locate phone number

How to locate a person without them knowing it

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Among the newest skills of the newest technologies is the ability to track a person via their cell phone number. There are free methods offered by smartphone manufacturers. Some monitoring software can locate a person’s cell phone without them knowing.

There are various reasons why a person may want to locate a cell phone without the owner’s permission. For example, a parent may want to keep an eye on the whereabouts of his or her child.Or a spouse suspecting his or her partner’s infidelity may want to use a method to locate someone. A team manager may wish to monitor an employee.

Here are the various ways to locate a cell phone without the owner’s permission. In the eyes of the law, only online monitoring as part of parental control is permitted.

How to locate someone without them knowing it

The best way to locate a cell phone is to install a monitoring application on the device. With this type of software, you will be able to determine the location of the device under any circumstances, even if it has been stolen. Among the monitoring applications available on the market in 2022, the best is without a doubt the mSpy parental control software.

Indeed, this monitoring application has the most advanced and developed geolocation features available today. mSpy allows, like the best monitoring applications, to track the real time position of a cell phone. You can use the software to track your child’s geolocation without him or her knowing.

In this way, you can monitor and control the whereabouts of the target, located on a map. You can also check the history of the cell phone’s movements over a given period. Finally, you can access all the data in real time from your personal control panel.

mSpy also offers a geofencing feature. This feature allows you to predefine safety zones and risk areas for your child. The software alerts you whenever your child crosses one of these boundaries.

There is no better monitoring solution!

How to track someone’s cell phone for free

Mobile operating systems, developed by major smartphone manufacturers, each have a method to locate someone without their knowledge for free. In the following, we detail the methods of locating a smartphone without the owner’s permission on Google’s Android, Apple’s iOS and Microsoft’s Windows Phone.

1- On Android via the “Find My Device” feature

To locate a lost, stolen or tracked phone, Android users can use “Find My Device”, the operating system’s built-in feature.

  • Go to https://www.google.com/android/find
  • Then, register on the site using the email and password of the smartphone they wish to locate
  • Then select the device to be tracked
  • Then activate the “Find My Device” feature.

The location of the targeted phone will then appear on a detailed map. The user will be able to determine the location of the phone for free. However, if the phone does not have an Internet connection, its location will not be tracked.

This free Android feature also allows you to lock the device in case of theft, loss or any other situation. This method also includes the possibility of predefining a recovery phone number. You will also be able to send messages to the lost or stolen device.

2- On Localize.mobi

The online tracking site Localize.mobi allows you to track all types of smartphones by accepting to track the owner. This online tracking site does not allow you to locate a person’s phone without their knowledge.

To geolocate a tracked cell phone, you must first enter the phone number on the site. Localize.mobi then sends a tracking link to the target phone. If the target phone accepts the tracking and clicks on the link, the geotagging starts and you get the location of the phone on a map.

Localize.mobi works automatically and quickly. No prior installation is required to locate the target phone. The services of this online tracking application are not free. Last but not least, Localize.mobi’s geolocation is available for an unlimited number of devices. You can locate as many numbers as you want.

3- On iOS via the “Find My iPhone” feature

For its iOS operating system, Apple has also developed a free technique to locate an iPhone without the owner realizing it. This built-in feature called “Find My iPhone” also allows you to find a stolen or lost Apple branded cell phone or track another person’s iPhone such as your child.

To use this feature, here’s how to do it:

  • Go to the iCloud space. Be careful, to locate the targeted device, you will need to know its Apple ID.
  • Once you enter the iCloud space, choose the “Devices” section.
  • Once in it, you will be able to determine the location of the monitored device on a map. In the “Maps” tab, you will be able to see its location. If the battery of the smartphone to be located is discharged or if it is turned off, only its last location will be accessible to you.

The “Find My iPhone” feature of iOS also allows you to trigger the ringtone of the phone to be located. In the “Devices” tab, you must choose the “Ring” function. If the device is not connected to the Internet, no ringing will sound. If the phone is lost, you can send a message to the device via the “Devices” tab, then “Lost”.

4- On Windows Phone via the “Find My Device” feature

Microsoft, for devices with Windows Phone, has also developed a free method to locate a lost or stolen cell phone or without the person knowing it. This feature called “Find My Device” allows you, from your computer or from another phone, to find the targeted phone.

