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TL;DR: Unblock porn sites for free with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

The online world is full of content restrictions and blockades. It might not always seem like that, but look around. More and more restrictions on your movement are coming into force.

Porn naturally comes with a lot of restrictions, but there's really nothing wrong with adults visiting their favorite sites at entirely appropriate moments. When the time is right, you should be able to bypass content restrictions to access sites like XNXX from any network and location. And fortunately, you can do exactly that with a quick and easy hack.

If you want to unblock porn sites like XNXX from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

How to unblock XNXX for free

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process can bypass geo-restrictions to access porn sites like XNXX from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

Unblock porn sites like XNXX by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to XNXX

4. Visit XNXX

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for bypassing content restrictions are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like XNXX without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can retain access to porn sites when temporarily away from a secure network.

If you want to retain permanent access to everything the online world has to offer, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for porn is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the best service for fast and reliable unblocking of porn sites like XNXX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock XNXX for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when you open a new line and transfer your existing phone number from a competitor.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for $0   Get Deal

Are you the stubborn type who rocks a cracked screen and dying battery until your phone is essentially unusable? This is probably not the first time you've heard this, but it's time to upgrade. You don't need to live like this.

And upgrading has never been easier thanks to T-Mobile. The popular carrier is offering the Apple iPhone 17 for free for new switchers. The $0 price tag is obviously appealing, but there are some finer details to point out before you go ahead and cancel your current plan.

T-Mobile is offering up to $830 off the iPhone 17 series via 24 monthly bill credits. Since the standard iPhone 17 starts at $799, this covers the entire cost of the device plus a little wiggle room for taxes or a storage upgrade.

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To qualify for this promotion, you must bring your phone number over from a competitor and sign up for a premium plan like Go5G Plus or the newer Experience More. These plans aren't cheap, but they do include serious perks like Netflix and Apple TV+. You're not contracted to stick around for 24 months, but if you do try to leave T-Mobile before the 24 months are up, you’ll owe the remaining balance of the phone immediately.

We liked the iPhone 17 when we reviewed it. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said "Apple's iPhone 17 is an excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter." With this T-Mobile offer, it becomes even more tempting to make the jump to Apple's latest model.

Score the Apple iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile.

Like it or not, AI is everywhere. 

It was only a matter of time before the technology began showing up in the literary world. The novel Shy Girl was picked up by a major publisher last year, only to be canceled after allegations of AI-generated passages. 

Now, AI voices are getting into the mix. Libby users are discovering that AI has also infiltrated the service's audiobooks.

As pointed out by user @ems.book.shelff on TikTok, AI audiobooks have arrived on Libby, the app that connects public library card holders with their library's e-book and audiobook collections.

This isn't the first instance of AI and Libby crossing over. On Nov. 20, 2025, Libby posted an article launching its 'Inspire Me' feature, which uses large-language-model generative artificial intelligence to recommend and suggest books to users.

The 'Inspire Me' feature is easy enough to avoid, but an underlying issue on Libby is the presence of audiobooks that are narrated by AI. For dedicated audiobook listeners, losing the human touch of a real person's narration is devastating. So if you want to steer clear of AI, here's how to spot AI audiobooks in Libby.

How to spot AI audiobooks and Libby

After sharing the news that AI content is available on Libby, TikToker @ems.book.shelff also shared how to spot it within Libby. Which AI audiobooks are available will vary from library to library, so rather than provide an extensive list of AI audiobooks, you'll need to do some searching.

Total Time

• 5 min

What You Need

• Libby app

Step 1: Search for AI voices

In the Libby app, go to the search bar and look at two specific terms: Digital Voice and Synthesized Voice. This will display all the titles that feature AI voice narration, which is commonly referred to as either a digital or synthesized voice.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Step 2: Browse through results

Once you've searched, click into individual book listings. In each book's details, the narrator will be listed. Any books that use AI will have the narrator listed as either a 'synthesized voice' or 'digital voice.' If you're looking to avoid AI, don't borrow these books.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, April 21, 2026:

AcrossLike the name Phil Quickley, for a speedy crossword solver?

• The answer is Apt.

What connects these names: Al Green, Betty White, Rose Byrne

• The answer is Color.

Star ___ (plant with a pointy pod)

• The answer is Anise.

What connects these names: Tennessee Williams, Georgia O'Keeffe, Denzel Washington

• The answer is State.

Teslas and Rivians, for short

• The answer is EVs.

