Wednesday, 29 April 2026

NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, April 30 (game #788)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, April 29 (game #787).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #788) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… Wet blankets

NYT Strands today (game #788) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • SPAT
  • MOIST
  • SORE
  • PIANO
  • VIOLA
  • TAME

NYT Strands today (game #788) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

Spangram has 12 letters

NYT Strands today (game #788) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 3rd column

Last side: top, 3rd column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #788) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 788 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #788, are…

  • DRIZZLE
  • MIST
  • STEAM
  • VAPOR
  • HUMIDITY
  • AEROSOL
  • SPANGRAM: CONDENSATION
  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

The phrase “wet blankets” is used to describe someone who soaks the enjoyment out of a situation.

After failing to spot “killjoy”, the most obvious word connected to this theme, on the board I decided that we were looking for a more literal connection to wet blankets which could only mean CONDENSATION.

The two Zs helped me find DRIZZLE and from here on it was a synonym search, although among them AEROSOL was not one I expected.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, April 29, game #787)

  • HOOK
  • REEL
  • LURE
  • WEIGHT
  • SWIVEL
  • PLIERS
  • COOLER
  • BOBBER
  • SPANGRAM: TACKLE

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

https://ift.tt/rGE4oUp

‘It disappeared right in front of my eyes’: some Google Messages users are fuming after a bug erased some of their most prized chats — here’s what a Google product expert recommends doing

  • Google Messages users are noticing vanishing chats on Samsung Galaxy phones
  • It appears to be a re-indexing issue following the shutdown of Samsung Messages in favor of Google Messages
  • The issue is still ongoing, but a Google expert has offered tips to fix it

Google Messages users have spotted a bug that’s randomly deleting old and new chats, and their complaints about the issue are spreading like wildfire online.

Users in the r/GoogleMessages forum are sharing their experiences with disappearing chats, but it’s difficult to pinpoint if there's a pattern between the vanishing messages. One user noticed ‘huge chunks of messages’ going missing from chats, while others have reported seeing entire conversations disappear.

Despite users trying to take matters into their own hands, the issue persists — one user also recalls a moment where a message ‘disappeared before [their] eyes’. Samsung Galaxy phones seem to be bearing the brunt the most — the Samsung A52 and Samsung Galaxy S21 have been mentioned on Reddit — but some Google Pixel users are also experiencing similar problems.

But where’s it coming from? There’s only one thing users have linked it to, and that’s the shutting down of Samsung Messages which is now entering its phase-out stage, forcing users over to Google's chat service.

Since the issues started to spread, users have been seeking ways to prevent this from happening, including checking their trash bin, clearing cache, and reviewing chat history back up, but messages are still going missing without reason. It’s led frustrated users to swarm Google’s support page to seek further advice, and the company has cleared the air slightly.

In a reply to a user query, a Google product expert shared that the Samsung Messages and Google Messages transition is in fact causing this: “While it is frustrating, the ‘vanishing’ of messages during this transition is often a sync and re-indexing delay rather than a permanent deletion, especially if they are missing from both apps”. They also detail that RCS incompatibility and synchronization bugs during the Samsung Messages-to-Google Messages crossover are also contributing to the ongoing issue.

That said, the Google expert followed by offering some workarounds. Firstly, they recommend waiting 48+ Hours if you only switched from Samsung Messages or have just noticed the issue. They also suggest leaving your phone on a charger with Wi-Fi connected so that the indexing process can finish.

Alternatively, you can use what the expert refers to as the ‘Sync Force’ trick, where you’ll need to set Samsung Messages back as your default SMS app, restart your device to open Samsung Messages, and then wait 2-3 minutes for it to load the local database. Once this is done, you can switch back to Google Messages and set it as the default again.

"How I will be able to rely on this app moving forward?"

Looking at the collective responses, it’s clear that the transition to Google Messages from Samsung Messages hasn’t been the smoothest process, and the bug has come at a very inconvenient time for those who are just getting used to navigating the Google Messages reins.

Though this is a minor re-indexing delay, those who have gotten comfy with using Samsung’s service are still very unhappy with the forced migration. A friend of our Staff Writer, Isaiah Williams, has been a long-time user of Samsung Messages, and the switch has hit them hard, who shared the following words with us:

"I was already bothered by the forced switch from Samsung to Google Messages and the loss of organizational features I loved as a small business owner, such as text categories, but I never expected to watch my messages fully disappear. They were there one minute, gone the next, and even after my attempts at troubleshooting, restarting, checking the archive and trash folders, spending ages navigating the cluttered app design and needless AI features, I have yet to fully resolve the issue. I am simply left questioning how I will be able to rely on this app moving forward when basic functionality seems so lacking."

https://ift.tt/Tt20Y81

Tuesday, 28 April 2026

NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, April 29 (game #787)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, April 28 (game #786).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #787) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… Fish or cut bait

NYT Strands today (game #787) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • KEEL
  • THEIR
  • TRACK
  • SCORE
  • LIVE
  • RIGHT

NYT Strands today (game #787) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

Spangram has 6 letters

NYT Strands today (game #787) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 4th row

Last side: right, 4th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #787) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 787 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #787, are…

  • HOOK
  • REEL
  • LURE
  • WEIGHT
  • SWIVEL
  • PLIERS
  • COOLER
  • BOBBER
  • SPANGRAM: TACKLE
  • My rating: Hard
  • My score: 1 hint

Today’s theme didn’t leave much space for guess work as it was obviously about angling.

The speed at which one attacked this game then depended on how many words you knew connected to the world of fishing and seeing as I know next to none this was limited to the really obvious ones of HOOK, REEL and the spangram TACKLE.

