Microsoft Store Archives

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Forza Horizon 6 launch times and release date in your region

Forza Horizon 6 will be set in Japan and features a new Horizon Festival with street racing, drifting, and kei trucks. The early access launch for the Premium edition will be at 12:01 AM local time for Xbox and Xbox App users, and at 9:01 PM PDT for US Pacific timezone players on May 14. Steam users will have access at 4:01 AM UTC. Global release times include: 12:01 AM EDT (US Eastern), 5:01 AM GMT (UK), 6:01 AM CEST (Europe), 2:01 PM AEST (Australia), 4:01 PM NZST (New Zealand), and 1:01 PM JST (Japan). Preloads are available, requiring 160 GB on PC and at least 135 GB on Xbox, and PC gamers must update their Gaming Services for optimal performance.

Winsage

May 13, 2026

Former Windows boss reveals why modern Windows 11 apps feel slower, says Microsoft once gave every engineer a stopwatch

Steven Sinofsky, former head of the Windows Division at Microsoft, discussed the company's engineering culture and its focus on resource management from 1980 to 2000, where every engineer was given a physical stopwatch to measure various performance metrics. This practice emphasized optimizing software for speed and efficiency, a stark contrast to modern applications that consume significant RAM due to shifts in market dynamics and hardware advancements. The current trend prioritizes rapid feature deployment over optimization, leading to performance issues in applications. Microsoft is responding to criticism by enhancing the performance of Windows 11, focusing on native desktop applications and optimizing core components, including the Start menu and File Explorer. They are also testing new CPU scheduling profiles to reduce micro-lags during user interactions.

Winsage

May 13, 2026

Your laptop has a hidden control panel Windows won’t show you

Your laptop's utility application provides various features that enhance productivity, often overlooked during setup. It typically appears on the desktop or taskbar and offers functionalities that extend beyond basic Windows Settings. Key features include: - A dashboard summarizing essential PC attributes such as battery status, memory availability, CPU performance, serial number, and warranty information. - Diagnostic tools for troubleshooting and a method to check for updates, including Windows Update, Microsoft Store, and the utility application itself. - Performance settings for adjusting fan speed, allowing for higher performance or quieter operation. - Options to adjust the color gamut for professionals in photography or design, with different color profiles available. - Charging mode adjustments to extend battery lifespan by limiting charging to around 80% during regular use. - Sound presets to enhance audio quality for music, movies, or gaming. - OLED management features to mitigate burn-in issues on OLED displays. - Presence detection technology that locks the device when the user is away and can utilize facial recognition or smartphone proximity for unlocking.

Winsage

May 11, 2026

Windows 11 is getting a macOS-like speed boost

Microsoft is testing a feature called the "Low Latency Profile" for Windows 11, which aims to reduce app launch times and improve the responsiveness of the Start menu by using dynamic CPU scaling to temporarily boost CPU frequency. Testers have reported up to a 40 percent acceleration in app launch times for Microsoft applications and up to 70 percent speed enhancements for the Start menu and context menus. Some critics have expressed concerns about this CPU burst approach, but Microsoft’s Scott Hanselman defended it, stating that similar techniques are used by other operating systems like macOS and Linux. This initiative is part of broader enhancements to improve Windows 11's performance, reliability, and user experience, including the removal of unnecessary Copilot buttons and less intrusive updates.

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 6, 2026

Microsoft’s Windows 11 update just fixed memory leaks, slow startup, and File Explorer bugs

Microsoft released the April 2026 optional preview update (KB5083631) for Windows 11, targeting versions 24H2 and 25H2. This update resolves the "white flash" bug in File Explorer, overhauls its codebase, and preserves user settings for View and Sort preferences. It improves the reliability of the explorer.exe process, optimizes the Delivery Optimization service to reduce memory leaks, and enhances the boot sequence for faster startup. The update lifts the FAT32 formatting limit from 32GB to 2TB. It also includes reliability improvements for the Taskbar, fixes for Microsoft Store download errors, resolves a Windows Hello fingerprint data loss issue, enhances Remote Desktop scaling, ensures color profile consistency, and improves the Fluid Dictation feature. The comprehensive improvements will be included in the mandatory Patch Tuesday update on May 12, 2026.

Winsage

May 5, 2026

All new features arriving in the Windows 11 May 2026 update

Microsoft will release the Windows 11 May 2026 update on May 12, 2026, as part of its regular Patch Tuesday rollout. Key features include: 1. Enhanced File Explorer with improved launch speed and persistent View/Sort preferences. 2. Haptic feedback integration for compatible input devices. 3. Xbox mode for an improved gaming experience, available to all users later this month. 4. Transformation of the Drag Tray to Drop Tray with settings relocated for easier file sharing. 5. Introduction of the Arabic 101 Legacy keyboard layout. 6. New AI agent support on the taskbar for app previews. 7. Ability to format FAT32 drives up to 2TB. 8. Updated Windows Driver policy requiring drivers to be signed through the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program. 9. Improvements to Voice Typing, allowing activation via the Voice Typing key. 10. Security changes restricting certain CMD scripts that could manipulate system files. 11. Updated Group Policy for removing default Microsoft Store packages with a dynamic list for customization.

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

Turn up Your Airwaves with the Horizon Festival’s Biggest Line-Up Yet

Forza Horizon 6 will feature a variety of accessibility options, including controller remapping, screen reading narration, subtitles, adjustable camera field-of-view settings, color-blind filters, and Offline Game Speed modification for PC players. It will also maintain difficulty settings and driving assists. A post-launch update will introduce American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) options for cinematics, allowing players to view an interpreter during scenes. Pre-orders are available on the Microsoft Store and Steam, with early purchasers receiving a pre-tuned Ferrari J50. Players can join the Forza Discord server for discussions and follow @ForzaHorizon on social media for updates.

Winsage

May 4, 2026

Windows Update Preview: Haptic Feedback and Xbox Gaming Mode

Microsoft has released preview updates for Windows that include haptic feedback and an improved Xbox mode. The haptic feedback feature provides tactile responses during actions like aligning objects in PowerPoint and resizing windows, supported by select devices such as the Surface Slim Pen 2 and Logitech's MX Master 4 after a firmware update. The improved Xbox mode offers a full-screen interface for gaming, accessible via the Windows+F11 shortcut. File Explorer now supports additional formats and remembers view and sort preferences for Downloads and Documents folders. Monitoring capabilities for AI agents have been enhanced, and Windows 11 allows the removal of pre-installed Microsoft Store apps through policies. The updates also introduce a new policy preventing the acceptance of drivers with cross-signed root certificates and enhance security measures for batch files. The updated Windows 11 versions will display build numbers 26200.8328 and 26100.8328.

Winsage

May 3, 2026

After testing LAP Photo Manager on Windows 11, I’m convinced it outperforms the built‑in Photos app in all the ways that matter

Lap is a free and open-source photo management application for Windows 11 (and 10), macOS, and Linux, designed for local photo libraries. It offers a modern interface, built-in editing tools, and supports various image and video formats, including RAW and HEIC. Lap allows users to manage extensive photo collections efficiently, with features like duplicate file detection and local AI capabilities such as natural language search and facial recognition. The app is available for download from its GitHub releases page and may trigger a SmartScreen warning during installation. It operates without requiring account setup or cloud configuration.