PathTutorial

Articles & guides

Plain-language help on getting things done on your computer — how AI can show you the way, learning apps without the pain, and helping the people you care about learn theirs.

20 Jul 2026·6 min read

Can AI do things on your computer? What's actually possible in 2026

AI can now click around your computer — but should it? Here's what AI computer control can and can't do, the risks, and a safer way to get things done: let AI show you how, step by step, on your own screen.

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19 Jul 2026·5 min read

How to use AI to learn a new skill

Learn how to use AI to learn a new skill. Turn AI into a patient personal tutor that guides you hands-on, step by step, on your own screen.

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18 Jul 2026·5 min read

How to get step-by-step instructions for anything on your computer

Stuck on a computer task? Here's how to get clear, step-by-step instructions for any app — and why interactive, on-screen tutorials work far better than a printed list of steps or a video.

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17 Jul 2026·5 min read

How to use AI to learn new software fast

Need to learn new software fast? Use AI to build interactive, guided tutorials that get you productive in an unfamiliar app on your own screen.

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15 Jul 2026·5 min read

On-screen tutorials vs how-to videos: why guided beats watching

How-to videos show you someone else's computer. On-screen tutorials guide you on yours. Here's why interactive, guided tutorials help you learn faster and remember more.

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14 Jul 2026·5 min read

Your own AI tutor for anything on your computer

Imagine a personal AI tutor for your computer, always available and endlessly patient, guiding you step by step on your own screen. Here's how.

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12 Jul 2026·5 min read

Connect ChatGPT or Claude to build your own step-by-step tutorials

Use your own ChatGPT or Claude to create interactive, on-screen tutorials for any computer task. Here's how the PathTutorial MCP connector works and how to set it up.

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11 Jul 2026·4 min read

How to ask AI to show you how to do something on your PC

Learn how to ask AI to show you how, not just tell you. Turn a wall of text into a guided, step by step tutorial on your own PC screen.

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9 Jul 2026·5 min read

Learn any app without sitting through a course

Learn any app quickly without a long course. Get self-paced, guided help for the exact task you need, on demand, right on your own screen.

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8 Jul 2026·5 min read

The kindest way to help a parent (or anyone) learn their computer

Tired of explaining the same computer task over the phone? Interactive on-screen tutorials guide your parent through it patiently — pointing at the real buttons and waiting at each step, so it finally sticks.

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5 Jul 2026·3 min read

What is a .ptf file and how do I open it?

A .ptf file is a PathTutorial file — an interactive, step-by-step tutorial you run on your own screen. Here's what it is, how to open it, and why you need the free PathTutorial Player.

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18 Jun 2026·5 min read

Computer help for seniors: a patient, step-by-step way to learn

Patient, judgement-free computer help for seniors. Learn on your own screen at your own pace, with each step read aloud and repeated as often as you need.

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16 Jun 2026·5 min read

The easiest way to train employees on new software

Train employees on new software the way people actually learn: by doing. Build a guided tutorial once, and everyone learns hands-on, consistently, at their desk.

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14 Jun 2026·5 min read

How to help someone with their computer remotely (without taking control)

Skip the phone tag and remote control sessions. Send a guided tutorial your parent or friend runs themselves, so they learn the task instead of just watching.

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12 Jun 2026·5 min read

Building digital skills from scratch: a gentler path for beginners

Build digital skills for beginners by doing real tasks, guided and unhurried. No jargon, no courses to sit through, just one step at a time on your own screen.

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10 Jun 2026·5 min read

How to teach a nervous beginner to use a computer

Teaching someone scared of computers? Reduce the fear with a calm, waiting, repeatable guide that lets them do each step themselves, safely, at their own pace.

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8 Jun 2026·5 min read

The best way to learn Microsoft Office in 2026

Courses, videos, and books all have gaps. Here's an honest look at the best way to learn Microsoft Office when you just want to get things done.

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6 Jun 2026·5 min read

A better alternative to screen-recording tutorials

Scribe, Iorad, and Loom capture great step-by-step guides you then follow yourself. Here's a fairer, honest look at a live-guided alternative.

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4 Jun 2026·4 min read

Why can't I follow online tutorials? (and how to fix it)

If you struggle to follow online tutorials, it's not you. The watch-then-do gap trips almost everyone. Here's why, and how being guided fixes it.

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2 Jun 2026·4 min read

Stop Googling 'how do I…' every time you get stuck

Googling 'how do I' and piecing together answers is exhausting. Here's how to go from endless searching to one guided tutorial for your exact task.

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31 May 2026·5 min read

What are interactive tutorials, and why do they work so well?

Interactive tutorials guide you through a task on your own screen instead of showing you someone else's. Here's what they are and why doing beats watching.

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29 May 2026·5 min read

Is it safe to let AI use my computer?

Wondering if it's safe to let AI control your computer? Here's an honest look at the real risks of AI agents, plus a safer way to get help on your PC.

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27 May 2026·4 min read

AI that teaches you, instead of taking over

Most AI tools try to do the task for you. Here's the case for AI that teaches you instead, so you keep the skill and stay in control on your own PC.

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25 May 2026·5 min read

How to make your own tutorials with AI — no screen recording

Make step-by-step tutorials with AI without recording your screen or editing video. Describe the task, get an interactive guide that runs on your own PC.

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23 May 2026·4 min read

ChatGPT can't click the buttons on your PC — here's the next best thing

Can ChatGPT click buttons or do tasks on your PC? Not really. Here's what it can and can't do, and how to connect it so it hands you a guided tutorial instead.

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21 May 2026·5 min read

Make step-by-step tutorials for your whole team with AI

Turn your processes into guided, hands-on tutorials for staff using AI. Consistent onboarding and SOPs that run on each person's own screen, made in minutes.

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