PowerShell is an extremely useful commandline-based utility that allows users to automate tasks, manage configurations, and perform other system administration activities. Recently, Microsoft has talked multiple times about how it is looking to improve this native Windows utility through various processes in 2026. Now, Microsoft has outlined one way in which it is simplifying the installation of PowerShell versions.

Starting with PowerShell 7.7-preview.1, expected later this month, Microsoft is getting rid of MSI installer packages in favor of MSIX. The Redmond tech giant has emphasized that the latter is a more modern format that offers reliability and predictability compared to MSI, which depends a bit too much on custom scripts. This can lead to inconsistent behaviors during deployment.

In addition, MSIX also offers more flexibility in its servicing model as it sports a built-in update mechanism powered by differential updates. In contrast, MSI is based on legacy technology that does not support modern accessibility standards and often requires external tooling and complete reinstalls with each new version release.

That said, Microsoft understands that MSIX doesn't support all capabilities offered by MSI just yet. For example, it does not support certain scenarios like remoting and execution by system-level services, such as Task Scheduler. Redmond is looking to close these gaps by investing in MSIX in the following areas:

• Improving MSIX support for system-level and enterprise deployment scenarios
• Ensuring accessibility requirements are fully met across all installation paths
• Providing clearer guidance and tooling for deployment at scale

Microsoft has noted that some environments which rely on MSI deployment may be impacted by this change, but it is for the greater good in terms of predictability and accessibility. In the same vein, it is worth keeping in mind that MSI packages will continue to be offered for existing versions, which means PowerShell 7.6, but starting with the general availability of PowerShell 7.7, MSIX will become the default installation method on Windows.

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Posted Saturday 11 April 2026 at 1:32 pm AEST (my time).

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Microsoft recently unveiled its big plan to fix Windows 11 in 2026, with a focus on returning missing features, giving users more control over Windows Update, and taking a more measured approach in integrating Copilot-powered AI features in its software. We saw some tangible improvement on the final item in the aforementioned list with the latest Windows Insider update for Notepad which scrubs mentions of "AI" and "Copilot" in various menus. As Microsoft continues to roll back some of these changes, Mozilla has deemed this the right time to criticize the company for forcing Copilot on users in the first place.

In a blog post spotted by Windows Central, Mozilla has talked about how, in the past months and years, Microsoft has tried to limit user choice when it came to Copilot and AI integrations in Windows experiences. This includes the forced Microsoft 365 Copilot app rollout (now paused), adding a dedicated Copilot key to Copilot+ PCs, and plans to fit the AI assistant in your notifications too.

However, thanks to user backlash, Microsoft is backpedaling on many of these strategies, but Mozilla says that this just proves that the firm had made "repeated choices" to serve its business rather than prioritizing customers. It pointed to the findings of an independent research study commissioned by Mozilla that confirmed that Microsoft uses dark patterns and shady distribution tactics to eliminate user choice in subtle ways. Some examples that have been highlighted are:

• The Windows Search bar, embedded in the taskbar on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, is hardcoded to only open Microsoft Edge, regardless of your default browser.
• Windows has not implemented a true device migration system, like we see with Android, iOS, and MacOS, where your apps, settings and data are all reflected on your new device when you buy a new computer. Instead, the defaults are changed back to Microsoft’s own products.
• Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Teams by default ignore your default browser selection and open links directly in Edge.
• Windows does not offer a simple prompt that other browsers can trigger asking to become your default browser. Instead, other browsers have to direct you to Windows settings and hope you finish the multi-step process.

Mozilla claims that Copilot follows this same playbook by forcing itself upon your software experience and learning about you as quickly as possible, without you realizing what's even happening.

The browser vendor has also decided to insert a plug for its own AI capabilities and integrations in Firefox, which are based on the principle that AI should work on your terms, not Mozilla. It emphasized how its browser also lets you individually disable each AI feature or all of them through one killswitch that is easily accessible in settings. Moreover, it also highlighted how your preferences persist across updates rather than being rolled back to the default configuration, throwing shade at Microsoft's Windows update practices.

Mozilla further went on the offensive against Microsoft, saying that:

When a company with Microsoft’s reach continues to control users — and only walks it back when the noise gets loud enough — it shapes what people expect from technology. It tells people that their only real move is to complain until, hopefully, the company relents. It also makes it harder for alternatives to compete when a company uses its reach and control to steer people back into its own products.

 

We don’t think that’s the internet we have to accept. People have been clear about what they want when it comes to this era of the internet. They want to feel like they’re in control of their own devices and their own data. That’s the internet we’re trying to build.

The timing for Mozilla's fiery blog post is certainly interesting, particularly when Microsoft is in the process of procuring some goodwill for rolling back some of its controversial Copilot changes. But perhaps that is what the browser vendor is aiming to do: shape public opinion on the topic while it is still fresh in the minds of people. That said, it's difficult to ascertain if Mozilla's words will have any significant effect on the masses.

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Posted Saturday 11 April 2026 at 1:29 pm AEST (my time).

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Microsoft, today, has released the newest builds to the Windows 11 Beta channel and Dev channel Insider programs for users flighting those channels. The Dev build is available under KB5083632 and build 26300.8170; the Beta build under KB5083635 and build 26220.8165. These channels are set to change soon.

The builds are identical and as such bring the same improvements and fixes. These include improvement of the FAT32 file system such that it can now support up to 2TB via the command line, a performance boost for disk navigation, network data usage bug-fix, and more. The full changelog is given below:

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out with toggle on*

[Storage]

• We’re increasing the size limit for formatting FAT32 volumes via the command line from 32GB to 2TB.
• Improved the performance when navigating to see storage on large volumes via Settings > System > Storage > Advanced Storage Settings > Disks & Volumes.
• Updated Settings > System > Storage, so rather than seeing a UAC prompt immediately when you go to the page, you’ll only see it when going to view temporary files.

[Network]

• Fixed issue causing Settings > Network & Internet > Data Usage to show large unrealistic values in recent Insider builds.

[Windows Security app]

• We have recently started to roll out enhancements to the Windows Security app > Device security > Secure Boot experience, which shows green, yellow, and red icon badges as well as new text that reflects your device’s Secure Boot state and certificate status. Microsoft is updating Secure Boot certificates on consumer devices and some business PCs, and you can now check your certificate status with this new feature. This experience is disabled by default on enterprise IT managed devices and servers.

