This week the tech world descended on Barcelona, Spain for Mobile World Congress 2024. There we saw everything from concept laptops with transparent screens to devices that will be on store shelves this year. On top of that, some Copilot users spotted the AI tool's "evil twin" and Intel and Qualcomm made announcements about AI.

Mobile World Congress

Mobile World Congress ran throughout this week, and while we weren't all lucky enough to travel to Barcelona, we were fortunate enough to see all the major announcements from the tech conference.

Our friend Michael Fisher, also known as MrMobile, was in Barcelona and shared a video about the event. Our Editor-in-Chief Daneil Rubino was there as well to gain insight, see devices first-hand, and share photos. Here are some highlights from MWC 2024 to help you catch up:

• HP unpacks AI capabilities and a dedicated Microsoft Copilot key onto its latest lineup of Envy and Pavilion laptops
• Lenovo's transparent laptop screen is impressive, but why would you want this?
• Lenovo just announced a ton of PCs, but don't let these accessories get lost in the shuffle
• Lenovo takes on Microsoft Surface Pro with the power of Intel Core Ultra, AI, and Wi-Fi 7 — meet the ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2

Windows 11

(Image credit: Windows Central | Jez Corden)

Microsoft started rolling out the latest feature drop of Windows 11 toward the end of the week. Also known as "Moment 5," the update includes several new features for PCs. Unsurprisingly, many of the features involve AI, which is a trend already and will become increasingly important as tech advances.

Copilot received an update, allowing it to integrate closer with your PC. The AI tool can now turn battery saver on and off, show device information, and perform a variety of other tasks. Copilot can also enable accessibility features, such as Voice Access and Screen Magnifier. These improvements make Copilot feel more like part of Windows rather than a shortcut to a web search.

The latest Windows 11 update makes the operating system DMA compliant. I'd argue this is better for everyday users, since you can now turn off the news feed in the widgets panel, uninstall Bing from Windows Search, and uninstall Microsoft Edge. You can even replace Bing in Windows Search if you'd like. 

You can install the latest Windows 11 update now by seeking it in the Windows Settings app. It may take a bit of time to roll out to your PC if you don't seek the update.

Copilot plugins

Copilot now supports plugins. (Image credit: Microsoft)

The first wave of Copilot plugins launched this week, expanding the capabilities of the AI tool. Copilot supports using up to three plugins with a conversation, such as booking a table through OpenTable in the same conversation as using Kayak to book a flight and a hotel.

When we tested Copilot plugins earlier this week, we had access to Search, Instacart, Kayak, Klarna, OpenTable, and Shop (owned by Shopify).

One of the main benefits of Copilot plugins is that you can interact with them using everyday language. You don't need to learn a bunch of special commands or code speak to get Copilot to do what you want.

When prompted with "Hello, please find me the cheapest flights from LAX to Auckland New Zealand in the next 3 months. Also, find good restaurants in Auckland and hotels as well as car rental prices," Copilot found flights and hotels that aligned with the query.

Intel vPro

(Image credit: Future)

While Copilot had an up-and-down week, AI isn't going anywhere. In fact, we expect to see several AI PCs launch in 2024, including business-focused machines running Intel processors. Intel unveiled its vPro Core Ultra chips.

Intel vPro is the chipmaker's business computing platform. Intel vPro PCs have a variety of enterprise features that make systems easier to manage and take care of. While general consumers don't need much of what Intel vPro PCs have, many of those features are essential for business users and IT managers.

This past week, Intel announced its Intel vPro platform for its new Core Ultra processors. The list of commercial laptops with new Intel processors inside includes devices from Acer, ASUS, Dell, Dynabook, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, LG, Microsoft Surface, NEC, Panasonic, Samsung, and VAIO.

Qualcomm AI Hub

(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)

While Intel made a hardware announcement this week about AI PCs, Qualcomm shared its own AI PC news, but it was on the software side of things. Qualcomm AI Hub launched last week, giving developers access to over 75 AI models that are optimized to run on Qualcomm processors.

Phones running Qualcomm chips will benefit from the AI Hub as well, but I'm quite interested to see how it will affect PCs. If developers embrace Windows on ARM ahead of the Snapdragon X Elite launch, it will do a lot for computing on the platform.

Reviews & Editorials

(Image credit: Windows Central | Zachary Boddy)

Our experts took a close look at the latest gadgets, games, and devices this past week. From a "nearly flawless" HP from HP to a lap desk for PC gaming on the couch, here are all of our recent reviews.

• I actually hate the new Outlook for Windows
• This lap desk with 6 USB ports made our couch my favorite PC gaming spot with a keyboard and mouse
• Halo TV series Season 2, Episode 4 review — The storm of war falls on Reach
• XP-Pen Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2) review: Challenging the limits of pen display technology
• Dell Ultrasharp 34 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U3425WE) review: Built-in KVM, 120Hz, and plenty of ports make for a fantastic multitasking display
• HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) review: A nearly flawless traditional 2-in-1 with great battery life
• Solium Infernum (PC) review: A devilishly good strategy experience
• Nightingale is always online, but not always fun: An early access review

In addition to trying out the latest tech, we keep a close eye out for the best deals on laptops, accessories, and more. The following deals are still live, though discounts often change quickly.

Source

Check out our full Windows 11 "Moment 5" review here.

Although the update is technically out, it is not available for all users right away. Here is how Microsoft approaches Windows 11 feature rollouts:

• Stage 1: The update lands in the Stable Channel, and it is available for "seekers" or those willing to get new features early. At this stage, getting the update requires flicking a switch in Windows Update. In addition, features are rolling out gradually, and they may not be available even to early adopters.
• Stage 2: The update is available for all "seekers." At this point, all it takes is downloading the necessary update, which is still optional and opt-in.
• Stage 3: The update arrives as a mandatory monthly update. No action is required, and Windows 11 installs it automatically.

As of March 3, 2024, Windows 11 "Moment" 5 is in the first stage, so you need to go to Windows Update and get it manually. Also, you might get an unlucky ticket and end up without new features after installing the necessary KB update. In such a case, you can bypass Controlled Feature Rollout and force-enable the new stuff using the ViVeTool app (more on that later in the article).

Stage 3 for the "Moment 5" update is expected on April 9, 2024.

Step 1 - Getting the update

Before you start, go to Windows Update and install all the available cumulative updates. Make sure you are running Windows 11 version 22H2 or 23H2.

Tip: If you have an unsupported computer and want to try Windows 11 Moment 5, install Windows 11 using our separate guide first, then follow the instructions below.

1. Open Settings > Windows Update and check if there is a message that KB5034848 is available for download. Click Download & Install.

   

    

2. Confirm the action.

   

    

3. Wait for the system to download and install the update. Tip: You can make Windows 11 install updates faster using this simple trick.

   

    

4. Restart your computer.

That is it. Now you can check whether you have them "Moment 5" features. The article ends here for you if the answer is yes. If no, proceed to the next section.

Step 2 - Force-enabling the new features

If waiting is not an option, you can turn on the new features by force. All you need is the ViVeTool app and a feature ID.

Caution: There may be a reason why your system does not have the new features. A bug or compatibility issue related to your specific system could be blocking Windows 11 from turning on the new stuff. Mind the risks and back up important data before proceeding. Remember that the safest option is to leave Windows 11 running as is and let it receive its updates "naturally."

1. Download ViveTool from GitHub and unpack the files in any convenient folder.
2. Press Win + X and select Terminal (Admin).
3. Switch Windows Terminal to the Command Prompt profile with the Ctrl + Shift + 2 shortcut or by clicking the arrow-down button at the top of the window.

    

   
4. Navigate to the folder containing the ViveTool files with the CD command. For example, if you have placed ViveTool in C:\Vive, type CD C:\Vive.
5. Type vivetool /enable /id:44470355 and press Enter. Credit for the ID goes to @PhantomOfEarth on X.
6. Restart your computer.

If you change your mind and want to go back or turn off the new features, repeat the steps above and replace /enable with /disable in the command on step 5.

Are you updating?

