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As one of the true OGs of online dating, AdultFriendFinder has a sizeable community of singles and non-monogamous users looking for steamy fun. But that doesn’t mean using the site is necessarily straightforward. In fact, AFF, as its users call it, has been online for so long that its web interface can feel dated and counterintuitive, with key features requiring you to navigate a whole manner of menus and sub-menus. 

Making the most of AFF means a certain amount of trial and error, or at least some guidance from someone with an intimate knowledge of the spicy hookup platform.

That's why we've outlined four essential tips below to get you up and running on AFF and help connect with more people for more kink-filled fun. That said, it also helps to keep an open mind about it all. If you enter AFF with a narrow idea of exactly what you want, you'll likely be disappointed. But if you start your search with an open-minded curiosity and just go along for the ride (pun very much intended), you can discover new things about yourself — and maybe even your pleasure points — in the process.

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Here are four essential steps for getting the most out of your AdultFriendFinder experience:

Fill out your full AFF profile 

Sure, this is an obvious step with any and every online dating service, but it’s even more important on AFF because the site doesn’t entirely rely on a carousel-style presentation of dating profiles like other apps. Everything from your age to your gender to your sexuality to your list of personal kinks can help make you more discoverable to other AFF members, so the less you fill out, the harder it is for the site to make your profile discoverable. 

This is true even if your personal kink list is short or leans towards the conventional, or if it’s long and girthy and leans towards the exotic; trust us when we say there are people out there who are looking for the very same quirks and kinks and sexuality specifics, so it's worth taking your time to be specific and details. It will pay off in the long run.

SEE ALSO: Is Hinge really 'designed to be deleted'? I tested it to find out.

Also, don’t sleep on videos. Unlike many dating sites that allow only profile pictures, AFF permits its members to upload short videos to their profiles. This is a fantastic way of showing others that you’re a real person — as opposed to a bot, which you'll find plenty of on AFF — and also helps you show off some personality. Just be wary of putting nude content upfront in your profile. You can do this if you wish, of course — AFF is all about the NSFW content — but putting that kind of content out there does raise privacy issues.

Verify your AFF account as soon as possible

AdultFriendFinder throws up very few barriers when you're creating your account. That makes it very easy for anyone to join, but it also means there is a huge amount of spam and bots clogging up the platform. To combat this, they’ve also created a profile verification system using the Confirm ID service. 

It requires you to share government ID for cast-iron verification, but the benefits to your profile will give you major peace of mind. It means photo authentication, age confirmation, and location verification, all of which help others trust that your profile is authentic. When the process is complete, you'll see a blue checkmark beneath your profile photo, just to the right of your username, which helps people identify your profile at a glance and boosts your visibility in search results, as search results prioritize verified users.

Be selective with your search criteria

If you use the site’s search function, you’ll find that you can be extremely specific and selective. And if you know exactly who and what you want, by all means, narrow your search, but if you’re on AFF to be surprised, it’s also worth being less selective from time to time.

For example, if you know you want an in-person date for next week, it obviously makes sense to narrow your location search to people who live near you. But what if you don’t know exactly what you want, or if you’re open to a sultry chat with a stranger half a world away? In that case, distance is irrelevant, and you should consider turning that filter off.

SEE ALSO: All your Tinder questions, answered

On the other hand, there are quite a few filters that are turned off by default that we actually recommend you turn on. For example, the default profile filter shows you all people who have bothered to upload photos, but while that’s a good start, it’s not enough to help you wade through the huge number of users. We strongly recommend narrowing it down to Verified/Confirmed users, since those people all proved their identity the same way you did (see above). That way, you can trust that your search results and potential connections are 100 percent legit. It's another means of filtering out the spam.

Another useful filter is the Last Visit, which by default is set to "All." We recommend specifying accounts that have been active within the last month. That's because lots of people sign up to AFF then never bother checking back in. Other users go inactive for weeks or even months at a time. If you stick with the default "All" setting, you risk messaging accounts that you might never get a reply from.

