Technology

Most Excel spreadsheets don't fail because of bad formulas—they fail because the data was never structured properly in the first place. What looks like a table is often just a formatted grid, and that difference is where problems start.

We all get 24 hours a day, and, unlike money, you can’t save unused time for later. That makes “saving time” more about reallocating it—figuring out which tasks don’t deserve as much of your attention so you can spend that time elsewhere, whether that’s picking up a hobby or being with family. It’s not an easy problem to solve, but these three free and open-source (FOSS) apps can help.

Anker's Soundcore brand just unveiled its successors to the Liberty 4 Pro, and the true wireless earbuds promise a leap forward in call performance — one large enough that the company sought a world record to prove it.

Most PC troubleshooting tips start with digging into the settings of whatever operating system you're using. Maybe you'll run a benchmark. Maybe you'll open up the case. You might run down the list of various ways PCs get accidentally damaged and try to figure out what went wrong.

LEGO and 3D printing may seem like a perfect combination, but there’s more to it than first meets the eye. While you can 3D print LEGO blocks, tight tolerances can produce disappointing results if you aren’t prepared to experiment a bit first.

You'd think that with May winding down, Netflix would be stretching a little thin when it comes to some fresh things to watch on the streaming service. Perhaps you haven't gotten around to watching Steph Curry's fun cartoon movie GOAT, or maybe you're still reeling after watching the harrowing car-crash documentary The Crash that I wrote about last weekend, but if you're ready for a few new suggestions that have come to Netflix recently, then read on.

It is easy to look at certain tools and mistake them for cheap toys that won't hold up during a serious project. We typically assume that "real" work needs heavy, specialized machinery, but dragging out massive equipment for simple tasks gets frustrating very quickly. Ryobi makes many exciting tools, but also many unusually small, battery-powered tools.

Google's password manager takes care of syncing passkeys between Android devices. The same passkeys will sync with Chrome on any platform as long as you're using the same Google account. However, I exclusively use Firefox on my phone and computers. I'm also a huge fan of self-hosting whenever possible, so I prefer a solution that doesn't rely on Google. Here is the setup I'm using for that.

What's black and white and fun all over? Spider-Noir, a new superhero series led by Nicolas Cage.

The show has its roots in 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, in which Cage voiced the Spider-Man variant known as Spider-Man Noir. Appearing in black and white and always accompanied by a rain-scented wind, Spider-Man Noir managed to steal scenes in a film already overflowing with goodness. A large part of that comes down to the casting of Cage, who commits wholeheartedly to Spider-Man Noir's over-the-top slangy dialogue. ("You gonna fight or you just bumping gums, you hard-boiled turtle-slapper?") That Cage's work is much-memed adds an extra layer of hilarity to the role, a wink to the audience that yes, the film got the Nicolas Cage to channel old-timey film detectives.

SEE ALSO: 2026 Summer TV preview: Every TV show you need to know about now

As much of a scene stealer as he is, Spider-Man Noir is only onscreen for about five and a half minutes of Into the Spider-Verse. With Spider-Noir, Cage gets to take this Spider-Man variant to new heights in a technically dazzling thrill ride. Sure, it's familiar — it's a Spider-Man story, and we've seen plenty of those! — but Spider-Noir manages to find a new lease on spidey life with its loving embrace of film noir.

What's Spider-Noir about? Nicolas Cage in "Spider-Noir." Credit: Prime

The superhero we meet in Spider-Noir is not the same one from Into the Spider-Verse. Cage plays Ben Reilly, a down-on-his-luck private investigator who once moonlighted as New York City's only hero, the Spider.

Like the Spider-Verse films, Spider-Noir knows we've seen enough Spider-Man origin stories to fill hundreds of comic books, so it wisely motors through the beats we're familiar with. In the first of the show's many stylish flairs, it overlays scenes from Ben's life on windows of a New York City skyscraper he's climbed, catching us up to speed on all things Spider. That includes him meeting, then losing, the love of his life, Ruby. Following her death, Ben hung up his mask and goggles for good.

