Questions tagged [phone]
Hacks related to phones: usage, maintenance, and improvement of smartphones, as well as other mobile phones and landlines.
77
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How can I remove marks off a plastic phone back?
After a while of using a case, the dirt that gets stuck in the case leaves kinda very severe marks on the plastic back of the phone. I have searched everywhere on Google but the results are just how ...
1
vote
2
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182
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Is there a way to ping my phone WITHOUT using an app or using Apple's Find My app or using Apple Watch?
I realize I can use my Apple watch to ping my phone or use Apple's Find My app to ping my phone. But, I am looking for a creative way to ping my phone without the use of an app by simply using a no ...
- 11
4
votes
4
answers
2k
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How to restore a rubberized coating on a smartphone after getting hand sanitizer on it?
I have a waterproof Android smartphone that has rubberized edges.
I recently picked up the phone after using hand sanitizer at a medical facility. Now the rubberized sections of the edges are very ...
- 1,716
2
votes
5
answers
296
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Gadget to find discharged phone in woods behind house, without using a computer?
My friend tends to lose his cell phone, for example in the woods behind his house. When the phone has little or no charge left.
I thought of getting him a Tile, but I'm not sure that will work, given ...
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-2
votes
2
answers
242
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What kind of audio captcha should I use against cold calling?
Having a landline is starting to turning to be constantly harassed by cold callers these days.
So I’m thinking about making incoming calls landing on a voicemail controlled by a custom computer script ...
- 143
7
votes
6
answers
618
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How to stop annoying wrong-number phone calls?
I get frequent calls to my landline trying to fax me something. I believe my number is 1 digit off a nearby hospital, and people attempting to fax them things accidentally fax me. The calls during ...
- 171
1
vote
3
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140
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Cancelling echo in a recycled phone microphone-speaker set
The speaker and microphone of my Android phone have stopped working, but the headphone jack still works. I don't want to always use a headphone, so I removed everything from a discarded non-smart ...
0
votes
1
answer
102
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What can I use for an easy iPhone speaker?
I love my music loud and I was wondering if there’s a hack for an easy iPhone speaker? I’ve tried putting my phone inside a cup but it’s still not loud enough.
- 698
5
votes
5
answers
258
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Cleaning the screens of phones
I don't have a liquid solution specially made to clean the screens of phones. So what's the substitute for that?
I can't use only a cloth since my screen has got stains.
So can I use sanitizer/ lens ...
- 183
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4
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703
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How can I wear a smartphone and record with it hands-free?
How can my ungainly grandparents use their current Android and iPhones as body or action camera? They loathe to spend money buying a GoPro. They won't be underwater or adventuring any task that ...
user1869
1
vote
4
answers
142
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Prevent phone base from being dragged by cord
Suppose I have a desk phone similar to this one:
Or maybe one that's even smaller, like this one:
When using it, and moving around a bit, getting up from my seat or whatnot - the cord extends (it's ...
- 398
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votes
3
answers
212
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How do I remove ganache from a headphone jack?
I once dropped my phone into a tub of ganache that I was making that I should note (just in case) was a bit smoother than a usual ganache and had too much chocolate (I was following a rubbish recipe). ...
- 21
0
votes
3
answers
178
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How do you clean your phone screen of breakout causing build up regularly?
I would first like to clarify that I believe my question is not a dupe of: How can I remove skin oil from my phone's screen? as I am specifically asking about a sensible solution to help prevent ...
- 300
3
votes
5
answers
841
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What to do with old contacts on phone that aren't used anymore?
This question pertains to saved contacts on a smartphone (Android in my case). I find I have a lot I don't use but don't want to get rid of them because if I ever go through text messages it would be ...
- 47
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8
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How to prevent pickpocketing in busy bars?
My iPhone X got stolen from my pocket a couple of months ago. I switched back to my iPhone 5. Last weekend an acquaintance of mine jokingly put my iPhone 5 out of my pocket and I immediately felt the ...
- 189
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3
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How to minimize breathing being recorded in phone?
I would like to start recording my thoughts about stuff and post them on youtube.
Just audio. I think what I need is an external mic to somehow make the quality of recordings a bit better.
But I do ...
