Windows 11 January 2026 preview patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s preview patch for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this preview patch is:

• [Agent in Settings] ​​​​​​​New! The Settings Agent now supports more languages, with expanded support for German, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Hindi, Italian, and Chinese (Simplified).
• [Cross Device Resume] New! This update expands the functionality of Cross‑Device Resume, which Microsoft first introduced in the May 2025 Windows non-security update (KB5058499). You can continue activities from your Android phone on your PC based on the apps and services you use, including resuming Spotify playback, working in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, or continuing a browsing session.
  • Vivo Android phone users can continue browsing from Vivo Browser on their PC.
  • If you use an Android phone from HONOR, OPPO, Samsung, vivo, or Xiaomi, you can resume online files that you opened in the Microsoft Copilot app on your phone and continue working on them on your PC. Files open in the corresponding Microsoft 365 app on your PC if it is installed. If the app is not installed, the files open in your default web browser. This feature does not support offline files stored only on your phone.
• [Windows MIDI Services] New! This update improves MIDI on Windows with enhanced support for MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0, including full WinMM and WinRT MIDI 1.0 support with built-in translation, shared MIDI ports across apps, custom port names, loopback and app-to-app MIDI, plus performance improvements and bug fixes—delivering a better experience for musicians. The App SDK and Tools package is a separate download that enables inbox MIDI 2.0 features and includes tools like MIDI Console and the MIDI Settings app. Releases are available on the Windows MIDI Services landing page and GitHub and are currently unsigned, which might display a security warning during download or installation. 
• [Narrator] New! Narrator now gives you more control over how it announces on‑screen controls. You can choose which details are spoken and adjust their order to match how you navigate apps. These settings apply throughout the app to help reduce extra speech and make Narrator easier to follow. 
• [Settings] New!1 You can view the Device card on the Settings home page. It shows key specifications and usage details for your PC. From the card, you can go directly to Settings > System > About for more detailed information about your device. This card appears when you sign in with your Microsoft account. This feature rollout has resumed after being paused during the August 2025 release. 
• [Smart App Control] New! You can turn Smart App Control (SAC) on or off without any clean install requirement. To make changes, go to Windows Security > App & Browser Control > Smart App Control settings. When turned on, SAC helps block untrusted or potentially harmful apps. To learn more, see App & Browser Control in the Windows Security App – Microsoft Support. 
• [Voice Access] New! A streamlined setup makes it easier to get started with Voice Access. The redesigned experience helps you download a speech model for your chosen language, select your preferred input microphone, and learn what Voice Access can help you do on your Windows PC.  
• [Voice Typing] New! The Wait time before acting setting in Voice Typing enables you to adjust the delay before a voice command runs. This setting gives you flexibility for different speech patterns and improves recognition accuracy whether you speak slowly or quickly. 
• [Windows Hello] New! Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) now supports peripheral fingerprint sensors. This update extends this more secure sign in option beyond devices with built in fingerprint sensors to include desktops and other Windows 11 PCs, including Copilot+ PCs. To get started, plug in a supported ESS fingerprint reader, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign in options, and follow the prompts to enroll.  
• [Start Menu]
  • Fixed: This update addresses an issue where the warning message that appears when you shut down your computer while other users are signed in might be cut off at the edge of the Start menu.
  • Fixed: This update addresses an issue where Start menu might open on the wrong side of the screen when you use Arabic or Hebrew as your display language and the taskbar icons aren’t centered.
• [Kiosk mode] Changed: This update removes an error message that might show after you sign in for multi-app kiosk mode. The message said, “This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer”. 
• [Windows Update] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where trying to join the Windows Insider Program from Settings > Windows Update might get stuck. 
• [Lock screen] Improved: This update includes some underlying changes that help address cases where the lock screen might become unresponsive. 
• [File Explorer] Improved: This update includes some underlying changes that help improve responsiveness of File Explorer when navigating in network locations. 
• [Logging into your PC] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where Explorer.exe might stop responding (hang) the first time you sign in to your PC, if certain apps were configured as startup apps. This could make the taskbar not appear. 
• [Activation] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where, in some cases, valid Windows license migration might fail when upgrading because the device couldn’t register with the Windows Activation server for its digital license, requiring the use of the troubleshooter to fix.
• [Desktop icons] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where desktop icons unexpectedly move when interacting with files, such as opening or renaming them. 
• [Input]: Fixed: This update addresses an issue where the keyboard character repeat delay labels in Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Keyboard were reversed.
• [User Account Control (UAC)] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where your PC might stop responding when attempting to run Windows Terminal elevated from a non-admin account.
• [Windows Sandbox] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that could cause Windows Sandbox to stop responding during start up and display error 0x800705b4.
• [Secure Boot] This release for Windows 11, version 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 (DB). It replaces the 2011 signed bootmgfw.efi with the 2023 signed bootmgfw.efi. Be advised of the consequences of resetting the DB or turning Secure Boot on or off, as this can cause a “Secure Boot violation” issue. In those rare cases, the solution is to create the Secure Boot recovery media. 
• [Security] New! This update adds a feature for Data Protection Application Programming Interface (DPAPI) domain backup key management. Administrators can now set how often keys rotate automatically. This strengthens cryptographic security and reduces reliance on older encryption algorithms.
• [Authentication (known issue)] Fixed: This update fixes an issue where the Password icon might not appear in Sign-in options on the lock screen after you install KB5064081 or a later update. ​​​​​​​
• [Display and Graphics] Fixed: This update addresses black screen issues in isolated multiuser environments, typically after a Windows upgrade. 
• [File Explorer] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where folder renaming with desktop.ini files in File Explorer isn’t work correctly. The LocalizedResourceName setting is ignored, so custom folder names don’t appear.
• [Graphics] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where certain GPU configurations might recently have experienced a system error related to dxgmms2.sys, resulting in the KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE error.
• [Narrator] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where Narrator might not start during Windows installation from an ISO file. 
• [Other] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that could cause a system to stop responding during startup when Windows Boot Manager debugging is enabled. This occurs due to kdstub.dll and kdnet.dll components. 
• [Other] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that might cause iSCSI boot to fail with an “Inaccessible Boot Device” error. 
• [Other] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that affects the C Runtime (CRT) libraries in the Windows Software Development Kit. BinSkim identifies these libraries as non-compliant with the Microsoft SDL. ​​​​​​​ 
• [Start Menu] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where, for some users, selecting the “hide this pane” button in the mobile device side panel might not lead to the setting to hide the pane.

To install this update, you can click on the Download and Install button that shows up below the cumulative update preview version just like this:

Or, you can enable the faster update rollout option that shows up in the Windows Update page so that you’ll automatically get the preview updates without having to manually check for updates:

Please note that preview updates may have stability issues that are usually fixed in the final update release. Also, we recommend downloading such updates over non-metered connections to avoid extra charges. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2026 #Copilot #February #intune #January2026 #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #security #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 January 2026 patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s Patch Tuesday for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this month’s patch is:

• [Compatibility] This update removes the following modem drivers: agrsm64.sys (x64), agrsm.sys (x86), smserl64.sys (x64) and smserial.sys (x86). Modem hardware dependent on these specific drivers will no longer work in Windows.
• [Networking (known issues)]
  • Fixed: This update addresses an issue where mirrored networking in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) could fail causing “No route to host” errors and preventing access to corporate resources over VPN connections, even when the Windows host remained connected. This might occur after installing KB5067036.
  • Fixed: This update addresses an issue where you might experience RemoteApp ​​​​​​​connection failures in Azure Virtual Desktop environments. This might occur after installing KB5070311.
• [Power & Battery] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where devices with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) might stay powered on when idle. This could affect power performance.
• [Secure Boot] Starting with this update, Windows quality updates include a subset of high confidence device targeting data that identifies devices eligible to automatically receive new Secure Boot certificates. Devices will receive the new certificates only after demonstrating sufficient successful update signals, ensuring a safe and phased deployment.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• [Windows Deployment Services (WDS)] This update introduces a change in behavior in which WDS will stop supporting hands-free deployment functionality by default. Detailed guidance for IT administrators is available in Windows Deployment Services (WDS) Hands‑Free Deployment Hardening Guidance.
• [WinSqlite3.dll] Fixed: The Windows core component, WinSqlite3.dll, has been updated. Previously, some security software might have detected this component as vulnerable. 

To install this update, you can just click on a big Check for updates button in the Windows Update settings. Usually, Windows 11 automatically updates your computer to this patch update. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 December 2025 patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s Patch Tuesday for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this month’s patch is:

• [Copilot] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where Ask Copilot didn’t activate the Click to Do window as expected. The window now appears in the foreground when you share data with Copilot.
• [File Explorer (known issue)] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where File Explorer briefly flashes white when you navigate between pages. This issue might occur after you install KB5070311.
• [Networking] Fixed: This update fixes an issue where external virtual switches lose their physical network adapter (NIC) bindings after a host restart. When this happens, the switches revert to internal mode, resulting in loss of network connectivity for virtual machines and blocking normal server operations. ​​​​​​​
• [PowerShell 5.1] Invoke-WebRequest now includes a confirmation prompt with a security warning of script execution risk. You can choose to continue or cancel the request. For additional details, see CVE-2025-54100 and KB5074596: PowerShell 5.1: Preventing script execution from web content.
• This update addresses security issues for your Windows operating system.

To install this update, you can just click on a big Check for updates button in the Windows Update settings. Usually, Windows 11 automatically updates your computer to this patch update. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #microsoft #microsoftWindows #patch #preview #previewPatch #previewUpdates #updates #windows #windows11

Windows 11 November 2025 preview patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s preview patch for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this preview patch is:

• [Agent in Settings]
  • ​​​​​​​New! The search results menu displays more available results, making it easier to quickly find and modify your settings. A scroll bar lets you view all search results.
  • New!  Recommended settings now makes changes faster by showing an inline agent option for recently modified settings.
  • New!  A dialog now appears when settings can’t be adjusted further. It explains why and provides an option to modify the settings as needed.
• [Click to Do]
  • New! The Click to Do context menu now has a streamlined design that makes it easier to access frequently used actions such as Copy, Save, Share, and Open. You can quickly find what you need.
  • New! ​​​​Whenever a large image or table appears on your screen, the context menu automatically opens so you can quickly access actions and view results.
• [Camera] New! You can use Windows Studio Effects, which provides AI-powered camera enhancements, on an additional camera such as a USB webcam or your laptop’s built-in rear camera. To get started, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras, and select your preferred camera from the connected cameras list. Then, open Advanced camera options and turn on Use Windows Studio Effects. After you turn it on, you can adjust Studio Effects from the camera settings page or the quick settings menu in the taskbar.
• [File Explorer]
  • New!  The File Explorer Search Box placeholder text has been updated to highlight the enhanced Windows Search experiences.
  • New!  File ExplorerHome on-hover actions for faster file management (previously released in KB5067036) is now available for enterprise customers.
• [Windows Search] New!  You can now find your AI-categorized photos from the Microsoft Photos app using Windows Search with semantic search.
• [Advanced Settings] New! You can now turn on Virtual Workspaces in Advanced Settings. Virtual Workspaces allow you to enable or disable virtual environments such as Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox. To access Virtual Workspaces, go to Settings > Systems > Advanced. 
• [Desktop Spotlight]  New!  When Windows Spotlight is set as your desktop background (Settings > Personalization > Background), the context menu now includes two options: Learn more about this background and Next desktop background.
• [File Explorer]
  • New! File Explorer now offers a more consistent dark mode experience. Key actions such as copy, move, and delete dialogs have been updated in both default and expanded views. Progress bars and chart views now align with the dark theme to improve readability. Confirmation dialogs for actions like skip, override, and file selection, along with multiple error dialogs, have also been refreshed for a cohesive look.
  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​New! The simplified File Explorer context menu for easier navigation. Common actions like Share, Copy, and Move now appear in a single organized menu. This change removes clutter and makes commands easier to find, whether you use a mouse, keyboard, or assistive technology. This change will initially be available to a small group of devices as we evaluate the best approach.
  • Fixed: File Explorer might unexpectedly not show thumbnails for video files containing certain EXIF metadata. 
  • Fixed: A toolbar might sometimes appear unexpectedly in File Explorer. 
  • Fixed: When you right-click a file, the app icon next to the Open option might appear generic instead of showing the default app for that file type. 
• [Gaming] New! The full screen experience (FSE) is now available on more Windows 11 handheld devices after its initial launch on ASUS ROG Ally and ROG Ally X. FSE gives you a console-style interface with theXbox app, making handheld gaming clean and distraction-free. It improves performance by minimizing background tasks, so gameplay stays smooth and responsive. To turn it on, go to Settings > Gaming > Full screen experience, and set Xbox as your home app. You can open FSE from Task View or Game Bar​​​​​​​, or configure your handheld to enter full screen experience on startup.
• [Input] New!  Pens that support haptic feedback—small vibrations that simulate touch—now provide tactile responses when you interact with the Windows interface. For example, you might feel vibrations when hovering over the close button or when snapping and resizing windows.
• [Keyboard] New! Keyboard backlight performance has improved on supported HID-compliant keyboards. Compatible keyboards display keys clearly in low-light environments, and the backlight adjusts to help conserve power.
• [Mobile Device Settings] New! You can add and manage your mobile devices in Settings under Bluetooth & Devices › Mobile Devices. On this page you can manage features such as using your device as a connected camera or accessing your device’s files in File Explorer.
• [OneDrive] New!  The new OneDrive icon now appears in Settings > Accounts > Homepage.
• [Recovery] New! Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) now runs a one-time scan on PCs with settings quick machine recovery and automatically check for solutions are both turned on. If a fix isn’t available immediately, QMR directs you to the best recovery options to get your PC running again
• [Settings]
  • New!  Keyboard settings for “character repeat delay and rate”, and “cursor blink rate”, have moved from Control Panel to Settings. You can now find “character repeat delay and rate” under Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, and “cursor blink rate” under Settings > Accessibility > Text cursor. ​​​​​​​
  • New!  About in Settings now has an updated layout that organizes device details and related options in one place. You can quickly access features such as Storage settings for faster navigation. 
  • Fixed: Settings might become unresponsive when attempting to navigate to the Network & Internet section. 
  • Fixed: The search bar in Settings might become overlapped with the minimum and maximum buttons in the title bar. 
• [Taskbar & System Tray]
  • New! Animations for app groups on the taskbar have been updated. When you hover over app groups on the taskbar, you can see the preview transition as you slide between apps.
  • New! You can now share an open app window with Copilot directly from the taskbar. When you hover over an open app, you’ll see the option to share its window with Copilot—similar to sharing in Microsoft Teams. Hover over the app icon, select Share with Copilot to start a conversation. Copilot Vision will analyze the content you shared and provide insights based on what’s displayed in that app.
  • Fixed: The Automatically hide the taskbar setting might unexpectedly turn off, after seeing a message saying a toolbar is already hidden on this side of your screen.  
  • Fixed: Voice access doesn’t work correctly when attempting to interact with the taskbar (calling out a number might not invoke that item). 
  • Fixed: The taskbar icons might automatically scale to be smaller, although there is enough room left without scaling changes. 
• [Widgets]
  • New!  You can choose a default dashboard in Widget Board settings. When live weather is showing, the Widget Board opens the first dashboard in your navigation bar instead of the most recently used one, making the experience consistent. To set your default dashboard, open the full-page Widgets Settings by selecting Settings  in the navigation bar, then move your preferred dashboard to the top. 
  • New!  Dashboard icons in the Widget navigation bar now show numbers that correspond to the number of alerts from that dashboard. Navigation bar badges clear automatically when you leave a dashboard, making it easy to track what’s new. 
• [Windows Share]
  • New! Drag tray now supports multi-file sharing, shows more relevant apps, and makes it easy to move files to a chosen folder.
  • New! You can now turn drag tray on or off from Settings > System > Nearby sharing.
  • New! You can share OneDrive files through other apps. The options appear under Share using when you select the Copy link. You must be signed into your Microsoft account.
• [Display and Graphics]
  • Improved: Performance has been improved when apps query monitors for their full list of supported modes. When this happens it could previously lead to a momentary stutter on very high-resolution monitors. This work should help prevent and reduce stuttering in these scenarios. 
  • Fixed: All-in-one PCs might experience issues with their brightness slider, where it unexpectedly reverts to the original brightness when interacting with it. 
  • Fixed: Recently certain games might display the message Unsupported graphics card detected, although a supported graphics card is used. 
• [Game Pass] References to Game Pass in Settings are now modified to reflect updated branding and benefits.
• [Start menu] Improved: For users with the new Start menu, the Windows Search panel now matches the new Start menu in size. This update aims to create a smoother transition when searching.
• [Lock and Sign-in Screens]
  • Fixed: It might be very slow the first time when signing into a new account. 
  • Fixed: When your lock screen is set to slide show, there might be a memory leak. Memory leaks can lead to performance or reliability issues over time.
• [Smart cards] Fixed: You might unexpectedly see STATUS_NOT_SUPPORTED (0xc00000bb) during sign on when using ECC Smart Card Logon Credential.
• [Prism] Windows on Arm devices now have emulation support for applications that use AVX and AVX2, as well as related extensions such as BMI, FMA, and F16C.

To install this update, you can click on the Download and Install button that shows up below the cumulative update preview version just like this:

Or, you can enable the faster update rollout option that shows up in the Windows Update page so that you’ll automatically get the preview updates without having to manually check for updates:

Please note that preview updates may have stability issues that are usually fixed in the final update release. Also, we recommend downloading such updates over non-metered connections to avoid extra charges. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #copilot #february #february2025 #intune #microsoft #microsoftWindows #patch #preview #previewPatch #previewUpdates #security #updates #windows #windows11

Windows 11 November 2025 patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s Patch Tuesday for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this month’s patch is:

• This update addresses security issues for your Windows operating system.
• [Gaming]
  • Fixed: This update addresses an issue that affects gaming handheld devices. These devices were unable to stay in low-power states, which caused faster battery drain.
  • Fixed: This update addresses an issue on some handheld gaming devices where after signing in using the built-in Gamepad, the controller might not respond in apps for about five seconds, causing a delay. After you submit your password or PIN, the touch keyboard on the sign-in screen hides automatically.​​​​​​​
• [Storage] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that could cause some Storage Spaces to become inaccessible or Storage Spaces Direct to fail when creating a storage cluster.
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​[System utilities (known issue)] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where closing Task Manager with the Close button didn’t fully end the process, leaving background instances that could slow performance over time.  This might occur after installing KB5067036.
• [Voice Access] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where Voice Access failed during initial setup if no microphone was connected and the voice model wasn’t installed.
• [Window management] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where selecting the desktop could unexpectedly open Task View.
• ​​​​​​​[Networking] Fixed: This update fixes an issue in the HTTP.sys request parser, a Windows component that reads and processes HTTP requests. The parser allowed a single line break within HTTP/1.1 chunk extensions, where the RFC 9112 standard requires a carriage return and line feed (CRLF) sequence to terminate each chunk. This can cause a parsing discrepancy when front end proxies are a part of the setup.

To install this update, you can just click on a big Check for updates button in the Windows Update settings. Usually, Windows 11 automatically updates your computer to this patch update. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 October 2025 preview patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s preview patch for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this preview patch is:

