Latest Laptop How-To Stories
SEE LAPTOPS STORIES BY CATEGORY
How-To
Windows 11: How to improve your security and privacy
We show you how Windows 11 keeps you safe and how to maximize your privacy.
How-To
Don't be fooled by back-to-school Chromebook trap deals
Amazon vendors are selling Chromebooks whose support runs out soon. It's a trap! Here's how to pick the best Chromebook deals for back-to-school.
How-To
9 tips for preventing laptop theft
With this guide and the right tools, you can protect your laptop from theft—and that's especially important when you're distracted or on vacation.
How-To
How to find power-hogging software with Windows Task Manager
If you're trying to salvage every last bit of battery life on your laptop, the Windows Task Manager can help you find the programs consuming the most power.
How-To
3 tweaks that help your laptop battery last longer
If you're trying to help your laptop's battery survive until the end of the day, these three settings tweaks help substantially.
How-To
Is your laptop slow? Try these 9 things before you give up
Don't ditch that aging laptop until you try these speed-boosting tricks first.
How-To
How to factory reset your Windows 11 laptop
If you're dealing with a slow laptop, a factory reset may be in order. Here's how to do it.
How-To
How to take a screenshot on your Windows 11 laptop
Need to take a screenshot on your Windows 11 laptop? We've got you covered.
How-To
How to update your laptop’s Nvidia graphics driver
To get the best experience out of your gaming laptop, you should always make sure your Nvidia graphics driver is up to date.
How-To
How to change the default browser on your laptop
Switching to a different browser is shockingly easy. Here's how to do it.
How-To
How to change your laptop's power settings
These power-saving tips and tricks will help conserve your laptop's battery life.
How-To
How to adjust the brightness on your laptop
Adjusting the brightness on your laptop screen can help alleviate eye strain and tension headaches.
How-To
How to play Steam games on a Chromebook
Google has published instructions on how to play Steam games on your Chromebook. Here's a list of which Chromebooks are supported and which games you can play on them.
How-To
What to look for in a cheap Chromebook
Is a cheap Chromebook good enough for homework and distance learning? We discuss the most important criteria as you buy cheap Chromebooks for the holidays and Black Friday.
How-To
How to charge your Surface laptop to 100%: Solving the smart charging mystery
Microsoft's latest Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop Studio include smart charging, a feature that protects the battery by keeping it from being fully charged. Here's how to turn that off so you can fully charge your laptop.
Updated
How to speed up your laptop with Windows 11’s power mode
Windows has an easy way to increase your PC's performance. In Windows 11, it's called the Power Mode. We'll show you how to find Power Mode in Windows 11.
How-To
How to play games on a Chromebook
You can play games on a Chromebook, whether browser- or Android-based, or streamed PC games from the cloud.
How-To
Fix your laptop’s color and brightness with this hidden Windows app
Fix Windows 10 auto-brightness and color problems with this hidden Intel app.
How-To
How to benchmark your PC laptop for real-world gains
Free benchmarking software can help you understand how well your laptop performs. And that has numerous payoffs.
How-To
How to tell which GeForce 30-series laptop is the most powerful
How can you tell whether a RTX 30-series gaming laptop is using Nvidia's higher-power "Max-P" GPU, or the lower-power "Max-Q" version? It's not easy, but we have some tips for figuring it out.
Updated
How to use a Chromebook: 10 must-know tips, tricks, and tools for beginners
Chromebooks are dead-simple to use, but just like any PC a little tweaking makes your experience that much better.
How-To
How to disable your laptop touchpad
Does your laptop touchpad get in the way while you type? Here's how to turn it off.
Updated
How to remove malware from your Windows PC
Has malicious software taken your PC hostage? Our malware-removal guide will help you clean out your PC and restore it to a pristine state.
