near-stock OSs like those from Motorola and Google will have Screen Cast branding, while Samsung uses Smart View and Honor uses Wireless Projection. These are essentially all the same thing, and achieve the same goal using Chromecast or Miracast tech. 

4. Step
   4

   Tap the name of the TV you’d like to connect to

   

   From the list of Chromecast-enabled devices nearby, tap the name of the TV you’d like to connect to.

5. Step
   5

   Tap Start Now

   

   You’ll then see a pop-up explaining the cast technology. Read through it, and tap Start Now to mirror your phone screen to your TV. 

6. Step
   6

   Open the app or game that you’d like to mirror

   

   Once connected, open the app or game you’d like to mirror and enjoy the big-screen experience! 

7. Step
   7

   Tap Disconnect in the notification shade when you’re done

   

   Once you’re ready to disconnect, swipe down to access your notification shade and tap Disconnect to end the casting session. 

1. Step
   1

   Open Google Chrome

   

   The first step is to open Google Chrome on your PC or Mac and make sure that it’s up to date. You’ll need version 124.0.6367.119 or later to use the new Google Gemini integration in the browser. 

2. Step
   2

   Type @Gemini in the search bar

   

   In the search bar, type @Gemini.

3. Step
   3

   Select Chat with Gemini

   

   From the list of suggested websites and search queries, select Chat with Gemini.

4. Step
   4

   Enter your search query

   

   Enter the question you’d like answered directly into the search bar – no need to go to the Gemini website. Once you’ve typed out your question, hit the Enter key to submit.

5. Step
   5

   Get the information you need

   

   You’ll then be taken to the Gemini website to get the answer to your question, and you can ask any follow-ups if necessary.

1. Step
   1

   Move the item to bin

   

   There are a few ways to do this. You can either simply drag the item straight into the Bin icon or you can also right-click on the item and select Move to Bin, as shown here.
   
   Doing this will only temporarily move your unwanted files to the Bin. Next, you’ll need to permanently remove them from your computer.
   
   

2. Step
   2

   Open Bin

   

   Once you’ve put your item in the Bin, click on the Bin icon which should be found at the bottom of your Mac’s screen. If it’s not there, then search for Bin using the search icon at the top of your Mac.

3. Step
   3

   Click Empty

   

   You’ll find this in the top-right corner of the Bin app.

4. Step
   4

   Click Empty Bin

   

   This will permanently delete everything in your Bin. It’s worth checking the contents of the Bin before emptying, as once you empty you won’t be able to retrieve them.

1. Step
   1

   Upgrade your graphics drivers

   

   The most important thing to do in order to optimise gaming performance is to update your graphics drivers. The likes of AMD and Nvidia are constantly releasing new firmware to keep its graphics cards optimised, so it’s important to keep your system updated. 
   
   If you own an Nvidia card, then make sure to download GeForce Experience, which will automatically download new updates for you. If you own an AMD graphics card, then download AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition instead. 
   

2. Step
   2

   Reduce the resolution

   

   If your main priority is boosting frame rates, and you don’t mind if that means sacrificing visual quality, then reducing the resolution is a great way to boost performance. 
   
   Reducing the resolution will reduce the workload on your graphics card, allowing you to achieve a higher performance. This is why most eSport professionals will typically opt for a 1080p or 1440p resolution instead of 4K. 
   

3. Step
   3

   Activate DLSS or FSR

   

   If you’re lucky enough to own an Nvidia RTX graphics card, then you’ll have access to its DLSS technology. This uses AI to boost the FPS performance of a game, and has been highly effective in the most recent range of GeForce graphics cards. The big caveat here is that not every game supports DLSS, and so is mostly reserved to newer titles. 
   
   If you don’t own an RTX card, then you should have access to AMD’s FSR technology instead. This isn’t quite as advanced as DLSS, but is still effective at boosting frame rate thanks to upscaling solutions, although can cause unwelcome artefacts to the game’s visuals. But if boosting frame rate is your priority, FSR is still a useful tool. 
   
   You can activate DLSS or FSR through a game’s settings menu. It’s worth using an FPS counter (available through Steam) to see what kind of effect they have on performance. 
   

