On Discord servers, it is not uncommon to come across messages or content that are not appropriate and violate community guidelines and rules. When these violations occur, you can choose to report the Discord user or the entire server.

You can report these users or servers to the server moderators or Discord’s trust and safety team, respectively.

Read: Our article on How to make an invisible Discord Name

What To Report On Discord

You should only report a user or server on Discord when they exhibit behavior that violates Discord terms of service or is against the law. Reporting people shouldn’t be for reasons such as cheating or differences in personal opinions. Before choosing to submit a report, go through Discord’s community guidelines.

To report someone on Discord, you must provide evidence of their inappropriate behavior.

If the message you want to report breaches one or more of the guidelines, you can go ahead and file your report.

Some of the reasons that warrant reporting a Discord user are:

• Sending malware to other users or shared servers
• Child pornography/ sexualization of a minor
• Trading of illegal substances
• Targeted harassment, hate speech, and bullying
• Animal cruelty
• Spamming messages or friend requests
• Sharing explicit images without consent
• Behavior that promotes suicide and self-harm
• Threatening other users

How To Report Someone To A Discord Server Moderator

You must first reach out to your server’s moderator if you want to report a person on Discord. Every server has a moderator(s). This may be the creator of the server or a team of people.

To know if someone is a moderator, click their name and check out their profile. They usually have ‘Moderator’ or ‘Admin’ in their roles. Different servers might have various titles for the same role. Server owners usually have crowns next to their names.

Once you’re able to find a moderator, send them direct messages. Talk about the person you want to report and the reason behind it.

You’ll have to provide evidence of the offending message or content to the moderator.

You can send a screenshot of the details or a message link.

If the moderator does not do anything about your report, you can report the user to the Discord team.

How To Report Someone on Discord (Desktop)

Step 1: Turn on Developer mode.

To do this, launch the Discord desktop app or log in to your account on the website. Click the gear icon at the bottom of the page to open user settings.

On the resulting screen, scroll down to app settings and select ‘Advanced.’

If the developer mode slider is grey, click on it to enable developer mode.

Step 2: Return to the specific message you want to report to Discord.

Right-click on the username of the sender of the message you want to report. Choose copy ID from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: Copy the message.

From the options shown on the right, click on the three dots shaped button.

From the resulting dropdown menu, click copy message link. You can paste this into an empty document and label it correctly.

Next, right-click on the same message and the dots shaped button. Click on copy ID from the dropdown menu shown. This is the message ID.

Step 4: Copy Server ID

Click on the icon for the server on the left side of your screen and right-click on it. Select copy ID to copy the server ID.

Step 5: Submit the Report

To complete this process, open the Discord support website in your web browser. Choose “submit a report” from the options at the top of the image.

On the resulting page, click on the text field below ‘What can we help you with?’ Select Trust & Safety from the dropdown menu shown.

Next, click on the dropdown under ‘How can we help?’. Choose the option that agrees with why you’re reporting the user: “report abuse or harassment, report spam, or report other issue.”

This will open up a branching menu leading to the appearance of several other question fields. Fill them with the appropriate information. Paste the message link copied earlier in the ‘Message link’ text field.

In the ‘Description’ box, paste the message ID, user ID, and server ID. Add any other relevant details to the description box and submit the form. You can add a screenshot of the message in the attachments field also.

How To Report Someone on Discord (iPhone & Android)

Step 1: Open the Discord mobile app and go into user settings.

You do this by tapping on the three lines at the top of the left sidebar of the interface. Then click on the profile icon at the bottom right corner.

Scroll down the resulting page and click on ‘Appearance.’ Turn on the developer mode slider in ‘Advanced.’

On an Android device, scroll down to ‘App settings,’ click on ‘Behavior’ and toggle the developer mode slider.

Step 2: Tap on their icon to open the user’s profile.

Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner of the screen and then select ‘Copy ID.’

To get the message link, go to the message and then tap and hold on it. On an iPhone, select “Copy Message Link.” On an Android phone, select “Share” and then “Copy to clipboard.”

You can send the link to the Trust and Safety team at Discord for evaluation. You can do so by visiting the Discord support website. When filling out your report, paste the two IDs into the “Description” box, and provide some additional details about your report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when you report a user on Discord?

The Discord Trust & Safety team looks at the data you provided and collects the best information possible. These investigations focus mainly on reported messages. It could expand if a more serious violation of Discord’s terms is found in the report.

How to report someone on Discord’s desktop app?

You can report a user on the Discord desktop application by following the steps outlined in the article above.

Can you report someone on Discord?

Yes, you can report someone’s behavior on Discord if you find it inappropriate or in violation of Discord’s guidelines.

What is a Discord server?

A server is a collection of persistent chatrooms and voice channels created by specific communities and groups.

How to report scams on Discord?

The steps required to report a scam are the same as for other guideline breaches. Follow the steps in the article above to file a Discord report about a user.

Can I block someone on Discord?

If a person hasn’t done anything that warrants reporting them, you can still avoid interaction by blocking their profile. This will disable them from being able to contact you through a private chat or on a server.

Discord report form?

You can access this on the Discord support website in your web browser. Follow the steps outlined above to fill out a report.

The post How to report a user on Discord appeared first on BGR.

If your Playstation 4 is malfunctioning, you might want to start it in safe mode to troubleshoot whatever issues you’re trying to resolve.

Safe mode allows you to start your PS4 with only the most basic functions. The options in the safe mode menu are designed to help you solve issues by rebuilding the console storage database, changing your resolution, or restoring the console to its factory settings.

When booting a PS4 in safe mode, note that some options will result in data loss. It is advisable to back up your data before going through with this process. You can back up to cloud storage, an external hard drive, or a USB storage device.

Also, ensure your USB ports are working properly before launching your PlayStation 4 console in safe mode. You will need to sync your controller using a USB cable after starting your PS4 in safe mode.

Read: our article on Best PS5 and PS4 deals today.

How To Boot Your PlayStation 4 in Safe Mode

Sony PlayStation 4 and a DualShock 4 controller. Image source: Sony

The following steps will help you boot your PlayStation 4 console in safe mode:

Step 1: Turn off your console by holding the power button for three seconds. The power indicator will blink a few times, after which the console will power down.

Sony PlayStation 4 Slim. Image source: Sony

Step 2: Press and hold the power button for about seven seconds. You will hear two beeps. When you hear the second beep, release the button.

You should see a message telling you to ‘Connect DUALSHOCK 4 using the USB cable and then press the PS button’.

Step 3: Connect your DualShock 4 controller with a USB cable and press the PS button on the center of the controller.

DualShock 4 controller. Image source: Sony

Step 4: You should see the safe mode menu screen.

What Does Safe Mode Do?

The safe mode menu screen will display eight safe mode options.

Restart System

This option ends Safe Mode and reboots the PS4 console normally.

Change Resolution

This option is useful for resolving screen issues. It changes the display resolution to 480p when the PS4 console is restarted.

You might encounter problems with HDMI connections between your PlayStation 4 console and TV, such as a mismatched resolution. After ending safe mode, you can switch to the proper resolution in the Settings menu.

Update System Software

This allows you to update system software manually via direct download, a USB storage device, or a disc. 

You’ll find this option useful when you can’t use the universal method to update the system software. Updating PS4 system software can fix a lot of bugs and software problems.

Restore Default Settings

This option restores the PS4 system factory settings. Restoring default settings won’t delete content on console storage such as games, apps, screenshots, video clips, and saved data. Only settings like the date, time, etcetera would be reset with this option.

Rebuild Database

This option scans your PS4 drive and creates a new database of all content on the system. It helps clean your PS4 data and make your PS4 run a little faster by reorganizing the content on your PS4 drive.

It is useful if you’re experiencing system feature issues like PS4 games freezing, frame rate drops, or a game icon remaining on Home after it has been deleted.

The rebuild database option may take a lot of time depending on the type and number of data items on the device.

Initialize PS4

This option deletes all user data and restores the PS4 console to its original state(factory defaults). It will erase your PS4 game data,  captured images, and other content, including your system settings. Your current software will not be deleted.

Make sure you back up to an external hard drive, USB storage device, or cloud storage before selecting this option.

Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software):

This option deletes all user data and also removes PlayStation 4 firmware. It restores your PlayStation 4 to its original state.

Back up your data to an external hard drive, USB drive, or cloud storage before selecting this option.

Set HDCP Mode (PS4 Pro only)

HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) is a form of digital copy protection developed by Intel Corporation. It was designed to prevent copying digital audio and video content as it travels across connections.

It encrypts the contents of high-quality digital content sent from a video source, such as a computer, to a receiver such as a television screen. If your PlayStation 4 Pro console is connected to a 4K TV that doesn’t support HDCP 2.2, it may not be able to display an image when playing 4K games or 4K video streaming. To see an image, choose this setting and select [2. HDCP 1.40 Only] on the next screen.

This may limit video resolution to 1080p. This happens because a 4K image can only be displayed when HDCP 2.2 is supported by all connected devices, including the display device, HDMI cables, and any A/V amplifier or home cinema system that may be connected. This option is only available on the PlayStation 4 Pro console.

How To Get PS4 Out Of Safe Mode

Your PlayStation 4 can get stuck in a safe mode loop. This will not allow your console to boot in normal mode. If you encounter this issue, follow these troubleshooting steps to try to get your console out of safe mode:

Reboot your PS4

Connect your PS4 controller to the PlayStation console using a USB charging cable to access safe mode menu. Press ‘X’ on the controller to choose the restart system option.

If the console still boots in safe mode, try the next method.

Ensure there are no power issues

Check all the cables, including your USB and HDMI connections, and ensure they are working properly.

You can try unplugging your PlayStation 4’s power cable and plugging it back in. You can also unplug the HDMI cable and switch the ends of the cable. Use the end of the HDMI cable that was plugged into your PlayStation 4 and plug it into your TV. Take the end of the HDMI cable that was plugged into your TV and plug it into your PlayStation 4.

If one of the cables or connections is broken or failing, try replacing it. If the cables and connections are working normally, try power cycling your console.

