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: 53 min 12 sec ago

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

The best PC upgrade I made in 2025 wasn't a graphics card

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 18:00

As someone who works from home and plays a lot of PC games, I spend countless hours at my desk. I try to stay active outside work, but I still end up sitting for long stretches.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to run Photoshop on Linux

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 17:30

Linux operating systems have become increasingly popular over the last year, as Windows 10 reached end-of-life, unwanted AI features and buggy updates pushed people away from Windows 11, and Linux distros became more user-friendly.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This new engine technology could be the lifeline that saves gas cars

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 17:16

Everyone loves a turbo. The sound, the rush as the power kicks in, and the feeling in the seat of your pants as the wheels struggle to grip—it's a unique experience! That said, the venerable turbocharger has its issues. Now, however, a new electric take on the turbine could give it a new life in the 21st century,

Categories: IT General, Technology

Protect your files: Secure sharing with OneDrive links

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 17:00

CLoud services are an important part of our day-to-day lives, but a careless mistake can result in you accidentally sharing sensitive files or documents with the wrong person, or accidentally exposing a file to the entire internet.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I hated working on my laptop until I bought this $67 accessory

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 16:30

I'm not a huge fan of laptops, and while there are many reasons for that, perhaps my biggest problem is the lack of screen real estate. Even 18-inch laptops just don't give me enough space to work efficiently.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I stopped losing Google Drive files after learning these search tricks

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 16:15

As Google Drive fills up, finding the file you need can get frustrating. Basic search either misses what you’re looking for or throws back too many results, making it hard to narrow things down. I used to struggle with this, too, but after learning a few search tricks, I can now find files in seconds.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I bought the cheapest $5 smart bulbs from TEMU so you don't have to

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 16:01

When smart bulbs first hit the market, I wanted in. However, the prices made that hard to justify. If you wanted something that works with Google Home, you had to pay around $30 a piece for something like the Philips Hue, and that was (and still is) a tough pill to swallow.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 reasons all phones should have two USB-C ports

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 16:01

It's been years since flagship phones ditched the headphone jack, yet I can't stop thinking how nice it'd be if they'd replace that old jack with a second USB-C port. Some gaming phones already offer this feature, and it's a standard thing for handheld PCs, but mainstream smartphones from brands like Apple and Samsung need to adopt the dual-port design.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Forget Kindle, here's why I prefer to read eBooks on my phone

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 16:01

This isn't a story I expected to write. As a longtime eReader owner, I never saw the appeal of reading books on a phone. Yet I've slowly transformed into someone who reads books on their phone almost every day (and my wife does, too). Here's why I ditched by eReader and decided my smartphone was the better option.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Think you need a high-end PC to learn coding? Think again

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 15:30

While you might think you need a high-powered machine to learn to code, your current machine or even an older laptop will likely be all you need to get started. Here's why.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Discover the SUV with the cheapest maintenance - and 5 close rivals

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 15:00

Maintenance and repair costs are one of the biggest factors that affect long-term vehicle ownership, but few shoppers research them until it’s too late. In 2025, one SUV stands out above the rest for having the lowest average maintenance costs in its class, making it an ideal choice for buyers who want peace of mind and minimal expense over years of ownership. Whether you’re commuting daily, shuttling families, or hauling gear on weekend trips, lower upkeep means more savings down the road.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How (and why) I use my Android phone as a wireless mouse

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 14:30

The idea of using your Android phone as a mouse or keyboard might sound gimmicky, but it actually works pretty well. With the right software, your phone becomes a wireless trackpad that's always on hand when you need to deal with awkward setups or when your regular devices let you down.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The American muscle car that was so dangerous insurance companies hated it

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 14:15

The most dangerous thing you do every day is getting behind the wheel of a car, and that's true even if it's just your econobox on the commute to work or on the way to the grocery store. But some cars, especially those designed for performance, are notorious for setting your GPS destination to "Valhalla" in the blink of an eye.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop powering your smart home gadgets the wrong way, do this instead

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 14:00

A smart home device without power is just an expensive paperweight. The trouble is, getting power to your smart home devices isn't always easy, depending on where you want to locate them. The good news is that there's a relatively simple way to supply both power and connectivity to many smart home devices.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop powering your smart home gadgets the wrong way, do this instead

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 14:00

A smart home device without power is just an expensive paperweight. The trouble is, getting power to your smart home devices isn't always easy, depending on where you want to locate them. The good news is that there's a relatively simple way to supply both power and connectivity to many smart home devices.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These are the 3 Linux distros I recommend for servers

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 13:31

Are you getting ready to start a server using Linux? You have tons of distribution options to choose from, but I can show you which ones I prefer. Soon enough, you'll be running services on your computer like best of them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These are the 3 Linux distros I recommend for servers

Tue, 12/30/2025 - 13:31

Are you getting ready to start a server using Linux? You have tons of distribution options to choose from, but I can show you which ones I prefer. Soon enough, you'll be running services on your computer like best of them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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