4. Step
   4

   Deactivate features such as ray tracing, Vsync and Anti-aliasing

   

   Graphics cards now make use of dozens of features to help video games look as realistic as possible. They’re excellent options for improving visuals, but they can often be a detriment to the FPS performance. Fortunately, you’ll be able to deactivate each feature through a game’s graphics settings menu. 
   
   Ray tracing is the big one to look for. This is a cutting-edge technology that improves the lighting, shadow and reflection effects in modern games, but it’s extremely taxing on the GPU, so deactivating it should see your performance improve. Some games will have it turned on by default, so it’s worth having a look. 
   Vsync is also a great feature for preventing screen tearing, but will restrict your FPS performance somewhat. Anti-aliasing will often by on by default too, as it helps to smooth out ugly jagged edges for in-game objects. Turning off both of these features should help to improve your PC’s performance. 
   
   It’s also worth checking whether you can reduce the draw distance in a game. This determines how much of a 3D environment will be rendered at one given time, with a high draw distance allowing you to view in-game environments and objects from a greater distance. Reducing this will of course ease the pressure on your GPU and increase performance. 
   

5. Step
   5

   Ensure Game Mode is activated on Windows

   

   Game Mode is a highly useful tool built into Windows which will automatically disable background tasks on your PC while you’re playing a game. This will dedicate all of your PC’s resources to your game to ensure the fastest performance possible. 
   
   Game Mode is generally enabled by default, but it’s still worth double checking as it’s an easy fix. Simply search Game Mode in the Windows search bar, and slide the toggle to On. 
   

6. Step
   6

   Configure your laptop’s power settings

   

   This step is specifically for gamers using a laptop or a handheld device, as it involves boosting performance to the detriment of your device’s battery life. On a Windows device, you can do this by going to Settings > System > Power & Battery > Power Mode, and then selecting Best Performance. 
   
   Certified gaming laptops will sometimes even have a Turbo mode which not only maximises performance, but also increases power to the fans to keep your system as cool as possible during such workloads. You will of course get an even better performance by making sure your portable is plugged into a power source.
   

1. Step
   1

   Open your email account

   

   We’ll be demonstrating using Gmail and Google Drive however the steps are fairly similar to Outlook and OneDrive too.

2. Step
   2

   Open a new email or reply to an existing email thread

   

   Act accordingly depending on whether you want to send your files in a new email or continue an existing conversation. Regardless, the following steps are the same.
   

3. Step
   3

   Click on the Drive icon

   

   You’ll find this icon listed on the bottom panel of your message.
   

4. Step
   4

   Choose your file or folder to share

   

   If you have already added files to your Drive then you’ll find them listed in My Drive. If not then you can simply upload your file at this point by clicking the Upload button (highlighted here) and selecting your files from your device.
   

5. Step
   5

   Send your email

   

   Once you’ve chosen your file it will be placed in your email as a link. You may also receive this pop up which allows you to alter the permissions of the file, allowing readers to edit, comment or just view the files.
   

1. Step
   1

   Test general performance with PCMark 10

   

   The first test we recommend is PCMark 10. This benchmark evaluates your PC’s overall performance for a wide range of workloads, including day-to-day tasks, productivity applications, and more demanding work with digital media. 
   
   PCMark 10 isn’t an ideal benchmark for isolating a performance bottleneck, but it is useful for getting a quick general overview of your PC’s performance. You can download the PCMark 10 demo for free on Steam, which offers unlimited runs with the main PCMark 10 test.
   
   PCMark 10 will give you a numerical score at the end of the benchmark, which is rather useless in isolation. However, you can compare the number with other scores online, including all of our reviews of the latest laptops and desktop PCs. 

2. Step
   2

   Test CPU performance with Geekbench 6

   

   If you want to measure CPU performance specifically, then we recommend Geekbench 6. This determines both the CPU’s single-core and multi-core performance. The former is important for overall performance and gaming, while multi-core performance is more important for multitasking and more creative workloads such as video editing and 3D animation.
   
   Geekbench 6 is cross platform, and so works on both Windows and Mac. You can download it for free here. Again, it will provide a numerical score, which you can compare to our own results in each of our computing reviews. 
   
   Geekbench 6 is designed to simulate generic workloads such as basic word processing and browsing the web. If you want to test your CPU on a more intensive workload, then we suggest trying out Cinebench instead, which is also free to download and use. 

