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Smart Home Guides

The Arlo Pro 5S installed outside on a wall.

Arlo Pro 5S vs. Ring Stick Up Cam Pro: Which is the best premium security camera?

The Arlo Pro 5S 2K and Ring Stick Up Cam Pro are among the best security cameras of 2024, but which is best for your home?
The Wyze Cam v4 installed outside.

Blink Mini 2 vs. Wyze Cam v4: Which is the better budget security camera?

If you're in the market for a budget security camera, the Blink Mini 2 and Wyze Cam v4 are great options. But which is best for your home?
The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam next to a smartphone.

Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam vs. Ring Stick Up Cam Pro: Which is better for your home?

The Ring Stick Up Cam Pro is one of the best security cameras in the Ring lineup, but how does it compare to the newer (and cheaper) Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam?
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra model that hooks up to plumbing.

What to know before connecting the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra to your drainage system

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra can connect to your plumbing system for a fully automated home-cleaning experience. Here's what to know before the install.
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra placed in its dock.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Roborock S8 Max Ultra: Which is the better robot vacuum?

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock S8 Max Ultra are two of the best robot vacuums on the market. But which is better for your home? Here's what to know.
Narwal Freo X Ultra with dock in home.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Narwal Freo X Ultra: Which is the best premium robot vacuum?

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Narwal Freo X Ultra are two of the best robot vacuums of 2024. But is the Roborock or Narwal product better for your home?
The Nanoleaf Skylight lighting up a room various shades of purple.

How to reset the Nanoleaf Skylight

You can perform a soft reset or factory reset on the Nanoleaf Skylight, and neither task should take more than a few minutes. Here's what you need to know.
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra placed in its dock.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo: Which premium robot vacuum is best?

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo are two of the best robot vacuums of 2024. But which is better for your home?
Amazon Echo Show 10.

The most common Echo Show problems and how to fix them

Is your Echo Show giving you issues? Here the most common bugs that pop up with the Amazon smart display and several fixes you can try.
best google home compatible devices hands on 4652

The most common Google Home problems and how to fix them

Google Home and Nest devices are smart, but they aren't perfect: Here are the most common issues, and what solutions we've found work best to address them.
The Ring Stick Up Cam Pro on display the 2023 Amazon Fall Devices and Services event.

Blink Mini 2 vs. Ring Stick Up Cam Pro: Which is the best security camera?

Is the affordable Blink Mini 2 enough to protect your home, or should you get the expensive Ring Stick Up Cam Pro? Here's a closer look to help you decide.
The Tapo C120 out in the rain.

How to format the microSD card on Tapo security cameras

If you want to use local storage on your Tapo device, you'll need to figure out how to format your microSD card. Here's a look at how the process works.
The Yale Assure Lock 2 Smart Lock Deadbolt keypad being used by someone.

How to fix a Yale Assure Lock 2 that won’t connect to Wi-Fi

If your Yale Assure Lock 2 is having trouble connecting to Wi-Fi, there's an easy way to fix the problem. Here's what you need to know.
Ring Doorbell mounted outside a front door.

How to save Ring Doorbell video without a subscription

You can record video with a Ring Doorbell, but to access it, you need a subscription. Here's what else you need to know about saving videos.
The Amazon Smart Thermostat hanging on wall.

How to fix an Amazon Smart Thermostat that’s unresponsive

If you're looking to fix an unresponsive Amazon Smart Thermostat, there are plenty of troubleshooting steps you can try. Here's what you need to know.
iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ with auto fill dock for Black Friday

iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ vs. iRobot Roomba Combo Essential: Which is better for you?

The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ is a highly autonomous robot vacuum, but how does it stack up to the more affordable (and newer) Roomba Combo Essential?
The Blink Mini installed in the Pan-Tilt Mount.

Does the Pan-Tilt Mount work with the Blink Mini 2?

