What you need to know

• The next major update to Windows 11 will include Microsoft's Prism emulation, which promises 10 to 20% better performance when running an app through emulation.
• Windows 11 version 24H2 will ship to most PCs this fall, but it will ship first in Copilot+ PCs that will come out on June 18, 2024.
• Many app makers have optimized their apps for Arm, but there are still several well-known often-used applications that have to run through emulation on Arm PCs.

Microsoft's focus on Arm computing has caused excitement among enthusiasts, the press, and those looking to buy a new computer. But there are questions surrounding Windows 11 on Arm. Microsoft's Arm efforts have been a mixed bag over the years, though they have trended upward of late. But with just about every major PC manufacturer announcing Arm-powered PCs, people want to know if Windows 11 on Arm is ready for primetime. One of the biggest questions is how non-native apps will perform on Arm.

The best app performance will always happen when an app runs on Arm natively. Luckily for those with Copilot+ PCs and other Windows 11 on Arm systems, big-name app makers are jumping on board Microsoft's train to an Arm-powered future. Google Chrome, Spotify, Zoom, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Blender, and DaVinci Resolve are already optimized for Arm. Adobe also shared a commitment to optimize its suite for Arm, including Premiere Pro.

But there will always be some apps that need to be emulated. One of the strengths of Windows is its backward compatibility. With the ability to run older apps comes the option to use apps that haven't been updated in a while. There are also newer apps that haven't been updated for Arm yet. In those cases, you'll have to use emulation.

Microsoft unveiled its Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 this week and other PC manufacturers followed suit. Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, and Samsung all have Copilot+ PCs shipping soon. Those PCs all have one thing in common; they're powered by Snapdragon X processors. Those Arm chips promise impressive battery life and exclusive AI features. But being Arm-powered also means that some apps will have to run through emulation.

Even older Arm PCs will benefit from Prism emulation that ships with the next major update of Windows 11. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Even older Arm PCs will benefit from Prism emulation that ships with the next major update of Windows 11.

(Image credit: Windows Central)

Windows on Arm has supported some form of emulation for years, but emulating apps on Windows 11 is about to get a lot better. Windows 11 version 24H2 promises a boost of between 10 to 20% when running emulated apps, even if you're on a system that is not a Copilot+ PC, as reported by Ars Technica.

Those running newer processors, like the Snapdragon X Elite or Snapdragon X Plus will see the best emulated performance. Microsoft claims emulated apps running on a Snapdragon X Elite will be more than twice as fast as a Windows on Arm device from the previous generation. But even for those using older hardware, there are benefits on the way with Windows 11 version 24H2.

Microsoft says that 87% of total app minutes people spend on Arm PCs will be on apps optimized for Arm. Of course, that also means 13% of the time you won't be using native Arm apps, and that's assuming you fit into the workflow that led to the figure.

In addition, the latest feature update contains a lot of minor changes, which were implemented in recent Edge 126 Dev updates:

• Microsoft Edge Dev 126.0.2578.1

• Microsoft Edge Dev 126.0.2566.1

• Microsoft Edge Dev 126.0.2552.0

   

Here is the official changelog:

• AI theme generator. Microsoft Edge will include an AI theme generator, that allows users to input a text prompt and generate a series of images to preview as browser themes. Applying the theme includes setting the generated image on the Edge new tab page and applying the image's dominant color to the browser frame. Admins can control availability to this feature using the AIGenThemesEnabled policy. Note: This feature is a controlled feature rollout. If you don't see this feature, check back as we continue our rollout.
• Security protection controls in the Microsoft Edge management service. The Microsoft Edge management service will provide admins with a dedicated experience to manage specific settings that help improve the security posture of their managed browser instances. Note: This experience is in public preview and can be accessed by opting in to targeted release in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
• Copilot summarization notification. The feature displays an Omnibox notification when users enter into a reading mode eligible page in Edge and offers them the option to open Copilot in the sidebar to generate a summary of the content. Note: This feature is a controlled feature rollout. If you don't see this feature, check back as we continue our rollout.

You can download Microsoft Edge Beta from the official Edge Insider website. Public release of version 126 is expected on the week of June 13.

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Microsoft's website now features three tabs: one for Windows 7, one for Windows 8.1, and one for Windows 10. The latter provides the end of support date and what users can do with their soon-to-be outdated systems. Spoiler alert: upgrade to Windows 11, duh.

Support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025

 

After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.

The page also features several links where users can learn about Windows 11 and its features, compare Windows 10 with its successor, find a shopping guide for a new laptop, learn about transferring data from Windows 10 to Windows 11, and visit the Microsoft Store to browse Windows 11 devices.

Microsoft acknowledges that many users will continue using Windows 10 despite the looming end of support (in fact, its market share somehow increases instead of declining), so it asks them to at least back up their files in OneDrive.

Finally, at the end of the page, you will find a FAQ section with additional information, such as trading in your old device, upgrading to Windows 11, picking the right edition, and more. There is also a section for the Extended Security Program, which, for the first time ever, will be applicable to regular customers. However, while Microsoft has already revealed details for business customers, information about home users remains unknown. The company says it will share details as we get closer to October 2025.

