Microsoft started final testing and certification of eligible systems back in May. This is done to ensure that Windows 11 24H2-ready PCs can support all upcoming features that Windows 11 24H2 will bring.

This Windows feature update debuts with Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) version 3.2 and as is usually the case, the new WDDM brings new features and improvements. Among others, WDDM 3.2 is getting improved driver TDR (timeout detection and recovery) debugging, which can potentially lead to fewer display/graphics driver crashes. We covered it in more detail in this dedicated article.

Aside from that, WDDM 3.2 also improves Direct3D 12 video encoding by adding support for the AV1 codec. Essentially, GPU-accelerated video encoding on Windows is about to get better on Windows 11 24H2.

Microsoft writes:

The Direct3D12 video encoding feature is extended to support AV1 encoding starting in Windows 11, version 24H2 (WDDM 3.2).

 

The existing video-related framework is extended to allow drivers to report AV1 video encoding support and capabilities. The video encode framework provides access to the video encode hardware acceleration capabilities for different scenarios such as Internet of Things (IoT), cloud, media APIs, machine learning and game streaming.

For those wondering, Direct3D 12 Video basically allows Windows applications to harness the power of the GPU to perform hardware-accelerated video decoding as well as encoding, video processing, and motion estimation.

Interestingly, prior to release of Windows 11 (version 21H2, the original Windows 11 release), Microsoft did not support hardware-accelerated encoding. However, with WDDM 3.0 that made its debut with Windows 11 21H2, the tech giant finally added encoding support.

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Microsoft started final testing and certification of eligible systems back in May. This is done to ensure that Windows 11 24H2-ready PCs can support all upcoming features that Windows 11 24H2 will bring.

This Windows feature update debuts with Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) version 3.2 and as is usually the case, the new WDDM brings new features and improvements. Among others, WDDM 3.2 is getting improved driver TDR (timeout detection and recovery) debugging, which can potentially lead to fewer display/graphics driver crashes.

In addition to DxgkddiCollectDbgInfo, Microsoft has added a new DxgkddiCollectDbgInfo2 callback function that is meant to provide additional information about a TDR driver timeout, which should help driver developers debug the root cause of the issue.

Microsoft explains:

To aid TDR (timeout detection and recovery) analysis, the OS historically called the kernel-mode driver's DxgkddiCollectDbgInfo callback to allow the driver to write its own payload into the TDR report that the system uploads from the customer machine.

 

...

 

DxgkddiCollectDbgInfo2 is added as a TDR debug extension. This callback allows the OS to pass more detailed information to KMD about the root cause of the TDR. The kernel-mode driver (KMD), in turn, can save state that is relevant to the part of the GPU responsible for the TDR.

In case you are wondering, a TDR occurs when Windows detects that a GPU is unresponsive for more than two seconds and thus resets the graphics card in order to recover to a functional desktop state. Although they are annoying, TDRs actually help as without them the system cannot recover without a hard reset.

Aside from Microsoft, AMD too has recently made some decent progress in terms of TDR analysis and investigation. The company released the Radeon GPU Detective tool in August 2023 which aims to serve a similar purpose. This could be why the recent Black Myth: Wukong TDR crash bug was fixed in a relatively short span of time.

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With 0.84 out for everyone, all eyes are now on the next releases. Future updates for everyone's favorite set of Windows 10 and 11 utilities are expected to bring several important changes, such as the ability to select the language (PowerToy currently defaults to your Windows display language) and two new modules.

While the language selection in PowerToys is unlikely to be the most exciting change, way more users will be glad to get two brand-new utilities: File Actions Menu and New+. We covered both modules this year, and they are finally coming soon to PowerToys.

File Actions Menu will let you add new context menu entries for selected objects, such as generating checksums, copying or moving files, creating a new folder with the highlighted items, copying images to the clipboard, and more. The first pull requests (PowerToys is an open-source app, so everyone is welcome to contribute) were spotted in February this year, and the module is finally getting close to its public debut.

The second upcoming "toy" is "New+." Its goal is to improve Windows 11's frankly lackluster menus (even though they are getting better in Windows 11 version 24H2). The idea is to let users set up customized templates for creating files and folders using a "New+" item in the context menu with quick access to their templates, such as "Folder for documents," "New job application," "Windows batch project for file processing," "Daily to-do list," and more.

Although there is no information on when the next PowerToys update lands, the app receives big updates quite regularly, so it should not take too long. Meanwhile, you can learn more about PowerToys 0.84 here.

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Check out our Windows 11 24H2 review here.

Important: If you performed a disk cleanup and removed the previous Windows installation or the Windows.old folder, the only way to uninstall Windows 11 version 24H2 is to perform a clean installation of your previous system. In this case, you will lose all your data on drive C, including apps, games, files, etc.

Uninstall Windows 11 24H2 - Option 1

If Windows 11 version 24H2 does not work as expected for you but you can still boot to the desktop and launch the settings app, do the following to uninstall the update:

1. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options.

   

2. Click "Recovery."

   

3. Click "Go back" in the "Recovery options" section.

   

4. Follow the on-screen instructions in a new window and confirm the rollback.
5. Sit tight and wait for Windows 11 to restore your previous version from version 24H2. This process should not take too long—it depends on your computer's speed.

Go back from Windows 11 24H2 - Option 2

You can still roll back Windows 11 24H2 to Windows 11 23H2 or any other previous build, even if the latest update cannot boot. To do so, you need to launch Windows Recovery and initiate the rollback from there. Usually, Windows 11 automatically launches the Recovery Environment. If it does not, you will have to power on and off your systems three times:

1. Turn on your computer and wait for the first signs of life, such as your manufacturer's logo or a loading spinner.
2. Hold the power button for 10 seconds to shut the OS down.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 two more times, and Windows will automatically launch its Recovery Environment on the "Automatic Repair" screen.
4. Click "Troubleshoot."

   

5. Click "Advanced options."

   

6. Click "Uninstall updates."

   

7. Click "Uninstall latest feature update."

   

8. Click "Uninstall feature update."

   

9. Wait for the process to finish. After that, Windows 11 will boot to the login screen.

   

That is how you go back from Windows 11 version 24H2 to Windows 10 or another version of Windows 11.

