Companies and governments are spying on you all over the internet and beyond. We have all kinds of tips to help you reclaim your privacy online!

Every year, we lose a little bit more of what little online privacy we have left. Our activities are tracked from site to site, and it doesn’t matter where you live because nobody is safe from these prying eyes—unless you know how to protect yourself.

Don’t want your internet activity tracked? Creeped out by the idea of corporations listening in on your conversations? Tired of shady businesses profiting off of your personal information? Here’s what you need to know, and do!

Understanding Basic Online Privacy

If you’ve never quite “bought into” the idea or importance of online privacy, we don’t blame you. It can often sound like exaggerated and unnecessary paranoia over nothing! We recommend checking out these introductory articles:

• What’s an IP Address? Can It Betray Where You Live?
• What’s a Cookie? What Does It Have to Do With Privacy?
• What’s a Supercookie? Here’s How to Remove Them Properly
• What’s “Do Not Track” and What Does It Do for Privacy?
• How Google Can Track You Online
• How Your Personal Info Is Being Exploited Every Day
• How to Protect Yourself From Unethical or Illegal Spying
• How to Find Out Who’s Searching for You Online
• How to Check Who’s Tracking You Online
• How to Remove False Personal Information on the Internet
• How to Delete Your Personal Info From Public Record Websites
• Types of Personal Info You Should Never Post Online
• Why You Need Online Anonymity

Online Privacy While Browsing the Web

These days, the moment you connect to the internet, you start leaving traces of who you are and what you’ve done with every single action. Protecting your privacy is hard, but not impossible:

• How to Mask Yourself Online With a Fake IP Address
• What Is Private Browsing Mode in Google Chrome?
• How to Enable Private Browsing in Your Browser
• How You Can Be Tracked Even in Incognito or Private Browsing Mode
• Essential Privacy Settings for Google Chrome
• How to Delete Your Google Search History
• How to Delete Your Google Chrome History
• The Best Google Chrome Extensions for Online Privacy
• The Best Private Search Engines That Respect Your Data
• The Best Private Web Browsers That Are Anonymous

Online Privacy on Social Media

Social media companies are some of the worst offenders when it comes to privacy violations. Most of them rely on your personal info to turn a buck—and no one is looking out for you, so you need to look out for yourself:

• Common Social Media Privacy Issues (And How to Fix Them)
• How to Hide Your Social Media Profiles From Anyone
• How Hackers Can Steal Your Identity on Social Media
• How to Deactivate or Delete Your LinkedIn Account
• How to Delete All of Your Tweets Immediately
• How to Turn Off Location Tracking in Snapchat

We have several articles specifically written for better privacy on Facebook. Given how flippant the company has been regarding personal information on their social network, we highly recommend heeding these tips if you still use Facebook:

• Facebook Is Tracking You! Here’s How to Stop It
• Why Facebook Is a Security and Privacy Nightmare
• Deactivating or Deleting Facebook: What It Really Means for Privacy
• How to Delete Your Facebook Search History
• How to Delete Your Facebook Location History
• How to Set Which Facebook Friends Can See You Online
• How to Appear Offline on Facebook and Messenger
• Essential Facebook Photo Privacy Settings
• Can You Really See Who Viewed Your Facebook Profile?

Don’t neglect your personal privacy on Instagram, which is owned by Facebook:

• How Instagram Is Spying on You Right Now
• How to Make Your Instagram More Private

WhatsApp has also been a recurring subject of privacy-related issues. If you’re a regular WhatsApp user, here are a few things you need to know:

• Is WhatsApp Safe? Important Threats You Need to Know About
• What Personal Info Does WhatsApp Store and Track?
• How Safe Are Your Photos on WhatsApp?
• Essential WhatsApp Privacy Settings You Need to Tweak
• The Best WhatsApp Alternatives for Online Privacy

Online Privacy and Online Dating

• How to Protect Your Privacy When Online Dating
• How to Use Tinder Without Facebook Friends Knowing
• Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Tinder

