In our tests, we found that Game Mode didn't have a huge impact on higher-end systems, but if you're prone to multitasking or have lots of processes running in the background, Game Mode could be useful to you. Additionally, Microsoft has plans to improve the feature in subsequent updates, so it's at least worth knowing where it is.

Here's how to enable (and disable) Game Mode in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Enable (and disable) Game Mode

You can also force Game Mode to switch on in specific games, whether they're tested by Microsoft or not. Previously, you could toggle Game Mode in the Windows 10 and 11 Game Bar, but the setting has since moved. To do this now, you need to use the Windows 10 and 11 Settings menu.

1. Open the Settings menu by clicking the cogwheel icon in the Start Menu. Alternatively, you can simply type "Settings" into the Start menu to find it more easily.
2. Select the Gaming section of the Settings menu.

3. Navigate to the Game Mode section in the sidebar. You can also simply search "Game Mode" in the Start menu to find it more quickly.
4. Click to toggle Game Mode on or off. Turning it off will ensure background processes aren't impacting while running a game.

While Game Mode won't make a huge difference for most PC games, if you're prone to heavy background task usage, or you're using a lower-end system without much overhead for games, Game Mode could be useful.

It's unknown whether Game Mode has undergone any enhancements on the new version of the OS, Windows 11, but we expect it essentially has the same functionality. If you turn it on, it will try to limit access of background tasks to your system resources, prioritizing gaming. If you turn it off, it will ensure background processes remain at the same priority. In testing, we haven't really found that it makes much difference either way, while trying to run games at the same time as rendering in Adobe Premier, for example. I think if you want to ensure that your system runs as expected, it might be worth simply turning it off.

What you need to know

• Another round of cumulative updates is now available for prior releases of Windows 10.
• Both the Fall Creators Update and Creators Update have received plenty of fixes.
• The updates are available now via Windows Update.

This month's "Patch Tuesday" was two weeks ago, but Microsoft has opted to issue another round of cumulative updates for two older versions of Windows 10. Rolling out now via Windows Update is a batch of bug fixes for the Fall Creators Update and Creators Update.

If you're still running the Fall Creators Update, you'll see KB4499147, which ticks the build number up to 16299.1182. Here's what's included:

• Addresses an issue with looping redirects between Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11.
• Updates wininet.dll to prevent the re-creation of File Transfer Protocol (FTP) control sessions.
• Addresses an issue that prevents the OS from loading new icon files if it encounters an icon file that has a bad format.
• Addresses an issue to set the date separator properly in the Japanese short date format. For more information, see KB4469068.
• Updates time zone information for Morocco.
• Updates time zone information for the Palestinian Authority.
• Addresses an issue in which Windows attempts to renew Azure Active Directory (AAD) token certificates when there is no internet connectivity. This issue occurs during AAD authentication and slows the performance of applications.
• Addresses an issue that may cause a temporary KRB_AP_ERR_MODIFIED Kerberos sign-in failure in applications and services configured to use a Group Managed Service Account (GMSA). This issue occurs after the automatic update of the service account password.
• Addresses an issue that causes a sign-in to fail with the error, "Incorrect Username or password" when using an empty or null password and Windows Defender Credential Guard is enabled.
• Addresses an issue that causes Microsoft Office and other applications to prompt for a password after you change a user account password. This issue occurs on hybrid Azure Active Directory (AD) joined systems.
• Addresses an issue with BranchCache when it is in distributed cache mode. BranchCache may use more disk space than assigned for the republication cache. To fully address the issue, devices that have exceeded the disk space assignments should empty BranchCache using the netsh branchcache flush command.
• Addresses an issue that may cause a Stop D1 error when you increase the random-access memory (RAM) capacity of a CPU ("hot add") on a virtual machine.
• Addresses an issue that may cause event 7600 in the Domain Name System (DNS) server event log to contain an unreadable server name.
• Addresses an issue with Microsoft Edge that displays an error page when you go to a page that was previously posted.
• Addresses an issue with scrollLeft in Internet Explorer.
• Addresses an issue that causes rendering to stop working for svg elements.

Creators Update PCs, meanwhile, will see KB4499162, which moves the build number up to 15063.1839. Here's what's included:

• Addresses an issue with looping redirects between Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11.
• Updates wininet.dll to prevent the re-creation of File Transfer Protocol (FTP) control sessions.
• Addresses an issue to set the date separator properly in the Japanese short date format. For more information, see KB4469068.
• Updates time zone information for Morocco.
• Updates time zone information for the Palestinian Authority.
• Improves performance related to case-insensitive string comparison functions such as _stricmp() in the Universal C Runtime.
• Addresses an issue in which Windows attempts to renew Azure Active Directory (AAD) token certificates when there is no internet connectivity. This issue occurs during AAD authentication and slows the performance of applications.
• Addresses an issue that may cause a temporary KRB_AP_ERR_MODIFIED Kerberos sign-in failure in applications and services configured to use a Group Managed Service Account (GMSA). This issue occurs after the automatic update of the service account password.
• Addresses an issue that causes a sign-in to fail with the error, "Incorrect Username or password" when using an empty or null password and Windows Defender Credential Guard is enabled.
• Addresses an issue that causes Microsoft Office and other applications to prompt for a password after you change a user account password. This issue occurs on hybrid Azure Active Directory (AD) joined systems.
• Addresses an issue with BranchCache when it is in distributed cache mode. BranchCache may use more disk space than assigned for the republication cache. To fully address the issue, devices that have exceeded the disk space assignments should empty BranchCache using the netsh branchcache flush command.
• Addresses an issue that may cause a Stop D1 error when you increase the random-access memory (RAM) capacity of a CPU ("hot add") on a virtual machine.
• Addresses an issue with scrollLeft in Internet Explorer.
• Addresses an issue that causes rendering to stop working for

Both updates should be available now via Windows Update.

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Alongside fresh Windows Insider builds today, Microsoft is also pushing out a batch of cumulative updates for older versions of Windows 10. Specifically, PCs still on the Windows 10 April 2018 Update and older will be treated to a fresh batch of fixes and security updates (via Neowin). Notably, the October 2018 Update, which is the latest public Windows 10 release, is absent from this round of updates.

If you're on the April 2018 Update, you can snag KB4489894, which ticks the build number up to 17134.677. Here's a look at what's included:

• Addresses an issue with a Microsoft Access 97 database that stops a requested operation when a table or column has custom properties.
• Addresses an issue that prevents Microsoft Office updates from downloading from the Microsoft Store.
• Updates time zone information for Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• Addresses an issue with Microsoft Office Visual Basic for Applications that fails to use the Japanese Era registry settings for dates in the Japanese format. For more information, see KB4469068.
• Updates time zone information for Kazakhstan.
• Updates time zone information for São Tomé and Príncipe.
• Addresses an issue that prevents users from enabling gan-nen support for the Japanese Era. For more information, see KB4469068.
• Addresses an issue that causes a device to periodically stop responding when using an East Asian locale.
• Addresses a reliability issue that may cause a laptop screen to remain black after resuming from Sleep if you close the lid when disconnecting from a docking station.
• Addresses an issue with the Group Policy, "Turn off app notifications on the lock screen".
• Addresses an issue that may prevent users from signing in and cause account lockouts when using the App-V client to start applications. The issue occurs because Kerberos authentication fails when trying to get user information from the domain name server (DNS). Modify the following registry key:
  • Setting: UseDcForGetUserInfo
  • Path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\AppV\Shared\
  • Type: REG_DWORD
  • Value: Setting the following DWORD to nonzero will enable the solution.
• Addresses an issue with the Windows lock screen that prevents users from unlocking a device after multiple smart card users have used the same device. This issue occurs when you attempt to use a workstation that another user has locked.
• Addresses an issue that prevents the authentication credentials dialog from appearing when an enterprise web server attempts to connect to the Internet.
• Addresses an issue that causes a client or server to restart when using a smart card to log in with User Name Hints to an Azure Active Directory (AAD) joined machine using Remote Desktop Services.
• Addresses an issue in which multiple device entries exist for a single, hybrid domain joined device.
• Addresses an issue that removes the ALLOWCLSIDS policy from the policy XML file when you run the Add-SignerRule for Windows Defender Application Control.
• Addresses an issue that prevents a virtual smart card from starting when running in conjunction with Citrix 7.15.2000 Workstation VDA software.
• Addresses an issue that prevents a user from authenticating and causes Windows Account Manager (WAM) to fail when using a Trusted Platform Module (TPM).
• Addresses an issue that causes certificate renewal to fail when using CERT_RENEWAL_PROP_ID with the ICertPropertyRenewal interface.
• Adds a new Group Policy setting called "Enable Windows to soft-disconnect a computer from a network". This determines how Windows will disconnect a computer from a network when it determines that the computer should no longer be connected to the network.
  • If enabled, Windows will soft-disconnect (disconnection is not immediate or abrupt) a computer from a network.
  • If disabled, Windows disconnects a computer from a network immediately.
  • If not configured, the default behavior is soft-disconnect. For more information about soft-disconnect, see Understanding and configuring Windows Connection Manager.
  • Path: Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Network\Windows Connection Manager
• Addresses an issue that may cause the error, "Stop 0x133" in NTFS.sys.
• Addresses an issue that causes Windows to reuse an expired Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) lease if the lease expired while the OS was shutdown.
• Addresses an issue that may cause the Virtual Machine Management Service (VMMS) to stop working. This issue occurs when executing a Live Migration using a Measure-VM cmdlet or any metric Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) query.
• Addresses an issue in which the graphics device interface (GDI) DeleteObject() may cause the calling process to stop working when both of the following conditions are true:
  • The calling process is a WOW64 process that handles memory addresses larger than 2 GB.
  • The DeleteObject() is called with a device context that is compatible with a printer device context.
• Provides seamless integration with Microsoft Cloud App Security (MCAS) to discover cloud app usage inside and outside the corporate network for Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) customers.
• Enhances automated investigation and remediation, including memory forensics, for Windows Defender ATP customers.
• Addresses an issue that prevents the "Turn off app notifications on the lock screen" policy from working. The path is "Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logo".
• Addresses minor issues with unknown options (unknown OPT) in the Extension Mechanisms for DNS (EDNS) for the Windows DNS Server role.

There is a similar, lengthy set of fixes and improvements available for prior versions of Windows 10, going back to the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. For the full list, you can check out Microsoft's support site. Otherwise, you can head to Windows Update now to grab the latest fixes.

Last week was February's official "Patch Tuesday," but Microsoft is following up with another round of fresh fixes for Windows 10 PCs today. The latest batch of cumulative updates is available for the Windows 10 April 2018 Update, the Fall Creators Update, and the Creators Update. That leaves the October 2018 Update out in the cold, but there's still plenty to check out (via Neowin).

For those who are still running the April 2018 Update, you'll be bumped to build number 17134.619 with KB4487029. Here's a look at what's fixed:

• Enables media content to play e-learning content with plug and play USB adapter cables on Microsoft Edge.
• Ensures that windowed ActiveX content inside an iframe scrolls along with other page content in Internet Explorer 11 during a user-triggered scroll operation.
• Addresses an issue that causes app-specific registry keys to be deleted after updating an application.
• Updates time zone information for Chile.
• Addresses an audio compatibility issue when playing newer games with 3D Spatial Audio mode enabled through multichannel audio devices or Windows Sonic for Headphones.
• Addresses an issue that prevents some users from pinning a web link to the Start menu or the taskbar.
• Addresses an issue in which the desktop lock screen image set by a group policy will not update if the image is older than or has the same name as the previous image.
• Improves performance related to case-insensitive string comparison functions such as _stricmp() in the Universal C runtime.
• Addresses an issue with evaluating the compatibility status of the Windows ecosystem to help ensure application and device compatibility for all updates to Windows.
• Improves the reliability of the UE-VAppmonitor.
• Addresses an issue that fails to update a user hive when you publish an optional package in a Connection Group after the Connection Group was previously published.
• Addresses an issue that allows files protected by Windows Information Protection to be transferred using Bluetooth to an unmanaged machine.
• Addresses an issue that occurs with the Internet Explorer proxy setting and the out of box experience (OOBE) setup. The initial logon stops responding after Sysprep.
• Addresses an issue that prevents a user from deleting a wireless network profile in some scenarios.
• Addresses an issue that may cause a "STOP 0x1A" error when you use certain applications or log in or log out of a system.
• Addresses an issue in the Timeline feature that causes File Explorer to stop working for some users.
• Addresses an issue that causes the Photos app to stop working when it's used from the Mail app.
• Addresses an issue in the PLMDebug.exe tool that loses debug sessions when used with a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app.
• Improves Always On VPN (AOVPN) reconnect and disconnect functionality.
• Addresses an issue that fails to recognize the first character of the Japanese era name as an abbreviation and may cause date parsing issues.
• Addresses an issue that may prevent Internet Explorer from loading images that have a backslash () in their relative source path.
• Addresses an issue that may cause applications that use a Microsoft Jet database with the Microsoft Access 95 file format to randomly stop working.

If you're on the Fall Creators Update, meanwhile, you'll find build 16299.004 with KB4487021. Here's what's included:

• Updates time zone information for Chile.
• Improves performance related to case-insensitive string comparison functions such as _stricmp() in the Universal C runtime.
• Addresses an issue with evaluating the compatibility status of the Windows ecosystem to help ensure application and device compatibility for all updates to Windows.
• Improves the reliability of the UE-VAppmonitor.
• Addresses an issue that fails to update a user hive when you publish an optional package in a Connection Group after the Connection Group was previously published.
• Adds a new group policy called "Policy Details". This policy will immediately disconnect any wireless connections when a wired connection is detected and "Minimize simultaneous connections" is configured.
• Addresses an issue that causes the clock and the calendar flyout to ignore user settings for Japanese era date and time formats. For more information, see KB4469068.
• Addresses an issue that can overwrite gan-nen support behavior for the Japanese era with a newer update. For more information, see KB4469068.
• Enables the 元年 character for the first year in the Japanese era. For more information, see KB4469068.
• Addresses an issue that fails to display the correct Japanese era name in Microsoft Office Visual Basic for Applications. For more information, see KB4469068.
• Addresses an issue that fails to recognize the first character of the Japanese era name as an abbreviation and may cause date parsing issues.
• Addresses an issue that may prevent Internet Explorer from loading images that have a backslash () in their relative source path.
• Addresses an issue that may cause applications that use a Microsoft Jet database with the Microsoft Access 95 file format to randomly stop working.

