feature update Archives

Winsage

January 6, 2026

Snapragon X2 PCs ship with Windows 11 26H1 by April 2026. Existing PCs will get Windows 11 26H2

Qualcomm will start shipping new PCs with the Snapdragon X2 chipset by April 2026. This coincides with Microsoft testing Windows 11 26H1, which is designed for these new CPUs and will only be available on new Arm64 PCs. Windows 11 26H1 is not an update for existing PCs and will not be accessible to Intel or AMD users. Since November 2025, Windows Insiders have been testing this version, which is based on a platform release codenamed ‘Bromine’ and includes support for Snapdragon X2 Plus, Elite, and Extreme models. Microsoft has stated that 26H1 is aimed at supporting new processors and may involve changes to power states and scheduling. The build number for this version is 28000, and while there are minor user interface improvements, significant changes are expected in the upcoming Windows 11 26H2 release, anticipated for October 2026.

AppWizard

December 7, 2025

Wreckreation developer puts its entire staff on notice as publisher THQ Nordic abandons it: ‘We simply cannot sustain the studio in its current form’

Three Fields Entertainment has placed its entire staff on notice of redundancy due to financial challenges and a lack of revenue from game sales. The studio has been self-funding for most of the year after declining support from publisher THQ Nordic. Their recent title, Wreckreation, has received mixed reviews, and the studio has been unable to fully realize its vision for the game. CEO Fiona Sperry expressed hope that sharing their progress might attract potential investors. Despite the difficulties, the studio plans to release a highly anticipated crossplay feature update before Christmas.

Winsage

November 26, 2025

Your Windows 11 upgrade not working? Try my 5 favorite troubleshooting tricks

When upgrading to Windows 11 on older hardware, users may encounter frustrating error codes and messages. To resolve upgrade issues, it is recommended to: 1. Ensure all necessary driver and firmware/BIOS updates are installed, as many users have found success after addressing these updates. 2. Check Microsoft's Windows release information dashboard for known issues related to the upgrade, as there may be temporary compatibility blocks that can be bypassed by updating or uninstalling incompatible software. 3. Restart the upgrade process after checking for pending updates, uninstalling unnecessary software, and disconnecting non-essential peripherals. Selecting "Not right now" for update downloads can help minimize complications. 4. Search for specific error codes and messages online, using reliable sources like Reddit or Microsoft for potential solutions. 5. Utilize the SetupDiag tool to analyze Windows log files for detailed reports on upgrade failures, which can help identify the causes of issues. This involves downloading the tool, creating a specific folder, and running commands in an elevated command prompt to generate a readable report.

Winsage

November 12, 2025

Windows Kernel 0-Day Vulnerability Actively Exploited in the Wild to Escalate Privileges

Microsoft has identified a vulnerability in its Windows operating system, designated as CVE-2025-62215, which allows for elevation of privilege within the Windows Kernel. This flaw is currently being exploited in real-world scenarios. Published on November 11, 2025, CVE-2025-62215 is classified as an Important issue and arises from a race condition and improper memory management leading to a double-free scenario. Exploiting this vulnerability requires a high complexity attack and can grant SYSTEM-level privileges to an attacker who is already an authorized user. The affected Windows versions include: - Windows 10 (various builds): KB5068858, November 12, 2025 - Windows 11 version 22H2: KB5068865, November 12, 2025 - Windows 11 version 23H2: KB5068862, November 12, 2025 - Windows 11 version 24H2: KB5068861, November 12, 2025 - Windows Server 2019: KB5068859, November 12, 2025 - Windows Server 2022: KB5068860, November 12, 2025 - Windows Server 2025: KB5068861, November 12, 2025 Organizations are urged to prioritize patching CVE-2025-62215, especially on servers and administrative workstations, as there are currently no workarounds available.

Winsage

November 12, 2025

Windows Kernel 0‑day Vulnerability Actively Exploited in the Wild to Escalate Privilege

Microsoft has identified a critical vulnerability, CVE-2025-62215, affecting the Windows Kernel, which is currently being exploited. This flaw, rated as Important, involves an elevation of privilege issue due to improper synchronization of shared resources, categorized under race condition (CWE-362) and double free (CWE-415). Exploitation requires high complexity and local authorization, allowing attackers to gain SYSTEM privileges for significant control over the system. The vulnerability affects various versions of Windows, including Windows 10, Windows 11 (multiple versions), and Windows Server (2019, 2022, and 2025), with patches released on November 12, 2025. Organizations are advised to prioritize swift patching and detection efforts, especially for servers and administrative workstations.

