News: Software News

Signal finally lands on the Microsoft Store, giving Windows 11 and 10 a long‑overdue win

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:19:29 +0000

Signal Private Messenger can now be searched for and downloaded on Windows PCs directly via the Microsoft Store.

Popular secure messaging platform Signal is now available to download via the Microsoft Store on Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs. The app is a classic Win32 program, which lets you sync your Signal chats from your smartphone to your Windows PC, similar to WhatsApp or Telegram.

This is the first time that Signal has been available on Microsoft's app storefront. Up until now, Signal users have been required to seek out and install the app manually directly from the Signal website. Now that the app is in the Microsoft Store, it can be downloaded and installed in just one click.

Will you download Signal from the Microsoft Store going forward? Do you use the Microsoft Store to download any apps? Let us know in the comments.

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Posted Tuesday 10 February 2026 at 4:18 am AEST (my time).

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Microsoft Lens is being pulled from app stores today: Here is how to keep using it

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:05:34 +0000

Last month, Neowin reported that Microsoft Lens was being retired and that the Redmond giant was pushing users to OneDrive for scanning files instead. Today marks a key date for this retirement, that being that the app is being pulled from app stores today, though it was still available at the time of writing.

Once the app is pulled, there will be just one key date remaining, that being March 9, when users will no longer be able to scan using the app. If you are reading this while the app is still available, a little hack that you can do is download the app while it's still available, and continue using it for the next month.

Microsoft’s decision to retire Lens is absolutely bizarre outside of cost-cutting and streamlining. On the Google Play Store, the app enjoys a 4.9 / 5.0 rating across 971,000 ratings and 50 million downloads. While many liked the app until recently, people have now started complaining that the app requires login and is uploading personal files to work accounts. At least one disgruntled user, instead of moving to OneDrive, recommended a third-party replacement for Lens.

If you have scans stored in MyScans inside the app, Microsoft says you can still access these while you still have the app on your device, though this feature won’t be supported by Microsoft. Accessing previous scans also requires you to be signed in with your Microsoft account.

Microsoft Lens started out life as Office Lens on Windows Phone in 2014. A year later, the company released the app on Android and iOS. Since then, Microsoft rebranded the app from Office Lens to Microsoft Lens. Now it is being retired.

Let us know in the comments what you think of Microsoft’s decision to retire this product.

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Posted Monday 9 February 2026 at 6:04 pm AEST (my time).

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5 amazing open-source apps that everyone should use on Windows 11 — but not the ones you might be thinking of

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Five underrated open-source apps that quietly make Windows 11 better. All for free.

On Windows 11, the system ships with many built-in tools, but some of the best upgrades don't come from Microsoft at all. They come from small and open-source projects that quietly solve problems better than the defaults ever have.

This list isn't about the usual recommendations. You won't find VLC, Files, or other apps that everyone (usually) already knows. Instead, these are lesser-known open-source tools (to regular Windows users) that genuinely improve your Windows 11 experience.

5 great open-source apps for Windows 11

This list focuses on open-source applications that can improve everyday experiences on Windows 11.

1. Ditto

An advanced clipboard manager that stores history, supports images, text, HTML, and custom formatting, is searchable, and is hotkey-accessible.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

This tiny tool is far better than the basic clipboard on Windows 11 because it doesn't work like the classic clipboard. However, it has part of the Clipboard History feature, plus more.

Once you install Ditto on your computer, you can access it using the icon in the System Tray or through the default "Ctrl + ~" keyboard shortcut.

In the interface, you can access the "Options" page, which offers a slew of settings to customize this tool in many ways. For example, you can:

Customize the appearance and choose the number of copies in the history.
Select the type of content that can be stored in the clipboard, including PNG, Rich Text Format, plain text, and more.
Choose more than one shortcut to access the Ditto clipboard interface.
Set up multiple independent clipboards that operate alongside your standard Windows clipboard, and they have their own copy and paste shortcuts.
Configure the "Friends" feature that allows you send and receive copies from other computers in the network.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Finally, Ditto offers stats for your copies and pastes. Furthermore, there's a search functionality to find your clips, and you can back up and restore the database with all your clips.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Ditto is free and open-source, and you can download it from this GitHub page.

2. Double Commander

Another open-source application that should be part of anyone's Windows 11 installation is Double Commander, a two-panel file manager inspired by Total Commander, with tabs, FTP support, advanced search, syncing, and plugins.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

The main draw of Double Commander is the side-by-side view. Instead of opening two separate File Explorer windows and dragging files between them, you have two panels active at all times. This makes moving, comparing, and organizing files significantly faster.

Since this tool is similar to Total Commander, you can use the WCX and other plugins. It also includes a text editor, so you don't need to launch a separate app to tweak a config file.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

One of its most powerful features. You can rename thousands of files at once using masks, counters, and regular expressions.

It handles ZIP, TAR, GZ, BZ2, RAR, and RPM files like they are just regular folders.

Finally, you can search for files not just by name, but by content (including full-text searches inside documents).

Although Double Commander isn't exactly pretty, one could argue that this tool can also replace File Explorer. However, in my opinion, it's a tool that complements the default file manager.

Double Commander is free and open-source, and you can download it from this GitHub page.

3. UniGetUI

UniGetUI (formerly known as WingetUI) is an open-source graphical interface designed to simplify software management on Windows 11.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

It offers a graphical frontend for the Windows Package Manager (winget), Scoop, Chocolatey, Pip, NPM, and more package managers. It lets you browse, install, update, and uninstall apps from multiple sources in one place.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

This solution is perfect for managing applications with different command-line tools without the hassle of the CLI.

Once you install UniGetUI, the tool will scan your entire system (even apps you didn't install via UniGetUI) and let you update them all with a single click. In the same way, you can use this interface to uninstall applications.

On the "Package managers" page, you'll find the options to configure the different package managers to use with this tool. The Windows Package Manager (winget) should be available by default, but in the case that one or more package managers are not available, you can access their settings to install them manually.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

By any means, this is an easy tool for anyone to use. This tool is aimed at more advanced users, as it requires some knowledge of setting up and using the app.

If you want to install new applications, from the "Discover Packages" tab, perform a search using the box at the top of the page, select the item, and click the "Install selection" button.

UniGetUI is free and open-source, and you can download it from this GitHub page.

4. LocalSend

LocalSend is an open-source, cross-platform file-sharing tool that works over your local wireless network between computers and phones.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

It's simple, secure, and provides a quick solution for transferring content without an internet connection or traversing the cloud through third-party networks.

In a sense, this tool acts like an AirDrop for everyone, but it focuses on privacy because it lets you send files, folders, and text between devices instantly, and it works across Windows 11, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Some of the key features include that files stay on your local network. No data is sent to a server, and there is no tracking or advertising.

It uses a secure communication protocol with HTTPS and on-the-fly TLS encryption. You don't need to create an account, log in, or link an email. You can send entire folders or multiple files at once. You can even send text snippets (great for long URLs or Wi-Fi passwords).

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

LocalSend uses your local network to find other devices. As long as both devices are on the same network and the app is open on both, they will "see" each other.

One thing you'll notice is that each device is assigned a funny alias (for example, "Powerful Lemon" or "Patient Lemon") so you don't have to deal with IP addresses.

You then pick the files or text you want to send. You tap the name of the destination device. The receiver gets a prompt to "Accept," and the transfer happens at the maximum speed your router allows.

