Leaked materials from 2024 have revealed that Microsoft has built a working prototype Copilot OS that is platform agnostic, derived from the Microsoft Edge web browser and runs on top of Windows or Android, focused on the web and agentic experiences.

This project is codenamed Aion, and while its status is currently unknown, the leaked materials confirm that such a project was in active development and reached a stage in which the code was functional. With all the material leaked, we have a pretty good idea about how this OS experience looked and functioned.

According to the leaked materials, Aion is a UI shell built entirely with web tech, using a modified version of the Edge web browser. The interface is Edge, but altered to include desktop-like interfaces and functionality such as a Start menu, Taskbar, and cascading windows.

The documents confirm that Aion was capable of running on top of Windows 11 as a desktop shell replacement, or on AOSP Android. There's also a third compatible OS mentioned called Win3, which sources say was a special modified version of the Windows codebase with less legacy cruft, resulting in a lighter OS experience with faster boot times, longer battery life, and better security at the expense of legacy app support.

Aion seemingly wasn't compatible with legacy Windows apps, with the leaked video mentioning it only running web apps and websites, with tight Windows 365 integration for when users need access to a legacy Windows experience.

The Aion interface was built around Copilot and agentic AI experiences. It features a familiar looking Taskbar along the bottom of the interface, where the system tray and running apps appear. It also features a Start menu, except this time it's powered by Copilot and features a Copilot icon instead of a Windows one.

The Copilot Start menu is where users go to begin tasks, browse the web, or open web apps. The entire interface is built around Copilot, with users interacting with the OS via a multi-modal omnibox that can jumpstart tasks or workflows, find files, browse the web, initiate AI chat, and open web apps.

The new Start menu provides quick access to recent websites and files, and also groups recent activites into Spaces that let you launch multiple activities at once via a single click, curated by Copilot. Web apps will run in their own floating windows like real apps do on Windows, letting users cascade, minimize, and snap them.

The Spaces that Copilot curates also appear in the Taskbar when open. These appear as buckets, highlighted in a different color to let you know that these items are all being grouped together by the AI for picking up where you left off at a later point.

Because Aion only runs web apps, it's capable of understanding the context of everything you have open using Copilot. That means Copilot as an agent is capable of completing tasks on your behalf if asked by the user, and can answer any questions about the things that are open or were recently viewed at any time.

Aion also includes a feature that lets users complete tasks while staying in the flow of chat. For example, if the user wanted to send a summary of a web page to a friend or colleague via email, users could simply ask Copilot to do that, and the agent would pull in an email draft and let the user check it over and send it without ever leaving the Copilot chat interface.

It's unclear if Project Aion is ever intended to ship, or if it'll remain an internal experiment never to see the light of day. So far, we've not seen any official confirmation that a Copilot OS is going ahead. Microsoft recently announced Project Solara, an agentic OS that runs on Windows and Android codebases that utilizes a just-in-time UI approach to generate experiences on the fly.

While not the same, perhaps Microsoft has opted to go in a different direction for its agentic OS vision.

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Despite decades of people calling for "the year of Linux," fresh data from Steam's Hardware Survey for June 2026 suggests Windows is still firmly the norm. Linux's market share fell by 0.30 percent to 3.69%. Yes, that's a relatively small decline, but considering Linux's smaller gains have often been celebrated, I think it's only fair to mention it. To keep things balanced, though, Linux is still well ahead of where it was this time last year, when it sat at just 2.57%.

Before we jump into what we all actually care about (Windows), macOS also saw a small increase, rising by 0.05 percent to 2.21%, up from 1.76% this time last year. I know rattling off percentages can get a little mind-numbing, but there are actually some genuinely interesting trends hiding in this month's data, so let's get into the Windows side of things, because that's where things get particularly interesting.

Looking at Steam's Hardware Survey for June 2026, Windows 11 climbed by another 0.68 percent, while Windows 10 declined by 0.43 points, showing a continued shift toward Windows 11. The modern OS now accounts for 70.44% of Steam users. It's hardly a dramatic jump, but it does suggest more PC gamers are choosing to move to Windows 11 rather than one of the growing number of Linux distro alternatives.

Is anyone calling it "The year of Windows 11"? That's what I'll be calling it for the foreseeable future — I jest, of course. Windows has its fair share of issues and gets plenty of deserved flak online, but Linux has given me a bad experience every time I've had the displeasure of trying it. Despite my frustrations with Windows, it typically does just work, Copilot shenanigans aside.

I always enjoy looking at these kinds of trends across the industry. There's something interesting about seeing what operating systems, hardware, and configurations people are actually using. Somehow, despite Microsoft seemingly shooting itself in the foot several hundred times over, people are still choosing Windows 11.

But let me know your thoughts. Is this really a sign of satisfaction with Windows 11, or are people simply being forced to upgrade as Windows 10 reaches the end of its life? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and as always, be sure to take part in our poll below:

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A leaked video has revealed that Microsoft has explored building a dedicated AI OS powered by Microsoft Edge and a new lightweight Windows codebase called Win3. This exploration was codenamed Aion, and was built around web tech, placing Copilot at the heart of the experience.

The 3 minute video, which my sources say is real, was first leaked on Discord server BetaWiki and provides a handy walkthrough of what looks to be real (but early) working code, showcasing a new desktop UI that features a similar Taskbar along the bottom, Start menu-like interface powered by Copilot, and more.

"Aion is an example of a web-based agent OS that natively builds Copilot into the core of the shell," says the video's narrator. The entire experience is built around Copilot and a multi-modal input box, which is where users go find files, open apps, and browse the web.

The Taskbar includes a unique feature called "Spaces" that automatically groups your apps and sites into a bucket on the Taskbar that you can quickly return to at a later point. These spaces appear in the Start menu too, providing a one-click method of opening multiple things at once.

The video explains that Aion is built around the web, meaning it doesn't run native Windows apps. It only runs web apps and websites, leaning on Windows 365 to remote into a Cloud PC and stream desktop apps if the user needs access to one.

The video does mention that there's a version of Aion that also runs on top of Windows 11, which would presumably support running Windows apps natively. But the version in the video appears to be based on the Win3 version, which sources tell me is a stripped back version of the Windows codebase that does not include support for legacy Win32 apps in exchange for faster updates, longer battery life, and better security.

My sources also say this video is quite old, recorded sometime in 2024, and it's unclear if this was just a Hackathon project or something more. I understand that Aion was experimental in nature, designed to explore what a desktop UX is capable of if built from scratch around an agentic AI. That means it's unclear if Aion is something that Microsoft ever intends to ship.

With that said, it would be surprising if some of the lessons Microsoft has learned from the Aion project aren't already shaping the version of Windows shipping today. While I don't expect Aion to ship as depicted in the video above, agentic OS capabilities are already finding their way into Windows 11.

Microsoft has also recently announced Project Solara, an agentic OS experience that utilizes just-in-time UI to generate experiences as the user asks for it. It runs on both AOSP and Windows, similar to Aion. Perhaps Aion evolved into Solara?

Either way, this is a fascinating look at what what at least one team thought the future of desktop computing could be like with Copilot at the heart of the experience. Given the sheer backlash around Copilot in the last year or two, I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft is already rethinking much of this.

Windows Central reached out to Microsoft for comment, but the company declined to provide one.

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On Windows 11, if GIFs suddenly disappeared from the emoji panel, the problem wasn't caused by a broken update. It was caused by a service the operating system depended on quietly going away.

Starting June 30, 2026, users on versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1 began seeing a "GIF service is not available" message after pressing the Windows key + . (period) keyboard shortcut to open the emoji panel. Microsoft has now confirmed the issue affects devices that haven't installed its latest optional update, which replaces Google's Tenor service with GIPHY.

Why this happened

This wasn't a traditional bug with the operating system. The emoji panel relied on the Tenor API to search and display animated GIFs, but Google retired that service on June 30. Once the API was switched off, Windows 11 had nowhere to retrieve GIFs, leaving the feature effectively offline.

"Starting June 30, 2026, install the latest Windows update to continue using GIFs in the Emoji panel. If you don't update, you will see a 'GIF service is not available' error in the panel," Microsoft explains.

Instead of restoring Tenor, the company moved to GIPHY before the shutdown. Microsoft included the change in the June 23 preview update for versions 25H2 and 24H2 (KB5095093) and for version 26H1 (KB5095091), allowing updated systems to continue displaying GIFs without interruption.

Why GIFs may look different

The fix also changes the experience. Since Windows 11 now pulls results from GIPHY instead of Tenor, searches may return different animations, rankings, and content for the same keywords. The feature works the same way, but the library behind it has changed.

How to restore GIFs

If you're seeing this error, you can restore the functionality by installing the latest quality update from Settings > Windows Update. If you're doing this before the Patch Tuesday update release, then turn on the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle switch.

Once the update is installed, the emoji panel automatically switches to GIPHY, and no additional configuration is required.

This is a reminder that even built-in features increasingly depend on online services outside Microsoft's control. When one of those services disappears, a feature that looks native to the operating system can stop working overnight until Microsoft rewires it to something else.