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The weird thing is he is not on a Copilot+ PC so it looks like Microsoft is releasing it to everyone now. As you can see in the image below, it is a Ryzen 9 6900HX which does not qualify as a Copilot+ PC (it does not even have an NPU).

In case you are not aware, Microsoft released the 2024 feature update first to Copilot+ PCs which mainly included Arm chips and some AMD64 (AMD and Intel) parts too. Like this one, the update was pushed under KB5039239 and build 26100.863. It is available for manual downloading on Microsoft's Update Catalog website.

In case this does not work, you can also try following our guide on installing Windows 11 24H2 we published last night.

The changelog is given below:

Highlights

 

• This update addresses an issue that affects the audio for a Bluetooth device. When you connect it, the volume is set to maximum.
• This update addresses an issue that might stop games that have BattlEye anti-cheat from working. This issue applies to Arm64 devices.
• We are advancing the Copilot experience on Windows. It is now pinned to the taskbar and will behave like an app. This gives you the benefits of a typical app experience. For example, you can do things like resize, move, and snap the window.

 

Improvements

 

This security update includes improvements. When you install this KB:

 

• This update affects the Windows Management Instrumentation Command line (WMIC). The default state of Feature on Demand (FoD) for new installations is “Disabled.” If you upgrade to Windows 11, version 24H2, the default state of FoD is “Enabled.”

• Starting in this update, File Explorer adds the Mark of the Web (MoTW) tag to files and folders that come from untrusted locations. When MapUrlToZone classifies a file as “Internet,” that file also gets this tag. Because of this change, the “LastWriteTime” time stamp is updated. This might affect some scenarios that rely on file copy operations.

   

If you installed earlier updates, only the new updates contained in this package will be downloaded and installed on your device.

 

Windows 11 servicing stack update (KB5039332)- 26100.840

 

This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack, which is the component that installs Windows updates. Servicing stack updates (SSU) ensure that you have a robust and reliable servicing stack so that your devices can receive and install Microsoft updates.

 

Known issues in this update

 

Applies to	Symptom	Workaround
All users	We’re aware of an issue where players on Arm devices are unable to download and play Roblox via the Microsoft Store on Windows.	Players on Arm devices can play Roblox by downloading the title directly from www.Roblox.com.

Let us know in the comments below if you have received Windows 11 version 24H2 yet or not.

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More importantly, there is a new module called Workspaces, which was recently demoed during a Microsoft community call. PowerToys Workspaces lets you launch preselect and prearranged apps with a single click.

Here are the update highlights:

• New utility: PowerToys Workspaces - this utility can launch a set of applications to a custom layout and configuration on the desktop. App arrangments can be saved as a workspace and then relaunched with one click from the Workspaces Editor or from a desktop shortcut. In the editor, app configuration can be customized using CLI arguments and "launch as admin" modifiers, and app window sizes and positions can be updated as desired. This is our first public version of Workspaces and we are excited for you to try it out for yourself! Make sure to file issues you encounter on our GItHub so the team can continue to improve the utility.
  
  Known bugs:

   

  • Apps that launch as admin are unable to be repositioned to the desired layout.

  • Border of "Remove" / "Add Back" app button in editor is not clearly visible on light themes.

     

• Ported all C++/CX code to C++/WinRT.

• Added Awake --use-parent-pid CLI argument to attach to parent process.

• Added custom actions - user-specified pre-defined prompts for the AI model. Additionally, actions (both standard and custom) are now searchable from prompt box and Ctrl + number in-app shortcuts are now applicable for first 9 search results.

Here is the complete changelog with all the small tweaks and changes to existing modules:

General

 

• Added DSC support for ImageResizer resize sizes property.

 

Advanced Paste

 

• Added custom actions - user-specified pre-defined prompts for the AI model. Additionally, actions (both standard and custom) are now searchable from prompt box and Ctrl + number in-app shortcuts are now applicable for first 9 search results.

 

Awake

 

• Added --use-parent-pid CLI argument to attach to parent process and fixed issue causing tray icon to disapear.

 

Hosts File Editor

 

• Fixed save failure when the hosts file is hidden.

 

File Explorer add-ons

 

• Fixed multiple preview form possitioning issues causing floating, detached windows, CoreWebView2 related exception and process leak.

 

Keyboard Manager

 

• Convert RemapBufferRow to a struct with descriptive field names.
• Fixed issue causing stuck Ctrl key when shortcuts contain AltGr key.

 

Peek

 

• Added long paths support.

 

Quick Accent

 

• Moved number superscripts and subscripts from Portuguese to all languages definition.

 

PowerRename

 

• Updated the tooltip text of the replace box info button.

 

PowerToys Run

 

• Fixed window positioning on start-up introduced in 0.83.
• Improved default web browser detection.
• Fixed volume ounces conversion to support both imperial and metric.
• Fixed thread-safety issue causing results not to be shown on first launch.

 

Screen Ruler

 

• Added multiple measurements support for all measuring tools.

 

Settings

 

• Improved disabled animations InfoBar in Find My Mouse page.

PowerToys is available for free on Windows 10 and 11. You can download this must-have utility from GitHub or the Microsoft Store.

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New features in Firefox 130 include the following:

Version 130.0, first offered to Release channel users on September 3, 2024

 

Firefox now allows translating selected text portions to different languages after a full-page translation.

 

Firefox now offers an easy way to try experimental features with a new Firefox Labs page in Settings.

 

• AI Chatbot feature lets you add the chatbot of your choice to the sidebar, for quick access as you browse.
• Picture-in-Picture auto-open experiment enables PiP on active videos when switching tabs.

Overscroll animations are now enabled as the default behavior for scrollable areas on Linux.

Here are other changes and fixes in Firefox 130:

• Various security fixes.
• Fixed an issue where Copy and Paste context menu items intermittently were not enabled when expected.
• The following languages are now supported by Firefox translation:
  • Catalan
  • Croatian
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Indonesian
  • Latvian
  • Lithuanian
  • Romanian
  • Serbian
  • Slovak
  • Vietnamese

 

• WebCryptoAPI now supports Curve25519 primitives (Ed25519 signatures and X25519 key generation).

• Enabled the Web Codecs API on desktop platforms, allowing low-level access to audio and video encoders and decoders.

As usual, Mozilla has separate pages for Developer Information and Enterprise Release notes.

