Technology

I'm lucky enough that my current car has a built-in dashboard infotainment screen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. So all I have to do is plug a cable into my phone, and leave it down in the change bowl, or even secure inside the armrest storage, which has enough of a gap in the lid for a USB cable without pinching it.

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 Dutch GP for free with the Prime Video app.

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

How have you coped during F1's 2026 summer break? Have you retreated to a safe space and restlessly stared at the calendar, counting down the days to the Dutch GP? No? Just me then.

The good news for the F1 obsessed is that it's finally back this weekend. The Dutch GP picks up where the Hungarian GP left off, with so many unanswered questions about where this season is heading. Antonelli still holds a comfortable lead over his rivals, but this season has already thrown out plenty of surprises, and we would be foolish to think that this season is decided. There's a lot of racing still to come.

SEE ALSO: ExpressVPN review: A stylish VPN service with proven privacy and a large U.S. presence

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 Dutch GP?

The Dutch GP is the 12th race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from Zandvoort:

• Practice 1 — 6:30-7:30 a.m. ET on Aug. 21

• Sprint Qualifying — 10:30-11:14 a.m. ET on Aug. 21

• Sprint — 6-7 a.m. ET on Aug. 22

• Qualifying — 10-11 a.m. ET on Aug. 22

• Race — 9 a.m. ET on Aug. 23

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

How to watch the Dutch GP for free

An Amazon Prime subscription delivers fast shipping, Prime Day discounts, and access to the Prime Video library. For F1 fans in the U.S., Prime Video is a bit of a hack. Apple TV holds exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights for F1, and you can sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV directly through Prime Video Channels.

That trial gives you full access to stream select races — including this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix — for free. While the subscription rolls over to $12.99 per month after seven days, you can cancel the automatic renewal function in your settings and still stream the entire race weekend for free.

Of course, if you're already paying for Amazon Prime, calling it "completely free" is open to interpretation. But if you don't have an active membership, Amazon offers a 30-day free trial for new users. Stacking that Prime trial with the seven-day Apple TV channel trial means you are genuinely spending nothing to stream the race.

If you've already made use of this sneaky trick, you still have a few solid workarounds:

• Apple TV: New standalone subscribers qualify for a direct seven-day free trial through Apple's app.

• Apple One: If you want more than just streaming, the Apple One tier packages Apple TV alongside Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and 50GB of iCloud storage — and it comes with a full one-month free trial ($19.95 per month after the promotional period).

• Apple: The most generous Apple TV offer is tied to new hardware purchases. Buying an eligible iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV grants new subscribers three months of free service. You obviously have to spend money on hardware, but if you were already planning an upgrade, it effectively unlocks a massive chunk of the F1 season for free.

SAVE OVER $59: The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are on sale for $189.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $249. That's a 24% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $189.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $59.01   Get Deal

The opportunity to get any kind of Apple device at a discount price is always a golden one. With the brand's usually stubborn price points, Apple users often have to wait for the likes of Prime Day or Black Friday to roll around before they can get a significant bargain on MacBooks, Apple Watches, or AirPods.

Fortunately, AirPods are having a moment on Amazon, with the whole Airpod range currently discounted. Our pick of the bunch is a 24% discount of the Apple AirPods Pro 3, which are the latest, highest-spec version of Apple's signature earbuds.

As of Aug. 23, the Apple AidPods Pro 3 are currently on sale at Amazon for $189.99, marked down from the usual list price of $249. That's a total saving of $59.01.

SEE ALSO: The Segway Navimow i110N robot lawn mower is down to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $300+

This isn't the absolute lowest these AirPods have been priced at. We've seen them drop to $169, but this remains their lowest price since Prime Day. And it's a super competitive price for earbuds that boast some of the very best ANC (active noise cancellation) technology available and incredible sound quality — not to mention all the slick synchronicity that you get between Apple devices.

There are lots of rumours swirling around about AirPods, such as the AirPods Pro 4 potentially dropping or the prospect of AirPods with cameras. But as it stands these are the best of the best when it comes to AirPods — and right now you'll save almost $60.

Don't miss the Apple AidPods Pro 3 for $189.99 at Amazon — down from $249.

TL;DR: Watch Manchester City vs. Bournemouth in the Premier League for free on CazéTV. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Premier League is back on our screens, and the opening weekend showcases some really interesting fixtures.

Manchester City vs. Bournemouth is probably not top of most fans' lists, but it's going to be really interesting to see how Enzo Maresca navigates things this season with a team in transition. The pressure is on after a poor performance against Arsenal last weekend. Fans will expect a dominant victory over Bournemouth at the Etihad.

If you're interested in watching Manchester City vs. Bournemouth in the Premier League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Manchester City vs. Bournemouth?

