recent files Archives

Winsage

November 25, 2025

I forced myself to run Windows 11, and to be honest, I don’t miss much about Windows 10

Windows 10 reached the end of its support, prompting an upgrade to Windows 11. Windows 11 is faster, with performance improvements claimed to be up to 2.3 times quicker than Windows 10, particularly on modern hardware. Boot times improved from 40 seconds to under 20 seconds. Battery life enhancements are reported, especially for modern devices. The Microsoft Store has been redesigned for a better user experience, allowing app uninstallation directly from the Store. The Start menu and Taskbar have been redesigned, with a more organized layout that enhances usability. The new context menu includes dedicated icons for frequently used functions. The classic Control Panel is missed, as its functionality has largely moved to the Settings app, which some find less simple. Overall, the upgrade to Windows 11 is considered worthwhile despite some areas needing refinement.

Winsage

September 9, 2025

Copilot on Windows 11 has a new “Home” UI and it feels like a Start menu for AI

Copilot on Windows 11 is being updated with a new "Home" tab that replaces the traditional chat-first interface. This Home UI serves as a central hub for accessing applications and files, resembling the Start menu. Users can toggle between the Home tab and the previous chat-focused interface. The Home tab features four dynamic cards that provide quick access to recently used files, but users must enable this feature in their settings. The "Jump back into your files" card pulls recent files from File Explorer’s Quick Access tab, offering options like Open, Attach to prompt, and Summarise. The "Attach to prompt" option allows users to drop files into the message compose box for analysis by Copilot. Other cards include access to previous conversations and a feature for document or code editing similar to ChatGPT’s Canvas. The "Get guided help with your apps" card displays recently used applications and initiates a Vision session for personalized assistance. Future updates are expected to introduce a ChatGPT-powered Agent that can open a terminal and browser within a Linux shell on an Azure cloud virtual machine, enabling automation of tasks. Microsoft aims to enhance Copilot's utility for managing documents and file searches on PCs.

Winsage

August 22, 2025

Copilot’s new look: bokeh, daisies, and fewer “what do I even do here?” vibes

The Copilot app for Windows 11 has been updated to version 1.25082.132.0 and higher, introducing a new "home experience" with a vibrant layout that integrates seamlessly with the operating system. Key features include enhanced Start Menu access for managing privacy settings related to recent files, the ability to create permanent Pages for ongoing research, and an app-specific quick launcher that utilizes Copilot Vision for contextual assistance. The app also includes a recent conversations window for easy access to previous inquiries. Microsoft is testing a potential return of the 'share' functionality and has introduced Copilot Labs for users to experiment with new features. Additionally, a memory function in the Android app allows Copilot to learn user preferences by asking questions based on prior interactions.

Winsage

August 21, 2025

I’m fed up with ads in Windows 11, but Microsoft may introduce yet another one to the Start menu

Microsoft is exploring a new feature in the Start menu of Windows 11 that promotes its Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot offerings through tailored recommendations, currently in the experimental phase. This feature is not yet available to the public but aims to enhance user interaction by suggesting actions like drafting documents or generating images. Users can disable these recommendations by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Start, but doing so will also remove visibility of recent files in File Explorer. This initiative reflects Microsoft's understanding of diverse user preferences and aims to balance promoting AI tools with respecting user autonomy.

Winsage

August 21, 2025

Copilot on Windows App Adds Semantic File Search and New Homepage for Insiders

Microsoft is testing a semantic search feature and a redesigned homepage within its Copilot app for Windows, available to Insiders on Copilot+ PCs. The semantic file search allows users to find documents and images using natural language prompts. The Copilot app includes a robust permission system for user control over what the chatbot can access. The updated homepage displays recent apps, files, and conversations for easier access to resources. The Windows Insider team confirmed that Copilot does not scan the entire system or upload files without user consent. Additionally, Microsoft has introduced the Windows 11 Canary build 27928, which moves more time and language settings from the Control Panel to the new Settings app.

