Settings app Archives

Winsage

May 2, 2025

Windows 11 24H2: BitLocker Encryption Now Default

With the rollout of Windows 11 24H2, BitLocker and Device Encryption are now automatically activated by default for all editions, including Home. Microsoft enabled BitLocker without prior notification, raising concerns about drive performance and potential data loss if users lose access to their Microsoft accounts. Users can back up BitLocker recovery keys and disable encryption during installation using tools like Rufus. To turn off BitLocker in Windows 11, users can go to the Settings app, select Device encryption under Privacy & Security, and manage their encryption settings.

Winsage

April 29, 2025

New Windows 11 beta brings more changes to Control Panel settings

Microsoft is transitioning away from the traditional Windows Control Panel, moving settings to the Windows 11 "Settings" app. Recent updates have relocated keyboard character repeat delay and repeat rate options to the Accessibility > Keyboard section in the Settings app, although these changes are currently hidden and require manual activation by users. Additionally, all remaining options from the mouse properties dialog box have also been transferred to the Settings app. Despite these updates, keyboard options still exist in the traditional Control Panel. Microsoft began this transition in 2020 and plans to retire the Control Panel entirely, but the process is progressing slowly, with remnants of the Control Panel still present in Windows 10 and 11.

Winsage

April 29, 2025

Microsoft could be getting rid of more of the ancient Control Panel, shifting keyboard options across to Windows 11’s Settings app

Microsoft is transitioning features from the Control Panel to the Settings app in Windows 11, focusing on keyboard accessibility settings such as character repeat delay and repeat rate. This change has been detected in recent Windows 11 preview builds in the Dev and Beta channels, but has not yet been officially implemented. Microsoft is also moving mouse options from the Control Panel to the Settings app, aiming to consolidate commonly used settings for a better user experience. The timeline for completing this migration is uncertain and may extend into the next version of Windows.

Winsage

April 27, 2025

5 hidden Windows features I wish I’d been using all along

Windows 11 includes several features that enhance productivity: 1. Clipboard History: Allows users to copy and paste multiple items. To enable, go to Settings -> System -> Clipboard and toggle on Clipboard history and Clipboard history across devices. 2. Scroll Inactive Windows: Enables scrolling through inactive windows by hovering over them. To activate, go to Settings -> Bluetooth & devices -> Mouse and toggle on "Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them." 3. Ctrl+Shift+Enter in Run Dialog Box: Launches applications with administrative privileges using the Ctrl+Shift+Enter shortcut in the Run dialog box. 4. Enable Enhanced Search: Expands search capabilities to include the entire drive. To enable, go to Settings -> Privacy & security -> Searching Windows and select the Enhanced option. 5. Enable God Mode: Provides access to numerous system settings in one location. To activate, create a new folder and rename it to a specific string that grants access to these settings.

Winsage

April 26, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.5305 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.5305 (KB5055636) has been released to the Beta Channel for users on Windows 11, version 23H2. This update is the last for the Beta Channel based on version 23H2, as all Insiders will soon transition to version 24H2, which is currently available as an optional upgrade in the Beta Channel. New features include a profanity filter setting for voice typing that allows users to manage profanity masking. Administrators can now allow users to unpin specific pinned apps on the taskbar using a new PinGeneration option. Fixes include resolving a crash issue in File Explorer when using touch, fixing a problem with the Windows Spotlight flyout, addressing a character insertion issue in password fields when using the touch keyboard, and correcting a display issue in the Settings app. A known issue involves some Insiders experiencing a bug with Xbox Controllers via Bluetooth, which can be resolved by uninstalling a specific driver in Device Manager. Updates for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel will continue based on version 23H2 through an enablement package, and features may be gradually rolled out using Controlled Feature Rollout technology. Features may evolve or be removed based on feedback.

Winsage

April 26, 2025

Microsoft rolls Windows Recall out to the public nearly a year after announcing it

Microsoft is rolling out enhancements for Copilot+ PCs, including the Recall feature and a revamped Search function that understands contextual meanings for a more intuitive experience. The new "Click to Do" feature allows users to copy text from images, search on-screen content, and summarize or rewrite text by pressing the Windows key and clicking. To use Copilot+, PCs must have specific hardware requirements, including a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of over 40 trillion operations per second. Supported processors for Copilot+ include Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite and Plus chips, Intel's Core Ultra 200V-series laptop chips, and AMD's Ryzen AI 300 series. The Recall feature and enhanced Search are available for both Arm and x86 PCs, while some Click to Do features are exclusive to Arm systems.

Winsage

April 23, 2025

How to show app labels in the Taskbar for Windows 11

Windows 11 allows users to enable or disable app labels in the Taskbar. To show app labels using the Settings app, users can navigate to Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and choose from three options: "Never" to always show labels, "When the taskbar is full" to show labels only when space is limited, or "Always" to hide labels. Alternatively, users can modify the Registry by navigating to HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced and adjusting the TaskbarGlomLevel DWORD value: set to 2 to always show labels, 1 to show labels when space allows, or 0 to hide labels.

AppWizard

April 18, 2025

Google is preparing to make Android Settings a bit more colorful

Google is set to transform its Settings homepage in the upcoming Android 16 beta, introducing colorful icons encased in circles, replacing the current gray icons. This redesign aims to enhance the expressiveness of the Settings app and is expected to align with a new Material Design theme at the Google I/O developer conference. The colorful icons may not appear in the initial stable release of Android 16 but could be introduced in a future quarterly update or in Android 17 next year. The 'Digital Wellbeing & parental controls' entry will retain its gray icon due to its origin from a separate app. Feedback from users will influence the final design.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

How to remove a work profile from an Android device

A work profile on Android devices helps users separate personal and professional data, allowing IT administrators to manage corporate data remotely without affecting personal information. When an Android device is enrolled in an organization's Mobile Device Management (MDM) platform, a work profile is created, enabling IT to control data usage, notifications, applications, and security. Upon an employee's departure, the work profile is typically removed to protect corporate data, while personal data remains intact. Users can remove the work profile through the device's Settings or the MDM application. IT administrators can also delete a work profile via the MDM system to safeguard corporate information without wiping the entire device. Troubleshooting steps are available if difficulties arise during the removal process.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

Google may introduce an expressive new Material Design theme at I/O this May

Google is set to announce a significant update to its Material Design framework, focusing on enhancing expressiveness in app development, at Google I/O 2025 next month. Developer discussions have revealed a new theme called “Material3Expressive,” and a Google engineer confirmed efforts to help developers create more engaging applications. Evidence of this update includes a patch in the AOSP Gerrit related to “I/O 2025 Expressive talk code demos,” which introduces new code for the Material 3 Compose library. The update may refine the existing framework rather than completely overhaul it, with indications of a more visually engaging interface in recent Android Settings app updates. Anticipation for Google I/O 2025 is high, but the new design elements may not be immediately available in the stable release of Android 16, with a gradual rollout expected in future updates.