SEE ALSO: 'The Boroughs' review: Stop what you're doing and watch retirees fight monsters in this fantastic sci-fi series

However, just because Ben's retired the Spider doesn't mean he won't wind up trapped in dangerous webs of others' making. And Spider-Noir presents a fascinating web indeed, one involving crime lord Silvermane (Brendan Gleeson), lounge singer Cat Hardy (Li Jun Li), and a rogue's gallery of superpowered men, including well-known Spider-Man villains like Flint Marko (Jack Huston), aka Sandman, and Lonnie Lincoln (Abraham Popoola), aka Tombstone.

Spider-Noir is a gorgeous love letter to film noir. Li Jun Li in "Spider-Noir." Credit: Prime

The way these threads converge isn't necessarily ground-breaking. Obviously, Ben will put on the mask and seek redemption, even if he doesn't think it's worth it. And obviously, the origins of these superpowered villains have ties to Ben's own genetic mutation. But the show's carefully calibrated style manages to make each familiar plot point feel like a new discovery.

Recent superhero shows have tried to set themselves apart by dabbling in genres beyond just "superhero." That's how you get gangster dramas like The Penguin, or a legal comedy like She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. But not since WandaVision has a show so thoroughly immersed itself in a different genre. Unlike WandaVision, Spider-Noir holds fast to its genre trappings throughout, and that steadfastness elevates it over every other superhero show's genre dabbling.

SEE ALSO: 'Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed' review: The power of Tatiana Maslany makes this thriller a must-watch

The visuals are the key here, starting with the show's unique presentation. Prime Video offers viewers the choice of watching in both black and white and color. While I recommend checking out the color version at least once to take in all the details on the show's costumes and set pieces, black and white is certainly the way to go here. Spider-Noir thrives in the contrast between light and dark, casting bold, inky shadows across city streets in pointed tribute to the film noir genre that inspired it. In a world where so many TV shows are underlit or visually flat, it's a joy to see a series take full advantage of lighting as a key way to build mood and atmosphere.

Elsewhere, Spider-Noir has a ball with stylistic staples of the film noir genre, from Dutch angles to a moody score, courtesy of Kris Bowers and Michael Dean Parsons. Don't think of Spider-Noir as being focused on style over substance, though. It's more style as substance, as the series engages seriously with film noir's thematic tropes. Ben is a classic world-weary antihero, while Li's enigmatic Cat falls squarely into the femme fatale archetype, going from crooner to double-crosser at the drop of a fedora.

Nicolas Cage was meant for Spider-Noir. Nicolas Cage in "Spider-Noir." Credit: Aaron Epstein / Prime

Film noir — and '30s-era films in general — are key to Spider-Noir because they're key to Ben as well. As he reveals to Cat, in the wake of his mutation, he was overcome with arachnid instincts. He had to go to the movies to relearn how to be human from the actors.

That gives Cage free reign to channel film noir's leading men, and he does it with gusto. In Ben's scenes with his closest confidants, like his secretary Janet (Karen Rodriguez) or his reporter friend Robbie (Lamorne Morris), he carries himself more naturally, with a tinge of grumpiness. Once he's out in the field, though, he dials up the hard-boiled detective to a solid 11. He slings quips like they're webs, alternating between charming and brooding his way out of danger.

Ben's bag of tricks also includes disguising himself. He poses as everything from a plumber to a doctor in his efforts to crack his case, and Cage embraces a new outlandish persona in each role. Viewers may be tempted to add these moments to their "Nicolas Cage losing his shit"-style compilations, but these moments, on top of being extra fun, do remain motivated by the needs of the show. Rarely does Spider-Noir unleash a Cage crash out for memes' sake. (Although the show does play up the meme-iness a little bit, like when Morris unleashes a surprisingly solid Cage impression in the perfect context.)

Cage's dedication to a role as strange as "film noir detective Spider-Man" especially shines through when Ben succumbs to his spider instincts. His physicality is both mesmerizing and bizarre, whether he's contorting himself in strange ways or just lying, twitching, on his bed. While his voice acting in Into the Spider-Verse is delightful, it's moments like this, where you see Cage embodying Ben's uncanny physical experience, that made me truly understand why this show exists.