Finally, PCs on the Creators Update will be pushed to build 15063.1659 with KB4487011. Here's a look at what's new:

• Updates time zone information for Chile.
• Addresses an issue that causes an application to stop responding when two of its threads share the same input queue.
• Addresses an issue with a rooted pointer to an item identifier list (PIDL) in File Explorer.
• Improves performance related to case-insensitive string comparison functions such as _stricmp() in the Universal C runtime.
• Addresses an issue with evaluating the compatibility status of the Windows ecosystem to help ensure application and device compatibility for all updates to Windows.
• Improves the reliability of the UE-VAppmonitor.
• Addresses an issue that causes the clock and the calendar flyout to ignore user settings for Japanese era date and time formats. For more information, see KB4469068.
• Addresses an issue that can overwrite gan-nen support behavior for the Japanese era with a newer update. For more information, see KB4469068.
• Enables the 元年 character for the first year in the Japanese era. For more information, see KB4469068.
• Addresses an issue that fails to display the correct Japanese era name in Microsoft Office Visual Basic for Applications. For more information, see KB4469068.
• Addresses an issue that fails to recognize the first character of the Japanese era name as an abbreviation and may cause date parsing issues.
• Addresses an issue that may prevent Internet Explorer from loading images that have a backslash () in their relative source path.
• Addresses an issue that may cause applications that use a Microsoft Jet database with the Microsoft Access 95 file format to randomly stop working.

Each of these cumulative updates should be available now via Windows Update.

Microsoft is rolling out a new cumulative update for Windows 10 that brings the OS build number up to 15063.632. The update began rolling out on September 25th, and includes two new fixes for cellular connectivity and Microsoft Edge.

The update in question goes by the name KB4040724 and is available now for Windows 10 PCs via Windows Update.

Changelog

This update includes quality improvements. No new operating system features are being introduced in this update. Key changes include:

• Reliability improvements and fixes for cellular connectivity.
• Addressed issue in Microsoft Edge where on first launch after installing KB4038788, or periodically thereafter, users may observe performance issues or unresponsiveness until the next launch of the browser.

Head to Windows Update now and get the update installed.

What does full diagnostic data include? "Browser, app and feature usage, and inking and typing data." That's a broad description and it could entail lots of different kinds of data. But a full 71 percent of all Windows 10 users still choose to share full data, instead of the "basic" data that's "necessary to keep Windows up to date and secure," according to Microsoft.

Microsoft says there are 500 million devices that run Windows 10 today. In late June, Windows ad network AdDuplex reported that more than 35 percent of PCs on its network run the Creators Update. That number has almost certainly increased during the past month, so 125 million or more PC users running the Creators Update choose to share full usage diagnostics, based on those numbers.

Do you share full or basic usage data? Do you even know off-hand? If not, here's how to find out and modify that setting:

1. Hit your Windows Start button.
2. Open Settings.
3. Click the Privacy icon. (It looks like a lock.)
4. On the left side, scroll down to Feedback & diagnostics.
5. Choose Basic or Full to designate the amount of data you wish to share.

Following an earlier report that the latest Windows update wasn't installing on devices powered by Intel Atom Clover Trail CPUs, Microsoft has now confirmed that future OS updates for these devices has been canned.

In a statement to The Verge, Microsoft confirmed the what and the why:

It doesn't mean you should throw your old device in the trash, though. Many of these affected machines came out in the Windows 8 era, but there's still life in those old dogs yet.

Microsoft will be offering the Anniversary Update to affected devices, and specifically, will maintain security updates for them through to January 2023. This is much longer than Microsoft will be maintaining security updates for other Anniversary Update machines, with that set to expire in 2018.

As things currently, the latest feature update for Windows 10 is poised to leave some users behind. According to ZDNet, PCs running on Intel's Atom Clover Trail processors are currently unsupported by the Windows 10 Creators Update.

According to the report, users trying to install the update on Atom Clover Trail PCs are met with an error message that confusingly states "Windows 10 is no longer supported on this PC." Microsoft itself hasn't confirmed the compatibility issues in its support documents. Acer, however, has, stating that the Atom Z2760, Atom Z2520, Atom Z2560, and Atom Z2580 are all unsupported by the Creators Update. From Acer:

A post on Microsoft's TechNet forums provides a similar answer.

It's not clear from the information provided just what the compatibility issue is. However, if it isn't resolved, incompatibility could cause a large number of 2-in-1 PCs initially sold throughout 2013 and 2014 to be stuck on the Anniversary Update. That's potentially a problem as far as security is concerned, as Microsoft is set to drop official support (meaning updates) for the Anniversary Update in early 2018. That's an effect of the new Windows as a Service model, which only allows for servicing major feature updates for 18 months after their release.

Fortunately, it sounds as though Microsoft is actively working with its partners to remedy the issue. However, there will be no moving to the Creators Update for the foreseeable future.

AdDuplex has pushed out its latest monthly report, giving us a snapshot of certain aspects the Windows ecosystem for the month of June. With this month's report comes news that the Windows 10 Creators Update is now installed on 35.7 percent of all Windows 10 PCs. That's up from an even 18 percent coverage as of AdDuplex's last report in May.

The surge in Creators Update coverage has taken a chunk out of the Anniversary Update's install base, but the latter still dominates for now with a 58.3 percent share of all Windows 10 PCs. That is down from the Anniversary Update's 75 percent coverage in May, however.

On the Mobile side of things, the Creators Update takes the top spot, sporting an install base of 58.9 percent of Windows 10 Mobile devices. The Anniversary Update comes in at a 31.9 percent share, while Windows 10 Mobile version 1511 is installed on 4.6 percent of devices. AdDuplex also pegs Windows 10 Mobile devices running Insider builds at 4.6 percent.

Also included as part of the report is a very early look at how the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop are faring. So far, according to AdDuplex's numbers, the Surface Laptop makes up a 0.4 percent share of Surface Devices, while the new Surface Pro comes in at a slightly larger 2.2 percent share. Keep in mind that we're only 2 weeks out from the launch of both devices, so it's way too early to come to any conclusions from the data.

Again, the numbers are interesting to look at, but there's nothing too surprising about the pace of the Creators Update's spread yet. So far, as AdDuplex notes, the Creators Update is tracking at around the same pace as the Anniversary Update before it.

As always, it's worth noting that AdDuplex's numbers are based on data collected from a sample of 5,000 Windows Store apps that use the AdDuplex SDK. Actual figures likely differ, but AdDuplex's reports can be useful for tracking general trends from month to month. This month's number were collected throughout the day on June 26.

A little over a month after the Windows 10 Creators Update began its general rollout, Microsoft has announced the update is now rolling out to the Surface Hub. In its wake, the Creators Update is also bringing a whole bunch of new features to the Surface Hub, focusing on team collaboration, speed, and security.

Following the Creators Update, Microsoft says that the new Whiteboard experience it showed off at its recent Shanghai event will make its way to the Surface Hub in mid-June. Essentially, Whiteboard will let team members easily collaborate and brainstorm on a blank digital canvas.

Sign-on has also been enhanced, allowing for a single sign-on experience that lets users quickly access their Office 365 content and applications after signing in via the welcome screen or start menu. The goal here, Microsoft says, is to make the Surface Hub more like a personal device after signing in.

Security has also gotten a boost in the Creators Update with the following:

• The ability to set Surface Hub to wipe all data at the end of each session by default;
• The option to require BitLocker encryption for USB ports to prevent malware and other security threats;
• Support for additional Mobile Device Management (MDM) features, so IT administrators can change settings remotely; and
• Support for two-factor authentication, to enable users to approve an authentication request easily on their companion device.

Other tidbits include Dolby-tuned audio optimized for human speech, improvements to Miracast projection, and simplified Skype controls. For businesses and organizations that rely on the Surface Hub, that's a handy batch of changes. For more, you can check out a detailed list of changes and updates at the Surface Hub Update History page.

By limiting background tasks, Game Mode seeks to increase the smoothness of games running on Windows 10, redirecting your system towards the game when it is activated. Microsoft stated that the feature would have modest improvements for Win32 titles, due to the non-standardized environment. But the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) games typical of the Windows 10 Store should see immediate benefits.

I was curious as to what (if any) real-world benefits Game Mode would have for multitasking on my devices, and I came away with some mixed results. Keep reading for specifics.

What is Game Mode?

Heroes of the Storm — Minimal multiitasking

First, I decided to test the Win32 game Heroes of the Storm, Blizzard's whimsical MOBA title that features iconic characters from various Blizzard universes. It is not a particularly intensive game, and the Razer Blade 14 should be able to totally crush it, with or without Game Mode.

Game Mode seemed to generate some modest improvements to the game's unlocked frame rate, sending it from 90 frames per second (FPS) to 100 FPS, up to 100 FPS to 110 FPS. In real-world terms, you're not going to notice a difference at such high frame rates, but it was a decent enough basis to start with.

These shots were taken with the bare minimum multitasking. I had my Slack app running in the background, but that's about it. Most of my programs are disabled at startup, giving me a relatively clean slate to work with.

Heroes of the Storm — With multitasking

While it seems like there were some modest gains to be had at a basic level, testing Heroes of the Storm in a multitasking scenario — which is essentially what Game Mode is supposed to be for — was the next obvious test.

With Microsoft Edge, Bluestacks' intensive Android emulator, and Netflix playing in the background, these are the effects Game Mode had on performance.

Again, not much is noticeably different here. But Heroes of the Storm isn't a UWP game, which Microsoft said would gain a larger benefit from Game Mode than Win32 titles.

Killer Instinct — Minimal multitasking

The best UWP test is probably Killer Instinct, which has an in-game benchmarking tool of its own. Here's a quick look at how it fared with Game Mode turned on and Game Mode turned off, with the same minimal background processes as the Heroes of the Storm test above.

Without multitasking, you can see that the results are locked across the board. The Razer Blade 14 probably has plenty of overhead for a game like Killer Instinct at 1080p, and as such, Game Mode isn't going to make a sliver of difference in this scenario. Turning Game Mode on improved Killer Instinct's benchmark score by a single point, but that's about it. With multitasking, however, it was a different story.

Killer Instinct — With multitasking

While Game Mode made zero difference in the non-multitasking scenario, with Bluestacks, Slack, Microsoft Edge, and a Netflix video playing, Killer Instinct's benchmarking test scored far higher with Game Mode enabled.

As you can see, Killer Instinct performed far higher in the multitasking scenario with Game Mode turned on. And I replicated these results after running through the same test three times.

Conclusion

Game Mode does produce some modest gains in certain scenarios. Perhaps you're grinding in a game, but need to render an Adobe Premier video in the background; Game Mode should enhance your gaming experience in some small way on higher-end hardware.

The Razer Blade 14 is a powerful machine, with a quad-core Intel "Kaby Lake" i7 processor and a GTX 1060 GPU. It can generally handle multitasking extremely well anyway, making Game Mode a little redundant.

We plan to run similar tests in the future on the Surface Pro 3, which has far less powerful internals. Until then, let us know in the comments if you have any positive (or negative) experiences with Game Mode for the Windows 10 Creators Update.

Windows Defender, an already powerful PC-protection tool before the release of the Creators Update, has been transformed into the Windows Defender Security Center. The refreshed app has a new layout to go along with its updated features.

One area that saw a redesign is Windows Defender Offline. The utility is now built right into the Windows Defender Security Center app and is now much easier to use. If you think your PC might be infected with som particularly aggressive malware, the following steps will help you ensure a quick cleanup.

• When to use Windows Defender Offline
• How to use Windows Defender Offline
• How to see the offline scan results

When to use Windows Defender Offline

You might be wondering exactly why or when you'd want to use Windows Defender Offline, rather than the regular scan. Windows Defender Offline runs in an environment on your PC that doesn't let Windows 10 boot. And it's much easier to remove malware that's deeply embedded in an OS when the OS isn't running.

If your PC has come into contact with advanced or persistent malware, your PC might automatically alert you that it is trouble. In this case, it will likely recommend scanning offline. Even if Defender doesn't alert you and doesn't suggest using an offline scan, you can start one manually if you think your PC might be harboring something malicious.

How to use Windows Defender Offline

If you're ready to manually start an offline scan with Windows Defender, follow these steps. Alos, be sure to save any documents and close other running apps before you start.

1. Launch Windows Defender Security Center from your Start menu, desktop or taskbar.
2. Click Virus & threat protection.

3. Click Advanced scan.
4. Click Windows Defender Offline scan.

5. Click Scan now.
6. Click Scan.

Your computer will automatically restart, and Windows Defender Offline will boot instead of Windows 10. A scan will start, and the persistent malware should be removed. The entire process should take about 15 minutes.

When the scan is complete, your PC will restart again, this time booting Windows 10 normally.

How to see the offline scan results

Once your PC restarts, you can check to see what was removed.

1. Launch Windows Defender Security Center from your Start menu, desktop or taskbar.
2. Click Virus & threat protection.

3. Click Scan history.
4. Click See full history below Quarantined threats.

If any threats were quarantined during the scan, they will be shown there.

More resources

Be sure to have a look at our guide that covers the overall changes to Windows Defender Security Center, and also check out Senior Editor Zac Bowden's in-depth Creators Update review.

• What you need to know about the new Windows Defender Security Center in the Creators Update
• The definitive Creators Update review

When you update your PC from an existing Windows installation, the old files remain on your hard drive. They are saved there instead of being overwritten because something might go wrong during the update installation, or because you might want to roll your PC back to a previous installation if you aren't happy with the new stuff.

If, however, the update to Windows 10 goes smoothly, and you're sure you don't want to return to a previous version of Windows, you can delete those old installation files to free up space on your hard drive. This is especially important for anyone using a device with a smaller solid-state drive (SSD).

Although removing old Windows installation files won't harm your PC, it's always a good idea to back everything up in case something goes wrong. Once you're sure you're completely satisfied with the Creators Update, this guide can help free up space on your hard drive.

How to delete old Windows installation files

Removing old Windows installation files can't be done by simply selecting them and moving them to the Recycle Bin. You have to use Disk Cleanup, but luckily the process is simple and won't take long.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Click Search.
3. Type Disk Cleanup.