3. Step
   3

   Test GPU performance with 3DMark Time Spy

   

   If you’re keen to find out how your PC can handle graphics-intensive workloads, such as gaming and content creation, then we recommend using 3DMark Time Spy. This evaluates the performance of your GPU specifically. 
   
   3DMark Time Spy is free to run using the free demo of 3DMark over on Steam. Simply download the software and run the benchmark to get a numeric score, which you’ll be able to compare to the results in our reviews. If you don’t own a dedicated GPU/graphics card, then it’s likely you’ll get a relatively low score here, but that shouldn’t be an issue unless you do like to game on PC, or consider yourself a professional digital creator. 
   
   Blender is a good alternative GPU benchmark if you want to evaluate performance specifically for content creation rather than gaming. 
   

4. Step
   4

   Test SSD performance with CrystalDiskMark

   

   The SSD performance is often overlooked compared to other components, and yet its performance is incredibly important for several workloads, from booting up the PC to loading up applications and speeding through loading screens in a video game.
   
   CrystalDiskMark is our go-to SSD benchmark, as it measures both sequential and random performance. If you just want a generic look at the SSD performance, then it’s fine just to take the top two scores. The read performance determines how fast your PC is at loading up data (such as an app or game), while the write performance determines the speed of saving data onto your PC (such as installing software). 
   

1. Step
   1

   Sign into your Zoom account

   

   We’ll be demonstrating the steps through the Zoom Desktop Client app for Mac but the steps are similar on a PC. Scroll down to our Troubleshooting section below to see the steps for changing your background on an Android or iOS device or through the Zoom Web Client.

2. Step
   2

   Click your profile picture

   

   You’ll find this in the top-right corner of the Zoom app. Clicking your profile picture will open a dropdown menu which lists a few options.

3. Step
   3

   Select Settings in the dropdown menu

   

   You’ll find Settings towards the end of the list of options. Selecting Settings will launch a pop-up menu with numerous options.

4. Step
   4

   Choose Background & Effects

   

   Just over halfway through the list of options on the side panel you’ll find Background & Effects.

5. Step
   5

   Choose Virtual Backgrounds

   

   This should open up automatically once you’ve selected Background & Effects, but if not then just click on Virtual Backgrounds.
   

6. Step
   6

   Select your background

   

   You can choose one of the preset backgrounds found on Zoom, or you can add your own by clicking the plus (+) option highlighted here. You’ll see a preview of your background here too, so you’ll be able to pick and choose which one you’d like.

1. Step
   1

   Head over to the Instagram account you want to mute 

   

   We located the Instagram account by clicking on the magnifying glass icon on the bottom taskbar, and then using the search bar. However, you can also navigate to an account by simply pressing on its profile picture if you spot it on your timeline. 
   

2. Step
   2

   Click on Following 

   

   The Following button can be found underneath the main profile picture on the account. It sits to the left side of the Message button. 
   

3. Step
   3

   Select Mute

   

   A new pop-up window should appear with the Mute option located on the third highest row. Click on it.
   
   

4. Step
   4

   Choose to Mute Posts, Stories and/or Notes 

   

   You’ll now get the option to mute Posts, Stories and Notes. You can either select all of these options, or toggle them individually. This may be useful if you don’t like their posts popping up on the timeline, but don’t mind having the option to view their stories.
   
   And if you ever want to unmute the account, you simply need to click on the toggle again by repeating the same steps. 
   
   

1. Step
   1

   Open Reddit

   

   Open up Reddit on your browser.

2. Step
   2

   Click on your profile picture

   

   Go to the top-right corner of the screen and click on your profile picture.

3. Step
   3

   Click on User Settings

   

   From the drop-down menu presented, click on the heading called User Settings.

4. Step
   4

   Scroll down and click Delete Account

   

   Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the red button called Delete Account.

5. Step
   5

   Enter your username and password

   

   Enter both your username and password to continue.

6. Step
   6

   Tick the box

   

   Make sure you tick the box confirming that deleted Reddit accounts cannot be recovered.

7. Step
   7

   Press Delete

   

   Click the Delete button.

8. Step
   8

   Click Delete

   

   To confirm that you want to delete your Reddit account, click on the Delete button again to finish the process.

1. Step
   1

   Open up your Gmail account

   

   Start by opening up the account that you want to send your email from.

2. Step
   2

   Create a new email

   

   Click the large plus button that sits on the top left-hand side of the screen on a PC or laptop to create a new email.