[Feedback Hub Improvements]

What’s new in Feedback Hub

• Simpler feedback submission flow: Feedback is now submitted using a single unified template, with the added ability to search categories. The feedback form itself has been modernized enabling for faster iteration and future improvements.
• Simpler navigation: My Feedback now lives directly in the navigation pane, and Community feedback (formerly All feedback) makes it easier to discover and engage with feedback from others. The Announcements page has been removed to focus more on giving and exploring feedback. You can still find announcements on the Windows Insider Blog.
• New compliment feedback type: Call out what’s working well.
• Private or public feedback: Choose whether your feedback is visible to the Insider community.
• New focused feedback experience: A new smaller Feedback Hub surface, making it easier to provide quick, in-the-moment feedback. You can expand to the full Feedback Hub experience by pressing the button in the upper right corner.

• Improved screenshot capture and review tooling: Making it easier to capture and include visuals when sharing feedback.

Feedback: Your feedback helps shape what comes next, so try out the new experience and share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Feedback Hub.

• Thanks Windows Insiders who have been sharing such great feedback about the new Feedback Hub version. As some of you may have already noticed, we’re currently rolling out version 2.2604.101.0 to Dev and Canary. This includes design refinements based on your feedback, such as:
  • Improved the default window size, and now it will remember window size across session.
  • You can now use the mouse back button to go back between pages.
  • If you were seeing less community feedback than usual, that should be addressed now.
  • Upvote buttons for feedback should display correctly for Insiders using the Chinese display language now, … and more.

You can find the official blog post here (Dev/Beta) on Microsoft's website.

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Posted Saturday 11 April 2026 at 1:25 pm AEST (my time).

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Following the announcement of a major rework of the Windows Insider program, Microsoft released this week's Windows 11 preview builds. Two are available in the Dev/Beta Channel, and two more are in the Canary Channel. Note that the old build structure is still here, so no Experimental builds as of yet.

As for new features, Canary builds are traditionally light on new stuff. They usually get things that have already been introduced in the Dev/Beta Channel. This week, those features include new touchpad features, sharing improvements, updates for Feedback Hub, and more.

Here is the changelog:

• This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience for Insiders running this build on their PCs.

[Touchpad]

• We’re adding a new setting in Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touchpad so you can choose how large the right-click zone size is (this is the portion in the bottom-right of your touchpad where pressing a single finger will result in a right-click), between default, small, medium, and large. Note – this setting only appears for touchpads that have a pressable surface for this. Some manufacturers may provide customization for this in their own apps – if you’ve customized your setting using an app like this, a “Custom” entry will be added to the dropdown, which preserves that value.

[Sharing]

• Based on feedback we’re making some refinements to drag tray, using a smaller peek view to reduce accidental invocation and make it easier to dismiss when interacting near the top of the screen.

[Windows Security app]

• We have recently started to roll out enhancements to the Windows Security app > Device security > Secure Boot experience, which shows green, yellow, and red icon badges as well as new text that reflects your device’s Secure Boot state and certificate status. Microsoft is updating Secure Boot certificates on consumer devices and some business PCs, and you can now check your certificate status with this new feature. This experience is disabled by default on enterprise IT managed devices and servers.

[Feedback Hub Improvements]

• Thanks Windows Insiders who have been sharing such great feedback about the new Feedback Hub version. As some of you may have already noticed, we’re currently rolling out version 2.2604.101.0 to Dev and Canary. This includes design refinements based on your feedback, such as:
  • Improved the default window size, and now it will remember window size across session.
  • You can now use the mouse back button to go back between pages.
  • If you were seeing less community feedback than usual, that should be addressed now.
  • Upvote buttons for feedback should display correctly for Insiders using the Chinese display language now, … and more.

You can find the announcement blog post for build 28020.1812 here and build 29565.100 here.

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Posted Saturday 11 April 2026 at 1:24 pm AEST (my time).

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Yesterday, Microsoft announced that it is making a "major" compliance change in Teams, which will allow AI-powered meeting recaps to be generated without retaining any transcript or recording of a meeting. This follows news about a bunch of upgrades that the popular online communication platform received recently and some that it is expected to get soon. Now, Microsoft has revealed that Teams is getting a crucial new feature that has surprisingly been missing so far.

In an update to its public Microsoft 365 Roadmap today, the company has revealed that customers will soon be able to test their microphone and speaker before they join a meeting. This won't be a rudimentary test either. In fact, you'll be able to record a short audio clip and then hear it back. Together, both these flows will help you ensure that your correct input and output hardware is selected and that it is working without issues.

While we don't have an idea about the interface for this hardware test yet, we do know that it will be included in the pre-join screen for each meeting. Microsoft will likely update the existing pre-join interface to include a control for this as well.

Although this may sound like an insignificant change to some, it will certainly facilitate those working in remote or hybrid setups. I, personally, have joined many meetings where a precious few minutes at the start are wasted just because someone is connected to the wrong I/O hardware without realizing, or their mic is too far away, or their hardware is faulty, or a combination of the above.

As such, it's great to see that Microsoft realizes that it can make its customers more productive by enabling them to test their hardware ahead of joining a meeting, guaranteeing that they will be able to listen to others and convey their thoughts without issues. This feature is landing on Teams next month on Windows and macOS.

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Posted Saturday 11 April 2026 at 1:23 pm AEST (my time).

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Microsoft says it hears the complaints people have about the current state of Windows, and it wants to fix them. One of those fixes is another overhaul for its Windows Insider Program, the public beta system that Microsoft has used since Windows 10 to test and preview upcoming versions of the operating system and new app updates.

The company hinted at this in its “commitment to Windows quality” post last month, and it’s announcing details today in another post attributed to Microsoft Principal Group Product Manager Alec Oot.

Since its last reorganization in 2023, the Windows Insider Program has had four testing channels. From least to most stable, these are the Canary channel, the Dev channel, the Beta channel, and the Release Preview channel. Both Canary and Dev are for earlier builds of Windows and new apps, while Beta tends to get things that are closer to finished and much more likely to ship to the general public. The Release Preview channel is a new Windows version’s last stop before public release and is usually near-final.

