Windows Insider Archives

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Microsoft will soon allow AI to change your Windows 11 settings

Microsoft is introducing a new AI assistant within the Windows 11 settings app, designed to assist users by adjusting settings upon request and providing guidance on tasks. The AI assistant will be positioned at the top of the Settings app and will have the ability to autonomously adjust settings with user approval. It is currently available on Copilot+ PCs and will soon roll out to Windows Insiders on standard x86-powered systems, though an official release date for all Windows 11 users has not yet been announced. Additionally, the Photos app will receive new dynamic lighting controls, the Snipping Tool will feature an improved cropping area, a text extractor, and a color picker. AI integration will also extend to File Explorer, allowing users to engage with files through AI actions. A significant update called Copilot Vision will enable users to share browser and app windows with Copilot for enhanced assistance. These features will first be tested through the Windows Insider program before being released to the general public.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Microsoft introduces Surface PCs that run AI models and cost less than earlier versions

Microsoft introduced two next-generation Copilot+ PCs, the Surface Pro convertible tablet and a traditional Surface Laptop, designed to operate AI models without internet connectivity. The Surface Laptop starts at 9, while the Surface Pro starts at 9, both reflecting a 0 reduction from last year's models. They are powered by an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip with eight cores and have slightly reduced screen sizes of 12 inches for the Pro and 13 inches for the Laptop. The Surface Laptop now supports up to 16 hours of web browsing, an increase from 13 hours. The new machines run on Windows 11 and feature AI-enhanced capabilities, including a Recall function and improved file search. Preorders began on Tuesday for a release on May 20, with color options of platinum, ocean, and violet. Microsoft reported a nearly 75% year-over-year increase in Windows 11 commercial deployments.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Microsoft Reveals New Windows 11 Start Menu and Upcoming Copilot+ Features

Microsoft has announced upcoming features for Windows 11, including a redesigned Start Menu, enhancements to Click to Do, and improvements in Windows Search. Key features for Windows Insiders using Qualcomm-powered Copilot+ PCs include an AI Agent in Settings, new Click to Do actions for scheduling and messaging, dynamic lighting controls in Photos, a Paint sticker generator, object selection in Paint, an improved Snipping tool, and rich image descriptions in Narrator. Additional features for all Windows Insiders include a new Start Menu with a phone companion sidebar, AI actions in File Explorer, updates to Notepad, Copilot improvements, and a Microsoft Store AI Hub. Notably, Copilot+ PC experiences will not be available in all markets until later, with some features expected to arrive in the European Economic Area in 2025.

Winsage

May 6, 2025

Microsoft: Windows 11 24H2 now ready to rollout to everyone

Microsoft has announced the rollout of the Windows 11 24H2 update, also known as the Windows 11 2024 Update, which is now available for all compatible PCs, except those with safeguard holds. The gradual rollout via Windows Update is nearing completion, and eligible users will see an option to download the update in their settings. Automatic updates will apply to Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 (versions 23H2, 22H2, and 21H2) not managed by IT departments. Upgrade blocks are in place for systems with incompatible hardware or software, including certain applications and drivers. Users can check compatibility using the PC Health Check app or Windows 11 specifications. The update introduces new features such as AI-powered capabilities, an energy saver, Wi-Fi 7 compatibility, Bluetooth LE audio support, HDR background support, natural language understanding in search, and a revamped Windows Recall feature. The rollout began in May 2024 for enterprise testing and transitioned to general availability in October. It will also be available to eligible PCs running Windows 10 22H2 in late January 2025, with a force-installation for unmanaged systems on Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2. Microsoft provides a guided walkthrough and support document for users during the upgrade process.

