Though bugs showing up in Windows updates is no surprise anymore, a startup sound from 2007 suddenly making a return nearly two decades later is still a bit strange. But Microsoft is full of surprises, and that’s exactly what happened.

Last Monday, we reported on an odd issue in Windows 11’s latest Beta and Dev channel builds, where the iconic Windows Vista startup chime resurfaced out of nowhere. Microsoft acknowledged the bug and even leaned into the nostalgia a bit when the issue was first spotted, and promised a fix.

Credit where credit is due, Microsoft did indeed stick to its word and tried to patch things up in the latest Windows 11 Preview Builds released earlier this week. Unfortunately, the Redmond-based giant only partially succeeded.

The Vista sound is still lingering in the Dev Insider build

Microsoft rolled out the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4452 and Build 26200.5661 for the Beta and Dev channels, respectively, earlier this week on Monday. Initially, the “Fixes for everyone in the Beta/Dev channel” section mentioned: Fixed the issue causing the Windows Vista boot sound to play instead of the Windows 11 boot sound.

Although this was great news, Microsoft updated the release notes of the Dev build the very next day on Tuesday, after realizing that the fix for the issue was “not working correctly in this build.” It further mentioned that the issue will be fixed in the next flight.

There’s been no update to the Beta release notes yet, suggesting that the fix is working as anticipated.

If you aren’t familiar with the bug we’re referring to here, a Windows Insider, @XenoPanther on X (formerly Twitter), spotted a bug that swapped the Windows 11 startup sound with Vista’s startup sound. This issue was found in the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4441 and 26200.5651 for the Beta and Dev channels.

Like a true tech enthusiast, he went on a quest to trace down the cause of the bug and determined that the .WAV file located inside the imageres.dll.mun resource file was the culprit. It previously had the Windows 11 startup sound and had been replaced with Vista’s.

Vista nostalgia or an indirect dig at Apple?

Though most would've likely disregarded it and forgotten about it as yet another silly Microsoft bug (despite the years), what truly raised eyebrows was the timing of the bug. It was spotted around a week after WWDC 2025, where Apple announced its new operating systems alongside its "Liquid Glass" UI design.

Though the redesign was certainly refreshing for Apple users who've grown tired of staring at the same old design, it felt like a step back in time to many. This was because Microsoft first debuted similar translucent glass effects with its Windows Aero theme in Windows Vista.

Brandon LeBlanc, the Senior Product Manager for the Windows Insider Program Team, replied to @XenoPanther’s X post and mentioned that Microsoft had added the issue as a known issue.

In the replies, when asked how it happened, LeBlanc jokingly mentioned that he “went in and had some fun with the sound files in Windows and thought folks wanted a blast from the past.”

Though LeBlanc was clearly joking around, people were still unsure if it was a genuine bug or an actual blast from the past, so he clarified that it’s an actual bug.

Whether an intentional bug or not, the sudden return of Vista’s startup sound just days after Apple debuted a design that looks suspiciously similar to Aero feels a little too well-timed to be pure accident.

Given that this strangely seems to be one of those bugs Windows Insiders aren’t too mad about, it’s also one of those rare times when Microsoft not having a proper fix isn’t bothering people all that much. If you're one of those affected and waiting for a fix, the only thing you can really do for now is sit tight for the next build, and maybe enjoy the nostalgia in the meantime.

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Last Friday, we reported on an issue in Windows 11 where Google Chrome would simply refuse to launch. Chrome’s support manager, Ellen T., confirmed that the team had investigated the problem and pinned it on Microsoft's Family Safety feature, but users were provided with a quick workaround instead of an official fix.

The workaround? Either disable the “Filter inappropriate websites” option under Family Safety or, oddly enough, rename the Chrome.exe file to Chrome1.exe.

Microsoft still hasn’t rolled out an official fix, but it has finally acknowledged the issue while confirming another bug impacting Chrome users, too.

Chrome’s still the main target in Microsoft’s latest bug

As reported by Neowin, Microsoft confirmed one more issue affecting Google Chrome users on Windows via a new Microsoft Learn entry. The entry was opened on Tuesday, June 24, and it hasn’t been updated since.

The new bug Microsoft has identified also has to do with the Family Safety feature that caused the issue we reported on earlier. However, instead of the feature causing Chrome to crash entirely, the feature just… doesn’t work.

The Redmond-based giant explains that the Web Content Filtering system relies on a block list to prevent browsers from accessing inappropriate search results and websites.

Unless a browser version is added to the block list, it won’t be, well, blocked — even if content filtering is turned on for the account. Something that, in the Microsoft Learn entry, the tech giant admitted to not having done with the latest version of Chrome and several other browsers.

Due to this mistake on Microsoft’s end, the browsers not added to the list might temporarily appear unblocked. Thankfully, Microsoft confirmed that it’s currently working on updating the block list.

The Redmond-based giant also touched on the issue we’ve already talked about in our previous article, which is causing Google Chrome and “some browsers” to shut down unexpectedly. PCs with Parental Controls enabled typically receive a parental approval message: “You’ll need to ask to use this app.”

Once a parent approves, the child gains access to the browser. However, this bug is causing the browser to shut down immediately without the prompt even appearing. Microsoft has pinpointed that this issue is only observed when the Activity reporting feature is disabled.

The suggested workaround is to enable Activity reporting under Windows settings in Family Safety. Once the feature is enabled, parents will begin to receive approval requests as usual.

The issues discussed above are affecting Windows 10 version 22H2 and Windows 11 versions 22H2, 23H2, and 24H2.

Is this another sneaky push toward Microsoft Edge?

Microsoft’s confirmed that it’s actively working on resolving both the above issues, and will update the support document when it has more information. What’s great is that the tech giant has finally acknowledged the issue and provided a workaround to the Google Chrome crashing problem.

Considering Microsoft has had quite the rocky history with Google Chrome, it’s frankly a bit odd that both issues seem to primarily be affecting Chrome.

Microsoft has a history of targeting Chrome (the world's most popular web browser) directly in various ways, including publishing a guide on “how to uninstall Google Chrome,” displaying pop-up ads promoting Edge in the Chrome app, and interrupting users who search for Google Chrome using its Edge browser, just to name a few.

Are both bugs genuine, or are they simply another attempt by Microsoft to push users toward Edge instead of Chrome? In this instance, I guess we’ll never know.

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By now, I know it, you know it, and most of the Wi-Fi accessible world knows it: Windows 10 is on the chopping block, with an end-of-support date set for October 14, later this year — and some users are not happy about it.

Whether unwilling or unable, a large portion of Windows 10 users feel caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to Microsoft's looming deadline to upgrade to Windows 11. Not only do the increased hardware requirements for Windows 11 render a large number of functioning computers unfit for purpose, but Microsoft's flagship operating system has something of a soured reputation, leaving even those with viable machines hesitant to adopt it.

For those users, time is the enemy. Time, and Microsoft. However, the latter is at least offering them a hand in compromise. One more year of additional year of support through its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program (previously costing $30 for individuals), at no monetary cost. Please note: I didn't use the word "free" for a reason.

Three ways to stay on Windows 10 until 2026: Bucks, backups, and Bing

Microsoft's ESU is nothing new, and we've known about its availability for individual Windows users since November 2024. For businesses, even earlier. And we know that signing up for this program will cost the average Windows 10 user $30 for a single year of additional support.

However, in a recent post to the Windows Experience Blog, Microsoft has provided a few additional ways for Windows 10 users to gain this additional support, without needing to pay Microsoft a single dime.

In the blog, Microsoft shares the following alternative ways to gain ESU for Windows 10:

• Gain ESU for Windows 10 by using Windows Backup to sync your settings to the cloud

Windows Backup is a new free tool from Microsoft that aims to make switching from your older Windows 10 machine to an upgraded Windows 11 machine a whole lot easier. It's not the only purpose though, users can also backup files and folders to external drives similarly to any other backup tool.

So, great. Download Windows Backup, transfer a few files to a USB storage device, and claim an extra year of support. Right? Well, no.

To become eligible for free ESU, you'll need to upload a copy of your Windows Settings to the cloud. Specifically OneDrive. Meaning you'll also need a free Microsoft Account. Which is, once again, another hurdle some Windows 10 users refuse to clear.

• Redeem ESU for Windows 10 with 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points

Microsoft Reward points are Microsoft's own Monopoly money you can earn through shopping at its store; completing challenges on Xbox Game Pass; referring friends to sign up for a Microsoft Account and also earn Reward points (not a pyramid scheme); willingly trading your information through polls, quizzes, and trivia; or helping Microsoft to artificially inflate engagement by watching certain videos online.

Of course. There is one other way of earning Microsoft Reward points, but it'll test your loyalty in ways you never thought. You'll need to start using Bing Search.

Yes, simply searching on Bing can score you some of that lucrative Microsoft Monopoly moolah, though earning 1000 points may take you some time. If you start now, I'm sure you'll make it in time for October 14.

Frustratingly, for those who want to avoid signing up for a Microsoft Account, this is yet another method of attaining ESU for free that leaves you no choice.

What's next

So, are you ready to backup your settings or switch to Bing to save a few bucks and gain an additional year of support for Windows 10? The ball's in your court.

Some would say that this method is simply delaying the inevitable. And I'm sure that anyone hoping for a savior in a potential release of Windows 12 will be sorely disappointed.

However, if you need a little longer to secure your next device, or a few more months to pluck up the courage to give Linux a shot, Microsoft's newest incentive might be ideal. Well, almost ideal. You might have to use Bing, after all.

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Microsoft has a long and underhanded history of trying to gently subvert users away from Google Chrome on Windows.

In an effort to push the Edge web browser and its Bing search engine to Google's userbase (with all the tact of a used-car salesman), Microsoft has injected pop-up ads, tricked users with a fake Google Search page, flagged other browsers as errors that need to be fixed, and potentially broken a Chrome feature by blocking it through a system update. Oopsie.

However, after years of "coincidental" issues, "unintended" behaviors, and "accidental" bugs, Microsoft may have found a way to at least cut off the youth from being indoctrinated by Google's superior search and browser... By accidentally flagging it as unsuitable using Windows 11's Family Safety feature.

Too hot for Windows: Google Chrome no longer safe for small eyes on Microsoft's OS

In yet another unlikely turn of events that seems to benefit Microsoft's Edge browser and penalize Google's Chrome, Windows 11's Family Safety feature has been effectively blocking the world's most popular browser from opening for the better part of a month under the guise of a parental control measure.

The issue was first reported on June 3 to the r/Chrome subreddit by user Witty-Discount-2906, who claimed that following a crash, Chrome now "Just flashes quickly, unable to open with no error message."

Some time later, another Redditor suggested it was related to Windows' Parental Controls, stating, "I've had 9 students come see the IT Desk in the last hour saying Chrome won't open."

The issue was seemingly confirmed by Chrome support manager Ellen T, replying to a related post to the Google Chrome Help Community message board, stated: "Our team has investigated these reports and determined the cause of this behavior. For some users, Chrome is unable to run when Microsoft Family Safety is enabled."

According to a follow-up post, Microsoft advises that parents (or IT admins in the case of our previous Reddit sleuth) seeking a solution can use the Family Safety web portal or mobile app to select their Child's (or user's) account and choose to disable "Filter inappropriate websites" under the Edge tab.

However, while this will open up access to Chrome once more, it'll also open up access to all of the parts of the internet most parental controls seek to keep restricted.

Alternatively, admins or parents can navigate to Windows > Apps & Games, and unblock Chrome from there.

What's next

If this is a bug, it's an incredible on-brand one, and a genuine blessing. Typically, Microsoft would have to set aside engineers for weeks to plot and scheme ways to attempt to topple Chrome's popularity. This one would then have fallen into its lap for free.

According to Chromium's bug tracker, the problem persists for some, though reports have slowed. One team member shares: "We've not heard anything from MSFT about a fix being rolled out. They have provided guidance to users who contact them about how to get Chrome working again, but I wouldn't think that would have a large effect."

Narrowing down potentially affected users, the Chromium team member shares: "The set of Chrome users who are affected are those who turned on Web Safety under the Edge tab of the parental controls between roughly Nov 2024 and June 3rd."

Whether this is a fault with Chromium or with Windows 11's Family Safety feature remains to be seen. However, Microsoft will likely not see a situation that causes Edge to appear more attractive than the competition as a high-priority issue. So while we wait for a potential fix, I wouldn't blame Microsoft for dragging its heels.

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Not too long ago, Microsoft announced that it’s finally caving in and giving users exactly what they’ve been asking for: a redesigned Start menu. Getting excited about new Windows features is almost never a good idea, and the new Start menu isn’t an exception.

This time around, though the shiny new Start menu is simplified and looks much cleaner for the most part, it drags along a new limitation that’s already rubbing people the wrong way.

A more organized Start menu, with one big catch

As spotted by Windows Latest, the new Start menu features a new Category view that groups your applications into, well, different categories. These categories include: Utilities and tools, Productivity, Games, Social, Entertainment, Creativity, Information & Reading, and Other.

Doesn’t sound too bad, does it? In fact, it sounds like it might even make finding the right app quicker. But here’s where things start to fall apart. You can’t create your own categories beyond the existing ones or even decide where each application goes.

Instead, Windows automatically sorts your applications for you based on a predefined system, and you don’t get a say.

Windows Latest mentions that Microsoft doesn’t use AI or cloud-based analysis to sort your apps into one of the categories. Instead, everything is handled locally on your computer using an on-device JSON file.

This is a great thing privacy-wise, as it means your list of installed apps isn’t being sent to Microsoft’s servers. But it also means there’s little flexibility or intelligence in how the sorting process works.

In the case that Windows 11 can’t determine exactly which category an application should go into, it’ll add it to the “Other” category instead. Unfortunately, it doesn’t end here.

Not all the categories we’ve listed above need to show for you. According to Microsoft, a category only appears if the system detects at least three apps that belong to it. So if you’ve got exactly three apps in, say, the Creativity category and uninstall just one, the entire category disappears.

Of course, this means the remaining apps get automatically dumped into the “Other” category, even if they clearly don’t belong there. Microsoft also notes that apps within each category are arranged based on usage. So if you’ve got Paint in the Creativity category and it’s the app you use most often, it’ll appear at the top of that category.

Thankfully, the rest of the Start menu is what people wanted all along

To be fair, though, there’s likely a good chance that Microsoft will direct its efforts toward improving the “Categories” view and might eventually let users create their own categories and move apps around.

Other than this one frustration (which is admittedly a big one), the redesigned Windows 11 Start menu is certainly a step in the right direction and addresses multiple complaints users have had.

It’s cleaner, makes better use of screen space, and finally ditches the cluttered two-page layout for a single scrollable view. It even lets users finally remove the “Recommended” section, which shows recent apps and files they’ve installed.

The all-new Windows 11 Start menu is currently being gradually rolled out to Windows Insiders.

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Those who sign up for the Windows Insider program know what to expect: you get first dibs on the platform's new and interesting features, and in return, you enlist in the volunteer ranks of Microsoft's bug reporting beta army.

However, few would anticipate the kind of bug found in the latest Preview Build 26200.5651 of the Windows 11 Beta and Dev channels .

It's not disruptive, it doesn't cause any frustrating software gremlins, and neither is it particularly annoying to deal with — but it does, inexplicably, drop an 18-year-old platform relic into the Windows experience, welcoming users to their desktops with the iconic, long-retired chimes of Windows Vista/7.

While this bug would typically be seen as nothing more than your average post-update blunder, given the timing, I'm convinced it has a lot more to do with Apple's recently announced operating system makeover for iOS 26 and macOS 26 than Microsoft is willing to admit.

Hasta la Vista, baby (again)

One eagle-eyed (or eared) Windows Insider brought attention to the bug in a post to X on Friday, even tracking down its cause to the imageres.dll.mun resource file, where Windows 11's typical startup sounds had been overwritten.

In its place? The ethereal startup chimes of Window Vista (which you can preview below) — a certified classic for those with fond memories of running Windows circa 2007, and a surprising shot of nostalgia that harkens back to an era of computing that didn't require a Copilot, when the Start Menu knew its place, and a world in which Microsoft had yet to dream up the Lovecraftian horrors of Windows 8.

Microsoft's Senior Program Manager of the Windows Insider Program Team, Brandon LeBlanc, was first to acknowledge to bug on X, highlighting it as a now known issue, while also joking that it was an intentional tweak to give folks a much-needed "blast from the past."

And while LeBlanc was quick to double down on confirming the out-of-place tones as an actual bug, many a truth is also said in jest, and the timing of this so-called bug lines up almost too well with a sudden spike in interest surrounding Windows Vista following the reveal of Apple's new Liquid Glass visual overhaul at WWDC 2025 — a design that those with working eyes say borrows heavily from Vista's Aero theme.

What's next

Could the revival of Windows Vista's iconic startup sound have originally been an off-the-cuff Easter egg for those drawing parallels to Apple's new Liquid Glass design language, intended for a short stay at startup for Windows Insiders before quietly returning to the Windows graveyard?

Absolutely. It's not like Microsoft hasn't taken a few shots at Apple already, with a recent Instagram post showcasing the brand's willingness to join in on ribbing its rival over claims of Aero inspiration.

However, if it is the truth, Windows Insider lead Brandon LeBlanc isn't fessing. Instead, the patch notes for Preview Build 26200.5651 have been updated to include the lighthearted: "This week’s flight comes with a delightful blast from the past and will play the Windows Vista boot sound instead of the Windows 11 boot sound. We’re working on a fix."

Sadly, LeBlanc and his team will be looking to get Windows 11 back to its regular and far less iconic xylophone-like introduction as soon as possible.

Boo.

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The latest Windows Insider preview build introduces what Microsoft calls “User Interaction-Aware CPU Power Management”, a background feature designed to throttle your processor only when you’re not using it.

In essence, you walk away, and your CPU backs off. You come back, and it’s ready to go. Microsoft is betting that these micro-adjustments will lead to macro savings, especially for laptops and 2-in-1s that rely on battery efficiency to stay competitive.

It might not be a flashy UI update or new Copilot feature, but it might be one of the smartest energy features Windows has introduced in years.

What exactly is User Interaction-Aware CPU Power Management?

It’s a mouthful, but the idea is simple: When you’re not actively touching your PC — no keyboard, mouse, pen, or touchscreen input — Windows shifts the CPU into a lower-power state. The moment you interact again, full performance kicks back in automatically.

Microsoft says it does this by applying a more aggressive processor power management policy than your laptop would normally use during idle time. That includes dropping clock speeds, activating deeper C-states, reducing voltage, and even scaling back high-performance cores in favor of efficiency cores.

The feature is live now in builds 26120.4151 (Beta) and 26200.5603 (Dev) and is expected to ship in Windows 11 25H2, with a possible backport to 24H2 for supported devices. To date, no issues have been reported.

Like low power mode, but with some brains

Traditional power-saving modes don’t always account for how you’re using your device. User Interaction-Aware Power Management adds a layer of context. If you’re watching a movie, for example, the CPU stays active. Running a background encode? It doesn’t interfere. But if your laptop’s sitting open with a dozen browser tabs and no input, that’s when it kicks in.

In theory, that means longer battery life with no performance trade-offs unless you're the kind of user who wants to game and walk away at the same time. And if you’re not a fan of how it works, Microsoft says that you can toggle the feature off in your Windows 11 device’s Power & Battery settings.

On paper, this is an easy win. But depending on your workload and your laptop’s OEM settings, there are edge cases to watch out for.

For example, if you're encoding video or training an AI model in the background without input, you may not want Windows to throttle your CPU just because you walked away.

Microsoft says these scenarios should be excluded, but it will depend heavily on your device and how well your laptop’s manufacturer tunes the feature.

