"How do you [do something]?" but asking about the listener's case specifically

Question

For example, I want to ask how to use a device, not about its general usage, but for the listener's case specifically.

If I say "How do you use the device?", the listener would explain the general usage of that device. If I want to ask how the listener personally uses the device, how should I phrase the sentence?

Answer 1

Several options. The ambiguity arises because "you" is used to mean a general person, in place of "one", in modern English.

1. Do nothing and hope that context makes it clear.
2. Emphasise the word "you": "How do you use ...".
3. Use the past or the perfect. This is possible since it asks about past actions, not general ones "How have you been using the device?"
4. Rephrase, for example "Tell me about your use of the device?" - there are many possibilities.
5. Be explicit. "How do you, personally, use the device?"