How To Power cycle Your PlayStation 4 Console

• Turn off the PS4 completely by holding down the power button, then remove the hard drive disk and try to turn it back on.

• Turn it off completely again, take out the power cable and leave the system alone for 20 minutes.

• Reinstall the hard drive disk, and try to restart it in safe mode.

Update PS4 System Software

To update system software using the Internet:

• Connect your PlayStation to the Internet using a Wi-Fi or LAN cable.

• Select Update System Software on the safe mode menu.

If you’re unable to establish an Internet connection, do these instead:

• Get a USB drive with at least 375MB of free space.

• Create a folder named ‘PS4’. Inside that folder, create another named ‘Update.’

• Download the update file from the PlayStation website. Move the downloaded files to the ‘Update’ folder.
• Rename the file as PS4UPDATE.PUP.

• Plug the USB drive into a USB port on your PlayStation

• Select Update System Software on the safe mode menu.

The updates will take a while to install. If the console is still in a safe mode loop after completion, try the next method.

Rebuild Your Database

Connect your PlayStation to the Internet using a Wi-Fi or LAN cable.

Select Rebuild Database on the safe mode menu. The process will take a considerable amount of time.

Restart your PS4 once you complete the process.

This option will not result in the loss of saved files. It does not fix any hard disk issues on the system. It finds any corrupted data that could be the source of the problem and replaces them.

If it is still booting in safe mode, try the next recommendation.

Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software)

• Get a USB drive with at least 375MB of free space.

• Create a folder named ‘PS4’. Inside that folder, make another named ‘Update.’

• Download the update file from the PlayStation website.
• Move the downloaded files to the ‘Update’ folder.
• Rename the file as PS4UPDATE.PUP

• Plug the USB drive into a USB port on your PlayStation

• Select Initialize PS4 (Reinstall System Software) on the safe mode menu.

• Follow the instructions displayed on your screen and wait for the updates to finish installing.

This option will delete all user data and remove PlayStation 4 firmware. It restores your PlayStation 4 to factory settings.

If this doesn’t work, then the problem might not be one you can fix yourself. You can consider sending in your PS4 for repairs.

FAQs

PS4 Safe mode is not working?

Make sure you connect all cables properly. If they are and you still can’t boot in safe mode, visit the PlayStation Fix and Replace website for additional help.

How Do I get my PS4 out of safe mode?

You can quickly exit Safe Mode by choosing the restart system option in the safe mode menu options. If the safe mode loop persists, follow the steps outlined in the article above.

Why won’t my PS4 go into Safe Mode?

Try power cycling to resolve this issue.

My controller won’t connect using Safe Mode.

The cable you’re using for the connection might be the cause of this issue. Simply try a different one until one works. It is advisable to use the cable that comes with your console. Ensure you’re using a data transfer cable, not just a charging one.

If the controller is not charging at all, then there might be an issue with the port of the console or a hardware issue.

PS4 stuck in safe mode fix?

Try restarting your console from the safe mode menu. If the loop persists, check the article above for steps to fix the problem.

The post How to boot up a PS4 in safe mode appeared first on BGR.

There are so many incredible deals available right now on Amazon. As a matter of fact, Amazon kicked off a huge sale packed with “epic deals” on everything you can think of. But are any of those sales as good as an Amazon Gift Card promotion though? We’re not so sure.

Looking for some highlights? First and foremost, Apple’s super-popular AirPods Pro with MagSafe are down to just $174.99 and AirPods 2 are on sale for $99.99. Also, other AirPods models are also discounted right now, which is great.

Amazon’s #1 best-selling Beckham Hotel Collection bed pillows with 131,000 5-star reviews are on sale for $12.90 each. You’ll also find luxurious Danjor 1800 thread count bed sheets with 92,000 5-star ratings on sale for only $19.99.

Additionally, there are shockingly deep discounts on dozens of Amazon devices like Fire TV Sticks and Echo smart speakers.

But there are also some Amazon gift card deals that anyone and everyone should take advantage of right away. After all, there’s nothing better than getting free money from Amazon.

You’ll find three different Amazon gift card promotions available right now at Amazon. Then, there’s also one more Amazon gift card deal that gets you a $25 credit for adding a debit card to Amazon Wallet.

Altogether, there’s $55 in free money on the table right now. Plus, you’ll find even more free money and savings for certain Amazon shoppers who qualify for additional promos.

Make sure you read all the way to the end because there are so many deals you need to see.

Best Amazon gift card deals of 2022

First things first: a brand new Amazon promotion popped up that gets you a free $10 Amazon credit for Prime members! It’s called the Amazon Stampcard promotion, and it’s available to anyone with Amazon Prime.

This is an interactive promo of sorts, and there are four things you need to do. In the process, you’ll “collect” special stamps. Once you have all four, this Amazon gift card promotion will activate and you’ll get a free $10 Amazon credit.

Here’s the catch: This promo is only good until the end of the day on July 13, which is when Prime Day 2022 ends. That means you have some time to get in on the action.

Amazon Stampcard Promotion: Collect 4 Stamps, Get a $10 Amazon Credit

Are you wondering what you need to do in order to collect the stamps? Don’t worry, it’s quite simple. First, click the “Activate your Stampcard” button on the promo page. Then, you’ll just need to do these four things:

1. Make a Prime-eligible purchase
2. Stream a show on Prime Video
3. Listen to a song with Prime Music
4. Borrow an eBook on Prime Reading

That’s all there is to it! Once you do those four things, Amazon will automatically add a $10 credit to your account. The only prerequisite is that you subscribe to Prime. Also, you can see your progress on the Amazon Stampcard promotion page.

Check out the Prime Stampcard helper page for all of Amazon’s terms and conditions. This deal lasts until the end of Prime Day 2022 on July 13.

Another Amazon gift card deal and promotion with free money

Image source: Amazon

As we mentioned above, there are so many epic deals available right now on Amazon. You can actually see all the best ones right here on Amazon’s deals page. But you can spend hours digging through those pages without coming across a bargain this good. After all, what’s better than free money?!

Have you ever heard of Amazon Reload? If you answered “no,” that’s actually a good thing. It means you’re almost certainly eligible for an awesome Amazon gift card promotion that gets you a $10 credit for free!

First-time reloaders can use Amazon Reload to add $100 or more to their account. When they do, they’ll get an extra $10 Amazon credit for free.

Figuring out whether or not you’re eligible for this great offer couldn’t be easier. Just visit Amazon’s terms and conditions page for the Reload promo.

FREE MONEY: Get a $10 Amazon credit when you reload $100 to your account

If you see a message that says “Sorry, you are not eligible for this promotion,” you’re out of luck. That means you’ve used Amazon Reload at some point in the past.

But if you see Amazon’s terms and conditions instead, you’re good to go.

Get a $10 Amazon credit when you buy a gift card

Image source: Pierre Teyssot/MAXPPP/Newscom/The Mega Agency

If you’re not eligible for any other promotions in this roundup, don’t worry. There’s still one great Amazon promotion that you might be able to take advantage of.

Here’s how it works. All you need to do is head over to the Amazon Gift Card page and choose an amount of $50 or more.

Now, here’s a trick you should always keep in mind. If you want to get a gift card for someone as a present, feel free. But you can also just enter your own email address as the eGift card recipient. That way, you’re not spending any money at all! Instead, you’re simply loading $50 onto your own Amazon account.

This is the important bit. When you go to pay for your order, enter the coupon code USGIFTCARD21 at checkout. When you do, you’ll see a confirmation that the promotion worked.

Then, you’ll have an extra $10 Amazon credit added to your account within two days.

FREE MONEY FROM AMAZON: Buy a $50 Amazon Gift card, get a $10 credit FREE!

Amazon’s terms and conditions page for this promotion is right here. But we’ll save you the suspense and highlight the biggest caveat with this promo.

In order to be eligible for this Amazon gift card promotion, it needs to be your first time buying one on Amazon’s website. If you’ve purchased an Amazon gift card in a grocery store or some other physical retailer, you’re fine. But if you’ve ordered a gift card or eGift card from Amazon’s site, you’re not eligible for this promo.

Amazon’s terms and conditions say that this deal will be around until the end of the day on May 6, 2022. Then, you were supposed to have through June 21 to spend your promotional credit.

However, we’re hearing from readers that the promo still works for them. In other words, you should definitely give it a shot.

Get $25 when you add a card to Amazon Wallet

Image source: Claudio Divizia/Adobe

In addition to the fantastic Amazon gift card promotions above, there’s another new Amazon offer you need to check out.

This one is different from the rest because you don’t actually need to spend any money to get the credit. All you need to do is add a credit card or a debit card to Amazon Wallet, and you’ll get a $25 credit for free!

Here are the steps you’ll need to follow:

1. Sign in to your Amazon.com account
2. Click the ‘Add a Card’ widget from the advertisement and enter your credit card or debit card details
3. Upon successful registration of your card, the credit will be applied to your Amazon.com account
4. To redeem the credit, make subsequent eligible purchases using any valid payment method

How easy is that?

Get a $25 credit when you add a debit or credit card to Amazon Wallet

There are a bunch of terms and conditions for this promotion. Only certain customers are eligible, and there are other restrictions too.

The deal page says that only people who receive an “Add-a-card” promo email or are served an advertisement for the promo can take advantage. Of course, how do you know if you were served an ad and you missed it?

The best thing to do is simply to try out this awesome promo and see if it works for you. Read about all the details on Amazon’s terms and conditions page.

Get paid $5 to stream a movie

UPDATE: This deal is now over, but we’re going to leave the information here. There’s a good chance Amazon will start this promotion again sometime soon, so be sure to check back periodically.

Was that last heading a typo? Can you really get paid $5 just for streaming a movie? Believe it or not, yes, you really can.

Amazon is offering a special limited-time promotion to Prime subscribers. If you’re an “eligible customer” (again, there’s no clarification as far as what that means), Amazon will give you a $5 credit for streaming something using Prime Video.

All you have to do is visit the promo page, click the banner at the top, and stream a video. It’s that simple.

Watch any video included with Prime and earn a $5 Amazon credit!