4. Right-click Disk Cleanup.
5. Click Run as administrator.
6. Click the dropdown arrow below Drives.

7. Click the drive that holds your Windows installation. If you only have one drive in your PC, this selection window will not appear; your C: drive will automatically be selected.
8. Click OK.

9. Click the checkbox next to Previous Windows installation(s) so that a checkmark appears.
10. Click the checkbox next to any other options to select or deselect whether or not they're also removed. You might also want to choose to remove the following options:
    • Temporary Windows installation files.
    • Windows upgrade log files.

11. Click OK.
12. Click Delete Files.

Once the old installation files are removed, you won't be able to roll back to a previous version of Windows. Unless you have a secondary backup that you can restore from, you'll have to do a clean install of Windows to return to a previous state. So make sure you're really ready before you remove the old files.

More resources

Don't forget to create a backup of your data whenever you can. To help, we created a guide featuring a bunch of different ways to accomplish this. If you'd like more information on the latest Windows 10 update, the Creators Update, be sure to check out our Senior Editor Zac Bowden's definitive review.

• Six easy and effective ways to back up your PC
• The definitive Windows 10 Creators Update review

The Windows 10 Mobile Creators Update is now rolling out to Insiders in the Release Preview ring, despite the fact that the Creators Update for Mobile was supposed to roll out to the public today.

Microsoft says unsupported devices on the Release Preview ring will continue to receive cumulative updates for the Creators Update, which is nice. The new build number is 15063.251.

Previously, it was believed that unsupported devices would be left behind, but if you enrol in the Insider program, you'll still get cumulative updates for this unsupported release.

Make sure you check for updates in the Release Preview ring to get the latest updates and the Creators Update for Mobile!

In case you were wondering if the Windows 10 Creators Update is doing well during its slow rollout phase, Microsoft has today provided an update for you. According to the Redmond giant, the first few weeks of the Creators Update rollout phase has gone really well, and they've received lots of useful feedback from customers.

What's more, Microsoft says there are now "millions" of users running the Creators Update already, which means the update is already on a large amount of machines. Microsoft hasn't given us an exact number of people running the Creators Update, but somewhere in the "millions" is impressive nonetheless.

Microsoft has also detailed how it's currently choosing who gets the Creators Update first. Based on feedback, if users are reporting issues on a certain device model, Microsoft can "block" the Creators Update until that issue is resolved, whether that be via the hardware maker releasing driver updates, or Microsoft issuing patches.

Of course, if a user wants to bypass said block, they can manually install the Creators Update with the Microsoft-provided Software Download Tool. Keep in mind however that installing the Creators Update this way bypasses all the checks Microsoft receives to help determine whether a particular machine is good to go with the Creators Update.

Microsoft appears to be very pleased with the rollout of the Creators Update so far, with more devices scheduled to start receiving the update over the next several weeks and months. Starting today, the Creators Update for Mobile will begin its rollout too for eligible handsets, so stay tuned for that!

Though it only began rolling out a short time ago, the Windows 10 Creators Update is already installed on a significant percentage of Windows 10 PCs. That's according to the latest monthly report from AdDuplex, which shows the Creators Update (version 1703) is now installed on 9.8 percent of all Windows 10 machines. That's still dwarfed by the Anniversary Update at 82.1 percent, but a nearly 10 percent install base represents a healthy start just two weeks after the Creators Update began rolling out.

Another interesting tidbit about the rollout is the breakdown by manufacturer. According to AdDuplex's stats, Microsoft's Surface hardware is seeing the most rapid rollout coverage with more than 20 percent already running the Creators Update. Breaking that down, around 30 percent of Surface Books and 25 percent of Surface Pro 4s are running the Creators Update. On the whole, MSI is the only other manufacturer that comes close with just under 20 percent coverage, while the rest are right around or just below 10 percent.

AdDuplex's numbers are based on data collected from 5,000 Windows Store apps running the AdDuplex SDK, and numbers were collected on April 24. As such, actual install numbers might vary a bit, but AdDuplex's report gives us some pretty good insight.

If Microsoft follows the same slow, gradual rollout pattern that we saw with the Anniversary Update, it will be some time before Creators Update machines are the majority. That said, it's already off to a good start. As for Mobile, the Creators Update will begin its rollout for a fairly limited set of select phones today, so we could see the effects of that rollout in the next report. As for what to expect, AdDuplex estimates that only around 60 percent of phones currently running Windows 10 are eligible for the Creators Update because of the limited rollout.

The Windows 10 Creators Update brought some changes to the Photos app, namely the ability to draw on your photos with Windows Ink to create living images. Whether you're showing off your vacation photos with clever captions or preparing for a presentation with careful notes, here's how to create a living image, how to save snapshots from a living image, and how to convert a living image into an animated GIF.

How to create a living image in the Photos app

Before anything else, we need to create a living image using Windows Ink. You don't necessarily need a compatible pen for this; your mouse will work just fine.

1. Launch the Photos app from your Start menu, desktop, or taskbar.
2. Click an image to open.
3. Click Draw.

4. Click a drawing tool.
5. Create a drawing on the photo.

6. Click Save a copy. Don't worry, the original photo will remain untouched.
7. Click the Play button to see your living image in action.

All living images you create are saved by default in the Pictures folder on your PC and filenames are appended by LI. These living images can be opened and played in the Photos app.

How to save stills from a living image

The Photos app lets you capture still images from a living image you've already created. Here's how to do it.

1. Launch the Photos app from your Start menu, desktop, or taskbar.
2. Click a living image to open.
3. Click the See more button. It looks like three dots.

4. Click Save photos from living image.
5. Click the right arrow and left arrow to advance or reverse a frame.

6. Click and drag the slider to manually move the frames.
7. Click Save a photo on the specific frame you want to save.

Any still you capture from a living image will be saved by default in your Pictures folder and will have a filename appended with LI_Moment.

How to export living images as videos

If you'd like to create a GIF of your living image so that it can be played outside the Photos app, you have to first export it as a video, then convert it. In this example, we share the living image as a video with Dropbox, then download the MP4 from Dropbox to be converted into a GIF.

1. Launch the Photos app from your Start menu, desktop, or taskbar.
2. Click a living image to open.

3. Click Share.
4. Click Share as video.

5. Click Dropbox. Note that you must already have the Dropbox app installed on your PC.
6. Click Save. Your file will now be uploaded to Dropbox. You now have to access Dropbox and download the MP4 file to your PC.

7. Launch Dropbox from your Start menu, desktop, or taskbar.
8. Click the Recents button near the top-left corner of the window.

9. Click your file.
10. Click the See more button. It looks like three dots.

11. Click save to device.
12. Click Save.

You can now use a converter tool or you can use Giphy to turn your MP4 file into a GIF. This is what the final product looks like:

More resources

Be sure to check out Senior Editor Zac Bowden's in-depth Creators Update review for way more information.

See the definitive Creators Update review

The Windows 10 Creators Update has brought us a whole bunch of new tools, including a simulator that lets you experience mixed reality apps without having an actual headset. Unlike the Hololens emulator that runs apps in a virtual machine, mixed reality apps run just like any other app; the simulator makes them think you actually have a headset, and your movements are controlled with your normal peripherals instead of having your body tracked in real time.

Ready to check out mixed reality on your PC? Here's how to set up and use the Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) simulator in Windows 10 Creators Update.

How to enable Windows Mixed Reality simulator

In order to actually be able to access the WMR simulator, you have to first tweak some settings. After enabling developer mode, WMR simulator will become available. Here's how to get everything set up.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Update & security.

4. Click For developers.
5. Click Developer mode.

6. Click Yes.
7. Right-click the Start button.

8. Click Search.
9. Type Mixed Reality Portal and hit Enter on your keyboard.

10. Click Get started.
11. Click I agree.

12. Click Set up simulation (for developers).
13. Click Set up.

14. Click the Tools button near the bottom-left corner of the window.
15. Click the switch below Simulation so that it turns On.

You'll now find yourself in a 3D space that can be navigated and interacted with.

How to control Windows Mixed Reality simulator

Because you're simulating a 3D environment, navigating in the WMR simulator is much like navigating a video game.

• Click and drag your mouse or use the right joystick on your Xbox controller to look around.
• Use the W A S D keys or the left joystick on your Xbox controller to move in space.
• Hit Enter on your keyboard, right-click your mouse, or hit the A button on your Xbox controller to simulate the Action button.
• Hit Windows key on your keyboard or hit the B button on your Xbox controller to simulate the Home button.
• Hold Alt and drag your mouse to scroll. You can also hold the A button and right trigger down and use the right joystick to scroll on an Xbox controller.

How to remove Windows Mixed Reality

If you're completely finished with the WMR simulator you can uninstall it through the Settings menu. Here's how.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Mixed Reality.

4. Click Uninstall.

Keep in mind that you'll have to uninstall any other mixed reality apps separately.

What's next?

While we're still waiting for consumer-grade mixed reality headsets from the likes of Acer, Dell, Lenovo, and HP, this is a nice taste of mixed reality. Be sure to check out the Holograms app in the Windows Mixed Reality simulator to get an idea of what's to come. Also, be sure to check our Senior Editor Zac Bowden's in-depth Creators Update review.

• Download: Holograms (Free)
• The definitive Creators Update review

The Windows 10 Creators Update is here, and it's packing a number of new features that we're super excited to see included with Windows 10! Although not everything is great, here are our top 5 things we love about the Creators Update.

Personalization

With the Creators Update, you now have several more personalization options over previous versions of Windows. For starters, you can now set any color as your accent color, which can be applied to window titlebars, the taskbar, Start menu, Action Center and live tiles. No longer are you limited to the 48 colors that Microsoft provided before, although they are still there.

What's more, there's now a new Themes area in the Settings app that makes it easy to customize not only your accent color, but wallpaper, cursors and sounds too. You can even head to the Windows Store and buy/download new themes as well, meaning you don't even need to put any effort into creating your own personalized desktop experience. Just download one!

Another neat customization option that's available in the Creators Update is the ability to remove the apps list on the Start Menu, allowing you to make your menu look much more like a Windows Phone's Start Screen. Removing the Apps List from the Start Menu is one of the first things I do on the Creators Update, as it helps make my Windows 10 mine.

Night light

One of the things we're really excited to see in the Creators Update is the inclusion of a blue-light filter. No longer do I need to head to the web and download a 3rd party program to enable a blue light reduction filter, as Windows 10 now has one built in.

Just head to Settings, and enable Night Light. This feature will give your screen a warm tint in the evenings to help with eyestrain, and as a result will make it easier to get to sleep at night if you're someone who ends up looking at computer screens late at night.

Admittedly, it's not very customizable, but what it offers right now does the job. You can set it up to automatically come online when the sun sets outside, so you don't even have to worry about it.

Windows Update

If Windows 10 is known for anything, it's incredibly annoying updates. Luckily, with the Creators Update, Microsoft has made Windows Update somewhat less annoying. Admittedly, you still can't disable updates entirely (which I'd argue is a good thing) but you can now postpone updates much more and even schedule them so they don't interrupt you during PowerPoint presentation or streaming session.

There's a new "snooze" function, which you can hit if Windows Update is requesting a restart at an inconvenient time. You can also schedule Windows to install updates at a specific time if you know you won't be using your PC at that time. Furthermore, you can now set your Active Hours to span up to 18 hours, telling Windows when it simply isn't allowed to force install updates.

Also, behind the scenes Microsoft has made several improvements that make feature updates much smaller when downloaded. No longer will you have to download a 3GB update every time a new feature update is available, as Microsoft's new "Unified Update Platform" shrinks those downloads by up to 30%.

Pick up where I left off

With the Creators Update, Cortana is slowly starting to work for you. One of the new features is the ability for it to show you apps and documents that you had open earlier and on other PCs, allowing you to quickly pick up where you left off and get right back to what you were doing.

Cortana will also automatically set reminders for you when you make them in emails, another nice addition. Unfortunately, Cortana is still not yet available in all markets, so these features aren't available to everyone.

Security enhancements

Between the newly updated Windows Defender, speed enhancements to Windows Hello, and locking app installs to the Windows Store and Dynamic Lock, the Creators Update includes several new security enhancements that make this version of Windows 10 the most secure yet.

You can now lock app installs to the Windows Store only, meaning an app won't install unless it was downloaded from the Windows Store. This is off by default, but can be enabled if you wish.

Dynamic Lock allows you to pair your phone to your PC via Bluetooth for added security. When you walk away from your PC and your phone disconnects from it, Windows will know to automatically lock itself. It's a nice feature, but it could do with a few customizable options.

So there you have it, that's our list of 5 things we love about the Creators Update. What are your favorite things about the Creators Update? Let us know!

Another ease-of-use addition available in the Windows 10 Creators Update is Dynamic Lock, which uses a Bluetooth connection between your phone and your PC to automatically lock your PC when you (and your phone) move out of range.

Your PC will stay unlocked for 30 seconds after it senses you've left the Bluetooth range. It doesn't unlock your PC; if you go out of range and Dynamic Lock shuts things down, you have to sign in with your password, PIN, or Windows Hello.

Despite its shortcomings, Dynamic Lock can be useful for people who uses their devices in public or for anyone who likes to lock their device every time they leave the desk. This feature works with any Bluetooth-enabled phone. Let's take a look at how to set everything up so you can add an extra layer of security to your PC.

How to pair your phone with your PC

First, you need to change some settings on your phone. As stated, Dynamic Lock can work with any Bluetooth-enabled phone, but here we lay out the steps using a Windows phone.

Second, you need to set up your PC and pair your phone.

How to turn on Dynamic Lock

Now that your phone and PC are paired, you can enable Dynamic Lock.

That's all there is to it. When you and your phone leave the range of Bluetooth, your PC will lock within 30 seconds. Keep in mind that if someone intercepts your laptop and begins using it before the 30 seconds elapses, the lock won't take effect.

The delay is a way to prevent your laptop from locking up when the spottiness of Bluetooth causes a random drop, but it's also a bit of a security risk. However, as long as you don't rely solely on Dynamic Lock to keep your laptop safe, it is a handy way to add an extra layer of security.

