However, the stringent system requirements also mean there are many out there who refuse to upgrade. The latest Statcounter data still shows that less than one in three people have Windows 11.

In 2021, after its release, Microsoft had been convinced that the feedback was "positive" which is why it decided to accelerate the rollout but the plan was likely to increase the adoption too. Ever since, it has been like a never-ending effort from the company to promote the new Windows.

When Windows 10 21H1 was nearing EOL, Microsoft gently urged users to upgrade to Windows 11; and a similar thing happened with Windows 8.1 too.

And there have been other ways in which the company has tried to entice users as well. Around the time of its release, Microsoft detailed how Windows 11 was designed to get the best out of hardware. And a couple of months later, when users weren't quite happy with it, the company promised it was focusing on performance improvements in 2022.

Microsoft has also tried enticing gamers by showcasing the benefits of Windows 11 22H2 with a slightly awkward ad video. Speaking of which, the company has released a new ad on Windows 11 and once more the focus is on getting users to upgrade to Windows 11.

The video cleverly named "Start Fresh Without Starting Over with Windows 11" tries to suggest that upgrading to Windows 11 is not daunting to users and it should be a familiar experience for most. It also highlights how good, Microsoft feels, the Start menu and File Explorer on Windows 11 are. OS security is also another point the company stresses in the ad.

You can watch the ad above and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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That is because the current Windows 11 version filters out uncommon devices, say, a smart scale or temperature sensor. To make it work, you must change a specific option in the Settings app, which is slightly unintuitive and confusing. Microsoft now wants to change that and simplify things.

Windows 11 build 26052, which was released last week in the Dev and Canary Channels, changes how Bluetooth discoverability works. The operating system now properly detects all nearby devices and filters out uncommon types into a separate list. It no longer requires changing settings, and you can access your exotic peripherals by clicking the "Show all devices" option below the list of nearby Bluetooth devices.

Those with Windows 11 version 24H2 build 26052 can access the "Show all devices" option in the Quick Access menu or when scanning for Bluetooth accessories in the Settings app. If you are on the stable release and want to make sure your computer "sees" all devices nearby, go to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Devices and select "Advanced" from the drop-down menu.

Windows 11 build 26052 has plenty of other neat changes in the Settings app. There is now a new utility for checking how your microphone processing works, a tool for managing color profiles, a new accessibility feature that lets you make Windows 11 speak text using your voice, and even a built-in AI upscaler.

Note that build 26052 has a few quite notable issues that result in games crashing to green screens of death and even broken partitions with data loss when rolling back, and users have also experienced installation failure issues too.

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Note that running a modern operating system on a 15-year-old processor will most likely result in a less-than-satisfactory experience. Heck, Microsoft has been considering chips released in 2017 unsupported since late 2021. But we are not going to tell you what to do with your hardware. Just keep in mind that things may run poorly.

TLDR: You need SSE4.2 on Intel (first-gen Intel Core and newer) and SSE4A on AMD (first-gen Phenom and newer). If you do not know how to check that information, continue reading this guide. Obviously, those with officially supported processors should not care about this problem at all, unless they want to learn how to check what instructions their processors support.

Option 1: CPU-Z

Download CPU-Z from the official website, run it, and check the Instruction box. Look for SSE4A if you use an AMD processor and SSE4.2 if you use an old Intel chip.

Option 2: Official websites

Go to Settings > System > About and check the "Processor" box. If you use Intel, go to this website and search for your processor model. See the "Instruction Set Extension" and make sure it mentions SSE4.2.

AMD does not have a single page where you can find specs for every chip the company ever released. Therefore, use third-party websites for CPU tracking, like TechPowerUP. Look for SSE4A in the list of supported instructions or instruction extensions.

Option 3: A simple third-party tool

Enthusiasts have already created apps that can let you run checks and see what specs are missing in your computer. This open-source utility with a witty name, WhyNotWinAI, can show you if your chip supports the POPCNT instruction. You can download it from GitHub for free. Look for the "CPU supports POPCNT instruction" line.

If your computer does not support the necessary instruction, this is the end of the road for you. With that said, we will have to wait for the official Windows 11 24H2 release to see if the change sticks around. Meanwhile, you can learn how to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware using our guide.

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In a blog post, Microsoft also outlined its development goals and ultimate vision for .NET 9, which aims to offer new tools for cloud development along with new AI features as well.

Microsoft said that it will continue its efforts to build upon its cloud-based platform features for developers. It added:

We’re also turning our focus to delivering paved paths to popular production infrastructure and services, for example running in Kubernetes and using managed database and caching services like Redis.

Microsoft will work with partners so that its Azure Container Apps can be scaled in its Kubernetes-based environment with support multiple instances. In terms of cloud-based development tools, Microsoft stated that .NET 9 will include new features for Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code users via .NET Aspire.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Microsoft-led project without some kind of AI integration. The blog post mentioned that the .NET 9 team members will work to add even more AI features to the platform. That means developers can look forward to accessing OpenAI and OSS models with lots of documentation and libraries.

Developers can go ahead and download the first preview version of .NET 9 from GitHub. The site also has the .NET 9 Project Backlog to see which new features and improvements they plan to put into the final release. Future .NET 9 preview releases will be available on GitHub as well, and you can check out the platform's release notes every time a new version drops to see which new features, additions, and bug fixes are added.

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Windows 10 and 11 come with two versions of Microsoft Edge. One is the browser you use to surf the internet, and another one, called WebView2 Runtime, is hidden under the hood. Many apps require WebView2 to display web content, and Microsoft ships it with Windows by default to ensure all users have the necessary dependencies. The built-in runtime also makes life easier for developers since they can offload the burden of maintaining WebView2 to Microsoft.

The upcoming Windows 11 "Moment 5" update, which should land later this month, will let users in the European Union uninstall Microsoft Edge with a simple click. And if you live outside the EU, you can do the same with the help of our handy guide. Uninstalling Microsoft Edge does not affect WebView2. In fact, you cannot uninstall it even with the latest EU-compliant changes.