To access “Find My Device”, you will need to log on to https://account.microsoft.com/devices. On this site, you will be able to access your Microsoft account or that of another person. To do this, you will need to have their identification data. This will allow you to locate the lost phone or the phone to be located on a map that can be updated.

This feature also allows you to make the phone ring, even if its volume is at its lowest or if it is on vibrate. To do this, you will also go to your account or to the other person’s account via https://account.microsoft.com/devices. You will choose the targeted phone from the list and then the “Locate my phone” service. You can then click on the “Ringtone” button.

It is also possible to lock the targeted phone, display a message on its screen or delete its data. To do this, you will need to activate these features again via the “Locate my phone” tab on the targeted account at https://account.microsoft.com/devices.

Conclusion

Among the various methods presented in this article, the most developed is undoubtedly the geolocation proposed by the mSpy surveillance software. The other free techniques proposed are a little more complex, less automatic and they require that you have access to certain confidential data of the phone to be targeted.

How to locate a phone number on Google Map

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The use of smartphones has grown at a rapid pace. We live in an age where a life without cell phones seems impossible. But, as amazing as smartphones are, they come with their own set of drawbacks. For example, we often receive spam texts and calls from a fraudulent phone number, a number without text or a ringing number. In fact, some people receive calls from unknown phone numbers almost every day.

Technology has developed to the point where it allows people to track the current location of their loved ones by submitting their cell phone number. You can easily trace the identity of the caller and the location they are calling from with the help of Google Map mobile number tracker.

Whether it is for personal or security reasons, mobile number tracking tools can help you keep an eye on others through their mobile.

Regardless of the device a person uses, it is possible to track the location of a person’s mobile number and access their personal information. However, smartphones can only be tracked if they are connected to the Internet.

In addition to their current location, you will also find a lot of information about the user, such as their social media accounts, full name, IP address, occupation, etc.

What is mobile number tracker?

Mobile Number Tracker is the world’s first mobile tracking tool that provides free mobile number tracking on Google Maps. In fact, it also provides important information such as SIM card owner details, location and IP address tracking easily.

It uses a robust algorithm to track the user’s location in the fastest and most comfortable way. Once the current location of the mobile is tracked, you will be taken to Google Maps which will direct you to the exact location of the target.

Tracking cell phone numbers

To track the location of cell phone numbers on Google Maps, open the Mobile Number Tracker. Type in a ten digit number and press the track button. That’s it, you will then see the current location of the mobile number on Google Maps.

This tool is very handy for parents who are worried about their kids coming home from school or college late. You can submit their phone numbers and keep track of their current location for safety purposes.

Since this is an anonymous tool, you can be sure that your children will not know that their cell phone has been located. In addition to children, this tool can be used by families who are worried about their loved ones.

Even companies rely on this software to track the exact location of their employees. It is a great way to ensure the safety of your employees. However, their GPS tracker, as well as the internet connection, must be enabled.

Conclusion

As soon as the person turns on their mobile and connects to the Internet, the Mobile Number Tracker searches and locates the mobile within seconds.

How to Use Your Android Smartphone More Efficiently

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Android is today the most used operating system on mobile platforms, smartphones and tablets. Bought by Google in 2005, it has been improved over the years and has left no chance to its competitors. Only Apple’s iOS has survived, leaving alternatives such as Windows Phone or webOS on the shelf. So if you don’t buy an iPhone, you’re bound to buy an Android smartphone.

Entry-level, premium, compact, large screen, and now even foldable smartphones, Android adapts to all hardware possibilities. The OS has even been adapted for televisions and cars, but we won’t dwell on those solutions here.

Instead, we’re going to learn how to master Android to perfection and reveal all its secrets. Because if the interface is easy to learn, there are many subtleties that are not necessarily known and yet make life easier.

We’ll try to be as clear as possible on the different steps to follow, the difficulty being the impressive volume of Android versions, between updates and overlays. But don’t panic, our advice generally applies to most users, regardless of their OS variant.

Android: the most used operating system in the world

According to statistics from the IDC analysis firm, Android’s market share for the smartphone sector is 86.6% in 2020, compared to 13.4% for iOS. The operating system of the iPhone and today the only competitor to the mobile OS of Google. The institute estimates that this share will increase slightly in the coming years. It must be said that Android is popular in developing countries, such as India for example, where demand is now higher than in Western countries.

