How-To Geek

Installing programs on Linux is a fairly simple process. Using a package manager and an installation command ( sudo apt install [program name] for example) in your terminal installs an application, assuming it's available in your distro's repositories. As I grew more experienced with the operating system, I stopped installing Linux apps the traditional way, largely because the other options offer more control, variety, and customization.

HBO Max spent June living large—House of the Dragon's third season ruled the charts (and continues to), and Larry David is skewering 250 years of American history just in time for Independence Day. But once the dragons stop breathing fire, it's the stranger-than-fiction real-life documentaries that linger, and HBO Max keeps a deep library of those.

Open-source apps have gotten remarkably good over the years—good enough to serve as viable replacements for many paid services. As a result, the team here at How-To Geek has started canceling some of our paid subscriptions and replacing them with open-source, self-hosted alternatives. Here are three such apps that proved worth the switch and have earned a permanent place in our workflow.

First of all, happy long weekend! If you’re not celebrating with family or watching any number of classic holiday-centric blockbusters (Independence Day, Jaws, The Sandlot), maybe you prefer digging into a good series instead. And while the end of June delivered some great options for Netflix U.S. subscribers, like I Will Find You and Avatar: The Last Airbender’s second season, as we head into July, there are already some great new options.

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, it's the perfect time to reflect on one of the country's greatest automotive creations, the muscle car. Few vehicles are more uniquely American.

Netflix has earned a reputation for hosting cherished award-winning movies and shows, but not all of its best titles get the attention they deserve. Beyond the Oscars and Emmys, some of its strongest titles go unnoticed, despite sweeping other recognized award shows.

Samsung is virtually synonymous with foldable phones, but it might soon cede ground to Motorola in one specific category. Reports are surfacing that the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 8 might be the company's last flip-style foldable phone.

Most SSD advice is centered around buying the fastest drive you can afford, even if that usually means the most expensive SSD (which isn't worth it, by the way). You'll also hear about keeping enough space and replacing the SSD when it starts acting up. But many SSDs also have access to a longevity trick: overprovisioning.

You've probably heard about the recent AI controversies surrounding Windows, and you may have even heard of Linux as an alternative. Linux is a fantastic choice, but it's not for everyone—in fact, it's not for most. If you're an avid Windows user or a Linux enthusiast, I have three crucial reasons most users remain on Windows, even though Linux is entirely free.

You don't have to settle for an audio quality downgrade on your phone just because you prefer the convenience of wireless earbuds. Google has quietly added support for LHDC v5 (Low Latency High-Definition Audio Codec) with the release of Android 17.

As we say so long to June and get ready to celebrate a long weekend, July looks promising on Paramount+ with the season finale of Dutton Ranch on the table and a brand-new season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds at the end of the month! But for the time being, why not let a good documentary or two give you some food for thought?

It’s a tale of terror, paranoia, and skeletons in the closet. Back in the late 1990s, Microsoft was riding high, with the recent success of Windows 95 cementing its hold on the home and office desktop market. So high, in fact, that the US government was about to indict it for holding a monopoly over the industry.

I've had some pretty good luck with my SSDs. I own several now, and have owned a bunch more over the years, and for the most part, they've all lived long, happy (I guess) lives. But I know that an SSD can fail even at 100% health, so it's no wonder that one of mine died after hitting the 10-year-mark. I've also seen a couple die well before that, and one SSD that was pretty much brand new (or so I was told) nearly ruined an entire PC for me.

When you're obsessed with your smart home, you want to show it off. While a light bulb that turns on when you walk into a room is useful, it doesn't really have much of a wow factor. Often, it's the utterly pointless projects that are the most fun to show off.

If you’re a fan of documentaries and docuseries like I am, you might agree that June really spoiled us on Netflix. In fact, the first half of 2026 had been chockablock for docs (docablock?), with HBO Max, Paramount+, and Prime Video throwing out some award-worthy titles, too. And if you let any slip past last month, our roundup of June's best docs is right here to fix that.

DirectStorage can do wonders for your games. But you'd be surprised by how many people don't use it, or aren't aware it exists, despite being a staple Windows feature.

Most Windows users think of USB history only when something goes wrong. A flash drive refuses to show up, an external hard disk keeps disconnecting, a phone charges but will not transfer files, or a strange device name appears in Device Manager with no clear explanation. Windows remembers far more about USB devices than many people realize, but it does not present that history in a friendly way. The information is scattered across system records, device entries, and old hardware associations that remain long after the device has been unplugged.

Do you have an old computer that you want to use 10 Gigabit Ethernet on? You actually can probably take advantage of the faster networking standard without having to replace your system. Here's why your old PC probably supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet.

Summer is in full swing, which means it's time to give your phone a little extra attention to prevent it from overheating. Cars, in particular, heat up very quickly, and since many of us rely on our phones for everything from Android Auto to streaming music and navigation, all of that puts an extra strain on the device and can cause it to overheat.

ESP32 projects are often useful, creative, and satisfying to make. Some of them can even add a touch of visual splendor to your home, whether that’s a piece of decor, an interactive toy, or a more immersive media consumption experience.