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Microsoft Tests Uninstall Option for Copilot AI on Windows Devices
Winsage
January 11, 2026

Microsoft Tests Uninstall Option for Copilot AI on Windows Devices

Microsoft is testing a new policy that allows IT administrators to completely uninstall its Copilot AI assistant from managed Windows devices. This policy, named “RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp,” is being deployed through management tools like Intune and System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) and addresses concerns about data privacy, resource consumption, and unwanted software in commercial settings. The feature is currently available in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7535 (KB5072046) and reflects feedback from IT professionals who prefer controlled environments. While this option is exclusive to enterprise-tier Microsoft 365 subscribers, smaller businesses and individual users have limited options for removal. The policy aims to balance innovation with risk management, especially in regulated sectors like healthcare and finance, where data privacy is critical.
Windows Reborn: Microsoft Moves Copilot into the Kernel, Launching the Era of the AI-Native OS
Winsage
January 1, 2026

Windows Reborn: Microsoft Moves Copilot into the Kernel, Launching the Era of the AI-Native OS

Microsoft is transitioning its Windows operating system to an "AI-native" platform, embedding AI capabilities directly into the Windows kernel, marking a significant architectural shift not seen in three decades. This new approach, called the "Agentic OS," allows AI to manage files, system settings, and workflows proactively. The updated kernel, partially rewritten in Rust, includes a new NPU-aware scheduler that treats the Neural Processing Unit as a primary resource. Microsoft has introduced "Agent Workspace" and "Agent Accounts" for autonomous agents, ensuring actions are logged and audited for compliance. Communication between agents and the system is facilitated by the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Hardware requirements for the new OS have increased, with benchmarks set for NPUs achieving 80 to 100 TOPS. Major PC manufacturers are adjusting their portfolios to accommodate "Agentic PCs." The competitive landscape is evolving, with companies like Alphabet and Apple developing their own AI-native platforms. The introduction of the AI-native kernel raises privacy and security concerns, with Microsoft implementing measures to restrict third-party access to the kernel. Future updates may include "self-healing" capabilities and "Cross-Device Agency," leading to a more integrated personal AI experience.
Windows 11 growth slows as millions stick with Windows 10
Winsage
December 3, 2025

Windows 11 growth slows as millions stick with Windows 10

By November 2025, Windows 11 held 53.7 percent of the Windows desktop market, while Windows 10 had 42.7 percent. Statcounter's data is based on a sample of around 1.5 million websites. Many consumers have devices incompatible with upgrades or prefer not to change functioning systems. In the EU, consumers benefit from free Microsoft Extended Security Updates (ESU). Businesses face slow change management processes due to poor planning and resource challenges. Organizations use ESUs to maintain security during transitions, but costs can be burdensome for unprepared businesses. Consumers often retain older Windows 10 machines for secondary tasks, affecting usage statistics. Organizations strategically leverage ESUs for mission-critical systems and budget constraints. The cost of ESUs is often less than the potential disruptions from migration. Windows 11 lacks compelling features to prompt enterprises to upgrade, and adoption is slower than previous operating systems, lagging by 10-12 points according to Dell's COO.
The ESU Gamble: Why Windows 10 Extended Security Updates Are a Risk You Can’t Afford
Winsage
October 21, 2025

The ESU Gamble: Why Windows 10 Extended Security Updates Are a Risk You Can’t Afford

Many organizations are relying on Extended Security Updates (ESUs) for Microsoft’s Windows 10 as the end-of-life deadline approaches, but this solution is limited and does not protect against zero-day exploits or sophisticated attacks. The ESU program will end in October 2026, leading to increased costs and risks. Legacy systems like Windows 10 are particularly vulnerable to cybercriminals, and even with ESUs, they can be exploited by advanced threats. Transitioning to Windows 11 is complicated for many organizations due to compatibility and hardware issues. Morphisec offers a proactive solution with its Automated Moving Target Defense (AMTD) technology, which continuously alters system memory to protect against attacks without needing updates or patches. The cost of Morphisec is lower than potential expenses from ransomware incidents or ESUs. Organizations face significant risks if they delay action, as seen in past ransomware outbreaks like WannaCry. Unsupported systems can lead to compliance failures and reputational harm. Morphisec provides a way to secure Windows 10 systems while facilitating a smooth migration to Windows 11, ensuring protection across hybrid environments.
Windows 10 PC can't be upgraded? You have 5 options - and must act now
Winsage
October 19, 2025