• Copilot+ PCs
  • [Click to Do]
    • New! 1 The prompt box in Click to Do streamlines interaction with Copilot, helping you work more efficiently. You can type a custom prompt directly into the text box, which sends your prompt and selected on-screen content to Copilot. Suggested prompts appear below the text box and are powered locally by Phi-Silica. These suggestions are available for text selections in English, Spanish, and French. 
    • New! 1 You can now translate on-screen text using Microsoft Copilot with the Click to Do feature. When you select text in a different language than your Windows display language or preferred language setting, Copilot suggests a translation. After you choose to translate, the translated text appears in the Copilot app. You can see the supported regions and languages in Microsoft Copilot.
    • New! 1 Click to Do helps you convert units like length, area, volume, height, temperature, and speed. Hover over a number and unit pair to see a floating tooltip with the conversion. Select the number and unit to open a context menu with more conversion options. You can also access additional conversions through the Copilot app.
    • New! Press and hold two fingers anywhere on your Copilot+ PC touchscreen to open Click to Do. This gesture simultaneously opens Click to Do, selects the item beneath your fingers, and displays relevant actions. 
    • New!  You can now select objects in Click to Do using Freeform Selection, Rectangle Selection, or Ctrl + click. To use Freeform Selection Mode, select the Freeform button on the toolbar, then use your pen or finger to draw freely around the items you want to select. To use Rectangle Selection Mode, select the Rectangle Selection button on the toolbar, then drag a box around the items. Everything inside the rectangle will be selected. You can also use Ctrl + Click to select multiple types of items—such as text and images—by holding down the Ctrl key and selecting each item.
    • New!  Live Persona Cards from Microsoft 365 now appear in Click to Do. To view a profile card, press Windows key + click on an email address from your organization. 
    • New! Visual cues now make key items, such as emails, tables, and more, light up on your screen as you open Click to Do. 
    • Fixed: Click to Do might unexpectedly invoke sometimes when pressing Windows key + P.
  • [File Explorer] New!2 When you hover over a file in File Explorer Home, commands such as “Open file location” and “Ask Copilot” appear as quick actions. This experience is available if you’re signed in with a Microsoft account. Support for work and school account (Entra ID) will be available in a future update.
  • [Voice access]
    • New! Fluid Dictation in voice access makes voice-based dictation smoother and smarter. It helps correct grammar, punctuation, and filler words in real time. Powered by on-device small language models (SLMs), it offers fast and private processing. Fluid Dictation is on by default—just open the Voice Access app to start. To turn it on or off, go to Settings or say Turn on Fluid Dictation or Turn off Fluid Dictation. You can use it in most text input apps, but it’s disabled in secure fields like passwords or PINs Fluid Dictation is available in all English locales on Copilot+ PCs. 
    • New! You can now configure a delay before a voice command is executed. To set this up, go to Voice access settings > Wait time before acting, and select the option that best matches your preferences.
    • New!  Voice access now supports Japanese, expanding accessibility for more users. You can now navigate, dictate, and interact with Windows using voice commands. With this update, Windows users who speak Japanese can enjoy a hands-free, voice-powered PC experience.
    • Fixed: Voice access unexpectedly stops working, showing error code 9001.
  • [Agent in Settings] New! The new agent in the Settings experience now supports French.  
  • [Improved Windows Search] New! ​​​​​​​The Improved Windows Search feature, now available through controlled rollout (CFR), is available on all Copilot+ PCs.
• Windows 11 PCs
  • [Start menu] New! The redesigned Start menu, built to help you access your apps more quickly and smoothly. Its redesigned layout makes it easier than ever to find what you need.
    • Scrollable ‘All’ section: The main page now includes a scrollable “All” section, making it easier to find apps.
    • Category and grid views: Switch between two new views—category view, which groups apps by type and highlights frequently used ones, and grid view, which lists apps alphabetically with more horizontal space for easier scanning. The menu remembers your last selected view.
    • Responsive layout: The Start menu adapts to your screen size. Larger displays show more pinned apps, recommendations, and categories by default. Sections like Pinned and Recommended expand or collapse based on content. You can customize these views under Settings > Personalization > Start.
    • Phone Link integration: A new mobile device button next to Search lets you expand or collapse content from your connected phone. This feature supports Android and iOS devices in most markets and will roll out to the European Economic Area (EEA) in 2025.
  • [File Explorer]
    • New! 3 Recommended files in File Explorer Home are now available for personal Microsoft accounts and local accounts. These files include content you frequently use, have recently downloaded, or added to your File Explorer Gallery. If you prefer not to see the recommended section in File Explorer Home, you can turn it off in File Explorer Folder Options. When this feature is turned off, folders pinned to Quick Access will appear instead.
    • New! StorageProvider APIs are now available for cloud providers to integrate with File Explorer Home. Developers can learn to enable the system to query for suggested files.
    • Fixed: The File Explorer context menu might unexpectedly switch back and forth between the normal view and Show More Options on each right click.
    • Fixed: When opening a folder from another app (for example, opening the Downloads folder from a browser), your custom view — including sorting files by name, changing the icon size, or removing grouping — unexpectedly resets back to default.
    • Fixed: The body of the File explorer window might no longer respond to mouse clicks after invoking the context menu.
    • Fixed: Extracting very large archive folders (1.5gb+) might fail with a “Catastrophic Error” (error code 0x8000FFFF).
    • Fixed: File Explorer might become unresponsive when opening Home.
  • [Lock screen] New! The new battery icons, which include color indicators and battery percentage, now appear in the lower-right corner of the lock screen. This feature makes it easier to check your device’s charging status and battery level at a glance. To learn more about the battery icon feature, see Taskbar.
  • [Microsoft 365 Copilot] New! A new Microsoft 365 Copilot page has been added to the Get Started experience for commercial devices with an active Microsoft 365 subscription. This page helps you learn about Microsoft 365 Copilot features and begin using them more easily.
  • [Settings] New! The “Email & accounts” section is now called “Your accounts.” You manage all your accounts under Settings > Accounts.
  • [Taskbar]
    • New! The battery icons have been updated to make it easier to check your PC’s status at a glance. Color indicators show charging and battery levels: green indicates the PC is charging and in good condition, yellow shows that battery saver mode is on at 20% or below, and red signals a critically low battery. Simplified overlays keep the progress bar visible, and the icons appear in the system tray, Quick Settings, and Settings, with Lock screen support coming soon. To show the battery percentage next to the icon, go to Settings > System > Power & battery, then turn on Battery Percentage. You can still view detailed battery information by hovering over the battery icon or opening the Power & battery settings.​​​​
      • Fixed: If you hover over an app icon on the taskbar, and then select the window preview, the preview might dismiss and not bring the window to the foreground.
  • [Display and Graphics]
    • Fixed: Apps and browsers might display partially unresponsive onscreen content when other maximized or full-screen apps are updating in the background. This issue is especially noticeable when scrolling, as only parts of the window content might update.
    • Fixed: After you install KB5064081, some videos and games might be unexpectedly red.
    • Fixed: If the Connected Devices Platform Service is disabled, Settings might stop responding or close unexpectedly when you try to open Settings > System > Display, including when launched from the desktop context menu.
  • [Input] Fixed: An issue with microsoft.ink.dll and related APIs might cause pen and handwriting input to stop responding in apps or lead to apps closing unexpectedly due to thrown exceptions.
  • [Narrator] Fixed: Narrator fails when trying to launch it while setting up Windows using an ISO.
  • [Open and Save Dialog] Fixed: Certain apps might become unresponsive when launching the Open or Save Dialog.
  • [Remote Credential Guard] Fixed: Remote Credential Guard scenarios between the latest Windows 11 builds and Windows Server 2022 or earlier might unexpectedly fail.
  • [Sign in to your PC]: Improved: Made underlying changes to improve the performance of loading the taskbar after unlocking your PC from sleep. This also helps in cases where the password field and other sign-in screen contents didn’t render when transitioning from the lock screen to the sign-in screen after sleep.
  • [Task Manager] Fixed: Some apps might unexpectedly not be grouped with their processes.
  • [Windows Update]
    • Improved: Addressed underlying issue which can cause “Update and shutdown” to not actually shut down your PC after updating.
    • Improved: Addressed underlying issue which can cause Windows Update to fail to install with error 0x800f0983.
  • [Administrator Protection Preview] New! Administrator protection aims to protect free floating admin rights for administrators. It enables users to perform administrative tasks using just-in-time privileges. This feature is turned off by default and can be enabled using OMA-URI in Microsoft Intune or through Group Policy.
  • [Authentication]
    • Fixed: An issue that caused an ACCESS_DENIED error when users attempted to change passwords remotely on member servers or workgroup devices, even when they had the required permissions.
    • Fixed: This update addresses an issue that affects the Kerberos Key Distribution Center (KDC) service on server domain controllers. When the KDC service is manually stopped, the server cannot retrieve Kerberos tickets.
    • After installing the September 2025 security update for Windows Server 2022 (KB5065432), you might experience repeated reauthentication issues with Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS). ​​​​​​​
  • [Display] Fixed: After the latest updates, text may not render correctly when editing content within a multiline text box in certain apps.
  • [Installation (known issue)] Fixed: The Media Creation tool (version 26100.6584), released on September 29, 2025, might not work as expected on devices with Arm64. Users may encounter an error message such as: “We’re not sure what happened, but we’re unable to run this tool on your PC.” This is a known issue for Windows 11, version 25H2.
  • [Media (known issue)] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where protected content playback fails on some machines after installing KB5064081.
  • [Networking (known issue)] Fixed: An issue occurred where web servers using HTTP.sys (such as Internet Information Services [IIS]) rejected incoming HTTP requests with a “NOT_SUPPORTED” error.
  • [Screen readers] Fixed: After the latest updates, screen readers may unexpectedly say “legacy window” without reading out the window contents when interacting with certain apps.

To install this update, you can click on the Download and Install button that shows up below the cumulative update preview version just like this:

Or, you can enable the faster update rollout option that shows up in the Windows Update page so that you’ll automatically get the preview updates without having to manually check for updates:

Please note that preview updates may have stability issues that are usually fixed in the final update release. Also, we recommend downloading such updates over non-metered connections to avoid extra charges. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #Copilot #February #February2025 #intune #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #security #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 October 2025 patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s Patch Tuesday for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this month’s patch is:

• [Browser] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that caused the print preview screen to stop responding in Chromium-based browsers.
• [Gaming] Fixed: An issue occurred when users signed in to a Windows device using only a Gamepad at the lock screen. If no other input methods—such as touch or fingerprint—were used during sign-in, apps and games did not respond to input afterward. ​​​​​​​
• [PowerShell]
  • Fixed: This update addresses an issue that affects PowerShell Remoting and Windows Remote Management (WinRM), where commands might time out after 10 minutes.
  • ​​​​​​​Fixed: This update addresses an issue that prevented an audit event from being logged.
• [Windows Hello] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that affects the setup process for Windows Hello face recognition when using USB infrared camera modules. Users were unable to complete setup due to a persistent error message, such as “Make sure your face is centered in the frame.” ​​​​​​​
• [Compatibility] This update removes the ltmdm64.sys driver. Fax modem hardware dependent on this specific driver will no longer work in Windows.

To install this update, you can just click on a big Check for updates button in the Windows Update settings. Usually, Windows 11 automatically updates your computer to this patch update. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 September 2025 preview patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s preview patch for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this preview patch is:

• [Click to Do]
  • New!  New and popular action tags in the Click to Do context menu help you discover the latest and most widely used AI-powered actions.
  • New!  Click to Do provides more concise summaries with Summarize action. The output for text entities is shorter and more focused. Ongoing improvements continue to enhance clarity and precision.
• [Agents in Settings] New! A direct navigation link to the corresponding settings page is available from agent search results. This improvement is currently rolling out to agents in Settings on Copilot+ PCs.
• [Desktop] New! You can now move the hardware indicators for brightness, volume, airplane mode, and virtual desktops to different positions on your screen. To change their position, go to Settings > System > Notifications, and then pick from the options in the Position of the onscreen pop-up in the dropdown list.
• [Taskbar] New! IT administrators no longer need to restart explorer.exe to apply the pinning policy. After applying the policy, users might see a pin on their taskbar within approximately 8 hours, depending on the refresh interval.
• [File Explorer]
  • New!  Use AI actions in File Explorer to edit images or summarize documents. Just right click (or press Shift+F10) on the file and select AI actions. This experience is not yet available for customers in the EEA (European Economic Area).
     
    ​​​​​​​Image actions: You can now use four AI-powered image actions with .jpg, .jpeg, and .png files. Visual Search searches the web using an image instead of text. Blur Background opens the Photos app to highlight the subject and blur the background. Erase Objects removes unwanted elements from your photo. Remove Background uses Paint to change any image leaving a smooth cut out of the subject.

    AI actions in Microsoft 365 make it easier to work with your documents. With the Summarize action in Copilot, you can quickly generate summaries of files stored in OneDrive and SharePoint—no need to open each one. This AI action requires an active Microsoft 365 subscription and a Copilot license (Microsoft account and Microsoft Entra ID supported).