3. Step
   3

   Write in the recipients’ name

   

   Enter the email address of the person you want to speak to.

4. Step
   4

   Write in the heading and body of the message

   

   Write in the heading and the body of your email as you would normally.

5. Step
   5

   Click Send

   

   Press Send when you are finished with your message.

6. Step
   6

   Click Undo

   

   If you want to undo what you just sent, click on the Undo button. It will be blue and show up on the leftmost side of the screen at the bottom. This message will only be visible for up o 30 seconds, though if your settings are set to just five seconds, you will need to act fast.

7. Step
   7

   Continue on your original Gmail

   

   Once you have clicked Undo, your original Gmail will come back up, allowing you to edit the message if you want to resend it, or delete it completely.

1. Step
   1

   Open Task Manager

   

   We did this by searching Task Manager in the Windows search bar, but you can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
   
   

2. Step
   2

   Click on the performance tab

   

   The processes tab should open by default, listing all of the apps and current processes that your PC is running. To check your CPU core usage, click on the Performance tab in the left-hand column.
   

3. Step
   3

   Right-click on the graph

   

   You should now see a graphic detailing the overall utilisation of your CPU, with metrics such as the speed listed underneath. For a breakdown of the usage per core, right-click on the graph.
   

4. Step
   4

   Hover over ‘Change graph to’ and select Logical processors

   

   After right-clicking, a pop-up box should appear. Hover over the ‘Change graph to’ option listed at the top, and then click on the option for Logical processors.
   

5. Step
   5

   Check out the detailed breakdown of your CPU

   

   Once you’ve completed the prior step, you should notice that the graph has now been broken into multiple windows, with the number depending on how many threads your CPU has. In our laptop’s case, the 22 threads are represented by 22 windows, all providing a snapshot of their current utilisation.
   

1. Step
   1

   Open the Play Store

   

   to begin, you’ll need to find the Nothing X app. Open up the Play Store on your Android phone and search for Nothing X. You might also get a nudge to get the app the first time you connect the buds.

2. Step
   2

   Download the Nothing X app

   

   Once you’ve found the app, download and install it.

3. Step
   3

   Open Nothing X

   

   All the sound options are inside the app, so open it up once it has been downloaded and installed.

4. Step
   4

   Ensure the buds are connected

   

   You’ll need to make sure your Nothing buds are connected, you can do this by opening the case or popping them in your ears.

5. Step
   5

   Tap the Settings icon

   

   Tap the Settings icon inside the Nothing X app – the cog signifies this.

6. Step
   6

   Toggle on High-Quality Audio

   

   There are numerous options here, but we’re looking for the one called High-Quality Audio. Toggle the option on.

7. Step
   7

   The buds will reboot

   

   Once the above option has been toggled, the buds need to be rebooted. After this, they are ready to use.

1. Step
   1

   Unlock your phone

   

   This guide splits into two stages, the first part is to ensure you’ve got the Developer Options menu enabled and the second is to ensure LDAC is selected.
   
   If you’ve previously run through the process to enable Developer Options you can skip the next few steps and join us on Step 6. If you haven’t opened Developer Settings, begin by unlocking your Android device.

2. Step
   2

   Open Settings

   

   Next, open up Settings. This can either be done by finding and tapping on the icon that looks like a cog in the app drawer, or by pulling down the notification panel and tapping the smaller cog icon at the bottom.

3. Step
   3

   Scroll down and tap About Phone

   

   Once you’re in Settings, scroll down and tap About Phone.

4. Step
   4

   Tap on Build number seven times

   

   Now, we’re going to enable the Developer Options. To do this, tap the Build number options seven times. You’ll see a countdown when you’ve tapped it a few times letting you know how many times it still needs to be pressed.

5. Step
   5

   Go back

   

   Navigate back so you’re out of the About Phone menu, and back into the Settings menu.

6. Step
   6

   Open System

   

   Now find the System option and tap it.

7. Step
   7

   Tap Developer Options

   

   Scroll down to the Developer Options and tap it.

8. Step
   8

   Scroll down to Bluetooth audio codec

   

   There’s a lot to take it inside this Developer menu and the option we want to find is called Bluetooth audio codec. Keep scrolling until you spot it.