You can download Firefox 130 from the official website. The browser is also available in the Microsoft Store on systems with Windows 10 and 11. If it is already installed, go To Menu > Help > About Firefox to force-update the browser to the latest version.

Full release notes for Firefox 130 are available here.

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There is also official support for more guest and host operating systems and a few changes for other parts of the program, such as legacy VMware Tools images no longer bundled with VMware Workstation Pro and a fix for virtual machines running very slowly on non-admin Windows accounts.

The new command-line tool, vmcli, lets you perform various tasks through Terminal on Linux or Windows:

With vmcli, you can perform a variety of operations such as creating new virtual machines, generating VM templates, powering on VMs, and modifying various VM settings. Additionally, you can also create scripts to run multiple commands sequentially.

Here are the newly supported host and guest operating systems:

Fixed issues in VMware Workstation Pro 17.6 include the following:

VMware KVM crashes while running the 'vmware-kvm --preferences' command

 

VMware KVM crashes when you try to open its Preferences dialog by using the 'vmware-kvm --preferences' command.

 

Virtual machines run unusually slowly on Windows hosts

 

Running virtual machines on Windows hosts as a non-administrator user might result in high host CPU usage and poor guest performance.

 

Workstation installation fails on Linux hosts with a compilation error

 

If you try to install Workstation on Linux hosts with kernel version 6.8, you receive a compilation error.

 

And here are the other changes in the latest release:

• Legacy VMTools ISOs are no longer included by default but are available for download.

• Bluetooth hub passthrough support has reached its end of life and has been removed from VMware Workstation.

• Physical host parallel ports support has reached its end of life and has been removed from VMware Workstation for Windows.

• Unity mode has reached its end of life and has been removed from VMware Workstation.

• The Enhanced Keyboard driver has reached its end of life and has been removed from VMware Workstation for Windows.

You can download VMware Workstation Pro for free for personal use from the official website (a free account is required). If you already have the app installed, it will prompt you to update upon the next launch. Commercial use, however, still requires purchasing a license.

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Almeida blamed the reason for his resignation on "nontechnical nonsense" draining his energy. He said that he's been heading the team for 4 years now but doesn't have the enthusiasm he once had to continue arguing for Rust's place in the kernel, which is predominantly written in C.

Some people prefer Rust because it's memory-safe. Memory-safe code removes issues like buffer overflows and dangling pointers, reducing software bugs and security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Memory safety is the main selling point of Rust and is one of the reasons it's pushed so much by its supporters, this is one of the reasons some people want Linux to be written in Rust, however, this effort is meeting resistance.

In his resignation email, Almeida wrote:

"I truly believe the future of kernels is with memory-safe languages. I am no visionary but if Linux doesn't internalize this, I'm afraid some other kernel will do to it what it did to Unix."

He continued to share a YouTube video where Linux developers have an open argument about Rust in the kernel, it lasts about 4 minutes, you can watch it below from the timestamp.

The Register spoke to Almeida who said that the detractor in the video was Ted Ts'o who maintains the popular ext4 file system which is in wide use by Linux distributions, including Linux Mint.

Ts'o, who uses C, said that when he refactors code that causes breakage, he can just go and fix the C code that he needs to because he understands C. He said that if he refactors code and it breaks the Rust programs, he doesn't want to have to go in and fix those as he doesn't know the language, adding, "Here's the thing, you're not going to force all of us to learn Rust."

Almeida said that this was just one example of the pushback he and his team have been facing from some involved in developing Linux. The most high-profile Linux developer to have a disagreement with Almeida over Rust in the Kernel is Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, who wrote in 2022:

"If you cannot get over the fact that the kernel may have other requirements that trump any language standards, we really can't work together.

 

Those Rust rules may make sense in other environments. But the kernel really does have hard requirements that you continue to limp along even if some fundamental rule has been violated.

 

Exactly because there's often no separate environment outside the kernel that can deal with it.

 

End result: a compiler - or language infrastructure - that says "my rules are so ingrained that I cannot do that" is not one that is valid for kernel work."

In a recent interview, Torvalds said he was disappointed with how slowly Rust adoption in the kernel was going. He said that many developers have got no interest in learning Rust and added that he doesn't use it either but can read it:

"I was expecting updates to be faster, but part of the problem is that old-time kernel developers are used to C and don't know Rust. They're not exactly excited about having to learn a new language that is, in some respects, very different. So there's been some push back on Rust."

It'll be interesting to see how things go for the Rust for Linux project going forward but it is contending with people who have been using C for more than 30 years to build Linux and changing that could prove difficult.

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Like previous updates, Windows 11 version 24H2 is rolling out gradually in three stages:

Stage 1: The update is available in the Release Preview Channel of the Windows Insider Program. This is the fastest way to get version 24H2 right now, but it also involves potential risks. Despite being just weeks away from launch, the update is still a preview, so there might be some rough surfaces here and there.

Another important aspect is that enrolling in the Insider program requires sending optional diagnostic data to Microsoft, which many prefer not to do. If you share this view, wait for the update to reach its second stage.

Stage 2: The update is available as an optional update for "seekers"—customers who manually check for updates in the Settings app. Often, at this point, the update is available only to a subset of seekers to prevent widespread issues. In a few weeks, the update becomes available to all who dare to press the "Check for updates" button in the Windows Update section.

This is also where Microsoft published official ISO images for clean installation or in-place upgrades.

Stage 3: The update arrives organically as a mandatory update and installs itself automatically in the background. This is the safest option, which also requires quite a lot of patience—it may take weeks or even months before a big release becomes broadly available.

As of early September 2024, Windows 11 version 24H2 is available in the Release Preview Channel, and it is expected to hit the second stage in late September or October (we will update this guide once it is out of the preview program). If waiting is not an option, here is how to download and install Windows 11 version 24H2 right now:

Important: Back up important data before installing any pre-release software! Heck, back up important data even if you are about to install a publicly available release because it is better to be safe than sorry.

1. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program.
2. Hit the "Get Started Button" and link your Microsoft Account.

   

3. Select the Release Preview Channel, confirm your choice, and restart your computer when prompted.

   

4. Go to Settings > Windows Update and click "Check for updates." Tip: if Windows 11 cannot find the update, go to the Windows Insider Program section, wait for the app to tell you there is a newer build, click "Open Windows Update," and check for updates again. Also, you may need to download another update or two for Windows 11 version 24H2 to show up.