Online Privacy via VPNs

One of the best ways to protect your personal privacy online is to use a virtual private network (VPN). Don’t worry, VPNs are a lot simpler and easier to use than it sounds. Here’s what you need to know:

• What’s a VPN? Reasons Why You Need a VPN
• The Best Free VPN Services That Protect Your Privacy
• Ways in Which Your VPN Isn’t as Private as You Think

Online Privacy and Your Emails

Don’t want others peeking at your emails? Want to send emails that can’t be traced back to you? Here are the tips you need:

• The Most Secure and Encrypted Email Providers
• How to Encrypt Your Gmail, Outlook, and Other Webmail
• How to Find All Accounts Linked to Your Email Address
• How to Send Anonymous Emails
• Need a Disposable Email Address? Try These Great Services

Online Privacy and Your Devices

Privacy tips for your computer:

• How to Delete Your Windows 10 Activity History
• How to Prevent Microsoft Edge Spying on Your Webcam and Microphone
• Your Antivirus Might Be Tracking You: What You Need to Know

Privacy tips for your smartphone:

• How to Find Out If Google Has Been Listening to You
• How to Delete Your Browsing History on Android
• The Best Private Browsers for Phones and Tablets
• The Best Privacy-Friendly Android Apps

Read the full article: Real Online Privacy for Beginners: 60+ Essential Tips and Warnings

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For home users who want to access a computer remotely, it doesn’t get any easier than TeamViewer. Whether you want to access your home computer from anywhere or connect to a friend’s machine to help them out, TeamViewer is a great option.

Here’s a complete guide on how to use TeamViewer, including how to set up unattended access and some TeamViewer tips along the way.

How to Install TeamViewer

To start, download TeamViewer on your computer. The service has apps available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chrome OS, as well as Android and iOS. We’ll cover Windows here, but the experience is similar across platforms.

When installing, you can select Default installation, as we’ll set up unattended access shortly. TeamViewer is free for personal use, so select Personal / Non-commercial use for the second box and hit Accept to install.

After installation, you’ll see the TeamViewer home screen and are ready to use the service.

How to Connect Using TeamViewer

Using TeamViewer is simple. To start a remote connection, you’ll need your partner’s ID and Password provided on the main menu. If you’re connecting to someone else, ask them to install the app and send you these details via email or other means.

Note that if you’re connecting to someone who isn’t tech-savvy or can’t install the full version of TeamViewer, they can use the Download QuickSupport button on TeamViewer’s download page to download a single-use version.

Enter the Partner ID in the box, make sure you have Remote control selected, and hit Connect. After a few seconds, you’ll see a prompt to provide the other machine’s Password. Enter this and you’ll connect within a moment.

Once you’ve connected, you’ll have full control over the remote computer. Use your mouse and keyboard to work on the other person’s machine just like you were sitting in front of it.

The only exception to keep in mind is that you might have issues accepting UAC prompts for admin access. Depending on how they ran TeamViewer, you may have to ask the other person to accept these prompts.

How to Use TeamViewer’s Tools

TeamViewer provides you with some tools and tricks to help with your remote sessions. If you don’t see the toolbar at the top already, click the small down arrow to show it.

Click the Home button and you can review some general information about the remote computer, which is helpful for troubleshooting purposes. Under Actions, you’ll find commands that you can send to the remote machine, including rebooting, Ctrl + Alt + Del, and leaving a note for the person.

Use the options under View to adjust the resolution of the remote session, choose between quality and speed, and decide how the windows display. In the Communication menu, you’ll find options for starting a voice/video call via the internet, sending text chat, and using a whiteboard for illustration.

Finally, expand the Files & Extras section to take a screenshot, record the session, or easily transfer files between machines. In particular, a recording is a great way to create an instructional video that the other person can refer to in the future.

When you’re done, click the X on the left side of the navigation bar to end the session.

Meanwhile, on the remote computer, expand the TeamViewer panel in the bottom-right corner to access similar options. You can see who’s in the session, access the chat box, send files, and more.