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What you need to know

• Microsoft Phone Link will soon support copying text from images.
• OCR (optical character recognition) technology was already available in several Microsoft applications and is now rolling out to Phone Link.
• The feature detects any text within an image, allowing you to copy that text for easy pasting elsewhere.
• Release Preview Channel Insiders can already test out the capability in Phone Link.

Microsoft Phone Link will soon support copying text from images. The feature uses OCR (optical character recognition) to detect text within an image. You can then copy that text for easy pasting into any app you would like. Those in the Release Preview Channel can test out the new feature now.

The feature works within the Phone Link app on Windows, so it's not dependent on if you have a certain type of phone. When viewing images in the Photos section of Phone Link, you'll an icon labeled "Text." Clicking that will detect any text within an image. There are then options to select all text or copy all text.

Microsoft Phone Link now supports copying text from images.(Image credit: Future)

 

Phone Link can recognize text in a photo, allowing you to copy that text.(Image credit: Future)

 

OCR (optical character recognition) is a handy feature that's available in several apps, including Microsoft's mobile Office app and the since-discontinued Office Lens. Microsoft started testing text recognition functionality in Snipping Tool toward the end of last year and later rolled it out to general availability. Now, Phone Link has the same capabilities.

 

We saw the text extraction option when running the latest version of Phone Link that's in the Release Preview Channel. Assuming all goes well with testing, text extraction should roll out to everyone in the near future.

 

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On Windows 11, Recall is a feature that uses AI to record everything you've done on the computer and then makes that information searchable to help you find anything you have done in the past, from a message to a file or folder, a website, and virtually anything. 

The magic of Windows Recall is that you can search using keywords or keyphrases and natural language for anything you have done or seen on the device, as the feature can actually understand the content and context. 

For instance, you can ask Recall to find an image of a black leather jacket you saw on a website or a picture you took in the past. The feature's precision is remarkable. It can bring up the exact moment the leather jacket has appeared, not because of keywords in the filename or metadata information, but because it understands the object on the image.

The idea behind this feature is fantastic since you no longer have to remember specific locations, file names, or keywords in the document. However, did you stop to think about how Windows Recall actually works?

In this guide, I will dive deep into the inner workings of Recall for Windows 11. 

How does Recall work on Windows 11?

The Windows Recall feature takes snapshots of every activity on the screen. When content is on the screen, the feature takes snapshots every five seconds from the previous capture. The feature doesn't record audio or save continuous video. The snapshots are then stored locally and analyzed with AI to understand their contents, including images and text. 

It should also be noted that Recall is presently optimized for certain languages, such as English, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. That means you get the full suite of Recall abilities. Microsoft plans to expand this language support in the future. Currently, Recall can retrieve snapshots from your PC's timeline through text-to-text searches in over 160 languages. which is a more basic Recall feature.

The latest Windows 11 build, which just made it to the Beta Channel, briefly mentions that the PC Manager app is now part of Windows 11 for customers in China.

New! This update adds PC Manager to devices in China.

That's it. For now, there is no word on whether the company plans to bring the PC Manager app to other countries. The official en-us version of the app's website currently says "coming soon." Microsoft PC Manager was initially made for users in China, but you can get it from the Microsoft Store in other countries as well.

PC optimizers are not a new concept, and they have been around for quite a while. Nowadays, many consider them unnecessary, but having an official program made by Microsoft that is capable of (allegedly) speeding up your PC may sound quite appealing.

Like similar software, Microsoft PC Manager promises to "boost your PC" by cleaning up some memory and disk space, "reduce ads and pop-up interruptions," check your PC's health for viruses or potential issues, and provide extra convenience with some additional mini apps and tools.

However, Microsoft's PC Manager has already raised quite a few eyebrows when customers caught it recommending some questionable optimizing techniques, injecting affiliate links, and shamelessly claiming your PC needs repair if Bing is not set as the default search engine. Yikes.

Microsoft PC Manager is compatible with Windows 10 version 1809 and newer. Soon, it may become a new stock Windows 11 app, at least in China.

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Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc has confirmed on his X account that there will be no builds released this week for members of the Windows Insider Program in the Dev or Canary channels.

Here is the changelog:

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out to the Beta Channel with toggle on

 

[General]

 

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

 

Fixes for everyone in the Beta Channel

 

[Other]

 