   

5. After checking the update, you should see a banner claiming "Windows 11 version 24H2 is available." Click "Download and Install."

   

Once the update moves out of the Insider program, getting it becomes much easier and simpler:

1. Go to Settings > Windows Update.
2. Toggle on and confirm the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" option.

   

3. Click "Check for updates."
4. Click "Download and install" in the "Windows 11 version 24H2 is available" banner.

Another way to get Windows 11 version 24H2 is to purchase a Copilot+ PC, such as the Surface Laptop 7 or the Surface Pro 11. These computers come preinstalled with Windows 11 24H2, while other systems with AMD and Intel processors will be getting the new version in the upcoming weeks. They are also the only way to get access to Copilot+ PCs-exclusive AI features that require a dedicated NPU.

When are you going to update to Windows 11 version 24H2?

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Although some of the most exciting changes are exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, "regular" computers with Intel and AMD processors are not left behind.

For reference, here are quick links to our reviews detailing every feature update Microsoft released for Windows 11 during the last two years:

Windows 11 22H2 | Moment 1 | Moment 2 | Moment 3 | Windows 11 23H2

What is new in Windows 11 version 24H2?

Table of contents:

1. More confusion
2. Taskbar and Start menu
3. Context menus
4. File Explorer
5. Settings
6. Copilot+ PC exclusive features
7. Other changes
8. Hardware changes

Windows 11 is confusing

Writing this review was a bit tricky, just like trying to understand what the heck is going on with Microsoft's strategies and branding. With every review, I complain about how confusing Windows 11's naming is. With Windows 11 24H2—or whatever Microsoft is going to call it—things are getting even more confusing.

For starters, did you know that Windows 11 version 24H2 was released about three months ago, but you still cannot get it? That is because it is only available on Copilot+ PCs with ARM processors. "Traditional" systems with Intel and AMD (and older ARM chips) are still on Windows 11 version 23H2. They are getting version 24H2 later this month or in October.

Microsoft is also done with its "Moments" system. We no longer have one or two yearly feature drops. Now, every cumulative update Microsoft ships contains a thing or two from Windows Insiders builds. Therefore, it isn't easy to keep track of what features are available right now and what features are coming with Windows 11 version 24H2 (most likely, I missed a bunch in this overview). And even after installing version 24H2, you may not have all the features as they are often rolling out gradually. You know, you never know...

With the rant over, let's get to the new stuff.

Taskbar, Start menu, and Copilot

Simplified taskbar

If you are a fan of minimalism, you will be glad to know that with Windows 11 version 24H2, the taskbar, especially the tray area, can now display fewer buttons. No, battery, volume, and network indicators are still a single button, but at least you can switch to a simplified system clock and toggle off the notification bell.

Another small change in this area is that the option to enable or disable tray clock seconds now exists in Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time > Show time and date.

Quick Settings menu

Microsoft changed how the Quick Settings menu works. Instead of showing select toggles, it now displays all available options in a scrollable view. While you can rearrange those buttons to keep favorites on one page, it is no longer possible to remove toggles you do not use.

Start menu

The biggest change in the Start menu is the new Phone Link integration. There is now a big new panel next to the Start menu showing useful information about your phone and a few useful links, such as recent messages, photos, battery indicators, and more. It is a nice addition for Phone Link users with Android smartphones, making your phone just one button away.

Apart from the Phone Link panel, Windows 11 version 24H2 does not contain major Start menu changes except for a small folder in the "Recommended" section, where you can access recently added apps. Say you installed five new applications, and instead of looking for them in the All Apps list, you can just click the "Recently Added" folder. The "Recommended" action finally contains some useful bits.

Copilot

In my Windows 11 version 23H2 review, I hoped to see better integration of Copilot into the operating system. Microsoft shipped it with a limited set of integrations, so imagine my surprise when I saw that those integrations were now simply gone. Copilot can no longer do even basic things like turning on Do not disturb mode or dark mode. Instead of just, you know, doing it, it lists instructions on how to do that.

When I explicitly asked what settings Copilot could change on my PC, it just listed all the Windows features that I could change in the Settings app. What? When I asked more specifically, Copilot confirmed that it can only guide me through changing various settings. Do not get me wrong; this makes sense and is useful, but it just feels cheap, lazy, and unprofessional. Microsoft could have done a much better job integrating Copilot into Windows, especially after laying some groundwork in version 23H2.

On the positive side, I guess, Copilot now behaves as a standalone windowed application, which you can easily move around your taskbar, unpin, minimize, resize, and more. Overall, in Windows 11 version 24H2, Copilot evolved, just backward. If you also now find it useless, feel free to uninstall it, which is now possible. Thanks, Microsoft.

Context menus

Ah, yes, the context menus. Still buggy and slow, but at least Microsoft finally addressed a major problem and added labels to common file actions, such as cut, copy, paste, share, rename, and delete. This is a big change that should make it easier for Windows 11 newcomers to understand how to use the operating system's context menus.

Sadly, Microsoft still does not know that there are languages other than American English, which is why many localizations suffer from absolutely abominable and borderline unusable machine translation, text truncation, and other issues. And it is not just me ranting about awful cropping in Ukrainian localization—ask Britons how they like compressing to postcode files.

File Explorer

Windows 11 users with Android phones now have another great convenience—the ability to browse their phones' file systems directly in File Explorer. If you need to copy a file, just go to File Explorer and click your device in the navigation pane.

Version 24H2 also contains several File Explorer improvements, which are also now available in 23H2. For example, you can now duplicate File Explorer tabs and compress files to additional archive formats, not just ZIP. TAR and 7Z are now supported, plus you can customize additional options, such as compression ratio and algorithm.

Settings

Lid and Power Button settings

Another thing that no longer requires using the legacy Control Panel or the Windows Registry is what happens when you close your laptop's lid or press the power button. These options are now located in Settings > System > Power & Battery.

Naturally, lid settings are only available on computers with lids (laptops, duh), while the power button customization is also present on traditional desktop computers.

Energy plans

Windows 11 version 24H2 now lets you set separate power plans when connected to power and when working from the battery.

Energy saver

Microsoft reworked the Energy saver feature, and it claims it is now more efficient. Also, Energy saver is now available on desktop PCs for environment-conscious users.