How to Set Up Unattended Access in TeamViewer

One of TeamViewer’s best features is unattended access. This allows you to remotely connect to your own computers from any machine running TeamViewer. It takes a bit of preparation to do, but it’s worth it for anyone who uses remote access regularly.

To start, open TeamViewer and you’ll see two boxes under Unattended Access. First, check the box to Start TeamViewer with Windows. This is important so you don’t have to manually run it every time you boot up. It should configure this automatically, but you can set the app to run at Windows startup manually if needed.

Next, select the Grant easy access box. When you do, you’ll be prompted to sign into a TeamViewer account. If you don’t have one, click Create account. You can instead sign up for TeamViewer on the web if you prefer.

Once you have an account, sign into the TeamViewer app. You can check your sign-in status by clicking the profile icon at the top of the app’s left sidebar. When that’s set, click Grant easy access again, followed by the Assign button to confirm.

When everything is set, you’ll see the second box change to Easy access for [Name] is granted.

Using Unattended Access in TeamViewer

Once you’ve followed the above procedure, that computer is added to your list of machines in TeamViewer. As long as you’re logged in with your TeamViewer account, you can connect to the machine without having to input a password from it.

To do so, on another device, open TeamViewer and make sure you’re signed in. Click the Computers & Contacts tab on the left (it looks like an address book) to show your list of machines. You should see the one you just added under the My Computers header.

Select it, then click Remote control (using password) to connect without any further authentication. If you choose Remote control (prompt for confirmation) instead, it will ask the other machine to confirm first.

From there, you can use the same tools as mentioned above. Because you’re signed into your own machines with the full version of TeamViewer, you shouldn’t have any problems with UAC when using this method.

Using Unattended Access With a Personal Password

If you prefer not to create a TeamViewer account for whatever reason, you can still use unattended access with a custom password. To do this, open TeamViewer on the computer that you want to access remotely and choose Extras > Options.

On the left sidebar, select Security and you’ll see a section labeled Personal password (for unattended access). Create a password here, enter it twice, and you can use that to connect to this machine from another computer running TeamViewer.

With this method, you’ll need your ID to connect, so it’s a good idea to note that down somewhere safe. Enter the computer’s ID in TeamViewer as described earlier (this doesn’t change), then type your personal password when asked for one. You’ll then connect without any input needed from the remote machine.

Remember that anyone with your computer’s ID and password can use it to connect to your computer remotely, so make sure to keep this information safe.

TeamViewer Tips and Tricks

We close with a few quick TeamViewer tips to help you get more out of the service.

Use TeamViewer’s Mobile Apps

You can use TeamViewer’s free mobile remote control apps to control your desktop from an Android or iOS device. It’s obviously not ideal to control your desktop from a small smartphone screen, but it’s a nice option to have in a pinch. With unattended access set up as above, you can connect anytime you need.

If you want to connect to a mobile device, you’ll need the TeamViewer QuickSupport app on your device instead.

Download: TeamViewer Remote Control for Android | iOS (Free)
Download: TeamViewer QuickSupport for Android | iOS (Free)

Configure TeamViewer Options

Under Extras > Options on the main menu, you can tweak a variety of preferences about how TeamViewer runs. There are too many to review individually here, but a few highlights include:

• Use the Choose a theme box on the General tab to enable dark mode.
• On the Security tab, you can change the password strength for random passwords. Of course, a longer password is more secure.
• Have a look at Computers & Contacts to change notification options for your account.
• In Custom invitation, you can change the default message that TeamViewer provides when you’re inviting someone. This is easy to paste into an email to help the other person get set up.

Transfer Files and Start Meetings

On the main page, of TeamViewer, you’ll notice a File transfer option under the usual Remote control button. While you have other ways to transfer files, this is an easy way to send data to a remote computer if you already use TeamViewer.

TeamViewer has a lot of other features that are intended for business use. While most of these are unavailable in the free plan, anyone can use it to meet. Jump over the to Meeting tab on the left sidebar to create a new presentation, video call, or phone call. You can also join someone else’s meeting using an ID here.

