As part of the Experimental experience for Windows 11 version 26H2, Microsoft recently released build 26300.8697. While the official announcement focused on fixes and improvements, a more interesting discovery was hiding beneath the surface. A new Search setting that can turn off Bing-powered web results in the Windows Search experience.

Search may finally get a Bing off switch

Windows Search has long mixed local files, apps, and settings with web suggestions, often surfacing Bing results even when users are simply looking for something on their computer. The appearance of a dedicated toggle to remove those web results suggests that the company is exploring a more streamlined Search experience with fewer distractions.

However, this isn't entirely new. Users in the European Economic Area (EEA) have had similar controls for some time as part of Microsoft's compliance with the Digital Markets Act. What's notable here is that the company now appears to be building the same functionality for all markets.

The story I see is much more than user choice. This appears to be Microsoft acknowledging that not every Windows Search query needs a web result attached to it. Instead of forcing online content into the experience, Windows 11 could soon let users decide what belongs in Search. For many people, that could make finding apps, files, and settings faster and more predictable.

New Search controls reduce clutter

The setting is currently tucked in under Settings > Privacy & security > Search in build 26300.8697. The option is labeled "Web Searches" in the "Show suggested search results" section.

Microsoft is also testing a separate "Microsoft Store" toggle to prevent Store apps from appearing in Search results. Together, these options would give users more control over what surfaces when searching from the Start menu and Search box in the Taskbar.

Privacy & Security settings are getting reorganized

The same preview build also includes an updated version of the "Privacy & security" page. Microsoft has reorganized the settings into clearer categories and added a new header that provides quick access to Windows Security, along with glanceable information for location, camera, and microphone permissions.

The company is also adding new entry points for features such as Passkeys and the Custom Dictionary.

Availability of the Search experience

At this stage, the feature is not officially available, and it's not an option you can turn on from the "Feature flags" page either. It was spotted by @PhantomOfEarth inside the Insider build and can only be enabled using ViveTool feature IDs, indicating that Microsoft is still actively developing and testing the experience.

If testing goes as planned, the company could refine the feature through future 26H2 preview releases before deciding on a wider rollout.

Windows Central's Take

I think Microsoft should have offered this option to everyone a long time ago. When I'm using Windows Search, I'm usually looking for a file, app, or setting, not a Bing result. While web integration has its place, it often makes Search feel more cluttered than helpful.

What's interesting is that similar controls have already existed in Europe, so this isn't really a new feature. The bigger story is that Microsoft appears to be testing the same level of control for users across all regions, including the addition of an option to suppress apps from the Microsoft Store in the experience.

I wouldn't consider this a major feature for Windows 11, but it's the type of improvement that can make the operating system feel less intrusive and more focused on what users actually want to find.

What are your thoughts about having the option to remove Bing results from Windows Search 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, I often see users concerned about high memory usage when they open Task Manager. It's not uncommon to see RAM utilization sitting at 70, 80, or even 90 percent. When that happens, many people assume their computer is slowing down, the operating system is using too many resources, or it's finally time to upgrade to more memory.

Microsoft PC Manager is one of the tools designed to address this concern. The app includes a one-click "Boost" feature that promises to free memory and improve performance instantly. However, before you start clearing memory every time you see a high percentage, it's important to understand what the system is actually doing behind the scenes.

Why Windows 11 uses so much memory

Nowadays, modern operating systems are designed to use available resources efficiently. Instead of letting memory sit idle, Windows 11 uses available RAM to cache data and keep frequently used apps ready to launch faster. The goal is to make the system feel more responsive.

As a result, high memory usage isn't necessarily a warning sign. In many cases, it's evidence that the operating system is taking advantage of the hardware you already paid for. This is also why two computers with the same amount of memory can show very different usage in Task Manager, even when performance feels nearly identical.

It's important, though, to separate "good" memory usage from "bad" bloat. When the system uses RAM to cache files, it'll immediately give that memory back when another app needs it. On the other hand, if a single app or browser tab is consuming several gigabytes of memory because of poor optimization or a memory leak, that's a legitimate resource problem and a valid reason to close the app or use a tool like PC Manager.

Where Microsoft PC Manager fits in

Microsoft PC Manager can help when memory consumption becomes excessive. The Boost feature quickly closes unnecessary background processes and releases memory back to the system. If you've left dozens of browser tabs open, forgotten apps running in the background, or are working on a computer with limited memory, the feature can provide an immediate improvement.

For users who don't want to dig through Task Manager looking for resource-hungry processes, PC Manager offers a much simpler approach.

However, the tool works best when it's solving an actual memory problem rather than chasing a lower number.

The mistake many users make

The biggest mistake I see is treating memory usage as a score that should always be kept as low as possible.

If Task Manager reports 85 percent memory usage, many users immediately assume they need to free RAM. After using the Boost feature, they feel reassured because the percentage drops to a lower number.

The problem is that lower memory usage doesn't automatically translate into better performance.

Windows 11 often stores useful information in memory to speed up common tasks. Clearing that data may reduce the percentage shown in Task Manager, but it doesn't always make the computer faster. In some situations, the operating system simply reloads the same information back into memory moments later.

When should you actually worry?

The percentage itself isn't what matters most. What matters is whether you're experiencing symptoms that indicate the system is running out of available memory. Apps taking longer to open, sluggish multitasking, and random slowdowns are usually better indicators than the number shown in Task Manager.

Another sign is when the system begins to rely heavily on virtual memory, forcing it to move data between RAM and storage. That's when performance can start to suffer noticeably. Also, keep in mind that many other factors can affect system performance, including the type and speed of your local drive, available disk space, thermal throttling, processor limitations, and excessive startup apps and background processes, just to name a few.

If your computer remains responsive throughout your normal workload, high memory usage alone usually isn't a reason to worry.

So how much RAM usage is too much?

There isn't a magic number that applies to every computer. For some users, 90 percent memory usage may be perfectly normal because they're running dozens of browser tabs, editing photos, or working with virtual machines.

Actually, I fall into this category. When I built my system, I installed 96GB of RAM, and I haven't noticed any slowdown in the applications I use when the usage is around 90 percent or even more.

However, context is also important. On an 8GB system sitting at around 85 percent memory usage, there's very little room left to work with. At that point, Windows 11 has to rely more on memory compression and move data to the storage drive, which can lead to noticeable slowdowns or stuttering. High memory usage on a high-end computer is usually just normal caching. However, on a lower-end system, it often means the hardware is starting to struggle.

My rule of thumb is simple. If memory usage consistently stays at 85-90 percent and you're noticing performance issues, it's probably time to investigate and consider a RAM upgrade. If performance remains smooth, Windows 11 is likely managing memory exactly as intended.

Windows Central's Take

Every time I see someone post a screenshot showing 85 or 90 percent memory usage on Windows 11, the first reaction is usually, "You need more RAM." In reality, that's often not the case.

I've tested Windows 11 on systems with 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB of memory, and one thing I've learned is that the system will happily use available RAM if it can improve performance. That's exactly what modern operating systems are supposed to do. Unused memory doesn't make your computer faster.

This is why I think Microsoft PC Manager's Boost feature is both useful and potentially misleading. It's useful because it can quickly free resources on low-memory systems or when an app is misbehaving. However, it can also reinforce the idea that high memory usage is always bad, which simply isn't true.

The one major exception here is right before you launch a heavy workload. If you are about to open a demanding game or start rendering a 4K video, it could make sense to hit the "Boost" feature beforehand. It forces background tasks to clear out early, ensuring your heavy application has immediate access to raw blocks of memory without waiting for the system to reallocate resources on the fly.

If you open Task Manager and see memory usage sitting at 80 or even 90 percent, I wouldn't rush to upgrade your memory. Instead, I'd ask a different question. Is the device actually slow? If apps open quickly and multitasking feels smooth, Windows 11 is probably managing memory exactly as intended.

For me, the real sign that it's time for more RAM isn't a percentage in Task Manager. It's when I start noticing slowdowns, app reloads, stuttering, or other performance issues during my normal workflow. That's when additional memory makes a difference.

What's the highest memory usage you've seen on Windows 11 without noticing any performance issues? 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.

Controlling audio settings on your PC is about to get easier. An upcoming update to Windows 11 will provide more options on a single page, reducing the number of clicks needed to change the volume of your devices.

Windows 11 Build 29613.1000 shipped to Windows Insiders in the Experimental (Future Platforms) Preview Channel recently. The update improves the "All sound devices" page within the settings app.

At the moment, that page merely shows a list of your output devices and input devices. To make any changes, you have to click on a device and jump to another page. After the latest Insider update, that same page lets you change your default device, monitor the volume of each device, and choose to hide or show disabled or unplugged devices.

Microsoft detailed the changes in the build's release notes:

• Following up on our previous improvements, we’re making some more adjustments to Settings > System > Sounds based on your feedback. Namely, we’ve updated the “All sound devices” page so:
  • You now have the ability to change default devices from this page.
  • Each of the devices displayed on this page now has a little volume meter next to it to show if there is audio actively playing.
  • We’ve adjusted the page design slightly so now you can filter whether you’re viewing input or output devices.
  • We’ve added toggles so you can choose if you want to hide or show disabled, disconnected, and unplugged devices on this page.
• We’ve also updated the input and output audio properties page for devices in Settings to now include jack information for those that need it.

Microsoft shipped three other Insider builds alongside Build 29613.1000, though they're minor updates. They mostly focus on bug fixes and minor changes.

Microsoft overhauled the Windows Insider Program recently. The channel structure now feels more linear and builds progress through in a way that feels natural.

The newly formed Experimental Channel allows Insiders to test "Future Platform" builds of the OS, which focus more on platform change than new features. The regular Experimental and Beta Channels have more front-facing features.

Users will also be able to bypass A/B testing and access the newest features available through their respective channel.

Microsoft is still transitioning to the new structure, so some options are not available at this time.

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

Microsoft is often referred to as the software giant — and for a good reason. Windows and Office are among the most profitable products in its ecosystem, thanks to their widespread global adoption. However, the tech giant has seemingly shifted its focus from its bread and butter to chase the elusive generative AI.

It dates back to Microsoft's first investment in OpenAI in 2019. CEO Satya Nadella revealed that his company's original co-founder, Bill Gates, wasn't party to the idea, citing the AI firm's non-profit structure. "Yeah, you're going to burn this billion dollars," Gates warned.

Conversely, a separate report claimed that Bill Gates is still intimately involved in Microsoft's affairs, despite stepping away to focus on his philanthropic efforts. His advice is reportedly regarded as gospel, with Nadella frequently relying on his guidance for the company’s transformative AI initiatives.

Nevertheless, Satya Nadella indicated that the company was moving away from Bill Gates' software factory vision: "That idea has guided us for decades," he indicated. "But today, it's no longer enough." According to Nadella, that original vision is becoming outdated as we edge closer to the AI revolution.

Instead, Microsoft is pivoting to security, quality, and AI transformation as its core business priorities. While it sounds good on paper, reality paints a very different picture (at least in the short term). Microsoft has faced a wide array of challenges in this age of AI, which could potentially undermine the backbone that has propelled it to a market capitalization of 2.82 trillion.

Too little, too late for Windows?

I've used Windows all my life, with a few side quests with Linux (Ubuntu) and macOS. Over that period, there's been a paradigm shift in Microsoft's OS, and not necessarily for the better. Windows 11's slow adoption rate before Windows 10's death is a clear depiction.

Many blatantly expressed their preference for the previous edition for a range of reasons, including Windows 11's stringent hardware requirements, flawed design elements, and more.

According to a recent HP survey, 3 out of 10 HP PCs are still running Windows 10 despite Microsoft pulling the plug on October 14, 2025. Then again, the number of Windows 10 holdouts has slightly decreased from September 2025, when HP and Dell indicated that up to 50% of PCs were still running on the operating system.

As a result, many users may not switch to Windows 11 immediately, instead delaying the upgrade until later this year, likely when ESU support officially ends.

Consequently, groups like The Restart Project group, which helped co-develop the "End of 10" toolkit to support Windows 10 users who can't upgrade to Windows 11, claim Microsoft's move to continue pushing security updates to Windows 10 beyond its end-of-support feels like a last-minute snooze button, which only acts as a band-aid on a bleeding system.

Critics have even branded Windows 10's end of support as programmed obsolescence on Microsoft's end, because the move forced millions of working PCs into early retirement, as they didn't meet the requirements to upgrade to Windows 11.

While it might seem like a stretch to some, rival platforms like Linux have shown some increased traction with incentives like a lack of ads and telemetry tracking fueling the switch from Microsoft's ecosystem. Some of our own Windows Central community members share the same sentiments, too.

That said, it might be too early to write off Windows. At the beginning of the year, Microsoft pledged to improve the overall user sentiment around the operating system, and has made good on its promise with its Windows K2 initiative (an internal initiative designed to address major pain points across Windows 11 based on customer feedback), including reducing where Copilot and other AI integrations appear across the operating system.

The company even brought back Windows Insider meetups to bridge the gap between users and the Windows development team, potentially making it easier to voice concerns and even provide feedback that will help steer the platform in the right direction.

However, Microsoft plans to evolve Windows into an agentic AI operating system — a move that has been received with mixed feelings. It indicated that Windows will ship with a new agentic workspace feature right out of the box, containing AI agents in their own secure sessions.

Last month, Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s head of product marketing for AI and Copilot, transitioned to a new role focused on "reimagining Windows for the agentic era" before eventually departing the company. This is a clear indication that the evolution of Windows into an agentic OS is already on track and could happen sooner than you think.

It'll be interesting to see how this will impact Microsoft's massive market share on desktops with Windows, and whether users will jump ship to "less intrusive" alternatives.

Office lost Teams, and Microsoft thought Copilot would sweeten the deal

In case you missed it, Microsoft unbundled Teams from Office 365 to dodge EU antitrust fines in 2025. The new arrangement offers Office 365 and Microsoft 365 without Teams at a lower cost, at around $2.20 (€2) less per user each month. This means you'll have to get Teams as a standalone service for about $5.50 (€5) per user per month.

In April, Salesforce filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, citing anticompetitive practices related to its Microsoft Teams app: "Microsoft's practices harmed ⁠competition, using tying and bundling of Teams to ​limit customer choice," the Slack maker claimed.

However, Microsoft dismissed the claims, citing that the antitrust case lacked merit. At the same time, it used the opportunity to throw jabs at Slack's lackluster growth and inferior capabilities compared to Teams and Zoom.

In the interim, Microsoft Office could potentially be looking at a competitive threat from the likes of The Document Foundation's LibreOffice and even newcomers like Euro-Office.

Euro-Office is Europe’s bold alternative to Microsoft 365, promising sovereignty and control. Perhaps more interestingly, the service ships a familiar user interface as Microsoft's service, which should technically make the jump less drastic for users.

However, the threat doesn't seem that serious, at least in the short term, unless the rival platforms address major concerns affecting their services and commit to improving compatibility. According to Windows Central member, GraniteStateColin:

"Microsoft Office is cheap and excellent. It's a bargain for anyone who benefits from its feature set. If all you need is a simple text entry window, then it is overkill, but at $20/year/user ($120/year for 6 users), it's still one of the cheapest options. That's $2/mo! If that's what's bankrupting Europe, they have bigger problems."

"LibreOffice's compatibility with MS Office docs is terrible. If there's anything more than the occasional bold or italic word, formatting is almost always a mess when trying to open a LibreOffice document in Word. That's on them, not Microsoft. They have had access to the file standards for more than a decade and CHOSE not to implement them properly."

This isn't the first threat to Microsoft's dominance with Windows and its Office productivity tools. In April, the French government revealed that it was ditching Windows for Linux as part of the country's broader strategy to reduce its dependence on American tools.

Similarly, at the beginning of this year, France announced plans to ditch Microsoft Teams and Zoom for a domestically developed platform called Visio across its public institutions by 2027.

Microsoft's toxic relationship with AI

Last year, Microsoft started automatically installing the Copilot AI app on Microsoft 365 users' Windows PCs. However, it temporarily suspended the forced installation following backlash and complaints from users, including a critical bug that allowed the chatbot to access sensitive data and read confidential emails.

However, the company is resuming automatic Microsoft 365 Copilot installations, starting July 1, for all Microsoft 365 users. It's worth noting that admins can opt out of the experience.

Despite Microsoft's fixation on AI, shareholders recently filed a class action lawsuit against the company, alleging it deliberately overstated Copilot’s success and its partnership with OpenAI. They also claimed that Microsoft failed to disclose Azure’s revenue slump while pouring billions into expanding AI data center infrastructure.

Market analysts and experts warned that Microsoft could be facing its worst quarter since the 2008 financial crisis if it continues blowing money on AI that isn't meeting investor expectations for returns.

Microsoft's big bet on AI and consequent setbacks go beyond Office and Windows; Azure is a victim too. According to a former engineer, Microsoft reportedly rushed the service into the market to compete with Google and Amazon.

This resulted in a talent exodus and lackluster software, which seemingly left Microsoft's cloud fragile and unable to compete on an even playing field with competitors. Either way, the next few years will reveal whether Microsoft's AI gamble strengthens its legacy products or leaves them further behind.

What are your thoughts about the current state of Windows and Office as Microsoft pivots to AI? Share your thoughts with me in the comments.

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

If you're into portable gaming, there's a chance you might not have heard of the Winhanced launcher yet. It's worth your attention, though, and I've covered it quite extensively in the past. It essentially acts as a full replacement for Steam's "Big Picture Mode" or the still-improving Xbox mode on Windows-based handhelds, like the fantastic Xbox Ally X.

The launcher is still in active development and hasn't quite reached version 1.0 yet. Despite that, the team has continued working hard behind the scenes, delivering a steady stream of impressive features in version 0.9.8.9. Before I get into the latest changes, let me praise what Winhanced actually brings to your Windows handheld.

At its core, Winhanced compiles your entire gaming library into a single interface. It supports Steam, Xbox, Epic Games Store, GOG, and even retro emulators, making it far easier to keep track of everything you own without constantly jumping between different applications.

As impressive as that is, one of the platform's standout features is something called Smart Profiles. These are community-created game configurations designed to help you get the best possible performance from your hardware. At the time of writing, support has already expanded to more than 50 games, including 007 First Light, ARC Raiders, Baldur's Gate 3, and more.

Another feature I particularly like is the ability to view your friend lists across multiple platforms in one place. Winhanced currently supports Steam, Xbox, and Discord, with additional services planned for the future, making it much easier to keep track of who's online regardless of where they play.

Now, I've mentioned features the launcher already does well, but the team hasn't stopped there. More recently, they've updated game cards, adding support for achievements across Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and GOG, all presented through a controller-friendly interface that's easy to navigate.

While game streaming isn't really my thing, the developers have continued to expand support there as well, with the latest update adding 16:10 and 21:9 aspect ratio options for streaming. Outside of that, the team has also added button remapping, improvements to the launcher's visuals, smoother performance, cleaner animations, and a more consistent design language throughout the entire experience.

I could easily spend another few hundred words singing Winhanced's praises, but instead, I'd recommend joining the Winhanced Discord, asking questions, and giving it a try for yourself. If you like what the team is building, you can also support development through Winhanced's Patreon and help fund future updates.

With that said, what do you think of the latest additions? Are these updates enough to convince you to give Winhanced a shot, or are there still features you'd like to see added before making the switch?

Let me know in the comments below, and be sure to take part in our poll below:

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

Microsoft’s June 2026 Patch Tuesday update shipped with several critical flaws that disrupted the Windows 11 user experience, including BitLocker lockout issues. Now, the company has acknowledged yet another problem.

Update KB5094126 is causing issues across all supported versions of Windows. What's the issue? When you try to delete a file from the Recycle Bin, the confirmation dialog may display the "internal" filename instead of the standard, readable filename. Microsoft has clarified that this glitch is limited to the dialog box itself and does not affect the file or its deletion (via Neowin).

What's more, when checking the list view in the Recycle Bin, you'll notice that the file name is correct. And if you decide to restore the file to your device, its original name remains unaltered.

The issue affects all supported versions of Windows client and server, including:

• Client: Windows 11, version 26H1; Windows 11, version 25H2; Windows 11, version 24H2; Windows 11, version 23H2; Windows 10, version 22H2; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016
• Server: Windows Server 2025; Windows Server 2022; Windows Server 2019; Windows Server 2016; Windows Server 2012 R2; Windows Server 2012

In the interim, Microsoft is actively working on a permanent fix for the issue, which will likely be delivered to affected users via a future Windows update. However, it is unclear whether Microsoft will ship the fix through the next Patch Tuesday release or an out-of-band update.

Commercial customers can get a workaround for the issue, but they need to reach out to Microsoft Support for Business for more details on how to go about it.

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.

On Windows, screensavers once defined a small but memorable part of the experience. They served a clear purpose in the era of CRT monitors in the 1980s and 1990s, preventing burn-in while adding a layer of personality to otherwise idle machines. Over time, they became part utility, part expression, and part nostalgia.

By the time Windows 95 and XP became mainstream, screensavers had changed from utility to expression. Users weren't just protecting displays anymore. They were customizing them using options like 3D Text, Bubbles, Mystify, Ribbons, and photo slideshows, which became part of the personal computing identity (don't even get us started on the awesomeness that was After Dark and flying toasters).