Color management

There is a new settings section where you can add color profiles, change color management options, calibrate your display, and more. Previously, all those options required digging into the old Control Panel.

Copilot+ PC exclusive features

Windows 11 version 24H2 on Copilot+ PCs features several exclusive features that are not available on other systems. Here they are:

• Windows Studio Effects can improve lighting, smooth your skin, blur the background, keep you in the frame, correct eye contact, and make other changes to make you look better during video calls.
• Live Captions generate subtitles in real-time for any audio playing from any app on your computer.
• Paint Cocreator allows generating images from your doddles in Paint.
• Image generation in the Photos app uses your prompts to create AI-made images.
• AutoSR upscales graphics in games and generates frames for a better gaming experience.

The highlight of Copilot+ PCs is the controversial Recall feature, but we are not talking about it yet because it will only come back to Windows Insiders in October 2024. It is not available right now, so there is nothing to review.

Other changes

Voice Clarity

Voice Clarity used to be a feature exclusive to devices with Neural Processing Units, such as the Surface Pro 9 5G or the latest Copilot+ PCs. However, Microsoft optimized the AI model for Voice Clarity, which resulted in a much smaller performance impact. Therefore, Voice Clarity now works on traditional x86 PCs with Intel and AMD processors.

For reference, Voice Clarity can suppress background noise to make you sound better during video calls.

Dev Drive performance improvements

Developers will appreciate file system performance upgrades in Windows 11 version 24H2, which now supports Block Cloning on Dev drives. In some scenarios, block cloning can almost double the speed of copying large files.

Windows Hotpatching

Windows 11 version 24H2 brings hotpatching from Server editions to regular users. In a nutshell, Windows 11 now installs updates through smaller, incremental differentials, saving you time, bandwidth, and disk space. Also, hotpatching lets you install certain updates without restarting your computer, which is handy in a world where literally everybody hates Windows updates.

HDR wallpapers

If you have an HDR-capable monitor, you can now use JXR images for some sweet high-dynamic-range wallpapers. Speaking of wallpapers, Windows Spotlight is now your default desktop background. However, only if you clean-install version 24H2 or update from a system with the default "Bloom" wallpaper.

Removed and deprecated apps

Windows 11 version 24H2 removes several stock applications that are now deprecated or plain discontinued. They include WordPad (this one is recoverable, so click here if you want to know more), Cortana (no surprise here), the old Mail and Calendar app (replaced with the horrid web-based Outlook for Windows, which is universally considered a very bad solution), Maps, People, and Movies & TV.

Hardware requirements changes

Overall, Windows 11 still requires a computer with a seventh-generation Intel processor or a second-generation AMD Ryzen processor (and newer), a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), and Secure Boot—nothing new here. What is new is that the newest AI-powered features require a Copilot+ PC with a Snapdragon X processor and a dedicated NPU.

There are some changes for those who want to run Windows 11 version 24H2 on unsupported hardware. The operating system can no longer run on very old computers without the SSE4.2 instruction set. Even after bypassing hardware requirements, you will have no luck since the OS won't boot.

Also, kiss goodbye to running Windows 11 on the original Windows on ARM devices with ARM v8 processors. From now on, ARM v8.1 is a minimum requirement, which means the Snapdragon 835 can no longer officially run Windows 11. It never could, but it is still possible to run Windows 11 23H2 and older on very old Windows on ARM computers after bypassing hardware requirements.

Some positive news: Wi-Fi 7 is now officially supported. Therefore, if you plan to purchase a Wi-Fi 7 network card and a corresponding router, Windows 11 version 24H2 is for you.

Other than that, Windows 11 version 24H2 does not bring anything new to the table spec-wise. If you have a relatively modern computer (even an unsupported one) with Windows 11, you will most likely be able to run Windows 11 24H2 without any groundbreaking changes.

I did not notice any performance difference when testing Windows 11 24H2 on my desktop computer with the Ryzen 5 5600X, 32GB of RAM, and the RX 7800 XT. On my old laptop with an 11th-generation Intel Core i3 and 16GB of RAM, Windows 11 24H2 also performed just like version 23H2, so it's all good. Of course, your experience may vary depending on the specific software/hardware combination.

Overall, Windows 11 version 24H2 leaves lukewarm impressions. The operating system has become better here and there, but Microsoft has not addressed most of the biggest complaints. The Start menu is still meh, the dark mode is still a joke (there is no way to even auto-switch between light and dark mode), and Windows 10 still feels faster than its three-year-old successor. But for those who got accustomed to Windows 11 and left Windows 10 behind, version 24H2 will be a decent update that at least should not make things worse on the grand scale. Personally, I am okay with that.

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A Microsoft spokesperson told The Verge that Recall in the "Turn Windows Features on or off" section is nothing but a bug, and a future update will remove Recall from there:

We are aware of an issue where Recall is incorrectly listed as an option under the ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ dialog in Control Panel. This will be fixed in an upcoming update.

The company did not comment on whether there will be an option to uninstall Recall from Windows 11. European Union regulations have already forced Microsoft to make many Windows 11 components uninstallable, so it is possible that Recall would follow suit.

However, it is worth noting that the company recently announced that Recall would be a strict opt-in experience, and Windows 11 would not turn it on without explicit permission from the end user. Therefore, instead of ripping it off the operating system, you can just keep Recall turned off and enjoy the Copilot+ PC experience without Windows 11 taking a snapshot (Microsoft is not calling them just "screenshots") every few minutes.

Microsoft planned to release Recall alongside Copilot+ PCs in June 2024, but the launch was delayed after multiple privacy concerns. Now, Microsoft is preparing to re-release Recall to Windows Insiders somewhere in October before shipping the feature to all users in the Stable Channel.

Do you think Microsoft should make Recall uninstallable, or do you think keeping it off by default is enough? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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What you need to know

• Microsoft is working on new flyouts for Windows Spotlight.
• Windows Spotlight allows you to have a new image appear as your desktop wallpaper each day.
• The new flyouts provide a wider variety of options for finding out more about images or expanding the flyouts.
• To see the new options, you have to be a Beta Channel Insider and enable the feature through Vivetool.

Windows Spotlight is a handy way to get new images as your PC's background. The feature rotates a new wallpaper each day based on topics of your choosing. It helps keep the desktop fresh and is a simple way to break up some monotony. The feature also includes a flyout to learn more about the image that's been set as your background. To see that flyout, you need to right-click on the "learn more" icon.