The new Outlook app, which many users call a glorified progressive web app, requires WebView2 to operate. You can check it by expanding its process in Task Manager. The only way to break it is to get rid of WebView2 Runtime, which is not a simple task.

So there you have it. If you plan to delete Microsoft Edge after installing the next Windows 11 feature update, rest assured that doing so should not break any apps. By the way, if you do not like the new Outlook, you can go back to the old Mail app, which Microsoft recently allowed re-enabling.

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Microsoft recently released the Windows 11 build 26052.1000 for devices enrolled in the Canary Channel and build 26052.1100 in the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider Program with a new scope of new features and changes.

On build 26052.1000, Windows 11 introduces the Linux "sudo" command for Command Prompt and PowerShell, rolls out several improvements for the hearing aid support, the sound settings add a new testing tool for microphones, and the company ports the Color Management feature to the Settings.

In addition, Copilot receives an update offering context-aware actions for text and images copied or dragged to the Copilot icon, and the Registry improves its find feature.

Finally, the company also made available build 26052.1100 in the Dev Channel, as the update KB5035384 includes the same improvements as the preview in the Canary Channel. Plus, devices in the Dev Channel are also getting many of the features that were previously available in the Canary Channel.

In this guide, I'll dive deep into the features and changes Microsoft plans to make available later this year as part of the Windows 11 version 24H2.

Windows 11 build 26052 changes

These are the most significant changes in the latest preview of the operating system:

Copilot action menu 

Starting on build 26052, Windows 11 features an improved version of Copilot that offers context-aware actions from the Taskbar. 

For instance, when you select and copy some text to the clipboard, the Copilot button in the Taskbar will show an animation, and as you hover over the button, you will see a context menu with different options to allow the chatbot AI to answer the query. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

If you copy an image (not an image file) to the clipboard, hovering over the button will also include an option to edit the image. 

It's also possible to drag the image into the Copilot button to open the panel where you can drop the image and complete the query.

Taskbar and notifications

As part of the Taskbar changes, Windows 11 build 26052 updates the Energy Saver icon from the System Tray. The new icon features two leaves for computers without batteries, and a leaf and battery icon for laptops and tablets.

In addition, the notification for slow changer has been rewritten to read: "For the best charging experience, use a higher-watt charger" and make the message more straightforward.

Finally, when File Explorer is open and the app has an instance with more than one tab, hovering over the app button in the Taskbar will now read the name of the tab in focus, plus the number of the other open tabs.

Linux's sudo command

One of the biggest additions to build 26052 is the introduction of the "sudo" command on Windows 11.

The "sudo" command is perhaps one of the most known commands on Linux, macOS, and Unix-based operating systems, and its function is to elevate the command without having to open the console as an administrator.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

On Windows 11, it means that you no longer need to run the Windows Terminal as an administrator. You can run the terminal as a normal user, and using the "sudo" prefix at the beginning of the command will allow you to run the tool elevated. For example: "sudo del install.wim."

Sudo has to be enabled manually through the "For developers" page, and you have to select the mode you want to use, including:

• Inline: Elevates the command in the same window. This is how it works on Linux and Unix-based operating systems.
• In a new window: Opens a new window elevated to run the command as an administrator.
• With input disabled: Elevates the command in the same window, but with "its stdin closed in the window from which you've triggered elevation."

Settings app

As usual, the development team is also improving the Settings app with various changes.

Color Management

On Settings > System > Display, the Color Management (Color profile) page is new and ports the settings from the legacy Control Panel. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

On this page, you can choose the display, choose, and apply a color profile.

You can also access the display color calibration tool to calibrate the monitor without resorting to third-party tools.

Sound

On Settings > System > Sound, inside the microphone properties page, you will now find a new "Microphone test" tool that allows your microphone to have different audio processing modes, including "Default" and "Communications." You just then need to click the "Start test" button to begin recording, then you have to click the "Stop test" and click the "Play" button to compare the audio processing modes. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Microsoft notes that this tool is only available for testing, and it won't change the actual mode of the audio.

In addition, the company is improving the hearing aid support on Windows 11. On build 26052, users can now control audio presets, ambient sounds, and enhancements from the device settings.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Furthermore, users can now change the audio presets configured in the hearing aid devices from the Settings app and Quick Settings flyout. 

Also, users can change the volume of ambient sound captured by the hearing aid devices. 

It's important to note these features will require the latest version of the operating system and hearing aid devices with support for Bluetooth LE Audio.

Storage Spaces

On Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Storage Spaces, after creating a pool, you will have the option to delete the pool. In the past, you had to remove the drives from the pool manually to delete the actual pool. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Also, the settings page includes an option to upgrade the pool (when available).

Finally, the pool page no longer includes a checkmark icon. Instead, the icon has been removed, and now the pool status will read as "OK."

For developers

On Settings > System > For developers, the page has been updated with a new option to enable the sudo command on Windows 11. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Bluetooth

On Settings > Bluetooth & devices, Microsoft is adding a few improvements. For example, the page will now show battery life and connection status for Bluetooth devices.

Also, you will now find an option to access the device properties in the "Sound" settings for audio devices.

Furthermore, the Bluetooth scanning behavior is changing to show common devices, and clicking the "Show all devices" option will reveal all the uncommon devices. 

Printers & scanners

On Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, the page now includes an option to configure "Windows protected print mode."

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Windows Protected Print Mode (WPP) is a new feature that provides a more modern and secure print system without needing third-party drivers for Mopria-certified printers and implements a wide range of new security protections, mitigating most of the vulnerabilities associated with the print system.

Wi-Fi

On Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, in the network profile page, the option to show the wireless password is located at the top of the page.

Also, when you click the "Show" button, you can now scan the QR code in the Camera app to join the network quickly.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Copilot in Windows

On Settings > Personalization > Copilot in Windows, the "Open Copilot when Windows starts" option is turned on by default. 

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

The new behavior will open the Copilot panel automatically on devices with 27-inch or larger screen monitors. 

