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The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're always waiting on a package.

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.

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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.

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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: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 31, 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: They come in the same container

• Green: Pack it up

• Blue: Leaders

• Purple: A dish

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Things that come in tubes

• Green: Warnings on a shipping box

• Blue: Historical sovereign titles

• Purple: ___ Bowl

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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 #1176 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Things that come in tubes: LIPSTICK, POSTER, TENNIS BALLS, TOOTHPASTE

• Warnings on a shipping box: FRAGILE, HEAVY, PERISHABLE, THIS SIDE UP

• Historical sovereign titles: CALIPH, KHAN, PHAROAH, SHOGUN

• ___ Bowl: DUST, POKE, SALAD, SUPER

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

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

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

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a clean freak.

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 August 31, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: With a little elbow grease

The words are feelings related to cleaning.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe cleaning.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Power Wash.

NYT Strands word list for August 31

• Solvent

• Cleanser

• Soap

• Power wash

• Detergent

• Scrub

• Scrub

• Bleach

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

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 today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a nature lover.

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 August 31, 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 August 31, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A hill.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

Play our Big Guessing Game: Make your predictions now for a chance to win a new Apple Watch. Time's running out!

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...

MOUND

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.

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

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 Wordle.

During the early days of Android, even flagship phones were fully plastic. But then manufacturers started introducing metal backs and frames, with HTC leading the pack. I remember that even my budget-focused HTC One V had a body mostly made of metal, while HTC's premium offerings, like the legendary HTC One, had premium aluminum unibodies, with metal being the preferred material for Apple as well back then.

There are two things that get a homelabber's pulse going. The first is a pile of thrown-out server gear that still works, but no one wants it because it's obsolete for data centers and professional server rooms.

It's the end of the month, meaning many movies will be leaving Netflix U.S. Thankfully, these three thrillers will remain on the service throughout September. Our first movie is one of David Fincher's most controversial films of the last 20 years. I happen to think it's one of his best.

When your day is packed, getting from one place to another can become a task in itself. Whether I'm heading out for a day of leisure or working my way through a long to-do list, Google Maps often ends up doing more than just giving me directions.

Milwaukee makes dozens of excellent power tools, and you probably own a few of its most popular, big, powerful models. But did you know the company also makes some tiny yet incredibly versatile and useful tools? Whether you're low on space, looking for something unique, or just don't want big tools, here are some small Milwaukee tools that produce big results.

Moving files in Windows feels like it should be a solved problem by now, and for small stuff it mostly is. The trouble starts when you're shifting hundreds of gigabytes and can't afford to mess up. At that scale, Windows Explorer is not the best tool around. One issue could ruin your whole transfer, and sometimes you may not know it. I lost a handful of videos once because I trusted the process and deleted the originals. TeraCopy is an old app that makes sure I never make that mistake again.

Flock's AI surveillance cameras are increasingly being targeted by its critics across the country. No, we're not just talking about vigilantes who are taking the cameras down in their towns. We're talking about politicians now, too. And it's a bipartisan effort; an anti-Flock position is being taken up by both Republican and Democratic politicians.

Case in point: Texas Governor Greg Abbot, a Republican, has just recently blocked funding for Flock across the state. Abbott ordered that all state agencies stop funding the AI surveillance camera company in an order issued on Thursday night.

Abbot's order came just as The Texas Tribune was going to publish a report on how the state of Texas spent at least $30 million in grants provided to local agencies to acquire the Flock cameras. According to the report, the money came from a higher fee levied by Texas lawmakers on Texans' car insurance policies.

• Play our Big Guessing Game: Make your predictions now for a chance to win a new Apple Watch. Time's running out!

Just days before Abbot blocked Flock funding in the state, his Democratic challenger, Gina Hinojosa, released a campaign ad criticizing Governor Abbot over Flock.

The Democratic candidate's ad warns Texans that there are "10,000 Flock cameras reading your [license] plate, logging where you sleep and pray" all with "no warrant needed" in "Greg Abbot's Texas."

Numerous reports have been trickling in from around the country regarding law enforcement officers misusing Flock cameras and their data in order to stalk and harass individuals. The concern over Flock cameras has led to websites popping up, like Have I Been Flocked?, that warn users if their license plate has been captured by a Flock camera.

The blowback against Flock is not just happening in Texas, either. Both Republican and Democratic candidates in states like Michigan and Pennsylvania have run on anti-surveillance platforms and criticized their opponents for supporting policies that led to Flock installations in their states. Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has even taken to calling his opponent, Republican Mike Rogers, the nickname "Mass Surveillance Mike" over the issue. 