The icon that's part of Windows Spotlight has received hate over the years. There are even tools dedicated to removing it. But for those that like learning more about the images that appear on their screen, an upcoming change to Windows 11 will be a welcome addition. As spotted by X (formerly Twitter) user Phantomofearth, the Desktop Spotlight hotspots experience is about to have a few flyout options that appear after right-clicking to learn more.

The new feature requires some tinkering to enable. First, you have to be on Windows 11 Build 226353.4145, which is available to Beta Channel Insiders at the moment. You then have to enable the feature using Vivetool. A different X user noted that the ID is also available in the latest Canary build of Windows 11, but they were unable to enable it while running that build.

For example, in April, we found that a new "UCPD" driver was introduced to block Registry hacks that are used to modify default app switching. And in May of 2023, the company had to explain how Outlook and Teams hyperlinks defaulting to Microsoft Edge were meant to improve the workflow.

While that behaviour from Microsoft may be deemed as a bit hostile, the company has finally done something that many will surely appreciate. In a new support article on its official website, the company has published a guide on how users could select the default apps on their system and switch to something else when needed.

Microsoft has acknowledged that default application choices are key for user workflow, performance, and convenience. It writes:

Customizing default programs and app associations in Windows is a straightforward process that can enhance your computing experience. For instance, if you’re a developer who prefers a specific text editor for coding, changing the default application for .txt files can save you time and streamline your workflow. Similarly, changing your default browser to the one you use most can speed up your Internet tasks.

Following that, the company has posted a simple guide on how to select the default apps from Settings. As an example, it has used its browser, Edge, to demonstrate how the process works.

In the Settings app on your Windows device, select Apps > Default Apps, or use the following shortcut:

 

Default Apps

 

• To change a default app, you can do either of the following:

   

  1. Set a default for a file type or link type
     In the search bar, type the file extension or protocol you wish to change, such as .txt. Select the corresponding result from the list that appears. Then, choose an app from the options provided to open files of that type

      

  2. Set defaults for applications
     Select an app to see what file types or link types it can open. If you want to change something, select the file or link type, then choose your preferred app

      

How to configure Microsoft Edge as the default browser

 

1. From Default apps, under Set defaults for applications, select Microsoft Edge

    

2. Next to Make Microsoft Edge your default browser, select Set default

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

The company has recently been publishing several such guides on its site. Earlier today, we also noticed that the tech giant has posted a detailed step-by-step guide on how to speed up Windows systems' slow start-up.

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There are multiple such complaints from users on Microsoft forums as they have been unable to fix the issue. It was first brought to attention by a user named sKyros . on the forum back in October 2023. The post has been upvoted by 78 others at the time of writing. There are more threads like this one too.

Microsoft has explained why such an issue can occur and how users can fix the issue with the help of the Windows Registry editing (Regedit) alongside a caution about tinkering around in the Registry:

If you see the massage We couldn’t find this app as an app title in Settings, the app could be on a removable drive, a network drive, or the path to the app might not exist. This could also happen if an app was uninstalled, therefore you can try to reinstall the app to try to fix it.

 

To find more information about the missing app, select the icon next to the On / Off toggle of the app.

 

When there isn’t a valid path, a window lists the registry location or the file path that contains the broken path. If the path points to a registry location, you can use the Registry Editor and find the broken path.

Startup apps in the registry

The startup applications in Windows can be stored in specific registry locations.

 

• For applications that run at startup for all users, the registry paths are:

   

  • HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

     

  • HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

     

• For applications that run at startup for the current user, the registry path is:

   

  • HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

     

Caution: modifying the registry can have unintended consequences. It’s important to be careful and back up the registry before making changes.

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

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When it comes to optimizing your Windows device, one of the key optimization areas is the startup process. The applications that run automatically when your device boots up can impact both the speed of your startup and the overall performance of your system.

Microsoft has listed three ways using which users can control the apps that run at Startup: the Settings app, the Task Manager, and the File Explorer. Step-by-step detailed guides have been provided by the company.

First up we have the Settings app:

1. In the Settings app on your Windows device, select Apps > Startup , or use the following shortcut:

    

   Startup

    

2. For any of the applications in the list

    

   • set the toggle to On to start the app automatically when you sign in

      

   • set the toggle to Off to prevent the app from starting automatically

      

3. If you want to change the advanced settings for that app, select the chevron and make changes as desired

In related news, Microsoft has also provided a solution for an issue wherein that would display a "We couldn’t find this app" error message in the Settings toggle for Startup apps.

Up next we have the Task Manager which, as Microsoft puts it, is one of the key native Windows tools that allows users to customize and tweak the OS to their liking. Among other things like monitoring, it also lets users disable Startup applications and a "Startup impact" meter is provided by the company to help determine how heavy an app is.

Here's how the "impact" is determined according to Microsoft:

Task Manager shows the impact of each of the apps have on your startup experience:

 

• None : Startup app is disabled
• Not Measured : No data available to measure the startup app, startup app is enabled
• Low Impact : Total CPU usage takes less than 300 milliseconds and total disk usage is less than 292 kilobytes
• Medium Impact : Total CPU usage takes less than 1 second but more than 300 milliseconds or total disk usage is less than 3 megabytes but more than 292 kilobytes
• High Impact : Total CPU usage takes more than 1 second or total disk usage is more than 3 megabytes

Finally, we have File Explorer which also allows users to select the applications and utilities that they want to add to the app startup list. Microsoft explains:

For applications that aren't registered in Windows with a startup task, you can use File Explorer. The process consists of copying or creating a shortcut to the app's executable to either one of these folders:

 

• shell:startup if you are configuring the startup behavior for the current user

   

  Note: the path corresponds to %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

   

• shell:common startup if you are configuring the startup behavior for all users using the device

   

  Note: the path corresponds to %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

   

Here are the steps:

 

1. Right-click on Start and select Run

    

2. In the Run dialog box, type shell:appsfolder and select Enter

    

   A File Explorer window opens, containing a list of all applications installed on the device. Keep this first window open

    

3. Right-click on Start and select Run

    

4. In the Run dialog box, type either shell:startup or shell:common startup and select Enter

    

   A second File Explorer window opens, containing a list of applications that start automatically when a user signs in

    

5. Drag and drop the applications that you want to start automatically from the first window to the second one

You can find the guide on this page on Microsoft's official website.

