The support article for the new KB5027317 update says:

KB5027317: Setup Dynamic Update for Windows 11, version 21H2:

Summary

This update makes improvements to Setup binaries or any files that Setup uses for feature updates in Windows 11, version 21H2.

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

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

Content acquired includes:

• Setup Updates: Fixes to Setup binaries or any files that Setup uses for feature updates.

• Safe OS Updates: Fixes for the "safe OS" that are used to update Windows recovery environment (WinRE).

• Servicing Stack Updates: Fixes that are necessary to address the Windows 10 servicing stack issue and thus required to complete the feature update.

• Latest Cumulative Update: Installs the latest cumulative quality update.

• Driver Updates: Latest version of applicable drivers that have already been published by manufacturers into Windows Update and specifically targeted for Dynamic Update.

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

The Dynamic update is available only via Microsoft Update Catalog. You can download it by visiting this link. Windows 11 22H2 also got its Dynamic update under KB5027318 which you can find here.

Source

For Firefox ESR users, which are often found in organizations but also at home, Firefox 115 ESR is a massive update. It brings along with it all the changes introduced in Firefox since the release of Firefox 102 ESR. That browser was released a year ago and there have been plenty of changes in Firefox since then.

Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 installations of Firefox will be migrated automatically to Firefox 115 ESR. Mozilla continues to support these operating systems, while all Chromium-based browsers have dropped support by now. Firefox 115 ESR will be supported until September 2024.

Similarly, users of macOS 10.12, 10.13 and 10.14 devices will also be migrated to Firefox 115 ESR to stay supported until September 2024.

Executive Summary

• Firefox 115 ESR is the new base of the Extended Support Release channel.

Firefox 115 download and update

Mozilla Firefox 115's and 115 ESR's release date is July 4, 2023. Most browser installations will be updated automatically to the new version.

Firefox users may select Menu > Help > About Firefox to display the current version. Firefox runs a check for updates when the menu is opened and will download the latest version automatically or on the user's request.

Here are the official download locations:

• Firefox Stable download
• Firefox Beta download
• Nightly download
• Firefox ESR download
• Firefox for Android on Google Play

Firefox 115.0 new features and improvements

Some add-ons are blocked from running on certain sites

Firefox users who run add-ons that are not monitored by Mozilla may notice a new notification in Firefox when they visit certain sites. The notification informs them that "some extensions are not allowed" and were blocked from running on that site.

Mozilla writes on a support page: "As of Firefox version 115, we have introduced a new back-end feature to only allow some extensions monitored by Mozilla to run on specific websites for various reasons, including security concerns".

Mozilla makes no mention of the scope of this and the support article is extremely vague. The change is called Quarantined Domains by Mozilla.

Firefox users may undo the change in the following way:

• Load about:config in the Firefox address bar.
• Click Accept the Risk and Continue, if the prompt appears.
• Search for extensions.quarantinedDomains.enabled.
• Set it to FALSE.
• Restart Firefox.

Mozilla should consider publishing detailed information about the blocking in which it reveals all blocking rules.

New Firefox ESR base

Firefox 115 ESR includes all the changes that went into Firefox since the release of Firefox 102 back in 2022.

You may want to consult the following resources to get up to speed regarding the changes:

• Firefox 103
  • Toolbar access using the keyboard.
• Firefox 104
  • UI throttling to reduce power usage on devices that run on battery.
  • Power usage analysis
• Firefox 105
• Firefox 106
  • Firefox View introduced to improve access to open and closed tabs.
• Firefox 107
• Firefox 108
  • Support for Windows 11's efficiency mode added.
• Firefox 109
  • Initial support for Manifest V3 extensions.
• Firefox 110
  • GPU sandboxing support on Windows.
  • Option to prevent third-party modules from injecting themselves into Firefox on Windows.
• Firefox 111
  • Native notifications on Windows support added
• Firefox 112
• Firefox 113
  • Search Terms in the URLbar (instead of the URL)
  • Security improvements
  • Redesigned accessibility engine
  • Picture-in-Picture improvements
• Firefox 114
  • Secure DNS settings in UI
  • Search improvements

Other changes and fixes

• Firefox users who migrate from a Chrome-based browser may now import payment methods into Firefox, if they have saved them in the browser they migrate from.
• The interface for importing data from other browsers has been streamlined according to Mozilla.
• Firefox on Linux systems with Intel GPUs uses hardware video decoding now
• Firefox falls back to using Cisco's PpenH264 plugin for playback on systems that do not support H264.
• Windows users on "low-end / USB wifi drivers" who have geolocation disabled may now "approve geolocation on a case by case basis without causing system-wide network instability.".
• The password fields support undo and redo operations.
• A middle-click on the new tab button on Linux will now either load a site, if the clipboard contains an URL, or run a search using the default search provider, if it contains text.
• Firefox colourway themes will automatically be migrated to the same theme hosted on Mozilla's add-ons repository.

Developer changes

• The CSS animation-composition property is now supported by default.
• The Array.fromAsync() static method is now supported.
• The Array and TypedArray methods Array.toReversed(), Array.toSorted(), Array.toSpliced(), Array.with(), TypedArrays.toReversed(), TypedArrays.toSorted(), and TypedArrays.with() are now supported.
• The Response: json() static method is now supported, making it easier to construct Response objects for returning JSON data.
• The Sec-Purpose HTTP fetch metadata request header is now included in requests to Prefetch resources.
• The URL.canParse() static method can now be used to parse and validate an absolute URL, or a relative URL and base URL.
• The URLSearchParams.has() and URLSearchParams.delete() methods now support the optional value argument.
• Support has been added for storage.session, which provides the ability to store data in memory for the duration of the browser session.
• IndexedDB is now also supported in private browsing without memory limits thanks to encrypted storage on disk.
• The builtin editor now behaves similarly to other browsers with contenteditable and designMode when splitting a node.

Enterprise changes

• The FlashPlugin policy is no longer available.
• Firefox 102 ESR continues to be supported for another two releases before Firefox 115 ESR becomes the sole Extended Support Release.

Security updates / fixes

Will be added once published by Mozilla.

Additional information about the security fixes is available here.

Outlook

Firefox extension reviews and news

None

Additional information / resources

• Firefox 115 release notes
• Firefox 115 for Developers
• Firefox 115 for Enterprise
• Firefox Security Advisories
• Firefox Release Schedule

Source

If you have Kodi 20.0 or 20.1 installed and attempt to install this new version over the top, you shouldn’t encounter any issues but a backup of your userdata is recommended if you have doubts.

The release notes for this version are as follows:

Audio

• An assortment of E-AC3 related fixes were backported.

Estuary

• A fix to the Music Viz screen has been made by @enen92 in an endeavour to chase that elusive target of perfection
• Fixes to the seekbar timer when seeking.

Game/Retroplayer

• A fix to a crash by memory exhaustion when some emulators are used.

General

• A whole assortment of fixes were made to fix building Kodi with GCC13.

Platform Specific

• Android
  • A fix for a crash that occurred when >100 jobs where scheduled for the Android TV recommendation channels.
  • For some old Android devices that had both MediaTek and Google decoders for some media, a preference to using the Google decoder was put in as the MediaTek decoders fail to play back audio in encrypted streams.
• Linux
  • A PR was reverted that fixes some Linux setups to use the more generic library (GL) rather than the specific GLX library.
  • macOS/iOS
  • Fix speech recognition not working (https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/23341).
• Windows
  • Fixes to HDR playback when windows was already in HDR mode.
  • A backported fix for a potential deadlock for Xbox users when using pixel shaders and SW decoding.

PVR

• Fix crash on saved search (https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/23195).
• Fix last opened group not always restored on Kodi startup (https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/23165).

Python

• @garbear has backported a fix for setting Picture and Game info via infotags.
• GameInfo has been added to the Player class to allow get/set GameInfoTag data.
• A fix was backported that mainly affected Linux platforms: the path used when searching for modules was appending Kodi script paths at the end of the list, and therefore could potentially find system Python scripts/modules instead of Kodi-specific scripts/modules

Video

• Fix watched/unwatched status not taken into account for items not added to video library when creating playlists (https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/23398).
• Fix missing watched/unwatched status in Playlist window (https://github.com/xbmc/xbmc/pull/23013).

The latest version is already available across supported platforms from the Kodi downloads page. If you’ve installed Kodi on Android via the Google Play Store, you may not get the latest version right away due to the staged deployments Kodi employs to minimize the occurrence of issues for users.

Source

Alongside the headset, Apple also showed off its new visionOS operating system that will work in tandem to help in delivering these kinds of immersive and engaging experiences with the aid of Spatial Computing. The company says visionOS is the world's first, designed from the ground up, OS to enable Spatial computing. (Perhaps Windows Holographic makers may want to have a word here.)

visionOS works with existing Apple ecosystem tools like SwiftUI, RealityKit, ARKit, and more. Hence, it has been built in such a way that developers do not find it difficult to transition to building applications for the Vision Pro as they are already familiar with such tools. This is essentially what visionOS and spatial computing is about. Apple adds that the new OS has additional optimizations to deliver low latency, something which is extremely critical for an enjoyable AR, VR, or MR experience.