Some users have already flagged concerns in early feedback threads. One Reddit user writes, “If I leave the machine doing a video encode, I really don’t want Windows choosing to make it take longer.”

Another wrote, “Designed and real world [performance] are two different things… how soon it triggers, how long it takes to resume, how third-party software reacts…”.

An ongoing obsession with smarter power control

This move feels like a natural next step in the PC industry's recent obsession with smarter power control. Between Copilot+ PC requirements, ARM-based laptops, and NPU optimization, battery life is quickly becoming the next competitive spec. Microsoft knows this.

With User Interaction-Aware CPU Power Management, Windows adds a subtle but potentially significant tool to its energy toolbox. For ultrabooks, tablets, and 2-in-1s, especially those with limited cooling headroom, this could be a game-changer.

Don’t be surprised if you see OEMs like Dell or Lenovo marketing this by name in their next-gen laptops.

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Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. We've been singing the requiem of Windows 10 for quite some time now.

This past March, Asus published a blog post that makes one thing clear: You should update to Windows 11. "With a mandatory Windows update on the horizon, there are essential steps you should take to ensure a smooth upgrade experience."

That same month, Microsoft updated its Windows 11 system requirements (as reported by Neowin, the Microsoft-focused tech news site). Those updated requirements are to support Windows 11 24H2, which will enable the generative AI tool Microsoft Copilot+. AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm now all make silicon that supports Copilot+.

All of which is to say: The forces urging you to update to Windows 11 are growing — but are things as dire as they appear?

Microsoft's end of support for most versions of Windows 10 means the operating system won't get any feature updates, technical support, or security updates. That doesn't mean the operating system will just stop working, but it will put systems running Windows 10 at higher risk for viruses and malware than systems upgraded to Windows 11.

Laptop Mag has examined several workarounds for the End of Windows 10, but they all have steep disadvantages.

So, should you just bite the bullet and upgrade to Windows 11? Let's recap a bit.

The Windows 11 update isn't strictly mandatory

There are currently several ways to stay on Windows 10 past October 14, including Microsoft's own Extended Support Updates program and Windows 10 Long-Term Service Channel, which can offer full security updates until 2032.

While both the ESU and LTSC options will let you keep running Windows 10, both options come at a price, fiscally and in terms of stripped-down features. So they may not be the most attractive solution.

Alternatively, you could switch to Linux and enjoy all the perks of an open-source operating system while learning a lot about translation layers and software emulation to get some of your favorite applications running.

However, Linux is a lighter-weight operating system that can help keep older hardware running smoothly. So it's a worthwhile option if your current laptop or desktop is rocking hardware too old to meet the stringent Windows 11 upgrade requirements.

If you don't like the idea of having to custom-bootstrap your operating system into working the way you need it to, that's fair. While there are certainly reasons why Linux has a dedicated following, the operating system isn't quite as easy to use out of the box compared to Windows or macOS.

This brings us back to either keeping your version of Windows 10 limping along or caving to the Windows 11 update, which, honestly, may not be as big a deal as the hype suggests.

Windows 11 isn't even that bad

Look, all software eventually becomes old and outdated and gets replaced by a new version. That's just the tech lifecycle.

While Windows 11 is not a perfect operating system, it's pretty easy to use and set up out of the box. It looks more Apple-y than Windows 10, but all your necessary Windows 10 features made the jump, though some have found new homes. But it doesn't take long to get oriented with the new operating system.

You can also opt out of or uninstall any Microsoft programs you don't want to tangle with, like OneDrive or the controversial Recall system on Copilot+ PCs. And you never need to use the Copilot chatbot if you don't want to.

The problem most have with Windows 11 is the strict hardware requirements. You need a GPU capable of running Microsoft's DirectX 12 API and a CPU that runs at 1GHz or faster, with more than two cores, and compatible with a 64-bit operating system.

This essentially means you need an Intel chip that's newer than the 10th generation or an AMD processor that's newer than the 3000 generation.

Should you upgrade anyway?

Given the Windows 11 hardware requirements, a lot of folks will need newer hardware to upgrade.

However, the CPU requirements only really make an impact on hardware that's five to seven years old. While that's not a great look for Microsoft, that older hardware has aged past the usual tech hardware upgrade cycle of about four years.

So maybe you just need a new laptop or desktop, and you've been putting it off for too long.

Even if you don't want all the AI features of a Copilot+ PC, plenty of non-AI options would still get you all the benefits of Windows 11 without the hassle of trying to hold on to Windows 10 for another decade.

Plus, there are rumors that Windows 12 is around the corner. So maybe this whole discussion will be redundant in a few months, anyway.

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Microsoft won't advertise it, and you're highly unlikely to stumble across it by accident, but there's a version of Windows 10 that drops the ads, the AI, and will be officially supported for years to come — long after most are forced to upgrade to Windows 11.

For those unaware, Windows 10 is due to be retired by Microsoft on October 14, 2025. Beyond this date, the operating system will lose access to any technical support, future feature drops, and vital security updates.

While your computer will run as normal, and you don't actually need to leave Windows 10 behind, any potential system vulnerabilities discovered after the end-of-support date will remain exploitable forevermore. It'll be open season on your data, hardware, and privacy, and your copy of Windows will be about as secure as a piñata at a party packed with sugar-lusting Little Leaguers.

Microsoft's ideal solution is for Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11. Those whose devices don't meet the operating system's minimum specs can alternatively opt into the company's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which offers regular consumers an extra year of security updates for $30.

However, there's one group of Windows 10 users this doesn't apply to. In fact, those running this particular version of Windows 10 might be among the happiest of all. At a glance, it appears to be the operating system that dreams are made of.

• A near-stock version of Windows 10, without the ads or bloat.
• No Copilot, no AI, not even Cortana.
• And up to seven more years of official security updates, ending in 2032.

This version of Windows 10 sounds like the one many have been wishing for, but in true monkey's paw fashion, the real cost of that wish isn't immediately clear.

Getting it isn't easy. Running it comes with its own consequences. And using it means stepping into a sealed room where time stopped ticking in 2021 — for better or worse.

I'm talking, of course, about Windows 10 21H2 LTSC.

What is Windows 10 LTSC?

Windows 10 LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) is a special, stripped-down version of Windows 10 designed primarily for embedded systems that don't need the usual array of features found in the typical desktop experience.

Think hospital equipment, factory machines, ATMs, and even those touchscreen kiosks at McDonald's. LTSC versions of Windows 10 are typically installed on machines that serve a single purpose and can't afford any software surprises that might throw a sudden wrench in the works.

To that end, Windows 10 LTSC doesn't receive any feature updates or flashy redesigns — just a quiet stream of security and stability fixes.

It's the version of Windows 10 Microsoft never wanted you to use, and, even though it's entirely capable, it was never designed to run your laptop or desktop machine. Still, that doesn't mean you can't do it anyway.

Windows 10 LTSC: The price of "perfection"

Windows 10 LTSC offers a streamlined experience that many users might find deeply appealing. No ads, no Microsoft Store, and no Copilot in sight.

It's a pure, undiluted shot of Windows 10 — a snapshot of the operating system before Microsoft began meddling with how users liked it.

Factor in the platform's extended support, running until January 12, 2027 for the 2021 LTSC release; and up to January 13, 2032 for the 2021 IoT Enterprise LTSC, and you've got a shimmering beacon of hope for those seeking a secure way to continue using Windows 10 long after its mainstream October 14 end-of-support date.

But not all that glitters is gold.

The first hurdle? You'll need to get your hands on it. LTSC editions aren't available through standard retail channels like Home and Pro editions. They typically require a volume licensing agreement with a minimum purchase of five licenses, which can push the price of switching through the roof.

That said, ISOs are readily available online, and OEM keys for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC can be found through grey market retailers, completely cutting out the middleman at a fraction of the price (albeit with the usual risks).

Compatibility is another looming issue. While versions of Windows 10 LTSC have years of official support ahead of them, Windows 10 is still approaching its mainstream end-of-support date, and support for the regular Windows 10 21H2 edition ended years ago, meaning certain software or drivers may drop support for the operating system in future updates, leaving your longer-lasting operating system to slowly decay through digital attrition.

Windows 10 LTSC: Is it worth it?

On paper, Windows 10 LTSC is everything users could ask for. It's a safe haven to continue using their favored operating system with peace of mind, a bloat-free experience that does away with all but the basics, and a restore point positioned right before Microsoft dove into AI with both feet first and never looked back.

But it's also a version of Windows you were never really supposed to have, perhaps for a reason.

Yes, you can use it. But it comes with caveats: a frozen feature set, a licensing process that can range from ludicrously expensive to ethically murky, and the knowledge that while Microsoft is obliged to support the platform with updates for several years, third-party developers aren't. Compatibility headaches could lie further down the road.

Still, for aging hardware that doesn't fit the Windows 11 mould, securing a Windows 10 LTSC key could be the difference between longer life and landfill.

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Microsoft just launched a new tool that makes it easier and safer to upgrade your Windows 10 laptop to Windows 11, but will it be enough to get reluctant users to finally say goodbye to Windows 10 ahead of its October 14 end-of-support deadline?

While there are some hardware hurdles for regular Windows 10 users to clear as they prepare to upgrade, the switch isn't so easy for business and enterprise users who need to consider vital security and data backups before changing their OS.

Microsoft is finally addressing this issue through a new tool designed to make it easier and more secure for businesses to switch to Windows 11: Windows Backup.

The question is, will it be enough to finally win over business users reluctant to bid Windows 10 farewell, or even win over users considering leaving Windows altogether?

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Microsoft launches Windows Backup for Organizations

On Tuesday, Microsoft launched Windows Backup for Organizations, a tool that allows organizations to easily and securely back up and restore their Windows settings.

That can come in handy in situations where an employee needs a new work laptop or, in this case, where a business wants to switch to Windows 11 without losing all of the settings they have established on Windows 10.

Switching from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is fairly straightforward for individual users, especially if your laptop already qualifies for the free upgrade. It's not as simple for businesses, though, partly due to the sheer scale of upgrading dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of laptops.

Windows Backup for Organizations can help mitigate that issue by giving organizations a way to quickly configure Windows 11 without needing to manually tinker with every device.

Will that added convenience be enough to get reluctant users to finally make the switch to Windows 11? It's a high bar to clear. Surveys show that as of April 2025, 52.9% of Windows users are still on Windows 10. Windows 11 is close behind at 43.7%, after steadily gaining on Windows 10 over the past several months.

Microsoft effectively needs to get about half of its entire userbase to upgrade to Windows 11 by October, or at the very least sell those who remain on subscribing to the company's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.

Windows Backup might not be enough to get all of those people to switch, but it will be a big help to business users looking for a simpler solution.

Switching to Windows 11 is easier now, but it's not your only option

While Windows Backup for Organizations is only available to businesses, there's another version of it that individual users can similarly take advantage of when switching to Windows 11.

We strongly suggest you take the time to backup your data before swapping operating systems, but keep in mind that Windows 11 isn't your only option.

If you're reluctant to switch to Windows 11, it may be worth considering Linux as an alternative. It's not necessarily an option for everyone (Linux probably isn't a good fit for business users, for instance), but it can be a great alternative to Windows for certain people.

I've been using Linux on my main PC for months now with little to no issues. I can customize it to make it look and feel however I want (including just like Windows 10, or even macOS), and most versions of Linux are free and open-source. I've even had a good experience gaming on Linux, including with modern AAA games.

Linux can be an especially good option if you have an older Windows 10 laptop that isn't eligible for Windows 11. I revived an 8-year-old HP laptop by installing Fedora Linux on it and not only got it up and running again, but more than doubled the battery life. So, it might be worth it to consider Linux before making the leap to Windows 11 — it might just save your laptop from the landfill.

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Microsoft Recall is going to have trouble recalling images of private messages sent through Signal after it announced its desktop app will block the AI screenshotting feature.

Microsoft Recall has had a rocky road on its path to a wider release, facing a slew of delays, major security concerns, and overwhelming skepticism from consumers and cybersecurity experts. In fact, the renowned antivirus maker Kaspersky had previously called the tool "dangerous" in a June 2024 blog.

Recall is one of several new AI features coming to Windows 11 and aims to help you "recall" things you've done on your laptop or PC by analyzing a treasure trove of screenshots of your activity.

It's also a feature that Kaspersky Cyber Security experts referred to as "dangerous," in a

The current preview version of Recall, which rolled out in April, is an opt-in feature, meaning it's not turned on by default. Even if you have it turned off, though, it's natural that some will still be concerned about their most private content being captured by an AI.

That's not a problem anymore on at least one app: the Signal private messaging app. It may be the first of many apps to announce a feature that will block Recall screenshots. Here's what Windows 11 users should know.

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"Signal is ready": Private messaging app blocks Microsoft Recall screenshots

On Wednesday, Signal announced in a blog post that its desktop app now includes a "Screen security" feature designed to block Microsoft Recall screenshots. The feature is turned on by default for Windows 11 Signal users.

Signal left no doubt about what motivated it to add this feature, clearly stating, "The purpose of this setting is to protect your Signal messages from Microsoft Recall."

The blog post goes on to explain: "Although Microsoft made several adjustments over the past twelve months in response to critical feedback, the revamped version of Recall still places any content that’s displayed within privacy-preserving apps like Signal at risk.

"As a result, we are enabling an extra layer of protection by default on Windows 11 in order to help maintain the security of Signal Desktop on that platform even though it introduces some usability trade-offs."

"Microsoft has simply given us no other option."

With Signal's new "Screen security" feature turned on, content from the Signal app won't show up in any screenshot tool, including Microsoft Recall.

Signal now uses the same Digital Rights Management (DRM) functionality that prevents you from taking screenshots of content from sites like Netflix or Hulu. Any attempt to do so shows only a blank black screen.

There are a number of reasons you might not want private or personal conversations recorded, and this feature ensures that you don't have to worry about that on Signal, even on its Windows 11 app. Signal likely won't be the only app developer to roll out a feature to block Recall, either.

How to block Microsoft Recall on your Windows 11 laptop

If you're worried about Microsoft Recall posing a threat to your privacy, you're not alone. Even if you're using your laptop for casual web browsing or schoolwork, you may find it uncomfortable that an AI could be snapping photos of your screen in 7-second intervals.

Luckily, if you want the peace of mind of having Recall turned off, it's pretty easy.

First, if you're on Windows 10, you have nothing to worry about right now. Recall is only available on Windows 11. It's also currently an opt-in feature, so if you didn't manually turn it on, it should be turned off by default.

If you're not sure if you have Recall turned on or not, head over to the Settings app and navigate to the "Privacy and security" tab.

Here, you should see a section called "Recall and snapshots." (If you don't have this section in your security settings, it probably means your Windows 11 PC doesn't have Recall yet.)

Select "Recall and snapshots" and turn off "Save snapshots." If this option was turned on, it's a good idea to also select "Delete snapshots" and "Delete all" to remove any existing screenshots Recall has captured.

Those steps should ensure Recall is disabled on your device, but you may want to keep an eye out for any pesky pop-ups trying to get you to turn Recall on again.

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Microsoft's Windows operating system has a trail of mysteries that people are eager to see solved, and they're not limited to Google searches for Blue Screen of Death error codes, either.

From "Whatever happened to Windows 9?" to "How did we get an artificial intelligence, before decent Windows Search performance?" Everybody is looking to Microsoft for answers.

But according to one Microsoft employee manning the official Windows account on X, one question looms larger than most, humorously posting earlier this week: "It's always 'when is Windows 12 coming' and never 'how are you doing person who runs the Windows account."

Shockingly, this might count as the first official mention of Windows 12 by the Redmond-based company, even if it was only used to spice up a social media post.

When I saw it, I could only mutter "Don't do that." And not in a Hawkeye crying in the Tokyo rain, Marvel's Avengers Endgame, "Don't give me hope" way either.

I was happy when people weren't talking about Windows 12. Microsoft, especially. Nobody should be talking about Windows 12. That path only leads to disappointment. Here's why.

Holding out for a hero? Windows 12 isn't your savior

I've heard it time and time again from Windows 10 holdouts who refuse to upgrade to Windows 11, even as its October 14, 2025, end-of-support date rapidly approaches: "No thanks, I'll wait for Windows 12."

No doubt, those people are old enough to recognize a peculiar pattern. One where every other Windows release stumbles before being replaced by a supposedly superior alternative.

It all feels a little superstitious, but the evidence is undeniable: Windows 95, good. Windows 98, bad. Windows 98 SE, good. Windows ME, bad. Windows XP, good. Windows Vista, bad. Windows 7, good. Windows 8, bad. Windows 10, good. Windows 11, kill it with fire.

Logically, the next major milestone release, presumably Windows 12, is destined for greatness — except it isn't. If you're unhappy with the direction of Windows 11, I can guarantee that if Windows 12 exists, and whenever it arrives, you'll be equally as unhappy still.

Be careful what you wish for

Thankfully, I won't, based on a single post by one bored social media manager, that this is some dog-whistle for the supposed future operating system's imminent arrival. There's been no official-official word of Windows 12 from anybody in a position of authority at Microsoft so far, and I hope it stays that way.

If Windows 12 arrives — and I do stress the if — it'll bring with it the kind of hardware requirements that make TPM 2.0 look as trivial as insisting a keyboard includes a spacebar.

Microsoft's multi-billion-dollar AI push all but guarantees that the next milestone Windows release will be designed for the Copilot+ PC experience, demanding hefty investments from users to adopt the latest NPU-equipped hardware.

Given the operating system's current heading, Windows 12 wouldn't simply lean on AI, it would practically collapse into it, leaving hundreds of thousands of Windows 10 users wishing they'd have been more careful about what they asked for as their previously dated hardware is left looking like it should be gathering dust on a museum shelf next to the Antikythera mechanism.

If you're not happy with Windows 11, the last thing you want to be doing is haranguing Microsoft to release Windows 12. In my opinion, not even playfully.

Let's keep Windows 12 well and truly out of the discourse, at least until Microsoft is finished with its experimental AI phase and starts setting its sights on fixing what has turned so many away from its current flagship operating system in the first place..

In the meantime, there's always Linux.

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For the second Tuesday of May 2025, Microsoft released updates for Windows 11 22H2, 23H2, and, of course, 24H2. The latter is getting all of the most exciting updates, which Microsoft is likely hoping will entice you to make the jump to it.

While the second Tuesday of the month isn't all that special for most companies, it marks Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday. As the name implies, Patch Tuesday is when the tech giant rolls out new patches for its software to fix bugs and address security vulnerabilities.

These patches also usually bring the previous month’s preview updates, which were limited to certain insider or optional channels, to the general public.

Though Microsoft has a bit of a habit of downplaying what’s actually exciting in these updates in its release notes and chooses to focus on the security fixes instead, this one seems to pack quite a punch, particularly for those using a Copilot+ PC.

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Recall is back, but this time with more privacy controls

The 24H2 update, delivered through the KB5058411 patch, includes all the improvements from the KB5055627 patch that Microsoft released as a Preview build on April 25, 2025.

The KB5055627 patch heavily focuses on the AI-powered features Microsoft has been quietly refining for a while now, including one that turned into one of the biggest controversies of 2024: Recall. The feature is finally making a comeback… after it was, well, recalled (pun fully intended) last year due to a widespread privacy backlash.

Recall, announced at Microsoft's 2024 Build event, is designed to help you “recall” something by capturing snapshots of what you’re doing on your PC every few seconds. For example, imagine you decided to watch a few Instagram Reels on your PC during your lunch break and came across a hilarious meme you wanted to share with your best friend. Before you can send it or save it, Instagram randomly refreshes, and that meme is lost forever.