In 2026, that original purpose is gone. The majority of modern displays no longer require burn-in protection, and Windows 11 already relies on power management and lock screen behavior to handle inactivity more efficiently. However, screensavers still exist inside the operating system, largely unchanged and tucked away in the legacy Control Panel.

That raises a question. Do screensavers still belong on Windows 11, or are they a feature that no longer has a clear place in modern computing?

A feature that outlived its original purpose

From a technical standpoint, screensavers are no longer necessary. For example, displays now sleep intelligently, and system security is handled through the lock screen rather than idle animations.

However, screensavers were never just about utility. They also represented one of the earliest forms of personalization, which users used to express themselves. While that role has shifted to features such as lock screen images, desktop slideshows with Windows Spotlight, and widgets, none of them fully replace the experience screensavers once offered.

How screensavers are used today

Although screensavers are still available, usage has changed significantly. Today, they tend to fall into a few categories, including personal photo slideshows during inactivity and basic visuals used for aesthetic setups.

The closest the operating system gets to a modern interpretation is the "Photos" screensaver, which can cycle through images from a local folder. However, it remains limited, disconnected from cloud services, and largely untouched by modern design evolution.

You can still access the feature from Settings > Personalization > Lock screen > Screen saver, which opens the feature through Control Panel.

As part of the options available, you can use 3D Text, Bubbles, Mystify, Photos, and Ribbons.

Microsoft's reason to keep it

Microsoft's focus has changed to bigger priorities, such as AI features, performance improvements, security, and modernizing the desktop interface. At the same time, the original reason for screensavers has disappeared, as modern displays no longer need protection from burn-in (excluding OLED displays), and the system can simply turn off the screen after a period of inactivity.

Also, Windows 11 already offers several ways to personalize the experience when you're away from the keyboard, including the lock screen, desktop backgrounds, and widgets. As a result, screensavers have become a legacy feature that the company has continued to support but has not actively developed.

Where screensavers still make sense

Even though screensavers are no longer needed to protect displays, they can still be useful in modern operating systems.

Instead of showing simple animations, screensavers could make better use of the time when a computer is idle. For example, they could display personal photos like a digital picture frame, surface useful information such as weather or calendar events, or simply add another layer of personalization to a desktop setup.

In other words, screensavers no longer need to save the screen. Their value today lies in making an idle device more useful (without affecting energy usage), more personal, and more visually appealing.

Missing evolution on Windows 11

Windows 11 already contains many of the components needed for a modern idle experience, but they exist separately.

For instance, lock and sign-in screens handle authentication and some personalization, widgets provide glanceable information, and desktop backgrounds offer static or slideshow visuals.

What's missing is a unified system that activates during inactivity and blends these experiences into a consistent, intentional layer. Instead, the system offers overlapping features that never fully converge.

Should Microsoft bring screensavers back?

The answer depends on how Microsoft approaches the feature. If screensavers remain limited to simple animations and photo slideshows, they probably don't deserve much attention. Modern power management and lock screen customization already cover that territory more efficiently.

However, if screensavers are reimagined as a modern ambient mode for Windows 11, then the idea becomes far more compelling.

In that form, they could evolve into something closer to a system-level experience, turning idle screens into personalized, context-aware displays rather than simply blank or static states.

Windows Central's Take

Screensavers solved a real problem decades ago, but I don't think that's why many people still remember them. They added personality to the operating system in a way that today's lock screen and widgets still don't quite match.

Personally, I don't miss the old screensavers themselves. I haven't used Bubbles, Mystify, or Ribbons in years. What I miss is the idea that the operating system did something interesting when I stepped away from my computer.

Windows has evolved in many ways over the years, yet when you step away from your device, it usually just shows the lock screen or turns off the display. Maybe that's enough. Or maybe the software giant is missing an opportunity to make idle time a little more useful.

What do you think? Should Microsoft bring screensavers back as a modern feature, or is it a piece of computer history that's better left in the past? 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.

It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks in the tech world! Following a busy stretch of trade shows, Daniel Rubino and Zac Bowden sit down to break down one of the most consequential weeks for the Windows and PC ecosystems in years.

From the show floor of Computex in Taipei to the developer tracks at Microsoft Build, the guys dissect the massive shift toward ARM computing, the hardware taking aim at Apple’s high-end territory, and the future of "agentic" AI operating systems. Plus, the show caps off with breaking news regarding Xbox's business health and a massive report on the future of Microsoft’s gaming division.

• Nvidia’s "Super Chip" Shift: A deep dive into the shocking announcement of the Nvidia RTX Spark (built in partnership with MediaTek on TSMC's 3nm process). Zac explains why Nvidia completely took control of the messaging from Microsoft, ditching the "Copilot Plus" branding to pitch an ultra-premium workstation ecosystem aimed squarely at Apple’s M5 Pro and Max MacBook Pros.
• The Surface Laptop Ultra: Zac shares his hands-on impressions of Microsoft’s brand-new, thick-and-dense 15-inch powerhouse. We look at the gorgeous mini-LED display, a massive haptic trackpad, and a mystery magnetic breakaway USB-C port that could spell the end of the proprietary Surface Connect port.
• The $599 Laptop Wars: Dell stuns the industry by pushing the XPS 13 downward to a student-friendly $599 starting price, pitting it right against the MacBook Neo. We compare the premium build, its 120Hz display, and the new Intel Wildcat Lake chips against the Acer Swift Air 14 and Qualcomm’s budget-oriented Snapdragon C processor.
• Project Solara & Build 2026: What is an "agentic OS"? We break down Microsoft's Android-based platform shift away from traditional app stores and toward just-in-time user interfaces, including a look at their hardware "badge" and "desk" concept prototypes.
• Breaking Xbox News: Daniel and Zac react in real-time to a staggering report from The Information. Is Microsoft preparing to spin off Xbox into a wholly owned subsidiary like LinkedIn or GitHub? We discuss the fallout from the Xbox Games Showcase, Sarah Bond and Phil Spencer's leadership legacy, and the aggressive new mandate under Asha Sharma to pump out massive franchises like Halo, Fallout, and Elder Scrolls.

Timestamps

• [00:30] Welcome & Computex vs. Build Retrospective
• [04:12] Nvidia RTX Spark: The ARM Workstation Disruption
• [30:09] Surface Laptop Ultra: Hands-on Specs & The Mystery USB-C Port
• [42:05] Dell's Sub-$700 Flagship Strategy & Intel Wildcat Lake
• [56:26] Acer Swift Air 14 & The Internet's Linux vs. Windows Debates
• [01:01:14] Project Solara: Microsoft’s Future "App-Less" Agent Ecosystem
• [01:10:10] Xbox Showcase Fallout & First-Party Exclusivity Backpedaling
• [01:29:25] Breaking News: Is Microsoft Spinning Off the Xbox Business?

Have a question you want us to answer on the podcast? Send it to us at podcast@windowscentral.com

Hosts:

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

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As part of the Windows Insider Program, Microsoft made available several preview builds of Windows 11 in early June 2026. Although these preview builds didn't introduce many new features, the company dedicated most of its work to improving existing ones.

In the first two weeks of June, the company unveiled a new Beta channel for version 26H1, and in the different channels, we've also seen a number of features and improvements. For example, we've seen new features like Screen Tint and Low Latency Profile.

In addition, a new version of Widgets with fewer distracting settings has rolled out, an updated Magnifier with new settings has also rolled out, and there are improvements for File Explorer.

Furthermore, Microsoft continues improving the Windows Update experience, Windows Search, and more.

In the Experimental track, we've seen builds 28120.2242, 26300.8687, 29610, and 28120.2302, and builds 26220.8575, 28020.2236, 26220.8680, and 28020.2298 have been released in the Beta channel.

In this recap, I'll highlight the latest and most noteworthy changes available through the Windows Insider Program.

Biggest improvements from the Windows Insider Program in June 2026

These are the most significant changes Microsoft has unveiled since the last roundup.

Screen tint new feature

On Windows 11 build 28020.2298, in the new Beta channel for version 26H1, Microsoft introduced a new accessibility feature called "Screen tint." It's a system-wide color overlay designed to reduce eye strain and soften overly bright or saturated displays.

Unlike the Night Light feature, which primarily reduces blue light for nighttime use, Screen tint changes the overall intensity and color tone of the display during the day. The software giant notes that the two features solve different problems and can work together.

The feature is available in Settings > Accessibility > Vision > Screen tint, with six preset tint colors and an option to create a custom color.

In addition, you can also adjust the intensity with the available slider. However, one thing to point out is that enabling Screen tint disables Color Filters, and vice versa.

In June 2026, Screen Tint also became available on build 26220.8680 through the Beta experience.

Low Latency Profile

Also, for version 26H1, on build 28020.2298, the company introduced Low Latency Profile, a feature that temporarily maxes out (or near-maxes) the processor frequency for 1 to 3 seconds during interactive tasks on Windows 11. Instead of focusing on sustained performance, the feature appears designed to reduce delays during actions like opening apps or opening flyouts, such as the Start menu, File Explorer, and context menus.

The feature can result in up to 40 percent faster application launch times and up to 70 percent faster interaction times with system features, such as opening the Start menu or context menu.

Low Latency Profile works automatically, so you won't find an option to turn it on or off in the Settings app or Control Panel.

It's important to note that responsiveness improvements will vary by hardware. Computers with lower-end or older components may notice the biggest difference because these systems typically struggle more with interface responsiveness, app launches, and short bursts of activity.

Widgets with quieter defaults

In the Beta channel for version 25H2, starting with build 26220.8680, the development team updated the Widgets experience with less distracting default settings.

For example, Widgets no longer open in hover and turn off badges in the Taskbar by default. In addition, alerts will be limited until you open the app and engage with the experience.

When you open the dashboard, Widgets will appear under your "widgets" rather than in the news feed. In addition, the company is updating the Taskbar badging to use a color scheme that follows the system accent color, rather than the red indicator, to reduce the sense of urgency.

Another change being developed is adaptive behavior for user engagement. This means that the system will now adapt the Widgets feature based on user interaction. For example, highly engaged users will continue to receive the current experience. On the other hand, less engaging users will notice quieter default settings, including reduced or disabled badging.

Magnifier additional controls

As part of the accessibility improvements, in build 26220.8680, the Magnifier feature is receiving several enhancements.

For example, it's now possible to enter a specific zoom percentage directly in the interface instead of repeatedly clicking the zoom-in and zoom-out buttons.

Also, in the Magnifier settings, you can now find additional zoom presets, including 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 400 percent.

File Explorer changes

Although File Explorer remains visually the same, Microsoft has been pushing various improvements focused on compatibility, performance, and reliability.

For example, on build 26220.8680, the address bar now supports paths with double backslashes and quotation marks. Microsoft has also improved performance when mounting ISO files to prevent the application from becoming unresponsive during SmartScreen scans.

On build 26300.8687, you can now use the middle-click support to open folders in a new tab directly from the address bar and the Home page.

In addition, the company has made further refinements to improve File Explorer responsiveness at higher text scaling.

Windows Update single monthly restart

Alongside the ability to pause updates indefinitely, Microsoft continues improving its Windows Update system, and starting with the release of build 26300.8687, the company is unifying drivers, .NET, and firmware updates with the monthly quality update install to reduce restarts to one per month.

Windows Search with typo handling

Starting with build 26300.8687, Windows 11 includes an updated version of the search experience that improves the handling of typos, missing letters, extra characters, and partial app names.

It all means that, when searching the system, making mistakes should now be more likely to show the right answer. For instance, if you type "utlook," the Outlook app should be the first result.

Furthermore, local results now take priority over web results.

Windows Central's Take

These June Insider builds don't introduce many brand-new features, but they do show where Microsoft's priorities are right now. The majority of the features highlighted this month have already appeared in other preview builds. However, they're now making their way across additional testing channels as the company continues developing future versions of Windows 11.

Personally, I think the most meaningful changes are the ones that improve everyday usability. The Windows Update changes, better search results, and ongoing File Explorer refinements may not generate the same excitement as a major new feature. However, they have the potential to make the operating system feel more polished and less frustrating to use over time.

What are your thoughts about these latest Windows 11 improvements? 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.

Some of the oldest and best-known apps on Windows 11 are about to receive an update, and Windows Insiders can already try the upcoming features.

It's a busy time for Windows Insiders. Microsoft revamped the channels of the Windows Insider Program and now rolls out builds at a quick pace. On top of the six new builds, Microsoft shipped at the end of last week, the company updated several of Windows 11's built-in apps.

Calculator, Camera, Clock, Media Player, Paint, Photos, and Sound Recorder all have updates awaiting Insiders.

Windows Insiders in the Experimental, Experimental (26H1), and Experimental (Future Platforms) channels will receive the app updates when running the latest build.

The Microsoft Learn site now has sections dedicated to apps. Within the column on the left side of the page, you'll see a dropdown menu and shortcuts to apps like Calculator, Camera, and Media Player.

Calculator Release notes

• More accurate square-root results — Fixed rare cases where a calculation that should equal zero (like sqrt(2.25) - 1.5) returned a tiny leftover value instead.
• Readable text in High Contrast themes — Settings text now shows the correct colors in the High Contrast Aquatic and Desert themes.
• Fixed layout for right-to-left languages — For languages like Arabic and Hebrew, the graph, number pad, equation fields, and scroll buttons now appear correctly oriented.
• Reliable launch after upgrading — Fixed an issue where upgrading from much older versions could leave outdated settings that stopped the app from opening.

Camera release notes

• Zoom slider works on more cameras — The zoom slider now works on the latest cameras, respects your system zoom settings, and updates instantly when you change those settings.
• Full range of zoom levels — Fixed an issue where the zoom slider only showed three steps on some devices that zoom in finer increments.
• Front camera works on more devices — Resolved a problem that blocked the front-facing camera on certain wide-angle devices.
• More video resolution choices — You can now pick video resolutions that were previously hidden; the app shows a heads-up warning instead of removing them.
• QR links you can still use — When a scanned QR code points to something with no matching app, the link is now copied to your clipboard (with a notification) while still offering a Store search.
• Smarter default settings — When you haven't set a preference, the app now follows your system settings by default.

Clock release notes

• Timers keep counting after they hit zero — When a timer runs out, it now keeps counting up (for example, -00:27:31) so you can see how far past the time you've gone.
• You can turn off the daily goal — Focus Sessions now include an "Off" option so you can skip setting a daily goal entirely.
• New 15-minute snooze option — Alarms now offer a 15-minute snooze interval.
• Run up to 3 countdowns at once — The Countdown Widget now supports three simultaneous countdowns, up from two.
• Timer Widget notifications now appear — Fixed an issue where the "timer finished" notification didn't show when the timer was started from the widget.
• Less clutter in Focus Sessions — Tasks you've already completed no longer show up in the Focus Session task list.
• More accurate focus progress — Fixed a rounding issue that could show your daily focus progress as a minute short (for example, 49 minutes instead of 50).
• Smoother World Clock comparisons — The World Clock compare page now loads dates as you scroll, so it feels more responsive.
• Up-to-date World Clock locations — Refreshed country and city names to match their current names.
• Correct sun and moon icons during midnight sun — Fixed an icon that wrongly showed a moon during all-day daylight in polar regions.
• Fixed back-button behavior in clock comparisons — Pressing back once now takes you back as expected, instead of jumping the date to 1926.
• Corrected the Newfoundland time zone — Newfoundland now uses the right time zone (St. John's).
• Disabled alarms stay looking disabled — Editing a turned-off alarm no longer makes it appear turned on.
• Cleaner timer cards — The expand button is now turned off on timer cards that have no time set, preventing actions that wouldn't do anything.
• Clearer theme setting — Updated the wording to "Choose your preferred app theme."
• Smoother Settings links — The "About" links in Settings no longer trigger an unexpected "switch apps" prompt.
• Fixed spacing in Spotify settings — Corrected uneven spacing in the Spotify settings card.
• Better focus visibility in High Contrast — The focus highlight in World Clock is now clearly visible in the High Contrast Aquatic and Desert themes.
• No more double announcements — Screen readers no longer read the timer value twice.
• Countdown names read correctly — Screen readers now properly announce the name of each countdown.
• Keyboard focus stays put — Focus no longer disappears after you press the Timer Reset button.
• Clearer alarm toggle for screen readers — Tidied up how the alarm on/off switch is announced.

Media Player Release notes

• Custom captions — You can now personalize how closed captions appear, with caption styling tied to your Windows caption settings, plus a quick link to open those settings directly.
• "Indexing" banner in the play queue — When your media library is still being scanned, a banner now explains why some items may not appear yet.
• Fixed the look of selected items — Corrected a layout glitch with selected items in lists.
• Fewer playback failures — Improved how the app recognizes supported file types, so more files play without issues.
• Playlists need a name — You can no longer accidentally save a playlist with a blank name.
• Cleaner look for empty playlists — Improved how a playlist appears when it has no items yet.
• More stable play queue edits — Fixed a crash that could happen when changing the play queue while the app was switching between sessions.
• Clearer "missing codec" message — Improved the dialog that appears when a file needs a codec you don't have, with clearer guidance on what to do.

Paint release notes

• Adjustable eraser transparency — You can now control how transparent the eraser is.
• Cleaner stamp brush strokes — Fixed visible color shifts and artifacts when using stamp-style brushes.
• JPEG photos save in place — Opening a rotated JPEG and pressing Save now overwrites the original instead of unexpectedly prompting "Save As."
• No more crash on bad image files — Opening a damaged or invalid image, from within the app, by double click, or commandline, now shows a clear error message instead of closing the app.
• Classic selection behavior restored — The selection outline now hides while you move, resize, or rotate a selection, just like in classic Paint.
• Tidier AI image panel — Fixed missing spacing at the bottom of the AI image generation panel for a cleaner layout.
• Visible button hover in light theme — Toolbar split buttons now show a clear hover highlight in the light theme.
• Snappier toolbar — Streamlined how the ribbon lays out, giving a small speed boost at startup.
• Fewer background crashes — Fixed a crash that could happen while background tasks were finishing up.
• Stable app shutdown — Prevented rare crashes when closing the app.
• Fixed layer removal glitch — Deleting the active layer no longer leaves the layers list in an inconsistent state.

Photos release notes

• AI watermarking — AI-generated or edited images can now carry a visible Copilot watermark. You choose Never, Always, or Ask Every Time in Settings, with a confirmation when saving. The watermarking is off by default in settings.
• Better viewing of small images and pixel art — Tiny images (like 16×16 pixel art) now zoom in far more to fill the screen and stay crisp instead of looking blurry.
• Select scanned text with the keyboard — When text is detected in an image, you can now navigate and select it using the arrow keys, Shift+Arrow, Home/End, and Ctrl+A, with a clear focus highlight.
• Fixed a crash in text recognition — Resolved a crash that could close Photos while detecting text in images; the app now recovers gracefully.
• Easier keyboard navigation — Tabbing through the navigation bar no longer stops on hidden controls, so it takes a single Tab to move past it instead of three.

Sound Recorder release notes

• Waveform shows with Bluetooth mics — The live waveform now displays correctly when you record using a Bluetooth audio device.
• No more stray scrollbar — A non-working horizontal scrollbar no longer appears at the bottom of the waveform unless you've zoomed in.
• Mark button ready right away — The Mark button no longer looks grayed out until you hover over it after opening the app.
• Markers hidden for WAV files — Markers are now turned off for WAV recordings, since that format can't store them — so they're no longer lost silently.
• Smoother deleting — Quickly pressing Delete and Enter to remove several recordings in a row no longer triggers a "file doesn't exist" error.
• Fixed a memory issue — Resolved a memory leak that occurred each time a recording started.

None of the updates are massive on their own, but it's nice to see attention paid to Windows 11's built-in apps. The update to the Clock app is surprisingly feature-rich.

Microsoft is in the early stages of making more native apps for Windows 11. The apps that just received updates for Insiders are already native, as far as I can tell.

"In-box apps," which are apps included in Windows 11, need to be optimized and native. The new Outlook and Clipchamp showed us how bad things can get when Microsoft makes web apps.

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

Ten years ago, we covered one of Microsoft’s most forward‑looking ideas: encouraging Android developers to port their apps to Windows 10 and link notifications through Cortana. It was a glimpse of a company trying to unify ecosystems before “cross‑platform” became a default expectation.

In 2026, that vision still feels important. Microsoft’s current AI strategy — spanning Windows, Android, and the cloud — builds directly on the same connective tissue Astoria (Android app emulation) and Cortana (early AI assistant) once represented. Back then, it was about notifications and app parity; today, it’s about intelligent context and seamless device continuity.Some are even predicting that we won't need apps in the coming years, as AI will handle it all.

Looking back, this story reads like an early chapter in Microsoft’s long game to make Windows not just an OS, but a hub for every platform around it. While it didn't work out quite as expected, we do have Phone Link today to help bridge that gap. — Daniel Rubino, Editor-in-Chief

The original article, Microsoft encouraging Android-to-Windows 10 app ports via Cortana notifications, was published on June 10th, 2016, by John Callaham.

Microsoft is using the Cortana notification sync feature in Windows 10 to add a "request app" feature if the notification comes from an Android smartphone.

The notifications were first spotted by Reddit user "MrPromaster'. The "Request app" link goes to a UserVoice page where anyone can recommend that an app be added to the Windows Store.