In its press release, Apple stated:

Featuring visionOS, the world’s first spatial operating system, Vision Pro lets users interact with digital content in a way that feels like it is physically present in their space.

visionOS features a three-dimensional interface that frees apps from the boundaries of a display so they can appear side by side at any scale.

Built on the foundation of decades of engineering innovation in macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, visionOS was designed from the ground up to support the low-latency requirements of spatial computing. The result is a revolutionary operating system that delivers powerful spatial experiences that can take advantage of the space around the user, unlocking new opportunities at work and at home.

And in case you were wondering what a Windows 11-version of visionOS would look like, this fan-made concept art is something you will probably love. The concept was designed by Twitter user @froggie621 (via FireCube).

The design is surprisingly good, so good in fact that perhaps even Apple and Microsoft would approve of it (although not really) in how well made it is. If users weren't aware, they may think this is the perfect Windows 11 port for the Vision Pro. Some of the characteristics of Windows 11 like the rounded corners stand out quite nicely and the attention to detail is praiseworthy.

Source

What you need to know

• Microsoft published a new blog post that rounds up all the new features added to Teams in June.
• It's now possible for Teams users to customize captions in Teams meetings.
• You can also mark all your notifications as read in Teams.
• Microsoft has expanded the Distribution Lists for lobby policy in Teams meetings to 10,000 users.

Microsoft has consistently pushed updates to its video conferencing and communication platform, Microsoft Teams. And at times, users might be unable to keep up with all the new features shipping to the tool. 

Fortunately, the company usually rounds up all the features that made it to the tool at the end of the month. Microsoft recently published a new blog post highlighting all the new features added to Teams across a wide range of operating systems and platforms in June.

Here's everything you need to know about June's updates, as highlighted by Microsoft:

Meetings

Microsoft has incorporated Spatial audio into Teams, a new audio experience designed to add "a next-generation immersive soundscape to Teams meetings when using either a wired stereo headset or built-in stereo speakers."

According to Microsoft, the experience makes conversations more natural since it "spatializes" the voices of attendees, thus increasing the sense of the audio.

Additionally, the company has also made significant enhancements to the Together mode feature in Teams. Right now, users can view the name labels supporting status icons and raised hands and reactions within the view. Moreover, you'll also be able to remove your own video from the gallery.

Another notable addition is the capability to customize captions in Teams meetings.

Chat and collaboration

Microsoft added several chat and collaboration features in Teams last month, including the capability to mark all your notifications in the activity as read. The feature is designed to help enhance productivity by allowing users to clear their notifications all at once. Previously, you had to go through each notification to mark it as read. This new feature will help save time for users.

Next up, the company has also introduced a compact chat list feature. It allows users to condense their chat list, ultimately allowing more chats to be featured on the screen. "This will help you quickly scan and prioritize which chat they want to focus on first," says Microsoft.

Teams users will also be able to display their location in their profiles. This way it's easier for your colleagues to determine where you're working from. It's worth noting that you can use a Teams device to update your status. Notably, when using the Scheduling Assistant in Outlook to schedule meetings, you'll also be able to see the updated location status.

Teams Rooms and Devices

Microsoft has now made it possible to customize the backgrounds in a Teams Room on Windows. This way, it's now easier for organizations to incorporate their brand and culture into the meetings. 

Additionally, meeting organizers and presenters can now select Together mode for all meeting participants. This way, selecting a layout that will blend with the meeting type will be easier. Previously, the capability was limited to individuals.

Other key changes include new default meeting layout options for IT admins. That is, Content only and Content + gallery. "Teams Rooms Standard, Premium, and Pro service customers additionally have Front row as one of their default layout options,'' Microsoft added.

The company has also made significant enhancements to the Teams Button on peripheral devices certified for Microsoft Teams. By pressing the button once, you'll be directed to the pre-join screen. You can join the meeting by pressing the button again. You can also use the button to bring the meeting back to focus on your screen if you've navigated away.

Here are all of the new Teams devices:

• Lenovo ThinkSmart Core with Lenovo IP Controller Kit for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows
• Yealink MVC860-C5 Bundle for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows
• Cisco Room Kit Pro for Teams Rooms on Android
• Poly Studio X52 and TC 10 for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android
• Cisco Desk Pro on Teams Rooms on Android
• Poly G7500 with Shure Microflex Large Room Bundle for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android
• Vaddio RoboSHOT 30E-M HD PTZ camera certified for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows
• Biamp Vidi 250 camera
• Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC Headset
• SIP Gateway now supports Edge series IP Phones from Poly
• Lenovo ThinkSmart View Plus Teams Display

Frontline Workers and Vertical Solutions

Frontline workers with shared Android devices will now be able to access Outlook, Edge, Viva Engage, and Power Apps. "Microsoft’s shared device mode allows frontline workers to easily authenticate by automatically signing users in and out of all the apps that have enabled this feature." 

Microsoft also said that it will be shipping Auto Connect to broad availability. As such, users will be able to automatically join the last connected, default single channel or the channel set by the user when launching Walkie Talkie.

IT Admin and Security

Microsoft Teams will now leverage Microsoft Defender for Office 365 capabilities to enhance the platform's security and protection. With this in place, it'll now be easier to deal with malicious entities. Additionally, Microsoft is incorporating Teams specific attack insights into the Microsoft 365 Defender portal.

Mobile

Users will now be able to upload files from OneDrive from Teams Mobile chat and channel. You can also view Recent files and attach most used files directly from the Recent section.

Microsoft has also updated the companion mode for Android Teams meetings. As such, users will now be able to add their Android device to an ongoing meeting to enhance interaction.

Platform

Here's everything new in Platform:

• Collaborative Stageview
• Search improvements in Teams App Store
• Export API Support for Teams Control Messages
• Share App to Channel or Chat
• Allow meeting apps to show an indicator on their icon to signal new activity

Webinars and Events

Microsoft has expanded the Distribution Lists for lobby policy in Teams meeting. Previously, if you'd set your lobby policy in a Teams meeting to "Invited Users Only” and invited a Distribution List (DL), only 1,000 users were recognized and allowed to access the lobby. However, the new update has pushed this limit to 10,000 users, though the lobby policy should be set as “Invited Users Only.”

Government

Microsoft has added several new features to government versions of Teams. The company usually ships these features to non-government versions of Teams first before rolling them out to government users.

Here are the features that rolled out to US Government Community Cloud (GCC), US Government Community Cloud High (GCC-High), and United States Department of Defense (DoD) in June:

• GCC-H support for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android
• Microsoft Teams: Virtual Appointments app for GCC
• Manage Surface Hubs as Teams devices from Teams admin center (GCCH)

Source

Deskmodder noticed that Validation OS now has updated ISOs based on build 22621.1702 and it happens to be the May Patch Tuesday release. Speaking of updated ISOs, Microsoft also released updated ISOs for the Moment 2 22H2 feature update recently in case you were looking for that. They were based on that same build too.

Here's how Microsoft defines its new Validation OS:

Microsoft Validation OS is a lightweight, fast, and customizable Windows 11-based operating system that you can use on the factory floor to diagnose, mitigate and repair hardware defects during Windows device manufacturing. Validation OS boots into a Command Line environment to increase reliability on the factory floor and supports running Win32 apps, smoothing the transition from early hardware bring-up to retail OS and apps development.

As you can see in Microsoft's description above, Validation OS supports Win32 apps which are meant to aid in the diagnostics of an in-development Windows 11-based project. That's because the Win32 API provides direct access to the system hardware and has various tools for diagnostics.

You can find more details and resources about Validation OS at these links:

• Mount and customize a Validation OS image

• Setup a bootable Validation OS installation

• Validation OS feature packages reference

• Launching an app or command when Validation OS starts

• Debugging Apps in Validation OS

   

If you wanted to try it out, Microsoft Validation OS is available for download as a Windows Image (.WIM) file at this link for both ARM64 and AMD64 architectures.

Source

Steam Hardware & Software Survey is a monthly survey Valve conducts to understand what technologies, software, and hardware customers use, which, in turn, helps the company and game developers to make decisions about future investments. Valve picks participants randomly and allows opting out of the survey. Therefore, the final data is never 100% accurate.

To no one's surprise, Windows 10 is still the most popular operating system among Steam customers. However, the gap between Windows 10 and 11 is steadily decreasing. Per Valve's latest findings, Windows 10 is currently at 59.43% (-1.08 points compared with the previous month), and Windows 11 is at 35.75% (+1.76 points), an all-time high for the OS that will soon turn two.

