IT General

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for July 20 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 20, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Empty.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BLANK.

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 20

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

It might sound strange coming from a lifelong gamer, but I’ve never actually owned a console. I've always managed to get my kicks on a PC, with a mouse and keyboard in hand poised in front of a monitor at a desk.

When it’s time for monitor shopping, one of the features I always look for is USB passthrough—built-in USB ports that relay data and power back to the PC through a single connection. It’s a small but incredibly convenient feature that essentially turns the monitor into a mini USB hub. Since my PC's back and front USB ports are essentially permanently occupied, having these extra USB ports in such a convenient spot is quite handy.

Two of my four mechanical keyboards support wireless. I usually keep them plugged in and at my desk, but I eventually realized I hadn’t really explored their wireless potential. So, I decided to move one onto my lap—and it felt just right.

Historical fiction shows will always be a popular genre for both history buffs and entertainment enthusiasts. Whether they're 100% accurate, 50% accurate, or they merely create an adaptation, we can’t get enough of them.

Small annoyances on your favorite websites can add up over time and cause great frustration. For me, it’s Reddit defaulting to “Best” that does it. Fortunately, with a small amount of determination and a powerful extension, you can fix most such problems.

Ring, the Amazon-owned home surveillance company, is partnering with taser-maker Axon to once again help law enforcement request footage from users’ doorbell cameras.

The move reverses Ring’s 2024 decision to kill its "Request for Assistance" feature, which let police ask users for video via the Neighbors app. At the time, Ring framed the change as a shift toward becoming a more community-focused brand, one less reliant on law enforcement integrations. That ethos now appears to be on pause.

SEE ALSO: 14 reasons not to get a Ring camera

The about-face coincides with the return of Ring founder Jamie Siminoff, who rejoined Amazon in April. Under his renewed leadership, Ring is doubling down on AI and rekindling its relationship with law enforcement. As first reported by Business Insider, the new partnership with Axon will allow police to request video from Ring users via Axon’s evidence management system. Ring is also reportedly exploring an option that would let users consent to live streaming their doorbell feeds directly to law enforcement.

In a public statement, Siminoff called the Axon partnership a way to "foster a vital connection between our neighbors and public safety agencies," positioning it as a tool for safer neighborhoods.

The Axon deal is just one part of Siminoff’s broader return strategy. He now oversees not just Ring, but also Amazon’s Blink camera line, its Key in-home delivery system, and the Sidewalk wireless mesh network. Since his return, Siminoff has pushed a hyper-AI agenda, including internal mandates to "do more with less" by using AI to streamline operations. Per Insider, even promotions now require proof of AI-driven impact on efficiency or customer experience.

Internally, the shift has raised eyebrows. Current Ring employees told Insider they’re unsure how the collected footage will be used — and raised flags about privacy and data concerns that have long haunted the brand.

In 2023, Amazon reached a $5.8 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission for spying on Ring and Alexa users, though the company denied any wrongdoing.

Did you know that many Chromebooks support the Google Play Store? The Play Store started rolling out to Chromebooks back in 2016, and all modern models have full support for Google’s app store.

A good screencast is useful for all kinds of things, from making a how-to video to showing off a program you coded. Spectacle, an app you might know already for taking screenshots, is one of the easiest way to do that on Linux.

If your aim has felt off in competitive games lately, the problem might not be you—it could be your mouse. More specifically, your worn-out mouse skates might be dragging you down. Fortunately, replacing them is a quick and easy upgrade.

Apple's UI refresh, iOS 26, is almost here. To mark the recently passed World Emoji Day on July 16, the Unicode Consortium has approved a fresh batch of emojis for the update.

For context, the Unicode Consortium is a nonprofit that maintains the Unicode Standard, a universal character encoding system that ensures text and emoji appear consistently across all platforms and devices. In other words, it's not Apple or Google that decides which emoji make the cut, but the Consortium itself. This time around, eight new emoji have been selected for Unicode 17.0.

The new additions are:

• Apple Core

• Ballet Dancers

• Distorted Face

• Fight Cloud

• Hairy Creature

• Orca

• Trombone

• Treasure Chest

Credit: Unicode Consortium / Emojipedia

Before you get too excited, these likely won’t appear in the initial rollout of iOS 26. Apple typically takes its time designing its own custom versions of new emojis, and those designs usually arrive a few updates down the line. For example, Unicode 16.0 was finalized on September 10, 2024 — just a week before iOS 18 launched. But that emoji set didn’t show up on iPhones until the release of iOS 18.4 in March of this year.

So while iOS 26 is coming soon, expect the new emoji to follow a few months later.

With the Flip 7, Samsung has improved nearly every aspect of its flip-style foldable smartphone, bridging the gap that existed between the Flip 6 and Motorola's latest Razr Ultra (2025). However, does the Flip 7 have what it takes to outperform the Razr? Let's find out.

