Microsoft 365 Archives

Winsage

November 24, 2025

Microsoft will soon let you say goodbye to Copilot — just not in the way you hoped

Microsoft is integrating artificial intelligence into Windows 11 with significant updates, including a new AI agent named Copilot Actions designed to assist users and enhance productivity. The update features a "Hey Copilot" wake word for activating Copilot Vision mode, allowing for a hands-free experience. A semantic farewell phrase will enable users to conclude voice sessions seamlessly. The Copilot Vision feature is currently in preview and is expected to roll out more broadly next month. However, a retracted advertisement revealed challenges with Copilot's performance, indicating the need for further refinement of the AI's capabilities.

Winsage

November 23, 2025

Microsoft faces uphill climb to turn enterprise dominance into widespread AI chatbot adoption

Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella highlighted that over 150 million users are engaging with its Copilot assistant, which aims to enhance productivity in various sectors. However, there are challenges in the enterprise market, with clients hesitant to adopt Copilot licenses and some wanting to reduce their licenses. Copilot, launched as an add-on to Microsoft 365, helps with tasks like summarizing emails and creating presentations. Microsoft has invested heavily in AI, particularly through its Azure cloud infrastructure, which reported a 40% revenue growth. Competing tech companies like Adobe, Google, Salesforce, and Workday are also targeting the enterprise AI market. Despite skepticism, over 90% of Fortune 500 companies use Microsoft 365 Copilot, and some organizations have purchased large numbers of licenses. To encourage adoption, Microsoft plans to introduce a new tier for Microsoft 365 Copilot Business and has offered discounts in the past. Companies like Land O'Lakes and Pearson have successfully integrated Copilot into their operations. Microsoft is also collaborating with Anthropic to enhance its AI offerings. Daily usage of Copilot among commercial sales and support staff has increased, indicating growing internal traction.

Winsage

November 22, 2025

How to manage AI actions in File Explorer on Windows 11

Microsoft has introduced AI enhancements in Windows 11, particularly in File Explorer, featuring "Ask Copilot" and "Semantic Indexing." AI actions have been added to the context menu, allowing users to perform tasks based on file types, with integration into Microsoft 365 apps, Photos, or Paint. The rollout began with the September 2025 Security Update, but users in Europe may experience delays in access. To enable AI actions in File Explorer, users should open Settings, click on Apps, select the Actions page, and turn on the AI actions. Users can engage with AI actions by right-clicking on image files (JPG, JPEG, PNG) and selecting options like Bing Visual Search, Blur Background, Erase Objects, Remove Background, and Describe Image. If Microsoft 365 apps are installed, users can summarize documents and convert tables without opening the apps. To disable AI actions, users can follow the same steps as enabling them but turn off the AI actions instead. The "AI actions" menu will still appear, but no active features will be displayed.

Winsage

November 21, 2025

As Windows turns 40, Microsoft faces an AI backlash

Microsoft is transforming Windows into an "agentic OS" by integrating advanced AI capabilities, as announced at the Ignite conference. The reception has been mixed, with users expressing concerns similar to those after the release of Windows 8. Windows chief Pavan Davuluri faced criticism on social media regarding the initiative, with users calling for a return to simpler interfaces like Windows 7. Despite acknowledging user pain points, many feel that the focus on AI features overshadows necessary improvements. The integration of AI tools like Copilot has received mixed reviews, with reports of unreliability. CEO Satya Nadella envisions a shift towards AI agents performing tasks, while also emphasizing the need for user control over their experience. Microsoft aims to balance innovation with user preferences, allowing users to opt-in to AI features at their own pace. Recent developments include a hotfix driver from Nvidia for Windows 11 performance issues, the return of a calendar feature to Windows 11, integration of Google's AI models into GitHub Copilot, and enhancements in security and performance for Windows and Office applications.

Winsage

November 20, 2025

2025 Windows 11 PC holiday buying guide: Best devices and deals

The holiday season is an ideal time to gift a Windows 11 PC, which can enhance gaming setups, assist with creative projects, and simplify daily tasks. Windows 11 PCs now feature Copilot, an AI-powered assistant that streamlines tasks through voice commands. A survey shows that over half of Gen Z and Millennials use generative AI weekly. Various Windows 11 PCs are available for different users, including: - Lenovo Legion 5 15": A gaming laptop with AMD Ryzen 7 260 processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 graphics, starting at ,249.99 MSRP, currently ,169.99 at Walmart. - ROG Xbox Ally: A portable gaming device starting at 9.99, available at Microsoft.com and Best Buy. - Dell 16 Plus Laptop: Designed for students, starting at ,149.99 MSRP. - Samsung Galaxy Book5 360: A versatile 2-in-1 PC starting at ,349.99 MSRP. - Acer Aspire 14 AI: A portable laptop starting at 9.99 MSRP at Costco.com. - ASUS Zenbook 14: Lightweight with multi-day battery life, starting at 9 MSRP at Walmart. - Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 Copilot+ PC: Starting at ,199.99 at Best Buy. - Surface Pro 12-inch: A portable 2-in-1 device starting at 9.99 MSRP at Best Buy. - HP OmniBook 5 14-inch: Offers long battery life, starting at 9.99 MSRP. - Surface Laptop 13-inch: Lightweight with AI features, starting at 9.99 MSRP at Best Buy. Retailers like Microsoft, Best Buy, and Costco offer significant holiday deals on these PCs, with discounts and promotions available. Microsoft.com features exclusive deals, price protection, and free shipping until January 31, 2026. Xbox deals include discounts on games and accessories, with Xbox Game Pass Premium subscriptions and Microsoft gift cards available as gift options.