See the best free group conference call tools if TeamViewer doesn’t work for you.

How to Update TeamViewer

Finally, if you’re wondering how to update TeamViewer, simply select Help > Check for new version on the main menu. By default, TeamViewer checks for updates on its own, so you shouldn’t have to do this often.

Now You Know How to Use TeamViewer

That’s all you need to know about how TeamViewer works. It’s a powerful yet easy tool for remote access that anyone can use. You can install TeamViewer on Windows, Mac, Linux, and even mobile devices. Give it a try if you need remote access regularly.

If TeamViewer doesn’t work for your needs, have a look at other great remote access tools.

Image Credit: hypermania/Depositphotos

Read the full article: How to Set Up TeamViewer and Access Your PC From Anywhere

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Twitch is the leading live-streaming site for games. Millions of people tune in to see others play games like League of Legends and Fortnite. Although people also stream other things, games are the dominant broadcast choice.

While you can use Twitch for free, if you want to support a favorite broadcaster then you can buy a subscription to their channel. Twitch subscriptions are a way of providing income for a streamer and receiving benefits as a viewer.

In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Twitch subscriptions.

What Are Twitch Turbo and Twitch Prime?

Before we cover Twitch subscriptions, let’s detail what they aren’t.

Twitch Turbo and Twitch Prime are two separate membership schemes that Twitch offers. Neither are the same thing as a Twitch subscription, though it’s easy to confuse them due to overlapping benefits.

You can be a member of Twitch Turbo, Twitch Prime, and be a Twitch subscriber. All three are individual.

Twitch Turbo

Twitch Turbo is a membership scheme that costs $8.99/month.

It grants you the following benefits across every channel:

• No advertisements
• A badge displayed next to your name
• Use additional sets of emojis
• Change your username color
• Save your past broadcasts for 60 days instead of 14

You can find out more from the Twitch Turbo page.

Twitch Prime

Twitch Prime is a membership scheme only available if you have an Amazon Prime subscription. If you do, it’s free.

With Twitch Prime, you get the following benefits:

• A badge displayed next to your name
• Use additional sets of emojis
• Change your username color
• Save your past broadcasts for 60 days instead of 14
• Some free games and in-game loot
• One free Twitch subscription per month

You can find out more from the Twitch Prime page.

What Are Twitch Subscriptions?

You can follow a channel on Twitch to receive updates, much like you do on other social networks. This is free to all.

Subscribing is different. This is a paid membership to a specific channel in return for benefits like emojis and exclusive streams.

Twitch subscriptions are a way of financially supporting your favorite streamers and receiving some benefits in return.

Twitch subscriptions can help streamers build a bigger and loyal audience.

How Much Does a Twitch Subscription Cost?

At minimum, a subscription costs $4.99/month. There are additional tiers that cost $9.99/month and $24.99/month, though what this will give depends on the channel; it won’t necessarily give you anything different.

A subscription is on a per-channel basis. Your single subscription cost goes towards one channel of your choice. If you want to subscribe to a second channel, that’s a separate cost (so two channel subscriptions at the lowest tier will cost you $9.98/month.)

When you subscribe to a channel, the streamer will receive a percentage of the payment. The rest will go to Twitch. The exact split varies depending on what deal the streamer has with Twitch.

If you have a Twitch Prime membership, you can subscribe to one channel each month for free.

What Are the Benefits of a Twitch Subscription?

The exact benefits you will receive from your Twitch subscription depend on the channel that you are subscribing to and the tier that you choose.

Some common benefits are:

• Emojis designed specifically for the channel you subscribe to, which you can use in any other Twitch stream
• Badge displayed next to your name, which can change depending on how long you have been a subscriber
• During a live stream, you can press a button to alert others to how long you’ve been a subscriber
• Exclusive subscriber-only streams or competitions
• No adverts during a stream

You only get these benefits as long as you are a subscriber.

