Start hereTyping the same address again, hunting for a tab you closed, scrolling past pop-ups to read one article. Small steps like these add up. Here are 12 settings that cut them out, with the steps from Apple, Google, Mozilla and Microsoft help pages.
Each setting below cuts out a small step you repeat many times a day. There are 12 of them, from iPhones, Android phones, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge and Gmail, and every step is taken from the company’s own help page.
Menus move between versions, so each card says which version its steps are for. Apple’s steps here come from the iOS 27 edition of its iPhone User Guide. Google’s Android help notes that some of its steps only work on Android 14 and up, and that settings can vary by phone. If a menu looks different on your device, the help page for your version is the one to trust.
On your phone
Five phone settings cut down typing, interruptions and time spent in apps.
1. Text replacement
Text replacement types out a long phrase when you type a short shortcut.
Apple says a text replacement lets you “enter long or complicated text by tapping just a few keys”. One comes already set up: typing “omw” enters “On my way!”
On an iPhone, Apple’s steps start in any text field: touch and hold the Emoji button or the Switch Keyboard key, tap Keyboard Settings, tap Text Replacement, then tap the Add button. You then type a phrase in the Phrase field and the shortcut you want for it in the Shortcut field. The same Text Replacement list is in the Settings app, under General, then Keyboard. Our suggestion: a few letters you would never type by accident make a good shortcut.
For example, a shortcut such as “addr” could type out your full postal address in a form.
This card covers the iPhone only. We could not find a Google help page that sets out the same steps for Android’s Gboard keyboard.
Watch for: resetting the keyboard dictionary deletes all custom words and shortcuts.
2. Focus and Do Not Disturb
Focus and Do Not Disturb silence notifications while you work, sleep or drive.
Apple describes Focus as a feature that “helps you concentrate on a task by minimizing distractions”. To silence all notifications quickly on an iPhone, open Control Center, tap Focus, then turn on Do Not Disturb. In the Settings app, tap Focus, then tap a Focus, for example Do Not Disturb, Personal or Work. Add Schedule turns a Focus on automatically at a set time, location or while you use a certain app.
On Android, swipe down from the top of your screen, then tap Do Not Disturb. In the Settings app, the path is Modes, then Do Not Disturb, then Turn on now. Google’s page also describes Allow repeat callers, which lets a call through if the same person calls twice in 15 minutes.
A schedule does the remembering for you, so quiet hours start on time each day. For example, a Focus set to start at bedtime switches on whether or not you think of it.
What researchers found about phones, notifications and focus is set out in our attention-span page.
3. Scheduled notification summary
A scheduled summary gathers notifications from the apps you pick and delivers them together.
Apple’s guide says you can schedule a notification summary that includes notifications for several apps at once. On an iPhone, open the Settings app, tap Notifications, then tap Scheduled Summary. You turn it on, schedule times for the summary, then turn on the apps to include. Each app can then be set to Immediate Delivery or Scheduled Summary, under Notification Delivery.
The summary works best when only the apps that can wait go into it. For example, shopping and news apps could arrive in an evening batch, while messages from people stay on Immediate Delivery.
This card covers the iPhone only; the Android help pages we read did not describe the same feature.
Watch for: an app set to Immediate Delivery still sends its notifications straight away, so check the list after you set it up.
4. Copy text from a photo
Live Text lets you select and copy words that appear in a photo or a paused video.
Apple says Live Text “recognizes text within your photos, videos, and images you find online”. You can use it in Safari, Photos, Camera, Quick Look and more.
To switch it on, open the Settings app, tap General, then tap Language & Region, and turn on Live Text. Once you select the text in a photo, one option is Copy Text, to paste into another app such as Notes or Messages. It saves retyping words you can already see.
For example, a photo of a printed recipe or a Wi-Fi card can become text you paste into a message.
This card covers the iPhone only, because we did not find one Google help page that sets out matching steps for Android.
Watch for: Apple notes that Live Text isn’t available in all regions or languages.
5. Daily time limits for apps
A time limit caps how long you can use an app, or a group of apps, each day.
On an iPhone, Apple says Time Allowances let you set how long you use your apps each day. In the Settings app, tap Screen Time, then tap Time Allowances. Allowances are set by category, including Entertainment, Games and Social Media. Apple says these features need iOS 27 or later, and version 27 or later of Apple’s software on all your Apple devices.