You can download the LocalSend app free from this GitHub page.

5. MPV

If you are looking for a minimalist and highly customizable media player, MPV is worth serious consideration.

MPV is a free and open-source media player built with a strong focus on high-quality playback and performance. It is lighter and significantly more customizable than VLC, which is why many enthusiasts prefer it.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

The player itself does not include a traditional graphical interface. The controls usually appear when hovering over with the mouse while playing a video, and in the settings, you can find a range of features. That said, using MPV directly does not require any configuration out of the box.

Advanced users can create an mpv.conf file to define custom settings, but this is entirely optional. Writing your own configuration can feel intimidating at first, but once you understand how MPV handles options and profiles, the level of control is virtually unlimited.

Using the configuration file, you can create multiple profiles for different types of content, remap any keyboard shortcut to any function, and extend the player with scripts to add new capabilities.

MPV originated as a fork of MPlayer and has been heavily rewritten over the years. It relies on FFmpeg for decoding, which contributes to its efficiency and performance advantages over VLC. In practice, MPV handles high-resolution and high-bitrate content more smoothly.

Hardware acceleration support in MPV is better. It offers excellent support for technologies such as VAAPI on Linux, VDPAU, and D3D11 on Windows. This results in better playback performance and lower system resources compared to VLC.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Another key advantage is resource usage. MPV consumes significantly less memory than many other media players, especially VLC.

MPV also stands out in video quality. It offers superior scaling algorithms that deliver sharper, more detailed images. Features such as motion interpolation enable smoother playback by generating intermediate frames, and its color management is more precise overall. Also, HDR support is more mature and reliable than what VLC currently offers.

The minimalist design is not a limitation but a defining feature. By stripping away unnecessary elements, MPV focuses entirely on playback quality, performance, and customization.

VLC is still an excellent media player and remains the better choice for users who value simplicity and immediate ease of use. However, if you care deeply about image quality, performance, and fine-grained control over how your media is played, MPV consistently delivers better results.

MPV remains an underrated but powerful tool for advanced video and audio playback without unnecessary bloat. For enthusiasts and professionals alike, it is often the superior choice.

If you want to install the MPV player, you can download it for free from this GitHub page. (You want to download the "mpv-vX.X.X-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc.zip" package.)

At the end

None of these tools is flashy, and that's exactly the point. They focus on doing one thing extremely well, without ads, tracking, subscriptions, or unnecessary features layered on top.

Ditto fixes the clipboard. Double Commander improves file management. UniGetUI finally makes package managers more usable. LocalSend removes friction from file sharing. MPV pushes media playback quality far beyond many other players.

Open-source software often flies under the radar on Windows 11, but these apps prove they can offer something better than those default installs. If you're willing to look past the obvious choices, you can end up with a faster, cleaner, and more capable system, and that's the real upgrade.

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Posted Monday 9 February 2026 at 3:52 am AEST (my time).

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This small app is a must-have tool for virtual desktops in Windows 11

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 17:52:04 +0000

Microsoft introduced virtual desktops over ten years ago with the release of Windows 10, but after all these years, the feature remains somewhat stagnant with little to no development. As a big fan of virtual desktops, I find Microsoft's lack of faith in this feature disturbing, but fortunately, third-party developers always come to the rescue.

Scott Hanselman, Vice President of Developer Community at Microsoft, developed a small app for Windows that mimics certain macOS behavior when it comes to virtual desktops. Unlike Windows 11, macOS has a much better virtual desktop implementation, and Microsoft can really learn a thing or two. With the app called MaximizeToVirtualDesktop (MTVD), which is not a very creative name, if you ask me, Scott made it possible to quickly move a window to a new desktop.

MTVD lets you press a shortcut (Ctrl + Shift + Alt + X) to create a new desktop, move your current window to it, and maximize it. When you close the window, the app also closes its virtual desktop, keeping everything clean and tidy. If the keyboard shortcut is too long, you can also hold the Shift button and press "Maximize" to get the same result. Additionally, you can use the Ctrl + Shift + Alt + P shortcut to pin a window so that you can have it across all virtual desktops.

The MaximizeToVirtualDesktop app feels like something that belongs to PowerToys, and I really wish we could get more tools from Microsoft to supercharge the default and frankly lackluster virtual desktop in Windows 11. Until then, we can use apps like MTVD or Power Virtual Desktop to make things more convenient and powerful.

You can download MaximizeToVirtualDesktop for free from GitHub using this link.

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Posted Monday 9 February 2026 at 3:51 am AEST (my time).

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Microsoft failed to fix a CPU hogging bug even though it was caught early on Edge

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 08:11:57 +0000

This week, Microsoft has released Edge Stable version 144.0.3719.115, fixing a macOS bug that led to a 100% CPU usage bug where one core would get fully saturated during normal browsing. While the update is primarily a bug-fix release, it is a very significant one for Mac users who had reported overheating and degraded performance as a result of the bug.

The issue had been raised on community forums, where users described Edge consuming excessive resources and triggering fans even under light workloads as a result of the consequent overheating. The bug was first highlighted by a user, WCR, on the official Microsoft support forum, who noted that on their M4-based 16-inch MacBook, they saw high CPU usage. This query was upvoted by 23 other people (at the time of writing) seeking answers to a similar question, indicating the problem was fairly widespread. Users on Reddit also discussed the problem on a separate thread.

Interestingly, this bug was already caught early on in the testing cycle two months ago by Redditor Pale-Profile1570, but unfortunately, Redmond had failed to mend it, and it got pushed out to the stable channel.

On the changelog for Edge Version 144.0.3719.115, Microsoft writes: "Fixed a macOS issue that caused Microsoft Edge to fully saturate one CPU core under certain conditions."

This release follows a series of previous updates that introduced new features and addressed enterprise concerns. Version 144.0.3719.104 added cross-platform policy management for macOS, iOS, and Android, while also fixing Conditional Access sign-in issues. Meanwhile, version 144.0.3719.92 resolved rendering problems affecting SAP GUI applications built on WebView2.

And with version 144.0.3719.82, Microsoft rolled out a new WebGL backend powered by the company's Windows Advanced Rasterization Platform (WARP), replacing SwiftShader, and introduced enterprise-focused features such as tenant restrictions and Copilot toolbar visibility controls.

Thanks for the tip, ikjadoon!!

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Posted Sunday 8 February 2026 at 6:11 pm AEST (my time).

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Microsoft released important KB5074110, KB5074111 Windows 11 setup and recovery updates

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 19:20:38 +0000

Last week, Microsoft released the first non-security preview update of 2026 on Windows 11 under KB5074105. Alongside that, Microsoft released corresponding new dynamic updates too alongside them.

For those who may not know, dynamic updates bring improvements to the Windows Recovery process in the form of Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) updates, which are also called Safe OS updates. The dynamic updates also affect the Setup file binaries in the form of Setup updates.

These Dynamic Update packages are meant to be applied to existing Windows images prior to their deployment. These packages include fixes to Setup.exe binaries, SafeOS updates for Windows Recovery Environment, and more. Dynamic Updates also help preserve Language Pack (LP) and Features on Demand (FODs) content during the upgrade process. VBScript, for example, is currently an FOD on Windows 11 24H2. Both setup and recovery updates were released this time.