Terms and conditions are located at the bottom of the page, but this one is a no-brainer. Just go stream a movie or an episode of your favorite show, and you’ll get paid $5!

Gift card deals for everyone

Now that we’ve covered the special Amazon Gift Card promotions that get you free money, there are a few other gift card deals we want to show you.

Only certain people are eligible for the offers that add free Amazon credit to your account. Meanwhile, there’s a hidden page that sometimes lists special gift card deals available to everyone!

Right now, there are several great gift card deals available on Amazon for a limited time. Definitely check out Amazon’s gift cards page for more.

Be aware that the gift card deals along the top of the page often disappear. Every time they do, however, they come back a few days later. So if you check that page and you don’t see any deals there, check back again a day or two later and you should be pleasantly surprised.

Also of note, you should keep one thing in mind. Gift cards obviously make great gifts, but you can also send these digital gift cards to your own email address and get the bonus credits for free!

Buy a $50 Amazon eGift Card, get a $5 credit

Image source: Amazon

Next, we have a great Amazon gift card promotion that actually already ended. We’re still going to tell you about it though, and we’ll explain why.

This one was simple: just buy an Amazon eGift Card of $50 or more and use the promo code THANKYOUGC21 at checkout. When you did, you got a $5 Amazon credit!

Like the other Amazon gift card promotions mentioned above, this one had eligibility requirements that were quite unclear. Your best bet was to visit the Amazon terms and conditions page to check.

If you saw the dreaded “Thank you for your interest in Amazon Gift Cards. Unfortunately, you are not eligible for this offer.” message, you were out of luck. If you saw terms and conditions, you’re in!

Here’s the important stuff from the promo page:

Terms & Conditions In order to qualify for the promotional credit, you must: (1) be the recipient of the corresponding offer (either via email or on Amazon.com); (2) purchase at least $50 in Amazon eGift Cards (“GCs”) in a single order at Amazon.com; and (3) enter the promotional code “THANKYOUGC21” in the “Gift Cards & Promotional Codes” box when you check out, or click the button to add the coupon to your account.

As noted above, this deal unfortunately ended this past December. We’re still going to keep this information here, however, because sometimes Amazon decides to launch similar promotions soon after deals like this end. If that does end up happening, it’ll be on the same page as this deal that’s now expired.

FREE AMAZON CREDIT: Buy a $50 Amazon eGift card, get a $5 credit FREE!

Get a $10 credit when you buy a $100 Apple Gift Card

UPDATE: This deal is now sold out, but we’re leaving all the info in this post. Why? Because last time it sold out, it came back a few days later and stuck around for more than a month. In other words, definitely give it a shot and see if it’s working again.

Do you have an Apple fan in your life? Do you love Apple products yourself? In either case, there’s a limited-time Amazon Christmas gift card offer that you need to take advantage of.

Just spend $100 or more on an Apple Gift Card and use the coupon code APPLEDIGITAL at checkout. When you do, you’ll get a $10 Amazon credit!

There’s also a simple trick you can use if you’re planning to buy some Apple gadgets yourself. If you send an Apple Gift Card to your own email address, you’ll end up getting $10 for free! You’re going to spend that money on Apple products anyway, right? With that in mind, you might as well get an extra $10 from Amazon.

Here’s the confirmation you’ll see when you enter the promo code at checkout:

You can find all the terms and conditions for this deal right here on Amazon. Just scroll down to the section labeled “special offers and product promotions”.

Also, keep in mind that deals like these tend to sell out fast. Even though the promo code suggests that the offer lasts through the end of the month, the terms use the ominous phrase “while supplies last”.

If the past is any indication, supplies definitely won’t last until the end of the month. That means you should definitely hurry or you might miss out!

Apple Gift Card Promotion: Buy a $100 Gift Card with Promo Code APPLEDIGITAL, Get a $10 Credit!

More deals at Amazon

Image source: zobaair/Adobe

Are you looking to spend the money you just made with these Amazon Gift Card promotions? Don’t worry, there are plenty of amazing deals happening right now. Check out Amazon’s daily deals page for all the hottest ones.

If you want some examples, we’ve got a few particularly solid ones down below.

To start, AirPods Pro with MagSafe charging hit a new all-time low price of just $174.99. They were just released late last year, so we can’t believe they have such a big discount! The bad news is they keep selling out. The Apple Watch Series 7 is also discounted right now and the Apple Watch SE is on sale for just $229.

Plus, there’s an extremely rare discount right now on the Wyze Cam v3 Spotlight home security camera with incredible color night vision. Get it for the lowest price we’ve seen since last summer.

Don’t miss these awesome deals!

Go here to see this month’s best deals online!

The post Amazon gift card deals 2022: How to get $55 for free appeared first on BGR.

Changing your Reddit username is difficult, not impossible. In this article, we will walk you through the steps you need to change your Reddit username. We’ll also be looking at what to expect when opening a new Reddit account via email, browser, or the Reddit app.

Username or display name

There is a difference between your username on Reddit and your display name. Now and then, there are questions and comments asking about the functionality of both. Your display name is what appears on your profile page. It is rather cosmetic and performs no actual function apart from being the name everyone sees on your profile.

Your Reddit username, on the other hand, has more functionalities than the user name. The username is a unique permanent name that appears on your posts, comments, and replies. While you can change your display name whenever you please, you can change your username only once.

Can I really not change my Reddit username?

On the one hand, Reddit allows users to change their usernames. On the other, it disallows users from changing their “self-assigned” Reddit username. 

According to Reddit, you can create a new account using an email address, an Apple ID, or a Google account.

Usually, once you create your account, you’ll be assigned a random alphanumeric username. Thankfully, you can change this username if you open your account with your Google or Apple ID and haven’t finalized your username yet.

The 30-Day Rule

This rule entails that Reddit allows you to change the randomly assigned username. However, Reddit only allows users 30 days to change the assigned username. Upon the expiration of 30 days, the automated username becomes your username forever.

Within the 30-day window, new account holders can only change their username once.

So, be very careful about the name you pick before selecting a username for your profile. 

Change username on Reddit account created using email

As stated earlier, you can use an email address to open a new account on Reddit.

Should you choose to create your account using an email address, Reddit gives you the option of selecting your username. When you choose your preferred username, it becomes unchangeable.

Change Username on Reddit Account Created using Google/Apple ID.

If you are an iOS or Android user, you may prefer to open a Reddit account using your Apple ID or your Google account. Mainly because it allows you to synchronize your account across various devices.

Reddit also gives users an additional incentive for using their Google accounts or Apple IDs. The incentive is the option of changing your username anytime you want within 30 days of the account’s creation.

For Android and iPhone users, you only get this time-limited option once. So think carefully and deeply before choosing a new username. The moment you change your randomly assigned username, you lose the opportunity to get another Reddit username. After this point, the only other option is to open a new Reddit account, seeing that you cannot change an existing Reddit username. Thankfully, you can open as many Reddit accounts as you want.

Now, let us explore how to change your username on your devices and the requirements you must meet before you are allowed to change your password.

How to change your Reddit username on a computer browser

Naturally, most people would prefer to use Reddit on their phone rather than a computer. However, if you prefer using the PC, MacBook, or Chromebook variants of Reddit, you can change your username using these simple steps:

Option 1 – For New Accounts

Step 1: Creating an Account

• Open a web browser on your PC. Open the official Reddit website and click on the “Sign Up” option.

Image source: Toby Grey for BGR

• Choose the account creation method you would like to use to open your account. We would be using the Google account as a sample.

• Select the google account you wish to use for your Reddit account, then input the necessary information.

Your account is set up. Time to sign in!

Step 2: Changing Your Reddit Usernames

After the account has been set up, you will see a notification showing your preassigned name. The pop-up will have a “Change Username” option.

Image source: Toby Grey for BGR

• Click on it to open an option to begin editing. 

Image source: Toby Grey for BGR

• Now input your desired username. Be sure another user has not taken the name. If you can’t seem to come up with any, you can opt for any of the suggested Usernames by Reddit.

• Click on the Continue to save your new username.

Option 2 – For Existing Accounts

If you already have an existing account, then naturally, your first step would be to visit Reddit’s website and enter your log-in details:

• Click on the drop-down icon found at the extreme right corner of your screen.

Image source: Toby Grey for BGR

• In the Menu list, click on the Profile icon.

• Your tentative username would appear, click on it and edit.

• Click on the Save option. 

How to change your Reddit username on your mobile phone

The images in this article are all derived from an Android device. However, the following steps are also applicable to Android and iPhone owners.

• The first step would be to open the Reddit app. If you don’t already have it, you can easily download the Reddit mobile app from the App Store or Google Playstore.

• Tap on your avatar/Profile Icon, then tap on the My Profile option to see your account’s settings.

If you are still allowed to change your username with the mobile phone, a notification will come up immediately after you tap on the My Profile option. The pop-up would ask you to confirm your randomly assigned Reddit username or change it to a new one.

• Tap on the Change Username option

Image source: Toby Grey for BGR

• Type in your preferred username. 

• After you’ve found a name that is unique to you, tap on Next at the top right corner of the screen.

• A notification will pop up, asking if you are comfortable using that username forever. Suppose your answer is a Yes; Tap on the Save Username option. If you still have doubts, you can easily tap on Go Back and return when you are sure of your username.

• Viola! Your new username is ready to use.

Once again, there is no going back when you complete this process.

With this in mind, know that over 53 million subscribers use Reddit. It might be challenging to find a unique name.

FAQs

How Can I correct my username?

The sad news is that once the name change process has been finalized, Reddit doesn’t allow any form or alteration to such username again. The next available option would be to create a new account with a new name. 

Can I  Synch my old account with my new account?

Although Reddit allows you to use the same email address to sign up for more than one account, it does not support the synchronization of different account activities. 

Can a Username be Reused after the profile has been deactivated?

Reddit does not allow you to reuse a username once it has already been picked. Including when the Reddit profile that picked the name has been deactivated. 

So What can I do about an unwanted name?