• New! This update adds PC Manager to devices in China.
• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer. It takes up to two minutes to start when you pin a folder that is on a network share to Quick Access. This occurs when you upgrade from Windows 11, version 21H2 to Windows 11, version 22H2.
• This update addresses an issue that affects TWAIN drivers. They might stop responding when you use them in a virtual environment.
• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer. It stops responding when you swipe from a screen edge. This issue occurs after you turn off edge swiping.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the display of a smart card icon. It does not appear when you sign in. This occurs when there are multiple certificates on the smart card.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a folder context menu. When you choose the command that removes items, the command adds items instead. This occurs when a third-party service implements a sync feature.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a server after you remove it from a domain. The Get-LocalGroupMember cmdlet returns an exception. This occurs if the local groups contain domain members.
• This update affects the Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI) AmsiUtil It helps to detect the bypass of the AMSI scan. This update also addresses some long-term issues that expose your device to threats.
• This update addresses an issue that affects printers. They do not work as you expect when you use AppContainer or use them in a restricted environment.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the out-of-box experience (OOBE). It fails to complete. This occurs when you turn on the “Prevent the use of security questions for local accounts” policy.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Host Networking Service (HNS). When the service restarts, load balancer policies are not brought back in the right way.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Enhanced Fast Reconnect. It fails. This occurs when you use it with third-party remote desktop protocol (RDP) providers.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio They do not show the option to connect or disconnect.
• This update addresses an issue that affects an IPP-over-USB printer. After you delete it, it still appears as not available in Control Panel.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Unified Write Filter (UWF) Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) API calls. Calls to shut down or restart the system throw an access denied exception.
• This update addresses an issue that distorts parts of the screen. This occurs when you use a Chromium-based browser to play a video.
• This update brings Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date for certain mobile operators.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Share button on USB controllers. It might not work with Game Bar.
• This update addresses an issue that displays a hidden window. Its title bar has no content and no client area. This occurs when you share your screen using certain apps.
• This update addresses an issue that affects handwriting panels and touch keyboards. They do not appear when you use a pen.
• This update addresses an issue that affects an app that supports encrypted email. The app asks you to enter your credentials each time you open an encrypted email. This occurs even after you have entered your PIN at least once.

 

Known issues

 

[General]

 

• We are investigating an issue where Internet Information Services (IIS) and Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) may not work after installing this update.
• [NEW] We’re investigating an issue where Settings is crashing when trying to look at wi-fi properties.

 

[Widgets]

 

• Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel who have the new position for the Widgets entry-point on left-aligned taskbars may see the following known issues:
• Swipe invocation for Widgets may not work if taskbar is center-aligned instead of left-aligned.
• Unpinning Widgets from the taskbar may not work if taskbar is center-aligned instead of left-aligned.
• The Widgets board is incorrectly positioned when Copilot is in side-by-side mode.
• Turning on/off Widgets in taskbar settings may refresh the taskbar.

You can check out the full blog post here.

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Windows 11 version 24H2 contains quite a lot of changes and new features. The best part is that not all of them require newer hardware, unlike the recently announced AI-based features. Some of the most interesting bits include support for HDR wallpapers (you actually need new hardware for this if your monitor does not support HDR), improvements for the Quick Settings flyout (you can now scroll it), better archive support, some AI-powered features for all, and more.

Another important change is that with version 24H2, Copilot in Windows will work as a regular app, not a flyout. That will let you move the window around, resize it, etc.

Some under-the-hood improvements include Wi-Fi 7 support (this one also requires new hardware), Rust in the Windows kernel, Sudo for Windows, a reworked energy saver, which will also be available on desktop PCs, and more. Microsoft says it will reveal more details about Windows 11 version 24H2 in the coming months. Therefore, do not expect a public release tomorrow, as the company still needs some time to refine the update.

New AI features, which were announced at the May 20 event, are also part of the Windows 11 version 24H2. However, you will not be able to access them on existing hardware. Microsoft says that those experiences require one of the new Copilot+ PCs, such as the Surface Pro 11 or the Surface Laptop 7.

If you want to try Windows 11 version 24H2 right now, go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program and enroll your device in the Release Preview Channel. Keep in mind that early updates are still early, even in their final stages. Therefore, back up mission-critical data or use a spare device or virtual machine.

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Thanks to Fences Engine 3, the program is now more reliable and consistent when you connect or disconnect external monitors or access remote systems. According to the official announcement post, Fences 5.5 features a brand-new, fully reworked from the ground-up engine that has been in development for several months.

Besides that, Fences 5.5 features several smaller changes, user interface improvements, some enhancements for remote desktops, and bug fixes. Here is the rest of the changelog:

• NEW “store layouts on a per-multimon-config basis” system is enabled by default for new installs. Old installs will keep their existing setting.
• Fixed issue with hotkeys not loading for RDP sessions in certain scenarios.
• Fix rare startup crash
• Add compatibility with popular desktop right-click menu enhancer (Nilesoft Shell)

For those unfamiliar with Fences, it is a program that can turn your messed up desktop into a clean space with files and folders neatly sorted into groups. In addition, you can bring those groups to the foreground at any time and without minimizing your current application. You can use Fences for gaming, productivity, accessibility, and other scenarios.

If you already use Fences 5 on your computer, you can get to the latest version by going to Settings > About and clicking "Check for Updates." Fences 5 is available as a standalone app on the official Stardock website ($9.99 for a one-year license or $29.99 for a permanent license) or Steam. You can also download the entire Object Desktop package, which includes additional programs such as Start11, Groupy, SoundPackager, DeskScapes and Multiplicity.

Disclaimer: Neowin's relationship to Stardock

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With the release of the client Windows 11 2024 update as well as Server 2025 coming up in the second half of the year, Microsoft has now begun to ensure system requirements compatibility such that eligible hardware will be certified ready for the upcoming releases. This is part of the standard Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP) certification program that Microsoft runs to ensure hardware compatibility where it requests participation from its partner hardware vendors, like AMD, Intel, Qualcomm, among others.

In a new Tech Community blog post, Microsoft has detailed all about the prerequisites to guarantee OS compatibility:

To facilitate the release of Windows 11, version 24H2, and Windows Server 2025, the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program is set to accept submissions. The submission package must fulfill the prerequisites to guarantee compatibility between the operating system and the Hardware Lab Kit (HLK).