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Alongside the latter, we noticed that the tech giant also published Safe OS Dynamic Update for Windows 11 24H2 regarding recovery. WinRE, or Windows Recovery Environment, helps users troubleshoot booting issues. Microsoft, alongside this, also released a new update for Setup binaries under KB5042580.

The update is available under KB5041980, and Microsoft writes:

KB5041980: Safe OS Dynamic Update for Windows 11, version 24H2: August 27, 2024

 

Summary

 

This update makes improvements to the Windows recovery environment in Windows 11, version 24H2.

In a Techcommunity blog post about Windows 10 Dynamic Updates, Microsoft explained Dynamic Updates in more detail regarding its various components and uses. These packages include fixes to Setup.exe binaries, SafeOS updates for Windows Recovery Environment, and more:

As soon as a Windows 10 feature update initiates, whether from media or a Windows Update service-connected environment, Dynamic Update is one of the first steps invoked. Windows 10 Setup reaches out to an Internet-facing URL hosted by Microsoft to fetch Dynamic Update content, then applies those updates to your OS installation media.

 

Content acquired includes:

 

• Setup Updates: Fixes to Setup binaries or any files that Setup uses for feature updates.
• Safe OS Updates: Fixes for the "safe OS" that are used to update Windows recovery environment (WinRE).
• Servicing Stack Updates: Fixes that are necessary to address the Windows 10 servicing stack issue and thus required to complete the feature update.
• Latest Cumulative Update: Installs the latest cumulative quality update.
• Driver Updates: Latest version of applicable drivers that have already been published by manufacturers into Windows Update and specifically targeted for Dynamic Update.

 

In addition to these updates, Dynamic Update will preserve Language Pack (LP) and Features on Demand (FODs) content during the upgrade process. These are not updates to LPs and FODs, but reacquisition to ensure the user has these elements present with the update completes.

These dynamic updates are not pushed through Windows Update and are only available for manual downloading from the Windows Update Catalog website. You can find it here. The update is applicable for both Arm64 and AMD64 Copilot+ PCs.

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Alongside the latter, we noticed that the tech giant also published Safe OS Dynamic Update for Windows 11 24H2 regarding Setup EXE binaries. Microsoft, alongside this, also released a new Recovery update under KB5041980.

The update is available under KB5042580, and Microsoft writes:

KB5042580: Setup Dynamic Update for Windows 11, version 24H2: August 27, 2024

 

Summary

 

This update makes improvements to Windows setup binaries or any files that setup uses for feature updates in Windows 11, version 24H2.

In a Techcommunity blog post about Windows 10 Dynamic Updates, Microsoft explained Dynamic Updates in more detail regarding its various components and uses. These packages include fixes to Setup.exe binaries, SafeOS updates for Windows Recovery Environment, and more:

As soon as a Windows 10 feature update initiates, whether from media or a Windows Update service-connected environment, Dynamic Update is one of the first steps invoked. Windows 10 Setup reaches out to an Internet-facing URL hosted by Microsoft to fetch Dynamic Update content, then applies those updates to your OS installation media.

 

Content acquired includes:

 

• Setup Updates: Fixes to Setup binaries or any files that Setup uses for feature updates.
• Safe OS Updates: Fixes for the "safe OS" that are used to update Windows recovery environment (WinRE).
• Servicing Stack Updates: Fixes that are necessary to address the Windows 10 servicing stack issue and thus required to complete the feature update.
• Latest Cumulative Update: Installs the latest cumulative quality update.
• Driver Updates: Latest version of applicable drivers that have already been published by manufacturers into Windows Update and specifically targeted for Dynamic Update.

 

In addition to these updates, Dynamic Update will preserve Language Pack (LP) and Features on Demand (FODs) content during the upgrade process. These are not updates to LPs and FODs, but reacquisition to ensure the user has these elements present with the update completes.

These dynamic updates are not pushed through Windows Update and are only available for manual downloading from the Windows Update Catalog website. You can find it here. The update is applicable for both Arm64 and AMD64 Copilot+ PCs.

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Note: The follow data looks at Windows systems only, Linux and macOS data is excluded.

The main casualty of Windows 11's success was Microsoft's almost decade-old Windows 10 which fell to 48.66% - losing 3.29%. Windows 7 came in third with 0.38% (down 0.05%) and Windows 8.1 was fourth with 0.07% (down 0.01%). Other Windows operating systems represented 0.08%, falling 0.01%.

It's nice to see that Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 have such low numbers considering that both of these Windows versions are unsupported and should not be used on devices connected to the internet. Windows 7 SP1 lost security support in January 2020 and Windows 8.1 lost support in January 2023. Anyone running these should move to at least Windows 10 or an alternative like Linux Mint if the computer is no longer supported by Windows.

The survey also revealed some other interesting information about people's computers. For example, the most common RAM setup was to have 16 GB (47.35%, +1.50%), this was followed by 32 GB (30.76%, 0.64%). Having 8 GB of RAM was the third most common option (10.16%, -0.75%) but it seems like more of those users are making the switch to 16 GB. Other configurations were negligible among Steam users.

Earlier this year, it was reported by Technode that Simplified Chinese had become the most common language among Windows users on Steam. In August, this language extended its lead (35.97%, +3.05%) over English (29.79%, -2.83%).

It's nice to see Windows 11 eclipsing Windows 10 as the older operating system's retirement date approaches (October 14, 2025). Unfortunately, as we can see from the Windows 7 and 8.1 data, it's unlikely that everyone will stop using Windows 10 by, or after, the retirement date.

Source: Steam

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The tech giant understands that the Control Panel, alongside the likes of the Registry Editor and the Group Policy Editor, remain important tools for users.

Speaking of the Registry, some users want a Registry Cleaner for Windows 11 that will be natively available on the OS. Two of the top trending posts in the Feedback Hub with around 200-300 upvotes are about the request to add a native Registry cleaner.

There are plenty of third-party Registry cleaners that are in the market that suffice though these users probably want something that is official. One of the most popular ones out there comes bundled with the CCleaner app. There are plenty of others too which we cover in our Neowin software stories section. These cleaners primarily help to remove seemingly redundant registry entries, although some of them also claim to improve the overall system performance.

