CompTIA A+ video lessons
Every Domain 1 objective of Core 1 and Core 2, taught start to finish, one lesson each: 14 videos and about 93 minutes, free here or on YouTube. Each lesson ends at the free written lesson and practice questions for its objective. With a plan, 31 more lessons cover Domains 2 and 3: Networking in Core 1, Hardware in Core 1, Security in Core 2 and Software Troubleshooting in Core 2.
About these videos: the narration is text-to-speech, and part of the editing was done with AI.
Domain 1: Mobile Devices
3 lessons · about 23 min · free
Mobile Device Hardware
Batteries, keyboards, SODIMM memory, M.2 storage, antennas and biometrics, and the order every repair follows.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Mobile Accessories and Connectivity
USB-C, Lightning and the older plugs, NFC against Bluetooth, tethering and hotspots, and docks.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Mobile Connectivity and App Support
Cellular data, SIM and eSIM, Bluetooth pairing, location services, MDM and selective wipes.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Domain 1: Operating Systems
11 lessons · about 70 min · free
OS Types and Filesystems
Workstation and mobile operating systems, NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, ext4 and APFS, and vendor life cycles.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)OS Installations and Upgrades
Boot methods, clean, upgrade and repair installs, GPT against MBR, and what to check before an upgrade.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Windows Editions
Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations and Enterprise, the four features Home lacks, and Windows 11 hardware.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Windows Tools
Task Manager, Event Viewer, Device Manager, msconfig and the rest, each with the file name that opens it.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Windows Command-Line Tools
ipconfig, ping, nslookup, robocopy, diskpart, sfc and gpupdate in a real prompt, with the switches the exam asks about.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Windows Settings and Control Panel
Control Panel applets, File Explorer and Power Options, and where each Settings app section lives.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Windows Networking
Domains and workgroups, shares, IP settings and the 169.254 address, firewall profiles and metered links.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)macOS for Windows Techs
Installing apps, the system folders, System Settings, Keychain and FileVault, with the Windows name for each tool.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Linux Commands and Tools
File commands, chmod and chown, sudo, apt and dnf, the files under /etc, and what boots Linux.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Installing Applications
Reading requirements against a machine, from 32-bit against 64-bit to VRAM, then delivery and impact.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Cloud Productivity Tools
Cloud email, storage and sync, collaboration, identity sync and licensing, worked from a new hire's first day.
Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)Domain 2: Networking
8 lessons · about 50 min · with a plan
8 minPorts and Protocols
The ports the exam asks about, from FTP, SSH and SMTP to RDP and LDAP, TCP against UDP, and reading a symptom back to its port.
7 minWireless Networking Technologies
The 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz bands, channels and their widths, the 802.11 generations, then Bluetooth, NFC and RFID.
7 minNetworked Host Services
DNS, DHCP, file, print, mail and AAA servers, then spam gateways, UTM, load balancers, proxies, SCADA and IoT.
6 minNetwork Configuration Concepts
DNS record types, SPF, DKIM and DMARC, DHCP leases, reservations and scopes, VLANs and VPNs.
6 minNetworking Hardware
Routers, managed and unmanaged switches, access points, patch panels, firewalls, PoE, modems and NICs.
6 minSOHO Network Setup
IPv4 and IPv6, private against public addresses, APIPA, static against DHCP, subnet masks and the default gateway.
5 minConnection and Network Types
Fiber, cable, DSL, satellite, cellular and WISP side by side, then network types by scope, from PAN to WAN.
5 minNetworking Tools
Crimper, stripper, punchdown tool, cable tester, toner probe, loopback plug, tap and Wi-Fi analyzer, and when to use each.
Have a plan? Watch them in the course
Domain 3: Hardware
8 lessons · about 65 min · with a plan
9 minDisplay Types and Attributes
LCD panels and their IPS, TN and VA types against OLED and Mini-LED, touch digitizers and inverters, then pixel density, refresh rate, resolution and color gamut.
10 minCables and Connectors
Copper and fiber, cable categories, T568A and T568B, coax, shielded and plenum cable, then USB, Thunderbolt, video and drive cables, adapters and the connectors from RJ11 to Molex.
