Latest Smart Tech How-To Stories
SEE SMART TECH STORIES BY CATEGORY
Tip
Samsung Galaxy Note 8: 10 Killer tips and tricks
The Note 8 wasn’t cheap, so you might as well get the most from it with these power-user tips and tricks.
How-To
How to use Miracast to mirror your device’s screen wirelessly on your TV—even 4K
Everything you need to know to figure out device support between newer and older devices, and setting it up with Windows or Android devices.
How-To
Galaxy S8 battery life tips: How to control battery drain
Is your Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+ draining too fast? These battery-saving tips can help you get a few more hours of use.
World Beyond Windows
How to get started with Linux: A beginner’s guide
Trying Linux is easy—you can even install it on a USB drive or disc to try it out before committing. Enter the world of open-source here.Updated
How to stream media from your PC to your HDTV over Wi-Fi
Do you want to stream TV and movies from your PC to your TV? Here's our PC-to-TV media streaming guide.
Updated
How to monitor, measure, and manage your broadband consumption
Dealing with a data cap? Tired of getting dinged for busting through it? Learn how to identify the hogs on your network and how to make sure your ISP is delivering everything you’re paying for.
How-To
How to search Google: 10 advanced tips and tricks
Google's search powers are far and wide. Here are some hidden tricks that will help you find what you need faster.
Hassle-Free PC
How to launch Chrome faster with Native Lazy Tabs
If you have Chrome set to start with all your previous tabs, the browser's startup time can be slow. The extension Native Lazy Tabs can fix that.
How-To
How to set up a wireless router
These tips will make your wireless router installation and configuration even easier.
How-To
How to delete your Google data
Google collects a lot of personal data about you, but you can delete it. Here's how.
How-To
How to download your Google data
Google collects a lot of data from you, and you can see exactly what it has by downloading a copy for yourself. Here's how to use Google's Takeout Tool to get it.
Max Productivity
How to unsend Gmail messages with the Undo Send feature
Accidentally send a dirty joke to your boss instead of your bestie? Here's how to bring it back.
Max Productivity
4 Google Translate features you’ll use every day
Use these tips to translate documents, build a personal phrasebook, and even improve your own English.
Max Productivity
How to add video to Google Slides for a more powerful presentation
It's easy to add video to Google Slides, so why wouldn't you give your presentation that extra boost?
World Beyond Windows
4 ways to take control of your Wi-Fi connections on Linux
Get better performance and security when using your Wi-Fi on Linux by editing your connections.Hassle-Free PC
How to use the Skype Chrome extension to quickly add Skype call links to calendar entries
The Skype extension for Chrome lets you add call links to your calendar entries on Google and Outlook.com.
Answer Line
How to connect your PC or laptop to any TV
Given a relatively recent PC or laptop, you can connect it to just about any TV with an input.
How-To
How to identify and resolve double-NAT problems
We’ll show you how to eliminate this conflict between your router and your broadband gateway.Hassle-Free PC
Quickly scan your Gmail inbox with website favicons
Gmail Sender Icons is a handy Chrome extension that puts each sender's website favicon in the subject line.Updated
Chromebook power tips: How to work smarter online and offline
Bet you don’t know everything Chrome OS can do. Here’s what it offers, from keyboard shortcuts to Chromecast capers—and a surprising amount of offline productivity.Updated
How to set up your new Chromebook the right way
Follow these tricks for getting yourself up and running with the right apps, settings, and offline tools.
Answer Line
Set up your webcam for access from the road
If you have a webcam without a vendor web portal, you can still view it while on the road. Here's how.
Updated
If we show you how to back up your PC for free, will you finally do it?
What's it gonna take? These free backup tools are a good start.Hassle-Free PC
How to quickly check that your home IoT devices are secure
Don't let your smart clock expose you to hackers. A web app from BullGuard can help.How-To
How to replace 5 major Yahoo services and delete your Yahoo account
Yahoo users have 1 billion more reasons to switch another major hack. Here's how to replace major Yahoo services with rivals and delete your Yahoo account.Tip
Why won’t my printer connect to my wireless router?