Windows Central's Take

On Windows 11, when a core feature suddenly stops working, the default reaction is usually to assume Microsoft broke something in the latest update. However, after tracking updates for years, I've learned that the operating system is often (not always) just caught in the crossfire of third-party service changes.

In this case, the company handled the transition as smoothly as it could. Instead of leaving users stranded, they already had a replacement lined up, and installing the latest update fixes the issue immediately. Just keep in mind that since GIPHY is taking over for Tenor, your typical reaction GIFs might look a bit different from now on.

Have you noticed any changes to the GIFs in the Windows 11 emoji panel, or are you still seeing Tenor? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

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

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

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

Last month, security researcher Chaotic Eclipse (better known as Nightmare-Eclipse) managed to bypass Windows 11's sophisticated BitLocker security feature using a USB stick. Nightmare claimed that Microsoft "intentionally" left a backdoor in the security feature:

"Could have made some insane cash selling this, but no amount of money will stand between me and my determination against Microsoft." The company has since patched three zero-day exploits published by the security researcher, including YellowKey, GreenPlasma, and MiniPlasma.

More recently, Nightmare-Eclipse disclosed a new zero-day vulnerability dubbed RoguePlanet, which affects Microsoft Defender on both Windows 11 and Windows 10. The exploit could allow attackers to gain full control of affected systems (via Bleeping Computer).

Microsoft acknowledged the vulnerability and indicated that it's tracking the RoguePlanet zero-day exploit under CVE-2026-50656. According to the company:

"Microsoft is aware of an elevation of privilege in the Microsoft Malware Protection Engine in Microsoft Defender publicly referred to as "RoguePlanet ". We are working to provide a high quality security update that addresses this vulnerability. We will provide information in this CVE when the update is available."

The security sleuth shared a proof-of-concept exploit in a self-hosted Git repository, further claiming that Microsoft had scrapped its repository hosting exploits on GitHub and GitLab.

Perhaps more interestingly, this news comes after Microsoft previously fronted Windows 11’s Defender as enough for most PC owners. "Microsoft Defender Antivirus covers everyday risks without requiring additional software,” the company added.

The statement seemed highly debatable in the community, though many still agreed with Microsoft's sentiments, including some of Windows Central's readers:

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

In a subsequent blog post, Microsoft admitted that while Windows 11's Defender is usually enough for most users, third‑party tools add extra layers of protection, including identity monitoring or built-in VPNs.

Elsewhere, Nightmare-Eclipse and Microsoft had been locked in a months-long battle, with Microsoft even threatening legal action. But after backlash from the wider cybersecurity community, the company signaled it no longer intends to pursue lawsuits against researchers who conduct or publish their findings.

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A small change is on the way to Windows 11, but it will make a big difference to a select group of users. Windows Insiders can now test the option to make the taskbar smaller on Windows 11.

Windows 11's taskbar has always been controversial. Microsoft rebuilt the taskbar when creating the operating system, but the company did not include every feature from the Windows 10 taskbar.

As a result, options like being able to move the taskbar to the side or top of the screen never made it to Windows 11. Microsoft is addressing some of the most frequently shared complaints. Soon, you'll be able to move the taskbar and resize it. Progress!

Windows Insiders have been able to move the taskbar around since earlier this year, but until recently have had limited options for resizing it. Insider builds presented the option to "show smaller taskbar buttons" but enabling that feature only shrinks the buttons. The actual taskbar remains the same height.

Windows 11 Experimental Preview Build 26300.8758 adds a toggle to change the size of the taskbar. Switching the taskbar to "small" reduces the height of the taskbar and also enables smaller icons.

It's also possible to enable small icons while keeping the taskbar its default height.

Build 26300.8758: Changes

Taskbar

• Taskbar customization just got easier. As we continue to make improvements to the Taskbar experience mentioned last month, we've introduced a dedicated Taskbar Size setting, making it simpler to find, understand, and personalize your ideal taskbar experience.
• We've also made refinements to the transitions between taskbar sizes for a smoother overall experience.

File Explorer

• We've improved the reliability of thumbnail previews for cloud files in the Details pane. The pane has also been reorganized so file properties are easier to find and review at a glance.
• Fixed an issue where the OneDrive shortcut in File Explorer stops working when File Explorer is run in administrative mode.
• Fixed an issue where the confirmation dialog might display an internal Recycle Bin file name instead of the original file name when permanently deleting a file.

Sounds

• Improved system sounds when using Windows in dark mode.

Microsoft released a bunch of builds recently, but most of them were rather minor. An unnoted change is that Xbox mode is now called XBOX mode.

An initiative to improve Windows 11 known as Windows K2 will include changes large and small. Microsoft plans to address serious "pain points" across Windows 11. Performance, design, and reliability are all being worked on by the tech giant.

Tiny details like taskbar resizing help Windows 11 feel more polished and personalized.

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

"Linux is a cancer that attaches itself in an intellectual property sense to everything it touches," indicated former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in 2001. At the time, the executive considered Linux users to be communist thieves and viewed the open-source operating system as a "malignant cancer" on Microsoft's intellectual property.

In 2016, Ballmer seemingly changed his stance on Linux after Microsoft ported its SQL Server to Linux. He didn't redact his statement about Linux as he saw fit at the time. The executive revealed that going to war with open-source helped generate a ton of money, which greatly contributed to Microsoft's revenue.

Interestingly, he believed the threat from Linux had passed. The executive said he loved the SQL on Linux announcement, so much so that he emailed Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to congratulate him on the move.

In 2020, Microsoft President Brad Smith admitted that the company had been on the wrong side of history when open source exploded. "The good news is that, if life is long enough, you can learn … that you need to change," Smith added.

Consequently, Microsoft has seemingly warmed up to open-source over the years, from PowerShell to Visual Studio Code to Microsoft Edge's JavaScript engine. And perhaps more recently, the company unveiled its own Linux distribution, Azure Linux 4.0, to the public.

It's worth noting that Azure Linux 4.0 isn't new; Microsoft has been running the open-source Linux distro across its infrastructure for years now. The only difference is that the platform is now expanding into broader server workloads. The operating system is built on Fedora and runs on Azure virtual machines.

The RAM crisis, mounting AI bloat, and Windows 10's death are all tipping the scales in Linux's favor

While this might seem like a stretch, it's increasingly becoming difficult for users to upgrade to Windows 11. Critics have referred to Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 as programmed obsolescence, designed to force working hardware into early retirement.

Groups like the public interest research group (PIRG) have petitioned Microsoft to reconsider its decision and extend Windows 10 support, citing the potential for the single biggest jump in junked computers (up to 400 million PCs).

Microsoft didn't necessarily leave Windows 10 users in the lurch when it ended support for the operating system on October 14, 2025. It extended support for an additional year through its extended security updates (ESU) program to October 14, 2026, though critics claimed it felt like a last-minute snooze button, only a band-aid on a bleeding system.

More recently, the company extended support for Windows 10 through its ESU program through 2027. It didn't disclose the reason for extending Windows 10 support, but recent events can offer a vague picture of some possibilities.

The rising cost of RAM and NAND, primarily driven through the roof by AI's insatiable appetite for computing power, has made it difficult for users to buy new hardware. In that sense, it's practically impossible for Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11 because their devices don't meet Microsoft's stringent hardware requirements.

There's also the argument of flawed Windows 11 design elements. However, Microsoft already started addressing some of these issues as part of its broader Windows K2 initiative. The company has already started reducing the places where Copilot and its integrations appear across the operating system.

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

For context, a recent HP survey found that 3 out of 10 HP PCs are still running Windows 10. This was a slight decrease from September 2025, when HP and Dell indicated that up to 50% of PCs were still running on the operating system. As such, there's a chance the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 could roll over into 2027 and even 2028, especially after Microsoft's new lifeline for the OS.

I recently polled Windows Central readers about the current state of affairs and whether they plan to upgrade to Windows 11. Out of 321 participants, 68% (217 readers) said they intend to stick with Windows 10 through 2027.

According to a Windows Central reader:

"Linux has gotten way better, and perhaps with some install help it does everything the common folks want to do (read: not gamers or others reliant on some very specific tailored app).

The way Microsoft has been talking about their future makes every conscious consumer know this is only the beginning, and regular os subscription payments, more surveillance etc is coming.

I might buy win 11 based pc in the future when the current one stops working, but I already know it will run Linux just fine, so MS has opened Pandora's box."

I’ll go out on a limb and suggest that, while it may sound far-fetched, Windows 10 holdouts could abandon Microsoft’s ecosystem in favor of open-source alternatives like Linux — especially if the RAM crisis continues to spiral out of control.

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

June is closing out, making it a good moment to recap the latest Windows 11 changes Microsoft delivered in the second half of the month. While there are no headline-grabbing feature drops, the updates continue to refine the overall experience with a steady set of improvements across the system. Microsoft also confirmed active development of Windows 11 version 26H2, the next major release on the roadmap.

During the final two weeks of June, preview builds in the Experimental channel transitioned their versioning from 25H2 to 26H2, signaling the formal shift toward the next development cycle.

At the same time, Taskbar customization gained more flexibility, allowing users to adjust its size independently of button scaling, offering finer control over the desktop layout.