Explore the live-chat communities

AdultFriendFinder isn’t a traditional dating website, so don't use it like one. The search-and-swipe dating app method is tried and true, but it’s also a bit played out, and one of AFF’s biggest strengths is its larger community offerings. There's more to it than swiping — or should we say swinging? — left or right.

There are lots of forums to explore, all based around common interests (though you should know that some of these interests — or kinks — are not so common), or you can venture into a user’s livestream and interact with them and others there. AFF even has a dedicated Stories section, where users can share their memories or try their hand at writing erotica. That's all well and good for anyone with a knack for the written word, but if you're more visual, you can set up a webcam stream and invite others to tune in. 

For all of the above, AFF tracks not only which stories/streams/group chats are new but also which are trending, making it very easy to jump into a popular discussion or keep up with the latest site news.

Upgrade your AFF membership tier

As with other dating sites and apps, you only get the most out of AFF when you sign up for a paid membership. It is entirely possible to use AFF and interact without handing over your credit card information, but the site’s best features and functions are paywalled. And it has to be said that the advantages — visibility, communication options, and site functionality are all just too good to ignore.

Gold and VIP members receive special icons on their profiles, and these profiles are given priority in every search, regardless of the criteria. Because there are thousands of potential profile options for almost every search criterion that isn’t location-based, it’s very difficult to stand out from the crowd on AFF as a free user.

Additionally, if you fork out for the upgraded VIP membership, you’ll unlock an entire section dedicated exclusively to VIPs. It's the dating site equivalent of entering the velvet-roped area of a night club; you'll find the most glamorous people hiding there. VIP members even get additional points to spend on digital gifts or lavish on live streamers who catch your eye. This is another great way of standing out from the crowd. 

The learning curve on AdultFriendFinder is steeper than most other dating sites, and much steeper than most dating apps, but if you follow the above tips and you're willing to experiment, you’ll encounter more than a few fun and sexy surprises along the way. 

SAVE $1,100: At T-Mobile, get $1,100 off a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra when you activate a line on an Experience More or Beyond Plan. Pre-order now before it arrives on Aug. 7.

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$2,099.99 Save $1,100.00   Pre-order Here

This week, Samsung dropped a whole new line-up of redesigned foldables. The new collection includes the Galaxy Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra. The Fold8 Ultra is the most expensive of the bunch but also the most advanced. However, T-Mobile is providing a rare savings opportunity.

As of July 26, all the new Samsung Galaxy foldable phones are available for preorder before they arrive on Aug. 7. At T-Mobile, they're offering $1,100 off the Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 Ultra when you activate a line on an Experience More or Beyond Plan. That's over half the price of the phone, bringing it down to $999.99.

T-Mobile's Experience More plan is the carrier's most popular, at $140 per month with unlimited premium data. For an upgraded experience, go with the Beyond plan, which includes everything in the More Plan plus T-Satellite service.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold8 is a premium smartphone. It has a 6.5-inch AMOLED cover display, which opens into an 8-inch screen. The hinge is undetectable for a flat, high-definition experience right in your pocket. It takes content creation to a new level with the new My FanCam feature which reframes video to follow the action.

Pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Fold8 Ultra at T-Mobile and save $1,100 when you activate an Experience More or Beyond plan.

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.

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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

Water-based.

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

HYDRO

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Comical.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 26, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

FUNNY

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To spin.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 26 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 26, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TWIRL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Barbecue.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

GRILL

Final Hurdle hint

3D shape.

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

PRISM

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

The Moon will look nearly full tonight as it continues through the waxing gibbous phase. Although the Full Moon is still a few days away, where we are in the lunar cycle means that most of its visible surface is already illuminated.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, July 26, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waxing Gibbous phase, with 90% of its surface visible.

Without the assistance of any visual aids, tonight you should be to see the Mares Fecunditatis, Serenitatis, and Tranquillitatis. Binoculars will also help you to see the Alps Mountains, Archimedes Crater, and the Gassendi Crater. Finally, with a telescope you'll see all this plus the Apollo 12 landing spot, the Schiller Crater, and the Caucasus Mountains.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on July 29.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon takes roughly 29.5 days to complete its journey around Earth, passing through eight distinct phases during each lunar cycle, according to NASA. While the Moon’s same side is always visible from our planet, the portion of its surface lit by the Sun changes as it moves along its orbit. These shifting levels of illumination are what create the different appearances we see throughout the month, from a slender crescent shape to a half-lit Moon and finally a bright Full Moon, before the cycle begins once again.