Registry

As part of the Registry Editor, when using the "Find" feature, you can now use the "Search in subtree" option to search in the selected key and its subkeys.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Notepad with Copilot

Notepad is getting an update to integrate the note-taking up with Copilot. Starting on version 11.2401.25.0, the right-click context and edit menus will now include a new "Explain with Copilot" option.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

The new option allows you to ask Copilot directly to help you understand programming code, log files, or any selected text without extracting the extra steps of copying, opening Copilot, and pasting the text in the prompt. 

The feature integration even offers the "Ctrl + E" keyboard shortcut to send the content directly to Copilot.

Shipping Tools with shapes

Another app that Microsoft is updating is the Snipping Tool, and this release (11.2401.32.0) adds the ability to insert shapes to screenshots, including rectangles, lines, ovals, and arrows.

You only have to click the "Shapes" tool, choose the shape, and use it on your capture. It's also possible to fill the shape and change color and thickness.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Features removed

In this flight, Microsoft is also removing support for Windows Mixed Reality, including the Mixed Reality Portal app and Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR and SteamVR beta. 

In addition, the company is also removing the Microsoft Defender Application Guard (MDAG), and it's no longer available as an on-demand feature.

Microsoft expects to bring these and other improvements during the rollout of Windows 11 version 24H2, which is expected to become available sometime before the end of the year.

It's worth noting that this guide includes the new features and changes that are officially part of build 26052, not hidden features that are even more unclear whether they'll ship in the final version of the operating system.

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ExplorerPatcher is a popular utility among those who do not want to stay on Windows 10 but also do not want to deal with Windows 11's reworked taskbar. The app can restore the old taskbar and Start menu along with additional features, some of which are no longer available in Windows 11. In addition to that, ExplorerPatcher provides plenty of additional options for tweaking and personalizing the operating system.

Sadly, the latest version of ExplorerPatcher does not work in Windows 11 build 26052. As spotted by @TheBobPony, who recently discovered a change in the CPU instruction set requirement, installing ExplorerPatcher on build 26052 breaks the taskbar beyond recognition. The entire notification area is missing, the old Start menu no longer works, and more.

But do not grab your pitchfork yet. Things like this are normal in the Windows Insider Program, where stuff always breaks, especially apps for deep system customization. The latest ExplorerPatcher release is quite old, and it was not tested on the recent Windows Insider builds. The best course of action for ExplorerPatcher users is to wait for a message from the developer and a newer release. Meanwhile, stay away from Windows 11 version 24H2 if you cannot use your computer without this utility.

ExplorerPatcher is not the only thing build 26052 breaks. Windows Mixed Reality headsets no longer work with Windows 11 version 24H2, so those still using VR headsets made for the now-deprecated Windows Mixed Reality platform should stay on Windows 11 version 23H2 or Windows 10 for as long as possible. Fortunately, version 23H2 has almost two years of active support ahead, so users have plenty of time.

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What you need to know

• Microsoft Designer is an AI-infused app that lets users create graphic products and designs using prompts.
• It appears that Microsoft quietly removed the AI-powered brush removal tool from the platform. 
• The tool helped users remove unwanted parts from AI-generated images.
• Multiple users have taken to social media to express their frustrations. 

Like Microsoft Copilot (formerly Bing Chat), Microsoft Designer first shipped in limited availability, with users having to sign up for a waitlist before gaining access to the platform. However, the AI-infused app shipped to broad availability in April 2023 and is powered by DALL-E 3 technology.

It ships with many capabilities and features that allow users to generate graphic products and designs, including an AI-powered brush removal tool. It ships with Image Creator from Designer (formerly Bing Image Creator), and Microsoft Copilot is baked into it. 

While the Designer app is handy, Microsoft has seemingly decided to remove the AI brush removal tool from the platform (via MSPowerUser). A move that's less-than-pleasing to users, as echoed by aggrieved Redditors who spotted the change.

If you're unfamiliar with the tool, it allows users to remove unwanted parts from AI-generated images. According to one of the users who also confirmed the change:

"Yes, they did. And yes, I am very disappointed. I, too, often used it to remove unwanted parts in the pictures generated (extra fingers, suspenders that I don't want, texts describing characters floating on their heads, etc.)"

Another user also pointed out that the AI-powered brush removal tool in Microsoft Designer was way better compared to the one you'll find in Canva. In the thread, another user speculates that Microsoft could be working on a paid version of the app.

The AI-powered brush removal tool is gone

Microsoft Designer loses its AI-powered brush removal tool (Image credit: Kevin Okemwa)

Per my investigation and analysis, the tool is no longer available in Microsoft Designer. It's not yet clear why Microsoft decided to pull the feature from the platform or if it will be coming back, but it's apparent that it was a hit among most users if the Reddit thread is anything to go by.

Users can still leverage the Remove Background and Blur Background features as close substitutes for the AI-powered brush removal tool. Microsoft and OpenAI have made major investments in AI, and they've made it clear that it is quite expensive to keep AI-powered chatbots running. For instance, OpenAI uses up to 700,000 dollars every day to keep ChatGPT running. 

As such, it's not a farfetched thought that Microsoft might have pulled the feature from Microsoft Designer because it's planning to launch a paid version of the app or even add it to Copilot Pro. It's also possible that Microsoft is using this measure to get ahead of AI deepfakes increasingly surfacing on the internet. 

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What is new in Nvidia 553.32 WHQL driver?

Game Ready for Skull and Bones

 

This new Game Ready Driver provides the best gaming experience for the latest new games supporting DLSS technology including Skull and Bones which features DLSS Super Resolution.

Here is what was fixed in driver 553.32:

Fixed gaming bugs:

 

• Some users may experience intermittent micro-stuttering in games when vertical sync is enabled.
• Red Dead Redemption 2: Stutter observed on some Advanced Optimus notebooks.
• Immortals of Aveum: Addresses stability issues over extended gameplay.

 

Fixed general bugs:

 

• Potential stutter may be observed when scrolling in web browsers on certain system configurations.