 

Submission Pre-requisites

 

• OS and HLK minimum acceptable build:
  • Windows 11, version 24H2 (Build 26100 or greater)
  • Windows Server 2025 (Build 26100 or greater)

• Playlist – https://aka.ms/hlkplaylist

 

The table below illustrates the required playlists for testing each processor architecture:

 

Target Architecture	Required Playlist(s)
Client (ARM64) 1	HLK Version 24H2 CompatPlaylist x64 ARM64.xml   HLK Version 24H2 CompatPlaylist ARM64_x86_on_ARM64.xml   HLK Version 24H2 CompatPlaylist ARM64_x64_on_ARM64.xml
Client (X64)	HLK Version 24H2 CompatPlaylist x64 ARM64.xml
Server (X64, ARM64)	HLK Version 24H2 CompatPlaylist x64 ARM64 SERVER.xml

 

1 For Client system-level x64 and ARM64 submission, the only playlist required is the HLK Version 24H2 CompatPlaylist x64 ARM64.xml

 

Please refer to the HLK Getting Started Guide for details on HLK client setup and playlist use.

 

Deferment of Partner Dev Center SBOM Validation

 

• The WHCP requirement, for partner SBOM submissions alongside driver packages submitted to HDC, will be deferred at HDC. Partners will be given notice as soon as there is a set enforcement date during a future release, along with guidance on how to meet any new requirements.
• WHCP continues to support a secure supply chain throughout our signing process. That said, the EO on Cyber Security is a call to action from the U.S. Government, so we continue to encourage that our partners seek to enable a secure supply chain as stated in the NIST guidance.

 

Device.DevFund.StaticTools Requirement

 

• The Device.DevFund.StaticTools requirement applies to Windows 11 Client x64 and Windows Server x64.
• Helpful information about how to use CodeQL and generate DVL files is available here - CodeQL and the Static Tools Logo Test - Windows drivers | Microsoft Learn

Back in March, Microsoft had released Windows Hardware Lab Kit (Windows HLK) Insider builds to set off the compatibility testing with the Windows RTM (Release to Manufacturing) version. We knew at that time that the final WHCP certification process should not be too far.

While the system requirements are not expected to change, very old processors would not be able to bypass the Windows 11 24H2 eligibility block as they do not have PopCnt and SSE4.2 instructions.

Source: Microsoft

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Windows 11 already has pretty decent support for compressed files (more improvements are coming with version 24H2). However, it still cannot beat dedicated apps like 7-Zip or NanaZip, which offer better performance and more features. Speaking of features, NanaZip has just received a big new update. Version 3.0 is now available for download with a reworked Windows 11-like UI, Mica, better dark mode, and more.

Starting with version 3.0, NanaZIP splits into two "flavors:" NanaZip and NanaZip Classic. The main difference between the two is that the regular version no longer supports 32-bit. NanaZip Classic also works on much older Windows versions (down to Vista), while the standard NanaZip requires Windows 10 version 2004 and newer. Customers can also support NanaZip development by purchasing its $99.99 Sponsor Edition from the Microsoft Store.

NanaZip 3.0 brings a reworked user interface that now looks much better on Windows 11 PCs. There's also a proper dark mode for all parts of the app, Mica support on Windows 11, the SM3 HASH algorithm and all the mainline improvements from 7-Zip version 24.05.

Here is the rest of the changelog for NanaZip 3.0:

• Rewrite and split the implementation of the Core Library and the Self Extracting Executable to the separate NanaZip.Codecs and NanaZip.Core projects.
• Ensure the implementation of Core Library and the Self Extracting Executable supports Windows Vista RTM (Build 6000.16386).
• Reduce the binary size for the Self Extracting Executables.
• Synchronize the 7-Zip ZS implementations to the latest master branch.
• Synchronize Zstandard and builtin xxHash implementations to v1.5.6.
• Synchronize Brotli implementations to v1.1.0.
• Synchronize the RHash implementation to the latest master branch which is after v1.4.4.
• Synchronize the BLAKE3 implementation to latest master which is after 1.5.1.
• Update to Git submodule version of Mile.Project.Windows.
• Update Mile.Windows.Helpers to 1.0.558.
• Update Mile.Xaml to 2.2.944.
• Use Mile.Windows.Internal package.
• Use Mile.Detours package.
• Use modern IFileDialog for folder picker dialog.
• Launch directly to the settings page of association for NanaZip.
• Show NanaZip in Drives' ContextMenu.
• Sync file extension support from https://github.com/mcmilk/7-Zip-zstd.
• Add other methods to compression dialog.
• Reorder initialization in constructor matching to member declaration order.
• Fix selectable uppercase / lowercase hash formatting.
• Update russian translation.
• Update Polish translation.
• Add mitigation policy of disabling child process creation for command line version of NanaZip.
• Add Explorer Patcher DLL blocking for NanaZip File Manager for reenabling mitigation policy of blocking loading unexpected libraries from remote sources at runtime for the main thread of NanaZip File Manager without the stability issues.
• Fix issue in IEnumExplorerCommand::Next for shell extension.

