Lifehacker

I love a good popcorn hack. I have many. Sweet popcorn, savory popcorn, popcorn grits—I like it all! I even liked popcorn salad, the hyper-regional Midwest delicacy the internet was determined to hate. (I actually loved it, and so did Joel, and everyone owes Molly Yeh an apology.) But I have finally encountered a…Read more...

Most consumers sign up for subscription boxes for convenience, cost savings, or the thrill of discovery, but they also underestimate the cost of their subscriptions overall, and can overpay for stuff long after the novelty fades. After all, do you really need to spend $100 on three pairs of black socks every month?…Read more...

Sure, the way your home shows on the inside is a big deal when you’re getting ready to sell—but what’s happening on the outside is important, too. Your home’s curb appeal (or lack thereof) will be among the first impressions your home makes to a potential buyer—and if you don’t want your landscaping to detract from…Read more...

Your smartphone’s operating system comes with a lot of excellent accessibility features designed to make life better for those who have low vision, mobility issues, or hearing difficulties. If you have any of these issues, or know someone who faces them, it’s good to keep track of useful accessibility features that…Read more...

Machine learning has helped solve many of our biggest tech-related problems, and now it can help you find and create auto-generating, royalty-free music to play on your videos and livestreams so you won’t get hit with a copyright violation.

There is a mysterious quote, the origins of which are largely unknown, but that’s often attributed to the late literary icon Kurt Vonnegut. So the largely unverified legend goes: When Vonnegut was a teenager, he realized something important. He was 15 years old and working on an archeological dig, when one the…Read more...

Delta Plus, a variant of a variant, is the latest strain of the COVID-causing coronavirus to hit the news. (A previously-known variant, Lambda, is also making headlines today.) Still, so far, there’s nothing to panic more about: Delta is scary enough.Read more...

One of the convenient new features that’s coming in iOS 15 (already available in public beta) is the ability to have Siri read out notifications from both Apple and third-party apps. Users have had the option to have Siri announce calls and texts for a while, but Announce Notifications lets you customize what…Read more...

I love my AirPods Pro. They block out intrusive sounds, they sound great, and they don’t fit in my ears. Okay, that last point is a drawback to be sure, but if you’re in the same boat, you should know it doesn’t have to be this way.

The cost of back-to-school shopping is going up by roughly 8% this year, but you could offset that cost by purchasing school supplies during “sales tax holidays” in the next few days. Seventeen states are temporarily exempting school supplies from sales tax this year, for savings worth up to 10% on purchases. Here’s…Read more...

Moving with a plant is delicate business. They could be jostled too much and their leaves risk breakage—they could even be knocked over entirely. And after all that, they’ve got to acclimate to a new environment. You want them to come with you to your new digs, of course; but you don’t want to damage their health in…Read more...

A few weeks ago, my boyfriend stole a bite of my ice cream and screamed. “Did you put salt on this?” he asked, visibly upset. I nodded. “Maldon is sprinkles,” I said, my voice devoid of empathy or sympathy. That’ll teach him to steal my treats! (It didn’t.)Read more...

If Chipotle burritos have a flaw, it’s their sheer size. One burrito is way too big for a single meal but not always enough for a second, depending on your appetite and interest in cold leftovers. There’s an easy solution: Order a bowl instead, with an extra tortilla or two on the side.Read more...

After Office and Xbox, Microsoft went ahead and put Windows in the cloud. With the Windows 365 service, businesses will be able to stream Windows devices directly from Microsoft’s servers—like Netflix, but for your work computer.

Whether it is sustainable or not, the housing market in the United States has been undeniably hot for much of 2021. In some of the most desirable markets, homes are only listed for a few days before multiple offers roll in. However, even in a seller’s market, cutting corners when it comes to staging can have an…Read more...

In New York City, if people want to participate in public life, they will soon have to supply proof of vaccination from COVID-19. The requirement is part of a new policy unveiled by Mayor Bill de Blasio, who told reporters on Tuesday that the city will require at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine for anyone…Read more...