  • Improved: The File Explorer context menu has been updated to remove the accent colored backplate behind packaged app icons in the Open With list when right clicking a file (for example, Snipping Tool). This change makes icons easier to see.
  • Improved: Made underlying changes to help improve the performance of launching cloud files from File Explorer and loading context menus.
  • Fixed: Icons and text might become overlapping on the desktop when using increased text scaling.
  • Fixed: Icons in the details, preview, and navigation panes of File Explorer aren’t properly mirrored when using an Arabic or Hebrew display language.
• [Windows Share] New! ​​​​​​​You can pin your favorite apps in the Windows share window to quickly access them when you need them.
• [Advanced Settings] New! The redesigned Advanced settings page (Settings > System > Advanced) is an update of the For Developers page and makes it easier to find key options. Settings include File Explorer + version control, which shows Git details such as branch, diff count, and last commit message directly in File Explorer when you select a repository folder.
• [Input]
  • New!  Insert dashes with new keyboard shortcuts. You can quickly insert an en dash (–) or em dash (—) while typing.  Press Windows logo key+Minus (-) to insert an en dash, and Windows logo key+Shift+Minus (-) to insert an em dash. If Magnifier is running, Windows logo key+hyphen (-) will zoom out Magnifier instead of inserting an en dash.
  • Fixed: After waking a PC from sleep, touch input might not work to enter your pin on the sign-in screen.
• [Narrator]
  • New!  Narrator now includes Braille Viewer, which shows both on-screen text and its Braille equivalent on a refreshable Braille display. To open Braille viewer and start Narrator, press the Windows logo key+Ctrl+Enter, press Narrator key+Alt+B. A new floating window opens and updates dynamically as you navigate with Narrator. Before using Braille viewer, you must set up Narrator for Braille. To download and install the Braille support package, go to Settings > Accessibility > Narrator > Use a Braille display with Narrator.
  • New!  Narrator offers a smoother, more natural experience in Word, with improved voice feedback, reliable continuous reading, and better navigation for footnotes, comments, lists, and tables. Enhancements include consistent list announcements, clearer table boundaries, and intuitive selection feedback.
• [Administrator Protection Preview] Administrator protection aims to protect free floating admin rights for administrator users allowing them to still perform all admin functions with just-in-time admin privileges. This feature is off by default and needs to be enabled via OMA-URI in Intune or via group policy.
• [Passkeys] New!  A seamless plugin passkey manager integration in Windows 11. You can now use plugin credential manager for passkeys. To set up a plugin credential manager, install a credential manager application that supports integration then go to Settings > Accounts > Passkeys > Advanced options. Turn on support and complete user verification using Windows Hello (through face recognition, fingerprint, or PIN). Once verified, you can use your existing passkeys saved to the plugin credential manager or save new passkeys.
• [Settings]
  • New!  The Manage or clear your Bing search history entry under Settings > Privacy & security > Search > Search history has been removed. You can now manage your Bing search history directly from the Privacy dashboard, accessible via the Privacy resources link under Related settings on that Settings page.
  • New!  More time, language, and keyboard settings have moved from Control Panel to Settings. You can now add additional clocks, change your time server, and customize date and time formatting—including AM/PM symbols—directly from Settings > Time & language > Date & time. Number and currency formats, Unicode UTF-8 support, and options to copy language and region settings to other accounts are now under Settings > Time & language > Language & region. Keyboard character repeat and cursor blink rate settings are now easier to find under Settings > Accessibility.
  • Improved: Made underlying changes to help improve the performance of loading the apps list in Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
  • Fixed: Settings > System > Storage > Disks and Volumes might show a link for BitLocker drive encryption in unsupported cases. Selecting it results in BitLocker opening and displaying error 0x80004005.
• [Gaming]
  • New!  Xbox controller support for gaming on Windows 11 has been improved. Short pressing the Xbox button opens Game Bar. A new change we’re introducing is when you long press the Xbox button, it will open Task View. Pressing and holding the Xbox button continues to turn off the game controller.
  • Improved: Underlying changes have been made to improve performance when gaming with Game Bar or other overlays active on top of users’ game. This update might especially help users with multiple monitors that have different refresh rates.
• [Other] New! This feature offers a modern interface that aligns with Windows 11 visuals across several dialogs, including the one shown when an app fails to open.
• [Voice access]
  • New!  Natural language commanding in Voice access provides users with the flexibility to speak commands naturally, using filler words and synonyms, rather than rigid, predefined commands. This feature is now available for Intel and AMD-powered Copilot+ PCs.​​​​ 
  • Fixed: Voice access might get stuck in a state where it says it’s listening but is stuck and doesn’t respond.
• [Dynamic Lighting] Fixed: The Dynamic Lighting Background Controller might occasionally consume excessive CPU after unlocking your PC.
• [High Dynamic Range (HDR)] Fixed: HDR might unexpectedly immediately turn off after being enabled in Settings.
• [Media (known issue)] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that affects playback of protected content in certain Blu-ray, DVD, and digital TV apps that use Enhanced Video Rendererwith HDCP enforcement. This can occur after installing KB5064081.
• [Performance] Improved: Added support for Certificate Revocation List (CRL) partitioning in Windows Certificate Authorities.
• [Quick Settings]: Fixed: If you had to enter a PIN for your device to cast from Quick Settings, pressing Enter wouldn’t confirm the PIN.
• [Windows Hello] Fixed: You might unexpectedly see a message saying “Something happened and your PIN isn’t available” when attempting to enter safe mode.
• [Windows Sandbox] Fixed: When Windows Sandbox is enabled, the VmmemCMFirstBoot process might consume large amounts of CPU after sign-in, causing your PC to become unresponsive.
• [Hyper-V] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that affects starting Hyper-V virtual machines with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) on ARM64 devices running supported versions of Windows. This can occur after installing KB5064081.
• [Input]
  • Fixed: An issue where some characters didn’t display correctly when using the Chinese Input Method Editor (IME).
  • Fixed: This update addresses an issue where certain Chinese characters appeared as empty boxes in some text fields, such as those used in Connection Manager Administration Kit, when a character limit was set.
  • Fixed: Addresses an issue in File Explorer where tooltips in the Recent section displayed certain extended Unicode characters—such as Chinese characters from Extension B through Extension F and other four-byte characters—as square boxes or unreadable symbols.
• [Networking (known issue)]​​​​​​​ Fixed: This update addresses an issue where you might not be able to connect to shared files and folders if you’re using the Server Message Block (SMB) v1 protocol on NetBIOS over TCP/IP NetBIOS (NetBT). This can happen after installing update KB5065426.
• [Servicing] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that disrupted Windows Update for customers using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).
• [Windows Hello] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Hello PIN setup with error 0x80090010 on devices joined to Microsoft Entra ID domains after installing Windows updates released on or after KB5060842.

To install this update, you can click on the Download and Install button that shows up below the cumulative update preview version just like this:

Or, you can enable the faster update rollout option that shows up in the Windows Update page so that you’ll automatically get the preview updates without having to manually check for updates:

Please note that preview updates may have stability issues that are usually fixed in the final update release. Also, we recommend downloading such updates over non-metered connections to avoid extra charges. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #Copilot #intune #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #security #September #September2025 #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 September 2025 patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s Patch Tuesday for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this month’s patch is:

• This update addresses security issues for your Windows operating system.
• [App compatibility (known issue)] ​​​​​​​Fixed: Addresses an issue that caused non-admin users to receive unexpected User Account Control (UAC) prompts when MSI installers perform certain custom actions. These actions might include configuration or repair operations in the foreground or background, during the initial installation of an application.This issue could prevent non-admin users from running apps that perform MSI repairs, including Office Professional Plus 2010 and multiple applications from Autodesk (including AutoCAD). This fix reduces the scope for requiring UAC prompts for MSI repairs and enables IT admins to disable UAC prompts for specific apps by adding them to an allowlist.For more information, see Unexpected UAC prompts when running MSI repair operations after installing the August 2025 Windows security update.
• [File server] This update enabled auditing SMB client compatibility for SMB Server signing as well as SMB Server EPA. This allows customers to assess their environment and identify any potential device or software incompatibility issues before deploying the hardening measures that are already supported by SMB Server. For detailed guidance, see CVE-2025-55234.
• [Input]
  • Fixed: This update addresses an issue that caused certain apps to stop responding input in some input method scenarios.
  • Fixed: This update addresses an issue that caused some Internet Information Services (IIS) modules to disappear from IIS Manager, preventing users from configuring IIS using the IIS Manager interface.
• [Networking (known issue)] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that affects audio in apps using the Network Device Interface (NDI). Audio stutters when Display Capture is on in OBS Studio Application. This can occur after installing KB5063878.

To install this update, you can just click on a big Check for updates button in the Windows Update settings. Usually, Windows 11 automatically updates your computer to this patch update. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 August 2025 preview patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s preview patch for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this preview patch is:

• [Recall] New!​​​​​​​ Recall opens to a personalized homepage that puts your recent activity and top-used apps and websites front and center, making it easy to pick up where you left off. After turning on snapshot collection, the homepage highlights key productivity features like Recent Snapshots, which show the latest snapshots to help you quickly resume tasks, and Top Apps and Websites, which display the three apps and websites you’ve used most in the past 24 hours. You can set filters in Settings to control which apps and websites are saved in snapshots. A new navigation bar on the leftmost side of the screen provides quick access to Home, Timeline, Feedback, and Settings.
• [Click to Do] New! When you launch Click to Do for the first time, you’ll see a quick interactive tutorial. It shows how to complete tasks faster by demonstrating actions on both text and images—such as summarizing large blocks of text or removing image backgrounds. To revisit the tutorial later, select More options  > Start tutorial.
• [General] New!​​​​​​​ When an app requests access to location, camera, microphone, or other device capabilities, Windows shows a redesigned system dialog box. To emphasize the privacy prompt, the screen dims slightly, and the prompt appears at the center of the screen.
• [Taskbar]
  • New!​​​​​​​ The larger clock with seconds is now back in the notification center, displayed above the date and calendar. To turn this option on, go to Settings > Time & language > Date & time, and turn on Show time in the Notification Center.
  • Fixed: If you accidentally click and drag your mouse across the taskbar preview thumbnail, the preview might stop working.
• [Search on the Taskbar]
  • New!​​​​​​​ When you use Search from the Windows taskbar, a new grid view will help you more quickly and accurately identify the desired image within your search.
  • New! Search on the taskbar now provides clearer status information. If your search results are incomplete while your PC is organizing files in the background, Windows shows a notice with a link to check progress. You can dismiss the notice when you’re done. There is also a status for files and folders, so you can easily tell whether they’re available online (cloud) or stored on your device.
• [Lock screen] New!​​​​​​​ More widget options and support for lock screen widget personalization (previously referred to as “Weather and more”) are rolling out. After initial launch with Windows Insiders in the European Economic Area (EEA), these updates are expanding to all regions. You can add, remove, and rearrange lock screen widgets such as Weather, Watchlist, Sports, Traffic, and more. Any widget that supports the small sizing option can be added. To customize your lock screen widgets, go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen.
• [File Explorer]
  • New! Dividers now separate top-level icons in the File Explorer context menu.
  • New!​​​​​​​ When you’re signed in with a work or school account (Entra ID), File Explorer will display people icons in the Activity column and the Recommended section at the top of File Explorer Home. Hover over or select a person’s icon to open their Microsoft 365 Live Persona Card, which shows who they are and how they’re connected to the file.
  • Fixed: If you try to use the unblock open in Properties for a file, it still shows as blocked when you open Properties the next time.
• [Windows Hello]
  • New!​​​​​​​ As part of the enhanced passkey features released in September 2023, you’ll see a redesigned Windows Hello interface. These modernized visual updates support fast, clear communication that appear across multiple authentication flows, including the Windows sign-in screen, passkey, Recall, the Microsoft Store, and more.

     The Windows security credential experience for passkey offers a cleaner, more intuitive interface designed to support fast, secure sign-in. You can now easily switch between authentication options such as passkeys or connected devices.

