Microsoft has spent years building different ways for users to recover Windows. From System Restore and Reset this PC to the other tools available in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and OEM recovery solutions, Windows 11 already offers several ways to repair or reinstall the operating system. Cloud rebuild is the latest addition to that toolkit, but it isn't designed to replace those tools.

Cloud rebuild is currently available as a preview feature. Until it's fully available, Microsoft recommends using it for testing and evaluation rather than production devices. Also, the company notes that the experience, available options, and workflow may still change before the feature reaches general availability.

Instead of attempting to repair an existing installation, Cloud rebuild reformats the system drive and reinstalls Windows 11 using files downloaded from Windows Update. When the process finishes, the computer boots into the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE), allowing you to set it up like a new device.

Cloud rebuild isn't another version of Reset this PC

At first glance, it's easy to assume Cloud rebuild is simply a renamed version of the Cloud download option available through Reset this PC. Microsoft, however, describes Cloud rebuild as a separate recovery experience with a different workflow.

According to Microsoft, unlike Reset this PC, Cloud rebuild downloads both the target Windows 11 image and the device's drivers from Windows Update. The company says this allows the computer to roll back to a fully functional state without requiring USB installation media, a custom recovery image, or relying on the integrity of the existing installation.

The key difference is that Cloud rebuild is designed to rebuild the device from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) without depending on the integrity of the existing setup.

Microsoft hasn't yet explained in more detail how Cloud rebuild differs internally from the existing Cloud download option in Reset this PC, so it's too early to conclude that it uses an entirely new recovery engine. However, based on the preview support page, the company appears to be positioning Cloud rebuild as a more complete recovery workflow designed to simplify the process of returning Windows 11 devices to a known-good state.

Perhaps more importantly, the feature reflects Microsoft's broader direction for Windows management. Whether Cloud rebuild eventually replaces some of today's overlapping recovery options remains to be seen, but it clearly signals the company's continued investment in cloud-based deployment and recovery.

Before using Cloud rebuild, here's what you need to know

Before using Cloud rebuild, it's important to understand that this isn't a repair tool. It completely replaces the existing installation by reformatting the system drive. As a result, locally installed apps, user accounts, settings, and files stored on that drive are removed during the process.

Also, files already synchronized with cloud services such as OneDrive aren't affected and can be restored after you sign back in.

Since the rebuild erases the existing installation, it's worth making sure your important files have been backed up before getting started. If you rely on OneDrive, verify that your files have finished syncing so the latest versions are available after the rebuild.

You'll also want to keep the computer connected to the internet and plugged into a power source throughout the process. Depending on your connection speed, the recovery can take some time to complete, and Windows 11 may restart the computer several times before it's finished.

How to start Cloud rebuild on Windows 11

In the current preview, Cloud rebuild is available through the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). From a working Windows 11 installation, open Settings > System > Recovery, click "Restart now" under Advanced startup, and allow the computer to restart into WinRE.

On the recovery screen, choose "Troubleshoot," and then select "Cloud rebuild."

After connecting to the internet, the feature verifies the appropriate edition, language, and build for the device before asking you to confirm that the system drive will be erased.

Once you confirm the operation by clicking "Install," the rebuild begins automatically.

During the installation, Windows 11 may restart several times. Microsoft recommends leaving the device connected to power and avoiding manual restarts or shutdowns until the process finishes, since interrupting the installation could leave the operating system unable to boot.

Microsoft's cloud-first recovery strategy continues

Cloud rebuild isn't Microsoft's first cloud-based recovery feature, but it may be one of the most comprehensive. Instead of relying on recovery partitions, USB installation media, or organization-maintained recovery images, the feature downloads the installation files directly from Windows Update and integrates with services such as Windows Autopilot, Microsoft Intune, Backup for Organizations, and OneDrive to restore managed devices.

The result is a recovery process that depends less on locally stored recovery files and more on Microsoft's online services. As long as the computer can connect to the internet and Windows Update has the necessary drivers, Cloud rebuild can restore the device without requiring a USB installer or a custom recovery image.

For organizations, the recovery process goes beyond simply reinstalling the operating system. Computers enrolled with Windows Autopilot and managed through Microsoft Intune can automatically re-enroll, restore policies, redeploy apps, and synchronize user settings after the rebuild is complete.

Windows recovery is slowly moving beyond USB drives

For years, one of Microsoft's standard recommendations for recovering a device has been to create USB installation media.

Cloud rebuild doesn't eliminate installation media altogether, but it makes it significantly less important in many situations. If WinRE is still functional and the computer can connect to the internet, Windows 11 can recover without another device, a USB flash drive, or a locally stored recovery image.

For many home users, that's a much simpler recovery process. For organizations, it reduces the need to maintain recovery images across large fleets of devices.

There are still important limitations

Cloud rebuild isn't magic. The feature currently requires Windows 11 on compatible hardware (so unsupported devices won't benefit from this feature), a healthy Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), internet connectivity from WinRE, and hardware drivers that are available through Windows Update.

Those last two requirements are especially important. If the necessary networking or storage drivers aren't available through Windows Update, Cloud rebuild can't complete successfully.

The preview only scratches the surface

At this stage, Cloud rebuild remains intentionally limited. The preview can currently be started only from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) or from an elevated Command Prompt.

Remote deployment through enterprise management platforms isn't available yet, although Microsoft says support for solutions such as Microsoft Intune is planned for a future release.

Windows Central's Take

Cloud rebuild isn't the kind of feature that grabs headlines. There's no redesigned interface and nothing flashy to demonstrate. However, after years of covering the operating system, I've learned that recovery features often become the most important ones the moment something goes wrong.

What I'm noticing is the decision to build the recovery experience around Windows Update. Instead of expecting users or network administrators to maintain recovery media, OEM images, or custom deployment images, Microsoft is increasingly shifting recovery toward cloud-based services. That's a simpler model and one that better reflects how devices are managed today.

I also think this feature has more potential for organizations than for home users, at least initially. The integration with Windows Autopilot and Microsoft Intune suggests Microsoft is thinking beyond simply reinstalling Windows 11. The goal appears to be restoring an entire managed device with as little manual intervention as possible.

That said, I'd like the software giant to better explain how Cloud rebuild differs from the existing Cloud download option in Reset this PC. Currently, the available information describes the workflow but leaves some important technical questions unanswered. Until those details are available (and until the feature reaches general availability), I see Cloud rebuild as a promising addition to Windows 11 recovery rather than a replacement for the tools users already have.

Would you trust Cloud rebuild to recover your Windows 11 PC, or would you still prefer using a USB installation drive? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Windows 11 includes several built-in tools to help keep storage usage under control on your computer. Features like Storage Sense, the Temporary Files settings page, and Storage Recommendation can help you reclaim storage with ease, making third-party cleanup utilities less essential than they once were.

However, those features don't clean everything. If you want more control over temporary files, browser data, app caches, and privacy-related files, BleachBit is one tool you have to try. It's free, open source, and, unlike many PC "optimizer" apps, it focuses on cleaning unnecessary files rather than promising unrealistic performance improvements.

In this how-to guide, I'll explain what BleachBit does, how to use it on Windows 11, which settings I recommend, and which features you should avoid unless you understand exactly what they do.

What is BleachBit?

BleachBit is a free and open-source cleanup utility for Windows 11 that removes temporary files, caches, logs, browsing data, and other unnecessary files created by the operating system and many third-party apps.

Unlike many commercial cleanup tools, BleachBit doesn't include advertisements, bundled tools, or premium features. Instead, it gives you complete control over what gets removed and explains every cleaning option before you run it.

Rather than replacing the built-in cleanup tools available on Windows 11, I see BleachBit as an additional utility for users who want more control over what gets cleaned.

Why use BleachBit?

Although Windows 11 already provides several storage management tools, BleachBit adds several more capabilities.

For example, cleaning the system's temporary files as well as those junk files created by third-party apps. You can also use the tool to clean temporary browser data, such as cache, history, and downloads.

In addition, BleachBit provides secure file shredding to make recovery more difficult and wipes free storage space on supported drives.

Finally, the tool offers command-line support for scripting and automation, and there's a portable version that you can use without installation.

The biggest advantage is flexibility. Instead of cleaning everything automatically, BleachBit lets you decide exactly what should (and shouldn't) be removed.

Install BleachBit on Windows 11

Installing BleachBit is straightforward. You can download either the standard installer or the portable version, then launch the application. However, the quickest way to install the app is by running the winget install --id BleachBit.BleachBit command in Command Prompt (admin).

For most cleanup tasks, running it in normal mode is enough. Some system cleaning options may require administrator privileges.

Once opened, you'll notice a list of apps and cleaning categories on the left, along with a brief description of each option as you select it.

Always run Preview first

One feature I recommend using every time is Preview. Instead of immediately deleting files, the "Preview" option scans your system, estimates how much storage space can be reclaimed, and shows exactly what BleachBit intends to remove.

Even if you've used BleachBit before, I still recommend running the Preview option first.

Recommended cleanup options

For routine maintenance, I recommend starting with categories that are generally safe to remove.

For example, from the "System" section, some good choices include:

• Temporary files.
• Logs.
• Clipboard.
• Recycle Bin.
• Update uninstallers.

Usually, these items consume storage over time without affecting your daily workflow.

For browser cleaning, I suggest being more selective. Clearing cached files occasionally is perfectly reasonable, but deleting cookies will sign you out of websites, and removing session data will close saved browsing sessions.

Unless you're troubleshooting a browser issue or intentionally clearing your browsing activity, I usually leave those options unchecked.

The same advice applies to app caches. While they're generally safe to clear, some apps may take longer to launch the next time because they'll need to recreate those files.

As mentioned above, cleaning actions may require using the tool in Expert mode. If you receive the prompt, open the BleachBit main menu, select "Preferences," and choose the "Expert mode" option located in the "General" tab.

Securely delete sensitive files

BleachBit includes a built-in file shredder for permanently deleting sensitive files (and folders).

Unlike sending a file to the Recycle Bin (or even deleting it permanently with the "Shift + Delete" shortcut), secure shredding overwrites the file's contents before removing it, making recovery using standard data recovery tools much more difficult.

If you want to use this feature, open the BleachBit menu (the first icon at the top-left), choose the "Shred Files" option, then select the file to delete.

This feature is useful when you're deleting confidential content, financial records, or other sensitive files you don't want recovered later.

Wipe free disk space

The open-source tool can also overwrite unused space on a drive to remove traces of files that were previously deleted through the Recycle Bin.

This feature is intended primarily for drives before selling, donating, or retiring a computer, or for secondary drives.

The feature is available from the BleachBit main menu by selecting the "Wipe Empty Space" option and choosing the drive you want to clean.

I don't recommend running free-space wiping as part of regular maintenance because it takes time and provides little benefit for everyday use.

If you're preparing a device for resale, the Reset this PC feature is generally the better approach.

One feature you won't find

One thing that BleachBit doesn't offer is a Registry cleaner.

I actually consider that an advantage. For years, Registry cleaners have been marketed as a way to improve performance in the operating system, but in practice, they rarely provide measurable benefits. Worse, removing the wrong Registry entries can cause apps or the system itself to behave unexpectedly.

Microsoft doesn't include a Registry cleaner on Windows 11, and I don't think most users should use one.

By focusing on cleaning unnecessary files instead of modifying the Registry, BleachBit avoids one of the biggest sources of risk associated with older computer optimization suites.

Does BleachBit make Windows 11 faster?

Not directly. When you delete temporary files, you can free up storage space and occasionally resolve issues caused by bad caches, but it won't make your computer faster.

If Windows 11 feels sluggish because your drive is nearly full, cleanup may help. However, performance issues are usually caused by factors such as not enough memory, older hardware, too many startup apps, malware, or software conflicts, not because your temporary files folder is too large (at least not the majority of the time).

Should you use BleachBit?

If you're comfortable with the built-in cleanup tools available on Windows 11, you may never need another maintenance utility.

However, if you want additional control over browser data, temporary files, app caches, privacy-related cleanup, secure file shredding, and other advanced maintenance tasks, you may benefit from BleachBit.

The open-source nature, easy-to-use interface, and decision to avoid questionable features like Registry cleaning make it one of the few utilities for cleaning up Windows 11 and one of the few alternatives to CCleaner.

Windows Central's Take

In the many years I've used the desktop version of Windows, I've tested and relied on countless cleanup utilities. Some of them were genuinely useful at the time, but many were eventually discontinued, acquired by other companies, or changed so much that they no longer offered the same experience.

Over time, I've become much more selective about the tools I recommend, especially when it comes to software that makes changes to the operating system.

More often than not, I recommend learning and using the built-in tools. However, BleachBit takes a different approach, and that's why I think it stands out. It focuses on cleaning files, not "fixing" the operating system, and I appreciate that it skips gimmicks like Registry cleaning that can do more harm than good.

If you decide to use it, my advice is not to treat it like a one-click optimization tool. Take advantage of the Preview feature, understand what each option does, and only clean what you actually need. If you use it that way, I think BleachBit is one of the few maintenance utilities that still deserve a spot in your toolkit.

What are your thoughts about BleachBit? Do you prefer Windows 11's built-in cleanup tools, or do you use a third-party utility? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

On Windows 11, even though the operating system is designed to use all the memory installed on your computer, you can limit how much RAM the operating system uses if you need to test software, troubleshoot issues, or simulate a lower-memory system.

However, the system doesn't include a simple setting to tell it to "only use 4GB of RAM." Instead, you have to use the legacy System Configuration tool (msconfig), which is intended primarily for testing and debugging.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the steps to restrict the amount of memory that Windows 11 can use.

⚠️Important: This setting limits the amount of memory available to the entire operating system. It's not meant for everyday use because it can significantly reduce performance and cause some apps to run slowly or stop responding. You have been warned.

How to limit the system RAM on Windows 11

To restrict the amount of memory available to Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for System Configuration (or msconfig) and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click the Boot tab.
4. Select the current Windows installation (if applicable).
5. Click the Advanced options button.

6. Check the Maximum memory option.
7. Confirm the amount of memory you want Windows 11 to use (in megabytes).

• Quick tip: Since you have to enter a value in megabytes, use 4096 (4GB), 8192 (8GB), 16384 (16GB), or 32768 (32GB).

8. Click the OK button.
9. Click the Apply button.
10. Click the OK button.
11. Restart the computer.

After you complete the steps, Windows 11 will only use the amount of memory you specified. Any remaining installed RAM will be ignored until you remove the restriction.

While I was testing this configuration, I noticed that Task Manager reported 3GB when I set the memory to 4GB, because the operating system doesn't get the full 4GB, as part of the physical address space is reserved for other components.

If your goal is to test the operating system with exactly 4 GB available, you may want to reserve an extra 1GB. For example, 5120 (5GB) to see 4GB in Task Manager. However, depending on how much memory you want to allocate, you may want to try different sizes.

How to restore full RAM access on Windows 11

To restore the amount of memory available to Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for System Configuration (or msconfig) and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click the Boot tab.
4. Select the current Windows installation (if applicable).
5. Click the Advanced options button.

6. Clear the Maximum memory option.

7. Click the OK button.
8. Click the Apply button.
9. Click the OK button.
10. Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, the operating system will once again detect and use all available RAM.

Why would you limit RAM?

This feature is primarily intended for testing rather than everyday use. Some common scenarios include testing how an app performs with limited memory, troubleshooting memory-related software issues, simulating older or lower-end hardware, and software development.

For instance, we recently tested out how using 8GB of RAM on Windows 11 in 2026 works for performance.

If your goal is to reduce overall memory usage or free up RAM, it's better to turn off unnecessary startup apps, close background applications, or upgrade your system instead of limiting the operating system's available memory.

Why can't you set the maximum memory?

On some modern computers, particularly those using UEFI firmware with Secure Boot enabled, the "Maximum memory" setting may be unavailable or ignored.

If this happens, you may need to temporarily disable Secure Boot before applying the memory limit.

⚠️Warning: Disabling Secure Boot lowers your computer's protection against boot-level malware and may prevent some security features from working as expected. Only disable Secure Boot temporarily if you're testing, and re-enable it afterward.

Disable Secure Boot

To disable Secure Boot, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click the Recovery page.
4. Click the Restart now button under the "Advanced startup" section.

5. Click the Restart now button one more time.
6. Click on Troubleshoot.
7. Click on Advanced options.
8. Click the "UEFI Firmware settings" option.

9. Click the Restart button.
10. Open the advanced settings page for your motherboard.
11. Select the "Secure Boot" option, then choose the "Disabled" option.

After you complete the steps, restart the device, then configure the "Maximum memory" setting in System Configuration (msconfig).

Enable Secure Boot

Before proceeding, make sure to restore the memory settings from the System Configuration settings, and then to enable Secure Boot, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click the Recovery page.
4. Click the Restart now button under the "Advanced startup" section.

5. Click the Restart now button one more time.
6. Click on Troubleshoot.
7. Click on Advanced options.
8. Click the "UEFI Firmware settings" option.

9. Click the Restart button.
10. Open the advanced settings page for your motherboard.
11. Select the "Secure Boot" option, then choose the "Enabled" option.

Once you complete the steps, Secure Boot will be enabled on your computer.

FAQs for limiting RAM usage on Windows 11

These are common questions about the process for limiting memory usage in Windows 11.

Windows Central's Take

I've used the Maximum memory option in MSConfig before, but it's one of those features that is easy to overlook because it's not intended as a consumer setting. For developers, network administrators, and anyone who writes about this operating system, though, it's a surprisingly useful way to test how a device behaves on lower-end hardware without physically removing memory or creating a separate virtual machine.

That said, I wouldn't recommend using this to "save RAM" or improve performance. Windows 11 is designed to manage memory efficiently, and artificially limiting it can only slow the system.

It's also another reminder that many of the most useful troubleshooting tools are still buried inside decades-old utilities like msconfig. Microsoft continues to modernize the operating system, but some of the diagnostic features remain hidden in legacy tools.

What are your thoughts about using MSConfig to limit RAM on Windows 11? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

On Windows 11, keyboard shortcuts remain one of the fastest ways to navigate the desktop, but most users know only a handful. While commands like "Windows key + E" to open File Explorer or "Ctrl + C" and "Ctrl + V" to copy and paste content can save time every day, many useful shortcuts remain hidden unless users actively search for them.

Microsoft team behind PowerToys is now making shortcut discovery easier with a redesigned Shortcut Guide in version 0.100.

A smarter shortcut reference for Windows 11

The Shortcut Guide has been part of PowerToys for a long time, but the latest version feels much more practical.

Instead of opening a static reference page filled with generic commands, the guide now appears as a flyout that adapts to the application you're currently using. The result is a more focused experience that highlights shortcuts relevant to the task at hand.

Whether you're working in File Explorer, browsing the web, or editing text, the guide can surface keyboard commands without forcing you to stop what you're doing and search online.

Why keyboard shortcuts still matter

Despite improvements to the Windows 11 interface, keyboard shortcuts remain the quickest way to perform many actions.

Whether switching apps, managing windows, opening system features, or navigating File Explorer, keyboard commands can often complete a task faster than using a mouse.

The challenge has always been discovering and remembering those shortcuts.

The majority of users know only a small subset of available commands, while many of those shortcuts for productivity remain underused simply because they're difficult to remember.

The new Shortcut Guide addresses that problem by putting relevant shortcuts directly in front of users when they need them.

Learning shortcuts without leaving your workflow

One of the biggest advantages of the redesign is that it teaches you as you work.

Instead of requiring someone to memorize a long list of commands, the guide can provide shortcuts that apply to the current application or feature. Over time, you'll naturally learn the keyboard commands they use most often.

If you want to access the Shortcuts Guide, you have to install PowerToys. You can do this by running the "winget install --id Microsoft.PowerToys" command on Command Prompt or PowerShell (admin). You can also download the tool from the official GitHub page or Microsoft Store.

Once the app is installed, launch it, and from PowerToys > System Tools > Shortcut Guide, turn on the "Shortcut Guide" toggle switch.

From the same page, you can also choose the color theme and the flyout position.

Optionally, you can also exclude apps from the experience.

After configuring the tool, you can access it using the "Windows key + Shift + /" keyboard shortcut. However, you can change this process page by customizing the "Activation shortcut" setting.

You can also access the guide through the PowerToys flyout in the Taskbar's System Tray.

By default, when you open the Shortcut Guide, it'll show shortcuts in different tabs. If you don't have any apps in focus, you'll access the list of keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11, and the second tab will include the shortcuts for PowerToys.

While I was writing this guide, I noticed shortcuts would appear at least for Notepad, Microsoft Edge, and File Explorer.

This tool doesn't include shortcuts for every app, but the development team also provides instructions for developers to integrate their apps into the list.

Windows Central's Take

I've always thought the operating system has plenty of useful keyboard shortcuts, but most users never discover them. The redesigned Shortcut Guide from PowerToys addresses that problem by putting relevant shortcuts in front of users when they actually need them.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this guide is the context-aware experience. Instead of overwhelming users with a long list of commands, the guide focuses on shortcuts related to the app they're currently using. That's a much more practical way to learn and adopt keyboard shortcuts.

Do you regularly use keyboard shortcuts on Windows 11, or do you still rely mostly on the mouse for everyday tasks? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024's roadmap for the remainder of 2026 is pretty packed, with multiple updates planned.

City Update 15 is already live, bringing new locations in Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin into the mix, adding major cities Chicago, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. You can grab this update from the in-game marketplace right now for free.

The next big update planned is Sim Update 6. There's no confirmed release date yet beyond a "July/August" window, but it's not that far out either way. Sim Update 7 is also currently planned for October.

Sim Update 6 was detailed for the first time at the recent Flight Sim Expo in Minnesota, alongside a host of other Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 news.

You can watch the full keynote presentation in the video above. As for Sim Update 6 specifically, here's everything we know about it so far.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Sim Update 6: Downdraft Airflow Visualization

One of the technical features coming with Sim Update 6 is visualization for airflow.

Specifically for downdrafts, allowing visualization of cool downdrafts due to clouds and weather, wind coming down mountain slopes, and vertical wind shear.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Sim Update 6: Helicopter debug tools for developers

In a push to further helicopter physics from third-party sources, Microsoft is introducing a suite of new debugging tools with Sim Update 6.

The helicopter assistance debug tool is designed to improve tuning assistance and make them generally easier to fly. Visualizations will exist for cyclic assistance, tail rotor assistance, and collective assistance.

The rotor blade polar debug tool will allow developers to see the relationship between lift and drag and visualize the lift polar, drag polar, and real-time alpha of the blades.

Additionally, there will be new tools to debug vortex ring state and phase lag.

None are features regular users will touch, but if you're a fan of helicopter flying, these new tools are built with the intention of making your life better going forward.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Sim Update 6: Turbulence warnings

When you fly a real aircraft (or sit in the back of one), you can feel turbulence. But in a simulated environment this isn't the case, at least if, like most of us, you don't have an extremely expensive setup that can track motion.

With Sim Update 6, Microsoft will be introducing new visual turbulence warnings that will provide information on the intensity and the cause.

Using the new option will also help provide valuable feedback to the developers. When a player sends feedback on turbulence, they can now include a screenshot of the readout, which will help them better understand it.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Sim Update 6: Airport night lighting

Sim Update 6 will introduce automatically added apron lighting to 2,236 airports as well as fixing missing runway lights at 452 airports.

The developers have created multiple light poles with different properties that are deployed depending on the type of airport.

Additionally, with runway lighting being provided to all airports, this opens up a wider scope of night missions in Career mode. You'll have a choice of lit and unlit missions to take on.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Sim Update 6: Career mode

Career mode in Sim Update 6 will also get a new filtering layer that increases the variety of aircraft you'll be able to fly in missions.

When released, you'll be able to fly any aircraft in all compatible missions, and the new layer for the filtering screen will help filter by aircraft.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Sim Update 6: Bush Trips are back

One of the community's most requested features is coming back. Bush Trips are being ported from Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 into Flight Simulator 2024, with all 59 made available for free with the update.

All trips across all aircraft will integrate with the EFB and benefit from the improved ground detail available in Flight Simulator 2024.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Sim Update 5.1 and Aircraft and Avionics Update 5

Sim Update 6 is set to release in the same timeframe as Aircraft and Avionics Update 5, which, among its new additions, will be the classic Boeing 707.

In the same presentation it was announced these updates will be decoupled from Sim Updates going forward, releasing in the following weeks.

Sim Update 5.1 will come before both, with its main feature being the long-awaited arrival of gifting. You can gift content from the marketplace, be it content you own personally or not, as long as you're paying in USD, GBP or Euros. The option will be added to relevant product pages.

So there's lots to look forward to, and along with all of this, we've already seen World Update 22, which is due to arrive on July 4.

In this we'll have a host of American National Parks and Monuments to fly over, and judging by what we've seen so far, some seriously stunning scenery.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Forza Horizon 6 has launched to the masses, and everyone seems to be in love. As with every Forza entry, a slew of PR stuns, Drift Zones, Drag Strips, and more have proliferated the landscape, begging to be three-stared.

You’re here because you won’t settle for anything less than the best. So, first of all, congratulations on choosing the right article, because I’m here to get you all those stars, and maybe even some top scores.

Forza Horizon 6 Drag Racing — Best settings

Let’s start off with the easiest first: drag racing.

There’s nothing fancy about it. You won’t need to turn, brake, or even really steer all that much. Hit the pedal, shift, and go.

For you automatic users, you might have laughed at the shift comment, but I’m here to let you know that you’re going to have to learn some basics for shifting if you want to get the best possible scores with your vehicle.