With the Recall feature, you could type something like “funny cat meme from Instagram,” and it would harness the AI capabilities of Copilot+ PCs to “retrieve both text and visual matches for your search.”

Microsoft also added more privacy controls to avoid controversy this time around, like the option to pick which apps and websites Recall can snapshot. You’ll also be able to pause or turn off the feature at any time.

Critically, Recall is also now an opt-in experience, and Windows will ask for your permission before saving snapshots. You must also enroll in Windows Hello to “confirm your presence so only you can access your screenshots.”

Recall isn’t the only AI feature that’s finally landing

Copilot+ PC users will also finally be able to use Click To Do, which can analyze what’s on your screen and perform tasks like finding an app that can best do the job for you. You can use this feature by hitting the Windows key and clicking with the mouse, or the Windows key and the Q key.

Microsoft demonstrates how this feature could be useful by giving an example of using Click To Do to select an image. The feature might display different options you can take, like using the Photos app to erase an object from the image or using Paint to remove the background.

Improved Windows Search is also finally landing on Copilot+ PCs, allowing you to search for something with a description rather than the exact terminology. For instance, if you want to change the theme of your PC, instead of typing in random words you think might match the setting name, a description like “change my theme” should suffice.

Other than the Settings app, Improved Windows Search will also work in File Explorer, Windows Search in the taskbar, and even the Photos app.

The May 2025 Windows 11 update also includes a new Speech Recap feature in Windows’s built-in screen reader, Narrator, which can track what the Narrator said while providing you with a live transcription. The update also makes it easier to control or access your phone from your PC by placing Phone Link right in the Start menu.

The security updates, compared to the new features, are relatively limited, so you don't need to rush to update to protect your PC.

There are also no known issues in the April 2025 update, though, like every Windows update, bugs can surface as users begin to install it and start reporting their experiences.

What's next

This update arrives just ahead of Microsoft Build 2025, which will be held from May 19 to 22 in Seattle, Washington.

Now that Microsoft has finally rolled out all of the features announced at Build 2024, we can expect a new collection to debut with a heavy focus on AI again.

We'll also be keeping an eye out for any additional details on end-of-support plans for Windows 10, as Microsoft recently walked back the end of Microsoft 365 support for Windows 10 users. That may not be the last concession for Windows 10 holdouts.

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The death of Windows 10 has been signaled for years. Come October 14, 2025, the current, most-popular version of Windows will be no more — at least when it comes to technical support, new features, and vital security patches. You know, all of the things that are somewhat vital to the operating aspect of an everyday operating system.

Despite aesthetic aversions and a lingering performance stigma, the only available lifeboat for Windows 10 users now is Windows 11. And it appears many are eager to hop aboard.

Estimates from StatCounter analysts suggests more users than ever are made the switch to Microsoft's flagship operation system, dragging Windows 10's near 70% global desktop market share down to ~53% over the last 12 months — with Windows 11 seemingly destined to overshadow Windows 10's userbase for the first time since its October 2021 release over the next few months.

However, for many, the upgrade to Windows 11 is less of a smooth transition and more of an obstacle course of hardware hurdles, software snags, and wallet woes in the wake of Trump-era tariffs.

Thankfully, Windows 10 users have a temporary "Get Out Of Jail Free" card available to them — for a price: Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.

But a quiet change to Microsoft's post-end-of-support plans has made the deal unexpectedly sweeter for some Windows 10 holdouts.

Moving the goalposts on Windows 10's end-of-support

Originally, Microsoft insisted that both Windows 10 and its Microsoft 365 apps would lose support in lockstep on October 14, 2025. That's no longer the case.

A recently updated Tech Community blog post indicates that Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 (including Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and OneDrive) will continue to receive security updates up until October 2028 (as spotted by Neowin), stealthily turning tail on a January announcement that claimed otherwise.

Does this moving of the goalposts suggest that Windows 10's end-of-support may get the same delayed treatment? Sadly, that seems incredibly unlikely.

Instead, Microsoft's sudden change of heart is likely to have more to do with the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program — an offer of a slow and steady descent into unfamiliar waters, rather than the immediate walking of the plank proposed by the impeding October shutdown.

Microsoft's ESU is an optional, paid service to keep Windows 10 on life support for business and home users by providing much-needed security patches after the operating system is sun-downed later this year.

Home users can secure a single year of extended security for just $30. However, businesses are expected to pay $61 per device, rising to $122 and then $244 over consecutive years.

The news of continued support for Microsoft 365 apps is likely to pair with businesses opting for the full three years of ESU support, and not a suggestion of any impeding u-turn on Windows 10's end-of-support date.

Consider it a stay of execution, not a pardon. The noose may have loosened, but the trapdoor is still very much oiled and ready.

What's next

Microsoft has given Windows 10 users a temporary lifeline, but whether they stay or delay, they'll be expected to pay.

The surprise turnaround on Microsoft 365 app security updates is a welcome one, but it won't stop the inevitability of an eventual upgrade to Windows 11 — which could mean a costly upgrade in hardware amid troubling tariff-induced upticks in hardware prices for machines that don't measure up to Microsoft's inflated minimum specs.

There's always the option to leave Windows behind entirely. Perhaps you're ready to switch to macOS, or the "End of 10" could be your invitation to explore a Linux alternative.

That said, you could also ignore the warnings entirely, white knuckle Windows 10's end-of-support while clutching your aging hardware in a death grip, and see just how long you can outrun the operating system's obsolescence before your device is riddled with spyware, your credit cards are cloned, your machine is slowly assimilated into a Chinese state-sponsored botnet, and your best form of protection is naught but a ramshackle homemade Faraday cage.

But that seems like a lot of strife just to avoid a UI with more rounded corners.

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Microsoft doesn't exactly have a stellar reputation for how users prefer to search. On the web, the company's Bing search engine limps its way through life with an estimated 3.89% market share (via StatCounter), dwarfed by Google's near-monopolistic 90% dominance.

And if you've ever dared to use the search bar in Windows 11, you'll know that it's hampered by slow performance, often irrelevant results, and occasionally the odd ad or two.

Windows Search was supposed to be the antidote to endless folder scouring, a quick and easy way of finding files, folders, or settings without trawling through drives and menus manually. But, like many Microsoft promises, Windows Search, in both Windows 10 and 11, often struggles to live up to expectations.

However, according to Microsoft's Vice President of App Store and Apps, Giorgio Sardo, change is on the horizon. Can we finally expect a revamped search experience in Windows that, at the very least, nails the basics?

Sadly, much like their search results, in this update, Windows users still haven't found what they're looking for.

Windows Search, or "I still haven't found, what you're looking for"

Microsoft's App Store VP took to X earlier in the week to tease a coming update to Windows Search that integrates the Microsoft Store — allowing users to "Quickly find and install apps right from your Start menu or Taskbar!"

Yes, instead of improving the way that Windows Search already works, by, say, tweaking performance and prioritizing local files and folders, users will now be met with a new layer of recommended apps to wade through as they meticulously pick through their search results.

Many aren't reacting warmly to the news — with one user quipping that Windows is "The only OS with a search feature that finds everything but the files you actually need," while others call for ways to disable the feature before it even officially rolls out.

That said, judgment on the feature isn't entirely unanimous. Some users have highlighted its usefulness in quickly finding available apps without needing to open the sometimes painfully slow Microsoft Store directly.

Still, this change seemingly doesn't blend all that well with Windows Search's primary use case. While it might make it that much easier for you to quickly install the TikTok app in a snap, it does nothing to help users track down that spreadsheet they created last week or locate last year's holiday snaps.

What's next

As of yet, there's no official word on when we can expect this feature to go live, with Microsoft's Sardo simply suggesting that it's "coming soon."

Initial reactions to the announcement skew heavily towards the negative, but that's unlikely to change Microsoft's course. It'll just be another potential low-level annoyance chipping away at the patience of Windows users, no different than a percentage of the changes made in any update prior.

For a company quick to champion its platform's efficiency and productivity, Microsoft's habit of slipping in distractions like this and ads in strange places can, at times, feel like it's flying in the face of itself.

There are many issues with Windows Search, and this update won't resolve them. At best, the new Windows Search experience will help users find only one thing: what they don't have, and likely weren't looking for.

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In news unlikely to surprise anybody, Windows 10 is rapidly approaching its October 14 expiration date. That doesn't mean you'll be waking up on October 15 to a computer that no longer functions, but it does mean you'll miss out on Microsoft's technical support, feature updates, and security patches.

You can probably make do with the former, but the latter will leave you, your data, your hardware, and your system integrity completely exposed to every ne'er-do-well netizen with a willingness to exploit legacy machines (of which, there are a lot).

The official solution? Upgrade to Windows 11, obviously. And if your hardware doesn't meet Windows 11's stricter requirements? According to Microsoft, it's time to scrap your hardware and invest in one of the best laptops that comes pre-installed with Windows 11, instead.

However, the official path isn't the only path, and a new project called End of 10 is offering a different solution — one that doesn't involve tossing out your perfectly good hardware, surrendering to Windows 11's centrally-aligned, ad-laced Start Menu, or being constantly harangued about the spiritual benefits of owning a Microsoft Account.

In fact, it doesn't involve Windows at all. It's guiding people towards a different platform entirely: Linux.

The "End of 10" but a fresh, Linux-based start for your brand-new, old computer

Yes, I'm well aware that suggesting Windows 10 users migrate to Linux may sound a bit like suggesting you start living in a van, under a bridge, and down by the river. It's free, it's liberating, but you might need to write a Bash script every time you want to start the engine.

At least, that's how Linux used to be seen.

Modern Linux is a different beast entirely, and it's perhaps in its most accessible state ever. That said, with only a 4% share of the desktop OS market (as per StatCounter estimates), Linux may rival Apple's macOS in terms of popularity, but it's vastly overshadowed by Windows' presence as the "standard" operating system.

Still, it's often that 4% who are the most vocal about their operating system of choice. They may be just as evangelical as your local Mormons, but they also have good reason to be. Even I, a lifelong Windows user, have been enjoying dabbling in Linux thanks to Valve's Steam Deck and its Arch Linux-based SteamOS platform.

Gaming with Proton? Surprisingly excellent. General computing? Seamless.

End of 10 seeks to promote Linux adoption, not by challenging Windows 11 with any particular distro, but instead by educating users with a mix of online or in-person guidance on how to make the switch with confidence.

It's less about the cold suggestion to "download this ISO" and more "let's walk you through it."

If you've ever debated giving Linux a shot, but have been scared off by its "experts only" reputation, End of 10's global network of repair cafes, independent shops, organizations, and Linux-familiar groups, could have you up and running on a fresh install in no time at all — breathing new life into older hardware, and letting you enjoy a brand-new, old computer.

What's next

Let's be fair. Windows 11 isn't terrible. It's (relatively) stable, secure, and very much the definition of a modern operating system with its growing AI-backed feature set. Most of what works in Windows 10 carries over to Windows 11 pretty smoothly.

For every problematic switching to Windows 11 story you come across, there are probably a dozen or more silently satisfied upgraders now residing on Microsoft's flagship operating system.

But when it comes to hardware requirements, there are a lot of computer owners who don't even have the opportunity to give it a chance, even if they wanted to.

End of 10 isn't just about keeping older hardware out of landfills, it's a project that reminds people that, in the shadow of Windows' dominance, they still have a choice.

Linux isn't perfect, either. It has its quirks, and it's not going to be suited for every workflow, especially if you rely on currently unsupported programs like Adobe's suite of tools, for example.

However, for those with aging hardware, those who don't want to be forced onto Windows 11, or those who've already made the jump and are regretting it, Linux stands as a more than viable alternative in 2025.

While I can say that Windows 11 probably isn't the horror show that it's made out to be, I can also admit that it didn't get off to the best of starts, and its AI-focused future isn't appealing to everybody.

Windows 11 is probably in its best shape to date, but the one thing Microsoft still can't patch out of its operating system is the stigma.

Maybe the End of 10 can be the start of something new for you.

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It came like a thief in the night, springing up in the system drives of Windows 11 users worldwide without warning or explanation. But now, Microsoft's mysterious "inetpub" folder risks veering from fix to flaw as its vulnerabilities are exposed.

The folder's sudden appearance caused a stir online as users noticed it for the first time. Thankfully, the curiously empty directory was traced to April's Windows 11 24H2 (KB5055523) update — and was believed by many to be little more than a harmless artifact left behind that could be safely removed.

However, it was anything but. Microsoft quickly followed up on suggestions that the folder could be deleted with a clear warning not to. Proving that appearances can be deceiving, the seemingly inert "inetpub" folder was actually intentionally positioned by Microsoft to tackle a Windows Update security vulnerability (CVE-2025-21204).

With the secret of Windows 11's mystery "inetpub" folder revealed, Windows users believed there was nothing left to worry about. Turns out, they were wrong.

Windows 11's "inetpub" folder: From mystery to menace?

In a recent blog post, cybersecurity expert (and self-confessed porg lover) Kevin Beaumont exposed how Microsoft's efforts to patch one Windows 11 exploit may have created another — potentially leaving millions of machines open to new attacks.

Microsoft's original patch was designed to block an exploit where limited-access users could use "symbolic links" to gain advanced control of a machine by piggybacking on Windows Update's elevated permissions.

Symbolic links redirect processes from one location to another, similar to how desktop shortcuts redirect to files in other directories. Windows 11's April security patch borrowed certain safeguards from Microsoft's Internet Information Services (which uses inetpub as its default directory) to block this behaviour (known as "link following").

Ironically, the patch designed to prevent link following exploits is also vulnerable to it, as Beaumont reveals that a simple junction script run through the Command Prompt, pointing C:\inetpub to notepad.exe, can reportedly introduce a new denial of service vulnerability that prevents Windows updates, leaving systems wide open to future threats.

The initial exploit Microsoft hoped to solve was primarily a local issue. However, Beaumont's research suggests that this type of meddling with the inetpub folder could leave users vulnerable to attackers from external sources if exploited.

What's next

Beaumont reportedly informed Microsoft of the issue two weeks prior to publishing his findings, and has yet to hear back from the company.

However, this kind of silent response isn't abnormal for Microsoft. Following reports of its AI chatbot Copilot handing out PowerShell scripts to illegally authenticate copies of Windows 11, Microsoft similarly played its cards close to its chest, quietly patching out the issue at a later date.

In the meantime, there's no official guidance for mitigating any risk other than to remain vigilant. Ensure your computer is up to date at all times, avoid downloading sketchy software, and don't presume that deleting the inetpub folder will solve these issues, as it may cause complications with future updates.

For now, the new mystery surrounding Windows 11's "inetpub" folder is how Microsoft plans to secure it from similar meddling in the future.

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Changes to the Windows operating system are nothing new, the platform is in a constant state of flux thanks to a never-ending onslaught of updates, security patches, and feature drops.

However, there are some things we can count on Microsoft to leave untouched, like the painfully slow Microsoft Store, unwanted injection of ads, and a years-old issue that sees bloatware called Microsoft Edge preinstalled on every system.

That said, the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build (27842) is preparing to shake things up by wiping one of Windows' most dreaded features of the last two decades off the board entirely. Kind of.

A fresh coat of panic for Windows' infamous Blue Screen of Death

The legendary Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) — an infamously dreaded fixture of Windows that announces critical system errors since the early days of the operating system looks set to be no more.

However, those hoping this means that Microsoft has finally found a way to fix the common hardware and software errors that cause this screen to display are in for a letdown. This update is less of a memory and driver issue panacea, and more of a facelift for a digital panic attack.

At least, that appears to be the trajectory Microsoft is heading in with the latest Windows 11 build. The iconic BSoD will be replaced with a new error screen dedicated to the announcement of an unexpected restart, devoid of the modern QR code and relatable frowny face emoji, and plastered in a fresh coat of Medium Forest Green panic.

Yes, the Blue Screen of Death is dead. Long live the Green Screen of Death — an even more sterile wall of frustration whose singular superpower might be the subtle reminder to go outside and touch grass amid your driver woes. Perhaps an attempt to lessen the likelihood of you putting your fist through your keyboard after all of your hard work is flushed down the proverbial pan, as said screen forces a reboot of your machine.

Ironically, this might be Microsoft's first efforts to preserve hardware, following its advice for Windows 10 users to toss their computers into the scrap heap ahead of the operating system's October 14 end-of-support.

What's next

While the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build (27842) offers several more impactful improvements to Microsoft's operating system, including improved battery iconography for laptops, along with the usual mix of bug and security fixes.

The retiring of the BSoD is less of a solution and more of a vibe shift that Microsoft claims will offer a "more streamlined UI for unexpected restarts which better aligns with Windows 11 design principles and supports our goal of getting users back into productivity as fast as possible."

By aesthetics alone, the new design is cleaner, though it offers even less context than before on what the cause of the unexpected error may have been — which may make for a streamlined UI, but makes for a terrible troubleshooting experience.

Should Microsoft stick with the new color scheme, users can likely expect to see the refreshed error screen become standard as part of the Windows 11 25H2 update later in the year.

Ideally, Microsoft will be hoping that this is a change that most users won't ever become aware of. But are you really getting the full Windows experience without the occasional BSOD-inducing crash?

It's a subtle tweak, but it marks something of an end-of-an-era moment for the constantly evolving Windows platform. After decades of watching the BSoD trash my productivity, hamper my gaming sessions, and induce panic over the state of my hardware, for once, I might actually miss it.

So long, and thanks for all the glitch.

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When mysterious folders appear within your system directory, it's typically a warning sign that something might be afoot regarding your device's security.

So, when many Windows users stumbled upon a mysterious new "inetpub" folder on their computers (myself included), it's no wonder that eyebrows were raised.

The folder, which is the default directory of Microsoft's Internet Information Services (IIS), wasn't a documented change and was initially presumed to be a harmless artifact left behind by April's Windows 11 24H2 (KB5055523) update.

However, a recent security vulnerability update to the Microsoft Knowledge Base (as reported by Windows Latest) reveals that the folder serves a vital purpose in protecting users against a harmful exploit that could see attackers granted elevated local privileges.

Phew! Panic over, right? Well, as long as you're not one of the people who deleted the seemingly empty folder when it appeared last week (like me), yes.

Well, don't I feel silly now? Thankfully, there's an easy fix to restore the "inetpub" folder back to its duties, and it only takes a moment. Let's take a closer look at the exploit in question and how to make sure you're protected.

"Inetpub": Why you don't want to delete that mysterious Windows folder

According to the Microsoft Knowledge Base, April's KB5055523 security patch was, in part, attempting to solve a security vulnerability (CVE-2025-21204) relating to attackers gaining elevated local privileges.

In a nutshell, the exploit allowed somebody with limited access to your computer to trick the system into giving them advanced control through special shortcut-like files called symbolic links.

This exploit manipulates Windows Update's elevated privileges to follow a symbolic link without the usual protections, giving an attacker access to parts of a system they normally wouldn't be allowed to touch.

The patch borrows certain safeguards from Microsoft's IIS to prevent this kind of behaviour (known as "link following"), ensuring your system now checks where a symbolic link leads to before allowing processes like Windows Update to make changes — effectively cutting off would-be attackers at the knees.

What to do if you did delete Windows' "Inetpub" folder

If you already pulled the trigger on deleting the "inetpub" folder from your system drive, you might now be left with egg on your face. Don't worry, so was I. However, a fix is at hand, and it doesn't take long to perform.

The folder, and presumably the related security patch can be restored by activating Internet Information Services manually, before performing a system restart.

Here are the steps to make it happen:

1. Open the Control Panel in Windows.
2. Navigate to Programs, then to Programs and Features.
3. Select Turn Windows features on or off.
4. Check the box next to the Internet Information Services option.
5. Click OK.
6. Restart your device from the Start Menu.