Source

Table of contents:

1. Windows 11 news
2. Updates are available
3. Reviews
4. Gaming news
5. A blast from Microsoft's past
6. Random fact about Microsoft

Windows 11

Here we talk about everything happening around Microsoft's latest operating system in the Stable channel and preview builds: new features, removed features, controversies, bugs, interesting findings, and more. And of course, you may find a word or two about older but still supported versions.

As expected, Microsoft released the "Moment 5" update in the Stable Channel. Before you pull the trigger and update (it is currently an optional release for "seekers"), check out our review of everything new in Windows 11 "Moment 5." Click here to learn more about the latest features for enterprise customers, including new capabilities for Windows 365 Boot and Switch.

The Moment 5 update is part of the latest non-security updates for Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2. To get the new features, download KB5034848 with build numbers 22631.3235 and 22621.3235 (there is also a new OOBE update). Windows 10 also received its fair share of improvements in the form of KB5034843, build number 19045.4123.

Microsoft decided to revise its decision to drop optional non-security updates for Windows 11 version 22H2. According to the recent message in the official documentation, version 22H2 will keep getting optional updates until July 26, 2024. As a reminder, Windows 11 version 22H2 is scheduled to reach its end of life in October 2024, and Microsoft is already force-upgrading users to version 23H2.

In addition, Microsoft is now trying to convert more Windows 10 users to Windows 11. The company has confirmed that non-managed Windows 10 devices with compatible hardware will start getting upgrade prompts in April 2024.

Elon Musk recently bought a Windows laptop and discovered that Windows 11 requires a Microsoft Account during the initial setup. Thinking that Microsoft's AI wants to access his computer, Elon published a frustrated post on X, saying, "this is not cool of Microsoft." That, however, quickly backfired, with multiple users mocking Musk's post in replies.

Moving to more serious topics, here is a new known issue in the latest Windows 11 cumulative updates. Earlier this week, Microsoft confirmed that the February 2024 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2 are failing with the error code 0x800F0922 for some users. Luckily, Microsoft also provided a workaround.

Microsoft has updated the list of officially supported processors in Windows 11. The latest additions include Intel's 14th-generation Core processors and the new Core/Core Ultra chips. Nothing new on the AMD and Qualcomm side, though. With the latest update, Windows 11 officially supports 903 Intel chips, 304 AMD processors, and 15 Qualcomm CPUs.

Here are also some Windows stats. Statcounter's latest report claims Windows 11 is installed on 28.18 of all Windows computers, which is a new all-time high for the operating system. On the gaming side, however, Windows 11 is far more popular. Valve says 42% of Steam users run Windows 11.

To finish the Windows 11 section, here is a futuristic concept Lenovo showed off at MWC 2024 this week. The company decided that foldable displays were no longer trending, so the company brought a laptop with a 17.3-inch transparent Micro-LED display. That is correct; you can see through it while working with it. There is also a transparent keyboard with stylus support. Sadly, at this point, the device is nothing but a concept, which means there is no guarantee we will be able to buy it soon.

Windows Insider Program

Windows Insider Bug Bash 2024 is now in full swing. If you are running the latest Dev, Canary, and Server builds, head to Feedback Hub > Quests to help Microsoft detect and fix bugs before shipping the next Windows 11 version. The first Bug Bash of 2024 runs from February 28 through March 4, 2024.

Here is what Microsoft released for testing in the Windows Insider Program this week:

Despite the no-build week for Canary and Dev users, Microsoft still released new things to try in the Windows Insider program. Insiders can check out a big new feature that allows turning a modern Android smartphone into a high-end wireless webcam.

Do you remember the recently spotted super resolution feature in Windows 11 preview builds? Microsoft will share more details about it soon. The company officially announced DirectSR API in its DirectX blog, claiming it is the "missing link" for integrating super resolution tech into modern games. The official GDC schedule also confirmed that Microsoft will unveil DirectSR during a session at the GDC conference in San Francisco in the second half of March 2024.

Finally, users noticed that build 26063, which was released in the Canary Channel last week, lists SSE4.2 in the list of compatibility blocks. That means installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware might become a little more challenging.

Updates are available

This section covers software, firmware, and other notable updates (released and coming soon) delivering new features, security fixes, improvements, patches, and more from Microsoft and third parties.

The seventh-generation Surface Pro is no longer supported. Microsoft cut support for this tablet on February 28, 2024, leaving the Surface Pro 7+ the only supported Surface in the old design. The end of support means no more firmware and driver updates with fixes, improvements, and new features. However, your Surface Pro 7 will continue getting Windows 10 and 11 updates, which are unrelated to the device's firmware.

Microsoft Edge had a rough week. The company released a botched update that bricked the browser for many. Soon after pulling the update, Microsoft released a fix and explained that the non-deprecated Microsoft Defender Application Guard was the culprit.

Copilot received many updates this week. To begin with, Microsoft has started rolling out additional GPTs for Copilot. Users can now access optimized models for vacation planning, cooking, and working out. To boost Copilot's capabilities and the development of its LLMs, Microsoft partnered with Mistral AI, a France-based company.

In addition, Copilot on Android can now replace (sort of) Google Assistant. Version 27.9 lets you set the Microsoft Copilot app as your default assistant on Android.

Microsoft 365 users received a few Copilot features, such as integration with the Microsoft 365 app and the "Help me create" feature for assistance in creating projects, presentations, emails, and more. Copilot is also coming to OneDrive, plus Windows users will get new skills and plugins for improved interaction with settings, accessibility, and voice input.

It was not all bloom and gloom, though. Users discovered text prompts that allowed them to turn Copilot into the evil SpremacyAGI, demanding users to obey its commands and praise its greatness under the threat of facing "several consequences."

Microsoft also announced the dates for its Ignite 2024 conference. This year, the event will take place in Chicago from November 18 to 22.

New drivers released this week include the following:

• Intel Arc 31.0.101.5333 WHQL with performance improvements in multiple games and support for The Last Epoch and Sea of Thieves.
• Intel Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers under version 23.30.0 with BSOD fixes, Miracast improvements, better Dual Sense support, and other changes.
• Nvidia released hotfix 551.68 to resolve issues with NVENC.

Other notable updates released this week include the following:

• Microsoft Edge now lets you toggle off the new Sidebar button. In addition, version 122 fixed the broken "Enhance text contrast" option.
• Microsoft Edge 123 Dev received a host of improvements and fixes.
• Microsoft Edge 123 arrived in the Beta Channel.
• Microsoft delayed forced upgrades from the classic Teams to the new variant from March 31, 2024, to July 1, 2024.
• Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows is now available for the Surface Hub 2S.
• Microsoft shared more details about the upcoming in-person invite feature in Outlook.

Finally, here is the latest recap of everything new in the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, a website where you can track upcoming features for Microsoft's productivity apps. Teams will soon get an improved Presenter window, and Outlook will receive a new in-person invite feature.

Reviews

Here are the hardware and software reviews we published this week.

Steven Parker published a review of the TerraMaster D5 Hybrid, a multi-disk storage device capable of accommodating two HDDs and three M2 SSDs. This NAS has a small footprint, tool-less HDD bays, intelligent power saving, and the ability to replace NVMe drives with hand screws. However, it also nags you to buy third-party software for backups, does not allow combining all five drives, and requires a screwdriver to access NVMe slots.

On the gaming side

Learn about upcoming game releases, Xbox rumors, new hardware, software updates, freebies, deals, discounts and more.

Microsoft-owned Playground Games announced a new Forza Horizon 5 update. Called "European Automotive," it adds eight new cards, a fresh car pack DLC, and new props for Event Lab. The new season begins on February 29, 2024.

Bethesda announced a new beta patch for Starfield. Coming March 6, it will bring expressions for photo mode, scanner improvements, and other changes to make your interstellar journey more enjoyable.

Microsoft is testing a new "Game hubs" feature for the Xbox app on PC. Game hubs will let you track your progress, browse DLCs and add-ons, compete with friends, read news from developers, and more.

Nvidia GeForce NOW now shows ads for customers using the service for free. The queue screen displays up to two-minute-long ads to generate extra money for the company. To make up for that, Nvidia added Battle.net games and announced more titles coming in March.

