update experience Archives

Winsage

September 5, 2026

Windows 11 blocked you from shutting down PCs quickly, but now you can skip forced updates

Microsoft has updated the Power menu in Windows 11, separating the Shut down and Restart buttons from the update process. Users can now shut down their PCs without interruptions from pending updates. The update introduces four options: Shut down, Restart, Update and shut down, and Update and restart. This change aims to provide a more user-friendly experience by allowing direct shutdown or restart actions without automatic update installations. Additionally, Microsoft has minimized forced restarts due to updates, requiring users to restart their PCs only once a month, and introduced an option to pause updates for an extended period. The August 27 optional update also improved sleep behavior during updates, ensuring that manually put-to-sleep PCs return to sleep after completing an update.

Winsage

September 4, 2026

Enjoy the Windows 10 Update Experience at London’s O2

Windows 10 currently holds approximately 30 percent of the market share, while Windows 11 has captured just under 70 percent. Despite reaching the end of its support lifecycle last year, Windows 10 continues to receive security updates through Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which is available for consumers until 2027 and offers commercial users up to three additional years for a fee.

Winsage

September 1, 2026

“More interruptions than necessary,” Microsoft on Windows 11’s forced reboots for updates, rolls out a fix

Microsoft is changing the Windows 11 update process to consolidate various updates into a single monthly restart, starting with updates released on or after July 28, 2026. This new system combines driver updates, .NET updates, and firmware updates with the monthly security update, allowing for one restart per month instead of multiple. Updates requiring a restart will wait until the scheduled monthly security update, which is typically released on the second Tuesday of each month. Users can find combined updates under Settings > Windows Update > Available updates and can choose to restart sooner if desired. Additionally, users can pause updates for up to 35 days through Settings > Windows Update.

Winsage

August 26, 2026

PowerToys Window Hopper is a must-have feature for Windows 11, especially if you live within your browser

The latest update of PowerToys introduces a new utility called Window Hopper, which is expected to integrate seamlessly with Windows 11 and enhance user workflows. The update also includes improvements to the update experience, a more compact Command Palette, and other enhancements.

Winsage

August 24, 2026

Windows 11 26H2 Update Focuses on Extended Servicing, Not New Features

The forthcoming Windows 11 26H2 release will focus on recalibrating support cycles rather than introducing new features. Microsoft has implemented a shared servicing model for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 since late 2024, allowing for consistent updates across branches. Users on Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 can transition to 26H2 with an enablement package (eKB), while those on older versions like 22H2 and 23H2 will receive it as a full feature update. The 26H2 version will reset the support cycle, providing 24 months of updates for Home and Pro editions and 36 months for Enterprise and Education versions, extending until October 2028 for Home and Pro and October 2029 for Enterprise and Education starting in 2026. The 26H2 update will not introduce new features, with a more comprehensive upgrade expected in Windows 11 27H2. Additionally, Windows 11 26H1 is designed for Windows-on-Arm devices using Snapdragon chips, with devices featuring NVIDIA RTX Spark expected to launch this fall.

Winsage

August 2, 2026

5 Reasons Why People Are Ditching Windows 11

Many users have embraced Windows 11, but a significant portion remains loyal to Windows 10 or is exploring alternative operating systems. Performance issues on older laptops with 4-8 GB of RAM are a primary concern, as Windows 11's background processes consume more memory than Windows 10, leading to slowdowns. Users have reported that even supported devices experience performance dips. Methods to enhance Windows 11 performance exist, but many users prefer lightweight alternatives like Linux and ChromeOS Flex, which often provide improved performance. Windows 11 is criticized for its bloatware, with pre-installed software occupying storage space and consuming resources. Users find the interface cluttered and the search functionality inefficient, prompting some to stick with Windows 10 or consider alternatives like Linux or macOS. The update process in Windows 11 has become frustrating due to buggy updates, leading users to delay updates and consider operating systems with more stable update experiences. AI integration in Windows 11 has not been universally appreciated, with some users feeling it is forced and expressing a desire for Microsoft to focus on performance and reliability instead. Data collection practices in Windows 11 have raised privacy concerns, causing some users to hesitate in upgrading from Windows 10. The requirement for a Microsoft account during setup complicates the experience for those who prefer privacy, prompting them to explore other operating systems that prioritize user privacy.

Winsage

July 29, 2026

A Microsoft outage blocked Windows updates. Now a fix is being tested

On July 23rd, Microsoft experienced widespread outages affecting services such as Azure, Windows Update, and Microsoft 365 applications, which impeded users from installing important Windows 11 updates. In response, Microsoft is enhancing the Windows Update system, focusing on the Windows Update Orchestrator and Arbiter components. These changes are being tested in Windows Insider preview builds 26100.8968 and 26200.8968, which aim to improve update progress calculation and update clean-up logic for better system performance post-update.

Winsage

July 19, 2026

Windows 11’s big 2026 update is almost here, and these 10 things you need to know before upgrading could save you time and frustration

Microsoft is set to launch the 2026 Update for Windows 11, known as version 26H2, later this year. This will be the fifth feature update for the operating system. The upgrade from version 25H2 to 26H2 will utilize an Enablement Package (eKB), allowing for a transition similar to a standard monthly cumulative update without requiring a full reinstallation. Users can also upgrade from Windows 10 using an ISO file or Microsoft installation media, which ensures files, applications, and settings remain intact. Upgrading to version 26H2 extends the support lifecycle of devices by an additional year, with Microsoft providing 24 months of support for Home and Pro editions and 36 months for Enterprise and Education editions. Version 25H2 will continue to receive support until October 2027, and users are advised to plan upgrades before this support ends. Windows 11 version 26H2 has the same hardware requirements as version 25H2, which include a 1GHz processor with at least two cores, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot, TPM version 2.0, DirectX 12 compatible graphics, and a high-definition display. The rollout of the update will be gradual, following a Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) strategy, meaning not all devices will receive the update immediately.

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Point-in-Time Restore Now Generally Available for Windows 11 — Campus Technology

Microsoft has rolled out a point-in-time restore feature for Windows 11, available to all client PCs running version 24H2 and later, including Enterprise, Pro, and Home editions. This feature automatically creates local restore points every 24 hours, stored for up to 72 hours and limited to 2% of disk space. It is enabled by default on Windows Home and unmanaged Windows Pro devices with at least 200 GB OS volume, while it is disabled by default on Windows Enterprise, Education, and organization-managed Windows Pro systems. Users can initiate restores locally via the Windows Recovery Environment, but any changes made after the selected restore point will be lost. Microsoft plans to introduce remote initiation capabilities through Intune recovery. The upcoming Windows 11 version 26H2 will maintain a low-disruption update experience, allowing devices on versions 24H2 or 25H2 to transition via a small enablement package. Devices running version 26H1 cannot upgrade directly to 26H2.

Winsage

June 27, 2026

Microsoft now lets you pause Windows updates indefinitely and cuts restarts down to one a month

The Windows team at Microsoft has introduced a calendar-based option for pausing updates, allowing users to select a specific end date for their pause, extending up to 35 days. Users can set this by navigating to Settings > Windows Update and choosing their end date from a calendar. The calendar pause is not permanent; once the pause period ends, Windows will automatically check for and install updates. Users can manually reset the pause to extend it further by another 35 days. Additionally, Microsoft is consolidating driver, .NET, and firmware updates into a single monthly restart to enhance user experience. The "Update and shut down" feature has been improved, allowing users to shut down their PCs without installing pending updates. The calendar pause feature is available in the June optional update KB5095093, while the other changes are accessible to Windows Insiders in the Experimental and Beta channels.