Latest Software How-To Stories
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How-To
14 free tools: Obscure yet helpful software from Adobe, Microsoft, and more
Even big software makers like Adobe and Microsoft have free tools that offer astonishingly helpful functionality.
Tip
Speed up your Google searches with this hidden trick
How to use your browser's context menu to quickly search any snippet of text.
How-To
Make a detailed list of your installed programs with this free PC tool
Uninstall View's saved program lists make it easy to repopulate your PC after reinstalling Windows.
How-To
Share your Wi-Fi password in seconds with Android QR codes
Need to share your Wi-Fi password? It's easy if you have an Android phone.
Tip
This Gmail trick reveals which companies sell your data
If you want to know which companies are selling your data use this Gmail trick. It also works with Outlook and iCloud, too.
Tip
This free Adobe Acrobat alternative rocks for basic PDF editing
iLovePDF: A free site for PDF merge, split, sign, and editing.
Feature
This one Brave feature sold me on the whole browser
This Chrome competitor bills itself on privacy and security, but I love it for rescuing me from a daily annoyance.
How-To
How to spot a scam email (and scam texts)
Scam emails can cause massive headaches or, worse, financial ruin. Here are some telltale warning signs to look out for.
How-To
How to tune Windows 10 for laser-focused productivity
Windows 10 is chock full of tools that can eliminate distractions, optimize your workflow, and make you all-around more productive—but they aren't always obvious.
How-To
Speed up Google Chrome: 9 tips and tweaks
Google's Chrome is the world's most popular browser for a reason. But these nine tweaks make it even better, by making it even faster.
Updated
How to update your PC’s BIOS
Updating your BIOS can cut boot times, fix compatibility issues, and improve overall performance–or brick your system if you do it wrong. But with recent AM5 motherboard issues, an out-of-date BIOS can leave your PC vulnerable.
How-To
How to securely erase your hard drive or SSD
Ensure that the data on your old drives is safe from prying eyes with this simple guide to securely wiping your hard drives.
Tip
Organize your Gmail inbox like a pro with these hidden icons
By default, Gmail lets you add a yellow star to email. But there's a bigger variety of colored icons available if you make one quick settings tweak, perfect for more precise tagging.
Tip
Google's Messages for Web helps me hate text messaging a little less
Android users don’t have to put up with annoying mobile keyboards when texting. You can use your PC’s keyboard instead.
How-To
4 Amazon privacy settings you should change right now
Want to change Amazon privacy settings? Here's where to go.
Tip
Avoid bad YouTube recommendations with one tiny habit
Tired of suggested content on YouTube and other sites that don’t really match your interests? A small change to your daily routine will fix that.
Updated
How to secure your Twitter account without paying for Blue
Paying Twitter a monthly fee for two-factor authentication is dumb. Add a free authentication app to the social media platform instead.
Tip
This Microsoft Edge feature drives me insane. Luckily there's a fix
Microsoft Edge's tie-in with Windows multitasking settings probably helps other people's efficiency, but it slows me down. Fortunately, you can change how Alt + Tab behaves.
How-To
Want fast access to Bing AI? Give Microsoft your browser defaults
Let Microsoft change your Edge and Windows defaults to its recommendations, and you can jump ahead in the waitlist for the new Bing experience.
How-To
How to run ChatGPT or the new Bing as a Windows app
You don't have to keep ChatGPT or the new Bing's AI-powered search engine running in a pure web browser. You can make it a Windows app, instead.
How-To
How to try the new AI-powered Bing search
Want to try the new Bing search experience with ChatGPT-powered AI conversations? Here's how to gain access.
How-To
Got an iPhone? Here's how to get Apple iMessages on Windows 11
With Intel's Unison app and Windows 11, you can read and respond to iMessages straight from your PC.
Tip
Switch faster between Chrome tabs with this keyboard shortcut
Don’t waste time hunting for a Chrome tab with your mouse. This simple keyboard shortcut lets you jump to earlier opened tabs quicker than you can blink.