Winsage

April 30, 2025

Windows Insider Program: What is it and why you should consider joining it (and few reasons you shouldn’t)

The Windows Insider Program allows users to explore unreleased features of Microsoft's Windows operating system by enrolling in various channels. To join, Windows 11 users can go to Settings >> Windows Update and select Windows Insider Program, enabling optional diagnostic data sharing with Microsoft. There are four channels to choose from: 1. Canary Channel: For technical users wanting to preview early-stage features, often unstable. 2. Dev Channel: More stable than Canary, includes features under consideration for future releases. 3. Beta Channel: Recommended for most users, offers a balance of stability and innovation with features likely to be rolled out to all users. 4. Release Preview Channel: The most stable option, providing a preview of the next major release with tested functionalities. Reasons to join include early access to new features, the ability to provide feedback to Microsoft, professional advantages for IT administrators, community engagement, and skill improvement. However, drawbacks include potential system instability and bugs, as well as privacy concerns related to sharing diagnostic data.

Winsage

April 23, 2025

I tried installing Windows on an ReFS drive, and I actually don’t hate it

Microsoft has been developing a new file system called ReFS (Resilient File System) to eventually replace NTFS. Users can boot Windows 11 from an ReFS drive, but the setup process is complex and requires formatting the drive using the Command Prompt. After installation, Windows 11 operates normally on ReFS, offering advantages in data resiliency and durability, especially for virtual hard disks and Storage Spaces. However, performance tests show that ReFS is slower than NTFS across various metrics, indicating it may not provide speed enhancements for general use. ReFS is seen as a promising alternative to NTFS, with potential future improvements in performance, particularly for specialized workloads.

Winsage

April 16, 2025

Windows 11’s Snipping Tool tests instant on-screen text extraction feature

Microsoft is testing an enhanced version of the Snipping Tool for Windows 11, identified as version 11.2503.27.0, which includes a built-in Text Extraction feature using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. This feature allows users to convert images into editable text directly from the capture bar, simplifying the process of copying text from the screen. Users can select any portion of their screen and instantly copy the text to their clipboard, with options to customize the output, such as removing line breaks. This update is currently available to users in the Canary and Dev Channels.

Winsage

April 15, 2025

Releasing Windows 10 Build 19045.5794 to the Release Preview Channel

Windows 10 22H2 Build 19045.5794 (KB5055612) is now available in the Release Preview Channel for Insiders. Key features include a fix for the GPU paravirtualization check in Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2), which was previously case-sensitive, and updates to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist to include drivers with security vulnerabilities exploited in Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.

Winsage

April 14, 2025

Microsoft is finally rolling out its controversial Recall feature that screenshots everything you do (again), but only for select users

Microsoft's AI screenshotting tool, Recall, is being reintroduced on Windows 11 for select members of the Windows Insider program. After concerns about storing sensitive information as unsecured plain text files, Microsoft has made Recall an opt-in feature and requires Windows Hello for accessing Recall data. Sensitive information is no longer stored as plain text. Users can control their data by pausing or deactivating Recall, deleting screenshots, or filtering content. Despite these improvements, some users remain cautious due to Recall's history and its ability to monitor screen activity, leading to privacy concerns.

Winsage

April 12, 2025

Microsoft rolling Windows Recall back into Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft has reintroduced its Windows Recall feature, now integrated into the Windows 11 Release Preview channel for Copilot+ PCs, after addressing public concerns. Originally unveiled at the Build developer conference in May of last year, Windows Recall automatically captures screenshots of a user's desktop at regular intervals and stores them locally. The feature aims to help users revisit their activities and incorporate AI capabilities for searching through the captured data. Privacy concerns arose due to the logging of user actions, prompting Microsoft to pause the launch in June after significant backlash. In November, Microsoft began testing Recall again, with it disabled by default on specific Copilot+ PCs. The feature is included in Windows 11 Build 26100.3902 as an opt-in option, with plans for a broader rollout in early 2025 and a phased introduction in the European Economic Area later this year. Recall will support multiple languages and is compatible with major web browsers. Screenshots are stored locally and encrypted, requiring Windows Hello authentication for access. Microsoft asserts that data remains on local storage and is not shared with third parties, with users having control over snapshot permissions and deletion options.