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Microsoft is giving Windows 11 File Explorer a speed boost, dark mode fix, and reducing explorer.exe crashes
Winsage
April 19, 2026

Microsoft is giving Windows 11 File Explorer a speed boost, dark mode fix, and reducing explorer.exe crashes

Microsoft is updating Windows 11 by improving File Explorer, focusing on performance and user experience. The latest release, Windows 11 Build 26200.8313, shows File Explorer loading faster and eliminating white flashes in dark mode. This build is currently for Windows Insiders, with public availability expected in April 2026 and further updates in May 2026. The update enhances speed, manages themes better, and adds support for new archive formats like cpio, uu, xar, and nupkg. Reliability improvements have reduced crashes related to explorer.exe, and new features include a preview option for internet-downloaded files, a redesigned search bar, and immediate reflection of folder view preferences.
Windows 11 finally fixes inconsistent folder views in File Explorer
Winsage
April 18, 2026

Windows 11 finally fixes inconsistent folder views in File Explorer

Microsoft has released Build 26200.8313 (KB5083631) for the Release Preview Channel, enhancing File Explorer by ensuring that folder view settings remain consistent across all access points. This update allows user preferences, such as sorting, icon sizes, and layouts, to persist regardless of how a folder is accessed, addressing previous inconsistencies where settings would reset when opening folders from different applications. The update also includes improved launch performance, reduced white flash in dark mode, expanded support for additional archive formats, and reliability improvements for explorer.exe. The update is expected to roll out to standard Windows 11 PCs by May.
Microsoft mitigates Windows LNK flaw exploited as zero-day
Winsage
December 3, 2025

Microsoft mitigates Windows LNK flaw exploited as zero-day

Microsoft has addressed a security vulnerability in Windows tracked as CVE-2025-9491, which allows malicious actors to embed harmful commands in Windows LNK files, requiring user interaction to exploit. Threat actors often distribute these files in ZIP formats to bypass email security. In March 2025, 11 hacking groups, including Evil Corp and Kimsuky, were actively exploiting this vulnerability using various malware payloads. Although Microsoft initially did not consider the issue urgent, it later modified the handling of LNK files in November updates to allow users to view the entire character string in the Target field. However, this change does not eliminate the malicious arguments embedded in the files. ACROS Security has released an unofficial patch that restricts shortcut target strings to 260 characters and alerts users about risks associated with long target strings, covering multiple Windows versions.
Signal Messenger Impersonated in 'ProSpy' Android Spyware Campaign
AppWizard
October 2, 2025

Signal Messenger Impersonated in ‘ProSpy’ Android Spyware Campaign

ESET researchers have identified two Android spyware campaigns, ProSpy and ToSpy, which masquerade as secure messaging apps, Signal and ToTok. These malware families were first detected in June 2025 and are distributed through phishing websites and fake app marketplaces. ProSpy, which mimics a “Signal encryption plugin” or an enhanced ToTok, extracts sensitive user information, including SMS messages, contacts, and device metadata, after gaining permissions. It disguises itself as “Play Services” to avoid detection. ToSpy, discovered concurrently, seeks to capture specific files related to ToTok backups and collects various document types. Both malware types maintain long-term access to infected devices and have been reported to Google, resulting in Play Protect blocking their known variants. The main targets of these campaigns are users in the United Arab Emirates.
7 alternatives to built-in Windows tools that will blow you away
Winsage
February 17, 2025

7 alternatives to built-in Windows tools that will blow you away

- Process Lasso is a powerful alternative to Task Manager, offering features like dynamic CPU adjustments and SmartTrim memory management. - Notepad++ is a text editor that supports multiple programming languages, syntax highlighting, and includes macros and plugins. - 7-Zip is a file compression tool that handles various formats and allows users to split, merge, and encrypt files. - Everything is a search tool that quickly finds files and folders, scanning both names and document contents. - Audacity is a multitrack digital audio workstation for recording audio, supporting various formats and real-time effects. - Flow Launcher allows users to launch files, folders, applications, and websites without using the Start menu. - VLC Media Player plays a wide range of audio and video file formats and offers features like file conversion and live stream recording.
10 features you didn't know were in the Windows 11 File Explorer
Winsage
December 14, 2024