How-To
You can now turn on Gmail package tracking in Android and iOS
Gmail’s promised package tracking feature is finally available—but you have to manually enable it.
How-To
Get your email privacy in order with these free must-use tools
Protect your email address and stop email snooping with these free tools.
Tip
The old Windows Photos app is better than the new one, and you can still use it
The Photos app is part of your Windows 10 and Windows 11 PC. But the Photos Legacy app, which you can still use, is even better.
Tip
The one password manager setting you should always change
This ten-second tweak boosts the safety of your login info.
How-To
Android 13's new copy system reveals your passwords. Here's how to stop it
You can keep your login info private in Android 13 with a couple of simple steps. But the fact this issue exists at all is aggravating.
How-To
Twitter leaks data from 200 million users. Here’s how to check if you’re affected
Last year, a vulnerability in Twitter's codebase allowed hackers to verify user emails and phone numbers. This week's news further reveals the exploit's reach.
How-To
LastPass hacked: How to export and protect your passwords
No longer feel safe using LastPass as your password manager? Here’s how to export your data—including tips for how to do it securely. It takes just minutes.
How-To
How to delete your Twitter account
Twitter's process for account deletion is simple and fast—and also leaves you an escape route in case you have second thoughts.
How-To
How to download your Twitter data
Want a backup copy of your Twitter data—tweets, follower info, and all? Requesting an archive is a quick five-minute process.
How-To
How (and why) to use your browser's beta versions
Be a beta browser user. You'll get new features faster, with little risk.
How-To
How to do a hanging indent in Google Docs
Ever wonder how to do a hanging indent? We're here to help you with this easy step-by-step guide.
How-To
How to check your word count in Google Docs
Need to know how many words are in your Google Doc? We're here to help.
How-To
How to remove your browser's auto-fill data
Overwhelmed by form auto-fill options in your web browser? Here's how to clear the clutter in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari.
How-To
How to insert a text box in Google Docs
An easy step-by-step guide to help you insert a text box in Google Docs.
How-To
How to change margins in Google Docs
Can't figure out a way to change the margins on your Google Docs? We're here to help.
How-To
How to bypass Google and search your favorite sites directly
Here's the fastest way to search directly on sites like Amazon, Wikipedia, and YouTube.
How-To
How to use Samsung's Galaxy Tab as a second display for your PC
If you own a Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet, you already have a terrific second display for both work or business travel. Here's how to use it.
How-To
Vertical tabs in Firefox: Yes, it's really possible!
Vertical tabs will change the way you browse the web. Here's how to properly set them up in Firefox, with horizontal tabs hidden.
Updated
Midjourney's enthralling AI art generator goes live for everyone
Midjourney offers a spectacular way to generate AI art, and the open beta allows you to generate 15 awesome images for free.
How-To
How to install Bash on Windows 11
You can have Linux's Bash shell running in Windows 11 in mere minutes. Here's how.
How-To
Are your Facebook messages secure? Maybe. Here’s how to investigate
Keeping the wrong eyes from seeing your Facebook messages takes more than just a strong password on your account.
Updated
How to cheat at Wordle
Here's how to hack Wordle to discover the answers to upcoming Wordle puzzles, as well as ways to increase your Wordle score and streaks. Wordle's new owner, The New York Times, may be signaling that changes are coming to Wordle, however.
How-To
iDrive quietly made a great local backup tool, and it's free
iDrive's free Windows and Mac apps can automatically back up your data to external hard drives.
Tip
This obscure Firefox tool is a must-use for privacy buffs
Installing this extension lets you easily juggle alt accounts and keeps third-party cookies from seeing more than they ought—all in a single browser.
Updated
How to join the Office Insider program and try tomorrow’s features today
Microsoft's Office Insider program gives you access to new features before they go mainstream. Here's how to join on Windows PCs, Macs, Android, and iOS.
Tip
Your CD and DVD backup discs won’t last forever. Copy them before it’s too late
Bit rot is a real concern for older optical disc backups—but with the right tools, you can get that data onto more reliable media with little headache.
How-To