- 133
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2
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2k
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How to keep silicone mobile case clean and prevent from being yellowish?
How can I clean a yellowish silicone mobile back cover and prevent it from yellowing again?
Is there a way to get rid of this or do I need to buy new one?
Can see how yellowish it is become.
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How can I take my broken headphones out my IPad?
R.I.P!
So I used some headphones on my iPad, my ipad ended up falling and the head phones broke above halfway. How can I remove the broken piece?
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22
votes
13
answers
12k
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How to not forget my phone in the bathroom?
Many times I go to the bathroom only for a quick pee, while in the middle of something, hence my mind is occupied, and I don't pay much attention.
I take my phone out of my pocket and place it ...
2
votes
2
answers
217
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How to carry a phone stylus in winter without losing it
I bought a stylus for playing Pokemon Go outside in the winter, when it's too cold to use my hands. I've been just keeping it in my coat pocket, the same as my gloves, but it keeps falling out. I ...
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4
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978
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Disrupt a game being played on wifi
I stay in a hostel and my roommates constantly play Mini-Militia using their smartphones and I'm really fed up of them making noises while playing.
Is there any way that I can turn off their phone ...
- 111
2
votes
4
answers
15k
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Does pressing "9" on a phone actually put my number on an internal "Do not call" list?
Background
According to Lifehacks #1777, pressing "9" on a phone will apparently add your number to an internal do not call list on the other end. This is also apparently verified by a very hoaky ...
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20
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How to cure "stickiness" on walkie-talkie rubber components
I have just retrieved my walkie-talkies from the big storage box where they lived for the last couple of years. The rubber/rubberized components (grip coating, dials, etc.) have gone very sticky to ...
- 201
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224
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How can I legally identify pesky robocallers?
I am planning to move to New Hampshire soon, and one of the great benefits of living there is that unlike most states, private citizens can prosecute misdemeanors. That means once I become a New ...
- 994
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votes
5
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42k
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How can I remove skin oil from my phone's screen?
My phone screen picks up the usual fingerprint smudges, but there is a band where the swipe keyboard appears that is particularly bad. Rubbing with phone screen cleaning wipes and glasses cleaning ...
- 544
3
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4
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17k
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How to recover swollen battery?
Many have faced this issue. So this is a general question.
I am using a smartphone from last 3 years. Now it's battery is swollen and there is some liquid developed inside the battery. Due to this, ...
- 418
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1
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My clear phone case that I'm not using seems greasy or uncleaned? [closed]
I have a clear phone case that is yellow throughout, which I've grown accustomed to, but one day I saw a clearer phone case and bought it, and left the old one aside.
A few days/weeks later I saw my ...
- 21
1
vote
1
answer
555
views
Air freshener inside phone screen [closed]
I was spraying air freshener in my room since it smelled bad, and my phone got in the way. Now, there is an abundance of it in my phone screen.
It is a weird dark blue liquid that covers the top ...
- 19
0
votes
2
answers
183
views
Fixing the safety case of the smartphone
Just yesterday my smartphone's safety cover got broken as in the image below. It's minor damage and my favourite too so I do not want to replace it, at least not now. I want to fix it by using "...
- 203
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How do I know if my phone's jack slot is broken and not my headphones?
Initials:
First of all, sorry if this question has been asked at the wrong place.
This is a general consumer electronics question, but there's no such site yet.
And I'm pretty sure these are wrong ...
- 129
3
votes
2
answers
969
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Protecting a smartphone from rain?
I have a 5.5 inch smartphone,but it's not water proof and i face problem when i am cycling and it rains. I tried searching a polythene cover but alas i am unable to find a slim cover for the phone.Any ...
- 203
5
votes
5
answers
2k
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Best way to mount a phone in the car
I have a Toyota Matrix and want to mount my iPhone 7 ( or future versions) for easy access to directions, etc. while still being able to charge it. Right now it sits in the cup holder or I stuff it ...
- 297
4
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10
answers
2k
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How to get a squished leaf out of a headphone jack?
Was a bit careless and didn't notice there was a small bit of a leaf in my headphone jack until I was putting it in. Now it's squished and presumably stuck in there. Does anyone know a safe way to get ...
