Windows Insider Archives

Winsage

February 19, 2025

The Windows 11 Release Preview channel update finally makes the battery indicator useful

Microsoft has introduced an enhanced battery indicator in the Windows 11 Release Preview build version 26100.3321. The new feature includes a color-coded system for battery status: a green icon indicates charging, a yellow icon signals energy-saving mode (activated at 20% battery or less), and a red icon alerts users to low battery levels. Users can also display the battery percentage in the system tray by enabling the “Battery Percentage” option in Settings > Power & battery. The update is being rolled out gradually, so not all users will see it immediately. Other features included in the rollout are file sharing via the taskbar and improvements to Windows Spotlight. Resources are available for users interested in the Windows Insider Program.

Winsage

February 14, 2025

Releasing Windows 10 Build 19045.5552 to the Release Preview Channel

Windows 10 22H2 Build 19045.5552 (KB5052077) has been released to the Release Preview Channel for Insiders using Windows 10, version 22H2. Key updates include: - Adjustments for Daylight Saving Time (DST) in Paraguay. - Fixes for the Chinese Input Method Editor (IME), including responsiveness issues and improved color contrast in the search suggestion panel. - Resolution of a recurring issue with the desktop window manager (dwm.exe) that caused it to stop responding. - Refresh of Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles for select mobile operators. - Improvements to the Narrator, addressing issues with announcing quick action buttons and control types in the Chinese IME candidate window. - Resolution of a service startup failure for Open Secure Shell (OpenSSH), requiring users to manually run the sshd.exe process.

Winsage

February 10, 2025

Microsoft Weekly: Xbox features for PCs, useful tools for Windows 11, and more

Microsoft refreshed the Windows Health Dashboard, providing updated information on known bugs affecting Windows 11 version 24H2, including a fix for users unable to modify specific date and time settings and a workaround for difficulties with Windows updates via USB or CD media. A guide was shared on restoring Dolby Digital (AC-3) support in Windows 11 version 24H2, and two debloating applications, WinScript and NoBloatbox, were introduced for system optimization and bloatware removal. This week's preview builds for Windows 11 included a significant update for MIDI and allowed users to customize widgets on their lock screens. An update for the Microsoft Store now permits users to choose which components of games to download. Optical Character Recognition has returned in the Photos app for Windows Insiders with enhancements and bug fixes. Microsoft announced the dates for its upcoming developer conference, Build 2025, scheduled for May 19-22 in Seattle, Washington. Firefox 135 was released with a redesigned new tab page and privacy enhancements, while Microsoft Edge 133 launched with an updated downloads interface and an AI-powered scareware blocker. Chrome version 134 is set to enhance picture-in-picture mode. In gaming news, several Xbox titles, including Forza Horizon 5 and Age of Mythology: Retold, are being released for PlayStation 5. EA's Criterion Games is focused on the next Battlefield installment, leaving the future of Need for Speed uncertain. Microsoft will host the first ID@Xbox showcase on February 24, 2025. Valve updated Steam to include a banner for abandoned games, and Nvidia announced new games for the GeForce NOW streaming service. The Epic Games Store is offering two free titles, and Amazon Prime members have access to several free games.

Winsage

February 6, 2025

Microsoft debuts Windows MIDI Services with MIDI 2.0 support

Microsoft has released a public preview of Windows MIDI Services, supporting the MIDI 2.0 standard, as part of build 27788 in the Windows 11 Insider Preview Canary Channel. Users may encounter a known installation error (0x8007000d) and a failed .NET update (0x80073712), and are advised to retry the build while avoiding the .NET update. The development of Windows MIDI Services has been ongoing, with updates provided since 2022 and a GitHub repository opened in 2023. The feature was anticipated to debut in Windows Insider builds but was delayed until February. MIDI serves as a standard for connecting electronic instruments to computers for music creation, and this update is particularly beneficial for electronic music users. Microsoft plans to extend this technology to supported versions of Windows 10 and 11 before October.

AppWizard

February 5, 2025

Windows 11’s app store has a solution for gigantic PC game downloads

Microsoft is testing a new feature called modular downloads for games on the Microsoft Store, currently available in the Canary Channel as part of Windows Insider Build 27888. This feature allows users to select which components of a game they wish to download, enabling them to manage their installations based on hardware capabilities and preferences. This improvement is particularly beneficial for users of Microsoft’s Game Pass service and those with data limits, as it offers a more flexible approach to managing game content.

Winsage

February 5, 2025

Windows 11’s Start menu search gets new, clearer labels, as Microsoft tries to avoid EU regulation trouble

Microsoft is changing the search functionality in Windows 11 for users in the European Economic Area (EEA) to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). The update will separate local search results from web-based results, which were previously combined in the Start menu search using Bing. The new Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27764 features two sections in the search window: “Windows” for local results and “Web search from Bing” for online queries. This change is particularly noticeable for users with their Windows 11 language set to German. The update is selectively rolled out in the EEA, indicating Microsoft may not implement similar changes globally. The aim is to improve user experience by reducing clutter and distractions from irrelevant web suggestions when searching for files or applications on the device.

Winsage

February 4, 2025

Microsoft Is Clubbing the AI Features in Paint Inside a New Copilot Menu

Microsoft released a new Windows 11 Insider Preview build (version 26120.3073) that includes enhancements to the Paint application and Windows Search functionality, available to Windows Insider users in the Canary and Dev channels. The Paint app now features a Copilot menu that integrates AI functionalities, including Cocreator for generating AI images from sketches, an Image Creator for text-to-image generation, a Generative Erase tool for removing unwanted objects, and a Remove Background function. These features are organized within the Copilot menu, with the Cocreator feature exclusive to Copilot+ PC users. Additionally, Windows Search has improved semantic indexing to support searching for documents, photos, and files in OneDrive, also limited to Copilot+ PC users.

Winsage

February 4, 2025

Microsoft Paint gets Copilot button for generative AI features

The latest Windows 11 Insider update (Build 26120.3073) introduces a new Copilot button in Microsoft Paint, providing access to generative AI features such as Cocreator and Image Creator, Generative Erase, and Remove Background. The update also includes improvements for locating cloud-saved photos via Windows Search for Copilot+ PCs and fixes bugs in the Taskbar, System Tray, and File Explorer. This update is currently a preview for Windows Insiders, with no timeline for broader rollout.

Winsage

December 28, 2024

Windows 11’s Camera Just Got Smarter: Check Out the Latest Additions

Microsoft has introduced new camera features for Windows 11 that enhance video quality and user experience. Users can now adjust camera brightness, contrast, resolution, and frame rate, allowing for better visibility in various lighting conditions and catering to different bandwidth needs. Additionally, users can utilize their camera in multiple applications simultaneously, enabling multitasking during video calls. However, these features may not be available on all devices immediately, as some older camera models may not support them, and the rollout will occur gradually. Users interested in trying these features early can join the Windows Insider Program and download version 26120.2702.

Winsage

December 28, 2024

6 reasons you shouldn’t join the Windows Insider program

The Windows Insider program allows users to test unreleased features of Windows 11 and provide feedback. Participants may encounter several issues, including: - Unstable user interface with bugs, glitches, unexpected freezes, and scaling issues. - Random reboots that risk losing unsaved work. - Throttled performance during resource-intensive tasks, such as gaming and video editing. - Increased potential for data loss due to system failures and blue screens of death (BSOD). - Microsoft collects diagnostic data from users, raising privacy concerns. - Frequent updates that can introduce new issues and require significant time for installation. Overall, the experience may lead users to prefer stable releases over Insider builds.