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Winsage

September 26, 2026

Windows finally let me rip Bing out of my desktop. The speed boost is undeniable

Windows 11 users previously experienced a dual-search environment where local and web results were mixed, often leading to cluttered searches. Many resorted to registry edits to disable web results, but these workarounds were not fully effective. The search interface was complicated by irrelevant web links, making it difficult to find local files. With the introduction of version 26H2, Microsoft added a toggle in Settings that allows users to manage web searches independently, improving the search experience by prioritizing local files. This feature began rolling out after the September 2026 Patch Tuesday update. Disabling web results streamlines the search panel but removes the Copilot entry and may not be immediately available to all users.

Winsage

September 26, 2026

Windows Insiders Can Test Phone Companion Improvements and New Mouse Pointer Effects

Microsoft has released new Windows 11 preview builds for Insiders in the Experimental and Beta Channels. The Experimental build 26340.9577 includes energy recommendations accessible from the system tray’s Quick Settings. The Beta build 26220.9568 allows users to preview recent message content in the Phone Companion by hovering the mouse cursor over it. New Pointer Indicator settings have been added under Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch, providing crosshair effects for easier cursor location for users with low vision, which can be toggled with Win + Ctrl + X. The Beta build also features a contrast theme toggle in the Magnifier tool that recolors the interface without altering the original hues of photos, videos, and charts. No new features were introduced in the new 26H1 preview builds for Insiders on both channels, and there was no new release from the Experimental segment.

Winsage

September 24, 2026

Microsoft Ships September Preview Updates for Windows 11

Microsoft has released preview updates for Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1 as part of its Week D schedule. Users of versions 24H2 and 25H2 can install the preview cumulative update KB5124010, updating their systems to builds 26100.9550 and 26200.9550, respectively. Enhancements include refinements to File Explorer, support for Emoji 17.0, a new Tips widget, improved desktop backgrounds, enhanced Bluetooth functionality, upgrades to the Settings app, additional touchpad gesture controls, new key remapping options in Copilot, and Wi-Fi support in the Windows Recovery Environment. The final monthly update for Windows 11 version 24H2 will be shipped next month, with the version set to reach the end of its support lifecycle on October 13, 2026. Users of version 26H1 can install the preview cumulative update KB5124006 to upgrade to build 28000.3086. This update includes a resizable Taskbar, customizable Start menu, revamped Windows Search, improvements to File Explorer, enhanced progress indicators, and better app update support.

Winsage

September 22, 2026

Lock down your Windows 11 taskbar so no one else can change it

Administrators can manage taskbar settings in Windows by either freezing current configurations or restricting user modifications through the Registry or Group Policy. The Group Policy Editor is available in Windows Professional, Education, and Business editions. To lock down taskbar changes via the Registry, access the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer, create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named TaskbarLockAll, set its value to 1, and confirm. This will grey out certain options in the Taskbar settings. In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Start Menu and Taskbar, enable "Lock all Taskbar Settings," and confirm. To prevent standard users from altering taskbar settings, navigate to HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindowsExplorer in the Registry and create a new DWORD (32-bit) value.

Winsage

September 21, 2026

7 Windows features I disabled after realizing nobody needs to use them

Windows 11 allows users to optimize their experience by disabling or uninstalling various features. 1. OneDrive: Users can unlink or uninstall OneDrive through File Explorer or the Settings app. 2. Copilot: Copilot can be uninstalled via the Settings app, and its keyboard shortcut can be customized. 3. Widgets: The Widgets board can be disabled or removed through the Settings app under Personalization. 4. Start Menu: Users can streamline the Start Menu by turning off pinned apps, recent items, and account notifications in the Settings app. 5. Phone Link: This feature can be minimized or uninstalled using the Settings app or Windows PowerShell. 6. Xbox Features: Xbox and Xbox Live can be uninstalled through the Settings app, and Game Mode can be toggled off. The Xbox Game Bar can be removed via PowerShell. 7. Search Results: To improve search efficiency, users can disable Bing and web results using Windows PowerShell.

Winsage

September 19, 2026

Microsoft’s research boss reveals why Windows 11 features don’t show up, and his fix half works

Windows 11 has introduced new features such as a resizable Start menu, a movable taskbar, and the option to remove Bing from Windows Search. Users report not seeing significant changes after updates, leading to frustration. Marcus Ash, the design and research lead for Windows & Devices, acknowledged this issue, explaining that features may not appear immediately due to gradual rollouts. Users can enable the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option, but this does not guarantee instant access to new features. The September 2026 update includes a movable taskbar, a smaller taskbar option, and the ability to disable Bing results in Windows Search, though immediate visibility of these changes is not assured. Microsoft is also testing new features with Windows Insiders, including a customization tool for the context menu, enhanced File Explorer performance, a reduction in memory footprint for devices with 8GB RAM and above, a new WinUI-based Run dialog, a revamped Properties dialog, a redesigned pop-up for connected drives, the ability to remap the Copilot key, and improvements to Bluetooth connections and headset calls.

