password icon Archives

Winsage

March 1, 2026

Windows 11 continues gaining traction, nears 75% market share — Windows 10 finally on the way out, some five months after Microsoft axes support

Windows 11 has an installation rate of nearly 75% on desktop PCs globally, with a market share of 72.78%, up from just over 50% in late 2025. Windows 10's installations have decreased to 26.27% from around 45% during the same period. Launched in October 2021, Windows 11 gained popularity after Microsoft announced the end of support for Windows 10, although its adoption faced challenges due to hardware requirements and the need for a Microsoft account. Users have sought workarounds for these limitations, but Microsoft has tightened restrictions. Some former Windows 10 users are switching to alternatives like macOS or Linux instead of upgrading to new Microsoft-promoted PCs. Windows 11 has also encountered technical issues, including a missing sign-in password icon, reduced gaming performance on certain Nvidia GPUs, and data loss due to BitLocker recovery. Microsoft has committed to addressing these issues in the near future.

Winsage

January 22, 2026

Windows 11 backgrounds are finally joining the modern era.

The latest Windows Insider build, 26220.7653, allows users to set .webp images as their desktop background on Windows 11 through the Beta Channel. The design of dialogs in "Accounts > Other Users" has been updated to use the modern WinUI framework and support dark mode, contingent on having a domain-joined work or school account. The Click to Do feature now loads Copilot prompt suggestions instantly, although this is not available to Insiders in the European Economic Area or China. Various fixes have been implemented, including resolving issues with the taskbar, Bluetooth device battery level display, login screen password icon, and Settings crashing when interacting with audio devices. Additionally, issues related to Notepad, explorer.exe, and msinfo32 have been addressed.

Winsage

January 16, 2026

For January, Patch Tuesday starts off with a bang

Users accessing Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365 Cloud PCs through the Windows App may experience authentication errors and credential prompt failures after installing updates KB5074109, KB5073455, or KB5073724. Microsoft is preparing an out-of-band fix and advises affected users to connect via the Remote Desktop client for Windows or the Windows App Web Client. A minor subset of users may also find the password icon missing on the Windows login screen, an issue since the August 2025 update, for which Microsoft has introduced a Known Issue Rollback for Pro and Home users, while enterprise deployments should implement an updated Group Policy. Microsoft has removed legacy Agere and Motorola soft modem drivers to address CVE-2023-31096, a security vulnerability, which will render hardware reliant on these drivers non-functional after the January updates. Additionally, certificates from 2011 used by many Windows devices will begin to expire in June and October, potentially causing boot issues or loss of access to Secure Boot security fixes for devices not updated with 2023 certificates. A new section for resolved issues has been introduced in the monthly updates, addressing challenges impacting enterprise environments.

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7653 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7653 (KB5074157) has been released to the Beta Channel. Changes and Improvements: - The "Accounts > Other Users" dialog has been redesigned using the WinUI framework and now supports dark mode. - Copilot prompt suggestions in Click to Do will load instantly, but this change is not available for Insiders in the EEA or China. - Users can now set .webp images as their desktop background. Fixes: - Taskbar autohide issue resolved. - Start menu memory leak fixed and issues with incorrect opening side for Arabic and Hebrew users addressed. - Bluetooth battery level display issue resolved. - Fixed unexpected app behavior in Xbox full-screen experience. - Login screen password icon issue fixed. - Resolved crash in Settings when interacting with audio devices. - Fixed keyboard character repeat delay settings discrepancy. - Addressed clipped text issues in msinfo32 and installation errors with .appinstaller files. - Notepad font display issue corrected. - Fixed explorer.exe hang issue upon logging in. Known Issues: - Some applications may exhibit unexpected behavior in Xbox full-screen experience. - Investigating visibility issues of apps in the system tray for some Insiders. - Addressing display issues on secondary monitors showing black screens. - Working on a fix for Microsoft 365 Copilot prompt box functionality when the app is not running. Reminders: - Updates are based on Windows 11, version 25H2. - Features are rolled out gradually using Controlled Feature Rollout technology. - Features in development may not be released to the public and can evolve or be removed.

