enterprise devices Archives

Winsage

May 7, 2026

Publish to Microsoft Store as a company—now with free registration and faster onboarding

- The fee for company developer accounts on the Microsoft Store has been eliminated, allowing free account creation. - Developers can now sign up using their organization’s Microsoft Entra ID work account. - The onboarding process has been improved with a revamped flow that includes clearer requirements, real-time status updates, and automated verification checks. - Both Individual and Company accounts are now free to register. - Organizations are encouraged to have their D-U-N-S Number ready to expedite business verification. - If a D-U-N-S Number is unavailable, organizations can upload supporting documents for verification, which may take longer due to manual review. - Providing a business domain email address can help verify employment and speed up account approval. - Email notifications regarding verification status will be sent, and prompt responses can expedite the onboarding process. - Developers can publish a variety of app types on the Microsoft Store without modifying existing code, benefiting from secure discoverability and distribution capabilities. - Non-game apps can utilize their own in-app commerce systems while retaining 100% of revenue. - Organizations can begin the account creation process at storedeveloper.microsoft.com.

Winsage

May 1, 2026

Microsoft now lets admins choose pre-installed Store apps to uninstall

Microsoft has updated its Windows 11 operating system to enhance the management of preinstalled applications. The new RemoveDefaultMicrosoftStorePackages policy allows IT administrators to remove any preinstalled MSIX/APPX applications by referencing their Package Family Name (PFN) through Group Policy Object (GPO) or custom OMA-URI for mobile device management (MDM). This feature requires devices to have at least the April 2026 Windows non-security update. It is available for Windows 11 version 24H2 Enterprise and Education editions, whereas it was initially exclusive to version 25H2 or later. A comprehensive list of supported applications and instructions for applying the policy are provided in Microsoft's documentation. Additionally, a new policy setting enables the uninstallation of the AI-powered Copilot digital assistant from enterprise devices after the April 2026 Patch Tuesday updates. The dynamic list option for this policy will be rolled out in the coming months.

Winsage

April 30, 2026

Windows AI Recall is pushing data destruction upstream

The introduction of Copilot+ PCs has created new complexities in IT asset disposition (ITAD), as these devices may contain a comprehensive, time-stamped archive of user activity, which was not present on corporate laptops two years ago. Microsoft's Recall feature captures user activity screenshots and stores them securely, but recent research by Alexander Hagenah suggests that the safeguards may be ineffective, as his tool can extract sensitive data without breaking encryption. Microsoft defends the security of Recall, stating that observed access patterns align with intended protections. This situation presents challenges for ITAD operators, as pre-collection now constitutes a data-destruction event, requiring devices to be powered down or purged before leaving the client’s environment. Certificates of sanitization must evolve to address the specific destruction of Recall snapshot stores, and conversations with clients should differentiate between managed and unmanaged fleets regarding Recall settings. The presence of Recall shifts some data-destruction responsibilities upstream to clients, complicating traditional ITAD value propositions.

Winsage

April 27, 2026

Microsoft Adds Policy to Let IT Admins Uninstall Copilot From Enterprise Windows 11 Devices

Microsoft has introduced a policy allowing IT administrators to remove the Microsoft Copilot app from managed enterprise devices. This "Remove Microsoft Copilot App" policy will be available as a Policy CSP and Group Policy after the April 2026 Windows security updates for Windows 11 devices on the 25H2 update, specifically for Enterprise, Professional, and Education editions. The policy will uninstall Copilot under certain conditions: both Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Copilot must be installed, the user must not have manually installed the app, and the app must not have been launched in the past 28 days. Administrators can enable the policy through the Group Policy Editor or configure it via Microsoft Intune and SCCM after the April 2026 updates. The policy aligns with Microsoft's recent changes in managing Copilot, including the cessation of automatic installations and the cancellation of plans to integrate Copilot into system notifications and other features. The policy was initially available to Windows Insiders in January before becoming generally accessible in April 2026.

Winsage

April 21, 2026

Microsoft releases Windows Server update fix to fix its April update fixes

Microsoft has released an out-of-band update to fix a restart loop issue affecting certain Windows Server devices after the April 2026 update. The problem arose after installing the April 2026 Windows security update (KB5082063), causing domain controllers in multi-domain environments using Privileged Access Management (PAM) to experience LSASS crashes during startup, leading to repeated restarts and potential domain outages. The update targets Windows Server versions 2016 through 2025 and includes hotpatches for failed installations. Only Windows Servers were affected, while some enterprise devices may need to enter their BitLocker recovery key after the first restart post-installation. Microsoft has issued similar updates recently, raising concerns about the frequency of these occurrences.

