Instead of digging through outdated tutorials, an XDA writer asks Perplexity plain-language questions about unfamiliar programs, such as how to do something in GIMP or what the equivalent of a Figma feature is in another app, and gets answers pulled together from current sources.
I'm new to [SOFTWARE] and I want to [WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO]. I'm used to [SOFTWARE YOU ALREADY KNOW], so explain using comparisons to that where it helps. Give me the steps in order with the exact menu names, tell me which version your answer applies to, and link the sources you used.
Replace the [PLACEHOLDERS] with your own details before you send it.
How to try it
- Describe what you want to do in everyday words, plus any app you already know.
- Follow the steps with the program open, and click the sources if a menu looks different.
- Ask a follow-up straight away if you get stuck, rather than starting a new search.
More tech help use cases
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.
Check a suspicious text message with Grok
One user received a text she suspected was a scam and asked Grok to check it. Grok also explained how to forward the message to her mobile carrier to report it.
I've received this text message: '[PASTE THE TEXT, WITHOUT CLICKING ANY LINKS]'. Does it show signs of a scam? Explain which parts are suspicious, what I should do (and not do), and how to report it to my mobile network in [COUNTRY].
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.
Reference: XDA Developers