Meanwhile, the Future Platforms channel received a broader set of enhancements, including Screen tint, reduced reboot requirements for Windows Update, improved Magnifier zoom options, and refinements across Personalization, Storage, and Audio settings.

In the Experimental channel, we've seen builds 29617, 28120.2374, 26300.8758, 28120.2315, and 26300.8697. In the Beta channel, the company released builds 26220.8754, 28020.2366, 28020.2308, and 26220.8690.

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

Biggest improvements from the Windows Insider Program in June 2026

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

Windows 11 version 26H2

Although it's not a feature, starting with build 26300.8697 in the Experimental experience, Microsoft officially changed the version number from 25H2 to 26H2.

You will find the change in Settings > System > About, under the "Windows Info" section. Also, the version number can be found when running the "winver" command. However, the "Windows Insider Program" still reports this channel as "Windows 11, version 25H2."

This means that everything that the company makes available in the Experimental channel will become part of the version 26H2.

However, another point to note is that versions 25H2 and 26H2 share the same core file system, meaning that even though the company has announced the development of the new version, virtually all the changes intended for version 26H2 will also be available for version 25H2.

Privacy & security page redesign

Build 26300.8697 also updates the "Privacy & security" page with a new header that includes an entry point to the Windows Security app and a glance at details for various features, including location, camera, and microphone features.

On the rest of the page, the development team is also reorganizing the items into new sections, including "Your info," "Communication," "File access," and "System."

Other new entry points include "Custom Dictionary" and "Passkeys."

Although it's not officially available, it has been found that on the "Search" page, Microsoft is updating the "Show suggested results" setting to include options to disable web searches and Microsoft Store apps from search results in the Windows Search feature.

Mobile Devices changes

As part of the change for version 26H1, in the Beta and Experimental channels, builds 28120.2374 and 28020.2366 update the Mobile Devices page in the Settings app and add the ability to configure and manage mobile devices.

Emoji panel changes

Also, in version 26H1, the company is changing the GIF provider to GIPHY, replacing the Tenor API to improve the experience for browsing and sharing GIFs.

Taskbar resize option

Microsoft also made available build 26300.8758 for version 26H2, which updates the Taskbar settings with a new dedicated option to make the Taskbar smaller.

The setting is called "Taskbar size," and it features two options, including "Default" and "Small."

If you use the "Small" option, this action turns off the "Show smaller app icons" feature.

The description under the "Automatically hide the taskbar" option is also new in this release.

Sounds in dark mode

This isn't a flashy improvement, but it's worth pointing out that build 26300.8758 improves system sounds when using the system dark mode.

XBOX branding

In the Gaming section, the Xbox mode page is being rebranded to "XBOX mode" as the company refreshes the brand based on feedback.

Screen tint new feature

On Windows 11 build 29617 for the Future Platforms version, Microsoft introduced a new accessibility feature called "Screen tint." It's a system-wide color overlay designed to reduce eye strain and soften overly bright or saturated displays.

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

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

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

Magnifier new zoom controls

The Magnifier feature is receiving several enhancements for the Future Platforms version.

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

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

Personalization changes

The company has also improved the personalization experience by enhancing the accuracy of automatic accent color selection. This allows the operating system to better match the chosen accent color to the colors in your desktop wallpaper.

In addition, Microsoft has fixed a problem to improve how background images are preserved across restarts and upgrades.

These improvements are already available in other channels, but they won't arrive in the Future Platforms version until build 29617.

Windows Central's Take

I like the direction Microsoft is taking with these Insider builds. There isn't a single feature that completely changes how I use Windows 11, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Some of the best updates are the ones that quietly make the operating system more polished over time. A dedicated Taskbar size setting, a cleaner "Privacy & security" page, and accessibility improvements may not grab headlines. However, they're the kinds of refinements people notice after using the operating system every day.

The official move to version 26H2 is also significant. Based on Microsoft's recent release strategy, I expect the next feature update to focus more on improving what already exists than on introducing major new experiences. If that's the case, I'd much rather see the company continue investing in performance, consistency, and usability than chase flashy features that don't solve real problems.

Of course, these are still preview builds, so I wouldn't recommend installing them on a primary computer unless you're comfortable testing unfinished preview builds.

What do you think about these latest Windows 11 changes? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

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

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

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

Microsoft has issued a warning to all Windows 11 Home and Pro users still running the now two year old 24H2 release that support for this version of the OS is ending in just a few months.

All new versions of Windows 11 ship with a support window that lasts 24 months for consumers and 36 months for commercial customers. As 24H2 first launched in 2024, it's now coming to the end of its support window for consumers.

"Windows 11, version 24H2 Home and Pro editions will reach end of updates on October 13, 2026," Microsoft says in a recent update changelog. "Devices running these editions will no longer receive fixes for known issues, time zone updates, technical support, or monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats."

The good news is everyone running 24H2 today should be fully compatible with 25H2, which is the current shipping version of Windows 11 and fully supported, based on the exact same codebase as 24H2. In fact, they're so similar, the 25H2 upgrade is very small and comes with no compatibility issues or complex update processes. It's essentially the flip of a switch.

That's the easiest fix for those still on 24H2 and worried about losing support. Once you upgrade to 25H2, you'll be fully supported once more until October 2027. If you want to wait until October this year, you can jump straight to 26H2 when that begins rolling out in the fall.

25H2 and the upcoming 26H2 release are based on the same platform release as 24H2, codenamed Germanium. This means the underlying OS doesn't change between the releases, only surface level features and changes are present between them. If you've been hanging onto 24H2 because you're worried about the upgrade breaking anything, there's really nothing to be concerned about. 25H2 is basically 24H2 part 2.

For commercial customers, there's not anything to worry about just yet. Windows 11 version 24H2 for commercial customers will continue to be supported until October 12, 2027, so over a year to go before those devices will need to be updated.

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

Last week, Microsoft quietly announced that it will extend support for Windows 10 through 2027, even though the operating system officially reached the end of support on October 14, 2025. Initially, the company had planned to offer just one additional year of updates under its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, but the new decision gives Windows 10 a longer lifeline.

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

They argued that the move would force up to 400 million working PCs into early retirement, prompting many users to brand it as programmed obsolescence rather than anything else. It also seems like an outright, blatant attempt designed to make users transition to Windows 11.

However, if previous complaints lodged are anything to go by — Microsoft's stringent hardware requirements for the operating system, coupled with arguments of flawed design elements, including unnecessary AI and Copilot integrations, will only widen the digital divide, making the jump even harder.

Currently, users enrolled in Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program will continue receiving critical security patches for one additional year, extending coverage beyond the original end-of-support date of October 14, 2025, through October 14, 2026.

Windows 10

As highlighted in the poll results, a clear majority of participants (68%) indicated they plan to continue running Windows 10 on their devices following Microsoft’s support extension. Interestingly, 19% of respondents said they have already upgraded to Windows 11, highlighting a smaller but notable shift toward the newer operating system.

Granted, only 321 people voted, so we need to take the results with a pinch of salt.

If you are still running Windows 10 on your PC, you can take advantage of the extended lifeline by enrolling in the ESU program for free by signing in with a Microsoft account, or pay for access via 1,000 Microsoft reward points or $30.

Last week, I wrote an article attempting to capture the overall sentiment from the community and tech enthusiasts following Microsoft's decision to extend support for Windows 10 through 2027. It quickly became apparent to me that many people are still running Windows 10 on their devices, with some outrightly calling for Microsoft to extend Windows 10's shelf life to 2028 because 2027 won't cut it.

The conversation about alternative operating systems like Linux also popped up. According to an avid Windows Central reader:

"Linux has gotten way better, and perhaps with some install help it does everything the common folks want to do (read: not gamers or others reliant on some very specific tailored app).

The way Microsoft has been talking about their future makes every conscious consumer know this is only the beginning, and regular os subscription payments, more surveillance etc is coming.

I might buy win 11 based pc in the future when the current one stops working, but I already know it will run Linux just fine, so MS has opened Pandora's box.

Though frankly I'm surprised MS cares so much. corporate world has been their sole focus for over a decade, and they still have a good stranglehold there. ofc one piece of wisdom might be that if people use Linux at home, eventually they'll start asking why we are using MS products at work. We are used to Linux and more competent with apps there."

"What they are admitting is that they are afraid of letting part the 25% Windows base go for Linux or worse, to become botnets for cybercrime after they get infected for lack of security patches, creating havoc," another reader added.

Some users came up with interesting ideas, painting a picture where Microsoft continues to support Windows 10 and Windows 11 simultaneously.

While it seems inevitable for users to eventually upgrade to Windows 11, the current RAM crisis due to AI's heavy appetite for computing power isn't making the jump any easier, as hardware prices are steadily increasing and becoming unaffordable for most people. According to another Windows Central reader:

"That people don't have the money to upgrade at today's prices.

Let's not make too much of this: MS OSes have always run a bit ahead of entry level hardware and conversely, people have always stayed with trailing edge software longer than safe. There are probably still people running Windows XP out there.

The security rationale of W11 over W10 can be debated but in the end, everybody will have to upgrade the hardware...