And here is the list of known issues:

• [Netflix] Display issues for videos when using Edge browser. Recommend using Windows Netflix application as workaround.
• GeForce GTX 10/RTX 20 series: PC may randomly freeze when Windows Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling and NVIDIA SLI are both enabled.
• NVIDIA Freestyle filter settings are not saved after quitting game.

Nvidia 553.32 WHQL supports 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 systems with the following graphics cards:

You can download Nvidia's latest [en-US] driver from the official website or the GeForce Experience app on existing installations. Full release notes are available here (PDF).

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When the AI chatbot trend began to pick up steam, most people used one that connected to a cloud-based server. However, there's been a growing trend towards having chatbots run locally on PCs and smartphones. Today, Nvidia launched a new way for Windows PC owners to create their own large language model AI chatbots that connect to locally stored content.

Nvidia calls this local LLM Chat with RTX, and it is available now in a demo version from the company's website. As the name suggests, your PC must have an Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU to run this local chatbot. Here are the exact hardware requirements:

• GPUs - Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 or 40 Series GPU or Nvidia RTX Ampere or Ada Generation GPU with at least 8GB of VRAM
• RAM - 16GB or greater
• OS - Windows 11
• Geforce Driver - 535.11 or later

Once you download and install it, you can connect the Chat with RTX app with your locally stored content, such as documents, PDF files, videos, and more. You can then use that local data set to ask the chatbot so it can give you answers without having to sift through all that material.

In addition, Chat with RTX can find information in some YouTube videos. All you have to do is copy the video URL into the app and then ask questions about the content of the video. Chat with RTX should provide you with the answers.

Of course, the biggest feature of local LLM apps like Chat with RTX is that you can have an AI chatbot that won't transmit data to a company's cloud server for training and other purposes. The trade-off is that you will need a fairly powerful PC to run it.

Nvidia is labeling the Chat with RTX app as a free technical demo. That might suggest that the company has plans to turn it into a paid or subscription-based app with more features at some point in the future.

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For a bit of background, Apple and Microsoft are listed as gatekeepers because they meet three criteria: 1) they have a significant impact on the internal market, 2) they provide a specified service that is an important gateway for business users to reach end users, and 3) they enjoy an entrenched and durable position.

Apple and Microsoft will continue being considered gatekeepers but the aforementioned services are excluded from this designation. Other companies designated as gatekeepers include Alphabet, Amazon, ByteDance, and Meta; they are all subjected to new requirements from the EU from March 2024.

The Commission decided to exclude these products and services from gatekeeper rules after Apple and Microsoft submitted rebuttal requests for an in-depth analysis of them. After taking into account the arguments of the two companies, the Commission decided that these products and services should be excluded from the new rules.

One of the main rules introduced by the DMA is that companies cannot treat their own offerings more favorably than those offered by their competitors. The rules also give third parties the ability to interoperate with their own services and give business users access to data generated on the platforms of gatekeeper companies.

A notable aspect of the DMA is that the penalties are pretty severe. Failure to comply with the rules can mean fines of up to 10% of a company’s worldwide annual turnover or up to 20% when there have been repeated infringements. Companies could also face periodic penalty payments of up to 5% of average daily turnover and other remedies.

Apple and Microsoft will no doubt be pleased with the outcomes. The results are a little bit surprising given how important iMessage, Bing, and Edge are to the respective companies.

Source: European Commission

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The feature update focuses on AI functionality, but it will also include a change that affects some devices running Windows 11 negatively. It appears that Microsoft is introducing a new hardware requirement in Windows 11 version 24H2 that prevents systems that do not support it from booting the operating system.

What makes this more troubling than the general hardware requirements of Windows 11, which can be bypassed, is that this particular requirement cannot be bypassed.

If the CPU does not support POPCNT, Windows 11 version 24H2 will not boot. The instruction requires a processors that supports SSE4.2 or SSE4a.

The change affects Intel and AMD processors that are relatively old. Intel launched support for SSE4.2 in Intel Nehalem core processors in late 2008. AMD added support for the instructions in late 2011. Older processors continued to be sold for some time.

Up until Windows 11 Build 25905, machines with these older CPUs would run Windows 11. Users would have to resort to bypassing the operating system's other hardware requirements to get the operating system to install, but it worked.

Once Windows 11 version 24H2 will be released, this will not be the case anymore. Since there is no bypass, as this functionality is required, these Windows 11 systems will have to remain on Windows 11 version 23H2.

This is the first case in which incompatible systems are left standing in the dust. A new update cannot be installed on them and users need to find a way to cope with the situation.

Windows 11 version 23H2 continues to be supported until 2025. This is the year that Windows 10 is also going to get hammered, as Microsoft is ending support for the operating system officially. Windows 10 users may extend support by up to three years, but this comes at a price.

Microsoft has not yet mentioned how much it will charge for extended support. Back when it introduced extended security updates for Windows 7, it charged $25, $50 and $100 in year one, two and three respectively.

As for Windows 11, Microsoft is expected to release a new Moment update in February as a preview. This update is integrated into the March 2024 cumulative update then. The 2024 feature update for Windows 11 will be released in the second half of 2024, likely in September or October of the year.

Find out if a processor supports SSE4.2

Windows users may check their processors for compatibility. One of the best tools for the job is the free CPU-Z application.

Download it from the official website and run it afterwards. You can use the portable version, provided as a ZIP archive, or install it.

Check the supported instructions on the CPU tab to see which instructions the processor supports. If you see SSE4.2 or SSE4A, you should not have any issues running Windows 11 version 24H2.

Closing Words

Windows 11 version 24H2 is still in development. There is a chance that Microsoft will make changes to the system before its official release that removes the requirement.

For now, it looks as if the next version of Windows 11 won't run on systems with these older processors anymore.

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This was only a month after Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella expressed how they felt about Copilot and even likened it to the second coming of the Windows Start button in terms of its potential revolutionary impact. Perhaps foreshadowing its intentions, the company, at CES, introduced the new Copilot button on keyboards that will launch Copilot, similar to the Windows key that launches the Start menu. Thankfully, though, it is not going to be a part of Windows device certification, so naysayers can breathe a sigh of relief and avoid such keyboards.