This new method to encourage more Android apps to come to the Windows Store comes several months after Microsoft officially canceled its "Project Astoria" bridge tool plans that would have made it easier for developers to port Android apps to Windows 10.

Notification syncing between Android and Windows 10 is currently only available for those running Insider builds of 'Redstone'.

While the notifications are configurable on Android the request is rather nondiscriminatory too. For instance, we had the request feature show up for the Google Play store after it performed some app updates. Likewise for Shazam, even though there already is a Shazam for Windows 10 app available. While this tactic is not a slam dunk to get more apps to Windows 10, it is a rather clever move to reach the millions of Android users who also use a Windows PC every day.

We'll have to wait and see how well this new strategy pays off once the Windows 10 Anniversary Update rolls out later this summer to the masses.

Microsoft has spent the past year trying to convince users that it's listening. Through its Windows K2 initiative, the company has been focusing on improving Windows 11 with better customization, interface refinements, bug fixes, and other changes driven by user feedback.

However, one of the most persistent complaints about Windows 11 remains unresolved, which is the company's insistence on requiring a Microsoft account during setup.

A recent discussion on Reddit started with a simple request. User 2025Fishy argued that Microsoft should restore the option to create a local account directly during the Windows 11 setup experience.

"I genuinely do not accept how Microsoft removed the local account in OOBE," the user wrote.

The thread quickly filled with suggestions for bypassing Microsoft's restrictions using Rufus, command-line tricks, and domain-join options. However, the original poster repeatedly made it clear that workarounds weren't the point.

"I don't need tips, I just want Microsoft to change it," the user replied.

That sentiment resonated with other commenters. "The point is, there should be an option in the OOBE that lets you choose to set it up with a local account instead. Like we had since forever," wrote Affectionate_Creme48.

At first glance, this looks like another debate about local accounts. After reading through the comments, I think it's actually about something bigger, which is user control.

Microsoft's push toward mandatory Microsoft accounts isn't only about syncing settings and accessing cloud services. It's also tied to security features such as BitLocker.

One commenter, Timusius, explained Microsoft's likely reasoning: "To avoid the next problem: 'Microsoft locked my data behind bitlocker, and now I can't get it back.' they need to store that key on the MS account."

If you look at it from a security perspective, that argument makes sense. Devices should be encrypted by default, and storing recovery keys online can prevent users from permanently losing access to their data.

The problem is that many people don't realize this is happening. A user can set up a computer with a Microsoft account, switch to using a PIN every day, and never think about that account again. Then, one day, after a firmware update, a hardware change, or an unexpected issue, the system may display a BitLocker recovery screen requesting a recovery key.

At that moment, many users discover for the first time that the key is stored in a Microsoft account they may barely remember creating.

As Drakkaar pointed out in the discussion: "Technician's know how to get around this, but not everyone using a computer is a technician."

That's the disconnect the software giant still hasn't solved. What's particularly interesting is that this debate comes as reports suggest there are people inside Microsoft who agree with the criticism. Microsoft Vice President Scott Hanselman has also previously revealed that some employees have been pushing the company to reconsider its mandatory Microsoft account requirement during setup.

However, despite the company's Windows K2 efforts and internal discussions, Microsoft has not committed to restoring a straightforward local account option for all users.

And that's why this conversation continues to surface. A lot of users aren't asking for another workaround. They're asking for a choice, and more importantly, they're asking for a clearer explanation of how features like encryption, account recovery, and cloud integration affect their computers before those decisions are made for them.

Windows Central's Take

I find it interesting that Microsoft is spending so much effort through its Windows K2 initiative trying to rebuild trust with users. Yet, it still hasn't addressed one of the most common complaints about Windows 11 setup.

The local account debate has never been about finding workarounds. If someone wants to bypass Microsoft's requirements, there are plenty of ways to do it. The real issue is that users feel they're losing control over decisions that used to be theirs to make.

I also think Microsoft could avoid much of this criticism by making the online account the default with a local account option, similar to how it works on Windows 10, so people can choose without friction.

Do you think Microsoft should bring back a straightforward local account option during Windows 11 setup? 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.

I’ve historically been a Windows desktop guy, building my own PCs over the years and spending the majority of my years content with that situation. However, the more I travel to events and conferences, the more I see the value in Windows laptops. In that, I also subject myself to inquisitive family members and friends, who forever ask the same question: “Which laptop should I buy?”

The answer, as I’m sure many of you know, boils down to “it depends”. Naturally, I have a shortlist of the best Windows laptops that are always at the front of my mind. Then again, not everyone has the disposable income to afford my favorite ASUS Zenbook A14 or Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x examples. Here’s where the problems start. Many will then walk into their nearest supermarket (or some other megastore) and pick up the cheapest option available.

It’s not as though affordable laptops are all terrible. On the contrary, the budget laptop bracket is showing signs of significant improvement, as examples like Dell's XPS 13 respond to the introduction of the entry-level MacBook Neo. Annoyingly, few enthusiasts would previously entertain a conversation about $599–$699 Windows laptops in the pre-Neo age, but that’s all changed since Apple made its move. For many, choosing a Windows laptop is still confusing.

A big part of that disorientation comes from an onslaught of specs when shopping, and most people just don’t care. I’d argue that, aside from storage space and a laptop's physical size, the rest is just incidental number-crunching that wouldn’t matter to your average user. If you want to close out your afternoon feeling exhausted, dig into the argument of whether 8GB of RAM is enough for Windows. It all comes back to that linchpin: "It depends."

For me, there is so much more value in a laptop’s weight, display type, and battery life than the waves of other components you could spend all day comparing. However, that longevity aspect depends heavily on your choice of processor, which is one of the worst cans of proverbial worms you could ever open, as Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and now even NVIDIA ship laptop chips with complex names.

So, who’s to blame, Microsoft? It’s easy to understand the accusation when I look at Apple’s walled garden and how simplistic it can be to shop for a MacBook. But no, it’s not Microsoft’s fault. It even feels disingenuous to accuse manufacturers of saturating the Windows laptop market, because each brand presumably has its reasons for building so many variants. Everyone has different needs, but what is the everyman supposed to do?

Ironically, Microsoft came close to a potential solution with its Copilot+ PC initiative. It was part of the AI PC trend, encouraging buyers to pick up a laptop with a built-in NPU and other comparable components to support local AI apps and features. It’s a mostly forgettable affair, with only the mandatory Copilot key appearing in modern Windows laptops reminding us of its attempts.

Instead, Microsoft could take notes from a certain gaming brand and lean into a 'Seal of Approval' method, curating category flagships from each manufacturer. If you shopped for a certified 'Windows Pro' laptop, it could guarantee a 120Hz display and 32GB of RAM (or higher) with the most powerful mobile processors on the market. Too much? Opt for an imaginary 'Windows Core' alternative that sticks to IPS screens but delivers at least 16GB of memory.

Unfortunately, that implies anything outside this magical certification might be viewed as disposable e-waste, but I think consumers still need help making that distinction, anyway. The real challenge would be convincing all the major laptop brands to get on board, but then again, they already did it for confusing Copilot+ PCs, so how far-fetched could this idea really be?

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

Last week was packed full of Windows 11 and Microsoft news. Since then, Xbox has taken center stage, and it's not all good news.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma explained in an interview that the company's "business isn't particularly healthy" and warned that "tough decisions" are ahead for Xbox.

Microsoft did ship a big Xbox update after Summer Game Fest and the Xbox Showcase, but it's difficult to focus on that right now.

It's a shame that focus got taken away from games like Halo: Campaign Evolved, Fable, Clockwork Revolution, and Gears of War: E-Day. Normally, I'd be thrilled to wax poetic about classic games while pointing out that the reveal of the new Spyro beat Marvel's Wolverine in views.

But when the head of Xbox says the company became "over‑extended" and that major changes are needed, that's the biggest news of the week.

Biggest News of the Week

Our Managing Editor Jez Corden explained how Xbox got to this point, what external factors contributed to the crisis, and what's ahead for Xbox. Instead of rehashing that, I'll focus on just a single question: "Should Xbox CEOs have term limits?"

Phil Spencer saved Xbox. He rebuilt goodwill among gamers, championed cross-play, and engaged with the community from day one as CEO. Throughout his tenure we saw Xbox grow, games become more accessible through Xbox Game Pass, and classics receive the love they deserve.

Spencer also led Xbox for the years leading up to the current crisis. That's not to say Spencer is entirely at fault for the challenges Xbox faces. It's not as if Spencer drove RAM prices through the roof.

But a lot of the "tough decisions" Sharma will have to make are the result of missed opportunities by Xbox over the last decade. The price hike to Xbox Game Pass and major misses by several games compound issues in an already turbulent industry.

Xbox would not be where it is today without Spencer. The real question is whether Spencer should have stepped aside after saving the brand, and whether Sharma should do the same once her reset is complete.

Shopping with Sean

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

Windows 11 has a new command-line terminal with AI agent integration, but don't worry, Microsoft's not adding AI to the Windows Terminal. Instead, the company forked the open-source terminal project and created a new tool known as "Intelligent Terminal."

The tool was introduced during the company's developer conference (Build 2026), and it's basically the Windows Terminal you already know, which comes with a side panel that lets you interact with the GitHub Copilot agent by default.

The tool is being advertised as an assistant that you can use to explain errors, build commands, and troubleshoot issues without leaving the terminal to complete the research in other applications, such as the browser.

In my opinion, Microsoft took the right approach by forking a new version of the original tool rather than integrating Copilot into the existing Windows Terminal. This was a smart approach to avoid another AI backlash.

In this guide, I'll outline everything you need to know about the Intelligent Terminal.

Intelligent Terminal for Windows 11

The Intelligent Terminal won't come as part of the default Windows 11 setup. Instead, it's a tool that you have to download and install manually.

You can access this command-line tool by launching the Windows Terminal as an administrator from the Start menu and then running the "winget install Microsoft.IntelligentTerminal" command.

When you run the terminal for the first time, you'll choose which Agent Client Protocol (ACP) compatible agent to use in the Agent pane. Intelligent Terminal automatically detects agents installed on your computer, with GitHub Copilot appearing as the default option when available.

From the initial setup, you can also enable automatic error detection and suggestions, session management, and pane positioning within the terminal.

One thing to note is that during the setup, enabling error detection installs shell integration that allows Intelligent Terminal to monitor command failures. In contrast, session management installs hooks that track agent activity across terminal sessions.

Terminal interface

The terminal with AI integration offers two main experiences, including agent chat and agent management.

The agent chat pane can be accessed through the toggle at the bottom-left (if you're using a bottom position), or by pressing the "Ctrl + Shift + ." (period) keyboard shortcut. Or use the "Ctrl + Shift + I" shortcut to hide it.

In this area, that's where you'll also find the error detection icon, which lights up whenever a fixable error is detected. Of course, you can always bring up the chat page to manually ask to explain an error or anything you need.

Now, if the agent has to complete multiple tasks or something complex, it'll run a background task automatically without leaving you out of focus.

The idea behind the experience is for the terminal to lend a hand and help you resolve command-line-related issues without breaking your current flow by having to jump to another app, like the browser, for research.

Although the default agent is GitHub Copilot, you can use Claude Code, Google Gemini, and OpenAI Codex. Also, since the terminal uses the open ACP standard, you're not limited to cloud-based AI agents. However, you'll have to install the agent CLI locally on your computer before the Intelligent Terminal can see it.

Agent management pane

Also, at the bottom-right (assuming you're using the bottom position) is the agent management icon, which opens the session management pane. Microsoft has also assigned the "Ctrl + Shift + /" keyboard shortcut.

On the management pane, the Intelligent Terminal will track your active and past agent sessions. At any time, you can jump back to any specific activity.

In other words, it's a central hub to view all agent activity. Using this experience, you can view every AI agent currently running, check task details, monitor long-running tasks, resume previous sessions, and dismiss completed tasks.

For instance, imagine you have multiple tabs, including one creating a Python script and another running tests and fixing errors, without agent management, you'd need to remember which tab contains which task.

On the other hand, with the agent Management panel, you can open one view and see all the details.

Command Palette with AI

Intelligent Terminal also extends the Command Palette with AI actions. By using the "Alt + Shift + /" keyboard shortcut followed by a request, you can send the current terminal context to an agent and start a task without interrupting your workflow.

The agent runs in the background while you continue working in the active terminal session.

Intelligent Terminal settings

When you open the settings for this (Windows) Terminal with AI integration, you'll be able to customize the terminal as well as agent settings.

First, you have control over the AI agents, depending on the agents previously installed on your computer.

Second, from this page, you can change the pane position, as well as configure automatic error detection and error suggestions.

If you ever change any of the settings, remember to click the "Save" button. Sometimes, I even forget, and I assume the changes apply automatically, but that's not the case in the terminal.

Windows Central's Take

I think Microsoft made the right call by keeping AI out of the Windows Terminal and building a separate experience instead. Over the last few years, we've seen the company add AI to everything from the Settings app to Notepad, and not every integration has landed well with users. Developers tend to be especially protective of their tools, so forcing AI into an established terminal experience would have likely created unnecessary friction.

At the same time, I can see the appeal of the Intelligent Terminal. Looking up command syntax, troubleshooting errors, and figuring out why something failed usually means jumping between the terminal, browser tabs, support pages, and forums. If the AI can help reduce those context switches without getting in the way, it could become a genuinely useful productivity tool.

What are your thoughts about Intelligent Terminal and AI-powered command-line tools? 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.

After taking one week off from builds, Microsoft just shipped six Windows Insider builds to wrap up the week. New features and fixes await Insiders across several different channels.

Given the more linear nature of the revamped Windows Insider Program, we've already seen several of the features included in today's builds. For example, Insiders in the Beta (26H1) Channel can now try Screen tint. That same feature already shipped to Insiders in the Experimental Channel, so we've gone hands-on with Screen tint.

I'll focus on the features in Experimental Preview Build 26300.8687 here, but you can follow the quick links to see the full change logs for all of today's builds.

The biggest change in this update is that Microsoft is laying the groundwork for your PC to receive fewer updates. Microsoft plans to reduce the number of times you need to reboot your PC each month by coordinating driver, .NET, and firmware updates to align with other Windows updates.

The update improves File Explorer by adding support for middle clicking to open a folder in the Address Bar. Search is now "more forgiving" of typos, dropped letters, and partial words.

Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8687

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

Windows Update

• As announced in the Windows Update announce blog, we are now bringing a new unified update experience to reduce the number of reboots you see per month. We are starting by coordinating driver, .NET, and firmware updates to align with the monthly quality update, reducing the update experience to a single monthly restart. See the blog for more information.

File Explorer

• Middle click to open a folder in a new tab is now supported in the Address Bar and the Home page for a more consistent and efficient tabbed navigation experience across File Explorer.
• Improved screen reader announcements for conflict resolution dialog ("Which files do you want to keep?") when moving / copying files.
• Made some more improvements to how File Explorer responds to increased text scaling.

Search

• Finding apps is more forgiving. Search is better at handling typos, dropped letters, extra letters, and partial words for apps. Queries like “utlook” can still find Outlook.
• Settings results are improving. We’ve made ranking improvements to help more relevant settings appear higher in results.

Taskbar

• Improved reliability of loading the system tray area of the taskbar.
• Fixed an issue where tooltips might unexpectedly appear on top of the Start menu icon in the taskbar when using the taskbar in an alternate position. Also fixed a few other visual polish issues when using the taskbar with small icons.

Windows setup

• The digital safety of users and supporting families is central to how we think about the Windows experience. We're improving information on parental controls and their availability during Windows setup, so families can more easily understand available protections and make informed choices from the very beginning.

Input

• Update: The emoji panel (Windows key + period (.)) now uses GIPHY as the GIF provider, delivering a smoother GIF browsing and sharing experience following the deprecation of Tenor.
• Fixed an issue which was causing the mouse cursor to potentially move in the wrong direction in recent Insider builds on secondary monitors when set to portrait mode.

Remote Recovery Management

• Adding recovery remote management plug-in for extending WinRE management capabilities for MDM providers

Audio

• Fixed an issue resulting in audio not working for some Insiders after the latest flights.

Settings

• Fixed an issue impacting the reliability of Settings > Apps > Installed Apps after the latest flights.

General Reliability

• If you were experiencing freezes in the previous flight when interacting with search, Notepad, or certain other scenarios, that should be resolved now.

Other

• When using dark mode, if you open "Run new task" from Task Manager it will now show in dark mode too.

Which Windows Insider Channel are you in?

With so many changes to the Windows Insider Program, I'm curious which types of builds you receive on your PC. Are you in an Experimental channel or a more stable one? Or do you just catch up on release notes and keep your PC on a public release build?

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

Microsoft has announced a major update to the release schedule for its Edge web browser on all platforms that will see the company release new versions of the app on a much faster cadence; now every two weeks instead of once a month.

"Microsoft Edge is moving to a two-week release cycle, bringing new features and improvements to users and organizations faster than ever," says Microsoft in a blog post published earlier today. "For customers on Stable, the practical effect of the new cycle is smaller, steadier change. Each release brings about half as much new content as before, delivered twice as often."

This means that although the browser will be updated more often, users are unlikely to notice an uptick in feature quantity. The more frequent updates will be half as big, which should balance out to about the same amount of features and changes being delivered monthly.

Microsoft says that this change is good for users and enterprises as it means "security and platform improvements reach your users faster, and each change set is smaller, which can make validation more manageable."

For those uninterested in a faster update cycle for Microsoft Edge, the company already offers a longer-term servicing channel known as Stable Extended which isn't changing schedule. This release channel is updated once every two months, and that's remaining unchanged.

For everyone else on the normal Stable channel, Microsoft says to expect this new two-week release cycle to kick into gear with Edge 152, which is expected to debut on August 27. That means Edge Stable has just a couple of more months on the current release schedule before things are kicked up a notch.

This change is taking place to align with Google Chrome, which announced that it too was moving to a two week release cycle back in March.

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

As part of the June 2026 Security Update for Windows 11 (including the one for Windows 10), Microsoft has quietly changed how the operating system handles folder customizations, and some users may think that the company is shipping once again a buggy update.

The software giant has updated its release notes for the June 2026 Security Update, introducing a new security hardening measure that can prevent custom folder icons and localized folder names from appearing when they rely on a "desktop.ini" file from an untrusted source.

The change affects supported versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11 after installing the latest security updates.

Your folders aren't broken

At first glance, the issue may look like a bug. A folder that previously displayed a custom icon might suddenly revert to the standard yellow folder, while a localized folder name could disappear and show its original name instead.

Even though the user didn't change anything and no application settings were modified, Microsoft says this behavior is expected.

Windows 11 (and 10) now ignores "desktop.ini" files when it cannot confirm that the file originated from a trusted location. The company says files downloaded from the internet, content carrying the Mark-of-the-Web (MOTW) security tag, some WebDAV locations, and certain network paths may be treated as untrusted.

The folders still work normally, and the files inside remain accessible. Only the cosmetic customization is removed.

Microsoft is targeting a forgotten feature

While the visual changes may catch users by surprise, they are really the result of a broader effort to lock down parts of the system that could be exploited.

On Windows 11, the "desktop.ini" is one of those old technologies that most people never think about. For decades, it has allowed folders to change their appearance, display custom names, and behave differently inside File Explorer, and that flexibility also creates an opportunity for abuse.

A malicious individual doesn't always need to exploit a vulnerability to make content look more trustworthy. Sometimes changing an icon, altering a folder name, or disguising content is enough to trick users into opening something they shouldn't.

Microsoft's latest update treats folder presentation as a trust problem rather than a design feature.

How to restore custom icons

Microsoft recommends adding trusted internal sources to the "Trusted Sites" list when organizations need folder customizations to continue working.

You can do this from Control Panel > Network and Internet > Internet Options, and from the "Security" tab, select the "Trusted Sites" option, and then add the source in the "Sites" list.

Businesses that require broader compatibility can also enable the "Allow the use of remote paths in file shortcut icons" policy through the Group Policy Editor, which restores the previous behavior. However, Microsoft warns that doing so reduces protection against potentially malicious remote content.

The policy is located on Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.

Users can also remove the Mark-of-the-Web tag from trusted "desktop.ini" files using PowerShell, allowing the operating system to process the customization again.

To remove the mark tag, open PowerShell (admin) and run one of the following commands for a single file: Unblock-File "C:\folder\path\desktop.ini"

Or for all "desktop.ini" files in a folder, run this command: Get-ChildItem "C:\folder\path" -Recurse -Filter desktop.ini -Force | Unblock-File​​​​​​​

This is a small change on the surface. Yet it reflects a larger trend inside the system. Features that once prioritized flexibility are increasingly being evaluated through a security lens, even if that means some parts of the operating system suddenly look a little less familiar.

Windows Central's Take

I actually think this is the right move, even if it's going to confuse some users at first. When folder icons suddenly revert to the default yellow icon, the natural reaction is to assume Windows Update broke something. However, in this case, Microsoft is intentionally choosing security over customization.

Over the years, I've seen the company gradually tighten controls around older features designed for a very different internet. Technologies that made sense when trust was assumed are now being re-evaluated because they can be used to make content look more legitimate than it really is. Custom folder icons and names may seem harmless, but they can also be used to disguise files and folders in ways that trick less experienced users.

For most people, this change probably won't have any noticeable impact beyond the occasional missing custom icon. Organizations and enthusiasts who rely on these customizations will have a few extra steps to restore them. However, I'd rather see the company add friction to untrusted content than preserve convenience at the expense of security.