Updated
How to transform your laptop into a gaming powerhouse with an external graphics card
With a little bit of research and elbow grease (or a Thunderbolt 3 dock), an external graphics card setup lets you upgrade your laptop for a fraction of the cost of a new gaming PC.
How-To
How to install Windows on your Mac using Boot Camp
After following these simple instructions, you'll be able to dual-boot your Mac into Windows.
Answer Line
What to do when your laptop’s touchpad stops working
The touchpad built into your laptop no longer responds to your fingers. Here's what to do about it.
How-To
How to add an SSD to your laptop
By adding a solid-state drive to a budget laptop, either as a hard-drive replacement or companion, you can realize noticeable gains and get additional life from your portable PC.
How-To
How to upgrade your laptop’s RAM
You can significantly improve your laptop PC's performance by adding RAM, especially if you're running a 64-bit version of Windows.
How-To
Easy fixes for six common laptop problems
You don't need to be an expert to fix these problems yourself. Just follow our step-by-step guide.
How-To
How to install Linux on a Chromebook
The Crouton project makes it simple to install a full Linux desktop operating system on a Chromebook.Updated
Chromebook power tips: How to work smarter online and offline
Bet you don’t know everything Chrome OS can do. Here’s what it offers, from keyboard shortcuts to Chromecast capers—and a surprising amount of offline productivity.Updated
How to set up your new Chromebook the right way
Follow these tricks for getting yourself up and running with the right apps, settings, and offline tools.World Beyond Windows
How to get beautiful new wallpapers on your Chromebook every day
Extensions from Google and Bing can help beautify your Chromebook's desktop with next to no effort on your end.
World Beyond Windows
Installing Linux on a Chromebook: What you need to know
Installing Linux on a Chromebook isn't difficult–if you know what you're doing.
How-To
How to integrate Dropbox, OneDrive, and other cloud storage on your Chromebook
The Chrome file system now functions more like a PC with access to your favorite cloud services. Here's how to add the ones you want.World Beyond Windows
How to squeeze more battery life from your Linux laptop
Linux has a lot of advantages, but long battery life on a laptop isn’t usually one of them. Here's how to fix that.How-To
Five ways to add SSD speed to your laptop without losing storage capacity
Using an SSD and a hard drive together offers both speed and storage space. But most laptops won't let you install two drives.Answer Line
How to diagnose and fix a dead laptop keyboard
You can't write that report with a dead keyboard. A few tests can tell you how to bring it back to life.Hassle-Free PC
3 surprisingly easy PC repairs you should do yourself
You could pay someone to take care of these repairs for you, but you'd be surprised how easy they are with a little patience.How-To
How to customize or silence Chromebook notifications
Tame all those alerts that can slow down your workflow on a Chromebook by learning how this settings menu works.How-To
Tested: 6 tips to extend your Chromebook’s battery life
A few smart settings can help your Chromebook last hours longer off-grid.
How-To
How to replace a broken laptop screen
If your laptop's LCD screen is cracked, black, or otherwise broken, it doesn't mean your notebook's a paperweight. Here's step-by-step instructions on how to replace a broken laptop screen.World Beyond Windows
How to get your Chromebook online from anywhere without killing your mobile data cap
Chromebooks were made to be online, even if Wi-Fi's nowhere to be found. Here's how to get online with a cellular signal without blowing through your data cap.How-To
5 secret Chrome app launcher tips and tricks that speed up everyday tasks
Use the app launcher's impressive capabilities to organize apps, search online, use voice commands, and more.Answer Line
The easy answer to the laptop vs. desktop question: Use a docking station
You can have the power, upgrade options, and ergonomic advantages of a desktop without sacrificing the portability of a laptop.Answer Line
Prepare to take your laptop to another country
Planning a trip overseas with your laptop? These precautions will help with smooth sailing.Answer Line
Recover a stolen laptop, or prepare for the day your laptop is stolen
You may or may not be able to recover your stolen laptop, but the precautions you take beforehand can put the odds in your favor.How-To