system tray Archives

Winsage

April 8, 2026

Power users can do so much more with the Windows 11 taskbar, and all they need is a single tool

Windows 11's taskbar has faced criticism for its lack of customization options, prompting the development of a tool called Windhawk. Windhawk allows users to customize the taskbar extensively, including options for translucency and styles reminiscent of Windows XP and Vista. It features a "Taskbar Clock Customization" mod that displays CPU and RAM usage on the taskbar, and a "Taskbar on top for Windows 11" mod that enables users to move the taskbar to the top of the screen. The "Taskbar Volume Control" mod turns the entire taskbar into a volume control area, while the "Middle click to close on the taskbar" mod allows users to close applications with a middle-click. Additionally, the "Click on empty taskbar space" mod lets users set custom shortcuts for various actions. Windhawk also includes mods for adjusting thumbnail sizes, adding power buttons to the Start menu, and restoring the classic context menu, enhancing the overall user experience and functionality of the Windows 11 taskbar.

Winsage

April 2, 2026

Windows Security App Gains Secure Boot Certificate Status Ahead of Major Certificate Refresh

The Secure Boot certificates used by the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) on Windows PCs will expire in late June 2026. Microsoft is rolling out updated certificates through Windows Update to ensure user protection. Starting in April 2026, users can check their device's status in the Windows Security app, which will feature a color-coded badge system: - Green Checkmark: New certificates are installed, no action needed. - Yellow Caution Badge: Update pending or blocked due to hardware/firmware issues (expected in May 2026). - Red Stop Icon: Alerts users that older certificates are expiring, potentially preventing essential boot-level security updates (may appear as early as June 2026). The status will also be indicated in the Windows Security system tray icon. Most users will have a seamless update process by keeping Windows Update enabled, with devices from 2025 and many from 2024 covered. Older machines will receive updates gradually, guided by major OEMs. Microsoft advises against ignoring yellow or red warnings, as devices without updated certificates may be vulnerable to security threats and incompatible with future Windows updates. A support resource is available at aka.ms/getsecureboot.

Winsage

March 30, 2026

7 Ways to Fix Crimson Desert Not Launching on a Windows PC

Crimson Desert has become popular on the Steam charts in March 2026, but some players are experiencing issues with the game not launching on their PCs. Solutions to this problem include: - Disconnecting and reconnecting to the internet during startup. - Running Steam or Epic Games as an administrator. - Verifying the game files for Crimson Desert. - Setting up firewall exceptions for Steam/Epic and Crimson Desert. - Lowering the monitor’s refresh rate to 60Hz. - Disabling background apps through a clean boot. - Updating graphics drivers. Additional troubleshooting methods include reinstalling Crimson Desert, clearing the DirectX Shader Cache, using the Repair or Reset option if installed via the Microsoft Store or Xbox app, and disabling DLSS for the game.

Winsage

March 29, 2026

Microsoft quietly shipped 9 meaningful Windows 11 improvements this year, and they actually make the OS feel more polished

Microsoft has released a series of quality updates for Windows 11 in the first quarter of 2026, introducing several new features: - Cross-device resume allows users to resume Android apps directly on Windows 11 via the Taskbar. - Windows MIDI Services now support MIDI 0 and 2.0, including WinMM and WinRT MIDI 1.0 support. - Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security now supports external fingerprint readers. - A new "Device info" card in the Settings app displays key hardware specifications. - Quick Machine Recovery is now enabled by default for Windows 11 Pro. - A new network speed test feature can be accessed via the Taskbar. - Camera settings enhancements allow management of pan and tilt controls. - Sysmon is now a native feature in Windows 11, providing advanced monitoring capabilities. - Windows 11 supports WebP images as wallpapers.

Winsage

March 15, 2026

I stopped letting Windows 11 “help” with my files—my PC feels faster now

Windows File Explorer's performance has declined due to the accumulation of features that have made it more cumbersome. Users can improve performance by disabling certain features: 1. Disable OneDrive: OneDrive consumes over a gigabyte of memory during syncing. To disable it, right-click the cloud icon in the system tray, access settings, unlink the PC, and disable it from auto-launching in Task Manager. 2. Turn off Bitlocker: Bitlocker encrypts drives by default, which can slow down file operations. To disable it, go to Control Panel > System & Security > Bitlocker Encryption and select Turn Bitlocker off. 3. Disable automatic folder type discovery: This feature can cause lag when opening folders. To disable it, edit the Windows Registry by navigating to a specific path and creating a new String Value named "FolderType" with the value "NotSpecified." 4. Turn off Windows Search indexing: Windows Search consumes resources and may perform poorly. To disable it, access services.msc, stop Windows Search, and change its Startup type to Disable. Users can then download and use the tool "Everything" for a more efficient search experience.