What are your thoughts about this change to folder customizations 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.

I was at Computex last week, and one of the biggest announcements of the show was the new Dell XPS 13.

Starting at $599 for students and $699 for everyone else, it's nothing but prime competition for the MacBook Neo, and it's aimed straight at students searching out an affordable-but-premium device.

In fact, I put together an XPS 13 vs. MacBook Neo comparison shortly after returning home from Taiwan. Unsurprisingly, the most common argument against the XPS 13's perceived value is its baseline 8GB of RAM.

👉 I tried the new $599 Dell XPS 13, and I can't believe how good it is: MacBook Neo is no longer the best deal in computing

But wait, the MacBook Neo also has 8GB of RAM, and no option to upgrade either, unlike the XPS 13. Well, the argument here is that macOS doesn't require as much memory as Windows 11, making the 8GB maximum a non-issue. That's an argument for another day; this is Windows Central, where we focus on Windows PCs.

It's been quite a while since I used Windows 11 with anything less than 16GB of RAM, so I thought I should test it out. Here's what I found out.

How I tested Windows 11 on 8GB of RAM

For this test, ideally, I'd like to have a modern system with an Intel Core Series 3 chip and integrated LPDDR5x memory, just like the new XPS 13 (launching June 16, 2026) or the new $699 Acer Swift Air 14, also announced at Computex.

Instead, I ripped one stick out of an older Windows 11 desktop I had lying around, leaving 8GB of single-channel (and relatively slow) DDR4-2666MT/s RAM paired with an Intel Core i5-10400 CPU.

This is about as bad as it gets compared to something like the new XPS 13's System-on-Chip (SoC) with speedy integrated LPDDR5x RAM and 60GB/s memory bandwidth. For comparison, the DDR4 RAM in the desktop I'm using for comparison shows only 10.6GB/s bandwidth.

In any case, I'm more interested in how quickly 8GB of RAM fills up when going about the tasks a student would regularly tackle. Note that this PC has been in use for some time now; it's not a fresh Windows 11 install, so that should give a better idea of real-world use.

Heavy browser usage with 8GB of RAM

The first test I performed involved heavy web browsing. I opened 10 tabs in Edge: 4K YouTube streaming, Netflix, Gmail, Reddit, Airtable, our CMS, and general webpages.

Memory usage didn't climb above 6.6GB with all these webpages open. Closing the 4K video stream YouTube tab, memory usage fell to 5.7GB.

Poking around with these tabs open (sans 4K stream), memory use fluctuated between the 5.7GB low and 6.0GB. So far so good.

Adding more apps alongside heavy browser usage

I know that students aren't just using a browser, so I added in the GIMP app for photo editing, Spotify for music streaming, and Microsoft Word for writing. All with the same ten tabs open, including YouTube streaming at 4K.

Memory usage pushed up to 7.2GB under these conditions, but the system showed no signs of slowing down. The 4K video stream did get choppy, but that falls on the older CPU/GPU.

I was able to resize and edit images without delay, and switching apps was just as snappy as ever.

Moving my workload to a PC with 8GB of RAM

I was so impressed with the PC's performance on 8GB of RAM that I finished out the rest of my workday on the system, determined to find the breaking point.

I'd say that I'm handling the same type of work that a student might tackle: writing, heavy web browsing, photo editing, streaming, etc. I didn't try heavy gaming or any specialized apps that are known to chew up RAM. These aren't tasks that $699 Windows laptops are made for.

Surprise? Maybe not, but the PC ran fine under my needs. The only time I found the breaking point was when I opened a huge article in our CMS, a task that regularly bricks my main work PC with 32GB of RAM. No difference there, really.

Is 8GB of RAM enough for a smooth Windows 11 experience?

I honestly wasn't expecting these tests to go as smoothly as they did. Having used PCs with 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB RAM for so long, I thought surely 8GB would immediately pose problems.

That's just not the case. Within reason, running Windows 11 on 8GB of RAM is not only viable but quite enjoyable. Assuming you're not attempting to run some specialized design software or a demanding game, there's quite a bit of memory runway to work with.

An idle system might sit at around 3.8GB of RAM usage, but the remaining 4GB or so is apparently more than enough for general productivity, multitasking, streaming, and photo editing.

Dell's strategy with its new XPS 13 is to hook fresh users (especially students) with a low introductory price, premium design and features, long battery life, and snappy performance.

Just like the MacBook Neo, the baseline XPS 13 isn't intended to run every single app and game out there. Just like Apple, Dell has plenty of other XPS devices (or even an XPS 13 with more RAM) that can fill those advanced needs.

Considering the biggest argument I've seen so far against the XPS 13 is that Windows 11 doesn't run well on 8GB, those detractors will soon have to find a different avenue of attack.

Is macOS still more efficient than Windows? Probably. Does that mean Windows 11 is useless on 8GB of RAM? Evidently not.

Haven't we seen this before?

My tests with an 8GB Windows 11 system remind me of the time our Editor-in-Chief, Daniel Rubino, trolled everyone by running games on an "8GB" version of the original Surface Go from 2018.

After showing how smoothly the games were running, it was revealed that the video was shot using the 4GB RAM model as a test bed.

I could have probably done something similar here; after all, 4GB Windows 11 laptops are still being sold at some retailers. Instead, I'll save that sort of trickery for another day.

The bottom line: Windows 11 runs better than I expected on 8GB of RAM

Dell's new XPS 13 launches on June 16, and the new Acer Swift Air 14 is expected to arrive in NA markets in August 2026. I'm hoping we get our hands on 8GB models to test the Windows 11 experience directly.

In any case, I expect these laptops to be wildly popular not only for students, but also for general users who are fed up with Windows PCs that live up to their "cheap" pricing in all the wrong ways.

The bottom line? Windows 11 ran a lot better than I expected on 8GB of RAM, even when multitasking with multiple browser tabs, video streams, a photo editor, music, and more.

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

Microsoft has announced major customization upgrades coming soon to the Start menu on Windows 11, addressing top feedback and requests from users for enabling control over what does and doesn't appear when you open it.

The new customization options are now available in preview via the Windows 11 Insider Program, and I've been testing the new changes over the last week. It's awesome to see so many new options available for users to configure, but it makes me wonder why this wasn't added sooner.

So, what's new in regards to customization? Well, users can now fully configure which segments of the Start menu actually appear. Up until now, the Start menu has consisted of three main segments: Pinned, Recommended, and All apps.

These segments have historically been fixed, but users now have the option to toggle off individual segments should they choose. All the Start menu's customization options are present in the Windows Settings app, or by right-clicking an empty space in Start and selecting "Start settings."

Once in the Settings page, you'll see three categories that represent the different segments in Start. In addition to being able to turn off the segments, two of the categories have their own configurable options that users can now customize too.

For example, for the Recommended feed, you now have the option of choosing the kind of things that show up there. If you don't want to see recommended apps, but do want to see recent files and installed apps, you can make it so.

Being able to outright turn off segments of the Start menu is a super nice addition. I don't usually find use in the Recommended feed, and so being able to toggle it off and save space within the Start menu is great. You can mix and match different configurations depending on your needs too.

Unfortunately, you can't customize the order of the segments. Meaning Pinned is always at the top (unless disabled,) followed by Recommended and All apps. If you wanted Pinned apps at the bottom, for example, that's not something you can do currently.

In addition to being able to hide and customize the segments, Microsoft is also adding the ability to adjust the size of the Start menu. There's two options to choose from: small and large, and by default Windows is set to choose the size based on your screen size.

However, if you don't like the automatic choice, you can now override it and select which side you want, regardless of screen size. That means I can now set the small Start menu to appear on my 32-inch monitor, which looks great.

Lastly, Microsoft has added the ability to hide your user account name and profile picture. This is handy for those who may be presenting, and don't want to share any personal details through the Start menu. It's a nice addition, but not super important.

These are all great improvements, and the level of adjustability is quite surprising. Being able to essentially outright disable the Start menu isn't something that was on my bingo card in 2026, but I'm more than happy to see it be an option for those who do want that kind of configurability.

With that said, I think there's more room for improvement. As mentioned above, I think it would be awesome if we could reposition the different sections of Start. Furthermore, I'd love the ability to drag to resize the Start menu, as currently the only way to do that is via the drop-down menu in Settings.

I also think it would be cool if users were given the option to turn off the Start button in the Taskbar when all sections of the Start menu are disabled. By extension, maybe Windows should let the user remap what the Windows key does when Start is disabled? I wouldn't mind being able to set it to open the Search pane instead, for example.

Overall, I am really happy and excited to see Microsoft adding more customization options to Windows 11, even if many users likely won't want to or be interested in customizing the Start menu. As someone who does like to curate this interface, these improvements are welcomed in my eyes.

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

Microsoft is working on a new accessibility feature for Windows 11 known as "Screen Tint," and it could become a useful option for anyone who spends long hours in front of a monitor.

Currently, the feature is available through the Windows Insider Program, and it introduces a system-wide color overlay designed to make the desktop easier on the eyes. Unlike the "Color filters" feature that focuses on accessibility requirements such as color blindness, Screen Tint is aimed at overall viewing comfort, allowing users to adjust the visual tone of the entire operating system.

Once enabled, the overlay applies across the desktop and apps, creating a more consistent viewing experience without requiring third-party tools.

Windows 11's new Screen Tint feature

Screen Tint appears under Settings > Accessibility > Screen Tint, where Microsoft describes the feature as a way to "show a color overlay on your display to reduce eye strain and improve viewing comfort."

The setting is disabled by default, but turning it on reveals several preset tint profiles along with options for further customization.

Windows 11 currently provides six built-in presets, including:

• Amber for extended screen sessions.
• Rose tint for users sensitive to fluorescent lighting or migraine triggers.
• Yellow to reduce visual stress while reading.
• Blue for glare sensitivity in bright environments.
• Green to soften harsh white backgrounds.
• Gray for users who find high-contrast displays tiring.

On the page, there's also a "Custom" tint option that lets users choose any color they prefer.

Furthermore, there's a dedicated Strength slider that controls how intense the color overlay appears. Rather than forcing users into predefined filter levels, Screen Tint allows fine-tuned adjustments based on personal preference, lighting conditions, or specific visual sensitivities.

Not the same as Color Filters

While Screen Tint may look similar to Windows 11's existing Color Filters feature at first glance, the two tools serve different purposes.

Color Filters are primarily designed as accessibility aids for users with color vision deficiencies. On the other hand, Screen Tint appears focused on comfort and visual fatigue reduction.

Microsoft notes that enabling Screen Tint automatically disables Color Filters, meaning only one feature can be active at a time.

Windows Central's Take

I wasn't expecting a feature like Screen Tint, but I can see why the company is exploring it. While the operating system already includes Color Filters and other display adjustments, Screen Tint appears to offer a more flexible way to adjust the overall screen appearance based on personal comfort rather than a specific accessibility need.

The ability to fine-tune the overlay's color and intensity could be useful for people who spend long hours in front of a monitor, especially since everyone experiences screen fatigue differently.

Of course, this is still an experimental feature, so there's no guarantee it'll ship in its current form. However, I generally like seeing the software giant continue to expand the personalization and accessibility options available on Windows 11.

What are your thoughts about the new Screen Tint feature 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.

Last month, several Dell users reported that Dell SupportAssist, the company’s device recovery software, was instead causing system crashes, leading to blue screens and reboot loops on Windows 11. However, the PC maker indicated that Microsoft's Windows 11 wasn't to blame.

At the time, Dell recommended uninstalling the software. However, our own Windows OS expert, Mauro Huculak, noted that disabling the service could also mitigate the issue. Concerningly, Dell has published a new blog post indicating that its Remediation Dell SupportAssist (version 5.5.16.0) and Alienware SupportAssist can trigger blue screen errors and unexpected reboot loops on Windows 11 (via Neowin).

Dell SupportAssist is part of the company’s broader SupportAssist OS Recovery Tools, so users are advised not to disable or uninstall it while troubleshooting. Dell has since released an update, version 5.5.16.1, which is expected to resolve the issue.

Impacted users are advised to verify that their devices are running the latest version by checking the Installed Apps section in Windows Settings. A new update should be available through the SupportAssist's "Update Software" feature or Dell Command Update. This should resolve the annoying issue.

Late last month, I also reported on an annoying HP BIOS bug that was leaving high-end Windows 11 PCs stuck in an endless BitLocker recovery loop. At the time, HP recommended users to avoid downloading and installing the faulty BIOS update by disabling automatic updates in Windows Update in their device settings app while it worked on a permanent fix.

The company also provided a manual workaround to resolve the BitLocker Recovery loop and allow for the successful implementation of the 2023 Microsoft certificates on an individual computer.

To resolve the issue where the new UEFI Secure Boot CA 2023 certificates fail to apply, HP now recommends updating affected devices to the latest BIOS version and ensuring the required Secure Boot certificates are configured before installing Microsoft’s Windows 11 Patch Tuesday updates. Affected devices might require several BIOS configuration changes to run seamlessly without unexpected system restarts.

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

Microsoft has announced a new Beta channel for Windows 11 version 26H1 devices that will allow the company to split testing between experimental and beta features similarly to how Windows 11 version 25H2 already does. It's the first Beta channel that's fully compatible with Snapdragon X2 and RTX Spark PCs.

For those unaware, up until now, the Windows 11 Beta channel has only been available for PCs running Windows 11 version 25H2. Devices running Windows 11 version 26H1 have only been able to opt into the Windows Insider Experimental Channel, as no Beta channel existed for the version 26H1 release.

That means devices powered by Snapdragon X2 haven't been able to enroll into the Insider Beta Channel, as it just didn't exist as an option for them. Snapdragon X2 and upcoming RTX Spark devices aren't compatible with version 25H2, meaning they can only run 26H1 or newer.

With the new Beta channel for 26H1, users running that platform release can now choose between Beta and Experimental testing branches just like those on version 25H2 can. "This enables our goal of giving Windows 11 26H1 Insiders the same choice between Beta and Experimental development branches, with the associated differences outlined in our original blog announcing the program changes."

The difference between Experimental and Beta Channels is how Microsoft treats the features that are being tested in them. Features in the experimetnal channel are earlier on in development, meaning they are less stable, subject to change, and may never ship at all. Features that are present in the Beta Channel are still in development, but are much further along and are committed to ship in an upcoming feature release.

Windows 11 version 26H1 is a special off-shoot version of the OS designed specifically for Snapdragon X2 and RTX Spark devices. It's not a version that is being made generally available to all Windows 11 users, and can only be officially acquired by buying a new device. With that said, Insiders can choose to test 26H1 on their existing devices if they wish, but Microsoft doesn't recommend it.

"While Insiders do have the ability to specifically select Windows 11 version 26H1 under the Advanced options tab in the Windows Insider settings, Windows 11 26H1 is a targeted release of Windows supporting specific silicon launching this year, including Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Series devices. It is generally otherwise recommended to stick with the default Windows core version selected within Advanced options."

Right now, Windows 11 version 25H1 and 26H1 co-exist side by side Feature-wise, Microsoft is working to ensure both platform releases are at feature parity, meaning the experience between both should be identical. The only changes are under the hood, designed to bring up support for next-gen Arm SoCs like those from Qualcomm and NVIDIA.

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Microsoft’s Build conference focused heavily on the future of Windows and computing. There, the tech giant unveiled new tools and hardware to help developers make native Windows apps and AI agents. Microsoft is also working to improve Windows 11 and its first-party apps as part of Windows K2. But there was one part of Windows 11 entirely ignored throughout Build: the Widgets panel.

If you click the weather icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen, the Widgets panel will open up. You may have accidentally summoned it by pressing WIN+W or hovering your mouse in the corner of your desktop.

Unfortunately, the mild surprise of discovering Windows 11 has a Widgets panel is probably the most joy the feature will ever bring you. The selection of Widgets available makes the Windows Phone app store look like the Google Play Store.

There are 56 widgets available through the Microsoft Store, and only a few of them are useful. Shout out to the makers of MagicPods, who released a widget for their app that makes AirPods feel at home on Windows 11. Calendar Flyout and a handful of utilities are also nifty additions. But let's be serious, the state of the Widgets panel is embarrassing.

Microsoft is building a team of app developers to fix Windows 11's app situation. The company held sessions at Build focused on two different types of native apps. Microsoft even announced the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box to help developers make AI agents. But the tech giant is basically radio silent on the Widgets panel.

Microsoft's remaining app gap

Microsoft has done a tremendous amount of work to fix the Microsoft Store. That store is in a much better place than it was just a few years ago and now includes a massive library of must-have apps.

The ongoing push to create native apps and Arm-optimized apps keeps a stream of apps trickling in or being improved on Windows 11.

But the Widgets panel appears to be a forgotten part of Windows 11. Microsoft has made some improvements to the panel itself, such as separating the MSN feed, but those are almost meaningless if the panel lacks useful widgets.

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Microsoft just had an amazing week, and a big part of that was thanks to Build. Sure, some excellent laptops were announced, but we've been blessed with good hardware for years. The biggest difference this year is that there are genuine reasons to be excited about Windows 11.

Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden highlighted the buzz around Windows 11:

"I spoke with various OEMs this week, and I could feel that all of them were super proud to be part of this renewed push in Windows. That's not something you can always say about Windows OEMs, but everyone I spoke to was very happy with Microsoft's work around Windows K2, and the improvements in silicon coming from Qualcomm, NVIDIA, and Intel."

The Windows K2 initiative appears to have some key converts, and that's great news for Windows PCs going forward. But a fully revamped Windows 11 will require software developers to embrace the OS and Microsoft's latest tools, and that's where Build played a key role.

At Build 2026, Microsoft taught developers how to build native Windows apps using AI and how to port x86 apps to Windows on Arm.

Microsoft also announced its own AI models, revealed its vision for "the next computer," announced a new Surface for developers, and unveiled new tools for creating AI agents.

Biggest Build News

Native Windows apps

There are two meanings of the word "native" when referring to Windows apps: applications that use a native framework like WinUI 3 and apps that are optimized for Windows on Arm. Microsoft focused on both types of native apps during Build.

Microsoft is making more parts of Windows 11 native, which will improve performance. Native apps (the WinUI 3 kind) will see similar benefits.

Apps optimized for Windows on Arm will benefit both Snapdragon X-powered PCs and systems featuring the new NVIDIA RTX Spark platform.

Agentic future

Microsoft announced and highlighted several tools developers can use to make AI agents. The Surface RTX Spark Dev Box was the biggest surprise of the week. That mini-PC features one petaflop of AI compute power and 128GB of unified memory. It can run up to 120B parameter models locally.

It comes with Microsoft developer tools preinstalled, features WSL2 with native GPU passthrough, and has full CUDA support.

Microsoft built the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box as a device for all developers making software and AI experiences. The tech giant emphasized that it wants Windows to be the platform for developers, not just Windows developers.

The Surface Laptop Ultra was announced at Computex. Based on its specs and design, it should also be a great tool for developers, but it is also aimed at creators and professionals who rely on AI models.

"The next computer"

While many of the announcements and sessions from Build focused on apps and agents that will run on traditional PCs, Microsoft also unveiled its vision for "the next computer."

Project Solara is a lightweight and secure operating system built on top of AOSP, not Windows. The OS hosts an Agent Shell that can dynamically load multiple cloud-based agents.

Rather than having a system that runs apps, the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform will have a device that calls on AI to perform tasks.

"These new devices are not meant to run traditional apps. They are designed for agents," said Microsoft. "That shift gives us more flexibility in the user interface, because the experience can adapt to the device, the screen size, the content, and even the mode of interaction—whether visual, voice, touch, or multimodal."

There are only prototype devices at this point, but Microsoft discussed a "Badge Concept Device" and "Desk Concept Device" at Build.

Smart wearables and AI hardware have been hit and miss up to this point. The Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit R1 failed for various reasons. AI hardware has to make a case for itself and feel like more than a smartphone add-on.

Microsoft's new platform will have to overcome that gap to succeed.

An exciting time for Windows 11 and Microsoft

Between Build and Computex, there's a lot to look forward to. Windows 11 is headed in the right direction and Microsoft has the tools developers need to make apps for the refreshed operating system.

Microsoft is also preparing for the next wave of computing. I'm skeptical that a future full of wearables and AI hardware is inevitable, but Microsoft is positioning itself to power that future if it does happen.

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It's been a long time since I've felt energized and excited about the Windows platform and ecosystem, but between Microsoft Build and Computex 2026, Windows just had an amazing week full of announcements that should make even the biggest Windows critics feel good about what's in the pipeline.

For the first time in a long while, it seems like Microsoft and its partners are proud of the Windows experiences they are building. NVIDIA made lots of noise about its new RTX Spark superchip, the first Windows on Arm silicon to really give high-end Apple Silicon a run for its money.

Windows OEMs have also stepped up to build excellent, high-quality devices that rival MacBooks in design, features, and build. The upcoming wave of RTX Spark laptops from HP, Dell, Lenovo, and Microsoft all look and feel incredible, making even the highest-end MacBook Pros look antiquated.

And it's not just the high-end where competition is heating up. Dell and Acer announced the first true MacBook Neo competitor products, powered by Intel Wildcat Lake chips, which deliver good performance and battery life at a cost that allows these OEMs to focus on other areas of the laptop to ensure they feel as good as or more premium than the MacBook Neo.