You can download NanaZip 3.0 from the Microsoft Store or GitHub for free.

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Rufus, which is one of the most popular third-party utilities for creating bootable media, has received the latest update today. The new version, 4.5.2180, is available for download now and is based on the beta that was released earlier this month.

The new version brings runtime UEFI bootloader hash validation using the MD5 (Message Digest 5) algorithm checksum method. The idea is to perform self-verification at each boot rather than after a media creation.

Speaking of UEFI, the UEFI:NTFS generic bootloader, which allows UEFI booting on NTFS or exFAT partitions, has been updated to now always use the NTFS-3G driver. And on the topic of bootloaders, GRUB (Grand Unified Bootloader) has also received an update.

Besides those, there are fixes related to VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) and VHDX (Virtual Hard Disk v2) file formats including a truncation issue and some error messages. And a workaround for an ISO copy-related bug has also been added.

There are more changes in the new release. The full changelog is given below:

• Add new advanced option to perform runtime UEFI media validation of suitable images (Windows, most Linux)
• Move the Use Rufus MBR advanced option to a cheat mode (Alt-A)
• Fix truncation of VHDX images, as well as a benign error message when writing VHD/VHDX (#2468)
• Fix support for Linux persistence in some configurations (Mint, Ubuntu 24.04)
• Fix multiple potential vulnerabilities (with thanks to Mansour Gashasbi)
• Update internal GRUB to version 2.12
• Update UEFI:NTFS to latest (now always uses the ntfs-3g driver, rather than the buggy AMI NTFS one)
• Increase buffer size when copying ISO files, in an attempt to minimize the AMI NTFS UEFI driver bug
• Improve partition creation handling
• Don't display the WUE dialog when a conflicting unattend.xml already exists (#2451)

To download the latest Rufus version 4.5, head over to this Neowin software page or its official GitHub repository.

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In a blog post, Microsoft stated:

We are bringing more flexibility to device makers with updated IoT hardware requirements, enabling more device types that allow us to light up a broader market. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 expands the number of removable packages to 36, further empowering device makers to customize the OS to create the perfect platform for even resource constrained devices.

More info on the new features in this release can be found on this Microsoft support site. One of them will now allow other devices to connect and project wirelessly to a device running on the new Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC OS. It will also let x86 apps run on the OS if it is using a device with an Arm-based processor.

There have also been some changes to the user interface in this new OS version. Microsoft says:

Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 brings new components like the taskbar overflow menu and File Explorer tabs to streamline tasks and maximize productivity. It also improves accessibility by introducing system-wide live captions and voice access. In addition, braille displays now work seamlessly across multiple screen readers, and Narrator supports new braille input and output languages to simplify the end user experience.

Microsoft says it has also boosted security for Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024. That includes a new Windows Security app that offers quick access to virus protection, firewall and network security features and more. It also uses Windows 11's method of monthly updates, which are smaller and only download any source files that are different.

Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 will be officially supported by Microsoft for at least 10 years, which means, at minimum, it will reach the end of its life in 2034.

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This Release Preview version has a number of features and also removes others, such as Cortana, Tips, and WordPad. ISOs for this version will be available for download later today at this site.

Here is the blog post that goes over the new features:

Windows 11, version 24H2 includes a range of new features such as the HDR background support, energy saver, Sudo for Windows, Rust in the Windows kernel, support for Wi-Fi 7, voice clarity and more. It also includes many improvements across Windows. For example, we are introducing a scrollable view of the quick settings flyout from the taskbar, the ability to create 7-zip and TAR archives in File Explorer (in addition to ZIP), and improvements for connecting Bluetooth Low Energy Audio devices. We will be sharing more details in the coming months on many of the new features and improvements included as part of Windows 11, version 24H2 leading up to general availability. Please note that the new AI features such as Recall announced earlier this week will not be available on your PC after installing this update today as they require a Copilot+ PC. For more information on those new AI features and Copilot+ PCs, see this blog post here.

 

As part of this update, we’re also evolving the Copilot experience on Windows as an app that will be pinned to the taskbar. This enables users to get the benefits of a traditional app experience, including the ability to resize, move, and snap the window – feedback we’ve heard from users throughout the preview of Copilot in Windows. This model also allows Microsoft to more agilely develop and optimize the experience based on user feedback. This change will be making is way to Insiders in the Canary, Dev, and Beta Channels shortly:

 

Windows 11, version 24H2 shown as available as an optional update highlighted in a red box.

 

Windows Insiders in the Release Preview Channel can install Windows 11, version 24H2 via our “seeker” experience in Windows Update. This means if you are an Insider currently in the Release Preview Channel on a PC that meets the Windows 11 hardware requirements, you can go to Settings and Windows Update and choose to download and install Windows 11, version 24H2 if you want. Once you update your PC to Windows 11, version 24H2, you will continue to automatically receive new servicing updates through Windows Update (the typical monthly update process). For instructions on how to join the Windows Insider Program and join your PC to the Release Preview Channel, click here.

 

Commercial customers enrolled in the Windows Insider Program for Business can begin validating Windows 11, version 24H2 on PCs in their organizations. For these customers, the Windows 11, version 24H2 feature update is available through Windows Update for Business (WUfB) and Windows Server Update Service (WSUS). Azure Marketplace will be coming soon. You can learn more about deploying pre-release feature updates using these deployment methods here. Should any issues arise, IT admins in organizations deploying Release Preview updates can request Microsoft Support.