Match everything you see in the above photo, or as listed below:

• Shifting – *Manual (Or Manual W/ Clutch)
• ABS - Off
• Traction Control - Off
• Launch Control - *On

I put an asterisk next to the Manual W/Clutch because this is where your mileage may vary in terms of shifting preferences. For all newer vehicles, cars with drivetrain swaps, or any of the vehicles I’ll have listed, Manual W/Clutch is no longer any faster than Manual without Clutch.

For older vehicles and titles prior to Forza Horizon 5, Manual W/Clutch was a necessity for shaving seconds from a lap or tenths from a drag time. Shift changes were faster as a result, but on newer drivetrains, especially with the latest systems in-game, there’s no longer any real discernible difference between them.

With that said, clutch on a standard controller is an abysmal experience, and I recommend staying away from it entirely unless you have some paddles on the back or a dedicated racing wheel. If you’re chasing a top spot, though, it could make a difference of precious milliseconds.

As for settings like Traction Control, vehicles cut power when detecting traction loss. You can see where this will hurt a drag car that has any wheel spin, as you won’t get the full power of the engine under the hood.

I also put an asterisk next to Launch Control because purists will tell you to disable it for the best score, but I've always found it wildly unusable without Launch Control, especially if you're playing on a controller.

Launch control gives you the best RPMs at the start of a race without having to baby the throttle.

Forza Horizon 6 Drag Racing — Best Vehicles

First, I want to give a nod to the easiest car to get ahold of, one you won’t have to hunt for or win in a Wheel Spin. That’s the Honda Beat '91. Found in the Autoshow, this thing is a beast when upgraded.

The Beat was the first drag car I used on Forza Horizon 6, and one that carried me to some top spots before players started getting their hands on the Mazda Miata FE 94’ and Nissan GTR FE. You will be able to beat every Speed Trap, Drag Event, as well as a lot of Speed Zones, Danger Signs, and Trailblazers.

Then there are two vehicles that go toe-to-toe depending on the strip, but I’ll start with my personal favorite, the Miata MX-5 FE '94. Not only does this car rock as a drag strip build, but it also doubles as a fantastic Speed Trap and Speed Zone vehicle.

Given the tight corners of the Japanese maps, open throttling isn’t always the answer when it comes to going after some top scores on Traps and Zones. But as for Drag, it all comes down to the distance.

No matter which track you’re on, though, the Miata will dominate with three stars when paired with your own tune or one from the tuner market.

Last, but not least, is the cream of the crop, the GTR FE. An absolute Drag Strip monster, and Speed Trap if you can line it up right, this car has the best Drag Tune for distance in the game.

Equipped with a Wheelie Bar and a parachute (non-functional), the GTR is made for drag racing and not much else.

I do want to mention a runner-up, which topples the GTR FE in some instances, but I've yet to see it take the top spot. The Toyota AE86 FE, which you get by earning 5,000 points in the Discover Japan Master Explorer journal. If you've earned this car, chances are you aren't even reading this guide!

Forza Horizon 6 Drag Racing — Best Tune and Setup

As for a tune, you can obviously take one straight from the tune finder, or, better yet, make one yourself! After doing my own setups, I came across the best Forza cheatsheet I’ve seen for tuning from katalonian on Reddit, which I'll be referencing below.

First things first, upgrades:

• Engine Swap — The bigger the better
• Drive train — Swap to AWD (when you can) unless you’re a purist. AWD is just flat-out better for times.
• Clutch — I prefer the 7-speed race clutch, with maximum upgrades on everything else.
• Suspension — Pick whichever you like more
• Sway Bars — Add both front and back
• Differential — Any will do.
• Tires — Drag tire compound is an absolute must. Pick the widest back and the skinniest front (in most cases).
• Weight Reduction — Go all out and remove everything you can. This includes Aero, rim weight, reduction kits, and anything else that’s light. Choose the lighter option on everything unless it’s crucial to a drag vehicle.

Next, the best tune!

• Gearing — Leave this for last, as it's more of a "feel" thing, but for default, you can slide this all the way to "speed".
• Camber — Front: 0 to -0.5 Rear: 0 to +0.5
• Toe — 0 for both values
• Caster — Max for both values
• Anti-Roll — Stiff for both values
• Springs — Soft for both values
• Ride Height — Max for both values
• Dampening — Front: Soft Rear: Stiff
• Aerodynamics — N/A
• Aerodynamic, Brakes, and Differential — Leave untouched.
• Differential Acceleration: 85%
• Differential Deceleration: N/A

For the Gear setup, you'll need a drag strip! The rest will depend entirely on the length of the strip you're on.

First gear is the most important, the launch gear. You want a balance between speed and grip. Too much power will lead to a lack of grip, and too little will lead to a slow car.

You want the RPMs topping out rather quickly without any tire spin. Spin means lengthening first gear to a point it stops spinning, where you'll maintain maximum power without losing speed.

Depending on the gear you want to end on, your race should be finishing at the top of the RPM for that gear. As the Reddit tune guide lists, they prefer third, but everyone's different.

So long as you're crossing the line at the top of the gear at maximum speed, you've hit your tune.

Good luck!

There are a lot of truly amazing cars hiding among the Forza Horizon 6 Barn Finds, with some classic Japanese rides that you can't get your hands on anywhere else among the rewards.

They're not all Japanese cars, but the best ones are, and I think you're going to absolutely love tearing up the streets in each of them!

For more, be sure to check out our full Forza Horizon 6 review.

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Forza Horizon 6 is the biggest and most ambitious game in the series, and while it will continue to evolve over the coming years, there's still so much to do from launch.

Alongside collecting all 15 Barn Finds, Forza Horizon 6 also has 9 Treasure Cars. They're similar in idea, in so much as they're hidden and you have to go find them, but executed differently from the Barn Finds.

There's also less surprise because you're told what the car is and given a visual clue where to find it as soon as you've revealed enough of its region. But I've already found them all, so I can help you on your way.

• 1991 Nissan Figaro
• 2005 Ford GT
• 1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE
• 1987 Porsche 959
• 1969 Dodge Charger R/T
• 1985 Nissan Safari Turbo
• 1981 BMW M1
• 1995 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III GSR
• 1974 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale

What are Treasure Cars in Forza Horizon 6?

Treasure Cars in Forza Horizon 6 are nine hidden vehicles scattered across the different regions of the map that players can discover using postcard clues.

They're all great cars to add to your collection (and get the achievement for finding them all), but they're not quite as exotic as the Barn Finds.

There are no progression-based requirements to unlock the Treasure Cars. Instead as you reveal enough of each region you'll be prompted that a Treasure Car is available, with its clue visible in your Cars menu.

All 9 Treasure Car map locations in Forza Horizon 6

Here are all 9 of the Treasure Cars, their region, and a handy map location so you can go and pick them up.

1991 Nissan Figaro location - Tokyo City

You'll find the Nissan Figaro parked at the side of the road about halfway between the two large bridges connecting the industrial area with the main part of Tokyo City.

2005 Ford GT location - Nangan Region

Head to the rightmost point on the coastline in the lower portion of the Nangan Region. Look for the small dirt track that leads off from the main (red) route and follow it around to the right to find the Ford GT.

1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE location - Ohtani Region

Head to the location highlighted on the map above, and specifically, you're looking for the large masts. The Mazda RX-7 is parked next to one with a silver base.

1987 Porsche 959 location - Shimanoyama Region

This is one of the trickiest ones to find. Head to the village at the top of the region (where you also have a Barn Find location) and drive to the eastern side. The road at the back of the village (the asphalt, not dirt) is where you'll find a 365 Store. The Porsche 959 is parked behind it.

1969 Dodge Charger R/T location - Minamino Region

One of the easiest Treasure Cars to find, the 1969 Dodge Charger is just off the main road at the eastern edge of the golf course.

1985 Nissan Safari Turbo location - Ito Region

The Wind Farm point of interest is where you need to be, located in the wooded area of the eastern coastal region of Ito. Simply follow the main dirt track and the Nissan Safari is parked at the base of one of the windmills.

1981 BMW M1 location - Hokubu Region

North of the tunnels in the Hokubu Region you'll find a large railway bridge (that obviously you're not supposed to drive over). Underneath the bridge adjacent to the fields is your BMW M1.

1995 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III location - Takashiro Region

As you head up the marked dirt roads at the side of a small river, you'll see a waterfall up ahead. The Evo Treasure Car is parked at the side of the track at the very end just before the waterfall.

1974 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale location - Sotoyama Region

Just off the main road, aside a snow track and before you reach the Speed Zone, you'll find the Lancia Stratos parked outside a chalet, waiting for you.

Unlike Barn Finds which require you to be patient while waiting for their restoration (or to spend a lot of credits to fast-track the process), Treasure Cars are yours immediately. All they need is a wash, which happens in the cut scene, and you can get straight on the road in your new wheels.

If you're trying to level up quicker, don't forget to spend a skill point on each of the Treasure Cars, too. You'll get an immediate 10,000 XP on each of the nine cars for spending a single skill point, which is the highest of any type of car in this regard.

For more, be sure to check out our full Forza Horizon 6 review.

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Forza Horizon 6 is finally here, and with it, we're now able to access Legend Island, the only part of the map that was locked in my earlier preview play. It's also locked at the start of the main game, only becoming accessible when you become a "Forza Horizon Legend."

Mild spoilers follow on the process to unlock Legend Island, so if you want to find out yourself, click away now.

With that out of the way, the first thing I'd say is don't build it up too much. While Forza Horizon 6 is absolutely sublime, I think I built up the final part a bit too much and ended up a little disappointed. Here's how you get to Legend Island and what you actually get when you arrive.

What is Legend Island in Forza Horizon 6?

Legend Island is the only part of the Forza Horizon 6 Japan map that is locked behind progression. While activities across the rest of the map only appear when you reach a certain level in your progression, the actual map itself is completely open to explore.

Legend Island is blocked off until you become a Horizon Legend and earn your place there.

Once you do, your arrival to the island feels very similar to your initial arrival at the Horizon Festival at the start of the game. There's the only secondary Horizon Festival outpost on the whole map located here. You also unlock some new races and PR stunts.

The main unlocks are the biggest races, those you'll be familiar with if you've played previous games. The Goliath starts on Legends Island, while the class-specific big races all start elsewhere on the main map.

You also need Legend Island access in order to smash all the XP bonus boards, as some of those are located here as well.

But that's about all there is to it. It essentially opens the final set of content from the base game to play that is not subject to the seasonal Festival Playlist when that begins.

How to unlock Legend Island in Forza Horizon 6

Now that we know what it is, how do we get to Legend Island in Forza Horizon 6? Simply progress through the game!

Specifically, Legend Island is linked to the wristband progression, not the Explore Japan progression. Anything you do that has a yellow 'H' icon on it with a number contributes to progress through your wristbands.

Once you achieve the requirements to complete the gold wristband event, then complete said event, you earn "Horizon Legend" status.

I do have a few tips to speed up your Forza Horizon 6 progress a little, too.

• Smash XP bonus boards as you come across them. It's easy to leave them until later, but each board contributes a small piece of wristband progress, which helps speed things up in the earlier tiers.
• Don't sleep on activities like the Drag Meet and Time Attack circuits. Simply completing each of these activities in every class of car will give you several hundred points on your wristbands, and they don't take long to do.
• Likewise make sure you do as many PR stunts as you can when you come across them. Don't get fixated on getting three stars every time; you get wristband progress for one and two stars. If you don't have the right car to max it out yet, still do something, as it all helps your progress.
• If you're struggling to win races for the maximum rewards, turn down the difficulty. There's no shame in it if you just want to progress as fast as possible, and you're only racing against Drivatars anyway!

So, there we have it. Perhaps a little underwhelming given that it was locked off for so long, and even when it comes to the scenery — it's probably the least interesting part of the otherwise incredible map.

But that's how you get there and what to expect when you do. The real endgame is what comes next, be that the Festival Playlist activities or the Evolving World. But initially, Legend Island is where you go to unlock the last of the base game content.

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Forza Horizon 6 continues the series' trend of having special Barn Find cars dotted about the map for you to hunt down and add to your collection. This is on top of the nine hidden Treasure Cars you can also find.

As in previous games, when you unlock the chance to go and get them, you get a vague area provided on Forza Horizon 6's Japan map to explore and locate the barn. Or, you can buy the Treasure Map with real money that exposes them for you.

But nobody wants to do that! This year's Barn Finds aren't necessarily the trickiest to locate, but if you want a helping hand, I've already found them all so you don't have to! Here's how you unlock them and where to find each of them.

Forza Horizon 6 Barn Finds at a glance

How to unlock Barn Finds in Forza Horizon 6

The Barn Finds are tied to your progression through the Discover Japan collection journal in Forza Horizon 6, as opposed to the wristbands, which progress you towards Legend Island.

As you progress through the stamps, you unlock the chance to get more Barn Finds. At each new tier, you'll be shown new zones on the map you're able to go to. To get them all, you need to reach the gold stamp and become a Master Explorer.

You earn these through completing exploration challenges, which also includes Street Races and Touge Battles. Smashing Regional Mascots also applies progress, as do many other challenges. You can see on the map which applies to your exploration rank, as well as through the Discover Japan collection journal.

Below you'll find all the locations for the Barn Finds separated by region. If you want to find them yourself a little easier without using these maps, I recommend going into Drone Mode and flying around the circle. When you locate a barn with the drone, it'll highlight it on your map so you can then drive right to it.

Complete list of all Barn Find locations in Forza Horizon 6

Here are all of the locations for the Barn Finds by region. Simply match each location to the corresponding purple circle on your map, and I'll show you exactly where to go.

Nangan Region Barn Find location

Shimanoyama Region Barn Find locations

Hokubu Region Barn Find location

Takashiro Region Barn Find locations

Ito Region Barn Find locations

Minamino Region Barn Find locations

Ohtani Region Barn Find locations

There are a lot of truly amazing cars hiding among the Forza Horizon 6 Barn Finds, with some classic Japanese rides that you can't get your hands on anywhere else among the rewards.

They're not all Japanese cars, but the best ones are, and I think you're going to absolutely love tearing up the streets in each of them!

For more, be sure to check out our full Forza Horizon 6 review.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Let's face it, nobody will be playing Forza Horizon 6 for a killer storyline or some incredible voice acting. The campaign is simply a way to unlock all of the things you need to do, but you can't avoid the NPCs chattering away in your ear.

Or can you? Fortunately, you can.

Having played all the way through to Legend Island in Forza Horizon 6, I can say with confidence that you don't miss anything by not listening to the in-game dialogue. But you can also make it so you don't need to hear it at all, while still leaving subtitles on so you can still see what's being said. Here's how

How to turn off audio dialogue in Forza Horizon 6

To make it so you don't have to listen to the in-game characters (which includes your own), simply follow these steps.

1. Pause the game.
2. Open Settings.
3. Select the Audio tab.
4. Scroll down until you find the Dialogue volume slider.
5. Set the slider all the way down to zero.

Subtitles are probably on by default, and it's worth keeping them on because occasionally there will be some nuggets of information that are helpful.

Barn Find restoration completion will be accompanied by a proper on-screen notification, so even without subtitles you'll never miss when these are ready to add to your collection.

If you do need to enable subtitles, here's how to do it.

1. Pause the game.
2. Open Settings.
3. Choose the Accessibility tab.
4. Turn Subtitles to on.

Now you're able to keep the subtitles on while ensuring you don't have to listen to any of the audio dialogue. There are also settings to customize just how you want the subtitles to look, including an option to highlight key words.

The audio settings in Forza Horizon 6 actually give you a significant level of control over how you want the game to sound. I recommend playing with all of the options available to you in the audio settings menu to find that "sweet spot" for your own enjoyment.

And a pro tip if you're going to be streaming or creating any form of video content: go right to the bottom of the audio settings and enable "Streamer Mode" so you don't get hit by copyright strikes.

For more be sure to check out our full Forza Horizon 6 review.

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Forza Horizon 6 is here, and it has a number of new bits compared to Forza Horizon 5. One of these concerns fast travel, that is, moving about the map without driving.

It's been made far less tedious in the superb Forza Horizon 6 with the complete removal of fast travel boards. In Forza Horizon 5, you had to buy a house to unlock it and then smash all of the boards to make it free.

The good news is that none of this applies in Forza Horizon 6. It's free from the off, and you don't need to buy a house, but it does have one important limitation you need to be aware of.

How to use Fast Travel in Forza Horizon 6

Without fast travel boards in Forza Horizon 6 the system does not require a credits purchase to use at any point. Simply move the cursor and click.

However, while it's unlocked from the off, you can't use it to just go anywhere. To be able to use fast travel, you first need to have removed the fog of war over where you want to go and have driven down the road you're targeting.

To see where you can use fast travel on the map, you simply need to look for any roads that are shown in white or red, not grey. The latter are roads you haven't driven down, and until you have, you can't use fast travel to go there. So you still have to explore the map the old-fashioned way at least once.

Once you've revealed a road and it's showing white or red on the map, simply hover the cursor over where you want to go and press the X button on your controller.

I love this change. Exploring a new Forza Horizon map for the first time is part of the fun, but once you've spent all that time driving down every road, most of the time you just want to go to where you need to be to do a thing.

The fast travel boards and needing to smash them or use credits just added a layer of tedium to Forza Horizon that felt like an unnecessary way to slow down the pace of play.

This new system works much better. You're still rewarded for first exploring the map and not penalized in any way.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Windows 11’s emoji picker has a new habit of breaking at the worst possible moment, and nothing is more annoying than watching the search box vanish for no reason. The good news is that the fix is fast, hidden, and works even when the UI looks completely broken.

If you’re like me, you admittedly abuse using emojis for various reasons, so when I’ve brought up the emoji picker in Windows 11 in the last few days, only to see the search box gone, well, it made my life a bit more difficult.

I figured maybe this is just a quirk with my PC until a colleague of mine, Nick Sutrich of Android Central, brought it up in Slack, wondering if anyone else had seen this, and that’s when I would have dropped in some 👀 if only I could search for it.

Turns out, rebooting your PC often fixes it, but who has time for that during a weekday?

Luckily, there’s an easy way to fix this until Microsoft figures out what is causing it in the first place (note: I’m on Beta for Insiders, which is hilarious, as I was 99.99% sure I signed up for Preview Release months ago, so that’s another thing for me to figure out as I just learned that writing this article).

Anyway, enough banter.

How to get back ‘search’ for Windows 11’s emoji picker

This will take you all of 30 seconds, and a brief moment of your taskbar dissapearing. Don't worry, it'll be OK.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Find Windows Explorer in the list.
3. Right-click it and select Restart.

Doing this forces the UI elements to reload properly.

This worked for Nick and me, so it should work for you, so good luck!

Until Microsoft ships a proper fix, this quick workaround is the easiest way to get emoji search working again. It’s not elegant, but it gets the job done and saves you from wrestling with a feature that should never disappear in the first place.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

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On Windows 11, some Dell users are discovering that the software designed to recover their devices is now crashing their PCs instead.

Recently, users in Dell's support forums (via Neowin and Dell forum links 2) began reporting frequent blue screens and reboot loops on Windows 11 after an update to the "Dell SupportAssist Remediation" software. The issue appears to be tied to version 5.5.16.0, released on April 30, and affects systems such as the XPS 15 9530.

The crashes happen approximately every half hour for some users, making affected devices difficult to use for work, school, or home. According to multiple reports, users are getting the same "CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED" stop error.

The interesting part is that Windows 11 itself does not appear to be the root of the cause.

Dell SupportAssist is a causing critical error

Some users took it upon themselves to investigate the crashes with Microsoft's WinDbg debugging tool, which traced the issue to DellSupportAssistRemediationService.exe, a background recovery component bundled with many Dell computers.

SupportAssist is part of Dell's broader support platform that handles diagnostics, driver updates, recovery tools, and automated repair functions. The remediation service runs in the background with deep system access, which can explain why a failure can trigger a full bugcheck instead of a normal app crash, and it explains why many users initially blamed Microsoft.

For years, Windows 11 system updates have trained users to assume the operating system is responsible when a computer suddenly becomes unstable. This time, the evidence from crash dumps points to Dell's own recovery stack.

Why this SupportAssist bug is a bigger problem

The biggest problem is how invisible the software is to most people. A lot of users may not even know SupportAssist exists because it ships preinstalled on consumer and business devices.

The reports also revive concerns around computer manufacturers' software reliability. Recovery tools are supposed to help and simplify troubleshooting. In this case, users are uninstalling the recovery service to keep their computers running as expected without crashes.

It's important to note that Dell has now publicly acknowledged the issue, saying that the company "is aware of the BSOD issue and is working towards a resolution. As many have noted, version 5.5.16.0 of the Dell SupportAssist Remediation service or Alienware SupportAssist Remediation service can cause the BSODs."

At the time of this writing, the company recommends uninstalling the software. However, disabling the service can also mitigate the issue.

How to stop Dell SupportAssist crashes on Windows 11

According to users, there are at least two temporary workarounds that appear to stop the reboot loops.

The safest option is to disable the remediation service without removing the rest of Dell's tools. Here's how:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and choose the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to disable the problematic Dell software and press Enter: sc.exe config "Dell SupportAssist Remediation" start= disabled
4. Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, the computer should no longer crash due to this problem.

It's worth noting that multiple users have reported that using this method stops crashes from happening.

How to uninstall Dell SupportAssist on Windows 11

If turning off the service does not work, you can also try removing the SupportAssist components entirely. Here's how:

1. Open Settings
2. Click Apps.
3. Click the Installed apps page on the right side.
4. Select the "Dell SupportAssist Remediation" or "Alienware SupportAssist Remediation" app from the list.
5. Click the menu button (three dots) next to each app and choose the Uninstall option.
6. Click the Uninstall button one more time.
7. Restart the computer.

After you complete the steps, the Dell device should stop crashing on Windows 11.

One thing to note is that Dell states, "any system repair points created by Dell OS SupportAssist Recovery may not be available after uninstalling the Remediation Service."

Windows Central's Take

I think this situation perfectly shows why I've never been a fan of heavily integrated OEM utilities running quietly in the background on Windows 11 or older versions. SupportAssist is supposed to help users recover from problems, but instead, it became the problem.

What became clear to me is how quickly users blamed Windows 11, and honestly, I can't blame them. I've even published a guide to help users install updates with less fear of breaking their PCs because that's how cautious many people have become after years of buggy releases. However, over time, I've noticed that some of the worst stability problems on laptops actually come from third-party drivers, vendor utilities, and support software.

Have you come across this issue on your Dell computer? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

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One of the things that has always annoyed me about Windows 11 (and even older versions) is how precise you have to be just to move a window around the desktop. Every single time I wanted to drag an app, I had to aim for the tiny title bar at the top.

On Windows 11, this problem feels even worse with modern apps. For example, the Settings app doesn't mark the title bar, so there's no visual cue telling you where to click and drag the window.

Legacy apps aren't perfect either. For example, the Control Panel and even File Explorer still display a visible title bar. However, the actual draggable target can feel too small because tabs, search boxes, and toolbar buttons take over most of the top area.

After using the new "Grab And Move" feature in PowerToys, I honestly don't want to use the old way anymore. Instead of trying to target the title bar, I can now use a simple shortcut to drag a window from anywhere. In addition, the feature also works to resize windows.

In this how-to guide, I'll show you how to access the Grab And Move feature in PowerToys to drag windows with ease across the desktop on Windows 11.

How to enable Grab And Move on Windows 11

To enable the feature on PowerToys to use Grab And Move on Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open PowerToys.
2. Click on Windowing & Layouts.
3. Click on Grab And Move.
4. Turn on the "Grab And Move" toggle switch.

Once you complete the steps, you can use the "Alt + Left click" to drag a window from anywhere. Or you can use the "Alt + Right click + moving the mouse" to resize a window with mouse gestures (see video below).

Grab And Move is available in PowerToys, Microsoft's collection of advanced utilities for advanced users.

If you don't have PowerToys installed on your computer, open Command Prompt (admin) and run the winget install --id Microsoft.PowerToys to download and install the tool on your computer. Alternatively, you can download the tool from the GitHub page.

FAQs about using PowerToys' Grab And Move on Windows 11

Here's a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about the Grab And Move feature on Windows 11.

Windows Central's Take

I think Grab And Move is one of the more practical additions to PowerToys. It fixes a small but noticeable annoyance on Windows 11, especially with modern apps like Settings, where the title bar isn't always obvious. Even in apps like File Explorer, the draggable area can feel smaller because tabs and controls take up most of the top of the screen.

After using the feature, dragging a window from anywhere with a shortcut simply feels more convenient. It's not a major change, but if you work with multiple windows throughout the day, it can make desktop navigation a little easier.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Forza Horizon 6 launches on Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 19 (or May 15 for Premium Edition buyers), and in the case of the latter, one big question keeps cropping up.

Does Forza Horizon 6 have Denuvo DRM?

The good news is that Forza Horizon 6 does not utilize Denuvo DRM. Which is good news.

As the game is listed on Steam, if it were using Denuvo, it would be listed as such on the store page.

Take Star Wars: Galactic Racer as an example. It's not releasing until October, but already we know it'll be utilizing Denuvo, which in itself is enough to put many prospective buyers off.

I reached out to Xbox for confirmation, and they have responded with a categorial no, Forza Horizon 6 does not use Denuvo. That's not to say there is no DRM; after all, if you play it on Game Pass through the Xbox app, it's pretty well locked down.