And if you don't like the new Copilot button, there is a chance that you may not like Copilot in general as well. For those who view Copilot as a bit of bloatware and don't quite find the use for it, a new third-party utility based on the fairly popular BloatyNosy app can help you get rid of it and other such AI-related features and additions that Microsoft has been making.

Belim, the developer of the app, writes on the project's GitHub page:

This version will be given the additional identifier "AI" by me and will now be called BloatynosyAI to emphasize the new Windows character. In addition to the ability to remove AI features in Windows, it also underscores the intelligent approach of the app itself. This version works now on Windows 10 and also supports localizations.

 

How does it work?
The three central modules (Privacy, Bloatware Uninstaller, and App Installer) that we know from Bloatynosy are presented directly on the homepage. Plugins can be accessed, for example, via the keyword "Plugin" or "AI" to remove AI in Windows 11/10.

We tried the keywords AI and Plugin on Windows 10, and the app throws up interesting suggestions like "Remove AI in Taskbar (Copilot button)." Upon clicking the suggestion, the app confirms that the Copilot button has been disabled.

Of course, you can also disable Copilot by following the published guide by Neowin. But if you want to try the app, head over to its GitHub page, where you can download the latest preview of BloatynosyAI version 2.0. The app is still in preview, though, and hence, there could be bugs and issues in it.

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A battle for control is taking place inside iPhones across Europe. While Apple introduced new rules that ostensibly loosen its control over the App Store, local developers are seething at the new system, which they say entrenches the power Apple already wields over their businesses. They’re now breaking into a rare open revolt, mounting pressure on lawmakers to step in.

So far, they have accused Apple’s new business terms of being “abusive,” “extortion,” and “ludicrously punitive.”

“Apple holds app providers ransom like the Mafia,” claims Matthias Pfau, CEO and cofounder of Tuta, an encrypted email provider. The tech giant treats iPhones as its territory, Pfau complains, tightly controlling developers’ access before taking a chunk of their profits. “Anyone wanting to provide an iOS app must pay a ransom to Apple; there’s no way around it.”

For years, Apple has rejected Tuta app updates if they include links to the company’s website, he says. Like all iOS apps, Tuta has also been unable to take in-app payments directly from its customers. Apple acts as an intermediary and charges a fee. Pfau was hoping the App Store reforms mandated by the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) would make companies like his less tightly bound to Apple.

Instead, he is left disappointed by the new terms on offer. “What they came up with is the best proof that they are massively abusing their market dominance,” he says. “Apple is basically behaving like a dictator.”

Apple was designated a “gatekeeper” under the DMA after the EU decided that the App Store acts as an important gateway between businesses and consumers. The company, along with other tech giants, has until March 7 to make a raft of changes. To avoid fines that can reach up to 20 percent of global revenue, the smartphone maker announced its new rules in late January.

The rules technically make it possible for users of its hardware to download apps from alternative app stores and also for developers to use their own payment systems—bypassing Apple’s commission.

But in order to access these new features, developers have to sign up to new business terms. Those terms include restrictions that disincentivize any developers moving away from the status quo, according to Pfau. If his company Tuta were to take advantage of the new system, iPhones would issue warnings—known by critics as “scare screens”—informing users about security risks linked to using payment systems that are not managed by Apple. From Tuta’s testing of how popups affect in-app upgrades, he estimates these warnings would dissuade 50 percent of users from proceeding with their purchase.

Additionally, although the new terms allow Pfau to make Tuta available in an alternative app store, they would also expose the company to a “core technology fee” every time it was downloaded or updated more than 1 million times in a one-year period. Pfau accepts that Tuta, which he claims has over 100,000 paying subscribers, might not have to pay this fee in the first year. “But we are growing,” he insists. “So we would definitely have to pay it within the next couple of years.”

For Sweden’s Spotify, the download fee is more of an immediate problem if the company were to accept Apple’s new business terms. “With our EU Apple install base in the 100 million range, this new tax on downloads and updates could skyrocket our customer acquisition costs, potentially increasing them tenfold,” Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said on X soon after Apple released its proposal. “While Apple has behaved badly for years, what they did yesterday represents a new low, even for them.”

For that reason, Spotify, like other apps, believes it has no choice but to stick with its current agreement, Ek elaborated in a call with investors last week. That means still paying commission to Apple and listing their iOS app exclusively on Apple’s App Store. “No sane developer wants to pick any of the new terms,” Ek said. Sticking with the current system doesn’t make the situation worse for companies like Spotify, he added, but it does mean they are missing out on revenues from users buying products such as audiobooks, a new focus for the platform, through the company’s app. (Spotify does not sell audiobooks in their iOS app in order to avoid Apple’s commission fee.) “So some of these more innovative things that we would like to do, we’re currently restricted in doing on the iOS ecosystem.”

Apple maintains its changes are compliant with the DMA while also being necessary to protect its EU users’ devices from the security risks that, it says, are introduced by the new law. “Apple’s approach to the Digital Markets Act was guided by two simple goals: complying with the law and reducing the inevitable, increased risks the DMA creates for our EU users,” says Apple spokesperson Julien Trosdorf. “That meant creating safeguards to protect EU users to the greatest extent possible and to respond to new threats, including new vectors for malware and viruses, opportunities for scams and fraud, and challenges to ensuring apps are functional on Apple’s platforms.”

App developers don’t have much power on their own to make Apple change course. But they hope their criticism will force the European Commission, a branch of the EU’s government, to take action. After the March 7 deadline, officials are expected to assess both Apple’s proposals and the market’s reaction. “Now [the European Commission] must reject Apple’s proposal and even consider imposing a fine if no further improvements are made,” says Sebastiano Toffaletti, secretary general of the European DIGITAL SME Alliance, an industry group.

Andy Yen, CEO of Swiss email and cloud service Proton, is less diplomatic. “If I was the European Commission, I would probably look at this as an insult,” he says of Apple’s proposed business terms. “It’s a slap in the face.”

