How to
This How to Category will publish articles about How to posts
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How to safely maintain, use, and dispose of your power banks
The risk of a power bank causing a fire, which is the result of a chain reaction known as a thermal runaway, is low. But when it does happen, the fires are intense, occasionally explosive, and difficult to extinguish. Early in June, Anker recalled more than 1.1 million aging power banks, and while the company says it only received 19…
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Quick fixes: bring back Google Photos classic search instead of ‘Ask Photos’ Gemini AI
You just want to search your archived photos, instead of interacting with an AI assistant. Inside the app, tap the Google account button at top-right, then go to Photos settings > Preferences > Gemini features in Photos, and turn off either “Search with Ask Photos” or “Use Gemini in Photos”. When Google rolled out its new AI-powered ‘Ask Photos’ search…
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Instagram’s Map is here, and this is how you can turn your location off
Responses have ranged from being mildly annoyed that Instagram is ripping off Snapchat’s Snap Maps instead of offering a default feed that only contains your friends’ posts, to high alert outrage about possibly privacy implications and doxing, as well as how domestic violence victims or others could be put at risk of stalking via the app. Meta says the feature…
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How to make your iPhone homescreen icons clear using iOS 26
The process of customizing your icons works exactly the same as it did for the tint: And that’s it! Your homescreen icons will immediately assume the Liquid Glass design, letting you see through them to your wallpaper (which is kind of nice, especially if you’re really proud of your wallpaper). If you want to try something else, such as the…
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How to install the iOS 26 public beta
Setting up the public beta is slightly less involved than setting up the developer beta but just as free. And if you’re looking for help with the iPadOS 26 beta, you’re in the right place: the setup process is the same. You should understand what you’re getting when you try a beta, though. For one, you won’t get all the…
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How to wall-mount your TV (and why you probably should)
There is no better way to elevate your living room than by elevating that big TV from a stand and onto a wall. Wall-mounting a TV may seem daunting, but if your space allows it you can reclaim precious real estate on your entertainment center and help your living area feel more open and airy. It’ll also have the benefit…
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The best ways to digitize your documents
When you’re preparing to move, you can find yourself faced with a lot of paper documents. Holiday cards, leases, letters, tax documents, notes, doodles – whatever – can really stack up over time. If your choices are only “keep” or “trash,” it can be hard to let go, even if you choose one of the more responsible ways to get…
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How to maximize your privacy using Signal calls and chat
When I first started using Signal, I would connect with friends using our phone numbers. Now, I use Signal to find people to interview for stories, which is why some of my social media posts and articles include a note telling folks how they can reach me on the app. Needless to say, I’d rather not plaster my phone number…
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How to install the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 developer betas
Before we get started, a word of warning: beta software — especially early developer beta — is inherently unfinished and may contain bugs. Think carefully before installing either on any device you depend on. They also may not include all of the features that will be in the final release. Your experience may differ from others depending on the apps…
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How to secure your phone before attending a protest
Back in June 2020, when this article was first written, people were taking to the streets to organize for justice and protest against systemic racism and police brutality. There have been several other flashpoints for protests since then (for example, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade), but the recent activities of ICE, especially in Los Angeles, have now…
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