Winsage

November 10, 2025

Windows 11 26H1 Focuses on New Silicon Support, Not New Features

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28000, focusing on hardware optimization rather than major user interface changes. This build supports advanced silicon from Qualcomm and NVIDIA, specifically targeting Windows-on-Arm platforms featuring Snapdragon X2 Elite processors and NVIDIA's N1 and N1x SoCs. The 26H1 update will not be a feature update for version 25H2 but will include platform modifications for new hardware, with no action required from users. Microsoft plans to use an enablement package (eKB) to unlock functionalities within the 26H1 framework, similar to the 25H2 update, which also introduced few new features and emphasized security improvements while deprecating certain features like PowerShell 2.0 and WMIC due to security vulnerabilities. Additionally, IT administrators can remove pre-installed Microsoft default applications on Enterprise and EDU devices through Group Policy or MDM CSP.

Winsage

November 9, 2025

Microsoft announces first test build for Windows 11 26H1, aimed at ‘specific silicon’ — Rumor mill suggests first “H1” release in Windows 11’s history might be reserved for upcoming Arm PCs

Windows 11 has introduced its latest major feature update, 25H2, and Microsoft has confirmed the upcoming "26H1" release with Preview Build 28000 in the Canary channel of the Insider Preview program. The 26H1 update is currently in testing and is expected to launch early next year, focusing on ARM architecture. Potential candidates for this update include the Snapdragon X2 Elite and Nvidia N1X systems, as Qualcomm prepares to release new chips in early 2026. Microsoft stated that 26H1 is not a feature update for version 25H2 but includes platform changes to support specific silicon, with no action required from customers. This marks the first time Microsoft has planned a major update for the beginning of the year, primarily to enhance support for specific ARM silicon. Preview Build 28000 serves as the base RTM build for Windows 11 26H1, allowing OEMs like Qualcomm and Nvidia to integrate it into their systems.

Winsage

November 8, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28000 (Canary Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28000 has been released to the Canary Channel, featuring general improvements and fixes. The versioning has been updated to Windows 11, version 26H1, which includes platform changes but is not a feature update for version 25H2. The primary source for new features remains version 25H2, and Windows 11 follows an annual feature update schedule. Fixes in this build include resolving live captions crashes and issues with the Outlook login credentials window. Known issues include unexpected scrolling in the Start menu and problems with sleep and shutdown functionalities. The Canary Channel focuses on early platform changes and may not correspond to specific Windows releases. Features may first appear in the Dev and Beta Channels before the Canary Channel, and localization will occur over time. Exiting the Canary Channel requires a clean installation of Windows 11.

Winsage

November 7, 2025

Microsoft confirms Windows 11 version 26H1, but it’s not what you think

Microsoft has released the initial preview build of Windows 11 version 26H1 for Insiders in the Canary Channel, which is not a feature update for Windows 11 but is intended to support next-generation silicon, specifically Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 and NVIDIA's N1X. Version 26H1 includes platform changes and does not require any action from customers. The focus for feature development will remain on version 25H2, with new features being rolled out first to Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels. The advancements in version 26H1 are tailored for upcoming Arm silicon and do not impact existing Windows 11 PCs.

Winsage

November 7, 2025

Microsoft Releases First Windows 11 26H1 Build for Canary Testers

Microsoft has released the first build of Windows 11 version 26H1 for Insiders on the Canary Channel, focusing on refining the platform's architecture to support specific silicon advancements rather than introducing new features. The release is not a feature update for version 25H2 and requires no action from customers. It is expected to be optimized for new Copilot+ PCs powered by next-generation ARM silicon from Qualcomm and potentially other manufacturers. Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite chips are anticipated to debut in the first half of 2026, while Nvidia's ARM-based N1X chip and MediaTek's ARM chip for Chromebook Plus devices have also emerged. The current build 28000 does not introduce new features, as version 25H2 remains the primary source for new updates, including enhancements like rearranging dashboards in the Widgets Board and a streamlined Quick Machine Recovery experience.