Why is Denuvo DRM so controversial?

There are examples in the past of poor implementations of Denuvo affecting a game's performance, which certainly made sure its reputation would be blighted for all eternity.

It doesn't always happen, but it has happened, and that's enough to make it a concern.

There are other issues, too, such as any problems with the Denuvo service just blocking you from playing a game that you spent your hard-earned money on.

Denuvo also requires online connectivity in order to authenticate, which can cause issues if you want to play offline.

In any case, Denuvo has done enough in its time to smear its own name, and gamers rarely forget these things. In the case of Forza Horizon 6, at least, it looks like we don't have to worry.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

On Windows 11, you no longer have to rely on the ViveTool, as Microsoft now provides a setting to manage experimental features, and in this guide, I'll show you the steps to complete this task.

I've been reporting on preview builds for a long time, and one of the frustrating aspects has always been installing Insider builds only to find that the features weren't available in my setup.

This happened because Microsoft has been using the Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) technology to A/B-test new features with only a limited number of users. However, with the recent changes to the Windows Insider Program, everyone can enable these experimental features even if they're hidden with the addition of the "Feature flags" page.

Furthermore, the company has also made changes to the Beta channel that end the Controlled Feature Rollout, enabling all announced features by default in this experience.

One thing to note is that this applies only to the features and improvements that Microsoft officially announces. If other features are not ready for testing and are hidden, you may still need to use the ViveTool to enable them.

In this how-to guide, I'll show you how to access experimental changes on Windows 11.

How to access early features by turning flags on Windows 11

To enable experimental features through the Windows 11 Insider Program, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Windows Update.
3. Click the "Windows Insider Program" page.
4. Confirm your device is in the Experimental experience under the "Select your experience" section.

4. Click the Advanced Options setting.
5. Confirm the version of the operating system. For example, version 25H2.
6. Click the Feature flags page.

7. (Option 1) Select the Enabled option for the experimental feature to test.

• Quick tip: You can enable one or multiple features at the same time.

8. (Option 2) Select the No override option to allow the system to manage the availability of this feature on your device.
9. (Option 3) Select the Disabled option to disable the experimental feature on your computer.
10. Click the Apply Changes button.
11. Click the Restart now button.

Once you complete the steps, the experimental feature that you selected will be enabled on your computer.

FAQs about enabling experimental features on Windows 11

These are common questions regarding managing features flags on Windows 11.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

I'll cut right to the chase; yes, Forza Horizon 6 will be continuing the Festival Playlist post-launch content template.

It's one of the things that, until now, we hadn't been given any real information on. Indeed, when I previewed Forza Horizon 6, there was no sign of this content in the early build.

Thanks to a developer Discord Q&A reported on by IGN, we now have some concrete information on the Festival Playlist, when it begins, and perhaps of interest to PS5 players waiting in the wings, what will happen to cars they're not able to get, given the later launch window on that platform.

When does the Forza Horizon 6 Festival Playlist begin?

The Festival Playlist will be available in Forza Horizon 6 at launch. That is, May 19, 2026, for Standard Edition players and May 15, 2026, if you have early access through the Premium Edition.

Specifically, according to the developer Q&A, the Festival Playlist will be unlocked once you progress far enough through the game to qualify for the Horizon Festival.

From my experience playing the early preview build, I can tell you that this process will only take about an hour. While the preview build ended at the point you reach the Horizon Festival qualifier race, it was easily less than an hour's gameplay to get to that point.

So it'll be available long before you've completed the single-player story.

The big change for the Forza Horizon 6 Festival Playlist.

One of the issues with the Festival Playlist is that it quite often rewards cars that aren't available to buy from the Autoshow. Once the week rolls over to a new Festival Playlist they're gone.

In Forza Horizon 5 the Backstage Pass eventually helped players get their hands on these, but I'll openly admit I'm not a fan of it. You have to earn them from the Festival Playlist or buy them from the Forzathon shop, which requires building up points from other activities. It was only recently, too, that all cars were finally made available, but you still can't get them en-masse.

This FOMO affects players, and in particular, we can look to PS5 players of Forza Horizon 6 who won't even be able to play until later this year. Fortunately, we're promised that there will be a solution to get those missed cars.

From the same Q&A it has been confirmed that Festival Playlist cars will be made available after the fact. How, exactly, we still don't know, but it has been mentioned that cycling them into the Aftermarket Cars rotation is a possibility.

I saw these firsthand in the Forza Horizon 6 preview, and I wouldn't be against it at all. Aftermarket Cars spawn in rotation at set points on the map, are available to purchase with regular in-game credits, and usually come pre-tuned at a discounted price.

Until launch it's unlikely we'll know exactly which method Playground Games is employing, but the fact the developers are already in front of the issue at least gives us more confidence that players won't miss out, whenever it is they start playing.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Forza Horizon 6 arrives on Xbox and PC on May 19, 2026, but ahead of that players have questions about whether or not their custom creations can be carried forward.

Whether those are vinyls, decals, liveries, EventLab creations, or custom tuning setups, we do have an answer directly from Forza Support. It's not all good news, but there is some. If you have custom creations in Forza Horizon 5 that you're hoping to carry into Forza Horizon 6, here's the state of play.

Forza Horizon 6 transfer guide: What car content carries over

Can you transfer custom creations from Forza Horizon 5 to Forza Horizon 6?

Quick Answer: Yes, you can transfer vinyls and decals to Forza Horizon 6, but liveries, tuning setups, and EventLab creations will not carry over.

What you can transfer from Forza Horizon 5 into Forza Horizon 6 are vinyls and decals. Exactly how this will be done is as yet unknown, with Forza Support simply confirming that instructions will come at a later date.

It's also discussed as "previous Forza games," so we could be looking at more than just Forza Horizon 5 creations transferring over. When the process is detailed, this article will be updated to reflect it.

So what about everything else?

EventLab creations cannot be transferred because Forza Horizon 6 uses a different map to Forza Horizon 5. Easy enough.

Custom tuning setups cannot be transferred, even if the same car is present in Forza Horizon 6. This is due to the developers wanting to "rebalance all car classes."

Finally, custom liveries also cannot be transferred to Forza Horizon 6, again, even if the same car is present in the new game. This is down to a number of technical changes on the cars, including the new feature in Forza Horizon 6 where custom liveries can be applied (finally) to the windows.

However, the folks over on the ForzaLiveryHub subreddit have suggested the genius workaround of chopping liveries up into vinyl groups to avoid having to completely start from scratch. Save one for each section of the car, import it into Forza Horizon 6 (when the feature is live), and fit it to the relevant car in the new game.

So there we have it. Not the news that some would have been hoping for, but all told, pretty good reasons as to why we'll have to start many creations from scratch.

Forza Horizon 6 launches on Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on May 19, 2026.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

On April 14, 2026, Microsoft began rolling out the April 2026 Security Update (KB5083769) for Windows 11, introducing several visual changes, improvements, and fixes. However, as with previous updates, some users are running into issues after installation.

Microsoft has confirmed a specific BitLocker-related problem that can cause affected devices to boot directly into the BitLocker recovery screen, preventing access to the desktop.

According to the company, this behavior is triggered by an “unrecommended” BitLocker configuration. As a result, some devices are being prompted to enter the BitLocker recovery key on the first restart after installing the update.

The issue only affects a small number of systems with a specific configuration. For example, BitLocker must be enabled on the operating system drive, and the "Configure TPM platform validation profile for native UEFI firmware configurations" policy must be configured with PCR7 included in the validation profile.

In addition, System Information must report “Secure Boot State PCR7 Binding” as “Not Possible,” the UEFI CA 2023 certificate must be present in the Secure Boot Signature Database (DB), and the device must not already be running the 2023-signed Windows Boot Manager.

Microsoft notes that this is not a widespread issue, and most devices are not affected. In addition, this is a one-time recovery event. After entering the BitLocker recovery key, future restarts should boot normally into Windows 11.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the different ways to recover from the BitLocker issue before or after installing the latest quality update on Windows 11.

How to fix the BitLocker recovery key at boot issue on Windows 11

If you prevent or resolve the current encryption issue with the April 2026 Security Update on Windows 11, you must undo the Group Policy configuration or enter the recovery key when prompted.

If you're a commercial customer, you can contact Microsoft to obtain the Known Issue Rollback (KIR) update to undo the faulty configuration if you cannot use Group Policy.

Confirm BitLocker recovery key after update

To find the BitLocker recovery key for your device, use these steps:

1. Open your Microsoft account online on a different device.
2. Confirm the PC name and "Key ID" to find the correct BitLocker recovery key.
3. Type the key in the BitLocker recovery key screen.

4. Click the Continue button.

Once you complete the steps, the computer will boot straight to the desktop, and future reboots won't require the recovery key.

Undo Group Policy configuration before update

To undo the unrecommended Group Policy configuration from your PC, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for gpedit and click the top result to open Group Policy Editor.
3. Open the following path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > BitLocker Drive Encryption > Operating System Drives
4. Right-click the "Configure TPM platform validation profile for native UEFI firmware configurations" policy and choose the Edit option.
5. Select the Not configured option.

6. Click the Apply button.
7. Click the OK button.
8. Open Start.
9. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and choose the Run as administrator option.
10. Type this command to force the new configuration and press Enter: gpupdate /force
11. Type this command to suspend BitLocker protection on the system drive and press Enter: manage-bde -protectors -disable C:

12. Type this command to resume BitLocker protection after the policy update and press Enter: manage-bde -protectors -enable C:

After you complete the steps, the system will rebind BitLocker to use the default PCR profile in the operating system, and you won't see the recovery screen upon restart after installing the update.

Have you encountered this specific problem after installing the April 2026 Security Update? Let me know in the comments.

FAQs about resetting BitLocker config

These are common questions regarding resetting the unrecommended BitLocker on Windows 11.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

On Windows 11, Microsoft has removed the Support and Recovery Assistant utility (SaRA) with the release of the March 2026 Security Update, replacing it with the "Get Help" command-line tool as part of its effort to modernize support tools and improve system security.

For context, Support and Recovery Assistant was specifically designed as a diagnostic utility to automatically troubleshoot and fix common problems affecting Windows 11 (and older versions) and Microsoft 365 apps, including Outlook and Teams. It could detect issues, apply fixes, or guide users through manual steps. However, due to its legacy infrastructure, the tool has now been deprecated and removed from supported versions of the operating system.

Microsoft's replacement is the Get Help command-line tool, known as "GetHelpCmd.exe." While it offers similar diagnostic capabilities, it's built on updated backend services that provide improved security, better integration with enterprise environments, and enhanced support for automation.

The tool is primarily designed for network administrators, but it remains available to anyone comfortable using command-line tools. Using Get Help, you can diagnose and troubleshoot issues on Windows 11 related to Microsoft 365 apps such as Outlook, Teams, and other Office components.

It's important to note that the graphical Get Help app remains the recommended troubleshooting method for most Windows 11 users. The command-line version, however, provides advanced capabilities for power users and network administrators who rely on scripting, remote management, and enterprise diagnostics, offering a modern replacement for the retired Support and Recovery Assistant.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the steps to get started with the Get Help command-line tool for Windows 11.

Important: Microsoft updates this tool regularly. As a result, each build of the app always stops working 90 days after the "Created" date listed in the GetHelpCmd.exe file. So, it's recommended that you frequently redownload the tool to make sure you have access to the latest features and improvements.

Gettings started with Get Help command-line tool on Windows 11

To get started with the Get Help command, use these steps:

1. Download the Get Help files on your computer.
2. Select the ".zip" and click the Extract All button in the File Explorer command bar.
3. Click the Extract button.

4. Open the Start menu.
5. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and choose the Run as administrator option.
6. Type this command to access the directory with the extracted files and press Enter: cd c:\Users\UserName\Downloads\GetHelpCmd
7. (Example 1) Type this command to scan for Outlook (classic) known issues and generate a report in the temp folder, and press Enter: GetHelpCmd.exe -S ExpertExperienceAdminTask -AcceptEula -LogFolder C:\temp
8. (Example 2) Type this command to uninstall all detected versions of Office and press Enter: GetHelpCmd.exe -S OfficeScrubScenario -AcceptEula

Once you complete the steps, you have to look for the output number to confirm the task has been completed successfully.

For instance, if you ran the first example, the "01" code means that an offline scan was performed because Outlook is either not running or running elevated. The "02" code means that a full scan was performed. You can learn more about the conditions and results on this page.

On the other hand, in the second example, the "00" code indicates that the uninstall process completed successfully. The "68" code means that the tool didn't find any version of Office. You can learn more about the conditions and results on this page.

Using the tool, you can troubleshoot a variety of issues, including Microsoft 365 activation problems, Outlook profile errors, calendar synchronization issues, and problems with the Teams Meeting add-in. Microsoft provides additional scenarios and detailed information through its support pages for deeper troubleshooting.

FAQs about the Get Help command-line tool

These are common questions regarding the Get Help command-line tool for Windows 11.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Windows 11 offers improved customization in many areas, but it still has limits. You can change the background image, switch themes, adjust accent colors, and reorganize parts of the Start menu and Taskbar. However, for bigger changes (like restoring classic features, modifying system behaviors, or reshaping the interface), native options quickly run out.

That's where Windhawk steps in. Instead of relying on traditional system tweaks or risky file modifications, Windhawk uses a modular approach that lets you apply small, targeted changes to the operating system. Choosing the right mods, you can transform the desktop's look and behavior, bring back familiar features from previous versions of Windows, and fine-tune elements the system doesn't natively expose.

In other words, while Windows 11 offers some customization options, Windhawk opens the door to a far more flexible and personalized experience, allowing you to completely transform the desktop to fit your preferences.

In this how-to guide, I'll highlight some of the best mods that can help you transform your desktop into something more unique and personal on Windows 11.

Warning: Although Windhawk is known to be a safe application, it's still a third-party app that is not supported by Microsoft. As a result, it's recommended to create a full backup before proceeding and use it at your own risk.

Install Windhawk on Windows 11

You can install the Windhawk in multiple ways, but the easiest method is to use the Windows Package Manager (winget) command. Here's how:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and choose the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to install the Windhawk app and press Enter: winget install --id RamenSoftware.Windhawk

Once you complete the steps, you can launch the Windhawk app from the start menu and install new mods from the "Explorer" page.

Best Windhawk mods for Windows 11

These are the best mods you should try after installing Windhawk on your computer.

Windows 11 Taskbar Styler

The "Windows 11 Taskbar Styler" is one of the best mods available for Windhawk. While many tools offer simple toggles for transparency or icon alignment, this mod provides deep, granular control over the Taskbar's visual elements through XAML styling and resource overrides.

The mod offers three main levels, ranging from one-click themes to manual coding.

If you don't want to mess with code, the mod includes a "Themes" section, which includes popular community themes, including Windows XP, Vista, 7, macOS-style dock, and many more.

You can also use the "Control Styles" to target specific interface elements (using their XAML class names) and override their properties.

Finally, the "Resources Variables" let you override system-defined variables that control the skeleton of the Taskbar, such as sizes, margins, and color mode.

To get started, on the Windhawk's Home page, search for "Windows 11 Taskbar Styler" in the mod, then click the "Install" button. Once installed, in the mod's "Settings" tab, either pick a theme or start adding your own "Control Styles."

Although you can customize the Taskbar manually, my recommendation would be to only use the available themes to keep it simple.

Taskbar on top for Windows 11

If you plan to customize the Taskbar, you probably also want to use the "Taskbar on top for Windows 11" mod.

Although changes are coming, moving the Taskbar to the top was one of the most requested features for Windows 11, and the "Taskbar on top for Windows 11" mod is currently the most reliable way to do it without replacing the entire shell.

Unlike the Taskbar Styler, which I mentioned above, which focuses on the look, this mod specifically focuses on the position.

To get started, from the Windhawk's Home page, search for "Taskbar on top for Windows 11" in the mod, then click the "Install" button. After the installation, the Taskbar should immediately appear at the top of the screen. If not, click the "Enable" button in the mod's settings.

Since the Windows 11 taskbar wasn't designed to be moved, there are a few visual glitches you might notice. For example, the Start menu slides up from the bottom even though the bar is at the top.

Taskbar height and icon size

In simple terms, the "Taskbar height and icon size" mod for Windhawk is essentially the modern successor to the Registry tweak that Microsoft deprecated.

Since the operating system removed the native ability to easily toggle between small and large taskbar sizes, this mod fills that gap by allowing granular control over the bar's height and scaling without affecting your system's overall DPI scaling.

Unlike the system's built-in scaling setting, this mod only targets the Taskbar.

Also, by default, Windows 11 uses 24x24 icons (downscaled from 32x32), which can look blurry. This mod lets you set them to 32x32 for a much crisper look.

Of course, you can manually set the height in pixels and the icon size, allowing for a really compact Taskbar or a larger, touch-friendly version.

To get started, from the Home page, search for "Taskbar height and icon size" in the mod, then click the "Install" button. After installation, you can adjust the Taskbar height and icon size in the mod's "Settings" tab.

Windows 11 Start Menu Styler

Another great mod is the "Windows 11 Start Menu Styler," which lets you completely rewrite the Start menu's visual appearance using themes and custom XAML and CSS.

It's essentially a skinner for the menu that doesn't replace system files, making it much safer than older transformation packs.

As part of the features, it comes with several built-in presets that can instantly change the look, such as SunValley, Windows 10X, LiquidGlass, and Aero.

It allows advanced tweaks, such as changing corner radii, adding blur effects, and adjusting transparency levels, but you'll usually want to stick with the available themes.

To get started, from the Home page, search for "Windows 11 Start Menu Styler" in the mod, then click the "Install" button. After installation, you can choose one of the themes for the Start menu from the mod's Settings tab using the "Theme" menu.

Sometimes this mod can break the Start menu style after a particular update because it hooks directly into the StartMenuExperienceHost.exe. If this happens, turn off the mod and wait for an update to become available.

Windows 11 File Explorer Styler

The "Windows 11 File Explorer Styler" is another mod that gives you granular control over the File Explorer interface.

Since File Explorer has shifted to a WinUI 3-based architecture, traditional skinning became difficult. This mod works by injecting custom XAML styles and resource overrides directly into the explorer.exe process.

As part of the features, you can hide or resize specific elements that Microsoft doesn't allow you to touch, such as the address bar, the search box, or the command bar.

It supports community themes, with popular options often including LiquidGlass or styles that mimic the Aero style from Windows 7.

To get started, from the Home page, search for "Windows 11 File Explorer Styler" in the mod, then click the "Install" button. After installation, you can choose a theme for File Explorer in the mod's Settings tab, under the "Theme" menu, then click the "Save settings" button.

You can also use the "Translucent background effect" settings to change the type of blur applied to the window, and "Translucent background effect region" to define where the effect is visible.

Classic context menu on Windows 11

You can also pair the "Windows 11 File Explorer Styler" mod with the "Classic context menu on Windows 11" mod, which replaces the modern with the classic context menu.

To get started, from the Home page, search for "Classic context menu on Windows 11" in the mod, then click the "Install" button. After installation, the classic menu will be enabled immediately.

Windows 11 Notification Center Styler

Finally, the transformation of the desktop would not be complete without the "Windows 11 Notification Center Styler," which lets you target the system's flyout menus, specifically the Notification Center (Win+N) and the Quick Settings, to change their layouts, transparency, and overall aesthetic.

Similar to the other stylers, it uses XAML injection, meaning you can hide parts of the interface that Microsoft usually forces on you.

As part of the features, you can use presets like Unified, WindowGlass, Fluid, and Oversimplified & Accentuated. Again, since this is a styler, you can manually change parts of the Notification Center using the available settings. However, usually, the "Theme" setting should be enough for most users.

To get started, from the Home page, search for "Windows 11 Notification Center Styler" in the mod, then click the "Install" button. After installation, you can choose from the different themes from the "Settings" tab, and then click the "Save settings" button.

How Windhawk works

The core of Windhawk is dynamic code injection. Instead of modifying ".exe" or ".dll" files on the setup, it waits for a program to start and injects code directly into that process's memory.

It uses hooks to intercept function calls. For example, if a mod wants to change the Taskbar color, it can intercept the system's drawing commands and replace them with custom instructions on the fly.

Because it doesn't modify system files, it's generally safer than patching binaries, and most issues can be resolved with a reboot or by uninstalling the mod. However, because it operates inside critical processes, crashes or instability are still possible.

Final thoughts

Windows 11 gives you a decent amount of control over how your desktop looks and behaves, but Windhawk is what truly opens the door. These mods let you reshape the OS, not just tweak it. Whether it’s reclaiming Taskbar features Microsoft removed, refining the Start menu, cleaning up File Explorer, or adding small quality‑of‑life touches you didn’t realize you needed, Windhawk turns Windows 11 into something that feels personal rather than prescribed.

If you’ve ever wished Windows would “just work” the way you want, this is the toolkit that gets you there.

What’s the first mod you’re installing? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Xbox Cloud Gaming has made it possible to play high-end games on almost any device, but the experience is still limited by fixed settings, restricted controls, and inconsistent performance. While the service continues to evolve, tech-savvy users often run into the same barriers, such as the lack of bitrate control, no visibility into network performance, and limited input flexibility.

That's where Better xCloud comes in, adding advanced controls to Xbox Cloud Gaming through the browser so you can improve quality, responsiveness, and overall performance. For anyone serious about cloud gaming on PC, it can significantly boost the experience without requiring new hardware.

Important: According to the developer, Better xCloud is safe to use. However, it's still a third-party tool that Microsoft doesn't support. So use it at your own risk.

What is Better xCloud?

Better xCloud is an unofficial, open-source tool designed to improve Xbox Cloud Gaming, specifically through the browser.

The tool is actually a script that you have to install using a script manager, such as Tampermonkey. Once installed, the tool modifies the web version of Xbox Cloud Gaming in real time, adding features that are not available by default.

On Windows 11, Better xCloud delivers higher, more consistent streaming quality with manual bitrate and resolution controls, lowers latency through server selection and network tweaks, and provides real-time diagnostics like ping and FPS.

It also expands mouse and keyboard functionality for PC-style gameplay and lets you tailor the interface for larger screens and multitasking, resulting in a more refined and responsive cloud gaming experience.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the steps to install and set up Better xCloud to improve your gaming experience online using the web browser on Windows 11.

How to install Better xCloud on Windows 11

To install the Better xCloud script on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:

1. Open the Tampermonkey extension's official page.
2. Click the "Get extension" button and install it in the browser.

3. Open the extension management page in Edge using this path: edge://extensions
4. Click the Details button for the Tampermonkey extension.
5. Turn on the "Allow User Scripts" toggle switch.

6. Open the Better xCloud script page.
7. Click the Install button.

8. Open the xCloud web interface using the Xbox Game Pass account.
9. (Optional) Click the server name next to your user profile picture (if necessary).

• Quick note: This script currently works only in the legacy view of the experience. If you're in the new xCloud experience, click the "Exit preview" button before you can access the tool.

10. Change the suggested settings to improve your gaming experience.

The suggested settings should be optimal for most users. However, from the Better xCloud experience, you can force the service to use a different language and server, including region. You can change the target resolution and visual quality, as well as mouse and keyboard controls. Furthermore, you can also control audio, video, controller preferences, and more.

FAQs about improving Xbox Cloud Gaming on Windows 11

These are common questions regarding Better xCloud script for Microsoft Edge.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) has seen an unprecedented resurgence based mostly on the Steam Spring Sale price of $5.99. It's seen the platform's previous high player counts left in the dust, peaking at over 60,000 this past weekend.

Times have changed since the game launched, though, and hardware has come on a few generations since. When Modern Warfare (2019) first hit the market, NVIDIA was on the RTX 20 series, its first-gen ray tracing-capable GPUs.

We're now on the RTX 50 series, and many jumping back into Modern Warfare (2019) on more modern hardware are seeing graphics issues. I'm one of them. No matter what combination of settings I tried with my RTX 5090, it was all blocky and distracting and looked horrible. Turns out if you're in the same boat, your NVIDIA driver is probably to blame.

A solid hat tip to this old Reddit thread I found while investigating the problem, which has been resurrected in recent days along with the game.

In short, if you're running an older NVIDIA driver on your RTX 50 series, it's likely this could be what's causing the blockiness in Modern Warfare (2019). I updated to the latest release, 575.79, and by magic, everything is fine again.

So, if you're on an older driver and Modern Warfare (2019) looks like hell, go ahead and update, and it should fix the problem. It's best to make sure you do a clean installation, too, which you can do either from the NVIDIA app or by using the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU). This will completely remove the old driver first before installing the new one.

Modern Warfare (2019) is, like basically every Call of Duty game, divisive. Many players hold it in high regard, others less so. I originally fell into the latter, and I'm not afraid to say I've enjoyed playing it more this time around than back in 2019/2020.

My experience was spoiled by the graphics issues, but nothing in-game seemed to help fix it fully. So if you're in the same position I was, go ahead and get the newest NVIDIA driver, and you'll be back having a blast in no time.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Crimson Desert, the popular and long-awaited new open-world action-adventure game from Pearl Abyss, is big. Like, really big. In fact, its colossal map is bigger than that of Skyrim's and Red Dead Redemption 2's combined, and based on what reviews say, you'll be trekking through the vast regions and biomes of Pywel for upwards of 200 hours if you want to see all that it has in store for you.