Between Cage's performance and distinct styling, Spider-Noir proves that there's still ways to freshen up superhero shows. The key is just commitment.

All episodes of Spider-Noir premiere May 27 on Prime Video.

Gmail on Android is polished, familiar, and reliable. Unfortunately, over time, it has stopped feeling like a simple tool for reading mail and started feeling like another entry point into Google’s all-in-one ecosystem. I decided that I wanted something that was just an email client, so I made the switch to Thunderbird. It's a free, open-source, privacy-focused app, and it makes email feel like it used to.

The best Memorial Day TV deals at a glance: Best TV deal overall Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro Mini-LED ULED 4K TV $849.99 (save $550) Get Deal Best art TV deal Hisense 65-inch S7 Canvas QLED 4K TV $1,099.99 (save $900) Get Deal Best small TV deal Hisense 43-inch E6 Cinema QLED 4K TV $209.99 (save $140) Get Deal Best splurge Samsung 65-inch S95F OLED 4K TV $2,199.99 (save $400) Get Deal

You probably expect great deals on mattresses and outdoor gear for Memorial Day, but it also happens to be a great time to upgrade your TV. Many of the new releases from CES 2026 are officially on shelves now, and some of those are actually already on sale. If you prefer an even more budget-friendly option, there's also a ton of last-generation models getting the deal treatment to make way for the newer models.

Regardless of your preference, you can bring home a TV from one of our favorite brands — Hisense, Samsung, LG, etc. — in all shapes and sizes for cheaper than usual. I'm tracking all of the best Memorial Day TV deals leading up to and throughout the holiday weekend below, and some of these discounts are massive.

Psst: If you're not sure what to do with your old TV, you can recycle it at most Best Buy stores for free.

Best Memorial Day TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro Mini-LED ULED 4K TV $849.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $550   Get Deal Why we like it

The U6 Pro is one of Hisense's new mid-range models for 2026 and it's a perfect mashup of performance and value. It packs Mini-LED backlighting, quantum-dot color, AI-driven processing, a peak brightness of 1,200 nits, a 144Hz refresh rate, and 2.1-channel Dolby Atmos audio. Hisense markets it as an easy way to "step into a premium experience without moving into higher-priced tiers." And that's especially true now that the 75-inch model has received its second price drop since its launch earlier this month.

Best Memorial Day Art TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch S7 Canvas QLED 4K TV $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $900   Get Deal Why we like it

Hisense also launched a new version of the extremely popular CanvasTV for 2026, which features a Hi-QLED display with an AI RGB ambient light sensor. Not only is the display upgraded with deeper color accuracy and richer hues, but it can also adjust brightness and color temperature based on the lighting in the room. A new motion detection feature will also wake your display when you enter the room and fade when you walk away in order to save some energy. It still packs the same 144Hz refresh rate, Hi-Matte design, teak frame, and free digital art library to turn your TV into fancy artwork. Amazon and Best Buy both have the 65-inch model for $900 off this Memorial Day.

More Memorial Day TV deals

43-inch to 50-inch TVs

• Insignia 43-inch F50 LED 4K TV — $149.99 $199.99 (save $50)

• Toshiba 43-inch C350 LED 4K TV — $159.99 $299.99 (save $140)

• Hisense 43-inch E6 Cinema QLED 4K TV — $209.99 $349.99 (save $140)

• Amazon 43-inch Ember 4-Series 4K TV — $269.99 $329.99 (save $60)

• Amazon 50-inch Ember 4-Series 4K TV — $309.99 $399.99 (save $90)

• Amazon 50-inch Ember QLED 4K TV — $419.99 $479.99 (save $60)

• Hisense 50-inch S7 Canvas QLED 4K TV — $798.99 $1,299.99 (save $501)

55-inch TVs

• Insignia 55-inch F50 LED 4K TV — $199.99 $349.99 (save $150)