Winsage

August 19, 2025

Microsoft is testing Copilot ads in Windows 11 Start menu to push Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft is testing the integration of Copilot-related advertisements in the 'Recommended' section of the Start menu in Windows 11. These ads are intended to promote user engagement with the Copilot app and may direct users to either the consumer-oriented Copilot app or Microsoft 365 Copilot. The ads include messages like “Write a first draft with Copilot” and “Ask Copilot,” as well as prompts for productivity assistance. Users without a Microsoft 365 subscription may be encouraged to consider a paid plan when redirected to Microsoft 365 Copilot. Microsoft frames these prompts as “tips” or “suggestions” rather than traditional ads. Users can disable these ads by turning off a specific toggle in the Start settings. The rollout of these ads is still pending as testing continues.

Winsage

July 29, 2025

7 features Windows 12 needs to borrow from its competitors

Microsoft has confirmed that the 2024 update will be Windows 11 version 24H2, not Windows 12. Nvidia may wait for Windows 12 to launch its N1X processor for laptops. Potential features for Windows 12 include a streamlined menu bar inspired by macOS, the ability to pin files to the dock from ChromeOS, a native preview feature similar to macOS's Preview, a Quick Insert menu like that on Chromebooks, offline setup options as seen in Linux, enhanced customization options akin to Linux Mint, and a more efficient search function similar to macOS's Spotlight.

Winsage

July 25, 2025

Your Android phone can now control more of your PC, and here’s how

Microsoft is updating its Link to Windows app for Android, introducing new features that enhance connectivity between Android devices and Windows PCs. Users can now remotely lock their Windows PCs, check battery and Wi-Fi status from their phones, and cast their phone's screen without using the PC app. These features, previously in development channels, are being rolled out through the Insider program. The app also allows direct file transfers without using Android’s share sheet, provides access to recent files, and enables viewing the clipboard from the PC. Additionally, the app has a refreshed interface for improved usability. Users can join the Insider program to access these updates by ensuring they have version 1.25071.155 of the app and following specific steps in Windows Settings to enable the new features.

AppWizard

July 24, 2025

Microsoft Just Released A Major Android App Upgrade For Windows 11 PCs

On July 24, Microsoft enhanced the Link to Windows app, transforming it into a hub for interaction between Android devices and Windows 11 PCs. Users can now lock their PCs directly from their phones, monitor battery life and Wi-Fi status, and send files or mirror phone screens to their PCs. The onboarding process has been improved for easier setup on Android devices. The updates are being rolled out gradually, requiring the latest Windows Insider Preview build and specific app versions for both PCs and Android devices.

Winsage

June 24, 2025

Bring the “Windows 10 look” back to Windows 11 — Everything I changed to restore the desktop UI experience

Many users transitioning from Windows 10 to Windows 11 find the new design and interface changes challenging. Windows 11 features a centered Taskbar, a simplified Start menu, and an updated File Explorer and Settings app. Users can customize their Windows 11 experience to resemble Windows 10 by making several adjustments. To align the Taskbar and Start menu to the left, users can go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and select "Left" for Taskbar alignment. To show app labels in the Taskbar, users need to select "Never" for the "Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels" setting in the same menu. For those preferring the classic File Explorer, they can access it by searching for Windows Tools in the Start menu and selecting Home or This PC. Users can also change the color scheme by going to Settings > Personalization > Colors and selecting "Custom" mode, choosing a dark theme, and enabling accent colors for the Start and taskbar. To display classic desktop icons, users can go to Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings and check the desired icons. In Notepad, users can disable new features by adjusting settings in the app to revert to a more classic experience. For further customization, third-party tools like ExplorerPatcher and Windhawk can be used. ExplorerPatcher allows users to restore various interface elements from earlier Windows versions, while Windhawk provides a framework for modifying Windows 11 with community-created mods. Both tools can be installed via the Windows Package Manager and offer options to revert to classic aesthetics.