Overall, 96.77% of Steam users access the platform from Windows computers (that figure includes Windows 7 and 8.1). 1.79% use macOS and 1.44% are running Linux.

Now to the hardware side of the report, where the most notable changes are related to RAM and GPU models: 32GB of RAM is now the second most popular configuration, and the NVIDIA RTX 3060 is back in second place, overtaking the legendary NVIDIA GTX 1060.

You can find more information on the Steam Hardware & Software Survey page.

Source

While, the new build did come with Copilot, the feature is not enabled for everyone as Microsoft is currently experimenting with the feature. However, we have a quick tutorial on how to enable Copilot on Windows 11 if you want to give it a shot yourself.

Coming back to Copilot, the new feature is powered by Bing's Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is docked on the right side of the display. You can invoke Copilot using the Windows + C shortcut key or by clicking on the (easy to confuse with Office) icon in the taskbar. For some reason, Copilot requires an additional click in the text box and Windows does not automatically move the cursor to Copilot when it is launched.

Currently, Microsoft has not given a whole lot of settings for us to manipulate in Copilot. You can click on the three dots (...) on the top right corner of Copilot to open Settings. However, there is only one option, “Let Copilot use content from Microsoft Edge”. As for Copilot itself, you have three options, Creative, Balance and Precise to choose, similar to what Bing provides on the web.

Since Windows Copilot uses Bing, you can use it to ask all sorts of questions and are not limited to just Windows related topics. Like Bing, Copilot offers a huge range of topics and tasks to choose from, though NSFW content still remains unavailable.

To kick things off, I asked Copilot to prepare a to-do list for someone planning a trip to Singapore. This was followed with several questions surrounding the topic and Copilot was able to handle it quite well, albeit with the occasional delay or an error like “Let’s start over”.

This also led me to discover that Copilot has inherited Bing AI's limit of 30 queries, which was unfortunate to say the least. Microsoft has added a small footnote at the bottom that counts the number of queries you have used out of the allocated 30. Furthermore, I also noticed the maps and places were not very clear visually but that could just be a rendering issue that Microsoft may address in the future.

Moving on to Windows functions, in the Copilot announcement post, Microsoft suggested a couple of things to try which relates to Windows 11. This was more of a hit and miss as sometimes Copilot did what was intended but other times failed to do the task. Unfortunately, this also brought forward another issue with Copilot. The feature seems to be taking action immediately for some things and asking confirmations for the others. For instance, when asked to switch to dark mode, I got a pop-up asking me to confirm if I wish to switch to dark mode. However, when I asked it to take a screenshot, Copilot opened snipping tool for me to select the area of the screen I want to capture.

Next up, I asked Copilot to summarize the active Edge tab for me which went well. Copilot was able to give me bite size points as summary of the webpage along with a couple of related questions at the end. There is also a Learn more option, which I assume will give links to similar stories, but for me the option was not working.

Moving on, I tried the prompt given by Microsoft to generate an image within Copilot. This worked well and I was given four pictures created by Bing AI. Clicking on the picture took me to a website where I could see all the four pictures. Microsoft also gives a couple of options to share the link to the image, download it or customize it further in Microsoft Designer.

Lastly, I decided to go a little off the rails and ask it to help me stop Windows Updates using the Registry Editor. To its credit, Copilot did answer the question and gave me a step-by-step guide as well as videos on how to do it. However, Copilot did not actually action the request and I don't think it will in the future as well.

Conclusion

After using Copilot extensively for a day, I am quite impressed at what Microsoft has built and it could have a bright future ahead. As someone who grew up with Clippy, I do like the idea of having an AI assistant at beck and call, assisting me with work. At the same time, I wish Microsoft adds a way to have Copilot execute actions without giving confirmation prompts. This waters the whole point of having an assistant take actions on your behalf.

Moreover, the random bugs and glitches here and there can get frustrating at times. The fact that Copilot is still restricted to 30 queries, like Bing, is something that I am unable to understand. It takes away the point of having an assistant that can answer all the questions and help with real life problems.

All this combined with no voice typing (even though Bing Chat supports it) and offline support really kills the whole point of having Copilot to the side. While, it is understandable that most of the questions will require an internet connection to fetch details, Copilot could easily execute commands related to Windows without requiring an internet connection, something it fails to achieve in its current state.

Having said that, I do appreciate what Microsoft is trying to do with Copilot even if it is buggy and messy at times. In its current shape, Copilot is probably more suited for novices but if Microsoft spends time on it, Copilot could become an integral part of Windows ecosystem and hopefully work in tandem with third-party apps and services as well.

Source

Although the Taskbar on Windows 11 removes many of the legacy features, you can still change many settings to personalize the experience, and in this guide, you will learn how. 

As part of the Taskbar experience, you can, for example, choose the items that appear in Taskbar. You can align the app icons to the left instead of the centered view. You can manage the appearance of System Tray, including the ability to show seconds in the clock. It's also possible to keep the Taskbar hidden to make more space on the screen, control the Taskbar behavior across multiple monitors, and more.

This how-to guide will walk you through the settings you can customize in the redesigned Taskbar experience on Windows 11.

How to remove system items on Taskbar

In the Taskbar, you will find at least two types of items, including apps and system features, such as Windows Search, Widgets, Task View, and Chat. While you can always right-click and unpin an app from the interface, this is not possible with system items.

To add or remove system items from the Taskbar, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click the Taskbar page on the right side. 

• Quick note: You can also right-click the Taskbar and select the "Taskbar settings" option to access the settings page.

4. Click the Taskbar items setting.
5. Turn off the Task View toggle switch to remove the app icon.
6. Turn off the Chat toggle switch to remove the app icon.
7. Turn off the Widgets toggle switch to remove the feature icon. 

• Quick note: This option removes the icon but doesn't disable the feature. You can still access the dashboard with the "Windows key + W" keyboard shortcut.

Once you complete the steps, the items will be removed from the Taskbar.

At any time, you can enable the items again by using the instructions outlined above, but on steps 5, 6, and 7, turn on the toggle switch.

How to customize Search box on Taskbar

To customize the Windows Search box experience, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click the Taskbar page on the right side.
4. Click the Taskbar items setting.
5. Choose the experience from the Windows Search box setting:

• Hide: Removes the box from the Taskbar. You can still access the experience from the Start menu or the "Windows key + S" keyboard shortcut.
• Show icon only: Removes the search box and displays an icon to access the Search home interface.
• Search icon and label: Shows a bigger button with a label to open the Search home interface.
• Search box: Enables the search box with the Bing Chat integration button on the right side.

After you complete the steps, the Windows Search will reflect the applied settings.

How to add or remove apps on Taskbar

On Windows 11, you can pin or unpin virtually any app in at least two ways through the Start menu or the Taskbar context menu.

To add or remove the app icon from the Taskbar, use these steps:

1. Open Start. 
2. Click the All apps button.
3. Right-click the app, select the More submenu, and choose the "Pin to Taskbar" option

4. (Optional) Start the app, right-click the app icon from the Taskbar, and choose the "Pin to Taskbar" option.
5. Right-click the app icon and choose the "Unpin from Taskbar" option to remove the app.

Once you complete the steps, the Taskbar will only include the app icons you specified.

How to turn on or off Snap groups on Taskbar

When snapping apps on the screen, when hovering over an app, the Taskbar can show you a preview of the groups, which makes it easier to switch to the group snapped after switching to another application. However, depending on your preferences, you can turn this feature on or off.

To turn Snap groups on or off in the Taskbar, use these steps:

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

4. Click the Snap windows setting.
5. Check the "Show my snapped windows when I hover over taskbar apps, in Task View, and when I press Alt+Tab" option to enable the feature.

1. (Optional) Clear the "Show my snapped windows when I hover over taskbar apps, in Task View, and when I press Alt+Tab" option to disable the feature.

After you complete the steps, the Taskbar will reflect the specified configuration.

How to manage System Tray icons on Taskbar

In the Taskbar settings, you can customize various aspects of the System Tray, including choosing the items that appear in the experience, and you can enable the overflow menu to view hidden icons.

To manage System Tray icons on the Taskbar, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click the Taskbar page on the right side.

4. Click the "System tray items" setting.
5. Turn on or off the toggle switch to show the buttons to open the "Pen menu" or "Virtual touchpad."
6. Use the "Touch keyboard" setting to choose the behavior:

• Never: Disable the touch keyboard even when no hardware keyboard is attached.
• Always: Show the touch keyboard even when the hardware keyboard is attached.
• When no keyboard attached: Shows the touch keyboard only when the device is used as a tablet without the hardware keyboard.

7. Click the "Other system tray icons" setting.
8. Turn on the "Hiden icon menu" setting toggle switch to enable the menu to view hidden icons in the System tray.
9. Turn on or off the toggle switch for the icons you want to show or hide from the System Tray.

After you complete the steps, the System Tray will reflect the applied settings.