How Do I Become a Twitch Subscriber?

It’s simple to subscribe to a Twitch channel. However, please note that you can only subscribe to Twitch Partners and Affiliates, not every single channel.

To subscribe to a Twitch channel, go to their stream and click the Subscribe button in the top-right above the video. If you don’t see the button, it means the channel isn’t eligible to receive subscribers.

This will open a window where you can see the subscription benefits and select your price tier. Your subscription will renew automatically each month on the same day.

Some subscriptions offer three- or six-month payments. There is no discount for doing this, so monthly is better.

You can also choose to Gift a membership. You can send this to a specific user or to the community. If you choose the latter, the subscription will be randomly distributed to those watching the stream.

If you have Twitch Prime, look for the Free Subscription with Twitch Prime section. Click Subscribe here and you will receive subscription benefits for a month for free. You will need to manually subscribe to the channel each month, though—there’s no auto-renew with a Twitch Prime subscription.

How Do I Manage My Twitch Subscriptions?

You can manage your subscriptions by going to the Twitch Subscriptions page. To access this page normally, click your display picture in the top-right and then click Subscriptions.

Here you can see Your Subscriptions (who you are subscribed to currently) and other sections like Gifted Subscriptions and Expired Subscriptions.

This page shows you how long you have been subscribed to a channel and when your benefits are set to expire.

To adjust your subscription, click the Cog icon next to the relevant channel name and click Change Subscription Tier or Change Payment Method.

How Do I Cancel a Twitch Subscription?

Remember, your Twitch subscription will renew automatically each month, so don’t forget to cancel if you don’t want to pay anymore.

Once you cancel, you will receive subscription benefits until the end of the billing period. After that, you will need to manually resubscribe to get them back.

To cancel, go to the Twitch Subscriptions page (again, access it via display picture and Subscriptions.) Click the Cog icon next to the subscription you wish to cancel and click Don’t Renew Subscription.

Some Twitch subscriptions give you benefits for keeping up a constant subscription “streak.” If you change your mind after cancelling, resubscribe within seven days to maintain that streak.

How Does Twitch Compare to the Competition?

That’s everything you need to know about Twitch subscriptions and how you can support your favorite channels.

However, there are other live-streaming services out there. To find out which is best for you, take a look at our article pitting Twitch versus Mixer versus YouTube Live.

Read the full article: Complete Guide to Twitch Subscriptions: Everything You Need to Know

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Duolingo has launched a new app designed to help kids learn how to read. Called Duolingo ABC, the app aims to teach young kids aged between three and six how to read. Duolingo ABC is completely free and doesn’t feature ads or in-app purchases.

In 2019, Duolingo, best known for its brilliant language-learning app, started working on a standalone app to teach kids how to read. It has now launched the app, called Duolingo ABC, early to help parents homeschooling due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Duolingo ABC Helps Kids Learn to Read

Duolingo ABC is designed to teach children aged 3-6 how to read. It features 300 short lessons which teach children the fundamentals of reading and writing. In a similar way to how the core Duolingo app works, Duolingo ABC uses a variety of techniques.

Lessons include tracing a letter with a finger, associating an image with a phrase, and tapping objects that begin with certain letters. Also mirroring the main Duolingo app are the gamification elements which reward kids to help keep them motivated.

Surprise! Today we’re launching Duolingo ABC, a new app to teach children ages 3-6 how to read! Featuring 300+ fun, bite-sized lessons teaching fundamental reading and writing skills.

Get it on iOS in the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia & New Zealand: https://t.co/SYrfWeIaQd pic.twitter.com/imd8YqBEzR

— Duolingo (@duolingo) March 26, 2020

At launch, Duolingo ABC is available in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland. English is the only language currently supported, and the app is only available on iOS, but an Android version is reportedly in the works.

Download: Duolingo ABC on iOS

Instill a Love of Reading in Your Kids

Duolingo is set to continue developing Duolingo ABC, adding more languages and making it available in more countries over time. The ultimate goal is to help kids and adults alike learn how to read using similar techniques to the core Duolingo app.