Winsage

March 12, 2026

Windows 11 KB5079473 & KB5078883 cumulative updates released

Microsoft has released cumulative updates KB5079473 and KB5078883 for Windows 11 versions 25H2, 24H2, and 23H2 as part of the March 2026 Patch Tuesday. These updates address security vulnerabilities, fix bugs, and introduce new features. Users can install the updates via Start > Settings > Windows Update or manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The build numbers will change to 26200.8037 for 25H2, 26100.8037 for 24H2, and 22631.6783 for 23H2. Key enhancements include improved device targeting data for Secure Boot certificates, better reliability in File Explorer searches, and various new features such as a curated selection of emojis, a new backup and restore experience, automatic activation of Quick Machine Recovery, a built-in network speed test on the taskbar, and the ability to set WebP images as desktop backgrounds. Additionally, improvements have been made to the Windows Update settings page and the reliability of waking from sleep. No new issues have been reported with this month's updates.

Winsage

March 11, 2026

Microsoft Releases March 2026 Patch Tuesday Updates

Microsoft has released the March 2026 Patch Tuesday update, KB5079473, for all supported versions of Windows 11 (25H2 and 24H2). Key changes include: - A Network Speed Test Tool in the Taskbar for measuring Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and cellular performance. - New pan and tilt options for supported cameras in the Settings menu. - Built-in System Monitor (Sysmon) available as an optional feature; users should uninstall previous versions before enabling it. - Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) support for Windows 11 Arm64 devices. - Quick Machine Recovery tool enabled for Windows Professional devices not domain-joined or enrolled in enterprise management. - Ability to use .webp image files for desktop backgrounds. - Introduction of new emojis from Emoji 16.0, including a face with bags under the eyes and a fingerprint. - BitLocker improvements for device responsiveness after entering a recovery key. - Enhanced reliability of search functions in File Explorer. Additionally, Microsoft is publishing patch notes for the upcoming version 26H1, which is currently available to Windows Insiders on the Canary Channel but not yet public. The KB5079466 patch for version 26H1 includes features already seen in earlier Windows 11 versions.

Winsage

March 11, 2026

5 Windows 11 Features That Are Slowing Down Your Computer

OneDrive automatically backs up essential folders and personalized settings for Windows users, allowing seamless data synchronization upon signing into a Microsoft account. However, uploading data can strain computer resources, particularly RAM and CPU, and consume significant bandwidth. Users can pause syncing by clicking the OneDrive icon, selecting the gear icon, choosing "Pause syncing," and selecting a duration of 2, 8, or 24 hours. Windows 11 features modern transparency effects and smooth animations that enhance user experience but can impact system performance, especially on older hardware with less than 8 GB of RAM. Users can disable these effects by navigating to Settings > Accessibility > Visual Effects and toggling off Transparency effects and Animation effects. The startup apps feature allows essential applications to load automatically at boot, but too many startup apps can prolong boot time and strain resources. Users can manage startup apps by right-clicking the Start button, selecting Task Manager, navigating to the Startup app tab, and disabling unnecessary apps. Windows allows certain applications to run in the background for tasks like notifications and updates, but excessive background apps can hinder performance. Users can prevent specific apps from running in the background by going to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, clicking the three-dot icon next to the app, selecting Advanced options, and setting Background app permissions to "Never." Windows Update can cause temporary slowdowns, and while blocking updates is not advisable, users can pause updates for one to five weeks by going to Settings > Windows Update and selecting the desired pause duration.

Winsage

March 6, 2026

Windows 11’s March 2026 update is packing 9 new upgrades you’ll actually notice

On March 10, 2026, Microsoft will release a Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11, introducing several new features and enhancements. Key updates include a network speed test feature accessible from the Taskbar, updated camera controls for pan and tilt settings, a new settings page for Widgets, support for WebP images as wallpapers, Quick Machine Recovery for Windows 11 Pro, refreshed dialogs in the Settings app, and changes in File Explorer allowing "Extract All" for non-ZIP archives. Additional updates include the introduction of Emoji version 16, a magnifier icon in Task Manager for the Windows Search process, and expanded RSAT support for ARM64 devices. Users are advised to be cautious during installation due to potential errors.

Winsage

March 6, 2026

FRANK OS 1.0 Launches With a Retro Windows 95-Like Desktop

FRANK OS is a newly launched open-source graphical desktop operating system specifically designed for microcontrollers, with its first official version, 1.0, now available. It is built on FreeRTOS rather than the Linux kernel, optimized for the RP2350 microcontroller, which has approximately 520 KB of SRAM and dual CPU cores. The operating system features a desktop environment reminiscent of Windows 95, including overlapping windows, a taskbar, and a start-menu-style launcher. It supports standard desktop behaviors and allows users to switch between applications using an Alt+Tab-style interface. FRANK OS comes preloaded with nine lightweight applications, such as an interactive terminal, a C compiler, classic games, and a ZX Spectrum emulator. Programs can be compiled as ARM ELF binaries and loaded from an SD card. The system is aimed at hobbyists and experimental use.