The new version of the program will combine the Canary and Dev channels into a single “Experimental” channel, which Microsoft says “is where new features generally show up first and where your feedback has the most direct impact on what we build.” The new Beta channel is more or less the same as the old one and “is the better fit if you want a more stable experience with features closer to shipping.”

Both the Experimental and Beta channels will include toggles to select the specific baseline version of Windows you want to test—the special 26H1 version aimed primarily at new Arm-based PCs, and the normal 25H2 version that everyone else has. An additional “Future Platforms” option in the Experimental channel will enable testing of “our earliest preview build for Windows” and “is not aligned to a retail version of Windows,” for people who want to test what may or may not eventually become Windows 11 26H2 or some future version.

The Release Preview channel will continue to exist, but as a hidden “advanced” option aimed primarily at IT shops hoping to perform early compatibility testing with upcoming updates.

Microsoft says that hopping between channels and opting out of the Windows Insider Program will also get easier and that it will generally no longer require users to completely wipe the PC and reinstall Windows. Switching between the Experimental, Beta, and Release Preview channels and the current shipping version of Windows can now be done as an “in-place upgrade” that preserves user data, as long as users stay on the same “core version” of Windows (i.e., 25H2, 26H1).

It’s still a maze, but it’s more predictable

The new version of the program doesn’t seem much less confusing than the current system, as there are still a whole bunch of branches, sub-branches, and exceptions to rules that Insiders will need to keep track of to be certain what they’re testing. But they do address the other major pain point of the Insider Program as it currently exists—the thing where you read about a new feature in a fresh Insider build, install that build to your PC, and then don’t actually see the feature on your system.

In the current Insider Program, that happens because of what Microsoft calls Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR), a process by which new features and updates are released to PCs gradually so that the rollout can be paused if problems arise. This is how Microsoft releases most Windows updates, and it makes sense for the general populace, but it mostly ends up being frustrating for Insider Program users who have already chosen to trade some potential bugginess for the ability to test new things early.

For the Beta channel, Microsoft is turning off CFR entirely. You may see slightly different iterations of those features depending on what Microsoft is A/B testing. But if it’s described in a Windows Insider blog post and you install the build the post is about, you should see that feature appear after you reboot.

For the Experimental branch, Microsoft is adding a “Feature flags page” to the Windows Insider settings that will let users manually enable and disable individual features. Users could do this sort of thing before using third-party software like ViVeTool, a command-line utility that would let you manually enable installed-but-turned-off functionality. It’s nice to see Microsoft build similar capabilities into Windows directly, though ViVeTool will probably still be useful for discovering and testing early versions of features that Microsoft is testing but not talking about yet.

All of these new changes will roll out in the “coming weeks.” Current Beta, Dev, and Canary channel testers will be moved to new channels seamlessly, though exactly where you move will depend on what Windows version you’re running. Dev channel users will be moved to the Windows 11 25H2 version of the Experimental channel; Canary channel users running a 28000 series build of Windows will be moved to the Windows 11 26H1 version of the Experimental channel, while users running a 29500 series build will move to the “Experimental (Future Platforms)” version of the channel.

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Posted Saturday 11 April 2026 at 5:00 am AEST (my time).

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Microsoft might be facing a bigger security challenge than previously expected. Estimates suggest that one billion users could fall victim to cyberattacks and other digital threats. On the one hand, around half of these devices cannot be upgraded because of stricter hardware requirements to run the system, such as Windows 11.

On the other hand, the other half of users can do it but don’t.

These figures put Microsoft in a tough position, as the company is trying to move users from Windows 10 after its support ends in October 2025. 

Unless more users switch to newer software, such as Google’s Chrome OS Flex or Windows 11, the coming months may mark the start of a transition period, which could lead to greater exposure to cyberthreats.

Google has now begun heavily promoting not only the two software products but also other solutions.

• USB installation key: It’s exactly how it sounds – a small USB stick. Users can stick it to their laptop or PC and follow a guide that teaches them how to replace Windows 10 with ChromeOS Flex. It costs about $4.

• Call for nature preservation: Google has been more vocal about the environmental benefits of extending the life of devices that users already own, rather than buying new ones once their security guarantees expire. Previous reports have raised concerns about a potential increase in electronic waste and emissions that stem from manufacturing new gadgets.

• Automatic upgrades and updates: Microsoft continues to release automatic upgrades and system updates for devices that are technically eligible for Windows 11.

For business clients, Microsoft is offering paid Extended Security Updates that allow clients to keep receiving critical security patches for a limited period after Windows 10’s support ends, ensuring a safe transition over a longer period if needed. 

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Following the release of extended security updates (ESU) for Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB, Microsoft today made another announcement related to the long-term servicing branch. The company has confirmed that the recent hotpatch updates for Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024, based on 24H2/25H2, have introduced a bug in the reset PC option. The company updated its support articles to inform about this, which Neowin noticed while browsing.

The affected systems had installed either KB5077212 (February 2026 hotpatch) or KB5079420 (March 2026 hotpatch). Following the installation, the Push Button Reset (Reset this PC) could fail to function properly when a user opted for the "Keep my files" or "Remove everything" options.

Microsoft adds that affected users are greeted with a black screen as the reset does not complete properly. Thankfully though no data is lost as the PC, instead, restarts to the desktop and displays the “There was a problem resetting your PC. No changes were made” error message.

A good thing is that consumer systems are not affected by this as Microsoft explains: "This issue affects Windows Autopatch–managed commercial devices that meet all the following conditions:

• The organization manages the device with Windows Autopatch.
• Hotpatch is enabled to apply security updates.
• Monthly security updates are installed without restarting the device."

In order to fix the issue, the company has recommended installing the March OS recovery update that was released under KB5079471. The company writes: "IT administrators can mitigate this issue on managed devices by installing the March Safe OS Dynamic Update (KB5079471). This update includes a fix for the issue and only needs to be applied once."

Microsoft says that it is working on a resolution as it is definitely important.

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Posted Friday 10 April 2026 at 5:48 pm AEST (my time).

