disable Archives

Winsage

September 20, 2026

The hidden Windows feature quietly filling up your SSD—and how to rein it in

Microsoft introduced a feature called point-in-time restore in Windows 11, which creates snapshots of the system every 24 hours to enhance recovery options. This feature began rolling out in late June 2026 and is typically enabled by default for boot drives of 200GB or larger. It uses the Volume Shadow Copy Service to generate restore points that are available for 72 hours before being purged. The feature can consume significant storage space, initially occupying 3.9GB and potentially increasing to over 18GB within two months, reaching a maximum of 2% of the total disk space. Users can adjust the storage usage settings or disable the feature entirely to reclaim space. The default maximum usage can be modified to as low as 0.2%. There are concerns that this feature should have been opt-in rather than opt-out due to its storage implications.

Tech Optimizer

September 19, 2026

Windows 11’s Defender kept falsely saying your antivirus was off, and Microsoft just fixed it

For nearly two months, Windows 11 users received persistent notifications from the Windows Security app falsely indicating that Microsoft Defender was disabled, despite it functioning properly. This issue, which began in early August, has been addressed with a security update from Microsoft. The false alerts affected all versions of Windows 11, Windows Server, and Windows 10, and were linked to a bug introduced with a recent Defender security update. Microsoft confirmed that no manual action is required from users to resolve the issue, as the fix will be automatically deployed to all PCs with mandatory security updates enabled. The problem was resolved in the Microsoft Defender Antivirus update (version 4.18.26080.4), released on September 17, 2026. Users can verify the status of Defender by checking Windows Security or using a PowerShell command.

Winsage

September 19, 2026

Microsoft’s research boss reveals why Windows 11 features don’t show up, and his fix half works

Windows 11 has introduced new features such as a resizable Start menu, a movable taskbar, and the option to remove Bing from Windows Search. Users report not seeing significant changes after updates, leading to frustration. Marcus Ash, the design and research lead for Windows & Devices, acknowledged this issue, explaining that features may not appear immediately due to gradual rollouts. Users can enable the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option, but this does not guarantee instant access to new features. The September 2026 update includes a movable taskbar, a smaller taskbar option, and the ability to disable Bing results in Windows Search, though immediate visibility of these changes is not assured. Microsoft is also testing new features with Windows Insiders, including a customization tool for the context menu, enhanced File Explorer performance, a reduction in memory footprint for devices with 8GB RAM and above, a new WinUI-based Run dialog, a revamped Properties dialog, a redesigned pop-up for connected drives, the ability to remap the Copilot key, and improvements to Bluetooth connections and headset calls.

Tech Optimizer

September 19, 2026

Set Up Bitdefender Antivirus Free: 13 Steps [2026]

Bitdefender Antivirus Free was upgraded to version 27.0.62.355 on September 11, 2026, introducing a new Advanced Threat Defense driver that enhances behavioral monitoring capabilities. The free version is designed for Windows only and promises to remain free indefinitely, lacking features found in paid versions such as anti-tracking tools and a full vulnerability scanner. The installation requires Windows 10 or 11, at least 2GB of free disk space, a local administrator account, an active internet connection, and a Bitdefender Central account. Users must remove any existing antivirus software before installation, and the installation process typically takes 60 to 75 minutes. Bitdefender Free covers one Windows device and offers robust malware detection capabilities, particularly with the Advanced Threat Defense layer. It is recommended to schedule regular scans and check the Notification Center for quarantined items. If uninstalled, the dedicated uninstall tool should be used to avoid leftovers that could interfere with future installations.

Winsage

September 19, 2026

Web apps are freezing in Microsoft Edge, and the fix is a real hassle

Users are experiencing freezing issues with web applications on PCs due to a bug in Microsoft Edge version 153, which causes windows to become unresponsive to mouse and keyboard inputs. Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and suggested reverting to version 152 as a temporary solution. To downgrade Microsoft Edge, users must disable updates through the Group Policy Editor, download the MSI file for version 152, and execute a rollback command in the Windows command prompt. After completing these steps, users can verify the version of Microsoft Edge to confirm the rollback.