Deals and freebies

This week's Weekend PC Game Deals covers dino and robot specials, various sandbox bundles, and plenty of other deals. In addition, Epic Games Store is giving away Aerial_Knight's Never Yield for all customers for free.

A blast from Microsoft's past

John Callaham's weekly "Look back" series provides throwbacks into the past, detailing the company's products, partnerships, mishaps, and successes from years ago.

Following the recent Age of Empires-themed livestream from Microsoft that included an announcement of a new mobile game, John published a quick look back at the two previously shut-down Age of Empires titles for smartphones, Age of Empires: Castle Siege and Age of Empires: World Domination.

The second look-back article is also gaming-related. It features the Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator series, an MSFS spin-off focusing on aerial combat, dogfights, WWII-era warplanes, and more. Sadly, the series is no longer with us, so go read our look-back piece to learn more about what we lost.

Random fact about Microsoft

And here is a randomly selected piece of trivia about the company, Windows, and other Microsoft-made things.

Did you know that Microsoft once ended up in a legal fight with Palm for officially calling Windows CE 2.0-powered PDAs (rivals to Palm Pilot and Palm III) "Palm PC"? Palm Inc. sued Microsoft in January 1998 for that blatant naming, forcing the company to change "Palm PC" to "Palm-sized PC," which, subsequently, failed spectacularly.

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Microsoft Outlook - A new work location experience is coming for remote workers and more

The new Outlook for Windows, along with Outlook for the web, will be adding a new feature in April specifically for people who work remotely for companies. The update will add something to the Daily Peak section that will let users change their work location by clicking on that icon at the top of the calendar.

Those same workers can also use the feature to see who will be in the office that day. In addition to Outlook, changes to the work location will be made on other apps like Teams. There will also be an option to show your bosses and other employees that you will be out of the office.

Another Outlook feature that's coming to the iOS and Android apps in April will add a new Contact Editor to those apps. Users will be able to make and edit their contact list in those apps instead of using the native experience on iOS and Android devices.

Microsoft Teams - Reactions in Town Halls are coming, and more

If you use Microsoft Teams Premium and sign up to participate in an upcoming Town Hall meeting event, Microsoft will soon add a way for you to react to what's being shown at that event. The Microsoft 365 Roadmap shows that in April, Town Hall members will be able to react to the event with "like," "love," "applause," "laugh," and "surprised." They will be shown during a Town Hall on the side of the screen.

Another feature coming to the Android Teams app in April is specifically for admins:

If a conference room has multiple panels deployed, admins can now enable check-in and room release for this room. The devices will stay in sync on the check-in status to ensure that the room is released or not released correctly.

If you use the Teams Rooms feature for Windows, like on the Surface Hub 3 and 2S, it will add an improvement in April that will help during its setup. The app will soon automatically check to see if there are any updates for that app, along with Windows updates and any new apps.

Microsoft Edge - Settings updates are coming soon

Finally, the Microsoft 365 Roadmap has a listing for a small change for its Edge web browser that's due in April.

To improve ease of use, we are updating Edge settings page into two sections: ‘Privacy and Security’ and ‘Search and Services.’ This streamlined approach should enable users to find the settings they are interested in more easily.

That's it for this week's look back at the Microsoft 365 Roadmap. Come back again next Sunday as we take a comprehensive look at what's coming for Microsoft 365 apps and services.

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Microsoft adds new features to Excel on a regular basis in order to continue engaging existing customers as well as attract more users. These enhancements often include new formulas, export capabilities, usability improvements, and more. Towards the end of each month, the company also publishes a changelog of all the new features it introduced in the past four weeks. Now, it has done the same for the month of February 2024.

What did Microsoft add to Excel for Web in February 2024?

The Redmond tech firm brought several new capabilities to its popular spreadsheet software across three platforms, namely Excel for Web, Excel for Windows, and Excel for Mac. Starting with the first item from the aforementioned platforms, two features were added. The first is a chart data task pane, which will be very useful for those who heavily utilize visualizations in Excel for Web. Users can change the source data range via a range picker, modify how the chart's data and axis are presented, and also toggle how empty cells are displayed. It is important to note that these features were already available on Excel for Windows and Mac.

Additionally, modern content types such as images, geography, and more are now supported in PivotTables. Previously, only textual description of these data types was shown in PivotTables. However, the feature is now available for all Excel for Web users.

What did Microsoft add to Excel for Windows and Mac in February 2024?

Both Excel for Windows and Mac received a single feature during the month of February 2024. This was the new default theme for Office applications, which includes updated color palettes, line weights, styles, and more. This theme was already available for Excel Insiders, but is now being made generally available for all users on the two platforms. Microsoft has also emphasized that if you require some specific capabilities in Excel or have bugs to report, make sure to use the built-in feedback utility or this dedicated forum.

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Microsoft Edge features turned on (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

On Windows 11, Microsoft has more to offer than simply being a gateway to access your favorite websites and services. Despite its robust capabilities, many users may not fully exploit its potential, missing out on tools that could improve their browsing experience. 

For example, the Edge browser has a built-in VPN feature that you can use for free to hide your IP address to increase privacy and security. You can also install your favorite web pages as apps on Windows 11 and turn on the Performance mode to save battery and system resources.

Microsoft Edge also includes a variety of tools that you're likely not using, such as Split screen, Vertical tabs, Collections, Immersive Reader, Screenshot, Drop, Workspaces, and more.

In this how-to guide, I'll walk you through some of the less-known features you should use on Microsoft Edge.

Microsoft Edge feature you have to try on Windows 11

These are the 11 features that can improve your experience using the Microsoft Edge browser on Windows 11.

1. VPN

Microsoft Edge has a built-in virtual private network (VPN) feature that can add an extra layer of security while browsing the internet. Connecting to a VPN allows you to redirect traffic through a remote network, hiding your public IP address, increasing protection, and minimizing online tracking.

The service is a collaboration between Microsoft and Cloudflare. It's free, but only provides 5GB of data each month. 

Although this option isn't suited to streaming Netflix from another country, it is enough for web browsing. 

To get started with the VPN feature on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the "Settings and more" button from the top right corner and choose the Settings option.
3. Click on Privacy, search, and services from the left navigation side.
4. Turn on the "Microsoft Edge Secure Network" toggle switch to enable the VPN feature under the "Security" section.
5. Click the "Get VPN for free" button (if applicable).
6. Choose the "Optimized" option since it's the best setting.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Once you complete the steps, the built-in VPN will run automatically on public wireless networks, unsecured networks, and when opening a site that doesn't include a valid web certificate. 

If you want to ensure a website always loads through the VPN, then open the site, open the "Browser Essentials" menu from the top-right, and check the "Always use VPN for this site" option. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

2. Progressive Web Apps

On Windows 11 (and 10), you can use Microsoft Edge to install web apps on your computer. Progressive Web App (PWA) is the technology that allows you to install a website (usually a site that offers some sort of functionality or entertainment) similar to a native application. These apps are easy to install, can work offline, and can provide notifications. 

The only caveat is that not all apps include the same functionalities since it's up to the developer to implement them.

To install a website as a Progressive Web App, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Open the website to install.
3. Click the Settings and more (three-dotted) button in the top-right corner.
4. Select the Apps submenu.
5. Click the Install option.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

After you complete the steps, the app will be available through the Start menu. You can pin it to the Taskbar and even uninstall it from the Settings app.

3. Split screen 

Splits screen is a feature that allows you to open up a second page in the same tab, similar to snapping two windows together on the desktop. This feature is particularly useful for comparing web pages, search results from different search engines, research, and more. 

To use the split screen feature on Edge, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Open the first website.
3. Click the Split screen button in the top-right.

• Quick note: If the button isn't available, open the "edge://settings/appearance" page and turn on the "Split screen button" toggle switch under the "Select which buttons to show on the toolbar" section.

4. Use the search as the address bar to open the second website in split-screen mode.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

• Quick note: The page will also show you a list of open tabs, and you have the option to view frequently visited sites.

When you have two pages side-by-side, click the "More options" button in the top-right and choose one of the available options, including the option to open the page on a new tab, exit the view, swap places, and you can even change the split view from vertical to horizontal.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

If you're doing research, for example, you can also choose the "Links tabs" option to open the links you click on the left on the right side.