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FreeBSD isn't really an operating system name you would hear being thrown around in casual IT-related conversations. The free, open-source Unix-like OS was first released way back in 1993, and is currently being supported by the FreeBSD Foundation. While it's not a distro commonly found on personal laptops, the foundation is now compiling a list of models in this form factor that should have no issues running FreeBSD, in terms of compatibility.

The FreeBSD Foundation's assessment of laptop compatibility is based on how many components are detected by the OS, whether these devices have degraded functionality, and user feedback. Critical components like Wi-Fi and graphics are weighted more when evaluating degraded functionality.

In FreeBSD Foundation's testing so far, the following laptops have achieved a perfect score in terms of compatibility with FreeBSD:

• Lenovo ThinkPad X270
• ASUS TUF Gaming F15 FX507VU_FX507VU
• HP EliteBook 845 G7 Notebook PC

• Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05

• Framework Laptop 13 (13th Gen Intel Core)

• Lenovo Yoga 11e

• Framework Laptop 13 (AMD Ryzen 7040 Series)

• Lenovo ThinkPad T490

• Framework Laptop 16 (AMD Ryzen 7040 Series)

• Aspire A315-24PT

• Latitude 7490

   

It's interesting to see a healthy mix of devices in the list above, starting from a launch time frame of 2017 and going up until roughly 2024.

There are other interesting pieces of hardware in the list too, which failed to score perfectly but did do well in compatibility tests. These include the 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2016 (7/8) and loads of others in this exhaustive list here.

Most, if not all, of the PCs being used by FreeBSD customers come with Windows pre-installed, so the decision to have FreeBSD installed is certainly an informed choice borne out of need or preference, or both. The FreeBSD Foundation is welcoming public input on the project, which requires the installation of its testing tool on your device. This probe, of sorts, measures your PC's compatibility and stores the result in a directory, which you can then submit to GitHub through a pull request. No personally identifiable information is recorded or transmitted.

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Posted Friday 10 April 2026 at 12:16 pm AEST (my time).

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We recently learned that Microsoft is experimenting with new ways to get more customers to use its Edge browser. Some of these tactics have been deemed shady by the competition, who believe that Redmond is once again stifling user choice. While the jury is still out on who is on the right side of the fence, there has been another interesting development in Edge. The browser is ditching support for XSLT, following in the footsteps of other competitors.

Microsoft has released the latest security review for its upcoming version of Edge, v147, and while the baseline continues to be Edge 139, the company has highlighted an important new policy. Edge version 147 is set to be released to the public this week, but we now know that it contains an enterprise policy for XSLTEnabled. As the name suggests, this configuration controls the availability of XSLT in Edge.

For those unaware, XSLT stands for Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations, and is the language used to transform XML documents into formats like HTML. It was recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in 1999, and while multiple versions have come out since then, browsers today really don't support it actively. In addition, there are also other modern frameworks and technologies that offer the same functionalities as XSLT in a more flexible manner.

But perhaps the biggest reason for the deprecation of XSLT is the cybersecurity risk associated with it. We have reported in the past how one of its underlying libraries, libxslt, has a major security flaw that still hasn't been fixed due to a lack of active maintenance for the legacy project. Usage of XSLT has waned too; only 0.02% of webpages loading today use the language, and less than 0.001% use XSLT transformations.

As such, Microsoft believes that its latest policy should be used by enterprise customers to evaluate the effect of disabling XSLT. This move isn't just limited to Edge either; it's a global initiative. Upstream Chromium began testing a similar policy in Chrome 146 last month, with complete removal planned in Chrome 176 around August 2027. Similarly, two other major browser engines, WebKit (used in Safari) and Gecko (Firefox), are getting rid of the language soon, too.

Microsoft has urged organizations to leverage Edge 147 to evaluate the effect of disabling client-side XSLT and treat it as a technical debt moving forward. If you are impacted, the migration process itself might not be straightforward, but you can find some more details about it here.

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Posted Friday 10 April 2026 at 12:15 pm AEST (my time).

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Amid customer dissatisfaction around Broadcom’s VMware takeover, rivals have been trying to lure customers from the leading virtualization firm. One of VMware’s biggest competitors, Nutanix, claims to have swiped tens of thousands of VMware customers.

Speaking at a press briefing at Nutanix’s .NEXT conference in Chicago this week, Nutanix CEO Rajiv Ramaswami said that “about 30,000 customers” have migrated from VMware to the rival platform, pointing to customer disapproval over Broadcom’s VMware strategy, SDxCentral, a London-based IT publication, reported today.

“I think there’s no doubt that the customer sentiment continues to be negative about Broadcom,” Ramaswami said, per SDxCentral.

Since Broadcom acquired VMware in November 2023, numerous VMware users have sought to reduce or end their reliance on VMware technologies. The most common drivers for migrations are that VMware is getting too expensive; users are being forced to bundle products; the company ended perpetual licenses; and VMware has become harder to work with after Broadcom culled channel partners.

Broadcom’s strategy has made VMware unaffordable or impractical for most small- to medium-size businesses (SMBs) and narrowed VMware’s focus to enterprise-size customers.

Nutanix hasn’t specified how many of the customers that it got from VMware are SMBs or enterprise-sized; although, adoption is said to be strongest among mid-market customers as Nutanix also tries wooing larger customers, often by starting with partial deployments.

During this week’s press briefing, Ramaswami reportedly said that some of the customers that moved from VMware to Nutanix during the latter’s most recent fiscal quarter represented Nutanix’s “strongest quarterly new logo additions in eight years.”

“Most of the logos came from our typical VMware migrations on to the [hyperconverged infrastructure] platform,” he said.

During the Nutanix conference, Brandon Shaw, Nutanix VP and head of technology services, said that Western Union has been migrating from VMware to Nutanix for six months, The Register reported. The financial services company is moving 900 to 1,200 applications across 3,900 cores.

Shaw said that Western Union has been exploring new IT suppliers to help it become more customer-focused. Despite Broadcom’s history of “decent lines of communication” with Western Union, Shaw said that Western Union had “challenges partnering with them.”

Shaw also pointed to Broadcom’s efforts to push customers to buy the VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), despite the product often having more features than companies need and at high prices. Since moving to Nutanix, the Denver-headquartered financial firm is also benefiting from having more flexibility around workload locations, which is important since Western Union is in over 200 countries, The Register said.

