Articles about Microsoft

It feels like it has been a while since there were any particularly dramatic changes or additions to PowerToys, but now Microsoft has just pushed out PowerToys v0.79.0.

The latest version of the essential utilities collection does not, unfortunately, gain any new modules this time around, but there are significant updates to existing tools. Chief among these are updates to Keyboard Manager that means, among other things, it is now possible to create a keyboard shortcut to launch a particular application.

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It is no secret that Microsoft has jumped wholeheartedly onto the AI bandwagon, and its Copilot assistant is an important part of this.

Copilot is still in preview, but it has already undergone major work since it first appeared, and now Microsoft is trying to encourage people to use it by making it even easier to access. If clicking a mouse button has been standing between you and a fix of AI-powered assistance, you'll be pleased to hear that click-free access is rolling out to Windows 11 users.

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Microsoft has released the preview version of the KB5034848 update for Windows 11. One of the biggest changes introduced by this non-security update is the addition of support for the USB 80Gbps standard, but there is much more too.

There are also numerous changes and additions relating to mobile devices, not least of which is the ability to use the Snipping Tool in Windows 11 to edit recent photos and screenshots on Android devices. The KB5034848 update also addresses a number of issues with the operating system.

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Windows 11 users have a host of new features to look forward to, as well an enhancements to existing components. Everything from AI-powered Generative Erase and Silence removal through voice shortcut improvements to new sharing options, there few areas of the operating system that are not getting attention.

The rollouts start today and continue over the coming month, and users can also expect a new widgets experience, better Snap suggestions for screen organization and more. Today's announcement also sees Microsoft unifying the Windows Update for Business deployment service with Autopatch into a single update management solution.

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Windows users are well aware that Microsoft is no stranger to trying to nag them into submission. The company has a history of pestering users to switch to its web browser and to upgrade to the latest version of Windows, and this is a practice that it not only continuing, but expanding.

Microsoft has already been encouraging / nagging (delete as you see fit...) to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, and now the company has announced that it is about to take this further. It is described rather euphemistically as "expanding invitations to move to Windows 11 to more people".

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To little fanfare, Microsoft has announced that anyone choosing to stick with Windows 11 22H2 will be able to install optional updates for longer than previously planned.

Despite having started to forcibly upgrade some Windows 11 22H2 systems to Windows 11 23H2, Microsoft has had a change of heart about how it will handle updates for the older version of the operating system moving forward. The company had previously said that non-security updates would not be available after this month, but there's a new extended deadline in place now.

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Microsoft released a new build to the Beta insider channel for Windows 11 this week. The build does not introduce any spectacular new features to the operating system, but it addresses several annoying issues.

One of them has plagued me on my HP EliteBook laptop for several weeks. Whenever I booted into Windows 11 on the device, the taskbar would not show up initially. It took several seconds, sometimes even a bit longer, before it finally appeared on the screen.

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Microsoft has confirmed yet another problematic update for Windows 11. This time around it is the KB5034765 update from earlier this month -- an update supposed to deliver security fixes.

People installing the KB5034765 update on Windows 11 22H2 or Windows 23H2 may find that the process hangs at 96 percent and causes a 0x800F0922 error. This is not the first time this update has been found to cause issues, but it is the first problem Microsoft has confirmed it with this particular security patch.

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Gamers who want to get the most from their rigs will usually have to tweak Windows to disable unwanted resource hogs and boost performance. Although Microsoft does like to promote Windows 11 as the perfect OS for gaming, it isn’t dedicated to that noble pursuit.

Although Windows 12 has yet to be officially announced, a version of that OS just for gaming would be welcomed by the huge number of PC gamers out there, myself included.

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A reboot is required after the installation of many updates for Windows. This is definitely the case for the monthly cumulative security updates, but also for other updates. Windows 11 displays popups to the user when a restart is required, which can be disruptive.

Sometimes, Windows may even restart the computer automatically, which can lead to data loss and other unwanted outcomes. At other times, it may not give the user a choice to reboot without installing the update.

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Five-hundred-and-eighty-three in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps, games and extensions released for Windows 10 and 11 on the Microsoft Store and elsewhere in the past seven days.

If you still run older versions of Windows 11, you may be upgraded automatically and without any say in the matter. It is still a mystery why Microsoft is not revealing the name of the next feature update for Windows 11. It could be the Windows 11 2024 Update.

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Wi-Fi 7, also known as IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput (EHT), is the next generation of wireless technology. It builds on the innovations of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E and promises “unprecedented speed, reliability, and efficiency for wireless devices”.

Starting today, Microsoft has introduced support for Wi-Fi 7 to the latest Windows 11 Insider build on the Canary Channel.

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If you were waiting for Microsoft to release Windows 11 24H2, Microsoft has just made it clear that the official name is slightly different.

Continuing the trend from previous years in which Windows 11 22H2 was actually known as the 2022 Update, and Windows 11 23H2 the 2023 Update, Windows 11 24H2 will be released as Windows 11 2024 Update.

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Devices that still run older versions of Microsoft's Windows 11 operating system will be upgraded to Windows 11 version 23H2 automatically, according to Microsoft.

The announcement was posted on the official Windows 11 version 23H2 release health website. There, Microsoft notes that the latest version of its Windows 11 operating system is entering a new rollout phase.

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Microsoft made a significant investment in Windows 10 Mobile, including acquiring Nokia to produce its own handsets. Despite the strengths of the tiled mobile operating system, it was unable to compete with the dominant iOS and Android platforms. While Windows 10 went on to become a hugely successful operating system for PCs and tablets, Microsoft was eventually to abandon its mobile ambitions.

Although the tech giant has yet to announce Windows 12, if you’re wondering how that OS would look and perform in the mobile space, we have an answer.

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