Manchester City vs. Bournemouth in the Premier League kicks off at 9 a.m. ET on Aug. 23. This fixture takes place at the Etihad Stadium.

How to watch Manchester City vs. Bournemouth for free

Manchester City vs. Bournemouth in the Premier League is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Manchester City vs. Bournemouth for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Manchester City vs. Bournemouth for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Brazil

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch Manchester City vs. Bournemouth for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Manchester City vs. Bournemouth without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus additional Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Premier League?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on CazéTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Manchester City vs. Bournemouth for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Lego is giving visitors a chance to build and take home a miniature model of the Human-Human Fruit from One Piece for free. These events are running on Aug. 23 from 12-2 p.m. in the U.S. and Canada.

Anime fans and Lego collectors need to clear their schedules this weekend.

Lego is hosting make-and-take events at retail stores across the U.S. and Canada, giving visitors a chance to build and take home a miniature model of the Human-Human Fruit from One Piece — completely free of charge. It's important to note that the Lego Human-Human Fruit model cannot be purchased, so this two-hour window is your only official way to score it. You could head to eBay next week, but you'll be dealing with some serious markups.

The event officially takes place on Sunday, Aug. 23 from 12-2 p.m. local time at participating Lego Stores (check locations here).

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As with all of Lego's make-and-take events, participation is strictly first-come, first-served while supplies last, with a hard limit of one build per guest. If we know anything about anime enthusiasts, they're bound to move fast. Your best strategy is to double-check your local store's event page online to confirm participation, then arrive 15 to 20 minutes before the doors open so you don't leave empty-handed. Consider yourself warned.

Follow these steps to get your hands on money-can't-buy Lego this weekend.

The glory days when every Android phone had expandable storage are long behind us. The first to go out were flagships and high-end options. The rest of the market slowly followed suit, starting with upper-mid-range offerings and trickling down to lower price brackets.

I discovered the joys of homelabbing and self-hosting earlier this year when I turned an old laptop and a hard drive into a home server. It started out as a simple NAS, but quickly turned into a full-blown hobby.

How old is your oldest spool of 3D printing filament, and where do you store it when it’s not in use? The idea that filament might go “bad” over time might seem odd, even though we don’t have the same long-term durability expectations for the items we print.

After upgrading my Steam Deck's SSD, I threw the handheld's original 256GB drive into the bottom of one of the tin boxes I keep all kinds of knickknacks in and quickly forgot about it. The SSD had gathered dust there for years until I remembered I had it and decided to do something useful with it. So I went to Temu, ordered a 2230 external SSD enclosure, and a few weeks later, I ended up with a teeny-tiny DIY external SSD that blows all of my USB flash drives out of the water.

Folks across North and South America, as well as parts of Europe and Africa, will have a front-row seat to a partial lunar eclipse on Aug. 27, painting the moon the color of a hot fireplace poker. 

Unlike solar eclipses, you don't need specially darkened glasses to protect your eyes. In this case, you can safely stare with the naked eye. And since the next true total lunar eclipse won't happen for most of the Americas until 2029, this is your best chance to catch a major lunar light show for a few years.

But if you're like this reporter and live in an area with perpetual city light pollution — or cloudy weather just happens to crash your viewing party plans — several telescope observatories will be hosting free livestreams to bring the magic to your screen. 

SEE ALSO: NASA reluctantly abandons a space telescope rescue mission

During a lunar eclipse, the Earth slides between the sun and the moon, casting a giant shadow over the lunar surface. This upcoming event is especially thrilling because it is a "deep" partial eclipse. 

At its peak, Earth's dark shadow will swallow almost all of it — over 96 percent of the lunar face. Instead of going completely dark, the moon will catch filtered sunlight from Earth's atmosphere, glowing in coppery orange and red.

A lunar eclipse is sometimes called a blood moon because it reflects light filtered through Earth's atmosphere. Credit: Ernie Wright / NASA's Scientific VIsualization Studio infographic

"It's as if all the world’s sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the Moon," according to NASA. 

If you decide to step outside, grab a pair of binoculars to watch Earth's curved shadow sweep across lunar craters. You might also notice more stars popping out in the night sky as the bright moonlight dims. A regular smartphone can easily snap a souvenir photo.

But if you want a closer look through professional equipment, or you happen to live somewhere outside the eclipse viewing zone, multiple astronomy groups have you covered. Here is a roundup of a few free live broadcasts you can tune into on the night of Aug. 27 and into the early morning of Aug. 28, depending on where in the world you live.

• Griffith Observatory: Broadcasting live from L.A., this observatory kicks off its livestream at 10:25 p.m. ET / 7:25 p.m. PT Aug. 27.

