One user's video wouldn't connect on a WhatsApp call, so she uploaded a photo of her screen to Claude. Within seconds it spotted the problem: her ThinkPad has a tiny privacy shutter slider above the screen, and she'd closed it by accident.
My camera isn't working on [APP, E.G. WHATSAPP OR ZOOM] on my [DEVICE MAKE AND MODEL]. Here's a photo of my screen and the top of the device. What could be wrong? Start with the simplest physical checks (shutters, covers, switches, keyboard shortcuts), then app and system permissions, and give me step-by-step instructions for each.
Replace the [PLACEHOLDERS] with your own details before you send it.
How to try it
- Take a photo of the screen showing the error, plus the top edge of your laptop or the camera itself.
- Upload it to Claude with the prompt and work through the checks in order.
- Test the camera in another app after each step so you know which fix worked.
More tech help use cases
Work out a confusing gadget’s settings from a photo with Grok
Trying to use a multimeter with what felt like a hundred settings, one user took a photo of it, asked Grok and worked out how to use it.
Here's a photo of my [GADGET, E.G. MULTIMETER / OVEN DIAL / CAMERA] and its settings. I want to [WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO]. Tell me which setting to pick and what each step should look like, in simple terms. If you can't read a label or I could damage something, tell me before I start.
Check a suspicious ‘your account will be closed’ email with ChatGPT before you click
ConsumerAffairs pasted a reader's 'Microsoft 365 deactivation' email into ChatGPT, which rated it very likely phishing. It pointed to the scare tactics, vague wording, a big 'Verify Here' button, an unrelated company footer and a link that bounced through a non-Microsoft address.
I've received an email that might be a scam. Here is the full text, including the sender address and any link addresses I can see (I have NOT clicked anything): [PASTE EMAIL]. It claims to be from [COMPANY]. Please list the warning signs and any signs it could be genuine, tell me how confident you are, and explain how I can check safely by going to the official website or app myself instead of using the links.
Ask your appliance manuals questions with NotebookLM
An Android Police writer uploads the manual for every new appliance to NotebookLM, then asks plain questions such as how often to clean the filter or what a flashing red light means, instead of scrolling through a long PDF.
Using only the manual I've uploaded for my [APPLIANCE AND MODEL], answer this: [YOUR QUESTION, E.G. WHAT DOES THE FLASHING RED LIGHT MEAN?]. Quote the page or section you got it from, give me the steps in order, and tell me if the manual says I should call an engineer instead.
Reference: X @YourOptimalSVA