Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: I lost my phone. Can I remotely sign out of Gmail using a different device?

Posted on January 18, 2026

Question from Carrie: I went to Costco this morning and when I got home my phone wasn’t in my purse.

I checked both my car and my apartment from one end to other and it just isn’t here.

Then I called Costco to see if anyone had found it and turned it in at the Service Desk, but they hadn’t.

I didn’t go anywhere else, just to Costco so that has to be where I lost it.

I’m not too concerned about the phone itself. It’s an older Straight Talk phone that I was planning to replace soon anyway.

The thing that worries me is my Gmail was open (I keep it that way, stupid me). I have a lot of sensitive info and photos in my emails that I really don’t want anyone else to see.

Is there a way to use my computer to remotely sign out of Gmail on the lost phone?

[Read more…]

Q&A: Does my iPhone need an antivirus app?

Posted on January 17, 2026

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Question from Lilly: Hello, Rick. I just have a very quick question.

Do I need to install an antivirus app on my iPhone? One friend says I do and another friend says I don’t.

I’d really like to know for sure so I can make sure my phone is protected. I just don’t want to install another app if I don’t need it. But if I do need to install one, which one would you recommend? [Read more…]

Q&A: How do I change the default Downloads folder in Windows 11?

Posted on January 16, 2026

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Question from Danny: Hi, Rick. Several years ago I read your post explaining how to change the default Downloads folder in Windows 7.

I followed the instructions and changed the Downloads folder on my PC to the Desktop because that way I always knew where to look for the file I just downloaded.

I just replaced that old computer with a new Windows 11 machine and I’d really like change the Downloads folder to the Desktop again. Can you tell me how to do it in Windows 11? [Read more…]

How to shop at Amazon without using a credit/debit card

Posted on January 16, 2026

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Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

You probably know that Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer.

You’re also probably aware that you can often save money on your purchases due to Amazon’s low prices and free shipping on many items.

It’s true that Amazon is a great place to shop for the items you need, but many folks think they can’t shop there because they don’t have a credit card or debit card and they don’t want to use their bank account online.

But truth be told, you actually can shop at Amazon without having to give them any credit/debit card or bank account information whatsoever!

[Read more…]

How (and why) to force Windows 11 to show file extensions in File Explorer

Posted on January 15, 2026

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For whatever reason, the folks at Microsoft must have decided it’s a good idea to hide file extensions when using the File Explorer dialog in Windows 11.

I really don’t understand the thinking behind keeping file extensions hidden since they’re so useful for quickly determining a file’s type when viewing its filename.

Seeing a file’s extension can provide an important clue about which app you’ll need to use in order to open it, and there are other reasons as well. Here’s a great example (and it’s an important one). [Read more…]