Winsage

September 18, 2026

How to measure and shrink the Windows search index

The initial storage cost of the search index on a fresh installation of Windows 11 is minimal, only a few megabytes. When a sizable work folder is added, the index expands, but it does not revert to its original size after the folder is removed. The search index is stored in Windows.db for Windows 11 and Windows.edb for Windows 10. Windows 11 has two indexing modes: Classic (default) and Enhanced, with Classic indexing Documents, Pictures, Music folders, and the Desktop, while Enhanced scans the entire PC. The index includes file names and content, allowing keyword searches. Users can measure their index items through Settings without special permissions, while file size requires administrative access via PowerShell. An index under 30,000 items is acceptable for average users, while performance issues may arise beyond 400,000 items, with a technical ceiling of one million items. In an experiment, the index grew from 462 items and 6.71 MB to 3,466 items and 18.66 MB after adding 3,000 text files, but remained at 16.81 MB after deleting those files. To reclaim disk space, users can exclude specific folders from indexing and rebuild the index, which can significantly reduce its size while retaining the same number of items.

Winsage

September 18, 2026

Windows 11 Update Can Break Active Directory Trust Relationships

A recent security update from Microsoft, KB5124008, has caused disruptions for organizations using on-premises Active Directory, particularly affecting domain-joined Windows 11 devices with Credential Guard. After installing this update, some devices lost their secure trust relationship with the domain, preventing users from logging in with valid credentials. The issue is linked to Machine Identity Isolation, a security feature that enhances machine account credential protection but requires domain controllers to operate at the Windows Server 2025 Domain Functional Level. Organizations that enabled this feature without meeting the prerequisite may experience trust relationship failures. Microsoft has suggested a workaround to disable Machine Identity Isolation and plans to suspend its enforcement in an upcoming update while improvements are made.

AppWizard

September 18, 2026

Samsung Gallery finally gets Google Photos sync — here’s what you need to do

Samsung is ending its OneDrive integration on September 30 and will instead offer direct Google Photos backup within the Samsung Gallery app. The update, version 15.9.01.7, introduces a "Sync photos and videos" option that allows users to connect a personal Google account for photo and video backup. Users can selectively sync specific local folders or disable main camera roll uploads. This feature is available only on devices running Android 13 or later and requires a compatible Samsung device. Users can disable the Google Photos sync if they prefer not to use it, while still accessing previously backed-up photos via Google Photos.

BetaBeacon

September 18, 2026

LDPlayer vs MEmu vs GameLoop: 10% FPS Gap [2026]

- LDPlayer is a general-purpose performance emulator - MEmu is a multi-instance workhorse for players juggling several accounts - GameLoop is Tencent's first-party tool built almost exclusively around its own mobile titles - LDPlayer, MEmu, and GameLoop are all designed around mobile gaming rather than general Android app testing - LDPlayer is actively patching graphics driver bugs, MEmu is quietly polishing quality-of-life features, and GameLoop's update cadence has slowed - GameLoop is specifically tuned for Tencent-published titles like PUBG Mobile - LDPlayer runs two branches, with LDPlayer 14 being the most actively patched version - MEmu's defining feature is multi-instance management for running multiple Android sessions - MEmu's release cadence has been steady in 2026, with the latest build adding a toggle to disable Android system sounds

Winsage

September 17, 2026

Microsoft patch gives domain-joined Windows PCs trust issues

Microsoft acknowledged a significant issue affecting Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1 related to Active Directory domain logins as of September 16. This issue stems from changes made to Machine Identity Isolation in the September 2026 security update (KB5124008), which may cause Credential Guard-protected machine accounts to lose their secure channel with an on-premises Active Directory domain, preventing users from signing in with valid domain credentials. The update activates Machine Identity Isolation but does not enforce it immediately, and it is only compatible with environments linked to domain controllers operating at the Windows Server 2025 Domain Functional Level (DFL) or higher. Microsoft advised that devices not connected to Windows Server 2025 domain controllers will need to disable Machine Identity Isolation. A workaround involves disabling the feature through Intune, Group Policy, or the Windows Registry, followed by a device restart and repairing the secure channel using the Test-ComputerSecureChannel PowerShell command. Microsoft plans to address this issue in a future update by temporarily halting Machine Identity Isolation enforcement while enhancements are made.