The blog post notes that Windows 11 users in the European Economic Area will be able to get Copilot as a Microsoft Store app sometime in the near future.

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In a blog post, Microsoft stated that starting with the release of the Windows 11 24H2 update later this year, support for VBScript will be available as one of its features on demand (FODs). However, FODs, including VBScript, will still be preinstalled on Windows 11 24H2 and will be turned on by default in the OS. Microsoft says:

This helps ensure your experiences are not disrupted if you have a dependency on VBScript while you migrate your dependencies (applications, processes, and the like) away from VBScript.

The second phase of VBScript's depreciation from Windows will happen sometime in 2027. In that year, the FODs will no longer be enabled by default in that year's version of Windows. Developers will still be able to enable the FODs in that future Windows version if they still need time to update their apps. Microsoft did not offer a specific date in 2027 for when this will happen.

Finally, at some point beyond 2027. VBScript will be completely removed from a future version of Windows. Microsoft stated:

This means all the dynamic link libraries (.dll files) of VBScript will be removed. As a result, projects that rely on VBScript will stop functioning. By then, we expect that you’ll have switched to suggested alternatives.

Again, Microsoft did not reveal a specific year or date for when that will occur. The company is certainly giving developers a lot of time to update their apps to other languages before it completely ends VBScript support. It recommends those developers migrate their apps to PowerShell or JavaScript languages.

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• Windows Server Hotpatching for everyone
• Next Generation Active Directory and SMB
• Mission Critical Data & Storage
• Hyper-V & AI
• And much more…

Later on, in April, the company shared more details about the features of Windows Server 2025. One such feature which it did not separately mention was about I/O performance improvement thanks to NVMe optimization and the tech giant claims a 70% boost.

While Microsoft continues to assess Server 2025 via Insider testing, it looks like evaluation ISOs for the same will be unveiled soon as noted by X (formerly Twitter) user and Windows enthusiast Xeno.

If you are not familiar with it, evaluation media ISOs or images are released by Microsoft for IT professionals, IT admins or system admins in case they want a trial of the operating system.

Servers aside, client versions also get evaluation ISOs but the difference is that the evaluation period for Servers is 180 days while that for Clients is 90 days. However, that is not confirmed at the moment for Windows Server 2025 as the media is yet to be available on the official Evaluation Center website as 2022 remains the latest version there.

If you are wondering how you can obtain Server build 26100.560, you can do so by installing the KB5037783 update (via BetaWiki).

Microsoft quietly released the update this week for both Client and Server and as such, no changelog exists.

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Version 0.81 is now available for download with a new AI-powered feature called "Advanced Paste," which can convert something you copied to another format. For example, you copied some Python code and then it can convert it to C# with comments. Here is the official description:

Advanced Paste is An Al powered tool to put your clipboard content into any format you need, focused towards developer workflows. Note: this will replace the formatted text in your clipboard with the selected format.

You can try it by copying something and then pressing Win + Shift + V to bring up the tool's UI. Next, you can paste the result with the Win + Ctrl + Alt + V shortcut.

Here are the update highlights:

• New utility: Advanced Paste, an AI powered tool to convert your clipboard content into another format.
• Command Not Found now uses the PowerShell Gallery release and now supports ARM64.
• Fixed most accessibility issues opened after the latest accessibility review.
• Refactored, packaged and released the main Environment Variables Editor, Hosts File Editor and Registry Preview utilities functionality as controls to be integrated into DevHome.

And here is the complete changelog:

General:

 

• Fixed crashes on older CPUS by updating .NET to 8.0.4. (This was a hotfix for 0.80)

   

Advanced Paste

 

• New utility: Advanced Paste, an AI powered tool to convert your clipboard content into another format.

 

Always On Top

 

• Enable border anti-aliasing.

 

Color Picker

 

• Improved accessibility by making the Settings and Copy to clipboard buttons focusable.
• Improved accessibility by supporting picking a color using the keyboard.

 

Command Not Found

 

• Upgraded the Command Not Found to use the new PowerShell Gallery release and support ARM64.

 

Environment Variables Editor

 

• Refactored, packaged and released the main Environment Variables Editor functionality as a control to be integrated into DevHome.

 

FancyZones

 

• Fixed window wrap around behavior when overriding Windows key and arrow shortcuts on single monitor scenarios.
• Improved accessibility of the editor by listing the keyboard shortcuts in the Canvas Editor.

 

File Explorer add-ons

 

• Updated Monaco to 0.47 and added the new sticky scroll setting for DevFiles viewer.
• Added the new font size setting for DevFiles viewer.
• Added support for .srt (subtitle) file previewing in DevFiles viewer.

 

Hosts File Editor

 

• Refactored, packaged and released the main Hosts File Editor functionality as a control to be integrated into DevHome.

 

Image Resizer

 

• Supported narrator announcing the checkboxes in the UI and the sizes combobox.
• Improved accessibility by increasing contrast in the text color of combobox items.

