update experience Archives

AppWizard

January 5, 2026

Four Google Play Store Features That Change How App Installs and Updates Work

The Google Play Store has introduced several enhancements to improve the app installation and update experience for users. Key features include: 1. Per-app auto-update control: Users can now enable or disable auto-updates for individual apps, allowing essential apps to remain on stable versions while less critical ones update automatically. 2. Built-in download manager shortcut: A new circular icon on the Apps and Games pages provides access to a list of recently installed or updated apps, showing timestamps and allowing users to launch apps directly from this list. 3. Auto-open when ready: A toggle that, when activated, launches an app automatically after installation, accompanied by a notification with a countdown timer for user intervention. 4. Viewing changelogs without opening app pages: Users can now view update changelogs directly from the app management screen without navigating to each app's store listing, enhancing efficiency in reviewing updates. These features collectively enhance user control and transparency in app management.

Winsage

December 21, 2025

Windows 11 gets a December Insider update packed with new features and AI upgrades — reveals Microsoft’s next big push. Here’s everything that is new.

Microsoft has slowed down the development of Windows 11 but released several preview builds through the Windows Insider Program in December 2025, showcasing various enhancements. Key updates include: - Model Context Protocol (MCP): Introduced in build 26220.7344, allowing AI agents to communicate with applications and tools via a secure on-device registry. It includes the File Explorer Connector for managing files through natural language searches and the Windows Settings Connector for navigating settings. - Unified Update Orchestration Platform (UOP): Provides a consistent update experience for developers through the Settings app. - Windows MIDI Services: Rollout of a new MIDI API, Service, and SDK, supporting MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0 devices with enhancements like app-to-app MIDI support. - Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE): Expanded to additional handheld gaming devices, replicating console gaming on PCs. - Settings app with AI agent: Enhanced navigation and modification of settings with an integrated AI agent. - File Explorer dark mode improvements: Extended dark mode to various elements and improved search functionality using AI. - Drag Tray disable option: Users can now disable the Drag Tray feature through Settings. - Mobile Devices settings integration: Features for managing mobile devices are now integrated within the Settings app. - Virtual Workspaces in Advanced settings: New access to manage virtualization features without using the legacy "Windows Features" page. - Keyboard and text cursor settings: New settings added for customizing keyboard and cursor behavior. - Quick Machine Recovery improvements: Now enabled by default on Windows 11 Home and Pro editions. - Windows Studio Effects compatibility: Expanded to more camera hardware for improved user appearance. - Windows Spotlight for desktop changes: New context menu options for wallpaper changes and additional details. - Taskbar with Ask Copilot: A toggle to replace Windows Search with AI-driven searches. - Taskbar with AI agents: AI agents can function as apps in the Taskbar, providing real-time updates. - Windows 11 Agent Launchers: A framework for registering AI agents within the OS. - Narrator customization: Users can select which properties are announced while navigating applications. - Voice Typing animation: New animation for the dictation key in the Touch Keyboard and a "Discover Windows" widget added. - Voice Access streamlined setup: Simplified setup process for Voice Access. The Windows Insider Program will pause further builds until January.

Winsage

December 7, 2025

Windows 11 will soon show Microsoft Store app download recommendations in the “open with” menu

Microsoft has released a new preview build of Windows 11 that improves the "open with" menu by suggesting recommended applications from the Microsoft Store for files without a default application or unrecognized file extensions. Users can access relevant apps directly through the Open With dialog box and can view more options in the Microsoft Store. Additionally, Microsoft has introduced the Unified Update Orchestrator Platform to help app developers use Windows Update for easier app updates.

Winsage

November 26, 2025

Microsoft may soon let you update all your apps directly from Windows 11’s Settings

Microsoft is developing a new app updating feature in the latest Windows 11 preview build that aims to simplify the update process for users. This feature will provide a centralized app updating page, similar to Linux's KDE Discover or the Google Play Store, allowing users to monitor and manage updates more efficiently. The interface will include a status tracker for available updates, a "Check for updates" button, and customizable options for the update process. There are concerns that the functionality may be limited to apps installed via the Microsoft Store, which could restrict its effectiveness. If expanded to include third-party applications, it could significantly enhance how Windows users maintain their systems.

