Windows Insider Preview Archives

Winsage

May 15, 2025

Microsoft Copilot+ Recall: who should disable it, and how

Microsoft's Recall feature for Copilot+ PCs was initially announced a year ago but delayed due to privacy concerns raised by cybersecurity experts. The updated version was released in April 2025 for Windows Insider Preview builds and rolled out more broadly in May. Key updates include requiring user permission for activation, encrypting database files with hardware-based Trusted Platform Module (TPM), and implementing a filter to prevent saving sensitive information. Recall is enabled on a per-user basis, can be uninstalled, does not require a Microsoft account, and processes data locally. However, it still has vulnerabilities, such as allowing access with a regular Windows PIN after initial biometric authentication and failing to consistently filter sensitive data. Recall can log interactions during calls and capture self-destructing messages, posing privacy risks. It can impact performance and battery life, especially during gaming. Users handling sensitive data or frequently using video conferencing may want to disable or remove Recall. Instructions for disabling or removing Recall are provided, along with precautions for those who choose to use it.

Winsage

March 31, 2025

Windows 11’s new headline security feature is now in testing — here’s how it can help your PC

Microsoft is rolling out a new feature called quick machine recovery (QMR) to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel, designed to automatically detect and resolve boot issues directly from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). When enabled, QMR identifies and applies fixes for common boot problems, and in case of a critical boot failure, it transitions the device into WinRE, connects to the network, and sends diagnostic data to Microsoft for targeted remediation via Windows Update. This feature will be enabled by default for home users and is available for testing by Windows Insiders. Additionally, Microsoft is introducing a speech recap feature in Narrator, allowing users to track what has been spoken, access live transcriptions, and copy the last spoken phrase using keyboard shortcuts. The speech recap window can display the last 500 strings spoken by Narrator and refreshes each time Narrator starts. Windows 11 Build 26120.3653 includes a streamlined user interface for unexpected restarts, a new way to launch Copilot using Win + C, and the Click to Do feature accessible from the Start menu, which supports multiple languages. Improvements to Windows Share include a visual preview of content and quick image editing options.

Winsage

March 31, 2025

Windows 11 quick machine recovery: Restoring devices with boot issues

Microsoft has launched a quick machine recovery feature in its Windows operating system to help IT administrators remotely execute fixes on machines that cannot boot, particularly during widespread outages. This feature allows devices to automatically enter Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and connect with Microsoft’s recovery services for tailored remediations delivered via Windows Update. IT administrators can enable or disable this feature remotely and configure settings such as scanning intervals and restart timeouts. Currently, quick machine recovery is in testing and available to users in the Windows Insider Program, with plans for future accessibility to IT administrators managing Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise devices.

Winsage

March 31, 2025

A New Microsoft Tool Automatically Detects, Diagnoses, and Resolves Boot Issues in Windows

Microsoft has introduced a tool called "Quick Machine Recovery" to address boot failures in Windows devices. This feature automatically detects, diagnoses, and resolves critical system issues that prevent devices from starting correctly. It is currently available in the Windows Insider Preview Beta Channel for Windows 11, version 24H2. Quick Machine Recovery aims to reduce downtime by automating the diagnostic and remediation processes, allowing IT administrators to deploy targeted fixes directly to affected devices through the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE). Key capabilities include automated remediation based on real-time crash data, admin customization options, and a test mode for simulating recovery processes. The recovery process begins when a device enters Windows RE due to a boot failure, utilizing a network connection to communicate with Microsoft’s recovery services. Future updates are expected to enhance networking configuration support. The feature is enabled by default for Windows 11 Home users, while IT administrators for Pro and Enterprise devices can customize its deployment.

Winsage

March 30, 2025

Microsoft tests new Windows 11 tool to remotely fix boot crashes

Microsoft is testing a new tool for Windows 11 called Quick Machine Recovery, which aims to address issues related to buggy drivers and configurations that hinder the operating system's startup. This tool is part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative, designed to enhance system stability and minimize downtime by automating the detection, diagnosis, and rectification of critical failures. Quick Machine Recovery will allow Microsoft to deploy targeted remediations remotely during widespread outages affecting device startup, thus automating fixes without complex manual interventions. The tool will automatically initiate when a new driver or configuration change disrupts startup, establishing an internet connection to transmit crash data to Microsoft for analysis and remote fixes. Microsoft plans to enable this feature by default in Windows 11 Home editions, with customization options for enterprise users. A test remediation package will soon be released for Windows Insider Preview Beta Channel users to experience Quick Machine Recovery.