 

Installer

 

• Fixed some install failures when the folders the DSC module is to be installed in isn't accessible by the WiX installer. (This was a hotfix for 0.80)
• Detecting install location for DSC now uses registry instead of WMI to improve performance.
• Fixed an error causing the machine scope installer to not install correctly in machines where the documents folder is in a UNC network path. We're still working in a fix for the user scope installer.

 

Keyboard Manager

 

• Fixed startup crashes in the editor when the Visual C++ Redistributable wasn't installed. (This was a hotfix for 0.80)
• Fixed an accessibility issue where the first button wasn't focused after adding a new row in the editor.
• Environment Variables are now expanded in arguments of programs started through a shortcut.

 

Paste as Plain Text

 

• Paste as Plain Text was removed as a separate utility, since its functionality is now part of the Advanced Paste utility.

 

Peek

 

• Updated icons, tweaked UI and refactored internal code.
• Updated Monaco to 0.47 and added the new sticky scroll setting for DevFiles viewer.
• Added the new font size setting for DevFiles viewer.
• Upgrade the SharpCompress dependency to 0.37.2 and fixed archive parsing.
• Fixed aliasing in the image viewer.
• Added support for .srt (subtitle) file previewing in DevFiles viewer.

 

Power Rename

 

• Fixed the descriptions that were mixed up in the regex helper (\S and \w).

 

PowerToys Run

 

• Added support for UNC paths starting with // in the Folder plugin.
• Fixed the plugin load failed message to list the failed plugins.
• Icons for MSIX packages are now updated when a package update is detected.
• Use Mica backdrop instead of Acrylic to fix random crashes caused by the Windows composition being momentarily turned off.
• Improved accessibility in the results list action buttons by improving contrast of hovered/focused buttons.

 

Quick Accent

 

• Added support for the Esperanto character set.
• Added the ǽ and ϑ characters.

 

Registry Preview

 

• Refactored, packaged and released the main Registry Preview functionality as a control to be integrated into DevHome. Thanks @dabhattimsft for validating and integrating into DevHome!

 

Text Extractor

 

• Fixed an issue causing the Settings page to not be opened when clicking the Settings button in Text Extractor's overlay. (This was a hotfix for 0.80)

 

Settings

 

• Improved UI ordering of the File Explorer add-ons.
• Applied fixes to theme overriding and cleaned up unneeded code.
• Fixed misspells in references to the Hosts File Editor utility.
• Improved accessibility of the Select Folder button in the Settings Backup UI.
• Improved accessibility by improving focus and tab navigation in the ColorPicker page.
• Added a description to the fallback encoder setting in the Image Resizer page.
• Refactored and improved performance in the PowerToys Run plugins UI in the Settings page.
• Fixed a crash when a user cleared the contents of a Number Box in the PowerToys Run plugins additional options.
• Update the PATH environment variables with the user scope PATH when entering the Command Not Found page to improve PowerShell detection.

You can download PowerToys from the Microsoft Store or GitHub. If you already use the app, go to Settings > General and click "Check for Updates."

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To help you deal with the language barrier and enjoy content that is not available in your native language, Microsoft developed real-time video translation for the Edge browser. The feature will utilize artificial intelligence to process videos on the go across multiple websites to assist users with dubbing or subtitles.

According to Microsoft, real-time video dubbing and subtitles will be available on different video-sharing platforms, such as YouTube, Bloomberg, Coursera, LinkedIn, Reuters, and more. Supported languages include Spanish to English and English to German, Hindi, Italian, and Spanish. The company plans to add support for more languages in future updates.

Microsoft Edge for Business, a special mode that was introduced in 2023, is also getting new features to protect data inside companies, prevent leaks, and protect from vulnerabilities. In the upcoming month, Microsoft Edge will get new policies to block screenshot-taking functionality on sensitive or protected websites:

Data exfiltration in the browser is a major concern for organizations due to financial, reputational and operational impact. Edge for Business will support screenshot prevention policies set across Microsoft 365, Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, Microsoft Intune Mobile Application Management and Microsoft Purview.

Another security measure will help IT admins ensure all their Edge instances are up to date. It is extra important in light of the fact that the browser sometimes gets several security updates per week to mitigate vulnerabilities exploited in the wild. Administrators will see outdated Microsoft Edge instances and take proactive actions, such as forcing a restart, installing updates, configuring automatic updates, or toggling on/off specific features.

Like the new policies for screenshot control, the new Edge management service will be available for IT admins in the coming weeks.

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The new VS Code update is not the only major GA announcement Microsoft has made today. .NET Aspire is now generally available too. The first version of Aspire was revealed in November last year alongside .NET 8 aimed towards the development of cloud-based apps. Today, Microsoft has reiterated the same as the feature can now be accessed by everyone.

Alongside .NET Aspire, Microsoft has also announced the latest update to .NET itself. The new update comes in the form of Preview 4 for .NET 9. The tech giant claims that the update aims at improving .NET support via performance boost and optimization enhancements. The key, Microsoft says, is to improve the application-building experience for generative AI apps as well as cloud-based web apps.

Microsoft says that this is made possible thanks to "several optimizations and enhancements" in runtimes, libraries, SDKs (software development kits), .NET Multi-Platform App UI (MAUI), .NET Aspire, Entity Framework Core (EF Core), and more.

