quality updates Archives

Winsage

November 11, 2025

Microsoft Starts Rolling Out Redesigned Start Menu to All Windows 11 Users

Microsoft released its November 2025 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11, featuring a redesigned Start Menu and enhancements for the 25H2 and 24H2 versions. The KB5068861 update includes: - Improvements for Copilot+ PCs: - Click to Do enhancements for tasks like translating text and selecting objects. - File Explorer updates allowing quick action commands when hovering over files. - Voice Access enhancements with Fluid Dictation for better grammar and punctuation. - Enhanced Windows Search with semantic search capabilities. - Redesigned Start Menu with a scrollable All section, responsive layout, and Phone Link integration. - Taskbar updates with a new battery icon indicating charging status and health, along with battery life percentage displayed on the lock screen. - A new security control for Administrator Protection available in preview. - Quality updates addressing issues with Task Manager and gaming handheld devices. Two changes related to File Explorer have been postponed for a future update: recommended files for Microsoft Account users and third-party cloud storage integration.

Winsage

November 10, 2025

9 data-driven ways to finalize your post‑Windows 10 strategy

Approximately 17% of Windows devices within enterprises are still utilizing Windows 10. Organizations can use hardware and firmware data to assess upgrade readiness, map application usage to target extended support investment, assess device health and digital experience, track performance degradation over time, analyze software dependencies, validate pilots with comparable data, investigate post-upgrade failures with diagnostics, automate fixes for common migration blockers, and weigh Windows 11 performance trade-offs. Upgrading to Windows 11 resulted in approximately 7% better disk throughput and lower latency, but also led to a 5% increase in CPU usage and a 7% rise in memory demand.

Winsage

October 30, 2025

Windows 11 is gaining a simplified naming scheme for updates going forward

Microsoft has introduced a new naming convention for Windows updates in Windows 11 to improve clarity for users. Each update type will be labeled during download and installation, such as "Security Update" for monthly security patches and "Driver Update" for driver enhancements. The new scheme includes relevant identifiers like KB number and version, omitting unnecessary technical details. This change applies to Windows OS quality updates, .NET Framework updates, driver updates, AI component updates, and Visual Studio updates. The new naming scheme will be visible in Windows Update and the Windows Update history page, but not in the Microsoft Update Catalog or Windows Server Update Services. Users cannot disable this server-side change.

Winsage

October 29, 2025

Microsoft Issues Week D Preview Updates for Windows 11

Microsoft has released the Week D preview updates for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, introducing Preview Update KB5067036, which upgrades version 25H2 to build 26200.7019 and version 24H2 to build 26100.7019. Key features include: - Copilot+ PCs: Improvements to Click to Do, allowing text translation, unit conversion, object selection, and interaction with Live Persona cards from Microsoft 365. Touchscreen access is available via a two-finger press. - File Explorer: Quick action commands in Home view for signed-in users, with future support for work and school actions. - Voice Access: Enhanced Fluid Dictation for grammar and punctuation, configurable command delays, and added support for Japanese. - Agent in Settings: Now supports the French language. - Windows Search: Enhanced semantic search available on all Copilot+ PCs. For all Windows 11 PCs: - Start Menu: Redesigned with a scrollable All section, responsive layout, and Phone Link integration. - Taskbar: Updated battery icon indicating status colors and an option to display battery life percentage. - File Explorer: Home view shows recommended files for MSA users and supports third-party cloud storage integration. - Lock Screen: Updated battery icons from the Taskbar are now visible. - Settings: The Email & accounts page has been renamed to Your accounts. - Administrator Protection: New security control available in Windows Security or through Microsoft Intune or Group Policy. - Quality Updates: Includes bug fixes, security enhancements, and new AI model versions for Copilot+ PCs. These features are part of a Controlled Feature Release (CFR) and will be rolled out gradually.

AppWizard

October 22, 2025

Starbreeze hands off Payday 2 to another developer as it goes all-in on trying to salvage the beleaguered Payday 3

Payday 3 is struggling to attract players, with only about 500 concurrent players reported on SteamDB, while its predecessor, Payday 2, has around 27,000 players even after 12 years. Starbreeze has introduced a subscription service for Payday 2's DLC, which has been generally well-received despite some player concerns. The studio has partnered with Sidetrack, known for their work in the Payday modding community, to enhance Payday 2, with the first update expected on October 23. Starbreeze acknowledges the initial criticism of Payday 3 as a "bad experience" and is committed to improving it, including plans to double the team size dedicated to the game.

Winsage

August 27, 2025

Microsoft may have just saved admins a whole of work (and stress) when it comes to installing vital upgrades

Starting in September 2025, Windows 11 (22H2 or later) devices will install quality updates during the Out of the Box Experience (OOBE) by default. Users will not need to apply Windows updates after signing in, and PCs will be protected from day one. This change applies to Microsoft Entra joined and hybrid joined devices, specifically for Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, Education, or SE. Companies must use Microsoft Intune for managing Windows quality updates, and the OOBE updating experience requires the August 2025 OOBE zero-day patch or devices imaged with the June 2025 Windows non-security update. This improvement reduces the burden on employees and IT teams, as organizations can distribute devices with the latest updates. The transition comes as companies migrate to Windows 11 ahead of the Windows 10 end of support in October 2025.

Winsage

August 26, 2025

Windows 11 setup is about to get longer on some devices

Starting in September 2025, Windows 11's Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) will automatically install quality updates by default for managed Entra/Entra hybrid PCs. This feature applies only to Windows 11 version 22H2 or later devices enrolled via Intune and Autopilot Enrollment Status Page (ESP). The updates during OOBE will provide the latest security fixes before the first sign-in, reducing the need for post-setup patches. Devices must meet specific criteria, including being managed through Microsoft Intune and having an assigned ESP profile. The setting can be enabled in the Microsoft Intune admin center, with existing profiles defaulting to "No" and new profiles set to "Yes."

Winsage

August 26, 2025

Microsoft adds updates to the Windows OOBE for enterprises

Beginning next month, Windows administrators will be able to integrate Microsoft's quality updates into the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) by default for eligible Microsoft Entra-joined or Entra hybrid-joined devices running Windows 11 22H2 or later. During the final page of the OOBE process, devices will automatically check for and install relevant Windows Updates, ensuring users' devices are up to date upon first sign-in. Administrators maintain control over this action through a designated policy setting, and updates will follow any configured pause and deferral settings. The new setting within the Windows Autopilot Enrollment Status Page (ESP) to install quality updates is enabled by default for new ESP profiles, and disabling Windows updates during OOBE is not possible unless device ESP is utilized. Devices must be imaged with the June 2025 Windows non-security update (or later) or have received the August 2025 update, and a Windows Autopilot ESP is required. Microsoft encourages the use of Intune for this functionality, although some non-Microsoft MDM solutions may also support it. This capability will be available starting with the September 2025 Windows security update.