This is one of the rarer occasions where Microsoft has shared specific changelogs instead of a general one. The company writes:

"KB5074110: Setup Dynamic Update for Windows 11, version 24H2 and 25H2: January 29, 2026

[Secure Boot] This release will execute updates in the Boot Manager on devices that already have the Windows UEFI CA 2023 certificate in their Secure Boot Signature Database (DB). It replaces the 2011 signed bootmgfw.efi with the 2023 signed bootmgfw.efi. Be advised of the consequences of resetting the DB or toggling Secure Boot, as this can cause a "Secure Boot violation" issue. In those rare cases, the solution is to create the Secure Boot recovery media.

KB5074111: Safe OS Dynamic Update for Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2: January 29, 2026

[KDNET] Fixed: The KDNET utility DLLS (kdstub.dll and kdnet.dll) might stop responding when Boot Manager (bootmgr) debugging is enabled during Windows start.
[Narrator] Fixed: Narrator would not start when Windows is installed from an ISO file."

Microsoft notes that both the Recovery and Setup updates will be downloaded and installed automatically via the Windows Update channel.

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Posted Sunday 8 February 2026 at 5:19 am AEST (my time).

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You can now chat with Microsoft Copilot while setting up your Windows 11 PC for the first time

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 19:17:55 +0000

A new demo experience lets users try Copilot for the first time before ever hitting the desktop, during the out of box setup experience on Windows 11.

A new update to the out of box setup experience on Windows 11 has added the ability to try out Copilot as your PC installs the latest OS version. First spotted by @WithinRafael on X, the setup experience now shows a "try now" button for Copilot, which when clicked will open the Copilot chat interface.

This interface is integrated directly within the out of box experience interface, and doesn't require a Microsoft account to use. Just like using Copilot normally, you can ask the AI assistant questions and even generate images, all while your PC progresses through setup.

This isn't the first time Microsoft has added interactive experiences to the out of box experience during this update phase. Previously, it was possible to play Edge Surf, a fun lightweight game that's built-in to Microsoft Edge, playable during the out of box setup phase.

Now, with Copilot integration, you can spend your time chatting with Microsoft's AI tool instead. This part of the setup experience usually takes anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour, depending on how big the update is and your network connection. So you'll have plenty of time to get to know Copilot.

Do you think adding Copilot to the OOBE on Windows 11 is a good idea? Might this encourage users to try it out while they wait for their PC to finish updating? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Posted Sunday 8 February 2026 at 5:15 am AEST (my time).

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KDE Plasma 6.6 will finally fix those pesky fingerprint authentication issues

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 19:13:52 +0000

KDE Plasma 6.6 is around the corner, and the KDE team is still hard at work adding finishing touches and bug fixes ahead of the stable release. Let's take a look at some of the highlights of the latest KDE "This Week in Plasma" issue.

The Touchscreen Gestures page in Plasma 6.6 will now hide itself if you do not have a touchscreen connected. As for the bug fixes, the KDE team squashed some long-standing problems with fingerprint authentication. One of these bugs caused the fingerprint unlock prompt to deactivate after the screen auto-locked. This meant the "or place finger in reader prompt" would just disappear, leaving users unable to scan their finger. Another related bug could leave the lock screen completely unresponsive, showing an "Unlock" button that did absolutely nothing.

Other bug fixes include:

A Plasma crash caused by applying a global theme that included a malformed layout script is now fixed.
Panel tooltips no longer incorrectly respect certain window placement policies on the Wayland session.
User-created global shortcuts are now correctly categorized as "Applications", preventing them from being stuck as uneditable system services.
The Kickoff application launcher now shows correct file type icons for recent items and no longer displays a weird duplicate "files" section.
Spectacle, the screenshot utility, now shows the correct resolution in its tooltip for rectangular region screenshots when using fractional scaling.
The "Open With" dialog now properly filters its view when you open it from a Flatpak application.
Keyboard focus no longer gets trapped inside the Search widget after search results appear.

In Plasma 6.7, the Window List widget will get sorting and section headers, making it easier to navigate windows by virtual desktop or activity. The window manager will remember tiling padding on a per-screen basis, the wallpaper selection dialog will open to your last-used location, and cursor theme previews will scale better with large cursor sizes.

Image via KDE

Plasma 6.5.6, the sixth bug fix release for Plasma 6.5, will ship next month with a fix for an issue in sRGB ICC profile parsing that reduced color accuracy. Other changes to expect include a tweak to the "Keep display configuration?" dialog that prevents you from accidentally closing it with a panic click.

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Posted Sunday 8 February 2026 at 5:12 am AEST (my time).

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Windows 11 is finally killing off legacy printer drivers in 2026 — and it’s going to shake up a lot of older hardware

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 07:50:00 +0000

The next system update for Windows 11 could break your printer. Here's what you need to know.

Microsoft is moving forward with a long-planned cleanup of the Windows 11 printing stack. Starting with the non-security update released in January 2026, Windows 11 no longer supports legacy V3 and V4 printer drivers, a change that will affect devices running versions 24H2 and 25H2 as the rollout gradually expands.

The company first announced the deprecation of V3 and V4 printer drivers in September 2023, giving hardware partners and customers more than two years to prepare. As the final cutoff now approaching, Microsoft is signaling that the transition to modern printing is no longer optional for Windows 11 users.

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Now that support has officially ended, printers that rely exclusively on V3 or V4 drivers may fail to install or stop working altogether.

Microsoft says most users are already unaffected because the majority of printers on the market use newer driver architectures or modern printing frameworks that will continue to work without interruption. However, systems connected to older printers, especially in small businesses, schools, or home offices using legacy hardware, could run into problems if no action is taken.

In these cases, the company recommends "contact your printer manufacturer and update to a supported printer driver or another current printing solution."

The decision ties directly into the operating system's lifecycle and security goals. Legacy printer drivers have long been a weak point, frequently associated with stability issues and elevated security risks. By removing support for outdated driver models, Microsoft can continue reducing attacks, simplify maintenance, and focus efforts on modern printing solutions.

If no supported driver exists, users may need to consider replacing the printer or switching to a newer printing solution before installing the non-security update (KB5074105) released in January, or before installing the February 2026 Security Update to avoid disruptions.

This move also aligns with Microsoft's broader strategy to modernize core system components on Windows 11, which already emphasizes reliability, performance, and overall experience.

Do you have a printer that still depends on legacy drivers? Let me know in the comments.

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Posted Saturday 7 February 2026 at 5:48 pm AEST (my time).

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Windows 11 locked me out of Notepad via Microsoft Account bugs — is the 'Thin Client' era ruining my 27 blissful years of PCs?

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:39:47 +0000

I don't want people to switch away from Windows; I want Microsoft to treat its premier operating system like it used to.

A couple of weeks ago, I found that I couldn't open Notepad on my desktop PC. It wasn't because Windows 11 had crashed, but rather, Microsoft told me it wasn't "available in (my) account". It turned out that an error (0x803f8001) with Microsoft Store's licensing service stopped me from opening a few first-party apps, including the Snipping Tool.

Yes, even the app I usually use to screenshot error messages was busted. Ironic. Now, I'm usually a fairly level-headed Windows enthusiast who can relate to users who both love and loathe Microsoft's operating system, but I couldn't open Notepad.exe — are we serious?