Speaking of EF Core, MongoDB Provider for Entity Framework Core is now generally available. The feature was announced last year in October 2023.

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Today, as part of Microsoft Build 2024, the company and Qualcomm announced it will give developers another tool to make Copilot+ PC apps that work with the Snapdragon X chips. It is called the Snapdragon Dev Kit for Windows, and it will have a developer version of the Snapdragon X SoC inside.

Microsoft stated:

Featuring the NPU that powers the Copilot+ PCs, the Snapdragon Dev Kit for Windows has a form factor that is easily stackable and is designed specifically to be a developer’s everyday dev box, providing the maximum power and flexibility developers need. It is powered by a 3.8 GHz 12 Core Oryon CPU with dual core boost up to 4.4GHz, comes with 32 GB LPDDR5x memory, 512GB M2 storage, 80 Watt system architecture, support for up to 3 concurrent external displays and uses 20% ocean bound plastic.

There's no word yet on when the Snapdragon Dev Kit for Windows will become available, nor how much it will cost.

Microsoft also announced a new emulation engine called Prism. It is supposed to help create code for emulated x86/x64 apps that will be used on Arm-based chips. The engine will help the emulated apps run faster on any Windows Arm-based device. Prism is now available in a preview version.

Copilot+ PC notebooks were announced on Monday by Dell, HP, Asus, Acer, Lenovo, Samsung, and Microsoft, which will release a version of its Surface Laptop and also its Surface Pro tablet with an OLED display that will have Snapdragon X Elite chips. The cheapest Copilot+ PCs will be priced at $999.99, but most will be in the mid-$1,000 range.

Intel has also announced that its upcoming Lunar Lake processors will be in laptops that are branded as Copilot+ PCs, but they won't be available until sometime in the third quarter of 2024.

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Here's how Microsoft describes these new features for Excel:

Regular expressions, or ‘regex’, are sequences of characters that define search patterns, commonly used for string searching and text parsing. They are incredibly versatile and are often used to check if a string contains a certain pattern, extract substrings that match the pattern, or replace substrings that match the pattern.

There are three Regex functions that are available for Insiders to test out in Excel. One is called REGEXTEST. It's been created to see whether the pattern matches any part of the provided text in the Excel app. It shows its answer by returning either a TRUE or FALSE statement.

The second function is REGEXEXTRACT. It's been created to return substrings of text that match the pattern in the app. Microsoft says:

Depending on the return mode, it can return the first match, all matches, or each capture group from the first match.

Finally, there is the REGEXREPLACE. Like REGEXEXTRACT, it also looks for substrings of text that match a pattern. If it does, the function replaces them with a replacement substring.

Microsoft says even more functions similar to the Regex ones are going to be added to Excel in the future:

We will also be introducing a way to use regex within XLOOKUP and XMATCH, via a new option for their ‘match mode’ arguments. The regex pattern will be supplied as the ‘lookup value’.

For now, the first three Regex functions are available for Microsoft 365 Insider Beta Channel users for Windows Excel users with Version 2406 (Build 17715.20000) or later and Mac Excel users with Version 16.86 (Build 24051422) or later.

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During the special May 20 event, Microsoft revealed that Recall can remember apps, websites, chats, files, and much more. Moreover, Recall can dig deeper into specific files, like finding a certain slide in a PowerPoint presentation.

Here is how Microsoft describes it:

Recall uses Copilot+ PC advanced processing capabilities to take images of your active screen every few seconds. The snapshots are encrypted and saved on your PC’s hard drive. You can use Recall to locate the content you have viewed on your PC using search or on a timeline bar that allows you to scroll through your snapshots. Once you find the snapshot that you were looking for in Recall, it will be analyzed and offer you options to interact with the content.

Recall will also enable you to open the snapshot in the original application in which it was created, and, as Recall is refined over time, it will open the actual source document, website, or email in a screenshot. This functionality will be improved during Recall’s preview phase.

Microsoft's description of Recall in Windows 11 sounds a bit concerning privacy-wise, so it is very important for the company to make sure its users know how it works. The official FAQ page assures that all that data will be gathered in one single timeline and processed locally on your device.

The company also stresses that it won't store your encrypted data anywhere but your local computer and it won't use that information to train its AI models. Also, you will be able to specify what apps or content should never be processed by Recall, plus it will automatically ignore "certain kinds of content," such as InPrivate browsing in Microsoft Edge. Finally, you will be able to pause snapshots at any moment by clicking an icon in the tray area.

As expected, Recall will only be available on "Copilot Plus PCs" with Qualcomm chips and NPUs inside them—no luck for existing hardware with Intel or AMD chips. Also, you will need to allocate at least 25GB (a minimum of 50GB on your drive should be free) of your drive to keep approximately 3 months of snapshots. The Settings app in Windows 11 will let you increase storage allocation for Recall.

Also worth noting is that Recall is currently "optimized for English, Chinese (simplified), French, German, Japanese, and Spanish," but support for more languages is in the plans, plus you can retrieve information in 160 languages.

The first Copilot Plus PCs include Microsoft's Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, Samsung's Galaxy Book4 Edge, and a pair of laptops from Lenovo, Dell, Acer, and HP.

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You're welcome.

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You're welcome.

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You're welcome.