The eight phases are:

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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've ever gone fishing.

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: Ohio

• Green: Gone fishing

• Blue: Seen in a logo

• Purple: Sounds like an NHL team

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Ohio Teams

• Green: Fishing Gear

• Blue: Found in MLB Team Logos

• Purple: Ends in an NHL Team

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 #671 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Ohio Teams: BROWNS, BUCKEYES, CAVALIERS, CREW

• Fishing Gear: HOOK, SINKER, SPOON, TACKLE BOX

• Found in MLB Team Logos: BASEBALL GLOVE, BRIDGE, CROWN, SOCKS

• Ends in an NHL Team: BLUE DEVILS, BOILERS, PF FLYERS, STOCKINGS

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 yesterday's Connections.

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 July 26, 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 July 26, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 26 Pips

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 26 Pips

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 2-1, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 26 Pips

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.

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

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 3-5, placed vertically.

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a parent.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. 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 today's 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?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of 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 until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 26, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Kid celebrations

• Green: Old gadgets

• Blue: Precipitation

• Purple: Outer layer

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Baby milestones

• Green: Outmoded consumer tech

• Blue: Expressions for rain

• Purple: What "Shell" might refer to

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 #1141 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Baby milestones: CRAWLING, FIRST WORDS, ROLLING OVER, SOLID FOOD

• Outmoded consumer tech: BLACKBERRY, DISCMAN, DVD PLAYER, PLASMA TV

• Expressions for rain: APRIL SHOWERS, LIQUID SUNSHINE, SCOTCH MIST, WET WEATHER

• What "Shell" might refer to: CARAPACE, GAS STATION, PASTRY CRUST, ROWING BOAT

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 26, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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 yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're well-versed in a specific subject.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 26, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: All-knowing

The words are related to professionals.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe masters.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Big Brain.

NYT Strands word list for July 26

• Pundit

• Expert

• Big Brain

• Specialist

• Authority

• Maven

• Guru

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a healthy eater.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. 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 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 26, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for July 26, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A tiny fruit.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter G.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

GRAPE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle 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.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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 yesterday's Wordle.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021 for $42.97 (reg. $219) until July 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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$219 Save $176.03   Get Deal

Whether you’re balancing household finances, finishing a presentation, or updating your resume, some word processing tools become second nature over time. Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021 combines the familiar Office apps into a single purchase that’s currently price-dropped to $42.97 (reg. $219) through July 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

This version of Microsoft Office is designed specifically for Mac users who want the classic desktop experience without ongoing monthly or annually costs. The lifetime license includes Word for documents, Excel for spreadsheets, PowerPoint for presentations, Outlook for email, Teams (Basic), and OneNote (Free version). Once it’s installed on one Mac, the software is yours to keep.

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Sticking with familiar software also means less time adjusting to new menus, shortcuts, and workflows. Whether you’re writing a resume, organizing household finances, creating a presentation, or managing email for a small business, you’ll already know where most of the tools are.

After purchase, your license key and download instructions are delivered instantly, so you can install the software without waiting for physical media. Microsoft also includes customer support if you need help getting everything up and running.

This license is valid for one Mac only, and you’ll need to redeem your code within seven days of purchase. It’s also a standalone 2021 release rather than a Microsoft 365 subscription, so it doesn’t include the ongoing feature updates that come with Microsoft’s subscription service.

If you’re looking for the Microsoft Office apps you already know in a one-time purchase instead of another recurring bill, Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021 is available for $42.97 (reg. $219) through July 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

There's always an anxiety around signing up for a new dating site, particularly one of the spicier variety like AdultFriendFinder. Signing up for any paid-for service leaves a digital paper trail — one that could be pretty embarrassing if it involves sex, kinks, and hookups. This kind of thing is personal, and everyone deserves their privacy when it comes to online fun.