After all, Notepad is supposed to be the absolute barebones, most ultra-basic app in the entire OS. Well, it was, before Microsoft added Copilot and users started looking for a way to disable the unusual AI addition. Sure, you can still type C:\Windows\notepad.exe into 'Run' with Windows + R for a legacy fallback, but many perhaps wouldn't know about it.

I'm still a Windows guy, and I always will be. Nevertheless, I can't ignore that Windows 11 regularly feels less like an operating system and more like a thin client; just a connection to Microsoft's cloud with fewer options for you to act as the administrator of your own PC.

This PC vs. My Computer

I was completely locked out of the modern Notepad

(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

To be clear, I don't have major problems with the default, out-of-box experience (OOBE) of Windows 11. In fact, it doesn't take me long to make changes when installing fresh copies on new desktop builds. Default pins on the Start menu don't matter because I barely use it, and disabling ads is straightforward enough. The major points pretty much boil down to:

Uninstalling OneDrive: The web app is fine for manual backups, but I definitely don't want my files automatically synced.
Creating a local account: Microsoft keeps making it harder, but I'll always use workarounds.

After that, I don't take issue with the normal desktop — unless something unexpectedly breaks. Our Editor-in-Chief, Daniel Rubino, said it best, "People don’t hate change. They hate surprise." It was certainly a surprise to lose access to my plain text editor, loaded up with more than what an extended (Windows + V) clipboard would be useful for. Nobody asked for this.

So, is the solution to look for open‑source Notepad clones? Maybe for some enthusiasts, but that's just another app to add to a growing Winget list, and I'd rather Microsoft stay true to its word about walking back Windows 11's AI overload. I can't abide by comments on social platforms suggesting people "just use a debloater" on a new Windows PC, either — we shouldn't have to.

I generally avoid recommending Windows debloat scripts from GitHub to anyone in the first place.

That, and I generally avoid recommending Windows debloat scripts from GitHub to anyone in the first place. Windows can be adjusted to your liking if you follow the right guides, and while you can inspect open-source code for yourself and generally trust some well-respected coders on that platform, it's a strange solution that needn't exist.

Stop nudging your users towards danger

I built my PC around the 9800X3D, but is it really mine?

(Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)

I'm not naive enough to think Windows is Microsoft's top priority. Cloud computing and Microsoft 365 are far more valuable than a consumer-level operating system, though Microsoft does have a staggering lead over the competition — one that would be absurd to jeopardize.

Still, my problems with Notepad and Snipping Tool are a raindrop in the Pacific Ocean of Microsoft's broader plans, but I don't want first-party apps asking for authentication from its servers — nor do I want our readers to download the first debloat script they find on the web.

There are justifications for Microsoft adding elements of its cloud business to Windows, but I wish it wouldn't force it in a way that locks people into an online-only experience. My PC should be entirely functional without an Internet connection — especially when I need a few scribbles from Notepad.

AI is undoubtedly the future, at least in some capacity. Even if Satya Nadella says artificial intelligence needs to prove its worth, there's no believable chance that it's going away, especially now that Copilot is so deeply ingrained in practically everything Microsoft owns.

Still, if online-only services are all active by default and Windows 12 is ultimately an agentic AI OS, I wouldn't be surprised if more people stick with a debloated Windows 11, just as others did with Windows 10. Do you think the next version of Windows will return some control back to the user, or will it be even more Internet-dependent?

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Posted Saturday 7 February 2026 at 4:37 am AEST (my time).

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Windows 11 moves toward multi-device Bluetooth streaming — but your PC probably isn't invited

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:37:04 +0000

Microsoft is expanding its "Shared audio" preview to more hardware, yet the strict Bluetooth LE requirements leave many users in the dark.

Windows 11 will soon support sharing audio to two separate headphones, speakers, earbuds, or hearing aids. The feature has been in testing among Windows Insiders since last October, and the list of supported devices for the preview expanded recently.

The feature relies on Bluetooth LE Audio broadcast, which is why Microsoft can't just flip a switch and have it work on any device. That technology makes it possible to stream a single audio source to multiple devices.

Surface Laptop, 13.8-inch and 15-inch | Qualcomm Snapdragon X
Surface Laptop for Business, 13.8 and 15-inch | Qualcomm Snapdragon X
Surface Pro, 13-inch | Qualcomm Snapdragon X
Surface Pro for Business, 13-inch | Qualcomm Snapdragon X
Surface Laptop, 13-inch | Qualcomm Snapdragon X
Surface Laptop for Business, 13-inch | Qualcomm Snapdragon X
Surface Pro, 12-inch | Qualcomm Snapdragon X
Surface Pro for Business, 12-inch | Qualcomm Snapdragon X
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge | Qualcomm Snapdragon X

A smaller group of devices are also set to receive preview support soon:

Samsung Galaxy Book5 360 | Intel Core Ultra Series 200
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro | Intel Core Ultra Series 200
Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 | Intel Core Ultra Series 200

Shared audio began rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels with Windows 11 Insider Build 26220.7051.

Microsoft notes that "more devices may be supported once [the feature is] available to general audiences."

If your PC and all connected speakers, earbuds, or hearing aids support the feature, you can try it by using the "Shared audio (preview)" option in quick settings.

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Posted Saturday 7 February 2026 at 4:36 am AEST (my time).

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Microsoft is removing an optional Windows feature

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:34:49 +0000

While Windows as an operating system is pretty feature-packed already, Microsoft also has a ton of other optional features that are disabled by default in fresh installations. A notable example of this is the excellent Windows Sandbox experience that can be optionally turned on through the Windows Features menu. Now, Microsoft has announced that it is removing an optional Windows component that was previously found in these features.

The component in question is .NET Framework 3.5. Although .NET Framework 4.8 Advanced Services was enabled by default in Windows 11, the previously mentioned component was not, and had to be enabled for legacy applications which required it. Now, Microsoft is removing it from the optional Windows Features in future versions of the OS, shifting the deployment model to a standalone installer.

Microsoft kicked off this change from build 27965 of the Windows 11 Insider Preview that was rolled out to the Canary Channel in October 2025. As such, this removal impacts any build released beyond that point as well as future general releases of Windows. It does not affect Windows 10 or Windows 11 releases up until version 25H2. The removal of .NET Framework 3.5 also affects these components, which can no longer be optionally installed directly either:

ASP.NET 3.5
.NET Extensibility 3.5
WCF HTTP Activation
WCF non-HTTP Activation

The Redmond tech giant believes that this change "aligns with the product's lifecycle", which ends on January 9, 2029. Additionally, it encourages customers to upgrade to newer and supported versions of the component.

The good news is that Microsoft has detailed all of these changes in a dedicated document where it has also recommended the process that can be leveraged to install .NET Framework 3.5 through the offline installer and some of the other associated components through PowerShell scripts. You can read more about it here.

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Posted Saturday 7 February 2026 at 4:33 am AEST (my time).

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Microsoft has made a "crucial" accessibility improvement to Word for Windows

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:33:03 +0000

Word is a core component of Microsoft's Office suite of apps, which is why each update it receives gets a lot of attention from our readers. Recently, Microsoft removed the ability to send documents from Word to Kindle, and also updated the hyperlinking mechanism in Word. Now, it is making yet another improvement, which will be loved by customers using screen readers.

Basically, Microsoft has built a new navigation experience described as "crucial" for differently abled users leveraging screen readers. Previously, pressing the up and down keys would navigate to whatever was above or below the cursor position. This meant that you could accidentally skip over content as you move to a separate line rather than the next logical position in a document.