Winsage

November 2, 2025

‘Update And Shut Down’—Microsoft Confirms Windows Update Mistake

Microsoft has acknowledged a significant update error affecting Windows 10 and Windows 11 users and has rolled out a fix. The fix addresses a problem where selecting “update and shut down” would trigger an “update and restart.” This issue has been described as a “decades-old bug” and has been particularly frustrating for laptop users. The October 2025 optional update (KB5067036) resolves this issue. Additionally, Microsoft is simplifying the update process by introducing more user-friendly names for updates, eliminating unnecessary technical jargon while retaining essential identifiers. However, a long-standing driver error (0x80070103) in Windows 11 remains unresolved, with a patch aimed at alleviating the problem but no complete fix currently available. Users may still encounter difficulties when installing a driver that is already present on their PC.

AppWizard

October 29, 2025

This new Android 16 feature will cut down the time you spend waiting for apps to update

Google has introduced a feature called "Seamless app updates" in Android 16, which reduces the duration of app freezing during updates to only a few milliseconds. This enhancement minimizes disruption for users, allowing them to resume activities with little to no delay. The feature is accessible to all Android users, not just Pixel device owners, and improves the update process by enabling simultaneous app updates through the Play Store. As this feature rolls out, users can expect quicker reopening of apps, particularly for larger applications and games.

Winsage

October 23, 2025

Windows 11’s new Start menu is almost here – you could get it as soon as next month

A new test build for Windows 11 has been released in the Release Preview channel, indicating that a revamped Start menu is forthcoming. This build allows users to remove the recommendations section from the Start menu and enhances the Voice Access feature with 'Fluid Dictation' for better voice accuracy. File Explorer will include a 'recommended files' section, though this feature is not available in the European Economic Area due to EU regulations. The taskbar will feature a color-changing battery icon and an option to display the battery percentage permanently. New functionalities for Copilot+ PCs include text selection for translation within the operating system. The update also resolves issues with Windows Update, ensuring that the system complies with user requests to update and shut down without rebooting, and fixes an installation failure error code. Some users have already accessed the new Start menu features through the test build or tools like ViVeTool.

Winsage

October 3, 2025

Transforming security and compliance at Microsoft with Windows Hotpatch

Security updates are crucial for system integrity, but traditionally require a reboot, causing productivity interruptions. Microsoft has introduced Windows Hotpatch, which allows critical updates to be applied without rebooting, enhancing compliance and user satisfaction. Hotpatch modifies in-memory code while the system is operational, leading to immediate updates without downtime. It is designed for efficiency with small payloads that minimize performance impact. Hotpatch updates undergo the same validation as standard updates and can address zero-day vulnerabilities without requiring a reboot. This technology is available for Windows 11 version 24H2 or later, Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Windows Server 2022/2025 Azure Edition, with appropriate licensing. Hotpatch has evolved from internal server capabilities to support client machines and integrates with Autopatch, automating the update process for enterprise environments. Microsoft Digital plans to scale Hotpatch to 450,000 devices within four months, achieving high compliance rates quickly—81% within 24 hours and 90% within five days, compared to previous timelines of up to nine months. Since its general availability in April, Hotpatch has been deployed to over 4 million devices globally, enhancing user experience by making updates seamless and unobtrusive. Plans for further expansion and improvements in compliance visibility and reporting are underway.

Winsage

September 30, 2025

Windows 11 version 25H2 is now generally available — Microsoft confirms rollout has begun

Microsoft has announced the rollout of Windows 11 version 25H2, which is now available for download through Windows Update. This update is a minor enhancement delivered as an enablement package building upon version 24H2. Users can download it immediately by following a guide, downloading the official ISO media in 38 languages, or using the Windows Media Creation Tool. Version 25H2 does not introduce new features but sets the stage for upcoming enhancements, including a revamped Start menu, improvements to dark mode, and updates to Phone Link.

Winsage

September 16, 2025

Windows 11 version 25H2 is almost here — and it’s so boring it almost becomes interesting

Windows 11 version 25H2 is set to launch in 2025 without any new features, serving as an enablement package that activates existing features rather than introducing new code. It shares the same development branch as version 24H2, meaning future updates will apply to both versions. Key changes include the removal of outdated features like PowerShell 2.0 and WMIC tools, and commercial users will be able to disable certain built-in Microsoft Store apps via Group Policy. Microsoft is developing new functionalities for both versions, including a revamped Start menu that improves app accessibility, enhancements for handheld gaming devices, and compatibility of Windows Studio Effects with USB webcams. The update cycle for Windows 11 has been less predictable compared to macOS, which is releasing substantial updates.