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2
answers
6k
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Removing permanent marker marks from phone screen
What would be the best way to remove marks from my smartphone's screen, which have been caused accidentally from a permanent marker ? Note that my phone unfortunately isn't waterproof.
Also, I have ...
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votes
4
answers
6k
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How to prevent mobile phone in the car from falling when I use it as GPS?
When I want to use my phone as a GPS I usually try to find spaces in the car to put the phone in a horizontal position. Some possible places are the space right over the middle air condition holes, ...
- 575
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3
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3k
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How to push small button with plastic cover on phone's edge easier?
My phone (Xperia M4 Aqua) has a power button on the edge of the phone. After having a thin plastic cover, the button is required a lot of force to push it. I can cut a hole in the cover in that ...
- 111
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2
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1k
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How to prevent charger cables wearing out too quickly? [duplicate]
All of my phone charging leads have frayed at the ends where you plug it in. I've spent a lot on getting these braided cords that are supposed to last for a while but they never last. I have in total ...
3
votes
5
answers
2k
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Preventing airbubbles when placing screen protector?
Whenever I try and place a screen protector on any electrical device, I always get a load of airbubbles, and my device ends up looking like this:
How can I prevent this from happening, or how can I ...
- 170
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11
answers
49k
views
How to clean the charging port of iPhone 6?
For weeks, I had the issue of my phone not charging as soon as I plugged in the lightning cable. I suspect it could be because of dirt that has accumulated over the years. How do I safely clean the ...
- 111
2
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3
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2k
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Good way to prevent phone camera from touching table
In every smartphone I've looked at, the camera protrudes slightly from the bottom of the case, meaning that it is the primary point of contact when the phone is laid down flat:
Note that the lens ...
- 121
3
votes
2
answers
10k
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How to fix when there is bubble after putting tempered glass and why is this happening? [closed]
I am using Iphone SE. When I put the tempered glass there generated bubble in the corner. I tried to fix it but it does not work & I have changed my tempered glass twice but still the bubble gets ...
- 39
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votes
3
answers
4k
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How can I unclog my headphone port on my phone? [duplicate]
So, my phone rather surprisingly spends a lot of its life in my pocket. In the course of its day to day life, it gets what I assume is pocket lint in the headphone jack. This buildup has made it so ...
- 1,348
3
votes
3
answers
4k
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Muffling phone vibration at work
I have my cell phone set to vibrate at work. I keep it on my desk, in my peripheral vision so I can either see the screen light up, or hear/feel a weak vibration in case I'm staring too hard into my ...
- 691
4
votes
5
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190k
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How to control phone while inside VR device without an action button [closed]
I bought a VR device that can hold your phone to give a VR experience, however I only discovered after I got home that I have no way of controlling anything while my phone is inside the VR device.
I ...
- 167
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votes
2
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4k
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Get the phone system to automatically call me back?
I have a weird problem with my phone which just got a new modem. I can call out but people complain they cannot call me. Supposedly it has been fixed, but how can I test this?
In the old days there ...
- 994
5
votes
3
answers
442k
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How to clean transparent silicone/jelly cases?
I have here my jelly case on my smartphone. After 2 months, i saw that it getting yellowish and i don't know how to clean it.
But every month, I clean it with cloth and alcohol, but nothing's change.
...
- 285
0
votes
1
answer
483
views
Removing dust from mobile's screen [closed]
Dust has gone inside my mobile screen and front camera. I don't know how it got there but I suspect that it has entered from the USB port. How can it be removed?
user12894
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vote
3
answers
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Opening and tightening small screws
How can I open and close the tiny screws of my mobile phone if I don't have any type of tool to open that tiny screw? Suggest me the ways too by which I can make screwdrivers at home according to my ...
user12894
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votes
1
answer
113
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Smartphone data usage when travelling in US [closed]
I'm planning a trip to the US in an area I don't know well. It would be really helpful if I have my smartphone with me for things like google maps and staying in touch with people. Sadly, my provider ...
- 1,401
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1
answer
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What can I do if I mess up a voicemail? [closed]
Sometimes when I leave a voice mail I can mess it because I'm not expecting to have to leave a voicemail and are unsure what to say and end up stumbling and not effectively expressing myself.
What ...
- 301