Featured Articles - The Best of How-To Geek

How to Export and Import Your Linux Systems on Windows 10

Windows 10 now lets you export installed Linux environments, creating a TAR file of the root file system you can import on other PCs. Copy your configured systems between computers, share them with others, or just save a back...

Chris Hoffman Jun 27th

DisplayPort 2: What’s Different, and Why It Matters

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) just announced the newest iteration of DisplayPort technology: DisplayPort 2. This new standard will support resolutions up to 16K and use either traditional DisplayPort conn...

Valve Now Says Steam Will “Likely” Support Ubuntu 19.10

It’s been a rough few days for Linux gaming, but the battle is over. In response to Canonical’s change of plans around 32-bit compatibility libraries, Valve has announced it will “likely” support Ubunt...

Chris Hoffman Jun 27th

How to Use the Linux lsof Command

If everything in Linux is a file, there has to be more to it than just files on your hard drive. This tutorial will show you how to use lsof to see all the other devices and processes that are being handled as files....

Dave McKay Jun 26th

What is a “Qi-Certified” Wireless Charger?

If you’ve taken the time to shop for a wireless charger, then you’ve probably bumped into the term “Qi-Certified.” But what the heck is Qi, and why should you use a Qi-Certified wireless charger?...

Andrew Heinzman Jun 26th

How iOS 13 Will Unlock NFC’s Potential

NFC has long been held back by Apple not supporting it—only Android did. Now that both major smartphone platforms will soon support NFC, the technology can reach its full potential. From keyless locks to digital IDs, th...

How to Stop Chrome (or Edge) From Taking Over Your Media Keys

Google Chrome now has built-in support for media keys. Unfortunately, Chrome will take over your media keys and prevent them from controlling apps like Spotify when you’re watching YouTube, for example. Here’s how...

Chris Hoffman Jun 25th

How to Customize the New Windows Terminal App

With the new Windows Terminal app, Windows now finally has a tabbed terminal that can run Cmd, PowerShell, and Bash prompts in the same window. It’s deeply customizable, too—you can even set animated GIFs as the ...

Josh Hendrickson Jun 25th

6 Great Features in Windows 10’s New Game Bar

Windows 10’s May 2019 Update features an all-new game bar experience. It’s not just for capturing videos anymore. It’s now an overlay packed with useful tools, including quick panels for adjusting applicatio...

We’re Looking for a Remote Technical Content Editor

Are you an experienced writer who’s comfortable with all kinds of tech? Interested in a full-time job working from home?

Walter Glenn Jun 24th

How to Disable “Reserved Storage” on Windows 10

Starting with the May 2019 Update, Windows 10 will reserve about 7 GB of your device’s storage for updates and optional files. This will ensure easy installation of updates in the future—but you can recover that s...

Brady Gavin Jun 24th

Why Do Phones Explode? (And How to Prevent It)

Every few years, exploding phones find a way to dominate the news cycle. And while these accidents are incredibly rare, they’re a bit difficult to understand. Why do phones explode? And how do I know that my phone won&#...

How to Set Up a Smart Bedroom

You may spend most of the time in your bedroom sleeping, but it can still benefit from smarthome technology. A smarter bedroom can help you get to sleep and wake up in the morning.

Steam Won’t Support Ubuntu 19.10 and Future Releases

Do you use Steam on Ubuntu? You may have to switch to a new Linux distro in the future. A Valve developer announced that Steam won’t officially support Ubuntu 19.10 or future releases. Ubuntu-based Linux distributions a...

Chris Hoffman Jun 22nd

How to Make Your Dumb Window Air Conditioner Smart

Window A/C units are critical in homes without central air conditioning. But turning every unit on and off is a pain, and smart air conditioners are expensive. With a smart plug, you can make many A/C units smart....

Microsoft’s New Windows Terminal Is Now Available

You can now download a preview version of the new Windows Terminal app from the Store on Windows 10! Microsoft released this application on the evening of June 21 after a listing showed up earlier that day....

Chris Hoffman Jun 21st

How to Report a Fake Business Listing on Google Maps

The Wall Street Journal reports that Google Maps is overrun with fake business listings created by scammers, and Google says it removed more than 3 million of them in 2018. Here’s how to report any fake businesses you s...

Chris Hoffman Jun 21st

How Piracy Makes Legal Streaming Services Better

We tend to look at piracy as the antithesis of Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, or Prime Video. But as it turns out, you can thank ruthless digital pirates for the low price and high quality of your favorite streaming services....

Andrew Heinzman Jun 21st

How to Securely Delete Files on Linux

Shred old data files for the same reason you shred old paper documents. We tell you what you need to know about securely deleting Linux files. This tutorial covers the shred command and the secure-delete suite of utilities....

Dave McKay Jun 21st

5 Ways to Save Money on Your Netflix Account

Netflix costs less than cable, but it’s still a bit expensive. A year of Netflix’s “Basic” plan is $108, and a year of “Premium” Netflix costs $192. Thankfully, you can reduce your subscrip...

How to Migrate Ext2 or Ext3 File Systems to Ext4 on Linux

Know you should upgrade your Linux filesystem but can’t face the aggravation? Here’s how to convert ext2 and ext3 to ext4 without the upheaval of a complete re-install.

Dave McKay Jun 20th

What Is the Menu Key For? (and How to Remap It)

Did you know your keyboard has a menu key? On full-size keyboards, you’ll find it to the left of your right Ctrl key. This key opens context menus, but you can tweak it to make it more useful.

How to Use the vmstat Command on Linux

Your Linux or macOS computer is using virtual memory. Discover how it’s affecting your system’s use of physical memory, CPU, and hard disk resources.

Dave McKay Jun 19th

How to Scan (or Rescan) For Channels on Your TV

So, you’re trying to watch free over-the-air TV, but you can’t find any channels. That’s perfectly normal. You just need to run a quick channel scan (or rescan), and you’ll be good to go....

Andrew Heinzman Jun 19th

Why Video Doorbells Are the Best Smarthome Gadget

Video doorbells are the most important smarthome device you can buy. Smart light bulbs may be flashy, but—when properly integrated—a video doorbell will become something you can’t live without. They’re...