At the time of writing, the latest major version of the OS is Android 12. For the first time, Google has decided to abandon the dessert names (Android 7 Nougat, Android 8 Oreo, Android 9 Pie…) to give itself a more serious image and clarify its update system. In fact, there is now one major update per year, usually at the end of August or beginning of October for the official launch on the first compatible smartphones. Previously, we had two annual updates (Oreo 8.0 and 8.1 for example). And even before, there was no real rule. Everything is simpler and better organized now.

The main flaw of Android compared to iOS is its distribution. New updates are slow to be deployed by third-party smartphone manufacturers, and two-year-old mobiles often simply never get them. So we end up with a splintering of the market, with Android 8 Oreo and Android 9 Pie remaining more installed than Android 12 several months after the latter’s release. This is the price to pay for having so much variety in products. Note that Google launched Project Treble in 2017 with the rollout of Android Oreo. This is an overhaul of the operating system’s architecture to simplify the software tracking work for manufacturers. The situation with regard to updates is slowly improving since the arrival of Treble.

Android, although it has tended to close in on itself for a few years, is still a relatively open OS, especially when compared to the compartmentalized and impervious iOS. This is why it has become the preferred solution for hobbyists and customization enthusiasts. Google is trying to find a balance between security and freedom, no easy task. Long considered the operating system of viruses, malware and security flaws, Android is much more protected now, but at the cost of diminishing its open history. Today, root is much less practiced (but also less necessary) than in the past for example.

Each version of the OS has brought a stone to the building that Android has become today. One example is Android Honeycomb 3.0, which was designed to support tablets, and which got off to a slow start, but has since been improved through a series of updates. That’s why it’s important to know how to configure and keep your Android smartphone up to date to get the best experience available. Note that it is sometimes difficult to put a date on the arrival of a feature on Android. Some “new features” were indeed added by manufacturers via their in-house overlay long before they were integrated into Android Stock (the pure version of Android, used on very few smartphones, usually entry-level). And here is a perfect transition to talk about the different Android overlays.

Android and the overlay

Android is undoubtedly one of the most modified and customized operating systems by hardware manufacturers who opt for Google’s mobile OS. On Windows, manufacturers simply pre-install a range of software. This is also the case with Android, but brands don’t stop there: they also change the entire interface and menus and add or modify features. This is called an overlay.

Samsung has One UI, Huawei has EMUI, Xiaomi has MIUI, OnePlus has Oxygen OS, Oppo and Realme have Color OS etc. Even Google does not equip its own Pixel smartphones with the basic version of Android. They too are entitled to an overlay created specifically for this range. In the end, very few devices come with what we call Android Stock. There are entry-level models that are content with it, like Nokia (HMD) for example. This has the merit of facilitating the work of developers in terms of software monitoring.

The advantage is that users can choose from a wide variety of interfaces. Some are die-hard Oxygen OS fans, others swear by Samsung’s overlay (One UI has replaced Samsung Experience, which itself took over from TouchWiz).

But this also brings disadvantages. In particular, we find ourselves with applications that are duplicated between those of Google and those of the manufacturer: mail client, notepad, calendar, weather, browser … so many services that we find twice on many Android smartphones. And very often, it is impossible to remove applications from the manufacturer, unnecessarily cluttering the home page, the application drawer or storage space.

It’s not uncommon for design elements and popular features added on some overlays to end up on Android Stock. Some brands are very close and attentive to their community in order to offer their users the interface they dream of. This is particularly true of OnePlus, which offers beta programs and is very active on its forums.

Android: a system that gives control to its users

Android no longer gives 100% control to its users as in the past, for reasons of security and control of its ecosystem, but remains much more permissive than iOS. It is thus possible to download applications that are not available on the official store (Google Play Store) via alternative stores or APK files and to change many settings on its device.

Giving so much freedom and permissions to all users, even those who are not really aware of what they are doing, is however a policy that has its limits. It is not advisable to download files from unknown or untrusted sources, or to root your smartphone when you have limited knowledge of computers and the Android system in particular.