For some, that's an exciting prospect — an opportunity to truly get lost in a world that's prepared to reward you with exciting discoveries around every forest, hill, and mountain. For others, though, it's pretty daunting, especially if you have a limited amount of time to play or struggle to pick a direction when you're faced with the chance to pick any one you'd like.

For the latter folks — or anyone that's simply struggling to find a specific place or thing — interactive maps are a great resource, as they show you where everything in open-world titles like Crimson Desert is and makes it easy to figure out where you'll find certain points of interest, items to loot, and more. That saves time and gives you some guidance, even if it also robs you of the joy of discovery. Tradeoffs!

Just a single day after Crimson Desert's release, a comprehensive interactive map has already been created, and is available to use now.

Crimson Desert: Interactive map of Pywel

That map is the Crimson Desert interactive map from MapGenie.io, which has become my go-to source for these things ever since I realized they were a thing. MapGenie has an interactive map for pretty much every open-world game out there, and it got one up for Crimson Desert within hours.

Its community of cartographers have already mapped out hundreds of landmarks, key locations, and other points of interest, and I'm sure in a few days' time, the entirety of Pywel will be charted and visible.

Using the map is very intuitive; it's got simple controls for scrolling and zooming in and out on both mouse and a touchscreen, and you can select the name of each of the game's six regions to zero in on a specific one. It's also got toggleable filters for each type of POIs, and a search bar you can use for finding specific spots.

All in all, MapGenie's interactive maps tend to be the best there are, so if you're interested in using one for Crimson Desert, this is definitely the one I recommend. Others will pop up, of course, but I've never seen interactive maps with more thorough information or a more user-friendly interface than MapGenie's.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Call of Duty: Warzone Black Ops Royale has landed and the new Avalon experience brings with it a number of fresh challenges with mode-exclusive rewards.

There are nine Operator Orders to complete, all challenges with cryptic descriptions that are merely there to point you towards the right locations on the map.

One of the more straightforward Operator Orders is New Orders, which rewards one of the three total weapon Camos available from Black Ops Royale. It doesn't require you to fight (if you're lucky) and you don't have to finish a full match. Here's what you need to do.

How to complete the New Orders Operator Order in Black Ops Royale

There are two locations where you can get this Operator Order done, either at Golf Club or Chop Shop. I did Chop Shop, as documented in the video above, and I'd recommend this because it's a smaller POI and easier to get done quickly.

Drop into Chop Shop and head for the roof of the largest building. Run along and drop onto the yellow gantry at the end, and you'll find the phone.

Interact with the phone to start the New Orders Operator Order, and the next step will trigger.

As with the Lost Tags Operator Order, you have to collect 10 paint cans from within the POI, and the search area will be highlighted on your minimap with a red circle.

Just run around and check all the buildings, on top of world items such as tables, on the floor, inside, and outside; there are plenty of locations they can spawn. Chop Shop isn't very big, so if you have a squad or you're at least without any enemies nearby, you'll be able to find them all in just a couple of minutes.

Once you collect all 10, the Bogey Camo unlocked message will pop up on the screen, and it's yours (and your squadmates') to keep forever. You do need to collect all 10 in a single match, though. If you fail, you'll have to start over from the first step.

And as an added bonus, you'll get 5,000 XP as well as the Camo upon completion. I think the Spotted Camo from the Lost Tags Operator Order looks better than this one, but it's still not a bad looker on its own.

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Call of Duty: Warzone Black Ops Royale is finally here, bringing with it a host of new challenges and rewards to unlock.

Some of these are the Operator Orders, nine challenges with cryptic descriptions that give you a little hint but largely leave you to figure them out for yourself.

One of the Operator Orders is called Memories and unlocks the Landfall Operator skin for Black Ops 7's central character, Mason. Unlike, say, the Lost Tags Operator Order, which involves collecting some items, this one takes a little more effort. Here's how to get it done.

How to complete the Memories Operator Order in Black Ops Royale

The initial clue for Memories simply points you in the direction of the Stadium and that you need to find a shirt. Stadium is pretty big, but there's one location you should usually be able to find the shirt if you can get there quick enough.

Drop in, and you need to land inside, specifically on the North Stand, above the bottom couple of rows of seats. Go into the concourse area and locate a blue container on wheels. The shirt will be on top of it, so pick it up to trigger the next step.

This will take you over to Heliport, which is a long way from Stadium. You're told to look for a photo, but the harder part is getting there. Sometimes a helicopter will spawn on the pitch, so this is your best bet. If there isn't one, get there as fast as you can by any means necessary.

Once you get to the Heliport, head inside the main building, and in front of you will be the "D'Avalon Heliport" desk. Directly behind it on the wall is a photo in a frame of four fighter jets.

Interact with it to read the note (no spoilers, but it's from a familiar Black Ops character), and this will trigger the final step.

Now you have to finish in the top five to complete the Operator Order and unlock the reward. How you do this is entirely up to you. Personally, I took the snake approach, staying as close to the edge of the circle as possible and avoiding trouble until safely inside the top five.

Once the match ends, you'll see a message on screen saying "+750 Operator Order Complete" and in the after-action lobby, you'll see your new Landfall Operator skin and a cool 10,000 XP for your troubles.

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Call of Duty: Warzone Black Ops Royale is finally here, and with it are some new rewards to unlock for completing challenges.

Of these are the Operator Orders, a series of challenges with somewhat cryptic descriptions that are merely there to point you vaguely in the right direction.

One of the 'easier' ones to complete is the Lost Tags Operator Order, which unlocks the new Spotted weapon Camo. I say 'easier' because it's one of the challenges that doesn't require fighting other players. All you know is that it's in the Old Arsenal area of the map. Here's how to get it done.

How to complete the Lost Tags Operator Order in Black Ops Royale

The Operator Order simply tells you to find lost dog tags in the Old Arsenal area; from there, you're on your own. To get it done, follow the steps below and highlighted in the video clip above.

To find the dog tags and begin the Operator Order, first drop into the Old Arsenal POI. Specifically, you want the tall red construction in the middle.

Head inside it and go to the top floor and locate the desk. On it you'll find the dog tags, so interact to pick them up and you'll unlock the ability to complete the rest of the challenge.

The rest of the challenge is to pick up paint cans from within the Old Arsenal area. They have to be from here; paint cans from any other Operator Order elsewhere on the map won't count towards it. You also need to collect all 10 in a single match; otherwise you'll need to start over again.

I wish I had a specific guide to where to find them all, but it does appear to vary. You simply need to explore. Get inside buildings and look on top of items outside such as barrels; you just have to scour the entire area.

Once you've collected 10 paint cans, the Operator Order is complete, and you'll have yourself the smart-looking Spotted Camo!

This is just one of nine Operator Orders you can complete in the new mode, with another Camo to unlock, Operator skins and more. See you in Avalon!

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is now in its second mid-season content rotation with the launch of Season 02 Reloaded.

While a new Zombies map, Paradox Junction, and the new Black Ops Royale mode are the headline stealers, there's plenty of other goodies to enjoy.

The first event of Season 02 Reloaded, Altitude Tactics, is here, and the mastery reward for completing it is the new Voyak KT-3 assault rifle. As it's an XP event, the good news is you can make it really fast and relatively painless to complete and get the rewards.

How to finish the Black Ops 7 Altitude Tactics event as fast as possible

As Altitude Tactics is an XP event, to complete it and gain all the rewards, all you need to do is gain XP, with 250,000 required in total. All rewards are available to all players; there's no premium track you can buy.

To get the Voyak KT-3 you need to get enough XP to first get all six of the regular rewards. These include a new Universal Camo, Calling Card, Weapon Charm, and more.

There's no right and wrong way to get XP fast, but there are some things you can do to speed it up.

The first thing I recommend is to avoid Multiplayer. Even with 2XP enabled, XP gains in Multiplayer are going to be slower for most of us. My personal preference is to use Endgame, as it's a really easy way to rack up a lot of XP in a short space of time when 2XP events are on as they are now.

The image above shows how much XP I gained from a single match in Endgame, almost enough to unlock the first three rewards. Just drop in, do activities, get as many eliminations as you can, and get out. Rinse and repeat.

The other mode I always turn to when trying to get events like this done fast is Warzone Casual. Since it's mostly bots, it's not that hard to get lots of XP from a single match. With the added bonus that you get an XP boost if you also own Black Ops 7.

The other tip is to do as many things as you can that reward XP while you're playing your matches. If you've still got Camos to unlock, do some of those, likewise Calling Card or Dark Ops challenges. It's also good to work on the daily and weekly challenges at the same time, since those are essentially free XP on top.

Stack as many XP-gaining things as you can in the mode you're most comfortable in, and take advantage of the 2XP weekend (or tokens if it's expired when you're reading this), and you'll have the event finished in absolutely no time at all.

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Season 02 Reloaded is upon us for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, but it's a little bit of an unusual rollout when it comes to the content.

Besides the hotly anticipated Black Ops Royale mode coming to Warzone, Black Ops 7 Zombies is getting its third big map, too, Paradox Junction, following on from Ashes of the Damned and Astra Malorum.

Ordinarily we'd expect update content to go live on a Thursday, but that's not the case this time around. Here's exactly when you can play Paradox Junction.

When does Paradox Junction go live in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies?

So, when can you play?

Paradox Junction goes live with the bulk of the Season 02 Reloaded content on Wednesday, March 11, at 9am Pacific.

For those on the East Coast, that's 12pm, and thanks to the U.S. having put its clocks forward, it'll be live an hour earlier for those of us in Europe. The UK will go live at 4pm with it being 5pm in mainland Europe.

As it's a new map, as is traditional, there will be no Directed Mode for a little while. Players can also unlock a series of rewards for completing the main easter egg:

• A new Blundergat Wonder Weapon Skin, Calling Card, and 10,000 XP.
• Complete Paradox Junction Mastery Challenge for another Calling Card and 5,000 XP.
• Obtain the necessary Intel — Audio Logs, Documents, and Artifacts — to earn a third Calling Card and another 10,000 XP.
• Players who complete the Main Quest before Directed Mode arrives for this map will also earn a unique Calling Card variant.

As on the existing maps, Cursed Mode will be unlocked upon completion of the main easter egg, and there are new relics to uncover.

Paradox Junction will also have a leaderboard event during Season 02 Reloaded, with another raft of time-limited rewards to get your hands on.

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Put down that Kar98. Toss aside your M4A1. Call of Duty: Warzone's next big update introduces the Blackout-inspired mode, Black Ops Royale, and it's bringing some big changes to weapon loadouts.

Call of Duty: Warzone's meta loadouts are a thing of the past. Rather than rapidly completing contracts to earn cash to buy your favorite gear, Black Ops Royale will require players to earn their victories with nothing more than what they can scavenge from Avalon.

As with standard Warzone, Black Ops Royale will feature supply boxes — regular and Guild-branded — that will spit out weapons, armor plates, tacticals, killstreaks, and consumable perks.

Weapon rarity will return, but the newly introduced Build Archetype will change the way you can upgrade and build out your weapons while on the ground in Avalon.

Weapon rarity in Black Ops Royale

Weapon rarity doesn't change much from standard Call of Duty: Warzone gameplay to Black Ops Royale, but one notable difference is that all weapons will have five predetermined attachments.

While all five attachments are visible in the upgrade path for every weapon, only the number of attachments currently active for that rarity is highlighted. The remaining attachments remain grayed out until the weapon is upgraded to that rarity. This provides players a chance to get visual intel on potential upgrades for a weapon at a quick glance.

Weapon rarity and attachment count are:

• Common (Gray): One attachment
• Uncommon (Green): Two attachments
• Rare (Blue): Three attachments
• Epic (Purple): Four attachments
• Legendary (Orange): Five attachments (maximum for normally secured weapons)

The available attachments can be viewed by inspecting the weapon, checking the Tac Map > Upgrade Path menu, or when you upgrade the weapon. Attachments that are highlighted are visually fixed to the weapon and active upon pickup, while grayed-out attachments are automatically added to the weapon as its rarity is increased.

Attachment kits can be found and used to upgrade a weapon's rarity, with the end goal of unlocking all predetermined attachments for your weapon. There's no swapping out for meta loadouts or planning your own gun builds. Black Ops Royale is all about the scavenger experience. Attachment kits are easy to spot thanks to their signature purple glow.

Weapon archetypes and building for playstyles in Black Ops Royale

The weapons you loot in Black Ops Royale are play tested and built to cater to distinct playstyles, creating Weapon Archetypes. Archetype themes are named according to the playstyles they cater to, with the Call of Duty team having shared builds named "CQB", "Raider", "Covert", "Viper", "Heavy Metal", "Stalker" ahead of launch.

The team also shared an example of the "Covert" archetype, describing it as the AK-27 with a silencer and extended magazine size.

Weapon archetypes aren't locked into specific locations, and any archetype can be looted from any supply box in Avalon. However, the available looted weapons are exclusively from the Black Ops 7 armory. Weapons from Modern Warfare and Black Ops 6 will not be a part of the loot pool for Black Ops Royale.

The following weapon archetype themes are to be expected in Black Ops Royale; however, weapon archetype availability and stats may be adjusted throughout the season:

• Assault rifle archetype: CQB
  • Front line and aggressive loadout that bridges the gap between an AR and SMG. Available on the M15 MOD 0, DS20 Mirage, Peacekeeper Mk1, and EGRT-17.
  • Potential upgrades include increased ADS speed, sprint-to-fire speed, sprint speed, aim-walking speed, horizontal recoil control, 45-round mag, red dot optic.
• Assault rifle archetype: Recon
  • Veteran long-range player, built for holding positions and challenging at range. Available on the M15 MOD 0, AK-27, MXR-17, Maddox RFB, EGRT-17.
  • Potential upgrades include increased vertical recoil control, horizontal recoil control, bullet velocity, all damage ranges, flinch resistance, 3x scope, 60-round mag.
• Assault rifle archetype: Covert
  • Under the radar gameplay, maintaining accuracy and stealth. Available on the AK-27, MXR-17, DS20 Mirage, Peacekeeper Mk1, Maddox RFB.
  • Potential upgrades include a suppressor, increased mid-damage range, aiming movement speed, vertical recoil control, non-sprint speed, ADS speed, 45-round mag, 2x scope, and a laser.

• SMG archetype: Burner
  • Built for close-quarters combat with fast movement and improved reaction times. Available on the Ryden 45K, Razor 9mm, Kogot-7, REV-46.
  • Potential upgrades include ADS speed, sprint-to-fire speed, rate of fire, sprint movement speed, hipfire spread, iron sights, and a 40-round mag.
• SMG archetype: Stalker
  • For the flankers who want to stay under the radar. Available on the Ryden 45K, Razor 9mm, Dravec 45, Carbon 57, Sturmwolf, Kogot-7, REV-46.
  • Potential upgrades include suppressed fire, aiming movement speed, horizontal recoil control, non-sprint speed, damage range, hybrid scope (1x vs 2x) or MM optic, 40-round mag.
• SMG archetype: Mantis
  • Bridging the gap between SMG and Assault Rifles by improving effectiveness at SMG's max ranges. Available on the Dravec 45, Carbon 57, and Sturmwolf.
  • Increased stats include damage range, bullet velocity, vertical recoil control, horizontal recoil control, flinch resistance, 2x scope, 50-round mag.

• Shotgun archetype: Raider
  • Designed for aggressive rushers running the M10 Breacher or Echo 12.
  • Increased stats include sprint speed, sprint to fire speed, aimed walking speed, hipfire spread, ADS speed, and fire rate.
• Shotgun archetype: Bug Out
  • Built for steady aim and combat readiness on the M10 Breacher.
  • Increased stats include damage range, ADS pellet spread, vertical recoil, aiming movement speed, magazine size.
• Shotgun archetype: Striker
  • Good damage up close, but better and more effective damage at mid-range. Available on the M10 Breacher.
  • Improved aiming movement speed, ADS pellet spread, damage range, and ADS speed.

• LMG Archetype: Lockdown
  • Intended for those who want to hold down a position, at the cost of mobility. Available on the Sokol 545.
  • Attachment improvements include suppressed fire, aiming movement speed, ADS speed, horizontal recoil, movement speed, rate of fire.
• LMG archetype: Patrol
  • For the more mobile LMG-fans, available on the MK.72 and XM325.
  • Increased stats include sprint speed, sprint-to-fire speed, aimed movement speed, vertical recoil control, hipfire spread, red dot optic.
• LMG archetype: Heavy Metal
  • Long-range engagements with heavy firepower on the MK.76, Sokol 545, and XM325.
  • Increased stats via attachments include vertical and horizontal recoil, damage range, flinch resistance, ADS speed, and bullet velocity.

• Marksman rifle archetype: Scout
  • Mobile, with quick target identification and engagement. This one's for the would-be quickscopers using the M34 Novaline.
  • Increased stats via attachment kits include damage range, magazine size, aiming idle sway, and flinch resistance.
• Marskman rifle archetype: Widow
  • For the stealthy, this M34 Novaline archetype is for those who want to stay under the radar without sacrificing mobility.
  • Increased stats include suppressed fire, aiming movement speed, ADS speed, vertical recoil control, and fire rate.
• Sniper rifle archetype: Viper
  • If you want a heavy-hitting rifle that can take out foes in one shot, this VS Recon archetype is what you're looking for in Avalon.
  • Attachment increases include bullet velocity, flinch resistance, aiming idle sway, vertical recoil control, and rechamber speed.
• Sniper rifle archetype: Redacted
  • It's not Black Ops without a little redaction. This Hawker HX archetype favors shooting and movement with stealth.
  • Increased stats include suppressed fire, bullet velocity, damage range, rechamber speed, ADS, and flinch resistance.

• Pistol archetype: CQB
  • Similar to the assault rifle archetype of the same name, CQB is built for close-range engagements with a quickdraw Jäger 45.
  • Increased stats include ADS speed, sprint to fire speed, sprint speed, fire rate, and magazine size.
• Pistol archetype: Akimbo
  • Two is better than one, so dual-wield CODA 9 pistols for rapid engagements.
  • Upgrades include dual wield, hipfire spread, sprint-to-fire speed, sprint speed, damage range, and magazine size.
• Pistol archetype: Sentinel
  • Pistol fans can enjoy stealthy gameplay too with the Velox 5.7.
  • Kit upgrades include suppressed fire, damage range, vertical recoil, aiming movement speed, magazine size, 1x optic.

Launchers, specials, and melee weaponry can also be looted in Black Ops Royale. However, these weapons will not feature archetype themes.

Exotic weapons offer an exception to the rules of archetypes

It's not Call of Duty: Warzone without a little chaos thrown in for good measure. Exotic weapons offer a deviation from normal weapon rarity and archetype rules. These weapons might feature unique abilities that can turn the tide of battle, but you're going to have to struggle a little more to get your hands on them.

Exotic weapons can have up to eight attachments and feature the Ultra (gold) rarity level. There's no need for weapon kits; they're already maxed out immediately. There could be as few as one per match, so good luck getting your hands on one.

An example of an exotic weapon players can find in Black Ops Royale is the "Backdrive", a Dravec 45 SMG variant featuring eight attachments and some additional abilities just to make things spicy.

• "Backdrive" Dravec 45 exotic SMG
  • 45% Improved Damage Range
  • 40% Faster Reload Speed
  • 30% Faster Jog, Sprint & ADS Move Speed
  • 80 Round Mag
  • 50% Faster ADS Speed
  • 70% Faster Sprint to Fire Speed
  • Reflex Optic
  • 10% Faster Fire Rate
  • 40% Reduced Recoil

Equipment and scorestreaks, new and returning

Customized loadouts are out for Black Ops Royale, but there is still plenty of equipment and score streaks that can be found in supply boxes as loot. The following gear is confirmed for Black Ops Royale:

• Tacticals
  • EMP Grenade (Uncommon)
  • Flashbang (Common)
  • Grappling Hook (Uncommon)
  • Psych Grenade (Common)
  • Sensor Dart (Rare)
  • Smoke Grenade (Common)
  • Stim Shot (Common)
  • Stun Grenade (Common)

• Lethals
  • Cluster Grenade (Uncommon)
  • Combat Axe (Uncommon)
  • Cymbal Monkey (Rare, only from Cradle Breaches)
  • Frag Grenade (Common)
  • Needle Drone (Rare)
  • Point Turret (Rare)
  • Sticky Grenade (Common)

• Field Upgrades
  • Armor Box (Common)
  • Bubble Shield (Rare)
  • Deployable Cover (Common)
  • Echo Unit (Common)
  • Munitions Box (Uncommon)
  • Trauma Kit (Uncommon)
  • Trophy System (Common)

• Scorestreaks
  • D.A.W.G.
  • Deadeye Drone
  • Death Machine
  • Hand Cannon
  • HKDs
  • Psych Bomb
  • RC-XD
  • War Machine

In addition to confirmed equipment, the Call of Duty team has also confirmed the return of inventory equipment items like the armor satchel and tiered armor vests, redeploy tokens, and a new safecracker drive, which grants access to Guild Safes across Avalon.

Despite Black Ops Royale sitting alongside standard Warzone Battle Royale modes in Call of Duty: Warzone, it is expected to make significant changes to how players experience the game.

The changes to loadouts will force players to adapt in real time, even when the stakes are high, and utilize weapons and equipment as they are available rather than rushing for the safety of their personal custom loadouts.

The change should also shake up the reliance on weapon metas, instead encouraging players to pick up and use weapons that best suit their playstyles. Will you run and gun or wait for an ambush?

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The long-awaited reveal of the Blackout-inspired mode for Call of Duty has finally happened, and it's coming on March 12 (or March 13, depending on which part of the world you're in.)

Its name could trick folks into thinking they need Black Ops 7 in order to play; after all, the original Blackout was part of Black Ops 4. To play battle royale, you had to buy the whole game.

That's not the case now, as Black Ops Royale will be part of the Warzone package. It's being tagged on as another mode, similar to how Battle Royale and Resurgence currently are.

The difference being it's on Avalon, it has a different ruleset (no loadouts or buy stations, for example), and it uses the Black Ops 7 weapon and equipment catalog. So anything you use on the other modes from previous Call of Duty games won't be part of the loot pool here.

But as Warzone is integrated with Black Ops 7 anyway, you'll be able to enjoy the same leveling progress across both. If you want to get a heads-up on the map layout, though, and you do own Black Ops 7, jump into Endgame and explore!

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Having been teased since the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, we now finally know more about the new Blackout-inspired battle royale mode we've been waiting on.

Black Ops Royale brings the spirit of the original Call of Duty battle royale experience into Warzone with Season 02 Reloaded.

As it's in Warzone (and unlike the original Blackout) you don't need to own Black Ops 7 in order to play. It's free for all to enjoy, though it does things a little differently, and it's only for Black Ops 7 weapons and equipment.

Exactly when you can play Black Ops Royale in Call of Duty: Warzone

While Black Ops Royale will launch with Season 02 Reloaded, it won't be live at the same time as the rest of the content drops.

Black Ops Royale goes live on Thursday, March 12, at 9pm PT, which is midnight Friday, March 13, on the East Coast, and a more sleep-defying 4am GMT and 5am in mainland Europe.

Black Ops Royale brings the spirit of Blackout to the modern Warzone audience and completely changes up the gameplay. Gone are the loadouts and buy stations; instead, you have to scavenge all of your gear in order to survive and, ultimately, win.

It's set on the new Avalon map that, until now, has only been part of the campaign and the Endgame modes.

The Wingsuit will be a vital tool for traversing the large Avalon map quickly. The original Call of Duty battle royale Perks system is back, albeit with a twist. None of the five slots are fixed, they can be swapped and consumed as needed to give yourself the ultimate edge.

This is one of the biggest changes to Warzone in recent memory, and whether it truly does recapture the glorious old days, time will tell. At least we don't have to wait too much longer.

I'm just wondering if there will be any easter eggs to unlock...

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On Windows 11, you can manage many different features and system settings, but settings are scattered across the operating system, and many features cannot be configured. This is when the Sophia Script for Windows comes in handy.

The Sophia Script is an open-source PowerShell module designed to debloat and fine-tune Windows 11 (and Windows 10). It is widely considered one of the most comprehensive tools for power users who want to automate the tedious process of setting up a new operating system installation or reclaiming privacy from Microsoft's default settings.

Rather than a simple "click and run" program, it is a collection of over 150 unique functions that interact with the operating system through officially supported methods to ensure system stability.

The script helps you to improve different areas of Windows 11, including privacy and telemetry, bloatware control, interface customization, system optimization, and security.

In this how-to guide, I will outline the steps to get started debloating and fine-tuning Windows 11 with this Sophia Script.

Although if you use the script correctly, this is non-destructive process, it's always recommended that you make a full backup of your PC before proceeding.

How to use Sophia Script on Windows 11

The Sophia Script is not a one-click solution. Actually, you have to modify the script manually to specify which optimizations you want to perform.

Download Sophia Script

To download the Sophia Script for Windows, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and choose the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to download the script and press Enter: iwr script.sophia.team -useb | iex

Alternatively, you can also download the script from this GitHub page. If you're running Windows 11, you want to download the "Sophia.Script.for.Windows.11.vx.x.x.zip" file, but it'll also depend on the version of the operating system you're using.

Once you downloaded the tool and extracted the files, inside the "Sophia" folder, you'll find several files and folders.

The "Sophia.ps1" file is one of the most important files, as it's a preset file that includes all the commands you want to run on your computer. However, it doesn't include any of the actual code. You'll only find the commands to run the code from the "Functions.ps1" file.

