Best Windows apps this week
Five-hundred-and-fifty-seven 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.
The optional update KB5029331 for Windows 10 brings the Windows Backup app to the operating system. It is not a full backup solution, as it limits backups to specific data and offers to save the data only to OneDrive.
Microsoft confirms UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR error reports following latest Windows 11 update
Installing updates for Windows is always something of a gamble, and this is greatly magnified for anyone who chooses to install the preview versions Microsoft releases each month. A good case in point is the KB5029351 update preview that was released for Windows 11 this week.
There are lots of positive changes introduced by this update, but there are also numerous reports of blue screens and UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR errors. There's good news and bad news to come.
Microsoft brings some of Windows 11 to Windows 10 users with the KB5029331 update
Windows 10 may be starting to get a little long in the tooth, but Microsoft -- like many, many users -- is not quite ready to abandon it yet.
And with the release of the KB5029331 update, the company is treating those who have chosen to stick with Windows 10 to one of the newest tools from Windows 11. We're talking, of course, about the new Windows Backup app -- and you can grab it right now.
Microsoft releases KB5029351 update for Windows 11, changing default app options, introducing optional update changes, improving search, and much more
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.
Microsoft is treating Windows 10 users to more apps from Windows 11
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.
Best Windows apps this week
Five-hundred-and-fifty-six 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.
Windows 11 users may soon uninstall more native applications. Microsoft unlocked the apps Camera, Cortana, Photos, People and Remote Desktop (MSTSC) in the latest development builds.
Microsoft is giving Windows 11 users the option to remove some bloat
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.
Microsoft reveals a secret keyboard shortcut that makes Task Manager easier to manage
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.
Microsoft is bringing Windows 11's new backup tool to 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.
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.
Microsoft adds a hidden System Components section to Windows 11 Settings
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.
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.
Microsoft releases Windows 365 Switch to simplify moving between a cloud PC and the desktop
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.
Microsoft releases experimental Windows 11 Build 25926
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.
Forget Windows 12, Windows Utopia is the ideal Microsoft operating system
Microsoft is steadily working to improve Windows 11 and, if the rumors are true, it's already developing the successor to that operating system, Windows 12.
Although we don't know too much about that forthcoming OS yet -- Microsoft hasn't even officially announced it -- it's widely expected to be built around the AI-powered Windows Copilot.
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