taskbar icons 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

November 16, 2025

After Windows 11 AI OS backlash, Microsoft tells angry power users ‘we care deeply about you’

Microsoft is committed to enhancing Windows 11 with artificial intelligence features, aiming to create an "Agentic operating system" that connects devices, cloud, and AI for improved productivity. Pavan Davuluri, head of Windows, addressed user criticism on social media, emphasizing the importance of feedback and the need to improve usability and performance for developers. Despite the vision for an AI-driven OS, many users expressed frustration over unresolved basic functionality issues, leading to significant backlash and concerns about the platform's direction. Microsoft acknowledges the mixed feedback and recognizes the need for improvements in reliability and user experience. The concept of an "Agentic OS" suggests a future where autonomous agents assist users, but current AI technology raises questions about its practicality. Users are disappointed with the current state of Windows, citing reliability issues and a cluttered experience.

Winsage

November 1, 2025

First look at how Copilot will change Windows 11 taskbar search

Microsoft is introducing Ask Copilot in the Taskbar, an optional feature currently being rolled out to Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels with Preview Build 26220.7051 (KB5067115). Ask Copilot aims to enhance user experience by transforming the taskbar into a hub for accessing Copilot Voice and Vision, alongside an upgraded Windows Search. It combines functionalities of Windows Search and introduces semantic understanding for more intuitive interactions. The interface replaces the standard Windows Search bar and includes buttons for Copilot Vision and Voice, facilitating access to these features. Ask Copilot can search for files, applications, and settings using Windows’ existing Search indexing system, ensuring user privacy by not accessing personal files during searches. When users ask about changing settings in natural language, an Ask Copilot tag appears, redirecting them to the Copilot app, as it currently does not execute commands directly. The Copilot Vision and Voice features merely redirect users to the Copilot app, indicating further development is needed. Windows Search remains intact and will coexist with Ask Copilot. Ask Copilot is disabled by default and can be enabled in Settings. There is no timeline for a broader rollout to the general public, as it is currently available only to insiders.

Winsage

August 15, 2025

7 settings Windows 11 should show us during setup instead of all those ads

Setting up a Windows 11 PC can be challenging due to a lengthy installation process and a cluttered out-of-box experience (OOBE) filled with ads and irrelevant settings. Users often wait to access important settings until reaching the desktop. Key features that could improve the initial setup include: - Dark mode and theme options: Introducing theme choices during setup could enhance user satisfaction. - Taskbar alignment: Offering the option to align taskbar icons during setup would allow users to customize their experience from the start. - Start menu layout: Allowing users to choose their preferred Start menu layout during setup would facilitate a smoother transition. - Night light: Enabling the night light feature during setup could improve user comfort and awareness. - Nearby sharing: Including an option to enable discoverability for nearby sharing during setup would encourage its adoption. - Clipboard history: Presenting the option to enable clipboard history during setup would elevate user awareness of this useful feature. - Partially restore backups: Introducing a selective restoration option during setup would enhance user control over what is restored from a previous PC. Overall, incorporating these features into the initial setup could streamline the process and improve user engagement and satisfaction.

Winsage

July 12, 2025

Windows Insider Canary Channel Gets a Substantial Update

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider build 27898 on the Canary Channel, introducing several new features: - Taskbar icon scaling: Automatically adjusts the size of taskbar icons for a crowded workspace. - Custom words dictionary in Voice Access: Allows users to add unique words and supports Chinese and Japanese languages. - Screen Curtain in Narrator: Blacks out the display for privacy while using Narrator. - Quick Settings: Enhancements include text descriptions for assistive technologies. - File Explorer: Context menu now has dividers for better organization. - Adaptive energy saver: Manages energy settings based on power state and system load. - Windows Share improvements: Users can preview content before sharing and select image compression levels. - Quick Machine Recovery: Helps IT professionals detect and fix boot issues from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

Winsage

July 9, 2025

New Windows 11 update delivers a host of new features and fixes – here are 4 things I’m looking forward to

Windows 11's July update includes several new features and fixes, particularly benefiting gamers by resolving issues with mouse cursor behavior when Alt-Tabbing and addressing app freezes and display resets during full-screen gameplay. The update automatically resizes taskbar icons to fit more applications, with an option to disable this feature. Accessibility improvements include the ability to add custom words to the Voice Access dictionary and a new privacy feature for the Narrator tool that blackens the display while reading aloud. For European users, the update allows the chosen default browser to be linked to all file types, reducing unexpected launches of Microsoft Edge. Additionally, a new PC-to-PC migration feature is being introduced in the Windows Backup app to facilitate file and installation transfers over a shared network, with a full rollout expected before the end of Windows 10 support in October 2025.

