How-To Geek

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We explain technology. Learn more with our articles, reviews, tips, and the best answers to your most pressing tech questions.
Updated: 49 min 4 sec ago

10 modern car features you'll regret not having in your next vehicle

1 hour 4 min ago

Cars have a tendency to attract technological gimmicks (automatic seat belts, anyone?) but there are some genuinely useful and important technologies that you should look out for when buying your next car. In fact, a few of these can be added to your existing car as an upgrade, rather than a whole new vehicle. Of course, I'm not saying your next car should tick every box on this list or that all of them are essential, but they're all honestly useful.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Banish Cable Clutter in 2025: 6 Clever Hacks to Tidy Your Tech

1 hour 19 min ago

In this world of modern technology, we have a lot of cables. Chargers, auxiliary connections, peripherals for our laptops, Ethernet, you name it. When you have a dozen cables lying in the corner of one room, they're a messy eyesore, so try out these tips to manage your cables for cheap.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I refuse to use my laptop without these 3 tiny accessories

1 hour 49 min ago

We take for granted just how impressive laptop computers are. As this form factor becomes the standard way most people do traditional computer tasks, it becomes more and more necessary to get the most out of our portable computers.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The perfect smart home standard exists—but you can't buy it

2 hours 19 min ago

The average "smart" home today looks and works nothing like I imagined it would when I was a kid. What I expected was a house with a brain in it, that anticipates your need, and does what you ask. Instead, a modern smart home is filled with barely functional hardware that does almost nothing itself and the "brain" is somewhere out there in a big company's server room.

Categories: IT General, Technology

What exactly is Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu?

2 hours 49 min ago

Click around in the Linux world long enough and you'll no-doubt come across mentions of Canonical. It's an influential entity within the world of Linux and free software, which is why it's helpful to understand the creators of Ubuntu and what they do.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This plush Japanese sports sedan can be yours for less than $20k

3 hours 19 min ago

Affordable performance sedans are rare these days, but in the used market, one Japanese sports sedan stands out as a genuinely compelling bargain. For less than $20,000, you can step into a vehicle that delivers not just spirited driving dynamics but also a plush, refined cabin, something many buyers assume only comes with a luxury badge and a hefty price tag.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pixel phones have bloatware too—uninstall or disable these apps

3 hours 49 min ago

Pixel phones are still often thought of as being "stock Android"—devices that are free from bloat and offer Android in its purest form. But they aren't. Pixel phones are Google phones, and they come packed with apps and features that could technically be called bloatware.

Categories: IT General, Technology

File Explorer crashing? Here's how to fix it fast

4 hours 4 min ago

Does File Explorer work fine one moment, then suddenly freeze, restart, or vanish altogether? These crashes aren’t random—they’re usually triggered by issues with File Explorer itself, its settings or features, or even Windows. If this issue interrupts your workflow, here are some fixes you can try.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This simple upgrade makes cheap 3D printers feel premium

4 hours 19 min ago

These days, the world of 3D printers has no shortage of good budget options. The results from these printers are more than usable, but there's still a clear difference between a budget model and something more premium.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Milwaukee tools coming in 2026 that are actually worth waiting for

5 hours 19 min ago

You can never have too many tools, right? Milwaukee already has an extensive selection of power tools and accessories, but one thing that makes the brand so popular is the constant arrival of new products. And while Milwaukee has over 150 items coming soon, here are a couple of new tools arriving in 2026 that are actually worth waiting for.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I replaced Excel with a self-hosted, open-source alternative

5 hours 49 min ago

Microsoft Excel is practically synonymous with spreadsheets, but the cost, along with being trapped in Microsoft's ecosystem, made me search for an alternative.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2c review: Elite performance, questionable value

6 hours 19 min ago

The Logitech Pro X Superlight 2c gaming mouse doesn't offer any groundbreaking new tech. That said, it offers dependability, precision, speed, and comfort, making it an incredible gaming peripheral.

Categories: IT General, Technology

China's first real gaming GPU is here, and the benchmarks are brutal

18 hours 19 min ago

I've always argued that we desperately need competition in the GPU space, which is why I was very happy when Intel broke into the GPU market—even as it only made mid-range and budget cards.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Outlook settings that instantly make your inbox cleaner

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 23:00

Is your Outlook inbox so packed that important emails slip through the cracks, leaving you feeling overwhelmed? If so, you’re not taking advantage of features that help keep everything under control. Here’s how you can filter out the noise, surface what truly matters, and keep your inbox organized.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why 1TB of storage is no longer enough for a gaming laptop

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 22:00

If you’re shopping for a gaming laptop, don’t overlook storage. With games taking up more space than ever, it’s one of the most important specs to consider. NVMe drives are fast but pricey, and skimping here can quickly blow your budget. So, how much storage do you really need?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pretend it’s 1998 with this functional AOL Instant Messenger clone

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 21:14

Instant messaging apps today just don’t have the same charm as the OGs. Some are a bloated mess of read receipts and stickers, while others are super minimal and boring. Inspired by AOL Instant Messenger, a 15-year-old UI designer wanted to change that. He built a throwback to early messaging apps, complete with a Windows 98-inspired theme.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why the 2026 Toyota RAV4 might finally outshine the Honda CR-V

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 20:00

The compact SUV segment has been dominated for years by recognizable names, but in 2026 the battle for supremacy may finally be tightening. Toyota’s latest RAV4 update brings a suite of refinements that could give it a real edge over the Honda CR-V, long considered the benchmark for practicality, reliability, and overall value in this crowded category. As both models evolve, buyers now have more to consider than ever before.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why your Android phone isn't charging at full speed (and how to fix it)

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 19:00

So, you bought an Android phone that promised a rapid charging time up to some amount like 80%, but when you plug it into a charger you see a message like "slow charging" or "fully charged in two hours." That's not what you signed up for, so what gives?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Windows features secretly eating up your storage: How to reclaim GBs now

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 18:30

We often blame third-party apps or our growing pile of files when storage runs low, but Windows itself can quietly eat up far more space than you’d expect. If your system drive keeps filling up unexpectedly, built-in Windows features are often the real cause. Here’s how to reclaim gigabytes of storage in just minutes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Kia’s small sedan is stylish, practical, and one of America’s cheapest cars

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 18:15

The Kia K4 rolls into its second year with barely a tweak from the 2025 model—and a price that still feels just right.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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