Microsoft Store Archives

Winsage

July 15, 2026

Indomitus Group Brings indiAccounting to Windows: Buy-Once Accounting and Payroll Now Available for Windows 11

Indomitus Group has launched indiAccounting, a desktop accounting and payroll application for Windows 10 and 11, available for a one-time purchase of 9. This application, initially launched for Linux, offers a robust double-entry accounting system with optional payroll functionality for all 50 states. Unlike subscription-based services that can cost small businesses between ,000 to ,000 annually, indiAccounting allows users to own their software and data without recurring fees. The application operates offline, requires no account setup, and includes features such as double-entry bookkeeping, invoicing, accounts management, inventory tracking, and financial reporting. The optional indiPayroll add-on manages payroll calculations and tax forms for all states. Users can manage an unlimited number of businesses under a single license, with each company maintaining isolated financial records.

AppWizard

July 14, 2026

How The Coalition and NVIDIA are Building Gears of War: E-Day for PC

Gears of War: E-Day is being developed by XBOX and The Coalition as the most immersive and technically advanced entry in the franchise, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and DirectX 12, optimized for various PC hardware. NVIDIA is the exclusive PC partner, focusing on integrating GeForce RTX technologies for performance enhancements and launch support. The game emphasizes emotional storytelling, intense combat, and cinematic visuals, featuring advanced rendering capabilities like hardware ray tracing and NVIDIA RTX enhancements. It incorporates NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, Dynamic Multi Frame Generation, Super Resolution, and NVIDIA Reflex for improved gameplay performance. The game will also support AMD FSR, Unreal Engine TSR, Intel XeSS, and Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) to optimize performance and visual fidelity. Gears of War: E-Day will be available on multiple PC storefronts, including the Microsoft Store and the XBOX PC app, with Early Access to the Open Beta starting August 6 and the official launch on October 6.

Winsage

July 14, 2026

Microsoft Releases July 2026 Patch Tuesday Updates

Microsoft has released the July 2026 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 versions 26H1, 25H2, and 24H2, introducing several key features: - A new recovery feature allows users to revert their PCs to a recent restore point. - The Widgets experience has been revamped to minimize distractions, including no longer opening upon hover and reduced memory usage. - Users can pause Windows updates for up to 35 days and re-pause them as needed. - A new screen tint feature applies a color overlay to reduce eye strain. - Magnifier now offers preset zoom increments and allows specific zoom percentages to be input. - Bluetooth connectivity improvements include quicker pairing for Apple’s AirPods and better reliability for Beats Studio Pro headphones. - Voice access and voice typing features are now available in French, German, and Spanish. - Users can customize the right-click zone size on touchpads with a pressable surface. - The emoji panel now uses GIPHY for GIF content. - Taskbar notification counts and badge visuals will update accurately. For Qualcomm-powered PCs running Windows 11 version 26H1, the KB5101649 update includes the Point-in-time restore feature and introduces new NPU usage metrics in Task Manager, the option to assign a custom user folder name during setup, and allows multiple applications to access the camera stream simultaneously. Improvements have also been made to Windows Hello authentication and Microsoft Store performance, along with enhancements to Windows Search for better file location and prioritization.

Winsage

July 14, 2026

Microsoft Is Finally Cleaning Up Windows 11 Search By Stripping Away Ads

Windows 11 users have expressed frustrations with the operating system's search function, which has been cluttered and confusing. Microsoft is implementing a comprehensive overhaul to improve the search experience, currently rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel. Key enhancements include the removal of promotional content from web results, prioritization of local results, and the introduction of a setting to disable web and Microsoft Store suggestions. Local content will be ranked higher in search results, and the search function will better tolerate typographical errors. Additionally, file searches will support two-character queries, and results will clearly indicate their sources. These changes are being tested first and will not be immediately available to all Windows 11 PCs.

Winsage

July 14, 2026

Microsoft is Finally Fixing Windows Search, No More Promotional Content

Microsoft has updated the Windows Search Box in Windows 11, now available to Windows Insiders on the Experimental Channel. The updates focus on delivering fewer, more relevant search results, improving user experience by reducing visual noise. Recent searches are easily accessible, and each result clearly indicates its source, enhancing transparency. Promotional content has been eliminated, prioritizing local matches from apps, settings, and files. Users can customize their experience by disabling web searches and Microsoft Store suggestions through Settings. Additionally, file search functionality has been improved for faster and more reliable results, accommodating minor spelling errors.

