Plain-English Tech Guides

Step-by-step help for smartphones, computers, passwords, apps, Wi-Fi, online safety, and the small tech questions that should not feel so complicated.

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Security alerts and family support guides have their own pages. This section is for how-to guides and evergreen tech help.

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Tech Tips Free

How to Keep SST Emails Out of Your Spam Folder

My cousin Jason read every SST articleโ€”but had to find the emails in spam first. Hereโ€™s how to help Gmail, Outlook, and iCloud deliver SST to your inbox.

Tech Tips Free

How to Share a Contact on iPhone or Android

Learn how to safely share a saved contact from an iPhone or Android phone using Messages, email, AirDrop, Quick Share, or another app.

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How to Set Up Medication Reminders in the iPhone Health App

Add a medicine, choose its schedule, turn on follow-up alerts, and log each dose using the Health app already on your iPhone.

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How to Save and Find Your Parked Car with Google Maps

Before you walk away from your car, save its location in Google Maps. A few taps can guide you back laterโ€”and you can add a note or share the spot with someone you trust.

Online Safety Free

Pixel Phones Can Warn You About Scam Messages Before You Open Them

Google's September Pixel update adds more visible scam warnings and makes trusted contacts easier to reach. Here's what the new tools doโ€”and what they cannot do.

Tech Tips Free

Keep Your Devices Updated: A Simple Guide to Automatic Updates

Updates help protect your devices and fix everyday problems. Follow these simple steps to turn on automatic system and app updates for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Windows.

Online Safety Free

PAUSE Before You Act: The Warning Signs of a Scam

Scams change, but their warning signs are often the same. Learn the five PAUSE signs that tell you to stop and verify before you act.

Tech Tips Free

How to Put a Trusted Website on Your Phoneโ€™s Home Screen

Put your pharmacy, patient portal, bank, or another trusted website on your phoneโ€™s Home Screen so you can open the right page without searching for it each time.

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Before You Panic, Try Restarting the Device

A safe restart can solve many everyday phone and computer glitches. Hereโ€™s how to do it without confusing restart with reset.

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How to Use FaceTime Screen Sharing and Remote Control

Share an iPhone or iPad screen during FaceTime and safely let a trusted person point, demonstrate, or take temporary control.

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How to Schedule a Text Message on iPhone or Android

Write a message now and have your iPhone or Android phone send it later with these simple, step-by-step instructions.

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How to Share Your Home Wi-Fi Without Reading the Password Aloud

Help a trusted visitor connect to your home Wi-Fi with an iPhone password-sharing prompt or an Android QR codeโ€”without hunting for, spelling, or typing a long password.

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How to Scan a Paper Document with Your Phone and Save It as a PDF

Turn a letter, receipt, form, or medical document into a clear PDF using the tools already on your iPhone or Android phone.

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How to Turn On Live Captions for Calls and Videos on Your Phone

Live Captions can put spoken words on your screen during videos, podcasts, and some calls. Here is how to turn the feature on and make the text easier to read on iPhone and Android.

Online Safety Free

When a Red Alert on Your Phone Tells You to Call: The Apple Gift Card Scam

A frightening red warning can make it look like your phone is disabled until you tap a button and call support. Here is how scammers use that trick, remote access apps, and gift cards to steal money.

Online Safety Free

What To Do If One of Your Accounts Gets Hacked: A Calm Step-by-Step Guide

If your email, Facebook, bank, or shopping account gets hacked, it is easy to panic. Start here: secure the account, remove the intruder, protect your money, and warn your contacts.

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How to Switch Your iPhone to a 4-Digit Passcode โ€” And Why It Can Help

A six-digit passcode can be hard to remember as we get older. Here's how to switch to a simpler four-digit code โ€” and why it's still secure enough for most people.

Online Safety Free

What Are App Permissions โ€” And Which Ones Should You Allow?

Apps on your phone ask for permission to use your camera, location, and contacts. Here's what each permission means and how to decide.

Online Safety Free

How to Use a Password Manager (And Why You Need One)

A password manager remembers all your passwords so you only have to remember one. Here's what it is and how to get started.

Online Safety Free

How to Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi

Coffee shops and airports offer free Wi-Fi, but it comes with risks. Here's what to do โ€” and what to avoid.

Online Safety Free

How to Spot a Phishing Email

How to recognize fake emails that try to steal your passwords or personal information.

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Simple Ways to Make Your Phone Battery Last Longer

Seven simple tips to make your phone battery last all day โ€” easy steps for iPhone and Android users.

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About Savvy Silver Tech

Our mission: friendly, patient technology guidance for seniors and the families caring for them.

Online Safety Free

Scam Text Messages: How to Recognize and Ignore Them

Identify scam texts โ€” fake package notices, bank alerts, and prize messages โ€” before you tap.

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How to Make the Text Bigger on Your Phone or Computer

How to make text bigger on your iPhone, Android, Windows PC, or Mac โ€” step-by-step instructions.

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Why Is My Wi-Fi So Slow? (And How to Fix It)

Fix a slow internet connection at home with these easy troubleshooting steps. No tech experience required.

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How to Video Call Friends and Family

How to video call friends and family using FaceTime, Zoom, or WhatsApp โ€” a clear guide for seniors.

Online Safety Free

How to Create a Strong Password (Without Forgetting It)

How to create strong passwords that are hard for hackers to guess but easy for you to remember.

Online Safety Free

Social Media Security Question Scams

Those fun Facebook quizzes and quiz games are secretly stealing your security answers and passwords.

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How to Share Photos with Family

How to share photos with your family from your iPhone or Android in just a few easy steps.

Online Safety Free

Scam Phone Calls: How to Protect Yourself

How to recognize and hang up on scam phone calls impersonating the IRS, Medicare, and tech support.

Online Safety Free

What Is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) โ€” And Why You Need It

What is two-factor authentication and why do you need it? A clear explanation and setup guide for seniors.