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Windows 11's File Explorer is restoring a feature it disabled for security, with a new "Preview anyway" button
Winsage
August 24, 2026

Windows 11’s File Explorer is restoring a feature it disabled for security, with a new “Preview anyway” button

Windows 11 will reintroduce the “Preview anyway” button for downloaded files in File Explorer, enhancing functionality and convenience. This update is expected to roll out in the coming weeks. The Preview pane in File Explorer stopped displaying previews for downloaded files on October 14, 2025, due to a security measure implemented by Microsoft to protect users from potential threats associated with previewing unsafe files. Users received warnings when attempting to preview downloaded files, advising them to trust the source. The restriction affects files marked with the Mark of the Web, including various downloads from browsers and email attachments. Previously, users could unblock files manually or through PowerShell scripts. The new “Preview anyway” button will allow users to override the warning for trusted files while still receiving a cautionary message.
Windows 11’s legacy UI cleanup continues as Microsoft updates one of its oldest dialogs
Winsage
August 22, 2026

Windows 11’s legacy UI cleanup continues as Microsoft updates one of its oldest dialogs

Microsoft has introduced a revamped AutoPlay dialog box in the latest Windows Insider build, utilizing WinUI for improved performance and visual consistency. The updated AutoPlay interface supports dark mode and retains familiar functionalities, with notifications now docked in the notification center. A new accessibility feature, Open apps maximized, allows application windows to open automatically in a maximized state. Users can manage camera, microphone, and location access for desktop apps on an individual basis, with permissions reviewed in Settings > Privacy & security. Existing app permission decisions remain unchanged. PDF and non-HTML files can now be previewed in File Explorer, and the Microsoft Store update supports in-app purchases in packaged WinUI 3 apps. Recent builds have fixed taskbar animation issues and improved mouse cursor visibility in certain applications. The Settings section has been updated to display version numbers for packaged apps.
New Windows 11 build brings automatic PDF previews to File Explorer for Insiders
Winsage
August 21, 2026

New Windows 11 build brings automatic PDF previews to File Explorer for Insiders

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Experimental Preview builds 26340.9233 (26H2) and 28120.2760 (26H1), featuring enhancements such as automatic PDF preview support in File Explorer and in-app purchase capabilities for WinUI 3 applications in the Microsoft Store. The 26H1 build addresses a bug causing the mouse cursor to be invisible in some applications but has a known compatibility issue that may prevent some users from launching PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS. The AutoPlay dialog has been revamped with WinUI, supporting dark mode and improved responsiveness. A new accessibility setting allows apps to open maximized by default, enhancing usability for screen readers and magnification tools. Users can manage camera, microphone, and location permissions for individual desktop applications, providing more control over privacy. File Explorer now supports automatic previews for PDF and non-HTML files, and the Microsoft Store update allows in-app purchases for packaged WinUI 3 apps. Bug fixes include resolving taskbar animation issues and ensuring visibility of the mouse cursor.
Microsoft's July patches fix over 600 flaws, shattering last month's record
Winsage
July 16, 2026

Microsoft’s July patches fix over 600 flaws, shattering last month’s record

Microsoft has released its July 2026 Patch Tuesday updates, addressing 570 new security vulnerabilities, bringing the total for the month to over 620. The cumulative count of vulnerabilities patched this year has reached 1,380, exceeding the total of 1,250 for the entire year of 2020. Over 400 vulnerabilities are related to various versions of Windows, and the Windows 10 Extended Security Update program has been extended until October 12, 2027. Notable vulnerabilities include CVE-2026-56155 in Active Directory Federation Services, which allows attackers to gain administrator rights, and several critical Remote Code Execution vulnerabilities, including CVE-2026-57092 in Hyper-V and CVE-2026-56190 in Remote Desktop Protocol. Microsoft has also patched 97 vulnerabilities in Office products, with 17 classified as critical RCE vulnerabilities, and four vulnerabilities in Exchange Server, including CVE-2026-55008. The latest Microsoft Edge update addresses 27 vulnerabilities related to Chromium, and a vulnerability in Minecraft Bedrock servers has been patched.
Microsoft just decluttered Windows 11 Search after years of MSN tiles, ads, and trivia
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.
Windows Insiders Can Test a Decluttered Windows Search Experience
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.
Microsoft patches a record 206 flaws—and one is already being exploited
Winsage
June 11, 2026

Microsoft patches a record 206 flaws—and one is already being exploited

Microsoft patched 206 vulnerabilities during June's Patch Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of 175 vulnerabilities patched in October 2025. Among the patched vulnerabilities, 118 are related to different versions of Windows, including Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server. One critical vulnerability, CVE-2026-41091, in Microsoft Defender is actively being exploited, prompting an update to the Malware Protection Engine. Microsoft also addressed ten vulnerabilities in the Security Feature Bypass category due to the expiration of old Secure Boot certificates. Of the 118 Windows vulnerabilities, 19 are classified as critical Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities, including CVE-2026-47288 and CVE-2026-47291. In Microsoft Office, 54 vulnerabilities were patched, including 25 RCE vulnerabilities, with nine classified as critical. Microsoft patched eight vulnerabilities in Exchange Server, including CVE-2026-45583, which can be exploited in a man-in-the-middle scenario. Additionally, the update for Edge addressed 74 Chromium vulnerabilities, including a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2026-11645).
Windows finally fixed File Explorer's most annoying quirk, and it only took 20 years
Winsage
May 2, 2026

Windows finally fixed File Explorer’s most annoying quirk, and it only took 20 years

Windows 11's latest builds (26100.8313 and 26200.8313) have improved folder view consistency in File Explorer, ensuring that user-configured settings persist regardless of how a folder is accessed. This update eliminates the need for registry tweaks. Additionally, the updates enhance File Explorer's speed and performance, resolve a white flash issue in dark mode, introduce a "preview anyway" button for the preview pane, and add support for four new archive formats. These changes are currently available in the Release Preview channel and will soon be rolled out to regular users.
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