Edit Sophia Script

Before you can use the script, you have to edit it to choose the functions you want to run on Windows 11. For this part of the process, you'll need a text editor, but an app like Visual Studio Code will be preferable since this app offers code highlighting to make it easier to read and minimize mistakes.

To edit the Sophia Script, use these steps:

1. Open Visual Studio Code (or another code editor).
2. Click the File menu and choose the Open File option.
3. Select the Sophia.ps1 file and click the Open button.
4. Clear the "#" sign for each of the functions you want to run under the "Preset configuration starts here" section.

• Quick note: While the function call has comments, the command is usually on the third line, which you have to comment out.

5. Insert the "#" sign to prevent the script from running a specific function.
6. Save the file (Ctrl+S).

You must understand the script's functions before running it to avoid unexpected results. This script includes over 150 functions, but you don't have to turn them all on and run them. You only have to pick the ones you want.

Also, be careful editing this script, because it includes many functions with different parameters, and the last command will always take precedence.

Once you're done editing the file to select the functions you want to run, save the file and exit the code editor.

Alternatively, you can use the Sophia wrapper, a graphical interface that allows you to customize the script file.

You can download the latest wrapper (Sophia.Script.Wrapper.vx.x.xx.zip) from the GitHub page (see the above link).

Once you extract the files, you need to run the SophiaScriptWrapper.exe file to launch the interface. Then import the Sophia.ps1 file using the "Import Export" option.

Customize the functions to fit your preferences using the left pane to navigate through the different categories.

Finally, export the custom script, and save it with a different name in the Sophia Script original extracted file, where the Sophia.ps1 is located.

You can now continue with the instructions below to run the script.

Run the Sophia Script

To run the Sophia Script for Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and choose the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to open the directory with the script and press Enter: cd path\to\folder
4. Type the following command to allow the system to run the script without being blocked and press Enter: Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force
5. Type the following command to run the already customized Sophia Script for Windows and press Enter: .\Sophia.ps1

After you complete the steps, the script will run, but it won't run fully automatically. Depending on the functions you enable, you will see pop-ups with options to change.

If the script seems frozen while running, don't rush. Instead, wait or press the space bar, but don't press "Enter," as that will cause the script to skip a specific function.

Run multiple functions

If you don't want to modify the entire Sophia Script, you can run functions individually. Here's how.

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and choose the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to open the directory with the script and press Enter: cd path\to\folder
4. Type the following command to allow the system to run the script without being blocked and press Enter: Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force
5. Type the following command to launch the functions script and press Enter:. .\Import-TabCompletion.ps1
6. (Option 1) Type the following command to call any function and press Enter: Sophia -Functions and TAB key multiple times to cycle through the functions, and press "Enter" in the function you want to run.

7. (Option 2) Type the following command to call any function and press Enter: Sophia -Functions temp and use the TAB key to cycle through the functions with the "temp" word in the name.
8. (Option 3) Type the following command to call any function and press Enter: Sophia -Functions "DiagTrackService -Disable", "DiagnosticDataLevel -Minimal"

Once you complete the steps, the function you selected will run to enable, disable, or configure a specific feature.

Windows Central's take

The Sophia Script is more than “a complex tool” that runs silently, but more like a full‑blown, power‑user‑grade control panel for Windows 11, and that much is clear. It goes far beyond the usual debloat apps that flip a handful of switches and call it a day. This thing exposes dozens of system‑level functions, all modular, all transparent, all script‑based, and all designed for people who actually want to understand and shape what Windows is doing under the hood.

Most third‑party tools focus on surface‑level cleanup or a few performance tweaks. Sophia Script operates on a completely different tier: it lets you fine‑tune privacy settings, remove or restore built‑in components, adjust system behaviors, and customize Windows 11 in ways Microsoft doesn’t make easy — or even possible — through the standard UI.

That’s why it’s aimed at advanced users: not because it’s unsafe, but because it gives you real control, and real control requires understanding what each change does.

💬 What do you think about using Sophia Script?

The Sophia Script gives Windows 11 power users a level of control you just can’t get from the regular Settings app — but it’s definitely not a beginner tool. It exposes dozens of system‑level tweaks, privacy controls, and debloat options in a way that’s powerful, transparent, and a little intimidating if you’re not used to scripts.

Are you into this kind of deep‑tuning approach, or does Windows 11 already feel complicated enough? And have you used Sophia Script before with good results, or do you prefer something else? Let us know in the comments!

FAQs about using the Sophia Script for Windows 11

These are common questions regarding the Sophia Script for Windows.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Activision is on a roll with Call of Duty: Warzone since the launch of Season 02, and following the first batch of Secret Challenges, there are now more to complete.

The most recent weekly reset on February 19 added Drop Zones, characterized by red fractures in the sky. Linked to these Drop Zones are the rewards, and it'd be easy to assume they won't be around forever.

The good news is that these secret challenges aren't difficult to complete, and they can be done in Warzone Casual, too. But there is an element of luck involved, so it might take a little time to get everything done.

How to complete the Call of Duty: Warzone Drop Zone secret challenges

There are currently three known challenges and associated rewards relating to the Drop Zones, and they can be completed cumulatively across any of the Warzone maps.

The red fractures in the sky have a chance of appearing starting from the second zone, but they don't spawn in every game.

For sheer quantity, Verdansk seems to be the best play, with my own personal best managing to hit 12 items in a single match. But I'm still short of the final reward, so it gives you a little idea of what to expect!

The red fractures will drop crates up to orange rarity, as well as vehicles. You'll know they're the right items because if you're quick enough, you'll still see the red haze around them. If not, just look for things that seem out of place, like a crate in the middle of a road or at an angle.

Redstorm parachute Secret Challenge

This Secret Challenge isn't difficult, but it does need at least five matches to be played, and that's if you're lucky with the fractures spawning.

Visit a drop zone in five different matches, and you'll get the Redstorm parachute. It doesn't say anything about interacting with the items dropped in the zones, but the chances are you're going to be doing that, anyway.

Shattered Vision weapon sticker

The Shattered Vision weapon sticker is the reward for interacting with three dropped items in a single match.

Head to one of the Drop Zones and simply open three crates or get inside any vehicles that have dropped, and you'll complete the challenge.

Shattered Echo weapon blueprint

This is the most time-consuming to complete, but still no more difficult than the others.

You simply need to interact with 30 items that come from the Drop Zones across any number of matches, and you'll be rewarded with the very slick-looking Shattered Echo blueprint for the Razor SMG.

There's no way of tracking how many items you've interacted with in-game, so you'll have to count manually to track your progress.

Sure, we can do these Secret Challenges the easy way by using Warzone Casual, but if there's one thing that will get me to play more Warzone, it's stuff to unlock.

I've lost count of how many easter eggs we're up to now since the launch of Season 02, but I wouldn't bet against there being some more still to come. And I'm here for it.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

The content flow for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has been more like a torrent, with each week bringing something new for players to grind across all its modes and Warzone.

It's not always easy to know exactly what's going on and how long you have to complete challenges and events, play limited time modes (LTM), and decide which modes to focus on.

So, to help, this is your handy weekly bite-sized guide to what's happening in Call of Duty right now. Feel free to bookmark it, as it'll be continuously updated with all the latest content.

Weekly Challenges

As every week there are a new set of weekly challenges across all four game modes. The usual applies; complete any six and get the reward.

This week the reward is an attachment for the Razor 9mm SMG, the Wildfire Conversion Kit.

It improves firing rate and bullet velocity while also applying an 85-round magazine, at the cost of reduced movement speed while aiming and applying spread when ADS.

As every week, six challenges across all four modes are all you need, and even if you don't want the attachment, it's another tick towards the season-exclusive reward Camos.

The first of those has also been unlocked this week as we're five weeks into the season. Complete the challenges, and assuming you've done weeks 1 - 4, you'll unlock the animated Sword of Swords Camo. It actually looks really nice, definitely one of the better free Camos we've got so far.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 content this week

Throwback Moshpit in Multiplayer

In Multiplayer there is a new playlist called Throwback Moshpit, and it's exactly as it sounds.

It uses open matchmaking and consists entirely of the remastered old Black Ops maps, such as Fringe, Standoff, and Meltdown.

Since there's actually a healthy selection of classic maps brought back for Black Ops 7, it's not a bad rotation.

Hunt or be Hunted Multiplayer Exclusive event

Hey look, another leaderboard event! And this one is going to be sweaty. That's because it's a Multiplayer exclusive, and it's based around getting as many eliminations as you can.

As with previous events, there will be varying rewards based on your placement in a 30-player ladder, as well as cumulative ones for your total number of eliminations. It'll only be on over the weekend, starting Friday March 6 at 10am Pacific, and will end on Monday March 9.

Additionally, Ranked Play continues, with the same requirement of winning three placement matches to join the ladder.

Call of Duty: Warzone content this week

Iron Gauntlet beta

Iron Gauntlet is having a beta run until Monday, March 9, though it will no longer be in place of Ranked Play.

The initial reaction has been mixed, so Raven is turning Ranked Play back on to give players a choice.

Iron Gauntlet is a 150-player mode, duos only, with increased health, increased TTK, increased prices at Buy Stations, and reduced health regeneration.

It also adds the Wall Jump mechanic and the Grappling Hook from Black Ops 7 that will also be present in the new Black Ops Royale mode launching next week.

It's a quieter week than some in Call of Duty, but Season 02 Reloaded drops at the next weekly refresh, and that will be packing a lot of content.

We're just a week out from a new Zombies big map, Black Ops Royale, and the start of the roadmap for the second half of the season.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Windows 11 works great out of the box, but it also connects, syncs, reports, backs up, and shares more than many people realize. If you care about privacy and want tighter control over what your computer sends to Microsoft and other services, you have to go beyond the default settings.

Although you cannot make your computer completely private, there are tweaks you can use to harden Windows 11 for privacy. For instance, you can switch to a local account, reduce telemetry, turn off cloud-powered search, remove apps like OneDrive and Copilot (and Windows Recall, if available), disable sharing and backup integrations, control updates, and even replace BitLocker with an alternative encryption solution if you prefer a different trust model.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the steps to improve your privacy on Windows 11.

Warning: Although these steps are non-destructive, you will be modifying system settings on Windows 11. It's strongly recommended that you create a full backup of your computer before proceeding, so you can restore your system if anything doesn't work as expected.

Before diving in, remember that this guide focuses specifically on improving privacy at the operating system level and from the point of view of data collection from Microsoft. It does not cover third-party applications, online services, or network-level privacy measures, which may require additional configuration.Also, you don't have to apply every configuration outlined in these instructions, as it can make the experience more restrictive. You only have to apply the tweaks that you consider necessary.

How to improve your privacy on Windows 11

On Windows 11, there are several practical changes you can make to strengthen your privacy, from switching to a local account and limiting telemetry to removing apps that raise privacy concerns.

1. Disable Device Encryption

Although it's always recommended to use encryption to protect and maintain your data private, if you enable Device Encryption (BitLocker) using the default settings, you would be relying on a third-party company network to store the recovery key, which is not ideal.

When I say disable encryption to protect your privacy, I'm referring to disabling Device Encryption and then using another solution to encrypt your files.

To disable Device Encryption on Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Privacy & security.
3. Click the Device Encryption page on the right side.

4. Turn off the Device encryption toggle switch.

5. Click the Yes button.

Once you complete the steps, the recovery key already stored in your Microsoft account will no longer work on your computer. However, you can always sign in to your Microsoft account to delete the decryption key.

It's important to note that if you use Windows 11 Pro, you can enable BitLocker and save the recovery key locally. However, the Home edition doesn't have this feature, because Device Encryption is a limited version of BitLocker, and it requires saving the key in your Microsoft account.

If you have a device running Windows 11 Home, you can upgrade to Windows 11 Pro or choose a third-party solution to encrypt your data.

2. Disable Find my device

If you originally configured your device with a Microsoft account, chances are that the "Find my device" feature is turned on, and it'll send your device's geo location data periodically to Microsoft. If you want to increase your privacy, it's recommended to check and disable the feature.

To turn off the Find my device feature on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Privacy & security.
3. Click the Find my device page on the right side.

4. Turn off the Find my device toggle switch.

After you complete the steps, the system will no longer send the physical location of the device.

3. Disable telemetry

Although you cannot completely disable telemetry on Windows 11, you can reduce the amount of data Microsoft collects about your activities.

To change the diagnostic and feedback settings, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Privacy & security.
3. Click the Diagnostic & feedback page on the right side.

4. Click the Diagnostic data setting.
5. Turn off the "Send optional diagnostic data" toggle switch.

• Quick note: This option will also turn off the "Improve inking and typing" data collection.

4. Click the Tailored experiences setting.
5. Turn off the toggle switch to prevent Microsoft from using diagnostic data against you to personalize different types of promotions.

6. (Optional) Click the "Delete diagnostic data" setting.
7. Click the Delete button to erase diagnostic data stored on your device.
8. Select the Never option in the "Feedback frequency" setting.

Once you complete the steps, the system will reduce the amount of diagnostic data that is sent to Microsoft.

4. Disable activity tracking

Windows 11 tracks certain activities to personalize advertisements, Start menu recommendations, search results, and overall device experience. If you prefer a more private setup, you can disable these options directly from the Settings app.

To disable activity tracking on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Privacy & security.
3. Click the General page on the right side.

4. Turn off the "Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID" toggle switch.
5. Turn off the "Let websites show me locally relevant content by accessing my language list" toggle switch.
6. Turn off the "Let Windows improve Start and search results by tracking app launches" toggle switch.
7. Turn off the "Show me suggested content in the Settings app" toggle switch.

8. Click on Personalization.
9. Click the Device usage page on the right side.
10. Turn off all toggles to prevent the system from sending device activity data to Microsoft.

11. Click on Personalization.
12. Click the Start page on the right side.
13. Turn off the "Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more" toggle switch.

After you complete the steps, Windows 11 will stop using your activity data to personalize ads, recommendations, and other on-device experiences, resulting in a more private and less tailored system experience.

5. Disable location tracking

Windows 11 allows apps and traditional programs to access your location to deliver maps, weather updates, and other location-based features. However, you can control exactly how and when that information is shared.

To prevent apps from accessing your location data, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Privacy & security.
3. Click the Location page on the right side.

4. (Option 1) Turn off the Location Services toggle switch to stop all apps from accessing your location.

• Quick note: Turning off this feature may prevent some apps from working correctly.

5. (Option 2) Turn off the toggle switch for those apps that you want to access your location information.
6. Turn off the "Let desktop apps access your location" toggle switch.

Once you complete the steps, applications will no longer be able to access your approximate location.

6. Disable search highlights

Windows Search can display highlights and suggestions on the Search home, including trending topics and web-based content. If you prefer a cleaner and more private experience, you can disable this feature from the Settings app.

To turn off search suggestions in the Windows Search home, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Privacy & security.
3. Click the Search page on the right side.

4. Turn off the "Show search highlights" toggle switch.

After you complete the steps, the Search home will no longer show highlights or suggested content, giving you a more streamlined interface with fewer web-driven recommendations.

7. Disable cloud search

Windows 11 can extend its search capabilities beyond your device by pulling results from your Microsoft, work, or school accounts. While this integration can be convenient, it also means search queries may interact with cloud services. If you prefer to keep searches limited to local content, you can turn off cloud search from the Settings app.

To turn off the search history feature on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Privacy & security.
3. Click the Search page on the right side.

4. Click the Search my accounts setting.
5. Turn off the "Microsoft account" toggle switch.
6. Turn off the "Work or School account" toggle switch.

After you complete the steps, Windows Search will no longer display results from your Microsoft, work, or school accounts. Your searches will remain focused on local files, apps, and settings, reducing cloud interaction and improving overall privacy control.

If you end up switching to a local account, you don't have to worry about this feature unless you connect a work or school account, which on consumer devices is not usually the case.

8. Switch to a local account

By default, Windows 11 encourages you to use a Microsoft account, which connects your settings, preferences, and certain activity data to the cloud. If you prefer a more isolated setup with fewer cloud integrations, you can switch to a local account directly from the Settings app.

To disconnect your account from your Microsoft account for a more private experience on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accounts.
3. Click the Your Info page on the right side.

4. Click the "Sign in a local account instead" option under the "Accounts settings" section.

5. Click the Next button.
6. Confirm your current password.
7. Create the new local account username, password, and hint.

8. Click the Next button.
9. Click the Sign out button.

Once you complete the steps, your device will use a local account that is no longer linked to your Microsoft account for sign-in. This reduces cloud synchronization of settings, preferences, and account-related data, giving you a more self-contained and privacy-focused experience.

9. Uninstall OneDrive

Microsoft OneDrive is deeply integrated into the operating system to sync files, settings, and folders with the cloud. While convenient, this integration means files and activity can be continuously connected to the cloud using your Microsoft account. If you prefer to keep your data strictly local, you can remove OneDrive from the system.

If you plan to stop using the OneDrive service, before uninstalling the app, from OneDrive > Sync and backup > Advanced settings, turn on the option to "Download all the files," to maintain a local copy. Once the file synchronization finishes, you can proceed to uninstall the app.

To uninstall the OneDrive app on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Apps.
3. Click the Installed apps page on the right side.

4. Click the menu button in Microsoft OneDrive, then choose Uninstall.

5. Click the Uninstall button one more time.

After you complete the steps, OneDrive will be removed from your computer, stopping automatic file synchronization with the Microsoft cloud.

If you want to stop using the cloud storage, it's important to delete your files from your OneDrive account (online). But before proceeding with this action, confirm that all your files are available locally on your PC.

10. Uninstall Copilot

The Copilot app on Windows 11 connects to Microsoft's cloud-based AI services to provide assistance, content generation, and contextual answers. If you prefer a more traditional desktop experience with fewer AI-driven and cloud-connected features, you can remove the app from your computer.

To uninstall the Copilot app on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Apps.
3. Click the Installed apps page on the right side.

4. Click the menu button in Copilot, then choose Uninstall.

5. Click the Uninstall button one more time.

Once you complete the steps, the Copilot app will be removed from your device.

11. Uninstall Windows Recall

Windows Recall is an AI feature designed to capture and index snapshots of your activity so you can quickly revisit past content. While the feature runs locally, it still records a timeline of on-device activity. If you prefer not to have this type of tracking enabled, you can remove the Recall components entirely from Windows Features for peace of mind and privacy.

To completely uninstall the Windows Recall components from your computer, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Turn Windows features on or off and select the top result to open the "Windows Features" settings.

3. Clear the Recall option.

4. Click the OK button.
5. Restart the computer.

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Turn Windows features on or off and select the top result to open the "Windows Features" settings.
3. Clear the Recall option.
4. Restart the computer.

After you complete the steps, the Recall components will be removed from your device, and Windows 11 will no longer capture and store snapshots for this feature.

12. Disable Windows Backup

On Windows 11, the Windows Backup system works in two layers. If OneDrive is installed, files stored in the OneDrive folder are automatically synced to the cloud. In addition, when you sign in with a Microsoft account, the operating system can back up a list of installed apps and various system preferences to your account.

By default, the operating system may store details such as accessibility settings, account preferences, Wi-Fi networks and passwords, personalization choices, language settings, and other configurations. This information helps restore your setup on a new device, but it also means certain data is uploaded to the cloud.

If you use a local account, this cloud-based backup does not happen unless you connect a Microsoft account. If you continue using a Microsoft account, you can manually turn off the options that sync apps and preferences. And if you have already removed OneDrive, you do not need to adjust file backup settings.

To prevent sending apps and personal preferences to Microsoft, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accounts.
3. Click the Windows Backup page on the right side.

4. Turn off the "Remember my apps" toggle switch.
5. Turn off the "Remember my preferences" toggle switch.

After you complete the steps, Windows 11 will no longer sync your installed apps list or system preferences to your Microsoft account. This keeps your configuration data stored locally on the device and limits what is uploaded as part of the Windows Backup feature.

13. Disable Windows Update

Windows 11 automatically downloads and installs updates, which can also send diagnostic and telemetry data to Microsoft, because update services routinely gather data to ensure proper installation, detect errors, and optimize performance.

If you want to limit this data flow and have more control over when your system communicates with Microsoft servers, you can use Group Policy to permanently disable automatic updates.

To disable automatic Windows 11 updates permanently from Group Policy, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for gpedit.msc and click the top result to launch the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Navigate to the following path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage end user experience
4. Double-click the "Configure Automatic Updates" policy on the right side.

5. Check the Disabled option to turn off automatic updates permanently on Windows 11.

6. Click the Apply button.
7. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, Windows 11 will stop downloading and installing updates automatically. However, you can still trigger the updates manually from the "Windows Update" settings page.

The recommendation here is not to skip updates. You should always keep your computer updated. However, if you want to reduce the amount of data that Microsoft collects, it would be better to download and install them manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog website.

If you want to re-enable automatic updates, follow the same instructions outlined above, but in step 5, select the "Not Configured" option.

If you have a device running Windows 11 Home, you can still disable automatic updates, but you'll need to use the Registry.

If you prefer to keep automatic updates enabled, you can enhance privacy by adjusting the "Delivery Optimization" settings. This prevents your computer from connecting to Microsoft's peer-to-peer network to download updates, limiting data sharing with other devices.

Open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Delivery Optimization and turn off the "Allow download from other devices" toggle switch.

If you need to update the system manually, open Settings > Windows Update and click the "Check for updates" button.

14. Limit Microsoft Edge telemetry

If you happen to use Microsoft Edge as your preferred web browser, there are a few settings you may want to turn off to reduce the amount of data Microsoft collects about your browsing experience. Also, if you don't feel comfortable about Copilot, you can disable it too.

To limit data collection on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Open the main menu from the top-right and choose the Settings option.
3. Click on Privacy, search, and services from the left pane.
4. Click on Privacy.
5. Turn off the "Help improve Microsoft products by sending the results from search on the web" toggle switch.
6. Turn off the "Allow Microsoft to save your browsing activity, including history, usage, favorites, web content, and other browsing data to personalize Microsoft Edge and Microsoft services like ads, search, shopping, and news" toggle switch.

7. Click on Appearance from the left pane.
8. Click the "Copilot and sidebar" setting.

9. Click on Copilot.

10. Turn off the "Show Copilot button on the toolbar" toggle switch to disable the Copilot access from the top-right.

11. Click on AI innovations from the left pane.
12. Turn off the Copilot Mode toggle switch (if applicable) to disable.

Once you complete these steps, you'll reduce the amount of data the browser shares with Microsoft.

If you want to go one step further, you may want to disconnect the browser from your Microsoft account. To remove your profile connected to a Microsoft account, open the "Profiles" settings page from edge://settings/profiles, and either click the "Sign out" button to disconnect and key your current setup.

Or click the "Delete" button and then click the "Remove profile" button. This action will delete your old profile data from the computer, but already synced data will continue to be available on your Microsoft account until you delete it manually.

Let’s be honest

If you truly want absolute privacy, the only guaranteed solution is to disconnect completely. Unplug the Ethernet cable, turn off Wi-Fi, and stay offline. That is the only scenario where nothing leaves your device. Realistically, that is not how most of us use our computers.

What you can do, however, is reduce exposure to a practical minimum. By applying the right privacy settings and system tweaks, you can stay connected, keep using your favorite apps and services, and significantly limit the diagnostic and background data your system sends. It is not total isolation, but it's a balanced, controlled approach that gives you far more transparency and control over your experience.

FAQs about making Windows 11 more private

These are common questions regarding changing settings to make Windows 11 more private.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

It’s not quite SteamOS we’re working with here but rather Bazzite. For those who don’t know, Bazzite is a SteamOS-style Linux operating system that aims to mimic the SteamOS experience, but it is not affiliated with Valve.

Installing Bazzite on a Windows handheld can come with real benefits. It can make your device feel more console-like than Windows does today, even with the Xbox FullScreen Experience and in some instances Bazzite has reported improvements to performance.

The trade-off is that a full Bazzite install means giving up some of what Windows does best. That includes native Xbox Game Pass PC support, and certain games that rely on anti-cheat, such as Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty.

That’s where dual booting makes sense. It lets you use Bazzite for a more console-style experience, while keeping Windows ready for Game Pass, the wider Xbox ecosystem, and anything else you may need Windows for.

Important things to note before you begin

You’ll need a reasonable amount of free SSD space. While 64GB is the minimum required for Bazzite itself, allocating more is strongly recommended, with a roughly even split between Windows and Bazzite offering the most comfortable experience for games, updates, and day to day use.

A USB drive is required to create the Bazzite installer. It should be at least 16GB in size, and anything stored on it will be erased during the process. You’ll also need a USB hub, as most Windows handhelds do not have enough ports on their own. Ideally, the hub should support multiple USB devices at once, including a keyboard, mouse, and USB drive.

While some steps can be done directly on the handheld, a keyboard and mouse make the installation significantly easier. Certain menus are awkward to navigate with touch or controller input, and using proper peripherals helps avoid mistakes.

Prerequisites

Before installing Bazzite, there are a couple of Windows settings that need to be checked. Fast Startup and Hibernate should both be disabled, as they can cause file system and boot issues when Windows and Linux share the same device.

To disable hibernation on Windows 11, follow these steps below:

1. In Windows Desktop Mode, open the Start Menu.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click, and open as Administrator.
3. Within the Command Prompt, type: powercfg.exe /hibernate off
4. Press Enter, and it will disable hibernation.

This option might not be there but just to be sure, you'll want to disable Fast Startup. To do this follow the steps from this guide linked here.