Incorrect handling can lead to bugs or even the infection of the device by malware, which is abundant on the web. If you’re not sure what you’re doing, stick to the minimum, i.e. adjust the settings that are not hidden and install applications from the Play Store. If you have a recent Huawei phone that does not have access to the Play Store, you can use the brand’s application store, but be careful what you download. You can also go through the official website of the publisher or developer of an app to acquire it.

But even if you take a thousand precautions, you can sometimes be tricked. Google removes hundreds of applications from its store containing malware and viruses every year, even the Play Store is not 100% reliable. In rare cases, an app can crash your device. But fortunately, there are solutions and we explain how to debug and repair an Android smartphone.

Android interface

As we explained above, each manufacturer offers its own overlay to Android. In addition, users have the necessary permissions to modify interface elements themselves. Finally, there are applications called “launchers” that allow you to benefit from an interface designed by third-party developers. These applications are often highly customizable, and each user can therefore create his own unique UI.

Given this diversity, we will focus mainly on the basic screens needed to understand and master an Android smartphone. We will review the elements that are common to most interfaces.

The lock screen

The lock screen allows you to access some information quickly without having to unlock your smartphone by one of the available authentication methods: PIN, password, schema, fingerprint or facial recognition. It shows essential data such as battery level, time, date or the latest incoming notifications.

The lockscreen is perfectly customizable. It adapts to the theme you have chosen and it is possible to change the background image, which can be different from the home page wallpaper.

The home screen

The home page is the interface that you see after unlocking the smartphone. It is designed to give quick access to all the most used services and is fully customizable. It usually contains the most important widgets (time and date, weather), the Google search bar with Google Assistant and voice search, as well as a selection of shortcuts to the most important applications.

By superimposing applications, it is possible to create folders in order not to clutter the screen too much and to get organized. You can group all Google services together, SVOD platforms together, put social networks or messaging applications together… Some interfaces also offer an application drawer, in which you can find all the apps. This system allows you to relegate little used applications in the drawer to leave room for others on the home.

We also have at the bottom of the screen a dock, in which it is generally possible to integrate five application shortcuts. This dock is immovable and remains displayed even after a swipe to a side screen. It is therefore necessary to position there the applications that you use most often or that you want to access as quickly as possible.

Everything is absolutely customizable. Each element can be moved, added or deleted as the user wishes. Themes allow you to change the aesthetics of the icons and widgets to get the most personalized experience. The wallpaper is of course independent of the one used for the lock screen and it is possible to put any image.

The widgets

Widgets are interface elements that display information without the need to enter an application: weather, bank account activity, next bus that arrives at the stop next to you, calendar, music player… The possibilities are numerous and they allow quick access to certain data.

Widgets can be placed anywhere on the home page, in the middle of applications, in a corner, at the top, at the bottom… the choice is yours! Their size varies according to the functionality offered. You can also create a page dedicated only to widgets so as not to mix them with the application shortcuts.

To add widgets, just long press in an empty space on the home page and select “Widgets”. You can then choose from the proposed selection. There are the default widgets (from the manufacturer and Google) as well as widgets proposed by third-party applications you have installed (Netflix, Spotify, WhatsApp … for example).

The notification center

To open the notification center, simply scroll the notification bar by moving your finger up and down. You then have access to shortcuts to settings that are often needed: airplane mode, WiFi, mobile data, flashlight, Bluetooth, GPS, screen rotation … The shortcut icons can be arranged according to preferences. This part of the notification center is called control center on iOS.

Underneath, it is possible to adjust the brightness of the screen manually if the brightness adjustment feature does not suit you. And then, we find all the notifications, these messages that warn you that you have something to see in such or such application or that display information (weather, soccer score …).

From now on, it is possible to display content directly in the notification center, allowing you not to enter the app and save time. You can read emails or WhatsApp messages for example. The quick response system also gives the possibility to respond directly from the center, again without switching to the app in question.

Notifications also appear on the lock screen or Always-On display, but logically it is not possible to interact with them in this situation, they appear only as a warning. The display of notifications when you are already using an application differs between the overlays. It is usually possible to read part of the message, which remains relatively discreet. By default, and this can be annoying if you are listening to music or watching a video, the sound volume drops when you receive a notification. Some overlays offer a configurable “gaming mode” that acts as a “Do Not Disturb” option in game to avoid seeing a notification arrive and lose the sound in the middle of a game.