After a  hint gave me the fourth word, one I really should have known in LURE, I made my way around the board at a similar pace to a day spent on the riverbank snoozing and waiting for a catch.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, April 28, game #786)

  • WATCH
  • BEHOLD
  • OBSERVE
  • WITNESS
  • MONITOR
  • EYEBALL
  • SPANGRAM: LIKEAHAWK

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

https://ift.tt/vl3IB2F

Monday, 27 April 2026

NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, April 28 (game #786)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, April 27 (game #785).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #786) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… Attention, attention!

NYT Strands today (game #786) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • MINT
  • HIRE
  • OBEY
  • BELLY
  • WILT
  • SANE

NYT Strands today (game #786) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

Spangram has 9 letters

NYT Strands today (game #786) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 6th row

Last side: right, 3rd row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #786) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 786 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #786, are…

  • WATCH
  • BEHOLD
  • OBSERVE
  • WITNESS
  • MONITOR
  • EYEBALL
  • SPANGRAM: LIKEAHAWK
  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

"Attention, attention!" could have gone several ways — a military drill, a tannoy announcement, a particularly insistent teacher. 

WATCH, lurking somewhat obviously in the top-left hand corner, was the word that narrowed it down to words meaning to keep a close eye on something.

After finding OBSERVE I had neatly occupied the top half of the board and was able to spot LIKEAHAWK — had I been a hawk I would have spotted it a bit more quickly, but I was pleased with my catch nonetheless.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, April 27, game #785)

  • ICICLE
  • IOTA
  • IVORY
  • ICON
  • ISLAND
  • IRONIC
  • SPANGRAM: EYEOPENERS

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

https://ift.tt/Hziq3a1

Sunday, 26 April 2026

NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, April 27 (game #785)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, April 26 (game #784).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #785) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… The ayes have it

NYT Strands today (game #785) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • YETI
  • COPED
  • SCORE
  • NAIL
  • RICE
  • CRANE

NYT Strands today (game #785) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #785) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 2nd column

Last side: bottom, 3rd column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #785) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 785 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #785, are…

  • ICICLE
  • IOTA
  • IVORY
  • ICON
  • ISLAND
  • IRONIC
  • SPANGRAM: EYEOPENERS
  • My rating: Hard
  • My score: Perfect

The theme had me stumped for a while today.

"The ayes have it!" reads like a parliamentary procedure joke, which sent me briefly in entirely the wrong direction. It's actually words that start with I — as in the letter, as in "eye." Sometimes, Strands themes are a law onto themselves.

After getting ICICLE and IOTA  the penny dropped and from here on in it was just a case of looking for the letter I repeatedly. 

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, April 26, game #784)

  • ARGUE
  • DIFFER
  • QUARREL
  • WRANGLE
  • SQUABBLE
  • BICKER
  • SPANGRAM: LOCKHORNS

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

https://ift.tt/9is0vjN

Saturday, 25 April 2026

NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, April 26 (game #784)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, April 25 (game #783).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #784) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… Get into it

NYT Strands today (game #784) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • BUSKER
  • BUSH
  • READ
  • QUAD
  • REAL
  • GLARE

NYT Strands today (game #784) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

Spangram has 9 letters

NYT Strands today (game #784) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 3rd column

Last side: bottom, 4th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #784) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 784 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #784, are…

  • ARGUE
  • DIFFER
  • QUARREL
  • WRANGLE
  • SQUABBLE
  • BICKER
  • SPANGRAM: LOCKHORNS
  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

Initially I thought the theme “Get into it” was describing new hobbies, like when you get into something new — like baking or model railways or jigsaws. Spotting ARGUE put a stop to this notion and sent me off on the path of enlightenment — or should we say path of disagreement.

The order in which you spot game words is crucial to how quickly you complete Strands. 

Had I seen LOCKHORNS and WRANGLE first I would have thought we were looking to get into some rodeo action. We weren't, obviously.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, April 25, game #783)

  • CORNER
  • DISCOUNT
  • GROCERY
  • CONVENIENCE
  • LIQUOR
  • SPANGRAM: STOREFRONT

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

https://ift.tt/rMQnHb5

Friday, 24 April 2026

NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, April 25 (game #783)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, April 24 (game #782).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #783) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

Today's NYT Strands theme is… On the shopping block

NYT Strands today (game #783) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

  • DICE
  • COINS
  • CLONE
  • COVEN
  • TREE
  • TEEN

NYT Strands today (game #783) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #783) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 6th row

Last side: right, 6th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #783) - the answers

NYT Strands answers for game 783 on a blue background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #783, are…

  • CORNER
  • DISCOUNT
  • GROCERY
  • CONVENIENCE
  • LIQUOR
  • SPANGRAM: STOREFRONT
  • My rating: Easy
  • My score: Perfect

A homage of sorts to many kinds, but my no means all, of store.

I spent a good deal of my formative years living above my parents' shop, which was a bit of all those described here as it sold fruit and vegetables, cigarettes, newspapers, confectionery, stationery and bread as well as strange random items like sports shoes — which they sold precisely zero of for 20 years, but still dedicated shelf space to.

Anyway, I digress as none of this is relevant to today’s search, which was a rudimentary affair – although I did enjoy finding the word CORNER in the corner.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, April 24, game #782)

  • SHOUT
  • WHOOP
  • CATERWAUL
  • BELLOW
  • HOLLER
  • CLAMOR
  • SPANGRAM: LETSGETLOUD

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

https://ift.tt/6nVjoPx