How to change icon alignment on Taskbar

Traditionally, the items in the Taskbar always appeared on the left side, but the new interface has a centered alignment. However, you can always change the alignment to the position of your choice.

To align the Taskbar items to the left side on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click the Taskbar page on the right side.

4. Click the Taskbar behaviors setting.
5. Choose the Left option to align the Start button and apps to the left side of the Taskbar in the "Taskbar alignment" setting.

6. (Optional) Choose the Center option to align the Start button and apps to the center of the Taskbar.

Once you complete the steps, the Start menu button, Widgets, Chat, Search, and app icons will align to the left side of the screen.

How to enable auto-hide on Taskbar

On Windows 11, you can also set the Taskbar to hide automatically when you move the mouse pointer away from the interface, freeing up space on the screen and making the Taskbar available when needed.

To hide the Taskbar automatically on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click the Taskbar page on the right side.

4. Click the "Taskbar behaviors" setting.
5. Check the "Automatically hide the taskbar" option to enable the feature.

• (Optional) Clear the "Automatically hide the taskbar" option to turn off the feature.

After completing the steps, the Taskbar will automatically hide when you move the pointer away from it. 

How to disable badge notifications on Taskbar

As part of the notification system, apps in the Taskbar can also show a badge with the number of unread messages. However, if you don't find this feature useful or distracting, you can disable it from the Settings app.

To disable badge notifications for app icons in the Taskbar, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click the Taskbar page on the right side.

4. Click the "Taskbar behaviors" setting.
5. Clear the "Show badges on taskbar apps" option.

6. (Optional) Check the "Show badges on taskbar apps" option.

Once you complete the steps, you will no longer see badge notifications on app icons with the number of unread messages in the Taskbar.

How to disable flashing icons on Taskbar

When an app requires your attention, the Taskbar will flash the icon, but you can always turn off this behavior.

To prevent apps from flashing to call for attention in the Taskbar, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click the Taskbar page on the right side.

4. Click the "Taskbar behaviors" setting.
5. Clear the "Show flashing on taskbar apps" option to disable the feature.

6. (Optional) Check the "Show flashing on taskbar apps" option to enable the feature.

After you complete the steps, the Taskbar will no longer flash apps when they may require your attention to minimize distractions.

How to show Taskbar on all monitors on Windows 11

If you use a multi-monitor setup, you can configure the experience to show the Taskbar across every display. Also, you can change the behavior of how apps appear.

To show the Taskbar on every monitor on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click the Taskbar page on the right side.

4. Click the "Taskbar behaviors" setting.
5. Check the "Show my taskbar on all displays" option to enable the feature.
6. Choose how apps will appear across the Taskbars in the "When using multiple displays, show my taskbar apps on" setting:

• Taskbar where window is open.
• Main taskbar and taskbar where window is open.
• All taskbars.

7. (Optional) Clear the "Show my taskbar on all displays " option to disable the feature.

Once you complete the steps, the Taskbar will appear not only on the primary screen but across all the displays with the app behavior you specified.

How to show seconds in System Tray on Taskbar

On Windows 11, starting with the Moment 3 update, it's now possible to show seconds as part of the System Tray clock, but at the cost of wasting more system resources and battery.

To show seconds in the System Tray alongside the current date and time, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click the Taskbar page on the right side.

4. Click the "Taskbar behaviors" setting.
5. Check the "Show seconds in system tray clock" option.

After you complete the steps, the Taskbar clock will show hours, minutes, and seconds in the System Tray.

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It is easy to lose track of new features and major changes since Microsoft releases new Windows 11 preview builds each week. Therefore, here are five great features the next OS update should introduce.

Everything mentioned below is available for testing in the most recent Windows 11 Dev builds. If something is tempting you to jump from the stable release to the Dev Channel, remember that preview builds are unsupported and prone to bugs. Also, some changes are rolling out gradually and require either a lucky ticket or the ViVeTool app for manual enablement.

With all warnings covered, here are our five favorite features coming soon to Windows 11, plus the traditional bonus wallpaper.

1. Dynamic Lighting

Controlling your PC's colourful RGB puke accessories will soon become much easier thanks to the Dynamic Lighting feature. It is a new Settings section for managing RGB lights in your mouse and keyboard without installing extra software, which is often clunky, buggy, and ugly.

Dynamic Lighting uses the open HID LampArray standard to ensure the system can control as many peripheral devices as possible.

Dynamic Lighting sits under the Personalization section, letting you change brightness, colours, lighting effects, control integrations with compatible applications, and more. The current list of supported mice and keyboards is limited, but Microsoft promises to expand it with devices from other manufacturers.

2. Improved Windows Ink

Here is one for those owning a Windows laptop or tablet with digital stylus support. One of the recent Dev builds introduced several notable Windows Ink improvements, enabling you to type into any text field by handwriting with your stylus. Just grab your pen and start writing on a text box. Besides, you can scratch out to remove a symbol or word.

Note that US English is currently the only supported language.

3. Passkeys support

Following the introduction of Windows Hello in 2015, Microsoft is adopting a new passwordless standard for its operating system. The upcoming Windows 11 update will bring passkeys support, a safer and easier alternative to passwords. You can create, store, and use passkeys on your Windows 11 PC and sign into websites and apps using Windows Hello.

4. Native support for more archive formats

Windows 11 will soon remove the need for third-party compressing software by letting you open and extract files stored in more archive formats. In addition to the existing ZIP support, File Explorer will be able to process tar, tar gz, tar bz2, tar zst, tar xz, tgz, tbz2, tzst, txz, rar, 7z, and more.

Of course, you may still need WinRAR (the company is not scared) or similar apps if you frequently work with archives, pack files, and perform other advanced actions. However, for most regular users, who only need to unpack a bunch of RAR files occasionally, the upcoming Windows 11 update will be a perfect opportunity to ditch third-party archiving software.

5. Improved backup and restore

Windows is getting a new system app called Windows Backup. It will give users a quick and easy way to back up their current computers for peace of mind or to transfer the content to other devices. The app can move folders, applications, settings, credentials, and even remember your pins, so the apps you use remain where you left them.

It is worth noting that app backup works not only with the Microsoft Store programs—upon clicking the restored pin, Windows 11 will give you the option to download the app from its official website. Restoring a computer or moving to another one not be something you frequently do, but you will appreciate the improved experience enabling you to get started with your device much faster.

Honorable Mention: Improved Snap Layouts

Windows 11 has fantastic window-managing tools that make arranging apps on your monitor a delightful experience. With "version 23H2" coming later this year, Snap Layouts (that popup you can see when hovering the cursor over the maximize button or dragging a window to the top of the screen) will allow you to snap multiple apps instantly.

The operating system will try to predict what programs you may want to use side-by-side and offer you to snap them with a single click.

Bonus: Wallpaper

Here is the wallpaper from this article:

These six features are not everything Microsoft has prepared for its upcoming Windows update. In addition to new capabilities, the company is about to restore previously missing features, such as the taskbar's "never combine" mode and labels. Windows Copilot is another big (is it?) feature that should bring the power of AI to your desktop. And since we have a few more months before the public rollout, you can expect Microsoft to introduce more changes and improvements.

What new Windows 11 feature excites you the most? Let everyone know in the comment section.

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Such a method is not-so-user-friendly and only works when you launch the browser using the modified shortcut. Luckily, after a few weeks of testing, Microsoft is ready to give insiders a notably better alternative.

As spotted by @Leopeva64 on Twitter (which seems to be not having a good time under the jenius rule of Elon Musk), one of the most recent Edge Canary updates introduced a dedicated flag for enabling mouse gestures. This makes the feature easier to enable and use without relying on a specific shortcut. Here is how to enable mouse gestures in Microsoft Edge Canary.

Enable mouse gestures in Microsoft Edge.

1. Update Microsoft Edge Canary to the latest version: head to edge://settings/help and wait for the browser to download and install available updates.
2. Go to edge://flags and type "Edge Mouse Gesture" into the search box. Alternatively, use the edge://flags/#edge-mouse-gesture link.
3. Change the flag's status from Default to Enabled and restart Microsoft Edge Canary.
4. Now you can use and customize mouse gestures. Go to Settings > Appearance > Mouse Gesture and toggle on the Enable Mouse Gesture option.

    

   
5. You can use and personalize 16 different gestures. Although the browser will not let you set custom keyboard shortcuts, available options include plenty of actions to make the feature fit your needs. To customize mouse gestures in Edge, go to Settings > Appearance > Configure Mouse Gesture.

Currently, mouse gestures are only available in the Canary Channel, which often suffers from instabilities and bugs. Therefore, we do not recommend using it as your primary browser. You can run it side-by-side with the stable release or wait for Microsoft to ship the flag to Dev or Beta. Hopefully, it will not take too long.

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Disclaimer: Third-party reports are never 100% accurate, so take the data with a grain of salt. To better understand Statcounter's findings, check out the FAQ section on the official website.