Windows 10 PC can’t be upgraded? You have 5 options – and must act now

Windows 10 reached its end-of-support date on October 14, 2025, concluding monthly security updates for over 1 billion PCs. Users with incompatible devices cannot upgrade to Windows 11 via Windows Update and are advised to purchase new hardware. Microsoft will offer Extended Security Updates (ESUs) for Windows 10 on a subscription basis for three years post end-of-support, with costs varying for consumers, educational institutions, and businesses. Users can also consider buying new PCs, renting a virtual PC through Windows 365, upgrading incompatible hardware to Windows 11 using specific methods, switching to a Linux distribution or ChromeOS Flex, or continuing to use Windows 10 without support, which poses security risks.
Microsoft faces nightmare transition as Windows 11 momentum slows and millions cling to Windows 10 despite looming end-of-life
Winsage
September 5, 2025

Microsoft faces nightmare transition as Windows 11 momentum slows and millions cling to Windows 10 despite looming end-of-life

Windows 11's global market share is declining, with recent data showing stagnation in adoption rates. StatCounter Global Stats reports that Windows 11 was expected to surpass 50% market share but has instead seen a decrease. Meanwhile, Windows 10 has rebounded to 45.53% in August 2025, despite being set to reach its end-of-life in October 2025. Windows 7 usage has also increased slightly to 3.59% in August 2025, indicating a reliance on legacy systems. Factors contributing to the slow adoption of Windows 11 include stringent hardware requirements and enterprises prioritizing stability over new features. If this trend continues, Microsoft may face a fragmented user base in 2026, with some users on Windows 11 and others on outdated systems.
Microsoft employee reverse engineers Windows Mixed Reality driver and restores life to abandoned headsets with native SteamVR support
Winsage
September 5, 2025

Microsoft employee reverse engineers Windows Mixed Reality driver and restores life to abandoned headsets with native SteamVR support

Microsoft discontinued support for the Windows Mixed Reality platform with the rollout of Windows 11 version 24H2, rendering many headsets unusable. A new driver, available for free download through Steam, allows users to revive their Windows Mixed Reality headsets, compatible with any Windows Mixed Reality device. The driver works on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, but is only compatible with PCs equipped with NVIDIA graphics cards due to limitations in AMD and Intel drivers. Users can connect their headsets, download SteamVR, and access a wide library of games and applications. Microsoft announced the deprecation of the Windows Mixed Reality platform in 2023, coinciding with the end of HoloLens production.
Introducing Mu language model and how it enabled the agent in Windows Settings
Winsage
June 23, 2025

Introducing Mu language model and how it enabled the agent in Windows Settings

Mu is a small language model designed to run locally on Copilot+ PCs, specifically optimized for Neural Processing Units (NPUs). It is a 330M encoder-decoder model that translates natural language queries into actionable settings function calls, enhancing user experience. Mu achieved approximately 47% lower first-token latency and 4.7× higher decoding speed compared to a decoder-only model on a Qualcomm Hexagon NPU. The model incorporates advanced techniques such as Dual LayerNorm, Rotary Positional Embeddings, and Grouped-Query Attention to improve performance while maintaining a compact size. It was trained using A100 GPUs on Azure, pre-training on hundreds of billions of educational tokens and fine-tuning on tasks like SQUAD, CodeXGlue, and the Windows Settings agent. Mu's quantization techniques converted model weights from floating-point to integer representations, optimizing performance on edge devices. The Settings agent was fine-tuned with a dataset of 3.6 million samples to achieve response times under 500 milliseconds, effectively managing user queries related to Windows settings.
Microsoft’s Free Upgrade Offer—Bad News For 240 Million Windows Users
Winsage
April 20, 2025

Microsoft’s Free Upgrade Offer—Bad News For 240 Million Windows Users

Microsoft is encouraging approximately 240 million PC owners to recycle outdated devices, as they will not qualify for a free upgrade to Windows 11 without new hardware. The company emphasizes the importance of the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, a security chip that determines eligibility for the upgrade and protects sensitive data. TPM 2.0 offers several security benefits, including data encryption, verification of trusted software, detection of physical tampering, and support for advanced security features in Windows 11. Currently, around 240 million PCs are estimated to be ineligible for the upgrade, which may hinder the adoption of Windows 11 and leave many devices vulnerable to cyber threats.
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