Latest Software How-To Stories
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Tip
How to pin an extension to Chrome’s toolbar
Adding an extension to your toolbar gives you quick access to its settings.
Tip
Got tons of browser tabs? Don't ignore this tiny, life-changing Chrome feature
Firefox, Opera, and Edge fans also can do something similar.
How-To
How to report and block someone on Discord
Occasionally you’ll run into bots and rude people on Discord. Here’s how to silence them.
How-To
How to find the recovery key for your encrypted Windows 11 PC
Chances are that Microsoft automatically encrypted your PC during setup. But don’t worry—that key should be safely stored. Here’s where to find it.
How-To
How to install or move your Xbox PC games to any folder
Microsoft finally gives users some control over their Xbox game files.
How-To
How to watch TV on your PC
There are several ways to watch live TV on your PC, some much easier than others. We walk you through your options.
Updated
3 easy steps anyone can take now to back up a PC
It really doesn't take much to set up a solid backup protocol for your PC. Here are the basics, with pointers to more details.
How-To
How to securely store photos and video on Android
Whether your collection includes makeshift scans of tax documents or personal videos, you can keep them under extra protection.
How-To
How to find your Steam screenshots
Are your Steam screenshots not in the folder you expected them to be in? Don’t worry, they exist—and finding them isn’t hard.
How-To
How to use Google Docs or Google Sheets offline
Google’s apps are cloud-based, but you can keep working in them even when you lack internet. Here’s how to set up offline access.
Tip
Don't fall into the free cloud storage trap with a new PC
Those free gigabytes you get from Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive cloud storage won't stick around forever unless you pay.
How-To
How to use voice dictation in Google Docs
Give your hands a break and use Google's new formatting and editing commands for voice typing in Google Docs.
How-To
How to close your Discord direct messages (and keep weirdos out)
Not every server has people you want messages from. Here’s how to change your settings so your DMs aren’t open by default.
How-To
Accidentally closed Chrome or Firefox? Here’s how to get your tabs back
Killing the wrong browser window doesn’t mean a permanent loss of every tab you had open.
How-To
How to enable (and disable) Google's SmartSearch Browsing filter
Keep those explicit results out of your Google searches with SmartSearch Browsing.
How-To
How to change your nickname on Discord
You can give yourself a nickname for each Discord server you’re in. Here's how.
How-To
How to add bots to Discord
Adding bots to your Discord server doesn’t require a programming degree and there’s no steep learning curve–even beginners can do it!
How-To
How to track changes in Google Docs
Keeping an ongoing record of edits in a Google Doc is simple. Here’s how to set it up.
Tip
4K Blu-ray support is dying on the PC. MakeMKV can help
Official 4K playback just disappeared for Intel’s latest processors, but that doesn’t have to be the end of the story.
Tip
13 must-know Slack keyboard shortcuts for powerful productivity
Give your Slack game an edge with these handy shortcuts to the most common functions.
Tip
How to clear unwanted autofill entries in Google Chrome
Are you pestered by outdated autofill entries in Chrome? Here are some tips for getting rid of them.
How-To
How to encrypt files in Windows
Whether you use Windows Pro's built-in Bitlocker or the free Veracrypt utility, encrypting a file, folder, or drive is an easy way to keep your sensitive documents secure.
How-To
Twitch hack: How to change your password and set up two-factor authentication
Here's how to change your Twitch password and set up two-factor authentication in the wake of a massive alleged hack.
How-To
How to encrypt your Facebook messages with Secret Conversations
Facebook's encrypted messaging feature, Secret Conversations, is available for everyone on Android and iOS.
Tip
4 killer tab search tricks for Chrome and Microsoft Edge
Time-saving browser tab search tricks for Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
How-To
How to protect yourself from the new Microsoft Office hack
A step-by-step guide to make sure Office's Protected View is keeping you safe from the latest attack.
How-To
This free Windows text tool will change the way you type
Beeftext is the best free Windows text expansion app you're not using.