  • Fixed: Windows Hello might recognize your face on the login screen, however it would still fail and then prompt you to enter your pin. If you continue experiencing issues, you might need to go to the Facial Recognition section under Settings > Accounts >Sign-in options and select Improve recognition.
  • Improved: Fingerprint login after standby is now more robust.
• [Settings]
  • New!  Windows activation and expiration prompts match the Windows 11 design and appear as system notifications when action is required. There also have been improvements to messaging under Settings > System > Activation.
  • New! You can go to Settings > Privacy & security > Text and Image Generation to see which third-party apps have recently used generative AI models provided by Windows. You can also choose which apps are permitted to use them—putting you in charge of your device’s AI experience.
  • New! As part of the Copilot+ PC experience, the agent in Settings helps you quickly find and change settings. Initially available on Snapdragon®-powered Copilot+ PCs, agent in Settings now supports AMD- and Intel™-powered Copilot+ PCs. It currently works only when your primary display language is set to English.
  • Fixed: Settings might crash if you attempt to add a security key under Settings > Account > Sign-in options.
• [Task Manager] New! Task Manager now uses standard metrics to show CPU workload consistently across all pages, aligning with industry standards and third-party tools. If you prefer the previous view, you can enable a new optional column called CPU Utility in the Details tab to display the earlier CPU usage value shown on the Processes page.
• [Widgets]
  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​New! Multiple dashboards are now available in your Widgets Board. This gives you more space for your favorite widgets and helps you stay informed with a feed that connects you to current events. A new navigation bar on the left side makes it easy to switch between your widget’s dashboard and other views like the Discover feed. After initial launch in the EEA, these updates are expanding to all regions.
  • New!  A new visual experience is available for the Discover feed on the Widgets Board. The layout is more organized, personalized, and engaging. Copilot-curated stories are now included, offering a well-rounded view of each topic with summaries, videos, and images from trusted MSN premium publishers. To customize your feed, go to Widgets > Discover dashboard > Personalization settings.
• [Windows Backup for Organizations] New!​​​​​​​ Windows Backup for Organizations is now generally available! Experience seamless device transitions with enterprise-grade backup and restore. Whether you’re refreshing your organization’s devices, upgrading to Windows 11, or deploying AI-powered PCs, this solution helps sustain productivity with minimal disruption, ensuring business continuity and organizational resilience.
• [PowerShell 2.0] Starting in August 2025, Windows 11, version 24H2, will no longer include Windows PowerShell 2.0. This legacy component was introduced in Windows 7 and officially deprecated in 2017. Most users won’t be affected, as newer versions such as PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell 7.x remain available and supported. If you use older scripts or tools that depend on PowerShell 2.0, update them to avoid compatibility issues.
• [Live captions] Fixed: Changing the opacity of live captions in Settings > Accessibility > Captions > Caption Style, has no effect.
• [Input]
  • Fixed: Attempting to type Chinese with an IME after copying something with CTRL + C can result in the first character not displaying.
  • Fixed: An underlying issue related to textinputframework.dll could result in certain apps like Sticky Notes and Notepad crashing.
  • Fixed: This update addresses an issue with the Chinese (Simplified) Input Method Editor (IME) where some extended characters appear as empty boxes.
  • [Fixed This update addresses an issue that prevents typing on the touch keyboard when using the Microsoft Changjie, Microsoft Bopomofo, or Microsoft Japanese Input Method Editors (IMEs). The issue occurs after switching to a previous version of the IME.
• [dbgcore.dll] Fixed: An underlying issue with dbgcore.dll could result in certain apps, including explorer.exe, crashing.
• [Kerberos]​​​​​​​ Fixed: There might be an underlying crash in Kerberos when attempting to access a cloud file share.
• [Login] Improved: Addressed some underlying cases which could lead to you seeing a blank white screen, or a screen saying, “just a moment”, for a few minutes when logging into your PC.
• [Miracast] Fixed: An issue where, on certain devices, audio would initially play but stop a few seconds after casting to a TV.
• [Audio] Improved: Addressed an underlying audio service stops responding which could impact the ability to play audio in certain cases.
• [Cryptographic Provider (known issue)] Fixed: Fixed: This update addresses an issue where you might see an error in Windows Event Viewer with Error ID 57. The event displays the following message: The ‘Microsoft Pluton Cryptographic Provider’ provider was not loaded because initialization failed.
• [Device management] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that prevented some system recovery features from working properly due to a temporary file sharing conflict. This affected certain device management tools and disrupted key functions on some devices.
• [File system]​​​​​​​ Fixed: An issue in Resilient File System (ReFS) where using backup apps with large files could sometimes exhaust system memory.
• [Performance] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that slows application installation on ARM64 devices. Some installers might take longer to complete.

To install this update, you can click on the Download and Install button that shows up below the cumulative update preview version just like this:

Or, you can enable the faster update rollout option that shows up in the Windows Update page so that you’ll automatically get the preview updates without having to manually check for updates:

Please note that preview updates may have stability issues that are usually fixed in the final update release. Also, we recommend downloading such updates over non-metered connections to avoid extra charges. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #Copilot #February #February2025 #intune #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #security #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 August 2025 patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s Patch Tuesday for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this month’s patch is:

• This update addresses security issues for your Windows operating system.
• [Authentication] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that caused delays during sign-in on new devices. The delay was due to certain preinstalled packages.

To install this update, you can just click on a big Check for updates button in the Windows Update settings. Usually, Windows 11 automatically updates your computer to this patch update. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 July 2025 preview patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s preview patch for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this preview patch is:

• [Recall]
  • New! Recall is now available in the European Economic Area (EEA). For more info, see Retrace your steps with Recall. In the EEA, Recall supports exporting snapshots to share with trusted third-party apps and websites. When saving snapshots is turned on for the first time, a unique Recall export code appears. This code is required to decrypt exported snapshots and is shown only once during initial setup. Microsoft doesn’t store or recover this code. To export, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Recall & Snapshots > Advanced Settings and authenticate with Windows Hello. Choose to export past snapshots (from the last 7 days, 30 days, or all) or start a continuous export. Third-party apps can access exported snapshots only when both the export code and folder path are provided. If you lose or compromise the export code, reset Recall to generate a new one.
  • New! For all Recall users worldwide, you can now reset Recall and delete all its data. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Recall & Snapshots to find a new advanced settings page. There, you’ll see a reset button that deletes all your snapshots and restores Recall to its default settings.
• [Click to Do]
  • New! 1 Practice in Reading Coach is a new Click to Do text action that helps you improve reading fluency and pronunciation. Select text on your screen, choose Practice in Reading Coach, and read the text aloud. Reading Coach gives you feedback and shows where to improve. To use this feature, install the free Microsoft Reading Coach app from the Microsoft Store.
  • New! 1 Read with Immersive Reader is a new text action in Click to Do that displays text in a focused, distraction-free environment. It helps improve reading and writing for all skill levels and abilities. You can adjust text size, spacing, font, and background theme, have text read aloud, break words into syllables, and highlight parts of speech. The picture dictionary shows images for unfamiliar words. To use this feature, install the free Microsoft Reading Coach application from the Microsoft Store.
  • New! 1With the Draft with Copilot in Word text action, you can quickly turn any recognized text into a full draft. Whether it’s a sentence in an email or a snippet on your screen, press Win + Click on the recognized text, then select Draft with Copilot in Word. No more blank pages. No more writer’s block. Just momentum. To use “Draft with Copilot in Word” a Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription is required.
  • New! 1Click to Do on Copilot+ PCs now supports actions through Microsoft Teams. When you select an email address recognized by Click to Do on your screen, you can choose to send a Teams message or schedule a Teams meeting. These options make it easy to ask a question or set up time to talk without interrupting your workflow.
• [Settings]
  • New! 1The new agent in Settings is part of the Copilot+ PC experience and is designed to address one of the most common frustrations: finding and changing settings on your PC. You can describe what you need help with, such as “how to control my PC by voice” or “my mouse pointer is too small,” and the agent will suggest steps to resolve the issue. The agent uses AI on your PC to understand your request and, with your permission, can automate and complete tasks for you. This experience is rolling out to Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel™-powered PCs coming soon. It currently works only if your primary display language is set to English.
  • New! On non-Copilot+ PCs, the Settings app now shows the Search box at the top center to make searching easier and more consistent.
  • Fixed: If your PC is set to ‘Do nothing’ when you close the lid (under Settings > System > Power and Battery) and the Settings window is left open when you close the lid, reopening the lid might cause the Settings window to stop responding. It might become unresponsive to input or resizing and instead just display your accent color.
  • Fixed: Settings might stop responding when you try to save Wi-Fi network credentials.
• [Windows Resiliency Initiative] The following changes are part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative announced at Ignite 2024:
  • New! Quick machine recovery is now available. When enabled, it automatically detects and fixes widespread issues on Windows 11 devices using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). This reduces downtime and avoids the need for manual fixes. If a device experiences a widespread boot issue, it enters WinRE, connects to the internet, and Microsoft can deliver a targeted fix through Windows Update. IT admins can enable or customize this experience for their organization through the Intune Settings Catalog UI using the RemoteRemediationCSP. There is also a dedicated quick machine recovery settings page available under System > Recovery > Quick machine recovery. Today, it’s enabled by default for home users.
  • New! A more streamlined interface appears during an unexpected restart. This updated design aligns with Windows 11’s visual style and helps you return to work faster. The screen displays a more readable layout while keeping the technical details visible. This screen appears with a black background.
• [Start menu] New!  We are adding a Boolean option to the Configure Start Pins policy to allow admins to apply Start menu pins once. This means that a user will receive admin pins on day 0 but can then make any changes to their Start pinned layout and have those changes safeguarded. These changes can be optionally applied through the existing configuration Service Provider (CSP).
• [Snap] New! Improvements make it easier to learn and use Snap in Windows 11. Inline messages now appear when you accidentally open the Snap Bar by dragging an app to the upper center of your desktop or open the Snap menu by hovering over the Minimize or Maximize button. These messages provide helpful tips on Snap app windows and show keyboard shortcuts.
• [Windows Search] New! Windows Search settings are now easier to find. Instead of two separate pages for settings (“Search permissions” and “Searching Windows”), you can find everything in one place under Settings > Privacy & security > Search. This new page has a modern look and a better layout, so you can quickly view and manage all your Windows Search settings.
• [Input] New! The Gamepad layout of the Windows touch keyboard now includes enhanced controller navigation and improved focus handling for child keys, menus, word suggestions, language switching, and settings. A new Gamepad keyboard, designed for gaming, also supports PIN sign-in on the Windows lock screen. It offers controller shortcuts for quick PIN entry and full navigation for those who prefer not to use shortcuts.
• [File Explorer]
  • Fixed: If you open More options ​​​​​​​in File Explorer to view the full list of folders for the current path, the dropdown menu might not display completely, making the bottom part inaccessible.
  • Fixed: File operation progress dialogs might stop appearing when displayed from apps.
  • Fixed: Syncing more SharePoint sites to File Explorer might slow performance when navigating folders or opening the context menu. This can also affect how quickly files launch.
• [Desktop icons] Fixed: If you have an app pinned to your desktop and it updates, the app icon might not display correctly and instead show a white page.
• [Notifications] Fixed: When you select a Windows notification, it might not bring the related app to the foreground as expected—for example, this can happen with Outlook notifications.
• [Authentication] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that affects the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS). LSASS might stop responding during machine password changes with specific audit settings.
• [File Explorer] Fixed: File Explorer Home might unexpectedly only display a single folder (for example, Desktop), rather than the expected content with recent files and more.
• [File system] Fixed: This update addresses an issue in the Resilient File System (ReFS) where using backup applications on large files could occasionally result in system memory becoming fully exhausted.
• [Graphics] An issue where external graphics cards connected through Thunderbolt weren’t always recognized in some cases.
• [Input (known issue)]
  • Fixed: An issue when using the Microsoft Changjie IME (input method editor) for Traditional Chinese might cause problems such as not being able to form or select words, unresponsive spacebar or blank key, incorrect word output, or a broken candidate window display. This can occur after installing KB5062553.
  • Fixed: This update addresses an issue that affects Phonetic input methods, including the Hindi Phonetic Input keyboard and the Marathi Phonetic keyboard, which might not work correctly after installing KB5062553.
• [Stability issue] This update addresses an issue observed in rare cases after installing the May 2025 security update and subsequent updates causing devices to experience stability issues. Some devices became unresponsive and stopped responding in specific scenarios.
• [Windows Firewall] Fixed: This update addresses an issue found in Event Viewer as Event 2042 for Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. The event appears as “Config Read Failed” with the message “More data is available.” For more information about this issue, see “Error events are logged for Windows Firewall” in the Windows Health Dashboard.