Abandoning VMware

During its event this week, Nutanix reportedly also touted Everland, the biggest theme park in South Korea, and a separate, unnamed company with 100,000 cores, as new customers that came from VMware. Ramaswami said during a Wednesday investors call that Nutanix has migrated multiple 100,000-core workloads “in less than a year to get customers completely off of Broadcom,” per a transcript from Seeking Alpha. Ramaswami pointed to the Wynn Hotel in Boston, which he said has fully migrated off of VMware.

Other companies, including Microsoft (Hyper-V) and Proxmox, have also been aggressively courting disgruntled VMware customers.

While not a complete picture of VMware users’ migration plans, in a January survey, conducted by hybrid cloud management platform provider CloudBolt Software, of 302 IT decision-makers (director-level or higher) at North American firms with 1,000 employees or more, 95 percent of respondents had migrated at least 1 percent of workloads off of VMware. Among those respondents, 72 percent moved to public cloud infrastructure as a service, and 43 percent moved to Microsoft’s Hyper-V/Azure stack. Last year, Gartner predicted that 35 percent of VMware workloads would be migrated elsewhere by 2028.

Despite thousands of customers abandoning VMware, Broadcom’s acquisition is broadly considered a success. Further, Broadcom has maintained a strong grip on the enterprise customers that VMware had pre-acquisition. Amid efforts to push customers to larger, pricier VFC private cloud and vSphere virtualization bundles, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan said in September that more than 90 percent of VMware’s biggest vSphere customers had bought VCF.

In its Q1 2026 earnings report last month, Broadcom said that it expects software revenue to grow by 9 percent to $7.2 billion in Q2, largely buoyed by VMware. At the time, Tan pointed to AI and the RAM shortage as factors driving customers to VMware products.

Broadcom didn’t respond to Ars Technica’s request for comment.

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Posted Friday 10 April 2026 at 12:14 pm AEST (my time).

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If you’re still running Windows 11 version 23H2 on your PC, there’s a chance your Start menu search is broken. Multiple users have reported that the Start menu shows blank search results that, strangely, are still clickable.

As recently highlighted by Microsoft in a Windows release health update, "An investigation determined that the problem coincided with a server-side Bing update designed to improve search performance. To mitigate the issue, the server-side Bing update was rolled back, and reports of search failures are steadily decreasing.”

While Microsoft says the issue isn't widespread, as it has affected only a small number of users since April 6, 2026, Bleeping Computer notes that users have been lodging complaints on social media about the same issue for months.

As highlighted above, Microsoft has rolled back the buggy Bing update, which could potentially reduce instances of the Start menu displaying blank search results.

Even people who use Microsoft Edge don't want the browser to start automatically after logging in to Windows 11. That's what a recent poll about the browser suggests.

Microsoft is testing a new feature that allows Edge to open automatically after starting a PC. A banner appeared for some users indicating the change, and we confirmed the behavior is there in the latest Edge Beta build.

That banner has an option to say "No thanks," but it appears the feature is opt-out rather than opt-in. Since the feature is still in testing, Microsoft may change if it is enabled or disabled by default.

It turns out that a browser launching automatically, even if optionally, is a hot button topic. Comments on the article and on Reddit range from expletitives to analogies comparing Microsoft to The Lord of the Rings.

"This is exactly the kind of thing driving me away from windows," said Steve Jones.

Similar sentiments were shared by "pm fenn," who said, "If Microsoft forces this on people i will stop using win 11 and continue to use google OS."

Edward Dekkers emphasized how the new Edge feature goes against Microsoft's push to improve Windows 11:

"What? I thought the last reports I read they were supposedly UNshittifying windows. Guess that lasted long before they came up with more ways to make Windows worse again."

I argued a similar case in the latest Windows Wrap.

"Sneakily testing Edge starting up when people boot their PCs? These types of actions hinder a reputation from being rebuilt."

Unpopular, even among Edge users

Earlier this year, Microsoft announced its big plan to fix Windows 11 and bring some of the most-requested features, including a movable taskbar, better Windows Update controls, and more. Another thing that users keep asking Microsoft about is a more careful approach to AI features and Copilot across the operating system. Microsoft promises to do that as well, and the first signs of the company sticking to its promise are now here.

The latest Notepad update in the Windows Insider program removes the Copilot button. Instead, there is now a dedicated icon for writing tools, helping users better understand its purpose. Upon clicking the new button, Notepad presents you with a list of available experiences, including rewriting, summarizing, tone changing, and more.

Changes are not just on the toolbar. In the Settings section, Microsoft renamed "AI features" to "Advanced features." A single toggle in the section lets you turn off AI-powered experiences if you do not want them. The update was spotted by @phantomofearth on X:

Microsoft has not announced the update yet, but you can expect it shortly, most likely with the next Windows Insider preview builds, which usually come out each Friday. However, if you do not want to wait, you can get the latest Notepad version even without enrolling in the Insider program. Here is how to do it:

1. Go to store.rg-adguard.net and select Product ID from the first drop-down menu.
2. Paste 9msmlrh6lzf3 into the search box and select Fast from the next drop-down menu.
3. Click the checkmark button to find the app.
4. Download the Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_11.2512.28.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msixbundle file.
5. Open the downloaded file. If Notepad is already installed, Windows 11 will ask you to update it.

After updating Notepad, you will see the new button in the toolbar area and the updated Settings section.

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Posted Friday 10 April 2026 at 5:08 am AEST (my time).

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Recently, a veteran Microsoft engineer described one of the massive challenges on Windows 95, which was dealing with compatibility problems. The issues were so big that apps would straight up not work, and even haters would probably admit that the user experience on Windows 11 has never been as terrible.

Speaking of the user experience, Microsoft today confirmed in a newly published support article that it will not fix a visual glitch, and the reason for not doing so is that the bug is "by design," plus it's also not important to fix.

For those wondering what I am talking about, the Redmond giant has admitted that the OS's Secure Lock Screen clock does not show the correct time to users and has explained why that is. The Secure Lock Screen can be summoned using the Ctrl + Alt + Delete combo keys, and it brings up the security screen that allows a person to lock the desktop, switch user, sign out, change a password, or open Task Manager.