There are lots of reasons to feel cagey about the digital paper trail. For starters, you could be married or in a relationship. Or perhaps you and your ex haven’t got round to dividing your financial lives yet. Maybe you just don’t like the idea of your bank teller or financial advisor knowing what you get up to online, which is totally fair enough. Whatever the reason, it’s your prerogative — and it's your right to keep it all hush-hush.

It's perfectly natural to worry about what your dating app subscription will look like on your bank statement, especially if that subscription service contains loaded words such as “adult” — folks can be super judgy and conservative about this kind of thing.

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Thankfully, AdultFriendFinder has anticipated this exact issue. So, if you do decide to upgrade from a free membership to a paid one — whether you opt for their Gold or VIP subscription tiers, which boast their own features and benefits — your monthly billing statement will only show up as FFNHelp.com*FRIENDF.

It's a relatively cryptic and innocuous name that won’t arouse undue suspicion or unfair judgment (not that you should have to worry about that anyway — what you get up on consenting dating sites is your business).

Be aware that AdultFriendFinder subscriptions default to “auto-renew,” so if you purchase a membership and want to cancel, you’ll need to disable auto-renew. Otherwise, you risk having the mysterious FFNHelp.com*FRIENDF pop up on your statement month after month — and you'll continue paying, of course.

But what if even that isn’t good enough for you?

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for discreet and NSFW chats

If you’re super cautious — or super paranoid — you can actually bypass bank statements entirely by paying with a gift card or a cash, check, or money order (available only to users in the U.S.). You can even use an e-wallet option like AirTM. Residents of the UK can opt to pay by SMS. AFF really has thought of everything with this particular issue.

If avoiding a digital paper trail is your top priority and privacy is paramount, you’re much better off using these payment options and not handing over your credit card details in the first place. Whatever you choose, AFF is safeguarding your anonymity.

Modern life sure is hectic. It seems like there's always something going on. We can all build bad habits along the way. Watches, trackers, and all the different productivity apps are fine; but I found something that worked even better for me: a few formulas on an Excel spreadsheet.

With new SUV prices continuing to climb, even mainstream family crossovers now carry price tags that were once reserved for luxury vehicles. That has made the used market increasingly attractive, especially for buyers who value comfort, refinement, and long-term reliability over having the latest technology.

Looking for a good movie to throw on this weekend (or into the week, for that matter)? HBO Max isn't just a den for dragons, it also hosts a giant library of great movies, from comedies and thrillers to high drama and documentaries, that it updates every month, with many coming on loan from other studios.

Spending around $30,000 on a sporty sedan usually leads buyers straight to the Honda Civic Si. It's quick, efficient, well-equipped, and backed by Honda's hard-earned reputation for reliability.

Since I've jailbroken my ancient Kindle 4, I've been amazed by what I've been able to do with it. I've turned it into an E-Ink smart home dashboard, used it as a Pocket replacement, and even made it into a slow-refresh secondary monitor. I'd seen that you could add an LLM to KOReader, but I wondered if this was taking things too far.

Any serious Linux user will have their list of favorite command-line apps that they immediately install on any new machine. I am no exception. It seems I'm finding more apps that I want to install. Here are some more of my go-to terminal apps.

As new car prices continue to rise, more owners are choosing to hold onto their current vehicles longer, as the average car in the U.S. is now nearly 13 years old. To keep your car running smoothly well into its teen years, routine maintenance is essential. Two of the simplest and most affordable maintenance items, the engine air filter and the cabin air filter, are often overlooked.

Make sure your passwords are secure with Proton Pass—and save up to 50% on the Pass Plus plan while you're at it.

For years, Pixel phone owners had to put up with a unified "Internet" Quick Settings tile that combined the Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles. If you wanted to toggle your Wi-Fi or mobile data radio, you couldn't simply tap the appropriate tile like you could for more than a decade. Nope, you had to tap it once to open the Internet panel and then tap again to disable or enable Wi-Fi or mobile data.