Google services

Even without an overlay, Android remains a relatively complete OS with many native features ranging from the useful to the indispensable. To get the most out of your smartphone, you need to know how to master all the features of your Android smartphone.

Google’s services are at the forefront of this, providing real added value that enriches the user experience. We can see this with Huawei, which has a hard time selling its smartphones without Google applications in Europe.

Note that some native applications have been relegated lately. They are no longer pre-installed on smartphones but must be downloaded via the Play Store. This has the merit of less cluttering the devices with apps that are not very useful for many users and that are often duplicated with the manufacturer’s overlay.

Google Assistant

The voice assistant integrated by default on Android smartphones is Google Assistant, the equivalent of Siri on iOS and also the main competitor of Amazon’s Alexa in the home automation sector. To activate it, all you have to do is precede a command with “Ok Google” or “Hey Google”.

The possibilities are enormous. By voice, you can use Google Assistant to open an application, make a web search, make a call, listen to music, set an alarm, translate, check the weather, ask for sports results or news or manage the connected objects in the home.

Google Assistant is featured on most Android smartphones on the market. But the number one in the industry, Samsung, is trying to push its own solution: Bixby. The same goes for Huawei, which is working on its own assistant since it is not allowed to use Google’s.

Google Pay

Google Pay was born from the 2018 merger of Google Wallet and Android Pay services. It is an electronic wallet system allowing online and physical contactless payment by NFC. It is also possible to directly integrate its loyalty cards, restaurant vouchers or coupons.

Google Pay is compatible with many online banks (Boursorama Banque, Revolut, Orange Bank, N26…), but is not yet supported by many traditional banking institutions in France, which have launched their own solution with PayLib. For owners of a Samsung smartphone, the manufacturer puts forward its own application: Samsung Pay.

To pay without contact with Google Pay, several barriers arise. First, the merchant must accept this payment method. They are more and more numerous to do so, but it is not systematic. Then, the smartphone used must be equipped with an NFC chip. Here again, if most of the recent devices are equipped with one, the whole mobile fleet does not have an NFC chip.

The service is secure. For amounts over 30 euros (as for contactless bank cards), the user must authenticate and unlock his smartphone for the payment to go through.

You can group as many bank cards, physical or virtual, as you want on Google Pay. However, you have to choose one “by default”. There is no limit either for transport tickets, loyalty programs, and gift cards.

Google Maps

This is probably the application Google can be most proud of, the one that surpasses on all points its iOS counterpart, in this case Plan. Maps integrates accurate mapping as well as GPS and navigation. On foot, in the car, for public transportation, and even to find bike and electric scooter stations, Google Maps is a reference.

And it’s not just for directions that Google Maps is doing well. The service is becoming more and more an alternative to Trip Advisor: it advises us on places we might like, asks us to rate them, it is even possible to book a table from Maps. And Google is developing a feature for Google Assistant to call a restaurant or a hair salon itself to make a reservation or an appointment.

Maps can be downloaded to guide you with the app in offline mode. It is also possible to share one’s position in real time so that another user can join us or follow our progress. We also have the possibility of saving places to visit or favorites, among other features.

In short, an ultra complete application that has taken the good ideas of Waze and Trip Advisor, all grouped in a well thought interface where we can find all the features simply.

A huge catalog of applications with the Play Store

There are many more applications available on Android than on iOS, for several reasons. First, the Google Play Store has a less restrictive policy than Apple’s App Store. Some apps that can’t be accepted on the App Store can therefore end up on the Play Store. There is also the fact that developers may want to focus on Android because the operating system has a larger market share. Or more simply because they have more knowledge about developing on Android. And finally, iOS is limited to App Store apps, where Google allows external sources via other app stores and APK file downloads.

For several years, Google has worked hard to restrict the influence of these external sources and to secure its Play Store. The Play Store now hosts far fewer dangerous apps, but some still fall through the cracks and can endanger users’ devices.

The Mountain View company has also tightened its policy in terms of authorizations granted. An application can now only ask users for permissions that they really need for their operation. Access to contacts is out of the question for an SVOD app, for example.

But be careful, this vast volume of applications should not make you lose your head. Only install the apps you really need. Otherwise, you risk slowing down your smartphone, losing battery life and taking up storage space. Not to mention the mess in the app drawer and home page, as well as the unwanted notifications from those apps. We tell you more about this in our dossier which teaches you how to manage the applications on your Android smartphone to perfection.