While you may not have the option of synchronizing activity across various profiles, Reddit allows you to switch accounts. This feature enables you to create a secondary account and to switch between them. Simply tap on the Profile icon, at the bottom of the page, click on Settings >Account Settings> Basic Settings> Switch Account.

How do I delete a Reddit username?

To delete your Reddit username, click on your avatar on your PC, and then click on settings. Click delete account, then enter your username and password. Click Delete when you’re sure you want to delete your account.

Why did Reddit give me a username?

Reddit does not assign or force upon you a username, it simply suggests available ones when you sign up.

Can I delete my Reddit account and make a new one?

Yes, you can. However, you should know that once an account is deleted, it can never be reactivated. Also when a username has been assigned once, it can never be reused by anyone

Does deleting Reddit account delete history?

Yes, it does. Once you delete your account, your entire history will not be on the servers anymore.

Can I make another Reddit account with the same email address?

Yes, you can have as many Reddit accounts as you want with the same email address. As long as you don’t use any of your accounts to vote on the same posts.

The post How to change your Reddit username appeared first on BGR.

Letting go of your Instagram account might not be as easy as you think. Mainly because Instagram offers many benefits that you might not even realize. Great photo filters, secure direct messages, and much more. But, if you want to know how to delete your Instagram account, you have come to the right place.

As of this moment, over 1 billion people are on Instagram. That’s more than 10% of the world’s population. Owned by Meta (formerly Facebook), Instagram has quickly become a crowd favorite app for viewing and sharing pictures online.

But what if you want a break from Instagram? What if you wanted to delete your Instagram account? Perhaps, to focus more on other aspects of your life, to retain some of your digital privacy, or just because?

This article will provide a step-by-step guide that will help you through the Instagram account deletion process.

If you’re not entirely certain that you want to let go of your Instagram account permanently, we’ll also teach you the next best thing — deactivation.

Instagram Deactivation or Deletion?

With Instagram, you can either disable and deactivate your account or permanently delete it.

When you deactivate your account, your profile, likes, followers, photos, and comments are entirely hidden from public view or other users. However, you can completely restore your Instagram data by simply logging back into your account at any time.

Unlike deactivation, deleting your Instagram account permanently is an act you cannot undo. When you delete the account, all your Instagram data will be permanently erased. So if you intend to sign up for Instagram again, it will be impossible for you to retrieve your old data or even use the same username. No one else would be able to use it either.

How to Temporarily Deactivate Your Instagram Account

If there’s a chance you might want your account back in the future, the move to make is to deactivate your Instagram account temporarily. Follow these steps to do it with ease:

• Start by logging into your Instagram account on your computer. The website is Instagram.com. After logging in, proceed to your profile page. At the top of the page is an “Edit Profile” option. Click on it.

• Next, a new page will come up. At the bottom of the page and select the option that says “Temporarily disable my account.”

• Once the second step is done, you will be given different options of why you want to deactivate your account. Choose a reason, and then re-enter your password.

• Finally, click “Temporarily Disable Account” at the bottom of the page, and boom!

Reactivation

After you temporarily disable your account, what if you change your mind and wish to reactivate it? Just log back into the Instagram website and re-enter your account password. Remember, you must know your username and password to reactivate your account.

Also, note that disabling your account can only be done once a week.

Save Your Data First!

Heads up, deleting your account permanently means all your data will be erased. Your data includes your profile, photos, likes, followers, and comments. Memories are dear to us and if you don’t want them permanently cleared alongside valuable interactions, save your account data first. To save your Instagram account data, you should:

• Log in to the Instagram website, and then click or tap on the profile icon. This will be at the bottom of the page in the right corner.

• Click on the hamburger icon that depicts the menu. This is at the top right corner of the page. Go ahead and select “Settings” in its location at the bottom of the page.

• Tap on “Privacy and Security.”

• After that, click “Download Data” under the “Data and History” section.

• Input your password and proceed to click on “Request Download.”

What Next?

Once all these steps are followed, all you have to do is wait patiently. You will be emailed the complete file of your profile by Instagram. All your photos, comments, profile information, etc., will be sent to the email address you provided.

This will ensure that you have all the information you might need in the future. We advise you to save your data before permanently deleting your Instagram account.

How To Delete Your Instagram Account On Your Phone

Instagram feed. Image source: Instagram Image source: Instagram

We do not know why, but the option to delete Instagram on your phone’s Instagram app isn’t available to all users. That said, whether you’re using an iOS or Android version of the app, the following steps will adequately guide you. If you have the option, that is.

• To start with, check if the option is available for you by going to your profile. Then, select the three stacked lines at the top right corner. (it’s next to the “+” sign). Click on “Settings” and go to “Account.”

• If there’s a “Delete Account” option under the “Branded Content” section after you scroll down, then the option is available for you.

• Once you confirm that you have the option to delete your account on your phone, tap on the “Delete Account” button.

• A menu will come up with options to delete or disable your account. Select “Delete Account.” When you do this, you’ll get a prompt. The prompt will specify how long the deletion process will take. It also determines how long you have to interrupt the deletion process.

• Click the “Continue deleting account” button. The app will aid you in the remaining process.

Don’t fret if the “Delete Account” option is not available to you on your phone. You can also try deleting your Instagram account on the mobile browser.

Permanent Deletion of Your Instagram Account using the Instagram website

Deleting your account offers you two choices, permanent or temporary. Choosing the permanent option erases your profile forever. It’s pretty easy to delete your account permanently.

Simply log in to your account on the Instagram web browser or website. Then do this on your computer:

• Follow this link to the “Delete your Instagram account” page on your browser.

• The drop-down Menu provides several reasons for the permanent deletion of your Instagram account. Choose a reason from the drop-down menu.

• Tap on the “Delete” button to verify your choice.

Following these steps will permanently delete your Instagram account.

Can You Get Your Deleted Instagram Account Back?

We know what we said, but deleting your Instagram account permanently isn’t necessarily final. There are two ways of getting your deleted Instagram account back.

For the first method, log into the account with your username and password within the 30-day time frame given by Instagram. A message will pop up asking if you wish to keep using the account alongside information about the date your data will be deleted. Select the “Keep account” option. This will stop the deletion process.

The second way to retrieve your deleted account isn’t quite official. Although it’s not an official method, many users vouch for it.

Here’s how to do it:

• Put in your username or email address on the login page, and then tap the “Get help signing in” option.

• Go ahead and click on “Trouble logging in.”

• Select the type of account you would like to recover and choose the “My account was hacked” option.

• See the “Hear more about your experience” button? Click it.

• Finally, fill out the forms provided. Within a few hours, Instagram will email you.

For this to work, you will also need to provide some form of verification, e.g., the images you’ve uploaded on your account, your username, email address, and/or verification code.

Additional Information

You should be aware that you can’t delete your account without first logging into the app. So if there is an old Instagram account you wish to delete but can’t remember the password, you have to first recover your account before you can delete it. To do this:

• Go to the login page of Instagram.

• Select the “Forgotten Your Password?” button.

• Type your email address, phone number, or username on the next page to request a login link. You’ll get a verification email too.

• Click the “Need more help” button for the link to be sent again. Do this only if you do not receive the login link.

• Instagram will provide more prompts to guide you through the remaining process.

Once you successfully recover your account, you can now go ahead to delete the account if you still wish to.

To Sum Up

Social media apps have become a crucial part of our day-to-day. But if you think it’s time to call it quits with Instagram, this guide will come in handy.

Whether you have decided to temporarily disable your Instagram account or permanently delete it, this article aims to make the process as easy as possible for you. All you have to do is follow the laid-out steps. You can also watch videos online or visit the Instagram help center for more information.

FAQs

Where is the delete account page on Instagram?

You won’t have to look far to find the Instagram delete account page. Simply tap the profile icon in the Instagram app’s bottom right corner. Tap the “Help” option in the menu after selecting settings. After that, go ahead and pick Help Center. Then click “Managing Your Account” to access your account options. Finally, the “Delete Your Account” page appears, and you can delete your account by tapping the button.

Why can’t I delete my Instagram account?

You might not be able to delete your account if it violates Instagram’s rules. If your account is suspended due to a violation of the Community Guidelines, you may not be able to re-register with the same username. You might also be unable to delete your account if you do not remember your valid password. This is because you will need to be able to log into your account to request deletion.

Should I delete Instagram?

Although it may be difficult to let go, deleting social networking apps can be beneficial. You can erase Instagram if you feel it is causing you unnecessary tension and anxiety or if it is significantly affecting your productivity. If you’re not sure about making a permanent decision, you can deactivate your account temporarily.

Can I deactivate my Instagram account for 1 year?

Yes, you can. Your account can be temporarily deactivated or disabled for as long as you desire. You also don’t risk losing any personal information, and your account will be restored within a week if you decide to reactivate it.

Can I get back my deleted Instagram account?

No, you can’t. There is no way to recover your account once it has been permanently deleted. Although you may be able to register a new account using the same email address as your old one, you may not be able to use the same username.

Does deleting Instagram delete everything?

No, it won’t. Deleting or uninstalling Instagram on your phone is different from deleting your Instagram account. Merely deleting the app from your phone will not permanently delete your account. It will simply remove the Instagram app from your phone.

Can Police hack your Instagram?

Not exactly. Although, with a valid warrant or subpoena, law enforcement before can access a user’s information that has a connection with an investigation. However, it is quite possible to access a user’s information without a warrant if the information shared on the app is public or with friends.

What does a deleted account look like on Instagram?

To check what a deleted account looks like on Instagram, type “Instagram.com/(username)” into your address bar- the username being the account username. If a page appears with “This page is not available, that means the account has either been deleted, or you have been blocked from seeing the user’s account.”

Does Instagram have a delete limit?

On Instagram, there are currently no limits to the number of posts you can delete at one time.

The post How to Delete Your Instagram Account appeared first on BGR.

If you are already a TikToker or plan on becoming one, you might have wondered when the best time to post on TikTok is. Let’s find out in this article.

TikTok is one of the hottest social media apps right now. With about 1 billion active users monthly, it also has one of the largest global audiences of any social media app.