The company explained that this behavior is intentional as the Secure Lock Screen refreshes its clock on a fixed 30‑second cycle rather than aligning with minute boundaries; this means the time displayed here updates 30 seconds after an actual minute change. The Secure Lock Screen runs under the Winlogon secure desktop and follows its own refresh schedule, and that's unlike the user lock screen (Win + L), which updates correctly at each minute change.

While the display may look inaccurate, Microsoft has stressed that this is purely a visual quirk, as the underlying system clock remains precise with no impact on various synchronization functions, event logs, and such. These are fetched directly from the Windows kernel system clock, and hence the issue does not require any fixing.

You can find the support article here on Microsoft's official site.

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Posted Friday 10 April 2026 at 5:06 am AEST (my time).

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Windows Terminal is a very useful native tool on Windows meant for power users that utilize command-line. It offers several features like tabs, rich text rendering, GPU acceleration, and more. So if you use it frequently there is good news for you.

That's because Microsoft is prepping a big overhaul of the Windows Terminal settings UI as the company's Carlos Zamora, a software engineer, shared mockup images of the proposed changes so as to gather community feedback. The aim is to make the settings experience more intuitive, less cluttered, and easier to navigate for both new and experienced users.

One such notable change is the introduction of a dedicated settings window which would replace the current in-app panel. This approach is intended to give users a clearer view of options and reduce confusion when switching between the various categories. Like those such as Startup, Interaction, Personalization, and Compatibility, are being upgraded to better reflect their functionalities.

Toggle switches are expected to be replaced with checkboxes to be more consistent with modern UI conventions. If you are new to the app, you need not worry. Explanatory text will remain under each setting, which has been highlighted as particularly helpful for such novice users. Auto-save is planned as the default behavior, though indicators or undo options may be added too to reassure users who want more control.

There are several other refinements like renaming the “New tab menu” to “Dropdown menu” for clarity, moving previews to the right side of the interface, and improving the profiles page with clearer navigation for defaults, color schemes, and individual profiles. Key bindings are also under review with talks around how best to display multiple shortcuts without overwhelming the UI.

You can find the issue here on Terminal's official GitHub repo and maybe give your own feedback there.

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Posted Friday 10 April 2026 at 5:03 am AEST (my time).

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Earlier this year, towards late February, Microsoft had announced extended security updates (ESU) for additional Windows 10 versions. The company was already providing ESU for the non-LTSB/LTSC Windows 10 version as it reached the end of support back in October 2025. However, in February, ESU for Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) versions were also announced.

As such, today Microsoft has confirmed that ESUs are available for Windows 10 Enterprise 2016, as the company has updated its blog post to reflect this. The edition is slated to reach end of support on October 13, 2026. It wrote "Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB ESUs are available as of April 1, 2026."

Microsoft further explains on the Windows Message Center that: "If your organization relies on Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016, you know it’s nearing end of support on October 13, 2026. While the long-term solution is upgrading to a newer LTSC release, another temporary solution is also now available. Extended Security Updates (ESU) are now available for purchase through Volume Licensing or a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP). ... The program will allow organizations unwilling or unable to migrate immediately to newer LTSC releases of Windows 10 or Windows 11 to keep receiving critical security patches."

The ESU program comes with a tiered pricing model. The first year costs $61 per device annually, discounted to $45 per device for systems managed via Intune or via Autopatch. Interestingly, and perhaps a bit unfairly, the price doubles each subsequent year, and Microsoft requires cumulative payments, meaning if a customer joins in year two, they must also pay for year one.

The announcement also covers Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2016 LTSB and Windows Server 2016, which also face the end of support deadlines in October 2026 and January 2027, respectively. IoT customers have been advised to consult OEMs for ESU pricing, while Server 2016 users are encouraged to upgrade to Windows Server 2025, though ESUs will be offered as a fallback in case it does not work out.

You can find the updated announcement article here on Microsoft's website.

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Posted Thursday 9 April 2026 at 12:12 pm AEST (my time).

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This week a Microsoft senior official confirmed that the company is working to fix some of the most crucial UX/UI components on Windows 11, like the Settings app, File Explorer, and the Start menu. The ones for Settings are rolling out this month and the rest will follow later.

Speaking of the Start menu, Microsoft today has confirmed that a recent server-side update it had pushed is what led to the breakdown of perhaps one of the most vital components on Start as the Search function there was no longer functioning as intended. This server-side update was made for Bing and was ironically supposed to upgrade and improve the search performance. Hence it seems Microsoft did not properly test the feature before releasing it.

What is funny is that disabling Bing from the Start menu Search has actually been shown to yield a better and snappier experience. You can check how to do so by using a Registry hack in this dedicated piece here.

The problem affects Windows 11 23H2 devices which is no longer supported by the company, although many users probably still use the version as they may not have upgraded to 24H2 or 25H2. As such, this issue has been documented internally in the admin portal and IT admins and sysadmins who have access to it will be able to view it.

It says that after the Bing update was rolled back there has been a definite improvement. The company writes: "An investigation determined that the problem coincided with a server-side Bing update designed to improve search performance. To mitigate the issue, the server-side Bing update was rolled back, and reports of search failures are steadily decreasing. .. This issue will resolve automatically as the server-side fix is gradually rolled out to affected devices. To receive this fix, make sure the device is connected to the internet and that Web Search has not been disabled by Group Policy." Those who have access to the admin portal can view the message here under ID WI1273488.

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Posted Thursday 9 April 2026 at 5:53 am AEST (my time).

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According to Microsoft, Windows 11 now has zero open issues and bugs. No, that is not shameless clickbait. The official documentation where Microsoft tracks open bugs and known issues has all problems now marked as resolved. Moreover, Windows 11 version 26H1, a special release for Snapdragon X2-based devices, never had any at all.

Having all known bugs resolved is a notable change for the current Windows 11 version. Released in late 2024, Windows 11 version 24H2 (and 25H2, which is based on the same platform) shipped with a big laundry list of various issues, blocking bugs, and other problems. Over the next year and a half, Microsoft has been steadily fixing those, removing one known bug after another.

The most recent bugs Microsoft fixed in Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 include big issues, such as broken access to drive C on certain PCs, sign-in issues in Microsoft apps, and more.