Winsage

July 14, 2026

Microsoft just decluttered Windows 11 Search after years of MSN tiles, ads, and trivia

Microsoft is rolling out significant enhancements to Windows Search, starting on July 13, aimed at creating a more streamlined and user-friendly experience for Insiders. The update eliminates clutter from the interface, removing web suggestions and ads, and replacing them with a clean home screen that displays recent searches. Each search result now includes clear labels indicating its source, and the layout has been improved for better organization. Sponsored product cards have been removed from web results, leading to direct answers without promotional content. Users can customize their experience with toggles to disable Bing web results or Microsoft Store suggestions. Local matches now take precedence over web results, improving search accuracy. File search has been enhanced to display results more quickly and include cloud files alongside local ones. Microsoft has also improved the reliability of Search, reducing crashes and loading issues. Users can enable the new features through the Feature flags page if they do not activate after a reboot. There is no official timeline for when these changes will be available to all Windows users.

Winsage

July 14, 2026

Improving Windows Search Box, with less clutter and more control

Windows Insiders in the Experimental channel are beginning to receive phased enhancements to the Windows Search Box. Key improvements include a streamlined home screen to reduce visual clutter, clearer context for search results indicating their source (app, setting, file, web result, or Store suggestion), and the removal of promotional content from web results. Users can control the display of web and Microsoft Store results through a new setting. Local results are prioritized when relevant, and the search function has improved its handling of typos and partial words. Ranking enhancements for settings results and better file search capabilities have been implemented, along with increased reliability and reduced crashes. Feedback is encouraged through the Feedback Hub.

Winsage

July 13, 2026

Windows Insiders Can Test a Decluttered Windows Search Experience

Windows Insiders in the Experimental Channel can explore enhancements to the Windows Search experience, including features to conceal recommended content and trending searches, and improvements to the quality of search results by emphasizing local outcomes. Users can streamline the search home interface to display only recent searches and benefit from a redesigned preview pane with clearer headers and informative metadata. New options in the Settings menu allow users to hide web and Microsoft Store suggestions from search results, and when web results are activated, promotional content will not appear in the preview pane. Ranking improvements have been initiated to ensure more relevant settings appear higher in search results, with local results prioritized over web and Store suggestions. The search functionality has been enhanced to accurately locate content even with typographical errors and now supports two-character file searches. These improvements will be gradually rolled out to Insiders, with manual activation available through the new feature flags menu in Windows Settings.

Winsage

July 13, 2026

Microsoft demystifies how Windows updates work

Microsoft has released a guide on the Windows servicing model, detailing monthly security updates, optional preview releases, hotpatch updates, and feature rollout mechanisms. Patch Tuesday occurs every second Tuesday of the month, delivering cumulative security updates to supported Windows versions. For consumers and small businesses, updates are managed through Windows Update, while enterprises can use various tools like Windows Autopatch and WSUS. Hotpatch updates, which focus on security fixes, can be installed without a restart, unlike quarterly baseline updates that require one. Optional non-security preview updates are released in the fourth week of each month for testing upcoming fixes and new features, available only for the latest supported Windows versions. Unmanaged devices can access these updates through Windows Update settings, while IT-managed devices depend on organizational policies. Microsoft also issues out-of-band updates to address urgent issues, which can be deployed through enterprise management tools. New features for Windows 11 are rolled out throughout the year via various channels, with a gradual rollout strategy to monitor quality and compatibility, using the Controlled Feature Rollout approach.

Winsage

July 12, 2026

Microsoft Confirms Windows GDID Device Identifier That Cannot Be Disabled, Documented in FBI Case Filing

Microsoft has confirmed the existence of the Global Device Identifier (GDID), a unique identifier assigned to Windows installations, in a federal complaint against an alleged member of the Scattered Spider hacking group. The GDID is generated when a Windows system is set up with a Microsoft Account and remains active through various Windows updates. Disabling the GDID could disrupt Windows activation and access to Microsoft Store applications. The GDID is described as "a persistent, device-level identifier designed to uniquely identify an installation of a Windows operating system on a device." It is created during the provisioning of Windows with a Microsoft Account and is stored in the Windows registry under HKCUSOFTWAREMicrosoftIdentityCRLExtendedProperties. The GDID remains persistent through Windows updates but is not retained after a clean reinstall. A single user can possess multiple GDIDs linked through their account, OneDrive, and activation history. The FBI used the GDID to track Peter Stokes, an alleged member of the Scattered Spider group, across various VPN connections and proxy servers. The GDID was recorded visiting specific websites and was linked to Stokes's accounts on platforms like Snapchat and Facebook. Concerns have been raised regarding user privacy, as the GDID is assigned without user consent and cannot be disabled without compromising essential Windows features. Microsoft has not committed to providing user-facing controls or comprehensive documentation for everyday users regarding the GDID. Legal requests can compel Microsoft to disclose GDID activity data to law enforcement. The GDID is linked to the Microsoft Account rather than the device itself, meaning reinstalling the operating system does not sever this connection.