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The system requirements, and especially CPU requirements, have been a hot topic of debate ever since they were first announced by Microsoft when Windows 11 was publicly revealed. That's because the operating system rendered a lot of still relevant processors incompatible and unsupported (Intel 7th gen and Ryzen 1st gen CPUs/APUs). The tech giant, though, later did add a few Intel 7th gen chips to the list, but that hardly pleased anyone.

Despite no official support, users have found ways to bypass the requirements and run Windows 11 on fairly old systems with relatively satisfying results. For example, a user with an unsupported Core i5-580M, based on the first-gen "Nehalem" architecture, felt like their system ran Windows 11 22H2 "like magic."

And it does not help Microsoft's decision when its own PC Health check app incorrectly reports that a Pentium 4 is perfectly capable of running Windows 11. Funnily, even a senior Microsoft employee was found running an unsupported processor when live-streaming a Windows Insider webcast.

However, Microsoft is seemingly bringing changes to CPU instruction set architecture (ISA) support that could define how successful the attempts to run Windows 11 24H2 on very old systems will be. Although the unofficial WinPE tool suggests it will work on fairly old CPUs, processors that are even older could fail to do so following this change.

Tech enthusiast and Twitter (now X) user Bob Pony noticed that Microsoft is seemingly looking to make the "POPCNT" instruction a requirement on Windows 11 24H2. Apparently, CPUs that do not have it will fail to boot into Windows.

The POPCNT instruction, short for population count, helps count the number of 1s in a binary representation. AMD introduced it back in 2006-07 with its Barcelona architecture, which was the first true quad-core in the x86 industry. Intel added it later with Nehalem (the first gen Core i series SKUs). It is unclear why the company is making it mandatory. Perhaps certain features in the upcoming Windows version require it.

The instruction has seemingly been in place since an earlier build 25905, which coincides with another previous report where old AMD Turion II and Intel Core 2 Duo PCs were found unable to run Windows 11 via bypass. The situation is a bit reminiscent of the SSE2 support for Windows 7 updates back in 2018.

Bear in mind though that Insider builds are experimental in nature and hence things could change in the future when 24H2 becomes publicly available.

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Bing Deep Search was developed as a way to help people get more details on their internet search results by combining Bing's search features with the OpenAI GPT-4 large language model. However, the search results don't show up instantly and may take up to 30 seconds to generate.

At the time, Microsoft said it would let Bing Deep Search become "available to randomly selected small groups of users on Bing worldwide." However, it looks like this feature has now been removed from Microsoft public flighting to fix some issues.

A few days ago, a person asked Mikhail Parakhin, Microsoft's new leader of its Windows and Web Experiences team, why they were unable to access Bing Deep Search for a week. Parakhin replied that it would be "Coming back soon."

Parakhin added that the new feature was "more popular than we anticipated." That indicates that even with a limited number of public testers, lots of them decided to access Bing Deep Search. Parakhin said that the development teams needed to "fix caching" and also to make the feature "more robust."

Right now,Bing Deep Search is being tested as a "shadow flight" with queries sending to the infrastructure for processing.

Hopefully, once Microsoft makes Bing Deep Search available to more people, we will be able to see just how accurate and popular this feature will become.

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Key notes

• New Outlook for Windows requires Microsoft Edge to run certain features.
• Users are concerned it’s a push for Edge adoption, given its lower market share.
• Unclear if intentional or a technical requirement, Microsoft silent so far.

Attention Outlook users on Windows: did you know that the new Outlook app now demands you have Microsoft Edge installed and running to function? Well, Microsoft has been known for pushing Edge to users in their faces.

This quirky requirement surfaced recently on Reddit, where users encountered an error message stating they needed Edge to use the new Outlook. Further digging revealed the culprit: Microsoft Edge WebView2. This component, embedded within Outlook, seems essential for rendering certain web-based features in the app. It was seen on Reddit.

Although Microsoft’s new Chromium-based Edge browser has received a positive response, many users are unhappy with the sudden Edge dependency. Users have expressed their concerns about forced adoption, limited choice, and the uncertainty of whether this requirement is a temporary bug or a permanent design choice. 

Some users suspect Microsoft is intentionally pushing Edge usage despite its significantly smaller market share than Chrome. This requirement feels restrictive for users who prefer other browsers, potentially hindering their workflow. The lack of clarity adds to the frustration.

So, what can you do? For now, repairing Microsoft Edge might solve the issue for some. 

To do that, open the Control Panel > select Uninstall a program > choose Microsoft Edge > click Change at the top > click the Repair button.

The community is watching closely to see how Microsoft responds to this situation. Will they address user concerns and consider alternative approaches? Only time will tell.

Have you encountered this issue with the new Outlook app? Share your experience in the comments below.

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It may be fair to say though that Sudo was perhaps not the biggest change with this new build, as this is the first version 24H2 build and it might be the reason why many users, including Neowin readers, have been having installation issues.

Since this is a new version of Windows 11, some users are probably interested in the system requirements, and if their system could run Windows 11 24H2, even if their CPU wasn't officially supported.

One of those users also happens to be a tech enthusiast. X (formerly Twitter) user Bob Pony, created an unofficial WinPE (Windows Pre-installation Environment) file that is based on build 26052. Using the utility they verified Windows 11 24H2 works on their Intel Core i7-3770, which is based on the Ivy Bridge architecture and is not on the official CPU support list.

In case you are wondering, Microsoft last updated the list back in November when it added many Intel processors, even unannounced ones, though it missed adding several available AMD chips.

The curiosity is understandable as Windows 11 24H2 is supposedly going to be a fairly major feature update, though the same was not the case for version 23H2. If you missed it, in the meantime, before version 24H2 lands, Moment 5 is also expected and it apparently arrives in less than a month.

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After digging it out from the depths of Windows 11 build 26052, you will be able to turn on "Automatic Super Resolution" in Settings > Display > Graphics. The feature description says it can "use AI to make supported games play more smoothly with enhanced details." There is also a generic link to the Microsoft DirectX Developer Blog, which should be later replaced with one leading to the official documentation.