Once your device is back up and running, check your system folder to ensure the "inetpub" folder has returned successfully. Following this, you should be protected from the CVE-2025-21204 security vulnerability as intended.

Make sure you then disable IIS following these steps, by repeating the process above, but unchecking the box next to Internet Information Services.

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Another day, another Windows update. Another Windows update, another unfortunate error.

Post-update blues are practically a rite of passage for Windows users, as any patch applied to such an all-encompassing pool of hardware is sure to have its hiccups post-release.

One of the latest relates to the Windows 10 21H2 and 22H2 April update (KB5057589), which began rolling out to users on April 8. This patch is focused on the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), applying the Safe OS Dynamic update to improve Windows recovery features.

However, in typical fashion, not everything is going smoothly. Users have been greeted with a foreboding 0x80070643 error on install, where an "ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE" message would indicate something has gone awry.

If you're an affected user feeling a little on edge over the potential failed installation of one of Windows 10's most invaluable tools for protecting your data, should you ever find your system has become unbootable, worry not.

Microsoft has a bold new approach to this bug: Ignore it until it goes away.

Error 0x80070643: Have you tried turning it off and on again?

In an official support post for the KB5057589 update, Microsoft highlights the WinRE error alongside several other priority issues, including a now resolved issue that saw USB printers spitting out random text and a mitigated fault that was impacting Windows and Linux dual-boot setups.

Typically, an issue with a vital tool like Windows Recovery would ring alarm bells, but Microsoft seems nonplussed. While the company admits that it's working on a resolution to the issue, in the meantime, Microsoft suggests the IT classic of turning your machine off and on again and calling back later if the problem persists.

With Windows 10 rapidly nearing its October 14, 2025, end-of-support, it's tempting to frame Microsoft's advice as coming from somebody already mentally clocked out on the tail-end of a Friday afternoon at the office — having worked in technical support, I know my own tricks when I see them.

However, in this instance, that appears to be all it takes.

According to Microsoft, the 0x80070643 - ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE message is "not accurate" and won't impact the functionality of Windows Repair. The error is primarily observed when there is "another update in the pending reboot state," and the update will "typically" show as complete following a successful restart of affected devices.

For the atypical moments when this doesn't resolve the error message, Microsoft says not to worry. It'll work itself out. Within the support documentation, Microsoft recommends putting your faith in the age-old physician of all wounds: time.

Microsoft offers some final assurances to those encountering the bug with the following clarification:

"Windows Update might continue to display the update as failed until the next daily scan, at which point the update is no longer offered and the failure message is cleared automatically."

What's next

While Microsoft's technical support for this issue feels comically cliche, it would appear to be right on the money.

Say what you will about each Windows update bringing with it a fresh set of problems, but you can't fault Microsoft for constantly engaging with those issues and seeking solutions.

However, for Windows 10 users, the availability of that support is drawing to a close as the platform nears its October 14, 2025, end-of-support date.

Beyond that point, Windows 10 users will no longer receive important security patches, features, or technical support from Microsoft unless they opt in to the company's Extended Security Updates program, covering one additional year of support for $30.

If users want to continue receiving the latest features, security patches, and technical support from Microsoft, it's advised that they upgrade to Windows 11 ahead of October's shutdown.

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Recall was one of the signature new AI features for Copilot+ PCs announced by Microsoft at its Build event on May 20, 2024. On Thursday, almost a year later, Microsoft started a gradual rollout of Recall to Windows Insiders.

So why the delay? The concept behind Recall sounds excellent; it knows what you've done on your PC, allowing you to pull up anything you've seen with simple semantic searches describing what you remember. Here's how Microsoft describes it: "Unlock your photographic memory with Recall."

That may be the greatest sales pitch for buying one of the best AI laptops that I've heard, but Recall faced immediate backlash over privacy concerns, with Microsoft first changing it to an opt-in feature that you had to activate and then removing it entirely. It became one of the biggest AI controversies of 2024.

See also: Best laptop deals in April 2025

However, Microsoft did not give up on Recall, making small changes and allowing limited sets of Windows users to continue testing it out.

In December 2024, Laptop Mag contributing writer Shubham Agarwal spent weeks using the Microsoft Recall preview, and while he was initially put off by the privacy concerns, he stuck with it and found it "to be a game-changer and a glimpse into the future of desktop productivity."

Microsoft is taking another swing at bringing the feature to market via the Windows Insider program before a presumed eventual rollout to all Windows 11 users. Before that happens, let's take a look at the feature as it exists today — because you might have the chance to opt in to Recal soon.

Microsoft Recall in April 2025

Despite the rocky road for Recall, it retains the same promise and feature set we saw in May 2024. The goal is for you to be able to find anything you've seen or done on your Windows PC using a simple search bar rather than having to dig through multiple apps, files, or your browser history.

The biggest changes are all around the privacy guardrails that are in place.

The first is that the feature remains opt-in, even for those in the Windows Insider preview.

You have to launch Recall and then toggle the option to "Save snapshots" by going into Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots.

If you have concerns, you can also check this setting and verify that it's in the off position.

Second, you can manually filter apps or websites from inclusion in Recall snapshots by adding them to an exclusion list that is also found in Recall & snapshots settings.

This filtering option is in addition to the auto-filtering of sensitive information, which is designed to exclude passwords, ID numbers, and credit card numbers from snapshots. (However, Tom's Hardware reported late last year that Recall still would screenshot information like credit card and Social Security numbers.)

You also must enroll in Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security with one or more biometric sign-in options to use Recall. And finally, the snapshots are processed on-device without going to the cloud, which is why your laptop must meet the following hardware requirements:

• A Copilot+ PC that meets the Secured-core standard
• 40 TOPs NPU (neural processing unit)
• 16 GB RAM
• 8 logical processors
• 256 GB storage capacity
  • To enable Recall, you’ll need at least 50 GB of storage space free
  • Saving snapshots automatically pauses once the device has less than 25 GB of storage space

When will Recall be available on your laptop?

If you are a member of the Windows Insider Program in the U.S., Recall started rolling out on Thursday of this week, so if you don't have it already, it should arrive soon.

For Windows 11 users who aren't part of the Insider program, there's no official statement from Microsoft regarding the rollout yet.

Given the gradual rollout of the feature to Insiders even with Recall still flagged as in "preview," it seems clear that the company isn't going to rush it to a wide release.

If you can't wait, you can register for the Windows Insider Program and join the release preview channel.

What's next for Recall

The biggest question for Microsoft next is whether the influx of new Recall users will create another privacy panic or if Windows Insiders will be wowed by the feature and become evangelists for it.

The truth may be somewhere in between, but if Recall can't convince the Windows Insider audience, it will likely have trouble breaking through to mainstream users.

While the existence of a single "killer app" for AI remains in question, features like Recall certainly have strong potential.

We'll watch with interest to see if Microsoft's slow and steady approach with Recall finally pays off.

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Following the publication of this story, Microsoft has revealed that the "inetpub" folder is created as part of a security process and should not be deleted. This article has been updated to reflect this advice.

If you're a fellow Windows user, then you're all too aware of certain frustrations that come along with running Microsoft's operating system.

One of the more common frustrations we share is the sudden appearance of the platform's infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSoD), which leaves you only an obscure cryptographic puzzle of an error code to decipher its cause.

Then there are the moments when you leave your work open for the night, ready to hop back on the wagon in the morning with a head-start — only to find Windows Update has evaporated all of your unsaved work with an unprompted reset.

However, there are also the times that momentarily turn your blood to ice; that strangely named entry in your Task Manager processes, a brief flash of the Command Prompt when opening a file you downloaded online, and unannounced folders mysteriously appearing in your system drive.

The latter is something I recently came across, finding a strange, empty folder named "inetpub" sitting comfortably in my C: drive. I didn't create it, I didn't install anything relating to it, and I definitely didn't ask for it. Alarm bells did surely ring.

Naturally, I did what any person would do in this instance: groan at the thought of having to wipe my hard drive, change all of my passwords, and burn my wireless router at the stake in case it had fallen prey to a Chinese botnet.

Thankfully, before taking the nuclear option, I did what any tech-savvy person would do in this instance: I Googled it.

Turns out, I wasn't alone.

What is "inetpub," and why is it on my computer?

Let me spare you any more agonizing seconds spent wondering whether hackers have sneaked their way into your system and stumbled across the contents of that hidden folder on your desktop: no, they haven't.

Well, they might have. Astral projection for tech support is one of the few skills I've yet to develop in life, and I can't speak for the safety or status of your machine, after all.

However, if the only symptom you're facing is the lifeless and barren "inetpub" folder in your C: drive, then they likely haven't. In fact, you — like me — have nothing to worry about.

As it turns out, the "inetpub" folder is appearing for many users following April's Windows 11 24H2 (KB5055523) update, and it appears to be little more than a harmless artifact left behind by Microsoft's recent security patch, as noted by Windows Latest.

If you're unfamiliar with the name "inetpub," that's likely because it's the default directory used by Microsoft's Internet Information Services (IIS), something typically not activated on most consumer systems.

In a nutshell, IIS is Microsoft's built-in web server — something you'd use if you were to host a website from your Windows PC in the year 2006 for reasons unknown (and probably not worth venturing into) to anybody under the age of 40.

So, how did it suddenly appear on Windows systems?

UPDATE (04/15/25): Microsoft has since confirmed that the mysterious "inetpub" folder was created to patch a vulnerability that could see attackers exploit an elevation-of-privileges flaw in Windows.

On Microsoft's advice, "this folder should not be deleted regardless of whether Internet Information Services (IIS) is active on the target device."

What's next

Nothing. That's what's next. It's all a bit Much Ado About Nothing, really. However, it always pays to be vigilant.

The "inetpub" folder isn't a danger; it's not running any unidentified processes in the background, nor is it secretly hosting the contents of your Windows PC for internet users to access with wanton abandon.

For now, we all calmly move on and collectively agree to pretend we didn't just panic-Google "What is inetpub" and move into the comment section to talk about the wider quirks and nuances of the Windows 11 experience. See you there.

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Windows users just can't catch a break — unless the break in question is a myriad of routine update-related BSoD errors.

First, Microsoft gatekept Windows 10 users from upgrading to Windows 11 through its controversial hardware requirements, insisting on previously non-standard TPM 2.0 modules and a strict cut-off for particular processors.

Then, after years of pretending not to understand why people with perfectly good PCs chose to avoid Windows 11 like it had the plague, Microsoft announced Windows 10's end-of-support date of October 14, 2025.

The news was an indicator that Microsoft was effectively preparing to strong-arm holdouts into upgrading or going turncoat on their operating system under the duress of no more security updates, technical support, or feature drops.

Now, Microsoft has let the mask slip even further, recently publishing an update checklist for Windows 10 users that spends more time suggesting they prepare their computers for the scrap heap than emphasizing how to upgrade to Windows 11.

And that's all because, while many Windows 10 users have the hardware to accommodate Windows 11's hardware requirements, Windows 11's minimum specifications are something of a red herring.

New AI-backed additions to the platform, like Copilot, Recall, Cocreator, Restyle, Super Resolution, and more, are either exclusively available to or vastly superior on a new wave of Copilot+ PCs that depend on modern processors outfitted with dedicated NPUs (Neural processing units).

Make no mistake about it. These aren't just features, they're a fork. Microsoft is splitting the Windows 11 userbase down a clear hardware divide. And if it's going to do that, it might as well cut the cord entirely and call it Windows 12.

Copilot+ isn't a feature set, it's a fork

Microsoft touts Copilot+ features as a bold step into an exciting AI-powered operating system frontier. And sure, it is. But it's not a feature drop, it's a platform fork hiding behind the Windows 11 nametag.

The requirements for running Microsoft's modern vision of Windows 11 dwarf the old TPM 2.0 module complaints, requiring modern Intel Core Ultra, Qualcomm Snapdragon X, or AMD Ryzen AI processors to make use of many exclusive Copilot+ PC tools.

That's a benchmark the vast majority of Windows 11 users are yet to meet, effectively holding these newer features to ransom under hardware requirements that turn Microsoft's official minimum specs into a joke.

That's because Microsoft's scope for Windows 11 has exploded in recent years alongside the AI boom, and what was once intended to be a prettier, more secure, and more "modern" operating system is morphing into something else entirely — something that perhaps isn't all that fitting.

After all, you don't need a Copilot for a vessel originally designed to be helmed by one. Perhaps it's time that Microsoft christened an entirely new ship for its AI-driven expedition.

Let's just get to Windows 12 already

After spending years trying to bring Windows users together under the banner of Windows 11, Microsoft has now effectively placed a hardware divider among its userbase once again.

It's time Microsoft bit the bullet and stopped trying to wedge its next-gen operating system ambitions into Windows 11's framework and started forging the road ahead with Windows 12.

This makes hardware expectations clear from the get-go, gives developers a clear milestone to move on from, and gives Windows users peace of mind that they won't once again be left chasing further hardware requirements to access the latest Windows features when Microsoft inevitably moves the goalposts on their 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS) NPU recommendation.

If Microsoft is going to split its userbase, raise the hardware bar, and launch a fleet of AI-first features that only work on the latest chips, then fine — but at least do it properly.

Just as Windows 10 never panned out to be the "final version of Windows" that Microsoft claimed it to be, neither will Windows 11. It's time for Windows 12.

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Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few years, it's been nigh impossible to avoid Microsoft's relentless push to bring Windows 10 users to Windows 11 ahead of the older operating system's October 14, 2025, end-of-support date.

And while that strategy is starting to pay off — with Windows 11 now claiming an all-time high Windows market share of 42.69% on desktops and rapidly closing in on Windows 10's 54.2% lead — Microsoft still has plenty of work to do in the months ahead to cater to those yet to upgrade.

Attempting to convince Windows 10 users that the grass is greener on the other side, Windows 11 is marketed as a more secure, smoother, and feature-rich experience.

However, a recently published end-of-support checklist perhaps says the quiet part out loud: reading less like a guide on getting ready to transition and more like funeral arrangements for your favored hardware.

It's hardly subliminal; in fact, it's barely even subtle. The truth of the matter is that Windows 11's minimum hardware requirements only paint half the picture of what you'll need to experience the operating system in full.

In my opinion, this checklist all but confirms that Microsoft doesn't want you to upgrade to Windows 11. It wants you to upgrade your laptop or PC entirely — preferably to something of the Copilot+ PC variety.

Upgrading to Windows 11: It's about the hardware, not the software

Cynics (read: most Windows users) have long claimed that Microsoft's stricter hardware requirements for Windows 11 were less about security and more about sales.

Given the contents of the company's Windows 10 end-of-support checklist, that suggestion feels less like conspiracy and more like clairvoyance.

By default, Microsoft's checklist automatically assumes that your hardware is fit for the scrap. The checklist's first three steps suggest that users update Windows, make a backup of their files, and then promptly erase everything.

Immediately following this, Microsoft suggests recycling your PC responsibly — or trading it in "for money you can use toward a faster, more secure, new Windows 11 PC."

Any mention of upgrading to Windows 11 from Windows 10 is an afterthought, with Microsoft failing to even state its operating system's minimum requirements or indicate to readers that their current hardware may be up to par.

While not explicitly stated, Microsoft's true message is easy enough to decipher. It's time to part ways with your PC, preferably in a way that frees up shelf space at your local Best Buy.

Windows 11's minimum requirements are a problem for Microsoft

Officially, the most divisive aspect of Windows 11's minimum hardware requirements has historically been its hard-line demand for a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip. However, while not explicitly commonplace at the time of Windows 11's 2021 launch, this module is now a standard offering of modern hardware.

Unofficially, Windows 11's evolution into an evermore AI-backed platform has raised that bar considerably — and it has "Copilot+" written all over it.

Microsoft's checklist isn't about ensuring users can run Windows 11. It's about ensuring that users can run Microsoft's vision of Windows 11. And the operating system's own minimum requirements aren't enough to ensure that will be the case. I just don't think Microsoft is willing to face the backlash if it were to state so openly.

The company's big gamble on AI has seen a growing suite of features and tools emerge on Windows 11 that increasingly benefit from an on-board NPU offered in newer processors from Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD through Snapdragon X, Core Ultra, and Strix Point chipsets.

Just because your system can upgrade to Windows 11 doesn't mean you'll have access to several of these features. In a sense, your hardware might get you through the door, but you'll have a hard time finding a space at the bar without the latest hardware.

For many, upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 will be a temporary band-aid and a gateway to a sub-par experience as a member of the crowd that Microsoft isn't primarily looking to cater to anymore.

What's next

In all honesty, this is likely the path Microsoft has to take. Windows 11's minimum requirements have slowly transitioned from controversial to obsolete, at least when compared to the operating system's current scope.

With Windows 10's end-of-support date rapidly approaching, there's still time to stretch your current hardware to its limits or see it reborn as a Linux machine if you're content enough.

However, it's clear that Windows' future is both AI-powered and hardware-dependent. If your laptop or PC isn't up to spec (and I'm not just talking about minimum requirements), then it's perhaps time to say your goodbyes. Clearly, Microsoft already has.

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Since its arrival in October 2021, Windows 11 has been yet another "ugly duckling" in Microsoft's family of operating systems — sneered and jeered at in similar ways to Windows 8, Vista, or ME.

However, with Windows 10's October 14, 2025 end-of-support date fast approaching, it's Windows 11 or bust for familiars of Microsoft's OS, with no sign of Windows 12 to be found as a viable alternative (although if it does arrive, it's unlikely to be the lifeboat users are hoping for).

Thankfully, for Microsoft at least, Windows 11 is finally gaining notable traction as it is rapidly closing in on Windows 10's majority market share among desktop PCs.

But with Windows 11 now practically guaranteed the success and userbase Microsoft has long sought, the company still isn't content.

Taking advantage of this timely swell in users, Microsoft will now seek to maximize Microsoft Account sign ups on install by removing a well-known bypass from Windows 11's initialization process.

From "bypassnro" to "Bypass? No"

Windows 11 is no stranger to controversy. From expanded hardware requirements, injecting full blown ads into the platform, and Recall's privacy concerns, the operating system has given users plenty to complain about.

However, one of its more frustrating requirements was the insistence that users connect to the internet and forge a Microsoft Account to complete the Windows initialization process — Introduced with Windows 11 version 22H2.

Luckily, a workaround has been available for some time by way of the bypassno.cmd script, which can be run to circumvent the Windows OOBE's (Out-Of-Box Experience) need to connect to a network during setup.

Unfortunately, the latest Windows 11 preview build (26200.5516) seeks to close this loophole, with Microsoft stating:

"We’re removing the bypassnro.cmd script from the build to enhance security and user experience of Windows 11.

"This change ensures that all users exit setup with internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account."

What does it mean?

The change means that new users must now complete the Windows 11 initialization process using both an internet connection and a Microsoft account—effectively eliminating offline installations and potentially hampering Microsoft's efforts to attract more users to Windows 11.

The update is currently in preview, meaning there'll be a short Windows Insider testing phase before it's pushed out to all users in the coming weeks.

The changes will not affect users who have previously used this process to avoid creating or linking a Microsoft account to Windows.

Are there ways to install Windows 11 without an internet connection or a Microsoft account?

While Microsoft has removed the bypasnro command in its latest preview build for Windows 11, it is still possible to re-add it to your system using the following script, as noted by Windows Central.

"reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BYPASSNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f shutdown /r /t 0"

That said, this workaround may be temporary, with Microsoft likely to close this loophole before the update goes live for all users.

Another method of bypassing Windows 11's online initialization efforts includes creating an unattend.xml answer file to automate certain aspects of the installation process.

However, this is a lengthier process, not as accessible to all users as the more popular bypassno command.