Winsage

March 13, 2025

Lilbits: Microsoft keeps adding AI to Notepad, a fix for broken Chromecasts, and Android 16 Beta 3

Microsoft Notepad has introduced new features, including a spell checker and an AI-powered Rewrite utility, aimed at enhancing user experience. The latest update includes a Summarize tool for generating concise summaries of selected text, available to Windows Insiders with a Microsoft account and a subscription to Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro. Notepad version 11.2501.29.0 is rolling out in the Canary and Dev Channels on Windows 11. Additionally, the Windows Snipping Tool (version 11.2502.18.0) has been updated to allow users to draw straight lines during screen capture annotations. Android 16 Beta 3 is introducing "platform stability" and accessibility enhancements. Google is working on a fix for 2015 Chromecast devices affected by an expired certificate.

Winsage

March 8, 2025

Microsoft Copilot on Windows Begins To Roll Out New Features and Improvements to Windows Insiders

Microsoft is updating its Copilot application from a web-based interface to a native version for Windows, nearly a year after its initial launch. The new version features a refined user interface with a side panel for easier conversation initiation and chat history review. Members of the Windows Insider Programme, which allows early access to new features, can test and provide feedback on updates. The updated Copilot app is being distributed via the Microsoft Store and is expected to reach all Windows 11 PCs soon. The update, version 1.25023.101.0 and higher, is being rolled out gradually across Insider Channels. Users can access the app using the Alt + Space keyboard shortcut or the Copilot Key on compatible PCs.

Winsage

December 6, 2024

Previewing More Copilot+ Experiences with Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2510 (KB5048780) has been released to the Dev Channel, introducing new features for AMD and Intel®-powered Copilot+ PCs, including the Recall feature and an expansion of Click to Do (Preview). To join the Dev Channel, users must register for the Windows Insider Program, link their Microsoft account, select the Dev Channel, and check for updates. The Recall feature allows users to find apps, websites, images, or documents by describing their content and includes timeline control for revisiting past activities. The Cocreator feature in Microsoft Paint enables AI-assisted artwork generation from text prompts. The Photos app has been updated with Image Creator and Restyle Image features for generating new images and applying artistic styles to existing photos, respectively. Click to Do has been enhanced with new activation methods and intelligent text actions, allowing users to summarize or rewrite text. Additional changes include a modernized Windows Hello experience, improvements to the system tray, and various fixes for audio and application stability. Known issues include problems with Recall and Click to Do functionalities, which will be addressed in future updates. The Microsoft Store now supports direct updates for Win32 apps.

Winsage

November 28, 2024

Microsoft Releases Recall in Windows Insider Preview

Microsoft has released a first-look preview of its revamped Windows Recall feature for Windows Insiders via the Dev Channel, specifically for users with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and Plus Copilot+ PCs, through Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2415 (KB5046723). Recall allows users to take "snapshots" of their PC activities, retrieving application actions, websites visited, or documents accessed. It uses optical character recognition (OCR) to extract text from screenshots, storing images and text in a searchable database. Recall includes a built-in neural processing unit for local AI and machine learning tasks, ensuring user data is not stored in the cloud. To enhance privacy and security, users must opt in to save snapshots, and the system requires BitLocker disk encryption, Secure Boot, and Windows Hello for reauthentication. Users can delete snapshots and opt out of using Recall for specific applications. IT administrators will manage Recall for enterprise and educational users. The preview allows users to provide feedback on Recall and its security framework through the Feedback Hub and Windows Insider Preview Bug Bounty Program. Microsoft has not announced a timeline for the general release of Recall.

Winsage

November 24, 2024

Microsoft pulls text recognition from Photos app preview

Microsoft has disabled the Optical Character Recognition (OCR) functionality in its updated Photos app due to unspecified issues. This decision follows the introduction of the OCR capability in a Windows Insider preview released in October, which aimed to extract text from photos on Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices. Brandon LeBlanc, head of the Windows Insider Program, confirmed the deactivation within a month of the preview release. Reports of app crashes after the installation of the preview have been noted. The OCR feature was intended to enhance Microsoft's future initiatives, including the delayed Windows Recall service, which depends on accurately parsing images for searchable archives. Users hope for the restoration of the OCR feature for both Windows 11 and Windows 10, rather than limiting it to Copilot+ PC users.