Insiders in the fast ring are today receiving a rather interesting update which goes by the name of "April 2017 update for Windows 10 Version 15063.138 for arm-based Phone Devices", rather than the usual naming scheme for Insiders.

The update is just build 15063.138 for Insiders in the Fast ring, which is the latest cumulative update for Mobile. What's more curious is the name in which Microsoft appears to have given it. Never before has Microsoft referred to Windows 10 Mobile as a version of Windows 10 for arm-based Phone Devices.

For those curious ARM is the architecture of the processor that Qualcomm uses (as well as Apple, and others) in your phone. It differs from x86 architecture for your PC.

Does this mean that there are versions of Windows 10 out there for x86-based phones too? Could this be Microsoft's new naming scheme for Windows phone-based devices? Who knows. At this point, Microsoft hasn't explained the reason for the name change.

It's also worth noting that for those not in the Insider Program, build 14393.1066 is now rolling out as well.

Perhaps it's just a mistake, but that would be a pretty odd mistake to make. Regardless, what do you think? Are you receiving the update on the Fast ring on your Windows 10 Mobile handsets?

After several months of development, the Windows 10 Creators Update is now ready for the public. Starting today, some users running Windows 10 will be able to download and install the Creators Update via the Settings app much like any other update, with plans to roll it out to everyone over the next several weeks.

The update is rolling out for free and will first be available to a select amount of people. If you're one of the people who haven't received the update today, you can manually upgrade your version of Windows with Microsoft's Update Assistant tool, which was released last week.

What's more, considering it's Patch Tuesday, the Creators Update is rolling out alongside a patch that should make things run even smoother, another added bonus.

The Creators Update features new improvements such as an updated Paint 3D app, Night Light, Game Mode, Edge improvements and so much more. Make sure you check out our official review for a complete rundown of what you can expect to see when the update finally reaches your machine.

The Creators Update for Windows 10 brought a bunch of changes to the built-in apps we love, including Movies & TV. Most notably, the UI has been redesigned to keep your movies in one place (it's easier to find everything!), and there is now a picture-in-picture mode. To help get acquainted with the new look, let's take a look at how to use the Movies & TV app.

• How to sign into the Movies & TV app
• How to remove associated devices with the app
• How to buy or rent movies and TV shows
• How to search for movies and TV shows
• How to change where to save media
• How to download media you've purchased
• How to remove media you've downloaded
• How to use picture-in-picture mode
• How to add personal videos to Movies & TV
• How to change the app's theme

How to sign into the Movies & TV app

The first thing you want to do is sign into the app. This will associate the device you sign in on with the app. You can have five devices associated at one time, and you can access purchased or rented content on any of those devices.

1. Launch the Movies & TV app from the Start menu, desktop or taskbar.
2. Click the Sign In button. (It is located near the top-right corner of the window.)

3. Click your account if you have one associated with the device. If you don't use a Microsoft account to log into the device, you'll have to add an account.
4. Click Continue.

How to remove associated devices with the app

You can have up to five devices associated with the Movies & TV app. All five devices can access the media you have purchased and saved in your account. Once you log into the app on a device, it will be automatically associated. You can check which devices you have associated with the app, and if you'd like you can remove devices.

1. Launch the Movies & TV app from the Start menu, desktop or taskbar.
2. Click the More options button. (It looks like three dots.)
3. Click Settings.

4. Click Show my download devices. A small frame will open with a list of the devices on which you signed in and downloaded content.
5. Click Remove this device.

Remember, there's no problem with keeping your devices associated with the app. Devices are generally removed when you're no longer using them or when you want to make room for a new device.

How to buy or rent movies and TV shows

The Movies & TV app displays a selection of media it thinks you'd like to watch, including movie trailers and 360-degree videos. Everything you see is available for download, for rent or for free.

1. Launch the Movies & TV app from the Start menu, desktop or taskbar.
2. Click the Explore tab.
3. Click a section button. You can choose from trailers, 360-degree videos, movies or TV. You can also scroll down to see recommended and trending videos in each section.

4. Click a movie or TV show you'd like to rent or buy. A Store window will open.
5. Click the dropdown arrow in the resolution field.

6. Click a resolution.
7. Click the Buy button or the Rent button. You'll now be asked to verify that it's you with either Windows Hello or the PC's PIN.

8. Click OK.
9. Click Change if you'd like to use a different method of payment.

10. Click a payment method.
11. Click Buy.

If you chose to rent the movie or TV show, there is one extra step. You can choose to stream the movie online (great if you're certain to have internet access), or you can choose to download the movie to your device in order to watch it offline. The rest of the steps — including choosing a payment method — are the same as for buying content.

Once you rent a movie, you have 14 days to start watching it. Choose your time carefully, because you have 48 hours to finish watching the movie once you've started it.

How to search for movies and TV shows

Don't see the movie or TV show you're looking for? You can also do a search that includes your content and content in the Store.

1. Launch the Movies & TV app from the Start menu, desktop or taskbar.
2. Click the Search button. (It looks like a magnifying glass.)

3. Type the name of the media you're looking for and hit enter on your keyboard.
4. Click the media to view it in your library.

If you don't have anything that matches your search already in your collection, you can also view any matches in the Store.

1. Click In the Store.
2. Click an option. A Store window will open in which you can buy or rent the media.

How to change where to save media

In order to change where the movies and TV shows you buy or rent are saved, you can either access the Settings menu through the Start menu, or you can access it directly through the Movies & TV app. We will use the latter method. Note that these changes only work if you have an external drive or a secondary internal drive hooked up to your PC.

1. Launch the Movies & TV app from the Start menu, desktop or taskbar.
2. Click the More options button. (It looks like three dots.)

3. Click Settings.
4. Click Modify your storage settings.

5. Click Change where new content is saved.
6. Click the dropdown arrow below New movies and TV shows will save to:

7. Click a save location.
8. Click Apply.

How to download media you've purchased

Sure, you can stream everything you purchase, but you might want to download it to your PC to watch it later when you're away from internet access.

1. Launch the Movies & TV app from the Start menu, desktop or taskbar.
2. Click the Purchased tab.

3. Click the movie or TV show you want to download. In this case, we will download a TV episode.
4. Click the Download button. (You will have to hover your cursor over it for the button to appear.)

You can also choose to download an entire season by clicking the Download season button.

How to remove media you've downloaded

Movies and TV shows you purchase and download don't have to live on your PC forever. Here's how to remove them using the app.

1. Launch the Movies & TV app from the Start menu, desktop or taskbar.
2. Click the Purchased tab.

3. Click the movie or TV show you want to remove. In this case, we will remove a TV episode.
4. Click the Remove download button in the episode row. (You will have to hover your cursor over it for the button to appear.)

If you want to remove all episodes of a TV show, you can also just click the Remove all button.

How to use picture-in-picture mode

One of the primary new features for the Movies & TV app in the Creators Update: You can now keep your video player on top of all other windows, giving you a sort of picture-in-picture. Whether you're taking notes from a recorded meeting or watching your favorite TV show while you're browsing the internet, it's a welcome feature.

1. Launch the Movies & TV app from the Start menu, desktop or taskbar.
2. Click a movie, trailer, or TV show to start playing it.

3. Click the Play in mini mode button. (It is located near the bottom-right corner of the window.)
4. Click the Leave mini mode button to return to the normal Movies & TV view.

This small window will stay on top of any other windows you have open. Click the top of the window and drag your mouse to move it around, or click a corner and drag to resize the window.

How to add personal videos to Movies & TV

If you already have media saved on your PC, you can import it into the Movies & TV app.

1. Launch the Movies & TV app from the Start menu, desktop or taskbar.
2. Click the More options button. (It looks like three dots.)

3. Click Settings.
4. Click Choose where we look for videos.

5. Click the Add folder button. Note that by default Windows 10 will add any media to your videos folder.
6. Click the folder you want to add.

7. Click Add this folder to Videos.
8. Click Done.

Want to remove a location?

1. Click the X in the top-right corner of the gray rectangle.
2. Click Remove Folder.

How to change the app's theme

Plenty of apps feature theme options, and Movies & TV is no different. You can change the background to something darker (and easier on the eyes), leave it light, or go with the theme you have set for your PC.

1. Launch the Movies & TV app from the Start menu, desktop or taskbar.
2. Click the More options button. (It looks like three dots.)

3. Click Settings.
4. Click a theme option. You can choose from:
   • Light
   • Dark
   • Use system settings

The Windows 10 Creators Update brings the Start menu a few new customization options to help make it feel more familiar.

You can now create and resize live folders to hold more apps in a smaller area, and you can remove the app list that normally appears on the left side of the Start menu. Let's take a look at how to create and customize live folders and how to hide your app list.

• How to create and customize a live folder in the Creators Update Start menu
• How to hide your app list in the Creators Update Start menu

How to create and customize a live folder in the Creators Update Start menu

Windows Mobile users will immediately recognize this feature that lets you group apps together into something called a live folder. This allows you to keep many more app tiles in your Start menu without having to expand the size. Here's how to create a live folder.

1. Click the Start button.
2. Click and drag a tile onto another tile. The live folder will be created automatically.
3. Click the up-arrow tile to close the live folder.

In some cases, you might want to resize the live folder so that all tiles within are visible, or perhaps you'd like to make the live folder smaller to save space.

1. Click the Start button.
2. Right-click the live folder.

3. Click Resize.
4. Click a size.

Did you add an app to a live folder and now want to remove it? No problem.

1. Click the Start button.
2. Click the live folder.
3. Click and drag a tile outside of the live folder.

How to hide your app list in the Creators Update Start menu

Further following the trend of having the Start menu on Windows 10 look more like the Windows Mobile Start screen; you can hide the list of your apps that normally appears when you click the Start button.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Personalization.

4. Click Start.
5. Click the switch below Show app list in Start menu so that it turns Off.

You can still see a list of your apps in the Start menu with the above option turned off.

1. Click the Start button.
2. Click the All apps button. It is located near the top-left corner of the Start menu and looks like a series of lines and boxes stacked atop each other.
3. Click the Pinned tiles button to return to the standard view. It looks like four tiles.

More Creators Update goodness

For more information on what the Creators Update for Windows 10 is all about, be sure to check out Zac Bowden's in-depth review. Also, check out our full guide to customizing your Start menu for more great tips and tricks.

• See the definitive Windows 10 Creators Update review
• How to customize your Start menu in Windows 10

When Windows 10 launched back in 2015, it quickly became apparent that Microsoft's new Windows Update system was a little forceful when it came to restarts, giving the user no choice outside of a warning that a restart would soon be taking place, along with unnecessarily large feature updates. This new update method was heavily criticized by the media and users, so much so that with the Windows 10 Creators Update Microsoft made several improvements that make Windows Update much more bearable.

Starting with the Creators Update, users will have much more control over when Windows should restart when an update is pending. No longer will Windows force you to restart at a specific time, giving the user the option to either snooze the pending update for later or manually pick a time for installation. You can't hold off the update forever, but you can delay it much more so than you could previously. So updates should no longer get in your way if you're in the middle of streaming a video game or rendering a video.

No longer will Windows force a restart when you're in the middle of using your PC. As one of the biggest complaints from Insiders, this is an excellent change and one that I'm sure many will appreciate. In addition to the improved restart control, Microsoft also extended Active Hours up to 18 hours, meaning users can tell Windows that it should never install updates for up to 18 hours in a day.

Unified Update Platform

The biggest change to Windows Update isn't a feature on the surface, but rather a change that happens behind the scenes. Before, with new feature updates, Windows 10 would download a full 3GB file no matter what the changes. This wasn't the case for smaller, monthly updates, but for the twice-a-year feature updates, 3GB is a pretty big size. With the Creators Update, Microsoft improved the download sizes for feature updates, making them up to 35 percent smaller.

This is most beneficial for users with slow or limited internet, or people on machines with a low amount of storage. Feature updates should be far smaller than they were previously thanks to what Microsoft is calling the "Unified Update Platform" (UUP) that it's using across PC and Mobile. Another benefit of UUP is quicker checking for update times, which is nice.

You can also completely pause updates from downloading and installing for up to seven days. This is only supposed to be used when an update is causing issues on your machine, but you can turn it on at any time if you need it. After the seven days are up, Windows 10 will require you to check for updates and then install them if they're available before you can pause updates for seven days again.

Microsoft made a lot of necessary improvements to Windows Update with Windows 10, so much so that most people shouldn't have any issues with it anymore. If you're someone who likes turning updates off completely, Windows 10 is not for you. Microsoft still doesn't allow you to turn off updates on Windows 10, and that's probably for the best. With the "Windows as a Service" module in full swing, the goal for Microsoft is to leave no user behind when new versions of Windows are available. Because of this, you can't turn off updates, but you can delay them and control them easier with the Creators Update.

The Windows 10 Creators Update will be officially available starting April 11.

The Creators Update for Windows 10 has brought a ton of new features, one of which is the night light. It is a welcome addition that cuts down on blue light coming from your screen. Why does this matter? Excessive blue light can cause damage to your eyes and can disrupt your natural sleep pattern.

Let's take a look at how exactly night light works and how to program it to your needs.

• How to enable night light
• How to manually turn on night light
• How to schedule night light
• How to change the color temperature of night light

How to enable night light

First, we need to enable night light in Windows 10 settings.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click System.

4. Click Display.
5. Click the switch beneath Night light so that it turns On.

Night light is now enabled but it might not be on due to scheduling settings based on your location.

How to manually turn on night light

Instead of setting a schedule for night light, you can simply turn it on manually.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Click Settings.

3. Click System.
4. Click Display.

5. Click Night light settings.
6. Click Turn on now.

There is also a new Action Center button that lets you manually turn on night light.

1. Click the Action Center button in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
2. Click Night light.

To turn it off from the Action Center, simply click the night light button again.

How to schedule night light

If you'd rather not turn night light on and off manually, you can set a schedule. For the automatic schedule, location services must be enabled on your PC. Don't want to enable location services? You can set your own schedule.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click System.

4. Click Display.
5. Click Night light settings.

6. Click the switch below Schedule night light so that it turns On. By default, night light will be scheduled to turn on between the times relevant to your location. Continue these steps to set custom hours.
7. Click Set hours.