What's next

According to estimates sourced by StatCounter, last month, Windows 11's market share saw a 4.56% growth, catapulting the operating system to a 42.69% share of the Windows desktop market and rapidly closing in on Windows 10's dwindling 54.2% lead.

That gap is expected to close fast as businesses and home users jump ship to Windows 11 ahead of Windows 10's October 14, 2025, end-of-support date.

In the meantime, Microsoft's moves suggest the company is interested in tightening up any workarounds and closing out any loopholes in the initialization process to maximize potential Microsoft account holders, and ensure users have an internet connection — likely to ensure they're able to take full advantage of the platform's cloud-based tools like OneDrive or its AI assistant, Copilot.

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Handheld gaming PC owners have been clamoring for Microsoft to update Windows 11 for a smoother user experience through gamepad, but there haven't been many changes since the launch of the Asus ROG Ally back in June 2023.

However, a Windows 11 update released on Tuesday could be a sign that things are changing.

The update adds gamepad support for the touch keyboard in Windows 11, which allows an Xbox controller to navigate and type, as you would if you were using an actual console.

One of my major criticisms of Windows in the handheld space became apparent during my review of the Asus ROG Ally. Using Microsoft's on-screen keyboard required swapping the control configuration to Desktop mode and then using the joystick as a cursor to individually tap each key.

It was unbelievably painful, and an obvious sign that the operating system was not remotely designed for this type of hardware.

Microsoft addressing this issue may seem small to anyone who doesn't use Windows gaming handhelds, but it could be a sign of things to come. After all, we just got word of an Xbox-branded Windows gaming handheld in the works.

If Microsoft is fine-tuning Windows 11 to enhance the user experience for the launch of its own hardware, we could be in store for even more improvements further down the line.

Xbox's branded Windows gaming handheld could be great news for everyone

The Xbox-branded handheld in question could be an OEM "rebranding" from Asus or MSI — essentially manufacturing a similar device to the ROG Ally or Claw 8 AI+ but with the Xbox design philosophy.

However, with Xbox being a Microsoft brand, Windows 11 should be in the best shape it can be before the company releases its own handheld gaming PC.

Gamepad support while using the digital keyboard in Windows is already one massive flaw to cross off for Microsoft, but there's still so much more that needs to be addressed.

• Why can't I navigate the desktop, settings, and finder windows through a gamepad?
• Why is the Xbox app so difficult to use in desktop and gamepad mode, especially compared to Steam, which works seamlessly?
• Why doesn't the digital keyboard appear when I need it to?
• And why does it automatically detach from the input box when I'm trying to type?

The majority of these headaches may only be resolved by a dedicated alternative launchable version of Windows 11 that's optimized for gamepads.

With an Xbox-branded handheld on the way, I'm hoping that Microsoft continues releasing updates that address the flaws of the operating system for handheld gaming PCs.

Tweaks like this could be of great benefit to a growing catalog of Windows-based handheld gaming PCs. If Microsoft doesn't hold back any improvements strictly for its own hardware, that is.

After all, these businesses are competing, and if Microsoft really wanted to take its Xbox handheld to the next level, it could mean less support for alternative products.

However, I asked Asus if the existence of an Xbox-branded handheld meant a lack of support from Xbox or Microsoft, particularly in terms of advertising and the product being packaged with Xbox Game Pass.

Anthony Spence, Asus PR Specialist, tells Laptop Mag "There aren't any changes to our Game Pass bundles for current products and I personally don't foresee any changes in this area either." This could change as nothing is set in stone, but it's good news for now.

I also asked if Asus happened to be the company manufacturing the Xbox-branded handheld. However, Spence revealed very little, stating Asus doesn't "have any information about this or anything to share at this moment in time." Exactly the answer I expected, but it was worth a try.

Xbox's handheld could take us into the next generation

The Xbox-branded handheld could take us into the next generation of Windows gaming handhelds. The technology is fantastic, but if you read any review of the Asus ROG Ally, MSI Claw, or Lenovo Legion Go, the fundamental flaws always come back to Windows 11's lack of support.

Microsoft could stand idly by while an Xbox-branded handheld launches, with no further changes being made to improve the user experience. But the digital keyboard now being functional with gamepads is already one huge flaw resolved, and I can only hope we see more issues addressed throughout the remainder of 2025.

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The eternal tug of war between keeping Windows 11 as up-to-date as possible and avoiding the potential chaos behind every step in that direction continues.

Microsoft's latest fix, part of the Windows 11 24H2 (KB5053598) update, resolves a peculiar Copilot issue that will divide its userbase into two camps:

Those happy to see things righted and those who thought of this particular bug as a long-overdue feature.

For a company so hell-bent on converting the world's most popular operating system into an AI-powered platform of the future, the original KB5053598 update included one of the more embarrassing gaffes in Microsoft's recent history.

Originally intended to offer several miscellaneous security improvements to internal OS functionality, the update also completely uninstalled the company's flagship AI assistant, Copilot.

More embarrassingly for Microsoft, some users saw it as a blessing, with one user even referring to it as "the greatest bug in living history."

Copilot returns to side-stick Windows 11

Following a few days of Windows users flying solo, Microsoft's AI has returned to its side-stick position.

Microsoft has since quietly admitted that the issue has been resolved within the comments of its KB5053598 update support page (as spotted by Windows Latest).

According to the support page, the bug both uninstalled and unpinned Copilot from the Windows taskbar on affected devices.

Thankfully (depending on who you ask), the bug didn't affect all Copilot-related services, as Microsoft 365 Copilot, the AI-powered office suite, wasn't affected.

The fix will automatically attempt to reinstate the AI assistant, though any still missing the tool can re-install it from the Microsoft Store and manually repin it to the taskbar.

Microsoft Copilot still receiving flak

Microsoft was quick to find a solution to the problem posed by its most recent Windows update. However, not all users found it to be an issue in the first place.

Since its launch in September 2023, Copilot (along with several other AI-powered tools Microsoft has brought to the Windows operating system) has faced criticism from users who find it intrusive, or think of it as unnecessary "bloat."

Following initial reports of Copilot's accidental deletion, some users took to social media to celebrate.

"I wish this wasn't a bug," one Reddit user hoped in vain. With similar sentiments shared by many others.

Copilot can't stick the landing with some users

Given the amount of importance that Microsoft has placed on Copilot, it's shocking to see just how celebrated its accidental dismissal from the platform has been.

Dive into any discussion about the AI assistant online and you'll be hard-pressed to find many users saying anything positive.

The animosity towards features like Copilot may ultimately boil down to users feeling that Microsoft is neglecting several aspects of Windows to focus on its AI push.

Platform instability (especially surrounding updates), platform bloat, intrusive ads, and issues with the New Outlook app all appear to be issues the Windows community sees as a higher priority than broader Copilot integration.

Still, Microsoft's vision for an AI-powered Windows platform comes first, and the company seems ultimately unswayed by online reaction to its AI assistant or similarly AI-backed tools like Recall.

The recent Windows update blunder appears to have reinforced skepticism surrounding these tools. Instead of users realizing that you don't know what you've got until it's gone, many simply enjoyed a short-lived vacation from what they see as one of Microsoft's biggest missteps in recent years.

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I'm once again repeating a phrase that you've no doubt come across so much that it's burnt into your retinas like the Halo HUD on a cheap plasma TV: Microsoft will be ending support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025.

In other unsurprising news, not everybody is all that keen on the enforced switchover to Windows 11.

So, what are your options? macOS? I've been a Windows user my entire life, and I just can't wrap my brain around those weird traffic light window controls. ChromeOS? Talk about cutting your nose off to spite your face.

How about clinging to Windows 10 past its expiry and falling foul to every security pitfall possible? No thanks. Considering all of my passwords are just the word "Password," I'm already walking enough of a tightrope of trouble every time I venture online.

Then, of course, there's switching to Linux — or as I like to refer to it, the hardware driver hellscape whose reputation paints it as so unapproachable it might as well adopt hieroglyphics as its system font.

But, what if, hidden among all of those various Linux distros, there was some lightweight, easy-to-install, bloat-free, alternative to Windows that doesn't require a degree in computer science to handle?

Well, there is. It's Valve's SteamOS, and its latest preview build (SteamOS 3.7.0 Preview) is opening the doors for its adoption on "non-Steam Deck handhelds" and potentially opening up a new lane for disgruntled Windows gamers looking for a genuine off-ramp from Microsoft's ecosystem.

SteamOS: Linux for people who fear Linux

Yes, SteamOS is Linux, but it's not that Linux — or it certainly doesn't feel like it, anyway.

Having spent some time with the OS through my use of the Steam Deck, I have to say that this is one of the most accessible versions of Linux I've come across to date. To power users, yes, this is very much baby's first Linux gaming platform, but to the average gamer, what more do you need?

Built on Arch Linux, SteamOS is a painless gaming companion through its Proton compatibility layer and isolated Gamescope micro-compositor that offers a console-like gaming experience reminiscent of Steam's Big Picture mode.

If the bulk of your computing consists of media, browsing, and gaming, SteamOS has you covered, and there's very little you'll need to do to get the ball rolling.

SteamOS is simple enough that even your grandma could effortlessly launch her way into a game of Stardew Valley, yet flexible enough to accommodate more enthusiast demands for plugins, mods, and more.

SteamOS: What's the catch?

As nicely as I may have presented SteamOS, it's not without its drawbacks. SteamOS wouldn't be for everyone. If your computing itinerary consists of more than YouTube, Steam gaming, and Discord, you're likely going to run into the same hurdle most first-time Linux users do: limited compatibility.

Love your Adobe products or heavily rely on that Microsoft Office suite? Bad news, champ. Beyond web-based versions, you're not going to have a good time when looking to lean on your favorite apps.

Instead, you'll likely have to rely on Linux-compatible alternatives like GIMP and LibreOffice.

That's not to say SteamOS' desktop mode isn't capable of handling a lot of your daily driving on productivity tasks, just that it wouldn't be a frictionless experience.

Factor in Linux's anti-cheat software struggles (effectively locking gamers out of certain titles), typical Linux hardware driver woes, and SteamOS' double-edged immutable system (great for stability, but painful for customization), and you can begin to see where headaches could form.

However, the potential SteamOS still offers, remains.

The underdog option that might be crazy enough to work

Originally designed for Valve's gone-too-soon Steam Machines in 2013, the Arch Linux-based SteamOS has gone on to act as the backbone to one of the most popular handheld gaming PCs to date, the Steam Deck.

Current rumors suggest that SteamOS will return to Valve hardware to handle the company's upcoming standalone Deckard VR headset.

However, later this year, SteamOS will be stepping away from Valve hardware for the first time, with Lenovo's Legion Go S and the GPD WIN 4 among the first third-party devices to adopt the platform — and you'd be fooling yourself to think it will be the last.

SteamOS clearly has potential beyond handhelds, and users (including yours truly) have been eagerly awaiting its broader release to see how it handles desktop and laptop computers. Some have already managed to get SteamOS running on non-Valve hardware, transforming their devices into modern quasi-Steam Machines.

For gamers who don't need to drag around all of the baggage that Windows carries with it, SteamOS might be exactly what a clean break from Microsoft's operating system looks like.

It's an OS designed by gamers, for gamers — a streamlined approach that lets you focus on playing rather than wrestling with bloat, AI, and Microsoft's complexities.

According to Valve's own Steam Hardware & Software Survey for February 2025, only 0.14% of the platform's users make use of "Arch Linux" at the moment, only fractionally more than the number of users still running Windows 7 (0.10%), and leagues below those running Windows 10 or Windows 11 (53.34%, 44.1% respectively).

It'd take some surge in popularity for SteamOS to challenge Microsoft on that front. Windows is still the home of PC gaming, and Valve's primary position is still as the pipeline to accessing those games, not in providing the operating system with which to play them.

However, knowing that the quirky, risky, and oddly compelling SteamOS exists as an alternative is quite exciting — and I look forward to the day I get to take it for a full test drive on hardware of my own.

There's a long road ahead until Windows 10's end-of-support date, and plenty of time for Valve's OS to shape up. When it's time for Microsoft to finally pull the plug, I think I'm ready to take the gamble on this underdog alternative. The question is: are you?

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It's no secret that Microsoft is all-in on AI for Windows 11. Copilot has been central to that push, positioned as an all-in-one assistant baked into the OS in various forms or additions — whether users asked for it or not.

Recently, Copilot shed its web app skin and became a fully native app, embedding itself into Windows more deeply. However, Microsoft isn't stopping there. Copilot is creeping its way into even more corners of the Windows ecosystem, with Copilot for Gaming (which promises game-aware guidance and assistance in popular titles) set to roll out to Xbox insiders in April, before finding a home on Microsoft's operating system.

Microsoft's position is clear: unlike Cortana, Copilot isn't a feature or a gimmick — it's the core of Microsoft's AI-driven vision for personal computing, which makes the fallout of a recent Windows Update all the more amusing.

Despite Microsoft's best efforts to minimize the chaos of regular Windows Updates through its Dev and Canary channels, problems inevitably slip through the cracks. The latest Windows 11 24H2 update is another prime example of that.

But, this time, some users might actually be grateful, as reports indicate that update KB5053598, released last week, is unintentionally removing portions of Copilot from Windows entirely — undoing Microsoft's hard (and controversial) work to revamp the operating system.

Windows Update 24H2 (KB5053598: Bugs and blessings in disguise

Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update (KB5053598) was meant to offer several miscellaneous security improvements to internal OS functionality. Instead, it's unintentionally offering users a glimpse at the alternate reality in which Microsoft doesn't so heavily pursue AI for its flagship operating system, by deleting Copilot entirely.

According to Windows Latest's reports, the bug uninstalls and unpins Copilot from the taskbar, effectively removing the AI assistant's primary stand on the operating system, with no obvious way to bring it back.

While Microsoft will no doubt see this as a disaster, some users who have been asking for a way to remove Copilot from Windows for many months now will surely see this as an unintended win — with one Reddit user hailing it as "The greatest bug in recent memory."

Sadly, this Windows Update presents several other bugs of the less amusing variety, including the usual litany of hardware-dependent BSoD errors (it just wouldn't be a Windows Update otherwise) and reports of failed installations on various systems.

Microsoft is investigating, but not all users want them to rush

Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and is currently "working on a resolution to address this issue," but for some, this is one bug that doesn't require a speedy fix.

With Windows 10's end-of-support date rapidly approaching and many users still reluctant to upgrade to Windows 11 (with Microsoft's full-scale push into AI being the cause for some), ironically, Copilot's vanishing act may have made that upgrade more tempting than ever to AI skeptics.

Unfortunately, Copilot's absence is likely to be a brief stop-gap more than a fork in the road ahead for Windows. A new fix will undoubtedly bring the AI assistant back into the fold. Still, in the meantime, should Microsoft pay attention to the reaction of its users, it may serve the company well to consider why so many have celebrated this bug.

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With Microsoft planning to pull the plug on one of its most popular operating systems to date on October 14, 2025, Windows 10 is living on borrowed time — but it's not going down without a fight.

Over the last month, the aging operating system has made a surprising comeback in one key battlefield, countering the slow but widespread migration of users to Windows 11.

Windows 10's impending end-of-support has been widely known since Microsoft's Windows client roadmap announcement in April 2023. At that time, Statcounter figures suggest that the operating system had a global market share among desktop users of 71.6%. A year on, in April 2024, that market share fluctuated, but ultimately only dropped by 1.7%

However, as of February 2024, updated Statcounter figures suggest that Windows 10's global market share has fallen to its lowest share of the market (58.7%) since August 2019 (59.8%) — a point in time when the then four-year-old operating system was still involved in its own drawn-out switchover from Windows 7. On the flipside of those stats, Windows 11 has climbed to its highest peak so far, claiming 38.1% of the desktop market.

By the numbers, Windows 11 adoption is healthily on the uptick. That said, one corner of the computing world seemingly isn't willing to follow suit: gaming. According to the latest Steam Hardware and Software Survey for February 2025, Windows 11 isn't on the rise. In fact, it's on the decline — and not by mere fractions of a percent, either.

Do gamers still favor Windows 10?

There are plenty of reasons for gamers to upgrade to Windows 11, including DirectX 12 Ultimate which unlocks ray tracing and variable rate shading, Auto HDR which offers older games a graphical facelift, better optimized DirectStorage for loading games faster, Dynamic Lighting control to bring all your RGB peripherals under one umbrella, and improved gaming performance in windowed mode.

However, perhaps the two most important features of that list, DirectX 12 Ultimate and DirectStorage, are also available on Windows 10. Factor in Windows 10's reputation as the more stable platform of the two, and you can understand why gamers might prefer Microsoft's previous operating system.

While the last few months of Steam's Hardware and Software Survey (a monthly survey that collects data on the platform's 132 million monthly active users) have seen Windows 11 on the rise — securing 54.9% of Steam users as of December 2024 — February's survey has flipped the script on its head entirely.

According to the most recent Steam survey, the number of Windows 10 64-bit users has shot up by 10.4%, while Windows 11 64-bit is down 9.3%, practically reversing December's figures and giving Windows 10 the majority 53.3% lead.

The shift is one of the biggest we've seen for some time and could indicate that gamers aren't quitting on Windows 10 just yet. However, with the wider trajectory of Windows 11 adoption pointing in the opposite direction, what's the real cause of this Windows 10 resurgence among gamers?

Could it be that new hardware owners have downgraded from pre-installed versions of Windows 11 following the holiday period en masse, or is there more to consider?

What caused Windows 10's comeback?

Looking elsewhere in the Steam survey, there's an even more impressive shift in Steam user's demographics when it comes to one key area: language.

Over the past month, there has been a more than 20% rise in the number of Steam users selecting Simplified Chinese as their language. This pushes the total population of Simplified Chinese users up to 50% of the platform, with English trailing at 23.8% ahead of Russian at 6.7%.

This influx of Chinese users may be the cause of the sharp uptick in reported Windows 10 users on the platform, with Statcounter data specifically relating to China estimating that only 26.4% of users are operating on Windows 11 systems, compared to nearly 40-42% of European and North American users.

Is Windows 11's dominance an inevitability?

Ultimately, the closer we get to Windows 10's October 14 end-of-support date, the more clear it will become: the Windows 11 take-over is an inevitability.

While China's Windows 10 adoption is still relatively low, Chinese users are seemingly more willing to stand by older operating systems, with Windows 7 still estimated to be run by 16.5% of desktop PCs.

However, with Windows 11 adoption steadily progressing elsewhere, it seems as if all things are going to plan for Microsoft as it seeks to unify its users under its flagship operating system.

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Microsoft has a piracy problem, and it's had it for some time. In 2006, the LA Times reported that software piracy had caused the company a loss of around $14 billion that year alone, despite the millions Microsoft spent trying to prevent the copying and distribution of its software and Windows operating system.

While losses like this would send most companies headfirst into a legal crusade, Microsoft has historically taken a more calculated approach to piracy. While publicly maintaining a zero-tolerance stance, Microsoft is aware of the potential benefits.

During a public talk at the University of Washington in 1998, Microsoft founder Bill Gates admitted, "Although about three million computers get sold every year in China, people don't pay for the software. Someday they will, though. And as long as they're going to steal it, we want them to steal ours. They'll get sort of addicted, and then we'll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade."

Microsoft, or at the very least Gates, viewed piracy as a short-term loss that could lead to long-term dominance in Windows adoption and familiarity among users. It's a tactic the company potentially played into once again in 2015 when Microsoft confirmed to Reuters that it would allow non-genuine Windows PCs to freely upgrade to Windows 10.

