12 easy, techy ways to make the holiday smoother

There are all kinds of little tips and tricks that can make the busiest time of year a little easier to manage. I've got your back.

Shopping

Ho-ho-hope your packages arrive on time: Gmail's package tracking now includes real-time updates. On your phone, tap Menu > Settings. Look for General settings (Android) or Data privacy (Apple) and toggle on Package tracking at the bottom.

At home

Family visiting? Keep your steamy romance novels on lock by creating a passkey for your Kindle. Tap the three dots (upper right) and go to Settings > Device Options > Device Passcode. Your passcode can be up to 12 digits long. That's hot!

On the road

Synced your phone to a rental car? Wipe your data so the next driver doesn't get your texts. On the car's infotainment system, go to Settings and look for a factory reset option. Every car's system is different, so check the manual or ask the rental company if you can't find it.

Get tech-smarter on your schedule

Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.

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