SFCT.NET - Technology Help & Repair for Seniors in the SF/Bay Area. PC, Mac, iOS training.

  Email Inbox Safety, Spam Management, and Filters Workshop Overview This is a class session covering email inbox safety, how email works, and practical strategies for managing spam and junk mail Participants appear to be older adults, many using free email services such as Gmail , Yahoo , AOL , and iCloud Email Inbox Safety Using your inbox as a filing cabinet for important documents (contracts, tax records, attachments) is not recommended Free email providers (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, AOL, etc.) have no obligation to recover lost or deleted emails since you are not paying them If your inbox is compromised or deleted, recovery is unlikely Saving attachments to your local computer's documents folder is safer than keeping them in your inbox Even paid email providers may only keep backups for 30 days — and some free providers (e.g., Yahoo) delete from the spam folder after just 7 days Web-Based vs. Client-Based Email Web-based email : Accessed through a browser ( gmail.com...

Digital Decluttering: iPhone Storage, Photos & Videos Class Class Overview Topic was digital decluttering — cleaning up iPhone storage , photos, and videos Class notes and schedule available at sfct.net (instructor's website); participants were shown how to add it as a home screen bookmark Rebooting & Device Maintenance Rebooting clears temporary/cached files, similar to emptying a vacuum cleaner bag — not urgent but helpful periodically Debate on rebooting daily: may slightly wear mechanical parts on older computers, but less relevant for modern devices Traditional SATA hard drives have moving parts (spinning disc + arm like a record player); Solid State Drives (SSDs) have no moving parts and are used in all modern phones/iPads To check drive type on a PC: go to Disk Utility — SATA = mechanical, SSD = solid state If a computer is ~10 years old, upgrading was recommended Password Management Forgetting a phone/iPad PIN can require wiping the entire device...

Mac & iPhone Photos Management Class Internet Accounts Management Accessible via System Settings > Internet Accounts on Mac, and Settings > Apps > Mail > Accounts on iPhone Users should expect at least two accounts : iCloud (always present on Apple devices) and their personal email ( Gmail , Outlook , Yahoo , etc.) Only the Mail feature should typically be enabled for all accounts; Calendar, Contacts, and Notes should be consolidated to avoid duplication across services If an old email address is tied to external services, users should update those accounts or re-register with their current email if the provider doesn't allow email changes This topic will be revisited next week if needed Photos App: How It Works The Photos app maintains a library that organizes photos by date taken, location, and device metadata (e.g., camera model, f-stop , ISO ) Scanned or imported older (non-digital) photos may inherit the scan date rather than the original date...

Technology Class: June Month-in-Review & Q\&A Session 6.25.26 Month-in-Review: Storage Topics The class revisited the month's lessons, all noted online at sfct.net , including AI-generated infographics summarizing lesson content Class 1 covered storage fundamentals; an AI-generated infographic was used, later swapped for a simpler graphic due to visual clutter Class 2 focused on digital decluttering, cloud services ( Google Drive , OneDrive), and the difference between Time Machine backups and cloud storage Class 3 (iPhone class) covered: Checking iPhone storage (physical vs. cloud) Recognizing fake "storage full" phishing emails — users should check their own storage rather than clicking suspicious links Using the iPhone Files app to save, access, and transfer documents between phone and computer via iCloud Drive Overview of available cloud storage services Q&A: Sharing a Large Number of Photos The use case discussed: sharing ~83 photos an...

iPhone Storage & Cloud Storage Management Class 6.18.2026 [ ] Try the storage management features discussed (offload unused apps, review large attachments , iCloud Drive ) before the next class Overview This session continued a recurring conversation about storage — where and how to store things, how to back up files, and how to sync across devices Key cloud storage services reviewed: Google Drive , iCloud , OneDrive , Dropbox , and Box Core benefit of cloud storage: files stay in one remote location, eliminating the need to email files to yourself between devices Storage Scam Warning A common scam involves fake emails or pop-ups claiming you are "low on storage" — clicking them can lead to malware or spoofing websites Always verify storage status yourself rather than trusting unsolicited alerts Checking iPhone Storage (Settings → General → iPhone Storage) Shows total capacity vs. used storage at a glance Offload Unused Apps : automatically removes apps ...

Mac Finder & Cloud Storage Class Summary 6.11.2026 Last Week's Recap Covered decluttering, stacks, creating/moving folders, changing views, font size, thumbnails, and sorting Color coding, moving items to Trash, multi-select with Shift (range) or Command (individual) Aliases/Shortcuts : A link to an original file; deleting an alias does not delete the original; identified by a small black arrow on the icon Finder: Path Bar & Go Menu Path Bar : Shows file hierarchy at the bottom of the Finder window; enabled via View > Show Path Bar Displays the full folder path of any selected file Files can be dragged directly from the Path Bar to move them to a new location Go Menu : Lists all main locations on the Mac (Recents, Home, Desktop, Downloads, Documents, etc.) Recents is useful for locating recently opened files regardless of where they were saved Home Folder Structure The Home folder (named after the user, shown with a house icon) contains all main ...

Digital Decluttering Class Summary 6.4.2026 Files and Folders Basics Files are individual documents; folders are containers used to organize files  Folders can contain both files and other folders for hierarchical organization   Desktop clutter is common issue when files accumulate without organization Using Stacks on Mac Stacks feature automatically groups desktop files by type Access via View menu > Use Stacks  Groups include Screenshots, Documents, PDFs, Images Click on stack to expand and view all files within  Creating New Folders On Mac: File > New Folder or Control + Click > New Folder On PC: Right-click > New > Folder  Folders can be renamed by clicking on name, then clicking again to edit Shortcut: Command + N can also create new folder  Moving and Organizing Files Move files by clicking, holding, and dragging to destination folder Folder highlights when arrow hovers over it indicating drop zone  Can mov...

Apple Watch Features and Customization Class Watch Accessories and Protection Screen protectors available in plastic film or glass varieties to prevent scratching Glass protectors recommended for better tactile feel and protection Installation straightforward with included step-by-step directions and mounting tools Screen protectors inexpensive relative to watch replacement cost Metal watch bands can corrode in water; plastic/silicone bands better for swimming and water activities Changing bands simple using release button on back of watch Apple Watch screens exposed and prone to cracking, especially older models Finding Your Watch Model Navigate to Settings > General > About to find model information and model number Model number ensures correct accessory compatibility when shopping Important to specify exact model when purchasing bands or cases, especially for larger Ultra model Customizing Watch Faces Watch face displays when picking up watch and provides qui...

Apple Watch Setup Tutorial Overview Jason demonstrated the complete setup process for a new Apple Watch Ultra, walking through unboxing, pairing, and initial configuration. The session covered basic features, customization options, and troubleshooting tips, with participants who already own Apple Watches sharing their experiences. Device Selection and Purchase Considerations Jason chose the Apple Watch Ultra because it has waterproof capabilities down to 130 feet for scuba diving Participants can compare different Apple Watch models on the Apple website to determine which best suits their needs The Ultra is the most expensive model but offers premium features including cellular capability Key differences between models include water resistance ratings (water resistant vs waterproof) and battery life Initial Setup Process Turn on the watch by pressing the button The watch automatically detects a nearby iPhone and prompts to begin pairing Phone must be updated to latest ...