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: 1 hour 24 min ago

3 best Netflix crime miniseries to binge this weekend

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 18:15

As numerous miniseries have shown us, not all powerful crime stories require multiple seasons. The most impactful ones are presented as sharp and focused, with their destination apparent from the get-go. This is where crime miniseries really stand out. They dive directly into the heart of the story, the drama, and the repercussions that follow, and we can't look away.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Linux's biggest security breaches prove it's not immune to malware

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 18:00

One thing Linux fans have always loved to tout over Windows was its security. While Windows has had lots of high-profile security breaches, Linux has also had its share of malware attacks, putting the belief that it's more secure than Windows in question.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop wasting homelab resources—these 3 self-hosted apps simplify your life (July 10 - 12)

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 17:30

Are you looking for some fun homelab projects to tackle this weekend? Today, I'm going to show you the pros of setting up a notification server, homelab inventory platform, and even a way to organize your kitchen and pantry.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How I made my phone bully me into being productive

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 17:15

Reminders. Screen time limits. Grayscale mode. You’ve heard about these common techniques to use your phone less often. The problem is they’re easy to ignore. Sometimes, a bit more force is needed. So, I made my phone a bully.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I stopped shopping for a new SSD after adopting these 6 storage habits

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 17:00

I wasn't a fan of wasting money on the most expensive SSDs even before the whole NAND shortage, but now? No, thank you. Now's not the time to buy a new drive.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The discontinued Japanese sports sedan that's quietly becoming a bargain

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 16:45

The Acura TLX Type S is officially gone. Production ended in 2025, there's no replacement coming, and one of the most overlooked sports sedans of the last few years is quietly disappearing from dealer lots.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 free (and private) Dropbox alternatives you can host yourself

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 16:31

Are you tired of spending money on Dropbox every month when you have a perfectly good NAS sitting at home? Or, maybe you're just tired of Dropbox being able to see all your data whenever you upload something. Regardless of why you want to leave Dropbox, here are four self-hosted replacements that are completely free and keep your data private.

Categories: IT General, Technology

4 myths about the longevity of vinyl—and why we believe them anyway

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 16:15

The oldest, best-kept record I have in my modest vinyl collection is a pressing of The Beatles’ Help! soundtrack from 1965 that was among the hundreds that my vinyl-nerd mom left me (thanks, Mom). While most of them are well-played, dinged-up, unplayable dinner plates, many of them, like the near-perfect Help!, miraculously still sound gorgeous and will for many years to come.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hi3D turns AI-generated models into print-ready 3D projects

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 16:09

If you’re not a professional 3D designer, then creating custom 3D miniatures or models can be quite a task. Instead of hiring someone to design them for you or learning CAD yourself, Hi3D’s all-in-one AI 3D maker platform (free trial available) is a fantastic solution. It offers unique features that generate 3D models more simply and faster than ever before — especially for beginners.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your drawer is full of Raspberry Pis that could be doing this instead (July 10 - 12)

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 16:00

Those Raspberry Pis you have sitting in a drawer aren't doing you any good there. That's why I have three fun and simple Raspberry Pi projects for you to try this weekend.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Samsung Galaxy is better for travel than a Pixel—here's why

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 15:46

Samsung and Google make some of the best Android phones, but if you're planning your next big getaway, you'll want to pack a Galaxy phone over a Pixel. Ditch airport anxiety with solid battery life, take stunning photos, stop shoulder surfers, turn your phone into a portable PC, or build a full travel itinerary in Samsung Wallet.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These fun sound effects bring Home Assistant to life—here's how to use them

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 15:00

Notifications are one of the most powerful smart home features, but they don’t necessarily have to clog up your phone. Sometimes, you just want an alert you can hear.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You're putting your Wi-Fi router in the exact wrong spot (and how to fix it)

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 14:31

If your Wi-Fi works fine in some parts of the house but feels downright miserable in others, you're probably dealing with Wi-Fi dead zones. And yes, they can still be a thing even right next to your router under the wrong circumstances.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 more of the best Home Assistant custom integrations—according to the community

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 14:15

The Awesome Home Assistant list has a huge selection of some of the most useful custom integrations for Home Assistant. Each integration includes its GitHub star count, and these are some of the most popular integrations according to the people who actually use them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 HBO Max shows I'm downloading on my phone before my next flight

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 14:00

Similar to how you can download Netflix shows on your phone before a flight, the same capabilities are possible on HBO Max. Before you board your next flight, head into the HBO Max app on your phone and tap the download button beside the movie or episode description. Download these shows before hopping on the plane to ensure you can watch them offline without having to worry about streaming at 30,000 feet.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Microsoft tool helped me shut down the startup apps that Task Manager wouldn't show me

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 13:30

Windows Task Manager, as well as the Startup Apps page in Windows Settings, can show you which apps automatically start when you log in and let you disable the ones you don't want launching with Windows. But what you see in Task Manager's Startup Apps tab is only a small slice of what's really going on under the hood during startup. If you want to see the complete picture, you have to use the Autoruns utility.

Categories: IT General, Technology

If you still use these 5 ports, your PC is officially too old

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 13:27

The way hardware ages can be difficult to judge. You may be using a 10-year-old PC and feeling satisfied, or you may be running last-gen hardware and already looking at another expensive GPU to upgrade with—it's all a matter of mindset.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 ways to use an ESP32 with your Bambu Lab 3D printer

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 13:00

Your 3D printer can take microcontroller projects to the next level with 3D printer enclosures and other parts. So what about using an ESP32 board to improve the 3D printer?

Categories: IT General, Technology

This free, open-source app is my task manager, cheerleader, Kanban board, and calendar

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 12:30

Free and open-source (FOSS) apps are often seen as less capable, hobbyist alternatives to paid professional apps—after all, they're free. However, Super Productivity completely changes that narrative by offering a feature-complete productivity app that can go toe to toe with most paid alternatives. Here's a quick look at everything you get with Super Productivity and how I use it as my main productivity app.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Fiat’s adorable new electric car isn’t actually legal on US roads

Thu, 07/09/2026 - 00:00

The automaker has launched the Topolino in the United States, but it's not a car in the traditional sense. It's the brand's first entry into the country's growing micromobility segment, a category built around golf carts and neighborhood electric vehicles rather than for everyday roads.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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