8. Click the field below Turn on.
9. Set a time to turn on.

10. Click the checkmark when you're satisfied with a time.
11. Click the field below Turn off.

12. Set a time to turn off.
13. Click the checkmark when you're satisfied with a time.

How to change the color temperature of night light

If you find that the color isn't quite right when night light is enabled, you can change the temperature.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Click Settings.

3. Click System.
4. Click Display.

5. Click Night light settings.
6. Click and drag the bar on the slider below Color temperature at night.

More information about the Windows 10 Creators Update

If you're wondering exactly what the Creators Update is all about, be sure to check out Zac Bowden's amazing review.

See the definitive Windows 10 Creators Update review

With the Windows 10 Creators Update, Microsoft has updated the "out-of-box experience", also known as the setup experience encountered when booting a new PC for the first time or clean installing Windows. Not only did Microsoft give it a redesign, but they added additional steps, and above all introduced Cortana integration along with voice commands.

As with all new things in the Creators Update, we thought it'd be a good idea to give you a good look at the new setup experience.

So to begin, you'll find Cortana is the first thing you see when setting up Windows. Cortana will introduce you to the setup process, and ask you to get started. You can use either your voice, or a more traditional mouse/keyboard/touch if you prefer. You will only ever need to say "yes" or "no" for the options in which you can use your voice. In the event of a scenario where the options are more complicated, you will be required to use a hardware peripheral.

It's also worth noting that you can turn off Cortana's voice with the Microphone icon at the bottom left of the screen.

The first options to choose from are to do with your system language. Choose your region, and language, with a new option to add additional keyboard languages to Windows before reaching the desktop. You can use Cortana voice commands for "yes" or "no" in this part of the setup.

You'll then be prompted to accept the Windows 10 license agreement. Again, you can either say "yes", or use your mouse/keyboard/touch. And no, you can't say no. Well you can, but you won't be able to proceed further unless you say yes.

Cortana will then ask you to setup your network. If you're connected via ethernet, it'll skip this part, otherwise it'll ask you to select a WiFi hotspot. You can skip this if you'd like. If you do connect to a network, Windows 10 will automatically begin checking for any critical updates before moving on to the next part of the setup process.

Next you'll begin setting up your account. You can choose between either a work account or Microsoft account. If you don't know which to choose, you likely want to select Microsoft Account. This is one of those areas in which voice commands don't work, and you have to use a hardware peripheral to select your option.

Now you are prompted to sign into your Microsoft account. If you don't have one, you can register for one at this screen. You can also skip having to use a Microsoft account by hitting the "offline account" button. You can now enter your password, and you'll also be prompted to setup a PIN if you want.

You will now have the option to turn on or off OneDrive syncing with files. If you've used OneDrive before, this setup screen will recognize that and inform you of how much storage you have left on your OneDrive account. If not, Cortana will give you a brief overview of what OneDrive is. You can use voice commands for this part.

We're almost finished. After you choose your OneDrive settings, Cortana will then prompt you to setup Cortana… yeah. You can choose to use Cortana or not use Cortana, this setting doesn't change whether Cortana will help you out during the setup process. You can also enable "Hey Cortana" here, which allows you to activate Cortana hands free.

The next screen is important, as it allows you to control all your privacy settings in Windows 10. Microsoft spent a lot of time redesigning this screen to make it simple and easy to understand, so make sure you read everything and select the options that you want. By default, everything is set to on, which for most people is fine. This is another screen where you have to use a hardware peripheral, and can't use voice commands.

And that's it, you'll then be taken to your new Windows 10 Creators Update desktop after Windows sorts out a few things behind the scenes!

Today, Microsoft released the Windows 10 Creators Update a little early to those willing to take the plunge, and now it has a treat for developers to coincide. The Creators Update SDK is now available, letting developers tap into some of the new tweaks and features introduced with the latest big update to Windows 10.

There are a ton of new capabilities for developers to take advantage of, ranging from more secure Windows Hello integration for apps to Bluetooth GATT support, which is critical for notifications on wearables. Developers can also take advantage of more powerful APIs for Surface Dial, along with improvements to the inking experience, API support for the Windows Mixed Reality platform, and much, much more. For a full, detailed look at what's new for developers, you can check out Microsoft's developer documentation.

If you want to dive in right away, you can download the latest Windows 10 SDK directly from Microsoft to start getting your apps ready for the Creators Update's full rollout on April 11.

Microsoft may be dropping even more Windows phone devices from its list of supported handsets with the Creators Update, as a new report from ZDNet today claims that only 13 handsets will be eligible for the Windows 10 Mobile Creators Update starting April 25th.

The list is pretty depressing, with only the Lumia 640/XL, 550, 650 and 950/XL being the only Microsoft-made devices eligible for the Creators Update. All other Lumia devices, including the Lumia 930 and 1520, have been omitted from the list, meaning it appears they won't be getting the update.

Microsoft issued the following statement to ZDNet when asked if the list is true:

So Microsoft hasn't exactly confirmed that they are dropping support for most Windows phones, but at the same time they haven't denied it either. It'll be an interested next couple of weeks to see if the list of real or not. For those curious, here is the full list of devices that are rumored to be getting the Creators Update on Mobile:

• Alcatel IDOL 4S
• Alcatel OneTouch Fierce XL
• HP Elite x3
• Lenovo Softbank 503LV
• MCJ Madosma Q601
• Microsoft Lumia 550
• Microsoft Lumia 640/640XL
• Microsoft Lumia 650
• Microsoft Lumia 950/950 XL
• Trinity NuAns Neo
• VAIO VPB051

This is an odd decision if true, as the Creators Update actually runs better on older hardware than the Anniversary Update. Hopefully Microsoft has an explanation if the list is true, as the "fans" deserve at least that.

If Microsoft is killing support for all those older devices, then it begs the question, what happens when the next release of Windows 10 Mobile arrives in the fall? How much longer do the Lumia 550, 650 and 950 have? All very important questions.

Microsoft has today opened the floodgates to anyone who's interested in updating to the Windows 10 Creators Update early by releasing an updated Media Creation Tool that does exactly that, update you to the Creators Update. The Media Creation Tool actually has two functions, upgrade a current installation or create new install media for clean installing on another PC.

The upgrade now option will now take you to the Creators Update, so those on the Anniversary Update or lower can now jump to the Creators Update before its April 11th rollout. Microsoft announced last week that it would allow users to start upgrading early on April 5th via the upgrade tool, which is exactly what this is.

What's more, it appears the Creators Update is slowly becoming available to anyone who has the Windows 10 Update Assistant installed, a separate app that does the same thing, although with a much more simple user-interface.

Regardless, the Creators Update is now officially available and will begin its actual rollout on April 11 to a selection of 1st party and 3rd party devices in waves before rolling out to the masses over the next few weeks and months. Let us know if you'll be updating to the Creators Update today!

• Download the Windows 10 Creators Update
• Windows 10 Creators Update common installation problems and fixes

There are quite a few bigger features coming in the Windows 10 Creators Update that have garnered much of the spotlight so far, but Microsoft has started highlighting some more under-the-hood improvements on the way as well. In a new blog post, Microsoft has outlined some of the improvements it is making to one of those smaller changes, high-DPI scaling.

One major change is the addition of an option to force desktop apps to run as a DPI-unaware process. This comes in handy if you're trying to run a desktop app that doesn't render well on a high DPI display. The result is that, while the app may look blurry, it should be sized correctly. This option includes a total of three settings, each of which renders differently:

• Application: This forces the process to run in per-monitor DPI awareness mode. This setting was previously referred to as "Disable display scaling on high-DPI settings." This setting effectively tells Windows not to bitmap stretch UI from the exe in question when the DPI changes
• System: This is Windows' standard way of handling system-DPI aware processes. Windows will bitmap stretch the UI when the DPI changes
• System (Enhanced): GDI Scaling

Internet Explorer is also picking up per-monitor DPI awareness with the Creators Update. Now, when you move IE to a display with a different DPI (or change the DPI of a display it's on), the window and its UI elements should scale correctly. Desktop icons will also see some love, with correct scaling when using a display in extended mode alongside another with different display scaling values.

The changes Microsoft has in the pipeline for the Creators Update are an extension of work it already began with the release of last year's Anniversary Update. There's still work to be done, as a number of issues still remain. However, these changes should help to alleviate some particularly annoying display issues caused by current DPI scaling issues. And while these are the user-facing changes Microsoft is preparing for the update, it has a number of tweaks up its sleeve for developers to check out as well.

You may or may not have noticed, but the Windows 10 Creators Update is somewhat more a "minor" update than a "major" one, like larger feature releases are supposed to be. Microsoft had a lot planned for the Creators Update (Redstone 2), and while a lot of what it had scheduled for Redstone 2 made it into the final release, a few of the bigger changes did not.

So, what exactly did Microsoft have planned for Redstone 2 that eventually got cut? Quite a few things, a lot of which were shown off in a feature video released by Microsoft alongside the announcement of the Creators Update. Some of those features are more notable than others, such as My People and Groove Music maker. Let's take a closer look at what isn't in the Creators Update.

My People

This is probably the most obvious feature that isn't in the Creators Update. Microsoft announced a few weeks prior to the Creators Update being finalized that My People had been delayed, likely due to the fact that Microsoft engineers were not going to be able to get it done in time for the release of the Creators Update.

My People is a new feature that allows you to pin your favorite contacts to the task bar for quick messaging and file sharing. It has a new popup-like UI that extends from the task bar, so you don't have to deal with any apps when interacting with My People. It's an excellent idea, which is why it's such a shame it was delayed.

The My People feature delay was quite a big blow, because for many people it was the biggest and most exciting feature coming in the Creators Update. Microsoft assures us that My People will show up in the next release of Windows 10, which is currently codenamed Redstone 3. Windows Central can confirm that some of the latest internal Redstone 3 builds include some early My People code, so it shouldn't be long before Insiders can play with this feature.

Groove Music Maker

This is an odd one, because Microsoft didn't actually talk about it. Instead, it was shown for just a second in the feature video for the Creators Update in October last year, and we've not heard or seen anything since. I asked around regarding this feature, and sources claim it's still something that's coming and hasn't been "canceled", at least not yet.

Since it's an app, Groove Music Maker can, in theory, show up at any time, because it doesn't have to be tied to a major Windows release unless it's relying on new API's that aren't available in the Creators Update.

What's peculiar about Groove Music Maker is Microsoft has remained incredibly tight-lipped regarding what it actually is. Hopefully, Microsoft will be willing to comment on this feature at some point this year, perhaps at the Build conference in May.

Improved Notification Center

Here's another feature that wasn't talked about by Microsoft but was briefly shown in the Creators Update feature video. Improvements to the Notification Center were there, with a slight redesign and improvements to the Quick Access area and additional sliders that would make changing things such as brightness a lot more natural.

All of these improvements are missing from the Creators Update, making us think they've been pushed back to Redstone 3. As it currently stands, the Quick Action feature in the Creators Update is the same as it was in the Anniversary Update, and none of the improvements shown in the Creators Update feature video are present.

Some Notification Center changes did make it, however, such as Cortana being able to display hero images in reminders. So not all has been lost. Hopefully we'll see the remainder of the Notification Center improvements make their way to Windows 10 with Redstone 3 in the fall.

Windows Capture 3D

It's rare to see Microsoft showcase Windows 10 Mobile features on stage, but at the Windows 10 Creators Update event it did just that. Microsoft demoed a new app called Windows Capture 3D, which is missing from the Creators Update that's shipping next week. Microsoft says it is still working on it but hasn't given a time frame for release.

Windows Capture 3D, as far as I know, is an app that'll be coming to more than just Windows 10 Mobile, which may be the reason why we've yet to see this app show up anywhere. Regardless, as another touted feature of the Creators Update, it's safe to say this feature has also been delayed until further notice.

Windows Mixed Reality (sort of)

Windows Mixed Reality is a thing in the Creators Update, but as of right now it's mostly just for developers. Microsoft says that Mixed Reality headsets will be available for consumers starting in the fall, which is also when Redstone 3 is supposed to launch. So as it currently stands, for most of the 400 million Windows 10 users, Mixed Reality isn't available yet.

Microsoft did in fact ship working code for Mixed Reality in the Creators Update, so I'm willing to let this one slide.

OneDrive Placeholders

Microsoft said back in 2016 that it was working on bringing back OneDrive Placeholders to Windows 10 and even demoed placeholders working on an old Threshold 2 build. With that in mind, it'd make sense to see OneDrive Placeholders show up with the Creators Update, right? Apparently not.

OneDrive Placeholders are now scheduled for Redstone 3 in the fall, meaning the Creators Update misses out on yet another feature that it really should've had. There's no reason why OneDrive Placeholders couldn't have made their way into the Creators Update, but at least waiting for Redstone 3 means Microsoft will be able to fine tune it some more.

Better luck next time?

A lot of these features were delayed, and it's likely we'll see them show up in the next release of Windows 10 in the fall. My People is a definite contender for Redstone 3, and it'd be nice to see some of those other Notification Center improvements show up too. Of course, there are several new features in the plans for Redstone 3, which I'm also excited to see.

Microsoft is already well under way developing Redstone 3, and we're expecting to hear more about what Redstone 3 will bring to the table at Build in May. In the meantime, what are you most looking forward to with Redstone 3?

Microsoft is today rolling out two new cumulative updates for Insiders running the Windows 10 Creators Update on PC, that bring more under the hood fixes and enhancements on the lead-up to general availability on April 11th.

Today's new cumulative updates are build 15063.13 and 15063.14. Build 15063.13 is rolling out to the Slow and Release Preview rings, and 15063.14 is rolling out to the Fast ring.

Here's what's fixed in 15063.13:

• We fixed an issue where printer connections from clients running older versions of Windows (V3-XPS-based-drivers) failed to connect to clients running the Windows 10 Creators Update.
• We fixed an issue where on some devices like the Surface Pro 3, the Windows audio device graph isolation would max out CPU utilization due to being stuck in an endless loop due to defective Realtek APOs.

Build 15063.14 includes the same fixes about plus one additional fix:

• We fixed an issue where non-suspendable processes would suspend after waking a device.

These cumulative updates are rolling out now and should install much like any normal update. No news regarding new cumulative updates for Mobile just yet, so stay tuned to Windows Central for that.