DownAssumed name

• The answer is Alias.

Washington paper

• The answer is Post.

What connects these names: Chris Pine, Zach Cherry, Willow Smith

• The answer is Tree.

Detective's assignment

• The answer is Case.

Currently broadcasted

• The answer is On TV.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.

TL;DR: Get a free iPhone 17e when signing up for a T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. You can also get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing up for an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible device.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free   Get Deal

In the mobile carrier world, "free" is a word that usually comes with a whole lot of catches. Free deals usually force you into a premium plan and demand you trade in a pristine flagship phone to qualify for the discount. However, T-Mobile’s latest offer for the iPhone 17e is surprisingly straightforward.

For a limited time, you can score the newly-released iPhone 17e for free by simply opening a new line with T-Mobile. The standout feature of this deal? You don't need a trade-in. T-Mobile is covering the full $599 retail price of the iPhone 17e via 24 monthly bill credits.

Want something with a little more power? You can also pick up the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing on for 24 months of an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible phone. This deal gets you unthrottled 5G data, 4K streaming, and heaps of international roaming, but it's does fall into that standard trade-in/premium plan category of free deal.

SEE ALSO: The 12 best headphones of 2026 — we tested the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

You might not need to upgrade to the iPhone 17, because the iPhone 17e packs a serious punch. It utilizes the same A19 chip found in the standard iPhone 17, meaning it’s fully compatible with the latest Apple Intelligence features. As Mashable’s Stan Schroeder notes in his first-hand look: "The combination of having Apple's latest chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will be relevant for at least four to five years." So it sounds like you've covered for the forseeable future with this budget-friendly handset.

We should point out that you still need to pay taxes on the full retail price upfront, plus a $35 device connection fee. And, of course, you’re locked into a data plan for two years. But you've got a shiny new iPhone 17, so you're still winning.

Score an iPhone 17e for free at T-Mobile.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To carry.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

BRING

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To transport.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 21, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CARRY

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Possessive.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 21 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 21, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

THEIR

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To delay.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

DEFER

Final Hurdle hint

A yellow fruit.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

LEMON

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

As we hit day four of the lunar cycle, the Moon is starting to appear more illuminated. Keep reading to find out what you can spot tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Tuesday, April 21, the Moon phase is Waxing Crescent. Tonight, 20% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

If you're looking at the Moon with just your naked eye, you should be able to catch a glimpse of the Mares Crisium and Fecunditatis. If you have either binoculars or a telescope, you'll see these as well as the Endymion Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.

What are Moon phases?

NASA says that the Moon completes a full orbit around Earth in about 29.5 days, during which it passes through eight stages. Although the same face of the Moon is always turned toward us, the portion illuminated by the Sun shifts as it travels along its path, producing the familiar cycle of full, half, and crescent shapes. These variations are referred to as lunar phases, and there are eight altogether:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 21, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for April 21, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 21 Pips

Number (17): Everything in this purple space must add up to 17. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this red space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally; and 0-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (6): The domino half in this yellow space must have less than 6 pips. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 21 Pips

Equal (2): Every domino half in this purple space must have 2 pips. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this red space must add up to 8. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally; and 0-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): The domino half in this light blue space must have less than 2 pips. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 8. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (1): The domino half in this dark blue space must have 1 pip. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Every domino half in this green space must have 6 pips. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 0-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Every domino half in this red space must have 2 pips. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 21 Pips

Equal (4): Every domino half in this purple space must have 4 pips. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Every domino half in this red space must have 1 pip. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.

Does Not Equal: Every domino half in this yellow space must have a different number of pips. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically; and 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (6): The domino half in this dark blue space must have 6 pips. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (0): The domino half in this green space must have 0 pips. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this purple space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): The domino half in this red space must have less than 2 pips. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this green space must add up to 6. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 12. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is a tough one. At least, it was for us!

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Draft day

• Green: Track and field gear

• Blue: First words...

• Purple: Fill in the blank

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: People Involved in Making a Draft Pick

• Green: Pole Vault Equipment

• Blue: First Words of Baseball Positions

• Purple: T.J. ____

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #575 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• People Involved in Making a Draft Pick — COACH, GM, OWNER, SCOUT

• Pole Vault Equipment — CROSSBAR, MAT, POLE, SPIKES

• First Words of Baseball Positions — CENTER, DESIGNATED, FIRST, THIRD

• T.J. ____ — FORD, HOCKENSON, HOUSHMANDZADEH, WATT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.