fix Archives

Safety first

I bet you or someone you know has a scary travel story. These gadgets are no-brainers to bring on your next trip to protect yourself and your stuff.

Major security flaws have compromised a huge portion of keycard hotel locks. Easy fix: This doorstop with a built-in alarm (17% off).
Traveling with valuables? Bring your own safe. Hotel rooms don’t always have one. This little portable option is under $24.
Whether you’re traveling abroad or just going out at night, take a personal alarm. This sleek option is 20% off and goes right on your keychain.
Only one in four U.S. homes has a carbon monoxide detector. Bet your Airbnb doesn’t. This one’s 33% off!
Two words: Fanny pack. Wear it across your chest for extra street cred (I do!). This one’s inexpensive and looks great.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Are you getting the speeds you pay for? Use fast.com and speedtest.net to run internet speed tests. (Be careful not to go to the .com version of Speedtest.) Both report your current speeds a little differently, so I like to check ‘em both. If you’re way, way below what you pay for, call your ISP and ask them to fix it.

Apple and Google team up to fix their stalking problem

Open/download audio

Stalkers are using AirTags and other Bluetooth trackers to follow people. When two major tech rivals work together, you know it’s serious.

✈️ Hundreds of flights a day are under attack: GPS spoofing is an electronic warfare tactic that sends fake signals to disrupt aircraft navigation. Pilots get false warnings (like “pull up”), clocks reset and flight paths go off course. The scariest part is we won’t see an equipment upgrade or fix until next year, at the earliest (paywall link). Scary.

20% of crashed cars

Are totaled out. One in five seen by an adjuster is deemed too expensive to fix. That’s five times higher than in the 1980s. Why? Today’s high-tech lighting and sensors, pricey airbags, and fancy materials add up fast.

Look the part

Summer is hard on skin, hair, nails — you name it. It’s Kim to the rescue, with inexpensive pick-me-ups! Guys, yes, you can use all these, too.

Defrizz your pool or beach hair with a collagen mask that’s under $8.
Rosemary oil supports hair growth, just sayin’. Great price and reviews on this brand.
Corns and calluses aren’t cute. Fix your feet. Be careful looking at the photos in the reviews. Just know — they work.
These wipes, made especially for sweaty folks, will help keep you dry before a big day.
Treat your skin right after too much sun. Love this stuff from Burt’s Bees (11% off).

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🚨 $1,300 paperweight: If you have a brand-spankin’-new iPad Pro with an M4 chip, do not download the iOS 18 update! It’s bricking Apple tablets, causing them to shut down and fail to restart. There’s no fix yet. If you’ve already been hit, take your iPad to the Apple Store for a replacement.

Prison changes a man: About two weeks after his arrest in France, Telegram’s CEO says it’s not fair he was held responsible for others’ criminal activity on his app. Still, he calls it his “personal goal” to fix the problems. Step 1: Telegram’s updated FAQ page says users’ private chats are no longer protected from moderation. Cry me a river. Way too little, way too late.

You’re too close: Holding your phone too close to your face puts extra strain on your eyes. On iPhones, you can get a friendly warning. Open Settings > Screen time and toggle on Screen distance. Pro tip: If your text is too small, fix that under Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.

Waiting, waiting, waiting: If your Windows PC takes forever to start up, you’re not alone. Microsoft just released a new support page to help you spot the issue and fix it. Pro tip: The fewer programs that open on startup, the speedier your machine will be.

Know a policeman? Ford is recalling 85,000 Explorer Police SUVs due to an engine fire risk. The recall affects models from 2020 to 2022 with 3.3L hybrid or gas engines. No fix yet, but Ford will notify owners by mail. In the meantime, Ford says to stop driving your vehicle if you hear any strange engine noises.

Don’t throw your Bluetooth speaker in a lake; it’ll sync: Sonos rolled out a screwed-up app in May that’s missing basic features, and now speakers are turning off intermittently. They’re working on a fix that’ll cost a cool $20 million or more, but there’s no timeline yet. I’m sure it doesn’t help that they just laid off 100 people yesterday …

Oh, no, Sonos: Sonos isn’t releasing new products until they can fix their buggy app. Sounds like no big deal, but they say the repair could cost as much as $30 million. Yikes! The products in question? Rumors hint at a set-top TV streaming box and high-end Arc soundbar.

Is your car bricked? Since AT&T killed off 3G over two years ago, owners of 2014 to 2019 Volkswagens with VW Car-Net services have been in analog, so to speak. Without wireless connectivity, they no longer have features like remote start, emergency assistance or antitheft alerts. Volkswagen still doesn’t have a fix, and some 3G-reliant Hyundai and Nissan models are screwed, too. Cars with 4G should have until at least 2035. PSA: Check the connectivity specs before you buy, folks.

🛠️ You can fix that

Solve common household headaches for less than $25 with these DIY helpers:

Spraying WD-40 can be messy, but the pen version makes precision super easy. Grab a pack of three for 17% off.
Fix wobbly furniture or creaky doorframes — you name it — with these plastic shims. A 30-pack is on sale for $13.99.
Calling all DIY decorators! Stop guessing where you should hang things with this magnetic stud finder. It’s so simple and 8% off.
This compact steamer, at $21.99, is great for all kinds of fabrics. It fits in your suitcase for that relaxed, unwrinkled vacation look. Get it for 37% off!
Retire your bag of plastic grocery bags and stick ‘em in this reusable organizer. This summery print is on sale, but they’re all under six bucks!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Quick cleanup: Clearing the cache on your browser can fix annoying display or loading issues. With your browser open, hit Ctrl + Shift + R on Windows, or hold down Shift and click your browser’s Refresh button (the one that looks like this — ⟳ — next to the address bar).

Roku strikes again: If you’ve got a TCL HDTV, you might’ve noticed something off after updating to Roku OS 13. Roku automatically turned on motion smoothing, and there’s no way to turn it off. It’s great for fast-moving sports games, but it makes movies look a little … too real. People are pissed. I’ll let you know when they have a fix.

Oh, carp: You now have 15 minutes to edit DMs on Instagram. Fix your embarrassing typo by pressing and holding the message, then tapping Edit. You can unsend from here, too.

Is nothing sacred? YouTube is cracking down on ad blockers. If you have one enabled in your browser, YouTube might skip straight to the end of the video you’re attempting to watch, play it without audio or just refuse to load the video altogether. The only fix? Disable your ad blocker for YouTube or pay $13.99 for YouTube Premium. Ugh.

Quick Amazon privacy fix: Remove items from your browsing history to avoid revealing your gift ideas or embarrassing purchases. Hover your cursor over Account & Lists and click on Browsing History. For each item you want to hide, tap Remove from view.