Windows Insiders Archives

Winsage

June 6, 2025

AI-powered Relight and Search now available in Microsoft Photos

The Microsoft Photos app has been updated on Windows 11, introducing new features for Copilot+ PCs. The Relight feature allows users to adjust lighting in images by positioning up to three light sources, changing light color, and setting a focus point, with additional brightness and intensity controls. Built-in presets are also available for quick application. This feature will initially be available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel-powered devices coming soon. The app now includes improved photo search using natural language, enabling users to find images by descriptive phrases. For commercial users signed in with Microsoft Entra ID, access to Restyle Image and Image Creator is now available. Users should update their Photos app to version 2025.11060.5006.0 or higher to access these features.

Winsage

June 6, 2025

The Microsoft Store is now faster, more personalized… and injected with AI

Microsoft has updated the Microsoft Store app, introducing a personalized home page and improved performance, with start times reportedly twice as fast as six months ago. Users can now install individual game components, and there is a new feature for launching Windows search to quickly find and install apps or games from the Store. Additionally, app suggestions for opening file extensions are being tested for Windows Insiders in the US and China. Copilot AI features have been added, allowing users in the US to ask questions while browsing product pages. Other enhancements include better search capabilities and improved labeling and discovery options.

Winsage

June 6, 2025

I don’t trust Windows Update anymore, and you shouldn’t either

Windows Update is essential for Windows 11, providing security patches, enhancements, and new features. Updates are released monthly on Patch Tuesday and are mandatory, with users facing automatic downloads and prompts for restarts. Recent updates have caused significant issues like boot failures, indicating a trend where updates introduce new problems. Users have limited control over updates, with only brief postponements allowed. Despite these challenges, updates are crucial for security and user experience. Users can pause updates to avoid immediate issues, and there is hope for improved testing protocols from Microsoft.

Winsage

June 5, 2025

Leveling up your Microsoft Store on Windows experience

The Microsoft Store on Windows serves over 250 million users monthly and is enhancing user experience through customer feedback. The homepage is being redesigned to offer personalized recommendations based on user interests and activities. Significant improvements to search functionality include a more intent-aware search feature, the introduction of Copilot for assistance, a "Discover More" section on product pages, and badges for apps with AI features. Integration with Windows is being improved by allowing users to launch searches for Store apps and suggesting apps for specific file extensions. The Store now launches twice as fast, with improved installation reliability. Additional enhancements include the ability to install individual game components, faster in-app rating dialogs, and updated information on product pages. New developer partnerships have been established, and users are encouraged to provide feedback through the Feedback Hub.

Winsage

June 3, 2025

Microsoft adds quick machine recovery to Windows 11 settings

Microsoft is piloting a new dedicated page within Windows Settings under System > Recovery to enhance machine recovery processes. This feature allows users to toggle recovery options, configure automatic solution searches, set check frequencies, and determine restart timings for fixes. It is currently available to Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel using Windows 11 24H2 and will soon be accessible to Dev Channel Insiders. Quick Machine Recovery (QMR), introduced as part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative in November, allows IT administrators to address boot issues remotely. When activated, QMR boots devices into the Windows Recovery Environment to initiate the Quick Machine Recovery Tool if Windows fails to start. Microsoft plans to enable QMR by default in Windows 11 Home editions, while enterprise customers can customize it in Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise.

Winsage

June 2, 2025

Notepad gets formatting options

Microsoft has updated Notepad to include new text formatting options, such as bold and italic styles, hyperlinks, and the ability to format lists and headings. This update began rolling out at the end of last month and is currently being tested with Windows Insiders in the Dev and Canary channels. The new features support Markdown-style input, allowing users to toggle between formatted Markdown and syntax views. Users can disable formatting entirely in the app settings to maintain the traditional Notepad experience. The update has raised concerns among users who relied on Notepad for stripping formatting from pasted text, as the new options may complicate this process. Microsoft has not yet responded to inquiries about user demand for these changes or the possibility of reverting to the original Notepad experience. The decision to enhance Notepad comes after the removal of WordPad from Windows in 2024.

Winsage

May 31, 2025

Microsoft is ruining Notepad with pointless formatting in Windows 11

Microsoft has released an update for Notepad, version 11.2504.50.0, to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels, introducing formatting features such as bold text, italics, hyperlinks, lists, and headers. The update includes a formatting toolbar and Markdown support, allowing users to switch between styled content and raw Markdown syntax. Users can disable formatting or revert to plain text, but the changes suggest a shift towards a more complex word processor. The update is free as part of Windows 11, but concerns exist regarding the potential loss of Notepad's simplicity.

Winsage

May 30, 2025

Text Formatting in Notepad begin rolling out to Windows Insiders

Notepad version 11.2504.50.0 is rolling out to users in the Canary and Dev Channels on Windows 11. The update introduces lightweight formatting with support for Markdown-style input, allowing users to apply bold, italic, hyperlinks, simple lists, and headings using a new formatting toolbar. Users can revert to plain text or switch between formatted Markdown and Markdown syntax views easily. There is also an option to disable formatting support in the app settings.

Winsage

May 30, 2025

Microsoft now testing Notepad text formatting in Windows 11

Microsoft has introduced text formatting capabilities in the Windows 11 Notepad application, allowing users to utilize Markdown-style input. This feature is part of the Windows 11 24H2 update for Insiders in the Release Preview Channel. Users can apply formatting options such as bold, italic, hyperlinks, lists, and headings, while also having the option to revert to plain text easily. The update is being rolled out to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels with version 11.2504.50.0 of the app. This enhancement is part of a broader initiative to modernize Notepad, which has included features like multiple tabs, a built-in character counter, spell check, autocorrect, and AI-powered text summarization and generation. Users can disable new AI functionalities or uninstall the app to revert to the classic notepad.exe program.

Winsage

May 30, 2025

Microsoft Brings Post-Quantum Security To Windows 11 And Linux

Microsoft is incorporating post-quantum cryptography (PQC) into Windows 11 and Linux platforms to enhance its security framework against potential threats from quantum computing. PQC functionalities are now available to Windows Insiders via the Canary Channel Build 27852 and on Linux through SymCrypt-OpenSSL version 1.9.0, allowing customers to test quantum-resistant encryption. Microsoft is enhancing its core cryptographic library, SymCrypt, with new PQC algorithms designed to withstand future quantum decryption capabilities. The company emphasizes the importance of "crypto agility," enabling systems to adapt to new algorithms as they develop. This initiative is part of Microsoft's ongoing commitment to global quantum-safe initiatives and aims to foster innovation and preparedness within the cybersecurity community.