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Your smartphone, whether brand-new or a few years old, contains features designed to make your daily life easier. You just need to know what these features are called and where to look for them. Poking around in the settings menu might seem intimidating at first. But avoiding this necessary task actually leads to more frustration.
Technology does not need to feel like a puzzle. With a little guidance, you can easily discover the settings that simplify your phone experience. And who doesn’t want to make everyday tasks like reading small text or blocking spam much easier?
Silence Unknown Callers
One of the most powerful moves you can make with your phone is to silence unknown callers. We’ve all been there: sitting quietly at book club when your phone suddenly buzzes loudly with a spam call. At that moment, it feels like the phone is running the show. This feature works without blocking real people.
Here’s what to look for:
Go to your settings and look for “Silence Unknown Callers” or “Spam Protection.” Not only does this cut down on the annoyance factor, but from a safety perspective, you can’t fall for a scam if you don’t get the call in the first place.
Filter Unknown Senders
You can manage promotional texts using Message Filters. You still receive all your messages, but promotional messages are moved out of your main inbox. This keeps your main text thread focused on friends, family, and other real conversations. Another benefit is that it cuts down on scroll time when you’re looking for a specific message from a loved one.
Filters put you in charge of how often you check the folder for promotional and transactional texts, eliminating those random interruptions. It can reduce the chance of accidentally tapping on a spam link.
On iPhone, this setting is under Messages and is called Filter Unknown Senders. On Android, find it by opening Messages, tapping your profile icon or three dots, then going to Messages settings. Look for Spam Protection or Message Filtering.
Use Live Captions
Here’s another scenario we can all relate to. You’re in a noisy restaurant when your phone rings with an important call. You can be confident that you can take the call without straining to hear. Just turn on live captions for a quick fix. This feature shows captions for videos, calls, and voice messages. It works even when the other person isn’t using captions. Look for this setting under Accessibility; it is called “Live Captions” or “Captioning.”
Silence Unknown Callers
One of the most powerful moves you can make with your phone is to silence unknown callers. We’ve all been there: sitting quietly at book club when your phone suddenly buzzes loudly with a spam call. At that moment, it feels like the phone is running the show. This feature works without blocking real people.
Here’s what to look for:
Go to your settings and look for “Silence Unknown Callers” or “Spam Protection.” Not only does this cut down on the annoyance factor, but from a safety perspective, you can’t fall for a scam if you don’t get the call in the first place.
Filter Unknown Senders
You can manage promotional texts using Message Filters. You still receive all your messages, but promotional messages are moved out of your main inbox. This keeps your main text thread focused on friends, family, and other real conversations. Another benefit is that it cuts down on scroll time when you’re looking for a specific message from a loved one.
Filters put you in charge of how often you check the folder for promotional and transactional texts, eliminating those random interruptions. It can reduce the chance of accidentally tapping on a spam link.
On iPhone, this setting is under Messages and is called Filter Unknown Senders. On Android, find it by opening Messages, tapping your profile icon or three dots, then going to Messages settings. Look for Spam Protection or Message Filtering.
Use Live Captions
Here’s another scenario we can all relate to. You’re in a noisy restaurant when your phone rings with an important call. You can be confident that you can take the call without straining to hear. Just turn on live captions for a quick fix. This feature shows captions for videos, calls, and voice messages. It works even when the other person isn’t using captions. Look for this setting under Accessibility; it is called “Live Captions” or “Captioning.”
Now that you know what to look for, try adjusting one or two settings. You don’t need to tackle everything at once. Start small, enjoy the benefits, and you’ll feel empowered to keep learning more about your phone. You have the power to make your phone fit in with your daily needs. Spending a few minutes to customize your settings will pay off by making your day smoother and more productive.
Cross-posted with permission from Sixty and Me.
Original article: https://sixtyandme.com/smartphone-settings/