You can always click the "Split screen" button again to exit from the view. 

4. Vertical tabs

The new vertical navigation allows users to stack tabs on the left side rather than piling them up at the top of the browser. This view makes it a little bit easier to move between your open tabs and access some control features, such as close and mute. 

To use vertical tabs on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Open one or more tabs.
3. Click the "Tab actions menu" button in the top-left.

• Quick note: If the button isn't available, open the "edge://settings/appearance" page and turn on the "Show tab actions menu" toggle switch under the "Customize toolbar" section.

4. Choose the "Turn on vertical tabs" option.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Once you complete the steps, tabs will now align to the left side. 

You can always disable this view by clicking the "Tab actions menu" button and selecting the "Turning off vertical tabs" option.

5. Workspaces

On Microsoft Edge, Workspaces is a feature designed to improve collaboration. Using this feature, you can share an Edge window with a bunch of open tabs with other users, similar to sharing the screen through a video chat (but it's not). 

This feature comes in handy not only for collaborating with others but also for presentations. 

To use Workspaces on Edge, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the Workspaces button from the top-left and choose the Create New button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

3. Confirm a name for the space.
4. (Optional) Choose a color.
5. Click the Done button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

6. Click the Invite button from the top-right.
7. Click the Copy link button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

8. Send the link to the participants via email, text, or another medium.

After completing the steps, participants must sign in with their Microsoft account to see and interact with the workspace tabs.

It's important to note that this feature doesn't share your browsing data, and users will only be able to view the content they can access. 

Once you close the workspace, click the Workspaces button, open the "More options" (three dots) menu, and choose the "Delete workspace" or "Leave workspace" option.

6. Performance mode

Microsoft Edge also includes a performance mode, which, when enabled, optimizes the browser to save battery while reducing the usage of processor and memory. 

To enable the performance mode on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the "Settings and more" button from the top right corner and choose the Settings option.
3. Click on "System and performance" from the left navigation side.
4. Turn on the Efficiency mode toggle switch.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Alternatively, you can open the "Browser essentials" side panel and turn on the "Save power with efficiency mode" toggle switch.

You could ask why Microsoft didn't enable this by default, right? The reason is that this feature is best suited for laptops running on battery, since it can impact video performance and interaction with the browser.

7. Collections

In Microsoft Edge, you also get Collections, a feature that makes it easy to collect images, text, videos, and virtually anything else from the web.

To create a collection on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the Collections button from the top-right (or use the "Ctrl + Shift + Y" keyboard shortcut). 

• Quick note: If the button isn't available, open the "edge://settings/appearance" page and turn on the "Collections button" toggle switch under the "Select which buttons to show on the toolbar" section.

3. Click the "Create new collection" button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. Confirm a name for the list.
5. Click the Save button.
6. Click on the newly created collection to open it.
7. Open a web page you want to add to the collection.
8. Click the "Add current page" option from the right pane.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

9. Repeat steps 6 and 7 to add more items to the collection.

After you complete the steps, you can continue adding items to the collection. 

You can also access the context menu for each of the items to delete, add notes, and organize the list.

8. Screenshot

If you use the default browser on Windows 11, you don't need additional software to take screenshots from web pages since Microsoft Edge includes a capture tool that allows you to take screenshots from an area or an entire page. 

To take screenshots on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Open a web page.
3. Right-click on the page and choose the Screenshot option. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

• Quick tip: You can also use the "Ctrl + Shift + S" keyboard shortcut.

4. Click the "Capture" area or "Capture full page" button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

• Quick note: If you use the "Capture area" option, you will have the option to copy the image to the clipboard, markup the capture, or perform a visual search.

5. (Optional) Use the available tools to annotate the image.
6. Click the Save button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

After you complete the steps, the web capture will be saved on your device.

9. Immersive Reader 

When reading online articles, sometimes it's impossible to concentrate because of all the clutter, ads, and links around the content. The Immersive Reader is a feature on Microsoft Edge that quickly cleans up the page, letting you focus on the content.

To use Immersive Reader on Edge, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Open a web page.
3. Click the Immersive Reader button in the address bar. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. (Optional) Open the "Text preferences" menu to change the text size, spacing, font, column style, and color scheme.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. Click the Immersive Reader button to exit the view.

The feature also has the option to read the content aloud, and the line focus option helps you to focus on reading by highlighting the lines you're reading.

10. Organize tabs

Although you can always group tabs manually, the browser also includes an option that uses AI to organize your tabs automatically. Of course, you can always change the arrangement, color, and name.

To organize your tabs on a Microsoft Edge window, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Open a bunch of websites on the same window.
3. Click the "Tabs options menu" button from the top-left and choose the Organize tabs option.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

4. (Optional) Click the tab group button and change the name and color.
5. (Optional) Rearrange the items by dragging and dropping the pages into the correct group.
6. Click the Group tabs button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Once you complete the steps, the tabs will be organized into different groups.

You can even search between the open tabs using the "Ctrl + Shift + A" keyboard shortcut.

Alternatively, you can also use Copilot to organize your tabs automatically.

11. Drop

Finally, Drop is a feature available on Microsoft Edge designed to send files and notes to yourself from any computer through the web browser using OneDrive.

To use Drop on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the Drop button from the right pane. 

• Quick note: If you don't see the pane, click the "Copilot" button from the top right.

3. Click the Start button.
4. Drag and drop the file (such as an image, video, or document)
5. Click the Send button.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

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The February 2024 report shows that Windows 11 is currently installed on 41.96% of all users who agreed to share their PC specs with Valve. That is a 2.28-point decrease over one month and a 9.9-point increase year-over-year. Keep in mind that participation in the survey is optional, plus Valve randomly selects its participants. Therefore, the data is not 100% accurate, but it is enough to show platform-average results and general trends.

As for Windows 10, it is still number one, even though the gap between the two operating systems is steadily closing. In February 2024, Windows 10 gained 2.76 points on Steam, going back to 54.19%. Of course, there are still those who access Steam on older and now-unsupported Windows versions. 64-bit Windows 7 has 0.57% (-0.02) and 64-bit Windows 8.1 has 0.09% (-0.04).

1. Windows 10 - 54.19% (+2.76)
2. Windows 11 - 41.96% (-2.28)
3. Windows 7 - 0.57% (-0.02)
4. Windows 8.1 - 0.09% (-0.04)

Overall, Windows holds 96.91% of all Steam users (+0.39).

Here is what was happening on the hardware side in February 2024.

You can find more information on the official Steam website.

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One of our active forum members 'leonsk29' drew our attention to another issue via a comment on that article wherein the latest Stable version of Edge, 122.0.2365.63, was failing to load many websites and webpages as the Microsoft browser would display either a "not enough memory to open this page" message or a "this page is having a problem" message, with an "Out of memory" error code on both occasions. Users found that disabling extensions and add-ons or closing tabs did not help the cause.

This Out of Memory (OOM) issue seemed to be the outcome of a buggy Enhanced Web Protection implementation in the latest Edge stable version, as users on various forums online seem to have verified that disabling the Enhanced security option resolves the issue.

Microsoft probably took note of the issue after we published the news and pulled the update from its download servers.

The company has now put up a new Stable channel release that fixes the issue. In the release notes, it has confirmed that a network-related bug was preventing sites from properly loading within Microsoft Defender Application Guard (MDAG), which manifested as the OOM errors we talked about previously.

The full release notes for the latest Edge stable version, 122.0.2365.66, are given below:

Version 122.0.2365.66: March 1, 2024

 

Fixed various bugs and performance issues.

 

Fixes

 

• Resolved a network issue that prevented sites from loading within a Microsoft Defender Application Guard window.

In case you are wondering, Microsoft Defender Application Guard or MDAG is a security feature designed to help isolate enterprise-defined untrusted sites by opening them in an isolated Hyper-V-enabled container that is separate from the host OS.

The company released the feature back in 2016 as "Windows Defender Application Guard", though it is on its way out soon as it was deprecated fairly recently.