A networked printer is great—as long as it connects to the network. Here are some troubleshooting tips to get it back online.Tip
How to monitor websites visited on a home network
OpenDNS can help control access to objectionable websites.Max Productivity
4 great apps for tackling your to-do lists
With scheduling, reminders, and other features, these apps make crossing tasks off a list even more satisfying.Hassle-Free PC
A new Chrome feature automatically mutes multiple tabs
An experimental new Chrome feature lets you focus on one noisy tab at a time.Hassle-Free PC
How to use ‘Training for Google Apps’ as your personal tech support
Google has a helpful Chrome extension that shows you how to use each of Google's online services.Answer Line
When your computer beeps at you, that’s a cry for help
When your computer beeps at you, pay attention because it's crying out for help—and it's giving you a code you can decipher.Hassle-Free PC
How to use FileBot to organize your Plex video files
FileBot organizes the TV shows and movies saved to your hard drive so they are easier to find on Plex.How-To
How to secure your router and home network
Many users don't realize it, but their internet router is the most important electronic device in their home and is an attractive target for attackers.Max Productivity
Tab tamers: Essential Chrome extensions for cleaning up browser clutter
Working with too many tabs can slow down you and your PC. Manage your multitasking with these add-ons.
Max Productivity
How to organize your Gmail using multiple inboxes
Let this Gmail Labs feature auto-sort your most important messages.Max Productivity
3 tricks for making your Google Slides presentation more eye-catching
Google Slides features easy-to-use tools for enhancing text and images.
Max Productivity
Another 4 Gmail Labs features for a more productive inbox
Google's incubator for experimental features offers up ways to prevent phishing scams, add extra inboxes, and more.Hassle-Free PC
How to use Cortana and Lenovo’s ReachIt to find files strewn across your digital life
Lenovo's Reachit integrates with Cortana to search your local hard drive and various online accounts.
Max Productivity
5 ways to search Gmail that everyone should know about
Use Gmail's advanced search operators to find anything in your inbox.
Max Productivity
5 Chrome extensions that fill Gmail’s gaps
Encrypt messages, learn keyboard shortcuts as you go, and more, with these Chrome add-ons.Hassle-Free PC
How to use Google Keep’s new labels and Chrome extension
Keep has some new features that make Google's note-taking app easier to use on your PC.
Max Productivity
5 Gmail hacks that help you master your messages
Make Gmail better by turning emails into to-dos, tuning out distracting conversations, and more.Max Productivity
5 of the best Google apps for iOS, and how to use them
Not all Google geeks use Android. Bring popular productivity tools to your iPhone or iPad with these native versions of your favorite apps.Max Productivity
5 Chrome extensions that reduce distraction while you work
These Chrome add-ons help eliminate distractions and boost your productivity.Answer Line
3 ways to make it easier to search for photos on your PC
You probably have thousands of photos in your PC. Use folders, tags, and handy utilities to sift through them in reasonable time.Hassle-Free PC
How to know if your PC is ready for virtual reality
With Oculus Rift on preorder and HTC Vive coming soon, the big question is whether your PC will be up to the VR task. The Rift compatibility tool will tell you—and you don't need to preorder anything to use it.Answer Line
Here’s how to sync Google Earth placemarks on multiple computers
Save Google Earth Places on one PC and you won't find them on another one, unless you know the trick.
Max Productivity
5 hacks for getting more out of Gmail
Easily unsubscribe to bulk emails, manage an inactive account and more with these tips.Answer Line
Why Lenovo’s PCs have less bloatware or spyware than ever before
Lenovo consumer PCs used to have a lot of bloatware, but the company cleaned up its act after getting burned on one bad program earlier this year.How-To