IT General

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you like to add fuel to the fire.

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 hints today: Clues, answers for September 22, 2026 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 Pips hints, answers for September 22, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Rekindle.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No, there are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

STOKE

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.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Foot bone.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

ANKLE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Angry.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 22, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

UPSET

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A split.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 22, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Sept. 22, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CRACK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Compassion.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

MERCY

Final Hurdle hint

Divine blood.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

ICHOR

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

HDDs are definitely not dead yet, especially since so many PCs and laptops still have them. Because they are so affordable, they still hold value, and people actually purchase them. HDDs are also useful for NAS setups and archiving or backing up data. Some last longer than others based on design and use, yet many can fail for any reason at any time. Velcro is one potential way to help prolong their life, helping you get years of use out of them… and your money's worth.

Android reigns supreme over foldable phones at the moment. It has a lead stretching several years, with a wide range of designs and prices. You can get everything from an affordable flip phone like the Motorola Razr through to three-panel beasts like the Huawei Mate XT2.

Ryobi's 18V ONE+ power tool system is massive, but one thing that's often overlooked is the battery pack. In recent years, the biggest advancement isn't a tool, but the new "EDGE" battery technology that powers them. It's a pack that promises extra power, longer runtime, and more. If you're in the market for a new battery, here's what you need to know and whether it's worth buying.

Game Changer Season 8 ended with — not a bang — but buzzers!

In "Last Talent Standing," Dropout collided a talent show competition with Squid Game, where each axed contender means prize money is added to a hovering piggy bank. Host (and Mashable 101 honoree) Sam Reich not only welcomed 23 contestants on stage to compete, but also three celebrity judges, made up of celebrated stand-up comedians Gianmarco Soresi, Kumail Nanjiani, and Maria Bamford.

The results were a wildly entertaining and incredibly stressful finale, in which beloved Dropout contributors did everything from performing magic tricks and improvising a Disney musical number to feats of strength and celebrity impersonations, to taking some big, unpredictable swings.

How did this all come together? Was Soresi cast to play the heel? What mini-games got cut before cameras rolled? And when can fans purchase their own Sam Reich beach towel on the Dropout store?

SEE ALSO: 'Bluey' has an unexpected Dropout connection beyond the 'Game Changer' shock

Mashable Entertainment Editor, Kristy Puchko, sat down with Sam over a video call to dig into the secrets of "Last Talent Standing."

Here's what we learned:

Gianmarco Soresi was originally cast as a contestant.

In the "Last Talent Standing," Reich jokes that the comedian who's previously crushed on "Crowd Control" was intentional in the "Simon Cowell seat," alluding to the American Idol judge's reputation for being tough on contestants.

Speaking with Puchko, Reich explained, "[Soresi] was going to be a contestant in the episode and had no idea what the creative was. After we had booked Kumail and Maria, I realized that they were both very nice, and that I had almost like a creative problem I needed to solve for. Insofar as I needed someone there with a little bit more edge. And I knew that Gianmarco had what it took. So, he got upgraded from player to judge."

SEE ALSO: Dropout's Sam Reich offers advice for emerging content creators What mini-games were cut from "Last Talent Standing?"

As alluded to throughout the finale, this talent show took a lot of time to shoot. So, some ideas for the game were cut before the cameras rolled.

"The original game design here was that, in between every round, there was a mini-game where they all competed in the same talent," Reich told Mashable. "I think we had like a jazz scat off. We had best Scottish accent. So, producers were doing math in the days leading up to the shoot, and everyone was telling me this episode was going to be too long."

So, when two of the 25 intended contestants dropped out, it was decided not to replace them and to kill the mini-games.

What if the contestants found the boxes' contents before round 2?

Reich and Game Changer's team had planned for that.

"We were fully prepared for that to happen," Reich said of the boxes breaking, "And in fact, if it had been a natural discovery, we would have just allowed for them to start hauling things out of boxes earlier. Our cast, despite their chaotic tendencies, are so rooting for the show to be successful that many of them did break that paper in advance, not realizing that they were supposed to. And they were like sidebar-ing with our production designer Chloe [Badner], in between takes, being like, 'I'm so sorry, I hate to say this. Like, I I tore the paper. Is that okay?' And Chloe had to be like, 'Fine! It's fine.'"