Your old iPhone is feeling its age; apps crawl to open, animations couldn’t be choppier, keyboards lag like no one’s business. Before you throw in the towel and upgrade to the latest and greatest Apple device, consider simply upgrading the battery instead.

It seems whenever I mention I’m a runner, there’s a good chance someone is about to warn me that I’m going to ruin my knees. And although the belief that running will destroy your knees is a widespread one, there isn’t much evidence to support the claim.Read more...

Due to a range of problems—weather, a labor shortage, reduced capacity—flight delays and cancelations have been an even bigger hassle than usual this summer. While you might not be able to avoid them completely, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from too much aggravation.Read more...

A sliced disk of a pickle has its time and place (on a burger, for example), and a sharp spear on the side of your plate can give your lunch a delicatessen vibe, but pickle shapes do not need to be so smooth, so neat, so clean. In fact, there is a very good argument for abandoning the knife altogether: Smash your…Read more...

You’ve probably heard that you should replace your running shoes when the cushioning wears down, which tends to be after 300 to 500 miles according to most manufacturers. But it turns out there’s another problem with old shoes, even if you haven’t been running in them.

When your house is a disaster, the last thing you are thinking about is cleaning your plants. But houseplants get dirty and dusty just like anything else in your home, even if cleaning them requires some specialized knowhow. Many cleaning products (and even gentle soaps) can damage a plant’s leaves and roots, so it’s…Read more...

I’m a huge fan of challenging myself in the fitness realm. I did a triathlon once, even though I knew halfway through training that I never wanted to do one again. I’ve begged my coach to give me weightlifting workouts that are notoriously difficult. Heck, I started the Lifehacker Fitness Challenge, our monthly…Read more...

Battery health is important, right? After all, our portable devices depend on them. These days, though, it’s actually not worth stressing about their health as much as you might think.Read more...

Getting a college education isn’t supposed to be easy, but between the student loan crisis, skyrocketing tuition and fees, the whole “unending global pandemic” thing, and truly bleak job prospects, it’s currently way harder than it needs to be. These hacks won’t pay off your student loans or write your final term…Read more...

Your cat is a confusing creature. It’s possible—likely even—that most of the things your cat does, aside from maybe napping and eating, perplexes you. But your feline companion needn’t be a mystery. All those head butts? There’s a reason for them. The kneading of soft surfaces? It makes sense in context. The…Read more...

With airports jammed with travelers, you might be thinking about signing up for the airport security fast-track program TSA PreCheck. But what about Clear, a privately-run line-skipping service? It’s more expensive and works a bit differently, but it will also get you through lines faster. In fact, signing up for both…Read more...

Haptic feedback—and vibration as a whole—has become an essential feature of modern-day consoles. Your controller will vibrate at certain opportune times during a game, such as when your character lands hard after a jump, or when you go off-roading in your favorite racing game. While this feature can be great to have,…Read more...

Measuring your ingredients by mass is far more accurate and reproducible than measuring your ingredients by volume. This is especially helpful during baking, which leans a little more heavily on chemical reactions than mere cooking.Read more...

If someone on WhatsApp continuously fails to respond to you, they may be ignoring you—or they may have blocked you from contacting them altogether.Read more...

The vaccine was supposed to mean the U.S. had left the worst depths of the COVID-19 pandemic behind, but for many of us, it hardly feels like we’re out of the woods.Read more...

Google Assistant is always there when you need it. But you don’t always need it. That’s why it can be frustrating when the digital helper just pops up out of seemingly nowhere. You don’t remember saying, “Okay Google,” or squeezing your phone, but Google Assistant is ready to go, nonetheless. As it turns out, it might…Read more...

As our kids prepare to go back to school, our impulse will probably be to make up for the lost time, whether it’s the academics, intramural sports, student clubs, or any of the other milestones our children missed out on during the pandemic.Read more...

To gaslight someone is to deny their sense of reality. It’s a common term, and it usually describes a very specific brand of emotional torment. People who gaslight their significant others typically do it verbally, creating whole spheres of false reality for their victims, who they seek to manipulate. But gaslighting…Read more...

