Articles about Microsoft

Get 'Microsoft Word For Dummies' (worth $18) for FREE

If you create professional-looking documents on a regular basis, you require a mighty word processor that offers all the power and capabilities to create them. Enter Microsoft Word! Pair it with Word For Dummies to hone all your word-processing skills.

The book is filled with useful tips and suggestions that allow you to get the most out of Word, as well as helpful information on the latest features. It also shows you how to customize and configure Word for your optimal workflow.

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Microsoft releases KB5029351 update for Windows 11, changing default app options, introducing optional update changes, improving search, and much more

Windows 11 tiles

Microsoft has released the latest batch of preview versions of its software updates, including the KB5029351 update for Windows 11 22H2. This is a non-security update, like all previews, but it includes a large number of bug fixes and an impressive number of a changes, additions and improvements.

The first highlight Microsoft draws attention to is a new hover behavior and options for Search, but there's much more to the KB5029351 update. There are numerous Group Policy changes, including the introduction of policy that can be used by administrators to enable optional updates.

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Microsoft is willing to make massive cloud concessions to gain UK approval for Activision Blizzard deal

Microsoft logo

Microsoft's attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard has been a long, drawn-out affair with a seemingly endless series of obstacles along the way. Now the company has indicated a willingness to make major concessions as it submits a revised deal for approval.

Facing regulator opposition to the deal in the UK so far, Microsoft's latest proposal to the CMA (Competitions and Markets Authority) includes an offer to sell cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft.

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Microsoft is treating Windows 10 users to more apps from Windows 11

Windows 10 laptop

Having already brought Windows 11's backup tool to Windows 10, Microsoft is porting more apps back to the older version of its operating system.

The latest Windows 11 app to be offered to Windows 10 users is the Photos app. But if you are wondering why Microsoft continues to eliminate reasons to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, the company has a few tricks up its sleeve.

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Microsoft is giving Windows 11 users the option to remove some bloat

Weighing scales showing Trim The Fat message

Few people would argue with the notion that Windows 11 comes with more than a little baggage. If you buy a computer with the operating system pre-installed, you can almost always expect the inclusion of bloatware from the manufacturer, but there are plenty of unwanted components even after a clean installation.

With the latest build of Windows 11, however, this is changing. Microsoft is apparently aware, and -- more importantly -- taking notice, of the fact that users are annoyed by having apps forced upon them without the option of uninstalling them. So the company is making it possible to remove more of Windows 11's built-in apps and components.

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Microsoft reveals a secret keyboard shortcut that makes Task Manager easier to manage

Windows 10 and Windows 11 desktops

For power users, people troubleshooting problems, and anyone looking to kill a troublesome app, Windows' Task Manager is a seriously useful utility. Having been around for so many years, you might think there would be nothing new to learn about the tool. Think again!

Microsoft has just shared details of a keyboard shortcut that works in the Windows 10 and Windows 11 versions of Task Manager. For anyone who has been frustrated by the speed at which the list of processes changes, this tip is absolute gold.

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Microsoft rolls back KB5028244 update and issues advice following ClickOnce issues in Windows 10

Microsoft logo

Windows 10 users who installed the recent KB5028244 update have been experiencing issues with apps deployed with ClickOnce. The problems have seemingly been widespread as Microsoft has been forced to implement a Known Issue Rollback (KIR).

No details about the cause or scale of the issues have been revealed but KIRs are relatively rare, pointing to serious concerns. Microsoft has also issued some advice to those who have run into problems.

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Microsoft is working on a big UI facelift for PowerToys

New PowerToys homepage dashboard

There can be few tech-heads out there -- particularly if they are readers of BetaNews -- that are not aware of PowerToys. This outrageously useful collection of Windows utilities has an avid following, and each new release is eagerly lapped up as new modules are added.

The latest project for the PowerToys team is to give the app a "new homepage experience". What this means in practice is an update to the app that introduces a central dashboard that provides an overview of which modules are currently enabled, also showing helpful information such as useful keyboard shortcuts for individual utilities.

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From humble beginnings to tech giant: Microsoft's trailblazing journey

In the annals of technological history, few narratives are as enthralling as the creation and rise of Microsoft. This powerhouse has been instrumental in shaping our interaction with technology today and owes its inception to two young, passionate, and ambitious individuals: Bill Gates and Paul Allen.

In 1975, Gates and Allen, childhood friends hailing from Seattle, were captivated by the introduction of the MITS Altair 8800, a microcomputer that set their imaginations alight. They envisioned transforming this piece of technology into something more user-friendly and accessible to the everyday person. Their innovative idea was to design a programming language that would simplify interaction with the computer.

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Microsoft is bringing Windows 11's new backup tool to Windows 10

Windows Backup app for Windows 10

A few months back, we learned of Microsoft's new Windows Backup app. At the time it was only made available to users of Windows 11 signed up as Insiders on the Dev channel.

Now this handy utility is making its way to Windows 10 as well. For now, it is included in the build pushed to the Release Preview Channel last week, but this means it won't be long until Window 10 users have access to an official backup tool from Microsoft which is about more than just safeguarding files.

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Best Windows apps this week

Five-hundred-and-fifty-five 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.

Soon, Windows 11 users will be able to uninstall the Cortana application. Microsoft announced the deprecation of the app, in favor of Windows Copilot and other AI-integrations, this week.

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Microsoft adds a hidden System Components section to Windows 11 Settings

Windows 11 System Components

With the latest Canary build of Windows 11, Microsoft is at it again, hiding new features for anyone who knows where to look. In Windows 11 build 25926, it is a new section in the Settings app that has been secreted away.

Added with no announcement, and no mention in the release notes, a hidden System Components section in Settings can be enabled with the likes of ViVeTool or Microsoft’s own StagingTool. It provides a list of Windows 11's built-in apps and tools, and allows many to be uninstalled.

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Windows 11 Build 23521 comes with Windows Copilot, taskbar and system tray improvements

Yesterday, Microsoft rolled a new flight to Windows 11 Insiders in the Canary Channel. Today the company has a new build for those on the Dev Channel.

Build 23521 introduces a number of changes and improvements, as well as fixes for known problems.

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Microsoft releases Windows 365 Switch to simplify moving between a cloud PC and the desktop

Windows 365 Switch

Microsoft has announced the availability of the public preview of Windows 365 Switch. The utility makes it easy for Windows 11 users to jump between a Windows 365 Cloud PC and the local desktop.

The company highlights the benefits of the feature to BYOD scenarios, pointing to a seamless experience from within Windows 11 via the Task view feature. Using Windows 365 Switch, switching between a Cloud PC and a local desktop can be achieved with keyboard commands, as well as a mouse-click or a swipe gesture.

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Microsoft releases experimental Windows 11 Build 25926

Canary-Windows-11

Microsoft today releases a new Windows 11 flight for those Windows Insiders who like to live on the cutting edge.

Canary build 25926 comes with new features from the Dev Channel, such as improvements for Windows Ink, advanced screen casting, and local file sharing tweaks, as well as a number of other changes and improvements.

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