With the new implementation, pressing these keys should result in more logical navigation. For example, if you're at the end of a column, pressing the down key will move your cursor to the top of the next column.

At the end of a page in multi-page view, the cursor will move to the top of the next page. In tables, the down arrow now moves the cursor to the next column in the same row, instead of moving to the cell directly below in the same column:

Image via: Microsoft

The same behavior applies to text around images and dropped cap letters. Previously, pressing the down arrow would skip text on the other side of an image or the lines beside a dropped cap letter, but now it moves through all text on both sides of an image and through each line next to a dropped cap before continuing below it.

Image via : Microsoft

It is worth noting, though, that the new navigation experience is disabled by default. You can enable it using the following steps:

Open a Word document on your Windows device, then press ALT + F to open the File menu.
Press T to open Options, and then press A for Accessibility options.
Press the Tab key until you get to the Use reading order for arrow key navigation check box, and then press Space to select it.
Tab to the OK button, and then press Enter to apply the change.

This change is being rolled out to Word for Windows Version 2603 (Build 19727.20000) or later.

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Posted Saturday 7 February 2026 at 4:32 am AEST (my time).

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MS-DEFCON 2: Business as usual

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:32:14 +0000

By Susan Bradley

Unless you really want to be an unpaid beta tester for Microsoft, it’s wise to pause, defer, and mainly sit on the sidelines.

That’s why I’m raising the MS-DEFCON level to 2. I realize the opportunity to install January patches was brief, but that’s a combination of calendar realities and the serious problems with the most recent updates.

So, prepare your computers and networks to hold back the monthly onslaught of Microsoft madness. Here’s what we are waiting to see, based on items still under investigation.

Microsoft is investigating boot failures triggered by the January 2026 and later security updates. At the moment, these failures are not being seen on home PCs or on virtual PCs — only on devices that are managed. I’m not seeing this in my network at the office nor in my peer-to-peer home environment. Microsoft indicates that the impacted machines already experienced a failure while installing the December 2025 updates and were left in this state when they rolled back. A partial resolution has been included in the Windows nonsecurity preview update released on January 29, 2026; however, it’s not a full resolution. Microsoft stated:

This resolution helps prevent devices from becoming unable to boot when attempting to install updates while in this improper state. However, this resolution does not prevent devices from entering the improper state, nor does it repair devices that are already unable to boot.

My two cents? This seems remarkably similar to what happened years ago when we were applying a service pack at the same time as other updates, which triggered a “torn state.” This refers to a condition in which the service pack updated some files but not others, resulting in an unstable system. It was called a torn state because an update transaction was neither committed nor safely reverted.

Microsoft had to add dependency code to ensure that the service pack was installed all by itself. Although we don’t do service packs these days, we do have third-party patching tools that may not respect the same dependency rules as Windows Update. Time will tell whther my guess is in the ballpark. My remembrance of the torn state goes all the way back to Windows 7 and SP1. Granted, the way that Windows installs updates now is different, but let’s just say this side effect “feels” similar to what was happening back then. This is why I slightly roll my eyes whenever anyone waxes poetic about Windows 7 and how wonderful it was. I have too many painful memories of past patching pain to think it was perfect.

Note that in the January 29 nonsecurity update KB5074105, which will be rolled up into the February updates, a new User Account Control (UAC) setting will be in place. To help ensure that only authorized Windows users can access system files, Windows now displays a UAC prompt when you open Storage settings (Settings | System | Storage).

The February updates for Windows 11 24H2 will execute updates in the Boot Manager on devices that already have the Windows UEFI CA 2023 certificate in their Secure Boot Signature Database. It replaces the 2011-signed bootmgfw.efi with the 2023-signed bootmgfw.efi. In my Patch Watch column on Monday, I’ll remind you how to check whether these Secure Boot updates are installed.

Consumers

The classic Outlook freezing issue was fixed when the PST file was stored on a cloud storage system such as OneDrive. This is included for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 in KB5078127. As noted:

[File System] Fixed: After installing the Windows update released on and after January 13, 2026, some applications became unresponsive or encountered unexpected errors when opening files from or saving files to cloud-based storage, such as OneDrive or Dropbox. In certain Outlook configurations that store PST files on OneDrive, Outlook may hang and fail to reopen unless the process is terminated or the system is restarted. Users may also see missing sent Items or previously downloaded emails being re‑downloaded.

Although I don’t normally urge you to install out-of-band updates, do so if you’ve been impacted by this issue.

Businesses

If you are hosting virtual machines, make sure to hold back if you don’t have testing resources. If you do have those resources, ensure that you roll out in a staged manner. And, of course, have a plan for rolling back. Patches are an only slightly nicer version of an attack on your infrastructure. If you cannot recover from a failed update, it’s a sign you also can’t recover from a security attack targeting your workstations or your servers.

If you use Notepad++, be aware of an attack on its updating infrastructure that injected malware into its updating software. Kevin Beaumont pointed out that several organizations had initial access that came in through the Notepad++ updater. Turns out the (now former) Web host for Notepad++’s site wasn’t running a tight ship. Make sure you are on at least version 8.8.9 or higher (8.9.1 is current). Review Kevin’s excellent post if you are at all concerned that your organization might have an inadvertent back door.

Resources

Susan’s Master Patch List
The MS-DEFCON System explained
BlockAPatch — Tools to help you hide or block updates
Steve Gibson’s excellent InControl to manage feature releases

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Posted Friday 6 February 2026 at 5:32 am AEST (my time).

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Windows 11 beats Linux for most people — here are 4 reasons why, whether fans like it or not

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:27:11 +0000

Linux shines in many areas, but Windows 11 remains the practical desktop choice.

Although Windows 11 is my preferred desktop operating system, it's impossible to ignore that Linux is capable, flexible, and essential across many computing areas. It dominates servers, development environments, and specialized workloads.

However, on the desktop, especially for everyday users, professionals, and power users switching back and forth on mixed workloads, Windows 11 continues to offer clear advantages that Linux supporters often downplay.

Reasons for Windows 11 being better than Linux

These are the four reasons Windows 11 remains the more practical choice for most people.

1. Compatibility

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

The largest gap between Windows 11 and Linux remains app compatibility. Windows 11 runs the software people actually rely on every day, natively and with full developer support. For example, Adobe Photoshop and the broader Creative Cloud suite, Microsoft 365 (Office) desktop apps, Teams, AutoCAD, proprietary enterprise tools, legacy business programs, and others that were never designed with Linux in mind.

On Linux, the conversation is very different. The solution is often Wine, Proton, dual-booting, virtual machines, or being told to use an alternative. While these tools are impressive from a technical standpoint, they introduce additional layers of complexity. Updates can break compatibility overnight, performance may vary, and official support is almost always nonexistent. That's not flexibility. That's friction.

2. Hardware support

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

If you get new hardware, such as a webcam, fingerprint reader, or printer, Windows 11 almost always recognizes it instantly. Almost all drivers are delivered automatically through Windows Update with support for virtually every feature.

For most users, this delivers a seamless experience that removes hours of troubleshooting and ensures new hardware integrates with the operating system and apps.

On Linux, the situation is far less predictable. Hardware support depends on the combination of vendor cooperation, kernel version, and the specific distribution.