Like every social media app, engagement on TikTok is key to building an audience. Creating the content is only one part of the equation. Reaching a large audience is equally important. After all, getting TikTok users to your page will earn you more followers.

Besides making the perfect video, the problem for creators is finding the optimal time to post.

Mornings? Afternoons? Evenings? It is not so easy to decide as most creators don’t have the answer.

So when is the best time to post on TikTok? To know the best time to post on TikTok, we’ll explore two options. First, we’ll list out the proven optimal times to post on TikTok. And then we’ll show you unique strategies for how you can optimize to determine the perfect TikTok posting times for you personally.

Without further ado, here is the best time to post on TikTok.

Best time to post TikTok videos

After analysis of multiple video posts on TikTok and their posting times, here are the generic best times to post on TikTok each day of the week:

Monday:

6 AM, 10 AM, 10 PM

Tuesday:

2 AM, 4 AM, 9 AM

Wednesday:

7 AM, 8 AM, 11 PM

Thursday:

9 AM, 12 AM, 7 PM

Friday:

5 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM

Saturday:

11 AM, 7 PM, 8 PM

Sunday:

7 AM, 8 AM, 4 PM

Please note that all times are denominated in the Eastern Standard Time zone (EST). You will have to find the equivalent time in your time zone. Consequently, remember that your audience is located in multiple time zones.

How to use TikTok analytics

Using the times we listed, TikTok analytics and your target audience’s location will allow you to get maximum engagement on your TikTok videos.

So how do you access TikTok analytics?

To use TikTok analytics, you have to switch to a TikTok Pro account. Switching your account to Pro allows you to access TikTok analytics and other tools that help you manage your account. The best part? It won’t take you more than a minute to switch. Here is a step-by-step guide on switching to a TikTok Pro account.

Step 1

Head to your profile page and click on the menu button (three dots) at the top right-hand corner.

Step 2

Click on the settings menu and click on manage account.

Step 3

Click on “Switch to Business Account” or “Switch to Pro Account,” then click on “Next.” You will be prompted to pick a business category that best suits your brand. Pick the best one for your account.

Step 4

You will be back on your profile menu. Click the top right corner and select Business Suite or Pro Account.

Step 5

Click on “Analytics” to view details about the videos you posted.

You now have the features of a TikTok pro account. You can now get familiar with the analytics tool with your Pro account.

Understanding TikTok analytics

There are three tabs or sections in TikTok’s analytics section.

Overview

The Overview tab contains your profile views, video views, and followers.

Content tab

The content tab contains performance metrics about your posts, including average watch time, audience likes, audience views, and comments.

Followers tab

The followers tab contains information about your followers’ activity, followers’ location, and how many followers you have.

With these three tabs, TikTok’s analytics help you to boost your TikTok content.

How to determine the best time to post on TikTok

There are questions you need to ask to use your analytics correctly.

Where is your target audience located?

The best time to post on TikTok is dependent on where your audience lives. Design your posting time around your audience and their time zone to get maximum exposure for your content.

To discover where your target audience is, go to your followers tab on your TikTok account. Scroll until you reach “top territories” to view where most of your followers are. Top territories will rank your followers from where the most to least are located.

However, TikTok only gives a general area of where your followers are located. For example, if all your followers are located in the US, it only tells you they are in the US. Quite the issue when you consider that the US has multiple time zones. Also, using audience location to post content can be quite tricky. The secret to high-performing content is getting your time zones right.

Using this example, if you are in New York posting at 7 AM, your users based in California will still be asleep.

What time is your audience awake?

Once you discover where your audience is located and their time zone, the next step is discovering when they are awake. Using this knowledge, plotting a near-perfect time map should be possible.

Plot a day and night map when you discover your audience’s time zones. With this, you will now have an idea of when they are awake.

The drawback is that TikTok does not have any tools for scheduling posts. So you would have to upload your videos manually.

What time is your audience most engaged?

Being awake does not mean your audience is actively using TikTok. It would be best if you found out their most active times. So how do you know when they are active? You can use your followers’ activity to decide.

If you post for the same target audience, your followers’ activity can be found under the followers tab.

You can streamline your follower activity to an hour or days. This would allow you to see how engaged your followers are and at what time of the day they are engaged.

What time should you post on TikTok?

Post videos at the time when your audience is most engaged. In addition, you should consider your followers’ location before posting content. You should note that your TikTok analysis is based on coordinated universal time.

Therefore, you would have to convert the time shown on the analytics to the time zone of your TikTok audience. For example, if your analytics say your followers are most active between 6 AM to 9 AM UTC, you need to convert it to your time zone.

Doing this would allow you to post at the proper times. Consequently, increasing your engagement rates and ensuring that your audience sees your videos.

Pro-tip: Learn from your videos with the most engagement. Do not reinvent the wheel if you already have a publishing schedule that works. Watch how your content performs and note how you posted and the relevant hashtags you used.

How to grow your TikTok audience

Knowing the best time to post on TikTok will help grow and widen your audience. There are other hacks you can use to grow your following. Using these hacks in collaboration with content posting times, you can achieve amazing results.

Content Production Increase

The best way to increase your followers is by uploading more quality content. You will have to be consistent with your uploads to gain reasonable traction.

Keep a content diary that would help you keep track of your ideas.

Do not compromise on quality content ever! The TikTok algorithm would recommend videos with good quality over those with poorer ones.

Share Older Content

As a TikToker, It is not always easy creating new content all the time. You may have created engaging content but did not post it, and that’s okay. Try old content when you feel like you are running out of ideas.

Use this as a buffer to give yourself more time to think up new content. You can add throwback hashtags like #TBT to make the video feel authentic.

Use Hashtags

Like other social media platforms, hashtags are the easiest way to reach a larger audience. Finding content can be challenging for some users, so they rely on hashtags to bring content to them.

Use hashtags that are relevant to your type of content, and it will give you a better chance of attracting the right audience. In addition, hashtags would make it easy for your videos to be found in search, so make sure they are relevant.

Finding hashtags on TikTok is a breeze and relatively straightforward. Head straight to the search bar and check for any hashtags you feel are relevant. Next, check the engagements and note down the best hashtags to use.

Join Challenges

Challenges are very important on TikTok. Join as many challenges as you can to gain new followers.

Joining challenges is an easy way to get in front of a large audience. Search for the most popular challenges you can find on Tiktok. If a challenge is trending, users are paying attention, so capitalize on that.

In addition, try to put your unique spin on challenges and avoid being generic like everyone else.

Find Your Unique Edge

Create content unique to your style and differentiate yourself from other TkTokers. Unlike Instagram, it is easier for new people to find your content. Therefore, being unique will give you an edge when building your followers.

Your secret sauce may not necessarily be a physical feature. It could be a combination of traits that make your content unique. Do not be afraid to try several things until you find something that works.

Leverage Other TikTokers

Growing your account alone will be many times harder than asking for help. Collaborating with TikTokers, who have a larger audience than you, can help you in more ways than one.

Firstly, it would ensure that you get your videos in front of more eyeballs. Partnering with accounts that have more followers than yours gives you a big leg up.

Secondly, you can get actionable tips and insights from fellow TikTokers. Using their tips would help you accelerate account growth faster than if you were doing it alone.

There are two ways to collaborate with other TikTok accounts

• Create content together and share it on their page. This exposes you to their audience and makes them want to know more about your content. This works better if you are in the same niche.
• Create content and get other TikTokers to post it. This will show their followers that they could try something new. It works best when you are in different niches, but they also have a large audience.

Either of these methods you choose is up to you, but the end goal remains the same; acquiring new followers. Partner with as many creators as you can to get your engagement up and learn from them.

Track Your Progress

Post content at different times and measure how much engagement you attracted. Furthermore, use a spreadsheet to track your progress for easy record keeping.

Track your progress for at least a month before you measure results. With this method, aspiring creators can build their TikTok presence quickly. The key to timeline success is knowing the busiest hours and posting at those times.

The more fine-tuned your posting process becomes, the more followers you will gain. Be strict with your posting schedule and measure everything!

FAQs

Does it Matter When You Post on TikTok?

Yes, it does. Posting times ensure that you post when your audience is most active on TikTok. You can use a publishing schedule to ensure all your posts are made at the right time.

Adjust your publishing times if your analytics begin to shift in another direction. Learn from your best-performing videos and use what works to get the most out of your videos.

Is Night-Time the Best Time to Post on TikTok?

No and Yes. The time of the day you post is not as important as when your audience is active. If your followers are active at night, then posting at night is the best thing for you.

Alternatively, if your followers are active during the day, it is in your best interests to post during the day. Ultimately, the best time to post is when your users are most active.

Will Posting Multiple Times on TikTok Boost My Profile?

Posting multiple videos on TikTok can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, if you post two high-quality videos a day, this would do wonders for your account. Increasing this up to four videos a day won’t be a problem if the videos are high quality.

On the other hand, posting low-quality content will harm your account.

The TikTok algorithm won’t recommend your content to new users, and your page will be filled with low-quality content no one watches.

Post multiple times on TikTok but use a strategy. Post when your audience is most active and ensure that your videos are high quality.

Does Your Video Quality Matter?

Yes, video quality matters. The TikTok algorithm promotes high-quality video over mediocre content. This means you need to have decent lighting, a good camera, and a decent background.

The quality of your videos can make or break your push for more followers and engagement. Pay attention to your content and ensure it meets TikTok’s high standards.

How Do I Get More Views On TikTok?

There are many ways to increase your views on TikTok.

Try Hashtags. Hashtags are beneficial. Adding relevant ones to your video will help with visibility. In the same vein, adding popular music to your videos will make it easier for TikTok users to see your content.

A high-quality video will always be picked up and pushed by the algorithm. Edit and polish your videos the best you can to meet up to Tikok standards. Make short-form engaging content instead of long boring content. Finally, follow trends and make videos that play to these trends.

Engage with your viewers and give them a reason to return to your videos. Creating relatable content would guarantee that it is shared among users. This brings more visibility to your content.

Using these methods will work wonders for your content. You can test any combination of these to see what works for you. Do not try to game the system. It never ends well!