It was a super busy last week, with Microsoft confirming April 11 as the general availability day for the Creators Update, along with bringing the Surface Book Performance Base to new markets. We also talk about the new WhartonBrooks Windows Phone, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and more on this weeks show!

Help us make this show the best Microsoft podcast in the world. Tell your friends, share it on social media using the hashtag #wcpodcast, and give us a five-star rating wherever you download your podcasts! Thank you so much for listening!

We've got two options for you, either the video podcast or the audio podcast, both featuring the same content.

Show Notes

• 1:40: Windows 10 Creators Update PC
• 9:20: Windows 10 Creators Update Mobile
• 19:40 Surface Book Performance Base new markets
• 32:00 WhartonBrooks Windows Phone
• 41:46 Microsoft Galaxy S8
• 1:10:10 Lyft app for Windows 10/Mobile

Subscribe to the podcast

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Hosts

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

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The latest update to the Xbox One OS is rolling out in waves, but you can force the update now by heading into your settings, selecting System, and then hitting Update.

The Xbox One Creators Update brings a wealth of new features that not only promote creativity but also refine the user experience in important and powerful ways.

This update is in addition to a wider range of features and improvements hitting all devices in the Windows 10 family, including PCs and Mobile. For more information on what's to come, head over to our comprehensive Windows 10 Creators Update review for PCs.

As far as Xbox goes, here's a quick look at what you can expect from the latest build.

The biggest features include:

• Beam.pro app and broadcasting.
• Refined home screen.
• New guide for quick access of pins, Game DVR, and more.
• A new Achievement tracking interface.
• Filtering and sorting for Games & Apps.
• Filtering for the Xbox community feed.

There are also several under-the-hood improvements and tweaks that drastically increase the speed of the dashboard, giving it a huge boost in usability.

Sadly, we lost "snap mode" and picture-in-picture viewing for things such as TV and YouTube. We also lost some features from the Windows 10 Xbox app, including remote control for the IR blaster and the OneGuide.

We'll have a more comprehensive and detailed review on all the latest features in the Xbox One update in the future, but for now, take a look at the video and let us know what you think.

More: Xbox Insider Program

There are a ton of areas that are getting a little bit of love in the Windows 10 Creators Update, but one that may fly a bit under the radar in comparison to the rest is the Microsoft Maps platform. In a new blog post, Microsoft has highlighted some of the new tweaks and features coming to its Maps platform for developers with the Creators update, all of which the company hopes will make for a cleaner, smoother experience.

One of the biggest overall changes is the move to a new 3D Map engine. Both Road and Aerial maps support 3D views and elevations data, which lets developers place labels and points of interest in a more realistic way.

Additionally, a new MapBillboard API is shipping with the Creators Update to give developers a way to display images and signage on a 3D map. You can set an image to show up at a specific location, and it will scale with the rest of the scene as the camera zooms and pans, Microsoft says.

Also new with the Creators Update are a set of Map Styling APIs. The APIs do exactly what they say on the tin, letting developers "customize the look and feel of the map canvas on the fly." Developers working with the APIs can set specific styling characteristics of a layer to place the emphasis on certain parts of the canvas. Microsoft shows off just some of what can be accomplished with these controls, pointing to a Spooky Map it released in 2015 to celebrate Halloween.

Those are some of the highlights that developers will be able to leverage for maps in their apps, and Microsoft is hoping this will bring a more consistent look between web and UWP apps. For a full look at what's coming, including some more technical rundowns, check out Microsoft's full blog post.

In anticipation of the April 11th release of the Windows 10 Creators Update, Microsoft is pushing out a new cumulative update patch for those on Release Preview, Slow and Fast Insider rings today.

The patch will bump the OS from build 15063.0 to 15063.11 and is listed under the KB4016250 update.

Not much is fixed with this cumulative patch, but here is the changelog, which is important for Surface users:

• We fixed an issue where on Surface devices, Bluetooth radio fails to re-enumerate during hibernate/resume.
• We fixed an issue with McAfee Enterprise to prevent a system crash when the product driver is installed on build 15060 configured with Device Guard.

As usual, Microsoft asks for any feedback on build 15063 and today's cumulative update to help make the April 11 rollout smoother for customers.

For Windows 10 Mobile a cumulative update went out a few days ago, to bring the OS to 15063.2. Microsoft also announced an April 25 release for the Creators Update for Mobile users.

If you're not already part of the Insider program, you can read our deep dive review of the Windows 10 Creators Update to learn about what is coming on April 11.

In case you still had doubts that build 15063 was "RTM", Microsoft has today pushed said build to the Release Preview ring on PC, meaning build 15063 will indeed be the build that rolls out to the public starting April 11.

The Release Preview ring is the final Insider ring before the production channel of updates, where Microsoft is expected to start rolling out build 15063 on April 11. Microsoft announced today that it would allow non-insiders to upgrade to the Creators Update early, starting April 5th via the Update Assistant tool.

If you'd rather wait, you can expect Microsoft to begin the official rollout on April 11, and will rollout in waves over the course of 2017. Microsoft will target a whitelist of newer devices first, and slowly roll out to older devices over the next several months.

If you're an Insider in the Release Preview ring, you can expect to see build 15063 making its way to you now on PC. It'll install much like any other update, but may take a little longer than usual to download and install.

While the Windows 10 Creators Update is set to start rolling out to desktop PCs on April 11, Windows 10 Mobile users will start seeing it roll out a bit later on April 25.

Though we knew the Mobile rollout was likely to occur later than desktop, there was no firm date before. Microsoft has now confirmed April 25 as the Mobile rollout date in a new blog post on the Creators Update desktop release:

Because of the phased rollout schedule, not everyone will see the update arrive on day one. Given the somewhat slow rollout that we saw with the Anniversary Update, it could be some time before all devices eligible for the update receive it.

Aside from the note on the Mobile release date, Microsoft has also given us a bit of good news for those eager to get their hands on the Creators Update for desktop earlier than April 11. For anyone who wants to take the dive, Microsoft says you can start manually upgrading to the Creators Update on April 5 through the Update Assistant.

Microsoft is rolling out a major update for the Xbox One today that includes a faster, improved Dashboard, Beam Streaming and a whole lot more. This update has been in testing under the name "Version 1703" with Xbox Insiders for several weeks now, and today it's finally rolling out to the public.

The update, as mentioned above, includes some much needed improvements to the Dashboard and Xbox Guide. No longer will a single tap of the guide button take you to the Dashboard, but rather it'll take you directly to the Xbox Guide, which no longer lags when opening during a game.

There's also Beam Streaming, Microsoft's new game streaming service is now built directly into Xbox One. You can access Beam Streaming via the improved Xbox Guide, and is entirely configurable with options such as using your Kinect cam, Microphone, and a whole lot more.

Microsoft said in an official announcement:

Microsoft says the update will be rolling out to all Xbox One users at some point today. If your Xbox One is configured with Instant On, the update should install automatically when available.

On April 11, Microsoft will roll out its next major update for Windows 10, which introduces a new set of features and enhancements to the OS. The update will roll out under the name "Creators Update," and is as its name implies, and update focused on being creative with Windows 10. Although the update is aimed at "creators," a lot of the features coming in the update benefit everyone, which is reassuring because the update will be rolling out to everyone for free.

The Creators Update is the third major update to Windows 10 since the original launch in July 2015. The Creators Update is the first of two major updates scheduled for 2017, meaning more improvements are on the way. I'm personally not much of a fan of the name "Creators Update," because there aren't that many new features directly for creators. The update is more well-rounded than that, bringing a selection of new features that everyone will enjoy.

Without further ado, this is our in-depth Windows 10 Creators Update review.

• Video walkthrough
• Start menu and Action Center
• Microsoft Edge
• Cortana
• Windows Update
• Night Light
• Gaming
• Apps
• Privacy
• Security
• Conclusion

Video walkthrough

If reading isn't your thing, check out our detailed 26-minute video walkthrough of all the most noteworthy changes and features coming in the Creators Update.

Start menu and Action Center

In what seems like a natural evolution of the Start menu, Microsoft finally added the ability to create "live folders" with the Creators Update, which can be pinned to your Start menu, just like how you can on a Windows Phone. You simply click and drag one tile over another tile, and the live folder will automatically create itself. You get a nice overview of all the apps in that folder, and have a number of tile-resize options too. As of right now, there's no way to name these folders, however, which is something that I would like to have seen be added.

Microsoft also added a new option that allows you to remove the Apps List from displaying front and center whenever you open the Start menu. By default, you'll still see your Apps List, but if you toggle a new setting in the Settings app, you can hide it in a submenu, allowing you to make your Start menu look even more like a Windows Phone's Start screen without all the clutter of the Apps List. Of course, you can still get access to the Apps List via the hamburger menu. I'm personally really happy to see this new option in the Creators Update, and is one that I've switched on with all my devices.

Even with the Apps List minimized, typing on the Start Menu still works so you can instantly begin searching for whatever you like. Being able to remove the Apps List makes for a much cleaner and streamlined Start menu experience, though I know many power users will disagree.

There hasn't been any huge redesign of the Start menu, which is a good thing in my book. It appears Microsoft finally settled on a Start menu design that it likes, so it should remain with us for the foreseeable future. It's the same story with the Action Center, nothing appears to have changed on the surface, but there are a couple additional functions worthy of note.

For example, apps that are currently installing or updating will see a progress bar directly in the Action Center. There's also a new "Night Light" toggle in the quick access area, a feature that we'll talk more about shortly. Cortana now has the ability to create notifications that feature large text, which stand out when buried under a number of other notifications. But apart from that, everything else is pretty much the same.

There are still some oddities in regards to the UI between the Start menu, Action Center and taskbar. While both the Start menu and Action Center feature have blurred transparency, the taskbar doesn't. What that means is you're getting two different kinds of transparency with elements that are seemingly connected. Why? Who knows. Microsoft hasn't fixed the issue with the Creators Update. though.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft's built-in web browser for Windows 10 has come a long way since it first debuted in 2015. It has gained extensions, become more reliable and has improved dramatically under the hood, so much so with the Creators Update I'm not afraid to recommend it as a default browser to anyone trying out Windows 10. The Creators Update brings some new, unique features to the table for Edge that make browsing the web a little less complicated.

There's a whole bunch of new improvements to how Edge manages tabs with the Creators Update. Now I'm not someone who browses the web with 10s or 100s of tabs, but if you are, Edge has some pretty neat tab saving features that I think you'll like. Microsoft's new "Set tabs aside" feature allows you to save your current browsing session for later, creating an entire new browsing session without losing the one you just saved.

This is great for those who have lots of tabs open but who also want a clean browsing experience. Instead of having all those tabs open at the top of the browser, you can now set them aside and come back to them later. I noticed that setting tabs aside doesn't keep the tabs "open", because when you restore the tabs from whatever session it is you're restoring, they all have to reload again.

I believe this feature will benefit the likes of students more than anyone, as it allows you to quickly save a current browsing session for later. For example, imagine writing a report and you have a number of research tabs open in Edge. You decide half way through writing that you're done for now, but you need these tabs for when you return to writing. Instead of bookmarking each tab individually, you can just set the current browsing session aside and come back to it later.

This is a great feature, but what's annoying is there's no way to turn it off. The button that sets the browsing session aside is located at the top left of the window, next to your open tabs. I've found myself accidently hitting the set tabs aside button numerous times, which as a result closes all my tabs and saves them for later. It's just a couple button clicks to restore the browsing session, but it's still pretty annoying that you can't turn it off.

Under the hood, Microsoft made several improvements. There's a new Web Payments API that developers can tap into, similar to Apple Pay on the web, where websites can offer Microsoft Wallet payments that tap into the user's Microsoft Account. Microsoft also says that there have been improvements made to Cortana, which can help you when browsing the web with coupons, lyrics, additional information and more.

Microsoft will also be disabling Flash by default within Edge with the Creators Update in an attempt to boost security when browsing the web. Also with the Creators Update Microsoft Edge becomes the first browser to support Netflix streaming at 4K. But it only works on devices with 4K screens, obviously.

Finally, there's a new Books area built directly into Edge. There's also a new Book Store available in the Windows Store, and when you purchase a book from there it gets automatically added to your Edge book shelve where you can read them and save them for later. Edge acts as both a web browser and book reader with the Creators Update. I'd much rather have seen Microsoft build a dedicated Book reader app, but at least the functionality is there.

Cortana

With the Creators Update, you can expect to find Cortana popping up in even more places that you wouldn't normally expect to find it. Most notably, Cortana now powers the entire set up experience when setting up a new Windows 10 PC for the first time. What this means is you can now use your voice to set up your PC rather than a mouse and keyboard, if you choose.

Cortana will literally walk you through the setup process, almost like a personal guide. It'll explain to you what most of the options do, and then prompt you to say "yes" or "no" for any given options that are on screen. It's not as fast as the old setup method, but for your "average Joe", the new setup experience is fine, and in my book it's better. Perhaps your technophobe relatives won't be calling you up for help anymore when setting up their new PCs for the first time.

Microsoft has also made several improvements to Cortana itself with the Creators Update. Microsoft wants Cortana to start working for you, rather than getting you to work for it. Although the company is not entirely there with that vision just yet, the first early signs of an entirely automated Cortana are beginning to show up. For example, Cortana will now offer suggested reminders, based on emails you send to colleagues, friends or family members.

What's more, there's a new Cortana feature called "pick up where I left off," which sees Cortana notify users of their most recent work, allowing them to get right back to what they were doing quickly and efficiently. Say you need to restart your computer. When you log back in, Cortana will pop up with quick links to jumping right back to where you were or whatever you had open.

Cortana can also apply the same functionality across devices. Say you're working in a document in Word on one device at work, then sign off and go home. When you power on your PC at home, Cortana will allow you to pick up where you left off in that document. All of this can be turned off if you wish, of course.

Will the Creators Update make you use Cortana more? I don't think so. But will Cortana work more for you? Absolutely. That's the end goal for Cortana I believe, a virtual assistant that feels just like a real one. The whole point of an assistant is for it to help you out when you need it, and it isn't always about ordering around whenever you need them. The problem with Cortana right now is that for the most part, I must order it around to do what I want it to.