• The Virtual Telescope Project: Watch the moon glow over Tuscany. This feed features high-resolution telescope views starting at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT Aug. 27.

• Timeanddate.com: Catch a real-time telescope feed with expert tracking animations and commentary, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Aug. 27.

The main event lasts well over an hour, giving you plenty of time to hop between streams and enjoy different telescope angles.

I have spent years switching Linux distros for practical reasons such as hardware support, package availability, performance, and documentation. This time, my motivation was entirely superficial: I saw Pop!_OS with its new Frosted Glass interface and thought it looked incredible.

A Kindle is primarily intended for reading eBooks. While you can use one to browse the internet, it's nowhere near the experience of using a smartphone. You may be surprised to learn that it's possible to stream video on a Kindle.

I switched to Linux as my daily driver several years ago, but sometimes Windows is still necessary. When that happens, I'm stuck using a workflow that feels oddly clunky. I found myself reaching for programs and tools that didn't exist and trying to use window management options that didn't exist.

I spent years repeatedly rearranging the same Excel worksheets for different tasks: I'd hide columns, change filters, adjust the zoom, and then undo everything later. Then I discovered the overlooked Custom Views option, which lets me save those layouts and switch between them in seconds.

Here's a not-so-novel theory of cultural development that you should be aware of, especially if you're an older person wondering about the behaviors of younger people: When TV and the internet first emerged on the cultural scene, they had a unifying effect on people. After all, there were only a handful of television channels you could watch, so everyone watched The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, M*A*S*H, and All in the Family. Just take a look at IMDB's list of the Most Watched Series Finales Ever, and you'll see it's dominated by shows that first aired in the '70s, '80s, and '90s. 

Fast forward to the early 2000s, when social media first emerged, and you have a similar effect: everyone had a MySpace or Facebook account because there wasn't really any other game in town. But that unity rapidly gave way to fragmentation. Just as cable TV fragmented into Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon TV, etc, so too did social media fragment into smaller, more niche spaces, from Tumblr blogs and subreddits to Discord servers and Twitch chat rooms. 

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps for 2026: I swiped until my thumb hurt

Driven by the all-powerful algorithm, feeding different people different interests, the younger generations disappeared into siloed parts of the internet, many of which earned nicknames of their own. TikTok is the best example: there's BookTok for users who love to read, FinTok for users who want to learn about investing and compound interest, and of course, FitTok for people who want to learn about compound lifts or receive dieting advice. Crucially, you can spend hundreds of hours in any one of these niche communities without ever learning about the existence of the others. 

Gen Z's entire online experience has been heavily curated by algorithms, so it's no wonder their dating app behavior is different as well. 

Gen Z's retreat from online dating

The numbers started to tell the tale long before the commentators caught on. In 2023, a major Statista survey of online dating behavior found something odd, even trend-breaking: the vast majority (61 percent) of dating app users were between the ages of 30 and 34, while the much larger age group of 18-29 year olds represented just 26 percent of total dating app users. It's even odder when you consider that, since people tend to partner up over time, Gen Z should have many more single people than millennials. 

That realization led to a bevy of headlines ("Gen Z Is Leaving Dating Apps Behind" comes to mind) predicting the death of dating apps, not to mention a 38 percent average decline in the stock price of dating apps, but it doesn't mean Gen Z isn't interested in romance or connection.

In fact, it just means they're taking an entirely different approach to finding love, especially compared to millennials. Whereas single millennials can still be found on the apps, by and large, Gen Z singles are reverting to "hyper-niche" spaces to filter out people before they even reach the swiping stage.

What is a "hyper-niche" space?

Think of hyper-niche spaces as small, value-based communities. If you're a part of FitTok, for example, it's reasonable to assume that everyone else you meet in that space will value working out, eating healthy foods, and self-improvement (aka the grindset mindset). Because these things are such a big part of your life, it's helpful to meet people who already share these values.  

And if this approach is true of fitness communities, it also applies to online communities built around hobbies (reading, playing video games, knitting) or politics or religion. It has even started to apply to the specific app or software people use: X vs BlueSky

This, too, has shown up in the data. A major study of eharmony users found, for example, that 28 percent of Gen Z daters would cancel a date if their prospective partner didn't share their politics, nearly a 10-point increase from millennials and Gen X respondents, with a similar gap showing up for differences in religious belief. 

What does this mean for Gen Z?

On the one hand, these trends are arguably positive. Dating app fatigue is a well-documented phenomenon, and even millennials are suffering burnout. Hyper-niche communities take a lot of the pressure off of finding one compatible person in a sea of incompatible people, pre-selecting for others who share your values and interests. This is a major reason people are returning to IRL dating, where their friends, family, and social circles might introduce them to people, rather than an anonymous algorithm. 