Last week, Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri announced an investigation into Flock Safety, the company behind Flock cameras, to determine how it handles the data it captures.

With more than 120,000 Flock cameras across 49 states, it's safe to say that Flock has become a real issue for citizens. Now it's become a bipartisan concern for politicians, too.

DDR5 RAM has been in short supply since the beginning of the year, and there's little sign of that changing anytime soon. As a result, first-time PC builders have been turning to older and more affordable but still relevant DDR4 platforms. The problem? DDR4 isn't exactly cheap anymore either. A budget 16GB 3200MHz kit currently costs around $120, while 32GB can set you back around $210 (for reference, I paid $93 for 32GB 6000MHz DDR5).

I love Niagara Launcher and the work that the team has put into making a beautifully minimalist Android home screen—but I would love it even more if it were open source. That’s why, a few times a year, I search for an alternative, and Escape Launcher is my favorite one yet.

Windows wins on convenience for most people, but a few everyday tasks remain genuinely simpler on Linux. Updating software, handling drivers, and diagnosing problems all lean in Linux's favor, thanks to design choices built into the system from the start.

Are you visiting the Great Lakes before the end of summer? You may notice something odd when planning out the trip on Google.

Lake Ontario is no more. Google Maps has renamed it to "Lake America."

Lake America on Google Maps Credit: Google Maps

Try typing "Lake Ontario" into Google Search as well. Google takes users to a search results page for "Lake America."

Lake America on Google Search Credit: Google Search

Last week, amid an ongoing trade war with Canada, President Donald Trump issued an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America.

"In recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our Nation’s economy and its people, I am directing that the Lake officially be renamed as Lake America," Trump said in his order, while taking a few swipes at Canada.

Google, likely anticipating that the change would be divisive, issued a statement on its News from Google website.

"The U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) has formally changed the name for 'Lake Ontario' to 'Lake America' in the United States," the company said. "Since we update Google Maps to reflect name changes in official government sources, which is GNIS for the U.S., people using Maps in the U.S. will see 'Lake America,' those in Canada will continue to see 'Lake Ontario,' and those outside of the U.S. and Canada will see both names. These updates follow our long-standing policy for bodies of water with names that vary from country to country, and are starting to roll out now."

Here's how Lake Ontario / Lake America will appear on Google Maps around the world, according to Google. Credit: Google Maps

As Google explained, "Lake America" shows for U.S. users, "Lake Ontario" appears for Canadian users, and everyone else will see "Lake Ontario" followed by "Lake America" in parentheses.

Google has rolled out similar changes before. Trump issued a similar proclamation last year, changing the "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America." Google also reflected the name change on its platforms. Google shared the same explanation at the time as well, stating it follows official government sources. In both of these cases, that's the GNIS.

Still, the sudden change could be jarring for users, especially if they haven't been following the news on Trump's ever-changing trade wars.

Ryobi is a popular choice for DIYers and homeowners due to its large selection of 18V cordless power tools, but that's not all the company offers. Ryobi batteries can power a lot more than just tools, and the brand also makes some pretty great hand tools you'll love having around the house.

The best thing about Linux is that it respects its users. It does exactly what you tell it to do. Want to kill a program? Send the kill command and it'll be terminated without warning. However, the worst part about Linux is also that it does exactly what you tell it to do. Here's what I mean.

GitHub hosts an enormous amount of genuinely great free and open-source software. But as an interface for discovering and installing apps, it's one of the worst experiences out there. There's no browsing by category, no install button, and half the time the README assumes you already know what a build toolchain is. I got tired of it, so I used Claude to build myself a workaround—an app-store-like layer that sits on top of GitHub.

Most smart TVs you buy nowadays ship with Google TV software, which is basically a forked version of Android TV OS. Google TV promises to bring a content-first layout, powered by AI. The term "content-first" comes with a caveat. As soon as you switch on your TV, you’re presented with a big promotional banner, which is basically a show or movie in your region pushed to you. Following this banner are your apps and an endless list of recommendations from Google TV to watch, which can be overwhelming most of the time.

If you're still happy with your 3D printer, there's no reason to stop using it. However, if it's been a long time since you bought your machine, you might not be aware that the floor has been raised considerably.

Android Auto is quite literally the same Android that’s on your phone, but it doesn’t have the same level of customization. There are no alternate home screen launchers or icon packs. However, one thing you can do is move the taskbar—though the option is not easy to find.