screen Archives

How to train your autocorrect to actually work

Apple.com, © Tero Vesalainen | Dreamstime.com

I bet you’re frustrated with how often autocorrect is auto-wrong. Even with new AI features included in many platforms’ latest updates, autocorrect remains annoying. Let’s fix that for iOS and Android.

🍗 Go cold turkey

Yes, you can just turn it off — no more bad guesses or awkward corrections. Just type what you mean letter by letter, like in the early days. (Note: Depending on your Android make, model and OS, your steps may differ. There are just too many variations for me to cover all of them.)

On iOS: Tap Settings > General > Keyboard, then toggle Auto-Correction to Off. Follow the same steps to turn it back on later, if you need it.
On Android: Go to Settings > System > Languages and input > On-screen keyboard > Gboard > Text correction. Here, you can turn off Auto-correction and Show suggestion strip, which displays predictive text.

Team Apple: In iOS, misspellings are underlined. To turn that off, head to Settings > General > Keyboard again and turn off Check Spelling.

Team Android: Under your keyboard settings, flip the switches next to “Predictive Text” and “Show Predictions Inline.”

🗣️ Add your own slang

If you’re feeling ambitious, tell your phone to replace a phrase with your shorthand. Think turning “brt” into “be right there” or “1234” into “Four Score and Seven Years Ago.” Pretty slick!

On iOS: Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Tap the + (plus sign), then add your word or phrase to the Phrase field (i.e., “On my way”). In the Shortcut field, type your slang of choice (i.e., “OMW”).
On Android: Go to Settings > System > Languages and input > On-screen keyboard > Gboard > Dictionary > Personal dictionary > English and tap the + (plus sign) in the top right to add a custom word. Put your slang or abbreviation in the Shortcut box to trigger that custom word.

Pro tip: In iOS and Android, if you leave the Shortcut field blank, autocorrect will stop bugging you with alternate spellings.

Those are the big ones, but I’ve got a few extra tips for iOS and Android on my site!

🤭 I used to be a programmer for autocorrect. They fried me for no raisin. (I saw you smile!)

The gardener wet his plants.

🌸 Tomorrow’s the first day of spring! Time to kick off your cleaning.

Fix those little “oops” moments on your walls with a handy repair pen (17% off).
From your floors to ceiling fans, this six-piece washable duster does it all.
Steam your way to spotless surfaces with a multi-surface steamer (22% off).
For tight spots, this three-pack of crevice-cleaning brushes (50% off) has you covered.
Skip the car wash (Go ahead, sing it out loud!). Just attach a foam gun (20%) to your garden hose and let it shine.

📱 Ring, ring: Got a smudgy phone screen? This spray and wipe kit (23% off) will leave it looking crystal clear.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Record your screen for free on any computer

Open/download audio

No need to buy extra software. Windows and Mac have built-in screen recorders. Here’s how to use them.

SpellRing can translate sign language: This is something. Researchers developed a ring for your thumb, and as you sign, it sends out sound waves. A microphone picks them up, AI analyzes them and gestures become letters on a screen. It’s already 82% to 92% accurate.

Over $45,000

Round-trip tickets for two from Chicago to Munich. That’s if you book Lufthansa’s new “Allegris” first-class double suites. You get to enjoy a 27-inch video screen and a shared bed so you can easily … relax together and join the mile high club.

From zero to hero: Microsoft’s Clipchamp free video editor is perfect for beginners. Plus, it has advanced features for cutting, cropping, resizing, screen and webcam recording, green-screen editing and even AI voiceovers. Give it a whirl.

📖 Give your eyes a break on Kindle: You can schedule a warm light to turn on at night. Go to All Settings > Screen and brightness > Brightness and warmth and toggle Warmth schedule. Scroll down to Manual and set your preferred times and Warmth intensity. FYI: This only works on Paperwhite, Oasis and Scribe models.

🖥️ PC’s screen gone dark? Before you hold down the power button, hit Windows + Ctr + Shift + B. This tells your computer, “Hey, the display is messed up. Can you fix it?” In nerd-speak, it refreshes or resets your graphics drive.

🖥️ Double vision: Multitask with a split screen view. Just make sure the browser or app isn’t in full screen. On a Mac, hover over its green maximize button and select Tile Window to Left/Right to work with two windows side by side. For a PC, drag it to the edge of the screen or press the Windows logo key + Left/Right arrow.

Are you autoplaying me? If you have a Roku, you might’ve seen annoying video ads pop up before you get to your home screen. You can’t even skip them. Roku says it’s just a test. Sure.

55 inches

How big the display will be in Cadillac’s new 2025 Escalade SUV, stretching nearly door to door across the dashboard. Drivers get a 35-inch touch screen, while passengers have their own 20-inch entertainment system. Prices will be announced later this year. How do you get your Cadillac to the 2nd level of a mall? You use the Escalader.

💻 Barrels of fun: Got a Chromebook? Press and hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Refresh (circular arrow key) all at once, your screen does a barrel roll. Give it a try when you need a little break but don’t … flip out.

$16 per month

Gets you access to Snapchat Platinum, including its new AI video Lenses. Think of it as a filter where you can see yourself cuddling up with cute virtual animals on screen. So far, there’s a raccoon and fox, plus spring flowers. People need to cool it with the age filter. It’s getting old.

⌨️ Shrink the keyboard on iPad Notes: The on-screen keyboard takes up half the screen, which gets frustrating when you need to scroll. Sure, you can hide it, but then you can’t type. Instead, pinch inward on the keyboard to shrink it into a small, floating version. It’s way easier to work with.

$2,000 and up

The hefty price tag of Apple’s foldable iPhone in 2027. It’s rumored to open like a book like the Galaxy Z Fold. You’ll see a 7.8-inch screen without any creases and a 5.5-inch outer screen. Touch ID is making a comeback on the side button since Face ID might not fit.

Tech-free zones: A friend of mine started making “screen-free areas” in their house, like the kitchen and dining table. Genius. The kids get a break from screens, their eyes get a rest, and family time actually feels like family time again.

Want better photo composition? Turn on the grid. It splits your screen into nine parts. Line up subjects where the lines meet for more balanced, pro-looking shots. iPhones: Go to Settings > Camera > Grid (toggle it on). For Android: Open Camera > Settings > Grid (or Grid Lines).

📖 Make your Kindle feel like a real book: Love this little change. Go to Settings > Screen and brightness > Show covers on lock screen.

🔋 Make your laptop battery last longer: Windows 11 has a Dynamic Refresh Rate option that adjusts how often your screen updates for simple tasks. Go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced Display > Choose a refresh rate > Dynamic.

40%

Of parents judge other families based on their screen-time rules. About a third stop their kids from hanging out with friends who have different rules. Why? No one wants to be labeled as the parent of an “iPad kid” or blamed for causing “brain rot.”