Of course, that does not mean Windows 11 is now perfect. In fact, Microsoft is only starting to “fix” Windows 11. Last month, Microsoft announced its plan to address the most popular user requests, fix Windows Update, improve the taskbar and Start menu, and more. Some of those changes are about to materialize in upcoming Windows 11 preview builds. Also, there are other bugs and issues that Microsoft is not aware of, so the update in the documentation only applies to the officially confirmed hiccups.

Another thing worth noting is that new issues may appear at any moment. Next week, Microsoft ships this month’s Patch Tuesday updates, and a new bug could show up for Microsoft to confirm. Until then, users can enjoy a no-issues state, which also means more customers can upgrade to the latest releases.

Speaking of updates, Microsoft recently notified users that Windows 11 version 25H2 is rolling out to PCs with Windows 11 version 24H2. The latter is now approaching its end of support, giving Microsoft a reason to update your system without your permission.

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Posted Thursday 9 April 2026 at 5:51 am AEST (my time).

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These days, after massive criticism from users, Microsoft says it is busy fixing Windows 11 and improving its performance. Bugs and issues pop up quite commonly at the moment, and just this week itself, Microsoft admitted that one of the recent updates it released broke one of the most useful Windows 11 Start menu functions, as the Start menu no longer worked properly after it. While this was clearly Microsoft's own fault, a veteran engineer at the company, Raymond Chen, recently blamed users for the problems and issues, suggesting that a lot of that is often down to user error.

Regardless of whose fault Windows 11 issues may be, Chen has published his latest article this week, where he took a trip down memory lane, back to the Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 days, and talked about massive compatibility conflicts that often arose between the two OS during the transition days.

Chen has revealed that some Windows 3.1 programs were so tightly bound to the old system’s internals that they simply could not make the passage to Windows 95. He explains that the problem lay in how certain developers had written their software, as instead of relying on documented APIs, they converted system handles into pointers and manipulated internal data structures directly. This shortcut worked under Windows 3.1’s 16‑bit heap, but when Windows 95 introduced a 32‑bit heap for user interface and graphics objects, those no longer functioned as intended.

Hence, at least in the case of compatibility, Windows 11 users probably do not have it all that bad as aside from Microsoft's own stringent system requirements, most people have not had to deal with such compatibility-related problems.

For those not familiar, Windows 95 made a massive leap in visuals from Windows 3.1 as it introduced a GUI (graphical user interface) and thus had to upgrade to a 32-bit design since it needed much more hardware resources.

Chen has added that Microsoft did try to ease the transition using a sort of patch. For this, a system was built to help legacy applications run on the new platform, and many quirks could be handled. But some failures were simply hopeless, and one such case involved a program that performed strict version checks such that if the OS wasn’t Windows 3.0, 3.1, or 2.1, it assumed it must be Windows 2.0. As such, that logic rendered it incompatible with Windows 95 by design. Aside from that, some other apps failed because they bypassed APIs in unsupported ways, a practice that didn't play well under the new architecture.

While the problem was not inherently Microsoft's fault, from a user's perspective, a bad experience is just that, a bad experience. So when many feel like Windows 11 is the worst out there, it does suggest that users may be viewing the past with rose-tinted nostalgic glasses, as Neowin reader leonsk29 points out.

If you found this story interesting, take a look at the other stories about Windows 95 we have covered in the past.

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Posted Thursday 9 April 2026 at 5:49 am AEST (my time).

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If you noticed there have been fewer updates to VeraCrypt, a popular app for drive encryption, its maker, Mounir Idrassi, explained their unfortunate situation in a new forum post. According to Mounir, Microsoft terminated his developer account, making it impossible to update the app.

Mounir said Microsoft terminated the account the developer had used for many years to sign bootloaders and drivers. The banhammer arrived without any warning or prior emails. Moreover, Microsoft is not elaborating on the decision, with countless bots and automated replies leaving the developer in complete darkness.

While Mounir can still update VeraCrypt on other platforms, the majority of users are on Windows. As such, Microsoft's decision to terminate the account is giving the project a major disservice, leaving it without new features, bug fixes, security updates, and more. Munir adds that to make things worse, the account termination affects not just VeraCrypt but their daily job as well.

Interestingly, the developer of WireGuard, an open-source communication protocol for virtual private networks (VPN), is facing a similar issue:

This is the same problem I'm currently facing with WireGuard. No warning at all, no notification. One day I sign in to publish an update, and yikes, account suspended. Currently undergoing some sort of 60 days appeals process, but who knows. That's kind of crazy: what if there were some critical RCE in WireGuard, being exploited in the wild, and I needed to update users immediately? (That's just hypothetical; don't freak out!) In that case, Microsoft would have my hands entirely tied.

Sadly, for now, no specific information about the bans is available, so until Microsoft clears up the confusion, both VeraCrypt and WireGuard will remain without updates.

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Posted Thursday 9 April 2026 at 5:47 am AEST (my time).

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Windows 11 is quite good at window management, with Snap Assist, Snap Layouts, various gestures, and shortcuts making it much easier to keep your screen well-organized. However, things are a bit more complicated for those who prefer doing things in the old-school way. When resizing or moving a window with a mouse, you must click in very specific areas, which is not very convenient, as those areas are small and sometimes hard to aim (especially on higher-res displays). PowerToys, a set of useful utilities for Windows 10 and 11, could soon fix that with a new tool.

A proposed WinPos module on PowerToys’ GitHub repository promises to make window management with a mouse much easier. Instead of aiming for the title bar (which, in many apps, hosts extra elements, such as tabs, buttons, search, and more), users could hold the Alt key and then move or resize the window by clicking anywhere on it with the right or left mouse button.

The idea stems from AltDrag, an old Windows utility that does just the same thing. Interestingly, improved window dragging/resizing is present in other operating systems, such as Linux, and AltDrag brings that behavior to Windows. Unfortunately, AltDrag now looks abandoned, with its latest update now being over a decade old. A reincarnation in PowerToys could bring this app back and introduce more people to the idea.

For now, there is no information on when WinPos will be available publicly in PowerToys. If you want to learn more about it and track the pull request’s progress, head to PowerToys’ official GitHub repository. If released, WinPos will join existing window management tools in PowerToys, which include Always on Top (this should be a native thing in Windows 11), Fancy Zones, Crop and Lock, and Workspaces.

