DIY (Page 15)

PopSci's curated collection of life skills, tech tips, and hands-on projects we think you'll love.

Latest in DIY

A do not disturb sign on a wooden door. It's the analog way to ensure you have notifications silenced.

How to get your iPhone to stop telling people you’ve silenced notifications

By John Kennedy

A blonde person leaning over to water a potted houseplant near a window.

How to water your plants less but still keep them happy

By Ellen Airhart

A person pointing a TV remote at a TV with Netflix on the screen. It's possible they're sharing a Netflix account with someone else.

How to share streaming service logins while you still can

close up on hands typing on laptop keyboard

How to snooze your browser tabs

A DIY computer desk made out of a wooden door and some metal legs, with a dual-monitor computer and other devices on top of it.

Build your own desk with custom features like USB ports and biometrics

By Whitson Gordon

Old batteries in a rectangle formation waiting to be recycled.

It’s time to recycle all those dead batteries

By Tamara Palmer

Close up to a stack of AA batteries

How to turn AAA batteries into AAs

screenshot of google chrome opened on chromeos flex showing the home page of popsci.com

Revive your old computer by turning it into a Chromebook

person hiking with backpack and hiking sticks

What to know before you go on your first multi-day hike

By Alisha McDarris

Chilis in a bowl against a black background, perfect for a spicy hot sauce recipe.

Experiment with spice by making this homemade hot sauce

A person standing over a board, using a circular saw to rip it to width, hopefully considering woodworking safety.

The best safety advice for any beginner woodworker

By Jean Levasseur

screenshot of iOS's new feature Shared Libraries menu

This new iOS feature lets you share entire image libraries. Here’s how to set it up.

A half dozen eggs sitting on a marble kitchen counter

6 egg alternatives for these trying times

By Sandra Gutierrez G., John Kennedy

collage of old magazine images

A DIY voice assistant from 1950 could mute a radio and control toy trains

By Bill Gourgey

person stirring pot on the stove at the same time as they look at their phone

5 recipe apps to help organize your meals

An Apple macOS computer on a white desk against a white background.

Set up remote access to your computer so you can use it from anywhere

Four people hiking through a snowy landscape, all very bundled up to prevent frostbite.

How to prevent, identify, and treat frostbite

By Alisha McDarris

A woman in a white long-sleeved shirt sitting in front of a Macbook laptop at a white table, looking at her Facebook News Feed, maybe thinking about cleaning it up.

7 ways to clean up your Facebook News Feed

Screen-showing-winamp-media-player

3 ways to recreate the Winamp look and feel on your favorite devices

Nuclear shelter basement sign on brick building to represent survival tips for a nuclear blast

The best—and worst—places to shelter after a nuclear blast

A laptop computer with Wikipedia on its screen.

For the first time in a decade, Wikipedia is getting a makeover

By Harry Guinness

A phone screen with social media app icons visible, including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Instantly edit Facebook posts and other social media mistakes

A Macbook keyboard illuminated by red, orange, and purple light.

29 Gmail keyboard shortcuts to help you power through your inbox

A person looking at their Instagram feed, perhaps to delete a picture or video from a carousel post.

How to delete one photo from an Instagram carousel (and get it back if you change your mind)

By John Kennedy

a young black woman jogging outside on a track smiling

5 surprising beauty benefits of running

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

close up to person squatting down to lift weights at the gym

It’s time for your 2023 fitness journey—here’s how to get started

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Personal trainer helping man exercise header image

Best personal trainer certifications

A person wearing a teal Apple Watch on their wrist, perhaps about to open up Maps and get directions to a destination.

Stop using your phone for directions and use a smartwatch instead

solar panels on a roof

How the Inflation Reduction Act can help you save cash and energy

hands on laptop typing next to a notebook and a coffee mug

The best social media alternative is old-school blogging

Jar of cucumber water on white marble to illustrate how to detox your body the wrong way

The only real way to detox your body

By Donavyn Coffey

person-in-work-out-gear-standing-in-kitchen-chopping-fruit-

Nutrition tracking can put you on the path to meet your fitness goals

Half Dome in Yosemite National Park at sunset, where people have fallen to their deaths.