Winsage

December 23, 2025

Has 2025 seen a successful refresh to Windows 11?

Windows 11 has a market share of 53.7%, while Windows 10 has 42.7%. Approximately 700 million devices are running Windows 11. Microsoft has urged users to upgrade from Windows 10, which officially ended support in October 2025, leaving users without updates or security patches. Users on Windows 10 may need to purchase an extended security package for protection until October 2026. Hardware compatibility issues, particularly with the Trusted Platform Module 2.0 requirement, may prevent some users from upgrading. The 25H2 update for Windows 11 introduced various enhancements but also created new issues. Windows 12's release is uncertain, with expectations for AI advancements, but details are speculative.

Winsage

December 11, 2025

Why You Should Install Windows 11’s December 2025 Patch ASAP

Recent trends in cybersecurity emphasize the importance of timely security updates to protect sensitive data. Two significant vulnerabilities addressed in recent updates include one that allowed privilege escalation through the Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver and another that made GitHub Copilot for JetBrains susceptible to remote code injections. The KB5072033 update also includes bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements for Windows 11 users, such as recommendations to disable AI features like Recall for better performance and fixes for erratic behavior in the "Ask Copilot" extension. Additionally, it resolves an issue in the networking stack affecting external virtual switches and a visual glitch in File Explorer that caused a bright white flash when switching directories. However, a known issue with the new patch may make it difficult for some users to locate the password icon on the lock screen, which can be temporarily resolved by hovering the cursor over the area. Users can check for updates through the system tray or by navigating to Start > Settings > Windows Update.

Winsage

December 2, 2025

Windows 11: Password button may be missing on the lock-screen

Microsoft has acknowledged a new issue affecting Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, which arose from the August 2025 non-security preview updates. Users have reported that the password button is missing from the lock screen sign-in page, although the area where the icon should be remains functional for entering passwords. This issue was first noted on November 30, 2025, and there is currently no workaround other than clicking the invisible area to sign in. Microsoft is working on a resolution and will provide updates.

Winsage

December 1, 2025

Microsoft confirms KB5064081 update hides Windows 11 lock screen password icon

Microsoft has acknowledged that a recent update, KB5064081, has inadvertently concealed the password sign-in option from the lock screen in Windows 11, affecting some users. The update was released at the end of August 2025, and while not all users are impacted, it has raised concerns about accessibility. The password icon is not visible when multiple sign-in options are enabled, but users can still log in by hovering over the area where the icon should appear. Microsoft has not provided a fix or timeline for resolution.

Winsage

November 30, 2025

Windows update makes sign-in password icon invisible — Microsoft says you can still click on empty space to enter your password

Microsoft has acknowledged a minor issue in the non-security preview update KB5064081, which may complicate the login process for users by causing the password icon to be missing or invisible on the lock screen. Users can still log in by clicking on the empty space where the button typically resides. This issue primarily affects the Windows user interface and is expected to impact only users within the preview channel. Microsoft is actively working to resolve this issue. Additionally, Microsoft previously issued an emergency patch for a different update that rendered users unable to use their keyboard and mouse in the Windows Recovery Environment and released a driver update that improved performance in certain games by 50%. Windows Insider channels are in place to catch most bugs before they reach the general user base, but some glitches still occur in wider releases.

Winsage

November 30, 2025

A Windows 11 bug is hiding your password sign-in button, and you have to hunt for it

Windows 11 users are experiencing a bug after the August 2025 update (KB5064081) that causes the password sign-in icon to disappear. Although the button is still present, users must hover over the blank space where the icon should be to make it reappear and access the password input field. Microsoft is aware of the issue and is working on a fix. In the meantime, some users are considering alternatives like Linux's Zorin OS 18, which has seen over 720,000 downloads in a month.