Although many devices work perfectly, particularly standard components, support for the latest laptops, proprietary graphics, certain Wi-Fi or Bluetooth chips, and specialty peripherals may require manual driver installation or may not work at all.

Also, features like fingerprint readers, haptic touchpads, or docking stations often need tinkering or community scripts to function. Regular users generally don't want to research chipsets, compile drivers, or check distro compatibility before buying a mouse or printer.

For professionals, creatives, and gamers, this unpredictability can be a major source of friction, making Windows 11 the safer choice for hassle-free hardware integration.

3. Gaming

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Proton and other Linux compatibility layers are impressive. They have brought many Windows games to Linux, and for some titles, performance is surprisingly close to native.

However, the reality is that the vast majority of games are still developed and optimized for Windows 11 first. Native support matters. Anti-cheat systems such as Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye often break or are unsupported on Linux, making multiplayer gaming unreliable.

Windows 11 also offers full integration with Game Pass, launch-day releases, and popular storefronts like Steam and Epic Games Store, all running without workarounds.

Also, features like DirectX 12 Ultimate, ray tracing, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), HDR, DLSS, and other GPU-accelerated enhancements are fully supported and fine-tuned on Windows 11. On Linux, these often run through translation layers like Proton or Wine, which can limit performance, introduce instability, or reduce feature compatibility.

Mods, community content, and third-party tools also favor Microsoft's operating system. Even when a game runs on Linux, updates can introduce bugs, and troubleshooting often requires command-line fixes or waiting for community patches. For VR, flight simulators, and competitive eSports, Windows 11 is the platform developers actually target, making it the clear choice for gamers.

4. Less friction

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

Linux offers near-total control, but that control often comes with decisions most users never need to think about. Choosing between desktop environments, display servers, and even basic system behaviors can quickly turn routine setup into an ongoing project. For enthusiasts, that flexibility is the appeal. For everyone else, it's extra mental effort that gets in the way of the work they actually want to do.

On Windows 11, Microsoft handles most of the settings decisions for you. You might not like all of them, but you usually don't have to think about them.

Also, apps are installed the same way, most peripherals configure automatically, and features are designed to work together out of the box. That predictability matters when you work with multiple apps, gaming, and a growing list of connected devices. In this context, having fewer settings to manage is not a limitation. It’s a productivity feature.

Linux remains an excellent option for specific use cases such as servers, development, education, and users who want full control over every layer of the system. Windows 11, however, is optimized for how most people actually use a personal computer today.

Windows 11 and Linux each have their strengths, but the difference comes down to the desktop experience most people need. Linux excels on servers, in development, and specialized setups, where total control is necessary.

For everyday users, professionals, and gamers, Windows 11 reduces friction, ensures broad hardware and software compatibility, and delivers a polished, predictable experience.

Choosing Windows 11 isn’t about giving up flexibility. It's about prioritizing productivity, reliability, and simplicity, making it the clear choice for most desktop users.

Windows vs. Linux debates always get heated, but this breakdown focuses on what most people actually need day‑to‑day. Do you agree with these four reasons, or do you think Linux deserves more credit? Drop your experience in the comments — especially if you’ve tried switching between the two.

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Posted Friday 6 February 2026 at 5:25 am AEST (my time).

News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461

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Windows 11 now locks Storage settings behind admin rights — and it’s going to confuse a lot of people

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:25:06 +0000

If opening the Storage settings feels off, you're right. Microsoft made changes to require elevation to open these settings on Windows 11.

Microsoft has quietly tightened Windows 11’s security model, and the latest change is already raising eyebrows. The Storage settings page — a core part of managing disk space, cleanup tools, and system files — now requires full administrator rights to access. It’s a small tweak on paper, but one that could leave everyday users confused when a previously open‑access menu suddenly demands elevated permissions.On February 10, 2026, Microsoft is expected to start the rollout of the February 2026 Security Update, and alongside the new features and improvements, the company will be introducing a small but important security enhancement.

Starting with this update, opening the Storage settings page in the Settings app will trigger a User Account Control (UAC) prompt, and as the company noted (via WindowsLatest), this change helps to "ensure that only authorized Windows users can access system files, Windows now displays a User Account Control (UAC) prompt when you open Storage settings."

(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)

As part of the next Patch Tuesday update, Microsoft plans to ship various additional improvements and new features, including the ability to resume Android apps on your computer. The company will also start rolling out a major upgrade to Windows MIDI Services, including enhanced support for MIDI 0 (in-box) and 2.0, full WinMM and WinRT MIDI 1.0 support with built‑in translation, shared MIDI ports across apps, and much more.

If you use external fingerprint readers, you can now set them up with Windows Hello using the enhanced security feature, and Microsoft has also noted that you'll now be able to manage the Smart App Control without reinstalling the operating system.

The new prompt is available now, as well as the new features and changes starting with the release of the non-security update KB5074105, released on January 29, 2026, but the notes about the administrator prompt were added on January 30. On February 10, 2026, the company will start rolling out the February 2026 Security Update, and the release notes will note that this update also includes the changes and fixes from the update KB5074105 (preview) released on January 29.

Locking Storage settings behind admin rights makes sense from a security perspective, but it also adds friction to one of Windows 11’s most essential maintenance tools. As Microsoft continues tightening system controls, the challenge will be balancing protection with usability — especially for households and shared PCs where not everyone has admin access. Whether this becomes a smoother experience or a new pain point will depend on how Microsoft evolves the feature from here.

What are your thoughts about this change in the upcoming system update? Let me know in the comments!

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Posted Friday 6 February 2026 at 5:24 am AEST (my time).

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Firefox Beta gets the promised AI kill switch

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:22:49 +0000

Earlier this week, Mozilla announced its plans to give users better controls over AI-powered features in Firefox. Unlike Vivaldi, which rejects AI, Mozilla is adding AI experiences, but its approach is more careful than what Google or Microsoft does. Still, there are a lot of users who oppose even such careful implementation, so Mozilla is allowing you to disable everything AI-related with a single button. That button is now available in Firefox Beta.

Firefox 148 Beta 11, the latest preview release, is now available for testing. After updating to it, you can go to Menu > Settings > AI Controls and toggle "Block AI Elements." This will turn off all AI-powered features, such as translation, alt text generation for images in PDF files, tab group suggestions, link key points generation, and chatbots in the sidebar.

Besides giving you a nuclear option, Mozilla allows a more granular approach to AI in Firefox. While you can keep everything off, there is an option to enable separate features. Each of them has three states:

Available: The feature is visible and available for use.
Enabled: You have opted in to use the feature.
Blocked: The feature is disabled.

Interestingly, when you set a feature to "Blocked," Mozilla not only turns it off, but also hides it from your sight, so that inactive AI features do not become an eyesore for users. Additionally, all downloaded models for local AI are deleted when you turn stuff off, and Firefox will not show any banners with prompts to use AI (take notes, Microsoft).

Firefox 148 is currently in Beta, the final testing channel before the public rollout. According to Mozilla's release schedule, Firefox 148 will be available to all users in the stable channel by the end of February. If you want to try Firefox 148 right now, head to the official website to download the latest Beta release.

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Posted Friday 6 February 2026 at 5:21 am AEST (my time).