Luxury doesn’t have to come with reliability concerns, especially if you know where to look. These used luxury sedans have earned a reputation for long-term dependability, making them smart picks for value-conscious buyers.

TL;DR: Online safety for the whole family is easy with this lifetime AdGuard Family Plan, now just $15.97 (reg. $169) with code FAMPLAN.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
$169.99 Save $154.02 with code FAMPLAN Get Deal

The internet isn’t just cluttered with ads; there are also trackers and other hidden threats. AdGuard keeps you safe online by blocking intrusive ads, stopping trackers, and safeguarding your privacy across all your devices.

Right now, you can grab lifetime protection for the whole crew with the AdGuard Family Plan. Cover up to nine devices for only $15.97 (reg. $169.99) with code FAMPLAN now through April 27.

Enjoy a safer and smoother browsing experience

The internet should be fun, not frustrating. AdGuard tackles the most annoying parts of online life, like pop-ups, autoplay videos, and banner ads, so that you can enjoy your time browsing, streaming, and scrolling again.

Aside from blocking ads, AdGuard also protects your privacy. Your information will stay safe from trackers and activity analyzers, and you'll be shielded from malware and phishing websites that you or your family members could fall victim to. 

Moms and dads will love AdGuard's parental control feature, which keeps your kids safe from inappropriate content online.

This Family Plan lets you protect up to nine devices with AdGuard, so you can make sure everyone's devices stay safe. And it works with Android and iOS operating systems alike, so it can be used on tablets, smartphones, and laptops. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Netflix isn’t pretending to play coy about AI anymore. The streaming giant confirmed during its latest earnings call that it leaned on generative AI to create visual effects for The Eternaut, an Argentine post-apocalyptic drama.

SEE ALSO: Trump Administration set to announce executive order targeting "woke AI" chatbots, report says

According to reporting from Engadget, co-CEO Ted Sarandos revealed that the creators of The Eternaut wanted a collapsing building sequence to anchor a key moment in the story. Instead of outsourcing the shot to a traditional VFX house, they turned to generative AI tools.

"Using AI-powered tools, they were able to achieve an amazing result with remarkable speed," Sarandos said. "In fact, that VFX sequence was completed 10 times faster than it could have been completed with... traditional VFX tools and workflows."

This doesn't appear to be a one-off either. Reports suggest that AI-generated ads will start appearing mid-stream in 2026 for Netflix's ad-tier subscribers. But The Eternaut marks a milestone. According to Sarandos, it contains "the very first Gen AI final footage to appear on screen in a Netflix original series or film."

Predictably, not everyone is applauding. Hollywood’s creative community remains uneasy — and increasingly vocal — about generative AI in production. Films like The Brutalist and Late Night with the Devil faced backlash for even light AI involvement. The issue is already on the radar of SAG-AFTRA, and it’s poised to become a flashpoint in future industry negotiations.

If you're looking forward to the new Samsung Galaxy S26 series next year, we have some potentially bad news. Rumor has it Samsung will officially scrap the Galaxy S26 Plus in favor of its Edge model. However, we've heard this rumor before, and after using the Galaxy S25+ for the last six months, I think it should stick around.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, July 19, 2025:

AcrossSee-through

• The answer is Clear.

"Anybody home?"

• The answer is Hello.

Winged horse of Greek myth

• The answer is Pegasus.

Salamander known for its regenerative abilities (and adorable appearance)

• The answer is Axolotl.

Texting format, for short

• The answer is SMS.

Birthplace of bossa nova

• The answer is Rio.

Even score

• The answer is Tie.

Insect seen in Dalí's "The Persistence of Memory"

• The answer is Ant.

Directory abbr.

• The answer is Ext.

Metroid console, for short

• The answer is NES.

DownParty snack made with cereal and pretzels

• The answer is Chex Mix.

Gift with many interlocking pieces

• The answer is Lego Set.

Airline whose name comes from the Book of Hosea

• The answer is Elal.

Election loser

• The answer is Also ran.

Stand-up comic's act

• The answer is Routine.

Command that uses the "V" key

• The answer is Paste.

Pulling their arms might win you money

• The answer is Slots.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.

This was another busy week in tech, with Plex rolling back part of its big redesign, more bad news for Windows 10 computers, Google merging Chromebooks and Android, and much more. Here are the biggest stories you might have missed.

One of the most budget-friendly electric SUVs on the market is about to become a little less enticing. Thanks to upcoming changes in federal EV tax credit eligibility, this standout model may soon lose one of its biggest advantages, a $7,500 incentive that’s helped make it a top choice for value-conscious buyers.

Are you trying to become more proficient in using your Chromebook? Well, there are a number of default keyboard shortcuts that you should memorize for sure. From taking an instant screenshot to re-opening that tab you accidentally closed, here are seven of the best Chromebook keyboard shortcuts to memorize.