Google Chrome continues reigning the desktop browser market (spoiler: mobile too) with a 61.1% share. However, last month, it lost 4.78 points, which is a notable change for the market, where month-to-month fluctuations are usually within one or two points. All that market share went to other browsers, resulting in Chrome being the only player "in red" last month.

Safari, on the other hand, keeps growing after overtaking Microsoft Edge in March 2023. Apple's desktop browser is now at its all-time high of 14.45% (+1.6 points). Finally, Microsoft Edge, the world's third most popular browser, is back above the 10% mark with a 10.77% share (+0.83 points).

Here are the top five desktop browsers according to Statcounter:

1. Google Chrome - 61.1% (-4.78 points)
2. Apple Safari - 14.45% (+1.6 points)
3. Microsoft Edge - 10.77% (+0.83 points)
4. Mozilla Firefox - 6.04% (+0.74 points)
5. Opera - 5.31% (+1.27 points)

Interestingly, things are the opposite on the mobile side of the market: Google Chrome reclaimed its lost market share while other popular browsers lost some of their consumer bases. Sadly for Microsoft, Edge is nowhere to be found.

1. Google Chrome - 64.82% (+3.55 points)
2. Apple Safari - 24.82% (-2.85 points)
3. Samsung Internet - 4.3% (-0.65 points)
4. UC Browser - 1.81% (+0.28 points)
5. Opera - 1.75% (-0.04 points)

You can find more information about Statcounter's June 2023 report on the official website. The previous month's report is available here.

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Although certain security features like Trusted Platform Module (TPM) or PTT (Platform Trust Technology) in the case of Intel, and Secure Boot, among others, were already introduced during the Windows 10 days, Microsoft made these security features mandatory on Windows 11. (Fun fact: It looks like Microsoft contemplated bringing these changes in Windows 10 itself but evidently, that did not happen).

David Weston, the Vice President, Enterprise and OS Security at Microsoft, said:

It simplifies everything for everyone, including IT admins who may not also be security experts. You can change configurations and optimize Windows 11 protections based on your needs or rely on default security settings. Secure-by-default extends the same flexibility to users, allowing them to safely choose their own applications while still maintaining tight security.

Microsoft has in the past explained in detail the benefits of features like TPM 2.0 and VBS (Virtualization-based Security). The company also presented a demo to explain how such features can protect against cybersecurity threats like hacking.

However, security researchers recently pointed out a new vulnerability dubbed "faulTPM" which can lead to bypassing fTPM on AMD systems. And sometimes, bugs in Windows components like Defender can lead to the system not detecting the TPM itself. (TPM attestation bugs exist as well.)

Such drawbacks may be rectified in future releases of Windows 11 as Weston adds that Microsoft is improving the security aspect further, and even hints that more chip-level protections combining modern hardware and software could be in the making. Microsoft states:

Future releases of Windows 11 will continue to add significant security updates that add even more protection from the chip to the cloud by combining modern hardware and software

Windows 11 is a better way for everyone to collaborate, share, and present, all with the confidence of hardware-backed protections.

If you recall, Microsoft Pluton security co-processor already exists, though it is yet to become mainstream as it is AMD-only at the moment. Rumor has it though that Microsoft might make Pluton a mandatory system requirement on Windows 12.

Last year, Microsoft detailed the new security features in version 22H2 feature update, and the company also recently introduced Rust in the Windows kernel for improved memory security.

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Internet users who use Google Chrome continue to be tracked when the change lands in the browser. The method is different and Google is sugarcoating the change to make it more agreeable. Google plans to drop support for third-party cookies in Chrome in 2024.

Chrome users who update their web browser to Chrome 115 may see the following popup on the next start.

Google plans to display the popup to all Chrome users eventually, but not at the same time. The popup rolls out to the entire population over the course of weeks or even months. Eventually though, most Chrome users will have seen the popup and reacted to it.

Reacted? Yes, because the popup is not a normal popup that one can dismiss by closing the tab or navigating away. The entire browser is locked when the popup is displayed and will only be unlocked once Chrome users respond to it. Note that it is not even possible to move the Chrome window or resize it. Every action is locked.

This may require clicking on the "more" link and either accepting Privacy Sandbox with a click or tap on the highlighted "got it" button, or a click on the regular Settings button.

Google writes that it is "launching new privacy features" in Chrome that give users of the browser "more choice over the ads" that they see.

There are several of these Privacy Sandbox popups, which are designed for certain regions of the world.

The "Turn on ad privacy feature" popup on the other hand has a "no, thanks" button next to the "turn it on" button in the popup.

The entire system is based on the user's browsing history. Chrome analyzes the browsing history to determine interests and sites may access the data to display personalized ads to Chrome users.

The "Other features that make ads more private" popup is displayed when a Chrome users selects the no option. It emphasizes that the change limits the information that sites may gather about Chrome users and includes just a "got it" option and the link to the Settings.

Then there is "new ads privacy feature now available" popup, which contains a single paragraph of text and just the got it button.

The new Ads privacy settings

Google emphasizes that Chrome users have a say when it comes to these interests. While it is true that Chrome users may manage these on the new Ads Privacy settings page of the browser, available by loading chrome://settings/adPrivacy, most will probably ignore the option or be unaware of it in first place.

Ads Privacy may list the following options when opened in the web browser:

• Ad topics -- Google Chrome displays the identified interests, called topics, when this page is selected. Chrome users may block these and they may also disable the Ad topics feature here.
• Site-suggested ads -- This settings page lists the websites that may identify a user's topics of interests. The feature can be turned off here and sites may be blocked by the user.
• Ad measurement -- The feature allows advertisers and sites to measure the performance of their ads. Chrome users may disable the functionality here.

Google Chrome users may turn off all of the features in the Settings. There is also the option to disable features using Chrome's experimental flags feature.

Privacy Sandbox Ads APIs -- chrome://flags/#privacy-sandbox-ads-apis -- this disables all of the APIs and should also block all of the features from working in the browser.

Privacy Sandbox Settings v4 -- chrome://flags/#privacy-sandbox-settings-4 -- this determines if popups need to be displayed or have been displayed, and whether the Ads privacy settings page is available in Google Chrome.

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Following that update, Microsoft also made similar changes to the activation troubleshooter dialog box as well. While the troubleshooter is probably not something one uses regularly or very often, it was still good to see Microsoft following a consistent design philosophy in this case. Although both of these were noteworthy changes, they were not really significant re-design.

However, Microsoft has, in the meantime, also updated the Product Activation website UI of its telephone-assisted activation service. This one, in all measures, looks like a fantastic redesign and a UI update compared to the activation dialog box and troubleshooter dialog box we mentioned earlier. It does not appear to be a minimal change like those were. The colours are bright and the UI and UX (user experience) look really easy to navigate through as it appears to be rather intuitive.

The options appear to be easily clickable too and this means most users, even those who aren't the most savvy or knowledgeable about tech, should have no problems using the new Microsoft Product Activation website. This activation website is provided to the users via a link which is provided by Microsoft itself when one reaches out to the company using telephone support.

The first screen asks users to choose the product they wish to activate, like Windows or Microsoft Office.

Next up, as you can see in the images above, when one chooses either Windows or Microsoft Office, the following screen asks users to enter the version or edition of Windows, or Windows Server, or Office they wish to activate.

Source: Xeno (Twitter)

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In case you don't remember, Microsoft first debuted Windows Copilot during its annual Build developer conference in May. Windows Copilot was designed to act as your Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistant to help navigate through Windows 11 as well as provide you tips on being more productive and efficient with Windows. The new feature finally made it to the Dev build yesterday but Microsoft is currently doing a controlled A/B testing so not all the users with the latest Dev build have access to Copilot. If you are one of the unlucky users (like me) then you can follow the steps below to force enable Windows Copilot on Build 23493.

1. Download ViveTool from GitHub
2. Once downloaded open the zip folder and extract all the files on your computer. We would recommend extracting the files inside a folder for easier usage

   

    

3. Click on Start menu and type 'CMD' and click on the 'Run as administrator' option (You can also use Windows Terminal in Command Line profile)

   

    

4. Once done, navigate to the folder where you have extracted all the files using the 'cd' command
5. Now, enter the following commands in the Command Prompt window
   vivetool /enable /id:44774629,44850061,44776738,42105254,41655236

   

    

6. Restart your computer

Once your system has restarted, you should see the copilot icon on the taskbar, tucked between Search and Task View options. You can click on the icon to launch Copilot or press Windows + C shortcut to open it.

Copilot icon on the Taskbar is managed through Windows Settings so you can head to Windows Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and disable the icon if you don't want it showing up on the Taskbar.

Turning off the Taskbar icon will not have any impact on Copilot and you can still launch it using the Windows shortcut key. Do note that Windows Copilot is currently in the testing phase so you may see bugs or glitches when using it on your system.