9. Step
   9

   Ensure LDAC is selected

   

   Inside the Bluetooth audio code menu, there will be multiple options – many of which will be greyed out if your device doesn’t support it. Find LDAC and tap it.

1. Step
   1

   Open Device Manager

   

   You can locate this by typing Device Manager into the Windows search bar found in the Taskbar.
   

2. Step
   2

   Expand Display Adaptors 

   

   This should be the sixth option down. You can expand Display Adaptors by pressing on the small arrow underneath. 

3. Step
   3

   Right-click on your graphics driver and click on Properties 

   

   The name of your GPU should now appear to indicate your graphics driver. Right-click this, and then select Properties at the bottom of the pop-up window. 

4. Step
   4

   Click on the Driver tab

   

   At the top of the pop-up window, you should find a row of tabs. Click on the second one along, which should be labelled as Driver. 
   

5. Step
   5

   Select Disable Device and then Yes

   

   Near the bottom of the window, you should find the option for Disable Device. Click on this. You’ll then get a warning pop-up message. Confirm your decision by pressing Yes. Your screen will now go black for a couple of seconds, before reappearing. You may notice that your display now looks a bit odd, but there’s no need to worry. 

6. Step
   6

   Select Enable Device 

   

   Once your display returns after a momentary pause, then make sure to click on Enable Device. Your screen should then go black again, but will then return to normal. Your graphics driver has now been reset, and hopefully your display issues fixed. 

1. Step
   1

   Update to the latest iteration of Windows

   

   There’s no need to download Copilot, as it should come installed on your Windows by default once you’ve installed the latest update. You check whether your PC’s up to date by going to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. If any available updates become available, make sure to download them and then restart your PC.

2. Step
   2

   Go to Settings

   

   Copilot should now be installed on your PC. You should be able to see it in the bottom-right corner of your homescreen, embedded into the taskbar. However, if you still can’t see it, it may be the case that it’s been deactivated. 
   
   Fortunately, it’s very easy to activate. To start this process, jump into your device’s settings by searching for it with the Search bar at the bottom of your screen. 
   

3. Step
   3

   Click on Personalisation 

   

   You can find this in the menu on the left-hand side. It’s on the fifth row from the top, and has the icon of a paintbrush.

4. Step
   4

   Click on Taskbar

   

   In the newly opened Personalisation menu, you should find the option for Taskbar eight rows down. Click on this. 

5. Step
   5

   Activate Copilot (preview)

   

   If you’ve updated to the latest iteration of Windows, you should find the option for Copilot (Preview) near the top of the Taskbar menu. Make sure the toggle next to it is set to ‘On’. 
   

6. Step
   6

   Find Copilot in the far right side of the Taskbar

   

   You should now be able to find the option for Windows Copilot in the far-right side of your Taskbar. Simply click on this icon, and then ask it questions by typing into the box. You can also open Copilot by using the keyboard shortcut Windows Key + C. And if you’re lucky enough to own a modern Windows 11 PC, you may even have the dedicated Copilot key. 
   

1. Step
   1

   Open a web browser

   

   First, you want to open a web browser. You can use whichever you like, so feel free to use your typical browser of choice, whether that’s Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Apple Safari, Mozilla Firefox or something else. Do this by opening the Start menu and searching for your browser, if it isn’t already on your taskbar.

2. Step
   2

   Head to Google

   

   Now that you’ve got your web browser open, enter “Google” into the search bar and press the “Enter” key.

3. Step
   3

   Search for Check internet speed

   

   With Google open, search for “Check internet speed” to take you to Google’s own internet speed test.

4. Step
   4

   Click RUN SPEED TEST

   You’ll now be able to see the internet connection speed test, click the button marked “RUN SPEED TEST” to start the test.

5. Step
   5

   Wait for the speed test to complete

   

   The speed test takes around a minute to run. You can observe the download and upload tests running.

6. Step
   6

   View the test results

   

   Once the test is complete, Google will show you the results and you can see your internet connection speeds.

1. Step
   1

   Click on Steam in top-left corner

   

   The first step is to join the beta for Steam Families. Firstly, open Steam and then select the Steam logo in the top-left corner.
   

2. Step
   2

   Open Settings menu

   

   A dropdown menu should appear. Select the Settings option, which is the second-to-last option. 
   

3. Step
   3

   Select Interface

   

   In the left-sided menu, you should see the option for Interface six entries down. 
   