When it comes to starting a lawn, there are two ways you can begin: You can prep the ground and sow the seeds, or you can start with a blanket of already grown grass, known as sod, and maintain it so the roots grow deep. Of course, both take different elements of care (and finances), so when should you use one versus…Read more...

We’re all in a battle against robocalls. Chances are you’ve tried out various apps, settings, and carrier services to stop—or at least mitigate—the endless train of scams and spam, and some of them even work pretty well, at least for a while. Unfortunately, new spam techniques crop up all the time, and it’s likely a…Read more...

The first time a parent catches their child in a lie, it’s enough to make their heart sink. It doesn’t matter if it’s about a broken plate on the floor or the candy they’ve so clearly just snuck and ate; most mothers and fathers want to raise children with integrity. And when kids are dishonest, it’s easy to feel like…Read more...

I am usually a whipped cream purist. Heavy cream doesn’t need to be flavored, as it already has a flavor—the flavor of cream. I rarely sweeten heavy cream before whipping, especially if it’s destined for something that is sweet. (Just let the cream be rich and fatty and creamy!) But a friend recently mentioned that…Read more...

Having your own lemon tree at home is often a luxury we assume is reserved for people who live in citrus-friendly locales, like sunny California or humid Florida. However, that doesn’t mean those in the northeast, midwest, or other regions of the country can’t enjoy the simple pleasure of their own fresh-squeezed…Read more...

Work your hands or feet enough and getting calluses is inevitable. Now that I’m a weightlifter, I have calluses all over my palms and fingers; when I played roller derby, I used to have them on specific parts of my feet. The standard advice—to gently abrade your calluses with a pumice stone or a scrubby cloth—is…Read more...

Last summer, Taco Bell suddenly discontinued longtime standbys like the quesarito, Fiesta potatoes, and the 7-layer burrito. Two of these weren’t banished forever—the quesarito lives on as an in-app exclusive and potatoes seem to be back for good—but the classic 7-layer burrito has simply disappeared into the ether.Read more...

A grilled cheese sandwich is a good quick lunch, but a little tomato soup on the side (for dipping and sipping) makes it feel like a proper meal. There is nothing wrong with heating up a can of Amy’s, but I am far more likely to have a few cans of tomato paste—rather than full-fledged soup—stocked in my pantry at any…Read more...

Sony recently disclosed the requirements for upgrading the PlayStation 5’s internal storage with an M.2 Solid State Drive (SSD), and it’s woefully confusing. While there are several SSDs that meet Sony’s requirements on paper, only a few drives currently work on PS5—and those that do are quite expensive. In some…Read more...

Sticky spills are, as far as I can tell, never welcome, and they are particularly unwelcome in my pantry, which is known for being spick-and-span (this is not true). But certain bottles of thick, viscous substances and condiments are best stored upside down, which increases the likelihood of spillage, so it’s best to…Read more...

Giant asteroids don’t collide with our planet very often, but they do hurtle by within a relatively close distance at times, only to disappear into the cosmic void. Case in point: Another asteroid is primed to careen within what scientists call a “potentially hazardous” distance of the planet later this month, and the…Read more...

If you get a letter from the audience ratings company Nielsen, don’t throw it away—there’s money inside. While it might look like junk mail (addressed to “Area Household”), the envelope likely contains two crisp dollar bills, with the promise of $5 more if you fill out a survey about your TV and radio viewing habits.

The first day (week, month) of school can be hard on some kids, particularly those entering preschool or kindergarten for the first time. They want to stay with you; they’re scared you won’t come back; they don’t know this grown-up or these other kids—the whole thing can be scary. But this year—this year—many kids are…Read more...

Did you know your PS5 controller has a microphone that’s enabled by default every time you turn on your console? The mic is very useful if you play online multiplayer games, allowing you to talk to your friends even if you don’t have a headset with a microphone. However, if you’re conscious about your privacy and wary…Read more...

For some people, it’s easy to over-apologize—or borderline grovel—over any perceived inconvenience. If you’re late to meet a friend at a movie, you might offer a breathless, “I’m so sorry,” as if saving you the perfect seat was desperately important to begin with.