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Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1972 and Build 22631.1972 (KB5027295) to the Beta Channel.

• Build 22631.1972 = New features rolling out.
• Build 22621.1972 = New features off by default.

The new build gets several bug fixes like one related to the RAM, an issue related to BitLocker, and more. It also brings WinUI 3 support for Windows App SDK. The full changelog is given below:

Changes and Improvements in Build 22631.1972

[File Explorer]

• Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel on Build 22631 are now previewing the Windows App SDK version of File Explorer. Functionality in File Explorer remains unchanged, it just switches from using WinUI 2 to using WinUI 3.

Fixes in Build 22631.1972

[Settings]

• The option to “Hide date and time in the System tray” from the last flight should no longer be backwards (on being off, off being on).

Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.1972 & Build 22631.1972

• New! This update improves several simplified Chinese fonts and the Microsoft Pinyin Input Method Editor (IME) to support GB18030-2022. You can enter and display characters from conformance level 1 or 2 using the additions to Microsoft Yahei, Simsun, and Dengxian. This update now supports Unicode Extensions E and F in the Simsun Ext-B font. This meets the requirements for level 3.

• New! With this update, you can now authenticate across Microsoft clouds. This feature also satisfies Conditional Access checks if they are needed.

• New! This update improves the sharing of a local file in File Explorer with Microsoft Outlook contacts. You now have the option to quickly email the file to yourself. In addition, loading your contacts from Outlook is better. This feature is not available for files stored in Microsoft OneDrive folders. OneDrive has its own sharing functionality.

• New! This update expands the roll out of notification badging for Microsoft accounts on the Start menu. A Microsoft account is what connects Windows to your Microsoft apps. The account backs up all your data and helps you to manage your subscriptions. You can also add extra security steps to keep you from being locked out of your account. This feature gives you quick access to important account-related notifications.

• New! This update adds many new features and improvements to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. For more information, see Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.

• This update addresses an issue that affects TextInputHost.exe. It stops working.

• This update addresses an issue that affects HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders. You can now set and maintain the correct default permissions for this directory path. When the permissions are wrong, Start menu, search, and Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication fails.

• This update addresses an issue that affects devices that use the Network Protector for BitLocker. The device will not resume after it has been suspended.

• This update addresses an issue that affects certain applications that use IDBObjectStore. They do not work in Microsoft Edge and IE mode.

• This update addresses an issue that affects a scheduled monthly task. It might not run on time if the next occurrence happens when daylight savings time occurs.

• This update addresses an issue that affects Narrator. It reads the wrong state when you cancel the selection of an option button you have selected.

• This update gives user accounts the ability to open an elevated Windows Terminal. This only works if they use an admin account that has not signed in before.

• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer (explorer.exe). It stops working.

• This update addresses an issue that affects Narrator. The issue stops Narrator from retaining your scan mode when you switch between browsers.

• This update addresses an issue that affects certain apps. It stops working when it tries to scan a barcode.

• This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft Intune push notifications. The issue stops devices that have less than 3.5 GB of RAM from getting them.

• This update addresses an issue that affects Teams. The issue stops Teams from alerting you about missed calls or messages.

• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer windows. They unexpectedly appear in the foreground.

• This update affects Active Directory event ID 1644 processing. It now accepts events of greater than 64 KB in length. This change truncates Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) queries contained within event 1644 to 20000 characters by default. You can configure the 20K value using the registry key “DEFAULT_DB_EXPENSIVE_SEARCH_FILTER_MAX_LOGGING_LENGTH_IN_CHARS.”

• This update addresses an issue that affects Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 users. You might not see the right location for a Remote Desktop session in your virtual machine or Cloud PC.

• This update affects the reliability of Windows. It improves after you update the OS.

• This update addresses an issue that affects some earbuds. They stop streaming music.

• This update addresses an issue that affects .msi files. A minor update is not installed. This occurs when you use the EnterpriseDesktopAppManagement configuration service provider (CSP) to distribute the .msi file.

• This update addresses an issue that affects a tib.sys driver. It does not load. This occurs when HyperVisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI) is enabled.

• This update addresses an issue that affects the on-screen keyboard. The issue stops it from opening after you lock the machine.

• This update addresses an issue that affects msftconnecttext.net. It gets excessive HTTP traffic.

• This update addresses an issue that might affect your computer when you are playing a game. Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) errors might occur.

• This update addresses an issue that affects those who enable the “Smart Card is Required for Interactive Logon” account option. When RC4 is disabled, you cannot authenticate to Remote Desktop Services farms. The error message is, “An authentication error has occurred. The requested encryption type is not supported by the KDC.”

• This update addresses an issue that affects the Recommended section of the Start menu. When you right-click a local file, it does not behave as expected.

• This update affects the Desktop Window Manager (DWM). It improves its reliability.

• This update addresses an issue that affects all the registry settings under the Policies paths. They might be deleted. This occurs when you do not rename the local temporary user policy file during Group Policy processing.

• This update addresses an issue that affects the Spooler service. It stops working. This issue occurs when you print using a certain workspace.

• This update addresses an issue that affects certain apps. In some instances, video flickering occurs.

• This update addresses an issue that affects File Explorer. It might stop responding indefinitely. This occurs after you try to view the effective access permissions for files in File Explorer.

You can find the official blog post here on Microsoft's website.

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Today, Microsoft announced that the newly launched Windows 11 Dev channel build 23493 for Insiders is now rolling out support for opening RAR files natively, along with many other file formats. Here's the full list:

• .tar
• .tar.gz
• .tar.bz2
• .tar.zst
• .tar.xz
• .tgz
• .tbz2
• .tzst
• .txz
• .rar
• .7z
• And more!

Microsoft used the libarchive open-source project to enable Windows 11 to open up these kinds of files natively. As usual with Dev Channel releases, it may take a while for this new support to be enabled for all Windows 11 users.

The reveal that RAR files will soon be supported by Windows 11 made many people wonder about the fate of WinRAR, which has developed its third-party app for these kinds of files for decades.

In a statement sent to Neowin, Louise Cusworth of the WinRAR sales team said back in late May that "we were taken by surprise by the announcement" and while they were "concerned" about how this might affect the use of WinRAR, Cusworth added, "hopefully, there are enough people out there who will continue to support a small software company like us, so that we can continue to develop WinRAR for a long time to come!"

Since then, WinRAR's Twitter feed has indicated it was more than just "concerned" about the future of the company. However, it has also celebrated what looks like an increase in the number of people who have decided to purchase the full version of WinRAR. We will have to see if this will continue after RAR support is added to all Windows 11 versions.

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Unlike the previous Windows 11 builds, version 23493 ships with the updated mixer enabled by default. It features several new things that make controlling the volume, audio output devices, and audio features much more convenient.

You can invoke the new volume mixer by pressing Win + Ctrl + V or clicking the settings button next to the volume slider in the Quick Settings menu. After that, Windows 11 will let you change the audio output device and turn on or off Spatial Audio (Dolby Atmos, Windows Sonic, or another installed spatial sound technology). More importantly, the updated mixer now supports adjusting the volume per app, which previously required navigating to the Settings app, using Game Bar, or installing a third-party program.

Microsoft says the refined mixer will help users tailor their experience with more controls and fewer clicks. You can learn more about other new features Microsoft introduced in build 23493 (including Windows Copilot Preview) in our dedicated coverage.

The updated volume controls should arrive in the stable channel later this year. Microsoft plans to release Windows 11 version 23H2 in the second half of this year, and you can expect it to have the new mixer alongside other novelties, such as the "never combine" option for the taskbar and more.

Bonus: Did you know Windows 11 lets you adjust the volume with the mouse wheel? Hover the cursor over the volume icon and scroll with your wheel to turn the volume up or down. Microsoft introduced this feature in the Windows 11 22H2 update last year.

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Today, the tech giant is improving the Backup app such that it now supports even more types of applications, and app pins for desktop apps that weren't installed from the Microsoft Store will also be supported from now on. This will be done by redirecting users to the web such that the installer for that particular application can be downloaded over the web.

Microsoft says:

Restore for more apps
Adding to the capabilities of the backup and restore improvements we announced in May, this build extends support to even more types of apps. Users will now see pins for their desktop app restored on the taskbar and Start Menu, including desktop apps that were not installed from the Microsoft Store.

Desktop apps that are available in the Microsoft Store can be restored by clicking on the app pin to get started. For apps that aren’t available in the Microsoft Store, you’ll be directed to the web to download the installer.

[...]

To try out this experience, both the backup and restore devices need to be updated to this build. Once you’re backed up either via the new Windows Backup app or by visiting Accounts/Windows Backup in settings, you can try out the new restore during the out-of-box-experience (OOBE) when setting up a new PC or by resetting an existing PC (Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC) with this build.

Aside from app restore and backup, Build 23493 also comes with many more changes and you can read about it in its separate article here.

