Quick answer
Как дела́?
kak delá — literally “how are the affairs?”
The options
Как дела́?How are you? — neutral, works with anyone you know
Как у вас дела́?How are you? — polite
Как ты?How are you? — close friends, and it means it
Как жизнь?How’s life? — casual
Что но́вого?What’s new?
Expect an honest answer
“How are you” in English is a greeting. In Russian it is a question. A neutral норма́льно is the most common reply, and “fine, thanks” every single time can sound evasive.
What you hear back
Хорошо́, спаси́бо.Good, thanks.
Норма́льно.Fine, okay. — the everyday default
Всё хорошо́.Everything is fine.
Так себе́.So-so.
Пло́хо.Bad. — and you will be asked why
А у тебя́? / А у вас?And you?
Typical mistakes
Как ты де́лаешь?
Как дела́?
A word-for-word translation of “how are you doing” means “how do you do things”.
Как дела́? to a shop assistant
Здра́вствуйте.
With strangers it is too personal. A greeting is enough.
Check yourself
What is the most common neutral answer?
Норма́льно — “fine, nothing special”. It is the default in everyday Russian.