I managed to test both the Dell XPS 13 and Acer Swift Air 14 this week, and I'm so very impressed. Both devices are $699, but the Dell XPS 13 especially is a true sight to behold at that price. Not only does it give the MacBook Neo a run for its money, but it's so good that it even makes the MacBook Air seem like a bad deal.

I don't recall another time in history where a product as high-end and flagship-like as the XPS 13 could be found new for as low as $699 (or $599 for students!) That's the MacBook Neo effect in full force, and the people who are winning from this are the customers looking to buy their next laptop.

I spoke with various OEMs this week, and I could feel that all of them were super proud to be part of this renewed push in Windows. That's not something you can always say about Windows OEMs, but everyone I spoke to was very happy with Microsoft's work around Windows K2, and the improvements in silicon coming from Qualcomm, NVIDIA, and Intel.

There's a lot of work going on behind the scenes to improve Windows on lower-end devices, too. Microsoft is working to ensure Windows 11 runs well on 8GB RAM, as well as increasing the overall responsiveness and performance of the OS with its new Low Latency Profile feature that's now beginning to roll out.

Microsoft also stepped up with its new Surface Laptop Ultra and Surface Dev Box, powered by RTX Spark and designed to carry forward the Windows platform for developers. The good news is this isn't about adding AI to Windows, but rather about catering to developers who wish to build AI experiences on top of the platform.

It's clear that Microsoft wants developers to view Windows as the premier platform for software and AI development. Windows isn't just a platform for Windows developers; it's a platform for all developers. "Whether you’re building applications, deploying AI models or experimenting with agents, our goal is the same: to make Windows the best place to build – today and into the future," said Windows lead Pavan Davuluri.

I think this week, we saw our first real look at the new Surface. Gone are the days of radical form factors and unique devices. Surface is now all about setting the narrative from a platform perspective. Surface Laptop Ultra is a straight-up laptop workstation, appealing directly to an audience that has otherwise been occupied by Apple and the MacBook Pro. Historically, Surface was mostly interested in appealing to niche or creating new markets, but now it's coming for the ones that Apple dominates.

Up until now, I don't think Windows or Surface have ever been in a position to do this. This speaks volumes as to how confident both Microsoft and its partners are about the Windows ecosystem right now. The Windows K2 effort is bringing real quality of life improvements to the OS, addressing critics' biggest complaints about Windows as a platform.

Microsoft is working around the clock to make it so "it runs Windows" isn't a complaint people can make when talking about these devices. The macOS vs Windows debate will last forever, but at least going forward, Windows itself won't be bringing the entire ecosystem down, something that many would argue was the case up until a few months ago.

It really does feel like this is the first time the Windows ecosystem has had viable alternatives to Apple's MacBook dominance since Apple Silicon. The MacBook Neo took the world by storm earlier this year, but Windows OEMs have already stepped up and beaten it in price and quality. MacBook Pro has seemingly been undefeated at the high-end, but this upcoming wave of RTX Spark laptops should make it so the MacBook Pro is no longer the only option for developers and creatives.

Even Chromebooks and upcoming Googlebooks should feel threatened by this renewed energy around Windows. Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon C, a low-end Windows SoC designed for Chromebook competitor devices between $300 and $500. Then there's the Snapdragon X2 series, which is an incredible SoC for devices that compete with the MacBook Air and entry-level MacBook Pro.

The point is that for the first time in a long time, Windows now has (or will soon have) good, viable offerings at every segment of the market. It should now be harder than ever for a reviewer to recommend the MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro as the de facto device for most people. There are so many good Windows laptops on offer in the segments that Mac has previously dominated.

There's still room for improvements when it comes to Windows, but as mentioned above, Microsoft is already working tirelessly to deliver them, with more to come. It's clear that the company wants to send an important message to the industry: Don't count Windows out just yet.

Overall, I am super excited about the current state of the Windows ecosystem, and with platform improvements being made weekly, there are good things to come from an OS perspective, too. For the first time in a long time, I'm proud to be a Windows user once again.

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The biggest week of the year just wrapped up for Microsoft and Windows 11, and it was full of good news for everyone from power users to shoppers on a budget.

The week kicked off with Computex, which served as a midyear showcase for the state of Windows 11 PCs and what's around the corner for personal computing. Laptop makers have now had time to respond to the MacBook Neo, and they did so with gusto.

Build conference also took place this past week, highlighting ways developers can improve their apps and AI agents.

The new Dell XPS 13 starts at $699 ($599 for students), placing it squarely against the MacBook Neo. On the other extreme of PC pricing, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Laptop Ultra, a powerhouse PC packing the newly announced NVIDIA RTX Spark.

Here's a quick rundown of the biggest news from Computex, Build, and more.

As a reminder, Summer Game Fest also took place this week and the Xbox Games Showcase is set for tonight. I'll send you to our expert gaming team for coverage of that event.

It feels like the first time in a long time that Microsoft and Windows 11 are moving in the right direction. Chipmakers will provide options at every price range and for every workflow and Windows 11 is being improved each month.

Microsoft needs to build on the momentum and stick the landing. A few months moving in the right direction can fall apart quickly if the tech giant's leaders lose focus.

Biggest Windows 11 News

I've been a rather verbal critic of how Microsoft has handled its Surface brand, accusing the tech giant of leaving Surface in the dust while it rebuilds XBOX and Windows 11.

Last month's Surface launch was so disappointing I regretted paying attention. I doubt I'd have tuned in if it weren't my job, and I'm sure many skipped it altogether. I still believe Microsoft left Surface stagnant for too long, but the May launch of the Surface Business devices makes a bit more sense.

Microsoft needed to wait for the NVIDIA RTX Spark to be announced to reveal the Surface Laptop Ultra.

Perhaps the staggered Surface launches are the price to pay for getting the latest chips inside Surface hardware. For years, new Surface devices were powered by already aging hardware. The shifted Surface strategy means brand-new chips but reveals beholden to chipmaker timelines.

I won't completely exonerate Microsoft though. The tech giant could still have announced its consumer-focused Surface Pro and Surface Laptop with Snapdragon X2 chips last month, just with a longer lead time to hit store shelves.

Shopping with Sean

I'm very excited about the new PCs on the way, but they won't hit shelves for a while. Plus, we still need benchmarks and pricing on the RTX Spark chips before knowing if they're worth grabbing.

Until we get those key details, I'll hold off on any recommendations. Instead, I'll point you to an excellent gaming monitor that earned a perfect score in our review and is now on sale.

The ASUS ROG Strix OLED 27 is great for gaming and was already one of the best bargains for under $1,000. For a limited time, it's discounted to $799.

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As part of the Build 2026 developer conference, Microsoft spent much of its time discussing AI agents, local AI models, and new hardware for developers. While those announcements grabbed the headlines, some of the most interesting news was much smaller in scope.

As someone who spends a lot of time covering the desktop version of the operating system and apps, four announcements stood out to me, including Coreutils, WSL Containers, Intelligent Terminal, and Windows Developer Configurations.

Warning: These tools are not flashy for home users. However, they show that the company is determined to make the operating system more capable and developer-friendly by reducing the friction that has traditionally pushed developers toward Linux or macOS.

Coreutils finally brings familiar Linux tools to Windows 11

I spend a lot of my time typing commands, and while I spend the most time using Command Prompt, I also use Linux, and sometimes I feel that some of the commands are better on Linux.

Windows 11 already includes some tools based on Linux, such as sudo, curl, and tar, but one of the more surprising announcements from Build 2026 was the general availability of Coreutils.

The Coreutils for Windows is based on the open-source uutils project, and it brings Linux-style command-line utilities directly to Windows 11. For developers who regularly switch between Linux servers, cloud environments, containers, and local Windows 11 machines, this means many familiar commands (such as ls, cp, touch, mkdir, and pwd) can work natively without relying on third-party ports or workarounds.

This may not sound like a major feature, but it addresses a long-standing pain point that Microsoft is trying to fix with the Windows K2 initiative. Consistency counts when you're switching between operating systems throughout the day. The less time spent remembering platform-specific differences, the more time you can spend actually building software.

You can install Coreutils from GitHub or by using Windows Package Manager with the "winget install Microsoft.Coreutils" command.

WSL Containers could make Docker optional for many developers

At Build 2026, the company also announced WSL Containers, which is a huge deal. In the past, if you wanted to run Linux containers on Windows 11, you had to install third-party platforms like Docker Desktop, Podman, or Rancher Desktop. However, WSL Containers introduces a built-in container runtime that replaces the dependency on third-party solutions in the operating system, using a new command-line tool called "wslc.exe" and an API.

According to the company, the WSL CLI uses a new binary that works out of the box for building, running, and deploying Linux containers.

The API for the container feature provides access to run "Linux containers programmatically" on native apps for Windows 11.

Behind the scenes, instead of requiring a complex, heavy third-party VM setup, WSLC spins up OCI-compatible Linux containers inside a dedicated, highly optimized Hyper-V utility VM managed natively by Windows 11. This virtual machine is completely isolated from your standard Linux distributions (like Ubuntu or Debian) and communicates with Windows via high-speed Hyper-V sockets.

The good news is that if you already know Docker, you know how to use WSLC, since the commands are pretty much identical. For example, to run a container, you'd need to run a command like: "wslc run -d -p 8080:80 --name web nginx". In Docker, you would have run the "docker run -d -p 8080:80 --name web nginx" command.

Although anyone can use containers, Microsoft is adding policies to manage the feature using familiar controls.

Containers for WSL are not yet available, but the company will release this support in the coming months through regular updates for the Windows Subsystem for Linux.

Intelligent Terminal is one of the more practical AI features Microsoft announced

Build 2026 included no shortage of AI announcements, but Intelligent Terminal was one of the few that immediately felt interesting.

The feature integrates AI agents directly into the terminal experience. Instead of copying error messages into a browser, searching for solutions, and manually applying fixes, developers can receive context-aware assistance without leaving the command line.

In other words, to avoid another AI backlash, the company forked a separate version of the Windows Terminal and added support for connecting AI agents, such as GitHub Copilot, rather than integrating Copilot into the Windows Terminal.

Microsoft says the feature can surface relevant context when commands fail, suggest solutions, and help complete multi-step tasks directly in the terminal.

Whether it'll become an essential developer tool remains to be seen, but unlike many AI demonstrations that focus on future possibilities, Intelligent Terminal addresses a workflow problem developers encounter every day.

On Windows 11, you can install the Intelligent Terminal via the Microsoft Store, directly from Command Prompt (as an admin) using the "winget install Microsoft.IntelligentTerminal" command, and you can download the tool from GitHub.

Windows Developer Configurations solves a problem every developer has experienced

Setting up a new development or testing machine is rarely anyone's favorite task, as it takes time and a very long list of steps.

Windows Developer Configurations aims to make that process dramatically easier through the Windows Package Manager (winget) configuration file (dev-config.winget), which installs common developer tools, applies recommended settings, and prepares a machine for development or testing with a single command.

The configuration includes tools such as Visual Studio Code, GitHub Copilot, PowerShell 7, WSL, Git, Python, and more. It can also apply developer-focused settings for the operating system, including showing file extensions and enabling Git integration in File Explorer.

This is not a tool that you need to install. Instead, it's a configuration file with the ".winget" extension, where you can specify how you want to configure a particular setup. Microsoft has published a README file listing everything you can install and configure on the project's official GitHub page.

What I like most about this announcement is that it focuses on reducing setup time. Whether you're replacing a device, configuring multiple systems, or preparing computers for new developers, getting from a clean installation to a productive environment becomes much faster.

Windows Central's Take

I found these announcements more interesting than some of the bigger Build 2026 reveals. New AI hardware and ambitious agent platforms are important, but they're also aimed at a relatively small audience. Coreutils, WSL Containers, Intelligent Terminal, and Windows Developer Configurations focus on something much more practical, making Windows 11 easier to develop on.

Microsoft has spent years making its operating system a more welcoming platform for developers, and these announcements continue that effort. Instead of pushing Windows-specific approaches, the company is increasingly embracing the tools, workflows, and technologies developers already use. They're not flashy features, but they're the type of improvements that can save time every day.

A lot of people will never use any of these tools, but developers build the apps we use every day. If Microsoft can make its operating system a better platform for developers, the benefits eventually reach far beyond developers themselves.

What are your thoughts on Microsoft's latest developer tools for 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

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This week was arguably the most pivotal week of the year for Microsoft. Computex and Build landed back-to-back, giving the tech giant the opportunity to announce the Surface Laptop Ultra and Surface RTX Spark Dev Box as well as teach developers how to build apps for the "age of AI agents."

Microsoft didn’t arrive at the agentic web this week. It started laying the foundation a year ago at Build 2025, then spent the next twelve months turning that architecture into real tools.

That phrase, "age of AI agents," is actually from Frank Shaw's recap of Build 2025, not this year's conference, and that's the point. Microsoft laid the groundwork for the agentic web last year and has spent the past twelve months turning that vision into real tools developers can use.

Here are the key Build 2025 announcements Shaw highlighted:

• GitHub Copilot coding agent and new updates to GitHub Models
• Windows AI Foundry
• Azure AI Foundry Models and new tools for model evaluation
• Microsoft 365 Copilot Tuning and multi-agent orchestration

A major focus of last year's Build conference was supporting open standards and shared infrastructure. Microsoft added first-party support for Model Context Protocol (MCP) across GitHub, Copilot Studio, Dynamics 365, Azure AI Foundry, Semantic Kernel, and Windows 11.

Microsoft also introduced a project called NLWeb at Build 2025, which Shaw compared to HTML but for the agentic web.

Fast forward to this year's Build conference and you'll hear many of the same points of emphasis.

"Developers don’t need another way to just build and run an agent or app. They need trust. They need native context and knowledge. Most of all, they need choice to access the right model for the right problem," said Kyle Daigle, Chief Operating Officer of GitHub.

This year Microsoft focused on every layer of the AI stack. The company now has a platform for creating agents, a set of models tuned for agentic workloads, and new tools for building AI‑driven experiences across Windows, the web, and Microsoft 365.

Microsoft IQ is a context layer that grounds agents to world knowledge and enterprise knowledge. In plain English, Microsoft IQ helps models produce results that are based on relevant information rather than bringing in generic data.

Tools that are part of Microsoft IQ ground agents to specific data from organizations, such as communication and documents across Microsoft 365. The newly announced Web IQ grounds agents to the latest information available.

Microsoft also announced an always-on personal work agent called "Scout," an entire family of AI models, and all the remaining pieces to create a full pipeline from building agents to users relying on those agents.

Microsoft spent a year turning the agentic web from a concept into a stack. Build 2026 isn’t a reset, it’s the second half of a plan the company laid out twelve months ago. The next step is seeing whether developers actually build on it.

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Windows 11's messy context menus will be a thing of the past, according to Marcus Ash, VP of Design and Research for Windows & Devices. Microsoft is "working on making context menus faster [and] simpler by default," according to the executive.

The context menus of Windows 11 have been controversial since the launch of the operating system (and even before that if you consider preview builds). Many, including myself, consider them cluttered, inconsistent, and irritating to navigate.

Despite a busy week in which Microsoft announced the Surface Laptop Ultra and the Surface RTX Spark, Ash found some time to discuss Windows 11 context menus on X.

We've known about Microsoft's plans to improve context menus for a while. The company discussed a split context menu last year that groups relevant options into categories. For example, options related to images would appear in a split context menu labeled "Photos."

Microsoft is also working to improve the performance of context menus as part of its Windows K2 initiative.

Grouping options together would go a long way in those efforts. The screenshot shared by X users "Guilherme" takes up the entire height of their screen.

Ash's promise of configurable context menus is intriguing. There are several items that appear in the context menu that are entirely useless to a large number of people. While some may value a shortcut to edit a video in Clipchamp, many would be happier to never see that choice appear. It would be even better if Microsoft allowed users to replace that shortcut with their preferred video editor.

I compiled an overview of Windows 11 and Office context menus in 2026: still a mixed bag, still not done, but improving from r/Windows11

It would also be nice to see Microsoft clean up and unify all context menus on Windows 11 and Microsoft's in-box apps, but that seems less likely. Because Microsoft supports so many legacy apps and contains so many old components, mismatched context menus are ubiquitous across the OS.

It's not just context menus across different parts of Windows 11 that are not aligned, even some apps have different context menus depending on where you right-click.

A Reddit post by "NobleDiceDream" shows several of the different context menus present in Windows 11.

Hopefully Ash and Microsoft's vision of faster and simpler context menus ship soon. Fingers crossed that we'll be able to remove the AI actions section in File Explorer as well.

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Microsoft is expected to begin rolling out the June 2026 Security Update for Windows 11 on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. In the sixth month of the year, the software giant is pushing new features, improvements to existing experiences, and security fixes.

In this new quality update, the software giant begins the gradual rollout of the Low Latency Profile feature. It's now possible for two people to listen to the same audio from a single source at the same time thanks to Shared Audio. In addition, Microsoft is updating Task Manager with improvements to monitor NPU usage.

As part of the improvements, the Camera feature is gaining the ability to stream the camera feed across multiple applications. The Out-of-box Experience now allows you to set a custom name for the account folder, as well as improvements to the Settings app, Windows Hello, USB, battery, personalization, and more.

In this guide, I'll highlight the most significant changes in the June 2026 Security Update for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, since both are identical.

Windows 11's new features arriving in June

Microsoft uses the Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) technology to roll out new improvements gradually, so it may take some time before you see them.

1. Low Latency Profile

Starting with the June 2026 update, the software giant introduces the Low Latency Profile, which is a feature that temporarily maxes out (or near-maxes) the processor frequency for one to three seconds during interactive tasks on Windows 11. Instead of focusing on sustained performance, the feature appears designed to reduce delays during actions like opening apps or opening flyouts, such as the Start menu, File Explorer, and context menus.

This implementation can result in up to 40 percent faster launch times for applications and up to 70 percent faster interaction times with system features, such as opening the Start menu or context menu.

The feature works automatically, meaning that you won't find an option to turn it on or off in the Settings app or Control Panel.

Low Latency Profile is an automated feature that triggers in the background only when it's required. In other words, it's completely invisible to the end user.

It's important to note that the responsiveness improvements will vary depending on the hardware. Computers with lower-end or older components may notice the biggest difference because these systems typically struggle more with interface responsiveness, app launches, and short bursts of activity.

On the other hand, devices with modern high-end components may not see dramatic improvements because the hardware already delivers fast response times under normal conditions.

2. Shared Audio via Bluetooth LE devices

Windows 11 is also getting a new "Shared Audio" feature that lets two people listen to the same audio from one computer at the same time.

The feature relies on Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast technology to stream sound simultaneously to two compatible Bluetooth devices, such as earbuds or headphones, making it easier to share music, movies, games, or other media without using external speakers.

Users can turn on Shared Audio directly from the Quick Settings flyout by selecting the "Shared Audio" option, choosing two supported paired devices, and starting the session instantly.

The system even includes a dedicated Taskbar indicator whenever audio sharing is active. The indicator provides a clear visual confirmation that audio is being broadcast and offers quick access to manage the sharing settings.

3. Task Manager with expanded NPU monitoring

Task Manager is receiving several improvements aimed at improving AI hardware monitoring and advanced system diagnostics on Windows 11.

On devices equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), Task Manager can now display additional metrics for NPU activity across the "Processes," "Users," and "Details" tabs. The new optional columns include NPU utilization, active NPU engines, and dedicated or shared NPU memory usage, giving users deeper insight into how AI workloads are being handled by the system.

Microsoft is also expanding NPU hardware visibility on the "Performance" page by showing neural engines integrated into the GPU. This addition provides a more complete overview of AI acceleration across the entire system, especially on newer processors that combine GPU and AI capabilities.

Another improvement introduces a new "Isolation" column that identifies which apps are running inside an AppContainer sandbox, making it easier to understand app security boundaries and process isolation.

4. Camera with multi-app support

As part of the improvements included with the June update, the company is introducing new advanced webcam controls on the "Camera" settings page for Windows 11.

The update adds support for "Allow multiple apps to use camera at the same time" and "Turn on basic camera," two new features designed to improve compatibility, flexibility, and troubleshooting for connected cameras.

The "Allow multiple apps to use camera at the same time" option allows the same webcam stream to be shared across multiple apps simultaneously. This means you can use a single camera in different apps at the same time, which can be especially useful for streaming, meetings, and content creation workflows.

Microsoft is also adding a "Turn on basic camera" feature that enables the webcam to run in a simplified debugging mode. The setting is intended to help diagnose and resolve camera-related issues when advanced features or drivers are causing problems.

5. Setup using custom folder name

The development team is also improving the Windows 11 setup experience with a new option that lets you choose a custom name for your user profile folder during installation.

The setting appears during the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) on the same page used to configure the device name. Instead of relying on the automatically generated folder name based on the Microsoft account, you can now define the profile folder name before completing setup.

Of course, that's as long as you follow the naming convention and don't use special or prohibited characters.

This change gives you more control over how their account directory is created in the "Users" folder, helping avoid unwanted abbreviations or naming inconsistencies commonly generated automatically during installation.

If the option is skipped, Windows 11 will continue using the default naming convention to create the profile folder. Microsoft notes that custom folder names must still follow the standard Windows 11 naming restrictions and character rules.