The post Best time to post on TikTok appeared first on BGR.

Have you recently come across “about:blank” on your browser? Perhaps on the tab of your title page or in your browser’s address bar? Have you wondered if this message was caused by a malicious virus, a poor internet connection, or a broken link?

Well, about:blank is a built-in feature in web browsers like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Brave, Microsoft Edge, etc. If you use any of these browsers, you could come across this blank web page.

Here’s the good news: it is not a serious issue. In fact, many people deliberately use it as their home page. That way, their browsers open on an empty page.

But if your web browser opens on an about: blank home page and you would like to change it, read on!

What does about:blank mean?

Many web browsers make use of URLs to access web pages. “About” is part of the “about:URL” commands that communicate with the browser to display internal web pages.

So, the blank page you came across is actually a built-in command in your web browser.

The “about” part processes multiple internal commands to the browser. In fact, there are several “about:” commands that the web browser uses to reload pages that have been built into the browser.

For example, try entering “about:settings” in your address bar, and you will be redirected to the browser’s settings page. Some other common “about” pages are “about:downloads” “about:about”, “about:plugins”, and “about:extensions”.

When you enter a new URL with an “about:” command into the address bar of your web browser, the browser loads the built-in page of such command. That is why entering an “about:blank” command in your browser automatically shows you a blank page.

As explained above, this page doesn’t load from the internet—it’s built into your browser.

Hopefully, you should now have the answer to your question!

What causes about:blank?

Now that you understand what “about:blank” is, it might interest you to know why it pops up sometimes.

Here are some frequent reasons why you may have come across the blank page:

• You clicked on a download link that opens in a new tab or window. This process may force the browser to display a blank page as the download is initiated.

• You had incorrectly typed a URL in your browser’s address bar, and the browser redirects you to a wrong page that is infected with malware or viruses.

• Mistyping a URL may also confuse the browser on what to display, bringing about a blank page display.

• There is a sudden poor internet connection while a page is loading.

• A bug or error in HTML, Java, and other codes of a web page or the browser itself.

Uses of about:blank

People that prefer to have a blank page on their browsing apps, use the about:blank page as their home page. This gives them some degree of privacy.

About:blank pages may also help prevent distractions. It also helps to regulate the bandwidth of your computer by opening a built-in tab upon startup.

There have been cases of some internet apps stealing data from their users. Users launch their web browser and end up bombarded with multiple ads. Because of this, many people also prefer to avoid these ads with a blank homepage page.

Other uses of the “About” command

As stated earlier, “About” commands are used to communicate with the internal web pages of your browser.

When you enter a new URL with an “about:” command into the address bar, the browser loads the inbuilt page of such programmed command.

You can try typing “about:about” to view the list of “About” commands supported by your browser.

Is about:blank malware?

The about:blank page is NOT harmful to your computer. You’re arent the victim of a malware attack. It is simply a blank screen that pops up on a site when your internet browser doesn’t have enough information to act on.

That said, the presence of malware in some browsing apps can cause them to display blank pages. If you’re concerned a malicious program might infect your computer, you can scan and fix it with a recommended antivirus software.

How to stop blank pop-ups

Since the about:blank functionality doesn’t harm your computer, it’s best to leave it alone. Some anti-malware programs and antivirus use these blank pages to get rid of sneaky actions by some dangerous URLs.

However, If you wish to change the about:blank screen from being your homepage, all you have to do is go to your settings and disable it.

If you get these blank pop-ups regularly, chances are that they are attributes of a virus or malware corrupting your browser already. You can try uninstalling and reinstalling your Chrome or whatever browsing app you use.

Aside from getting regular blank pop-ups or changing your welcome page to a default window, you should probably leave the about:blank functionality alone.

How to fix an about:blank web page

Here’s how to get rid of a blank screen when you open your browsing software.

For Chrome:

• Open your Chrome app on your PC.

• Move your cursor to the menu icon(three dots)in the top right corner and click on it. Select Settings, and scroll down to “On startup.”

• Move your cursor to the “More options” triple dotted icon and click on it. Next, select “Remove,” and it’ll automatically select the first option; “Open a new tab page.”

If you’d prefer to start up from where you left off, select the “continue where you left off” option and close the settings screen.

For Microsoft Edge:

• Open the Microsoft Edge app on your PC. Select the three horizontal dots at the top right corner, and click on “Settings.”

• Move your cursor to the “Start, home, and new tabs” option, and click on it. Next, select “Remove,” and it will automatically select the first option.

If you prefer to start up from where you left off, select the “Open tabs from the previous session” option and close the settings screen.

For Mozilla Firefox

Open the Mozilla Firefox app on your PC.

Head on to the Firefox settings> Options > Home

Select a different option from the about:blank / “Blank page” as a default homepage

For Brave browser

Open the Brave browser on your PC.

Head over to the menu icon in the right corner and click on it. Scroll down to settings.

Move your cursor to the “More options” triple dotted icon and click on it. Next, select “Remove,” and it’ll automatically select the “Open a new tab page” option.

For those who would prefer to start from where they left off, select the “Continue where you left off” option. Then, close the settings screen.

In conclusion, about:blank pages cause no harm to your computer system. You only get one when the browser has nothing to display. However, you can easily fix it by clearing the cache, resetting your settings, or simply closing the site anytime it pops up.

The post What is about:blank? appeared first on BGR.

If you’re a Windows user hoping to learn how to take screenshots on your Windows PC, you have come to the right place. In this article, we’ll look at the numerous ways to take screenshots on PC.

This list will include methods that come built into your Windows PC. You might know some of the methods, and you might not have heard of others. We’ll also include keyboard shortcuts and third-party apps.

Heads up, some of these tips will only work on Windows 10 and the newer Windows 11. Others will work for older versions of Windows. So let’s dive right in.

Print Screen Key (PrtSc) method

The most popular way of taking screenshots on a Windows PC is by simply pressing the print screen (PrtSc) key.

But there’s a catch. Simply pressing the print screen (PrtSc) key might not seem to do anything, but it does. It takes a screenshot of the entire screen. Even still, you might not know how to locate the saved screenshot after it has been taken.

The full-screen screenshot your PC takes when you press the print screen (PrtSc) key isn’t automatically saved anywhere. Instead, it goes to your computer’s clipboard.

Pasting and saving screenshots taken using the print screen key

To view the screenshot that your PC takes when you press the print screen button, you have to open any image editing app on your PC and then paste the picture.

If you don’t know what an image editing app is, don’t worry. Your Windows PC comes with the Microsoft Paint app. Microsoft Paint is an image editing app.

Click on the Windows key, and search for “paint.” The Paint app will come up, and you can then proceed to open the app and paste the screenshot.

To paste the screenshot on the paint app, right-click and select “Paste.” You can also use a keyboard shortcut by simultaneously pressing the “Ctrl” and “V” (Ctrl+V) keys.

Once the picture loads, you can save the screenshot to any folder. To save, simultaneously press the “Ctrl” and “S” (Ctrl+S) keys on your keyboard and save to any folder.

Alt + PrtSc

There is an alternative to pressing the print screen button alone: “Alt + PrtSc keys.” Pressing the Alt + PrtSc keys saves a picture of your currently active window (not the entire screen) to the clipboard. Then you can paste the screenshot to an image editing app.

But if you find all of this to be a hassle, there is a better alternative to these methods.

Windows+ Print Screen Key (PrtSc) method

To take a full-screen capture and automatically save it to a folder, you can simultaneously press the Windows key and the print screen key. When you press the “Windows” and “PrtSc” keys together, your screen darkens, and it takes a screenshot of your entire screen.

However, unlike when you press the PrtSc key, you don’t need to paste the screenshot in an image editor app. Instead, the screenshot saves itself in the “Screenshots” folder as a png image file. You can find the Screenshots folder with automatically labeled images in the Pictures folder of your PC.

If you’re using Windows 11, the picture doesn’t just save to the screenshots folder. It also copies the picture. So you can still paste it to an image editing app or apps that have image support.

Fun fact: Instagram and Facebook are both apps with image support. So, if you want, you can paste the screenshot directly to both apps.

PrtSc key + OneDrive method

To automatically save your screen captures to the cloud, you can combine the PrtSc key with OneDrive. This method automatically saves the screenshot to a OneDrive folder. That way, you don’t have to open an app to paste the screenshot. And you have a backup that is accessible wherever you go.

To begin, right-click on the OneDrive icon by the taskbar. Click on “Settings,” then click on “Backup.” Then tick the tab that says, “Automatically save screenshots I capture to OneDrive.”

After that, every time you take a screenshot using the print screen (PrtSc) key, it is automatically saved to OneDrive. You can access the saved screenshots on any device as long as you can log in to your OneDrive account. Now, you don’t have to copy screenshots before accessing them on other devices.

Screenshots saved to OneDrive are also accessible from the clipboard.

Using the Snipping Tool App

If you do not want to take a fullscreen screenshot, you can always use the Snipping Tool. The Snipping Tool was first released in 2005. Seventeen years later, it continues to be a fantastic screenshot tool on Windows computers. While a newer version of the Snipping Tool exists (more on that later), we had to include the original.

Unlike the fullscreen screenshots you take with the Print Screen button, the Snipping Tool allows you to take snippets of any portion of the active window on your screen. 

For instance, you can take screenshots that look like this:

To use the Snipping Tool on whatever version of Windows you have (Windows Vista or later), press the Windows key on your laptop. Or, move your mouse to the Windows icon on your taskbar on an older Windows PC and search for “Snipping Tool.”

When the Snipping Tool comes up, click on the “New” button.

After that, click and hold on to the starting point of your screenshot, and drag your mouse cursor to cover the part of the active window that you want to screenshot. Let go when you’re done, and the screenshot you just took will appear in the Snipping Tool tab. Next, press the “Ctrl” and “S” keys on your keyboard (Ctrl + S), and save the screenshot to a folder.

How to get Snip & Sketch

Remember how we talked about the new version of the Snipping Tool? Meet Snip & Sketch; a new and improved version of the Snipping Tool.