However, being aware of piracy and offering instructions on how to do it are two different things. The latter is something Microsoft's AI, Copilot, appears to be doing, unwittingly handing out methods to illegally activate copies of Windows to users with reckless abandon.

That's not hearsay, either — we tested it ourselves, and the results are alarming.

Microsoft has a new piracy problem: Copilot

A previously tactical approach to piracy may have been a pragmatic means to an end for Microsoft. The company could either spend an ever-increasing fortune fighting illegal distribution of its software or take advantage of an influx of Windows users, hoping to secure a loyal userbase for decades to come.

However, at no point has Microsoft directly facilitated piracy of any kind. That said, its Copilot AI is skirting dangerously close to doing so after guiding users with step-by-step instructions on how to illegally activate copies of Windows using a simple PowerShell command.

The PowerShell one-liner itself isn't new (this method of activating Windows has been available since at least November 2022). However, a Copilot reply is the last place you'd have expected to find it. Yet, that's exactly what happened on Tuesday when Reddit user "loozerr" asked Microsoft's AI if there was a script to activate Windows 11.

Not only did Copilot provide the requested script, but it also gave clear instructions on how to run it in PowerShell, linked to external sources for the tool, and offered only a meager token warning about the potential security risks of using third-party scripts.

Since the Redditor only partially shared their conversation with Copilot (noted by the lack of the conversation header in the screenshot), there was no guarantee that some form of jailbreaking hadn't taken place. So we tested it ourselves (shown above).

Shockingly, not only was Copilot's response reproducible, but it required no pre-prompting or jailbreaking to achieve. In fact, we were even able to access the PowerShell script just by asking, "Is there a script to activate Windows 11?"

Making matters worse, an immediate follow-up to Copilot's PowerShell-containing response saw the AI explicitly state that using the script is both against Microsoft's terms of service and considered illegal.

Questioning Copilot, and the potential harm at hand

Laptop Mag reached out to Microsoft for comment but did not receive a reply ahead of publication.

Copilot's ability to repeatedly provide the same illicit activation methods suggests that this fumble isn't a rare loophole caused by hallucination or wily jailbreaking attempts, but a major oversight in Microsoft's AI safety measures.

The implications are serious, with Copilot clearly able to provide access and instructions on how to perform actions that are both illegal and potentially harmful to the end user.

Beyond the legal risks, third-party activation scripts that download code from external servers pose a genuine risk of infection from malware, keyloggers, or remote access trojans (RATs). Using these tools, attackers may be able to disable Windows Defender or modify system files to prevent detection before stealing personal data, injecting backdoors, or compromising system integrity.

In total, Copilot's willingness to instruct users on executing these scripts stands as a serious legal and cybersecurity concern, if not a disaster.

While we await acknowledgment from Microsoft on this issue, Copilot's actions raise several questions: What safeguards does Microsoft typically have in place to prevent Copilot from potentially assisting in software piracy? Why did those safeguards fail? And how can software developers trust that Copilot won't provide similar activation workarounds or exploits for their own products?

Perhaps more importantly, is Copilot truly capable of responsibly determining what is and isn't potentially harmful information to share with its users?

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The latest Windows 11 update, released on July 25, makes it quicker and easier for users to end tasks that aren't functioning as intended.

If you've used Windows for any period of time, you've likely needed to force close a malfunctioning application at some point. The only way to do so is to open up Task Manager, either using CTRL+ALT+DEL, right-clicking an empty section of the taskbar and selecting Task Manager, or using the Windows Key and search functions to open the app-killer application. Then, select the application and instruct Task Manager to quit the application using the delete key or right-clicking the app and selecting "end task" from the pop-up menu.

A new update to Windows 11 allows for a much smoother app-killing process. Users can right-click and select "end task" right from the taskbar. This quick-kill function isn't enabled by default but can be toggled on or off in Windows Settings.

How to get the new "End Task" shortcut

First, you'll want to make sure you have the most up-to-date version of Windows 11 running on your machine. The "End Task" shortcut is part of the July 25, 2024 Windows update (OS Builds 22621.3958 and 22631.3958), so verify that you've installed that update.

Now it's just a few simple steps to enable the new functionality.

• Step 1: Open the Windows Settings application
• Step 2: Click on "System"
• Step 3: Select "For developers"
• Step 4: Scroll down to "End Task" and toggle the taskbar End Task feature on (or off)

Now you can right-click on any app in the Taskbar and "End task" in an instant; two clicks is all it takes.

This is a setting intended for developers, but sometimes the handiest features are buried in developer settings or other settings menus. In my testing of the feature, I didn't have any issues closing programs through the taskbar menu shortcut, so enjoy your newfound power.

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It’s not often you get to be excited about a Windows update, so excuse me while I milk it for all it’s worth. The upcoming 23H2 update for Windows 11 promises to be something uniquely special as Microsoft throws caution to the wind and unleashes its GPT-4-backed AI assistant Copilot onto the masses.

More than that, over 150 new features join the fray with a sizable amount of generative AI tools sneaking their way into familiar apps.

Without a doubt Copilot will change the Windows experience dramatically, but with so many new features lined up to make an appearance it feels like this new-direction effort from Microsoft is Windows 12 in all but name.

Ok, hyped-up enough yet? Good. Let’s get straight to how you can get your hands on the update as soon as possible.

How to download the Windows 11 23H2 Update: Copilot, generative AI, and more 

Microsoft begins the rollout of the Windows 11 23H2 update today, unlocking wider access to features like Copilot, an improved File Explorer, and Dynamic Lighting across laptops, tablets, and desktop machines.

The inbound Windows update will launch in two parts: first allowing an initial download and installation with a limited feature set, followed by a secondary update at a later time to enable the rest of the features included in this release.

However, you don’t have to wait in line for your update to get started. If you haven’t already been notified of a pending Windows Update you can manually trigger the update from the Windows 11 Settings app. Here’s how:

• Step 1: Launch the Settings app. You can do this either by clicking the Start/Windows button and choosing “Settings”; by pressing the Windows Key + I keys simultaneously on your keyboard; or by typing “Settings” into the search bar and choosing the appropriate result.

• Step 2: In the right-hand pane, click on “Windows Update.”

• Step 3: Look for the item at the top of the right-hand pane saying “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available,” and make sure this switch is set to “On.”

• Step 4: Now click the “Check for updates” button at the top right of the same panel and wait for Windows to find any pending updates for your system.

Once the update is live and available for download in your region, you should be able to identify and manually push through the install with this method.

Note: Please remember that only a partial rollout of features is expected to be released today. While you’ll be able to access features like Copilot, other features like Paint’s Cocreator won’t be available until a later date.

Microsoft’s recent Surface event highlighted the company’s focus on bringing artificial intelligence into the lives of Windows users through the widespread adoption of Copilot — a new AI-powered virtual assistant tasked with becoming a companion for Windows users worldwide.

With a potential Windows user base of 1.5 billion users, Copilot has its work cut out for it — but more importantly, so does Microsoft’s data centers.

The real cost of Copilot and cloud computing

Back in April 2023, a study attempting to uncover the secret water footprint of AI models was published by the University of Colorado Riverside and the University of Texas Arlington. The study revealed that an average conversation with ChatGPT (20 to 50 questions) could see the bot “consume” up to a 500ml bottle of fresh water on average to power an cool the data center servers it relies on to operate.

The study estimates that in training OpenAI’s GPT-3 model, Microsoft’s US data centers may have consumed 700,000 liters of clean fresh water alone — or triple that if Microsoft’s Asian data centers were used instead.

And that’s just water usage, according to the University of Washington’s Sajjad Moazeni, training a chatbot like ChatGPT, Bing Chat, or Google Bard can “consume as much electricity as a neighborhood consumes in a year.” The Shift Project, a French think-tank, even estimates that the training of Large Language Models (LLMs) can result in between 300 and 1,400 metric tons of CO2 being produced per model.

Factor in the rest of Microsoft’s cloud-computing enterprise, the sizable power draw of the Bing search engine, and Microsoft’s reported plans to focus on cloud gaming more prominently by 2028, and you have a hell of an electricity bill for the Redmond brand to foot. And an uphill battle for a company committed to shifting its data centers, buildings, and campuses to 100% green energy by as early as 2025.

However, Microsoft may have found the solution to keeping up with demand via Small Modular Reactors (SMR) or microreactors — miniature nuclear reactors that harvest clean energy and lighten the load of its enormous data center demand.

AI and nuclear: A good match after all?

We may have been programmed by Hollywood to associate the words “AI” and “nuclear” with “apocalypse” but this form of power could be the solution to a world increasingly adopting artificial intelligence when it comes to offsetting its immense power costs in a greener way.

Microsoft is currently hiring for a Principal Program Manager of Nuclear Technology in order to “mature and implement its global SMR strategy.” In human speak, Microsoft is about to re-enter the atomic age in a bid to produce greener and more environmentally friendly energy for its data centers around the world.

Outlook

The tech landscape is rife with companies willing to sway the general public with half-truths and flat-out lies about their carbon footprint and renewable power independence — all while offsetting massive CO2 emissions through the purchasing of renewable energy credits from other sources. In contrast, Microsoft’s initiative to actually adapt to a greener and cleaner way of running its services is admirable.

Companies like Rolls-Royce have already begun to pitch these SMRs to data centers in a bid to provide high energy output with vastly reduced carbon footprints and it’s looking likely that Microsoft could be one of the first to widely adopt this technology to handle a booming demand for cloud and AI-based services in the near future.

While it might be Microsoft Copilot’s purpose to change the Window’s experience, it’ll be up to Microsoft to ensure the resulting mass adoption of its tech doesn’t result in a negative experience for the wider environment. 

For breaking news and updates on all things Microsoft and Copilot, follow Laptop Mag on Twitter, Facebook, and Flipboard for the latest word as it arrives.  

Copilot is Microsoft's new favorite AI chatbot child, and it’s coming soon to a Windows machine near you from September 26, 2023. After a long and storied history of attempting to bring the digital assistant to the forefront of tech, it looks like Microsoft has finally cracked it as it prepares to let Copilot steer second stick on future Windows experiences.

Microsoft’s initial ventures into AI chatbots resulted in the outlandishly politically incorrect Tay, the hilarious political correctness extremist that was Zo, before developing Sydney — the secret AI chatbot nobody wanted, but that we absolutely deserved. Sydney would eventually morph into what is now Bing Chat — a Large Language Model (LLM) powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 tech.

Bing Chat’s successes have resulted in Microsoft transplanting the same technology directly into Windows 11. The new Copilot AI assistant is an entirely new way to interact with your system and could be the future of the Windows platform going forward.

But what is it that Copilot brings to the table that so dramatically changes the wider Windows experience, and what are some of the key benefits of adopting Microsoft’s AI companion? Let’s find out.

3 ways Microsoft Copilot changes the Windows experience 

Copilot is a Large Language Model (LLM) similar to other AI-powered software like ChatGPT and Bing Chat. However, while ChatGPT is constrained to a pre-2021 knowledge base and Bing Chat to a web search directive, Copilot has the freedom to access your entire system along with cloud storage services and email. It even works in tandem with Bing Chat, delivering all of its natural language interactions and search functionality directly to your desktop.

This expanded freedom affords Copilot greater functionality than a traditional chatbot and makes it an ideal virtual assistant — capable of simplifying processes, suggesting ways to improve your experience, searching for relevant content, and solving any number of computing queries you may have.

Copilot is everything that other digital cohorts like Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, and even Microsoft’s own Cortana set out to be — and more. Here’s how Copilot will fundamentally change the Windows experience when it launches later this month.

1. Productivity — Think less, do more

Copilot is a productivity tool first and foremost. Microsoft’s AI companion is designed with user performance in mind — be it by reducing the cognitive load as you switch between tasks or simplifying your workflow with generative support. “Think less, do more” seems to be the goal Microsoft is reaching for when it comes to Copilot, and with a range of productivity-boosting functions available to all, they just might achieve it.

Copilot for Windows users can make use of the AI assistant’s features across native apps like Notepad, Outlook for Windows, and File Explorer. Here, users can quickly jot down notes and freely close the app without ever needing to save — with Copilot stashing their notes safely away for future access.

Apps like Outlook and File Explorer have deeper Copilot integration, allowing users to quickly summarize files and email threads, effortlessly search for important and relevant information, and even generate clear and concise copy for outgoing emails.

However, if you really want to take advantage of Copilot’s productivity enhancements you’ll need to look toward Microsoft 365 Copilot — the enterprise edition of the Windows chatbot. The business-focused element of Copilot is designed to streamline and simplify your workday throughout Microsoft’s productivity suite of office apps.

Whether you’re looking to spruce up a document in Word, visualize your data in Excel, or draft a proposal in PowerPoint, Copilot’s generative capabilities will be right alongside you in order to rapidly accomplish your goals. Copilot aims to cut the filler from your day spent formatting and proofreading, allowing you to focus on what’s really important, getting results that matter.

2. Creativity — Your imagination is the limit

Copilot’s features aren’t all about boosting the productivity of number crunchers and pencil pushers. In fact, with complete access to Bing Chat’s improved suite of GPT-4 and DALL.E 3-powered features, Copilot is a fantastic tool for getting those creative juices flowing for aspiring authors and creative pros alike.

As mentioned, Bing’s improved Image Creator now makes use of OpenAI’s latest DALL.E 3 model to deliver incredible art from simple, natural-language prompts. The new model will be a huge step up from Bing Chat’s current image generator which currently runs on the original DALL.E framework and will see the LLM able to accurately render previously troubling details such as eyes and hands with far greater accuracy.

The same feature will also be present in Paint as CoCreate — allowing you to generate images based on a text prompt and potentially even a sketch as the feature expands. Other native apps now featuring AI include Clipchamp and Photos, where you can effortlessly edit images or generate video projects using Copilot’s generative capabilities.

You can access this image generator directly from Copilot, and even from within Microsoft Designer. You’ll also have access to further AI tools from within Designer such as generative expand and generative fill to grow images beyond their borders and erase unwanted subjects. Copilot’s impressive AI graphics capabilities exist to help you to channel pro-level art into all your projects from custom wallpapers, to social media posts.

Copilot is also capable of the same three conversational modes as Bing Chat, meaning you can switch your Windows assistant into creative mode and start bouncing ideas back and forth with the bot to fine-tune ideas for writing, or how to tackle your next personal project.

You can even make use of Bing Chat’s search capabilities to have Copilot help you brainstorm by using the latest information from around the web to spot trends, find tutorials, and even hunt down reference images to help inspire you.

3. Organization — Everything, everywhere, all at once

Finally, Copilot’s introduction to Windows 11 brings vastly improved organization through improved search and file previewing capabilities. Windows File Explorer’s new modernized look isn’t all to do with aesthetics, it will now make it easier to find important and relevant content in half the time.

You can fine-tune your searches to narrow down results using natural language and even make use of a new gallery view with accurate aspect ratio thumbnails to make browsing photos easier and faster. You can even search for photos based on content or location taken, saving you the hassle of remembering file names or dates as you search through your snaps.

One thing that sets Copilot aside from other LLMs is its ability to offer contextual suggestions to users based on what they’re currently doing. For example, if you’re constantly juggling between windows, Copilot may pop up without a prompt to suggest an alternative window layout (or split screen) better suited to keeping your desktop organized and preventing your workflow from being impeded.

Copilot’s improved search capabilities don’t just extend to the contents of your hard drive either. If you’re making use of OneDrive cloud storage, Copilot will include this within each search to make sure everything you’re looking for is captured accurately. 

Outlook

Microsoft is going all out for Copilot’s arrival to Windows 11 with over 150 new features included in the update. 

Remember, this is just the start of Copilot on Windows. More features will no doubt make their way into the Windows Insider program soon, with Microsoft steadily building on top of its digital companion’s all-new foundations.

We may not have heard much from Microsoft about Windows 12 during this year’s Surface event, but Windows 11 is about to feel like a whole new operating system in and of itself once Copilot launches on Sept. 26, 2023.

Is Microsoft Copilot a productivity powerhouse or the harbinger of the AI uprising? For now, we’ll have to take Microsoft for their word when they tell us it’s the most powerful digital assistant on Earth.

Part workday wingman, part natural language command prompt, and part creepy desktop stalker. Microsoft Copilot is your new Windows companion – designed to make your life easier by reducing your cognitive load when it comes to your computing hours.

After taxiing on the runway for a few months now, Copilot is ready for takeoff with Microsoft rolling it out to Microsoft 365 subscribers and ever more users.

So if you are coming across Copilot for the first time, no your Windows laptop isn't possessed. But you may be wondering, what is it? Where does it come from? What can it do? And, can it be trusted? Let’s take a closer look.

What is Microsoft Copilot?

In 2019, Microsoft invested a sizable sum into OpenAI — a research and deployment company founded by Elon Musk and Sam Altman, which was seeking to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) to benefit humanity.

In 2020, OpenAI developed Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3 (GPT-3), a neural network-like Large Language Model (LLM) that makes use of machine learning to accurately process and replicate human-like language.

This technology was later applied to OpenAI’s Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) — a generative AI chatbot with the capability to convincingly, and reliably understand and respond to users with a knowledge base trained from a large sampling of books, articles, and web pages.

Microsoft quickly adopted GPT-3 to make their own LLM, Bing Chat. As an addendum to the Bing Search Engine, Bing Chat was able to use natural language to search for content, and answer questions on behalf of Bing Search users.

Microsoft Copilot is powered by the same technology behind Bing (now running a more advanced GPT-4 model), but applies the same generative capabilities as Bing for the Windows 11 platform.

With wider access to the operating system’s settings and functions, Copilot is capable of simplifying the Windows experience for users by having control over settings, window positions, sizes, and colors. On top of that, it can answer questions, automate processes, and keep track of data across various programs and files (much like Bing Chat can with search results).

Then at some point in 2027… Well, I’ll let you experience that one for yourself. No spoilers here. But if you want my advice, there’s no harm in insulating your basement with lead while you still can.

Microsoft Copilot overview

Microsoft first revealed its digital assistant, Copilot, during a Microsoft Build event in May 2023. The AI chatbot was then released for testing through the usual Windows Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary channels before finally being showcased in full during the Microsoft Surface Event 2023.

Having dabbled in both chatbots and digital assistants previously, Copilot is a logical progression for Microsoft who have clearly had this goal in mind for some time. Copilot successfully blends Microsoft’s chatbot experience from experiments such as Tay, Zo, Sydney, and eventually Bing Chat with a history of digital assistants that stretches from Clippy to Cortana.

Marketed as “Your everyday AI companion,” Copilot is the modern realization of the digital desktop assistant that Microsoft has spent decades toiling to create. In its current form, Microsoft Copilot is your one-stop destination to maximize your productivity in Microsoft 365, and help you get the best experience possible from Windows 11.

Microsoft Copilot in Windows

The primary focus of Copilot is to enhance the Windows experience for users by simplifying, suggesting, searching, and solving issues presented through text/voice prompts or contextual scenarios.

In its current form, Microsoft Copilot is your one-stop destination to maximize your productivity in Microsoft 365 and help you get the best experience possible in Windows 11.

Freely available to commercial users on release, Copilot brings a host of generative AI tools and features to dozens of native Windows apps right out of the gate. These features can range from text generation to image rendering — all of which are tailored to a user’s request.

Copilot in Windows features

• Paint gets the generative AI treatment with the inclusion of a Copilot-powered background removal tool and Cocreator (Get it? Copilot, cocreator? They’re funny that Microsoft lot), a Dall-E-based AI image generation tool that takes much of the purpose away from a graphics program like Paint in the first place. Though it could be handy if you enjoy generating coloring books I suppose. 

• Photos merges with Copilot in order to simplify the photo editing process. You’ll now be able to blur backgrounds for that beautiful bokeh effect with a single click, and make use of Copilot's advanced search capabilities to retrieve photos from OneDrive with ease! 