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This is one of the biggest releases for the Dev channel in quite some time. It contains the first public release of the generative AI assistant Windows Copilot, which was introduced at Build 2023. There's also a new Settings homepage, a new volume mixer, and the long-awaited native support for several archive file types, including RAR.

Here's the changelog:

What’s new in Build 23493

Windows Copilot Preview

Back in May at the Build conference, we introduced Windows Copilot for Windows 11. In today’s flight we are offering an early look of Windows Copilot to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel via a controlled feature rollout. This first preview focuses on our integrated UI experience, with additional functionality coming down the road in future previews. To use Copilot in this flight you must have Windows Build 23493 or higher in the Dev Channel, and Microsoft Edge version 115.0.1901.150 or higher.

Click the new button on the taskbar to launch Windows Copilot

To get started, just click on the new button on the taskbar (or WIN + C) to launch Windows Copilot. Windows Copilot will use the same Microsoft account (MSA) or Azure Active Directory (AAD) account used to sign-in to Windows.

Windows Copilot docked with Microsoft Edge in the foreground and showing a summary of a website.

Windows Copilot will appear as a side bar docked to the right where it won’t overlap with your desktop content and will run unobstructed alongside your open app windows, allowing you to interact with Windows Copilot anytime you need.

In this first preview, you can ask Windows Copilot a range of questions or to take actions such as:

• “Change to dark mode.”
• “Turn on do not disturb.”
• “Take a screenshot”
• "Summarize this website" (Active tab in Microsoft Edge)
• “Write a story about a dog who lives on the moon.”
• “Make me a picture of a serene koi fishpond with lily pads.”

Just click the “…” icon at the top right of the side bar in Windows Copilot to submit feedback on any issues you run into. We’ll have more to come including expanding the preview to more Windows Insiders in other channels over time and adding policies to allow IT admins to manage this experience in their organizations.

Windows Copilot with Bing Chat generates responses that are contextual and improves your experience in Windows. You may see inline recommendations we think are relevant through ads in Bing. We'll continue to learn and listen to customer feedback. Understand what Bing does with your data by visiting Microsoft Privacy Statement. Read more about our responsible AI journey, the ethical principles that guide us, and the tooling and capabilities we’ve created to assure that we develop AI technology responsibly at Microsoft’s commitment to responsible AI.

Please note that not everything shown at Build for Windows Copilot is included in this first, early preview. For example, Windows Copilot has a basic set of Windows settings plugins but no third-party plugin support yet. Over time, features will be added as we refine the Windows Copilot experience with Windows Insiders.

[We are beginning to roll this out, so the experience isn’t available to all Insiders in the Dev Channel just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

Introducing the new Settings homepage

We're introducing a new homepage in Settings that offers you a dynamic and personalized experience. It provides an overview of your device, quick access to key settings, and helps manage your Microsoft account.

New Settings homepage.

We created interactive cards that represent various device and account related settings, grouped by commonly accessed functions. Each card is optimized to offer the most relevant information and controls at your fingertips. In this release, you'll see up to seven cards, with more coming soon.

Here's an overview of each card:

• Recommended settings: This card adapts to your specific usage patterns, providing timely and relevant settings options. It’s designed to streamline your settings management and save you time.
• Cloud storage: Gives you an overview of your cloud storage use and lets you know when you’re nearing capacity.
• Account recovery: Helps keep your Microsoft account more secure by helping you add additional recovery info so you never get locked out of your account, even if you forget your password.
• Personalization: Brings customization to the forefront by offering one-click access to update your background theme or change your colour mode.
• Microsoft 365: Provides a quick glimpse of your subscription status and benefits, along with the ability to take some key actions right in Settings instead of going to the web.
• Xbox: Similar to the Microsoft 365 card, you’ll be able to view your subscription status and manage the subscription from the Settings app.
• Bluetooth Devices: To simplify your Bluetooth device management experience, we’ve brought this to the forefront so you can quickly access and connect to your favorite Bluetooth-enabled devices.

You can take swift actions directly from this page with just a click, making device and account management seamless and efficient. What sets the homepage apart even further is that it's more than just a landing page—it evolves and learns with you. As you use your device, it’ll adjust to provide the most relevant and useful information based on your usage and preferences.

NOTE: This experience will only be available on Windows 11 Home and Pro editions and not on devices managed by organizations.

[We are beginning to roll this out, so the experience isn’t available to all Insiders in the Dev Channel just yet as we plan to monitor feedback and see how it lands before pushing it out to everyone.]

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Settings > Settings Homepage.

Restore for more apps

Adding to the capabilities of the backup and restore improvements we announced in May, this build extends support to even more types of apps. Users will now see pins for their desktop app restored on the taskbar and Start Menu, including desktop apps that were not installed from the Microsoft Store.

Desktop apps that are available in the Microsoft Store can be restored by clicking on the app pin to get started. For apps that aren’t available in the Microsoft Store, you’ll be directed to the web to download the installer.

Screenshot showing a dialog box to install an app from the web

To try out this experience, both the backup and restore devices need to be updated to this build. Once you’re backed up either via the new Windows Backup app or by visiting Accounts/Windows Backup in settings, you can try out the new restore during the out-of-box-experience (OOBE) when setting up a new PC or by resetting an existing PC (Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC) with this build.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Install and Update > Backup and Restore.

Native support for reading additional archive file formats

As announced at the Build conference back in May, this build adds native support for reading additional archive file formats using the libarchive open-source project such as

• .tar
• .tar.gz
• .tar.bz2
• .tar.zst
• .tar.xz
• .tgz
• .tbz2
• .tzst
• .txz
• .rar
• .7z
• And more!

Please note we are aware of some performance issues with some archive file formats – see the known issues below.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Files, Folders, and Online Storage > File Explorer.

New volume mixer experience in Quick Settings

We’re introducing a new enhanced volume mixer into Quick Settings! The updated audio quick settings experience brings a modern volume mixer that allows for quick customization of audio on a per-app basis, with additional control to swap devices on the fly. We’ve also added a new keyboard shortcut (WIN + CTRL + V) to bring you directly to the volume mixer for faster control of the experience. With this change, you can now tailor your audio experience better with more control and fewer clicks to better manage your favorite apps.

New volume mixer experience in Quick Settings

In addition, we’ve made it easier for users to enable their Windows Sonic experience with a quick access list of installed spatial sound technology. You can visit the Microsoft Store to find additional spatial sound technology to choose from such as Dolby and DTS.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Desktop Environment > Quick Settings.

Narrator natural voices in Japanese and English (Great British)

We are introducing new natural voices in Japanese and English (Great British) that allow Narrator users to comfortably browse the web, read, and write mail, and do more. Natural Narrator voices use modern, on-device text to speech and once downloaded are supported without an internet connection.

To use one of the natural voices, add it to your PC by following these steps:

• Open Narrator Settings by pressing the WIN + Ctrl + N hotkey.
• Under Narrator’s voice, select the Add button next to Add natural voices.
• Choose the language for which you want to install Natural Voices. List of available voices will be displayed.
• Select the voice you want to install. You can install all voices, but you must install them separately.

The new Japanese voices are Microsoft Nanami (Female) and Microsoft Keita (Male)

The new English (Great British) voices are Microsoft Sonia (Female) and Microsoft Ryan

(Male)

To start the download of the selected voice, select Install. The new voice will download and be ready for use in a few minutes, depending on your Internet download speed.

When the new voice has downloaded, in Narrator settings select your preferred voice from the drop-down menu in Narrator’s voice > Choose a voice.

Note: If your display language is not set to Japanese and English (Great British), then in step 3 you will first need to select “Choose a different language” and select the appropriate language followed by the specific voice.

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (Win + F) under Accessibility > Narrator.

Changes and Improvements

[General]

• New functionality for mitigating unrequested modifications for app defaults as mentioned in this blog post are included in this build.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• The updated API for pinning as mentioned here in this blog post are now included in this build for preview.

New dialog that is displayed based on the updated API for pinning apps to the taskbar.

• ALT-TEXT: New dialog that is displayed based on the updated API for pinning apps to the taskbar.

[Snap Layouts]

• We are trying out suggestions in Snap Layouts that help you instantly snap multiple app windows together. When hovering over the Minimize or Maximize button on an app (or WIN + Z) to launch the layout box, you will see app icons displayed in various layout options to help recommend the best layout option that works best. This experience is beginning to roll out so not all Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel will see it right away.

Suggestions in Snap Layouts.

[File Explorer]

• We’ve done some work to improve the performance of archive functionality during compression on Windows.

Fixes

[General]

• Fixed an underlying issue which was causing explorer.exe crashes when doing a variety of things in the last 2 builds, including when uninstalling apps.

[Dev Drive]

• Fixed an issue where symbolic links might not work correctly when using Dev Drive.