Winsage

July 9, 2025

Windows 11 KB5062553 & KB5062552 cumulative updates released

Microsoft has released two cumulative updates for Windows 11: KB5062553 for version 24H2 and KB5062552 for version 23H2, addressing security vulnerabilities and various issues. Users can install these updates via Start > Settings > Windows Update or manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog. After installation, Windows 11 24H2 will have a build number of 26100.4652, and version 23H2 will be updated to 226x1.5624. The updates include enhancements such as smaller taskbar icons, a Microsoft 365 Copilot button in the Click to Do feature, and new features for Narrator and voice access. The PC-to-PC migration experience is being rolled out, and the Settings homepage is being updated for commercial customers. The taskbar will now dynamically resize icons, and the Accessibility menu has been reorganized. Ongoing issues with certain fonts in regions like China, Japan, and Korea have been noted, but no new issues have been identified.

Winsage

July 6, 2025

I replaced my Windows desktop with this custom shell, and I actually love it

Cairo Shell is an application that transforms the Windows desktop experience by altering the taskbar and user interface elements. It serves as a file browser, displaying the contents of the desktop folder and allowing easy navigation through any folder directly from the desktop. Users can access their desktop contents via a keyboard shortcut or taskbar button, maintaining workflow continuity. The menu bar, reminiscent of macOS, provides access to settings, favorite programs, and user folders, allowing customization and quick access to files. The taskbar features a floating design with adjustable icon sizes and an option to auto-hide, though it does not combine icons for the same application. Cairo Shell is user-friendly, with a straightforward setup process that enhances the overall experience.

Winsage

June 27, 2025

Microsoft Belatedly Delivers Windows 11 Preview Updates

The anticipated preview updates for Windows 11 versions 22H2, 23H2, and 24H2 were released two days later than expected, including an optional preview update for users. The cumulative update KB5060829 for Windows 11 version 24H2 upgrades the OS to build 26100.4484 and introduces several new features: - "Ask Copilot" action for users with a Copilot+ PC and Microsoft 365 license, allowing easy copying and pasting into the Copilot app. - A new landing and pairing page in the Windows Backup app for future PC migration, enabling file and settings transfer during setup. - A return of the small Taskbar option, allowing users to reduce Taskbar icon size. - Enhanced Narrator feature with a new Screen Curtain capability for privacy. - Settings homepage improvements for commercial customers. - Windows Share feature now includes a preview option and three compression levels for images. - EU compliance enhancements for customers in the EEA related to Digital Markets Act regulations. Optional cumulative updates 22621.5549 and 22631.5549 are available for Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2, respectively, including some of the new features.

Winsage

June 19, 2025

Microsoft Drops New Windows 11 Builds for Canary and Release Preview Testers

Microsoft has released two new Windows 11 preview builds for Insiders on the Canary and Release Preview Channels. The Canary build 27881 includes features such as: - Speech recap in Narrator for monitoring spoken content and live transcriptions. - A profanity filter setting for voice typing that can be disabled. - A redesigned needy state pill UI for taskbar icons. - An accessibility flyout in quick settings categorized by assistive technology types. - Enhanced Windows Share allowing image editing and sharing through the context menu. - A new FAQs section in Settings addressing common system questions. - Updated touch input visual design with "animating bubbles." ISOs for the Canary build 27881 are available for clean installs, and an updated Snipping Tool with GIF export is accessible for Insiders. The Windows 11 24H2 build 26100.4482 for the Release Preview Channel includes: - An option for the taskbar to automatically resize icons. - Enhanced Windows Share with visual previews and three image compression levels. - A Screen Curtain feature in Narrator for privacy. - A settings homepage tailored for managed PCs with enterprise features. - Updated app defaults in the EEA for selecting new default browsers. - A new PC-to-PC migration experience for transferring files and settings during setup. Additionally, Microsoft has released the Windows 11 23H2 Build 22631.5548, which addresses issues from a previous build, and Windows 10 Insiders can access build 19045.6033 to rectify issues from an earlier release.