• Hisense 55-inch E6 Cinema QLED 4K TV — $278.99 $429.99 (save $151)

• Hisense 55-inch U6 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $399.99 $799.99 (save $400)

• Amazon 55-inch Ember Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $559.99 $819.99 (save $260)

• Hisense 55-inch U6 Pro Mini-LED ULED 4K TV — $599.99 $849.99 (save $250)

• LG 55-inch B5 OLED 4K TV — $799.99 $1,499.99 (save $700)

• Samsung 55-inch S95H OLED 4K TV — $2,299.99 $2,499 (save $200)

65-inch TVs

• Toshiba 65-inch C350 LED 4K TV — $264.99 $529.99 (save $265)

• Samsung 65-inch Class QLED Q7F 4K TV — $427.99 $499.99 (save $72)

• LG 65-inch 70A QNED AI 4K TV — $429.99 $579.99 (save $150)

• Roku 65-inch Plus Mini-LED 4K TV — $479.99 $649.99 (save $170)

• Hisense 65-inch U6 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $547.97 $999.99 (save $452.02)

• Samsung 65-inch Q8F QLED 4K TV — $597.99 $899.99 (save $302)

• Hisense 65-inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV — $949.99 $1,499.99 (save $550)

• Samsung 65-inch The Frame LS03FA QLED 4K TV — $999.99 $1,599.99 (save $600)

• Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K TV — $1,297.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,202)

• Sony 65-inch Bravia XR8B OLED 4K TV — $1,499.99 $1,899.99 (save $400)

• Samsung 65-inch R85H Micro RGB 4K TV — $1,899.99 $2,099.99 (save $200)

• Hisense 65-inch UR9 RGB Mini-LED 4K TV — $1,999.99 $2,199.99 (save $200)

• Samsung 65-inch S95F OLED 4K TV — $2,199.99 $2,599.99 (save $400)

• Sony 65-inch Bravia 8 II QD-OLED 4K TV — $2,598 $3,299.99 (save $701.99)

75-inch TVs and up

• Insignia 75-inch QF QLED 4K TV — $399.99 $649.99 (save $250)

• TCL 75-inch T7 4K QLED TV — $629.99 $899.99 (save $270)

• Insignia 85-inch QF QLED 4K TV — $639.99 $1,099.99 (save $460)

• Hisense 75-inch S7N CanvasTV QLED 4K TV — $999.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,500)

• Hisense 75-inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV — $1,199.99 $1,999.99 (save $800)

• Hisense 85-inch U6 Pro Mini‑LED 4K TV — $1,199.99 $1,999.99 (save $800)

• LG 77-inch B5 OLED 4K TV — $1,499.99 $2,999.99 (save $1,500)

• LG 77-inch C5 OLED 4K TV — $1,899.99 $3,699.99 (save $1,800)

• TCL 75-inch QM8L SQD-Mini LED 4K TV — $1,999.99 $2,999.99 (save $1,000)

• Hisense 100-inch U6 Pro Mini-LED ULED 4K TV — $2,299.99 $3,499.99 (save $1,200)

• TCL 98-inch QM8K Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $2,999.99 $4,999.99 (save $2,000)

The ESP32 is one of the best microcontrollers on the market for building low-power sensors. By connecting a microphone (and sometimes a few additional components), the ESP32 can react to sound in some interesting ways.

A NAS is easy to set up in a corner and then forget, but even a few free or inexpensive upgrades can make it more useful and more reliable in the long-term. You don't even need to do much—these are 5 ways to improve your NAS without breaking the bank or using up your entire weekend.

SAVE UP TO 40%: From May 22-25, take up to 40% off MasterClass courses and MasterClass Certificates in the Memorial Day sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: MasterClass MasterClass and MasterClass Certificates: Save up to 40%   Get Deal

For anyone who's looking to do a bit of life enrichment over the summer, MasterClass offers a great option. The platform is full of courses taught by industry pros that are sure to prove insightful. To celebrate Memorial Day, MasterClass has a great sale on tap.