But there's a dark side to this, too, and it comes from becoming too invested in any given silo, too intolerant of people who don't share your values or interests. Another striking finding emerged in the data: 60 percent of Gen Z have gone "no-contact" with a friend or family member in the past year, and 25 percent of those who went no-contact listed a difference in values as the reason. 

Add this to the fact that Gen Z spends an average of five hours a day online, by far the most of any generation, and it's easy to see how their digital existence can overtake their online one, with hyper-niche spaces looking more like bunkers to shelter them from a hostile world rather than real communities that take them out of the digital world and into the real one.

Ford has sold hands-free highway driving capability under the BlueCruise name since 2021, when it debuted on the F-150 and Mustang Mach-E. Buyers get a 90-day trial included with an eligible Ford vehicle, then pay $49.99 a month, $495 a year, or a one-time fee of $2,495. The one-time option guarantees at least seven years of BlueCruise service, with no additional payment required as long as Ford continues to offer the feature.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 23, 2026 Antifreeze meaning

Coolant that stays liquid even in frigid temperatures.

Vacuum meaning

A tool used for cleaning.

Baking soda meaning

A substance used in baking or to combat odor.

Volcano meaning

A geologic feature from which magma is pushed to the surface of the earth as lava.

Vinegar meaning

An acidic fermented liquid used as an ingredient or flavoring

Vodka meaning

A form of alcohol often distilled from potatoes.

Tinderbox meaning

A container for materials used to start fires.

Potato battery meaning

An experiment which uses potatoes to generate and conduct small amounts of electricity.

Skiing meaning

Navigating down a snow-covered hill or across a body of water using skis.

Home fries meaning

A fried potato dish.

Club soda meaning

A carbonated, mineral-infused water.

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.

Powder keg meaning

A container filled with black powder and a phrase used to describe volatile situations.

Hydrogen peroxide meaning

A bleaching substance that has a variety of household uses (always read the safety label).

Bazaar meaning

A type of market where various goods can be purchased.

Vischyssoise

A soup that includes pureed leaks and potatoes.

Time bomb meaning

An explosive with a timed detonator.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

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

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 Connections.

TL;DR: Watch Frosinone vs. Juventus in Serie A for free on SportyNet. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Serie A is back this weekend, and as usual, Juventus will get a lot of attention. Last season, they finished in sixth place. That's obviously not good enough for a club with the history of Juventus, and they'll be desperate to start with a confident victory over new boys Frosinone.

If you're interested in watching Frosinone vs. Juventus in Serie A from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Frosinone vs. Juventus?

Frosinone vs. Juventus in Serie A kicks off at 12:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 23. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Benito Stirpe.

How to watch Frosinone vs. Juventus for free

Frosinone vs. Juventus in Serie A is available to live stream for free on SportyNet.

SportyNet is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Frosinone vs. Juventus for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Frosinone vs. Juventus for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Brazil

4. Visit SportyNet

5. Watch Frosinone vs. Juventus for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Frosinone vs. Juventus without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus additional Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Serie A?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on SportyNet, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Frosinone vs. Juventus for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Moon is getting closer to the Full Moon, with more than half of its surface illuminated tonight. It's still in its Waxing Gibbous phase, so there's plenty to see as the Moon continues to get brighter each night.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, Aug. 23, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in its Waxing Gibbous phase, with 79% of its surface visible.

Without any visual aids, tonight you can see the Mares Crisium and Imbrium, and the Tycho Crater. If you want to see even more, use binoculars to bring the Clavius and Endymion Craters into view, as well as the Apennine Mountains. Plus, if you have a telescope, you'll also be able to see the Apollo 15 landing spot, the Rupes Altai, and the Descartes Highlands.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon goes through a series of phases that cause its appearance to change as seen from Earth. As the Moon orbits Earth, it goes through a lunar cycle that takes about 29.5 days to complete, according to NASA. The positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon determine how much of the Moon’s illuminated side is visible from Earth, creating its different phases. Throughout the cycle, the Moon changes from a thin crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before repeating the cycle once more.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love your vegetables.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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 August 23, 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: They erupt

• Green: Long sounds

• Blue: Full of starch

• Purple: Quick cleanup

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.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Potentially explosive things

• Green: Double vowels

• Blue: Made with potatoes

• Purple: Household stain removers

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 #1169 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Potentially explosive things: POWDER KEG, TIME BOMB, TINDERBOX, VOLCANO

• Double vowels: ANTIFREEZE, BAZAAR, SKIIING, VACUUM

• Made with potatoes: HOME FRIES, POTATO BATTERY, VISCHYSSOISE, VODKA

• Household stain removers: BAKING SODA, CLUB SODA, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, VINEGAR

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 23, 2026

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

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 Connections.