AI upscalers (Nvidia DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS) let you get more performance out of your graphics card by rendering picture in lower resolution and then upscaling it to higher values (hence the name) with the magic of AI. They have already gone through several iterations, and the latest GPUs can achieve quite impressive results. It will be interesting to see what the upcoming Windows 11 upscaler can offer in this market.

As of right now, toggling it on or off does not affect FPS in games. Therefore, we will have to wait for Microsoft to announce the thing officially and explain how Windows 11's built-in upscaler should work. A word on the street says the feature will require a neural processing unit or special cores for AI processing. However, not all AI-powered features in Windows 11 require specialized hardware, so let us all wait for a message from Microsoft.

If you are curious to take a look and try Automatic Super Resolution in Windows 11, here is how to enable it using the ViVeTool app:

1. Download ViveTool from GitHub and unpack the files in a convenient and easy-to-find folder.
2. Launch Command Prompt as Administrator and go to the ViVeTool folder using the CD command. For example, CD C:\vive.
3. Type vivetool /enable /id:39695921 /variant:3 and press Enter.
4. Restart your computer.

Another hidden thing in build 26052 is the ability to teach Windows 11 to speak with your voice. Like the AI upscaler, it does not work yet, but you can take a look at its Settings section for more details.

Credit for the finding and the ID goes to @PhantomOfEarth and @thebookisclosed on X.

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What is new in Files 3.2?

New features in Files 3.2 include List View, a file layout that lets you see more objects in a single window. If you want to browse through a massive list of files and folders, List View will be the best option to pick. Note that this view does not show additional data—only icons and names are visible.

The Files app version 3.2 also brings a new built-in tool for audio files. You can now edit album covers without resorting to other apps. Right-click a song, select "Properties," then click its album cover to select a new image.

Another welcome improvement in the latest update is the improved thumbnail render. Developers made thumbnails sharper for more details and better contrast. In addition, Files 3.2 fixes the bug with broken thumbnails in OneDrive.

Finally, the app now works much better with large files. The developer says the team implemented notable improvements under the hood, reducing crashes and freezes when browsing large folders, deleting items, moving objects, etc.

Other changes in Files 3.2 include the following:

• Added options to hide the built-in items from the right click context menu
• Added an option to disable auto scroll when navigating up the file tree
• Updated the search query to include unindexed items by default
• Creating a new file now adds it to the Recent Files list
• Creating a shortcut will now use the naming preferences from File Explorer
• Clicking a tag in the Details Pane will now start a search for other tagged items
• Added support for setting jfif files as the desktop & lockscreen background
• Improved the performance when launching Files in the background at Windows startup
• Improved support for high contrast themes
• Updated the cloud status icon in the Columns View
• Added support for pinning executable shortcuts to the Start Menu
• Fixed issue where updating the default layout wouldn’t refresh open tabs
• Fixed issue where renaming a tag wouldn’t save the new name
• Fixed issue where certain changes in the Properties Window couldn’t be canceled
• Fixed issue where switching from Details to Tiles would sometimes result in blurry icons
• Fixed issue where thumbnails would sometimes fail to load for OneDrive items
• Fixed issue where folder thumbnails wouldn’t display a preview of the contents
• Fixed issue where the Properties window was missing its icon
• Fixed issue where search results would sometimes use the Columns View
• Fixed issue where opening tags from the sidebar would default to the Details View
• Fixed issue where renaming items on a search page wouldn’t update the file list
• Fixed issue where the privacy policy link was broken
• Fixed issue where OneDrive files would automatically download
• Fixed issue where pinned applications were executed in %windir%\System32
• Fixed issue where smart extraction didn’t work correctly for a single folder
• Fixed issue where the path bar didn’t use localized name for system folders
• Fixed issue where directly opening a library would invoke explorer.exe
• Fixed environment variables expansion for shortcuts
• Fixed issue where folders sizes weren’t calculated when opening Properties from the sidebar
• Fixed issue where modified date was missing from the Properties window
• Fixed issue where it didn’t work to target files when creating new shortcuts
• Fixed issue where exiting from the system tray icon didn’t save the open tabs
• Fixed issue where a new tab would open when trying to open a new window
• Fixed issue where batch files couldn’t be previewed inside archives
• Fixed issue where installing multiple fonts would trigger multiple UAC prompts
• Fixed issue where refocusing Details View would sometimes scroll
• Fixed crash that would occur when displaying a large number of items at the same time
• Fixed crash that would occur when items were added from an external app
• Fixed crash that would occur when opening Properties for certain items in the Recent Files list
• Fixed crash that would occur when the app failed to update
• Fixed crash that would occur when renaming items in the Grid View layout
• Fixed crash that would occur when selecting the address bar via Shift + Tab
• Fixed crash that would occur when Git path contained an emoji
• Fixed crash that could occur when dragging in grouped grid layout

The Files app is available in the Microsoft Store for $8.99. However, you can get the app for free from its GitHub repository. Purchasing it in the Microsoft Store is an option for those wanting to support developers and help them improve the project. If you want to try early updates, get the Insider Preview version from the official website.

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The tidbits and traces of Windows 11 24H2 began to surface towards the very end of last year, first inside a DMSA Group Policy and we also had a reaffirmation of it again very recently on official Microsoft documentation.

Naturally, insiders are excited to try the first 24H2 preview not only for that but also for the slew of new features it brings. Unfortunately, some users are having installation issues with the build. It first came to Neowin's attention when long-time forum member thexfile commented that they were having installation problem. They were not alone as a couple of others, Xab and Tantawi also joined in on the thread to share their own similar experiences.

It just wasn't three Neowin readers who faced such problems. If you go to Feedback Hub, there are several insiders who have reported a similar issue. One in particular has been heavily upvoted as well, by 104 others at the time of writing.

