How-To Geek

RAID is typically the go-to method for redundancy in servers, and it definitely has stood the test of time. What if I told you I intentionally stopped using RAID on my Plex server? Here’s why.

Have you been wanting to launch a website, but were turned off by the cost and difficulty required? Those two elements of website building are a thing of the past now! It’s easier than ever before to launch your website with modern tools, and it doesn’t even have to cost you a dime.

When Samsung released the One UI 7 update and the Galaxy S25, the company also debuted the Now Bar and Now Brief, among other things. Samsung's Now Bar was supposed to be Galaxy's answer to the Dynamic Island, a sleek pill-shaped hub that promised to turn your home and lock screen into an information command center.

If your wired internet speeds aren't what you expect, or you find that your Wi-Fi network doesn't work as well as it should, your router might not be responsible—it could be something else. Old network switches, damaged or low-quality Ethernet cables, and unreliable transmission methods could all be at fault.

Between the 2026 Winter Olympics and March Madness, it’s been a big year for sports already, and Paramount+ is making sure you continue to get your fill in April. While the streamer will see exclusive streaming debuts of a couple of recently released movies, it will also see debuts of three new original docuseries, one of which is a doozie for all the true-crime fans out there. Additionally, you can also catch the Masters live and UFC Fight Night.

I have been in the homelabbing game for over five years at this point, and I have tried out, quite literally, hundreds of services to self-host. These days, I have around 30 to 40 services running in my homelab at any given time, but these five are the ones I can’t live without.

For many drivers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have become essential parts of the in-car experience. Navigation, music, calls, and messaging all run through the vehicle’s infotainment system, so phones don’t have to be handled while driving. The problem is that many cars produced between 2016 and 2023 still require a wired USB connection to use those features.

Buying a NAS for one specific thing is probably the main reason why a lot of people end up with a NAS in the first place. But what if you end up not being that into the very thing you bought it for? Here are 5 more reasons and ways to put that NAS to use.

Most homeowners have a power tool or two, and chances are Ryobi, Milwaukee, Makita, or DeWALT make it. All the major brands manufacture a wide range of options. And while your go-to brand likely offers the usual essential tools, each also makes a few unique items tailored to specific professions or tasks.

The once-speedy Windows PC you bought will eventually turn into a slow, unresponsive machine, suffering from long boot times and application delays. Many users blame this on aging hardware, the unavoidable decay of technology over time and in some ways it is, leading some to give up. However, the truth is much more subtle and fixable. Your computer wears out because of the digital clutter you install and the natural outcome of long-term operating system use. This systemic clutter exhausts available memory and storage space, severely reducing disk read/write speeds and slowing down your computer's overall responsiveness.

A good streaming box or dongle can cost just as much or quite a bit more than a Raspberry Pi, even when you factor in a case, power supply, and wireless media keyboard. If you're in the market for an upgrade to a dumb TV or an existing smart TV where you don't want to use the built-in streaming apps, the Raspberry Pi might be your best choice.

April is here, and as you refresh your winter watch list, Netflix has you covered with some more new titles. This month's options are sure to entertain, including the return of highly anticipated shows and a spin-off series that brings back one of Netflix's most popular shows.

A wealth of open-source projects exists, just below the visible surface of the apps you use from day to day. They may not be high profile or widely appreciated, but they enable everything from networking and statistical analysis to the next generation of AI agents.

Nobody likes thinking about leaving loved ones behind, but it’s pretty normal to make a will even if you’re relatively young. If you’re enough of a smart home enthusiast that you’re using Home Assistant to control a wide array of devices, you might want to consider how this pans out if you’re no longer around.

Recent Windows updates are triggering BitLocker recovery screens for a lot of people. Since it's enabled by default, a lot of people don't even realize they have the device encryption feature on until they're hit with this screen. The decryption key is automatically uploaded to the Microsoft Account you used to log into Windows. If that backup was never made or interrupted, there is absolutely no way to get to your data without that key. Microsoft support cannot reset it. The same is true if you can't recover the Microsoft account used to log into Windows. Here's what you can do to avoid this nightmare scenario.

Plex is rolling out its redesigned app to Amazon Fire TV devices, including some important upgrades — as well as the remote streaming restrictions that have irked some people.

Kids today will never know the tyranny of the 1.44MB floppy disk. So traumatic was this format that today the "save" icon in our apps still looks like it, even though no one has actually used it for several decades.

Raspberry Pi has already hiked prices on its single board computers in December and this February in response to AI-related RAM price hikes, but now it's trying something new: a configuration built with the memory crisis in mind. The company has introduced a Raspberry Pi 4 model with 3GB of RAM for just under $84. No, it's not an April Fool's joke.

Music can be an incredibly powerful focus tool for many people, and it can be a good catalyst to improve productivity. With the advent of work and study playlists, apps like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music are flooded with focus music that aims to strip away distractions.

HBO achieved enormous success with Game of Thrones, a fantasy series based on the books of George R.R. Martin. Between its high viewership and significant cultural impact, Game of Thrones became a once-in-a-generation show. While GoT's spin-offs have been successful, they have failed to reach the unfathomable heights of their predecessor. HBO is clearly looking for its next Game of Thrones. Could that next landmark show be Harry Potter?