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Microsoft is bringing a much needed feature to Teams

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:19:34 +0000

Microsoft recently detailed all the new features that it introduced in Teams during the past month. We also covered some of the new capabilities on their way to Teams soon, and now, it seems the Redmond tech giant has even more in store for Teams customers than initially presumed.

According to an update made to the Microsoft 365 Roadmap today, Microsoft will soon give Teams users the option to hide the entire meeting control toolbar, giving them more screen real estate during meetings. This is a very useful setting that will persist across meetings, provided that you set it as your preference. The good thing about this implementation is also that you'll be able to bring up the toolbar again using hover or by pressing the Tab key, and that keyboard shortcut to toggle toolbar controls will remain active, regardless of whether it is visible or not. This feature is coming to Windows and Mac customers in March.

Another nifty enhancement on its way to Teams improves the image viewer. Users will soon be able to scroll through all images shared in a conversation, with the header also showing the original message so that you can navigate to it directly. This is coming to Windows, Mac, and Linux in March 2026 as well.

A smaller improvement in tow will sync your recently used emoji across Windows and mobile, so that you don't have to perform extra clicks to use a frequent emoji. This is slated for next month, too. In the same month, navigation across code blocks on Windows and Mac will be made easier through better keyboard controls and line numbers. Users will also be able to "set code language quickly and reference specific lines for improved collaboration and workflow."

As is evident, Microsoft has a lot planned for Teams customers in the coming months. You can also check our previous roundup in this regard.

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Posted Friday 6 February 2026 at 5:19 am AEST (my time).

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Windows 11 build 28020.1546 arrives with fixes for cloud storage apps and more

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:10:25 +0000

After releasing two new builds for Windows Insiders in the Dev and Beta Channels, Microsoft is dropping a new Canary build under version 28020.1546 (KB5074176). You won't find much in today's update, except for "general improvements" and a single fix for cloud storage apps such as OneDrive and Dropbox.

Here is the changelog:

Changes and Improvements gradually being rolled out with toggle on

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

We fixed an issue with apps when working with files on OneDrive or Dropbox.

As usual, Microsoft reminds Insiders that the Canary Channel is intended to test the latest platform changes, and these builds are unstable, with features and changes rolling out gradually to "monitor feedback" before sending them to everyone in the Canary Channel. You can find the announcement in a blog post on the official Windows Blogs website.

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Posted Thursday 5 February 2026 at 1:08 pm AEST (my time).

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Here are all the new features Microsoft added to Teams in January 2026

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:08:43 +0000

Towards the end of each month, Microsoft typically details all the new features it added to some of its popular pieces of software during the previous four weeks. It published a round-up for Excel's January 2026 updates on schedule, but a similar write-up for Teams was strangely absent. Now, the Redmond tech giant has finally detailed all the new capabilities it introduced in its flagship communication and collaboration software during January 2026, while also giving us an early look at what's next.

Starting off with chat and collaboration enhancements in January 2026, we have a new Shared tab in Channels, which is basically a rebrand of the Files tab. It contains a collection of shared links and files, which can be sorted and filtered by various criteria. In the same vein, Microsoft also introduced message previews for channel notifications, mentions, and reactions. Moreover, the compose message box in Teams now has autocorrect, and you also have the option to pin the Teams window to the top so that it is always visible.

Switching gears to Teams Phone improvements, we have a new Teams policy for explicit consent for 1:1 VoIP call transcriptions and recordings. Additionally, the Teams Phone mobile experience is now generally available for T-Mobile customers in the United States. In related news, Delayed Simultaneous Ring is now supported, Teams admins can configure line keys, and Copilot-generated call summaries now offer more context.

In terms of enhancements to Teams Rooms on Android, town hall organizers have more control over what attendees see, presenters have front-of-room view control, and customers also have the ability to start and stop recording and transcription services. Furthermore, Microsoft has also rolled out a Frontline Agent in public preview for agentic workflows.

When it comes to platform enhancements, Mac users can share their screens using the macOS native picker, while Teams for Android users can now report suspicious messages. In addition, the latest devices certified for Teams include:

Jabra Express Install: PanaCast 50 VBS, Acadia Tabletop Stand, Available with LG 40”, 43”, 50", 55”, or 65” displays
Biamp Auto Tuned DSP with Ceiling and Table Mics – Available for Large or Medium Rooms
Biamp Configurable DSP w/ Table Mics – Available for Large or Medium Rooms
Barco ClickShare Hub Pro and Sennheiser TeamConnect Bar M and TeamConnect Bar S for Teams Rooms on Android
Huddly® C1™: AI-driven videobar for small and medium rooms
Lumens VC-TR60A – Black or White

As mentioned previously, Microsoft's latest roundup also includes a teaser about what's next for Teams. This is due to the upcoming Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 conference happening in Barcelona, where Redmond will be showing off some of the latest capabilities in Teams. These include:

Interpreter agent support in Teams Rooms on Windows
Teams Rooms utilization by size and capacity in the Pro Management shared space insights report
Express voice enrollment [Available in March]
Camera view switching in multi-camera Teams Rooms on Windows
Two-way Direct Guest Join (DGJ) between Google Meet and Teams Rooms
Interpreter in Teams Phone
Queues app shared history of calls and voicemails [Public preview]
New Teams events experience in public preview
Communities and Agents in Communities in public preview

You can read more about all of this here.

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Posted Thursday 5 February 2026 at 1:08 pm AEST (my time).

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Microsoft is focusing on making AI more reliable in Visual Studio 2026 this month

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:07:10 +0000

Microsoft previewed Visual Studio 2026 with Insiders for a few months before launching it generally in November 2025. During this time period, it has become clear that AI is a big focus for the integrated development environment (IDE). Now, the Redmond tech giant has detailed all the AI-related enhancements it is working on this month.

Microsoft has emphasized that when it comes to AI features in Visual Studio 2026, "reliability is the priority this month". To that end, agentic coding experiences will see several improvements such as better progress indicators for long-running operations, better handling of failures and graceful recovery for agents, enhanced diagnostics and logging, UX revamps for model interactions, support for Agent Skills, and the introduction of a cohesive Unified Sessions view for all Copilot activity.

In addition, Microsoft is building a dedicated Planning Agent that will handle multi-step planning and execution operations. An experimental effort also involves integrating the Copilot CLI into Visual Studio Copilot in a "better" way.

Those who leverage Model Context Protocol (MCP) infrastructure will be pleased to know that the focus area in February will be to make it easy to govern in a scalable and auditable way by implementing support for Client ID Metadata Documents (CIMD).

Copilot in Visual Studio 2026 will also become faster because Microsoft is improving how it handles large and complex contexts, while also reducing and capping the context windows to reduce chances of unexpected behavior. Copilot will also work better with the code editor by introducing a keyboard shortcut to accept suggestions. Interestingly, in case of race conditions or conflicts between IntelliSense and Copilot, the former will be given preference.

While all of this is a part of Microsoft's AI roadmap for Visual Studio 2026 covering the month of February 2026, it is important to understand that it signifies work commitments, not delivery deadlines. So, don't be surprised if some (or all) of these features don't land during this rather short month.

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Posted Thursday 5 February 2026 at 1:04 pm AEST (my time).

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Microsoft rolls out native Sysmon monitoring in Windows 11

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:57:29 +0000

Microsoft has started rolling out built-in Sysmon functionality to some Windows 11 systems enrolled in the Windows Insider program.