To get the Snip & Sketch app, head over to the Microsoft Store on your PC, search for “Snip & Sketch,” and proceed to update the app. That will automatically update your Snipping Tool with all of the added benefits of the Snip & Sketch app.

If you’re using Windows 11, it already comes built-in on your PC.

Using the Snip & Sketch tool

To access the Snip & Sketch feature, Press the “Shift,” “Windows,” and “S” keys at the same time. So it’s Windows+Shift+S.

When you press those key together, a Sketch window comes up as an overlay on the top of your screen, and your screen darkens. The “little window” is a toolbar with a mini menu of screenshot options you can use.

If we number them 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 from left to right, here’s what they do:

1- Takes a rectangular snip of any part of the screen.

2 – Takes a free-form snip with your mouse cursor in any shape you draw.

3 – Takes a screenshot of any open window of your choice.

4 – Takes a full-screen snip capture.

5– The “X” closes the toolbar.

In addition, Snip & Sketch allows you to take a delayed screenshot on Windows. You can choose between 3-, 5- and 10-second delays. The delay gives you enough time to set up the screen to whatever you want to screenshot.

Snip & Sketch also comes with helpful screenshot annotation and editing tools to bring the best out of your screenshots. These functionalities are why we find the Snip & Sketch tool to be the best way to take screenshots on your Windows PC.

The screenshots you take with Snip & Sketch will automatically pop up in your notification panel (if you’re on Windows 10 or 11).

When you click on the image, it opens up in a snipping tool window, and you can then proceed to save the screenshot by pressing the “Ctrl” and “S” keys together(Ctrl + S).

After hitting the keyboard shortcut Windows+Shift+S, press the “Esc” key to cancel the screenshot process if you change your mind.

You can also access the Snip & Sketch tool via the notification panel:

Modifying the PrtSc Key to open Snip & Sketch

Windows 11 lets you modify the Print Screen key to open Snip & Sketch instead of taking a screenshot of the entire screen.

Go to “Settings,” then “Accessibility,” then “Keyboard.” Tick the box that says, “Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping.”

Now, a simple tap of the print screen key will open Snip & Sketch. You no longer have to press the three-key-combo of “Windows+Shift+S.“

Windows clipboard history

Press the “Windows” and “V” keys to access your Windows clipboard history. This shows you your recent screenshots and other items you copied to your clipboard.

File Explorer files do not show up on this clipboard. It only stores images and text.

Clipboard history is an excellent feature to keep track of multiple screenshots taken on Windows. It works for the Snipping Tool, Snip & Sketch, and the “PrtSc” key.

Using the Xbox Game Bar

If you want to add a little trickery while taking your screenshots, or perhaps you want to look cool while doing it, the Xbox game bar should be your go-to. Primarily designed to screen record game clips on Windows PCs, the game bar was introduced with Windows 10, and it also comes preinstalled in Windows 11.

Press the “Windows” and “G” keys together, and the game bar should come up as an overlay on whatever you’re doing. If pressing this together doesn’t do anything on your Windows 10 or 11 device, you’d have to manually turn on the game bar. 

Simply press your windows key, search for “Xbox Game bar,” and open it.

To capture screenshots using the game bar, click on the camera icon in the toolbar at the top left corner of your computer screen. If done right, a notification will pop up that says, “Screenshot saved.”

The screenshots you take using the game bar will be fullscreen, and they are automatically saved to the “Captures” subfolder in your “Videos” folder. Alternatively, you could view the images by clicking on “See all my captures” right below the camera icon.

A keyboard shortcut alternative for taking a screenshot on windows using the Xbox game bar is “Windows+Alt+Prt Sc.” The Xbox Game bar will take a screenshot immediately without launching the game bar. The screenshot will also be saved to the “Captures” folder.

Taking a screenshot on Windows tablets

Even though they run on Windows, Windows tablets do not have the Print Screen key on their onscreen keyboards. To use the screenshot methods mentioned above on Windows tablets, you need to attach a physical external keyboard to them.

If you want to take a screenshot on a Windows tablet without attaching an external keyboard, here is how to do so:

Press and hold the “volume up” and “power” keys simultaneously to take a screenshot on these tablets. If you don’t press the buttons simultaneously, you might turn off the display instead of taking a screenshot.

The method above works for Microsoft Surface tablets and almost every other tablet running Windows. The screenshot shortcut for Dell Latitude Windows tablets is the “power” and “Volume down” buttons simultaneously.

Taking a screenshot on Windows tablets with a pen

If your Windows tablet comes with a pen, double click on the pen’s eraser to take a screen capture of the entire screen. The screenshot will be saved to the pictures/ screenshots folder.

Taking a scrolling screenshot of webpages using Microsoft Edge

Windows default browser, Microsoft Edge, can capture scrolling webpages in a single screenshot. With this handy feature, you do not need to capture multiple screenshots of the same website.

Launch Microsoft Edge and open the web page that you want to take a screenshot of to use this feature. Click on the “three-dot (…)” icon at the top right of Microsoft Edge. This will show you Edge’s menu options.

Click on “web capture.” Then, click on “capture full page.” This will bring out the tool for capturing scrolling web pages. You can edit or share the image after screen capturing the web page.

Third-party apps for taking screenshots on Windows

If you want more screenshot options than what Windows offers, you might want to consider third-party apps. Third-party apps have all the screen-capturing options that the default Windows screenshot tools have. They also come with several other intuitive features that make them exciting to use.

Snagit, PicPick, Lightshot, and ShareX are some of the top ones you can find, and here’s a quick overview of how they work:

ShareX

ShareX is an excellent third-party app for screen capture, which offers more than taking screenshots for free. However, within the context of this article, we’ll stick to its screenshot-taking capabilities. 

It can take both whole-screen and part-screen screenshots like Windows tools, but it one-ups Windows with its scrolling screenshot feature.

The scrolling screenshot feature allows you to take a screenshot of multiple pages, all mashed into one very tall picture. 

While ShareX is very capable, the user interface isn’t the most intuitive and appealing. So you might want to consider PicPick.

PicPick

PicPick is also a capable screen capture tool, and it’s more straightforward to use than ShareX. However, you’ll have to pay a one-time fee of $21.99 to access its full suite of functions.

Lightshot

Lightshot is a free screen capture tool for fast, customizable screenshots on windows. It also comes with an image editor, and additional features for sharing nifty screen captures online and offline.

Snagit

The final third-party tool we’ll be recommending is Snagit. Snagit is not cheap at $49.99, but it’s competent. It’s so powerful that using it solely as a screenshot app would completely undermine its capabilities. Its 4K support, panoramic scrolling screenshot, integrated GIF maker, and cloud support make it the ultimate screenshot tool.

These third-party apps are worth checking out. But if all you need is to take basic screenshots on your Windows PC, the built-in apps are enough.

FAQs

Why can’t I take a screenshot on Windows?

You might have turned on the “Function” lock key which disables the PrtScrn key. Press the function lock key again to turn it off. You can also try the alternate Windows screenshotting methods described in this article.

Why is Windows+Shift+S not working?

You need to press Windows+Shift+S at the same time and not one after the other. Press the keys together and the Snip and Sketch tool will appear.

Why is PrtScn not working?

Turn off the Function lock key to get the print screen button working again.

How do I take a screenshot without Print Screen?

You can use the snipping tool to take a screenshot on your Windows PC without PrtScn. Simply press Windows+Shift+S at the same time.

Where do screenshots go in Windows 10 when I press Windows+Shift+S?

Screenshots taken using Windows+Shift+S are copied to the Windows clipboard. You need to paste the screenshots to an image editing app like paint before you can use them.

What is the Windows shortcut for screenshots?

The Windows shortcut for screenshots is Windows+Shift+S or Windows+PrtScn or Windows+G or the PrtScn key alone.

What button on the keyboard is screenshot?

The PrtScrn key is often used alone or in combination with others for screenshots

How do you take screenshots on laptops?

You can take screenshots on laptops using Windows+PrtScn, Windows+Shift+S, or any of the other laptop screenshot methods described in this article.

The post How to take a screenshot on Windows appeared first on BGR.

It could do your smartphone a lot of good to delete apps you no longer need.

Apps are the lifeblood of our mobile devices. They allow us to play games, receive calls, text, view calendars, take photographs, and much more. There are so many apps vying for a place in your app library. If we mentioned an app every second, it would take 40 days to name all the Google Play Store apps alone!

Keeping apps you do not use or rarely open on your Android or Apple device will eat up storage space. In addition, some of these apps run in the background and use up system resources that your active apps need.

There are two kinds of apps: System apps and installed apps. System apps come preinstalled on your phone, and installed apps are the ones you install from the app store.

Although you cannot delete a system app from your phone, you can delete the apps installed from other sources. These sources include the Google Play Store for most Android devices and the Apple App Store for the iPhone.

This guide will show you how to delete apps from your device. Android phones and Apple phones use different methods to uninstall apps. Hence, we have two separate sections discussing both methods of deleting apps in detail. Without wasting any more of your time, here is how to delete apps on your phone.

How to Delete Apps on Android Devices

The Google Pixel 6 Pro. Image source: Google

Deleting apps on your Android phone is a straightforward process. There are different methods of deleting apps from your Android device. In this section, we will discuss two of these methods:

First Method

Using the Settings app is a surefire way of uninstalling apps on your Android device. Going through your Settings lets you see all your available apps.

Step 1

Open the Settings menu. The menu will likely be a cogwheel app icon in your app drawer or home screen. Alternatively, you can find the settings icon in the drop-down menu that you can access at the top of the screen on your Android phone.

Step 2

Scroll down to the section labeled “Apps and Notifications” or simply “Apps.” You should see all of your apps listed in alphabetical order in this submenu. Select the three-dot button at the top right section of the screen and tap “Manage Apps.”

Step 3

Browse through the app list view for the app icon of the app you wish to delete. Tap on the app icon to access the app info page and tap “Uninstall.” You will receive a Yes/No prompt on your Android phone. Click “Yes,” and your phone will immediately uninstall the app. Repeat this process with every app that you want to uninstall.

