battery percentage Archives

Winsage

November 12, 2025

Windows 11 KB5068861 & KB5068865 cumulative updates released

Microsoft has released cumulative updates KB5068861 and KB5068865 for Windows 11 versions 25H2, 24H2, and 23H2, addressing critical security vulnerabilities, bugs, and introducing new features. The updates are mandatory and include the November 2025 Patch Tuesday security patches. Users can install the updates via Start > Settings > Windows Update or download them from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The build number for Windows 11 25H2 will change to Build 26200.7019, and 23H2 will update to 226x1.6050. New features include: - A revamped Start menu UI allowing removal of the Recommended feed. - Updated lock screen battery icons with color indicators and battery percentage. - A dedicated Microsoft 365 Copilot page for commercial devices. - Rebranding of the “Email & accounts” section to “Your accounts.” - Refreshed taskbar battery icons with clearer visual cues. - New Administrator Protection Preview feature for safeguarding admin rights. - API support for NIST post-quantum cryptography algorithms. Fixed issues include: - Taskbar app icon hover behavior. - Display issues in apps and browsers. - Context menu behavior in File Explorer. - Pen and handwriting input responsiveness. - Narrator launch issues during Windows setup. - Performance improvements in taskbar loading after sleep. This update is the final release for Windows 11 23H2, as support for this version ends today, and no optional updates will be released in December.

Winsage

November 11, 2025

Windows 11’s November Patch Tuesday update brings new Start, battery icon improvements, and important Task Manager fix

Microsoft has rolled out the November Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11, designated as KB5068861 and build 26200.7121, which is now available through Windows Update. Key features include: - A revamped Start menu interface allowing users to pin more app icons, hide the recommended feed, modify the all apps list display, toggle the visibility of the Phone Link companion, and enjoy a larger Start menu that adjusts to screen size. - An updated Taskbar battery icon that is larger, changes color based on battery and power state, and includes a battery percentage indicator. The update also addresses several critical fixes: - Voice Access issue resolved where it would fail during initial setup without a connected microphone. - Fixed a problem where selecting the desktop could open Task View inadvertently. - Corrected an issue in the HTTP.sys request parser for compliance with RFC 9112 standard. Users can download KB5068861 via Windows Update or manually from the Microsoft Update catalog.

Winsage

October 23, 2025

Windows 11’s new Start menu is almost here – you could get it as soon as next month

A new test build for Windows 11 has been released in the Release Preview channel, indicating that a revamped Start menu is forthcoming. This build allows users to remove the recommendations section from the Start menu and enhances the Voice Access feature with 'Fluid Dictation' for better voice accuracy. File Explorer will include a 'recommended files' section, though this feature is not available in the European Economic Area due to EU regulations. The taskbar will feature a color-changing battery icon and an option to display the battery percentage permanently. New functionalities for Copilot+ PCs include text selection for translation within the operating system. The update also resolves issues with Windows Update, ensuring that the system complies with user requests to update and shut down without rebooting, and fixes an installation failure error code. Some users have already accessed the new Start menu features through the test build or tools like ViVeTool.

Winsage

October 23, 2025

Windows 11’s Redesigned Start Menu is Now Available for Release Preview Testers

Windows Insiders in the Release Preview Channel can now access a redesigned Start Menu and several new features through the KB5067036 update for the 25H2 and 24H2 versions of Windows 11. Key enhancements include: - A redesigned Start Menu that adjusts to screen size, with a scrollable “All” section and two views: ‘Category’ and ‘Grid’. A new mobile device button opens the Phone Link sidebar. - New battery icons on the taskbar and lock screen, with a green icon indicating charging and a yellow icon for low battery (20% or below). Users can display battery percentage in the system tray. - Copilot Vision integration in the taskbar, allowing users to hover over an app icon for a thumbnail preview and a “Share with Copilot” button to analyze app content. - Improvements in File Explorer, with recommended files accessible for personal and local Microsoft accounts (excluding EEA users) and new commands like “Open file location” and “Ask Copilot”. - Fluid Dictation in Voice Access for Copilot+ PCs, providing real-time corrections for voice dictation. - Click to Do improvements for Copilot+ PCs, enabling translation of on-screen text, unit conversions, table detection for Excel, and a Freeform selection mode. These features are expected to be available to non-Insiders later this month with the optional October update and a public rollout is anticipated next month during the November 2024 Patch Tuesday updates.