...when they can afford it. At least MS is being understanding that it's not just parsimony holding people back."

That said, it will be interesting to see if Microsoft will continue to hold its massive dominance in the desktop landscape with Windows.

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

Xbox mode only rolled out to Windows 11 with the May 2026 Security Update, but the feature already has a name change in the works. The latest Windows Insider build shows "XBOX mode" rather than "Xbox mode."

The change is small, but it reflects the rebrand Microsoft is in the middle of. Earlier this year, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma polled people on X asking if the name of the brand should be Xbox or XBOX. The overwhelming majority preferred the all-caps version, and Microsoft listened to the feedback.

In several places, Microsoft has swapped in the XBOX name. The official XBOX website and XBOX social media handles show the all-caps version. Even the Microsoft Store shows love for capital letters.

Sharma has made more meaningful changes to the XBOX brand since being promoted, but the XBOX rebrand is quite visible. The move aligns XBOX with the original console, which is a clever bit of marketing.

The change was flagged by X user @phantomofearth. Microsoft's release notes for Windows 11 Experimental Build 26300.8758 do not note the new name for XBOX mode.

XBOX mode (and Xbox mode) was originally called "Xbox Fullscreen Experience." Throughout all three names, the concept of the feature has been the same: provide a console-like experience on Windows 11.

When enabled, XBOX mode makes Windows 11 open with a controller-friendly interface that also works well with built-in controllers on gaming handhelds. Microsoft has worked on XBOX mode for a while and overcome some awkward limitations. For example, it's now easier to sign in to Windows 11 when in XBOX mode by using a PIN.

XBOX mode also prioritizes gaming and reduces background tasks on Windows 11. It can free up to 2GB of memory on your PC, according to Microsoft. Considering it's increasingly expensive to get a PC with a lot of memory, freeing up 2GB makes a big difference.

The next generation of Xbox, known currently as Project Helix, is meant to run some form of XBOX mode. Before that device ships, XBOX mode needs more meaningful changes to smooth out the experience. We spent a week with XBOX mode last month and had a mixed experience.

Microsoft is aggressively pushing improvements to Windows 11 through its K2 initiative. Among those upgrades will be a smoother gaming experience. But for now, we can enjoy the unified branding of XBOX mode.

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

In recent months, Microsoft has taken significant steps to improve the Windows 11 user experience through its Windows K2 initiative, including scaling back where Copilot and its integrations appear across the interface.

And now, these efforts appear to have extended to Microsoft Edge. As spotted by Neowin, Microsoft has decided to discontinue its AI-powered history search feature in the Chromium-based browser

"Enhanced search finds sites in your History even when you use a synonym, phrase, or typo," Microsoft added. "After this feature is turned on, sites you visit will be shown in enhanced history search results. An on-device model is trained using your data, which never leaves your device and is never sent to Microsoft. Admins can use the EdgeHistoryAISearchEnabled policy to disable this feature."

Microsoft promised that the feature would leverage on-device AI, keeping your data private, secure, and away from the cloud. It's worth noting that the feature was rolling out to users in waves.

The company has since made an update on the Microsoft 365 Roadmap entry (dated June 25, 2026), indicating:

"We have decided not to move forward with this change at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience."

Neowin reported that many users described the feature as "creepy," while others voiced concerns about trusting Microsoft to keep their data on-device. Some also criticized it as yet another attempt to turn Edge into bloatware.

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

Two more Surface devices were announced this week, at least technically. The ongoing RAM crisis forced Microsoft to follow in the footsteps of Apple and Acer by making laptops with 8GB of RAM in 2026.

During a week full of deals through Amazon and other retailers, Microsoft took a different approach to make its Surface devices more affordable, at least for certain models. The Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch can now be bought with just 8GB of RAM.

Those versions with less memory start at $849 for the Surface Pro and $949 for the Surface Laptop. I'm happy to see more affordable options, but Microsoft's timing was poor. Raising Surface prices during Prime Day meant better hardware was at or near the same pricing as the cheaper Surface Pro and Surface Laptop. And with other retailers dropping prices to compete with Amazon, the new Surfaces are a bad value.

Dell’s XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD is still $999.99, which means better hardware is sitting only $50 above Microsoft’s new “affordable” Surface models.

Deals, discounts, and rising prices were the focus of this week, but we also saw Windows 10 support extended and Bill Gates weigh in on AI. Here are the biggest stories from the week.

Biggest News of the Week

Microsoft is in a no-win situation with pricing. RAM and other components continue to go up in price, so manufacturers have to adjust to match. Even Apple, which was more insulated than most due to stockpiles of components, had to increase the cost of MacBooks, iPads, and other devices.

As a result of shortages, Microsoft has had to raise the price of hardware. Since people still need laptops at somewhat reasonable prices, models with 8GB of RAM can fill that gap.

8GB of RAM is better than many assume on a Windows 11 PC. Our Cale Hunt said using a device with that amount of memory is "Not only viable but quite enjoyable." Since that's the case, more affordable Surface devices are good news.

But announcing a Surface Pro and a Surface Laptop with lower price tags in the same week as one of the biggest shopping events of the year is a strange strategy.

A Surface Laptop with a Snapdragon X Plus, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage costs $949.99 through Microsoft's website. The Dell XPS 13 (9345) with a Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage is on sale for $999.99 through Dell.

Maybe Microsoft should have rolled out its cheaper Surface devices a bit earlier or held off until other sales ended.

Shopping with Sean

The best deal of the week is still up for grabs despite Prime Day ending, and it's the laptop I just highlighted. Dell's discount on the XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite drops that premium laptop to $999.99. That discounted price looks even better after Apple raised the prices of its MacBooks.

If you want something newer, the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 is $650 off. That gorgeous laptop is powered by the Snapdragon X2 Elite. I'm jealous of our Senior Editor Zac Bowden because he got to review it (the OmniBook 14 Ultra earned a perfect score in that review).

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

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10, despite widespread pleas from millions of users still relying on the operating system. The move risked leaving nearly 400 million PCs without updates, effectively rendering them obsolete. However, Microsoft ultimately extended Windows 10’s lifespan through its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, giving users continued access to critical patches beyond the end-of-support date.

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

It's no secret that Microsoft has been pushing users to upgrade to Windows 11, but soaring RAM prices have driven hardware costs sky-high, making the transition even more difficult. This is on top of the operating system's strict hardware requirements and arguments of flawed design elements.

In France, critics even staged a symbolic “funeral” for Windows 10, protesting Microsoft’s push toward Windows 11 and what they see as planned obsolescence. Yet, as recent developments suggest, the company may finally be listening.

Microsoft quietly extended Windows 10's ESU program by another year. As a result, users enrolled in the program will continue receiving support until October 14, 2027. The extension is free for those who sign in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account, ensuring critical updates remain available beyond the original cutoff.

What does the community think about Windows 10's extended lifeline?

"People might start switching to Linux and using open source software for replacements if this RAM/storage issue doesn't get resolved in the next year," a Windows Central reader indicated.

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

"I said a year ago that this was going to happen, and I'll say it again, it's going to happen next year too," another reader added. "Windows 10 will be supported till October 2028. This has nothing to do with prices. This was planned since the beginning. But like last year, Microsoft did not say until late this was happening for free, so that people did not plan accordingly and as many as possible move to 11. Same this time. Same next year."

"Windows 10 to Windows 11 is like when you need new running shoes, but Nike discontinued the kind you’ve been buying new versions of for years, and the other kinds are fine but don’t measure up," another user commented in the r/technology subreddit on Reddit. "So you’re like “f*** it, I’ll just wear these until they fall apart.”

For context, a recent HP survey found that 3 out of 10 HP PCs are still running Windows 10. This was a slight decrease from September 2025, when HP and Dell indicated that up to 50% of PCs were still running on the operating system, prompting the PC makers to suggest that users won't upgrade to Windows 11 overnight, and the process could even roll over into 2026.

Some even claimed that Microsoft's decision to extend Windows 10's support beyond 2026 is an outright admission that it's better than Windows 11. "So are they finally admitting that Windows 11 isn't good enough almost 5 years later?"

To that end, it remains unclear how Microsoft extending support for Windows 10 via its ESU program to 2027 will impact Windows 11's market share. The operating system had just started gaining some momentum and even surpassed Windows 10 as the most dominant desktop operating system in the world in July, 2025.

In the interim, you can take advantage of Microsoft's extended support for Windows 10 by enrolling in the ESU program for free by signing in with a Microsoft account, or pay for access via 1,000 Microsoft reward points or $30.

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

Microsoft plans to begin the Windows 11 July 2026 Security Update on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. In this seventh month of the year, the company is rolling out several new features and improvements for existing features. In addition, this update is expected to deliver a number of bug fixes.

In this new quality update, Microsoft will be introducing brand new features, including the Point-in-time Restore recovery feature and the Screen tint accessibility feature.

This release also introduces the new Windows Update changes that allow users to pause updates indefinitely. The Widgets feature receives a few changes to make the experience quieter and less distracting.

Furthermore, in this release, users will also find changes to the Windows Magnifier, a new default for installing printers using Windows Ready Print support, as well as improvements to the Settings app, File Explorer, Bluetooth, network virtualization, touchpad, and much more.