However, Microsoft's stance on the use of such Registry cleaners is clear. It does not support the use of such applications and has warned users on its official website via a support document. Microsoft writes:

Some products such as registry cleaning utilities suggest that the registry needs regular maintenance or cleaning. However, serious issues can occur when you modify the registry incorrectly using these types of utilities. These issues might require users to reinstall the operating system due to instability.

 

Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved without a reinstallation of the Operating System as the extent of the changes made by registry cleaning utilities varies from application to application.

Microsoft is not wrong to condemn the use of such apps. Registry cleaners typically have little usefulness. There is no hard evidence to suggest that they improve system performance in any way, although sometimes they may help to remove rogue Registry entries made by malware.

Microsoft already has a PC Manager app that, similar to such clean-up utilities, also claims to offer "one-click boost" to system performance, but it is far from flawless.

Source: Feedback Hub (1, 2)

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ExplainingComputers (1.04M subscribers)

September 1, 2024

Video length: 20m 21s

00:00 Titles & Intro

00:42 Why switch?

01:51 Applications

04:25 Distros

05:43 Testing

14:24 Installation

17:30 Migration

19:05 Linux Success

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On Windows 11 (or 10), the Windows Security app provides a central dashboard to manage and configure many security features available with the operating system, such as Microsoft Defender Antivirus, Device Security, and Firewall. 

If the app doesn't start correctly, constantly crashes, or shows an error, you can reset it to resolve most issues through the Settings app and PowerShell. However, the instructions will be slightly different depending on whether you have a Windows 10 or 11 computer.

In this how-to guide, I will walk you through the steps to repair problems affecting the Windows Security app on your computer.

How to reset the Windows Security app on Windows 11

On Windows 11, you can use the Settings app and PowerShell to fix problems with the Windows Security app. 

From Settings app

To fix problems with the Security app on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click the "System components" page on the right side.

Statcounter reports that in August 2024, Windows 11 reached a new all-time high of 31.63%, which is an increase of 0.8 points over the previous month. Year-over-year growth is 8.46 points (it was at 23.17% in August 2023). This is still pretty far away from Windows 10, which has twice the users of its successor.

In August 2024, Windows 10 lost 0.85 points and reached 64.14% (-7.8 points year-over-year change). Other and now unsupported Windows versions remain relatively unchanged. Windows 7 has 3.05%, Windows 8.1 has 0.41%, and Windows XP, believe it or not, is still in use on 0.4% of systems connected to the internet, which is quite a lot of users, considering that Windows powers almost 1.5 billion computers.

1. Windows 10 - 64.14% (-0.85 points)
2. Windows 11 - 31.63% (+0.80 points)
3. Windows 7 - 3.05% (+0.10 point)
4. Windows 8.1 - 0.41% (-0.01 point)
5. Windows XP - 0.4% (+0.02 points)

Microsoft is expected to expedite Windows 11's adoption rate as we approach the end of Windows 10's support in October 2025. However, given that many Windows 10 users cannot upgrade to Windows 11 due to incompatible hardware, it will be interesting to see how much time it will take for Windows 11 to dethrone the current king. It is quite possible that an unsupported version will soon be Microsoft's most popular desktop operating system.

Keep in mind that Statcounter's data is not 100% accurate. Check out this article to learn more about how Statcounter prepares its monthly reports.

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To no one's surprise, Google Chrome remains the most popular choice, with a 64.54% market share. Although it lost 0.18 points in August 2024, the year-over-year increase is 1.01 points (it was at 63.53% in August 2023).

All the way down at the sub-15% area sits Microsoft Edge, the world's second most popular browser. It currently has 13.78%, which is just 0.03 points higher than the previous month. However, the year-over-year growth in August 2024 is more impressive at 2.63 points. (11.15% in August 2023).

Next is Safari, Apple's macOS-exclusive desktop browser. Statcounter reports that Safari gained an extra 0.3 points in August and reached 9.4%, further increasing its lead over Firefox, Opera, and other browsers.

Firefox is fourth with 6.65% (+0.01 point), and Opera closes the top five desktop browsers list with 2.43% (-0.03 points).

1. Google Chrome: 64.54% (-0.18 points)
2. Microsoft Edge: 13.78% (+0.03 points)
3. Apple Safari: 9.4% (+0.3 points)
4. Firefox: 6.65% (+0.01 point)
5. Opera: 2.43% (-0.03 points)

Here is what things look like on the mobile side of the browser market, where Microsoft Edge has only 0.45% (+0.04 points):

1. Google Chrome: 66.2% (-0.25 points)
2. Apple Safari: 23.26% (-0.05 points)
3. Samsung Internet: 4.13% (-0.06 points)
4. Opera: 2.04% (+0.17 points)
5. UC Browser: 1.78% (+0.12 points)

You can learn more on the official Statcounter website.

Keep in mind that Statcounter's data is not 100% accurate. Check out this article to learn more about how Statcounter prepares its monthly reports.

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Teams users who also use the Microsoft Mesh PC app to hold virtual 3D meetings will be able to invite guests sometime in October, according to a new roadmap entry:

Event organizers can invite guest users outside their organization, providing an opportunity for broader collaboration and networking in Mesh events. Guests can sign in to Mesh app to join events, participate in discussions, and experience the same interactive features as internal users, all while maintaining secure access control. Guest access for events in the Mesh app on Quest and support for anonymous participants will be supported in a future update.

Another feature scheduled for Teams in October for the desktop and Mac versions will help improve searches in those apps:

Now you can form search queries quickly and efficiently with enhanced people-query suggestions. Start typing a person name in the search bar, and get recommendations based on results most relevant to you.

Also in October, Teams for desktop and Mac will add support for biometric data exports:

To ensure security and protection of user privacy, individuals can export their own biometric data limiting risk of download or sharing by tenant administrators.

Turning to Outlook, desktop and Mac users will be able to put in new info in the My Day pane in September:

Work Hours and Location information will now be available in My Day pane in Outlook when using agenda view. Users will be able to update their Work Hours and Location information from My Day and also see who is coming to Office.

Also, in September, Outlook for desktop and Mac users will be able to create an event in the Calendar by dragging and dropping an email into the Calendar icon.

That's it for our first Microsoft 365 Roadmap post for September. Please come back in seven days for a new entry in our recurring feature.

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