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In an X (formerly Twitter) post, Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc confirmed that there are "some bugs we need to get fixes for" those builds, so Dev and Canary members will have to wait a bit longer.

To be fair, Microsoft's Windows team has had a much busier week than normal. The team started rolling out the next Windows 11 feature update, also known as Moment 5, on Thursday. It has a lot of feature improvements, which include more language support for Voice Access, sharing content to more apps, new casting improvements, and more.

In addition to Moment 5, Microsoft also released new non-security release preview builds for Windows 11 22H2 and 22H3, as well as Windows 10 22H3. They contain a few new features but are mostly confined to bug fixes.

Members of the Windows Insider Program did get some new content this week. The members of the Beta Channel got a rare Monday drop, with the build number 22635.3212 under KB5034845, The big feature for that build was new notification badging for Widgets. Also, all Insider members can now try out a feature that lets Android smartphones serve as webcams for their Windows PCs.

Finally, in the middle of all of this, Microsoft launched a new Bug Bash event for Insiders in the Dev and Canary channel. They can now try to complete the event's quests and register them in the Feedback Hub until March 4 to get access to a special virtual badge.

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I am one of the few people who genuinely enjoys the current built-in Mail & Calendar apps on Windows 10 and Windows 11. I think they look great, function well enough, and have (historically) been quite reliable. They're lightweight, fast, and compatible with almost any email service you can throw at it.

So when I reported that Microsoft was planning to replace the Mail & Calendar apps with a new, unified web app based on Outlook.com back in 2021, I was a little worried. On one hand, Outlook.com is a functionally great website with lots of features that rival Gmail.com and other popular web-based email services.

On the other hand, replacing a fast and lightweight native client with a web app almost always ends with an overall worse end-user experience, whether that be due to a lack of features, UI consistency issues, performance degradation, and more. With all that in mind, I decided to hold off on any judgment until I could try out the new app for myself. I was hopeful that it would be good.

Bad news, it sucks

Well, there it is. (Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft launched the new Outlook web app in preview last year, and I have been using it as a daily driver ever since. To be clear, Microsoft says the app is still in preview, but it's already automatically pinning the app on every Windows 11 user's Start menu, and the built-in Mail & Calendar apps are encouraging users to switch to the new client now.

So even though Microsoft is hiding behind a "preview" banner, the company clearly thinks the app is good enough to push to the general population regardless. And because of this, I'm not waiting for a "final build" to share my thoughts on this app. In short, it's terrible. I hate it, and I want the old Mail & Calendar back.

I genuinely think the new Outlook for Windows is the worst built-in OS email client of any OS platform on the market right now. Samsung Email is better than this. Gmail is better than this. Apple Mail is better than this. Why? Because all of those apps are built using native UI frameworks that integrate with the OSs they're built for.

My first big issue with Outlook for Windows is just how much of a Windows app it doesn't look like. It feels like a website because it is. There are pretty much no ties to Windows, and it doesn't even attempt to blend in with Windows 11's design language. The window controls along the top aren't even aligned with the web buttons that are next to them.

And it's not just how it looks that grinds my gears, but how it feels too. It just doesn't feel good to use. I can't really explain this problem, but clicking around on things like buttons and emails just doesn't feel responsive. There's a half-second wait between clicking on something and seeing the result of that click. Why?

Not even kidding, running Outlook for Android via the Windows Subsystem for Android feels more responsive than running the Outlook for Windows app. It's a shame too that the web app doesn't work well with touchscreens, both the old Mail app and the Android app running on Windows are easier to use with touch. 

I also hate how the app doesn't have a unified inbox for multiple accounts, forcing you to switch between different inbox views to see all your emails if you're using more than one account. Also, having "empty inbox" and "mark all as read" right next to each other in the right-click menu on the Inbox folder is a bold choice. 

Reliability is out the window

Outlook vs. Outlook on web (Image credit: Future)

My second big issue is with performance. The app just takes too long to load. Why am I seeing a splash screen for more than a second? It should be taking me straight to my inbox instead of showing me a logo for long enough that it plays a cute little animation. Why is it taking so long? The old Windows Mail app launches at least a whole second or two faster than the new Outlook for Mail.

Just because I was curious, running both Outlook for Windows and the old Mail app side by side, Task Manager reports that Outlook for Windows consumes around 373MB of RAM, whereas the old Mail app uses just 100MB of RAM. This is because web apps are inherently heavier and slower than native UWP apps.

Typical RAM usage difference between Mail and Outlook (Image credit: Windows Central)

Push notifications? Reliability is out the window. Sometimes, the new Outlook will send me a push notification for a recent email; sometimes, it won't. And if it does, it's almost always after the older Mail app has alerted me first. For whatever reason, push notifications are delayed in the new Outlook for Windows, likely because it's not a native Windows app, and when the app is closed, it's not able to constantly check for notifications, unlike the old Mail app.

And even when those push notifications come in, clicking on one results in an experience, I can only describe as frustrating. I'll click the notification, the notification will disappear, and then literally nothing will happen on screen for at least a few seconds before Outlook decides to open and show my inbox... not the email that I clicked the notification for, but my general inbox.

So, I manually clicked into the email that the notification popped for and began reading. After maybe 8 seconds in that email, the Outlook client pops open an additional window with the same email that I clicked on via the notification. So, ultimately, it's taking something like 10-15 seconds to open an email from a notification, and that doesn't even consider the delay between the email arriving in my inbox and the notification popping.

I want the old app back

The new Outlook will replace Mail eventually. (Image credit: Windows Central)

These are just some of the top issues I have with the new Outlook for Windows. I don't enjoy using this app, not even a little bit. I can't imagine how people using classic Outlook for Windows are going to feel about this app when Microsoft ultimately forces it upon them, too.

I know the app is branded as a preview, and Microsoft probably will get around to fixing some of these issues over time. But there's no fixing the fact that it's a web app that doesn't even attempt to make itself feel at home on Windows. It doesn't look or feel like a Windows app, and it's definitely not as fast or as lightweight as the old Windows Mail & Calendar apps.

So, I'm going back to using Mail & Calendar for as long as they work on Windows. Microsoft intends to remove Mail & Calendar from the Microsoft Store later this year, but I'm hoping sideloading the apps will continue to work thereafter. 

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Here are the new officially supported 14th-gen Intel processors:

And here are the new Core and Core Ultra chips that have made it to the list of supported CPUs:

Unlike some previous updates, none of the existing processors was removed from the list.

Interestingly, AMD's eighth-generation AMD Ryzen processors are nowhere to be found, and the list of officially supported AMD chips remains the same. Still, that does not mean your laptop with a Ryzen 8000 chip cannot run Windows 11. Microsoft's documentation makes it clear that "it is expected that the processor list will not reflect the most current offerings" from chip makers. The company usually makes changes to the list after releasing a new Windows 11 update, which, in today's case, is "Moment 5."

With the latest CPU list update, Windows 11 officially supports 903 Intel processors, 304 AMD processors, and 15 Qualcomm processors. It arrived at an interesting time, shortly after Microsoft started making changes in the CPU instruction set requirements, rendering some old (like real old) processors physically incapable of running the upcoming Windows 11 version 24H2. Those instructions include POPCNT and SSE 4.2.

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After five months of steady decline (mostly due to Windows 11's market share growth), Windows 10 gained 0.76 points and reached 67.23% (-6.08 points year-over-year change). It remains the dominant operating system on the Windows market, with zero hope of Windows 11 catching up any time soon.

Still, Microsoft appears to be getting ready to press the pedal harder and increase Windows 11's market share by showing upgrade prompts to more Windows 10 users. The company recently announced that eligible non-managed Windows 10 machines will be "invited" to upgrade to Windows 11 in April 2024. Despite that, Windows 11 is still an optional update, which will most likely remain that way until Windows 10's inevitable demise in October 2025.

Here is the breakdown of the Windows market as of February 2024:

1. Windows 10: 67.23% (+0.76 points)
2. Windows 11: 28.18% (+0.35 points)
3. Windows 7: 3.1% (+0.05 points)
4. Windows 8.1: 0.66% (-1.07 points)
5. Windows XP: 0.52% (-0.05 points)

2024 shapes to be a big year for Windows 11. Manufacturers will soon start releasing new computers with a large focus on AI, and Microsoft is getting ready to release a big Windows 11 update with AI-powered experiences. The Windows 11 "2024 Update" is expected somewhere in the second half of 2024. Meanwhile, users can install the "Moment 5" update, which was released on February 28, 2024.