Duolingo is one of the language learning apps that really work. And given that track record, we suspect Duolingo ABC will be a major help if you’re a parent teaching your kid(s) how to read. The kids can then move onto Google’s free reading app, Rivet.

Read the full article: Duolingo ABC Can Teach Kids How to Read

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Most people don’t think much about the keyboard of their computer. But as something you use every day it can really make a difference to how your computer feels when you interact with it.

Many serious tech geeks love mechanical keyboards. This type of keyboard is more expensive than a regular keyboard, but gamers and writers often swear by them. So you might be wondering, what is a mechanical keyboard, and how does it work?

How a Traditional Keyboard Works

Mechanical keyboards are different from traditional keyboards. Traditional keyboards are called rubber dome keyboards, and they consist of layers of plastic membrane. When you press a key, a rubber switch pushes through a hole in the membrane and completes a circuit. This sends an input signal to your computer.

The advantage of this type of keyboard is that they are cheap to manufacture and are somewhat resistant to having liquids spilled on them. They are also easier to make shallow, like the kind of keyboards you find on a laptop.

However, people who type a lot or who game often find rubber dome keyboards feel “mushy.” They lack a distinct clicking sensation when you push a key. Instead, it can feel like you are pushing down through soft material. This means it takes more effort to type and the results are less accurate.

How a Mechanical Keyboard Works

This mushiness is why serious users often prefer mechanical keyboards. These keyboards don’t use the rubber dome system. Instead, they have switches under the keys which have springs in them. When you press a key, the spring is pushed down to connect the circuit and register a keystroke.

This is why such keyboards are called “mechanical,” because they have a physical mechanism (the spring) which connects the circuit. A mechanical keyboard might look the same as a rubber dome keyboard, as they can have the same key caps. But the feel of pressing down on a spring is different from pressing down on a rubber dome.

Many people find mechanical keyboards more pleasing to interact with, as well as finding it makes their typing more accurate.

How Mechanical Keyboard Switches Work

Mechanical keyboards don’t only come in one style, however. The switches that they use can differ. Different switches have a different feeling when you type on them. Some are light and easy to press; these are good for gamers who need to hit buttons very quickly and want an extremely responsive keyboard.

However, keys which are light and easily pressed lead to more mistakes when typing, as you can accidentally press a key without meaning to. Therefore, people who type a lot often prefer a heavier switch which requires a more deliberate push to register a keystroke.

How difficult a switch is to press is measured in a quality called an actuation force. This measurement, presented in grams, reflects how hard you need to push to activate a keystroke. The higher the actuation force in grams, the harder you need to push.

Another quality which differs between switches is whether they have a tactile bump. Switches which have this tactile bump give a clicky feedback when you press them. Some people like this as it helps them to be more accurate with their typing. Other people find it distracting. It’s up to you which version you prefer.

Finally, one more consideration is how noisy the switches are. Switches generally make an audible click when they are pressed, which is louder than a rubber dome keyboard. But some mechanical switches are louder than others, so you should consider whether the noise will bother you or the people around you.

Types of Switches for Mechanical Keyboards

The best-known manufacturer of mechanical switches is Cherry. This company is well-known for their high quality switches. On most high-end mechanical keyboards, you’ll find they are advertised as coming with “Cherry MX” switches.

Within the category of Cherry MX switches, there are a number of different styles available. These switches have different characteristics and are known by color names. Some of the Cherry MX switches you’ll come across are:

• Cherry MX Red, a light-feeling switched with a 45g actuation force. These responsive switches are ideal for gamers but writers may find they lack the satisfying click of heavier switches.
• Cherry MX Blue, a heavier switch with 60g actuation force and a tactile “bump.” The clickiness of these switches make them popular with frequent typists, though gamers will find them rather tiring to play on. These are also the noisiest switches, which may be something to consider if you work or game around family or housemates.
• Cherry MX Black, which is similar to the MX Blue but lacks the bump so has less tactile feedback.
• Cherry MX Brown, a middle ground switch with 45g actuation force which makes it suitable for both typing and gaming.