On Android, the path in the Settings app is Digital Wellbeing, then App timers, then Set timer next to the app you want to limit. When you run out of time, the app closes and its icon dims. Google adds that app timers reset at midnight.
A limit turns a choice you make once into a nudge you get later. For example, a short daily limit on a video app means the phone, not your willpower, says when the time is up.
The bigger idea behind cutting back is covered in our Digital Minimalism summary.
Watch for: Google notes that some work and school accounts might not work with app timers.
In your browser
Five browser settings help you get pages back, find them again and read them with less clutter.
6. Reopen a tab you just closed
One keyboard shortcut brings back the tab you closed by mistake.
In Chrome on a computer, Ctrl + Shift + T on Windows and Linux, or ⌘ + Shift + T on a Mac, reopens closed tabs in the order they were closed. Firefox uses Ctrl + Shift + T, or Command + Shift + T on macOS, to reopen the last closed tab. Microsoft Edge lists Ctrl + Shift + T, or Command + Shift + T on a Mac, to reopen the last closed tab and switch to it.
The three computer browsers listed here share the same shortcut, so one habit covers all of them. For example, a tab closed a second too soon comes back with three keys instead of a search through your history.
Good to know: Chrome’s help says the shortcut reopens closed tabs in the order they were closed, so you can press it more than once.
7. Open where you left off
Your browser can reopen the tabs from your last session each time it starts.
Chrome’s help says you can tell it to re-open the same pages you were looking at when you quit. In Chrome on a computer, select More, then Settings, then On startup, then Continue where you left off. In Firefox’s settings, select the Home and startup page, then, below Startup, select Open previous windows and tabs.
It means a restart no longer wipes your work in progress. For example, a half-finished search with many tabs open comes back after an update restarts the computer.
Watch for: Chrome notes that your cookies and data are saved, so websites you were logged into open again. Mozilla says Session Restore may keep you logged in to sites you were logged in to before. Our cybersecurity crash course has a note about passwords on shared computers.
8. Tab groups
Tab groups gather related tabs under one label you can collapse, close and reopen.
In Chrome on a computer, right-click a tab, select Add tab to group, then choose New group or an existing group. Chrome says a closed group isn’t deleted; it is saved in the bookmarks bar or in the menu, and you can open it again. When your browsing history and tabs sync with your Google Account, changes to tab groups are saved and synced across all your devices.
In Firefox, drag a tab onto another tab, wait until you see a highlighted area, then release it. On an iPhone, in Safari, tap the Tabs button, touch and hold a tab, tap Move Tab, then tap New Tab Group.
A group lets you put a whole task away and bring it back later. For example, one group for a trip you are planning and one for work keeps the two from mixing.
Watch for: Mozilla says Firefox tab groups are local only and don’t sync with Firefox Sync, unlike Chrome’s groups when sync is on.
9. Search a site from the address bar
A site search shortcut lets you type a short keyword in the address bar to search one website.
In Chrome on a computer, select More, then Settings, then Search engine, then Manage search engines and site search, then Add next to Site search. Chrome says you can then enter the keyword in your address bar to quickly use that search engine. For the web address, Chrome asks you to use %s where the search words would go.
In Firefox’s settings, click Search on the left, scroll down to Additional search engines, then click the pencil icon next to the search engine. Mozilla’s example keyword is youtube, and it says the keyword does not have to begin with @
A keyword skips the trip to the site’s own search box. For example, a keyword for a recipe site you use often takes you straight to its results.
Our suggestion: you use the shortcut by typing the keyword in the address bar, so a short keyword you will remember is easiest.
10. Reader view
Reader view strips a page down to its main text and pictures.
Mozilla says Reader View in Firefox strips away clutter like buttons, ads, background images and videos. When a page supports it, the Reader View icon appears in the address bar, and you can press F9 to turn it on or off.
Apple says Safari’s Reader formats a webpage to show just the relevant text and images. On an iPhone, on a supported website, tap the Page Menu button, then tap Show Reader. To use it on every website that supports it, go to Settings, then Apps, then Safari, then Reader, and turn on All Websites.
Microsoft Edge calls it Reading mode, and you can press F9 to open it on supported webpages.
It leaves just the words you came for. For example, a long article broken up by pop-ups and videos becomes one plain column to read.
