Best Windows apps this week


Five-hundred-and-thirty 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.
Microsoft released an update this week that removed Internet Explorer 11 permanently from most Windows 10 devices. Windows 10 and 11 devices are impacted by a new known issue that affects DirectX.
Microsoft gives its approval for running Windows 11 on Macs with M1 and M2 chips using Parallels


While Microsoft would very much prefer that you run Windows 11 on a PC, the company recognizes -- albeit rather reluctantly -- that some people favor Macs. Licensing restrictions have meant that, until now, users have not been permitted to run Windows on Apple Silicon.
Microsoft has published an article that officially permits the use of Parallels Desktop 18 to run Windows 11 on ARM-based Macs. This means that Macs with M1 or M2 chips can be used to run either Windows 11 Pro or Windows 11 Enterprise. There are, however, numerous caveats.
Microsoft is using the KB5022905 update to add new facial recognition features to Windows 11


Microsoft has released a preview version of the KB5022905 update for Windows 11 which not only fixes a host of bugs, but also adds important new facial recognition functionality.
For now, the update is only available to users running Windows 11 Release Preview, and the KB5022905 update which takes Windows 11 up to build 22000.1639. While there are no security fixes in this update, it addresses a lengthy list of issues.
Microsoft is adding a useful End Task option to the Windows 11 taskbar; here's how to enable it now!


If an app starts to misbehave in Windows 11, you may need to forcibly quit it using Task Manager. To help make life a little easier, Microsoft is speeding up the process of killing an app by adding an End Task option to taskbar jump lists.
The new option means that it is possible to terminate an app by simply right-clicking its icon in the taskbar and selecting End Task. The feature is hidden by default, but there is a way to enable it right away.
Microsoft UUP will deliver smaller and faster updates to on-premises Windows 11 22H2 devices from March


Starting at the end of March, Microsoft is going to deliver its first UUP on premises updates to Windows 11 devices.
Available for systems running Windows 11 22H2, UUP (Unified Update Platform) on premises works in conjunction with Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and Microsoft Configuration Manager. Ultimately, it means smaller updates for clients and faster update delivery, but there will be a hefty download to kick things off.
Microsoft releases Windows 11 Build 25300 with live captions in more languages


Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev Channel today get a new build to play around with. Build 25300 comes with the usual collection of fixes for known issues, as well as some interesting changes and improvements.
Live captions are now available in several more languages, including Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish and other English dialects.
Microsoft fixes security issues in Windows 11 22H2 with KB5022845 update


With Patch Tuesday having rolled around once again, Microsoft has issued its regular batch of releases. We've already talked about the KB5022836 update for Windows 11 21H2, but if you're running Windows 11 22H2, you will need the KB5022845 update instead.
The KB5022845 update takes Windows 11 up to build 22621.1265, and it also includes the changes and improvements that were part of the KB5022360 update preview released last month.
Microsoft releases KB5022836 update to fix Windows 11 21H2 security issues


It is the time of the month when Microsoft releases updates for Windows, and as such the company has released a pair of patches for Windows 11. Specifically, we have two cumulative updates in the form of KB5022845 for Windows 11 22H2 and KB5022836 for Windows 11 21H2.
The KB5022836 update takes Windows 11 up to build 22000.1574, and it also includes the changes and improvements that were part of the KB5019274 update preview released last month.
Windows 11 will soon let you control RGB lighting without the need for extra software... but you can unlock the feature now!


There is something of a boom in PC peripherals and accessories brightened with RGB lighting. If you're a fan of such adornments, you'll be aware that the software used to control such lighting is very varied. But Microsoft is working on a solution.
Soon, Windows 11 users will be able to use in-OS settings to control RGB lighting, eliminating the need for third-party software. The feature is currently undergoing development and, while it is hidden away in Windows 11 build 25295 on the dev channel, there is a way to enable it right now.
Microsoft warns of Windows 10 and 11 DirectX issues, apphelp.dll errors after installing KB5019980 update


Microsoft has issued a warning to Windows 10 and Windows 11 users with system Intel GPUs. The company says that people who have installed November's cumulative update for Windows (the KB5019980 update) may experience issues if they also have certain versions of the Intel graphics driver installed.
The problems affect apps and games that make use DirectX or Direct3D to render content, and can cause apphelp.dll errors to appear.
Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool and MSDT Troubleshooters to be killed off with a Windows 11 update


Microsoft has announced a big shakeup to the support and troubleshooting options that are currently available in Windows 11. The company says that over the course of the next three years, it will be gradually retiring the Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool (MSDT) and MSDT Troubleshooters currently used by many people to diagnose and fix problems with the operating system.
The ultimate plan is to remove all existing troubleshooters and kill off the MSDT platform using an update for Windows 11. The changes are something that we've heard hints and rumors about previously, but now it has been confirmed. So, what does it mean for Windows users?
Best Windows apps this week


Five-hundred-and-twenty-nine 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 users who think that Windows 11 is using too many resources may check out tiny11, a custom third-party build of Windows 11 that is said to run on only 8 gigabytes of disk space and 2 gigabytes of RAM.
Leak shows Microsoft is working on Windows 11 23H2, AKA Sun Valley 3 or Moment 4


With Microsoft having changed its approach to releasing major updates to Windows 11, users are still familiarizing themselves with the idea of Moments. Moment 1 has already been released, adding tabs to Explorer and more.
We are still waiting for Moment 2 which is due to launch soon, but a new leak shows that Microsoft is already working away on Moment 4. For now, little is known about Moment 4, other than the fact that it is also known as Windows 11 23H2, and is being referred to internally as Sun Valley 3 or SV3.
Microsoft releases Windows 11 Build 25295 with fixes and a new commercial policy


Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev Channel today get a new Windows 11 build to play around with. Build 25295 comes with a decent selection of fixes and improvements, but that’s not all.
There’s also a new commercial policy which makes it possible to enable features introduced via servicing that are off by default.
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