Other Mechanical Keyboard Switch Brands

It used to be the case that if you wanted a high-quality mechanical keyboard, you had to go with Cherry switches. But that’s not the case any more. Several other companies make their own switches, which can be of comparable quality and can be used in more affordable mechanical keyboards.

Other popular brands making switches including Buckling, Topre, Matias, Kailh, Razer’s Mechas, Logitech’s Romer-Gs, and Gateron. Some of these are Cherry clones, meaning they are other brands’ interpretations of the Cherry versions. Others are original switch designs which have slightly different feels and characteristics.

The best way to decide what kind of switches you want for your keyboard is to try out as many as you can. Try out a friend’s keyboard, or go to a computer store and try their sample keyboards. If this isn’t possible for you, then Cherry MX Brown switches are the option which is likely to be most pleasing for most people and use cases.

Is a Mechanical Keyboard Right for You?

Mechanical keyboards are more expensive than regular keyboards. And you need to try out a variety of switches to find the one that suits you. But if you type or game a lot, then the greater accuracy and ease of use can make a mechanical keyboard a worthwhile investment.

Can’t find the exact perfect keyboard for your needs and feeling adventurous? Why not order switches and other components and build your own custom keyboard with mechanical switches?

Read the full article: How Does a Mechanical Keyboard Work?

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Ever wonder if the hands-free capabilities of Google’s voice assistant extend to unlocking your smartphone? Google Assistant can do a whole lot using voice commands—including a smartphone unlock with Voice Match—depending on your version of Android.

We’ll explain this nifty trick, as well as whether your Android device allows it, in this guide on how to unlock and lock your phone with your voice.

How to Get Google Assistant on Android

To use Google’s voice unlock feature, you’ll need to have Google Assistant on your phone.

Newer Android phones (typically with Android 7.0 Nougat and newer) come with Google Assistant already installed. When setting up your new phone, you simply need to enable the feature and grant the Google app the relevant permissions. In case you’re not sure it’s enabled, open your Google app and tap the More button. Choose Settings > Google Assistant to check.

If you have an older version of Android, Google Assistant is delivered through an automatic update. Any phone with Android Lollipop (5.0) or higher can run the app—just download the Google Assistant app from Google Play.

There are a few prerequisites that can hamper or delay the update. If your phone is compatible with Assistant but you haven’t seen a prompt to activate it, you should check a few criteria first.

Firstly, make sure the language you’ve selected for your phone is one of the languages supported by Google Assistant.

If you have the correct language set and you still don’t see Google Assistant, make sure your Google Play Services app is up-to-date. Older, less powerful devices aren’t compatible with Google Assistant; you need at least 1GB (Android 5.0) of memory and a 720p screen resolution.

How to Voice Unlock Your Phone Using Google Assistant

Note: The smartphone voice unlock feature of Google Assistant only works on certain versions of Android: specifically Android 5.0 to Android 7.1.2. Google has removed this feature from Android 8.0 and up.

If you have the right Android version, unlocking your phone with Google Assistant is as easy as saying “OK Google.” To do this, you will first need to set up the following:

1. Register a trusted voice model with Google Assistant.
2. Enable voice unlock in Assistant’s settings.

You can do both of these by opening Google Assistant and accessing its settings. To do this, tap the blue Drawer icon in Google Assistant’s interface. Select the three-dot Menu button and choose Settings. Under the Devices heading, tap your phone. Enable both Access with Voice Match and Unlock with Voice Match here.

Once enabled, you’ll be prompted to train a trusted voice model to unlock your phone. This ensures that Google Assistant will only respond to your voice when the phone is locked.

When you enable voice unlocking, the app will prompt you to record a few phrases. If you ever want to retrain the voice model for some reason, you will find the option within the same settings menu under Voice model > Retrain voice model.