[File Explorer]

• Fixed an issue where the count shown for selected files in the details pane may have been extremely large.
• We fixed the following issues for Insiders with the modernized details pane in File Explorer:
• Fixed an issue where the details pane was flashing white in dark mode when navigating or resizing the File Explorer window.
• We fixed the following issues for Insiders with the modernized address bar in File Explorer:
• Fixed an issue where the delete key was sometimes not working in File Explorer (including when doing Shift + Delete).
• We fixed the following issues for Insiders who have the modernized File Explorer Home:
  • File Type icons were displayed in place of file thumbnails for ‘Recommended’ section (applicable to Enterprise users).
  • Insiders signed in with an AAD account and try to navigate the Recommended section on File Explorer Home with the tab key on the keyboard may have experienced an explorer.exe crash.
  • When navigating from another group to the Recommended section using a keyboard, focus did not appear on the group header or files appropriately.

[Taskbar & System Tray]

• Fixed multiple explorer.exe crashes that were impacting taskbar reliability.
• Fixed an issue when using uncombined taskbar that was causing focus to get lost when moving from the taskbar previews back to the taskbar icons.

[Search on the Taskbar]

• Fixed an issue impacting search reliability for some Insiders in the last 2 flights.

[Task Manager]

• Fixed an issue where it wasn’t possible to move the Task Manager window with touch or pen.

[Dynamic Lighting]

• Fixed an issue where device icons were missing from the device cards in Settings.

[Windows Ink]

• Fixed an issue where users were unable use handwriting to erase text in Microsoft Edge.
• NOTE: Some fixes noted here in Insider Preview builds from the Dev Channel may make their way into the servicing updates for the released version of Windows 11.

Known issues

[Windows Copilot]

• You can use Alt + Tab to switch out of Windows Copilot, but not back into it. Windows + C will move focus back to Windows Copilot
• When first launching or after refreshing Copilot while using Voice Access you'll need to use "Show grid" commands to click in the "Ask me anything" box for the first time.

[Dev Drive]

• There might be variable performance on different hardware. If you notice slower performance on your machine, please file feedback!

[Search on the Taskbar]

• After changing your Windows display language, the search box on the taskbar may continue to display in the previous language for a short time before changing to the new language you selected.
• Text scaling may not work in the search flyout.

[File Explorer]

• [NEW] Copying files out of large archives or using “Extract All” might be slower than expected for “solid” .7Z or .rar archives.
• In some cases, the context menu background in File Explorer may appear transparent.
• Insiders may experience a File Explorer crash when dragging the scroll bar or attempting to close the window during an extended file-loading process.
• Thumbnail loading performance in Gallery for dehydrated cloud files and memory usage in large collections are known issues we are focused on improving. Please capture Performance traces in Feedback Hub for any performance-related issues. Rebuilding your Indexer can help if thumbnails are missing for cloud files; Search for “Indexing Options” and look in Advanced settings to find the rebuild tool.
• Insiders who have the modernized File Explorer Home that began rolling out with Build 23475:
  • File Type icons are displayed in place of file thumbnails for ‘Recommended’ section (applicable to Enterprise users).
  • Insiders signed in with an AAD account and try to navigate the Recommended section on File Explorer Home with the tab key on the keyboard may experience an explorer.exe crash.
  • When navigating from another group to the Recommended section using a keyboard, focus does not appear on the group header or files appropriately.
  • Files display file extensions with the Show file extensions setting disabled.
• Insiders who have the modernized File Explorer address bar that began rolling out with Build 23475:
  • Windows Insiders may notice missing craftmanship polish with the modernized address bar and search box. The team greatly appreciates the use of Feedback Hub to help call out important details to address.
  • Users might experience lost keyboard focus and missing keyboard shortcuts. The team implemented improved tabbing with keyboard shortcuts that will be available soon.
  • - If “…” shows in the address bar path, selecting it will crash explorer.exe.
• Insiders will have issues with the following commands on recommended files in File Explorer that began rolling out with Build 23403:
  • Clicking on the Share command will currently bring up the Windows share sheet (non- OneDrive).

[Notifications]

• The copy button for quickly copying two-factor authentication (2FA) codes in notification toasts (first introduced in Build 23403) is currently not working in this build. A fix is coming in a future flight.

[Dynamic Lighting]

• Using Wave and Wheel effects can result in typing not working in certain apps.
• All-device settings changes are not propagating to per-device Settings.
• Switching user accounts can turn off device LEDs.

[Windows Ink]

• The address box in Microsoft Edge might not work correctly.
• Windows Ink does not convert handwriting to text into the main content (e.g., Word documents and Excel spreadsheets) in Microsoft 365 applications.
• Search boxes in Microsoft 365 applications (e.g., Microsoft Word) might not work correctly.
• Comment fields in Microsoft 365 applications (e.g., Microsoft Word) might not work correctly.

Stay tuned as we will take a deeper dive into many of the new features and improvements, including Windows Copilot and many more.

Source

The company explains that there are interactive cards that will help with this with separate sections for each. Aside from the ones mentioned above, there is also a new Recommended settings card now which adapts to user-specific patterns and use cases. Microsoft writes:

What sets the homepage apart even further is that it's more than just a landing page—it evolves and learns with you. As you use your device, it’ll adjust to provide the most relevant and useful information based on your usage and preferences.

This will essentially present the most frequently used settings options or adapt to what Windows feels is the most relevant ones depending on user input.

The company has detailed each of the cards below:

1. Recommended settings: This card adapts to your specific usage patterns, providing timely and relevant settings options. It’s designed to streamline your settings management and save you time.
2. Cloud storage: Gives you an overview of your cloud storage use and lets you know when you’re nearing capacity.
3. Account recovery: Helps keep your Microsoft account more secure by helping you add additional recovery info so you never get locked out of your account, even if you forget your password.
4. Personalization: Brings customization to the forefront by offering one-click access to update your background theme or change your colour mode.
5. Microsoft 365: Provides a quick glimpse of your subscription status and benefits, along with the ability to take some key actions right in Settings instead of going to the web.
6. Xbox: Similar to the Microsoft 365 card, you’ll be able to view your subscription status and manage the subscription from the Settings app.
7. Bluetooth Devices: To simplify your Bluetooth device management experience, we’ve brought this to the forefront so you can quickly access and connect to your favorite Bluetooth-enabled devices.

Build 23493 also comes with many more changes and you can read about it in its separate article here.

Source

KB5027292, a preview update Microsoft released yesterday, finally fixes the broken Start menu, Windows Search, and UWP apps. Here is how Microsoft describes the problem:

The Start menu, Windows search, and Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps might not work as expected or might have issues opening. Affected Windows devices might have damaged registry keys or data which might affect apps using Microsoft Office APIs to integrate with Windows, Microsoft Office, or Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Calendar. An example of an app affected by this issue is ClickShare. The underlying Issue is not caused by the installation of an update to Windows and might be exposed by an update to an affected app.

Unlike regular Patch Tuesday updates that install automatically in the background, preview releases require manual installation from Windows Update. You can install KB5027292 by heading to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update (Windows 10) or Settings > Windows Update (Windows 11) and clicking Check for updates.

The problem affects all client Windows 11 versions (21H2 and 22H2) and Windows 10 versions 22H2, 21H2, and 20H2. Server editions are not affected by the bug.

In addition to mending the Start menu and other parts of the operating system, KB5027292 resolves higher-than-usual CPU usage by File Explorer when the user tries to view or edit Effective Access permissions. You can learn more about that bug in our dedicated coverage.

Was your system affected by some of the bugs KB5027292 fixes? Let us know in the comments.

Source

Until recently, Edge VPN offered only 1GB of free data, which is too little for modern browsing. Now Microsoft has confirmed that the default quota has been increased to a more comfortable level.

The updated Microsoft Edge Support documentation confirmed the change Edge Insiders spotted last month. The browser now offers 5GB of free data instead of the previous puny 1GB. However, you should keep in mind that Edge VPN requires signing in with a Microsoft Account, which, in turn, automatically enables sync:

A Microsoft account is required to access Microsoft Edge Secure Network to track the amount of Secure Network data is used each month. This data is required to provide 5GB of free Microsoft Edge Secure Network service and calculate when the data limit has been reached. Your Microsoft account identity is never shared with the service provider (Cloudflare) when connecting to Secure Network.

Signing in to Microsoft Edge with a Microsoft account will also turn on sync. With sync, your browsing data is available across all signed-in versions of Microsoft Edge. You can sync your browsing history, favorites, settings, form fill data including addresses and more, passwords, extensions, open tabs, and collections.

It is also worth noting that Edge VPN is not an always-on solution. Microsoft positions it as an extra security measure when you visit an unsecured HTTP website or connect to an open Wi-Fi network. Therefore, a dedicated VPN service with unlimited traffic will be a much better option if 5GB is too little or if you want to use VPN for streaming services or browse from a specific location.

Source