Watch for: all three help pages say reader view works on supported pages, so some pages will not offer it. Firefox can also read an article out loud in Reader View, though Mozilla says the option shows up only if Windows has text-to-speech for the article’s language.
In email and across devices
Two settings cut typing in email and move a page from one device to another.
11. Gmail’s suggested replies
Smart Reply shows short replies you can pick instead of typing.
Google says that when Smart Reply is on, short suggested quick replies appear at the bottom of some messages. It is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. It also needs the box “Turn on smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet” checked in Gmail’s settings.
On a computer, click Settings, then See all settings, then the General tab. Next to “Smart Reply”, select Smart Reply on, then click Save Changes at the bottom. In the Gmail app on an Android phone, the box is called “Smart Reply in email”. Google notes you can edit a suggestion before you reply.
A related setting, Smart Compose, offers suggestions as you type. To accept a Smart Compose suggestion, press Tab on your keyboard.
It helps most with short replies you send often. For example, a quick “Thanks, got it” can go with two taps instead of typing.
Watch for: Google says Smart Compose may not always predict factually correct information, so read a suggestion before you send it.
12. Send a tab to another device
Send tab moves the page you are reading from one device to another.
Chrome’s help says you can send tabs from one device to another without losing your spot or what you’ve already typed. In Chrome, right-click the tab or page, then select Send to your devices.
It saves emailing yourself a link. For example, a long article found on a laptop at lunch can wait on your phone for the trip home.
Watch for: Chrome needs both devices signed in to Chrome with the same Google Account, and Firefox sends only to devices you have added to your Mozilla account.
Where to learn more
- Our cybersecurity crash course, for passwords, updates and other basics on the same phone and browser.
- Our attention-span page, for what research found about switching tasks and notifications.
- Our Digital Minimalism summary, for the idea of using your phone on purpose.
- Our page on AI add-ons in your browser, for what browser extensions can see.
- Apple’s iPhone User Guide, Android Help, Google Chrome Help, Gmail Help, Mozilla Support and Microsoft Edge help: the official step-by-step pages for each product.
Quick answers
How do I reopen a tab I closed by mistake?
On a computer, Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge all list Ctrl + Shift + T, or Command + Shift + T on a Mac. On an iPhone, Apple's steps for Safari are to tap the Tabs button, then touch and hold the New Tab button and choose from the list of recently closed tabs.
Does reopening my last session keep me logged in to websites?
It can. Chrome's help notes that your cookies and data are saved, so websites you were logged into open again, and Mozilla says Session Restore may keep you logged in to sites you were logged in to before.
Why does my phone not match the steps on this page?
Menus change between versions. Apple's steps here come from the iOS 27 edition of its guide, and Google notes that some Android steps only work on Android 14 and up and that settings can vary by phone.
Can I edit a Smart Reply suggestion in Gmail before sending it?
Yes. Google notes you can edit a suggestion before you reply.
Use this
Our suggestion: set up one or two of these this week, not all twelve at once.
One setting, one week, then the next.
Quick quiz
Nothing is scored or saved. Recalling it once now is what makes it last.
1. Which keyboard shortcut do Chrome, Firefox and Edge list on Windows for reopening a closed tab?
Answer: Ctrl + Shift + T.Read it again ↑
2. According to Mozilla, do Firefox tab groups sync to your other devices through Firefox Sync?
Answer: No, they are local only.Read it again ↑
3. On Android, what happens when an app timer runs out, according to Google?
Answer: The app closes and its icon dims.Read it again ↑
How we checked this · Last checked November 2026
- Every step comes from the company's own help page: Apple's iPhone User Guide (iOS 27 edition), Google's Android, Chrome and Gmail Help, Mozilla Support and Microsoft Support. Each card names the device or version its steps are for.
- Mozilla's help pages show a bot check to scripts, so we read them in a normal browser window; they are marked as read by hand.
- Apple's help text leaves out the names of its on-screen buttons. The names used here (the Tabs button, the New Tab button, the Page Menu button) are the labels Apple gives those buttons on the same page.
- We could not find Google help pages that set out matching steps for text shortcuts on the Gboard keyboard or for copying text from a photo on Android, so those two cards cover the iPhone only.
- Saved logins after a session restore are described, not advised on. Passwords and other security basics are on our cybersecurity crash course.