Between May 22 and May 25, save up to 40% on MasterClass lessons and professional MasterClass Certificates.

From cooking courses to personal styling lessons, MasterClass has something everyone will find worthwhile. With lessons in science, technology, writing, music, health, and plenty more, the platform gives access to exceptional learning activities.

SEE ALSO: 40+ of the best Memorial Day deals — TVs, mattresses, headphones, and more on sale

MasterClass Certificates is designed to offer professional advancements through lessons that range from 15 to 20 hours. Taught by industry leaders, they're a great way to learn new in-demand skills that complement your career.

Whether you're looking to broaden your horizons or buy a class as a thoughtful graduation gift, jump on saving up to 40% off on MasterClass lessons this Memorial Day.

TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races for free. Watch the Canadian GP for free with the Prime Video app.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple TV Prime Video Channel Watch the Japanese GP for free with a 7-day trial Shop Now

I don't care what anyone says — I've really enjoyed this season of F1. I know the new F1 regulations are not for everyone, not least the drivers. But I like the unpredictability of this season and I'm keen for more after a break post Miami.

Kimi Antonelli continues to lead the standings coming into the Canadian GP, but there's a feeling that McLaren are closing the gap to the Mercedes drivers. Could the tide finally turn this weekend and we get our first winner from another team? It's a Sprint weekend, so it always feels like there's a greater chance of upsetting the odds.

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the Canadian GP?

The Canadian GP is the fifth race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve:

• Practice 1 — 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET on May 22

• Sprint Qualifying — 4:30-5:14 p.m. ET on May 22

• Sprint — 12-1 p.m. ET on May 23

• Qualifying — 4-5 p.m. ET on May 23

• Race — 4 p.m. ET on May 24

Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the Canadian GP for free

I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I very happily pay for the fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. The access to Prime Video is actually not all that important to me. I occasionally watch the Champions League and NBA, but that's about it. That was until this season of F1 came to Apple TV.

It is now possible to sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by accessing this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel this automatic renewal at any time.

By cancelling ahead of the renewal, you can watch the Canadian GP this weekend without spending anything.

I already pay for Amazon Prime, so you could argue that this isn't really free. I get that, but Amazon Prime does offer a 30-day free trial period if you're new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can truly watch select races for free this season.

Already used this hack to watch a race this season? It's not your only option.

I suggest you go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.

The best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product. If you're planning on upgrading to something from the Apple lineup in Memorial Day sales, you could gain access to Apple TV for a pretty large chunk of this season. You will obviously need to buy something, but if you were already in the market for an upgrade, this method makes a lot of sense.

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free in 2026 Best Apple TV Deal Apple TV 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Prime Video Deal Apple TV Prime Video Channel 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Apple One Deal Apple One 30-day free trial Shop Now

Smart switches are very useful in the smart home. They give you the best of both worlds: you can automate your lights, but you can also control them manually when you need to. Smart switches aren't always the best option for every room, however.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you always follow back up.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. 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 What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 22, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Circle back

• Green: That's how it is

• Blue: They go round and round

• Purple: Women's names

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Reach back out

• Green: The way things are done

• Blue: Places with conveyor belts

• Purple: Starting with name homophones

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1076 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Reach back out: CHECK IN, FOLLOW UP, RECONNECT, TOUCH BASE

• The way things are done: CONVENTION, CUSTOM, SOCIAL NORM, UNWRITTEN RULE

• Places with conveyor belts: ASSEMBLY LINE, BAGGAGE CLAIM, CHECKOUT LANE, REVOLVING SUSHI BAR

• Starting with name homophones: CARRY-ON, EL NIÑO, LOOSEY-GOOSEY, TAILOR-MADE

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 22, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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 yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you go big or go home.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 22, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Put down your ruler

The words are related to size.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe large things.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Its Big.

NYT Strands word list for May 22

• Boundless

• Epic

• Vast

• Immense

• Its Big

• Whopping

• Astronomic

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you don't like to venture out.

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 May 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 May 22, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Regional.

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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 L.

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...

VOCAL

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.

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 yesterday's Wordle.