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

Windows 11's new features arriving in July

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

Point-in-time Restore recovery feature

Starting with the July 2026 Security Update, Microsoft is introducing Point-in-time Restore, a new recovery feature designed to quickly roll back a system to a previous good working state.

The feature works automatically and creates restore points that include settings, files, and apps using the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), allowing you to recover your computer when an issue arises.

Point-in-time Restore comes enabled by default in the Home and Pro editions of the operating system. However, the system must have at least 200GB of storage.

You can always control the feature in Settings > System > Recovery by using the "View or edit" button. On the page, you can turn the recovery feature on or off, configure the restore point frequency and retention, and decide how much storage the feature uses.

At the bottom, the feature will also notice the most recent restore points.

If something is working correctly, you can always access the feature from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), and from the "Point-in-time Restore" page, select the restore point to recover your device.

Screen tint accessibility feature

In this update, the company is also rolling out Screen tint. This accessibility feature applies an overlay color on the screen designed to reduce eye strain and improve viewing comfort.

The feature is available in Settings > Accessibility > Screen tint. Once enabled, you can choose from one of the six preset color overlays or create a custom color.

In addition, there is a slider to control the overlay strength.

While the Screen tint feature seems similar to the Night Light feature, they are different, and they can work alongside each other. However, this feature automatically turns off Color filters and vice versa.

Windows Update new controls

Windows Update is getting a major upgrade. In this release, Microsoft is adding the ability to pause updates indefinitely, which seems to be the closest we'll get to completely turning off automatic updates.

As part of the changes, the "Pause updates" option now includes a calendar view that lets you pause automatic updates for up to 35 days. However, you can re-pause updates as many times as you want.

The only caveat is that if you want to postpone updates for more than 35 days, you'll need to manually pause them again. Otherwise, the system will download and install updates automatically as soon as the scheduled expiration expires.

Widgets with less distracting defaults

The company is trying to make the experience quieter and less distracting.

Widgets now open directly to the dashboard on first use, with hover activation disabled and notifications and Taskbar badges minimized by default.

The experience also offers more control over notifications and personalization settings, allowing users to customize Widgets from the Settings menu.

The dashboard icons can display the number of alerts, while badges clear automatically after leaving the dashboard. Microsoft notes that some settings will continue to adapt based on usage patterns to help limit interruptions.

This update also includes improvements to reliability, responsiveness, and overall visual quality across the Widgets experience.

Windows Magnifier improvements

In a continued effort to improve accessibility features, the software giant is also updating the Magnifier with more granular controls, allowing you to enter exact percentage values rather than having to use the zoom buttons to increase or decrease the zoom level.

Also, in the settings flyout, the zoom adjustment now allows users to set increments up to 400 percent.

Printer default changes

Starting with the quality update for July 2026, the operating system will install printers by default using the Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), provided the device is supported.

If you prefer to revert this configuration, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, and turn off the "Default install printer using Windows Ready Print" option.

Location settings improvements

Microsoft is making location settings easier to understand in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location.

When location services are turned off, options such as "Default location" and "Allow location override" no longer appear active, since apps and services cannot access location data.

As a result, these settings will now be greyed out until location services are enabled, helping clarify when the options are available and reducing confusion.

File Explorer improvements

After installing this quality update, you'll notice that File Explorer will launch faster thanks to new speed improvements.

Also, on the Home page, when hovering over files, users who are logged in with a work or school account should now see options like "Open file location" and "Ask Copilot."

In addition, the address bar now supports paths with double backslashes and quotation marks, making it easier to paste or type folder paths from different sources.

Continuing with the improvements to the address bar, the experience now closes more reliably after selecting an option. Finally, File Explorer improves its ability to rename files.

Bluetooth changes

Microsoft is rolling out a series of Bluetooth improvements focused on reliability, compatibility, and audio performance.

For example, Windows 11 now keeps the microphone mute status synchronized between the system audio controls and Bluetooth headphones that include dedicated mute buttons or indicators, providing a more consistent experience during calls.

The update also improves compatibility with certain audio accessories. For instance, AirPods should enter pairing mode faster, and Beats Studio Pro headphones should offer more reliable microphone performance.

Voice calls on devices that support the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) should be more reliable. LE Audio accessories can begin playing audio faster while the microphone is active, and Windows 11 stability has been improved for some systems affected by Bluetooth-related driver issues.

The operating system will no longer incorrectly display a "Remove failed" message when a Bluetooth device cannot be removed because the Bluetooth radio is unavailable or has changed since the device was paired.

In addition, the "Bluetooth & devices" settings page has been updated to provide a more stable and consistent experience.

Connection reliability has also been enhanced. Classic Bluetooth audio devices can reconnect more quickly after a computer resumes from hibernation. At the same time, LE Audio accessories should maintain more reliable connections when switching between devices and recover more smoothly from temporary disconnections.

Phone Link improvements

Microsoft is improving how phone calls are handled between Windows 11 and a connected smartphone through Phone Link.

When you place a call from your paired phone, the audio will stay on the phone while it rings, then switch to the computer only after you answer the call on Windows 11.

This change helps prevent audio from switching between devices unexpectedly before the call connects.

The update also improves the "Do Not Disturb" experience. When Do Not Disturb is enabled, incoming calls from a connected phone will no longer ring through the computer, reducing interruptions while you're working.

Voice Typing and Voice Access

As you speak, Voice Typing and Voice Access can now refine the text in real time. In addition, the feature improves its capability to adapt to background noise. However, this is only available for Copilot+ PCs.

Furthermore, Voice Access and Voice Typing are now available in German, Spanish, and French.

Networking changes

The software giant is introducing several networking improvements focused on reliability, performance, and virtualization.

For virtualized environments, Confidential Virtual Machines (CVMs) now use SR-IOV hardware acceleration by default to improve network performance. At the same time, a networking configuration issue affecting nested Hyper-V setups has been fixed to ensure virtual machines are provisioned correctly.

The update also enhances the reliability of the networking stack. It reduces some Wi-Fi-related blue screen errors, improves cellular (WWAN) connectivity, and adds better support for IPv6-based VPN connections.

In addition, Microsoft has improved compatibility with certain third-party VPN solutions and server configurations that use SR-IOV networking. Network adapter settings and bindings are now also preserved during operating system upgrades, helping prevent networking configurations from being reset after an operating system update.

Touchpad changes

If you use a compatible touchpad, there's a touchpad customization option that lets you adjust the size of the bottom-right right-click area.

In Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad, you can choose between "Default," "Small," "Medium," or "Large" to control how much of the touchpad responds to a one-finger right-click.

This feature is available only on devices with a pressable touchpad surface. If your computer manufacturer provides touchpad customization through its own software, the system will display a "Custom" option to reflect those settings.

Windows Central's Take

I find it interesting that one of the biggest additions in this update is a feature designed to help when Windows 11 breaks rather than when everything is working perfectly.

Microsoft has spent the last few years talking a lot about AI, Copilot, and new experiences, but Point-in-time Restore addresses a much more fundamental problem. Every user eventually runs into a bad update, problematic driver, or software conflict. When that happens, recovery tools suddenly become far more important than whatever new feature was added to the Start menu.

The Windows Update changes also stand out to me because they give users a little more breathing room. The software giant clearly isn't interested in letting people permanently turn off updates, but repeatedly extending the pause period feels like a practical compromise between security and user control.

As for the rest of the update, I see it as evidence that Microsoft is continuing to chip away at long-standing annoyances. Faster File Explorer performance, Bluetooth reliability improvements, and less intrusive Widgets aren't headline-grabbing changes. However, they're often the updates that have the biggest impact on how the system feels after months of daily use.

Which feature in the July 2026 update are you most looking forward to trying on Windows 11? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

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

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

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

Windows 11 brings major changes to the Start menu and Taskbar in 2026, finally giving users more control over customization.

Microsoft spent the first years of Windows 11 simplifying the Start menu and Taskbar, often at the expense of features that users had relied on for years. In 2026, the company is correcting its direction.

In recent preview builds, the operating system has revealed a growing list of improvements that bring more customization and control back to the experience. From Taskbar positioning and resizing to Start menu layouts and recommendation controls, the software giant is restoring capabilities that many users have been complaining about since the original release of Windows 11.

However, the company's approach isn't about recreating Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft is rebuilding these experiences around the design principles of Windows 11 while giving users more flexibility than they have today.

Microsoft is giving users more control over the Taskbar

The biggest change is the reversal of positioning controls. Users will once again be able to place the Taskbar to the top, left, right, or bottom edge of the screen.

For many users, this feature never should have disappeared in the first place. The ability to place the Taskbar where it works best has been part of the operating system for decades.

At the same time, the company isn't restoring the exact Windows 10 experience. Previously, users could unlock the Taskbar and drag it directly to a different edge of the screen, or change its position through the Settings app. On Windows 11, changing the position requires using the option available through the Settings app, more specifically in the Taskbar settings under the "Taskbar behaviors" section.