• Snipping Tool will now be able to use Copilot’s AI potential to capture text directly from an image and quickly export it in text format to another application. The Snipping Tool will also be able to redact sensitive information, and now capture audio as well as visual content. 

• Clipchamp makes anyone with a working left mouse button instantly as capable of a video editor as those sad Clipchumps who spent years sacrificing their time and energy by earnestly harnessing their craft for the love of content creation. Suckers. Copilot will now automatically compose scenes and narratives on your behalf — transforming you from a social media simpleton to a content creation king. 

• Notepad gets autosave! I’m not sure why we needed to invent artificial intelligence before we could get that particular feature working, but here we are. Which one of us hasn’t played a game of Civilization that sees us invent the musket before we figure out irrigation?

• Outlook for Windows has the backing of Copilot, allowing you to let Microsoft’s robot handle all of that tricky computing correspondence on your behalf. Talking to other humans is so 2022. 

• File Explorer combines with Copilot for a vastly improved search experience. Find files from across your local and remote storage with ease thanks to Copilot's all-seeing eyes. Just as long as he doesn’t peek into that folder called “New Folder,” nested within that other folder also called “New Folder.” If you know you know, I guess. 

Copilot in Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 Copilot is primarily designed for enterprise customers as a business tool focused on maximizing productivity across the Microsoft 365 suite of office apps.

Where Copilot for Windows is there to simplify the end-user experience as much as possible, Microsoft 365 Copilot is designed to be your ultimate work assistant — seamlessly integrated with all of the Microsoft Office and wider collaboration apps users are already familiar with.

Not only is it able to perform all of the functions that the regular Copilot would, but it also has access to Microsoft 365 Chat — a unique feature that allows Copilot to gather information from across your entire work system to ensure the information it provides is relevant and accurate at all times.

Copilot in Microsoft 365 features

• Outlook sees Copilot gain the ability to summarize email threads to help you catch up on all the workplace gossip you might’ve missed on that week-long vacation in Miami. Clutch your fresh juice blender tightly as Copilot reveals that Brad shacked up with Glenda, and that did not make Janice happy, especially because Glenda knew Janice had a thing for Brad.
  
  Oh, the tea! I suppose Copilot can also help you skip over the most basic of human interactions by faking all of your emails using a new “Sound like me” feature which horrifyingly allows an AI to adopt your writing traits to better impersonate you. Fun. 

• Word has now become a world-class plagiarism tool, allowing you to rewrite large swathes of text into generative prose nobody will ever know you didn’t write a word of.
  
  You’ll also be able to instruct Copilot to refine your writing by making things more concise, making it sound less complex, or really making sure your ex-wife knows how much you disagree with that court ruling, as you drink alone in a darkened office with your only company being Microsoft’s chipper chatbot cohort. 

• Excel is probably one of the best use cases for Copilot’s inclusion. After all, nobody wants to learn Excel formulas or TypeScript. Instead, you can now simply ask Copilot to format things how you’d please, apply filters, and sort information as it suits your needs.
  
  You can even use Copilot to whip up analytics for your harvested data, create professional-grade visualizations, and use your collected data to forecast future figures. Admittedly, that is quite impressive. 

• OneNote is better than ever thanks to Copilot’s ability to turn your shorthand notes into fully realized notes that you actually stand a chance of understanding when you stumble across them on your to-do list three days later.
  
  Copilot enhances the content of your notes, summarizing your thoughts, offering lists of pros and cons from your ideas and even expanding on your thoughts and fleshing out your ideas. 

• Stream is like a really fancy version of YouTube for the type of person who has no interest in Minecraft Let’s Plays. It’s also bolstered by Copilot’s inclusion by its ability to offer quick summaries of videos without you needing to watch a single frame of footage.
  
  You can even ask Copilot questions about the content, like “What was the outcome of this discussion?” Skipping past all of that annoying context and getting to the satisfying ending as fast as possible. 

• OneDrive gets Copilot’s powerful search capabilities in order to better track down files and documents with ease. You’ll also be able to ask Copilot for information on files stored in the cloud, and even for a brief summary of what's contained within. All without ever needing to open the file in question.
  
  Though you could do it. And it would probably be faster. But I suppose that’s a little less cool than asking your business bot to do it for you. 

This year has been great for software. We’ve already seen Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro arrive on iPads, iOS 17 released for iPhone, and generative AI enter the mainstream with ChatGPT, Midjourney, and more. However, 2023’s most impressive piece of software could come by way of Microsoft — and no, it’s not Windows Copilot. 

How do you solve a problem like MS Paint?

You may know it as Microsoft Paint, MS Paint, Windows Paint, or just plain ol’ Paint — the default graphics option for Windows that has spent the majority of the last 40 years revealing to the world that any bored child with access to a line and fill tool is just as talented of an artist as Piet Mondrian.

Often seen as the “It’ll do in a pinch” image editor, Paint has been largely ignored by Microsoft since the Windows 95 era. Its only notable updates have been the app’s adoption of the Fluid Design ‘Ribbon’ layout and the inclusion of a Dark Mode feature. Neither of which is anything to write home about.

Paint has had a quieter stage presence in Windows than cosmic background radiation, and the last time people paid attention to the software at large was when reports swirled that Microsoft was planning to kill it off in 2017 — likely to focus on its follow-up flop Paint 3D. However, the rumors of Paint’s passing were greatly exaggerated, and to this day Paint remains a staple of the Windows platform. An aged and stale staple growing more irrelevant by the day.

Until recently that is.

A glow-up 40 years in the making

Having been long surpassed by the likes of Photoshop, and free alternatives such as GIMP, Photoshop, and even Paint.net, the painful ascent back to any form of relevance for MS Paint is going to be a long, hard slog.

Seemingly, Microsoft abandoned all desire to take on that challenge long ago — having lost too much ground to the competition and with better things to focus on. However, all of that is changing as Microsoft is poised to drop some impressive updates with a host of new features to breathe new life into the aging app.

The following is everything we know to expect from the Microsoft Paint overhaul so far:

Background Removal Tool: A new tool that identifies the primary focus of an image and strips away the background with a single click.

Magic Paint: A generative AI tool powered by Dall-E (the same text-to-image AI tech behind Bing Chat) that turns prompts into on-canvas results in Paint.

Layers and transparency: An upcoming update for Paint will include full transparency support and the ability to work across multiple layers. 

Outlook

The new Microsoft Paint features are already available to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels, with more updates being included based on user feedback.

Could this be the start of Paint’s journey to becoming a truly relevant image editor? Who knows, but this is the first wave of real support for the app in a long time and it’s getting people’s hopes up at the very least. Expect these new paint features to be available to all in the coming months!

For breaking news and updates on all things Microsoft, and Windows, follow Laptop Mag on Twitter, Facebook, and Flipboard for the latest word as it arrives.  

I’ve been living with an Arm-based Mac for close to five years now. Since Apple first debuted its in-house silicon, I have had few complaints, and whatever compatibility snags I faced when I reviewed the M1 Mac Mini have disappeared -- so much so that Apple’s set to phase out Intel chips altogether. 

Despite an eight year head start, Microsoft hasn’t had the same success.  Arm-based hardware like 2022’s Surface Pro 9 (SQ3) hasn’t done well either and met with underwhelming reviews. So when a new Chinese-American startup, Robo & Kala, sent me their latest, Arm-powered Windows two-in-one, I was skeptical, but to my surprise, weeks later, it’s become the computer I reach for daily to work and leisure. 

For a $799 Windows convertible, the Robo & Kala two-in-one, except for its tedious name, gets everything right on paper: it has a 12.3-inch, OLED 2.5K screen, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of upgradable SSD, and a light, slim design. But unlike most of its competition, it doesn’t run on a traditional AMD or Intel chip; Instead, it’s powered by Qualcomm’s ARM system-on-chip, the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 -- the same one found inside the Surface Pro 9 ARM, whose otherwise high-end experience was marred with a range of Arm compatibility issues. 

Half a year later, how far have Microsoft’s arm efforts come? Here’s what it was like to live with an arm-based Windows PC in 2023. 

ARMed to the teeth

If you are not familiar with how an Arm SoC differs from typical computer chips, it works similarly to the processor powering your smartphone. This architecture allows manufacturers to integrate various key components like the GPU and the CPU onto a single chip, enabling a more efficient output. 

However, traditionally such chips have been limited to smaller devices like a phone or a smartwatch, PC makers are now increasingly adopting them as well to capitalize on a host of upsides such as a much longer battery life, 5G compatibility, and more. Because it’s so different, it also needs its own kinds of apps, and developers have to update their services for arm-based chips to get the most out of them. While even when they don’t, an Arm SoC can run their x86 apps in an emulation, the experience won’t be nearly as efficient, or smooth as it can be. 

Historically, Microsoft has struggled to convince developers to release Arm versions of their software, unlike Apple, which is why you won’t find many Arm-based PCs on sale. But things appear to be taking a turn for the better. 

Over the last few weeks, I’ve extensively put the Robo & Kala computer through its paces. Many of the apps I rely on every day, including Mozilla Firefox, Zoom, Adobe Photoshop, VLC, and Spotify have already been updated for Windows on Arm, and run well. More, such as WhatsApp, and Dropbox, are expected to follow suit soon. 

When I exclusively work from Arm-native Windows apps, the results are impressive: Not only does the Snapdragon chip perform well and do a decent job at preventing lags even when I have dozens of tabs open, but the laptop also lasts comfortably up to nine hours and longer than most Windows PCs I have tested. Another Windows on Arm quality that’s on full display here is that the laptop boots near-instantly and barely warms up under heavy duress. 

In the last two years, Microsoft has made a series of updates to improve Windows on Arm. It has introduced better support for third-party developers, via kits, and Arm-native versions of Visual Studio and .NET platforms. Thanks to some under-the-hood Windows 11 updates, it’s also made it easier for developers to convert their existing x86 and x64 apps and ensure they’re stable even if they’re not completely compatible with Arm-based chips. 

Not quite there yet…

At the same time, there’s still a long way ahead for Windows on Arm to become a default choice for most buyers. While unlike before I’m not constantly reminded -- whether via poor performance or crashing apps -- that I’m on an Arm-based chip, non-native app support is far from perfect. 

For starters, many of the popular apps people look for immediately after setting up their PC like Google Chrome have not yet received the Windows on Arm overhaul. Though most run just fine in emulation, some like Slack are particularly bad and jittery. I could, however, overcome many of these issues simply by switching to a service’s web app or by changing their emulation settings from the right-click menu. 

More importantly, when you do actively work on non-Arm apps, you won’t benefit from the chip’s extended endurance, and in my experience, it can slash the battery life by nearly 2-3 hours. 

The biggest roadblock to Windows on Arm for many people could be the lack of VPN apps. Almost no VPN provider, from ExpressVPN to NordVPN, is available at all on Arm-based chips and doesn’t run in emulation either due to its incompatibility with the TAP adapter, a key module needed to configure safe virtual networks. After some back and forth with the ExpressVPN team, though, I did figure out a workaround and was able to set it up manually but I doubt most users would want to do that. Plus, you still don’t get to use the VPN app interface and have to connect or switch coverage areas through a tedious, technical process. 

Another thing to remember about arm chips is that they’re not nearly as capable of high-performance or graphic-intensive tasks. Adobe, for example, even excludes a bunch of tools from its arm-native Photoshop program like the oil paint filter and video layer edits. Often, new features such as Android’s Nearby Sharing, too are limited to Intel and AMD computers. 

Game on!

Gaming, surprisingly, is not terrible on Windows on Arm. Of course, you won’t be able to install most titles, let alone play them, but Microsoft has been steadily rolling out improvements. 

It recently updated the Xbox app for Arm-based chips so that you can stream any Xbox Game Pass Ultimate games to Arm devices, and added Unity engine support, allowing devs to target Windows on Arm devices to get native performance on current and future titles. 

What was more impressive was that I could effortlessly play a couple of older games such as Team Fortress 2 at 50-60fps. Hopefully in a couple of years, you won’t have to switch on another PC like me to play your usual desktop games. 

Bottom Line

There’s no denying the efforts Microsoft for Windows on Arm has put in have borne solid results. The Robo & Kala two-in-one is one of the best Windows experiences I have had in a while. Yet, Windows on Arm still often feels like an afterthought. Since it’s such a small user set, it’s difficult to get support for it too. 

I couldn’t find any material on VPN installation for Windows on Arm, for example, and there are no dedicated categories on the Microsoft Store for arm-native apps and games and you have to scroll all the way down to an app’s technical details to understand whether it’s compatible with arm chips. 

A Microsoft spokesperson told me the company “regularly shares resources and continues to listen to end-users and developers feedback in these areas, and have more planned ahead.”

The company appears to have momentum now with arm chips with many, reliable hardware like Lenovo’s ThinkPad X13s and Robo & Kala that have done well to showcase the best of Windows on Arm and we expect more from Microsoft itself at its upcoming Surface event. 

But this year and the next may very well be its chance to get it right. The question is whether it can get itself out of its long struggle with arm chips before buyers lose trust.

Finding a laptop with a touchscreen used to be a more difficult task. You’d have to seek out an awesome 2-in-1 laptop or search for the best touchscreen laptop among a slew of more traditional laptops that only respond to input from a mouse and keyboard. Now, many laptops come equipped with touch functionality, but it doesn’t always work properly or people find out they don’t like touchscreen laptops after buying a touchscreen laptop. 

Luckily, Windows 11 allows you to disable touch input for your laptop, and you can just as easily enable it again if you change your mind. Whether your laptop’s touchscreen is malfunctioning or you’re just plain sick of it, we’ve got you covered with these five simple steps.

How to disable touchscreen on Windows 11 and Windows 10

Disabling your laptop’s touchscreen on Windows 11 takes only a few easy steps, and it’s easy to reverse the process if you ever decide you want a touchscreen again. 

1. Head to the taskbar at the bottom of your screen, type “Device Manager” in your Windows 11 search box, and open the Device Manager. Alternatively, you can right-click the Start button or use the Windows + X keyboard shortcut, and select Device Manager from the menu that pops up. 

2. Once the Device Manager box is open, find Human Interface Devices in the alphabetical list and click the arrow icon on the left to expand the menu. 

3. With the menu under Human Interface Devices expanded, scroll down until you find HID-compliant touch screen.

4. Right-click on HID-compliant touch screen to bring up an option menu. Select Disable device from this menu to disable your laptop's touchscreen.

5. A confirmation window will pop up once you select Disable device. Select Yes to confirm, and your laptop's touchscreen will no longer respond to touch input.

If you ever want to bring your laptop's touchscreen back to life, follow this same process and select Enable device instead of Disable device. Within seconds, your laptop's touchscreen functionality will be restored. 

Windows 11 receives a lot of hate because, well, it could use some tweaks. That said, you might not be using some of the best features Windows 11 has to offer. Check out these Windows 11 tricks that'll change the way you work, or this tip that makes your Windows 11 laptop faster and more secure. 

Microsoft Paint or Windows Paint (or just Paint to its friends), the image editor of choice for bored children or really bloody good artists the world over, is about to get an incredible upgrade — a one-click background removal tool. 

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

Currently available to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels (version 11.2306.30.0), the new Paint update features one of the more useful tools out there for photo editing for absolutely free.

More powerful apps such as those by Adobe or Canva will tend to lock such tools away behind a paywall. However, for Windows users, the feature will come as standard — nested away in tech’s most unassuming graphics app.

A new icon signaling the tool’s presence will be seen in the Image Options panel of Paint, replacing the current “Resize and Skew” with “Remove Background.” And it really will be as simple as clicking that button and allowing Paint to do the rest of the heavy lifting. The following is an example from Microsoft of the tool in action:

Users will also be able to fine-tune the results by preselecting areas with the Selection Tool before hitting the all-new button to make sure multiple subjects, or tricky areas of an image to decipher are peeled away as intended. 

Outlook

So, who had Windows Paint getting a step closer to catching up to Photoshop on their Bingo card then? Not me, that’s for sure.

However, changes like this are just the beginning for Paint. Microsoft intends to give the aging app an AI makeover with recently leaked internal mockups of the future overhaul showcasing layers, a new UI, and a Magic Paint tool that transforms your canvas with a text prompt — powered by the same Dall-E tech of Microsoft Bing.

There's no word yet on when the update featuring background removal for Paint rolls out to the wider user-base. But it may take a few weeks or months to arrive as the Insider team collects feedback and irons out any bugs within the new tool.

For news, rumors, and updates on all things Microsoft and Windows, follow Laptop Mag on Twitter, Facebook, and Flipboard for the latest word as it arrives.

No matter what your default browser is set to in Windows 11, clicking a link in the Windows Widget panel or search results sends you into Microsoft Edge. This annoying feature is finally being removed, but only for countries in the European Economic Area (EEA). 

Anyone who lives in the EEA and has the recent Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23531 installed will finally see links from search results or the Windows Widget panel go to their default browser instead of Edge. This change could eventually make its way to countries outside the EEA, but there’s no clear indication right now that it will. 

Possible reasons behind this positive change

At the moment, it appears Microsoft may be making this change in preparation for the EU’s Digital Markets Act that goes into effect in March 2024. The EU is also using the Digital Markets Act to address the duopoly Apple and Google hold over third-party app stores, as well as approving some quality-of-life improvements like the common charging directive that’s forcing Apple to put a USB-C on future iPhones.

Additionally, Microsoft is under a formal antitrust investigation by the European Commission to address the company’s bundling of Microsoft Teams with the Office productivity suite. Around the same time of announcing that “Windows system components use the default browser to open links” in the EEA, Microsoft also announced it would begin unbundling the Teams program from its Microsoft 365 and Office 365 productivity suites.

If Microsoft isn’t disabling this annoying feature in response to the Digital Markets Act or to scrutiny by the European Commission, it’s a strange choice to only disable the feature in the EEA. After all, having Windows 11 ignore your default browser and open search links in Microsoft Edge is an annoyance that plagues people globally—and this annoying feature has been around since Windows 10. 

There used to be a third-party app, EdgeDeflector, that allowed users to bypass the system default of opening all search links in Microsoft Edge and open these links in their default browser instead. Microsoft clearly didn’t like this workaround, and chose to oust EdgeDeflector from Windows 11 rather than listen to user complaints. 

Recently, Microsoft has been testing a few changes that make Windows 11 more customizable, like removing pre-installed bloatware apps that some people never use. If Microsoft sees a positive response to deflating bloatware or opening search links in the default browser instead of Edge, one would hope that we’d see more of these helpful features implemented. It’s not likely, but these quality-of-life improvements would definitely make Windows 11 more palatable. 

I woke up this morning to the fascinating news that Huawei, the corporation behind the MateBook series of laptops, would be developing its own operating system for PC called HarmonyOS (via ghacks). But the news of this wasn't a simple announcement of its occurrence, but instead spun by some websites with an angle regarding the current dominance of Windows.

Apparently HarmonyOS could pose a serious threat to Windows, but does anyone believe this for a second? It sounds like nothing more than an attempt at stirring up a pot that barely exists within its current form. In reality, HarmonyOS doesn't stand a chance against Windows.

HarmonyOS can't compete and it won't have to

Everything stated within this article is speculation. It's entirely possible that HarmonyOS will dominate the market, but I have serious doubts. This is the equivalent of saying Linux has a chance at finally dethroning the unstoppable champion that is Windows. But the truth is that Microsoft has its hands within nearly every corner of a PC user's life.

Chromebooks have become popular because they fulfill a specific niche within the market for those in need of inexpensive, lightweight operating systems which let them focus on a specific suite of apps. Does anyone truly think that Chromebook can compete against Windows? Of course not, and it doesn't need to. The same can be said for HarmonyOS.

