Windows 11

Stardock WindowBlinds 11

Stardock releases public beta of WindowBlinds 11 complete with full Windows 11 support

Many criticisms have been levelled at Windows 11, but one of the most frequently voiced is the complaint that Microsoft has reduced the personalization and customization options in the operating system. This is something that WindowBlinds aims to address.

Stardock has announced the latest version of its Windows skinning and customization app -- WindowBlinds 11 -- and has also released a public beta version for anyone to try out. The tool makes it possible to change the look and feel of the Windows 11 Start menu, taskbar and much more.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Man using Windows 11 laptop

Microsoft releases out-of-band KB5019311 update for Windows 11

Microsoft has released a rare out-of-band update for Windows 11. Although the KB5019311 update does not include any security fixes, it was deemed important enough to release ahead of the next Patch Tuesday.

In addition to upgrading the Windows 11 servicing stack to build 22621.378, the KB5019311 update also addresses a problem affecting Windows 11 setup.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Password keyhole

Microsoft gives Windows 11 a new security feature to prevent you storing your passwords insecurely

While software-based password managers are incredibly popular these days, it is still terrifyingly common to find that people store passwords on sticky notes attached to their monitor. A slightly more up to date means of recording passwords is to type them into a text document, and this is something Microsoft is seeking to discourage with the latest update to Windows 11.

With Window 11 2022 Update, the company added a new enhanced phishing protection feature of Microsoft Defender Smartscreen. This security feature can, among other things, issue a warning if it detects that you are entering one of your passwords into a document or, for that matter, a potentially insecure website. The feature is not enabled by default, so here's how to bolster your security.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Win11-Race-Main

Microsoft Windows 11 setup race: 21H2 vs 22H2 -- which operating system installs fastest?

Microsoft has just started to roll out the Windows 11 2022 Update, which fixes a number of annoyances and adds some welcome new features to the fledgling operating system.

The update itself doesn’t take that long to install, but what about if you were installing Windows 11 entirely from scratch? Which version would be faster -- 21H2 or 22H2 (the development name for the 2022 Update)? There can only be one winner…

By Wayne Williams -
Nvidia headquarters

NVDIA releases fix for poor gaming performance in Windows 11 2022 Update

There have not been too many reports of issues following the release of Windows 11 2022 Update, but this does not mean that Microsoft's first major update to Windows 11 is free from problems. Gamers, for instance, have reported poor game performance with NVIDIA GPUs after installing the update.

NVIDIA was quick to start investigating the problems, and has already come up with a solution. The fix involves the installation of a beta app.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Microsoft building logo

Whoopsie daisy! Microsoft accidentally released the Windows 11 KB5017383 update to WSUS

When we write about updates for Windows, it tends to be for one of two reasons -- sharing news that a new update is available, or giving details of problems that have been found with the latest release. Now we have something a little different.

Microsoft has admitted that it made a mistake with the KB5017383 update for Windows 11, windows 10 and Windows Server a few days ago. It is, however, not necessary something that everyone would notice.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
windows-hdr-calibration

Best Windows apps this week

Five-hundred-and-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.

Microsoft released the first feature update for Windows 11 this week. The new version improves the usability of existing features, such as Snap Layouts or the Start Menu, and adds a number of new features to the system next to that.

By Martin Brinkmann -
Windows 11 logo on laptop screen

Microsoft releases KB5017389 update for Windows 11 2022 Update

Taking Windows 11 up to build 22621.607, Microsoft has just released the KB5017389 update fixing a huge number of issues that have been uncovered.

For now, the update is only available to Windows Insiders signed up for the Release Preview Channel and running Windows 11 version 22H2. Microsoft has used the update to introduce a range of fixes including addressing Microsoft Store problems, issues with static IP addresses, and solving a problem affecting color modes in Task Manager.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Windows 11 2022 Update

There are already problems with Windows 11 2022 Update for NVIDIA users

It is mere days since Microsoft started the rollout of Windows 11 2022 Update, but there are already reports of issues from people who have updated. Some owners of systems with NVIDIA GPUs are reporting a serious reduction in gaming performance after installing the update.

Reddit and Microsoft community forums are littered with complaints from gamers who have installed Windows 11 2022 Update and found that framerates in games have been slashed by over 87 percent in some cases. Major drops in CPU usage are also leading to stuttering game performance.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Windows 11 laptop

Microsoft releases Windows 11 Build 25206 with changes and fixes

Microsoft began rolling out the Windows 11 2022 Update yesterday, with the promise of yet more cool features to come next month.

For Insiders in the Dev Channel, however, there’s another new build to play around with today -- Build 25206 --and this one includes changes to SMB authentication rate limiter behavior and updates for Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR).

By Wayne Williams -
computer piggy bank and cash

Windows 11 could save you millions*

As the latest update to Windows 11 rolls out with new features focusing on productivity and collaboration, IT management efficiency and security, Microsoft is understandably keen for businesses to adopt the OS.

To that end it's commissioned Forrester Consulting to conduct a Total Economic Impact (TEI) study and examine the potential return on investment (ROI) enterprises may realize by deploying Windows 11 and Microsoft 365.

By Ian Barker -
Explorer tabs

Microsoft may have released Windows 11 2022 Update, but the best updates are coming in October

Yesterday, to great excitement, Microsoft started the rollout of the eagerly anticipated Windows 11 2022 Update. While there are a lot of worthy changes and additions with this update, there are several features -- perhaps most notably tabs in File Explorer -- that were conspicuous by their absence.

But the missing features have been neither forgotten nor dropped; Microsoft has simply decided to include them in a future update. Before you start gnashing your teeth, there's some good news. The release of  Windows 11 2022 Update may not have heralded the arrival of tabbed Explorer, but it will be landing for everyone next month.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
WIndows-11

Microsoft releases KB5017383 update for Windows 11 with huge widget changes and fixes for lots of issues

The focus for most Windows 11 users has been, understandably, the release of Windows 11 2022 Update and all of the new features and options it brings. But Microsoft has also released a preview of the KB5017383 update for Windows 11 ahead of its proper release next Patch Tuesday.

Although this is a non-security update, it is an important one for a number of reasons. Firstly, it addresses several issues with Windows 11 including a blue screen problem and another issue with the Microsoft Store. Secondly, the update adds new features to the operating system such as new options for widgets and adding WebAuthn redirection.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Windows 11 2022 Update

Microsoft releases Windows 11 2022 Update -- here's what new and how to get it

The first major update for Windows 11 is finally here. Starting today, Microsoft is rolling out the Windows 11 2022 Update, ending speculation and rumors about the precise name and release date.

It is hard to downplay the significance of this update; for many people it will transform Windows 11 into the operating system it should have been from the very beginning. There's a lot to explore in this major update including the addition of Focus sessions and Do Not Disturb, new customization options for the Start menu, updates to Snap Layouts and much more. Some things (notably Explorer tabs), unfortunately, are missing for now, and will be added in the coming weeks.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
blender

Best Windows apps this week

Five-hundred-and-eight 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 365 apps can now be updated without user interruption, thanks to the new "update under lock" feature.

By Martin Brinkmann -
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