These features keep parts of Windows in a semi-active state rather than fully shutting down. That can interfere with how Bazzite accesses the drive and may lead to boot problems or stability issues later on.

It is also worth making sure Windows is fully up to date before you begin. Running major updates after setting up a dual boot can introduce boot changes, so taking care of them in advance helps keep everything working as expected once Bazzite is installed.

If you haven’t already I do highly recommend you get a USB-C Hub to connect your USB drive and mouse and keyboard to your handheld, here is the one I use and recommend:

Step 01A: Downloading the required files

Before we begin, we first need to create our boot media, I will be doing these steps on an Xbox Ally X, however, the steps will be mostly identical on all Windows handheld devices.

With that said, follow these steps below for creating Bazzite boot media:

1. If you’re in the Xbox FSE, swipe up from the bottom and go to Windows Desktop.
2. On Windows Desktop, open your web browser.
3. Go to this website: https://bazzite.gg
4. Select Download Bazzite in the top right corner of the website.
5. Here you can select your hardware.
6. I will be choosing the Xbox Ally X, but choose whichever one corresponds to your handheld.
7. You will then be asked to pick a desktop environment; select KDE (Like SteamOS’s Desktop)
8. Then select the option Download bazzite-deck Legacy ISO.
9. Wait for that download to finish.

With that downloaded, next we’ll need to download and install a program called Balena Etcher, this will allow you to create a boot media from the ISO file we just downloaded. Follow these steps to download Balena Etcher:

1. If you’re in Xbox FSE, swipe up and go to Windows Desktop mode.
2. On Windows Desktop, open your browser of choice.
3. Go to this website: https://etcher.balena.io
4. Scroll down and download the version that matches your system.
5. Once downloaded, double-click the install file and install Balena Etcher.
6. Go through the installation process.

With Balena Etcher now downloaded we can move onto installing Bazzite onto a USB Drive, if you’re interested, I have these two USB drives for any time I need to create any type of boot media, and you can find them here:

Step 01B: Creating your Bazzite boot media

With all the required files downloaded, we’ll need to load the ISO into Balena Etcher with Your USB Drive inserted into your handheld.

For the correct settings, follow the instructions below:

1. Open Balena Etcher.
2. Choose the option Select from file
3. Confirm the correct USB drive is selected.
4. Select Flash and wait for the process to finish.

Once complete, Balena Etcher will confirm the write has finished. You can then safely remove the USB drive and move on to the next step.

Step 01C: Disabling BitLocker

This step is precautionary but strongly recommended. If BitLocker remains enabled, like me, you may be prompted to enter a 48-digit recovery key during reboots or when changing boot settings, which can quickly become frustrating during a dual boot setup.

To avoid this, you should temporarily decrypt the drive by disabling BitLocker before continuing.

To disable BitLocker, follow the steps below while booted into Windows:

1. Open the Start menu and search for Manage BitLocker.
2. Select Manage BitLocker from the results.
3. Locate your main Windows drive, usually listed as the C: drive.
4. Select Turn off BitLocker.
5. Confirm when prompted to begin decryption.

Windows will now start decrypting the drive in the background. This can take some time depending on your storage size, but you can continue using the device while it runs.

Step 02A: Entering BIOS

Entering the BIOS can vary slightly depending on your device. To keep things simple, this guide uses the Xbox Ally as the example. If you are using a different handheld, a quick search such as “how to enter BIOS on Legion Go 2” will point you in the right direction.

For the Xbox Ally, follow the steps below, or refer to our full dedicated guide if you need more detail.

1. Fully power off the device.
2. Press the Power button to turn it back on.
3. Immediately begin pressing the Volume Down button repeatedly.
4. Keep pressing until the BIOS menu appears.

Once you are in the BIOS, you can move on to the required settings changes in the next step.

Step 02B: BIOS Settings

Once you are in the BIOS, there are only a few settings that need to be checked or changed. It is important not to adjust anything else, as most options here do not need to be touched.

For the Xbox Ally, follow the steps below. Menu names may vary slightly on other handhelds, but the overall process is the same.

1. Switch to Advanced Mode if your BIOS opens in a simplified view by pressing Y or selecting advanced view.
2. Navigate to the Security tab.
3. Locate Secure Boot and set it to Disabled.
4. Confirm the system is using UEFI boot mode. In most cases, no change is required.
5. Save your changes and exit the BIOS.

After saving, the device will either restart or return you to the boot menu. From here, you can continue with the next step of the installation.

Step 03A: Shrinking your Volume

Before installing Bazzite, you need to create space for it on your internal SSD. This is done by shrinking the existing Windows partition, which allows Bazzite to be installed without removing Windows.

Take your time during this step. Nothing is applied until you confirm it, but mistakes here are the most common cause of data loss.

To prepare your SSD, follow the steps below while booted into Windows and not in BIOS:

1. Boot back into Windows if you are not already there.
2. Open the Start menu and search for Disk Management.
3. Open the first option.
4. Locate your main Windows drive, usually labeled as the C: drive.
5. Right-click the Windows partition and select Shrink volume.
6. Wait while Windows calculates the available shrink space.
7. Enter the amount of space you want to allocate to Bazzite.
8. Confirm the shrink operation.

Once complete, you should see a section of unallocated space on the drive. Do not create a new partition here. This empty space will be used by the Bazzite installer in the next steps.

In some cases, Windows will refuse to shrink the partition by the amount you expect, even if there appears to be plenty of free space. This is usually caused by system files that Windows refuses to move automatically.

If this happens, follow Step 03B to remove those limitations.

Step 03B: Fixing Windows volume shrink limitations

First, disable hibernation, by following these steps:

1. Open the Start Menu and search Command Prompt.
2. Right-click the Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.
3. With Command Prompt open run the following command: powercfg -h off

Next, temporarily disable the page file, by following these instructions below:

4. Go to the Start Menu, search for Control Panel, and open it.
5. Go to System and Security.
6. Select System; this will open System settings in a new window.
7. Select Advanced system settings.
8. Under Performance, select Settings.
9. Open the Advanced tab and under Virtual Memory, select Change.
10. Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
11. Go back to the Change option under the Advanced tab.
12. Choose No paging file and select Set.
13. Reboot the device.

After rebooting, disable System Restore by doing the following:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Go to System and Security.
3. Select the option System.
4. Choose Advanced System Settings
5. Go to the System Protection Tab.
6. Select your main Drive (it should be the top one in the list).
7. With the drive selected, choose Configure.
8. Then select the option Disable system protection and click apply.

Now we consolidate the free space, to do this follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt again by right-clicking it and selecting Run as administrator.
2. Type in the follow command: defrag C: /X
3. With the command typed in, press Enter on your keyboard.

Once this completes, return to Disk Management and try shrinking the Windows partition again.

After you have successfully created unallocated space, you can re-enable the page file, System Restore, and hibernation if you normally use them. These changes are only required to help Windows release locked space during partitioning.

Step 04: Installing Bazzite

With your USB installer ready and unallocated space created on the SSD, you can now boot into the Bazzite installer and begin the installation process.

Follow the steps below:

1. Fully power off the device.
2. Make sure your Bazzite boot media is inserted.
3. Boot back into the BIOS by pressing the power button and repeatedly pressing the volume down button.
4. Press the Command Centre button on your Xbox Ally to enter the boot menu.
5. Select your boot media from the options, on other devices, I’d Google how to enter the boot menu.

With that done, your device will reboot into your Bazzite boot media, from here follow these steps:

1. Choose Install Bazzite-deck.
2. Select your Region and click Continue.
3. Choose the option Installation Destination under System.
4. Make sure you choose your partitioned space and not your Windows drive.
5. While still within the Installation Destination page, make sure that Advanced Custom (Blivet-GUI) is selected too and only your partitioned space is chosen.
6. Once that is finished, select Done in the top left corner.

Step 05: Custom Partitioning and EFI setup

You should now already be on the Installation Destination screen, with Advanced Custom (Blivet-GUI) selected and only your unallocated space highlighted, as covered in the previous step, having select Done you will be taken to a new screen where we'll have to do some extremely important steps.

This step is where you manually create the partitions Bazzite needs. Take your time here. Everything you create must be done inside the unallocated space only. Do not delete or modify any existing Windows partitions.

Once you are in the Blivet-GUI partition editor, follow the steps below, and/or use the images I’ve provided with clear instructions on what to do.

Creating the EFI partition:

1. Select the unallocated space.
2. Click the plus icon to create a new partition.
3. Change the file system to EFI System Partition.
4. Set the mount point to /boot/efi
5. Change the size unit to MiB.
6. Set the size to 300.
7. Confirm the changes.

Creating the boot partition:

1. Select the remaining unallocated space.
2. Click the plus icon.
3. Leave the file system set to ext4.
4. Set the mount point to /boot.
5. Set the size to 1.0 GiB.
6. Confirm the changes.

Creating the BTRFS partition:

1. Select the remaining unallocated space again.
2. Click the plus icon.
3. Change the file system to BTRFS.
4. Do not set a mount point yet.
5. Use the rest of the available space.
6. Confirm the changes.

You will now see a new BTRFS entry appear in the list.

Next, we need to create the BTRFS mount points.

First, the root mount:

1. Select the BTRFS partition.
2. Click the plus icon.
3. Set the mount point to /
4. Confirm the changes.

Next we need to create the Var mount:

• With the BTRFS partition still selected, click the plus icon.
• Set the mount point to /var
• Confirm the changes.

Lastly we have the Home mount:

1. With the BTRFS partition still selected, click the plus icon.
2. Set the mount point to /var/home
3. Confirm the changes.

Now for the final checks before applying changes. Before continuing, double check the following:

• All newly created partitions are within the unallocated space.
• Your Windows partitions have not been changed or removed.
• You have an EFI system partition mounted at /boot/efi.

Once everything looks correct, do the following:

1. Select Done from the top left
2. Review the summary of changes.
3. Select Accept changes.

Step 06: Finish installation

To finish the installation, you will first need to create your user profile. Select the User Creation option and enter your name, username, and password. Make sure you choose a password you will remember, as it will be required for system changes later on.

Next, connect the device to your network. Select the Network and Host Name option, choose your connection type, then select Select Network in the bottom right corner and connect to your Wi-Fi network. Once connected, return to the installer overview to continue.

With that all done, now choose the Begin Installation option in the bottom right corner of the main screen; this will begin installing Bazzite which may take some time.

Step 07: First boot into Bazzite

If you have followed the steps correctly, you will be prompted to reboot your device once the installation is complete. After rebooting, you will see a blue screen with the option to continue to boot.

Select this option to proceed. You will then be guided through the Bazzite setup process, where you can choose your language, time zone, and network settings if you did not configure them earlier. Once this is complete, Bazzite may still need to set up and install some things; wait for this to finish and then sign into Steam when prompted.

If the system appears stuck at this stage, remove the USB boot media if it is still inserted and restart the device. You may need to re-enter the BIOS and manually select your Bazzite installation from the boot menu before continuing.

Step 08: Switching between Windows and Bazzite

Because Windows does not play particularly well with shared boot setups, an extra step is required to make switching between operating systems reliable. This involves creating a Bazzite boot shortcut in Windows, and a Windows boot option inside Bazzite.

To do this, you will first need to boot back into Windows. Depending on your current state, this may require entering the BIOS again and selecting Windows from the boot menu.

Rather than duplicating a long set of steps here, I highly recommend following the video below or clicking here for text based instructions, which walk you through this process clearly and avoid common mistakes.

With everything complete, you should now have Bazzite and Windows successfully dual booted on your Windows handheld.

I followed the steps from the guide linked here from Pete Talks Tech and adjusted parts of the process to make it as clear and approachable as possible. If this helped you, be sure to show some support to the original video as well.

For now, enjoy having the best of both worlds, with Bazzite and Windows running side by side on a single device.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

With the Battle for Cyberstan now raging on in Helldivers 2, one thing pretty much every Helldiver is thinking about right now is how to kill Vox Engines quickly and efficiently. These towering super tanks are the deadliest and most-durable units ever fielded by the Automatons and their Cyborg commanders, and have a frighteningly high spawn rate in and around Cyberstan's Megafactories.

Their lethal combination of high-damage laser cannons, side-mounted miniguns, and rocket barrages makes them a priority target — and after both reading up on community discoveries and experimenting with different weapons and stratagems with my friends, I've figured out the best tactics and ordnance to use to send these hulking behemoths back to the scrap heap.

Without further ado, here's how to kill Vox Engines in Helldivers 2, with everything you need to know about their weak points, the best stratagems to use for the job, and other tips.

What's the Vox Engine's weakness in Helldivers 2?

Like most heavily-armored Automaton vehicles, the Vox Engine has a glaring weakness: its orange, glowing heat vents. There are six of these on the tank, including three on the back of its "head," two on the back of its "torso," and one directly beneath the chassis, which is thankfully raised high enough for you to be able to run under the vehicle.

All six are uniquely even more vulnerable than other vehicle heatsinks, as they're completely unarmored (others need medium armor penetration). Destroying either the top three vents on the head or the lower three on the chassis will open up a hatch on the back of the tank, and throwing a grenade of any kind inside will blow up the Vox Engine instantly.

This is harder to do with Thermite Grenades — which are ironically one of if not the best grenade types for bot missions in general — because it's very easy to accidentally stick them to the hatch instead of throwing them inside of it, but it's still possible to perform this tactic with one.

Notably, the laser miniguns the Vox Engine uses to cover its flanks can be blown off with medium armor-penetrating ordnance, so consider doing so if you plan to use this tactic so your approach is safer.

Another important thing to note is that if you decide to try and take the Vox Engine down conventionally with heavy weaponry instead, you should always aim for the vehicle's lower chassis, and not at its head. This is because the head has 21,000 health — nearly double the torso's 11,000 HP. Aim lower, and you'll take the tank down much faster.

Best stratagems for Vox Engines in Helldivers 2

While the above grenade-in-the-hatch strategy is a fast and guaranteed way to kill one Vox Engine, it quickly loses viability when several of them are engaging you at once, as the tanks and all their supporting infantry units cover one another and make approaching the vehicles nigh-impossible.

In those situations, it's far more advisable to use stratagems and specialized support weapons to target the Vox Engine, and its torso in particular. Here's a list of some of the best options I've found after some extensive testing with my squad:

• TD-220 Bastion MK XVI: Wouldn't you know it, Helldivers 2's new Bastion tank destroyer is good at destroying tanks! Its 120mm cannon can take one down in 2-3 shots to the torso, and it's got enough durability to stand up to a lot of return fire.
• EAT-411 Leveler: This new nuke launcher from the Siege Breakers Warbond is basically a long-range Ultimatum on steroids, and I've been able to one-shot Vox Engines with it with direct hits to the lower chassis. The projectile has steep drop, though, so trying to hit the torso from afar is tricky (but doable).
• MS-11 Solo Silo: This devastating anti-tank guided missile from the Dust Devils Warbond will either one-shot the Vox Engine if it hits its chassis or put it at critical health if it strikes its head. I've been running it alongside the Leveler, as the two make for an excellent anti-Vox combo. Be sure to keep lazing the vehicle if it's moving, though, or you won't get a direct hit.
• B/MD C4 Pack: Another strong option is the C4 pack from the recent Redacted Regiment Warbond. Planting and detonating three C4 on the torso of a Vox Engine will deliver enough firepower to blast it to bits; you get six per pack (and more with resupply).
• Orbital Laser: The overwhelming firepower of the Orbital Laser is enough to cut down a Vox Engine or two as well as some of the supporting units around it, though you have to be selective about when you use it, as you only get three uses per mission.
• Orbital Railcannon Strike: Though the Orbital Railcannon Strike doesn't one-shot Vox Engines, it does at least put them at critical health, making them easy to finish off with a single anti-tank rocket, Thermite Grenade, or Ultimatum shot.
• Any anti-tank launcher: The Recoilless Rifle, EAT rockets, Quasar, fully-charged Epoch blasts — all of these can take Vox Engines down in three shots to the lower chassis. By focus firing with your squad, you can use these launchers to kill the tanks quickly.

Though not stratagems, I'll give the GP-20 Ultimatum pocket nuke secondary from the Servants of Freedom Warbond and the G-123 Thermite Grenade from the Democratic Detonation Warbond an honorable mention; the former can kill Vox Engines in two shots to the chassis, and sticking 2-3 of the latter there will destroy it as well.

I don't recommend using Eagle stratagems or orbital bombardments because Cyberstan's Megafactories have anti-aircraft guns everywhere that have to be destroyed before the former can be called in, and the latter are too imprecise and unreliable for killing specific units. A squadmate did have decent success with the Orbital Gatling Barrage, though, so you could try that.

Are you participating in the Battle for Cyberstan in Helldivers 2? Do you have any tips of your own for dealing with Vox Engines to share? If so, post them in the comments for your fellow Helldivers.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

As we've already seen with the new Call of Duty: Warzone easter egg on the reworked Rebirth Island, there's a lot more happening than just a bit of snow.

Besides said easter egg and its Nova 7 blueprint reward, there are also a couple of others hiding out in plain sight on the map that anyone can grab.

The caveat is that you don't get to keep these. Once your match completes, they're gone, and you won't find them in your inventory. Nevertheless, in every match on Rebirth Island, you can grab The Paintstorm and the Illusive Phantom right off the rip. Here's where to get them.

Where to find the Illusive Phantom on Winter Rebirth Island in Call of Duty: Warzone

The Illusive Phantom is a Kar 98 Marksman Rifle from the Modern Warfare 3 days, and it still packs a punch even compared to the latest Black Ops 7 weapons.

The blueprint has a shimmering appearance, adorned with skulls, and has a decent long-range scope.

To get it, you need to drop onto the top of the lighthouse just south of the Prison POI, and you'll find it waiting. It's first come, first served, though, so if someone else gets there first, you'll need to eliminate them if you want to get your hands on it.

Where to find The Paintstorm on Winter Rebirth Island in Call of Duty: Warzone

The Paintstorm is a C9 blueprint from Black Ops 6, with a vivid paintjob and a tracer effect that makes it look like you're shooting — you guessed it —paint.

As with the Illusive Phantom, it's first come, first served. To ensure you're the first to get your hands on it, drop into the map and go straight to the new Turbine POI.

You need to go in the uppermost door, the one closest to the Buy Station, and you'll find it on a bench on the right just inside. Just pick it up, and it's yours for the match.

That's all there is to it. It'd be more worth chasing them down if you got to keep them forever, but both are still pretty strong starting weapons to get.

These are the only two that seem to have been found so far, or as far as I know. But if you come across something else, drop into the comments below and share with us!

Update Feb 10: I asked Activision if the easter egg is a permanent addition to the map throughout Black Ops 7 or whether it will depart when the Winter does. An Activision spokesperson told me: "We're happy players have discovered the easter egg on Rebirth Island. Players who want to get their hands on the blueprint shouldn't wait to hunt it down for themselves." Vague, but reading between the lines, that makes me think that it'll be time limited. So best not to wait too long!

Alongside the Season 02 update, Call of Duty: Warzone has seen a fairly extensive update to the Rebirth Island Resurgence map.

It's actually better than we were expecting, and besides the makeover, there's a new easter egg with a secret blueprint reward.

It can be done solo or in a group, and if in a group, once completed, every member should get the rewards. Besides the blueprint, there's also an emblem to be unlocked a little earlier in the process. Here's what you need to do.

Here's a quick breakdown of the steps you need to follow to complete the Secret Challenge, unlock the Nova 7 Blueprint for the Dravec, and get the Past Secrets Emblem.

How to complete the Rebirth Island Secret Challenge

1. Drop in at the new bunker to the right of Stronghold and south of Living Quarters in the lower portion of the map.
2. Grab the Molotov which is available to loot nearby.
3. Throw the Molotov at the iced over button next to the door.
4. Go inside the bunker and grab the Computer SSD from a box at the back.
5. Next, go to the new Turbine POI, and locate a second door at the very bottom.
6. You need to do the same to the button. If you need another Molotov there's an Ammo Cache at the top of the POI.
7. Once melted, open the bunker and go inside. Whoever has the SSD has to interact with the computer and note the binary sequence shown.

8. Now go to the tunnel that leads under Prison and go to the very back. This is the door to the secret Gulag.
9. Interact with the keypad to activate the sequence.
10. The five lights need to match the binary sequence from the earlier step. For zero, do nothing, and the light will stop blinking. For one, toggle to make the light turn green.
11. When the correct sequence is inputted, the doors will unlock and you'll unlock the Past Secrets Emblem.
12. Inside the Gulag are seven panels with notes next to them that say whether the panel needs to be engaged or disengaged.
13. Next to the storage unit containing the blueprint and some Specialist packs, activate the switch to begin the sequence.
14. In order from one to seven, engage the screens that need to be engaged, and leave the ones that don't.

The final step is the hardest, because you don't have long from activating the sequence to go and complete all of the screens. This part is definitely easier in a group.

The best advice is to scope it out first (or use the video above for guidance) and note down which screens need to be engaged and where they are. That way you can more quickly get them done in the limited time you have.

Don't worry if you miss it the first time; after a few seconds the system will reset, and you can try again, starting with the switch to engage the sequence.

When you complete it correctly and in time, the storage unit doors will open, and you'll have yourself the brand-new Nova 7 Blueprint for the Dravec SMG. It also drops four specialist packs, enough for everyone on your team.

Both bunkers and the Gulag are also jam-packed with loot, with orange chests in the former and red chests on hand when you make it to the final step. Particularly useful if you didn't manage to get your loadout in the process of completing the Secret Challenge.

Best of all, you can do this in Resurgence Casual, too, to make it a little easier on you and your team. But that's all there is to it. The steps aren't incredibly hard, but you'll need to be as fast as possible because the zone is always moving in. Now I have to start all over again!

Windows 11 has a habit of feeling heavier than it needs to be, but cleaning it up doesn’t require complicated tools or risky system mods. These three quick steps can declutter the OS and make it feel noticeably smoother in just a few minutes.

Although the operating system needs attention in several areas, one of the most urgent is the issue of bloatware. This typically refers to the growing number of unnecessary apps and background services that ship with the system by default, many of which add little value to most users while consuming storage and system resources and increasing the overall complexity of the experience.

If you prefer a more streamlined setup, Windows 11 offers built-in options alongside third-party tools to help reduce clutter. For example, during a clean installation, you can choose an option that avoids installing promotional apps. It's also possible to configure Group Policy so that new user accounts are created with little to no bloatware.

Additionally, there are specialized tools, such as FlyOOBE, that go further by removing a broader range of preinstalled apps and services from the system.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline multiple ways to debloat the operating system for a more decluttered experience.

How to debloat Windows 11

On Windows 11, you have at least three ways to debloat the operating system, including using the native options during installation and with the built-in App Package Deployment policies, or using countless third-party tools available on the web.

Debloating via Windows 11 Setup

To debloat Windows 11 using the installation setup wizard, use these steps:

1. Connect the Windows 11 USB bootable media.
2. Start the device.
3. Press any key to continue.
4. Choose the "English (World)" or "English (Europe)" option from the "Time and Currency format" setting.

5. Choose the language to install with the operating system.
6. Click the Next button.
7. Select the "Install Windows 11" button.

8. Check the "I agree everything will be deleted, including files, app, and settings" option.
9. Click the Next button.
10. Click the "I don't have a product key" option.

• Quick note: If this computer didn't have an activated installation of Windows 11 or 10, you'll have to provide a product key after the installation.

11. Select the Windows 11 edition your license key activates (if applicable).
12. Check the "I accept the license terms" option.

13. Click the Next button.
14. Select the edition of the operating system that your product key activates.
15. Click the Next button.
16. Click the Accept button.
17. Select the drive where you want to install Windows 11.

18. Click the Next button.
19. Click the Install button.
20. Click the Skip option on the "Something went wrong" error page.
21. Continue following the on-screen instructions to complete setting up the Out-of-box Experience (OOBE).

Once you complete the steps, the installation will be configured without bloatware.

It's important to note that this process only cleans some components of the system that may be considered bloatware. This option won't remove features such as Microsoft Edge, Xbox, or other apps.

Debloating via Group Policy

To create a new user account without bloatware, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for gpedit and click the top result to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Open the following path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > App Package Deployment.
4. Right-click the "Remove Default Microsoft Store packages from the system" policy and choose the "Edit" option.

5. Check the Enabled option.
6. Check all the applications to remove from the operating system under the "Options" section.

7. Click the Apply button.
8. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the setting will be saved on the device, and the next time you create a new account, the operating system will automatically uninstall most bloatware, such as Feedback Hub, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot, Clipchamp, Photos, and others.

Debloating via FlyOOBE

To debloat Windows 11 using FlyOOBE, use these steps:

1. Open the FlyOOBE GitHub page.
2. Click the download option for the latest version.

3. Save the zip file to your device.
4. Select the zip file and click the Extract all button from the “Compressed Folder Tools" tab.
5. Click the Extract button to unzip the files from the container.

6. Open the folder with the extracted files.
7. Double-click the FlyOOBE.exe file to open the tool.
8. Click the More Info option, then click the Run anyway button.
9. Click on OOBE from the left pane.
10. Click on Apps.
11. Select the option to debloat Windows 11: "Balanced," "Full Microsoft Experience," "Minimal Windows," or "Community."

12. Check the components to uninstall from the computer.
13. Click the "Remove Selected Apps" button.

Once you complete the steps, the applications cluttering the system will be uninstalled from the computer.