Winsage

April 20, 2026

Microsoft releases emergency updates to fix Windows Server issues

Microsoft has confirmed that some administrators are experiencing difficulties installing the KB5082063 security update on Windows Server 2025. This month's Patch Tuesday updates have caused certain Windows servers, especially those with domain controller roles, to enter a restart loop due to failures in the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS). Microsoft has released emergency out-of-band updates, including KB5091157 for Windows Server 2025, to address both the installation failure and the restart issues. Additionally, some Windows Server 2025 devices may boot into BitLocker recovery mode after installing the KB5082063 update. A bug affecting Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server 2022 that caused unexpected upgrades to Windows Server 2025 has also been resolved. Microsoft has issued various emergency updates throughout the year to address other issues, including a Bluetooth device visibility bug and vulnerabilities in the Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS).

Winsage

April 15, 2026

Microsoft fixes bug behind Windows Server 2025 automatic upgrades

Microsoft has resolved an issue that caused unexpected upgrades from Windows Server 2019 and 2022 to Windows Server 2025. This problem was first reported in September 2024 when administrators found their servers upgraded without the necessary licenses. Initially, Microsoft attributed the issue to misconfigured third-party update management software, while developers claimed it was due to Microsoft's procedural errors regarding update release speed and classification. Microsoft confirmed the resolution of the issue and re-enabled the upgrade offer through the Windows Update settings. Additionally, Microsoft released an out-of-band update to address complications from a previous non-security preview update and deployed emergency updates to fix sign-in disruptions across various applications. Other updates were issued to resolve Bluetooth visibility issues and security vulnerabilities in the Routing and Remote Access Service management tool.

Winsage

April 9, 2026

Google’s New $3 USB Kit Converts Old Windows 10 PCs to ChromeOS Flex Machines

Google, in collaboration with Back Market, has launched a USB kit for installing ChromeOS Flex on aging Windows 10 PCs for a fee. This kit simplifies the installation process, allowing users to replace their existing Windows system easily. ChromeOS Flex is compatible with various PCs and some Macs, focusing on cloud-based tasks and supporting browser-based and Android applications only. A study indicated that ChromeOS consumes 19% less energy than similar systems. For every USB drive produced, an equivalent weight of electronic waste is recycled. Google plans to provide software updates for Chromebooks for 10 years and for Pixel phones for 7 years. Windows 10 support will end in October 2025, with Microsoft offering a free extended security update until October 2026. Approximately 32% of the market still uses Windows 10, with 121 million enterprise devices estimated to be operating on it. The ChromeOS Flex USB Kit is considered a pilot program, with potential for increased production based on demand.

Winsage

April 5, 2026

Microsoft Ships Emergency Windows 11 Fix for Broken Patch

On March 31, Microsoft released emergency update KB5086672 in response to issues caused by the previous preview patch KB5079391, which left many Windows 11 devices in a loop with error code 0x80073712, blocking access to March security fixes. Microsoft withdrew KB5079391, which was launched on March 26, and replaced it with KB5086672, a cumulative update that includes all fixes from March 2026. KB5086672 supersedes previous updates, including KB5079473, KB5085516, and KB5079391. Users with the "Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available" setting will receive KB5086672 automatically, while others can manually check for updates or download it from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Microsoft has been issuing multiple emergency updates recently, raising concerns about the quality of its update pipeline, with a history of emergency patches for various issues affecting Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server. The issues from KB5079391 may resurface in the upcoming April cumulative update.

Winsage

April 3, 2026

Microsoft now force upgrades unmanaged Windows 11 24H2 PCs

Microsoft has begun upgrading unmanaged devices running Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions to the latest Windows 11 25H2 version. Support for Windows 11 24H2 will end on October 13, 2026. The 25H2 version rollout started in September and is delivered through compact enablement packages. The update is now available for all unmanaged devices running Windows 11 24H2, and those devices will stop receiving critical updates. Users can manually check for the update or pause it through the settings menu. Microsoft has provided a support document and guide for the upgrade process.