The January 30, 2026 NYT Connections answers were REGION, GROOMING ITEMS, THINGS WITH ADHESIVE SURFACES, and ___ HAND. The puzzle was game #964, and because January 30 is past, this page gives the archived clues and solutions rather than the current August 13, 2026 puzzle.
Readers looking for “NYT Connections hints today January 30 2026” or “Connections January 30 2026 answers” can use the spoiler layers below: broad clues first, category names next, and the complete tile groups last.
Key takeaways
- The January 30, 2026 NYT Connections puzzle was game #964, and the puzzle date is historical rather than today’s current game.
- The yellow category was REGION: AREA, CLUSTER, PATCH, and POCKET.
- The green category was GROOMING ITEMS: COMB, COMPACT, NAIL FILE, and TWEEZERS.
- The blue category was THINGS WITH ADHESIVE SURFACES: BAND-AID, LINT ROLLER, STICKER, and TAPE.
- The purple category was ___ HAND: HELPING, MINUTE, POKER, and UPPER.
Important date note: This page answers the NYT Connections puzzle for Friday, January 30, 2026. According to Forbes’ answer guide, the puzzle was game #964. Because January 30, 2026 has passed, these are archived answers—not the current NYT Connections answers for August 13, 2026.
What are the NYT Connections hints for January 30, 2026?
Use the clues below from gentlest to strongest. Stop before the next layer if you want to preserve the solve.
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| Color | Gentle hint | Stronger hint |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Think of a geographic or defined area. | The words can describe a region or bounded area. |
| Green | These are associated with personal grooming. | They are grooming tools or accessories. |
| Blue | These objects have an adhesive or sticky surface. | They use stickiness to attach, collect, or hold something. |
| Purple | Each word can precede “hand.” | Complete familiar phrases by placing the word before HAND. |
What were the Connections answers for January 30, 2026?
The four answers were REGION, GROOMING ITEMS, THINGS WITH ADHESIVE SURFACES, and ___ HAND. The complete grouping is independently reproduced by TechRadar’s January 30 answer guide and Xfire’s puzzle archive.
| Color | Category | Four tiles |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | REGION | AREA, CLUSTER, PATCH, POCKET |
| Green | GROOMING ITEMS | COMB, COMPACT, NAIL FILE, TWEEZERS |
| Blue | THINGS WITH ADHESIVE SURFACES | BAND-AID, LINT ROLLER, STICKER, TAPE |
| Purple | ___ HAND | HELPING, MINUTE, POKER, UPPER |
What was the full January 30 Connections board?
The 16 tiles in NYT Connections game #964 were:
MINUTE, TAPE, AREA, COMPACT, POCKET, COMB, POKER, STICKER, PATCH, BAND-AID, NAIL FILE, LINT ROLLER, UPPER, CLUSTER, HELPING, TWEEZERS.
Forbes lists the complete board and game number; the same four groups appear in the independent Xfire archive.
Why do the four groupings work?
Yellow: REGION
AREA, CLUSTER, PATCH, and POCKET can each describe a region or bounded area in an appropriate context. “Patch” and “pocket” are especially useful decoys because they can also suggest a physical object or a small item rather than a geographic area.
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Green: GROOMING ITEMS
COMB, COMPACT, NAIL FILE, and TWEEZERS are personal-grooming tools or accessories. A compact is the less obvious entry because the word can also describe something small or tightly arranged.
Blue: THINGS WITH ADHESIVE SURFACES
BAND-AID, LINT ROLLER, STICKER, and TAPE all use an adhesive or sticky surface. The group is concrete, but BAND-AID and TAPE can initially pull solvers toward medical or repair-related associations instead.
Purple: ___ HAND
HELPING HAND, MINUTE HAND, POKER HAND, and UPPER HAND are established phrases. This group depends on recognizing familiar compounds and expressions rather than identifying objects with a shared physical property.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which solving approach is best for this puzzle?
The best approach depends on whether you want to protect the challenge or reveal the answer quickly. The January 30 grid rewards checking familiar phrase completions after separating the more concrete object groups.
| Approach | What you see | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broad clue | One general hint for each color | Solvers who want minimal help | Ambiguity remains, especially around PATCH and POCKET. |
| Category reveal | The category name without the tiles | Solvers who found some members but need confirmation | The central association is no longer hidden. |
| Partial reveal | One or more answers in a group | Solvers stuck on a single category | Remaining tiles may become easier to infer. |
| Full solution | All four categories and all 16 tiles | Readers checking an old result | The puzzle’s challenge is completely spoiled. |
Connections is designed around deceptive alternative groupings: words may appear to belong together before the intended relationship becomes clear. A research paper describing NYT Connections as a text-classification-style task discusses that broader challenge. In this grid, the purple group tests word-form recognition, while the yellow and blue groups create some of the more plausible cross-category distractions.
Best Value
For readers who want more daily word puzzles, the natural adjacent destination is the NYT Games lineup. No current affiliate arrangement or commercial offer is implied here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these the current NYT Connections answers?
No. The January 30, 2026 NYT Connections puzzle was game #964 and is an archived puzzle. These answers do not describe the current game for August 13, 2026.
What was the purple category in Connections on January 30, 2026?
The purple category was ___ HAND. Its four tiles were HELPING, MINUTE, POKER, and UPPER, forming helping hand, minute hand, poker hand, and upper hand.
What was the blue category in Connections on January 30, 2026?
The blue category was THINGS WITH ADHESIVE SURFACES. The four answers were BAND-AID, LINT ROLLER, STICKER, and TAPE.
The Bottom Line
The archived NYT Connections answers for January 30, 2026—game #964—were REGION, GROOMING ITEMS, THINGS WITH ADHESIVE SURFACES, and ___ HAND.
Quick Recap
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