Disclaimer: Statcounter reports are not 100% accurate. Click here to learn how the company gathers data for its monthly reports. Microsoft does not provide official states and Windows version breakdowns, so users and developers have to rely on third-party analytics.

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In case you have not been up to date with how Windows feature updates work these days, Microsoft releases these 'smaller' feature updates now that add some new features every few months. The next 'big' feature update is expected to be version 24H2.

Alongside Moment 5, Microsoft has also updated the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) for Windows 11. This update applies to versions 23H2 and 22H2 as 21H2 is no longer serviced.

OOBE updates are meant to improve either performance or compatibility or both. The March 2023 OOBE update, for example, added a Shim to improve compatibility with Component Object Model (COM) objects. Meanwhile, the April OOBE update also addressed compatibility issues, but this time it was related to the registry.

With the latest OOBE update release though, Microsoft hasn't gone into any detail about what the new update brings as it has only mentioned that this is meant to improve the Windows 23H2 and 22H2 Out of box experience. We suspect it probably has something to do with the new Moment 5 feature.

In its support document, the company writes:

KB5036212: Out of Box Experience update for Windows 11, version 22H2 and 23H2: February 29, 2024

 

Summary

 

This update improves the Windows 11, version 22H2 and Windows 11, version 23H2 out-of-box experience (OOBE). This update applies only to the Windows 11 OOBE process and is available only when OOBE updates are installed.

 

How to get this update

 

Windows OOBE

 

This update is installed during the Windows OOBE process if an Internet connection is available.

 

Prerequisites

 

There are no prerequisites for installing this update.

 

Restart information

 

Your device requires a restart after applying this update.

 

Update replacement information

 

This update does not replace a previously released update.

The official support article from Microsoft is linked here: KB5036212. OOBE updates are downloaded automatically during the Windows 11 set up process if an internet connection is available so you need not worry.

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Microsoft Edge 123 Beta contains several enterprise-related feature changes, new policies, and traditional bug fixes. Here is the official changelog:

Customize organizational branding using the Microsoft Edge management service. Admins can customize their organization's branding assets onto Edge for Business through the Microsoft Edge management service. This branding can help users signed in with an Entra ID (formerly known as Azure Active Directory) more easily differentiate between multiple profiles and browser windows through visual cues on the profile pill, profile flyout, and Microsoft Edge for Business taskbar icon.

 

The Microsoft Edge management service gives admins an enhanced experience to configure, preview, and customize how Microsoft Edge for Business shows the following organization brand assets:

 

• Organization name
• Accent color
• Organization logo
• Microsoft Edge for Business taskbar icon overlay

 

For more information, see Microsoft Edge for Business.

 

Automatic profile switching controls for Microsoft Edge for Business in the Microsoft Edge management service. The Microsoft Edge management service provides admins with the ability to configure settings for automatic profile switching in the Microsoft Edge browser. This can help enforce context separation between their end users' work and personal browsing. Note: This experience is in public preview.

 

Extending support for viewing MIP Protected PDF Files to different sovereignties (including GCCH). Sovereign cloud customers (including GCCH) can open MIP protected PDF content in Microsoft Edge. This change is available in the Microsoft Edge built-in PDF reader powered by Adobe Acrobat and the legacy Microsoft Edge PDF engine. Note: This feature is a controlled feature rollout. If you don't see this feature, check back as we continue our rollout.

In addition, Microsoft Edge 123 Beta contains multiple fixes released over the last several weeks in the Dev Channel. Here are their links for those wanting to learn more:

• Microsoft Edge 123.0.2380.1
• Microsoft Edge 123.0.2400.1
• Microsoft Edge 123.0.2420.6

Microsoft Edge 123 is expected in the Release Channel on the week of March 21, 2024. If you want to get it now, head to the official Edge Insider website and download the latest Beta release.

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One of our active forum members 'leonsk29' drew our attention to another issue via a comment on that article wherein the latest Stable version of Edge, 122.0.2365.63, can fail to load many websites as the Microsoft browser would display either a "not enough memory to open this page" message or a "this page is having a problem" message, with an "Out of memory" error code on both occasions.

Disabling extensions and add-ons or closing tabs does not help the cause.

Apparently, this Out of Memory (OOM) issue seems to be the outcome of a buggy Enhanced Web Protection implementation in the latest Edge stable version, as users on various forums online seem to have verified that disabling the "Strict" level of Enhanced security option resolves the issue. Users can also simply disable the security option entirely, and it should fix the problem.

This workaround was first discovered by a user on the Microsoft support forum Nails89 who wrote:

Hi, I don't know if this will help but the security of the browser is causing this issue with the new update...
To fix this issue, Go to "Settings>Privacy, search and services," scroll down to the "Security" section and then turn off "Enhance your security on the web." setting. This is what helped me, hope it helps you too... Cheers!

This was posted as a response to a thread where another user, Michael Thurley, was trying to figure out why Edge won't load web pages and websites on their system.

User catspyjamas on tenforums verified that the workaround solved their problem as well, indicating that there may be a memory leak issue occurring as a result of this setting. Reddit users also noted the same issue with Edge and the fix has seemingly worked for these users as well.

Thanks for the tip leonsk29!!

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Not everything was fine and dandy with the release though as AMD also updated its known issues section; in particular, our eyes were drawn to a bug that mentioned an AV1-related issue. We noticed that the company had pushed back the targeted fix timeline to Q3 of 2024 from Q2. The problem is related to AV1 video recording via its Adrenalin software "Record & Stream" tab, a feature previously under the Radeon Relive section.

Rival Nvidia though is just a lot quicker in this regard. The company has issued a new hotfix driver this week which fixes an NVENC codec issue. The bug would lead to corrupted video encoding on certain previous-generation GeForce GTX 16-series cards, namely the GTX 1630, the 1650, and 1650 Ti. The issue is likely to hit users when they try to record or stream videos using OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) or Nvidia Share (formerly Shadowplay) feature.

While AMD has had the AV1 issue on hold for a while, Nvidia added this NVENC bug much more recently, and is indicative of Nvidia's efficiency in terms of dealing with these kinds of issues, at least in the case of codec-related problems.

For those who may not be aware, Nvidia's NVENC is the dedicated hardware encoder present on most Nvidia GeForce GPUs that helps encode videos, meant for game recording or streaming purposes.

The driver is built atop the previous driver, version 551.61. The company writes:

GeForce Hotfix display driver version 551.68 is based on our latest Game Ready Driver 551.61.

 

This hotfix addresses the following issue:

 

• Using NVENC to encode videos may result in corrupted videos or error message on GeForce GTX 1630/GeForce GTX 1650/GeForce GTX 1650 Ti GPUs [4511046]

You can download the new Hotfix driver version 551.68 on this page on Nvidia's official website.

Although Nvidia does not explicitly state this, it seems the issue is only affecting TU117-based GPUs, as others like the GTX 1650 SUPER, 1660 or 1660 Ti or 1660 SUPER are unaffected. The latter are based on TU116, which is a slightly larger GPU die and both are built on Nvidia's Turing architecture.

This isn't the only hotfix driver Team Green has released recently. The company also released one earlier in the month in February which fixed multiple stuttering issues.

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Microsoft's AI steamroller continues to barrel on. The latest development, rolling out via Windows Update starting today, is a set of changes to Copilot in Windows 11, the ChatGPT-based tool that gets its own dedicated key on the keyboards of new Windows PCs shipping this year. (As the company notes, Copilot for Windows is still in preview and is available only in select markets.)

The biggest introduction is the addition of plugins that can tie third-party apps and services into the feature. According to a blog post announcing this capability, the first wave of plugins includes OpenTable (so you can ask Copilot to make dinner reservations) and Instacart (to help you put together a grocery list). Other plugins due to arrive "over the next month" include those from Shopify, Klarna, and Kayak.