Volume Gets Stuck on my Samsung TV

Volume Gets Stuck on my Samsung TV

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Your Samsung Smart TV may require a settings adjustment or software update to correct the low volume within our app. Please try the following suggestions:

Adjust the speaker settings on your Samsung TV

  1. Press the MENU button on your Samsung remote.
  2. Select SOUND.
  3. Select ADDITIONAL SETTINGS. If you do not see any additional settings, select SPEAKER SETTINGS.
  4. Set the auto volume to NORMAL.
  5. Try the Cineplex Store again.

Check for firmware updates

  1. Press the MENU button on your remote control.
  2. Select SUPPORT.
  3. Select SOFTWARE UPDATE. This selection may take 1 to 2 minutes to display.
  4. Select ONLINE or UPDATE NOW.

Once the update is started, your TV will turn off and then automatically turn back on. You will see a confirmation message when the update is complete.

 

10 tips with smartphones that could help you solve several problems

10 tips with smartphones that could help you solve several problems

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Ordinary phones started to be smart years ago, and today you can do just about anything with them. There are even some of their secrets that you probably didn’t know yet. Even though they have a very user-friendly interface, which doesn’t require a lot of knowledge to be understood, there are some things that even the most knowledgeable people don’t know. No one can know all the little tricks that exist in the world, and that’s where we can help you.

Sympa always cares about its audience, and that’s why we have developed a new series of smartphone tips that will be very useful to you, we can assure you that you will learn something new right now!

1- Disables the automatic rotation function

You should disable the automatic screen rotation feature and use it only when needed. Leaving it on will operate a special sensor called an accelerometer, which wastes a large part of the battery charge.

2- Avoid using the phone while it is charging.

These short load cables are not there to bother you. They are actually meant to discourage you from using your phone while it’s charging, because it’s not good for battery life.

3- Put your phone in “airplane mode” so that it recharges faster.

Switching to “airplane mode” prevents the phone from searching for a signal, which speeds up charging considerably. Although today’s smartphones have a super fast charging speed, it’s still a good trick if you’re looking for a faster way to recharge your battery.

4- Press and hold down the shutter button to take continuous pictures.

The “Continuous Shooting” function allows you to capture up to 20 images per second, depending on the phone model. Not many people know this, but all you have to do to use it is hold down the shutter button and let the magic happen.

5- You can use the volume keys as a trigger.

Trying to take pictures with only one hand, pressing at the same time on the default shooting button, can be very difficult, especially if you have a very large mobile. This function of the volume buttons will make it easier for you.

6- If you park your car in a new place, take a picture of something to remind you where you left it.

Who hasn’t forgotten at least once where they parked their car in a large parking lot? If you’re one of those people, when you’re in a new parking spot, take a picture of something that serves as a reference point or stands out to remind you where your car is.

7- How to improve the audio while recording a video

You can improve the audio quality of your videos by covering your microphone. This trick works because it attenuates background noise, which allows you to hear the main audio stream better.

8- Sunglasses as sun filters

This tip is a bit unusual, but try it, you’ll be surprised by the results! If the light in the picture is too bright, cover the camera on your phone with sunglasses. This way, the brightness will be reduced, the lighting will be improved and the image will be much more beautiful.

9- A black wallpaper will save you more battery power.

The brightness of your phone is one of the many ways to drain the battery faster. To reduce power consumption, simply set a dark background.

10- How to properly clean your phone screen

Research has shown that your phone has more bacteria than a toilet bowl because many dirty surfaces and hands touch it every day. Fortunately, all you need to clean it is a mixture of 80% water and 20% alcohol (isopropyl, for example). Put it in a spray bottle, spray the liquid on the moving screen and clean it.

11- Amplify the volume of your morning alarm clock

If you’re afraid you won’t wake up because the alarm isn’t loud enough, put your phone in a cup or bowl. This will amplify the sound.

12- Restart your phone at least 3 times a week.

Your phone should not be running at full capacity all the time. To ensure your phone is working properly, reset it at least 3 times a week. This way, applications will be restored and your phone will be able to take a break.

We hope this article will help you and make your life easier, if you know any smartphone tricks we haven’t mentioned, let us know in the comments below!