https://www.howtogeek.com The latest in Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebooks. Fri, 04 Jul 2025 21:00:39 GMT en-US hourly 60 https://www.howtogeek.com/forget-minimalism-i-keep-all-my-tray-icons-showing/People these days obsess over minimalistic user interfaces, to the point that they sacrifice functionality for aesthetics, and I get it. I keep my desktop fairly clean, too. But when it comes to my taskbar, it’s a different story; I keep every system tray icon shown, and it's been working great for me.

]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 21:00:39 GMThttps://www.howtogeek.com/forget-minimalism-i-keep-all-my-tray-icons-showing/ https://www.howtogeek.com/need-the-fastest-usb-port-on-your-computer-heres-how-to-identify-it/USB ports don’t all offer the same speed. Using a slower port can cause delays in file transfers, slower charging, and poor performance for high-speed devices. So, how can you identify the fastest one? You can figure this out by checking the port symbol or color, or performing a quick speed test.

]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 20:00:15 GMThttps://www.howtogeek.com/need-the-fastest-usb-port-on-your-computer-heres-how-to-identify-it/ https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-make-windows-11-meeting-ready-automatically/If you join meetings on your Windows 11 PC, you can make your system prepare for the upcoming meetings by itself. Thanks to a custom script, your computer can automatically adjust the brightness, enable do-not-disturb mode, close distracting apps, and launch your meeting apps.

]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 19:00:16 GMThttps://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-make-windows-11-meeting-ready-automatically/ https://www.howtogeek.com/why-the-mac-mini-is-the-perfect-tiny-pc-smart-home-hub/As someone who uses a MacBook Pro all day, every day; I didn’t realize how much use I’d get out of a cheap used Mac mini. As I build up my smart home ecosystem, I’ve taken to using Apple’s “tiny PC” as a local hub.

]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 18:30:15 GMThttps://www.howtogeek.com/why-the-mac-mini-is-the-perfect-tiny-pc-smart-home-hub/ https://www.howtogeek.com/packet-linux-app-makes-android-file-sharing-a-breeze/Sharing files between Linux and Android has often been a complicated process involving unreliable Linux utilities or complex network setups. A new application, Packet, aims to solve this by providing a simple, wireless file transfer solution. Let's find out how!

]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 18:00:17 GMThttps://www.howtogeek.com/packet-linux-app-makes-android-file-sharing-a-breeze/ https://www.howtogeek.com/liquid-glass-isnt-the-first-big-apple-design-makeover-here-are-my-other-favorites/Apple is introducing a bold new look to all of its operating systems this fall. But this isn’t the first time the company has introduced drastic changes that have reshaped the way its software looks and feels. In fact, the company has a bit of a thing for it.

]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 17:30:16 GMThttps://www.howtogeek.com/liquid-glass-isnt-the-first-big-apple-design-makeover-here-are-my-other-favorites/ https://www.howtogeek.com/system76-meerkat-mini-pc-refreshed-with-affordable-cpu/In the market for a new PC to replace that Windows 10 computer but want to try a different OS? Linux-first PC and laptop manufacturer System76 has refreshed its mini PC it calls "Meerkat" with better CPU options, including a more affordable configuration.

]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:35:16 GMThttps://www.howtogeek.com/system76-meerkat-mini-pc-refreshed-with-affordable-cpu/ https://www.howtogeek.com/tools-every-homelabber-should-try-at-least-once/Are you looking for fun (or unique) pieces of software to expand your homelab with? I’ve been on the hunt for new software lately, and found 10 tools that everyone should try at least once. In no particular order, here are tools that have (or will) change how I run my homelab.

]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:30:15 GMThttps://www.howtogeek.com/tools-every-homelabber-should-try-at-least-once/ https://www.howtogeek.com/microsoft-365-autosave-not-working-fixes/Microsoft 365's AutoSave feature can be a lifesaver if things suddenly go wrong, as it automatically uploads your file to the OneDrive cloud as you work. However, sometimes, AutoSave doesn't function as expected. If you find yourself in this situation, here are some fixes to try.

]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:00:16 GMThttps://www.howtogeek.com/microsoft-365-autosave-not-working-fixes/ https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-set-up-home-assistant-mac-mini-macbook/Home Assistant is a free and open-source smart home ecosystem with near-limitless potential. Unlike proprietary systems from Apple, Google, and Amazon, Home Assistant lets you build more complex automations and use unique combinations of devices to do so much more.

]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 14:15:16 GMThttps://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-set-up-home-assistant-mac-mini-macbook/