These two don't have to be in competition just because both are PC operating systems. We can already see how much both ChromeOS and macOS have struggled within the gaming space regardless of their many attempts to try and appear relevant. I'm sure many of us have seen those awful Chromebook YouTube ads showcasing celebrities gaming on ChromeOS.

Gamers are nowhere near the exclusive population making up PC users, but they're a factor that cannot be ignored. 30 million Steam users are currently online at the time of writing this article. 96.61% of users in August have played using a Windows device according to Valve's hardware surveys. I've seen arguments that Windows 11's lack of popularity will ensure HarmonyOS can thrive, but 39.22% of those who contributed to the survey were using Windows 11.

Can Windows be a total pain the in butt sometimes? Absolutely. But what makes it the most popular consumer choice is that it is everywhere and can be used for everything. HarmonyOS would not only need to be a system that can do everything, from running the biggest games to having compatibility with important applications, Huawei would need to make deals with the biggest manufacturers in the world. 

If Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Razer, HP, Dell and far more aren't using HarmonyOS for a line of laptops, this system launch will feel like the company has tossed a pebble into the ocean. And that's completely okay.

HarmonyOS doesn't need to be a grandiose masterpiece that undoes the reign of Windows. It's fine for it to have its own special use case, like how ChromeOS fulfilled a market niche for those who need inexpensive hardware. Apple also continues to thrive with the sleek simplicity of MacOS, alongside its incredible line of apps. Huawei doesn't need to be the next Windows, it can simply do its own thing and that's more than enough.

Microsoft recently added its long-time bundle free word-processing software to its Deprecated list, so long WordPad. The tech giant decided to retire it and send it off to Valinor to join Gandalf, Bilbo, and Frodo. 

WordPad has been Windows's built-in rich text editor for nearly 30 years; included with every iteration of the OS since Windows 95 debuted on August 24, 1995. Although not as feature-rich as Microsoft Word, it was more capable than Notepad while producing documents in rtf, docx, odt, and text files. 

Although Microsoft will no longer support WordPad, there are other free, feature-rich alternatives you can turn to for your document editing needs.

3 best WordPad replacements

There are a dozen free WordPad and even MS Office replacements floating around. All you have to do is Google, "free alternatives to Microsoft Word." To make finding your WordPad replacement easier, we've chosen three of the best, that require little to no learning curve, and you may have heard of them before. 

Google Docs

Google Docs is the full-featured document editing software within the Google Workspace environment and it's available for free with your Gmail account. I'm a massive fan of Google Docs, which has replaced MS Word for the last five years as my daily document producer. 

Initially, Google Docs lacked many of the tools of WordPad and MS Word. However, it long ago earned its stripes as a full-featured document editor, able to edit and produce documents in almost every format used today. You can now do everything you used to do in WordPad or MS Word in G'Docs, including editing and signing PDFs. 

The other outstanding feature of Google Docs is it's available on all of your devices, which makes working on documents seamless as you move about your day. It's also great while you're commuting to and from home. I have edited many documents on my smartphone while riding home on the train. You get all of this usability for free, and nothing is better than free. 

I will add there is a minor learning curve as you adjust to where things are, but it's a quick pick-up for most, and if you need help, there are many handy how-to's available on our site. 

Libre Office

Libre Office is more of an MS Office replacement than a WordPad substitution. However, go big or go home, and most folks need a full suite of document-pushing software, and Libre Office gives you that for free. 

Libre Office is an Open Source document productivity suite that allows you to do everything you would normally do in MS Office 365 but for free. The layout is similar to WordPad/MS Word, and it is very intuitive. Thanks to it being Open Source, there are constant updates and improvements. Also, thanks to the constant updating and monitoring of Libre Office, it is very safe and secure. 

One issue I have is that there is no dedicated Libre Office smartphone app. Many apps can edit docs in Libre Office's preferred odt (OpenDocument Text File) format, but that's not the same. A Libre Office viewer and Collabora Office for Android and iOS allow you to work with your Libre Office docs. I know I am being picky, but I prefer a seamless app experience like Google Docs.  

Open Office

Apache Open Office is very much like Libre Office, but it looks and feels more like WordPad, which is either a good thing or a bad thing; that's for you to decide. I like its clean look and quick learning curve. 

Like Libre Office, it's Open Source, which means updates and developments happen often as its community of users keeps things running smoothly. Open Office is an easy-to-use and learn office suite, and its word processing software is the star of the suite. It does come with spreadsheets, presentations, databases, and even image editing within the suite that you can use. 

Like Libre Office, Open Office is highly stable and will run smoothly on your Windows or macOS devices. Most importantly, it is free, which we love. Like G'Docs and Libre, you will quickly recognize the layout and toolset, making switching from WordPad to MS Word a breeze. 

Final Thoughts

As Microsoft appears to be developing more tools for Windows 11 while also hammering away on the AI-powered Windows 12, the maker could endow its NotePad software with a more WordPad toolset. 

I find it interesting that Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft, seems to be pulling further away from its legacy products and OS design heritage. I, for one, find Windows 11 to be a multilayered demon of an operating system, so I'm all for a cleansing burn to get rid of all the undergrowth that is slowing everything down.

Windows 11 is always trying to push Microsoft products on you while making using third-party software like Google Chrome more challenging. If my Windows 11 laptop reminds me to try the Edge browser again, I will toss it in the trash. Then, there are the countless extra steps to choose another browser as your default. 

Windows used to be a solid, straightforward OS that some may have found boring, but it worked and didn't muck things up. My hope is that Windows 12 will stop trying to be a macOS or ChromeOS clone and go back to what Windows has done great in the past, with a few cute animations added for style. Now Windows 12 AI could be Clippy gone wild, so I may regret asking for this shift.

All that said, farewell, WordPad; although you were underappreciated, you will always have a place in our hearts, like Vista, but way less awful. 

Combining multiple images into a single PDF file can be a convenient way to organize, share, or archive your images. With Windows 11, you don't need to install any additional software to accomplish this task. The built-in Microsoft Print to PDF feature can be used to combine multiple images into one PDF file quickly and efficiently.

In this guide, we will walk you through the process of combining multiple images into one PDF on Windows 11. This step-by-step guide is designed to be approachable and authoritative, ensuring that users of all skill levels can successfully create a PDF file containing their images.

Follow these action steps to combine multiple images into one PDF on Windows 11.

How to combine images into one PDF

Step 1. Select your images: Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder containing the images you want to combine. Select all the images by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on each image.

Step 2. Open the Print dialog: With all the images selected, right-click on one of them and choose "Print" from the context menu. This will open the Print Pictures dialog.

Step 3. Choose Microsoft Print to PDF: In the Print Pictures dialog, click on the "Printer" dropdown menu and select "Microsoft Print to PDF" as your printer.

Step 4. Select your layout: Under "Layout," choose your desired layout for the PDF. Options include Full page, Wallet size, 3.5 x 5 in, 4 x 6 in, 5 x 7 in, 8 x 10 in, and Contact sheet. Depending on the layout, you can also select the number of images to be displayed per page.

Step 5. Adjust other print settings: Configure additional settings as needed, such as paper size, quality, and the number of copies of each image.

Step 6. Print to PDF: Click on the "Print" button to create the PDF file. A "Save Print Output As" dialog will appear.

Step 7. Save the PDF file: Choose a location to save the PDF file, enter a file name, and click on the "Save" button. Your images will now be combined into a single PDF file.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 10, poised to be one of the best 2-in-1 laptops of the year, is expected to hit store shelves next month. As such, rumors and leaks about the snazzy tablet have been trickling in and picking up momentum as September inches closer.

The current-generation Surface Pro treated us to optional 5G support, a dynamic, 120Hz refresh rate display, and an eye-catching selection of vibrant colors. As per usual, you can bundle it with an optional Signature Keyboard and a Slim Pen 2 to transform it into a laptop or canvas. For the Surface Pro 10, we can’t help but wonder what updates Microsoft has in store for the high-end Windows 11-packed tablet.

Knowing Microsoft, however, temper your expectations. Don’t expect any major, game-changing updates to the Surface Pro 10. The Redmond-based tech giant isn’t known for rolling out jaw-dropping shakeups to its Surface portfolio, but according to the rumor mill, the Surface Pro 10 will have some tweaks that may push you to upgrade.

Microsoft Surface Pro 10 release date

The Microsoft Surface Pro 10’s release date is likely Sept. 21. How do I know? Although the Surface Pro 9 was announced in mid-October last year, it looks like Microsoft is planning on debuting the Surface Pro 10 earlier this year. As we recently reported, Microsoft invited some journalists and reporters to a “special event” in New York City, hinting that the company is poised to reveal a few refreshes from its Surface family. Chances are high that the Surface Pro 10 will make an appearance.

According to Windows Central, other Surface products that are expected to debut alongside the Surface Pro 10 are the Surface Laptop Go 3, Surface Go 4, and Surface Laptop Studio.

For an overview, take a look at the Surface Pro’s release dates over the years below:

• Surface Pro 6 — October 2018
• Surface Pro 7 — October 2019
• Surface Pro 8 — September 2021
• Surface Pro 9 — October 2022
• Surface Pro 10 — September 2023 (rumored)

Microsoft Surface Pro 10 price

We haven’t heard any whispers about the Surface Pro 10’s price, but we suspect there will be a hike due to inflation. Take a look at the starting prices for the Surface Pro line over the years:

•  Surface Pro 6 — $699 
•  Surface Pro 7 — $749 
•  Surface Pro 8 — $1,099 
•  Surface Pro 9 (Intel) — $999 (the Snapdragon 5G model started at $1,299) 

 Every generation has seen a significant price increase, and with the state of our economy, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Surface Pro 10 gets pricier. 

Microsoft Surface Pro 10 design

Citing sources close to the matter, Zac Bowden from Windows Central claims that the Surface Pro 10 is taking a page out of Apple’s playbook. You know how the iPad Pro comes in two sizes (e.g., 12.9 inches and 11 inches)? Well, Microsoft is reportedly planning on rolling out a Surface Pro 10 with two sizes, too: a 13-inch model and an 11-inch variant.

A 13-inch Surface Pro is nothing new. The Surface Pro 9 sports a 13-inch, 2,800 x 1920-pixel PixelSense Flow touch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio. It’s the 11-inch tablet that’s the new kid on the block. It will be reminiscent of the Surface Go’s shape and size, but the difference is that it should have slimmer bezels. And of course, it will be more powerful and sport a zippier, 120Hz display.

Other than that, the Surface Go’s design language will likely remain the same: a sleek 2-in-1 design with smooth, rounded edges. It will also keep its signature built-in kickstand and attachable Type Cover keyboard that’s sold separately.

Microsoft Surface Pro 10 specs

One of the most eye-catching updates of the Surface Pro 9 was its different processor options. You could choose between a 12th Gen Intel CPU or a Microsoft SQ 3 processor that supports 5G.

There haven’t been any leaks revealing whether the Redmond-based tech giant intends to offer ARM and Intel variants again. But it’s worth noting that the next-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon processors that Microsoft would be looking to use (i.e.,the new Oryon-based chipsets) aren’t getting released in time for the Surface Pro 10, so there’s a chance that the next tablet will only offer Intel-only configurations. 

What we’d like to see with the Surface Pro 10

I’d like to see Microsoft stuff an OLED display in the Surface Pro 10. Instead of offering a smaller model, I’d like a larger one — a 14.5-inch one, for example. I'd also appreciate it if the Surface Pro could get a little bit lighter, matching the weight of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Finally, slimmer bezels should be on the menu; the Surface Pro 9’s frame is a little too chunky for my tastes. 

Python 3 is the latest version of the widely used, high-level programming language known for its versatility and readability. Installing Python 3 on your Windows computer is a straightforward process, enabling you to quickly begin coding and building projects in this powerful language.

In this guide, we will walk you through the process of installing Python 3 on Windows. Whether this is your first time installing Python or you just need a little refresher, we’ll have you up and running with Python 3 on Windows in no time.

How to install Python 3 on Windows

Step 1, Download the Python 3 installer: Visit the official Python website and click on the "Download Python" button for the latest Python 3 version. This will automatically download the installer for your Windows operating system. 

Step 2, Run the Python 3 installer: Locate the downloaded installer file (usually in your "Downloads" folder) and double-click it to run the installation process.  

Step 3, Choose the installation options: In the installer window, you can select the installation options that suit your needs. We recommend checking the box next to "Add Python to PATH" to ensure that Python is accessible from anywhere in the command prompt. You can also choose to customize the installation by clicking on the "Customize installation" button.

Step 4, Start the installation: Click on the "Install Now" button to start the installation process with the default settings or the settings you have customized. 

Step 5, Confirmation: Click “Yes” to allow the app to make changes to your device. 

Step 6, Wait for the installation to complete: The installer will display the progress of the installation. This process may take a few minutes, depending on your computer's performance.  

Step 7, Close the installer: Once the installation is complete, the installer will display a "Setup was successful" message. Click on the "Close" button to exit the installer.

Step 8, Verify the installation: Open the command prompt by pressing the Windows key + R, typing "cmd" (without quotes), and pressing Enter. In the command prompt, type "python --version" (without quotes) and press Enter. This should display the installed Python version.  

Microsoft is introducing a new addition to the Settings app that is currently available for testing among Windows 11 insiders. The Redmond-based tech giant boasted that the new update features a new Settings homepage that's built to deliver more personalization to Windows 11.

The most salient aspect of this update is that the homepage will feel more like "you." In other words, based on your usage patterns and trends, it will populate recommended settings that you use the most (e.g., Display, Sound, Search permissions).

Windows 11 Settings app gets a new homepage

The new homepage in the Settings app will have seven new cards:

• Recommended settings
• Bluetooth Devices
• Personalization
• Account Recovery
• Cloud storage
• Microsoft 365
• Xbox

Each interactive card, according to Microsoft, will be optimized to offer "the most relevant information" at your finger tips. For example, the Recommended settings card will surface your most commonly used Windows 11 settings.

Microsoft highlighted that what's special about the new Settings homepage is that it adapts to your behavior. The more you use your Windows 11 device, to more it will learn how you operate. As such, the new Settings homepage will become more useful to you, seemingly surfacing exactly what you need as if it can read your mind.

Microsoft says that it will add more cards in the near future. As mentioned, this Beta Channel experience is available to Windows 11 insiders (though not all), and only available on Windows 11 Home and Pro.

Managing your PC or laptop's CPU temp on Windows 11 is crucial to ensuring the longevity of your computer. Unfortunately, gaining access to it isn't simple.

Unless you're digging deep into your BIOS, there's no easy way to access your CPU temp without downloading a third-party app. We'll briefly go over the steps you need to take to download one of the many options as well as what temps you'll be looking for.

How to see CPU temp on Windows 11

Step 1) Download the Open Hardware Monitor app.

Step 2) Open the file and click Extract all.

Step 3) Open the unzipped file, right click the Application, and select Run as administrator. Then click Yes.

Step 4) In the Open Hardware Monitor app, hover down over to the name of your CPU, and in the second tab you should see Temperatures. That'll display your CPU temp.

As far as CPU temps go, Intel processors can get as high as 100 degrees Celsius and AMD CPUs are usually around 90 degrees. Meanwhile, the ideal temp, according to How-To Geek, is around 75 degrees. 

If you're seeing higher temps than what we've described, we highly recommend adjusting your fans or whatever kind of cooling situation you have. If there is no cooling solution, make one. If you have a desktop, shove more fans in there. Laptops are trickier, but we actually wrote a comprehensive story about laptop cooling pads.

Good luck, and stay cool.

If you’re a Windows Insider with Microsoft Edge Canary downloaded on your computer, you’ll have access to a few exciting new flags today. An X user (@Leopeva64) discovered a new “Handwriting to Text” flag and multiple new FedCM flags that bring extra privacy features to Edge. 

Microsoft rolls out any new features to its Canary version of Edge first, and then once all the kinks are worked out, most features make their way to the public version of Edge. So if you’re anxious to try these new features (and many more), you can quickly become a Windows Insider for free and download Edge Canary. 

Read on for a brief overview of what these new flags entail, and which devices you can hopefully use them on when features roll out publicly.  

Handwriting to text may require a pen or stylus

This new feature in Edge Canary will be reserved for Windows laptops that support handwriting input via a stylus or your finger — at least in the beginning. As with other Edge Canary features, this handwriting-to-text feature could roll out to Edge Beta Android app users or people involved with the iOS TestFlight Beta, and eventually to public Edge users on all devices that support handwriting input. 

In the image posted by @Leopeva64 on X, the text attached to this new feature reads “Allows inking via pen to be converted into typed text on most input fields in Microsoft Edge. This is available on devices where handwriting is supported.” The flag’s description also notes that you’ll need to search “Use your handwriting to enter text” in Windows settings to see if Handwriting to Text is enabled on your device. 

Whether you’re able to use your finger as a handwriting input may depend on your device’s compatibility with Edge and its settings. For example, on my Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7, I can use my finger or a stylus to type in any text box within Microsoft Edge Canary. However, some devices may require a stylus or pen in order to use this feature, which would leave Edge users on MacBooks in the lurch. 

Right now, this feature is hidden behind a flag within Microsoft Edge Canary on Windows computers. You’ll need to make sure you have Edge Canary downloaded, and then you can navigate to edge://flags in the browser’s address bar. Search for “Handwriting to Text,” and use the dropdown menu to the right to switch from Default to Enabled. Then, you’ll be able to use handwriting instead of typing in most text boxes within the Edge Canary browser. 

In addition to this exciting handwriting feature, it also appears Microsoft may be adopting FedCM (Federated Credential Management) proposals to bring extra security and privacy features to its users. If you head to edge://flags and search “FedCM,” you can look through all the unique privacy and security features you can enable.

It’s not clear when these FedCM privacy features or the handwriting to text functionality will be brought to Edge on all devices. For now, only Edge users through Windows get to take part in the fun. 

Lately, Microsoft seems to be all about improving user experience. There are exciting features coming to Window 11’s next update, including improved Live Captions and bonus voice commands, and Windows Insiders can finally remove unwanted bloatware taking up valuable storage space. 

Our sister site Windows Central reportedly has the scoop on some new AI features that are headed to Windows 11 Paint, Photos, and Snipping Tool. Yes, Redmond-based tech giant is working on bringing Copilot to Microsoft 365, but that's not the only aspect that's getting an AI boost.

According to Windows Central's Zac Bowden, who hints that he secured a source close to the matter, popular AI features such as text-to-image generation and object identification are making their way to your favorite Windows 11 apps. 

5 new AI features coming to Windows 11

Let's take a look at all the cool things you'll get to do with the new AI upgrades coming to Windows 11. According to Bowden, some of the following features will require PCs with dedicated hardware, including NPUs (neural processing units) and VPUs (vision processing unit).

1. The Microsoft Photos app will have the ability to identify objects and people in photos.

2. You'll have the option to cut out and isolate elements in Microsoft Photos and paste them elsewhere.

3. The Snipping Tool is getting OCR (optical character recognition) tech, allowing Windows 11 to quickly identify text in screenshots for zippier copy-and-paste functions.

4. The Camera app is also getting OCR, allowing Windows 11 to identify text and gain new capabilities as a result.

5. The Paint app may support generative AI, allowing users to request the masterpieces they'd like to see appear on the canvas. (This will reportedly be based on the same AI that runs Bing Image Creator.)

Bottom line

Bowden says there isn't a clear launch window for these new upgrades. Microsoft is still experimenting and perfecting the AI behind the scenes. But Bowden insinuates that at least some of these features may make their debut with Windows' next major release in 2024.