Taskbar sizing is also making a comeback. However, the company is updating the "Show smaller taskbar buttons" option so that enabling it makes the buttons and Taskbar smaller, not just the buttons.

The feature improves flexibility, but it still doesn't offer the same freedom available on Windows 10, where users could manually resize the Taskbar and even create multi-row layouts.

The Start menu is finally becoming more customizable

The Start menu is being updated with some of the most significant improvements since the operating system's launch.

One of the biggest additions is support for different Start menu sizes. Instead of relying entirely on the automatic layout, users will be able to choose between different menu configurations based on their preferences.

You will find these settings on the updated "Start" page from the Settings app.

Microsoft is also introducing dedicated controls to show or hide sections such as Pinned, Recommended, and All apps. These changes address one of the most common complaints about the Start menu, which has often felt too limited compared to previous versions of the operating system.

The company is also separating recommendation settings from recent files and activity history. As a result, users will gain more granular control over what appears in the Start menu without affecting other parts of the operating system.

Privacy is also receiving attention, with a new option that lets users hide their account name and profile picture from the Start menu.

These changes reflect a broader shift in Microsoft's strategy

The Start menu and Taskbar updates are part of Microsoft's wider Windows K2 initiative, an effort focused on improving performance, reliability, and usability across Windows 11.

While much of that work happens behind the scenes, the Start menu and Taskbar provide visible evidence that Microsoft's priorities have evolved since 2021.

When this version of Windows launched, the company emphasized simplicity and consistency, even when it meant removing long-standing customization features. A lot of users felt those decisions made the operating system less flexible than Windows 10.

The changes expected to roll out in 2026 suggest Microsoft is rethinking and taking a more balanced approach. Rather than limiting customization in the name of simplicity, the company is finding ways to offer more control while preserving the modern design introduced on Windows 11.

Windows 11 is becoming a more flexible operating system

Microsoft's reinstatement of Taskbar positioning and sizing, Start menu layouts, and recommendation controls may not seem revolutionary on their own. However, these changes represent one of the most notable shifts.

The company is not abandoning its vision for Windows 11, nor is it trying to turn the operating system into Windows 10. Instead, the company is acknowledging that flexibility remains one of the operating system's greatest strengths.

For years, many of the conversations around Windows 11 focused on features that were removed. In 2026, the conversation is increasingly focused on the features Microsoft is bringing back and what that says about the operating system's future direction.

Windows Central's Take

I think the most interesting part of these Start menu and Taskbar changes isn't any individual feature. It's what they reveal about Microsoft's evolving approach to Windows 11.

When the operating system launched in 2021, the software giant removed a noticeable amount of customization in favor of simplicity. The Taskbar lost positioning and resizing controls, and the Start menu became significantly more limited compared to Windows 10. At the time, those choices felt deliberate, almost like a firm design reset.

In 2026, that direction looks less fixed. The reintroduction of Taskbar positioning and resizing options, along with more granular Start menu controls, suggests Microsoft is recalibrating how much flexibility the operating system should offer without undoing its modern design language.

What are your thoughts on the Start menu and Taskbar changes coming to Windows 11? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

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

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

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

Recovering your Windows 11 PC just got easier. This week, Microsoft rolled out point-in-time restore for Windows 11 to general users. The feature creates restore points automatically that you can revert to if there's an issue with your computer.

Point-in-time restore is available to Enterprise, Pro, and Home users of Windows 11. According to Microsoft, the feature can recover a PC in minutes rather than hours.

When you have Point-in-time restore enabled, the feature automatically captures the system state of your PC, including Windows, installed apps, system and app configurations, settings, and your local files.

By default, restore points are captured every 24 hours, but you can configure that to a different cadence if you're an Enterprise user.

The feature is on by default on Windows Home and Windows Pro devices as long as they are not under enterprise management. Point-in-time restore is off by default for some enterprise-managed systems until Windows 11 version 26H2 is installed.

If a PC has an OS volume size under 200GB, point-in-time restore will be disabled by default.

Microsoft already had other features that are somewhat similar, such as System Restore and point-in-time restore for Windows 365 Enterprise. But both of those have key differences when compared to point-in-time restore for Windows 11.

System Restore requires manual capture of an image and does not include user files as part of the restore point. It's also accessible through the Control Panel rather than system settings and takes up more space on your PC.

Point-in-time restore for Windows 11 also provides benefits to IT admins, since the feature can be remotely managed with a wide set of controls.

Point-in-time for Windows 365 Enterprise is for Cloud PCs. It's also limited to Enterprise users.

Over two million devices had point-in-time restore enabled while the feature was in public preview. Microsoft said it used the time in preview to improve the feature based on feedback.

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

Microsoft has confirmed that the next Windows 11 version coming this year will be Windows 11 version 26H2, keeping with the usual annual format of releasing a new OS version in the second half of the year.

Just like Windows 11 version 25H2 and version 24H2 before it, version 26H2 will be based on the same 2024 platform release. That means the version 25H2 update won't be a big one, sharing the same featureset as version 25H2 and the same platform improvements as 24H2.

"Windows 11, version 26H2 continues the move toward a more predictable and efficient servicing model. This model helps reduce disruption while helping your organization stay secure and up to date. By building on a shared platform and delivering innovation continuously, Windows enables you to focus less on large upgrade projects and more on delivering value to your users."

As 26H2 is based on the same platform release as 25H2 and 24H2, the 26H2 release will share:

• The same source code base
• The same security and quality updates
• The same compatibility validation

That means it will be easy for individuals as enterprises to upgrade to the new version this fall, as there won't be any validation or compatibility concerns to be worried about. If it works on 25H2 or 24H2, it'll work on 26H2.

Microsoft has confirmed that 26H2 won't be made available to all Windows 11 users, however. If you're running Windows 11 version 26H1, you won't be able to upgrade to version 26H2 this fall. This is because version 26H1 is a special offshoot version of Windows 11 built specifically for Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 and NVIDIA RTX Spark devices.

Version 26H1 is based on a newer platform release than the one that powers 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2, which means 26H1 is technically on a newer codebase than the upcoming 26H2. That's why users on 26H1 won't be offered an upgrade to 26H2 this fall.

Microsoft does say that those on 26H1 will be offered an upgrade to a newer OS version in the future, but it's yet to confirm when that will be. I suspect those on 26H1 will be offered an upgrade to 27H2 towards the end of next year instead.

The company has confirmed that version 26H2 is coming soon, but is yet to provide an actual date for release. I expect we'll see rollout begin towards the end of September or into the month of October, as has historically been the case.

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

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

Search may finally get a Bing off switch

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

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

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

New Search controls reduce clutter

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

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

Privacy & Security settings are getting reorganized

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

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

Availability of the Search experience

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

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

Windows Central's Take

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

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

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

What are your thoughts about having the option to remove Bing results from Windows Search on Windows 11? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

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

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

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

On Windows 11, I often see users concerned about high memory usage when they open Task Manager. It's not uncommon to see RAM utilization sitting at 70, 80, or even 90 percent. When that happens, many people assume their computer is slowing down, the operating system is using too many resources, or it's finally time to upgrade to more memory.

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

Why Windows 11 uses so much memory

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

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

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

Where Microsoft PC Manager fits in

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

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

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

The mistake many users make

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

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

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

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

When should you actually worry?

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

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

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

So how much RAM usage is too much?

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

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

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

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

Windows Central's Take

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More resources

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Microsoft announced the Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12 this week, but thanks to a confusing naming scheme and the lack of an event or stream, the new PCs have not drawn the attention they deserves.

Those who paid attention and saw the announcements may have experienced sticker shock, since the new Surface devices are at least $500 more expensive than their predecessors. Microsoft will include a free keyboard to ease the pain, but still.

This week marked the third time this year that Microsoft announced new Surface PCs, and I feel cheated. This isn't how Surface week is supposed to feel.

Biggest News of the Week

Microsoft has announced a whopping six Surface devices this year. But information trickled out in a series of press releases. No on-stage event. No live stream. No buzz.

I can understand Microsoft skipping a Surface event when there's little to announce. In a couple of previous years, there's been little to talk about. But in just the first half of 2026, Microsoft unveiled:

• Surface Laptop Ultra powered by NVIDIA RTX Spark
• Surface Pro 12 for Business and Surface Pro 12 for consumers
• Surface Laptop 8 for Business and Surface Laptop 8 for consumers
• Surface RTX Spark Dev Box

Those PCs aren't just spec bumps. They include two new form types of PCs for the Surface family (a true clamshell workstation and a mini PC), and the latest components from Intel, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm.

The Surface Laptop 8 for Business has an innovative privacy screen that should make non-business users jealous. The new consumer Surface hardware runs on the Snapdragon X2 Elite. The Surface Laptop Ultra runs NVIDIA's RTX Spark superchip and Windows on Arm.

Microsoft had the partners, internals, form factors, and unique features to fill a keynote. Instead, inboxes were filled with emails of spec sheets and basic information.

Shopping with Sean

The new Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8 are beautiful machines, but I think it's hard to justify their price. Instead, I suggest a Dell XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite and 32GB of RAM.