How to avoid dying in national parks

By Alisha McDarris

A black TV remote on a gray chair in some sunlight.

How to deal with movies that bounce from too quiet to too loud

By Whitson Gordon

vertical view of a person using an apple computer

How to recover old versions of files on programs like Excel and Photoshop

Two DIY picture frames next to each other on a beige wall, with sunset photos inside them.

Simple DIY picture frames that will elevate your home decor

By Jean Levasseur

Amazon-echo-with-soundproof-earmuffs-with-word-hello-on-the-fronta-gainst-red-backdrop-

The Opt Out: When it comes to privacy, smart devices are not the smarter choice

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Person in blue shirt doing crunches on an exercise ball during a Pilates workout

Pilates can improve your posture and balance. The killer body is just a bonus.

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A LifeStraw water filter and bottle on some gray rocks.

Don’t ruin your next camping trip by storing your portable water filters wrong

By Alisha McDarris

Person lying on couch covering their face with a book about Spanish grammar

Learning a new language? Here’s how to perfect your pronunciation.

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Hand-holding-phone-with-tiktok-deactivation-screen

Reset your digital life by deleting all your social media accounts

Android-phone-on-table-with-home-screen-showing

How to set up F-Droid, the open-source alternative to the Google Play Store

An iOS alert on an iPhone screen that says the storage is full and there is no more room on the phone.

Simple tricks to help you free up space on your phone

person holding internet router next to laptop

Boost your connection by checking your Wi-Fi strength from any device

Roof of a house without AC surrounded by trees, with a red and orange color overlay.

7 tips on how to build a house that stays cool

A man standing under a blue sky with white clouds, wearing a black baseball cap and a red shirt while closing his eyes and breathing deeply.

Understanding your emotions can help you manage your anxiety

By Wendy Suzuki

Notopteris neocaledonica, the New Caledonia blossom bat, an endangered bat species endemic to New Caledonia.

How to get a bat out of your house

By Natalie Wallington

An iPhone on a desk by a laptop and showing Apple Music on its lock screen

Separate your music into two Apple Music libraries—you’ll thank us

Prickly pear cactus spines closeup

How to remove cactus spines (including ones stuck in your throat)

By Kate Baggaley

Holiday cake filled with chocolate stars, icing, and orange slices poses a sugary nightmare to people with diabetes

A diabetes-friendly guide to holiday parties

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Person-sitting-down-typing-on-computer-on-lap

Get the Windows 10 taskbar back on Windows 11

A silver Macbook Air keyboard that someone needs to learn how to clean. There are crumbs and even a hair on it.

How to clean a keyboard without breaking it

By Claire Maldarelli

slightly-closed-mac-laptop-on-a-desk-in-a-dark-room

This macOS feature will streamline the way you manage and reformat files

Hands on laptop showing google search on the screen

Google Chrome’s new search function will help you keep tabs on your tabs

A homemade wooden spoon or spatula inside an empty wok on a black electric stove.

Make these DIY wooden kitchen utensils for your favorite cook

By Jean Levasseur

Person-sitting-outside-with-their-hands-on-their-laptop

The easiest ways to back up iPhone photos without iCloud

Three hikers in rain jackets and other rain gear, hiking through a wet forest, hopefully with well-maintained waterproofing.

The right way to wash your waterproof clothes

By Alisha McDarris

person-holding-phone-with-google-vpn-on-screen

Pixel 7 users can now activate Google’s mobile VPN for free

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

person-lifting-weights-at-the-gym

How to get muscle gains: A beginner’s guide to becoming buff

A person cleaning a laptop screen with a microfiber cloth and small brush.

How to clean a computer screen without destroying it

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

A person holding a dead phone in their hands. They should've used low power mode.

How your phone’s low power mode really works

collage of old magazine images showing scuba divers

Please do not follow this 1953 tutorial for DIY scuba gear

By Bill Gourgey

person sitting at desk looking at phone with whatsapp open messaging themselves

WhatsApp, Discord, and other apps that let you message yourself for peak productivity

A blonde woman wearing a white sweater and headphones while sitting on a couch or bed, taking notes while in front of a laptop computer.

Where to find the hidden transcription tool in Microsoft Word