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Guides About Phones

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How to recover deleted apps and games on Android

Get your apps back with these easy-to-follow steps

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It's not unusual for things to go missing on your favorite bargain Android phone; even the best apps on the Play Store can glitch out, refuse to load, or get lost in transit, especially early access software. Given Google's habit of quietly updating the inner workings of its application storefront, keeping track of important features like app recovery can be difficult, and that's where we come in. Here is AP's essential guide on how to find, view, and reinstall any previously downloaded apps, all on your favorite budget Android tablet. Here's what to do.

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How to group rows and columns by category in Google Sheets

Keep your spreadsheets accessible with these simple steps

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Spreadsheet apps are a smart method for configuring, organizing, and tracking data. They're ideal for getting the facts sorted and the figures ready to observe over time. Coupled with the Play Store's finest business apps, you can turn your bargain Android tablet into the nerve center for your professional projects and prospects.

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What is lidar and what does it do on iPhones and iPads

Short answer: It shoots lasers at things

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A few years ago, Apple shook up the mobile market by shipping its latest iPhones and iPads with a lidar sensor. So far, they are still the only players in the game to make this feature available on their phones. However, the technology has a long pedigree, and many modern phones have features based on the same principles. So what is lidar, and what can you do with it?

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How to take a perfect selfie: 16 tips for a killer self portrait

Taking a good selfie is harder than it looks

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Although we are long past the selfie stick craze to take pictures, selfies still dominate our image galleries. Whether it's a casual outing, a social gathering, a vacation, or a holiday celebration, most people opt for their phone's front camera to capture moments and share them on social media. It's the ultimate solo act, requiring no external assistance.

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These are the apps you can delete from your Google Pixel smartphone

Not every default app is useful on your Google Pixel smartphone

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Apart from a class-leading camera, AI features, and a smooth user interface, Google's Pixel lineup is known for offering a bloatware-free experience to Android users. While several Google apps are must-haves for your digital life, deactivating or deleting irrelevant ones can declutter the app drawer and the homescreen. Here are the preinstalled apps you can remove from your Google Pixel smartphone.

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How to sync your Xbox Wireless Controller

Easily connect your Xbox Wireless Controller to any device

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The Xbox controller has always excelled as quality hardware, providing a sleeker interface and more ergonomic design with each console generation; with the Series X controller implementing improved wireless input speed and feedback. From improved latency feedback to an elegant diagonal press D-pad, Microsoft's flagship gamepads are better than ever for both serious and casual gamers alike.

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How to install Minecraft mods on Android

Enhance your Minecraft experience on Android with some awesome mods

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Minecraft is one of those games that always has something new on the way. Mojang's blocky survival game has been updated so often that it might as well be a different game from its original 2011 build, and Minecraft Pocket edition can now provide this colorful experience on your favorite bargain Android phone. While these official updates are always cool, fan mods have creative freedom that gives them an edge.

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Common Netflix error codes and how to fix them

Get back to streaming fast with these easy fixes

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While it has its ups and downs, Netflix will always have a special place in our hearts. From its preservation of beloved movies and TV shows to its compelling original content, the streaming service is still kicking after all these years. But even polished, streamlined applications have hiccups here and there, and Netflix has its fair share of common errors. These bugs, for the most part, have simple solutions with fairly minimal required effort from the user.

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Samsung Push Service: What it is and how does it work?

Get notified about important Samsung announcements

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We all have brands or services that we love and want to hear more about. If you like Samsung and its plethora of devices and services, Samsung has a way to let you know more about them. It's called Samsung Push Service, and it's a way for Samsung to let its fans and users know about new and exciting features and devices. This feature is available on all Samsung devices, including the best Samsung phones. This guide discusses what Samsung Push Service is, how it works, and how to use it.

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What is Qi2 wireless charging?

MagSafe for the Android masses

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Qi2 is a new wireless charging standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). It aims to fix the problems with the existing Qi wireless charging tech featured on the best 5G phones and smartwatches.

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How to use auto scroll on TikTok

Lean how to scroll freehand with TikTok's auto scroll feature

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Scrolling through TikTok is up there with the most popular games like Vampire Survivors in terms of addictive primary mechanics. Quickly and efficiently swiping through an endless feed of videos algorithmically based on your previous viewing history is enough to sucker anyone in, especially if one enjoys shorter, punchier content. Auto scrolling is a mechanic in the TikTok app that allows your feed to swipe through videos independently, not requiring any input from the user.