If you do get a Surface Pro, the discounted Surface Pro Flex Keyboard is worth grabbing. It can be used wirelessly or when physically attached and features a large haptic trackpad.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A smarter shortcut reference for Windows 11

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

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

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

Why keyboard shortcuts still matter

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

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

The challenge has always been discovering and remembering those shortcuts.

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

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

Learning shortcuts without leaving your workflow

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

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

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

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

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

Optionally, you can also exclude apps from the experience.

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

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

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

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

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

Windows Central's Take

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

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

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

More resources

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A feature that outlived its original purpose

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

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

How screensavers are used today

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

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

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

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

Microsoft's reason to keep it

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

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

Where screensavers still make sense

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

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

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

Missing evolution on Windows 11

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

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

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

Should Microsoft bring screensavers back?

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

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

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

Windows Central's Take

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

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

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

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

More resources

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

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

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

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

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

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

Timestamps

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

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

Hosts:

• Daniel Rubino
• Zac Bowden

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

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

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

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

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

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

Biggest improvements from the Windows Insider Program in June 2026

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

Screen tint new feature

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

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

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

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

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

Low Latency Profile

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

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

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

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

Widgets with quieter defaults

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

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

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

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

Magnifier additional controls

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

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

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

File Explorer changes

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

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

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

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

Windows Update single monthly restart

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

Windows Search with typo handling

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

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

Furthermore, local results now take priority over web results.

Windows Central's Take

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

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

What are your thoughts about these latest Windows 11 improvements? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

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

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
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Some of the oldest and best-known apps on Windows 11 are about to receive an update, and Windows Insiders can already try the upcoming features.

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

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

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

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

Calculator Release notes

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

Camera release notes

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

Clock release notes

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

Media Player Release notes

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

Paint release notes

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

Photos release notes

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

Sound Recorder release notes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Windows Central's Take

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

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

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

Do you think Microsoft should bring back a straightforward local account option during Windows 11 setup? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Biggest News of the Week

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

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

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

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

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

Shopping with Sean

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

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

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

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

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

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

Intelligent Terminal for Windows 11

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

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

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

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

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

Terminal interface

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

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

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

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

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

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

Agent management pane

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

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

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

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

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

Command Palette with AI

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

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

Intelligent Terminal settings

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

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

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

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

Windows Central's Take

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

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

What are your thoughts about Intelligent Terminal and AI-powered command-line tools? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview Build 26300.8687

Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out

Windows Update

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

File Explorer

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

Search

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

Taskbar

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

Windows setup

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

Input

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

Remote Recovery Management

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

Audio

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

Settings

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

General Reliability

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

Other

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

Which Windows Insider Channel are you in?

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

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

Windows 11 might be regaining its movable taskbar after plenty of outcry from the Windows community, but that doesn't mean it's perfect for all users.

Personally, I don't mind the regular Windows 11 taskbar, although I have tweaked it in the past with ExplorerPatcher. However, while traveling around the web, I came across GroDock, and it finally made me realize what I've been missing.

GroDock is a customizable Windows 11 taskbar alternative with additional docking capabilities for apps. It's like a productivity hub that I never knew I needed.

While it doesn't completely override the native taskbar, it has certainly proven to be capable enough for me to hide the Windows version entirely.

GroDock comes from a solo hobby developer known as "Groad," and their collection of custom apps encompasses Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and more. GroDock is available for free for 7 days as an introductory trial; after that, it costs $4.99 to keep forever. Here's why that one-time cost might be worth it for you.

What can GroDock do that the Windows 11 taskbar cannot?

Let me start by highlighting some of GroDock's more enticing customization options.

You can position the bar along the top, bottom, left, or right side of your screen, and you can also choose icon alignment to be centered or off to the left or right of the bar.

Icon sizes, taskbar transparency, mica effects, theme colors, text colors, Start button logo, and hex colors can all be tweaked to your liking.

The clock is fully customizable, and in the most recent update, a calendar was added with a per-day agenda feature.

Did I mention GroDock supports multi-monitor setups? Yes, you can choose which monitors the custom taskbar shows up on.

Something I absolutely love and find super useful as someone who's constantly copy-pasting is an optional Clipboard history icon. You can even choose how many entries you want to show in the widget.

GroDock also offers an optional kanban board for To-Do lists, a basic notepad feature to jot down ideas, a code snippet repository, and a timer to keep track of how long you've been at a task.

Other optional features include system volume, screen brightness (per monitor, to boot), network info, battery life for laptops, USB devices, and more. Just like the regular Windows taskbar, but completely customizable.

Perhaps my favorite feature is the customizable Start menu style. The Classic version has cascading menus, while the Explorer version shows more options right from the start. The Modern option is more like a scrollable list of apps with a favorites section nearby.

And finally, customizable dock groups make it easy to keep your desktop clean and your favorite apps immediately accessible. You can create any number of dock groups and add any sort of apps you want to those groups, super useful for productivity aficionados.

Why use GroDock instead of the native Windows 11 taskbar?

Windows 11's taskbar is straightforward and familiar. For a lot of Windows users, that's good enough.

But as someone who spends 8+ hours a day at my PC, turning the taskbar into a true productivity tool is well worth the $5 price tag. It's essentially a central command hub for my PC, totally customizable to my liking, giving me far more control and ease of access than I've ever had before.

Something I'm sure a lot of users will appreciate is that it doesn't completely override the native taskbar. You can use GroDock as a complement to the Windows 11 taskbar, or you can use it as a total replacement.

Best part? As mentioned, you can try it out for free for 7 days. If it's not quite what you need, you never have to touch it again. And if it is too good to pass up, as I found out, the one-time $5 cost really isn't too steep.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Your folders aren't broken

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

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

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

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

Microsoft is targeting a forgotten feature

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

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

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

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

How to restore custom icons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Windows Central's Take

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

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

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

What are your thoughts about this change to folder customizations on Windows 11? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

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

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

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

The Files app has beaten Microsoft to the punch once again. The same app that added tabs to file management far before Windows 11's File Explorer has added a clever way to show folder sizes.

A recent update to Files adds a button in the size column to calculate the size of a folder. The solution is a clever compromise that adds a simple way to show folder sizes without eating up system resources by showing the sizes of all folders.

The same update adds some other handy features like the option to remove all tags from a file.

Files is not the first third-party file management app to show folder sizes; OneCommander also has the option. But I enjoy following the development of Files. The app looks like what File Explorer should be. It also often adds features before Microsoft adds similar options to File Explorer.

Files v4.1.3: What's New

Calculate folder size on demand

When the Calculate folder sizes option is turned off in Settings, a View size button now appears in the Size column. Clicking it will calculate the size of that folder on demand.

Retain selection across layouts

When switching between layouts, the previously selected item now stays selected, so you don’t lose your place when changing layouts.

Remove all tags from a file

You can now quickly clear every tag assigned to one or more files. There are a few ways to use the new action:

• From the context menu — right-click an item, open the Tags submenu, and choose Remove tags.
• From the toolbar — when the Edit Tags button is pinned to the toolbar, the same option appears in its menu.
• From the Command Palette — open the Command Palette and search for Remove tags. You can also assign your own keyboard shortcut to it from Settings.

If you haven’t pinned the Edit Tags button to the toolbar, you can add it in a few steps:

1. Right-click the toolbar and select Customize toolbar.
2. Expand the File System group on the left.
3. Drag Edit Tags… to the list of added toolbar items.

Updated OneDrive icon

The OneDrive icon has been updated to the latest version. Files now loads it directly from the OneDrive executable, so it always matches the icon used by OneDrive itself.

Fixes

• Fixed an issue with extracting tar archives.
• Fixed an issue where the Signatures page would occasionally cause a crash.
• Fixed an issue where the Play action wasn’t available when a single media file was selected.
• Fixed an issue where Smart Extract would extract archives to the wrong location when switching tabs.
• Fixed an issue where tag search excluded folders when grouping by type.
• Fixed an issue where thumbnails would sometimes fail to refresh after a file was modified.
• Fixed an issue where a BitLocker locked drive wasn’t displayed.

Why doesn't File Explorer show folder sizes?

If you browse around File Explorer, you'll notice folders have a blank space next to them under the size column. To calculate the size of a folder, Windows needs to perform a recursive scan and add together the size of every file within a folder.

A recursive scan would not be an issue for a reasonably sized folder, but if you have a folder with thousands of files and subfolders, the scan would eat up system resources and slow things down.

As a quick side note, File Explorer does show the size of zipped folders, but that's because Windows 11 treats those as individual files, not as folders.

There are ways to make File Explorer show folder sizes, but they require mods. Windows Forum has an excellent piece detailing the process of using Windhawk to show folder sizes in File Explorer.

If you'd like a gauge of how long a recursive scan for a folder takes, hover your mouse over any folder and wait until a file size appears. It may only take a moment for a single folder, but if your PC had to do a similar scan for any folder on your screen, it would not be a smooth experience.

