taskbar icons Archives

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7653 (Beta Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220.7653 (KB5074157) has been released to the Beta Channel. Changes and Improvements: - The "Accounts > Other Users" dialog has been redesigned using the WinUI framework and now supports dark mode. - Copilot prompt suggestions in Click to Do will load instantly, but this change is not available for Insiders in the EEA or China. - Users can now set .webp images as their desktop background. Fixes: - Taskbar autohide issue resolved. - Start menu memory leak fixed and issues with incorrect opening side for Arabic and Hebrew users addressed. - Bluetooth battery level display issue resolved. - Fixed unexpected app behavior in Xbox full-screen experience. - Login screen password icon issue fixed. - Resolved crash in Settings when interacting with audio devices. - Fixed keyboard character repeat delay settings discrepancy. - Addressed clipped text issues in msinfo32 and installation errors with .appinstaller files. - Notepad font display issue corrected. - Fixed explorer.exe hang issue upon logging in. Known Issues: - Some applications may exhibit unexpected behavior in Xbox full-screen experience. - Investigating visibility issues of apps in the system tray for some Insiders. - Addressing display issues on secondary monitors showing black screens. - Working on a fix for Microsoft 365 Copilot prompt box functionality when the app is not running. Reminders: - Updates are based on Windows 11, version 25H2. - Features are rolled out gradually using Controlled Feature Rollout technology. - Features in development may not be released to the public and can evolve or be removed.

Winsage

December 16, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28020.1362 (Canary Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 28020.1362 has been released to the Canary Channel. Key updates include: - Full screen experience (FSE) for handheld devices is now available on more devices, enhancing gaming through the Xbox app. - The Click to Do context menu has been redesigned for easier access to actions like Copy and Save. - Enhancements to the agent in Settings for quicker modifications and more search results. - Windows Studio Effects now supports additional cameras beyond integrated ones. - Drag Tray feature supports multi-file sharing and intelligent app suggestions. - Dark mode improvements in File Explorer for consistency across various dialogs. - Users can manage mobile devices from the Settings under Bluetooth & Devices. - New context menu options for Windows Spotlight backgrounds. - More keyboard settings transitioned to Settings, including character repeat delay and cursor blink rate. - Updates to Game Pass branding in Settings. - New OneDrive icon in Accounts and Homepages within Settings. - Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) will perform a one-time scan for solutions. - Virtual Workspaces can now be activated in Advanced Settings. - Various fixes for issues in File Explorer, Settings, Taskbar, Start menu, internet connectivity, display and graphics, login and lock screens, Narrator, Windows Update, Task Manager, and app responsiveness. Additionally, Paint version 11.2511.281.0 introduces a collapsible toolbar feature.

Winsage

December 14, 2025

Windows 11 lets you shrink taskbar icons for a cleaner, more compact look — here’s how to enable smaller icons easily

Windows 11 has reintroduced the option to use smaller Taskbar icons, which was absent at the operating system's launch. The feature allows users to enable smaller icons without reducing the height of the Taskbar. To activate smaller icons, users need to open Settings, click on Personalization, navigate to the Taskbar page, and adjust the Taskbar behaviors setting. Options include "Always" for consistently smaller icons, "When taskbar is full" for smaller icons when space allows, or "Never" to keep standard-size icons.

Winsage

December 13, 2025

Windows 11 lets you shrink taskbar icons for a cleaner, more compact look — here’s how to enable smaller icons easily

Windows 11 users can now enable smaller Taskbar icons, a feature that was absent at the operating system's launch. The new implementation allows users to adjust icon size without changing the Taskbar's height. To enable smaller icons, users must open Settings, click on Personalization, navigate to the Taskbar page, and adjust the "Show smaller taskbar buttons" setting to "Always," "When taskbar is full," or "Never."

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.