preview update Archives

Winsage

June 20, 2025

Microsoft readies new Windows 11 feature drop for next month — here’s what’s coming, and when

Microsoft is set to release a new update for Windows 11 on July 8, coinciding with Patch Tuesday updates. Key enhancements include: - Taskbar improvements with dynamically resizing icons and a wider indicator pill for open applications. - A visual preview feature for sharing links and web content, along with adjustable image compression levels. - A new PC-to-PC migration experience for transferring files and settings during new device setup. - Performance enhancements in File Explorer for extracting archive files. - The Screen Curtain feature in Narrator for enhanced privacy by blacking out the screen while content is read aloud. - An improved Narrator experience with guided prompts for discovering features. - Voice access now supports navigation and dictation in Simplified and Traditional Chinese and allows adding custom words to the dictionary. - Tailored enterprise-focused settings for IT-managed PCs. - Region settings will display the selected country or region during device setup. These features are currently in testing through the Windows Insider Release Preview Channel, with general availability expected on July 8. Users who opt for early updates may experience some features as a non-security preview update in late June.

Winsage

June 10, 2025

Windows 10 KB5060533 cumulative update released with 7 changes, fixes

Microsoft has released the KB5060533 cumulative update for Windows 10 22H2 and 21H2, which includes security patches addressing seven zero-day vulnerabilities. The update reintroduces seconds to the time display in the Calendar flyout, enhances the Rich Calendar feature, and adds descriptive text for the Weather button. It fixes rendering issues with GB18030 characters and resolves a problem with the Windows Account Sync Consent system in the European Economic Area. The update also addresses a known issue causing Hyper-V virtual machines to freeze or restart unexpectedly. A current issue involves blurry NOTO fonts at 96 DPI in Chromium-based browsers, with a workaround of adjusting display scaling to 125% or 150%. After installation, Windows 10 22H2 will be upgraded to build 19045.5965 and Windows 10 21H2 to build 19044.5965. Users can manually download the update from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Winsage

June 3, 2025

Windows 11 news and updates: Sora video AI comes to Bing while USB-C changes will make all of our lives easier

Microsoft has made adjustments to Windows 11 and Windows 10 to comply with the Digital Markets Act for users in the European Economic Area, including stopping prompts to set Edge as the default browser and automatically pinning users' preferred browsers to the Taskbar. The optional update KB5058499 (OS Build 26100.4202) for Windows 11, released on May 28, 2025, improves gaming stability and includes upgrades to AI tools. OpenAI's Sora AI model is now available globally in the Bing Video Creator within the Bing mobile app. Notepad has added support for Markdown syntax. Microsoft has committed that all USB-C ports on Windows 11 will support data, charging, and display functionalities, with USB4 ports being compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and USB4 peripherals. The release date for Windows 11 version 25H2 is anticipated between September and October 2025.

Winsage

June 2, 2025

Microsoft Issues New Emergency Update For Windows Users

Microsoft has released an emergency out-of-band update, KB5062170, to address issues from the May 13, 2025 Windows security update (KB5058405), which failed to install on some Windows 11 devices, showing error code 0xc0000098. The new update fixes an issue with the ACPI.sys driver and is available via the Update Catalog. It primarily impacts enterprise environments, particularly virtual setups like Azure Virtual Machines and Azure Virtual Desktop, while home users are less affected. KB5062170 includes all enhancements from the May 2025 non-security preview update and supersedes prior updates, requiring a device restart after installation.

Winsage

May 29, 2025

Windows 10 KB5058481 update brings seconds back to calendar flyout

Microsoft has released the optional KB5058481 preview cumulative update for Windows 10 22H2, which includes seven changes, notably the restoration of seconds to the time display in the calendar flyout. This update is part of the routine "optional non-security preview updates" and does not address security vulnerabilities. Users can install the update by navigating to Settings and manually checking for updates. Upon installation, Windows 10 22H2 will be updated to build 19045.5917. The update also includes enhancements for user experience and addresses a known issue with NOTO fonts appearing blurry at 96 DPI, particularly affecting CJK text in Chromium-based browsers. A temporary solution is to adjust the display scaling to 125% or 150%.

