Welcome to Hands-On Tech, where host Mikah Sargent turns tech troubles into tech triumphs. Each episode zooms in on a specific theme, unpacking listener questions with expert analysis and easy-to-follow advice. From decoding the latest gadgets to simplifying everyday tech, Mikah's got you covered.Submit your tech queries through email at [email protected] or via TWiT's social media. You might hear your question answered on air!Whether you're puzzled by privacy settings or curious about cutting-edge innovations, Hands-On Tech is your weekly dose of tech insight and inspiration. Join Mikah every Sunday to hear the show that turns tech...
Latest episodes
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17 min
Understanding Email Tracking Pixels - Are Tracking Pixels in Emails Real?
On this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah answers a question from Lyle who wants to know whether a coworker can really tell when he has opened her emails. Send in your questions for…
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22 min
Understanding What IP68 Means - Is Your Device Truly Water Resistant?
On this week's episode of Hands-On Tech, Clyde, who is shopping for a new phone after his last one died in a sink full of dishwater, asks what an IP68 water resistance rating actua…
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16 min
Are There Risks to Scanning QR Codes? - The Security Concerns Behind Scanning a QR Code
On this week's episode of Hands-On Tech, Barry asks whether anything inside a QR code can actually hurt you, or whether the real danger lies somewhere else, and what a person shoul…
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25 min
Shutting Down vs. Restarting Your Windows PC - Windows Fast Startup
On this week's Hands-On Tech, Lorraine asks Mikah whether her husband or her daughter is right about the difference between shutting down and restarting a Windows PC, and how often…
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18 min
Are My AI Chatbot Conversations Private? - The Risks Of Sharing Information with AI Chatbots
In this week's episode of Hands-On Tech, Wendell asks Mikah whether his wife is right that typing into an AI chatbot is no different from a Google search, and wants to know where t…
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17 min
Understanding How to Recover Deleted Files - Can You Recover Deleted Files?
On this week's Hands-On Tech, Mikah helps Harriett understand whether deleted files are truly gone when the recycle bin is emptied, and whether accidentally deleted files can still…
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13 min
Is Airplane Mode Necessary? - The Truth About Airplane Mode
On this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah answers Gene's question about whether airplane mode still serves a real engineering purpose in 2026 and what the smartest phone setup is for…
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13 min
Why Does Every Gadget Need an App and an Account Now? - Why Your Appliance Wants Your Email
In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah answers Joyce's question about why so many everyday smart devices now require downloading an app & creating an account, and how to opt out o…
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12 min
Incognito Browsing - The Truth About Private Browsing
In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah answers Rosemary's question about what private browsing actually hides, from whom, and what it's really for. Send in your questions for Mika…
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18 min
Am I Getting True Gigabit Internet? - Gigabit Promises
On this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah answers Al's question about why their gigabit internet plan isn't delivering the promised speeds during a Wi-Fi speed test, and who's really…
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8 min
Safely Ejecting USB Drives - USB Removal Myths
On this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah answers a listener's question about whether safely ejecting a USB flash drive is still necessary or just an outdated habit. Send in your que…
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22 min
Understanding Battery Percentages - Why the Battery Percentage Shown Isn't Always Accurate
In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah answers a listener's question about whether his phone's battery percentage is an accurate measurement, why it seems to stay at 100% for a lo…
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14 min
Battery Overcharging Myths - Is Keeping Your Devices Plugged In Bad?
On this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah settles a household debate about whether it's harmful to keep a laptop plugged in all the time, and whether battery charge limit settings ar…
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19 min
Smart TV's ACR Tracking - Stop Your TV From Spying!
In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah answers Denise's question about whether her smart TV is tracking what she watches and how to stop it. Send in your questions for Mikah to ho…
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17 min
USB-C Cable Confusion - Decode Your USB-C Cable Mess
In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Mikah answers Doug's question about why identical-looking USB-C cables can have wildly different charging and data speeds, and how to tell them ap…
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15 min
Smart Home Recommendations - Matter & Thread Explained
On this episode of Hands-On Tech, Marcus asks Mikah whether Matter and Thread are the real solution to smart home ecosystem lock-in, or just more marketing hype. Don't forget to se…
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13 min
ISP Email - Switch Email Providers Safely
On Hands-On Tech, Eleanor asks Mikah how to transition away from her long-standing ISP email address without losing access to the important accounts tied to it. Don't forget to sen…
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17 min
Robocalls - Stopping Robocallers
In this episode of Hands-On Tech, Jim asks Mikah how to effectively reduce the overwhelming volume of spam texts and robocalls he's been receiving on his iPhone, and for advice to…
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20 min
Telegram & Security - Is Telegram Secure?
In this week's episode of Hands-On Tech, Clint wants to know whether Telegram is truly safe to use or not. Don't forget to send in your questions for Mikah to answer during the sho…
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24 min
Troubleshooting External Storage - Optimizing Your External Drive's Performance
On this week's episode of Hands-On Tech, listener Lenny asks Mikah for advice on how to get the best performance out of an external SSD connected to his MacBook Pro. Don't forget t…