IT administrators Archives

Winsage

February 11, 2026

Microsoft tightens Windows security with app transparency and user consent

Microsoft is enhancing the security of its Windows operating system through two initiatives: User Transparency and Consent, and Windows Baseline Security Mode. The User Transparency and Consent initiative will notify users when applications request access to sensitive resources and log every permission granted, allowing users to review and modify their choices. Applications and AI agents will adhere to higher transparency standards. Windows Baseline Security Mode will enable runtime integrity safeguards by default, allowing only properly signed applications, services, and drivers to run. Users and IT administrators can approve exceptions for specific applications. These updates are part of Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative, which aims to help organizations prevent, manage, and recover from security incidents. The rollout will occur in phases, with collaboration from developers, enterprises, and partners to ensure a smooth transition.

Winsage

January 26, 2026

Microsoft’s first Windows 11 update of 2026 has been a mess

Microsoft has issued two emergency fixes for issues arising from its January 2026 update for Windows 11. The first patch aimed to resolve various problems but resulted in shutdown issues for certain machines, particularly those using the Enterprise and IoT editions of Windows 11 version 23H2. In response, Microsoft released an out-of-band update to fix these shutdown problems. A week later, another out-of-band update was required to address crashes in OneDrive and Dropbox for users on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. Additionally, Microsoft is investigating reports of boot failures linked to the January update, with some machines experiencing bluescreen errors and requiring manual recovery. This situation mirrors a previous incident where a security update was initially blamed for SSD issues, which were later attributed to firmware and motherboard BIOS problems.

Winsage

January 20, 2026

Microsoft issues emergency patch for latest Windows bugs

Microsoft released the January Patch Tuesday update on January 13, 2026, addressing over 110 security vulnerabilities. The update introduced bugs affecting Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows Server. The first issue involves authentication failures when connecting to a Cloud PC via Remote Desktop, primarily affecting Windows 11 25H2, Windows 10 22H2 ESU, and Windows Server 2025. The second issue affects systems with Secure Launch enabled, causing unexpected restarts instead of shutting down or entering hibernation mode, specifically impacting Windows 11 23H2. Microsoft has released emergency patches for the affected versions, which include: - Windows 11, versions 25H2 and 24H2 (KB5077744) - Windows 11, version 23H2 (KB5077797) - Windows 10, version 22H2 ESU and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 (KB5077796) - Windows Server 2025 (KB5077793) - Windows Server 2022 (KB5077800) - Windows Server 2019 and Enterprise LTSC 2019 (KB5077795)

Winsage

January 19, 2026

Windows 11 Home vs Pro: Expert Issues Upgrade Advice

Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro share consistent performance, with both versions offering the same kernel, gaming features, and applications. Key functionalities such as Copilot, Windows Defender, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0 protections are available on both editions, assuming hardware requirements are met. Windows 11 Home is simpler for most consumers, performing updates seamlessly and allowing free upgrades from eligible Windows 10 devices. Windows 11 Pro offers enhanced control capabilities through the Group Policy Editor, allowing for update deferrals and more extensive system management. Pro includes BitLocker device encryption, centralized management features, and the ability to join domains and integrate with Azure Active Directory. It also supports virtualization features like Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox, which are not available in Home. Pro can serve as a host for remote desktop connections, while Home can only connect to remote PCs. In terms of hardware limits, Windows 11 Home supports up to 128GB of RAM and one CPU socket, while Pro supports up to 2TB of RAM and two CPU sockets. The retail prices are approximately 9 for Home and 9.99 for Pro, with upgrade options available. For general users, Windows 11 Home is recommended, but Pro is advisable for those needing remote desktop hosting, BitLocker management, update deferrals, or virtualization capabilities.

Winsage

January 19, 2026

Copilot Uninstall Lands On Managed Windows But With Catches

IT administrators can now uninstall the Microsoft Copilot app from managed Windows devices under specific conditions. This option is available only for devices running an Insider Preview of Windows 11 and is designed for Enterprise, Pro, and Education editions. The Group Policy named RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp allows this uninstallation, but it requires that the Microsoft 365 Copilot and the Microsoft Copilot app are installed, the app must not have been user-installed, and it must remain unopened for 28 days. The policy aims to prevent accidental removals and ensure organizations consider the app's deprecation thoughtfully. For unmanaged PCs, users can hide the Copilot button and disable it in Startup Apps to minimize its presence, but a straightforward uninstallation method is not yet available.