Second Method

This second method involves selecting the app icon straight from the Android home screen or app drawer. All you need to do is tap and hold the app shortcut to delete the app. Here is a step-by-step run-through of the process:

Step 1

Locate the app you want to delete on your Android phone’s home screen or app drawer. Long press the app icon and drag it to the top of your screen.

Step 2

If you perform the drag action from your home screen, you will have two options: “Remove” and “Uninstall.” Drop the app on the uninstall option, and you will receive a prompt. Click “Ok” to finish uninstalling the app.

On the other hand, if you perform the dragging action from the app drawer, the options presented may be: “App info” and “Uninstall.” Drop the app on the “Uninstall” option to remove the app. Tap “Ok” or “Yes” to complete the process.

Bonus Method

Apart from the two methods discussed above, you can delete apps straight from the Google Play Store. Apps you already downloaded from the Google Play Store have an “Uninstall” option instead of “Install.” Select the Google Play Store icon on your home screen or app drawer. Search for and select the app you want to uninstall. Tap “Uninstall,” and your phone will delete the app.

How to Delete Apps on iPhone

Image source: Maren Estrada for BGR

There are also two main methods to delete apps on iPhones.

First Method

You’ll have to interact with the app icon for this method.

Step 1

Locate and select the app icon for the app you want to delete—long-press the icon to bring out the shortcut options. The options are “Edit home screen,” “Share app,” and “Remove app.”

Step 2

Select “Remove app.” A prompt will come up. Select “Delete app” on the prompt. A warning will come up to let you know that you’ll lose the app and all of its data.

Step 3

Tap “Delete” one final time to remove the app and data from your iPhone.

Second Method

Also referred to as the “Home screen Apple jiggle method,” this is even faster. This method will let you remove apps without long pressing.

Step 1

Select and hold any empty section of your iPhone home screen until you notice the app icons start to jiggle.

Step 2

Search for the app you wish to uninstall and tap on the minus sign that appears on the top-right corner of the app.

Step 3

You will see a prompt with “Delete app” and “Remove app from home screen.” Select “Delete app.”

Bonus tip

If you wish to reinstall or re-download any deleted app, visit the app store on your phone. You will see a list of all the apps you own, including those not currently on your device.

The post How to delete apps on your phone appeared first on BGR.

Want to learn how to buy Dogecoin? Read on!

Recently, the Techno king of Tesla, Elon Musk, reached a deal to acquire Twitter for about $44 billion. What makes this information relevant here? After the news of Elon’s acquisition, Dogecoin jumped 27% in a day!

Elon’s tweets have gained a reputation in the crypto space. A reputation for constantly changing the value of cryptocurrencies, including Dogecoin. Knowing this, the acquisition of Twitter could, in theory, continue to affect Dogecoin. That being said — and keeping in mind that this is not investment advice — you might want to learn how to buy Dogecoin.

Crypto Exchanges where you can buy Dogecoin

Binance crypto exchange. Image source: Binance

To get your hands on Dogecoin, you need to have an account on a cryptocurrency exchange. 

So, what exactly is a crypto exchange?

Cryptocurrency exchanges or crypto exchanges are platforms that allow you to sell and purchase cryptocurrency. Basically, they provide brokerage services for crypto.

You can buy, sell, hold, and trade Dogecoin and other significant cryptocurrencies on these exchanges. In addition, they facilitate crypto transactions and other digital asset procurement.

There are three broad classifications of exchanges :

• Centralized exchanges (CEX)
• Decentralized Exchanges (DEX)
• Hybrid Exchanges

To buy Dogecoin, you’re going to need centralized exchanges. Some examples of more popular centralized exchanges include Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, Kucoin, and Gemini. These exchanges all have Dogecoin listed. Therefore, you can open an account and start buying as much as you want. 

How to Choose a Crypto Exchange

There are many factors to consider when choosing an exchange to buy Doge. Centralized exchanges come in different forms. Some exchanges are targeted at beginners and are easy to navigate, while others are built/designed for more advanced crypto users.

When choosing a crypto wallet, you need to choose one that suits your current level.

Exchanges like Kraken, Binance, and Gemini are suited for beginner and intermediate users. They are easy to use, and there are guides beginners can use to get up to speed. These exchanges are your best bet if you are just starting.

On the other hand, exchanges like FTX, Gate.io, and Kukoin are for more advanced users. These exchanges offer complex tools that you can use to engage in activities beyond buying and selling. Some of these tools include leveraged trading, derivatives, and futures.

Steps to Buy Dogecoin

Symbolic image of the Dogecoin. Image source: Adobe Stock Image source: Nikolay/Adobe

With that out of the way, here are the steps to purchase Dogecoin on a centralized exchange:

1. Sign Up/Registration

The first step to buying Doge is registering on the centralized exchange of your choice. You’ll mainly need an email address to register. You can choose an email address from your preferred email providers like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or Proton mail.

Next, you will be required to create a strong password to secure your account. When creating your password, it is advisable to use upper and lowercase letters, including special characters and numbers. Doing this would increase your password strength and protect you from hackers. 

Also, remember to protect your Sign-in information(email and password) at all times. Please do not share it with any third party. Do this to avoid your account getting compromised or your cryptocurrency stolen.

2. Verification

Once you have registered, the next step is to verify your identity. You do not necessarily need your identity to buy Dogecoin, but it helps when you want to withdraw it. And although the buying process differs among exchanges, these are the more common verification steps: 

Location

First, you select the location from which you are using the exchange. Doing this sets the tone for the rest of your verification. In fact, it could also give you some added perks when buying crypto. So, be honest when choosing your location. 

Name and age

The next step is to verify your name and age. The age verification proves you are old enough to use the crypto exchange. On the other hand, the name verification proves that the name you registered matches your government name. 

Identity Verification

Next, you must upload an identity confirmation document issued by the government. The aim is to match the details you have provided to a trusted record. Ensure that this document is valid in the region you chose in step one.

Finally, you’ll upload the documents’ clear front and back photos to the crypto exchange for clear identification. 

Facial verification

The final step before buying Dogecoin is the facial verification process. You’ll have to upload a clear selfie of your face at this stage. Ensure the photo is taken under clear lighting without glasses or filters. Also, make sure it matches the images on the documents you uploaded. 

These verification processes comply with AML (Anti Money Laundering) regulations. These regulations are put in place to prevent bad people from using crypto. 

Please note that you may have to wait for a few hours or days before the exchange finalizes the verification process. During this waiting period, you may be unable to buy Doge or any other cryptocurrency/digital assets on the exchange. Do not panic; this is normal. 

3. Funding

Upon creating and verifying your crypto account, the next step is funding. You’ll have to use actual money to pay for or buy Doge. To do this, there will be a “deposit” icon somewhere on your home screen or dashboard. The amount you deposit is dependent on how many coins you want to buy.

You should use the most convenient payment method available to fund your account. Some of the more popular methods include:

• Bank deposit: Most exchanges support direct bank deposits from your bank account. All you have to do is send the money from your account to the account listed by your exchange. After that, wait a few minutes for the funds to reflect in your account. 
• Debit or Credit Cards: You can use your American Express, credit card, or VISA card to deposit money into your crypto accounts. Enter your card details and the amount you’d like to deposit. Then, verify the transaction with the OTP you’ll get from your bank.

These are two of the most common funding methods among crypto exchanges. Other funding methods include PayPal, Peer to Peer transactions, bank transfers, and Venmo.

4. Buy Dogecoin

How many Dogecoins do you want to get? 2000? 40,000? You can now buy Dogecoin after the money you deposited is reflected in your crypto exchange balance.

First, search for Dogecoin and select the amount you want to buy in USD. Upon selecting the amount of Dogecoin you’d like to buy, you’ll see the corresponding value of Dogecoin you would receive. 

Wait for a few minutes for your Dogecoin to reflect in your account after you pay. Your Doge will reflect on your account in a few minutes, and you will become a proud owner of Dogecoin.

The price of Doge can vary during purchase due to the volatile nature of crypto. It is always advisable to wait for price dips before making any doge purchases.

Repeat the purchasing process as often as you want to get more Dogecoin. Happy investing!

Consider a Crypto Wallet

There are different ways to keep your Dogecoin after purchase. After buying Dogecoin, you can decide to leave it on the exchange or send it to a crypto wallet. The exchange offers you a crypto wallet when you sign up, but you can transfer your Doge to a private wallet if you so wish. You can also transfer Dogecoin from a private wallet without an exchange.

You can download a doge wallet from the official website or use a third-party wallet such as Zengo and Trust wallet (hot wallets) or Trezor and Ledger (also known as hardware wallets or cold wallets). If you wish to engage in cryptocurrency trading (buying and selling crypto to profit from its volatility), you should leave your Doge on the exchange.

Alternatively, if you want to buy and hold (or in crypto terms HODL) for a longer period, your Doge is better off in a private hardware wallet.

If you decide to use a hardware crypto wallet, you should be extra careful. Please take note of your private keys and store them in a safe place. Your private keys are your password, and without them, you will not have access to your wallet. It is advisable to store these keys in an offline location.

Of note, offline hardware wallets are the safest way to store your crypto.

How Much Should I Invest?

Investing in Doge or other cryptocurrencies can be a risky endeavor. The prices of the Doge and other cryptocurrencies are volatile. Therefore, when you buy Dogecoin, you should only invest what you are willing to lose.

Doge is a digital currency, and like other cryptocurrencies, it does not earn returns or dividends like securities. The only way to make your money back from Doge after purchase is through a sale or similar transactions.

You should never invest more than you are willing to lose. Investing can be risky, and your crypto investment portfolio could be worth less than you paid for it. Dogecoin’s price will fluctuate occasionally. Hence, you should not fret if your digital wallet balance seems strange.

Most importantly, always know your reasons for investing in any cryptocurrency. Don’t just listen to anyone claiming to “advise investors.” Investing can be very tricky. Hence you should always conduct your research. Avoid putting your money into new coins that have not been well tested in the market.

The post How to Buy Dogecoin appeared first on BGR.