hidden feature Archives

Winsage

March 26, 2025

I’ll admit, Microsoft’s new Windows 11 update surprised me with its usefulness, providing accessibility fixes, a gamepad keyboard layout, and PC spec cards

Microsoft has released an optional update for Windows 11, known as KB5053657, currently in its preview phase. This update includes significant accessibility enhancements in File Explorer, ensuring uniform text scaling across all elements. It introduces PC spec cards in the Settings app, providing insights into CPU, RAM, storage, and graphics card. A new gamepad keyboard layout allows typing via an Xbox controller, and a new emoji button has been added to the taskbar for emojis, GIFs, and clipboard access. Voice Access now supports Simplified and Traditional Chinese. The full release of these features is expected on April 8 as part of the April cumulative update.

Winsage

March 19, 2025

Windows 11 has a hidden FAQ page in testing that tells you why your PC is slow

Windows 11 will introduce a new FAQ page in its Settings app to help users identify potential limitations of their PCs. This feature, currently hidden in Dev Channel builds, will answer questions about the OS version and evaluate GPU adequacy for gaming and video tasks. It will also analyze the impact of having 4-8GB of RAM on performance. The feature can be activated using the third-party utility ViVeTool with ID “5530588,” but its effectiveness may vary across systems. Microsoft has faced criticism for Windows 11's strict minimum hardware requirements, which may prevent many PCs from upgrading from Windows 10. This situation may force users to upgrade hardware or consider alternatives like ChromeOS. Microsoft aims to enhance user experience with Windows 11, which may lead to increased hardware sales and user satisfaction.

Winsage

March 8, 2025

This hidden Windows 11 Beta feature makes sharing images a breeze

Windows 11 23H2 Beta introduces an image sharing tool integrated into the Windows Share sheet, allowing users to edit images and compress them before sharing. This feature is still in development and may have inconsistencies or bugs.

Winsage

February 3, 2025

Top 10 cool and useful features coming soon to Windows 11

Microsoft is developing several enhancements for Windows 11, with some features currently available in preview builds or requiring activation. 1. Improved Auto HDR: Available to all Windows Insiders, this feature will enable automatic HDR streaming for HDR-capable displays. 2. Small Taskbar Buttons: Code snippets indicate that Microsoft is exploring the return of smaller taskbar buttons, though it is not yet functional. 3. Gamepad Keyboard: Available to Windows Insiders, this feature allows typing using standard gamepad controls. 4. New Start Menu Layouts: Requires activation of hidden feature IDs; new "Category" and "Grid" views are in development. 5. 6 GHz Hotspots: Requires activation of hidden feature IDs; laptops with Wi-Fi 7 support will soon be able to create 6 GHz hotspots. 6. Redesigned Battery Indicator: Available to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel, this redesign will include battery percentage in the tray area. 7. File Explorer Improvements: Currently turned off, this will allow users to open links in new tabs instead of new windows. 8. New PC Spec Cards: Available for testing in the Insider Program, this feature consolidates essential PC specifications into one location. 9. New Share UI: Requires activation of hidden feature IDs; this will allow users to drag files to a dedicated tray for easy sharing. 10. AI-Powered Windows Search: Available for testing in the Insider Program and requires dedicated hardware, this feature will use natural language processing for easier file searches.

Winsage

December 10, 2024

An emoji button may be coming to the Taskbar on Windows 11

Microsoft is exploring the introduction of an emoji button on the Taskbar in Windows 11, as revealed by a hidden feature ID discovered in a recent preview build. Although the option in the Windows Settings app is currently non-functional, it indicates that Microsoft is considering this addition. The emoji button is expected to function similarly to the Pen Menu button and will reside in the System Tray, with options for visibility based on user preferences. Users can currently access the emoji panel by pressing the Windows key and the period button, which includes various emojis, kaomojis, GIFs, and symbols. The new button aims to improve visibility and accessibility of the emoji panel, while also allowing users to disable it if desired.

Winsage

December 8, 2024

Windows 11’s new hidden feature finally makes the battery indicator useful

Windows 11 is set to receive an updated battery indicator featuring a new color palette and functionalities. When energy saver mode is activated, the battery bar will turn yellow, and a chart will track battery usage over time. Users can enable these features by downloading the Windows Dev build and using specific ViveTool commands: to update the battery icon, use "vivetool /enable /id:48822452"; for section labels on the battery usage graph, use "vivetool /enable /id:53092139"; and if needed, enable "vivetool /enable /id:48433719" and reboot. These updates will eventually be rolled out to all users in the testing branch.

Winsage

December 5, 2024

Windows 11 will make it easier to change your webcam resolution

Recent iterations of Windows 11 allow users to personalize webcam settings through Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Cameras, enabling adjustments for brightness, contrast, and sharpness. Upcoming updates will expand these customization options. A hidden feature in the latest Windows 11 Canary builds (ID 52142480) enables users to modify webcam image resolution, allowing for automatic or manual selection of preferred resolution and frame rate. This feature can be enabled on Windows 11 build 27744 or newer using the ViVeTool app. Additionally, the Canary builds include an advanced camera option for selecting specific camera resolutions and improvements in File Explorer, Task Manager, and the taskbar, along with updates to the Microsoft Store for easier Win32 application updates.

Winsage

November 26, 2024

Windows 11 File Explorer will soon let you turn off OneDrive Backup notifications

In late 2023, Microsoft released the "Moment 4" update for Windows 11, which included a redesigned address bar in File Explorer and persistent OneDrive backup notifications for various folders. The update introduced a hidden feature in Windows 11 build 22635.4515 that allows users to disable these notifications or snooze them for one month. Users can disable the "Start backup" button in File Explorer by right-clicking it and selecting options from a context menu. Disabling notifications replaces the flashing icon with a simple PC icon, while snoozing reduces the size of the OneDrive button. To enable this feature, users must download the ViVeTool app, run specific commands in Command Prompt, and restart their computer.

Winsage

November 12, 2024

Microsoft tests a universal share button on Windows 11

Microsoft is testing a new universal Share button in a Preview Build of Windows 11, aimed at improving content sharing among users. This button will be integrated into various parts of the operating system, including the taskbar and Start menu, allowing users to share files, links, or text directly from their desktops. The feature is currently hidden and can be activated using the ViveTool application with specific commands. Additionally, Microsoft is introducing an AI-driven tool called Rewrite for the Notepad app, which enables users to generate alternative text based on their needs, available in Notepad version 11.2410.15.0 for Windows Insider users.

Winsage

October 24, 2024

This Mac App Makes Finder More like Windows’ File Explorer

Indie Mac utility Supercharge, developed by Sindre Sorhus, enhances Finder to provide a more familiar experience for Windows users, including a cut and paste functionality that uses Command+X and Command+V shortcuts. Users can activate this feature in Supercharge Settings under Tweaks > Finder. Additional Finder tweaks include the ability to delete files with the Delete key, open files with the Return key, and create plain text files using Option+N. Supercharge also offers quality-of-life upgrades such as hiding all windows except the active one, quitting applications with Shift+Command+Q, and customizable keyboard shortcuts for various functions. The utility is available for purchase on the developer's website or Gumroad, with price adjustments for users in countries with lower purchasing power.