To install this update, you can click on the Download and Install button that shows up below the cumulative update preview version just like this:

Or, you can enable the faster update rollout option that shows up in the Windows Update page so that you’ll automatically get the preview updates without having to manually check for updates:

Please note that preview updates may have stability issues that are usually fixed in the final update release. Also, we recommend downloading such updates over non-metered connections to avoid extra charges. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #Copilot #February #February2025 #intune #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #security #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 July 2025 patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s Patch Tuesday for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this month’s patch is:

• [Graphics]​​​​​​​ Fixed: This issue occurs only if the June 2025 non-security update (KB5060829) is installed. Game content might become out of sync with the cursor position after using ALT+Tab to switch away and back from certain games running in full screen exclusive mode, when the game resolution doesn’t match the desktop resolution. ​​​​​​​
• [Multimedia] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where notification sounds didn’t play. Affected sounds included those for on-screen alerts, volume adjustments, and sign-in.
• [Windows Firewall] Fixed: This update addresses an issue found in Event Viewer as Event 2042 for Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. The event appears as “Config Read Failed” with the message “More data is available.” For more information about this issue, see “Error events are logged for Windows Firewall” in the Windows Health Dashboard.​​​​​​​

To install this update, you can just click on a big Check for updates button in the Windows Update settings. Usually, Windows 11 automatically updates your computer to this patch update. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 June 2025 preview patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s preview patch for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this preview patch is:

• [App defaults]
  • New!  We are rolling out some small changes in the European Economic Area (EEA) region for default browsers through the Set default button in Settings > Apps > Default apps:
    • Additional file and link types will be set for the new default browser, if it registers them.
    • The new default browser will be pinned to the Taskbar and Start menu unless you choose not to pin it by clearing the checkboxes.
    • There is now a separate one-click button for browsers to change your .pdf default, if the browser registers for the .pdf file type.
• [Click to Do (Preview)] New!​​​​​​​ Ask Microsoft 365 Copilot is a new action in Click to Do on Copilot+ PCs. Use it to send text or images to Microsoft 365 Copilot, which will respond to your questions. The Ask Microsoft 365 Copilot action requires a Microsoft 365 license and follows your organization’s privacy policies.
• [Narrator]
  • New!  The Screen Curtain feature in Narrator helps protect your privacy and improve focus by blacking out the screen while Narrator reads content aloud. This is especially helpful in public or shared spaces, where you can work with sensitive information without others seeing your screen. To turn on Narrator, press Ctrl + Windows + Enter. Then press Caps Lock + Ctrl + C to turn on Screen Curtain. While it’s on, you can use Narrator as usual with the screen hidden. Press Caps Lock + Ctrl + C again to turn it off.
  • New!  Narrator makes it easier to discover and learn about its features directly within the experience. Whether you’re new or exploring advanced options, Narrator will guide you through the latest updates using a series of steps and prompts that explain each new feature and change.
• [PC Migration] New!​​​​​​​ The PC-to-PC migration experience in Windows is starting to roll out. You’ll begin to see the landing and the pairing page in the Windows Backup app, giving you a first look at what’s coming. In the full experience, you’ll be able to transfer files and settings from an old PC to a new one during setup. Support for this feature during PC setup will arrive in a future update. The rollout is being introduced in phases to support a smooth experience.
• [Settings]
  • ​​​​​​​New!​​​​​​​ We are starting to roll out the Settings homepage for commercial customers on PCs managed by an IT administrator. The feature will show some existing cards relevant to enterprise-managed PCs like “Recommended settings” and “Bluetooth devices” as well as two new enterprise-specific device info and accessibility preferences cards. For commercial customers who also use their Microsoft account on their managed PC, there will also be a new accounts card indicating the presence of both work and school and Microsoft account types. ​​​​​​​
  • New!  The country or region selected during device setup now appears under Settings > Time & language > Language & region.
  • Fixed: The storage card in Settings > System > About shows an incorrect or unreadable character instead of the proper disk size.
• [Taskbar & System Tray]
  • New!​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The taskbar now resizes icons to fit more apps when space runs low, keeping everything visible and easy to access. You can adjust how icons appear in settings—reduce icon size only when the taskbar is full (default), keep icons at their original size at all times by selecting Never, or use smaller icons all the time by selecting Always. To change this setting, right-click an empty area on the taskbar, select Taskbar settings, expand the Taskbar behaviors section, and choose your preference under Show smaller taskbar buttons.
  • New! In addition to the new grouping of the Accessibility menu in Quick settings, there are text descriptions for the assistive technologies like Narrator, Voice access, and more for easier identification and learning.
  • New! Adjusted the indicator (pill) under taskbar apps to make it wider and more visible.​​​​​​​
  • Fixed: WIN + CTRL + Number doesn’t work anymore for switching windows of an open app in the taskbar.​​​​​​​
  • Fixed: When using taskbar in Windows, the media controls that appear in the preview windows for apps might unexpectedly flicker.
• [Voice Access]
  • New! You can now use Voice access to navigate, dictate, and interact with Windows using voice commands in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese.
  • New! You can add custom words to the dictionary in voice access. The feature will be available in all the currently supported voice access languages.
• [Windows Share]
  • ​​​​​​​New! When you share links or web content using the Windows share window, you’ll see a visual preview for that content.
  • New! In the Windows share window, you can select a compression level—High, Medium, or Low Quality—when editing and sharing images, instead of selecting from a 0–100 scale.
• [Color] Improved: Adjusted the location of the intensity and color boost sliders under Settings > Accessibility > Color Filters, so the color previews at the top of the page remain visible while adjusting the sliders. 
• [File Explorer] Improved: Performance has been enhanced when extracting archive files – this will particularly help in the case of copy pasting large numbers of files out of large 7z or .rar archives.
• [Graphics]
  • Improved: Made underlying changes to enhance display related user experiences, including reducing screen flashing during certain display configuration transitions and eliminating unnecessary display resets that occurred in some cases​​​​​​​.
  • Fixed: Some displays might be unexpectedly green.
  • Fixed: If User Account Control (UAC) is set to Always Notify and the button under Settings > System > Display color calibration is selected for your display and canceled, Settings will stop responding.
• [Input] Fixed: Typing in Japanese with the touch keyboard might stop working after switching to typing with an English keyboard and then switching back.
• [MSFTEdit.dll] Fixed: Some apps like Sticky Notes and dxdiag might stop responding when the display language is set to Arabic or Hebrew display.
• [Quick Settings] Fixed: The top three buttons in the top row don’t respond when selecting to enable or disable them.
• [Printing] Fixed: Printed lines might be unexpectedly thicker than expected.
• [Scripting] Fixed: Running a script on a remote Server Message Block (SMB) share might take an unexpectedly long time if the share is hosted on an older Windows Server version like Windows Server 2019.
• [Windowing]
  • ​​​​​​​Fixed: When you press ALT + Tab to switch out of a full screen game, other windows like Windows Terminal might stop responding.
  • Fixed: An underlying issue might lead to unexpected changes to window size and position after sleep and resume on some devices.
  • Fixed: Explorer.exe might stop working unexpectedly when a window is dragged, if window snapping is enabled.
• [Copilot] Fixed: Improved the Copilot key’s reliability and resolved an issue that prevented users from restarting Copilot after using the key.
• [Performance] Fixed: This update addresses an issue to maintain efficiency of Storage Spaces Direct (S2D). When running complex software defined data center (SDDC) related workflows, it’s possible the system might become unresponsive.
• [Storage optimization] Fixed: An issue that prevented unused language packs and Feature on Demand packages from being fully removed, which led to unnecessary storage use and longer Windows Update installation times.
• [Windows Hello] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that prevented the automatic renewal of expiring certificates in Windows Hello for Business.
• [Windows Search]
  • ​​​​​​​Fixed: Windows Search responds very slowly—Search can take over 10 seconds to load before you can use it.
  • Fixed: This update enhances the reliability of Windows Search and resolves an issue that prevented users from typing in Windows Search in some cases.

To install this update, you can click on the Download and Install button that shows up below the cumulative update preview version just like this:

Or, you can enable the faster update rollout option that shows up in the Windows Update page so that you’ll automatically get the preview updates without having to manually check for updates:

Please note that preview updates may have stability issues that are usually fixed in the final update release. Also, we recommend downloading such updates over non-metered connections to avoid extra charges. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #Copilot #intune #June #June2025 #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #security #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 June 2025 patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s Patch Tuesday for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this month’s patch is:

• [System Restore]​​​​​​​ After installing the June 2025 Windows security update, Windows 11, version 24H2 will retain system restore points for up to 60 days. To apply a restore point, select Open System Restore. Restore points older than 60 days are not available. This 60-day limit will also apply to future versions of Windows 11, version 24H2.
• [Windows Hello] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that prevents users from signing in with self-signed certificates when using Windows Hello for Business with the Key Trust model.

To install this update, you can just click on a big Check for updates button in the Windows Update settings. Usually, Windows 11 automatically updates your computer to this patch update. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

WARNING: Your computer may restart twice. Do not worry; it’s normal.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 May 2025 preview patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s preview patch for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this preview patch is:

• [Click to Do (preview)]
  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​New! Ask Copilot is a new action within Click to Do. When you highlight text or an image, Click to Do offers the Ask Copilot option. Selecting it opens Microsoft Copilot with your content in the prompt box. You can send the selected text or image directly to the Copilot app to complete your prompt.
  • New!​​​​​​​ Enhance your Click to Do experience with more intelligent text actions on AMD and Intel™-powered Copilot+ PCs. Use the WIN key + mouse-click or WIN + Q to select a text block, then drag to choose the text you want. Options will appear to Summarize, Create a bulleted list, or to help you Rewrite your text to sound more casual, more formal, or more polished.
  • New! Click to Do (preview) is now available in the European Economic Area (EEA), bringing NPU-powered intelligent text actions for English to more users, along with new support for Spanish and French—enabling actions Summarize, Create a bulleted list, and Refine in these languages.
  • New! If your PC has pen and inking capabilities, you can configure the shortcut button to open Click to Do with a single-click, double-click, or press and hold through Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Pen & Windows Ink.
  • New! You can add Click to Do as one of the four apps in the pen menu on your PC. If all slots for the pen menu are full, you might need to replace one app with Click to Do in the menu settings.
  • New! Click to Do can now perform intelligent text actions in Spanish and French.
• [Copilot]
  • New! You can open Copilot on Windows with Win + C. You can personalize your Copilot key and Win + C experience at any time with the existing “Customize Copilot key on keyboard” under Settings > Personalization > Text input.
  • New!​​​​​​​ To start Press to talk with Copilot on Windows, hold the Copilot key—or Win + C if your keyboard doesn’t have one—for two seconds. Press Esc or stay silent for a few seconds to end the call. Use Alt + Spacebar to talk with Copilot on Windows. You can interact with Copilot using your voice and receive instant responses while continuing your tasks.
• [Cross device resume] New!​​​​​​​ Seamlessly resume working on OneDrive files from your phone (iOS and Android) on your Windows 11 PC with a single click. With this feature, you’ll get a notification asking if you want to pick up where you left off editing a OneDrive file, like a Word document, that you viewed or edited on your phone within the last 5 minutes before unlocking your PC.
• [Energy Saver] New! IT admins can manage Energy saver settings on Windows 11 PCs through group policies and MDM configurations using Microsoft Intune. This feature helps extend battery life by limiting background activity, dimming the screen, and contributing to environmental sustainability. To configure the policy, go to the Local Group Policy under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Power Management > Energy Saver Settings and “Enable Energy Saver to Always Be On.”
• [Graphics] New! Manage your PC’s HDR features under Settings > System > Display. Updates include: A clearer label for “Use HDR” that better explains which media types are supported. The ability to stream HDR video even when HDR is turned off. On PCs with Dolby Vision, a new switch lets you turn Dolby Vision on or off independently of HDR—giving you more control over your viewing experience.
• [Narrator] New! ​​​​​​​Enhance digital accessibility with AI-powered image descriptions in Narrator on Copilot+ PCs. This feature provides detailed descriptions of images, charts, and graphs for blind and low-vision users. To turn on Narrator, press Ctrl + Windows key + Enter or search for ‘Narrator’ in Windows search. Use Narrator key + Ctrl + D for image descriptions.
• [Improved Windows Search]
  • New! Discover the new feature that makes finding settings easier on Copilot+ PCs. Type the setting you’re looking for in the Windows search box on your taskbar without needing to remember the exact setting name. For example, use your own words to find settings like “change my theme” or “about my PC.” You no longer need to remember the exact setting name.
  • New! In the EEA, you can now find cloud photos using improved Windows Search on the taskbar. Describe the photos, like ‘European castles’ or ‘summer picnics,’ in the search box. Photos from the cloud and your Copilot+ PC appear in the search results. Exact keyword matches within your cloud files will also show up. This feature is gradually rolling out to Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel-powered PCs coming soon.
• [Search on Taskbar] New! Improved support for web search providers in Windows Search for the EEA, including with increased discoverability.
• [Settings]
  • New! Find answers to commonly asked questions about your PC and Windows 11 in the new FAQs section under Settings > System > About. It covers topics like system setup, performance, and compatibility – all in one place.
  • New!​​​​​​​ The dialog to rename your printer under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners now matches the Windows 11 look and feel.
  • New! Mouse settings are now easier to access under Settings > Accessibility > Mouse and Mouse pointer and touch, with no need to open Control Panel. You’ll find updated icons for Mouse pointer speed and Enhance mouse pointer precision, plus options for customizing the mouse indicator, pointer trails, and hover activation time.
• [Taskbar]
  • New!​​​​​​​ Admins can configure taskbar policies so users can unpin specific apps, ensuring they are not repinned during the next policy refresh. To turn on this feature, use the new PinGeneration option.
  • Fixed: When using Tab and Shift + Tab to move keyboard focus around the taskbar, if you go backwards at least once you can get keyboard focus stuck on the taskbar frame, which could lead screen readers to just say “pane.”
  • Fixed: On login, the keyboard focus might unexpectedly be set to widgets in the taskbar, which can cause widgets to open.
• [Voice Access]
  • New! Voice access now includes an in-product experience that highlights new features and improvements. Use the settings menu to open or dismiss it anytime.
  • New! You can find voice access under Accessibility in Quick Settings at the lower-right corner of your screen near the clock. To open Quick Settings, select the network, volume, or battery icon.
  • Fixed: Voice access might stop responding with error “working on it” when dictating.
• [Voice Typing] New! You control the profanity filter. When you turn it on, it masks profanity with asterisks. When you turn it off, words appear as spoken. To change the setting, open voice typing (Win + H), select the settings icon, and turn on the Filter profanity switch.
• [Windows Share]
  • New! Make last-minute edits such as cropping, rotating, and adding filters to images shared through the Windows Share window.
  • New! When you drag a local file from File Explorer or your desktop, a tray appears at the top of your screen. Drop the file into a suggested app or select More​​​​​​​ to open the Windows share window.
  • New! Add apps that support sharing directly to the right-click menu for local files in File Explorer or on the desktop.
• [Audio] Fixed: The startup sound might not play on boot, although it is enabled.
• [Bluetooth] Fixed: Settings might stop responding when loading information about Bluetooth devices.
• [Camera] Fixed: Settings might stop working when interacting with content under Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Cameras.
• [Display] Fixed: Unexpected changes to screen size and window position might occur after waking from sleep for some devices.
• [File Explorer] Fixed: If you have disconnected network drives while conducting a search from Home, it might prevent searches from executing and you remain on Home.
• [Input]
  • Fixed: Voice typing won’t start from the touch keyboard when using the Chinese (Simplified) narrow layout.
  • Fixed: When using the Symbols section of the touch keyboard, pressing the key to change pages might unexpectedly insert a character into password fields.
  • Fixed: Typing in some apps might stop working after disconnecting from a remote desktop session.
• [JPG] Fixed: When using CopyPixels the pixels may be unexpectedly inverted in certain cases.
• [Microsoft Management Console (MMC)] Fixed: Improved the colors used in MMC when items are selected, both generally, and when contrast modes are enabled.
• [Print] Fixed: Non-admin users can’t uninstall printers that they’ve added.
• [UHF Tuning] Fixed: Tuning scan for UHF channels doesn’t work, and only VHF channels are returned.
• [USB] Fixed: Certain USB devices might become disconnected after sleep, until you reboot your PC.
• [Windows Hello] Fixed: When using Windows Hello for Business facial recognition, the camera might unexpectedly stop working after your PC wakes from sleep, blocking login using this method.
• [BitLocker] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where devices with BitLocker on removable drives could encounter a blue screen error after resuming from sleep or hybrid-booting.
• [Boot menu screens] Fixed: This update addresses the issue where early boot screens, such as BitLocker PIN, BitLocker Recovery key, and boot menu screens, render slowly.
• [Graphics kernel] Fixed: An issue where some game titles become unresponsive after upgrading to 24H2.
• [Memory leak] Fixed: This update addresses an issue in the Input Service that causes increased memory usage, potentially impacting performance in multi-user, multi-lingual, and remote desktop usage.
• [Multimedia] Fixed: If you turn on multi-app mode or basic camera mode in advanced camera settings, the Windows Hello Face Enrollment might not work and show a bad camera preview.
• [Network]​​​​​​​ Fixed: This update addresses an issue where Windows Server 2025 always shows the network as “public” on new domain controllers. It now checks for a domain controller name before using loopback addresses to ensure proper Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) binding.​​​​​​​

To install this update, you can click on the Download and Install button that shows up below the cumulative update preview version just like this:

Or, you can enable the faster update rollout option that shows up in the Windows Update page so that you’ll automatically get the preview updates without having to manually check for updates:

Please note that preview updates may have stability issues that are usually fixed in the final update release. Also, we recommend downloading such updates over non-metered connections to avoid extra charges. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #Copilot #February #February2025 #intune #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #security #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 May 2025 patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s Patch Tuesday for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this month’s patch is:

• [Audio] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where the audio from your microphone might mute unexpectedly.
• [Eye controller] Fixed: The eye controller app doesn’t launch.

To install this update, you can just click on a big Check for updates button in the Windows Update settings. Usually, Windows 11 automatically updates your computer to this patch update. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 April 2025 preview patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s preview patch for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this preview patch is:

• [Recall (preview)] New! You work across so many apps, sites, and documents it can be hard to remember where you saw something you want to get back to. Recall (preview) saves you time by offering an entirely new way to search for things you’ve seen or done on your PC securely. With the AI capabilities of Copilot+ PCs, it’s now possible to quickly find and get back to any app, website, image, or document just by describing its content. To use Recall, you will need to opt-in to save snapshots, which are images of your activity, and enroll in Windows Hello to confirm your presence so only you can access your snapshots. You are always in control of what snapshots are saved and can pause saving snapshots at any time. As you use your Copilot+ PC throughout the day working on documents or presentations, taking video calls, and context switching across activities, Recall will take regular snapshots and help you find things faster and easier. When you need to find or get back to something you’ve done previously, open Recall and authenticate with Windows Hello. When you’ve found what you were looking for, you can reopen the application, website, or document, or use Click to Do to act on any image or text in the snapshot you found. For more info, see Retrace your steps with Recall.
• [Click to Do (preview)]
  • New! Click to Do (preview) makes it easier than ever for you to take immediate action on whatever catches your eye on-screen on your Copilot+ PC, saving you time by helping complete tasks inline and quickly getting you to the app that can best complete the job. For example, select an image using Click to Do to take actions like erasing objects using the Photos app or remove the background using Paint. To use Click to Do, simply use Windows key  + mouse click or Windows key + Q. You can also enter through the Snipping Tool menu and print screen or searching “Click to Do” in the search box on the Windows taskbar. For more info, see Click to Do: do more with what’s on your screen.
  • New! On Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, Click to Do includes intelligent text actions. Use Windows key  +  mouse click or Windows key  + Q to select a text block and then drag to select the text that you want. You’ll see options to Summarize or to help you Rewrite your text, so it sounds more causal or more formal. These text actions leverage the capabilities of Phi Silica, the on-device Small Language Model (SLM) that is built right into Windows.
  • New! Easily open Click to Do when you swipe from the rightmost edge of your display.
  • New! The policies for managing Click to Do in a commercial environment.  IT admins can learn more by viewing Manage Click to Do.
• [Improved Windows Search]
  • New!  Finding your documents, photos, and settings across Windows 11 is easier on Copilot+ PCs with improved Windows Search, powered by semantic indexing models along with traditional lexical indexing. Whether it’s searching in File Explorer, in Windows Search on your taskbar, or in Settings— just type what’s on your mind to find it on your Copilot+ PC. You no longer need to remember file names, exact words in file content, or settings names. Searching for settings like “change my theme” will work within the Settings app for now. Thanks to the power of the 40+ TOPS NPU onboard Copilot+ PCs, these search improvements work even when you’re not connected to the internet. To find more info, see Searching indexing in Windows. Now available on AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs.
  • New!  Locating your photos stored and saved in the cloud is getting simpler on Copilot+ PCs. You can use your own words in the search box at the upper-right corner of File Explorer like “summer picnics.” In addition to photos stored locally on your Copilot+ PC, photos from the cloud will show up in the search results together. Exact matches for your keywords within the text of your cloud files will also show in the search results. You can try this experience out today with your personal OneDrive when signed in with your Microsoft account and connected to the internet. Now available on AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs.
• [Narrator] New! Keep track of what Narrator has spoken and access it for quick reference. With speech recap, you can quickly access spoken content, follow along with live transcription, and copy what Narrator last said—all with simple keyboard shortcuts.
• [Phone Link] New! You can do even more with your Windows PC and your mobile device with direct access to cross-device features from the Start menu. For example, you can make phone calls, send SMS messages, access your photos, or share content between your mobile device and PC.
• [Widgets]
  • New! Web developers can use their existing content to create interactive widgets that can be added to multiple widgets surfaces. For more info, see Web widget providers.
  • New! There are some new updates to the new Widgets on Lock experience for devices in the European Economic Area (EEA). In addition to accessibility and craftsmanship improvements, the Lock screen weather widget now supports customization. To configure your weather widget, go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and select the “Customize widget” option from the weather widget more options menu. More widgets will be customizable in the future.
• [File Explorer]
  • New! Pivot-based curated views on File Explorer Home that supports ease of access of Microsoft 365 content on Windows. Be more productive and get highly relevant content at your fingertips on File Explorer Home.
  • Fixed: As part of our ongoing commitment to improving File Explorer accessibility, this release includes increased support for the text scaling (Settings > Accessibility > Text size) across File Explorer, File Open/Save dialogs and the copy dialogs.
  • Fixed: Improved the performance of extracting zipped files, particularly in the case where you’re unzipping a large number of small files.
  • Fixed: The address bar in File Explorer might unexpectedly not show a path after opening.
• [Settings] New!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Manage which apps Windows recommends actions, go to Settings > Apps > Actions on Copilot+ PCs.
• [Windows Studio Effects] New! The Studio Effects automatic framing filter turns on after the initial use of the camera, if your PC supports Studio Effects and you have not used Studio Effects previously.
• [Start]
  • Fixed: You can’t use touch gestures to view the list of apps pinned in the Start menu.
  • Fixed: The Sign out and More options​​​​​​​  buttons in the Start menu account manager might not be visible with increased text size.
• [Taskbar]
  • Fixed: The underlines beneath the app icons in the taskbar may remain visible even after the apps have been closed.
  • Fixed: If you use the arrow keys after pressing the Windows key + T, the arrows move in the wrong direction for Arabic and Hebrew display languages.
• [Desktop icons] The logic for apps pinned to the desktop has been updated, so that packaged apps no longer show an accent colored backplate. For example, if you were to drag and drop Snipping Tool from the apps list in Start to the desktop the icons should be bigger and easier to see now.
• [Display] Fixed: You might need to press the WIN + P keyboard shortcut twice to switch topologies.
• [ExtFloodFill] Fixed: There’s an uncommon issue with ExtFloodFill where a horizontal line might appear in the incorrect location in Win32 applications.
• [Graphics] Fixed: External graphics cards connected over Thunderbolt might unexpectedly not be discoverable in some cases.
• [Hyper-V Manager]​​​​​​​ Fixed: Hyper-V Manager unexpectedly shows 0% CPU usage for VMs.
• [Blue screen error] Fixed: This update resolves an issue observed after installing the April 2025 Windows security update and restarting the device. Affected devices encountered a blue screen exception with error code 0x18B indicating a SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR.
• [Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP Client)] Fixed: This update addresses an issue affecting internet connectivity on devices after resuming from sleep mode. Users might experience intermittent internet connections.
• [File Systems] Fixed: This update addresses an issue when the operating system stops unexpectedly, and an error message appears on a blue screen during normal usage with a user profile redirected to a network VHD(X).
• [Imaging] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where some content pages with JPEG images were not displaying.
• [Windows Hello] Fixed: This update addresses an edge case issue where Windows Hello doesn’t work on devices with specific security features enabled, preventing users from logging in with facial recognition or PIN. This issue was observed after performing a Push button reset or Reset this PC from Settings > System > Recovery and selecting Keep my Files and Local install.
• [Windows Setup] Fixed: If you install Windows 11, version 24H2 with Windows Setup and run System Preparation (Sysprep) afterwards, the boot file configuration is not properly updated, resulting in push-button reset options not working.
• [Windows Update] The Windows Update settings page and the Start menu power button will now show an estimated time for how long your PC will be offline to install updates from Windows Update.