6. Windows Hello performance improvements

The company is also making Windows Hello faster by optimizing the Windows Biometric (WinBio) service to reduce latency when resuming a device from Modern Standby.

In addition, Microsoft is making some changes to how the system handles authentication. For example, fingerprint and face authentication will continue to be the default method on the lock and sign-in screens. Of course, as long as those methods are still available in the system.

This is true even if you previously used another method. However, if you use your PIN three times, Windows 11 will default to the PIN method until you switch the authentication method.

Other changes

In addition to the biggest changes, this cumulative update includes some smaller, but welcome improvements. For example, Windows Search will now find files with only two characters, making search queries shorter and more effective.

The Personalization settings now offer more precise color matching when setting background desktop images, and the Settings app lets you specify storage size for volumes in gigabytes instead of being limited to megabytes.

Windows Central's Take

I think the June 2026 update is a good example of the company focusing on the parts of the operating system that people interact with every day rather than chasing headline-grabbing features. The Low Latency Profile is especially interesting because it's one of those improvements most users will never know exists. However, they may actually feel the difference when opening apps, navigating menus, or using older hardware.

The custom profile folder option during setup is another change that feels long overdue. It's a small addition, but it's solving a problem users have complained about for years. The same goes for Shared Audio, which is a practical feature that should have broad appeal beyond power users.

Since Microsoft unveiled its plan to address the operating system's pain points, I've noticed the company spending less time redesigning major parts and more time polishing rough edges, improving responsiveness, and adding quality features. Those changes don't always generate excitement, but they often have a bigger impact on the daily experience than another visual refresh.

If I had to pick the most important change in this update, it would be the responsiveness improvements. Windows 11 feels better when it reacts instantly, and that's something every user can appreciate, even if they never see a setting or toggle for it.

What are your thoughts about these new features coming to 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.

Did you know that it's been a little over 15 years since Microsoft first announced Windows 8? To be precise, June 1, 2011. Years later, the company pulled support for the operating system on January 12, 2016.

But more interestingly, Microsoft veteran software engineer Raymond Chen recently shared a story in his ongoing The Old New Thing series about the code name the company used for Windows 8 during its development.

And, as is typical of Microsoft, employees within the organization started "abbreviating it like mad." In 2025, I extensively covered Microsoft's quirky vocabulary for internal communication, otherwise internally referred to as Microspeak. For instance, the phrase "on fire" refers to "when something has gone horribly wrong and requires immediate attention". Makes sense. Not too cryptic.

Going back to Windows 8, Chen disclosed that the development team behind the operating system abbreviated most things surrounding it. For instance, the new shell was called the “modern shell” or “MoSh” for short, whereas the old shell was referred to as the “classic shell.” Some twisted it a bit further to ClaSh, but the engineer says it didn't stick around for too long.

"When we couldn’t come up with a name for a component of the modern experience, a common fallback was to stick the prefix “Mo” in front," Chen indicated.

Interestingly, Chen reveals that the new Start menu was derived from earlier explorations known as the “Go page.” This is because it typically represents where the user would go when they want to search or "go" and do something. Consequently, Windows 8's Go page was called or given a new code — MoGo.

The list goes on and on. For instance, the settings control panel was called “MoSet,” while the ListView control started as a bit of a mouthful, “modern collection control”, it was later shortened to “MoCo.”

Over the years, Microsoft's internal slang has evolved significantly. We recently learned of Windows K2 — Microsoft's internal codename for an umbrella project that focuses on fixing Windows 11's biggest problems.

At the beginning of the year, the company pledged to address major pain points across the operating system as part of its broader strategy to improve the overall user sentiment. The company has already made good on its promise by reducing where Copilot and its integrations appear following backlash from users.

Microsoft will also allow Windows 11 users to postpone installing updates indefinitely, which is a level of freedom that hasn't been seen since the good old Windows 8 days. We invite you to check out our Windows K2 status tracker to keep tabs on Microsoft's rehabilitation project for Windows 11.

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

AI Agents have been one of the hottest topics at Build this year. Improvements to Windows 11 allow AI agents to run in sandboxes to protect the rest of the operating system. Security features will ensure you can see what agents are doing on Windows.

Even Microsoft's unveiling of the Surface Laptop Ultra focused heavily on agents. So it should come as no surprise that Microsoft has several improvements in the works to help agents.

Microsoft IQ, which was just featured Build, is a new context layer that grounds agents. Using different tools, it can use both general knowledge and enterprise-specific information.

"Agents are only as good as the context we give them," said Elijah Straight during the Build keynote.

A main benefit of Microsoft IQ is that it's grounded. By gathering internal enterprise knowledge and data from the web, Microsoft IQ can yield specific results based on specific data.

Microsoft IQ is now available across GitHub Copilot, Microsoft Foundry, and Copilot Studio. It is made up four parts:

• Work IQ: Captures what happens across Microsoft 365, organizational systems, and external sources.
• Fabric IQ: Provides a shared semantic foundation over business data.
• Foundry IQ: Connects data together and can retrieve information from enterprise knowledge and the web.
• Web IQ: An AI-first web search stack that Microsoft claims delivers relevant results 2.5 times faster than the best alternative.

The Work IQ APIs will become generally available on June 16.

Microsoft Scout was also announced at Build. It's a personal agent for work that's available in preview to Frontier customers. Scout is built on OpenClaw and WorkIQ and integrates with Teams, Outlook, and other tools.

Scout understands how you work, according to Microsoft. It can proactively perform tasks such as preparing for a meeting and sorting scheduling conflicts based on the services you connect it to.

Why you should care about agents

AI agents automate the boring part of using a PC. When they have enough data and context, agents can act like personal assistants built specifically for you, not just generic AI tools. They watch for the patterns in how you work, understand the information you rely on and step in to handle repetitive tasks.

Agents work in the background and take care of routine actions, freeing you to focus on work that requires creativity or insight.

The new agent layers unveiled at Build and highlighted during the conference should connect AI to specific data to make more personal tools and drive better results.

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

In April, Microsoft published an article in its Learning Centre, indicating that “for many Windows 11 users, Microsoft Defender Antivirus covers everyday risk without requiring additional software.”

Interestingly, most users seemingly shared the same sentiments as the tech giant across social media. "I haven't used a 3rd party antivirus since XP," a user indicated. "Windows Defender is enough and maybe even too much," another user added. Some Windows Central readers agreed with Microsoft's premise, too:

"It's not a secret Windows Defender has been the best or near the best antivirus for years by now. Times when third-party antivirus actually served a purpose are long gone. You're just slowing down your system and paying for no reason."

However, other users indicated that they are more reliant on third-party solutions. "The choice to add third‑party antivirus depends on how you use your PC and which features you value," Microsoft added. "You might consider extra security software if you manage multiple devices, share devices with family members, or want services like identity monitoring or parental controls."

And now, as spotted by AV Comparatives, the company has since pulled down the article in its Learning Center platform, where it had blatantly indicated that third-party software is not needed (via Beta News).

As detailed by the outlet:

"On 13 January 2026, Microsoft published an article titled “Trusted antivirus protection for PCs” in the Windows Learning Center. The core message: Windows 11 already comes with solid, real-time security in the form of Microsoft Defender Antivirus, no subscription, no installation required, and “for many users, this level of protection is plenty.”

Microsoft also notes that third-party tools offer additional features such as identity monitoring or built-in VPNs.

A sharper formulation of the same idea in April on the same website was summarized medially with the headline that Windows 11 essentially no longer required a third-party antivirus. That April article appears to have been taken down in the meantime, and we see this as a constructive step. The current Learning Center text is noticeably more measured: it positions Defender as a strong baseline, acknowledges that third-party tools deliver capabilities beyond the basics, and stops short of claiming that Defender is sufficient in every scenario."

The company had fronted Microsoft Defender as “usually sufficient when Windows 11 runs with default protections enabled, updates are installed regularly, and software downloads are deliberate.”

Without requiring subscriptions or installation prompts, Microsoft highlights Windows 11’s built‑in antivirus as solid, real‑time protection with features like automatic threat scanning, cloud‑based intelligence updates, unsafe site and download alerts, and more.

To that end, Microsoft says Defender's level of protection is plenty for many users, but admits "some third-party tools offer extras (like identity monitoring or built-in VPNs)."

Do you prefer using third-party antivirus tools over Windows 11's built-in Defender offering? Let me know in the comments.

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

As May has come to an end, we can now take a look at the new features and changes that participants of the Windows Insider Program received during the second half of the month for Windows 11.

Alongside the improvements available during the first half of May, the company rolled out preview builds through the Experimental and Beta tracks for versions 25H2, 26H1, and Feature Platforms.

In the Experimental experience, we've seen 26300.8553, 26300.8497, 28020.2149, 29595, 29599, and 28020.2207, while the Beta experience received builds 26220.8491 and 26220.8544.

In this recap, I'll highlight the latest and most noteworthy changes available through the Windows Insider Program.

Biggest improvements from the Windows Insider Program in May 2026

These are the most significant improvements the company has been testing since the last roundup.

Screen tint new feature

On Windows 11 build 26300.8497, the development team introduced a new accessibility feature known as "Screen tint." It's a system-wide color overlay designed to reduce eye strain and soften overly bright or saturated displays.

Unlike the Night Light feature, which primarily reduces blue light for nighttime use, Screen tint changes the overall intensity and color tone of the display during the day. Microsoft says the two features solve different problems and can work together at the same time.

The feature is available from Settings > Accessibility > Vision > Screen tint, and it features six preset tint colors, plus an option to create a custom color.

In addition, you can also adjust the intensity with the available slider.

One thing to point out is that enabling Screen tint disables Color Filters, and vice versa.

Braille support for Narrator

Microsoft significantly improves Narrator's Braille support by adding true plug-and-play support for HID-based refreshable Braille displays. The company is testing the feature in the Experimental channel (build 26300.8497) as part of its broader Windows K2 accessibility initiative.

The biggest change is that compatible Braille displays now connect instantly without requiring extra drivers or manual configuration.

Previously, setting up Braille on Windows often involved downloading separate Braille components, selecting display drivers manually, configuring Narrator compatibility, and troubleshooting USB or serial connections.

However, Windows 11 can now automatically recognize HID-compliant Braille displays over USB, just as it does with a keyboard or mouse.

Compatible HID Braille displays include the Orbit Reader 20, Orbit Slate 340, Freedom Scientific Focus 40, and APH Mantis Q40.

The update also adds wireless Bluetooth support for HID Braille displays. Users can now pair supported devices from Settings > Bluetooth & devices, without additional Narrator-specific pairing steps.

One of the most important improvements is support during the Out-of-box Experience (OOBE). Microsoft says deaf-blind users can now connect a compatible USB Braille display and complete the initial setup independently from the very first screen.

Magnifier defaults changes

In addition, build 26300.8497 includes a small Magnifier update focused on reducing visual clutter on touchscreen devices.

The main change is that the touch panning bars in Magnifier are now turned off by default. Microsoft says this creates a cleaner and less distracting magnified view, especially on tablets and touch-enabled devices.

The improvement removes the on-screen navigation bars from the magnified view, but you can enable them again from Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier.

Windows Ready Print new install option

Microsoft is continuing its overhaul of the printing stack with a new "Windows Ready Print" setting.

The option is known as "Default install printers using Windows Ready Print," and it's available from Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.

The setting controls whether Windows automatically installs compatible printers using the modern Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) instead of relying on traditional manufacturer drivers.

For example, if enabled, then the system installs supported printers using IPP and the modern print stack.

If the setting is disabled, then the system can fall back to older installation methods, including vendor-specific drivers and legacy print technologies.

Microsoft says the goal is to simplify printer setup, improve reliability, and reduce dependency on third-party drivers.

The company is also officially branding its modern print platform as "Windows Ready Print." This is essentially the next stage of the company's long-term effort to modernize printing in the operating system and phase out legacy driver models.

The Windows Ready Print changes are also available in the Beta channel, build 26220.8544.

Voice Isolation for Voice Access

Windows 11 is adding a significant upgrade to Voice Access with a new feature called "Voice Isolation," introduced on build 26300.8497.

The feature is designed to make Voice Access more accurate in noisy environments by filtering out nearby conversations, background sounds, and environmental noise.

Instead of listening to every sound equally, Voice Access can now prioritize your voice.

Voice Access now includes three speech recognition modes under Voice Access settings > Improve speech recognition, including Voice Isolation, remove background noise only, and no filtering.

• Voice Isolation: Filters background voices and noise using a one-time voice setup.
• Remove background noise only: Reduces non-speech sounds like typing and door slams without setup.
• No filtering: Uses raw microphone input with no additional processing.

The software giant says all processing happens locally on the device, meaning voice data does not leave the computer.

Start menu new options

As part of build 26300.8553 (Experimental), the development team began testing new changes to the Start menu that allow you to change its size and customize how it appears on the desktop.

First, there's an update to the "Start" settings page that lets you decide which sections appear in the Start menu.

Also, the system now renames "Recommended" to "Recent" in the settings and in the Start menu, and you can even choose the type of content you want to see in this section.

Furthermore, the "Show recent and suggested files" option now works independently of the recent functionality in File Explorer or on the Taskbar.

If the "All" section isn't for you either, you can disable it. Now, if you prefer, you can choose to show or hide the most used apps.

Perhaps the most noticeable change, at least for me, is the option to change the menu size. Although you cannot make the menu as big or as small as it was possible on Windows 10, you can now choose between "Small," "Large," and "Automatic" layouts.

Finally, at the end of the page, you will also find a new "Hide your name and profile picture on Start" toggle, which, as the name implies, increases privacy by allowing you to hide your name and picture profile from the Account Manager menu entry point.

One thing I noticed is that this new toggle only hides your information in the button. If you open the Account Manager menu, your account details will remain visible.

Another thing to note is that this is still not the new Start menu built with the WinUI 3 framework. Instead, it remains the legacy implementation.

New spinner animation

Finally, Microsoft continues the rollout of the new unified "donut" style spinner design across key Windows 11 system flows, including Boot, Logon, Restart, Shutdown, and Windows Update.

This animation, which was already present in the operating system, replaces the legacy loading dots animation for a more consistent experience.

Furthermore, the company is also updating the text for system states to "Restarting," "Working on updates," and "Welcome."

Windows Search refinements

Windows Search isn't getting a massive overhaul, but with the release of build 26300.8553 (Experimental), Microsoft is introducing support for substring matching, which helps you to find files with compound names or text content.

For instance, you can find the file called "MeetingNotesApril" by simply typing "april."

Windows Central's Take

When looking at the last batch of Insider changes from May, I like to see the company's continued focus on accessibility. Features like Screen tint, improved Braille support, and Voice Isolation may not generate the same excitement as other flashy features. However, they can have a much bigger impact on how people actually use their devices every day.

The Start menu updates are likely to be the changes that get the most attention. Microsoft has spent years tweaking and reworking the Start experience, and these changes show that the company is still addressing limitations that many users pointed out when Windows 11 first launched.

I'm also keeping an eye on Windows Ready Print. Printer setup has long been one of the most frustrating pain points in the operating system, and Microsoft's effort to reduce reliance on vendor-specific drivers could end up being one of those underappreciated changes that quietly make the platform more reliable over time.

Overall, May was a surprisingly productive month for Windows 11. While many of the changes focused on refining the experience, Microsoft also introduced welcome improvements across accessibility, personalization, and core system features. Not every addition will appeal to every user, but taken together, these updates show the company continuing to address long-standing requests while gradually modernizing different parts of the operating system.

What are your thoughts on the latest Windows 11 Insider features? 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.

We're at the start of a major week for Windows and PCs that will shape the rest of the year and echo into 2027 and beyond. Computex is in full swing and Microsoft Build is about to start.

Microsoft Build may be for developers, but it will showcase some of the most exciting advances of the year for Windows and AI. Microsoft and NVIDIA just unveiled the NVIDIA RTX Spark platform, which centers around the N1x chip and promises to usher in "a new era of PC."

RTX Spark will bring workstation-class performance to Windows on ARM. Creators, gamers, and developers will all benefit from the new platform. At Build 2026, Microsoft will discuss Windows agents (AI assistants that can perform actions on your behalf).

Microsoft will also demonstrate how agents can be used to build modern Windows applications and how AI can help port Windows apps to run natively on ARM. Microsoft is in the middle of a push to make more native applications and to swap several parts of Windows 11 to native code. The tech giant will share lessons learned from that process during Build.

You can watch Nadella's keynote live without having to signing up anywhere. If you want to see more of Microsoft Build, you'll need to register through Microsoft's website.

Tickets to Microsoft Build 2026 are sold out, and they cost $1,099 when they were available. While you can no longer get tickets to attend in person, you can watch the event's keynote and several sessions online.

The session catalog for this year's Build conference includes hundreds of sessions, but many of those are limited to in-person attendees.

Luckily for you, we'll cover all the biggest stories from Build. So make sure to check in throughout the week.

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

Out of the darkness shines a sparkly new Surface, at least potentially. Microsoft and NVIDIA hinted at a massive hardware announcement that promises to usher in "a new era of PC."

Just over a week after a massively disappointing Surface launch, it appears Microsoft has an ace up its sleeve.

Microsoft and NVIDIA's teases, plus some leaked information, strongly suggest that the N1X chip will be at the center of Computex and Microsoft Build. If rumors prove accurate, that chip will be a "20‑core Arm + RTX GPU monster."

The possibility of a new NVIDIA chip and a new Surface device took over our front page to end the week, but they're far from the only big news. A genuinely helpful Windows 11 update started rolling out recently and Intel has a new chip of its own.

Biggest Windows 11 News

I've been a vocal critic of Microsoft's handling of the Surface brand, arguing that Microsoft is rebuilding Windows and XBOX while Surface collects dust. I still think Surface has been stagnant for too long, but an N1X-powered device would go a long way.

Surface played a big part in pushing ARM64 computing forward by swapping all consumer models to Snapdragon X processors. Having PCs with an N1X chip could do a similar thing for NVIDIA's offering.

Over time, ARM-based chips could power gaming laptops, gaming handhelds, and other devices. Having NVIDIA and Microsoft lockstep would be a massive win for Windows 11 and Surface.

Shopping with Sean

I wish I had a new laptop powered by an N1X to recommend, but it seems we will have to wait a bit for that to happen. In the meantime, I recommend a laptop powered by a different ARM64 processor, the Lenovo Slim 7x. It has excellent battery life, a sleek design, and is powered by the Snapdragon X2 Elite.

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

In a not-so-surprising turn of events, HP recently revealed that 3 out of 10 of its installed user base is still running Windows 10, despite Microsoft unceremoniously pulling support for the operating system on October 14, 2025. The move left approximately 400 million PCs in the lurch because they didn't meet Microsoft's stringent hardware requirements to upgrade to Windows 11.

Notably, the number of Windows 10 holdouts has slightly decreased from September 2025, when HP and Dell indicated that up to 50% of PCs were still running on the operating system, prompting the PC makers to suggest that users won't upgrade to Windows 11 overnight, and the process could even be expected to roll over into 2026.

While recently speaking to investors, Ketan Patel, president of personal systems, claimed the slow transition to Windows 11 from Windows 10 was giving HP a financial boost (via The Register):

"Windows 11: 30 percent of the installed base is still to be refreshed. That's one tailwind which we see as an opportunity in the short run."

HP's CFO, Karen Parkhill, reiterated the same sentiments while indicating that the trend was regional and particularly strong in EMEA and APJ for the company's FY26Q2, which ended on April 30. For context, the company's revenue grew 9% year-on-year to $14.41 billion.

"We have roughly 30 percent of the installed base still on Windows 10, so we still have some more to go. The Win 11 refresh that we've driven now in EMEA and APJ is now on par with North America."

Despite pleas and petitions from users asking the company to extend support for the operating system, it turned a deaf ear to the requests. It extended Windows 10's lifeline through its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which users can enroll in for free by syncing their PC settings to the cloud via a Microsoft Account, or pay $30 or 1,000 Microsoft Reward points. It's worth noting that the company later backtracked on the move, making access to Windows 10's extended support updates free for regions in the European Economic Area that do not meet the cloud backup requirement.

Still, groups like The Restart Project group, which helped co-develop the "End of 10" toolkit to support Windows 10 users who can't upgrade to Windows 11, said Microsoft's move to continue pushing security updates to Windows 10 beyond its end-of-support feels like a last-minute snooze button, which only acts as a band-aid on a bleeding system.

andCritics have branded Windows 10's end of support as programmed obsolescence by Microsoft, as the move practically forced millions of working PCs into early retirement because they didn't meet the stringent hardware requirements to upgrade to Windows 11.

The Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) warned that Microsoft's pulling the plug on Windows 10 will have a major impact on older devices, widening the digital divide.

In the interim, groups like End of 10 have been pushing users to transition to Linux following Windows 10's end-of-life. The campaign encourages steadfast Windows 10 users to ditch the Windows ecosystem entirely and switch to a version of Linux on any outdated devices, using a lack of ads and telemetry tracking as the key selling points to get users to switch camps.

Between the dwindling hype behind sophisticated AI PCs and limited spending power to get new devices, it makes sense that there would be a significant number of Windows 10 holdouts.

