troubleshooting

The Best Tools and Techniques for DIY Tech Support

Something not working as it should? Here's what to do first.

Gadgets David Nield Oct 5

The Most Common iOS 14 Problems and How to Fix Them

Every new version of iOS comes with a bunch of bugs and issues, some bigger than others, and iOS 14 is no different. Apple will iron out many of these problems with subsequent software updates, but it’s useful to know whether the issues you’re seeing on your own phone are known bugs in iOS 14—and…

Gadgets David Nield Dec 30

How to Use Your Gadgets When They’re Broken

What with everything that’s going on, it might not be all that easy for you to get your gadgets repaired at the moment—but should a keyboard fail, or a screen crack, all might not be lost. There are a number of useful tricks and hacks you can use to keep your hardware operational until you’re…

Gadgets David Nield Apr 24

How to Figure Out What’s Wrong With Your Internet Connection

Few first world problems are as frustrating as your web browser reporting that it’s no longer connected to the internet. There are many different problems that could potentially affect your broadband, but the tips below should be enough to cover the most common issues. Keep this list close by in case your internet suddenly breaks…

Gadgets David Nield Apr 17

12 Things to Do to Your Friends’ and Family’s Tech to Get Them to Stop Bothering You

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: The time when you get to tackle a year’s worth of tech troubles in just one visit to the home of a relative. If you’re the designated IT expert in your branch of the family, here’s how to pass on the most useful advice in the quickest…

Gadgets David Nield Dec 21

How to Reset All of Your Browsers Back to Square One

Like an operating system reinstall, resetting your web browser can fix all kinds of problems and improve performance at the same time—squash annoying bugs, clear out dodgy and outdated extensions and get a browser that’s good as new with a hard reset. Here’s how to carry it out on all the major browsers. Typically, this…

Gadgets David Nield Dec 3

11 Free Apps for Fixing Annoying Problems on Windows 10 and macOS

No matter how careful you are, problems tend to crop up on Windows and macOS anyway—from little annoyances you can’t get rid of to full-blown system-wide issues that make it hard to use your computer normally. We’ve got some good news for you though: You can find plenty of free apps to help at least…

Gadgets David Nield Oct 9

10 Phone and Laptop Problems You Shouldn’t Ignore

If you own a phone or a computer (and we’re assuming you do) there are bugs and annoyances that you just have to learn to live with. On the flip side, there are also problems that hint at something much more serious going on with your device—issues you shouldn’t learn to live with, but should…

Gadgets David Nield Jul 3

How to Bring Back Any Device From the Dead

Computer, tablet, or phone not starting, or seemingly frozen in time? Before you take it down to the local repair shop, or send it off to the professionals, here are the cheat codes to use to try and get your device back on its feet—it might be you can save yourself a hefty repair bill…

Gadgets David Nield May 10

How to Get on the Internet When Your Internet is Down

Whether it’s a winter storm on the East Coast, or tornadoes in middle America, or just some simple rain in California, sometimes your power goes out and takes your internet with you. Any way you look at it, when the internet is down your life is effectively on hold until it’s back up again. However,…

Gadgets David Nield Mar 20

How to Find a Hidden Battery Report Feature on Your Windows 10 Laptop

Windows 10 (like its predecessor, Windows 8.1) comes with a hidden battery report feature that you can only access from the command line. The report provides detailed readouts on the usage, status, and health of your laptop’s battery. It can be an invaluable tool in making sure your system’s running smoothly and spotting power problems…

Gadgets David Nield Feb 19

Access Android’s Hidden Safe Mode to Troubleshoot Problems

Just like Windows, Android has a special Safe Mode you can use if your device isn’t behaving as it should—all third-party apps are disabled, enabling you to see if your woes are being caused by one of those apps or something more fundamental that’s going on with your system. Here’s how to find it. On…

Gadgets David Nield Dec 18

How to Start Any Office Application in Safe Mode

Word starting to wobble? Excel eating itself? PowerPoint playing up? If you’re having trouble with your Office apps, then launch them in a special stripped-down Safe Mode. Like Windows Safe Mode, it loads the software in its most basic configuration, enabling you to troubleshoot issues and hopefully identify what’s causing your problems. Here’s how it’s…

