workaround Archives

Winsage

March 22, 2026

Microsoft says it’ll make Windows 11 a calmer OS with fewer upsells or ads, as it tries to win back users

Microsoft has confirmed plans to reduce the presence of "upsells" in Windows 11 to enhance user experience. This announcement was made on March 20, coinciding with a significant update focused on performance and quality-of-life improvements. The update includes a faster File Explorer, a transition of the Start menu to WinUI 3, and an option to pause Windows updates indefinitely. There will also be a reduction in the use of Copilot across applications like Notepad. Microsoft is reconsidering the necessity of a Microsoft account during the Out-Of-Box Experience (OOBE) and aims to decrease built-in promotions within Windows 11. Scott Hanselman, a Microsoft engineering leader, acknowledged user frustrations and stated the goal is to create “a calmer and more chill OS with fewer upsells.” Users have expressed dissatisfaction with aggressive marketing tactics, including ads for Microsoft services during the setup process and full-screen alerts encouraging the switch to Edge. While some ads can be disabled, many users feel that they should not encounter advertisements after purchasing the operating system or devices.

Winsage

March 20, 2026

Microsoft: March Windows updates break Teams, OneDrive sign-ins

Microsoft has acknowledged that the March update for Windows 11 (KB5079473) has caused sign-in complications with Microsoft accounts in various applications, including Teams, OneDrive, Microsoft Edge, Excel, Word, and Microsoft 365 Copilot. Users may receive error messages indicating a lack of Internet connection during sign-in attempts, despite being online. This issue affects Microsoft account sign-ins but does not impact businesses using Entra ID for app authentication. Microsoft is working on a fix and suggests users restart their PCs while connected to the Internet as a temporary workaround. If restarted without an Internet connection, the sign-in problem may persist. Additionally, Microsoft has released two emergency out-of-band updates for Bluetooth visibility issues and security vulnerabilities in the Routing and Remote Access Service. Guidance has also been provided to resolve access issues related to the C: drive and app failures on certain Samsung Windows 11 laptops due to a problematic version of the Samsung Galaxy Connect app.

Winsage

March 19, 2026

Microsoft publishes a workaround for Samsung’s C: drive woes

Microsoft has released a guide to help users regain access to their C: drives affected by a Windows security update that impacted the Samsung Galaxy Connect app. Users must sign in with administrator rights, uninstall the Samsung applications, change file ownership on the C: drive to 'Everyone,' create a batch file to restore permissions, and restart their devices. Microsoft and Samsung have validated these recovery steps, and users can seek additional support from Samsung if needed. The Samsung Galaxy Connect app was temporarily removed from the Microsoft Store, but a previous version has been reinstated. The issue is marked as "Resolved," indicating no further patch from Microsoft is expected.

AppWizard

March 17, 2026

A Google TV update may have broken one of the best ways to avoid home screen ads

Recent updates to Google TV have disrupted the functionality of the Projectivy Launcher, a third-party application that allows for home screen customization. Users report that the launcher can no longer override the default Google TV interface, causing frustration as the default home screen reappears when the Home button is pressed or devices are woken. While some users still find the launcher functioning correctly, others have suggested workarounds, such as resetting settings and re-enabling override permissions, with varying success. Projectivy Launcher is popular for eliminating ads and providing a customizable interface, but it is unclear if the issues stem from an intentional update or a bug.

Winsage

March 17, 2026

Windows 11 uses five letters of your email for the user folder, but Microsoft is fixing it

A recent update in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26300.8068 allows users to customize their User folder name during the out-of-box experience (OOBE). This feature enables users to input a folder name of their choice on the Device Name page, with names allowed up to 16 Unicode characters. If users do not select a name, the system will revert to the default naming scheme derived from the first five letters of their Microsoft email address. Previously, changing the User folder name required using the Command Prompt, which was not user-friendly. The update is aimed at improving the setup experience for new Windows users.

AppWizard

March 16, 2026

Russia’s long-anticipated block of messenger app Telegram has begun, experts say

Telegram is experiencing significant outages across Russia, with users reporting issues such as the inability to open the app, send messages, and load media content. Outage-tracking platforms have recorded a surge in complaints, increasing from approximately 6,000 on Saturday to around 12,000 by Sunday. Major urban centers, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, have reported the highest concentrations of issues. Experts suggest that government actions may be contributing to these outages, particularly affecting access via home and mobile Internet. Additionally, the desktop version of the app has recently begun to show problems, indicating a troubling trend for the messaging service.

AppWizard

March 16, 2026

ChatGPT Enter key bugged on Android? Try this potential fix

Many users of the ChatGPT Android app are experiencing an issue where the Enter key has changed to a send button, making it difficult to compose multiline prompts. Complaints have increased, with users expressing frustration over the inability to create separate paragraphs. Discussions on platforms like Reddit indicate widespread dissatisfaction, with some users tagging OpenAI for clarification. Not all Android users are affected, suggesting the possibility of A/B testing or a keyboard-specific glitch. Users who switched from Microsoft SwiftKey to Gboard reported a resolution, while some Samsung keyboard users also faced similar issues. The recommended solution is to install Gboard and set it as the default keyboard. OpenAI has not publicly acknowledged the issue, and a fix is expected to be implemented quietly.

Winsage

March 14, 2026

A critical Windows 11 bug has locked some users out of the C: drive, Microsoft admits — here’s what you can do if you’re affected

Selected users of Windows 11, particularly those with Samsung laptops, are experiencing an issue that makes their main C: drive inaccessible, displaying the error message "C: is not accessible – Access denied." This problem has been acknowledged by Microsoft and appears to have arisen after the February 2026 security update (KB5077181). It primarily affects users of Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 in regions such as Brazil, Portugal, Korea, and India. Microsoft is investigating the issue, which may be linked to the Samsung Share app, and has provided a potential workaround to roll back to a previous version via the Settings > Windows Update menu. Users have also suggested changing the ownership of the C: drive as a workaround, though this comes with risks.

Winsage

March 14, 2026

Microsoft: Windows 11 users can’t access C: drive on some Samsung PCs

Microsoft is investigating an issue affecting some Samsung laptops running Windows 11, particularly after the February 2026 security updates, where users are losing access to their C: drive. This problem prevents them from launching essential applications and is reported to display an error message stating, "C: is not accessible – Access denied." The issue appears to be linked to specific Samsung software, with reports mainly coming from Brazil, Portugal, South Korea, and India, particularly involving the Samsung Galaxy Book 4. The problem is confined to Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2. A workaround has been suggested that involves changing the ownership of the C: drive to the "Everyone" group, but this poses security risks, and users are advised to wait for an official fix from Microsoft.

AppWizard

March 13, 2026

Your Pixel just lost a handy Recents trick in the March update

Google introduced the stable Android 16 QPR3 update, known as the March 2026 Pixel update, for Pixel devices. A change in the Recent apps screen has caused discontent among users, as the ability to easily save images directly from the Recents screen has been removed. Previously, users could long-press or use the Select tool to save images directly to Photos, but now they only have options to Copy, Share, and Edit. A workaround to save images involves using the share sheet to select “Upload to Photos,” but this is less intuitive and more time-consuming. Additionally, alternatives for Google Lens functionality are available, but they lack the convenience of the previous interface.