6 minRAM Characteristics
DIMM against SODIMM, the DDR generations and their keying, ECC against non-ECC, and single, dual and multichannel memory.
9 minStorage Devices
Spindle speeds and drive sizes, SSDs over NVMe, SATA, PCIe and SAS, M.2 and mSATA, RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10, removable storage and optical drives.
11 minMotherboards, CPUs, and Add-On Cards
ATX, microATX and ITX boards, slots and connectors, CPU sockets, firmware settings, TPM and HSM, CPU architectures, expansion cards and cooling.
7 minPower Supplies
Input voltage, the 3.3, 5 and 12 volt rails, the 20+4-pin connector, redundant and modular supplies, sizing the wattage, and efficiency.
7 minMultifunction Devices and Printers
Unboxing and placement, drivers and PCL against PostScript, firmware, USB, Ethernet and wireless, sharing, settings, security features and scan services.
6 minPrinter Maintenance
Laser, inkjet, thermal and impact printers: toner and maintenance kits, printheads and cartridges, heating elements and thermal paper, ribbons and multipart forms.
Have a plan? Watch them in the course
Domain 2: Security
11 lessons · about 120 min · with a plan
10 minSecurity Measures
Locks, badges and biometrics, least privilege and zero trust, ACLs, MFA, SSO and privileged access.
12 minWindows Security Settings
Defender and the firewall, account types, Windows Hello, NTFS against share permissions, UAC, BitLocker and Active Directory.
10 minWireless Security Protocols
WPA2 against WPA3, TKIP against AES, personal against enterprise, then RADIUS, TACACS+ and Kerberos.
13 minMalware
Viruses, trojans, rootkits, spyware, ransomware and fileless malware, and the tools and habits that stop them.
15 minSocial Engineering and Threats
Phishing and its variants, tailgating, DoS, evil twins, on-path and password attacks, SQL injection and XSS.
11 minSOHO Malware Removal
The removal procedure in order: verify, quarantine, turn off System Restore, remediate, then scans, restore points and user education.
9 minWorkstation Hardening
Encryption at rest, password rules, BIOS and UEFI passwords, lockouts, default admin accounts and turning off AutoRun.
10 minMobile Device Security
Screen locks and encryption, patching, locating, wiping and backing up lost devices, failed login limits, MDM and BYOD.
10 minData Destruction and Disposal
Shredding, degaussing and drilling against wiping for reuse, why SSDs are different, formats, and certificates of destruction.
9 minSOHO Network Security
The first hour with a new router, content filtering, UPnP, screened subnets, wireless encryption, guest networks and ports.
11 minBrowser Security
Safe installs and updates, extensions, password managers, certificates, privacy settings, ad blockers and secure DNS.
Have a plan? Watch them in the course
Domain 3: Software Troubleshooting
4 lessons · about 58 min · with a plan
15 minWindows OS Troubleshooting
Stop errors, slowdowns, boot problems, shutdowns, services and apps that fail, memory and USB warnings, a missing OS, slow profiles and time drift.
14 minMobile OS and App Troubleshooting
Apps that will not launch, close, update or install, slow phones, failed OS updates, battery drain, random reboots, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC trouble, and autorotate.
13 minMobile Security Troubleshooting
Unofficial app stores, developer mode, root and jailbreak, malicious and spoofed apps, and the symptoms they leave behind.
16 minPC Security Troubleshooting
Lost network access, false antivirus alerts, altered or missing files, unwanted notifications, failed updates, then pop-ups, certificate warnings, redirects and slow browsers.
Have a plan? Watch them in the course
The rest of both exams, next
Video lessons for the other domains are on the way, one for each objective, in the same format as Domain 1. Until then, every domain’s written lessons and practice questions are already in the course.
Core 1 (220-1201)
- Coming soon
Domain 4: Virtualization and Cloud Computing
2 objectives
- Coming soon
Domain 5: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
6 objectives
Core 2 (220-1202)
- Coming soon
Domain 4: Operational Procedures
10 objectives