Gadgets David Nield Nov 9

The Worst Bugs in Windows 10 and How to Fix Them

If you dived in the Windows 10 deep end, you might not have a smooth and seamless experience. Nowadays every piece of software seems to be a work-in-progress, and Microsoft’s newest operating system is no different. That’s not to say Windows 10 has been a total disaster—plenty of people have upgraded with no problems at…

Gadgets David Nield Aug 11

How to Fix Most Any Computer Glitch By Yourself

Knowing the difference between HDMI and USB qualifies me as the local tech “expert,” so folks often invite me around to fix their computer problems. I’ll let you into a little secret, though: Most of the time, I’m not doing anything all that impressive or magical. Troubleshooting basic computer problems is actually pretty straightforward. That’s…

Gadgets David Nield May 5

How To Roll Back Windows Updates If They Bork Your PC

By and large you should certainly be keeping Windows Updates switched on to download and install automatically. If a serious new threat should be uncovered, it’s the best way of making sure that you’re protected. However, there are occasions when applying a new update can cause problems, and here’s how you can undo the changes.…

Gadgets David Nield Feb 13

An Inside Peek at How Apple Will Scramble to Fix Early iPhone 6 Bugs

Every new piece of technology has a few bugs. The iPhone 6, when it comes out, will be no different. Apple has a stake in every step of its distribution chain, right up to the retail store. So when customers start returning faulty iPhone 6s, they’ll set off a complex chain of forensic troubleshooters. BloombergBusinessweek…

Tech News Bob Sorokanich Sep 5

Her Tech Support: Troubleshooting Your AI Girlfriend

Relationships are hard. Especially when your partner inhabits a completely different realm of sentient existence that your frankly puny human mind could not be expected to fathom under any circumstance. The good news? You’ve got tech support. WARNING: CRAZY SPOILERS Sure, it’s fun to imagine the future will be a clean, beautiful, technologically advanced place…

Artificial Intelligence Eric Limer Jan 23

Apple Just Can’t Keep iCloud In the Air

Today, iTunes Match went down. Yesterday, it was iMessage and FaceTime. Since launching iCloud to the public on October 12th, 2011, Apple just hasn’t been able to keep its cloud-based services airborne. Sure, the most basic iCloud plan is free, but iTunes Match costs $25 a year. As a replacement for the MobileMe catastrophe, iCloud…

Tech News Mario Aguilar Nov 19

Comcast Will Now Troubleshoot Your Gear, Too

Instead of focusing only on your connection, Comcast’s got a new service on deck that offers support for your laptop, gaming console, routers, and other equipment that contributes to your online experience. Xfinity Signature Support can be built into your monthly plan, or you can pay as you go. It’s only available in the Twin…

Tech News Brian Barrett Mar 9

troubleshooting

The Best Tools and Techniques for DIY Tech Support

The Most Common iOS 14 Problems and How to Fix Them

How to Use Your Gadgets When They’re Broken

How to Figure Out What’s Wrong With Your Internet Connection

12 Things to Do to Your Friends’ and Family’s Tech to Get Them to Stop Bothering You

How to Reset All of Your Browsers Back to Square One

11 Free Apps for Fixing Annoying Problems on Windows 10 and macOS

10 Phone and Laptop Problems You Shouldn’t Ignore

How to Bring Back Any Device From the Dead

How to Get on the Internet When Your Internet is Down

How to Find a Hidden Battery Report Feature on Your Windows 10 Laptop

Access Android’s Hidden Safe Mode to Troubleshoot Problems

How to Start Any Office Application in Safe Mode

The Worst Bugs in Windows 10 and How to Fix Them

How to Fix Most Any Computer Glitch By Yourself

How To Roll Back Windows Updates If They Bork Your PC

An Inside Peek at How Apple Will Scramble to Fix Early iPhone 6 Bugs

Her Tech Support: Troubleshooting Your AI Girlfriend

Apple Just Can’t Keep iCloud In the Air

Comcast Will Now Troubleshoot Your Gear, Too

‘She-Hulk’ Was Apparently One of Marvel’s Most Successful Shows

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This Apple MacBook Pro Is Now Under $500 After 78% Off, Grade-A Refurb Deal (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Touch Bar)

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HP Omen Max 45L Review: 4K60 Gaming Has Never Been So Easy

Ecovacs Winbot W3 Omni Review: Window Cleaning Robots Have a Long Way to Go

AirPods Max 2 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Which ANC Headphones Win?

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