You may want to do this if your original recording was at a low volume or in a noisy environment. For security purposes, your phone only stores one trusted voice model at a time. While you can set up multiple voice profiles on Google Home, this doesn’t apply to your smartphone.

Voice Unlock Issues You May Encounter

Unlocking your phone with Google Assistant is not always foolproof, especially if you have other security measures on your lock screen. If your phone requires a fingerprint, pattern, face ID, or PIN, Google Assistant may only be able to wake your phone and turn on the screen, but not get past the security screen. In those cases, you’ll still need to input the security method.

You can get past that hurdle by removing the security screen, but we don’t recommend this. Rather, consider adding a delay timer to prevent your phone from locking immediately after the screen goes to sleep. This means your phone will only lock and require a security method if it is inactive for a certain amount of time.

To change this setting, head to Settings > Security & location. Tap the Gear icon next to the Screen lock entry and choose the delay under Automatically lock.

In the same menu, you can also set up Google Smart Lock. This keeps your phone from locking in trusted locations, when connected to certain Bluetooth devices, and more. You can then wake your device without needing a PIN or other security method in those cases.

With so many brand-specific variations of Android available, voice unlocking is not always consistent across all devices. Some phones that have security locks will automatically unlock for a trusted voice.

The most troublesome issue with some phones is that voice unlocking will not work unless the screen is already on.

How to Voice Lock Your Phone With Google Assistant

Locking your phone with Google Assistant is a much more straightforward affair. However, it requires a bit of setup because the app doesn’t have native functionality to lock your phone.

So how do you get around this? Use a custom command.

In Google Assistant, you can set up custom commands and command chains, called Routines. Setting up custom voice commands with Routines expands the Assistant’s capabilities. Locking your phone is just one of the ways you can use this functionality.

There are a variety of apps that have the sole purpose of locking your phone. You simply need to pair one of these apps with a custom Google command. First, you need to download one.

Two options, both free, include:

• Off+
• Screen Lock

Install the apps and grant them the necessary permissions. Whenever you open the app, it will switch off your screen and lock your phone.

Adding a Screen Off Command

To turn this into a hands-free option, you need to get Google Assistant to open the app for you. You can do this by opening Assistant’s Settings menu like earlier, selecting Routines, and adding a new custom command with the Plus button.

Under the header When I say, enter commands such as:

• Lock my phone
• Lock screen
• Go to sleep

Any statement will do, and you can add as many variations as you like. These are personal commands, not ones native to Google Assistant.

Under the header My Assistant should, type in Open [App name]. Include the name of whichever screen lock app you have installed. Make sure to include the whole name of the app as it appears on your phone, else it will just run a Google search. Save the command and you’re good to go.

Now, whenever you say any lock phrase, Assistant will automatically lock your screen.

Using Google Assistant on Your Lock Screen

So what options do you on newer versions of Android to use Google Assistant with your voice while your phone is locked? Voice Match on these devices won’t let you unlock your phone, but you can still use Google Assistant voice commands while your phone is locked.

Like the above method, you must first to train a trusted voice model to do this. Open the Google app and select the More tab. Go to Settings > Voice > Voice Match. Here you can train a voice model so that voice commands work even when your screen is off.

To allow Google Assistant to access more private apps (such as your email and text messages) while your screen is off, you need to go to go back to the Google app. Visit Settings > Google Assistant and switch to the Assistant tab. Scroll down to Assistant devices and select your device.

Enable Personal Results and Lock screen personal results to get Google Assistant to send messages, access your email, and open similar apps when your phone is locked.

Other Voice Commands for Google Assistant

If you didn’t know about unlocking and locking your phone with Google Assistant, you might have missed out on some of the app’s other features. Custom commands and routines open up a whole new world of functionality, if you use the right apps.

Curious about what else Google Assistant can do? Have a look at our guide on how to use Google Assistant to add more convenience to your life. If you use Google Assistant to get past accessibility issues, take a look at these useful Android accessibility apps.

Read the full article: How to Lock/Unlock an Android Phone With Your Voice Using Google Assistant

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