Which is a good app to block unwanted SMSes in Android smartphones?

Madhu Sudan Muskara

Most default messaging apps on Android smartphones do not allow you to block pesky messages from marketers and frauds. It is even harder to block messages that do not have a mobile number.

The best option is to download and install Messages by Google and make it your default app for SMSes. Go to the Play Store and search for “Google Messages”. It will be the first result. To block a sender, tap on a message till it is selected. Tap the icon on the top extreme right of the messaging app. You will be given the option to block the person and report it as spam. You can do this with SMSes that do not have a number, too.

Also, you can send and receive messages on your computer by going to https://messages. google.com/web and scanning the QR code with your phone.

iPhone to desktop

I am unable to transfer my iPhone Notes and Photos to my desktop computer.

Venkatraman Chandrasekhar

If you have an icloud.com email account, you will get your Notes and Photos on your desktop easily. All you have to do is go to icloud.com on your computer’s browser and sign in with your iCloud email address. You will see both the Notes and the Photos web app. You can then access these and download pictures as needed.

The Photos web app will have your iPhone pictures even if your Apple ID does not end with icloud.com.

Alternatively, you could sync your iPhone notes with Gmail. Open Settings on your iPhone and head to Notes—Account and tap on Gmail. Turn on Notes for Gmail. This will create a Gmail folder in the Notes app.

Open one of your iPhone notes, select everything and copy. Go to the Gmail folder in Notes and create a new note and paste the contents here.

Open Gmail in your computer’s browser. You will see the note that you created on the iPhone in the Notes folder on the left. The process is a little tedious, but it is a start. All your new jottings created in the Gmail folder in the Notes app on the iPhone will sync with Gmail.

Another option would be to use the Simplenote app on Windows and on your iPhone. Go to https://simplenote. com to download the Windows app. You will get the iPhone app in the App Store.

In the Apple Notes app, open the note you want to move. Tap on the three dots in the top-right corner of the note and select Send a Copy. From the share sheet that opens, choose Simplenote. The note will sync with the windows app automatically.

Uninstal issue

When I try to uninstal WinZip 24.0 I get an error message. I use Windows 10.

Niladri Roy Chowdhury

Microsoft has a troubleshooter that finds and fixes issues with uninstalling and installing programs. You can download the troubleshooter from https://bit.ly/3tXmkwL.

If the problem persists, download the free version of IObit’s Uninstaller from http://bit.ly/3vWn0nK. This program is designed to remove stubborn programs with just a click.

You could also try Ashampoo UnInstaller to cleanly remove programs. You will get a 30-day free trial after which there is a charge. This program is available at http://bit.ly/3vYb1Gs. Click on the “Free download” button at the site.

Icons don’t show

Application icons do not show up properly on my HP laptop running on Windows 10. However, the various programs are working fine.

Poulami Mukhopadhyay

You can get the icons back with a few steps. Close and save anything that you are working on before proceeding. Download this .bat file from https://bit.ly/3rmieMI and save it to your desktop.

Double click on the file to run it. Your screen flash as a command prompt opens and closes to kill explorer, delete your thumbnail cache, and restart explorer.

Restart your computer. You will get back all your icons.

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