How-To Geek

Back in the day, I used to loathe the custom skins and apps that Android phone makers added to their phones. Android's vendor-neutral default apps have since been replaced by Google apps, and the tech giant has used its dominance to fill our Android devices with far more pre-installed software than any other company.

Most people treat USB ports as background infrastructure. You plug things in, they work, and you don't think about them until something stops showing up in File Explorer. I assumed desktop PCs were basically immune to the problems I'd seen on laptops, where I'd already burned out ports by pulling too much power through them. However, the limits are real; they just fail in quieter and stranger ways than I expected.

We love the Raspberry Pi here at How-To Geek. For many of our writers, past and present, the Raspberry Pi was a revolution in small-format, affordable Linux computing. That’s why it pains me to recommend against buying one at the moment.

Ford is finally ready to share tangible details of its affordable electric pickup truck. The automaker has revealed that the EV will carry the Fathom name and a starting price of $28,350 when equipped with a "standard-range" battery.

We've all been there: you're in the middle of a winning streak in a game and your ping spikes, or you're on a video chat and suddenly your image freezes without warning. Maybe a download is inexplicably slow despite other devices on the network functioning fine.

Are you ready for another slew of homelab projects to try out this weekend? Well, you're in luck, because I have some nifty things to try out, including my favorite project of the weekend—creating a custom TV channel for your home based on your Plex media server.

Many Android apps need internet access. Lots don't, but connect anyway. By installing a firewall app on my Pixel, I was able to lock down more than a dozen apps. It brings a big privacy boost as well as data and battery savings. And it's surprisingly simple to set up.

We've all heard that 5GHz Wi-Fi is better, so the logical conclusion would be to just let everything use 5GHz, right? Nope. Not so much.

Are you considering dual booting Linux and Windows? Do you want to play it safe and avoid potential pitfalls before diving in? After a decade of breaking and fixing my multi-boot setups, I've compiled seven crucial truths that nobody tells you about dual booting.

Microsoft Publisher, the classic app behind countless newsletters, flyers, brochures, and church bulletins, is about to reach the end of the road. If you still have years of .pub files sitting on your computer, now is the time to check what you need to save before Microsoft retires the app.

As a cinephile who loves to spend time at movie theaters, I have to admit that the in-home viewing experience has dramatically improved. I'm so impressed when I see how people transform their spaces into legitimate screening rooms with reclining seats, pristine surround sound, and professional lighting. However, the TV itself remains the most essential part of a successful watch party.

The overwhelming consensus is that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the most exciting Samsung foldable in years. Its passport shape makes it very pocketable, but that new form factor comes in at around $2,000. If you're curious about this new shape, you can give it a shot today for a third of the price of existing book-style foldable phones.

It's that time of the week again, the time when I show you some fun Raspberry Pi projects to tackle before Monday arrives. This weekend, I'm showcasing how to build a custom photo frame with Immich, how to simplify your Docker setup, and how to build a whole-home dashboard.

Milwaukee makes some of the best cordless power tools, and they come in all sorts of sizes. Sometimes, you don't need a large powerful tool, and instead, something a little smaller that's easy to use around the house. Whether you're short on space or don't want to buy huge tools, here are some tiny Milwaukee tools that are good enough for any job.

AMD has been competitive in the CPU market for years now, with Ryzen processors consistently dominating across all price brackets in gaming benchmarks. While modern AM5 and even some AM4 chips are still excellent choices, the same cannot be said for some of AMD's older offerings.

Traveling to a new place is exciting, but—at least for me—it also brings some anxiety. I hate to feel lost, but what I really hate is looking lost. That’s why wearing a smartwatch has become incredibly important in my travels. Allow me to explain.

If someone told you that they just spent $20,000 modifying their car, you might think they are being completely irrational. If you have that kind of money sitting around, why not just sell your current car and buy something faster if that is what you want? That always seems like the smarter move.

Your Windows machine wants to be your friend, but behind your back it tells Microsoft everything you do. I’m tired of misbehaving software, and many people are coming to the same realization. Here are four reasons why Linux will be the most attractive choice going into 2027.

Within the world of 3D printing, one model has emerged as something of a mascot for the hobby. The toy boat known as Benchy originated as a torture test but has since become an icon of the 3D printing world, establishing a reputation for being the first thing any new 3D printer owner should print.

Microsoft Defender Firewall is a decent enough firewall. Its major problem isn't a lack of capability, it is a mixture of the default settings and the interface. Outbound filtering is effectively unmanaged by default, and the interface's per-app control is unbelievably tedious.