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How to take better photos with your Android phone

It's time to up your smartphone photography game

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When smartphones were first released, cameras were a bit of an afterthought. Nowadays, all phones, including our favorite budget phones, have capable and feature-packed cameras. It's rare to see anyone other than avid photographers with a separate camera from their smartphone. Even though everyone has a camera at their fingertips, not everyone knows how to make the most of it. This article discusses tips and tricks to help take your smartphone photography skills to the next level.

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How to turn off Wi-Fi calling

Deactivate Wi-Fi calling when you don't need it

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Wi-Fi calling, or VoWiFi, helps you make or receive calls over a Wi-Fi connection. T-Mobile and Sprint started offering this feature on specific phones in 2007, which was later adopted by other carriers as a way to help you out in locations where the cellular signal isn't as good. And you don't need a separate app, either. Most modern phones, even budget smartphones, support Wi-Fi calling.

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How to back up your Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet

Keep your data safe in case something happens to your phone

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Before you switch from your current Samsung Galaxy phone to one of Samsung's Galaxy flagships, it's important to back up your data. This makes your transition to the new device easier, as you won't spend time getting your contacts, messages, apps, and settings the way you like. Plus, you should always back up your Samsung phone before things go wrong, it suddenly stops working, or it's stolen.

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How to check notification history on your Android phone

You can check your missed notifications without switching between apps

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Phone notifications can be a nuisance. Perhaps you like to keep things tidy, or maybe you adhere to the Inbox Zero philosophy, but most of us like to keep our phone's notification center clean and clutter-free. Although a sense of satisfaction accompanies swiping away a screen full of notifications, it's possible to be overzealous and accidentally swipe away an important notice from eBay about an impending auction that you don't want to miss. However, with a few taps (if you've turned on notification history), you can recover your lost notification. Here's how to do it on a stock Android and One UI running on one of the top Samsung Galaxy phones.

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How to change the Bluetooth codec on your Android device

High-resolution audio on cheap earbuds is a far reach. But here's a trick to improve the sound quality

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Every time you watch a movie, play songs, or open a media file with sound, there's an inaudible language spoken. Think of Bluetooth codecs as the translator. It decodes and encodes audio en route to your audio accessories. If you're an Android user, your phone or tablet uses the SBC codec by default. Though it offers standard audio quality, you can change it for improvement.

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Android phones with high refresh rate displays have become commonplace. Even some of our favorite budget phones now feature a 90Hz or 120Hz display. And some of the best gaming phones ship with a 144Hz refresh rate display. But what exactly is a display's refresh rate? And how does it benefit you in daily use? Is a display with a 120Hz refresh rate better than one with a 90Hz?

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How to use Shizuku for ADB rootless mods on any Android device

Modding your device without root access just got a lot better

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In the earlier days of Android, modding a device was a popular hobby that offered more user control and new features not found in stock Android. However, with every new major release of Android, we get more options and features that make modding even less likely for the average user. Today, you can customize one of the most affordable Android phones without jumping through extra hoops. You can still mod your device for more power using Shizuku, and we show you how in the guide below.

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How to print text messages from your Android phone or tablet

Get a physical copy of your messages in no time at all

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Messaging is one of, if not the most, used forms of communication in the world. In the U.S., texting through your carrier is the most used form of messaging. Since texting is used for so much communication, you may need to print some text messages from a pleasant conversation you want to remember or if you need to use text messages as evidence in a court case. There isn't a built-in feature to print text messages on your affordable Android phone, but you can use a workaround to print images of your texts.

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How to know if someone has blocked your phone number

Find out if you've been blocked or you simply aren't able to get ahold of the other party

There are many reasons why a person may want to permanently prevent you from contacting them. The best way to know if it has happened to you and why is to ask them in person. But that's an awkward confrontation no one looks forward to having. Even the best Android smartphones on the market don't provide features for detecting those reasons. Still, you'll see signs showing that someone cut you off completely. While you can't unblock your phone number from someone else's phone, you can get closure.

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