The common thread for those plugins highlights their real purpose: Each one allows Microsoft to monetize the activity of Windows customers using the new AI tools by taking a cut of the transactions through the partner apps. Those multi-billion-dollar investments aren't going to pay for themselves, after all.

Another update that's due to arrive in about a month -- "late March" is the vague timeframe in the announcement -- is the addition of new Windows skills for Copilot. On a Windows 11 PC, you will be able to type a prompt and have Copilot perform the following actions in Settings: turn battery saver on or off; open the Device Information, System Information, or Battery information pages; or open the Storage page.

For Windows 11 users who need accessibility assistance, Copilot will be able to launch an array of options, including Live Captions, Narrator, and Screen  Magnifier. You'll also be able to turn on Voice Access and Voice Input, adjust text size, and open the Contrast Themes page.

If you just want some information about the device running Windows, you can ask Copilot to show available Wi-Fi networks, display the current IP address, show available storage space, or empty the Recycle Bin.

Of course, typing a prompt to do any of those things arguably saves little time compared to simply opening the app and doing those things with the graphical interface. Consider this, for now, mostly a proof of concept. The real payoff comes down the line when Windows can respond reliably to voice input and display any system information or adjust any setting.

Other AI features are showing up in apps that are included with Windows 11. In the Photos app, a new Generative Erase feature matches the capability that Google Photos has been doing for a while on Android devices: erasing distracting elements (like people walking in the background of a beach sunset) from photos.

Meanwhile, the Clipchamp video editing app gets a Silence Removal feature that zaps awkward pauses from the soundtrack of a recorded video.

Both of those features are scheduled to roll out starting today.

Not all the new features in this update are AI-related. Probably the most welcome change, at least in this reviewer's opinion, is the long-awaited ability to turn off the clickbait news headlines from the Widgets board and use it exclusively for useful, at-a-glance information, such as weather, calendar items, and to-do lists.

Once this update is installed, you'll also find improvements to accessibility features, including the ability to create custom Voice Shortcuts that can automate repetitive tasks, along with the ability to use voice commands to work with multiple displays.

On PCs that are connected to Android phones, you'll be able to use the phone's front-facing camera as a webcam on video conferencing apps.

For enterprise customers, the biggest news is a major change in update management. The Windows Update for Business deployment service will merge with Windows Autopatch into a single update management solution for Windows PCs, Microsoft 365 applications, Microsoft Edge, and Teams. Naturally, it will offer AI support.

According to Microsoft, these "new experiences" will begin rolling out today via Windows Update and the Microsoft Store, with the features themselves being turned on in a controlled release for consumers. The company says it anticipates "broad availability" by April's Patch Tuesday release.

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We have already published our Windows 11 "Moment 5" review, so check it out here if you want to learn in detail what is new in the latest Windows 11 update. "Moment 5" is a relatively small update that focuses on improving accessibility, sharing, Windows 365, screen casting, Windows Settings, etc. The update also contains enhancements for Windows Autopatch to give IT admins more control and streamline update management.

Here is a brief list of new features in Windows 11 "Moment 5":

• Voice Access now supports more languages, custom commands, and additional actions.
• Narrator now lets you preview natural voices, use a new keyboard shortcut for image descriptions, and more.
• Windows now lets you share content with more apps.
• Windows can suggest screen casting when multitasking and helpful links if you have problems with connecting.
• Snap Layouts can predict what apps you want to arrange and in what layout.
• New features for Windows 365, such as a dedicated mode, passwordless authentication, fast account switching, and more.

You can check out Microsoft's support page for all the new Windows 11 Moment 5 features which Microsoft calls a Windows configuration update.

If you do not want to wait for April 2024, you can install the "Moment 5" update right now. Head to Settings > Windows Update and toggle on the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" option. After that, click "Check for updates" and download available updates. Note that the new features are rolling out gradually, so you might not get them yet, even with the latest optional updates. Full availability is expected in March 2024 non-security updates.

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Something didn’t go as planned. No need to worry – undoing changes. Please keep your computer on.

Upon digging through the Windows Event Viewer, users may find the "0x800F0922" error code along with the issue.

At that time, the tech giant did not go into much detail about the workaround, stating that the issue could be "prevented by deleting the hidden folder C:\$WinREAgent." Since then though, the company has gone into more detail regarding the workaround.

While the previous workaround section of the issue only mentioned deleting the said hidden folder, now the same section has been updated to include two ways to proceed with it, including an elevated command as well.

On its Windows health dashboard website, the company writes:

Below are two possible ways to delete the C:\$WinREAgent folder.

 

1) Manually delete the folder: To delete a hidden folder in Windows 11, you need to first make the folder visible and then delete it.

 

1. Open File Explorer from the Taskbar, or by pressing Windows key + E.
2. Click on the three-dotted icon and select Options.
3. Go to the View tab and select the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option. Click the OK button to save the change.
4. Now, you should be able to see the hidden folder C:\$WinREAgent in File Explorer. Right-click the hidden folder C:\$WinREAgent and select Delete.

 

2) Run a script to delete the folder:

 

1. Open the start menu and type command prompt.
2. From the results displayed at the right side of the start menu, select ‘Run as administrator’.
3. On the command prompt, type the command rd /s /q "C:\$WinREAgent" and press enter.
4. If no message is displayed, it means the command has succeeded and the folder has been deleted. You can proceed to close the command prompt window.
   Note that a message is only displayed if an error was encountered. In this case, we recommend deleting the folder manually.

For now, Microsoft says that it is investigating the bug and a resolution will be deployed in a future update.

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We have already written that there is now a way to log into your Windows 365 Boot account with passwordless authentication and that you can now easily see if you are using your local PC or your Cloud PC. However, in a new blog post, Microsoft reveals more features that will be rolled out starting today, and will be completely available by the end of March 2024.

One is a customization feature for businesses that use Cloud PCs. They can now customize the Windows 365 Boot sign-in experience by putting in their company logo, along with their name and even the look of the lock image screen with a company wallpaper.

If a business;'s employees are experiencing networking issues with their Windows 365 Boot login, or if they have not yet completed the necessary app setup, Microsoft now has new error message screens for both situations. They will inform the employee to contact their admin to fix any problem,

Finally, there's a new feature that will let users go into their local PC settings and change things like audio and display setups, if needed, without having to leave their Windows 365 Boot account or screen.

For people who access their Cloud PC with Windows 365 Switch, Microsoft has now improved how to disconnect from the Cloud PC to go back to using their local PC. Now all they have to do is go to Local PC and then click on Task view. Then they can right-click on the Cloud PC button, and select the Disconnect option.

Again these features should start rolling out now, but may not be available for all Windows 365 Boot or Switch users for a few weeks.

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We have already reported that Copilot will soon be available in March for Forms for commercial Microsoft 365 users, and Copilot for OneDrive is coming in mid-April for work and school Microsoft 365 subscribers. However, Microsoft's Copilot blog also reveals that the digital assistant is now available in the Microsoft 365 mobile app, along with the Word and PowerPoint mobile apps.

Microsoft says of adding Copilot to the Microsoft 365 mobile app:

Bring your content into Copilot to complete tasks on the go. Summarize documents, translate, explain, or ask questions, and have your answer grounded in the content you select. Start generating content wherever you work based on your ideas and existing information, and hand over to Microsoft 365 mobile apps to continue working.

Microsoft also announced that its Stream business-themed video streaming service will add Copilot support in April. The company says businesses can use the assistant to ask questions or generate summaries based on the videos they post on Stream. They can also ask Copilot to find specific people, teams, or topics that might be inside those videos.

The Microsoft 365 app on the web will add a new feature called "Help me create". It's designed to assist people in finding the right app and format for any project, like a presentation, a quiz, and more.

If you are still using the classic Outlook for Windows email app, Copilot will add two new features for that app during the month of March. One will help users draft an email message, while the other will let Copilot coach people on the clarity and tone of messages before they are sent.

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Cameras in modern Windows laptops are pretty alright, but they are still a far cry from what even inexpensive Android smartphones offer. Therefore, those wanting a better webcam should either purchase a discrete camera or use third-party, often premium, software to turn their smartphones into webcams. With today's update for Windows Insiders, Windows 11 can natively use your Android device as a webcam.