To install this update, you can click on the Download and Install button that shows up below the cumulative update preview version just like this:

Or, you can enable the faster update rollout option that shows up in the Windows Update page so that you’ll automatically get the preview updates without having to manually check for updates:

Please note that preview updates may have stability issues that are usually fixed in the final update release. Also, we recommend downloading such updates over non-metered connections to avoid extra charges. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #Copilot #February #February2025 #intune #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #security #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 April 2025 patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s Patch Tuesday for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this month’s patch is:

• [Authentication] This update addresses an issue affecting machine password rotation in the Identity Update Manager certificate/Pre-Bootstrapping Key Initialization path. This issue occurred particularly when Kerberos was used and Credential Guard was enabled, potentially causing user authentication problems. The feature Machine Accounts in Credential Gurad, which is dependent on password rotation via Kerberos, has also been disabled, until a permanent fix is made available.
• [Daylight Saving Time (DST)] Update for the Aysen region in Chile to support the government DST change order in 2025. For more info about DST changes, see the Daylight Saving Time & Time Zone Blog.
• [PcaUiArm] This update addresses an issue affecting the PcaUiArmUpdate feature, which results in unexpected behavior in specific scenarios.

To install this update, you can just click on a big Check for updates button in the Windows Update settings. Usually, Windows 11 automatically updates your computer to this patch update. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #Updates #Windows #Windows11

Windows 11 March 2025 preview patch is out!

Microsoft have recently released this month’s preview patch for Windows 11 computers and laptops, and they usually contain new features that the normal patches will include. These new features, along with many improvements and bug fixes, will enhance your user experience by making some of the features easier to use. The official changelogs for this preview patch is:

• [Improved Windows Search]
  • New! Finding your documents, photos, and settings across Windows 11 is easier on Copilot+ PCs with improved Windows Search, powered by semantic indexing models along with traditional lexical indexing. Whether it’s searching in File Explorer, in the Windows Search on your taskbar, or in Settings – just type what’s on your mind to find it on your Copilot+ PC. You no longer need to remember file names, exact words in file content, or settings names. Searching for settings like “change my theme” will work within the Settings app for now. Thanks to the power of the 40+ TOPS NPU onboard Copilot+ PCs, these search improvements work even when you’re not connected to the internet. For more info, see semantic search on Copilot+ PCs. Available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs coming soon.
  • New! Locating your photos stored and saved in the cloud is getting simpler on Copilot+ PCs You can use your own words in the search box at the upper-right corner of File Explorer like “summer picnics”. In addition to photos stored locally on your Copilot+ PC, photos from the cloud will now show up in the search results together. Exact matches for your keywords within the text of your cloud files will also show in the search results. You can try this experience out today with your personal OneDrive when signed in with your Microsoft account and connected to the internet. To learn more, see semantic search on Copilot+ PCs. Available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs coming soon.
• [Input]
  • New!  The Gamepad keyboard layout is now available for the touch keyboard in Windows 11. This includes button accelerators (e.g., X button for backspace, Y button for spacebar). Additionally, the keyboard keys have been vertically aligned to improve controller navigation patterns.
  • New! A new experience to improve the discoverability of the emoji and more panels in Windows 11 with the introduction of a new system tray icon on the taskbar. This change will initially be available to a small group of devices.
  • Fixed: Improved ctfmon.exe reliability, by addressing a system restart which could impact typing.
  • Fixed: ctfmon.exe might restart when copying data from certain apps.
• [Live captions]
  • New!  This update enhances communication on AMD and Intel®-powered Copilot+ PCs with live captions and real-time translation. Live captions support translating more than 44 languages into English, including speakers in real-time video calls, recordings, and streamed content.
  • New!  On Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, we’re bringing the ability to do real-time translation to Chinese (Simplified). Supported languages include Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, German, Greek, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, and Swedish.
• [Voice access]
  • ​​​​​​​New! Natural language commanding in voice access provides users with the flexibility to speak commands naturally, using filler words and synonyms, rather than rigid, predefined commands. Available initially on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs. 
  • New!  Introducing Chinese support for voice access. You can now use Voice access to navigate, dictate, and interact with Windows using voice commands in Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.  
• [Widgets]​​​​​​​ New! Support for lock screen widgets (previously referred to as “Weather and more”) arrives on devices in the European Economic Area (EEA). You can add, remove, and rearrange lock screen widgets such as Weather, Watchlist, Sports, Traffic, and more. Any widget that supports the small sizing option can be added. To customize your lock screen widgets, navigate to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen. 
• [Windows Studio Effects] New!  An icon will appear in the system tray when you use an app that supports Windows Studio Effects. This only occurs on a device that has a neural processing unit (NPU). Select the icon to open the Studio Effects page in Quick Settings. To view the app that is using the camera, hover over the icon for a tooltip.
• [Application installation] Fixed: The MsiCloseHandle API experiences prolonged execution time when handling MSI files containing a large number of files.
• [Authentication]
  • ​​​​​​​Fixed: Kerberos authentication stops responding in certain scenarios when RC4 is used for encryption.
  • Fixed: FIDO Cached Credential Logon might stop responding in certain cases when a device is Hybrid Domain Joined.
  • Fixed: Opening certain apps after a password change could result in an unexpected lockout if the account lockout policy is enabled.
• [Boot menu] Fixed: If an update stops responding and rolls back, it might result in an unnecessary and non-functional boot menu entry. This fix stops devices from encountering this issue in the future. If you have already encountered this issue, you can manage extra boot entries in the Boot section of System Configuration (msconfig).
• [Color profile]
  • Fixed: Under Settings > System > Display > Color profile, go to Color management, it might not display the expected color profile list for the selected monitor.
  • Fixed: The color profile settings might not be applied after resuming from sleep.
• [File Explorer] Fixed: In some cases, the See more​​​​​​​  menu in the File Explorer command bar opens in the wrong direction.
• [General reliability] Fixed: An underlying issue might lead to your PC experiencing a bugcheck (blue screen) with PDC_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT when resuming from sleep.
• [Network] Fixed: The description of the virtual NIC doesn’t display correctly in Network Connections (ncpa.cpl), showing invalid characters
• [Screen orientation] Fixed: Screen might unexpectedly change orientation coming out of sleep on 2-in-1 devices.
• [Search on Taskbar]
  • ​​​​​​​In the European Economic Area (EEA), Windows Search has been updated with improved support for web search providers including increased discoverability and merged results in the All scope.
  • In the EEA, the Microsoft Bing app’s web search provider in Windows Search now opens search results with the default browser.
• [Settings]​​​​​​​ Fixed: For Japanese users, the name displaying at the top of Settings > Accounts shows First Name Last Name instead of Last Name First Name.​​​​​​​
• [Deprecation]
  • Suggested actions, which appear after you copy a phone number or future date in Windows 11, are now deprecated and being removed.
  • The Location History feature, an API that Cortana used to access 24 hours of device history when location was enabled, is being removed. With the removal of the Location History feature, location data will no longer be saved locally. The corresponding settings are also being removed from the Settings > Privacy & security > Location page.
• [Direct 3D Ecosystem] Fixed: This update addresses an issue where certain third-party apps might stop responding on the graphics settings page.
• [Display kernel] Fixed: This update addresses an issue affecting High Dynamic Range (HDR) content playback on Dolby Vision capable displays, where users might see regular HDR instead of Dolby Vision, missing specific content indicators.
• [Task manager] Task Manager will now calculate CPU usage differently for Processes, Performance, and Users pages. It will use standard metrics to display CPU workload consistently across all pages and align with industry standards and third-party tools. To ensure backward compatibility, an optional column named CPU Utility is available (hidden by default) on the Details tab, showing the previous CPU value from the Processes page.
• [Cryptography] Fixed: This update addresses an issue that was impacting Credential Roaming, preventing certificates and keys from being roamed into Active Directory and made available on users’ machines.
• [File system (filters) Fixed: This update resolves an issue for users with profiles redirected to a network Virtual Hard Disk (VHD or VHDX), where a specific failure could cause the system to become unresponsive.
• [Graphics] Fixed: There is an issue where certain third-party apps might render the graphics settings page unresponsive.
• [Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS)] This update addresses an issue with Windows LAPS. LAPS settings would not be preserved after an in-place upgrade.
• [OOBE] Fixed: Addresses an issue that prevents the ESP from running every time a new user logs onto the device even when configured by policy
• [PowerShell] Fixed: This update resolves an issue where critical PowerShell modules required for device configuration weren’t run under Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) policies.
• [Remote desktop] Fixed: Remote Desktop won’t use UDP, only TCP.

To install this update, you can click on the Download and Install button that shows up below the cumulative update preview version just like this:

Or, you can enable the faster update rollout option that shows up in the Windows Update page so that you’ll automatically get the preview updates without having to manually check for updates:

Please note that preview updates may have stability issues that are usually fixed in the final update release. Also, we recommend downloading such updates over non-metered connections to avoid extra charges. Installation of updates on an SSD should not take more than 10 minutes, but performing the same update on an HDD may take more than 30 minutes.

Enjoy the new features!

#2025 #Copilot #February #February2025 #intune #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Patch #preview #PreviewPatch #PreviewUpdates #security #Updates #Windows #Windows11