Puchko asked if the design of the judges' podiums, which looked like boxes but were torn open, was meant as a clue to the contestants. Reich confirmed it was, adding, "That was like a little visual clue I was putting there for the cast in case they would take it as a clue."

Will Dropout sell the teased Sam Reich beach towel?

Game Changer production assistant-turned-contender Kaylin Mahoney revealed she's also worked as Sam's assistant. In that role, she revealed to the judges that she had once been tasked with making beach towels of the Dropout CEO.

Puchko asked what these beach towels looked like. Reich clarified the towels depict him "full head to toe, me and my suit," but noted, This is so important, and I'm so glad you bring this up. I did not have beach towels made with my image on them. Elaine [Caroll, Reich's wife and Game Changer writer/producer] had beach towels made with my image on them for my birthday. And I was not aware of this [in advance]."

As to whether this birthday bit will result in official Dropout merch, Reich responded, "I think if demand as a result of this episode and this conversation is enough, you can rest assured."

How to watch: Game Changer is now streaming on Dropout.

Beware: There's a new malware making the rounds and it's targeting your Android device.

Cybersecurity researchers at Zimperium recently discovered a new strain of Android malware, called RatHat, and have linked it to threat actors based out of China.

"RatHat incorporates novel techniques for persistence and leverages generative AI for operational control," Zimperium's zLabs researchers said in a report.

As the cybersecurity firm Malwarebytes explains, "RatHat gives a live AI assistant the keys to the accessibility tree of the infected device." This unique weaponization of AI allows the attacker to figure out "where to tap or scroll, rather than following a hardcoded script."

As with most malware, RatHat initially infects the device through social engineering tactics. The attacker convinces a target to download a seemingly legit app, such as Google Chrome, through a fake website posing as the Google Play Store. The user downloads the app but unknowingly installs the RatHat malware on their device.

SEE ALSO: Malware found hidden inside popular 'Meccha Chameleon' game maps

From there, RatHat requests accessibility permissions while still masked as a legitimate application.

Once the target provides RatHat with those permissions, the malware activates Wireless Debugging under Developer Options. RatHate weaponizes this actual Android developer feature to pair with the device. 

With this access, RatHat is able to capture text messages and create overlays on targeted apps, steal passwords, and multi-factor authentication codes in the process.

"RatHat uses AI to intelligently navigate and control the device interface in real-time, making its operations more adaptable and harder for security software to detect than traditional, scripted automation," Zimperium explains. 

However, the AI component isn't the only unique aspect of RatHat. The overlay acts like a keylogger, recording the user's raw touch inputs directly on the device.

Android users should protect themselves from RatHat by avoiding any downloads from untrustworthy sources. Unfortunately, once RatHat has infected a device, the only way to remove it is to factory reset the device.

This week's recommendation roundup for Paramount+ subscribers in the U.S. is a glorious mixed bag. Up top, it features a new addition to starring Russell Crowe that, despite it getting skewered by critics and a 45% on Rotten Tomatoes, remains the No. 1 movie on the service this week. Meanwhile, Joe Dirt, which we wrote about two weeks ago, is still hovering in the top 10.

Are you planning to record some professional audio but don't own a good microphone? Turns out, that old phone you've been keeping in your drawer for years is nearly as good, if not as good, as some of the cheap USB microphones out there. With some setup around your recording space, you can get good audio quality without compromising your wallet.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for one Windows PC for $16.97 through Sept. 27, with seven Office apps and no recurring fees.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $16.97
$229 Save $212.03   Get Deal

Microsoft Office doesn’t necessarily have to come with another recurring payment. Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows is $16.97 (reg. $229) through Sept. 27, giving you a lifetime license for one Windows PC.

• Lifetime license to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access

• One-time purchase for one Windows 10 or 11 PC — device-based activation

• Improved inking, new Excel analysis tools, upgraded PowerPoint features

• Outlook refinements for email and contact management

• Instant email with download link and license key — redeem within 7 days

• All languages supported, updates included for the 2019 version

If your to-do list needs serious tools without a serious bill, this is the easy win — install once, get to work, and keep moving. Grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows for $16.97 (reg. $229) through Sept. 27.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Excel is usually filed under spreadsheets, yet its formulas and macros can carry software that goes well beyond budgets and pivot tables. From schedulers to games to financial dashboards, these three kinds of programs show how far a workbook can stretch before it needs a separate application.

