Windows 11 Archives

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Original Xbox Games Are Coming to PC Starting With Four Fan Favorites

Microsoft has launched its Xbox Backward Compatibility preview, enabling four original Xbox games—Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy—to be played on PC and handheld devices. These games feature enhancements such as 4x resolution upscaling, VSync support, multiple display modes, anisotropic filtering, and improved anti-aliasing. They are available for purchase on the Xbox Store and can be accessed on PC or handhelds through Xbox Play Anywhere or Xbox Cloud Gaming. All four titles are also included in Xbox Game Pass. Minimum system requirements for playing these games include: - GPU: Nvidia GTX 950 or AMD Radeon RX 550 or Intel UHD 770 or Intel Arc A310 - CPU: Minimum 4 Cores Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 or AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor - RAM: 8GB - OS: Windows 11 - Drivers and Versions: Latest Version as of January 2026 Recommended specifications include: - GPU: Radeon RX 68005 or Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti or Intel Arc A770 - CPU: 6 cores and 12 threads Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme - DirectX Version: DirectX12 API, Hardware Feature Level 11 - GPU VRAM: 8GB - OS: Windows 11 - Drivers and Versions: Latest Version as of January 2026

BetaBeacon

July 22, 2026

Microsoft is bringing original XBOX games to your PC and handhelds

Microsoft has launched the XBOX Backward Compatibility program on PC, allowing users to play original XBOX games on PCs and handhelds.

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Xbox Is Bringing Backward Compatible Games To Your Windows PC

Microsoft has announced the early release of its Xbox backward compatibility program for Windows PCs and portable handhelds, allowing players to access four classic Xbox games: "Fuzion Frenzy," "Blinx: The Time Sweeper," "Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge," and "Conker: Live and Reloaded." These games can be purchased individually or accessed through Xbox Game Pass. The program will support Xbox achievements, which will be activated later this year, and offer customizable graphics settings. Minimum system requirements for PCs include Windows 11, updated drivers, 8GB of RAM, a minimum 4 Core CPU, and a compatible GPU.

Winsage

July 22, 2026

Microsoft is Modernizing Decades-Old Properties Window in File Explorer

Microsoft is updating the File Properties window in Windows 11's File Explorer to use the WinUI 3 framework, aiming to improve design consistency across the operating system. This change addresses longstanding user interface inconsistencies caused by a mix of legacy frameworks, including elements from Windows 7. The transition to a desktop-only WinUI 3 framework is intended to reduce application latency and enhance the user experience. All desktop elements are expected to operate on the WinUI 3 framework for the first time since Windows 11's launch in late 2021. Additionally, the classic Win32 Control Panel is being gradually integrated into the modern Settings app, with careful consideration to avoid disruptions.

Winsage

July 22, 2026

This $10 Windows upgrade could save you from buying a new laptop

Windows 11 Pro is available for .97, reduced from its regular price of 9, valid until July 26. It is designed to enhance older PCs with features like a user-friendly interface, advanced search capabilities, innovative snap layouts for multitasking, and integration of Microsoft's AI-powered assistant, Copilot. The operating system also provides seamless access to Microsoft Teams and enhanced security measures, including biometric logins and encrypted authentication.

Winsage

July 22, 2026

Redmond’s reaper cometh: October 2026 set to bury a graveyard of Microsoft products

October 2026 will see the end of support for several Microsoft products, including Office LTSC 2021, which requires organizations to transition to LTSC 2024 or Microsoft 365 for continued support. Windows Server 2022 will exit mainstream support on October 13, 2026, while Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions will also reach their end of life on the same date. The enterprise and education versions of Windows 11 23H2 will be supported until November 10, 2026. Publisher 2021 will be discontinued without a successor. Additionally, Entra ID Sign-In risk policies will be phased out on October 1, 2026, necessitating a transition to Conditional Access to maintain user and sign-in risk protection. SQL Server 2017 is scheduled for retirement in October 2027.

Winsage

July 22, 2026

Still on Windows 10? You’re carrying 3x the security risk of Windows 11

A study by Lansweeper found that Windows 10 PCs have an average of 1,903 active security vulnerabilities, while Windows 11 systems have only 652 vulnerabilities. As of June 2026, nearly 20% of Windows PCs in the U.S. are still using Windows 10, despite Microsoft ceasing regular updates for it. Users can enroll in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for continued security updates until October 12, 2027. Security experts have urged users to upgrade to Windows 11 due to increasing vulnerabilities in Windows 10, while some data privacy experts recommend staying with Windows 10 for as long as possible.

Winsage

July 22, 2026

You can stop LG monitors that are reportedly installing bloatware on your Windows 11 PC, but the fix shouldn’t require this much effort

LG monitors are reportedly installing unwanted software, specifically McAfee bloatware, on Windows 11 systems without user consent when connected. This issue has been highlighted by Windows Latest, and the changelog of LG's monitor app on the Microsoft Store confirms the installation. A complex workaround exists for users to remove the software.

Winsage

July 22, 2026

Microsoft is finally modernizing Windows 11’s decades-old File Explorer properties window with a new UI

Microsoft is modernizing the File Explorer app in Windows, gradually introducing modern UI elements while much of the application retains its older design. A hidden modernized File Properties window has been found in the latest Windows 11 preview build, indicating plans for a complete overhaul of the File Properties dialog. This effort is part of Microsoft's broader initiative to integrate WinUI across the Windows Shell, including enhancements to the Start menu and in-box applications, as part of the Windows K2 project. The modernized File Properties feature has not yet been officially announced, but its appearance in preview builds suggests further updates are forthcoming.

Winsage

July 22, 2026

One in six Windows PCs still runs Windows 10, and the vulnerabilities are piling up

Approximately 17% of all Windows client devices are still running Windows 10, equating to about one in six machines. Windows 11 accounts for 78% of Windows devices, with third-party trackers indicating it surpassed 70% of desktop share as of February 2026. Official support for Windows 10 ended in October 2025, but Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program will provide patches until October 2027 for eligible devices. A typical Windows 10 device has an average of 1,903 active security vulnerabilities, nearly three times the 652 CVE-tracked flaws found on a Windows 11 machine. 66% of Windows 10 vulnerabilities are classified as "high" or "critical." Small and medium enterprises have 21.4% of their Windows devices still on Windows 10, while larger enterprises have 16.6%. The healthcare and pharmaceuticals sectors have 23% of devices on Windows 10, followed by consumer and retail at 22%, and manufacturing at 18%. Lansweeper is urging organizations to enroll in the ESU program and address reasons for remaining on Windows 10 as 2026 approaches.