Microsoft first revealed plans to integrate Sysmon natively into Windows 11 and Windows Server in November, when it also confirmed that it will soon release detailed documentation.

Sysmon (short for System Monitor) is a free Microsoft Sysinternals tool (and a Windows system service and device driver) that monitors for and blocks malicious/suspicious activity, logging it to the Windows Event Log.

While it monitors basic events, such as process creation and termination, by default, it can also be configured to monitor more complex behavior, including executable file creation, process tampering, Windows clipboard changes, and even automatically backing up deleted files.

Although Sysmon is a very popular tool for diagnosing persistent Windows issues and for threat hunting, it normally needs to be installed manually on each device, which makes it harder to manage and deploy in large IT environments.

"Windows now brings Sysmon functionality natively to Windows. Sysmon functionality allows you to capture system events that can help with threat detection, and you can use custom configuration files to filter the events you want to monitor," the Windows Insider program team announced on Tuesday.

"The captured events are written on the Windows event log, enabling them to be used with security applications and a wide range of use cases."

Although Sysmon is now natively supported in Windows, it's disabled by default, and users must explicitly enable it through the following procedure (it's important to note that you must uninstall the Sysmon installed from the website before enabling the built-in Sysmon):

Go to Settings > System > Optional features > More Windows features > checking Sysmon or in PowerShell or command prompt:
- ```
Dism /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:Sysmon
```
Run the following command from PowerShell or the Command Prompt to complete the installation:
- ```
sysmon -i
```

The new optional Sysmon capabilities are rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Beta and Dev channels who have installed Windows 11 Preview Build 26220.7752 (KB5074177) and Windows 11 Preview Build 26300.7733 (KB5074178), respectively.

Last month, Microsoft also began testing a new policy that allows IT admins to uninstall the AI-powered Copilot digital assistant from managed devices.

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Posted Thursday 5 February 2026 at 4:56 am AEST (my time).

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Firefox 147.0.3 is out with fixes for broken UI on Windows and more

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:56:24 +0000

Another update is now rolling out to Firefox under version 147.0.3. Mozilla is adding more bug fixes to the recently released version 147, including buggy popups and context menus on Linux, broken UI on Windows systems with multiple fonts installed, and more.

Here is the changelog:

Interoperability improvements for the CSS anchor positioning and Navigation web APIs.
Fixed a regression where position: sticky elements on some webpages could appear stuck or fail to update while mousewheel-scrolling after certain :hover interactions.
Fixed an issue on Linux (Wayland) where certain popups and context menus could sometimes open in the wrong place, such as the top-left corner of the window.
Fixed an issue where the Firefox Developer Tools could fail to reopen after using the Inspector\u2019s node picker and reloading a page containing cross-origin iframes.
Fixed an issue where the DNS over HTTPS provider settings section could appear as a blank box, preventing users from seeing the current setting or changing it.
Fixed an issue on Windows systems with a large number of fonts installed where parts of the Firefox UI (tabs, menus, and Settings) could display garbled characters or symbols instead of readable text.

Version 147.0.3 is the third bug-fixing update for Firefox 147, which was released in January. The update introduced WebGPU support for Apple Silicon Macs, improved video playback on PCs with AMD graphics cards, and more. After that, Mozilla released versions 147.0.1 and 147.0.2 with a bunch of fixes for websites like ChatGPT, a bug with empty directories on Linux, and more.

Firefox 147.0.3 is now available for download from Mozilla's FTP, and it will soon arrive for all users via the browser's built-in update mechanisms. You can download the browser from the official website or the Microsoft Store if you are on Windows 10 or 11.

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Posted Thursday 5 February 2026 at 4:55 am AEST (my time).

News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461

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NVIDIA blames recent Windows 11 updates for gaming issues on your PC

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:54:25 +0000

January 2026 was not nice to Windows users, with Microsoft confirming and people reporting plenty of bugs and quite severe issues (some PCs cannot even boot), and now, gamers are suffering as well. People have been complaining about performance and texture issues on NVIDIA's forums, and while the company is investigating the situation, a member of NVIDIA staff is offering affected users a simple solution.

Reported issues range from performance dropdowns (about 15-20 FPS, depending on the game), black screens, graphical artifacts, and more. In cases like this, people start by blaming NVIDIA drivers, especially after performing an update, but in this case, it appears that it is Microsoft's fault, as uninstalling KB5074109 fixed performance issues and other bugs.

To back users' reports, Manuel from NVIDIA's forums said that the company is still looking at the situation, but everything indicates that KB5074109 or the January 2026 Patch Tuesday update is the culprit:

Even though it started after a Windows 11 update, we are looking into it. As far as I know, the only way to resolve it appears to be uninstalling KB5074109.

Since the release of KB5074109, Microsoft issued a few more updates, including two out-of-band releases and one non-security update. The latter delivered quite a lot of useful improvements, including fixes for the bug with black screens:

[Display and Graphics] Fixed: This update addresses black screen issues in isolated multiuser environments, typically after a Windows upgrade.

If your PC exhibits similar bugs, you can try installing the latest non-security updates or rolling back KB5074109 and then pausing Windows Updates until the next batch of updates arrives. To do so, head to Settings > Windows Update > Update History > Uninstall Updates.

In January, following a big number of reported bugs and unscheduled updates, Microsoft issued a statement that it plans to fix things in 2026 and focus on "pain points" in its operating system, which include stability issues, performance, and more.

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Posted Thursday 5 February 2026 at 4:53 am AEST (my time).

News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461

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Microsoft is killing its app for viewing 3D files on Windows 10 and 11

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:53:12 +0000

The list of deprecated features in parts of Windows 10 and 11 is growing. This month, Microsoft expanded it with 3D Viewer, an old app from the era when Microsoft was experimenting with mixed, virtual, and augmented reality. The Windows Mixed Reality platform has long been dead, but the 3D Viewer app is still out there, available for you. Now, Microsoft is killing it as well.

In the official support document, Microsoft explains that the 3D Viewer app is now deprecated and is on its way out. On July 1, 2026, the app will be removed from the Microsoft Store, and those who want to view 3D files on their computers should switch to alternative options.

If you have the 3D Viewer app on your computer, you can continue using it as is, even after July 1, 2026. However, you will not be able to reinstall it after that date:

3D Viewer was deprecated in February 2026 and will be removed from the Microsoft Store on July 1, 2026. Existing installations of 3D Viewer will continue to work, but the app will no longer be available for download from the Microsoft Store. If you remove the app, you can reinstall it from the Microsoft Store until July 1, 2026. After that date, 3D Viewer will no longer be available for download. 3D Viewer was preinstalled on some Windows 10 devices, but wasn't preinstalled on Windows 11 devices.

As for alternatives, Microsoft recommends Babylon.js Sandbox. It is a web-based app where you can drag-and-drop a 3D model into your browser and preview it, see it under different light conditions, and more.

Microsoft used to preinstall the 3D Viewer app on every clean Windows 10 copy, but with Windows 11, the company removed it from the list of stock apps in the new OS. The app is now going after Paint 3D, another relic from the bygone era (deprecated in August 2024), the Maps app (deprecated in April 2025), and other components.

If you have not tried the 3D Viewer app yet, and you still want it for some reason, you can download it from the Microsoft Store while it is still available there.

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Posted Thursday 5 February 2026 at 4:52 am AEST (my time).

News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461

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