With the Creators Update, that appears to be slowly changing. With Cortana now being more active and aware of the things I do, it can start being contextual and do things that I find helpful without me asking first. The suggested reminders are an excellent example of this. I wouldn't really use reminders before the Creators Update, because it was another thing that I had to go into and do. But now, with Cortana being smart and suggesting the reminders for me, I just have to say "yes" and the reminder is set. No need to think about it or go out of my way to get it added to Cortana's notebook.

Windows Update

Considering Microsoft is on a much faster release cadence for Windows these days, it makes sense to hear that the company overhauled the Windows Update experience with the Creators Update. Starting with the Creators Update, Windows Update will no longer have to download a full version of Windows whenever a major update is available. Instead, it'll only download the files needed to apply the update, meaning major updates can be up to 35 percent smaller when downloaded via Windows Update. This means less data use on your internet provider and faster downloads overall.

This is a huge change for Windows Update and one that is welcomed by many, especially those on limited internet connections. Microsoft calls this new Windows Update system the "Unified Update Platform," and it is now the same system used across both PC and Mobile devices powered by Windows. Microsoft says the Unified Update Platform means checking for updates should be quicker too, another bonus over the older system.

I've found the Unified Update Platform to be super beneficial, especially if you're an Insider upgrading build over build once a week. Instead of having to download a full 3GB file, the updates are now closer to 1GB. For normal consumers, you'll likely see anywhere from a decrease of 500MB to 1.5GB in download size when upgrading between major versions of Windows 10 once on the Creators Update.

Other changes to Windows Update include an improvement to Active Hours, which can now last up to 18 hours as requested by the immense amount of feedback Microsoft received from Insiders. Microsoft has also made changes to how Windows will install updates automatically. Windows will no longer force you to restart to install an update, and it will warn you several times that a restart is coming before it actually takes place.

Installing updates out of the blue is a thing Windows 10 has become known for over the last several months, where the likes of gamers streaming on services like Twitch were caught up with Windows 10 updates midstream because they hadn't installed updates earlier. The Creators Update appears to fix this problem, with several new warnings ahead of the actual restart. You can even set a time yourself for when the update will install, giving you as much control as possible over updates. There's also now a feature that allows you to delay feature updates from installing for up to seven days.

There's no way to turn off updates in Windows 10 still, and that's a good thing. Windows 10 is Microsoft's "Windows as a Service," and is designed to constantly be updated. You can now delay updates, but not forever. Microsoft wants everyone running the same version of Windows 10 as quickly as possible, which helps stop fragmentation between different versions of Windows and makes things easier for developers when building apps. So if you were hoping for Microsoft to allow you to turn off updates with the Creators Update, stop hoping.

'Night Light'

Staring at a screen all day can be tiring on the eyes, and at night it can actually trick the brain into thinking it's still taking in daylight. This happens due to screens emitting something called a blue light. Because of this, users who use their PCs late at night can sometimes find it much harder to go to sleep. To get around this, Microsoft has built into Windows 10 a new function that gives the screen a warm tint during the evenings, which as a result is more easy on the eyes and doesn't confuse the brain into thinking it's still day, meaning you can get to sleep easier when you're done.

The new feature is called Night Light and is built directly into Windows 10's settings app. It's off by default and has basic configurable options, such as changing the intensity of the warm tint and setting a scheduled time for it to come on automatically. It's essentially a simplified version of the incredibly popular f.lux utility that's been available for Windows for some time. I'm excited to see Night Light baked into Windows, as I'm someone who finds myself using PCs well into the night.

The scheduling option for Night Light is nice, but I've heard complaints from many that the warm tint comes on a little bit too fast. I've timed it, and I believe it takes around two minutes once the setting has been enabled to kick in fully, which is incredibly quick compared to f.lux's configurable options which can go up to an hour and beyond. The more gradual the warm tint, the less you notice it coming on.

Since Night Light's gradual turn on time is nonconfigurable, you're stuck with it taking two minutes every time it's set to automatically come on. If you manually turn it on, the change is instant of course, but most people want it to take longer, or at least have the option to make the turn on time longer. You can change the intensity of the warm tint, however, which is an excellent addition. You can have it be a much cooler color or a very warm color, where the very warm end of the spectrum is a lot more noticeable than the cooler end. Depending on how badly you are affected by blue light emission, you can adjust the intensity yourself, but the default option should be fine for most.

You can turn the feature on in Settings, and there's a quick-access toggle available in the Action Center too, which is excellent for quickly enabling the feature if you haven't got it set to come on automatically in the evenings.

Gaming

PC gaming has never really been a strong point for Microsoft, which is odd considering most PC gaming happens on Windows. With the Creators Update, however, Microsoft is starting to cater to the incredibly large and vocal PC gaming audience much more, with new features such as built-in streaming, performance enhancements and more.

Microsoft has built Beam streaming directly into the Windows 10 Creators Update, allowing PC gamers to stream their favorite games without any additional software directly to Microsoft's own streaming service. It's super simple and easy to use, and it hooks right into your Microsoft Account when you set it up for the first time.

Beam streaming, along with the ability to create local clips and screenshots, exists in the Game Bar, which with the Creators Update works in even more classic Windows PC games. What's more, there's a new dedicated section in the Settings app which brings old and new gaming settings to the forefront of Windows for PC gamers to configure. Everything from Beam streaming to Game Mode and more is available to tweak and change, much like a PC gamer would expect.

Game Mode is probably one of the more interesting new features arriving for PC gamers. Microsoft is touting Game Mode as a new feature that optimizes your PC to provide a much better and consistent gaming experience when playing intensive games. What it does is dedicate more graphics and processing power to whatever game you're playing, which as a result should give you a slight boost in frame rate, faster load times and a more stable gaming experience.

Game Mode actually works with older PC games too. Not only is it limited to newer, Windows Store games, but it's an excellent bonus for PC gamers who have their entire gaming libraries with Steam. You can enable Game Mode by opening the Game Bar and selecting the Settings button, but only after you enable it in System Settings first. All of these new gaming enhancements are also making their way to Xbox One, as well.

Overall, the new improvements for gamers with the Creators Update are an incentive alone to upgrade. Microsoft is taking PC gaming seriously again, and the Creators Update really shows it. Even without the Xbox integration Microsoft is pushing via the Windows Store, older Windows PC gamers should, in theory, perform better with Game Mode, if their games support it.

Apps

Alongside the Creators Update, Microsoft is also updating several stock apps that come bundled with Windows 10, including Mail, Groove and even Paint! Yes, Paint has been updated in the Creators Update, and is honestly one of the reasons this update is called the Creators Update. For whatever reason, Microsoft decided it was time to give Paint a new lick of ... well, paint. No longer is it that old, Win32-style program you've become so accustomed to. It's been redesigned and rebuilt as a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app, with a whole new twist on creativity.

Instead of being a lightweight image editor like it was in previous versions of Windows, Paint is now a full-fledged editor. No longer does it focus on the 2D aspect of creativity either. With the new Paint app being called "Paint 3D," you can probably guess it has a pretty big 3D spin on it. There's a whole new community area, too, where you can share your 3D creations and download other people's 3D creations. It's a little overkill, but considering your creations can be displayed as holograms on a device like the HoloLens, it's pretty cool.

It's also rocking a far more touch friendly user-interface, which is definitely a needed improvement over the older Paint app. It has Pen support, and is overall more powerful than the older Paint, which is to be expected. Now, for those of you who actually liked the older Paint app, there's nothing to be worried about. Microsoft hasn't removed the old Paint app from the system, so you can still access it by navigating to it in the Start menu.

Moving onto other updated system apps, Mail also received some love from Microsoft. There's a new Focused Inbox that categorizes your email into two sections: an inbox for your most important email, and all other mail. I personally find the Focused Inbox to be somewhat annoying, especially considering I'm constantly receiving emails from new contacts. Luckily you can turn the Focused Inbox off via the Mail app's own settings.

Other improvements to the Mail app include being able to "@ mention" anybody in your contact list and have them automatically included in the email chain when you send an email. Cortana can also read your email and automatically suggest reminders and other things without you having to manually request it to set a reminder.

Groove Music and Movies & TV have also received some new user-interface changes, which align their UIs further while also introducing a new pivot UI that older Windows phone fans may appreciate. Starting with the Creators Update, the Movies & TV app can now stream in either standard definition, Full HD or 4K, depending on whether the video you're renting or buying supports those definitions. This is excellent news for those early adopters jumping on the 4K bandwagon.

There's also a new picture-in-picture mode, which allows you to minimize the window into a much smaller one that stays on top of all your other open windows. It can be resized and moved, and it is great for when you need to watch something while doing something else at the same time on the same screen. This new picture-in-picture mode is something developers can tap into for their own apps. Skype can take advantage of this new picture-in-picture mode, for example.

The new Groove Music app removes Your Groove and replaces it with "Recommended music," which is essentially the same thing. It also introduces the same pivot-like UI found in the Movies & TV app. There are several smaller tweaks, including some much-needed performance enhancements that overall make both the Groove Music and Movies & TV apps a pleasure to use on the Creators Update.

Windows Photos, another essential Windows app has also received some new improvements. There's a search function that allows you to search keywords for specific things in your local or cloud-photo library. The app will automatically tag photos based on time, place, people and the things within a photo. For example, if you take a picture of the London Eye, then search for the term "London Eye" in the Photos app, it should pull up the photo you took.

The Settings app has also been tweaked, with some improvements that make using it far easier. A lot of Windows settings have been recategorized into more fitting areas, and a few areas have been redesigned completely. Some options have been changed from toggle switches to check marks, and sliders to drop down menus, making the app feel far more polished and complete.

What's more, there's a new troubleshooting area in the Update and Security section, which can help with fixing issues your PC may be having. There's a long list of potential problems that your PC could run into, and selecting each possible point of error will run a troubleshooter that attempts to fix the problem. I'm honestly surprised it wasn't there sooner.

There are a whole bunch of new Personalization settings, including a new Themes area that allows you to download and free and paid themes from the Windows Store. These themes can customize your wallpaper, accent color, cursor and sounds, although most of them as of right now simply customize the wallpaper and accent color. You've also got the option of setting any color for your accent too, instead of being limited to a specific amount like previously.

Microsoft also redesigned the Bluetooth area and gave every Settings page its own contextual sidebar with additional links to other system settings, including older Control Panel settings. Microsoft is slowly deprecating the Control Panel bit by bit, and with the Creators Update even more settings can now be found in the Settings app. The Creators Update definitely brings the best version of the Settings app yet.

Overall, a number of system apps have been updated, and if you're a user of any of the built-in Windows 10 apps, I'm confident you'll enjoy all these new improvements. But the updates to Groove and Mail will arrive via the Windows Store and not with the Creators Update itself, which is something to keep in mind.

Privacy

Microsoft is also making some changes to how users can configure and access privacy settings with the Creators Update. Previously, Microsoft had been heavily criticized for making privacy settings confusing and "out of the way" from users, making it difficult for people to adjust and customize their own privacy settings. In the Creators Update, Microsoft is putting privacy settings front and center in Windows 10.

If you're upgrading from a previous version of Windows, or from one of the older versions of Windows 10, you'll get a prompt when the upgrade completes, asking you to adjust all your new Windows 10 privacy settings. If you're setting up a new Windows 10 PC with the Creators Update, there's a new dedicated privacy settings screen that Microsoft rebuilt that gives detailed explanations for what each setting does, and how it benefits the user or Microsoft.

One example of how Microsoft has simplified privacy settings in Windows 10 is how it minimized the different levels of diagnostic data collected from three levels to just two: Basic and Full. The Basic level collects less data that gets sent to Microsoft. The Redmond giant says it is taking privacy control very seriously in Windows 10, and with the Creators Update it really shows.

There's also a new privacy dashboard that gives users an overview of all the privacy settings and options available on Windows 10. When logged into a Microsoft Account, you can see everything Windows is logging via the privacy dashboard, with options to clear data that you no longer need and adjust settings, without actually needing to be at your Windows 10 PC.

The privacy dashboard logs things such as websites browsed with Microsoft Edge, searches made with Cortana, location, and your Cortana Notebook. Again, with the new privacy settings in Windows 10, you can turn all of this off if you don't want the data to be logged, but if you do, the privacy dashboard is an excellent place to see everything going on with your devices and your Microsoft Account.

Microsoft is being far more transparent when it comes to privacy in Windows 10 with the Creators Update. After receiving a lot of criticism for handling privacy settings poorly in previous versions of Windows 10, the Creators Update puts Microsoft on the right track when it comes to privacy control, while making it simple and easy to understand what each privacy option does for the user, whether it is setting up a new Windows 10 PC for the first time or adjusting the settings later.

Security

Security is a big deal for Microsoft in Windows 10, with the company touting this latest version of Windows as the most secure Windows ever. And it definitely shows with new security enhancements for Windows Defender, new security settings and more. There's a new Windows Defender Security Center that gives you an overview of the security and health of your device, including quick access to functions such as quick-scan, firewall options, family settings and more.

The Defender app has a whole new look that falls perfectly in line with other Windows 10 apps, something that I think has been needed for a couple years. It'll now generate "health reports," and give you alerts for whenever Windows needs to scan or has scanned your PC. If there's a threat or a problem, Windows will let you know, and it will sometimes even let you know when there isn't a problem, which I find to be more annoying than anything.

Built into the Defender app is a new Fresh Start option, which is useful for when your PC is in a bad state. You could use the Refresh Windows option built into Settings, but the Fresh Start option in Windows Defender is a little more vigorous. If your PC comes preloaded with bloatware, the Fresh Start option won't restore that bloatware provided by your hardware maker, and will instead install a true clean version of Windows.

Unfortunately, unlike the Refresh Windows option, the Fresh Start functionality won't be able to save your already installed programs, which some might consider a good thing considering the option is literally to give your machine a fresh start. I find this function is great for when you want to clean-install a new version of Windows without downloading the ISO and copying the files to a USB drive first. It's more simple and convenient, which is excellent.

Microsoft also made some major improvements to Windows Hello, as it's now almost instant with facial recognition. If you use a Surface Pro, Surface Book or any Windows Hello-capable device with facial recognition, you'll find that with the Creators Update the authentication process is almost too quick to even notice it happening. This is honestly one of my favorite improvements made to Windows Hello since it debuted. Microsoft also made it so the preview window when setting up a new face with Windows Hello shows more detail as to what the sensor is actually looking at.