Ever wanted to hear your group chat's worst message set to a pop chorus? Snapchat can do that now.

Snap announced a batch of new AI features for Lens+, its premium tier, on Monday, and the headliner is Create Song. Press and hold a message in a chat, tap Create Song, and pick a genre such as pop or rock. Snapchat turns your message into a short original track, and you can preview it before sending it to your friend.

Credit: Snapchat

If your chats are more visual than musical, the rest of the update is for you. AI Photoshoot is built to rescue near-miss Snaps, fixing shots where someone blinked, looked away, made a funny face, or got caught in bad lighting.

Credit: Snapchat

And AI Remix lets subscribers take a Snap a friend sent and reimagine it in a new style as a reply. There's also a sticker tool that restyles custom, saved, or received Stickers, and AI-enhanced fonts that can turn captions into bubble letters, spray paint, foam, or fuzzy textures.

Credit: Snapchat Credit: Snapchat

For anyone who has lost track of Snap's subscription tiers, Lens+ launched last year as a tier within Snapchat+, which Snap says now has more than 25 million subscribers worldwide. It already gave subscribers exclusive Lenses and AR effects, along with generative tools like the Imagine Lens for image generation and AI Clips, which turns a single photo into a five-second video. Those tools run on a monthly generation allowance, and Lens+ costs $7.99 a month.

As for when you can try it, the new features are rolling out now in all markets where Lens+ is available, though Snap says access may vary by region over the coming weeks. This is the latest move in a busy few weeks for Snap; on Sept. 10, the company launched Snapchat Plans, an event-planning feature that puts it up against Partiful.

Put those moves next to today's news, and Snap's line gets easy to see. AI is welcome in your chats, where it's a premium perk. Fully AI-generated video won't get recommended in Spotlight, where strangers find you.

The real test comes after the novelty wears off. Snapchat+ has more than 25 million subscribers, and Snap is putting its most compute-heavy tools behind the $7.99 Lens+ tier, so it needs people to keep paying for AI that lives in their chats, similar to Meta One.

SEE ALSO: Meta One bundles creator and business tools — for a monthly fee

If Snap's approach works, expect the next round of Lens+ features to look a lot like this one: small, playful tools built around how friends already talk to each other.

There was a time when creating automations on your phone required powerful third-party apps with complex tools. Nowadays, most Android phones come with built-in automation features. You can easily set them up without much effort.

Microsoft replaced Battery Saver with Energy Saver in Windows 11 a couple of years ago. The new feature includes an always-on toggle that, if left enabled, can reduce your PC's performance without you even noticing. Combine that with a power mode set to favor efficiency, and your Windows PC might throttle itself even when it's plugged in.

My home network has grown into a small lab with computers, virtual machines, storage devices, and plenty of other things that occasionally decide to behave strangely. When something goes wrong, figuring out what happened can be difficult because the useful information may already be gone by the time I start investigating.

The Apple iPad is an exceptionally long-lived device. There's no reason to upgrade them frequently and in my personal experience these tablets don't show much battery wear over the years either.

Waze is one of the most popular navigation apps, thanks to its excellent live road alerts, traffic avoidance, and crowdsourced hazards and map corrections. If you use Waze for navigation, a few key settings are worth changing for the best experience.

Most people run a speed test the same way you check weight on a scale, as if one number tells the whole story. The number tends to look good, but it is a really narrow way to judge your connection quality. That Wi-Fi speed test has almost nothing to do with how a connection works in real conditions. It's better to know what it is doing before you assume it is correct.

It's a good time to be Guy Ritchie on Netflix. The Brit grit master has got a hit series, The Gentlemen, in its second season that's in the streamer's Top 10. Plus, the movie that series is based on is here, as is the recently added The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, both of which we have the details on below as part of this week's roundup that is decidedly savage.

For a single unit conversion, Google wins on convenience. But if I have a bunch of measurements to convert, I don't want a scrap of paper covered in random numbers, or to keep copying values out of a spreadsheet and back again. Excel's CONVERT function lets me keep the measurements, units, and results together, while reusing the same formula for as many conversions as I need.