The author of the issue writes:

Trying to upgrade to Build 26052 on my PC failed and rolled back with error code 0XC1900101

Additional information was also provided by others who commented on this thread. Apparently, the installation is failing with error code 0XC1900101 and users are experiencing a Green Screen of Death (GSOD) with the error message "GSOD SYSTEM_PTE_MISUSE."

There could be Sysprep compatibility issues at play here too as some report an error code of "0xC1900101 - 0x30018" with the message "The installation failed in the FIRST_BOOT phase with an error during SYSPREP_SPECIALIZE operation."

We will have to wait for official Microsoft confirmation about the resolution of these issues.

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Besides those, the build is the first Windows 11 version 24H2 build, and as such, there appear to be substantial installation issues, likely related to Sysprep, that are leading to GSODs, among other problems.

While Sudo is now available on Windows 11 24H2, Microsoft confirmed that it released it on Windows Server by mistake, and it will be withdrawn soon.

And if you are a Windows 10 user or someone who is still on Windows 7, perhaps due to weak or incompatible hardware, or you simply love the OS, there is good news. Despite no official announcement, X (formerly Twitter) user and Windows enthusiast Bob Pony found out that the new Sudo command works on Windows 7.

On the Windows 11 Insider build 26052, users can enable Sudo by navigating to Settings > System > For developers and then toggling on the "Enable sudo" command. There should also be an option to configure how Sudo runs apps.

However, on Windows 7, things are different. You can make it work by downloading the Sudo for Windows app separately, placing it in the System32 folder, and then executing a couple of commands in elevated CLI like Command Prompt (as Administrator) or PowerShell.

Aside from Windows 7, Sudo for Windows works on Windows 10 as well. Hence, you can launch elevated commands now on Windows 10 and Windows 7.

As you can see in the image above, I tried it on my PC and it worked, however, this has likely not gone through wider compatibility testing at the moment, and therefore, users may encounter some bugs or issues while doing so.

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Microsoft officially announced sudo for Windows 11 in build 26052. Although the same build of Windows Server 2025 contains the setting for enabling sudo, Microsoft does not plan to implement it in server SKUs. The company clarified it in the release notes for build 26052:

NOTE: The setting for enabling Sudo may incorrectly be showing on Windows Server Insider Preview builds – this feature will not be available on Windows Server and the setting will be disabled in a future Server Insider Preview build.

For those unfamiliar with the matter, sudo is a command that lets you execute commands with elevated privileges. It is a popular command on Linux and macOS, and now it is coming to Windows 11.

Sudo in Windows 11 preview builds is turned off by default. If you want to give it a try, head to Settings > System > For developers and toggle on the "Enable sudo" option. You can also configure how the command works by selecting one of three different modes: in a new window, with input disabled, and inline. Alternatively, open Windows Terminal as administrator and type:

• In a new window: sudo config --enable forceNewWindow
• Input closed: sudo config --enable disableInput
• Inline: sudo config --enable normal

If you want to learn more about sudo in Windows 11, check out this blog post from Microsoft. The company is also open-sourcing the project, so expect to hear more information about sudo in its GitHub repository. Official documentation for sudo is available on the Microsoft Learn website.

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We've already reported on one new entry that shows Minecraft Education will add a way to save game worlds to OneDrive later in 2024. Here's a look at some of the other new features that were added to the roadmap last week.

Microsoft Teams - Adding a profile picture to group chats and more.

As usual, there were a lot of new Roadmap entries in the last week that revealed new features coming to Microsoft Teams. One of them that's coming in March for PC and Mac platforms will let group chats in Teams get their own profile pictures:

You will have a better way to reflect your team and group chat topic, with custom pictures. Group chat members can upload an image or use pre-selected illustrations and emojis, adding a layer of inclusivity and expression to their chat.

The web version of Teams will add a new feature in March that will allow admins to export "inactive teams and inactive domains reports to a csv file in Teams Admin Center." Another new Teams improvement that's coming in April 2024 for all of its platforms will shorten the URL for meetings and will also get rid of "unnecessary symbols/info from there to make it more convenient for sharing."

iOS Microsoft Teams users will get a new feature in March for recording video from their iPhones:

You can record a video clip with your phone camera and switch your background to any picture you want or make it blurry. With this feature, you can record yourself anywhere and share it with coworkers in your Teams chat or channel.

Finally, PC and Mac Teams admin users will get a new feature in March that will give them some control over presenters in meetings:

When enabled, presenters will no longer be able to control attendee mics and cameras, change the role of other participants, lower participants’ hands, and remove participants from the meeting. We want organizers to have control, flexibility, and structure in managing their meetings.

Microsoft Outlook - Schedule a Teams meeting from an email via Copilot and more

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced that the new Outlook for Windows app had added support for chatting in a Teams meeting without leaving the app. However, there's another Teams-related feature that's coming to all Outlook users in March as a public preview.

Often you may want to transition a conversation from an email thread to a meeting. Copilot helps you do this by being able to start scheduling right from the email conversation. It saves you time and effort by generating a meeting invite that's ready for you to review and send. When you click on "Schedule with Copilot" a meeting form will appear with a Copilot generated meeting title, agenda, and conversation summary as well as a pre-filled attendee list from the email thread and an attachment of the original email thread.

The new feature will be generally available in May.

App developers will be able to check out a new Outlook feature in March for the desktop and web editions.

Developers can now build and publish Teams apps with Outlook add-ins for use by their customers. Users can acquire these Teams apps with Outlook add-in for themselves via Outlook on the web, new Outlook for Windows, and classic Outlook for Windows clients. Admins can deploy to users from Integrated Apps in Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

Microsoft OneDrive - File Viewer updates for the web version

The Roadmap site shows that the web version of the OneDrive file storage service will be getting File Viewer updates in March.

OneDrive is enhancing the user interface and design of the file viewer to make it more useful and intuitive. We are adding a new toolbar, new panes, and collaboration features. Additionally, the file viewer will open files up to 50% faster once these updates launch.

That's our look back at the past seven days on the Microsoft 365 Roadmap. Come back next Sunday as we will once again check out some future updates for Teams and other apps listed on the website.

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