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Posted Thursday 9 April 2026 at 5:45 am AEST (my time).

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Intel has released a new WHQL graphics driver under version 32.0.101.8629. The latest release is a modest one, as it only adds gaming support for the recently launched Intel Arc Pro B70 and B65 graphics cards. Intel positions these GPUs as workstation-focused, but with the latest graphics driver, you can also play games on systems with the Arc Pro B70 and B65.

The official changelog for driver 32.0.101.8629 WHQL contains the following:

• Introducing Gaming Support for Intel Arc Pro B70 and Intel Arc Pro B65 Discrete GPUs.

The list of known bugs remains quite extensive, and it includes the following:

• Intel Core Ultra Series 3 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:
  • The Finals (DX12) may experience an intermittent application crash.
  • No Man’s Sky (VK) may exhibit corruptions on certain terrains during gameplay.
  • Star Citizen (VK) may experience an application crash on game launch.
  • Mafia: The Old Country (DX12) may experience an application crash during gameplay.
  • Adobe Premiere Pro may experience an application crash when exporting HEVC codec based media on Microsoft Windows OS 26200.7840 or later
• Intel Arc B-Series Graphics Products:
  • Call of Duty Black Ops 6 (DX12) may exhibit intermittent corruptions on certain water surfaces during gameplay.
  • Dune: Awakening (DX12) may exhibit flickering corruptions during gameplay.
  • Star Citizen (VK) may experience an application crash on game launch.
  • PugetBench for Davinci Resolve Studio may experience an intermittent application crash while running the benchmark. Recommendation is to change the timeout slider to 1500 seconds or higher, to wait for each test to complete, in PugetBench benchmark settings.
• Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products:
  • PugetBench for Davinci Resolve Studio may experience an intermittent application crash while running the benchmark. Recommendation is to change the timeout slider to 1500 seconds or higher, to wait for each test to complete, in PugetBench benchmark settings.
• Intel Core Ultra Series 1 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:
  • Battlefield 6 (DX12) may exhibit intermittent corruptions on certain maps during gameplay.
• Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:
  • Call of Duty Black Ops 6 (DX12) may exhibit intermittent corruptions on certain water surfaces during gameplay.
  • Battlefield 6 (DX12) may exhibit intermittent corruptions on certain maps during gameplay on some notebooks with Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs.
  • No Man’s Sky (VK) may exhibit corruptions on certain terrains during gameplay.

The driver is available on 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 systems with the latest graphics products from Intel, including Intel ARC discrete GPUs and Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 1, 2, and 3). You can download the driver from the official website. Full release notes are available here.

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Posted Thursday 9 April 2026 at 5:42 am AEST (my time).

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Back around early December of 2025, hundreds of users online started reporting an issue on their OneDrive accounts wherein they were being spammed by stranger accounts, potentially bots. These spams had been coming in as shared folders, and the worst thing is that they couldn't be dealt with in any way. Coincidentally perhaps, this was right around the time when Microsoft was working on a new OneDrive design, an effort that is now extending to the entire Windows 11 user experience too.

Users found that these spammy unsolicited shared folders could not be stopped, as there is no way for senders to block these as OneDrive does not allow disabling file and folder sharing from unknown users. Not only that, but users also noticed that they couldn't report these junk as spam, which further added to their inconvenience and annoyance.

The issue first came to notice when an affected user aptly named "Phillip Confused" raised the bug on the Microsoft Learn forum. Over 50 people upvoted this query which indicates it was quite a widespread bug.

They wrote: "Recently strangers (AI driven bots) have started sending me emails sharing links to their Microsoft Onedrives! .. How do I stop this from happening? .. Are there any security concerns (Viruses/Malware)? .. Am I liable if they attempt to share any illegal content? .. I receive the Email into my junk folder which I can't stop and then I get a Onedrive notification of the file/folder share."

Over on Reddit too, many people complained about the problem. A user sdegonge wrote the following: "I received 3 emails today that said someone wanted to share a document on OneDrive. I did not open the email but preview still showed it. I deleted the email but these files still appeared in my OneDrive live shared items. .. These are named "GET_BOX???". .. My only options for these are to select the checkbox next to it and select "Hide from Shared". When I do this, I have the option to report it as spam, which I check then click remove. .. If I refresh the screen, they come back!"

Another user ZyreHD shared a slightly more detailed account as they wrote: "Today I received 3 notifications that files where being shared with my OneDrive account. Wondering what it was I logged into my OneDrive account and clicked Shared > Shared with me ... I clicked on one of the file. It will open a white pdf saying Open Site. I didn't continue. .. I keep getting these unknown shared files. For the past couple of days it's been increasing in amount."

A month later, Microsoft acknowledged the bug and confirmed that it was happening across Windows, Mac, and Android. In the issue description section, Microsoft wrote: "Some users are unable to hide, remove, or stop sharing files that appear under the OneDrive Shared files tab. Affected users are also unable to report unknown shared files as spam." Microsoft said that it was working on a fix and hoped to resolve the issue by the end of January 2026. However, it's been close to three months and so far the support article has not been updated, indicating that the issue may still be open.

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Posted Wednesday 8 April 2026 at 6:05 pm AEST (my time).

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On Windows 11, the Snipping Tool offers virtually every feature you need to take screenshots, but it's still a proprietary application with limitations. You could also download the ShareX app, but if you want another open-source alternative that offers many of the same features, and then some, you want to give the Yoink app a try (see how to get it and install it below).

Yoink is an all-in-one screen capture and productivity tool that combines screenshotting, annotation, text extraction, translation, screen recording, and even sticker creation into a single app.

Unlike many lightweight snipping utilities, this tool goes after the same audience as Snipping Tool as well as the popular ShareX app, offering a deep feature set with modern usability.

A capture tool that goes beyond screenshots

At its core, Yoink delivers all the expected capture modes, including region, fullscreen, active window, and scrolling screenshots. The experience is built around speed, with customizable hotkeys that let you grab content without interrupting your workflow.

Where it starts to separate itself is what happens during the capture. Instead of pushing you to an editor or another app, everything happens during the capture.

As you open the app from the System Tray or the default "Alt+C" keyboard shortcut, you can annotate using a full set of tools, including shapes, arrows, text, blur effects, and freehand drawing.