Other improvements to security in the Creators Update include a new Dynamic Lock feature, which when paired with your phone via Bluetooth will lock your PC automatically after a certain amount of time if you walk away from your device. With the Bluetooth connection between your phone, if you walk far enough away from your PC, that Bluetooth connection will break, and Windows will begin the Dynamic Lock process, which waits a minute or two and then locks the device until your phone is back in Bluetooth range.

It's a great feature in theory, but it's flawed by a lack of configurable options. For example, I find that with my Windows Phone, my PC will just lock itself when I'm using it because my phone dropped out of Bluetooth connectivity for reasons unknown. There's also no way to adjust how long Windows will wait before it locks after the Bluetooth connection has dropped.

Moving onto more security enhancements, there's a new option that blocks all programs from installing from outside the Windows Store, essentially locking the user to the Windows Store for all their apps and games. Now before you panic, this option is off by default and as far as I'm aware, Microsoft has no plans on changing that. This is a security feature that can be enabled if the user wants, as it keeps your PC secure by refusing to run any application executables that aren't from the Store itself.

Most individuals likely don't want that extra level of security, which is entirely understandable. But enterprises might. I also find myself turning this feature on for devices like tablets, where I know I won't be needing any programs from the web anyway. What's more, if you'd rather have the feature on but still use the added security of blocking applications from installing from outside the Store, you can install your programs first and then enable the installer block. This way, your already installed programs will continue to launch, but new ones won't be able to install unless you turn the block off again.

Windows 10 Creators Update review: Conclusion

The Creators Update brings many more changes under the hood than on the surface, and that's not a bad thing. The Windows Update improvements, for example, are some of the biggest and most exciting changes coming in Windows 10 Creators Update. Nobody likes constant software updates, so it's great to see Microsoft making necessary changes to the Windows Update module to help cater to those who don't like installing updates all the time.

It's also great to see Microsoft further improving some in-house apps, including Groove, Mail and Settings. I love that the Settings app is now more appropriately categorized, with some options within settings being redesigned to better suit the configuration ability that they offer. Night Light is another excellent feature added to Windows, although I would definitely like to see it evolve with more configurable options with the next release of Windows 10, because right now the feature is pretty bare.

I also really like some of the smaller changes made to the Creators Update. Things like sidebars only show up when you hover your mouse over them but otherwise remains a thin line, which looks so much better.

There are also several battery life improvements, changes to the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth setup processes, and a whole lot more. The Creators Update is much more of a refinement update than anything, and I absolutely love that. The Anniversary Update basically perfected the original Windows 10 release, and now the Creators Update brings even more refinements. I think we're at a point now in which I can confidently say if you're still using an older version of Windows, the Creators Update is now the version of Windows 10 that is ready for you.

Now we're at a point in which Windows 10 is essentially solid, and I'm hoping Microsoft will start pushing the boat out again with the next major release of Windows 10 slated for the fall. I'd like to see some user interface overhauls, something that doesn't appear to have happened with the Creators Update. The Creators Update looks just like the Anniversary Update, which I think was done on purpose to encourage users to upgrade faster. That's fine, but I do believe it's time to give the Windows 10 UI a fresh coat of paint.

I'm not a fan of the update's name, but that's not really a problem. There are also no improvements to Tablet Mode, which is a bummer considering the Tablet Mode experience with Windows 10 is far from perfect. I was hoping to see more Windows 8-era tablet features and functions make their way back into Windows 10 with the Creators Update, much like some of them did with the Anniversary Update, but that didn't happen.

I'm also really not a fan of the fact that I can't turn off "set tabs aside" in Edge. At least give me the option to customize my tabs area the way I like within Edge. I'm constantly hitting the set tabs aside button accidently, which closes all my tabs and saves them for later.

Is the Windows 10 Creators Update the best version of Windows 10 yet? Absolutely. Do I recommend you upgrade? Absolutely. Windows 10 is finally good, and it's time to start taking advantage of all the new Windows 10 improvements, especially if you're still using Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

Pros:

• Much needed improvements.
• Far more refined.
• Windows Update improvements.
• Night Light!

Cons:

• Its name.
• No improvements to tablet mode.
• Unable to name live folders.
• Can't turn off "set tabs aside" feature in Edge.

See at the Microsoft Store

More related resources

• Windows 10 Support Forums at Windows Central
• Windows 10 Tips, Tricks, and How-tos

Microsoft today announced that the Windows 10 Creators Update will begin its official rollout on April 11 to more 400 million Windows 10 users. The release falls on the same day as its April Patch Tuesday release, when the company is expected to release new security patches for Windows. Much like the Anniversary Update, the Creators Update will roll out in waves, targeting certain Anniversary Update devices before being rolled out to everyone during the weeks following April 11.

The Creators Update has been in the works for almost a year at this point, and it is packing a whole bunch of new features and enhancements for not only "creators" but your average user too. Things such as "Night Light," Windows Update improvements, stock app updates and more are all included.

Check out our full Windows 10 Creators Update review here for the complete analysis of what's new.

It's also worth mentioning that in an attempt to make privacy control easier in Windows 10, the Creators Update will prompt you to review your privacy settings before installation is complete. This should help with transparency between Microsoft and its customers, as privacy has been a big talking point around Windows 10 for some time. With the Creators Update, Microsoft wants to rectify any bad press it received in the past in regards to poor privacy settings.

Again, the Windows 10 Creators Update will begin to roll out on April 11 for Windows 10 users for free. If you're already running the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, you don't have to worry about anything. Windows 10 will automatically pick up the update and begin to install it when the update is ready for you.

Microsoft is rolling out the first cumulative update build release for the Windows 10 Mobile Creators Update today which features one new fix that allows users to upgrade directly from the Anniversary Update to the Creators Update. The release of today's new build is further confirmation that build 15063 is indeed the final build that will be rolling out to the public in April.

Right now, build 15063.2 is only available in the Fast ring for Mobile users, as it contains a single fix for Mobile only. We assume it'll roll out to Slow, and the Release Preview ring pretty soon as this is the build that allows upgrades from the Anniversary Update. It's unknown when we'll see our first cumulative update for the Creators Update reach Insiders on desktop, but I'm willing to be it'll be soon.

Microsoft is now on path to general availability of the Windows 10 Creators Update, after several months of development and releasing pre-release builds to Insiders. Over the next couple weeks, Insiders should receive several new cumulative updates for both PC and Mobile via the Fast, Slow and Release Preview rings before the Creators Update rolls out to the public.

Update: Some users are reporting several issues with using this tool, likely because this is a leak and Microsoft aren't ready for it to be used yet. We suggest avoiding it for the time being. Original article follows.

If you're a Microsoft fan and not a Windows Insider, we've got some good news for you. A test version of the Upgrade Advisor tool Microsoft plans to use for the Windows 10 Creators Update has leaked from Microsoft's own servers, allowing anyone to now download the Creators Update officially and get upgraded to build 15063.

Of course, considering we're still a couple of weeks away from the Creators Update rolling out officially, there are still some last minute bugs that Microsoft will probably want to squash. So keep in mind that if you install the Creators Update today via the leaked Upgrade Advisor, you might run into some minor issues before Microsoft starts patching them, hopefully this week.

Microsoft also released ISOs for the Creators Update to Insiders today. Although several people are confused by the naming of the ISOs, the build 15063 ISOs are indeed the "RTM" (Release To Manufacturing) ISOs for the Creators Update, and will be renamed and distributed elsewhere when Microsoft is ready to do so. For now, if you'd like to clean install the Creators Update with an ISO, the Insider Preview ISOs are the way to go as they'll give you the same RTM build anyway.

As I exclusively revealed a few weeks ago, Microsoft is planning an April 11th launch for the Windows 10 Creators Update, first targeting a select list of Anniversary Update devices, and eventually rolling out to everyone over the weeks following April 11. This is similar to how Microsoft rolled out the Anniversary Update, by doing it in waves to minimize widespread damage had anything gone wrong.

If you're interested in grabbing the leaked installer for yourself, check this link (via WalkingCat) to get started.

Thanks for the tip, Christopher Fernandez!

As it turns out, Microsoft does care about Windows 10 Mobile. If they didn't, why are they still hiring people to work on Windows 10 Mobile itself? Also this week, we talk the Windows 10 Creators Update RTM, Skype exiting preview, our Redstone 3 wish list and a whole lot more.

Help us make this show the best Microsoft podcast in the world. Tell your friends, share it on social media using the hashtag #wcpodcast, and give us a five-star rating wherever you download your podcasts! Thank you so much for listening!

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Show Notes

• 1:33: Windows 10 Creators Update RTM
• 7:15 Skype UWP exits preview
• 23:50 Microsoft services down again
• 34:48 Windows Mobile job listings
• 55:17 Redstone 3 wish list
• 1:10:55 Windows 10 Mobile should rollout to 8.1 devices

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It's not often that you find a software giant such as Microsoft improving performance on older hardware with a software update. You'll often see Apple release a new version of iOS, and everyone running last year's iPhone will begin complaining about poor performance, for example. With the Windows 10 Mobile Creators Update, on devices like the Lumia 930, 830 and even 550, things are looking a little better.

I find that things are a lot more snappy with the Creators Update on my Lumia 930 compared to the Anniversary Update, which was released in August of last year. From installing updates to downloading new apps and launching them, it all just feels a little more snappy, and that's really awesome to see.

A lot of people are criticizing Microsoft for essentially "leaving behind" Windows 10 Mobile with the Creators Update, but just because there aren't any new major features on the surface, doesn't mean there aren't any improvements at all. Microsoft also fixed a number of bugs, making the experience generally a whole lot more pleasant. I'm not afraid to call the Creators Update a minor update for Mobile, and as long as the company continues improving it under the hood, I'm happy.

Of course, on higher-end devices such as the Lumia 950 XL and HP Elite x3, things are even snappier. Windows Hello is really good at seeing your iris from further away, and that's awesome to see. It's still tagged a beta in the Creators Update, but I'd be willing to say it's no longer in a beta state. Sure, it's still a little slow due to that silly Windows Hello "wink" animation, but that's a minor concern.

I remain indifferent regarding battery life on the Creators Update. I find my high-end devices last just as long as they normally would. The same goes for my lower-end devices. I find the Lumia 930 hasn't suffered in battery life, but my 830 has slightly. Not sure what would cause that, but it's something I've noticed. I know some Insiders said they were seeing some significant battery drain with the Creators Update, but I'd say try a reset. A reset always helps.

We're expecting Microsoft to roll out the Windows 10 Mobile Creators Update to eligible devices in the coming weeks, likely a little bit after the Creators Update rolls out for desktops. If you're an Insider, you're already running the very latest Creators Update builds, meaning you're already benefitting from all these new under-the-hood improvements. We'll review the Windows 10 Mobile Creators Update in full during the next few weeks, so keep it locked to Windows Central.

Microsoft is rolling out yet another new Windows 10 build for Insiders in the Fast ring today, featuring yet more bug fixes and under the hood improvements.

What's improved for PC?

• We fixed a reliability issue from Build 15061 resulting in Microsoft Edge hanging and becoming completely unresponsive.
• We fixed an issue for Insiders where the localized files and registry keys associated with any additional language packs on the system would not be installed after enabling .NET Framework 3.5.

What's improved for Mobile?

• We fixed the bug causing a number of inbox apps to fail to launch (such as Store) and also preventing any app updates from the Store from working. Thank you all for sending us feedback around this.
• We fixed the bug causing background tasks to not run in the background like they should such as OneDrive's camera roll sync feature. Background tasks should be working again as expected and your camera roll will sync to OneDrive again.
• We fixed the issue where in some cases you may lose your call, text, and email history may be lost if your device experiences an unexpected reboot.
• Speech Packs should download and install normally.
• We fixed an issue for Insiders with certain cars resulting in connection failures after pairing Bluetooth.
• We fixed an issue where replacing the default APN for LTE on the phone wouldn't work.

Hot on the heels of yesterdays release, Microsoft is rolling out build 15061 of Windows 10 for Insiders in the Fast ring today, packing another round up of bug fixes on the lead up to general availability. We're close to Microsoft signing-off on the Creators Update now, so these builds should be "final build" quality.

What's new?

• We fixed an issue resulting in some unexpected visual distortion when watching certain mp4 videos in Movies and TV on recent flights.
• We fixed an issue resulting in OOBE crashing when you tapped the birthday date field when creating a new account and email address.
• We fixed a recent issue resulting in certain VPN connections being unexpecting missing from Network Connections.
• We fixed an issue where in recent flights, some Direct3D 9 games might periodically fail to launch. To work around this, it was necessary that your default display resolution be the recommended setting for your system. You can now return your display configuration to your preferred settings.

For a list of known issues, make sure you check out the full changelog on the Windows Blog!

We admit, Microsoft hasn't really focused much on Mobile over the last several months, and that's evident with the upcoming Windows 10 Mobile Creators Update, which is packing a few minor new features and changes that most people aren't going to be too excited about.

But, there are changes, and with every new release of Windows 10 Mobile we like to do a walkthrough video showcasing what's new and changed. You can expect to see improvements to autocorrect, a new system sound, a new Book Store, and improvements to the Settings app. All of which, and more, are showcased in the video.

We'll be writing up our full Windows 10 Mobile Creators Update review over the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned for that. Microsoft is expected to begin rolling out the update for Mobile in the next few weeks. In the meantime, let us know what your most anticipated feature is that's coming in the Windows 10 Mobile Creators Update!

As with all major releases of Windows 10, we've got another incredibly detailed video walkthrough showcasing all the most noteworthy new features and changes you can expect to see when the latest update rolls out to the public in April.

The Creators Update, as the name implies, is an update focused on creators. It's packing a brand new Paint 3D app, with a whole community of 3D artists that you can share and create with. But that's not all, the Creators Update is an update for everybody, meaning it's packing other features too.

You can expect to see improvements to gaming, with a new Game Mode that makes games run better, a smarter Cortana, live folders, even more personalization options and a whole lot more. All of that, and more, is available in our video walkthrough.

It's a full 26 minutes long, so you might want to sit back and relax while we introduce you to the Windows 10 Creators Update. We'll be writing up our full Windows 10 Creators Update review in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for that!