The original Pan-Tilt Mount is not compatible with the Blink Mini 2. Here's a closer look at why that's the case, along with alternatives to consider.
The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro installed near a door.

Ring Battery Doorbell Pro vs. Aqara G4: Which is the better video doorbell?

The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is a great video doorbell, but how does it stack up to the affordable Aqara G4? Here's a closer look at these two unique devices.
Ecovacs X2 Combo under a bed.

How to clean the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo

There are a lot of moving pieces on the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo, but keeping it clean is surprisngly easy. Here's what you'll need to do.
Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni AIO robot vacuum and mop with dock sponsored

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo vs. Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni: what’s new on the X2 Combo?

The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Combo offers both a robot vacuum and cordless vacuum in one nifty package, but how does it stack up to the older Deebot X2 Omni?
The Blink Mini 2 on a bookshelf.

How to set up the Blink Mini 2 as a chime

The Blink Mini 2 can serve as a chime for your Blink Video Doorbell. Here's a look at how to sync the two together and get them working in just a few minutes.
The Nanoleaf Skylight lighting up a room various shades of purple.

How to fix the ‘unreachable’ error on Nanoleaf Skylight

Trying to fix the unreachable error on the Nanoleaf Skylight? The problem can be frustrating, but the good news is that it's easy to resolve.
The Blink Mini 2 placed on two books.

How to fix the most common Blink Mini 2 problems

Here's a look at how to fix the most common Blink Mini 2 problems, including poor video quality, inaccurate motion detection, and red indicator LED lights.
The Narwal Freo X Ultra working in a living room.

How to clean the Narwal Freo X Ultra

The Narwal Freo X Ultra doesn't require much maintenance, but you should still clean it at regular intervals. Here's a look at what that entails.
The Blink Mini 2 installed outside.

How to mount your Blink Mini 2 security camera

If you want to mount your Blink Mini 2, you'll be glad to know it's an easy process. Here's a look at how it works, along with how to flip your video if needed.
Philips Hue bulb on a bleached wood plank.

How to reset Philips Hue bulbs and light strips

Philips Hue bulbs are easy to reset. Learn how to return your smart lights to their factory settings with or without the bridge accessory.
Alexa app on phone.

What to do if your Amazon Alexa app is not working

Experiencing issues with the Amazon Alexa app? Here are a few ways you can fix an unresponsive Alexa app or one that's not working as intended.
Woman in bed looking toward Echo Dot.

How to use all Amazon Alexa alarm clock features

Are you interested in using Alexa on your Echo or other devices as an alarm? Alexa can manage a variety of alarm options, and we'll show you have to use them!

How to convert your window blinds into smart blinds

Smart blinds can be prohibitively expensive, but DIY conversion kits can save money while providing all of the same benefits.
Person installing Ring video doorbell

How to fix a Ring doorbell that won’t chime

If your Ring video doorbell won't chime, there are a few things you'll need to check. Here's a comprehensive walkthrough to get your chime working properly.
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra placed in its dock.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Roborock S8 Pro Ultra: Which is the best robot vacuum?

Along with their names, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock S8 Pro Ultra share a lot of similarities. But there are a few key differences to be aware of.
The Instant Pot Duo Mini on a counter.

The most common Instant Pot problems and how to fix them

Instant Pots are safe, high-tech, and can do almost anything -- but they can be tough to figure out. We list common Instant Pot problems and how to fix them.
Narwal Freo X Ultra smart robotic vacuum with family

Narwal Freo X Ultra vs. Narwal Freo: What’s the difference between these robot vacuums?

The Narwal Freo X Ultra is a much better robot vacuum than the old Narwal Freo, but is it worth the hefty price? Here's what you need to know.
A computer showing off the stream of an IP camera.

How to view your IP camera remotely via a web browser

Viewing your IP camera's stream through a web browser is somewhat similar to accessing a website and viewing a livestream. Here are the steps to do it properly.