How-To Geek

Companies continue to produce smaller and thinner tech, even though many of us are perfectly fine with the size of our current devices. Ultimately, though, we’re all better off due to this ongoing drive to make tech as small as possible.

Most of us hope our smartphones last for years, but without realizing it, we often make small mistakes that affect their performance and overall lifespan. From bad charging practices to skipping software updates and exposing your phone to extreme conditions, here are some common mistakes you must avoid.

iPadOS 26 has arrived. And just like iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe, it, too, features a Liquid Glass design, along with plenty of new features and enhancements.

You simply need to hit the red button to disconnect a call on your Android smartphone. But what if I told you there are more interesting ways to end calls? Here are four different ways to end calls on your Android smartphone besides using the regular end button in the phone app.

Car enthusiasts often chase coupes or roadsters, but some of the most engaging cars on the market have four doors. A well-chosen sedan can deliver sharp handling, satisfying power, and a balanced chassis that rivals dedicated sports cars, all while offering room for passengers and daily practicality. On the used market, that combination can be surprisingly affordable.

I recently decided that I was not hardcore unless I lived hardcore, so I went back into my Jack Black catalog of movies and was reminded of the kaleidoscopic nature of his talent. He’s one of those actors whose performances and propensity for timing never age, no matter what genres he’s tackling. He’s hilarious, energetic, and lovable in everything he does.

Love it or hate it, Windows 11 comes with a catch: Microsoft’s strict system requirements leave millions of perfectly good PCs stuck on Windows 10 with no upgrade path. If your machine doesn’t have a modern CPU, TPM 2.0, or Secure Boot, you’re officially out of luck. So, what are your options? There are a couple of ways to extend support on your Windows 10 PC, but I'm looking for something a little more long-term.

Denuvo is the most common video game DRM solution, shipping with many big-budget titles. It’s very hard to circumvent and comes with certain limitations, such as a limited number of PC activations, that are clearly anti-consumer. But if you think Denuvo is the worst, boy, do I have news for you.

You've likely used AI and been amazed by both its brilliance and its stupidity—I have too. Yet these systems lack what it would take to truly replace a skilled programmer, and their financial backbone isn't looking likely to last. I'll explain why.

The iOS 26 update is officially here. Alongside featuring an all-new Liquid Glass design, the latest update also expands AI capabilities to more apps and introduces two new apps—Preview and Games—among other enhancements.

Windows Vista is famous for one thing: it wasn't that good of an operating system. Despite being newer and featuring numerous design refinements, it remained in XP's shadow, and when Windows 7 came out, it was all but forgotten.

If you’re a gamer or work from home, your mousepad is probably the dirtiest part of your setup—and you might not even realize it. I know I didn’t, and when I cleaned mine, I was shocked by how much grime came out of a pad I'd only been using for six months.

If you've spent any time on audiophile forums (I'm so sorry) you've probably run into the idea of headphone "burn-in" or "breaking in" a new set of headphones like a new pair of shoes or something. Many audio enthusiasts swear by this and will leave their headphones playing music for hundreds of hours in the belief that it will make them sound better.

Vinyl's having a big comeback, though of course it's always had its hardcore fans. It's now been joined by a renewed interest in CDs and even cassette tapes, often by people who were born after these formats were common, but Vinyl still holds its own unique niche.

By no means should "downgrading" your car be seen as a bad thing. Especially in this day and age, consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of many critical factors when purchasing a car, whether leasing or buying outright.

If you work primarily off a laptop, you’re likely already aware of the productivity and comfort benefits that a few small gadgets can provide. The best part is that many of them can make a meaningful difference without draining your wallet.

The widgets panel on Windows 11 gives you quick access to information like news, weather, stocks, and more. However, I really don't like it, as it takes up a good amount of taskbar space and often interferes with my workflow by popping up unexpectedly. If you also don't find the widgets panel helpful, here's how you can disable it completely.

If your device takes ages to boot, and you blame it on its age, you’re mistaken. I used to think the same until I found the real culprit—too many apps loading at startup. Turning off unnecessary apps made my device boot faster. I applied this change on two devices, and here’s the difference it made.

Hybrids might seem tricky with two power sources under the hood, but when done right they’re actually easier to live with than a regular gas car.

One of the main features that was removed from macOS Tahoe was the app launcher, Launchpad. A lot of people didn't use it and won't miss it, but for people like me who used it every day, it's a big loss. Unfortunately, there's no way to bring back Launchpad, but there are other options you can use instead.