Winsage

October 11, 2025

Starship is the customizable shell prompt every Windows user needs

Starship is a customizable command prompt tool designed to enhance the terminal experience across various shells, including PowerShell, Bash, Zsh, Fish, and Command Prompt. Built on Rust, it operates as a layer over existing terminal applications, dynamically constructing prompts that display relevant information such as the current directory, Git branch status, programming language versions, and system metrics. Configuration is managed through a starship.toml file, allowing users to customize modules, colors, and formatting. Installation on Windows can be done with the command "winget install starship." Starship provides real-time updates and feedback tailored to the user's context, enhancing both aesthetics and productivity in terminal use.

Winsage

July 4, 2025

Microsoft finally adds a Windows 11 lock screen feature that should have been there since day one

Windows 11, approaching its fourth anniversary, has received mixed feedback from users, particularly regarding its limited customization options for the Start menu and taskbar. A recent beta update introduced a battery icon on the lock screen, which displays the remaining battery percentage and changes color. This feature was not included at launch, leading to user concerns that updates should focus on adding new features rather than fixing omissions.

Winsage

June 15, 2025

Windows 11 is finally getting a smarter energy saver plan

The Energy Saver mode on Windows 11 helps extend battery life but has limited customization options. Microsoft is currently beta testing a new Adaptive Energy Saver mode that adapts to user behavior and device usage patterns. This feature, discovered by a user named PhantomOfEarth, is functional and reportedly reduces battery usage effectively in the Dev and Beta environments. It suggests that Microsoft may roll out this feature in future updates, enhancing users' control over energy management.

Winsage

March 1, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27802 (Canary Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27802 has been released to the Canary Channel, with no plans for SDKs for the 27xxx series builds. Key updates include improved battery iconography, featuring colored icons to indicate charging states (green for optimal charging, yellow for energy-saving mode below 20%, and red for critically low battery). Users can display battery percentage in the system tray by toggling the option in Settings. New features include file sharing from taskbar jump lists and changes to the Desktop Spotlight icon interaction model. Several fixes have been implemented, including resolving installation errors and issues in File Explorer, Taskbar, Input, Lock Screen, Administrator Protection, Audio, and Remote Desktop. Known issues include potential loss of Windows Hello PIN on Copilot+ PCs transitioning to the Canary Channel, bugchecks in certain games and printing applications, and display issues with new battery icon colors. Insiders are reminded that features in the Canary Channel may change and that a clean installation is required to exit this channel.

Winsage

February 28, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27802 (Canary Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27802 has been released to the Canary Channel. Key updates include new battery iconography with colored icons indicating charging states (green for charging, yellow for energy-saving mode, and red for critically low battery), an option to display battery percentage in the system tray, and the ability to share files directly from taskbar jump lists. Changes also include improvements to the Desktop Spotlight icon interaction and various bug fixes across different components, such as File Explorer and audio issues. Known issues include potential problems with Windows Hello PIN, certain games causing bugchecks, and printing from specific applications leading to errors. Users transitioning to the Canary Channel may face issues that require a clean installation to exit the channel.

Winsage

February 26, 2025

Microsoft has stopped the release of my favorite Windows 11 feature, and now I’m sad

The rollout of the new battery indicator for Windows 11 has been temporarily halted due to issues with color display and compatibility with the lock screen. Microsoft plans to resume the rollout once these issues are resolved but has not provided a specific timeline. Users are advised to consider third-party tools for monitoring battery percentage in the meantime.