How-To
Email overload? Clean your inbox with these 5 steps
Five simple steps to cleaning your email inbox.
How-To
How to change your display name in Gmail, Outlook and other webmail services
Changing your e-mail display name is easy, once you know where to look. Here's how to do it in Gmail, Outlook, and other mail services.
How-To
Fix your laptop’s color and brightness with this hidden Windows app
Fix Windows 10 auto-brightness and color problems with this hidden Intel app.
Updated
Fight Google’s data cap with a simple change to Google Photos
In June, 2021, new photos and movies saved to Google Photos and the cloud will count against the Google One data cap. Exceed it, and you'll be charged for storage or Google will delete your photos.
How-To
How to create strong, secure passwords by learning how to crack them
Learn why strong, secure paswords matter by seeing how easy it is to crack passwords with a common tool. Longer, more complex passwords are best, and you'll see why.
How-To
Excel percentage formulas: 6 common uses
Excel percentage formulas can help with many everyday applications. We'll walk through several examples, including turning fractions to percentages, and calculating percentage of total, increase, or decrease.
How-To
Microsoft launches Kids Mode for Edge: Here’s how to use it
The new Microsoft Edge Kids Mode provides a whitelisted web for your kids to browse, complete with some fun, custom themes.
How-To
How to pick the perfect password
What's the best password? We'll show you the rules and strategies we'd recommend to pick a safe, strong password that will keep your data secure.
How-To
Chrome can now caption almost any video or audio
Chrome's new Live Caption is an excellent accessibility feature that adds closed captions to almost any video—online or offline.
How-To
Android 11: Getting started with gesture navigation
With Android 11, almost all devices will default to Google's new gesture navigation. Here's how to get started and adjust it to your liking in just a few taps, or give up and go back to buttons.
How-To
How to tell if your password has been stolen
How can you tell if your password has been stolen or compromised as part of a password breach? We'll discuss free and paid services you can use, from websites to your browser or paid password managers.
How-To
6 ways to stop using your Android phone before bedtime
Stop using your phone before bedtime so you can sleep better. Android offers handy tools to help, most in the Digital Wellbeing settings.
How-To
Find gorgeous PC background images every day with Bing Wallpaper
The free Bing Wallpaper app lets you refresh your PC's background image every day with a new image curated by Microsoft.
How-To
How to see what Facebook knows about you, and download your data
Facebook stores a lot of data on its users, but the social media service makes it easy to see the information it has on you, and even lets you download a copy of its records.
How-To
Android 11 tips: The 8 new features to explore first
From new playback controls to a screen recorder to dark mode scheduling, Android 11 has some improvements worth checking out.
How-To
How Photoshop Artistic Filters work, with examples of our favorites
Photoshop Artistic filters alter images to simulate colored pencils, watercolors, chalk pastels, charcoal, pen and inks, crayons, and many other artistic methods.
How-To
How to get Microsoft Office for cheap
It is possible to save some money by buying an older version of Office, but you need to shop carefully. Here's what to consider before you buy.
How-To
How to upgrade from Office 2010 to Office 365
As Microsoft prepares to end support for Office 2010 on October 13, upgrading to Office 365 is one of your primary options. Here’s how it works.
How-To
How to get the screenshot button back on your Pixel phone in Android 11
Android 11 removed the screenshot button from older Pixel phones when using 2-button navigation. Here's how to get it back.
How-To
Microsoft ends support for Office 2010: What you can do
Microsoft Office 2010 support ends October 13, 2020. This means no more technical support, no more patches, and no more security updates. Here are your options, some of which are free.
Updated
How to let your kids do their homework on paper, not Zoom
Your kids don't have to do all of their distance-learning schoolwork on Zoom calls and Google Classroom. Use the powerful tools within Microsoft's Office app for iOS and Android to help younger kids work on paper.
How-To
How to turn off Outlook’s horrible Top Results ‘feature’
The Top Results feature in Outlook doesn't behave like email searches have for decades. Here's how to turn it off.
How-To