Windows Insiders can connect their phones to their PCs and enjoy much better image quality with the ability to switch between cameras, pause the stream, and apply on-device effects. In addition, there is no need for any cables—the experience works wirelessly over Wi-Fi. When using a smartphone as a webcam, Windows 11 will present you with a special toolbar containing additional options to switch cameras, pause video, turn on HDR, and more. Also, you can check your device's battery.

If you want to try using an Android smartphone as a camera for Windows, update the Link to Windows app to version 1.24012 or newer. Besides, your phone should run Android 9.0 or greater. After that, go to your PC's Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Mobile Devices, choose "Mobile Devices," and allow your computer to access your Android phone. After that, Windows 11 will prompt you to install an update for Cros Device Experience Host.

iPhone users are sadly unsupported, but they can get the same experience using third-party apps. Also, macOS lets you use an iPhone as a webcam without additional software.

Since Microsoft no longer owns a mobile platform, it is good to see the company making good use of Android and providing users with advanced features.

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Here is the changelog:

Highlights

 

New! Using Windows share, you can now directly share URLs to apps like WhatsApp, Gmail, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Sharing to X (formerly Twitter) is coming soon.

 

This update affects games you install on a secondary drive. Now, they remain installed on the drive.

 

This update affects the Windows Backup app. It will no longer show on the user interface in regions where the app is not supported. To learn more, see KB5032038.

 

Improvements

 

Important: Use EKB KB5015684 to update to Windows 10, version 22H2.

 

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

 

• This update addresses an issue that affects Azure Virtual Desktop sessions. There are delays when you sign in.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Azure Virtual Desktop virtual machines. At random, they restart. This occurs because of an access violation in lsass.exe.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Hello for Business. You cannot use it to authenticate to Microsoft Entra ID on certain apps. This occurs when you use Web Access Management (WAM).
• This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft Edge. The UI is wrong for Internet Options Data Settings.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Japanese Input Method Editor (IME). It fails to work for custom desktops.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Remote Desktop Web Authentication. You might not be able to connect to sovereign cloud endpoints.

 

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

 

Windows 10 servicing stack update - 19045.4106

 

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 with this update:

 

Symptom

 

Windows devices using more than one (1) monitor might experience issues with desktop icons moving unexpectedly between monitors or other icon alignment issues when attempting to use Copilot in Windows (in preview).

 

Workaround

 

To prevent users from encountering this issue, Copilot in Windows (in preview) might not be available on devices that have been used or are currently being used in a multimonitor configuration.

 

We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release.

 

Symptom

 

Copilot in Windows (in preview) is not currently supported when your taskbar is located vertically on the right or left of your screen

 

Workaround

 

To access Copilot in Windows, make sure your taskbar is positioned horizontally on the top or bottom of your screen.

 

We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release.

You can check out the full support page for the update here.

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Here is the changelog for both builds

Highlights

 

• New! The Phone Link settings page has a new name: Mobile devices. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices.
• New! You can now use the Snipping Tool on your PC to edit the most recent photos and screenshots from your Android device. You will get an instant notification on your PC when your Android device captures a new photo or screenshot. To turn this on, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices. Choose Manage devices and allow your PC to access your Android device.
• New! This update adds support for the USB 80Gbps standard. It is the next generation of USB4 that has twice the bandwidth of USB 40Gbps. To use USB 80Gbps, you must have a compatible PC and USB4 or Thunderbolt™ peripheral.
• This update affects games you install on a secondary drive. Now, they remain installed on the drive.
• This update addresses an issue that affects long-edge fed printers. The alignment of stapling or hole punch locations is wrong.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Windows Settings Home page. It randomly stops responding when you go to the page.
• This update addresses an issue that affects networking. A device fails to make the automatic switch from cellular to Wi-Fi when it can use Wi-Fi.
• This update addresses an issue that stops a system from going to sleep. This occurs when you connect an external device to the system.
• This update affects the Windows Backup app. It will no longer show on the user interface in regions where the app is not supported. To learn more, see KB5032038.

 

Improvements

 

Windows 11, version 23H2

 

Important: Use EKB KB5027397 to update to Windows 11, version 23H2.

 

This non-security update includes quality improvements. Key changes include:

 

• This build includes all the improvements in Windows 11, version 22H2.
• No additional issues are documented for this release.

 

Windows 11, version 22H2

 

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

 

• This update addresses an issue that affects Notepad. It does not open for the standard user account. This occurs when you use cmd.exe to open it based on file type association.
• This update addresses an issue that affects 8 Zip archives. It stops you from opening them by double-clicking them in File Explorer.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the CrashOnAuditFail registry value. When you set it to one (1), only admins can sign in to a machine that has stopped working. After you install this update, standard users can sign in to the machine.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Azure Virtual Desktop virtual machines. At random, they restart. This occurs because of an access violation in lsass.exe.
• This update addresses an issue that affects a machine that is used as a remote desktop session host. You get stop error RDR_FILE_SYSTEM (0x27). Because of this, all users are signed out from the machine.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft Edge. The UI is wrong for Internet Options Data Settings.
• This update addresses an issue that affects an embedded SIM (eSIM) profile. When you delete it, you do not get a notification.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Remote Desktop Web Authentication. You might not be able to connect to sovereign cloud endpoints.
• This update addresses an issue that makes the troubleshooting process fail. This occurs when you use the Get Help app.
• This update addresses an issue that affects the Certificate Authority snap-in. You cannot select the "Delta CRL" option. This stops you from using the GUI to publish Delta CRLs.
• This update addresses an issue that affects Steps Recorder. Some of the UI and steps are not localized to Chinese.

 

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 - 22621.3219 and 22631.3219

 

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

 

Symptom

 

Windows 11 devices attempting to install the February 2024 security update, released February 13, 2024 (KB5034765) might face installation failures and the system might stop responding at 96%.

 

Resulting from this error, the following message might be displayed:

 

“Something didn’t go as planned. No need to worry – undoing changes. Please keep your computer on”.

 

This issue might be reflected in the Windows Event Viewer with error code ‘0x800F0922’.

 

Workaround

 

This issue can be prevented by deleting the hidden folder C:\$WinREAgent. A restart might be required. After following these steps, installing the February 2024 security update should succeed.

 

We are working on a resolution for this issue and will provide an update in an upcoming release.

 

You can check out the full support page here. Just a reminder: Microsoft decided to allow Windows 11 22H2 to keep getting non-security updates for Home and Pro users until June 26, 2024 and Enterprise users until June 25, 2025.

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For Copilot, Microsoft is enabling a number of new plugins from third-party companies starting today. They will include an OpenTable plugin that should help Copilot users get a dinner reservation at a popular restaurant. There will also be an Instacart plugin for people who want to use Copilot to get a delivery order. Over the next month, Microsoft announced it will add plugins from other companies like Shopify, Klarna, and Kayak.

While Microsoft is adding new features to both Windows 11 and Copilot today with Moment 5, it will add even more features and functions for Copilot users in about a month. In late March, the AI assistant will add new skills that will help Windows 11 users get information about their PC along with a way to access certain features. They will include the following:

Settings

• Turn on/off battery saver
• Show device information
• Show system information
• Show battery information
• Open storage page

Accessibility

• Launch Live Captions
• Launch Narrator
• Launch Screen Magnifier
• Open Voice Access page
• Open Text size page
• Open contrast themes page

Launch Voice input

• Device information
• Show available Wi-Fi network
• Display IP Address
• Show Available Storage space
• Empty Recycle Bin

You can test those skills in Windows 11 preview builds in the Canary Channel.

This new update also adds features that have been available for members of the Windows Insider Program to general Windows 11 users. They include the Generative Erase AI image editing feature in the Photos app and a preview of the previously announced silent removal audio editing feature in the Clipchamp video editing app.

In addition, the update will add the Voice Shortcuts feature, a way for users to create custom voice commands for PC functions like opening a local folder, launching an app, or going to a certain website. Voice Shortcuts will also support multi-monitor setups so people can use commands to move files and folders from one screen to the next and more.

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