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NYT Connections hints are available through the official Connections Companion on the New York Times Gameplay page. You do not need a subscription to read its hints or play the daily puzzle, but the Companion is not inside the NYT Games or News app, and its community comments may contain spoilers.
Where to find the official Connections hints
Open the New York Times Games page and go to the Gameplay page to find Connections Companion. The NYT describes it as a community space to get hints and share scores. Its Help Center says anyone can read the Companion’s hints, comments, and difficulty score.
The Companion is a web page, not a feature within the NYT Games or NYT News app. If you usually play in one of those apps, open the Gameplay page separately in a browser.
Do you have to pay?
No. The daily Connections puzzle is among the NYT games available to people without a qualifying subscription, and the Help Center says Companion hints are readable by everyone. The NYT Games subscription information distinguishes free daily games from subscriber features.
The Tool Desk
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- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
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Two paid features are separate from the hints:
- Connections Bot: a subscriber-only tool with personalized statistics such as skill score, category difficulty, common mistakes, and a guess-by-guess breakdown. The NYT lists Games, All Access, and Home Delivery subscribers as eligible.
- Connections archive: archived puzzles dating back to June 12, 2023, available to Games and All Access subscribers, according to the Connections Help Center.
Will the Companion spoil the puzzle?
Hints are meant to help without requiring you to look up a complete answer, but the NYT does not document a precise reveal sequence for every Companion page. Its Help Center explicitly warns that community comments may contain spoilers. If you want to solve unaided, finish the puzzle before reading comments—or avoid scrolling through them.
How Connections works
Each puzzle gives you 16 words to sort into four groups of four based on a shared connection. The four categories are color-coded yellow, green, blue, and purple; the NYT describes yellow as the easiest and purple as the trickiest. There is exactly one solution, though some words can seem to fit more than one category. The Help Center says editors curate the words and categories using the Oxford Dictionary.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
The daily puzzle releases at midnight in your timezone. The NYT lists the Games app, the Connections website, the News app, and nytimes.com/theathletic among the places to play. The Companion remains separate from the Games and News apps, even though those apps offer the puzzle itself.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Official hints versus third-party answer guides
The official Companion is hosted by the NYT and includes community comments, which can carry spoiler risk. Independent sites also publish daily hint and answer guides; for example, Tom’s Guide’s Connections guide is a third-party source, not the NYT Companion. Choose based on whether you want official community discussion or an independent guide, and be aware that either route can reveal more than you intended.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
The NYT’s current help pages establish that Companion hints are available, but do not establish when the hints began or announce a recent launch. “Now offers” is accurate as a description of current availability, not evidence of a newly introduced feature.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
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