Microsoft has made blatant attempts to get users to upgrade to Windows 11, including full-screen multi-page pop-up ads awnd even using Copilot+ PCs and its next-gen AI features to make its point with bold statements like "Windows 11 PCs are up to 2.3x faster than Windows 10 PCs."

It remains unclear whether users still running Windows 1o on their devices enrolled for the ESU program or are just using the operating system without security updates.

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

On Windows 11, the Low Latency Profile is still a feature under development, and Microsoft hasn't fully detailed how it works or how it'll behave across all possible scenarios. As a result, there's a lot of confusion around what it actually does, when it activates, and whether users can control it.

This roundup addresses the most common questions and clears up what we currently know about the feature, including how it improves responsiveness, its impact on battery life, device support, and what you can realistically expect once it becomes widely available.

What is Low Latency Profile on Windows 11?

On Windows 11, Low Latency Profile is a new system optimization feature Microsoft is testing as part of the Windows K2 initiative to improve responsiveness and reduce delays during specific tasks.

See the video above that we created to demonstrate how effective it actually is.

Based on the available information, the feature temporarily maxes out (or near-maxes) the CPU frequency for short bursts during foreground interactions, helping the operating system respond more quickly to actions such as opening menus, switching apps, launching programs, and handling input events.

In practice, it seems designed to make Windows 11 feel snappier by allowing the system to react more aggressively during bursts of activity.

How does Low Latency Profile work on Windows 11?

Low Latency Profile temporarily maxes out (or near-maxes) the processor frequency for one to three seconds for interactive tasks on Windows 11. Instead of focusing on sustained performance, the feature appears designed to reduce delays during actions like opening apps or opening flyouts, such as the Start menu.

The boost can result in up to 40 percent faster launch times for applications and up to 70 percent faster interaction times with system features, such as opening the Start menu or context menu.

In addition to working with first-party apps such as Outlook and Microsoft Edge, the available information suggests this will also work with traditional third-party apps.

Does Low Latency Profile affect battery life on laptops?

Yes, it'll affect battery life, especially on laptops and tablets. However, sources familiar with the feature's development said that the battery life and thermal impact will be minimal, since the burst lasts only a short moment (from milliseconds to three seconds max).

It's also important to understand that Windows and apps already constantly request processor time for background and foreground workloads. The Low Latency Profile doesn't introduce an entirely new type of workload. Instead, it changes how the system temporarily prioritizes and schedules existing tasks to improve responsiveness when user interaction is detected.

Is Low Latency Profile enabled automatically on Windows 11?

Yes, once the feature becomes available on your computer, it'll be enabled automatically by default. Microsoft is designing the Low Latency Profile as a background system optimization that works without requiring user configuration or manual activation.

Like many other performance and scheduling features, Low Latency Profile operates silently in the background, activating only when the system detects short, interactive workloads that may benefit from faster responsiveness.

Why won't you find an option to manage the Low Latency Profile?

Let's get one thing straight. You won't find any "Turn on Low Latency Profile" toggle in the "Power" settings page or "Power Options" in the Settings app or Control Panel.

This is an automated feature that triggers in the background only when it's required. In other words, it's completely invisible to the end user.

How do you know if the Low Latency Profile is on Windows 11?

Since there's currently no option in the Settings app to manage or monitor the feature, the only way to get an idea of whether the Low Latency Profile is active is through the "Performance" tab in Task Manager.

The idea is to perform interactive actions, such as opening the Start menu, launching File Explorer, or opening the Notification Center, while monitoring CPU speeds. If the feature is working, you may notice the processor briefly boosting to its maximum or near-maximum clock speed for a short moment before quickly returning to normal levels.

However, it's important to understand that these short processor bursts are not exclusive to the Low Latency Profile. Existing apps, background services, and system processes can also trigger similar processor behavior, making it difficult to accurately isolate the feature's impact.

You also have to consider that the operating system already includes optimization technologies such as the SysMain service (formerly Superfetch), which preloads frequently used apps into memory to improve launch times and responsiveness. As a result, some performance gains users notice may come from existing mechanisms rather than the Low Latency Profile alone.

Can you turn off Low Latency Profile on Windows 11?

According to the available information, it's unclear whether you can turn off the Low Latency Profile enhancements in Windows 11.

We'll have to wait if the company adds a Group Policy or Registry setting to manage this feature.

Which Windows 11 versions support Low Latency Profile?

Although the company hasn't officially shared much information about this feature, it's gradually rolling out with the June 2026 update for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 and is in current Windows Insider builds.

Does Low Latency Profile help low-end PCs more than high-end PCs?

The responsiveness improvements will vary depending on the hardware. Devices with lower-end or older components may notice the biggest difference because these systems typically struggle more with interface responsiveness, app launches, and short bursts of activity.

On the other hand, computers with modern high-end processors, fast SSDs, and plenty of memory may not see dramatic improvements because the hardware already delivers fast response times under normal conditions. In those cases, the Low Latency Profile may simply make the experience feel slightly smoother rather than significantly faster.

Is this a "lazy" fix or a real optimization for Windows 11?

There's significant backlash against calling this new performance improvement a band-aid for underlying bloat within the operating system. Microsoft defends it as standard industry practice for perceived responsiveness.

Microsoft VP Scott Hanselman defended the approach on X, saying that many modern operating systems, including Apple's macOS and Linux distros, already use this approach to make the experience feel snappier.

Does it impact gaming performance, FPS, or latency?

Gamers are notoriously protective of their processor cycles and worry that unexpected background clock spikes could cause frame drops, stuttering, or one percent lows in competitive titles.

Now, while there is no official word from Microsoft, the reality is that the Low Latency Profile specifically targets core shell experiences and interface flyouts, such as the Start menu, Notification Center, and File Explorer. When a game is running in full-screen, you aren't interacting with the operating system shell, meaning the feature trigger logic remains dormant.

Windows Central's Take

I've seen the software giant take this kind of behind-the-scenes approach before, and the Low Latency Profile feels like another step in that direction. In theory, it should make Windows 11 feel snappier without users needing to touch anything, which is usually a good thing for mainstream users.

That said, I'm not expecting dramatic real-world changes for most people. On modern hardware, the difference will likely be subtle, while older systems may benefit more during those short bursts of activity where the system tends to feel sluggish.

What I'm watching more closely is the lack of visibility and control. Microsoft is clearly leaning into automatic system tuning here, which can work well, but also makes it harder to understand what's actually driving performance improvements.

What are your thoughts on Microsoft handling features like this behind the scenes in 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, as part of Microsoft's broader "Windows K2" initiative to improve the operating system and rebuild user trust, the company has revealed the first wave of Start menu changes that will soon begin rolling out through the Windows Insider Program.

The upcoming improvements focus heavily on customization and usability. Some of the most notable changes include the ability to resize the Start menu, show or hide individual sections, and separate file recommendations from recent activities.

Start menu gets long-requested improvements

When the software giant introduced Windows 11, the company replaced the classic Windows 10 Start menu with a completely redesigned experience. The new design removed Live Tiles and the secondary pane layout in favor of a simplified, centered menu that only included traditional app icons.

While the redesign modernized the interface, it also reduced functionality and customization options compared to Windows 10. Since launch, users have consistently criticized the Start menu for feeling restrictive and less flexible.

Now, Microsoft appears ready to address many of those complaints.

Resizing support is finally coming to Windows 11

One of the biggest additions is support for manually resizing the Start menu.

Until now, the Start menu automatically adjusted its dimensions based on screen size and resolution, offering virtually no control over its appearance. In future updates, users will be able to choose between smaller and larger layouts.

Unlike Windows 10, Windows 11 still won't allow freeform resizing by dragging the edges of the menu or enable a full-screen Start experience. However, the new option is still a major improvement over the current fixed layout.

Microsoft is expected to add the feature through a new "Start menu size" setting available from Settings > Personalization > Start.

Microsoft is also adding new privacy controls

Microsoft is also introducing privacy-focused improvements for users who frequently share their screens during meetings, presentations, or live streams.

The company plans to add a new option called "Hide your name and profile picture on Start." When enabled, the Start menu will no longer display the account name and profile image.

The setting will appear under Settings > Personalization > Start > Other.

Start menu customization to become more flexible

Originally, the Windows 11 Start menu separated content into multiple areas, including "Pinned," "Recommended," and the separate "All apps" list.

One of the most common complaints after launch was the inability to remove the "Recommended" section entirely. Microsoft eventually added a workaround, but it required turning off several unrelated settings before the section disappeared.

More recently, the company redesigned the Start menu by merging the "All apps" list into the main interface. However, customization still remained limited.

As part of the Windows K2 effort, Microsoft has now confirmed that users will soon get dedicated toggles to individually show or hide the "Pinned," "Recommended," and "All" sections.

In addition, Microsoft plans to separate file recommendations from system recommendations. This means users will finally be able to disable recommendations on the Start menu without also disabling recent files and Jump Lists across the Taskbar and File Explorer.

Windows Central's take

These changes may seem small at first glance, but they address some of the most persistent complaints about the Start menu since the operating system launched back in 2021.

The lack of customization has always been one of Windows 11's weakest aspects. Microsoft simplified the Start menu too aggressively, and in the process, removed many of the features Windows 10 users relied on daily.

I think the new resize option and dedicated section toggles are long overdue. The separation between recommendations and recent files is also an important improvement because users should have more granular control over privacy and personalization settings.

If Microsoft continues down this path and keeps restoring flexibility without overcomplicating the interface, the Start menu could finally become good on Windows 11 instead of one of its biggest frustrations.

What are your thoughts on the new Start menu changes? 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 is now rolling out a new Windows 11 update that brings with it a number of quality of life and foundational OS improvements that will make using your PC feel faster, with better responsiveness, and more reliability. The update, dubbed KB5089573, is now generally available as an optional OS update.

KB5089573 is notable as it's the first OS update designed to make Windows 11 faster under Microsoft's special Windows K2 effort, which is seeing the company focus on addressing top criticisms around the OS and deliver foundational improvements.

Mentioned in the changelog for this release is general OS performance improvements, which "accelerates app launch and core shell experiences such as Start menu, Search, and Action Center." Additionally, Microsoft says that this update also "improves Windows reliability on the sign-in and lock screens, in File Explorer, when using touch gestures on touchscreen devices, and when changing themes in Settings."

Low Latency Profile improvements are a genuine upgrade

These performance and reliability improvements are not nothing, either. Microsoft has been testing these changes with Insiders for a number of weeks, and testers have noted some genuine performance gains with these improvements enabled.

In our own reporting, we understand that these new performance improvements are called "Low Latency Profile" and involve maxing out CPU frequency in very short bursts to speed up actions, and can result in system flyouts appearing up to 70% faster, and app launches up to 40% faster. With the performance improvements enabled, Windows 11 feels more snappy and responsive to input.

Microsoft says these improvements are rolling out gradually, meaning you likely won't see the performance gains right after installing the update. Instead, the performance improvements will become enabled over the coming weeks as Microsoft makes it available in more waves.

Outside of fundamental performance issues, this new OS update also includes new features such as the ability to share Bluetooth with two devices at once, the ability to name your device during the setup experience, and Task Manager updates.

It's good to see Microsoft delivering genuinely good OS updates in recent months. Ever since the company promised to commit to improving Windows OS quality, we've seen the company continuously deliver meaningful improvements. Let's keep it coming, Microsoft!

How to get Windows 11 KB5089573

The KB5089573 update is now available, but you'll need to manually install it by heading to Windows Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates and select the update to install.

Alternatively, you can make sure the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle enabled on the main Windows Update page, and hit check for updates. This will ensure you receive the optional OS updates as soon as they've made available for your device.

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

If you own an HP laptop — particularly a high-end model, including HP EliteBooks, ProBooks, and ZBook workstations — there’s a strong chance you may encounter a buggy BIOS firmware update delivered through automatic Windows Update.

The flaw can cause your PC to freeze during boot or display the Blue Screen of Death, rendering it unusable until a fix is applied.

Some users have reported that their devices boot directly to the BitLocker recovery screen as early as April 2026. Even after entering the correct recovery key to access the desktop, Windows 11 fails to recognize the change, triggering the same BitLocker recovery loop.

While speaking to The Register earlier this week, HP indicated it's "aware of purported BIOS issues and is looking into the matter." And now, in a new support document — spotted by Windows Latest — HP indicated that:

"Microsoft’s 2023 certificates may fail to properly apply on the computer when this BitLocker issue occurs. To verify the status of this process, check the UEFICA2023Status and UEFICA2023Error registry values. If the UEFICA2023Status registry value remains in an "In Progress" state over time and the UEFICA2023Error registry value shows any number higher than 0, then the update process has failed."

Zbook Ultra G1a first-attemp-boot freeze from r/Hewlett_Packard

While HP works on a permanent fix for the issue, the best course of action is a preventative one — to avoid downloading and installing the faulty BIOS update by disabling automatic updates in Windows Update in your device settings app.

In the interim, the company has also provided a manual workaround to resolve the BitLocker Recovery loop and allow for the successful implementation of the 2023 Microsoft certificates on an individual computer.

If you’ve already installed the update, you can try reverting to a known working version. The process comes with its own hurdles, but some users have reported some success. As The Register highlighted, "users have reported some success using the network BIOS downgrade functionality, but only with an HP USB-C to Ethernet dongle."

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

A newly published document has revealed that Microsoft is planning to ship Windows 11's new Ask Copilot Taskbar feature this summer, after months of testing with Insiders. The feature, which was first announced last year, will see Copilot replace the Taskbar's search box with a dynamic chat box that users can interact with at all times when enabled.

In the document, Microsoft describes the Ask Copilot feature as bringing "Microsoft 365 Copilot and AI agents directly into the taskbar and Start menu through the new Composer experience. This means faster action, less context switching, and AI that feels like a natural part of Windows."

The new Ask Copilot search experience replaces the current Windows Taskbar search UI with a floating popup that you can use to search for local files or interact with Copilot itself. In our testing, we found that the new Ask Copilot search UI was actually more accurate at finding local files and apps compared to the current Windows Search.

The document says that Ask Copilot is not yet generally available, but is expected to come mid-2026. This is subject to change however, so if the company decides that the feature needs more time in the oven, don't be surprised if it doesn't make an appearance until later in the year.

This new Ask Copilot search experience on the Taskbar will be entirely optional, and won't even be enabled by default, meaning Windows Search will still be the default and preferred search experience. Ask Copilot is something that's more targeted towards commercial and enterprise users, for employees that are signed up to Microsoft 365 and use Microsoft services for work.

For those who don't want to use Ask Copilot, Microsoft is also working on several Windows Search improvements designed to make search results more accurate and less reliable on web results. The company just recently began testing changes that prioritizes local file and app results over internet search results, for example.

Microsoft's Windows K2 initiative is even focused on reducing Copilot buttons and entry-points throughout the OS, with a focus on being more intentional about where Copilot and AI appear in the system. So if Ask Copilot is still shipping this year, that likely means the company believes that this feature is beneficial to end users.

via Windows Latest

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

Microsoft Surface week used to mean something. Fans and journalists would gather around screens to watch a livestream or attend an in-person event where Microsoft unveiled new hardware.

Things are quite different in 2026, and I wouldn't blame you for missing the new Surface hardware announcements entirely. Microsoft did not hold an event or stream its announcements. Instead, the company sent details to publications and published some blog posts.

What that means is we have new Surface hardware but no hype.

Biggest Surface News

The Surface Laptop 8 for Business is a fine laptop in a vacuum. It earned a 4/5 in our Surface Laptop 8 for Business review thanks to its privacy screen, crisp display, and strong performance driven by the Intel Core Ultra 3 Series chip inside.

But Surface cannot be viewed in a vacuum. At a time when enthusiasts are calling the Surface brand "stagnant, overpriced, underwhelming, and dead," Microsoft cannot afford to simply refresh its Surface Laptop and Surface Pro lines with new chips and a couple of improvements.

I argued last week in the Windows Wrap that Microsoft is rebuilding XBOX and Windows 11 while leaving Surface to collect dust.

Earlier this year I outlined four steps to save the Surface brand. Let's see how Microsoft has done:

I understand that changes like this would take time. Microsoft can't design a new Surface that innovates form factors overnight. But there are positive steps Microsoft could take today.

Microsoft could have announced the Snapdragon X and Intel versions of its Surface Pro and Surface Laptop devices side-by-side. They are designed for different types of customers, so it's not like they'll cannibalize each other.

The consumer-focused Surface devices are already on the way. Microsoft plans to announce them later this year. They could have just announced all the new Surface devices and specified launch dates. It wouldn't be the perfect solution, but it would have been better than what we got.

The consumer Surface devices should also be more affordable than the business versions. Announcing a more affordable Surface Laptop 8, Surface Pro 12, and other PCs would reduce some of the sticker shock caused by the Surface for Business devices.

Business PCs have security features and extended support that drive up their prices. Companies are also more willing to pay a premium and can get bulk discounts as well.

More affordable consumer Surface PCs would be better received than a promise of a Surface Laptop with 8GB of RAM.

Microsoft could also at least pretend to be excited about these devices. Blog posts and specs being sent is a far cry from an on-stage event.

If I could send one message to Microsoft and its decision makers, I'd say, "show some pride in your work." It's pretty obvious that isn't happening right now.

Shopping with Sean

Until or unless Microsoft unveils a Surface device I can recommend above the competition, I'll leave Surface out of my shopping recommendation here. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 11) is the kind of thin, light, all‑day machine Surface should be making.

Even with the new Surface Laptop 8 for Business and Surface Pro 12 for Business, the Yoga Slim 7x remains a better choice. Maybe that will change when Microsoft unveils its consumer-focused Surface hardware, but we don't know that now because the company chose to stagger its announcements.

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

On Windows 11, the Taskbar is finally getting some major upgrades, including support for repositioning and resizing. However, these aren't exactly new capabilities, since they were already available on Windows 10 and earlier versions of the operating system.

As part of the Windows K2 initiative, Microsoft is addressing some of Windows 11's biggest pain points in an effort to regain users' trust, and several of those improvements are coming to the Taskbar experience.

In the latest Windows 11 preview build from the Experimental channel for version 25H2, Microsoft is restoring the ability to place the Taskbar on any edge of the screen. The company is also introducing an option to shrink the Taskbar.

Windows 11 regains position for the Taskbar

When the company released Windows 11, it introduced a redesigned Taskbar that, despite its modern appearance, removed several basic capabilities, including the ability to change its position on the screen.

Now, after years of user complaints, Microsoft appears to be acknowledging that many of the Taskbar features available on Windows 10 were the right approach after all.

Starting with build 26300.8493, users can place the Taskbar at the top, bottom, left, or right edge of the screen.

Microsoft also notes that Windows 11 automatically adapts interface elements based on the Taskbar's position. For example, when the Taskbar is docked at the top of the screen, the Start menu and Search interface open downward from the top edge.

Buttons, system tray icons, and other interface elements are also properly aligned regardless of the Taskbar's location, including the date and time display. However, when using the vertical layout, the system displays the year in abbreviated form rather than the full four-digit format. In addition, seconds are not displayed while the Taskbar is positioned vertically.

One thing to point out is that whether you position the Taskbar on the left or right, both layouts support ungrouping with app labels using the "Never combine" option.

The new "Taskbar position" option is available from Settings > Personalization > Taskbar under the "Taskbar behaviors" section.

One interesting fact about the settings implementations is that each of the options generates a live preview of the desktop background.

Microsoft says it is working on additional improvements and refinements. However, the company notes that auto-hide currently doesn't work properly, and the tablet-optimized Taskbar remains unsupported in layouts other than the bottom position.

Windows 11 regains resize feature for the Taskbar

As part of the original release of Windows 11, Microsoft also removed the ability to change the Taskbar size. In fact, the Taskbar was noticeably taller than in previous versions, partly because the company intentionally optimized the experience for touch devices.

Now, that capability is finally making a comeback with a new option that reduces the Taskbar height and button size, giving users more available screen space.

The change is subtle but immediately noticeable, especially for users accustomed to the smaller Taskbar design from the Windows 10 era. The reduced size makes the desktop feel more compact and familiar without significantly altering the overall Windows 11 design.

Microsoft also notes that resizing the Taskbar on Windows 11 does not require signing out or restarting the computer. However, as far as I can remember, Windows 10 behaved the same way, meaning this wasn't exactly a limitation in the previous version. Even so, Microsoft appears to be highlighting the behavior as part of the updated implementation.

Instead of adding a separate setting, the company is repurposing the existing "Show smaller taskbar buttons" option to control both icon and Taskbar size.

Previously, this feature only reduced the size of Taskbar icons to fit more apps in the same space. Now, enabling the option also shrinks the Taskbar itself.

You can find the setting under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar in the "Taskbar behaviors" section. To make the Taskbar permanently smaller, you must select the "Always" option.

If you choose the "When taskbar is full" setting, the Taskbar will remain at its default size until it runs out of space. At that point, instead of moving apps into the overflow menu, Windows 11 automatically switches to the smaller Taskbar and icon layout to fit more applications on the screen.

Windows 10 had a better implementation

While these are welcome additions, the implementation still feels somewhat incomplete compared to the experience available on Windows 10.

For example, on Windows 10, as long as the Taskbar was unlocked, you could simply drag it to the top, bottom, left, or right side of the screen with minimal effort and fewer clicks.