A few small changes go a long way toward making Windows 11 feel cleaner and more responsive. Whether you’re trying to speed up an older machine or just prefer a streamlined setup, these tweaks offer an easy starting point.

If you’ve found other simple ways to cut the clutter, we’d love to hear them.

FAQs about debloating Windows 11

These are common questions regarding getting rid off the bloatware on Windows 11.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Microsoft is now testing an early preview of the upcoming Xbox Cloud Gaming interface, and anyone can access it, whether or not they have a subscription. In this guide, I'll show you how to access right now.

Although the Xbox Cloud experience has had a web dashboard, the new interface brings it closer to the design you can access on the Xbox console, making it familiar to anyone accustomed to the console experience.

However, the new interface also makes it easier to use for anyone, regardless of whether they used the console before.

Since this is an early preview, it's not automatically available to everyone. You actually have to go through a set of steps to opt in to the preview.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the easy steps to opt in to designing for playing Xbox games in the cloud.

How to enable the new Xbox Cloud Gaming redesign on your account

To enable and access the new cloud experience to play Xbox games, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Open the Xbox Play page and sign in with your credentials.

• Quick tip: Anyone can access the experience, including without a subscription. It goes without saying that a subscription is needed to play games.

3. Click the profile menu in the top-right, and choose the Settings option.

4. Turn on the "Preview features" toggle switch to access the new Xbox Cloud experience.

4. Click the Yes button.
5. Get a cup of coffee and wait 10 minutes (this is important).
6. Open the Play.Xbox.com page in the browser to access the gaming dashboard.

Once you complete the steps, you'll have access to the new Xbox Cloud gaming web experience, which the company is shipping as a public preview.

If you want to switch to the now-legacy experience, click the "Exit preview" button in the top-right of the screen.

You can go even a step further. If you're using Microsoft Edge, you can also install the web experience as an app on your Windows 11 device. You only need to click the "Install" button from the address bar.

Switch between modes

Finally, you can also switch the current mode (known as "Full Screen Mode") to Desktop Mode, which gives you a more app-like experience with a sidebar, such as the Xbox app on Windows 11.

While in the new Xbox Cloud Gaming experience, use these steps:

1. Click the Xbox button.
2. Click on Settings from the bottom-right.

3. Click on Appearance.
4. (Option 1) Select the Desktop Mode option for a classic view.

4. (Option 2) Select the Full Screen Mode option to use the modern view.

After you complete the steps, you will have access to a more Xbox app-like experience.

As Xbox keeps refining its cloud ecosystem, this redesigned web experience feels like another step toward a platform that works the same no matter where you play. The preview is still evolving, but if this is the direction Microsoft is heading, cloud gaming is about to feel a lot more like a first‑class part of the Xbox experience rather than an optional side path.

What are your thoughts on the new UI? Let me know in the comments.

FAQs about accessing the new Xbox Cloud Gaming UI

These are common questions regarding the access to the new Xbox Cloud Gaming experience.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

On Windows 11, Microsoft has confirmed that the January 2026 Security Update (KB5074109, build 26200.7623) is triggering additional issues that can prevent some devices from booting properly.

Although the company has already released two out-of-band updates to address earlier problems, Microsoft now acknowledges that this particular failure remains unresolved, and neither emergency patch (KB5077744 and KB5078127) corrects the boot issue.

Reports indicate that affected systems crash during startup with an "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" stop error, displaying a Black Screen of Death message stating: "Your device ran into a problem and needs a restart."

Microsoft says the issue affects at least Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 and confirms it is actively working on fixes and potential workarounds. In the meantime, impacted users must manually uninstall KB5074109 from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), as you won't be able to reach the desktop to complete the process normally.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline two ways to uninstall the KB5074109 update from your computer.

How to uninstall the buggy January 2026 update from WinRE on Windows 11

If you must uninstall a quality update from the recovery environment, you can complete this task in at least two ways.

Option 1

To uninstall the latest buggy update using Automatic Repair to enter WinRE, use these steps:

1. Power on the PC.
2. After the Power-On Self-Test (POST), and you see the blue Windows logo (if applicable), press the power button again to shut down.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 multiple times to trigger the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
4. Select your account (if applicable).
5. Confirm the account password.
6. Click the Continue button.
7. Click the Advanced Startup button to continue.
8. Click on Troubleshoot.
9. Click on Advanced options.
10. Click on Uninstall Updates.

11. Click the "Uninstall latest quality update" option.

12. Sign in using your administrator credentials (if applicable).
13. Click the "Uninstall quality update" button.

If you cannot access the Windows Recovery Environment this way, then proceed with the steps below.

Option 2

Before you can proceed with these instructions, you will need to ensure your new computer can boot from the USB flash drive by checking the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) settings.

Since every computer is different, you'll need to check your device manufacturer's website for more specific steps.

Alternatively, nowadays devices may also offer a boot menu option that lets you choose which device to start the computer from. If your system supports this option, you can use it to launch Windows 11 Setup without changing the firmware. (One more time, the only way to know this is by checking your manufacturer's website for more specific steps.)

To uninstall the latest buggy update using a bootable media to enter WinRE, use these steps:

1. Connect the Windows 11 USB flash drive to the device.
2. Start the PC.
3. Press any key to continue.
4. Choose the installation language and format.
5. Click the Next button.

6. Choose the keyboard and input method.
7. Click the Next button.
8. Select the "Repair my PC" option.

9. Click the Next button.
10. Choose the keyboard language.
11. Click on Troubleshoot.
12. Click on Uninstall Updates.

13. Click the "Uninstall latest quality update" option.

14. Choose the target operating system. For example, "Windows 11."
15. Sign in using your administrator credentials (if applicable).
16. Click the "Uninstall quality update" button.

Once you complete the steps, the device will uninstall the most recent update, allowing you boot directly into the desktop.

If you also want to prevent the same update from installing again, immediately after uninstalling it, open Settings > Windows Update, and click the option to pause updates. You can also use these steps to disable Windows Update entirely.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Windows 11 users trying to escape the buggy KB5074109 update are running into a new problem: the uninstall process itself is failing with error 0x800f0905. Instead of rolling back cleanly, Windows throws another roadblock, leaving people stuck between a broken update and a broken uninstall tool. If you’re hitting the same dead end, there are a few troubleshooting steps that can actually get the rollback moving again.

To refresh, on Windows 11, the January 2026 Security Update (KB5074109) has been causing tons of issues, from performance issues to broken features, and even after Microsoft openly told people to uninstall the update, some users are now even noticing the 0x800F0905 error when trying to remove the buggy update.

If you opted to uninstall the "2026-01 Security Update (KB5074109) (26200.7623)" and you're seeing the 0x800F0905 error, it usually points to a servicing stack or component store issue.

Although you can try a number of troubleshooting steps, among the best options is using the System Restore feature to undo the update and revert to a previous, working state. Alternatively, even though it's not practical, you could try the Reinstall through Windows Update option to let the system resolve the issue, then uninstall the update again.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline two possible fixes for the 0x800F0905 error to allow you uninstall the KB5074109 update.

Warning: While these options are not destructive, it's recommended that you create a full backup of your computer before proceeding. You have been warned.

How to rollback to a previous working state using System Restore

This option will only work if System Restore was previously enabled on the computer and you created a restore point, either manually or automatically.

To rollback and remove the KB5074109 update from Windows 11 using System Restore, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Create a restore point, and click the top result to open the System Properties page.
3. Click the System Restore button.

4. Click the Next button.
5. Select the restore point dated before KB5074109 was installed on the computer.

6. (Optional) Click the "Scan for affected programs" button to view the apps that will be removed through this process.
7. Click the Next button.
8. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, the restore point will apply, returning the device to the previous good working state before the update was installed. If one or more apps are affected, you will have to reinstall them manually.

If this method worked, it's a good idea to disable Windows Update at least temporarily.

How to repair current setup using Windows Update on Windows 11

Alternatively, you can perform a system repair using the "Fix problems using Windows Update" feature. This option will reinstall the operating system while keeping your apps, files, and settings. Once the reinstallation is complete, give it some time, then try uninstalling the buggy update again.

To repair the Windows 11 setup to resolve the 0x800F0905 error, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click the Recovery page on the right side.
4. Click the Reinstall now button for the "Fix problems using Windows Update" setting.

5. Check the "Automatically restart my PC 15 minutes after installation" option.
6. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, Windows 11 will be reinstalled with the same version already installed on the computer, and you can now proceed to remove the buggy update.

Until Microsoft issues a proper fix, these workarounds are the best shot at removing KB5074109 without hitting error 0x800f0905. Windows Update issues aren’t new, but when even the uninstall path breaks, it’s especially frustrating.

If you’ve found a different method that worked for you, sharing it in the comments could help others dealing with the same update headache.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Windows 11’s built‑in Sandbox feature has been hit by a widespread bug that makes it completely unusable for many users. Reports show the tool stalls at launch for nearly ten minutes before failing with error 0x800705b4, even after reinstalling the feature or running SFC/DISM scans. Multiple Windows 11 builds appear affected, and users across Microsoft Q&A, GitHub, and forums say they’ve been waiting weeks for an official fix.

On Windows 11, the Windows Sandbox features have been broken for some time. However, this issue is flying under the radar because Microsoft has yet to acknowledge it or provide answers to affected users.

If you are getting the 0x800705B4 error when launching Windows Sandbox (version 0.5.3), you're not alone. I can trace this problem back to December 2025, when the "CompactProducer" user on GitHub filed a bug report.

In the open bug report, the user noted that Sandbox will get stuck loading for several minutes, and the error code 0x800705B4 shows up with the "This operating system returned because the timeout period expired" message.

This bug was first stopped after installing the build 26200.7309 (preview), which was part of the December 2025 update. In the same thread, someone else confirmed that the bug was also found after installing build 26200.7462, which ended up being the final version of the December update. However, the same error can also be found after installing the January 2026 Security Update (build 26200.7623).

Although I wasn't available to replicate this issue on a device running build 26200.7623, I can confirm that this problem exists in the operating system, because I stumbled upon this bug in the latest preview of Windows 11 in the Dev Channel.

This alleged bug wasn't reported only on GitHub, but across the web. You can find reports on Reddit. On another Reddit thread, @Kranorzor noted, "Stuck at loading splash screen for 5-10 minutes then gives this error."

I also found reports of the same error on the Microsoft Q&A forum, where Michael Higham said, "When I start Windows Sandbox, it stalls at the logo for ten minutes or so, and then an error message shows up."

You can even find complaints and reports in other forums.

How to fix Sandbox with error 0x800705B4 on Windows 11

I have tried resetting the network adapters and making sure that the working stack is working correctly. I have also gone through the steps to repair the installation with DISM and SFC, along with other troubleshooting steps, but nothing has worked.

Although it's not a conventional solution, on GitHub, the same person who reported the bug explained that a solution involves reinstalling the operating system through recovery settings using these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click the Recovery page on the right side.
4. Click the Reinstall now button for the "Fix problems using Windows Update" setting.

5. Check the "Automatically restart my PC 15 minutes after installation" option.
6. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the operating system will be reinstalled with the same version already installed on the computer, preserving your files, apps, and settings.

This isn't the only concern. The quality of recent updates has been questionable lately. For example, the January 2026 Security Update (KB5074109) has caused app crashes, triggered black screens on devices with NVIDIA GPUs, and even broken the Outlook app on Windows 11.

Microsoft also released an Out-of-band (OOB) update, KB5077744, for versions 25H2 and 24H2 to fix sign-in failures during Remote Desktop connections.

Until Microsoft issues a patch (or tries this fix), Windows Sandbox is effectively dead for anyone encountering the timeout bug — and with reports spanning multiple builds and configurations, it’s clear this isn’t an isolated glitch. For now, users can only wait and hope the next update finally restores one of Windows 11’s most useful security and testing tools.

If you’ve hit the 0x800705b4 Sandbox bug — or found a workaround that actually helps — drop it in the comments. Curious how widespread this is and whether anyone’s managed to keep Sandbox usable on recent builds.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Forza Horizon 6 has launched via early access for folks who order the game's Premium Upgrade or Premium Edition, and reviewers are already showering it with praise before its full public launch on May 19, 2026.

If that wasn't enough to get people hyped up for this game, Playground Games revealed that Forza Horizon 6 will receive 550 playable cars for its initial batch.

After getting hands-on with Forza Horizon 6's preview build and final launch build version, which we gave a glowing 4.5 review score to, we now have a firm grasp on what kind of cars we can expect to drive in.

Here is the full list of every car confirmed for Forza Horizon 6 thus far, which will be regularly maintained and organised alphabetically as it receives more cars through post-launch updates.

Forza Horizon 6 car list summary

The full 550 launch cars have not yet been revealed, but we do have a lot to go on right now. Here's a breakdown of some of the key information.

• Total confirmed cars: 392
• Italian Passion Car Pack cars: 4
• Time Attack Car Pack cars: 8
• Welcome Pack cars: 3
• VIP cars: 1
• Promotional DLC cars: 2
• Pre-order bonus cars: 1

As in past Forza Horizon games, Car Packs in Forza Horizon 6 will be additional premium purchases. To get everything, you will have to pay extra.

In the case of the promotional DLC cars, there are currently two that you can acquire before the game launches. One is a collaboration between Xbox and Fanta, the other is between Xbox and Trolli.

These require the purchase of promotional products, which allow you to then submit on the respective redemption sites to get your cars.

A

• 1980 Abarth Fiat 131
• 2016 Abarth 695 Biposto
• 2022 Acura NSX Type S
• 2023 Acura Integra A-Spec
• 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2
• 1990 Alfa Romeo SE 048SP (Italian Passion Car Pack)
• 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm (Italian Passion Car Pack)
• 2015 Alumicraft Class 10 Race Car
• 2021 Alumicraft #122 Class 1 Buggy
• 2022 Alumicraft #6165 Trick Truck
• 2554 AMG Transport Dynamics M12S Warthog CST
• 2013 Ariel Atom 500 V8
• 2016 Ariel Nomad
• 2019 Aston Martin Valhalla Concept Car
• 2023 Aston Martin Valkyrie
• 1986 Audi #2 Audi Sport quattro S1
• 2001 Audi RS 4 Avant
• 2003 Audi RS 6
• 2006 Audi RS 4
• 2011 Audi RS 3 Sportback
• 2011 Audi RS 5 Coupé
• 2013 Audi RS 4 Avant
• 2013 Audi RS 7 Sportback
• 2015 Audi S1
• 2021 Audi RS 6 Avant
• 2021 Audi RS 7 Sportback
• 2021 Audi RS e-tron GT
• 2016 Audi R8 V10 Plus
• 2020 Audi R8 V10 Performance
• 1993 Autozam AZ-1

B

• 2016 Bentley Bentayga
• 1988 BMW M3
• 2020 BMW M2 Competition Coupé
• 1957 BMW Isetta 300
• 1973 BMW 2002 Turbo
• 1988 BMW M5
• 1995 BMW 850 CSi
• 1995 BMW M5
• 1997 BMW M3
• 2003 BMW M5
• 2005 BMW M3
• 2008 BMW M3
• 2008 BMW Z4 M Coupé
• 2011 BMW X5 M
• 2012 BMW M5
• 2016 BMW M4 GTS
• 2019 BMW Z4 Roadster
• 2021 BMW M4 Competition Coupé
• 2022 BMW iX xDrive50
• 2023 BMW M2
• 2024 BMW X6 M Competition
• 1987 Buick Regal GNX

C

• 2016 Cadillac ATS-V
• 2016 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan
• 2022 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
• 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
• 2018 Can-Am Maverick X RS Turbo R
• 2019 Casey Currie Motorsports #4402 Ultra 4 'Trophy Jeep'
• 1955 Chevrolet 150 Utility Sedan
• 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
• 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 427
• 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport 454
• 1972 Chevrolet K-10 Custom
• 1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
• 1995 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1
• 2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
• 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
• 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
• 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
• 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe
• 2020 Chevrolet Silverado LT Trail Boss

D

• 1970 Datsun 510
• 2018 DeBerti Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Drift Truck
• 2019 DeBerti Ford Super Duty F-250 Lariat "Transformer"
• 2019 DeBerti Toyota Tacoma TRD "The Performance Truck"
• 1982 DeLorean DMC-12
• 1969 Dodge Charger R/T
• 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
• 1999 Dodge Viper GTS ACR
• 1999 Dodge Viper GTS ACR Forza Edition (VIP Reward)
• 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
• 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat
• 2016 Dodge Viper ACR
• 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
• 2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock

F

• 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB4 Spider (Italian Passion Car Pack)
• 2017 Ferrari J50S1 (Pre-Order Bonus)
• 2018 Ferrari FXX-K Evo
• 2018 Ferrari FXX-K Evo 'Welcome Pack'
• 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista
• 2025 Ferrari F80R (Italian Passion Car Pack)
• 1994 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta
• 2013 Ferrari 458 Speciale
• 2013 Ferrari LaFerrari
• 2018 Ferrari Portofino
• 1932 Ford De Luxe Five-Window Coupe
• 1968 Ford Mustang 2+2 Fastback
• 1985 Ford RS200 Evolution
• 1986 Ford F-150 XLT Lariat
• 1987 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500
• 1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth
• 1999 Ford Racing Puma
• 2003 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning
• 2003 Ford Focus RS
• 2005 Ford GT
• 2009 Ford Focus RS
• 2010 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
• 2011 Ford Transit SuperSportVan
• 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
• 2014 Ford #11 Rockstar F-150 Trophy Truck
• 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R
• 2017 Ford #14 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing GRC Fiesta
• 2017 Ford #25 'Brocky' Ultra4 Bronco RTR
• 2017 Ford Focus RS
• 2018 Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5
• 2020 Ford #2069 Ford Performance Bronco R
• 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
• 2020 Ford Super Duty F-450 DRW PLATINUM
• 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor
• 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
• 2022 Ford Focus ST
• 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R
• 2023 Ford Fiesta ST
• 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
• 2024 Ford Mustang GT
• 1995 Formula Drift #34 Toyota Supra MkIV
• 2020 Formula Drift #151 Toyota GR Supra
• 2023 Formula Drift #64 Forsberg Racing Nissan Z
• 1989 Formula Drift #98 BMW 325i
• 2006 Formula Drift #43 Dodge Viper SRT10
• 2007 Formula Drift #117 599 GTB Fiorano
• 2009 Formula Drift #99 Mazda RX-8
• 2018 Funco Motorsports F9

G

• 1970 GMC Jimmy
• 1991 GMC Syclone
• 2022 Gordon Murray Automotive T.50
• 2025 GR GT Prototype

H

• 1977 Holden Torana A9X
• 1970 Honda S800
• 1974 Honda Civic RS
• 1984 Honda City E II
• 1986 Honda Civic Si
• 1990 Honda #19 CRX WTAC (Time Attack Car Pack)
• 1991 Honda Beat
• 1991 Honda CR-X SiR
• 1992 Honda #21 Hardrace/JDMYard Civic WTAC (Time Attack Car Pack)
• 1992 Honda NSX-R
• 1994 Honda Acty
• 1994 Honda Prelude Si
• 1997 Honda Civic Type R
• 2001 Honda #33 Integra WTAC (Time Attack Car Pack)
• 2003 Honda S2000
• 2004 Honda #52 Evasive Motorsports S2000 WTAC (Time Attack Car Pack)
• 2004 Honda Civic Type R
• 2005 Honda NSX-R
• 2005 Honda NSX-R GT
• 2007 Honda Civic Type R
• 2015 Honda Civic Type R
• 2015 Honda Ridgeline Baja Trophy Truck
• 2018 Honda Civic Type R
• 2022 Honda e
• 2023 Honda Civic Type R
• 2014 HSV GEN-F GTS
• 2019 Hyundai Veloster N
• 2020 Hyundai i30 N
• 2021 Hyundai i20 N
• 2022 Hyundai N Vision 74
• 2023 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N

J

• 1956 Jaguar D-Type
• 1961 Jaguar E-Type
• 2016 Jeep Trailcat
• 2020 Jeep JT
• 2019 Jimco #240 Fastball Racing Spec Trophy Truck
• 2020 Jimco #179 Hammerhead Class 1

K

• 2008 Koenigsegg CCGT
• 2016 Koenigsegg Regera
• 2020 Koenigsegg Jesko
• 2018 KTM X-Bow GT4

L

• 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400
• 1988 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 QV
• 2010 Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SV
• 2016 Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4
• 2019 Lamborghini Urus
• 2020 Lamborghini Essenza SCV12
• 2020 Lamborghini Huracán STO
• 2022 Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato
• 2022 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica
• 1986 Lancia Delta S4
• 1992 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo
• 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR
• 2010 Lexus LFA
• 2010 Lexus LFA Forza Edition
• 2015 Lexus RC F
• 2021 Lexus LC 500
• 1962 Lincoln Continental
• 1999 Lotus Elise Series 1 Sport 190
• 2018 Lotus Scura Motorsport Exige WTAC
• 2020 Lotus Evija
• 2023 Lotus Emira
• 2024 Lucid Air Sapphire

M

• 2022 Maserati MC20
• 1973 Mazda RX-3
• 1973 Mazda RX-3 Forza Edition
• 1990 Mazda Savanna RX-7
• 1992 Mazda RX-7 Type R
• 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata
• 1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata Forza Edition
• 2005 Mazda Mazdaspeed MX-5
• 2008 Mazda Furai
• 2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3
• 2011 Mazda RX-8 R3
• 2013 Mazda MX-5
• 2016 Mazda MX-5
• 2017 Mazda MX-5 Cup
• 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF
• 2011 McLaren 12C Coupé
• 2015 McLaren 570S Coupé
• 2021 McLaren 765LT
• 2021 McLaren Sabre
• 2023 McLaren Artura
• 2016 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé
• 2018 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S
• 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé
• 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series
• 2020 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series 'Welcome Pack'
• 2021 Mercedes-AMG SL 63
• 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupé
• 1987 Mercedes-Benz AMG Hammer Coupe
• 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II
• 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series
• 2013 Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG
• 2013 Mercedes-Benz G 65 AMG
• 2014 Mercedes-Benz G 65 AMG 6x6
• 2014 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U5023
• 2020 Mercedes-Benz SLC 43 Final Edition
• 1971 Meyers Manx
• 1986 MG Metro 6R4
• 1965 MINI Cooper S
• 2012 MINI John Cooper Works GP
• 2018 MINI X-raid John Cooper Works Buggy
• 2021 MINI John Cooper Works GP
• 1990 Mitsubishi #269 Attacking the Clock Racing Minicab Time Attack (Time Attack Car Pack)
• 1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
• 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
• 1995 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III GSR
• 1995 Mitsubishi Montero Exceed 2800 TD
• 1997 Mitsubishi GTO
• 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Evolution
• 2001 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR TM Edition
• 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR
• 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR "Welcome Pack"
• 2005 Mitsubishi #1 Sierra Sierra Enterprises Lancer Evolution Time Attack
• 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR
• 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR

N

• 1969 Nissan Fairlady Z 432
• 1971 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R
• 1973 Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-R
• 1983 Nissan #11 Tomica Skyline Turbo Super Silhouette (A legendary GT return)
• 1985 Nissan Safari Turbo
• 1987 Nissan Skyline GTS-R
• 1989 Nissan PAO
• 1989 Nissan S-Cargo
• 1989 Nissan S-Cargo Forza Edition
• 1989 Nissan Silvia K's
• 1990 Nissan Pulsar GTI-R
• 1991 Nissan Figaro
• 1992 Nissan Skyline GT-R
• 1993 Nissan #32 Skyline WTAC 'Xtreme GTR' (Time Attack Car Pack)
• 1993 Nissan 240SX
• 1994 Nissan Fairlady Z Version S Twin Turbo
• 1994 Nissan Silvia K's
• 1995 Nissan Gloria Gran Turismo
• 1995 Nissan NISMO GT-R LM
• 1997 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec
• 1997 Nissan Stagea RS Four V
• 1998 Nissan Silvia K's Aero
• 1998 Nissan #23 Pennzoil NISMO Skyline GT-R (Fan-favorite GT500 car)
• 2000 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II
• 2000 Nissan #36 Silvia WTAC (Time Attack Car Pack)
• 2002 Nissan Silvia Spec-R
• 2003 Nissan Fairlady Z
• 2012 Nissan GT-R Black Edition (R35)
• 2017 Nissan GT-R (R35)
• 2019 Nissan 370Z NISMO
• 2020 Nissan GT-R NISMO (R35)
• 2024 Nissan GT-R NISMO
• 2024 Nissan Z NISMO

P

• 2009 Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster
• 2016 Pagani Huayra BC Coupe
• 2021 Pagani Huayra R
• 1962 Peel P50
• 1962 Peel P50 Trolli Edition (promotional DLC code)
• 1984 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16
• 1991 Peugeot 205 Rallye
• 2007 Peugeot 207 Super 2000
• 1958 Plymouth Fury
• 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S
• 1971 Plymouth Cuda 426 Hemi
• 2021 Polaris RZR Pro XP Ultimate
• 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
• 1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA
• 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS
• 1982 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.3
• 1986 Porsche #185 959 Prodrive Rally Raid
• 1993 Porsche 928 GTS
• 1993 Porsche 968 Turbo S
• 1995 Porsche 911 GT2
• 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion
• 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder
• 2019 Porsche 911 Carrera S
• 2021 Porsche 911 GT3
• 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
• 2023 Porsche 911 Rallye

R

• 2024 Ram 1500 TRX
• 1967 Renault 8 Gordini
• 1980 Renault 5 Turbo
• 1993 Renault Clio Williams
• 2008 Renault Megane R26.R
• 2010 Renault Megane RS 250
• 2018 Renault Megane R.S.
• 2016 RJ Anderson #37 Polaris RZR-Rockstar Energy Pro 2 Truck
• 2021 RJ Anderson #37 Polaris RZR Pro 4 Truck

S

• 2017 Saleen S7 LM
• 2021 SIERRA Cars 700R
• 1990 Subaru Legacy RS
• 1994 Subaru Vivio RX-R
• 1994 Subaru Vivio RX-R Forza Edition
• 1996 Subaru SVX
• 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B-STi Version
• 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
• 2005 Subaru Legacy B4 2.0 GT
• 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI
• 2011 Subaru WRX STI
• 2013 Subaru BRZ
• 2015 Subaru WRX STI
• 2018 Subaru WRX STI ARX Supercar
• 2019 Subaru STI S209
• 2022 Subaru BRZ
• 2022 Subaru WRX

T

• 1965 Toyota Sports 800
• 1965 Toyota Sports 800 Fanta Edition (promotional DLC code)
• 1969 Toyota 2000GT
• 1974 Toyota Corolla SR5
• 1979 Toyota FJ40
• 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT Apex
• 1985 Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT Apex Forza Edition
• 1989 Toyota MR2 SC
• 1991 Toyota Chaser GT Twin Turbo
• 1991 Toyota Sera
• 1992 Toyota Celica GT-Four RC ST185
• 1992 Toyota Supra 2.0 GT
• 1993 Toyota #1 Baja T100 Truck
• 1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205
• 1995 Toyota J&J Motorsport Supra WTAC (Time Attack Car Pack)
• 1995 Toyota MR2 GT
• 1996 Toyota Starlet Glanza V
• 1997 Toyota Chaser 2.5 Tourer V
• 1999 Toyota Altezza RS200 Z EDITION
• 1997 Toyota Soarer 2.5 GT-T
• 1998 Toyota Supra RZ
• 2003 Toyota Celica Sport Specialty II
• 2005 Toyota Crown Super Deluxe Taxi
• 2013 Toyota 86
• 2016 Toyota Land Cruiser Arctic Trucks AT37
• 2017 Toyota JPN Taxi
• 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
• 2019 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
• 2020 Toyota GR Supra
• 2021 Toyota GR Yaris
• 2022 Toyota GR86
• 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser
• 2025 Toyota GR GT Prototype
• 2005 TVR Sagaris
• 2018 TVR Griffith

V

• 1963 Volkswagen Type 2 De Luxe
• 1969 Volkswagen Class 5/1600 Baja Bug
• 1983 Volkswagen Golf GTI
• 1992 Volkswagen Golf GTI 16V Mk2
• 1995 Volkswagen Corrado VR6
• 2011 Volkswagen Scirocco R
• 2014 Volkswagen Golf R
• 2021 Volkswagen Golf R
• 2022 Volkswagen Golf R
• 1983 Volvo 242 Turbo Evolution

W

• 2013 Wuling Sunshine S
• 2022 Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Macaron

As further details are released, including more cars and more specifics on model variants and years, this list will be continually updated.