Winsage

May 23, 2025

In 3.5 years, Notepad.exe has gone from “barely maintained” to “it writes for you”

By late 2021, Windows’ Notepad text editor had not seen significant changes for a long time, but updates began to increase, reflecting a trend toward integrating generative AI technologies. In November, Microsoft started testing an update that allows users to rewrite or summarize text using generative AI. A new feature called Write enables users to generate text from scratch based on simple instructions, requiring a Microsoft Account for access and utilizing monthly AI credits. Users without a paid Microsoft 365 subscription receive 15 credits per month, while subscribers with Personal and Family plans receive 60 credits. All AI functionalities in Notepad can be disabled in the app's settings, and these features are unavailable to local account users. Additionally, Microsoft is rolling out preview updates for Paint and Snipping Tool, introducing AI tools like a sticker generator and an AI-powered smart select tool, along with a welcome experience screen for new users.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Minecraft is finally getting craftable saddles after a 15 year wait

Minecraft is enabling players to craft their own saddles using three pieces of leather and one ingot, simplifying the process of obtaining saddles for mount-based exploration. This feature is currently available for testing. Additionally, players can now remove saddles from pigs without drastic measures. Mojang has introduced five new ambient music tracks and a new jukebox music disc titled "Tears," which can be obtained by defeating ghasts in the Nether. These updates are part of the testing through Mojang's latest Java snapshot and Bedrock beta/preview update, with an official launch expected in 2025. Android users are currently excluded from testing.

Winsage

May 14, 2025

Windows 11’s Patch Tuesday for May finally brings Recall into the mix

Microsoft's Recall feature is set to debut after a delay due to security concerns. The update for Windows 11, released on May 13th, includes AI-driven tools to enhance user interactions and productivity. Key features integrated from the April 25th Preview update include: - Recall (preview): Allows users to retrieve information from various applications, websites, and documents using AI for quick searches based on content descriptions, with options to save snapshots of activities and manage them through Windows Hello. - Click to Do (preview): Enables immediate action on items displayed on the screen using a keyboard shortcut for editing or summarizing content. - Improved Windows Search: Enhanced search capabilities allow natural language queries to locate documents and settings. - Phone Link: Facilitates interaction between Windows PCs and mobile devices for calls, messages, and content sharing. - Widgets: Web developers can create interactive widgets with customization options for lock screen widgets. Additional updates include improvements to File Explorer, accessibility enhancements, and new settings management options for app recommendations. The update for Windows 10 focuses on a fix for Secure Boot Advanced Targeting (SBAT) and Linux Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) to improve detection of Linux systems. Detailed patch notes and download links are available through the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Microsoft Photos Can Relight Your Images

Microsoft has introduced new features for Windows 11 and its Copilot+ PCs, along with AI-ready Surface hardware. Key enhancements include: - Photos App: A relight feature for adding digital light sources, auto presets, and manual adjustments; new object selection capabilities in Paint; and improvements to the Snipping Tool with a text extractor and color picker. - Recall Feature: Helps users find content by retracing steps and describing memories, with strong privacy controls. - Improved Windows Search: Allows conversational queries with AI interpreting context for relevant results, aided by specialized chips in Copilot+ PCs. - Click to Do: Streamlines workflows with contextual shortcuts for actions within a single application. - Surface for Business Copilot+ PCs: Introduction of a 12-inch Surface Pro and a 13-inch Surface laptop featuring Snapdragon X Plus processors and advanced security tools. - Surface Laptop for Business: A 13-inch model with a thinner profile, anti-reflective touch screens, and an AI-enhanced camera. - Surface Pro for Business: A 12-inch versatile device that transitions between laptop and tablet modes, featuring an adjustable kickstand. - Availability: Software updates will start in April 2025, while new Surface devices will ship from July 22 in select markets.

Winsage

May 5, 2025

Microsoft has fixed a bug in Windows 10 that broke part of the Start menu – and the reason why this happened might annoy you

A bug that disrupted the functionality of jump links in the Start menu of Windows 10 was identified during the April update and traced back to earlier updates from February. This issue arose from the integration of a Microsoft account-related panel into the Start menu, affecting the jump list feature for some users. Microsoft confirmed that the problem has been resolved as of April 25, 2025, through a service change. Users are advised to ensure their devices are connected to the internet to receive the automatic fix after a reboot. The bug was acknowledged by Microsoft as being present since the optional preview update in February and was significant enough to impact user workflows.