Winsage

September 19, 2026

These 4 built-in Windows tools helped me build a self-healing PC

Windows operating systems include built-in tools for maintaining PCs, allowing users to monitor system health, repair corrupted files, and recover from boot failures with minimal intervention. Task Scheduler automates maintenance tasks by triggering them based on schedules or events, accessible via the Start menu or taskschd.msc. It can activate tasks at fixed intervals, on startup, during idle periods, or in response to Event Viewer entries. Tasks should run with the highest privileges and can be configured to execute regardless of user sign-in status. The Settings tab allows missed tasks to run as soon as possible. DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is a command-line utility that repairs the component store, essential for installing updates and restoring system files. It offers three inspection levels: CheckHealth, ScanHealth, and RestoreHealth, with the latter requiring an internet connection for downloading replacement files. DISM logs operations in C:WindowsLogsDISMdism.log. SFC (System File Checker) verifies and repairs core operating system files using Windows Resource Protection. The command sfc /scannow checks all protected files, while /verifyonly provides a report without changes. SFC's effectiveness depends on the integrity of the component store, making it essential to run DISM first. Results are logged in C:WindowsLogsCBSCBS.log. Quick Machine Recovery (QMR), introduced in Windows 11, addresses boot failures by connecting to the internet to find solutions when repeated boot failures are detected. QMR is enabled by default on unmanaged devices and can continuously check for fixes. It is designed to respond to widespread issues rather than unique problems and may not work effectively on older hardware or without a network connection. Together, these tools provide a comprehensive approach to system maintenance in Windows 11, ensuring the operating system remains healthy and efficient without additional software.

Winsage

September 18, 2026

How to measure and shrink the Windows search index

The initial storage cost of the search index on a fresh installation of Windows 11 is minimal, only a few megabytes. When a sizable work folder is added, the index expands, but it does not revert to its original size after the folder is removed. The search index is stored in Windows.db for Windows 11 and Windows.edb for Windows 10. Windows 11 has two indexing modes: Classic (default) and Enhanced, with Classic indexing Documents, Pictures, Music folders, and the Desktop, while Enhanced scans the entire PC. The index includes file names and content, allowing keyword searches. Users can measure their index items through Settings without special permissions, while file size requires administrative access via PowerShell. An index under 30,000 items is acceptable for average users, while performance issues may arise beyond 400,000 items, with a technical ceiling of one million items. In an experiment, the index grew from 462 items and 6.71 MB to 3,466 items and 18.66 MB after adding 3,000 text files, but remained at 16.81 MB after deleting those files. To reclaim disk space, users can exclude specific folders from indexing and rebuild the index, which can significantly reduce its size while retaining the same number of items.

Winsage

September 17, 2026

The real reason your Windows 11 taskbar couldn’t move for 5 years

Tali Roth, overseeing Windows core user experience, revealed that Windows 11 did not inherit significant portions of the legacy Win32 code, particularly affecting the taskbar's customization and repositioning features. Microsoft had to rebuild the taskbar from scratch, which complicated the ability to allow users to move it, as each application would need to adapt to such changes. Initially, the demand for a movable taskbar was low, but user feedback prompted Microsoft to reconsider. Similarly, the Start menu in Windows 11 offered fewer customization options compared to Windows 10 due to a design shift towards a minimalist aesthetic, making it difficult to reintegrate previous features. Microsoft is balancing user feedback with its design vision as it evolves the Windows experience.

Winsage

September 17, 2026

The real reason your Windows 11 taskbar couldn’t move for 5 years

Windows 11 did not inherit significant portions of the legacy Win32 code, leading Microsoft to rebuild the taskbar from scratch, focusing on essential functionalities. The task of allowing users to reposition the taskbar proved challenging due to the need for all applications to adapt to this change. Initially, the demand for a movable taskbar was low, but over time, some users expressed a desire for this feature, prompting Microsoft to conduct tests with Windows Insiders. Similarly, the Start menu faced challenges in reintroducing customization options due to Windows 11's design philosophy, which emphasized a cleaner, minimalist aesthetic.