   

4. Step
   4

   Locate Client Beta Participation and select Steam Family Beta from dropdown list

   

   Now look to the right side, and you should find the option for Client Beta Participation three rows down. Click on the dropdown list to its right side, and then click the option for Steam Family Beta.
   

5. Step
   5

   Press on Restart Now

   

   Your Steam account will need to be restarted once you’ve signed up for the beta. A pop-up window should prompt you to do so. 
   

6. Step
   6

   Back on Steam homepage, select your profile name

   

   Now it’s time to create your Steam family. Return to the Steam homepage, and then click on your profile name in the top-right corner. 
   

7. Step
   7

   Select Account Details 

   

   The second option down should be Account Details. Click on this. 

8. Step
   8

   Click on Family Management 

   

   Over on the left-sided menu, find the option for Family Management three rows down.
   

9. Step
   9

   Select Create a Family

   

   You should now see the option to either Join a Family, or Create a Family. For this guide, you’ll want to hit the latter option. 

10. Step
    10

    Enter a name for your family 

    

    You will now need to enter a family name, which is easily recognisable and easy to search for. Press on Create once you have decided on your family name. 
    

11. Step
    11

    Press on Invite a Member 

    

    Now you’ve created your Steam Family, it’s time to invite your family members to join. Click on Invite a Member to begin the process. You can add more family members at a later date if you want to. 
    

12. Step
    12

    Locate your family members

    

    Your Steam friends should automatically pop up as options. Select whoever you want to join your Steam family. 
    

13. Step
    13

    Invite as an adult of child 

    

    You will be given the option to add your family member as a child or an adult. All of the adult members can manage invites and apply account restrictions, while child members will be subject to parental controls and cannot alter any of the settings. 
    

14. Step
    14

    Confirm the invite 

    

    A pop-up window will then appear to confirm your invitation. Once this is sent over, the account holder should receive an alert notifying them of the invitation. They must accept before being added to the Family. Repeat this process to add in the remainder of your family members, and then you’ve finished setting up your Steam Family. 

1. Step
   1

   Open Control Panel

   

   Head to Control Panel. You can do this by opening your Start menu and searching for it.

2. Step
   2

   Click Hardware and Sound

   

   Now that you’ve opened the Control Panel, select the Hardware and Sound option.

3. Step
   3

   Select Change what the power buttons do

   

   From the Hardware and Sound menu, and underneath the Power Options section, choose Change what the power buttons do.

4. Step
   4

   Modify “when I close the lid” settings

   

   You’re now in the right place and you can tweak what happens when you close the lid depending on whether it is on battery or plugged into power. You can choose between Sleep, Do Nothing, Hibernate and Shut Down. Once you’ve made the changes, click Save changes.

How to Edit Contacts in Bulk on Your iPhone

1. Step
   1

   Go to the Phone app

   

   This is the green phone icon.

2. Step
   2

   Tap Contacts

   

   You can find the Contacts tab in the centre of the row at the bottom of the screen.

3. Step
   3

   Use two fingers to select multiple contacts

   

   Tap and drag with two fingers to highlight as many consecutive contacts as you want.

4. Step
   4

   Tap and hold over the highlighted contacts

   

   Tap any of the selected contacts with one finger.

5. Step
   5

   Select an option to edit those contacts

   

   From here you can choose to copy, share, merge or delete all of your selected contacts in one tap.

1. Step
   1

   Go to Settings

   

   Head on over to your system’s Settings. You can do this by clicking the Start icon and searching for “Settings”.

2. Step
   2

   Head to System

   

   Click the System tab on the menu on the right side of the window.

3. Step
   3

   Click on Recovery

   

   Scroll down to the Recovery option and select it.

4. Step
   4

   Head to Advanced startup, click Restart now

   

   Go to the Advanced startup option. There’s a button to the right marked Restart now, select that.

5. Step
   5

   Select Troubleshoot

   

   Now that you’re in the Advanced settings menu, select the Troubleshoot option.

6. Step
   6

   Click on Advanced options

   

   The next step is to select the Advanced options menu.

7. Step
   7

   Select UEFI firmware settings

   

   From the selection of Advanced options, choose UEFI firmware settings.

8. Step
   8

   Choose Restart to enter BIOS

   

   The final step, now that you’re on the UEFI firmware settings page, is to select Restart to enter the BIOS menu.