Clearing Browser Cache

Web browsers save or “cache” parts of web pages (like graphics) or even entire pages so that they will load faster in future. If a web page is not behaving properly (ex: Schoology submissions not working, WeVideo Preview not working, parts of web pages not showing current info) it helps to clear the cache in order to delete this saved information.

In Chrome:

• Choose More Tools from the Chrome menu (3 dots, upper right), then Clear browsing data. The keyboard shortcut for this is CTRL+SHIFT+BACKSPACE
• Set the Time range to “All time”
• UNcheck boxes for History and Cookies: you only need to clear "Cached images and files"
• Click clear data

"Cookies" refer to saved data (saved usernames and passwords, form data) saved by websites. If clearing cache does not resolve a website issue, check the box for "cookies and other site data" and clear again. WARNING: make sure you know all of your passwords before doing this!

Setting up Filters in gMail

Setting up filters in gMail can help you automatically "sort" specific types of messages by bypassing the Inbox and placing them into labels (folders.) For example, many Juniors and Seniors receive copious email from colleges that they may want later but don't want cluttering up their Inboxes, or you may want to filter newsletters into one folder instead of having them land in your Inbox.

Here's how:

1. Start by creating a new Label for the messages you wish to filter.
2. Click the Settings gear in gMail and "See all settings."
3. Click on "Filters and Blocked Addresses," then "Create new filter"
4. Enter the criteria for what you want to filter. In the case of college emails, enter *.EDU for "sender," which will filter out all sending addresses that end in .EDU
5. Click "create filter." NOTE: You can also click "Search" to find all current messages that match your criteria, then select them all and move them to the new label you created above.
6. On the last screen check the boxes for "Skip the Inbox" and "Apply the Label..," then Create your filter. Messages that match your criteria will then be automatically moved to that label instead of your Inbox.

Organizing Your Bookmarks

Using bookmarks is an efficient way to get to your go-to websites without having to use your keyboard. Having bookmarks always showing helps you recycle your tabs so you are not overloading your computer. Here are some tips:

• Show your Bookmark Bar on all pages so you can "get to anywhere from anywhere" in one click. Click on the Chrome menu (three dots in the upper right), then point to "Bookmarks" and click "Show Bookmarks Bar.”

• Right/two-finger click on your bookmarks to Edit or Delete them. TIP: shorten bookmark names to save space in your Bookmark Bar. 

• Group your bookmarks into folders to create your own drop-down lists: right-click an empty spot in the Bookmarks Bar and choose "Add Folder"

• For complete control of your Bookmarks (Delete, sort & organize, move bookmarks from Other Bookmarks to Bookmarks Bar, etc.) open the Bookmark Manager from the Chrome menu.

I am having trouble getting to PowerSchool

 Here are a few things to try if you are having difficulty accessing PowerSchool.

The link to PowerSchool student changed over the summer, so if you are using a bookmark it should be changed to mmuusd.powerschool.com/student

If sign-in stalls once you choose your Google account, make sure your computer is up-to-date!

Here is information about using PowerSchool on phones:

1. The PowerSchool Mobile app must be up-to-date
2. The District Code is ZBGH
3. Once you enter the District Code, choose ""I'm a Student" and it should switch to Google Sign-in. If you get an error about "syncing data" or don't see this year's Courses, you will need to sign out and sign in again: Click "More" in the bottom right, then click "Account" and you will see "Sign out" in the upper right

PowerSchool takes me to Microsoft login screen

NOTE: This process removes "site-specific cookies" for PowerSchool. This process can be used to remove login info on other sites as well, just search for that site instead of PowerSchool in step 5 below.

If you accidentally click "Sign In With Microsoft" instead of "Sign In With Google" on the PowerSchool login screen you may get "stuck" on the Microsoft page.

1. Copy and paste this link to access your Content Settings: chrome://settings/content/all
2. Search for PowerSchool
3. Delete all items that appear in the Search results

The long way:

1. Open Chrome settings by typing the address chrome://settings
2. Click Privacy and Security on the left sidebar
3. Scroll down and click Site Settings
4. Click "View permissions and settings stored across sites"
5. Search for PowerSchool
6. Delete all items that appear in search results

This process should restore the "normal" PowerSchool login page so you can Sign In With Google.

I can't insert pictures from my iPhone into gDocs or gSlides

If you have an image in Drive that Google doesn't "see" when you try to Insert, or if you tried to copy/paste an image from your phone (this method is unreliable and not recommended) and it doesn't print, the solution is below.

The issue is that newer iPhones are set to save HEIC (compressed) images but Google has not yet implemented support for these so gDocs doesn't "see" them. iOS will now convert HEIC images when you email or text them, or you can upload photos to https://heictojpg.com/, download as JPG and insert.

The long-term option if you have enough space on your phone is to change the setting in Settings --> Camera --> Formats to "Most Compatible" and your phone will save "normal" JPG images and MP4 videos. True: this will use a bit more space on your phone but you won't have trouble using your media in other tools. You can also just change this setting when you know you are taking a picture that you want to insert into a document or slideshow.

HELP! My Chromebook won't turn on!

The "Chromebook Blackout" can occur occasionally when a computer's battery has died completely or some other power incident has occurred.

If your Chromebook will not power on:

1. With the lid closed, look on the right side for a blinking white light. If this light is on, so is your computer!
2. If the computer is on (blinking light,) hold down the power button for a LONG time, like 30 seconds or more, to make sure the computer is off (eg. light stops blinking) then skip to step 5.
3. Plug in the computer. You should see an orange light next to the right side charging port (even if the charger is plugged in to the left side) indicating the laptop is being charged. If not, check that the charger is solidly connected in the middle and plugged in to a live power source (eg. power strips are switched ON!) 
4. If you still see no charging light, hold down ESC, Reload and Power for a full minute.
5. Press the power button, once, briefly. A lingering but firm touch, no more. Seriously, this and the next step is where it goes wrong. You think it didn't turn on so you press the button again, or (worse) hold it down, and then the power management chip gets really confused 'cause you're telling it to turn on/off/on/off again.
6. WAIT. It won't be long, but we are used to technology jumping to life instantly and in this case the 30 seconds it takes to restart may seem like forever. You should see the screen shift greys slightly, then that friendly white startup screen comes on.

If you are not successful with these steps, bring your computer to the Helpdesk in the computer lab.