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The phone in your hand can do more than than the computers we had years ago. It's a communication device, a camera, a scanner, a fitness tracker, a camcorder, a GPS, a game console — I could go on.

There's as well a lot your phone tin can do that you would non think was possible. Tap or click for vii brilliant ways your smartphone can help you go things washed, from measuring someone'south height to remoting into your computer.

But sometimes, you just need to talk. If your service is spotty, there are a few ways to heave your point strength.

When it comes to texts, it's nice to know if your message went through and the person read it.

On an iPhone

Apple'south default text messaging app, iMessage, makes it easy to know if your recipient has read your message. At that place is one caveat. Both the sender and recipient must be using iMessage on an iPhone or iPad and have Read Receipts enabled.

When you text someone with Read Receipts turned on, yous'll observe the discussion "Read" beneath your message, and the time it was opened.

To plow on your Read Receipts in the iMessage app, click Settings, roll down, and tap Letters. Enable Send Read Receipts. These steps work with Macs and iPads too.

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On an Android

Like iPhone users, Android read receipts require both sender and recipient enable the feature. Instructions may vary co-ordinate to your device'due south manufacturer, model, and operating system.

First, open up your Letters app and navigate to the settings. Depending on your phone model, operating arrangement, and cellular provider, you lot will notice one of the following: Read Receipts, Send Read Receipts or Request Receipt. Plow on the applicable option.

On a Samsung phone, go to Messages > Menu > Settings > Chat settings. Here, y'all tin enable read receipts.

In Google Messages, open Messages. Tap the three-dot carte du jour (More) > Settings > Conversation features. Tap Send read receipts.

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What about Facebook?

Read receipts are enabled by default in Facebook Messenger. If you lot wish to turn them off at some point, sorry, Charlie. You tin can't. A sneaky workaround allows you lot to read messages without producing a read receipt.

But plough off your Wi-Fi and cellular connection to read all received messages. Open up the app, then plough on Airplane mode. When you finish reading your messages, strength quit the Messenger app.

Are you one of those people with a perpetually low telephone battery? Here's how to get more life out of your smartphone.

File photo - The Facebook Messenger logo seen displayed on a smart phone. 

File photo - The Facebook Messenger logo seen displayed on a smart phone. (Photograph by Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

WhatsApp lets y'all choose

Unlike its parent visitor Facebook, you tin opt out of read receipts in WhatsApp.

How practice you know when someone views your message using WhatsApp? Look for the checkmarks:

A single grey checkmark indicates a successfully sent bulletin.

The advent of a second gray checkmark shows your message was delivered to the recipient's phone.

The two checkmarks will turn blue if the recipient has viewed your message.

To turn off this feature, click Settings and tap Account. Choose the Privacy option and disable Read Receipts.

Once you take your read receipts enabled on all your apps, you volition no longer take to wonder or worry most whether a recipient has viewed your message.

File photo: The WhatsApp messaging application is seen on a phone screen. (REUTERS/Thomas White)

File photo: The WhatsApp messaging application is seen on a phone screen. (REUTERS/Thomas White)

Bonus Tip: Essential tech cleanups to do before 2022

Is your digital life in need of a little TLC? Listen for smart ways to tidy up your tech, inside and out. You'll learn a few cleaning secrets, along with uncomplicated methods of sorting the clutter, immigration out junk and freeing up infinite on your devices. It looks like you just found your new holiday project.

Check out my podcast "Kim Komando Explains" on Apple, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast player.

Listen to the podcast here or wherever you go your podcasts. Only search for my last name, "Komando."

What digital lifestyle questions practise you have? Call Kim'south national radio evidence and tap or click here to find it on your local radio station. You tin listen to or lookout The Kim Komando Evidence on your phone, tablet, television, or computer. Or tap or click here for Kim's free podcasts.

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Learn about all the latest engineering science on The Kim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk evidence. Kim takes calls and dispenses communication on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and information hacks. For her daily tips, gratis newsletters, and more than, visit her website at Komando.com.