10 features you didn’t know were in the Windows 11 File Explorer

The File Explorer in Windows 11 includes several features to enhance file management: 1. Gallery: A section to view all images stored on the PC and OneDrive, organized by date. 2. Optimize folders: Users can customize folder appearances based on content type through the Properties menu. 3. Change default launch location: Users can set File Explorer to open to This PC or OneDrive instead of the Home folder. 4. Classic context menu: Users can access the traditional context menu by holding the Shift key while right-clicking. 5. Clear File Explorer history: Users can reset the history of visited folders for a fresh start. 6. Managing OneDrive files: Users can manage cloud files directly from File Explorer and identify local versus cloud storage. 7. Selecting multiple files with the keyboard: Users can use arrow keys and Control to select multiple files efficiently. 8. Extracting and creating archives: Users can create and extract various archive formats, including 7z and RAR, without third-party applications. 9. Move files to Android phone: Users can transfer files between a Windows PC and an Android device using Phone Link integration. 10. Rename files in bulk: Users can rename multiple files simultaneously by selecting them and entering a new name with a counter for differentiation.
Microsoft heard you like Windows updates, so it updated how updates update
Winsage
October 28, 2024

Microsoft heard you like Windows updates, so it updated how updates update

Microsoft has unveiled Windows 11 version 24H2, also known as the Windows 11 2024 Update, which includes improvements to the update installation process, resulting in a 45.6% faster installation, 39.7% quicker restart times, and a 15.3% decrease in CPU consumption compared to version 22H2. Key enhancements include parallel processing of component manifests, optimized reading and parsing of component manifests, and scalable use of available RAM. Traditional feature updates are now approximately 200 MB smaller due to certain inbox applications being updated through the Microsoft Store. Notable features in the update include: - Integration of Phone Link with the Start menu. - Simplified layout for the taskbar system tray. - Revamped Quick Settings for improved speed and customization. - Windows Spotlight image as the default wallpaper. - Animated taskbar app preview thumbnails. - Support for HDR images as desktop wallpapers. File Explorer updates include: - Updated home tab layout with shared documents. - Ability to duplicate tabs via right-click. - Enhanced context menu layout. - Support for .7z and .TAR archive formats. - Direct viewing of Android phone file systems. New apps and features include: - A new Outlook app for email, calendar, and contacts. - Updated Copilot as a standalone web application. - AI features in Photos for generative erase and background editing. - A new Recall app for information retrieval using AI. - Paint with generative AI capabilities. Settings updates include: - Windows Update with checkpoints and hot patching. - Voice Clarity using AI to eliminate background noise. - Simultaneous configuration of power settings. - A new Energy Saver mode. - Configurable mouse scroll wheel direction. - Support for Wi-Fi 7 hardware. - A new PRISM emulation layer for x86 apps on Arm devices. - Enhanced performance for Arm-based devices. - AutoSR using AI to improve gaming performance. - Live Captions translating languages into English in real-time. - Advanced Windows Studio Effects for webcam enhancement.
Windows 11 bug steals 8.63GB of storage space that you can't get back
Winsage
October 10, 2024

Windows 11 bug steals 8.63GB of storage space that you can’t get back

Users of the Windows 11 2024 Update are facing a storage issue where an 8.63GB set of files remains on their systems, found in the "Windows Update Cleanup" section of Temporary files. This problem has been reported widely across forums and confirmed through tests on multiple PCs. Despite this storage challenge, the update introduces several enhancements, including a revamped File Explorer, improved multitasking features, new archive formats, seamless access to Android file systems, an upgraded Outlook app, enhanced Photos app capabilities, optimized Windows Update processes, AI-driven Voice Clarity technology, customizable power settings, support for Wi-Fi 7 hardware, and various improvements to the Taskbar and Quick Settings.
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