Files takes a different approach to showing the size of a folder by adding a prompt within the size column. I think it's more user friendly and is a clever compromise to showing folder sizes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How I tested Windows 11 on 8GB of RAM

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

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

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

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

Heavy browser usage with 8GB of RAM

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

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

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

Adding more apps alongside heavy browser usage

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

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

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

Moving my workload to a PC with 8GB of RAM

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Haven't we seen this before?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A few weeks ago, Google made the most major change to search in decades, completely shifting how we interact with the internet. The company is overhauling its search bar, explaining that it will be "completely reimagined using AI". As you might expect, the change sparked mixed reactions, largely due to its potential to disrupt industries.

Those who depend on search traffic to draw customers to their businesses have been significantly affected by the shift. Executive Editor, Jez Corden, reported that "Bing hit a billion monthly active users, but that's still tiny compared to Google's massive hold on the search landscape — offering a true alternative to Google could turbo-charge (Bing), complete with marketing to drive home the point."

And now it seems that Microsoft might be positioning itself to dethrone Google as the search king. In a report by the Search Engine Roundtable, the company announced a new way to disable Copilot responses from appearing in Bing search results. It comes via a new browser extension available in Google Chrome's web store and Microsoft Edge's add-on store, allowing you to toggle off AI responses from appearing in your search results.

According to Microsoft's President and Head of Search, Jordi Ribas: "We just shipped a preview extension in Bing that lets you toggle AI chat-like features on or off with just one click. It’s a simple but important step we’re taking to ensure that our users always feel confident they have a choice in the search experience we’re providing" (via X).

While Ribas admitted that AI is doing powerful things for search, he explains that internal company research revealed that "not everyone wants to use AI for everything all the time."

The extension lets users choose which experience suits them in the moment: "I’m proud of the AI experiences we’re building in Bing - I’ve also always taken pride in listening to our users to create products that truly work for them."

Microsoft Bing isn't the only service capitalizing on Google's miscalculations with AI. Following Google's AI search overhaul, DuckDuckGo's weekly installs surged by 30% in the US. Is this signaling a broader pushback against AI overviews in search?

Download:

• Google Chrome: Microsoft Bing AI Search Choice extension
• Microsoft Edge: Microsoft Bing AI Search Choice add-on

What are your thoughts about Google overhauling its search experience and Microsoft giving users more control over AI-generated search results? Share your thoughts with me in the comments.

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

Earlier this week, Microsoft patched three zero-day exploits published by security researcher "Chaotic Eclipse" (also known as Nightmare-Eclipse) last month, including YellowKey, GreenPlasma, and MiniPlasma (via Bleeping Computer).

For context, the YellowKey vulnerability allowed the security sleuth to access BitLocker-protected drives on Windows 11 with a simple USB key. Perhaps more concerningly, Nightmare claimed that Microsoft "intentionally" left a backdoor in the security feature.

Microsoft issued a mitigation for the critical Windows 11 flaw to restore BitLocker’s trust in WinRE and has now patched the vulnerability as part of its June 2026 Patch Tuesday updates, which fixed over 200 security flaws. If the past few weeks are anything to go by, it's evident that Microsoft and security sleuth Nightmare-Eclipse have been in a back-and-forth argument over how vulnerabilities are reported and how researchers are compensated.

The tech giant indicated that publishing the unpatched bugs along with code to exploit them placed customers across its ecosystem at risk. The company initially threatened legal action against the security researcher, sparking outrage across the cybersecurity community. Following the backlash, Microsoft ultimately reversed course and dropped the threat.

Nightmare even claimed that Microsoft banned their GitHub account and even deleted their Microsoft account as retaliation for publishing the zero-day exploits. "[They were] told personally by [Microsoft] that they will ruin my life, and they did", Nightmare added while referring to Microsoft's actions as vindictive.

The tech giant previously indicated that the vulnerabilities published by the security sleuth weren't shared with the company in advance, as highlighted in its Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure (CVD) policy. It also dismissed claims that it had deactivated the sleuth's accounts:

"Microsoft does not remove MSRC researcher portal accounts, which is where anyone can submit a vulnerability to the company. Microsoft cannot confirm which account this person is claiming was deactivated."

This news comes as scammers and bad actors are increasingly becoming deceptive and using sophisticated ploys to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data from unsuspecting users. Last month, I reported that scammers are exploiting a legitimate Microsoft email address used for 2FA codes to spam unsuspecting users.

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

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

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

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

Windows 11's new Screen Tint feature

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not the same as Color Filters

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

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

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

Windows Central's Take

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

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

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

What are your thoughts about the new Screen Tint feature on Windows 11? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Microsoft's remaining app gap

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Biggest Build News

Native Windows apps

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

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

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

Agentic future

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

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

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

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

"The next computer"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An exciting time for Windows 11 and Microsoft

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Biggest Windows 11 News

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

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

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

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

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

Shopping with Sean

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coreutils finally brings familiar Linux tools to Windows 11

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

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

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

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

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

WSL Containers could make Docker optional for many developers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Windows Developer Configurations solves a problem every developer has experienced

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

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

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

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

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

Windows Central's Take

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

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

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

What are your thoughts on Microsoft's latest developer tools for Windows 11? Let me know in the comments!

More resources

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

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

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

If Microsoft's just-concluded annual developer conference, Build 2026, has taught us anything, it is that generative AI is here to stay. The company is seemingly doubling down on its efforts in the ever-evolving landscape and moving away from the one-size-fits-all and software factory mentality from the Bill Gates era.

Office and Windows are arguably among Microsoft's top revenue earners and have helped turn the company into a trillion-dollar enterprise, but CEO Satya Nadella claimed that this might no longer be the formula for success, especially as we get into the agentic AI era. Microsoft is pivoting toward security, quality, and AI transformation as its core business priorities.

Microsoft unveiled Project Solara at Build 2026 in collaboration with Qualcomm, which is essentially "agent first computing" — an OS that’s designed to be invisible, hosting an Agent Shell that can dynamically load and tailor multiple cloud-based agents.

According to the company, AI agents are evolving beyond just mere AI assistants. "There's a real platform shift," Nadella indicated. "We're moving from building operating systems and devices for apps to agents."

This news comes after Microsoft revealed its plans to eventually evolve Windows 11 into an agentic operating system, which will feature AI agents in their own secure session, where users can share data or shut down at a moment's notice.

As Microsoft transitions into an agentic AI future, a damning internal document revealed the company's alleged plans to “make people addicted” to its new AI assistant, Scout (via 404 Media).

CEO Satya Nadella indicated that he was “not sure what this document is or who is writing and leaking this nonsense,” in a message exclusively obtained by The Information.

However, 404 Media shared a different account:

"The document we reported on was not some random document. As we wrote at the time, the strategy document was written by Microsoft executives Omar Shahine, Jakob Werner, and some sort of AI writing tool. This information is in our original article and is readily available to Nadella. We wrote: “The document seen by 404 Media lists Shahine and another executive, Jakob Werner, as its authors. The document itself, however, notes that it was ‘co-created turn-by-turn with AI. Human verified every sentence.’”

Perhaps more interestingly, phase one of launching Scout (internally called ClawPilot) was to “make people addicted. Continue shipping the standalone ClawPilot experience. Pilot the UX, grow the user base, and build the skill and tool ecosystem that makes people depend on it daily. This is already happening organically.”

Speaking to The Information, a Microsoft spokesperson dismissed these claims by indicating that "Scout is for helping people accomplish tasks more effectively—not encouraging dependency. Our goal isn’t more screen time. It’s more time back.”

While it's impossible to tell what's true or false from the story, it's undeniable that AI is a touchy and controversial subject for most people. This is on top of the privacy and security concerns it already brings to the table, and its potential to render almost all white-collar jobs within the next 18 months.

Do you really think Microsoft wants to make its customers addicted to AI?Share your thoughts with me in the comments.

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It's no secret that Microsoft has been pushing hard for its customers to transition from the built-in Windows Mail & Calendar apps to the new Outlook client. However, the move has been met with backlash and reservations from users, including our Senior Editor Zac Bowden, who argued that the client isn't yet ready for prime time with its sluggish performance as one of the major pain points.

"Enshitification," a user lamented on Reddit. "Release a new product with less functions than the old one, but promote it constantly as "new", then charge customers extra to upgrade to a product which is nearly as good as the old one, but not quite, those extra bits you need are classed as a premium add-on."

New Outlook is a disaster; why do they persist, it is missing so many features from r/Office365

Feature parity is evidently a major point preventing most users from transitioning from the Classic Outlook to the new Outlook client. However, Microsoft is working hard to bridge this gap and has shipped 15 features over the last few months to the new Outlook client (via Neowin).

Some of these 15 features include the capability to pin a mail, which makes it easier to track important messages as they trickle in. It also features modern themes, including a dark mode. Additionally, you can temporarily snooze an email from your inbox until it becomes timely and relevant again, and a meeting recap.

Other notable additions include: improved meeting tracking, schedule send, and keyboard shortcuts to help you enhance productivity by bolstering effectiveness and efficiency.

To that end, Microsoft previously indicated that adoption and transition to the new Outlook client are slowly picking up pace; however, it's still pushing the opt-out phase by one year. This suggests that the company is giving organizations ample time to make the bold jump.

It's worth noting that Microsoft will continue supporting the Windows Mail & Calendar apps through 2029.

Have you transitioned to the new Outlook yet? Let me know in the comments.

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