On Windows 11, changing the Taskbar position now requires navigating to the "Taskbar" settings page, expanding the "Taskbar behaviors" section, and selecting the desired layout manually. Dragging the Taskbar directly on the desktop is not supported.

Similarly, while Windows 10 included a toggle to make the Taskbar and icons smaller, it also allowed users to resize the Taskbar height freely by dragging its edge with the mouse. That flexibility made it possible to create multiple rows of pinned and running apps, something the new Windows 11 implementation still doesn't support.

The new approach isn't necessarily bad, but the Windows 10 implementation was clearly more flexible and user-friendly.

Windows Central's Take

I like to see Microsoft is finally bringing these Taskbar features back because, honestly, they never should've disappeared in the first place. The ability to move the Taskbar or make it smaller may sound minor, but these are the types of customization options people want. Their absence made Windows 11 feel unnecessarily restrictive compared to Windows 10.

At the same time, this implementation still feels as if the company is cautiously reintroducing features rather than fully embracing the flexibility users have been accustomed to for decades. On Windows 10, repositioning the Taskbar felt natural because you could simply drag it wherever you wanted. Now, the process is buried inside Settings, and some functionality, like multi-row Taskbars, is still missing entirely.

I do think these changes matter because they show the company is finally listening to long-standing feedback rather than forcing a simplified design philosophy on power users. Over the last few years, I've noticed the company slowly walking back several Windows 11 decisions, and this feels like another example of Microsoft realizing that removing customization options wasn't the right move.

What are your thoughts about these new Taskbar features 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.

The hybrid work has become the standard in many organizations, but managing devices across offices, homes, and shared workspaces can quickly create security and other types of challenges. From accessing work computers remotely to protecting sensitive data when employees step away from their desks, businesses need tools that help teams stay connected without compromising security.

Windows 11 Pro includes built-in tools for modern workplaces that help administrators and advanced users manage remote access, secure devices, and apply company policies for teams working across different locations.

For example, features like Remote Desktop allow users to connect to their computers from virtually anywhere. On the other hand, Dynamic Lock helps automatically secure devices when users walk away. In addition, administrative tools such as Group Policy Editor give organizations greater control over updates, security settings, and user access.

In this guide, I'll outline different sets of steps to configure key Windows 11 Pro features for hybrid work environments, including setting up Remote Desktop, enabling Dynamic Lock, and applying policies that can help improve security, productivity, and device management.

Configure Remote Desktop on Windows 11 Pro

Remote Desktop is a feature included on Windows 11 Pro that lets you connect to and control a computer from another device over a network or the internet.

When enabled, users can remotely access their work computer from home, another office, or while traveling, as if they were sitting at the device. They can open apps, access files, network resources, and continue working using the host computer's resources and applications.

For example, an employee working remotely can securely connect to their office desktop to use company applications, internal tools, or files that are only available on the work network.

Why hybrid teams use Remote Desktop

Hybrid teams rely on Remote Desktop because it provides secure access to work environments from virtually anywhere, without requiring them to carry additional devices or depend on their work schedule to complete a specific task.

When using this feature, workers can access devices remotely from anywhere using a secure connection to the company's resources. The ability to access their desktop environment helps with consistency across devices without additional configuration.

Also, this helps the network administrator to more easily maintain and troubleshoot problems.

Enable Remote Desktop

To enable Remote Desktop on the Windows 11 Pro PC you want to access, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click the Remote Desktop page on the right side.
4. Turn on the Remote Desktop toggle switch.

5. Click the Confirm button.
6. Confirm the PC name from the same page, as you'll need this info to connect to the device.

• Quick tip: You can also use the IP address of the device to connect remotely. The IP address can be found on Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Hardware and connections properties, and confirm the "IPv4 address" configuration.

Once you complete the steps, the computer will be configured for remote access from another device, as long as the device is powered on.

One important aspect to consider is that this configuration only allows you to establish a remote connection within the local network. If you want to access the computer from the internet, you'll have to ask your network administrator for a VPN solution to connect to the organization.

After everything is configured, you'll have to use the Windows App to connect to the computers using a remote connection.

Set up Dynamic Lock on Windows 11 Pro

On Windows 11, Dynamic Lock is a security feature that automatically locks your computer when you step away from it.

The feature works by pairing your computer with your smartphone using Bluetooth. When the phone moves out of Bluetooth range, Windows 11 detects the separation and automatically locks the device after a short period of inactivity.

The idea with this feature is to reduce the risk of someone accessing your device if you forget to lock it manually when you step away from your desk.

Why hybrid teams use Dynamic Lock

In hybrid work environments, employees often move between shared offices, meeting rooms, coworking spaces, and home setups. Dynamic Lock adds an extra layer of protection by helping ensure that unattended devices are not left exposed for long periods.

When setting up this feature, users usually get automatic drive protection, an extra layer of security in shared environments, and support for company security policies.

Enable Dynamic Lock

Dynamic Lock uses Bluetooth proximity detection to determine whether the paired phone is still near the computer.

To enable Dynamic Lock on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. On your peripheral, such as your phone, turn on Bluetooth.
2. Turn on the device's Bluetooth pairing option.
3. On your computer, open Settings.
4. Click on Bluetooth & devices.
5. Turn on the Bluetooth toggle switch to enable the wireless radio (if applicable).
6. Click the Add device button.

7. Select the Bluetooth option.
8. Choose the peripheral from the list.
9. Continue with the on-screen directions (as directed on the screen).
10. Click on Accounts.
11. Click the Sign-in options tab.
12. Select the Dynamic lock setting.
13. Check the "Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you're away" option.

After you complete the steps, the next time you step away from the computer, the system will detect that the Bluetooth device you carry isn't nearby and lock your session to keep your computer protected from prying eyes.

This feature is especially useful for those who carry a phone throughout the day, as the locking process runs automatically in the background with minimal user interaction.

Configure Group Policy on Windows 11 Pro

Windows 11 Pro includes built-in policy-based controls that help organizations maintain a consistent security and productivity baseline across hybrid work environments. These settings help ensure devices behave predictably, whether used in the office, at home, or while traveling.

The policies are available through the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) on individual devices or centrally through Active Directory in enterprise environments.

Why hybrid teams use policy controls

In hybrid environments, users often switch between networks and devices, which can lead to inconsistent configurations and security gaps. Group Policy helps address this by standardizing how Windows 11 Pro devices operate across an organization, ensuring consistent security, update behavior, and system settings.

In enterprise environments, these policies are typically managed centrally by network administrators to maintain compliance and reduce configuration differences between office and remote devices. On individual Windows 11 Pro systems, advanced users can also use Local Group Policy to restrict changes, enhance security, and maintain a more stable computing experience.

Enable policy controls

On Windows 11 Pro, these controls can be configured using the Local Group Policy Editor.

To access the Group Policy Editor, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for gpedit.msc and click the top result to open the Group Policy Editor.

In the console, administrators or advanced users can adjust key settings that govern system behavior, security rules, and access controls.

For instance, if you open Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage end user experience, you can edit the "Configure Automatic Updates" policy to control how the system receives and applies updates.

In an environment with managed devices, the same policies are typically enforced centrally by network administrators using domain-based management tools, ensuring consistent configuration across devices.

Windows Central's Take

I've always thought one of the biggest strengths of Windows 11 Pro is that many of its best business features are already built into the operating system, even if a lot of people never use them. Remote Desktop, Dynamic Lock, and Group Policy are not flashy additions, but they solve real problems.

Remote Desktop remains one of the most practical features on Windows 11 for anyone who needs secure access to a work computer. At the same time, Dynamic Lock is one of those underrated security features that people tend to ignore until they start working in shared spaces or offices where stepping away from a desk happens constantly.

I also think policy controls have become more important as people switch between working from home and the office. Microsoft has been pushing Windows 11 Pro toward a more security-focused experience, and tools like Group Policy still help keep systems consistent and secure across different work environments.

For smaller businesses or even advanced users managing their own setups, these tools can make Windows 11 Pro feel much more capable without adding third-party software into the mix.

What are your thoughts about these hybrid work features on Windows 11 Pro? Let me know in the comments.

Windows 11 has a bunch of new features on the way that make PCs more accessible. Better support for Braille displays, a new screen tint feature, voice access improvements, and changes to Magnifier are now all in testing among Windows Insiders.

These are the latest improvements that are part of the Windows K2 initiative to revitalize Windows 11. Thanks to a revamped Windows Insider Program, more features are in testing new builds are landing each week.

Windows Insiders will receive one of four builds depending on the channel they're in:

• Beta Channel: Build 26220.8491
• Experimental: Build 26300.8497
• Experimental (26H1): Build 28020.2149
• Experimental (Future Platforms): Build 29595.1000

This week's biggest changes are in the Experimental Channel. The full change log for that build includes several accessibility improvements. The Voice Access improvements are also on their way to Beta Channel Insiders.

The other two Experimental Channel groups will receive mostly bug fixes and smaller improvements.

Windows 11 Build 26300.8497

Narrator

Braille displays now connect instantly with Narrator

• We're making refreshable braille displays easier to use in Windows. Narrator now supports displays that use the HID standard — an open industry standard for braille displays. If your display supports HID, simply connect it via USB and start reading — true plug-and-play with no additional setup required. For Bluetooth, pair your HID braille display in Settings > Bluetooth & devices just like any other accessory, and you can work wirelessly without being tethered to your PC.
• Compatible HID displays include models like the Orbit Reader 20, Orbit Slate 340, Freedom Scientific Focus 40, and APH Mantis Q40.
• HID braille displays now work during the initial Windows setup experience (OOBE) over USB — meaning users who are deaf-blind can set up their PC independently, right from the first screen. You can customize braille input and output options anytime in Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Braille.

Accessibility

New accessibility setting: Screen tint

• We're introducing screen tint, a new accessibility setting that applies a color overlay across your entire display, softening its intensity so it's easier on your eyes throughout the day. If bright, saturated screens leave you with tired or sensitive eyes by the end of a long session, screen tint can help.
  • To get started, open Settings > Accessibility (or press Win + U) and look for screen tint under the Vision section. From there you can:
    • Pick from six preset colors or choose a custom color of your own.
    • Adjust the tint strength slider from a subtle wash to full intensity.
  • Night light warms your display to reduce blue light that can interfere with sleep. Screen tint reduces overall screen intensity to ease eye fatigue and light sensitivity during the day. They tackle different problems and you can use both at the same time, one working on warmth and the other on intensity.
  • Note that turning on screen tint will disable color filters, and vice versa. If you currently rely on color filters, you may need to keep screen tint turned off.

Magnifier

• Touch bars for panning in Magnifier are now off by default. Hiding them gives you a cleaner, less distracting magnified view on touchscreen devices.
• If you use a touch screen device and prefer on-screen bars for navigating your magnified view, you can turn them back on anytime in Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier.

Windows Ready Print

• Last month, we introduced a change where new printer installations use IPP by default when supported to simplify setup and improve reliability (see our third-party driver deprecation timeline: End of Servicing Plan for Third-Party Printer Drivers on Windows). This month, we're adding a new toggle in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners > Default install printers using Windows Ready Print to give you control over this behavior.
• When enabled, Windows installs supported printers using IPP by default. When turned off, Windows may use other available installation methods.
• This experience is part of our modern print platform, now called Windows Ready Print, designed to deliver a more consistent, reliable, and simplified printing experience.

Voice Access

Voice Isolation in Voice Access

• We're introducing Voice Isolation, a new option in Voice Access that helps it focus on your voice, even when others are speaking nearby. Whether you're in a shared office, an open floor plan, or at home with family around, Voice Isolation filters out other voices and background noise so Voice Access can better understand you. All processing happens privately on your device.
• Getting started
  Voice Access now offers three speech recognition modes under Voice Access settings > Improve speech recognition:
  • Voice Isolation — Filters out other speakers and background noise (one-time voice setup required).
  • Remove background noise only — Filters out non-speech sounds like typing or door slams. No additional setup needed.
  • No filtering — Default microphone input with no additional processing.
• To set up Voice Isolation, select it from the menu and follow the short, guided setup where you'll read a brief paragraph aloud so Voice Access can learn your voice. It only takes a minute, and your voice data never leaves your device.

Input

• Fixed an issue in the previous flight causing the IME candidate window not to display for some Insiders when typing in Japanese or Chinese.

Other

• If you were experiencing a cyclical explorer.exe crash after the previous flight (which may have looked like the screen or taskbar blinking and repeatedly refreshing), that should be resolved after updating to this build.
• Fixed issue causing the Energy Saver quick setting to show twice for some Insiders in recent flights.
• Fixed issue causing Win + X / right-click on Start in Taskbar to not work for some Insiders in the previous flight.
• Fixed an issue resulting in the audio volume being unexpectedly muted on certain devices in recent flights.
• This update improves the reliability of Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP) notifications to help prevent the service from becoming unresponsive.
• Improved reliability of running dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth command.

All of the new accessibility features are welcome additions to Windows 11. I'm particularly interested in "screen tint." That feature softens the intensity of a display to reduce strain on your eyes. As someone who sits at a desk all day, I value anything that reduces strain.

Screen tint may sound similar to Night light, but the two features are quite different. Screen tint reduces the intensity of what's on your screen. Night light reduces blue light by warming what's on your display. The two features can even be used in tandem.

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

When I wrote this piece on May 20, 2016, the idea that Android apps running inside Chrome could become a real threat to Microsoft felt like an early warning shot — a sign that Google was experimenting with ways to pull Windows users into its ecosystem without needing Windows at all.

A decade later, Googlebooks takes that same core idea and pushes it into the agentic era: Android PCs with a built‑in assistant layer that can act, automate, and mediate the entire computing experience.

Looking back, the 2016 article reads less like a prediction and more like the first chapter of a story Google is finally ready to finish, while Microsoft is still defining what Windows should become in response. — Daniel Rubino, Editor-in-Chief

This article was originally published on May 20th, 2016, by Daniel Rubino.

Google this week is holding their big I/O conference. Much like Microsoft's Build Google uses the event to talk about the future of its various – and increasingly divergent – product lines (See Google I/O 2016 Day 2: Everything you need to know).

Perhaps the biggest announcement that may affect Microsoft is the impending ability for users to run Android apps on Chrome OS. Considering there are over a million Android apps available that is a huge windfall for a cloud OS like Chrome, which up until now didn't have any apps.

We have talked about convergence before in computing and Google is approaching it from the other end when compared to Microsoft. So, does Microsoft now have something to be worried about? Yes, the do.

The rise of Chrome OS…in schools

Tech enthusiasts and consumers have mostly ignored Google's Chrome OS, but that is slowly changing. More importantly, the biggest area in which Google is having success with Chrome OS is with schools.

The reason for the rise is precisely because the OS cannot install apps and IT departments can lockdown and secure Chromebooks with ease, especially compared to Windows. Sure, Windows can do – way more – but Chromebooks offers school districts a cheap and efficient way to meet basic computing needs on a budget. In the US, where school districts are already under tremendous pressure from an electorate uninterested in infrastructure, Chrome OS is hard to shrug off.

To put all of this in perspective, more Chromebooks were sold in the first quarter of 2016 than all of Apple's OS X, at least according to IDC. A firm number would be close to 2 million units sold. That's the first time such a feat has happened and ignoring Chrome OS is no longer feasible.

The longer term story is more dangerous for Microsoft. By reaching so many children early on with Chrome OS and hooking them on Google's services, or at least familiarizing them with the tech, Google is slowly cornering a new generation of converts.

A lot of people use Windows today because it is what they always used. More often than not your first computer was a Windows device, but now that is changing with declining PC sales and the slow rise of Chromebooks. And let's face it, Microsoft has lost the youth market for smartphones, which is the one area in computing that is doing well these days.

Android apps on Chrome OS

Google announced that later in 2016 people will be able to run full Android apps on their Chromebooks (specifically, these). It will all be done through the addition of the Google Play Store to those devices, although schools can opt-out by not letting that happen keeping that market safe for now. Ars Technica does a very good job of explaining how Google achieved this feat and it's worth a read.

The main takeaway is that developers will not have to do much to get their apps onto Chrome OS. Those apps run through containers and offer split-view and floating window app sizes instead of any awkward stretching. More tools for developers will be arriving with Android N this summer.

Considering there are 1.5 million Android apps now available including a vast array of popular games like Clash of Clans and Google has pulled off a novel trick without any severe shakeup for developers.

The "It's not a laptop" laptop problem

While all of this Android and Chrome OS stuff is impressive, there are still some perception issues that Google faces. Ironically, Google has the same problem that Microsoft has with Continuum, but from the other end.

For example, the beautiful new $600 HP Chromebook 13 looks like a full PC, feels like a full PC, but it's not a real PC. Just like how Microsoft's Continuum looks like full Windows 10, but it cannot run "classic" Win32 applications either. (However, virtualization may be the solution for both platforms.)

For some people, this won't be a problem. Modern mobile computing is going towards the app model, which even Microsoft is mimicking with its Universal Windows Platform (UWP). However, a Windows 10 two-in-one or even low-cost PC still can run Photoshop, full Office, any web browser you want, iTunes, or any application your company wants you to use. Plus you now have Windows Ink, which is aiding the smart pen resurgence.

Chromebooks can't do any of that and won't be able to either. There is also the lack of security for enterprise. So, the question is Do people still want that ability to run classic, full desktop applications? If so, spending $400 or more on a Chromebook will be an issue. It's a great device until you need more and if you do need more are you going to carry around two devices?

On the flip side, if people can just use a Chromebook with Android apps then you cannot really criticize Microsoft's UWP initiative and Continuum. The one hole, however, in that argument is a big one. Google has 1.5 million Android apps and Microsoft, well, does not. Not yet, at least.

In some ways, Google here was smarter. It's easier to go from a mobile environment up to devices with larger displays than to take a legacy OS and fit it to mobile. Luckily for Microsoft, they already did the heavy lifting and Windows 10 and OneCore is basically done. Google (and Apple) at some point will need to rectify their multiple operating systems just like Microsoft.

Convergence is real but problematic

Google's move with Android on Chrome OS is momentous, but the company is facing similar market constraints as Microsoft. Consumer interest is shifting, and people want portable computing wherever, whenever with just one device and one experience.

Microsoft is attacking the problem from the desktop to mobile while Google is going from mobile to the desktop. Neither solution is perfect as both companies face significant hurdles to get there. Microsoft has almost no mobile market share, and Google's Chromebooks are just starting to be taken seriously. Google benefits from 1.5 million Android apps, but Microsoft offers the power of full Windows and real desktop applications. Plus, long-term UWP is attractive to developers especially when you throw in Xamarin and Bridges into the mix.

It's hard to say which system will win at this point.

Google does have an upper hand with market momentum, declining Windows PC sales, the rise of ARM, and 84 percent of the mobile OS market. Not to mention their ability to shape the next generation of kids with Chromebooks in schools.

But can Google convert regular consumers and business to Chromebooks and get them to give up real computing? I'm not entirely sure, but I do know Microsoft should be worried. Windows 10 is a bigger paradigm shift, and it can run everywhere – desktop, laptops, tablets, phones, HoloLens, Xbox, IoT – but they are up against a company playing for keeps, and this latest move from Google could undercut what Microsoft is trying to accomplish.

Folks, we're in the middle of the next paradigm shift in technology and things are going to get very interesting in the next two years. Just how Google, Apple, and Microsoft navigate this period and meet consumer demands will be an exciting space to watch. (As a side note, my colleague at Laptop, Mark Spoonauer, came to a similar conclusion).

Who do you think has the advantage? Let us know in comments what you think about the future of computing and which company will get it right.

Welcome back to the Windows Central Podcast! In this special drop episode, Daniel Rubino and Zak Bowden dive deep into Microsoft's massive new wave of Surface devices announced this week. While the consumer versions are slated for later this summer, today is all about the brand-new commercial portfolio.

We break down the three newly refreshed business devices:

• The Surface Laptop 8 (the 13.8-inch and 15-inch flagship)
• The Surface Laptop 13-inch (the mid-range option)
• The Surface Pro 12 (the 13-inch flagship 2-in-1)

(And yes, we spend a few minutes laughing about how incredibly confusing Microsoft's naming conventions have gotten!)

In this episode:

Hands-On with the Surface Laptop 8

Daniel gives his first-hand impressions of the new 13.8-inch Laptop 8, which packs some serious under-the-hood upgrades despite keeping last gen's nearly perfect exterior design. We talk about the new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" X7 chip, the surprisingly capable B390 GPU, and just how quiet those fans stay under a heavy lifting load.

New Commercial Features

We also dig into the features that business users are going to love, including:

The Haptic Touchpad & Windows 11 Haptic Signals: How Microsoft's new API makes the digital world feel tactile when you're closing windows, snapping apps, or scrubbing video timelines.

The E-Privacy Screen: Daniel explains the tech behind the new electronic privacy display option that instantly cuts down viewing angles at the press of the F1 key to keep your sensitive data safe from over-the-shoulder lookers.

The Price of Business & What's Next for Consumer Models

We wrap up the episode addressing the elephant in the room: the price hikes. We discuss why these enterprise units are crossing into the $1,950+ territory, the reality of component pricing, and how Microsoft's strategy compares to Apple and other PC OEMs. Plus, we look ahead to what we can expect when the Snapdragon X2-powered consumer variants drop later this summer.

NEW: Have a question you want us to answer on the podcast? Send it to us at podcast@windowscentral.com

Hosts:

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

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