Winsage

January 17, 2026

You can finally uninstall Microsoft Copilot on Windows 11, but there’s a catch

Microsoft has introduced a feature allowing certain users to uninstall Copilot from Windows 11 through a Group Policy setting named RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp, available in the latest Insider builds for Developer and Beta channels. This option is accessible to IT administrators managing devices on Enterprise, Pro, or EDU versions of Windows. However, the ability to remove Copilot depends on specific conditions: both the free Microsoft Copilot app and the paid Microsoft 365 Copilot must be installed, the Copilot app must not have been user-installed, and it must not have been activated in the past 28 days. Users need to disable Copilot in Startup Apps and avoid opening it for nearly a month to qualify for uninstallation. The process can be initiated via the Group Policy Editor for those with administrative privileges, but it is a one-time event, with the option to reinstall Copilot later. There has been significant user demand for this uninstallation option, particularly after a bug in March 2025 that removed Copilot for some users, which was positively received on social media.

Winsage

January 17, 2026

Windows 11 shutdown bug: Microsoft confirms KB5073455 issue

Microsoft has acknowledged a shutdown issue affecting Windows 11 Enterprise and IoT editions after the January 13, 2026 security update (KB5073455) for version 23H2, which prevents affected systems from shutting down properly, causing them to either hibernate or restart instead. The problem is linked to the System Guard Secure Launch feature and does not affect Windows 11 Home and Pro editions. A temporary workaround involves using the command "shutdown /s /t 0" in an elevated Command Prompt to force a shutdown, but there is no workaround for hibernation functionality. Microsoft is working on a resolution and suggests that enterprise IT administrators consider pausing the deployment of the update on unaffected devices.

Winsage

January 13, 2026

New Windows updates replace expiring Secure Boot certificates

Microsoft is enhancing security for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 users by automatically replacing expiring Secure Boot certificates on eligible devices. Secure Boot protects against malicious software by ensuring only trusted bootloaders are executed during startup. Many Secure Boot certificates are set to expire starting in June 2026, which could jeopardize secure booting capabilities if not updated. The update includes a mechanism to identify devices eligible for automatic receipt of new Secure Boot certificates. IT administrators are advised to install the new certificates to maintain Secure Boot functionality and prevent loss of security updates. Organizations can also deploy Secure Boot certificates through various methods. IT administrators should inventory their devices, verify Secure Boot status, and apply necessary firmware updates before installing Microsoft's certificate updates.

Winsage

January 12, 2026

Windows 11 File Explorer Lag: Legacy XP Feature Fix via Registry Tweak

File Explorer in Windows 11 has been reported to have performance issues, particularly delays when navigating folders with many media files or documents. This problem is linked to the auto-discovery feature, which optimizes folder display settings based on content but incurs a significant computational burden. Disabling this feature through registry modifications can lead to improved performance, with users experiencing faster navigation and reduced folder load times. Microsoft has acknowledged these issues and plans to preload File Explorer for quicker launches, but the underlying problems remain largely unaddressed. Users have shared their experiences and solutions, including registry tweaks that set folder types to "NotSpecified" to eliminate scanning overhead. Despite some incremental updates from Microsoft, many users still face core lags, prompting ongoing community-driven fixes and discussions about the need for deeper audits of legacy code.

Winsage

January 11, 2026

Microsoft Tests Uninstall Option for Copilot AI on Windows Devices

Microsoft is testing a new policy that allows IT administrators to completely uninstall its Copilot AI assistant from managed Windows devices. This policy, named “RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp,” is being deployed through management tools like Intune and System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) and addresses concerns about data privacy, resource consumption, and unwanted software in commercial settings. The feature is currently available in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7535 (KB5072046) and reflects feedback from IT professionals who prefer controlled environments. While this option is exclusive to enterprise-tier Microsoft 365 subscribers, smaller businesses and individual users have limited options for removal. The policy aims to balance innovation with risk management, especially in regulated sectors like healthcare and finance, where data privacy is critical.