Winsage

November 20, 2025

Windows 11’s Only New Useful Feature Has Nothing to Do With AI

Microsoft has introduced a range of artificial intelligence features in Windows 11, marking a departure from Windows 10. The Calendar flyout feature, which was absent since October 2021, will return, allowing users to access it by clicking the date and time stamp in the bottom right corner of the screen. The new Copilot chatbot will integrate AI capabilities into various text boxes across the operating system, utilizing the neural processing unit (NPU) of modern PCs to enhance efficiency. The taskbar will include the "Ask Copilot" function and a new Researcher app for facilitating research. Users can opt out of these taskbar apps if desired. The "Fluid dictation" tool will convert speech to text, while Microsoft 365 applications will use AI for email summaries and automatic alt-text for images. An "Agent Mode" will enable users to create documents and spreadsheets based on simple prompts. At the Ignite 2025 conference, Microsoft emphasized its vision of Windows 11 as an "agentic" operating system capable of executing complex tasks autonomously, although this raises concerns about data security.

Winsage

November 20, 2025

I miss when Windows came with fun games

Windows has included built-in games since its inception, starting with Reversi in Windows 1.0. Classic games like Minesweeper, Pinball, and chess were staples, particularly during the golden era of Windows XP in 2001, which offered a diverse selection of games. Windows Vista and 7 maintained enjoyable built-in games, but Windows 8 marked a decline, moving many classic games to the Windows Store and redesigning them with monetization strategies. Windows 10 further complicated the gaming landscape by integrating heavily monetized titles, leading to a perception of greed rather than enjoyment. The shift in gaming experiences reflects broader industry trends, with fewer companies offering free built-in games.

Winsage

November 19, 2025

Windows 11’s Taskbar calendar is finally gaining support for viewing upcoming events and meetings — the glow up we’ve been waiting for

Microsoft is enhancing the Taskbar calendar flyout in Windows 11 to include an "agenda view," allowing users to view and interact with upcoming events and meetings. This feature, previously available in Windows 10, will debut in a preview next month. The update will provide a chronological list of events integrated with the Calendar, enabling users to join meetings directly. Additionally, Microsoft is introducing new AI capabilities, including AI-generated text in any text box and an agentic workspace feature. A hardware-accelerated version of BitLocker for faster data encryption will also launch next year on new PCs running Windows 11. The general availability of the new calendar feature is anticipated in 2026.

Winsage

November 19, 2025

Windows 11 Adds New Recovery Tools to Minimize Downtime

Microsoft unveiled new Windows Recovery tools during the Ignite 2025 keynote to help IT teams reduce downtime and streamline remediation processes. Enhancements to Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) include WinRE networking support, which will initially support Ethernet and later add Enterprise Wi-Fi capabilities. Autopatch can now manage and approve QMR updates, currently in public preview. Microsoft Intune's remote recovery via WinRE allows IT administrators to monitor devices in recovery mode and deploy scripts directly from the console, extending to Windows Server VMs through the Azure Portal. New recovery options for Windows PCs include a point-in-time restore feature for reverting to previous states and a Cloud rebuild feature for remotely reinstalling Windows 11 on malfunctioning devices. These updates are expected to be generally available to commercial customers in the first half of 2026. Microsoft has also introduced Autopatch update readiness in preview, providing real-time insights into device update readiness through a unified Intune dashboard. Additionally, new tools for incident management include Mission Critical Services for Microsoft 365, allowing collaboration with Windows engineers, and Windows 365 Reserve, which offers secure temporary Cloud PCs. Microsoft Intune will issue alerts when devices enter WinRE to prioritize recovery efforts, and a Digital Signage mode will prevent error messages on non-interactive public displays.

Winsage

November 19, 2025

Microsoft issues patch after Windows 10 ESU rollout stumbles

Microsoft has released a patch identified as KB5072653, called the "Extended Security Updates (ESU) Licensing Preparation Package for Windows 10," to address concerns from commercial customers facing errors during the first Patch Tuesday after the end of support. To install this patch, devices must first have the October 2025 security update. The ESU program allows customers to receive essential security updates for Windows 10 after the official support period, operating on a subscription basis. The program has faced challenges, including difficulties with the enrollment wizard and installation errors for some users. Microsoft charges a fee for these updates, which increases in subsequent years. Windows 11 has not yet surpassed Windows 10 in market share, with Windows 10 still holding over 40 percent of the Windows desktop market after the end of free support for most versions. The ESU program aims to maintain security for Windows 10 devices, despite the challenges faced.