Don't forget to bookmark it and check back often to see if your favorite cars made it to the roster!

Forza Horizon 6 launches on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Xbox Game Pass on May 19, 2026, but it is now available via early access for players who have purchased the game's Premium Upgrade or Premium Edition. A PlayStation 5 release is confirmed for a later date in 2026.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Windows 11 users are dealing with yet another update headache, and this time, Microsoft is openly telling people to uninstall the problematic patch. Update KB5074109 has triggered a wave of bug reports ranging from performance issues to broken features, and the company has now published guidance urging affected users to roll it back. It’s the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of Windows updates causing more problems than they solve.

On January 13, 2026, Microsoft started the rollout of the 2026-01 Security Update (KB5074109) (26200.7623) for Windows 11 version 25H2 and 24H2, but shortly after, a number of reports from users started to emerge with different complaints.

For example, we've seen reports of apps not working correctly, resulting in error messages such as 0x803F8001. Also, a small number of users have reported random black screens after installing the update KB5074109 on devices featuring NVIDIA GPUs.

Now, if you use the legacy version of the Outlook app, Microsoft has acknowledged (via WindowsLatest) problems with accounts configured using the POP protocol and profiles with PST files, where users may experience "Outlook hangs and does not exit properly" issues. According to the notes, the problem may occur for any profile that has PSTs stored on OneDrive.

Since the company still doesn't have a permanent fix and the workaround "may be complicated," it's recommending users to either use the web version of the service, relocate the PST files out of OneDrive, or uninstall the build 26200.7623 from the computer.

Also, recently, the company was forced to release an Out-of-band (OOB) update, KB5077744, for versions 25H2 and 24H2 to address sign-in failures during Remote Desktop connections. Furthermore, the software giant released an emergency update for version 23H2 (which is already out of support) to address a problem that prevented users from properly shutting down their devices.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the easy steps to uninstall the latest update of Windows 11 to mitigate the current issues.

Although running a computer without the latest updates is generally not recommended, the number of issues associated with this release makes uninstalling the update a reasonable course of action.

How to uninstall update KB5074109 from Windows 11

To uninstall the January 2026 Security Update from your computer, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Windows Update.
3. Click the "Pause for 1 week" button to prevent the system from reinstalling the update.

• Quick tip: You can also use these instructions to permanently disable Windows Update.

4. Click the Update history page on the right side.

5. Click the Uninstall updates setting under the "Related settings" section.

6. Click the Uninstall option to remove the update KB5074109 from Windows 11.

7. Click the Uninstall button one more time.
8. Click the Restart now button.

Once you complete the steps, the cumulative update will be uninstalled from your computer, thus restoring the system to the time it was working correctly.

Whether this is another isolated misfire or a sign of deeper quality‑control issues inside Microsoft, the frustration is real — especially for users who rely on Windows 11 for work. For now, uninstalling KB5074109 seems to be the safest move until a fixed build arrives. But it raises the same question our audience asks every time: why does Windows Update feel like a gamble in 2026?

Have you come across any issues with the January 2026 Security Update? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

SteamOS already offers one of the best console-like experiences you can get on a PC handheld. It is fast, streamlined, and designed to feel simple in a way most desktop operating systems are not.

That said, installing Windows alongside SteamOS can unlock far more flexibility. Dual booting gives you access to games, launchers, and services that simply are not supported on SteamOS today, while still letting you keep the console-style experience when you want it.

In this guide, I will walk through the easiest and safest way to dual-boot Windows and SteamOS. The process works on Steam Deck, Legion Go S, Legion Go 2, and other handhelds that run SteamOS, and it is designed to avoid common mistakes that can lead to data loss or broken boot setups.

Before you start: During the Windows 11 installation process, you may see an option that says, "delete everything." Do not select this at any point. Choosing it can wipe your SteamOS partition and break the dual-boot setup.

A few extra tools will make this process much easier. While some steps can be done directly on the device, having the right setup avoids unnecessary frustration.

You will need a keyboard and mouse, a USB stick, and a USB hub that supports at least three USB devices at once, as well as Ethernet. Windows 11 also requires a minimum of 64GB of storage for the operating system alone, so make sure your device has enough free space before starting for both the OS and some space for any games or apps you’d like to use on Windows.

Although it is possible to complete most, if not all, steps on the handheld itself, creating the required boot devices is often smoother on a Windows PC. If you have access to one, it can save time and reduce setup issues later on.

The USB-C hub that I use (and recommend) can be found here:

1: Update SteamOS to the latest beta (3.6.9 or later)

Make sure that you are on the latest beta version of SteamOS, you can do this by doing the following:

1. To update to beta, press the Steam button or open the Steam menu.
2. Select the Settings option.
3. Go to the System option.
4. Select Beta participation.
5. Change the System update channel from Stable to Beta.
6. Restart and apply the update.

2: Set your SteamOS user password

If you have already set a password before, you can skip this step.

To do certain tasks, you’ll need a user password to essentially provide administrator privileges. It’s straightforward to do, and you can doit by following these steps below:

1. Switch your Steam Deck to Desktop Mode.
2. You can do this by pressing the Steam button, selecting Power, and choosing Switch to Desktop.
3. Once on the desktop, open System Settings from the taskbar.
4. Scroll down and select the Users section.
5. Choose Change password.
6. When prompted to enter a password, bring up the on-screen keyboard by pressing the Steam and X buttons together.
7. Enter a password of your choice and confirm it.
8. When asked to change additional options, leave everything else unchanged and confirm.
9. Once complete, close System Settings and return to the desktop.

You may also want a keyboard from here on out, and to keep things relatively cheap, I recommend an affordable keyboard and mouse combo to save on costs:

3: Create your SteamOS recovery media

This step is essential for resizing your internal drive later. It does not wipe your device and will only be used to safely manage partitions when SteamOS is not running.

Valve provides an official SteamOS recovery image, and you can create this boot media on either SteamOS or Windows. Use whichever system is easiest for you.

You will need a USB stick or microSD card with at least 8GB of storage; however, Windows recommends at least 16GB, so if you plan to just use one USB here, keep this in mind.

1. Download the SteamOS image by clicking here.
2. Insert your USB stick or microSD card.
3. On Windows, download and install Rufus from here.
4. On SteamOS or Linux, download and install Balena Etcher from here.
5. If you are using Windows, follow the steps by clicking here.
6. If you are on SteamOS or Linux, click here to follow the steps.

3a: Using Windows to create boot media

If you are using Windows to create your boot media, follow the steps below:

1. Download the SteamOS image by clicking here.
2. Insert your USB stick or microSD card.
3. Download and install Rufus from here.
4. Open Rufus.
5. Ensure that your USB Drive is selected under Device.
6. With Rufus open, select the Steamdeck_repair img file.
7. Make sure that "List USB Hard Drives" is selected.
8. Under "Partition scheme," select MBR.
9. Under the "Target system" option, select BIOS (or UEFI-CSM).
10. Now press Start.
11. Choose Ok when prompted that all data on the USB Drive will be lost.

3b: Using SteamOS/Linux to create boot media

If instead of Windows, you're choosing to use SteamOS/Linux then you can follow the steps below to create your recovery media:

1. Download the SteamOS image by clicking here.
2. Insert your USB stick or microSD card.
3. Download Balena Etcher from here.
4. Scroll down and choose the 64-bit option.
5. Go to the download location, right-click on your Balena Etcher download, and select Extract.
6. Extract somewhere easily accessible.
7. Once extracted, open the extracted folder, and then select the balenca_etcher file.
8. Choose the execute option.

4: Install the dual boot manager

This step is performed on your SteamOS device.

To make dual booting reliable and easy to manage, you will need a boot manager. This controls which operating system loads when you power on your device and prevents Windows from taking over the boot process.

For this guide, we are using SteamDeck rEFInd, a tool designed specifically for SteamOS devices. It allows you to switch between SteamOS and Windows from a clean menu and supports custom icons and backgrounds later on.

To install it, follow these steps carefully:

1. Make sure you are still in Desktop Mode on SteamOS.
2. Open the application launcher.
3. Navigate to System and open Konsole.
4. I’d recommend visiting this guide on your SteamOS device, and copying this install command:
5. cd $HOME && rm -rf $HOME/SteamDeck_rEFInd/ && git clone https://github.com/jlobue10/SteamDeck_rEFInd && cd SteamDeck_rEFInd && chmod +x install-GUI.sh && ./install-GUI.sh
6. Paste the command into the Konsole window.
7. Press Enter and type your SteamOS user password when prompted.
8. Confirm when asked to proceed with the installation.
9. Once installed, the application will appear on your desktop.

5: Dual boot GUI setup

Once the installation is complete, open the application and review the available settings. This part is straightforward, but I will briefly walk you through what needs to be configured next.

1. Open SteamDeck_reEFIned on your desktop.
2. I won't change many settings here, but you want to make sure SteamOS is the default Boot option.
3. Windows is already selected for Boot Option #2, so leave this as is.
4. You can change other settings if you wish, such as the boot menu icons and boot menu background.
5. Change the Timeout option to what you desire. I have chosen 10 seconds.
6. Select the "Install rEFInd" option at the bottom of the GUI.
7. Enter the password you created earlier.
8. Then choose "OK" and wait for it to install.
9. Then choose "Create Config," especially if you make any other changes.
10. Then select the option "Install Config."
11. Enter your password again.
12. Restart your Steam Deck to see your custom boot screen.

6: Resize the internal drive for Windows

This step creates space for Windows by resizing your existing SteamOS partition. It is done from the SteamOS recovery environment to avoid conflicts with files currently in use.

Take your time here. Nothing is applied until you confirm it, and following the steps carefully avoids data loss.

If you can't load into the SteamOS recovery image, try a Micro SD Card or a different USB stick.

1. To begin, make sure your Steam Deck is fully powered off.
2. Insert your SteamOS recovery USB or microSD card.
3. Hold the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Power button.
4. Release both once the boot menu appears.
5. Select your USB or microSD recovery media from the list.
6. Wait for the SteamOS recovery desktop to load.

Once on the recovery desktop:

1. Open the application launcher in the bottom left corner.
2. Navigate to All Applications and scroll down.
3. Open KDE Partition Manager.
4. Select your internal drive from the list on the left side.
5. Locate the ext4 home partition. This is where SteamOS is installed.

To resize the partition:

1. Right-click the ext4 home partition.
2. Select Resize/Move.
3. Use the slider to reduce the partition size based on how much space you want to allocate to Windows.
4. You can also type in how big you want your new partition size to be.

Once resized:

• Click OK to confirm the new size.
• You will now see unallocated space below the SteamOS partition.
• Right-click the unallocated space and select New.
• Choose NTFS as the file system.
• Confirm the changes.
• Click Apply in the top left corner and wait for the process to finish.

When complete, you should see a smaller SteamOS partition and a new NTFS partition ready for Windows.

Shut down the Steam Deck and remove the SteamOS recovery media. You will use this new partition in the next step when installing Windows.

7: Create your Windows boot media

This step mirrors the SteamOS recovery media process, but this time you will be creating boot media for Windows 11. The overall process is the same, with the only difference being the file you use.

For this guide, I will cover both the Windows and SteamOS or Linux methods, as the steps are very similar. If you followed Step 3, this should feel familiar.

You can safely boot back into SteamOS after the previous step to create your Windows 11 boot media. For this guide, I used a separate USB drive and kept my SteamOS recovery image intact.

1. Download the Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft’s official website.
2. Insert your USB stick into your PC or SteamOS device.
3. Download and install Rufus or Balena Etcher if it is not already installed.
4. Open Rufus or Balena Etcher.
5. Make sure your USB drive is selected under Device.
6. Select the Windows 11 ISO file you downloaded.
7. Leave the default settings unless prompted otherwise.
8. Click Start.
9. Confirm that all data on the USB drive will be erased when prompted.

Wait for the image writing process to finish. This can take several minutes.

Once complete, safely eject the USB drive. You will use this Windows boot media in the next step to install Windows onto the partition you created earlier.

8: Installing Windows on Steam Deck

With your Windows boot media ready and your internal drive partitioned, it is time to install Windows on your Steam Deck. This part is straightforward, but there is one important installer option to watch for.

1. Power off your SteamOS device.
2. Insert the Windows 11 boot media you created earlier.
3. Hold the Volume Down button, then hold the Power button down.
4. Release both once the boot menu appears
5. Select your Windows USB drive from the list.
6. Wait for the Windows installer to load; this can take some time.

Once the Windows installer appears, rotate your Steam Deck into portrait mode. This makes the setup screens easier to use.

It is normal for Windows to be in portrait mode on boot and during setup.

1. Select Install Windows.
2. Accept the license terms when prompted.
3. If asked for a product key, select "I don't have a product key."
4. Choose Windows 11 Pro when prompted, then select Next.
5. Choose the option to install Windows only.
6. Locate the NTFS partition you created earlier.
7. Select this partition and choose Next.
8. Do not delete or format any other partitions.

Windows will now begin installing. This usually takes a few minutes, and the Steam Deck will restart automatically.

After the restart, the Windows setup process will continue.

• Connect to WiFi when prompted, if available, or connect via Ethernet using the USB-C hub.
• Alternatively, you can select the I don't have internet option if available.
• Follow the install process, selecting your region, keyboard layout, etc.

Once setup completes, Windows will load to the desktop, likely still in portrait mode. This is expected and will be fixed in the next step.

9a: Downloading Windows drivers

This step applies to Steam Deck only. If you are using another SteamOS device, you should already be good to go.

For Steam Deck, Valve provides official Windows drivers for each Steam Deck model. These are required to ensure Windows runs correctly on the device. You can follow the instructions here:

1. Download all of the Windows drivers for your specific Steam Deck model from the official page.
2. Once downloaded, extract each folder.
3. Copy each driver folder to a USB drive and keep it somewhere easy to access.
4. You will need this USB drive in the next steps when installing the drivers in Windows.

Very importantly, you must also download the Dual Boot Fix tool. This step is required to prevent Windows from automatically bypassing the dual-boot menu after restarts.

Download the Dual Boot Fix from here and copy it to the same USB drive as your Steam Deck drivers.

If the download link does not work, the tool is also available on the SteamDeck rEFInd GitHub page by scrolling down to the Windows section.

You will run this tool later from within Windows to ensure the rEFInd boot menu always appears correctly.

9b: Installing Steam Deck Drivers

Once Windows has finished installing, several core features will not work correctly until the proper drivers are installed. This is expected and easy to fix.

Before starting, make sure you know whether you are using a Steam Deck LCD or Steam Deck OLED. The driver sets are slightly different.

It is also normal for Windows to be in portrait mode on boot and during setup.

You can download the drivers here if you haven't already.

1. Once the drivers are downloaded, extract each folder.
2. Put the extracted folders onto your USB drive.
3. Insert the USB drive containing the Steam Deck drivers into your Steam Deck.
4. Next, I highly recommend following the instructions for your Steam Deck on Valve's website, here.

Once all drivers are installed, restart Windows.

After rebooting, graphics, Wi Fi, Bluetooth, audio, and SD card support should all be working correctly.

The next step focuses on fixing the dual-boot priority, so Windows does not bypass the boot menu.

10: Fixing problems introduced by Windows

This step is required to stop Windows from bypassing the dual-boot menu after restarts. Without it, Windows can take control of the boot order and load automatically.

You should have already downloaded the Dual Boot Fix tool and placed it on a USB drive in an earlier step.

To apply the fix, follow these steps while booted into Windows:

1. Insert the USB drive containing the Dual Boot Fix tool.
2. Open the folder and locate the file named Setup_rEFInd_Windows_RunAsAdmin.
3. Right-click the file and select Run as administrator.
4. Confirm any prompts that appear.

The script will run briefly and close automatically once complete. This creates a scheduled task in Windows that ensures the rEFInd boot menu is always placed at the top of the boot order.

Once finished, leave Windows running and continue to the next step.

11: Final Windows configuration for Steam Deck

This step helps prevent graphical issues when booting into Windows.

1. Right-click the Start button and type Run and press Enter.
2. With the Run dialog box open, type msconfig
3. Press Enter or OK.
4. Open the Boot tab.
5. Check the option for No GUI boot.
6. Select Apply, then OK.

Once this is done, shut down the Steam Deck completely.

Turn back on the device and load in to SteamOS and follow these instructions:

1. Open the rEFInd GUI from the desktop.
2. Select Create config.
3. Select Install config and enter your password when prompted.
4. Restart the Steam Deck.

You should now see the dual-boot menu on startup, allowing you to choose between SteamOS and Windows with everything configured correctly.

If you prefer a video walkthrough, this guide is based on an older video created by Deck Wizard. However, this version has been updated and modernised, with several tweaks made to reflect current tools and best practices.

To say I've been using one of the fastest out-of-the-box PC controllers money can buy, I've been suffering a little. I've been using Razer's Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC of late as my main for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, but something has been feeling off.

When I wrote our review of the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC, I was blown away by its performance. But I also tested that controller in Black Ops 6, before Black Ops 7 came out.

The long story short is that if you have a fast Razer controller, such as this, and you're feeling a little sluggish, you should check your deadzones in Synapse 4.

The problem: Feeling sluggish in fast-paced competitive environments

To be clear, the controller is not responsible for my own lack of skill. But after playing only Multiplayer for the first week, most of the time since I've been either shooting (mostly) bots in Warzone Casual doing the Mastery Camo and 100% Calling Card, or in the PvE modes.

Going back to Multiplayer with the start of the Fallout crossover event, something didn't feel right. Something felt sluggish. Not massively, but gunfights and movement just felt harder. Like I couldn't move, aim, or even react quick enough, even with sweat pouring down my head.

After troubleshooting every in-game setting, I turned to the Internet, and then into Razer Synapse 4 to solve it.

The solution: Turn off Razer's double deadzone prevention

On paper, Razer's own software ensuring that you don't have clashing deadzone settings between your controller and game sounds good.

In practice, though, players have observed that having the double deadzone prevention turned on in Synapse 4, unintentionally seems to mess with your input latency.

In my experience, at least, it seems to be the case. I turned it off, set deadzones to 0 minimum and 100 maximum, and then went back to the game.

From the very first match, it felt so much better. I'm not ready for the Call of Duty League yet, but, I could definitely feel movement and aiming as much crisper.

Turning your deadzones to 0 in Synapse will give you a warning about unintended inputs and being for "pro players" but there's no cause for alarm.

The idea is to manage your deadzones inside the game, in my case, Black Ops 7. A controller like this with TMR thumbsticks doesn't have stick drift to worry about, but if you use a deadzone to help you have better control, or eliminate unwanted inputs, the game is where to set it.

It makes sense, though, that there could be unintended consequences. I'm sure Razer hasn't done it on purpose, but if the software is constantly checking that you don't have deadzone clashes, something is happening in the background. On a slower controller, it may not be noticeable. But on an 8,000 Hz one, it certainly is.

Other things to check

There are also a couple of other things with this, or any similarly tricked out controller, you should also check if you're getting issues.

The first is that your PC can actually handle the 8,000 Hz polling rate. This much communication between controller and PC increases the load on the CPU. Use Task Manager to check whether it's being particularly thirsty, and if need be, reduce the polling rate in software. Most recent CPUs should be absolute fine, though.

Also make sure your firmware is up-to-date. Through this process I did, in fact, discover I was using older firmware, though it wasn't the fix for my personal issue. Razer doesn't deliver firmware updates through Synapse, so you'll have to go and locate it manually.

So, I'm back as fighting fit as I'm ever going to be. Software features are nice, but sometimes they can be more hindrance, than help.

If you have any other tips and tricks for maximizing a controller's performance on PC, be sure to drop them into the comments below.

With the second week of the Fallout crossover in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 now upon us, some new events have gone live.

One of them, Quantum Exchange, brings the reward of the brand-new Hawker HX sniper rifle, the stand-out reward for sure.

It's easy enough to get, but if you're here, it's because you're impatient and want to know the fastest route to unlocking it. Fortunately, I've tried every mode, and I've got the easiest, least stressful method locked down. Here's what to do.

How to unlock the Hawker HX sniper rifle in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

Besides speed, when I'm looking for methods to complete events or unlock new items in Black Ops 7, I go for the least stressful approach. There's enough sweatiness in the game, so let's relax when we can, right?

To get the Hawker HX both quickly and as easily as possible, use the Endgame mode. Zombies is a decent runner-up, but for most people who want this fast, I'd definitely recommend avoiding Warzone and Multiplayer. I'll break down the numbers I've been getting after the method.

You need to collect 100 bottle caps to cash in for the Hawker HX, and you get those from eliminations in Endgame. To get those in a hurry, drop into Zone III and head to the grassy areas in the top left corner of the map.

These areas have become a staple for those working towards the Genesis Mastery Camo, and they're just as good here. You'll get a large quantity of zombie-type enemies spawning here at regular intervals.

Just keep moving up and down the very outskirts of the map in Zone III, find a group, eliminate the group, grab any bottle caps, and move along to find another. Rinse and repeat, that's all you have to do. It doesn't seem to preference Special or Elite enemies over regular ones, so just mow down everything in sight.

Based on what I've been experiencing, you could get the 100 bottle caps you need in four matches, five at most, so it should only take you a couple of hours of in-game time.

Why Black Ops 7 Endgame is the play to unlock the Hawker HX

It's a simple numbers game. From trying every mode, the rewards compared to the time spent in-game, with an added bonus of being significantly easier to play than the other three modes, Endgame comes out on top.

I've not seen less than 20 bottle caps per match, and when I've stuck it out longer, until the 15-minute warning pops up, I've seen 29.

Compared to Zombies on Survival, even with the Rampage Inducer on, it's a better return. Here I've only been able to get 10 bottle caps in just under 20 minutes. If you go to higher rounds with more zombies, you'll get more, but it's more of a time suck.

Warzone is third, and a distant one, at that. Like previous collection events, you only need to open crates. But in a full match (using Casual mode, because you can) I only got six bottle caps.

Multiplayer is dead last because the drop rates are so low for the amount of time you'll end up playing. But also because if a bottle cap drops, and it's not right in front of you, there's a decent chance you get eliminated before you collect it.

So, Endgame is the strategy. It's pretty reliable, delivering between 20 and 30 bottle caps per run, targeting mostly the areas detailed above. If you don't have a Zone III ready operator, then drop in for some Zombies as your back-up plan. It might take a little longer, but both are superior to Warzone or Multiplayer for efficiency.