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 preview patch is now live!

#Microsoft #Windows #MicrosoftWindows #Computers #Laptops #TechNews #TechUpdates

https://officialaptivi.wordpress.com/2026/01/30/windows-11-january-2026-preview-patch-is-out/

Install and License Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager on Mac https://techdirectarchive.com/2023/03/08/install-and-license-devolutions-remote-desktop-manager-on-mac/ #MicrosoftWindows, #RDP, #RemoteDesktop, #RemoteDesktopApp, #RemoteDesktopConnection, #RemoteDesktopProtocol, #Windows10, #Windows11, #WindowsServer2016

#Windows :windows: Updates: Neue Boot-Zertifikate, Fehlerkorrekturen und neue Probleme | Security https://www.heise.de/news/Windows-Updates-Neue-Boot-Zertifikate-Fehlerkorrekturen-und-neue-Probleme-11153454.html #Patchday #Microsoft #MicrosoftWindows :windows:

A somewhat slender approach to gaming on the go, the Acer Nitro 16S AI is slim, well spec'd and might be worth a look for your next piece of kit. https://www.pickr.com.au/reviews/2026/acer-nitro-16s-ai-an16s-61 #computers #microsoftwindows #reviews #acer #amd #amdryzen #gaminglaptop #nvidia #typec #usb #wifi6e

Microsoft adds AI to Notepad and Paint in Windows 11 and yes, it stinks

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://nerds.xyz/2026/01/microsoft-ai-notepad-paint-windows-11/

We've updated our bookmarklet to include Winslop and Coslop!

#Microsoft #Windows #MicrosoftWindows #M365Copilot #Copilot #Microslop #TechNews #TechUpdates #Computers #Laptops https://officialaptivi.wordpress.com/2026/01/13/microsoft-is-getting-heat-for-ai-push-windows-11-users-coin-microslop/

Windows 11 January 2026 patch is now live!

#Windows #Microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #TechNews #TechUpdates #Computers #Laptops

https://officialaptivi.wordpress.com/2026/01/14/windows-11-january-2026-patch-is-out/

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 users coin "Microslop" as Microsoft insists on pushing AI

#Microsoft #Windows #MicrosoftWindows #M365Copilot #Copilot #Microslop #TechNews #TechUpdates #Computers #Laptops

https://officialaptivi.wordpress.com/2026/01/13/microsoft-is-getting-heat-for-ai-push-windows-11-users-coin-microslop/

#Microsoft bestätigt: Telefonische #Windows :windows: -Aktivierung ist passé | heise online https://www.heise.de/news/Microsoft-hat-telefonische-Windows-Aktivierung-deaktiviert-11135717.html #MicrosoftWindows

Einfach mal dem #ITSupport sagen, dass man mit dem Dienstlaptop nicht klarkommt, weil man privat #Linux und nicht #MicrosoftWindows nutzt. So wird man direkt anders behandelt.

Office 2021 suite will reach EOL on October 13th

Microsoft has set up an end of life date for the Office 2021 office suite. It was released on October 5th, 2021, aligning with the Windows 11 release on the same date to celebrate the new modern era of fluent design. This standalone version of the office suite is purchased under a perpetual license for those who prefer not to use the subscription-based Office 365.

Microsoft will end support for this version of the office suite on October 13th, 2026, as Office 2024 began its life cycle on October 1st, 2024, to provide users with new features and design. This means that no more updates will be made for those who are still running Office 2021 after the mentioned date. The LTSC edition will also become end of life at the same mentioned date.

More specifically, the following Office applications will become EOL:

• Access 2021
• Excel 2021
• OneNote 2021
• Outlook 2021
• PowerPoint 2021
• Project 2021
• Publisher 2021
• Visio 2021
• Word 2021
• Access LTSC 2021
• Excel LTSC 2021
• OneNote LTSC 2021
• Outlook LTSC 2021
• PowerPoint LTSC 2021
• Project 2021 (LTSC)
• Publisher LTSC 2021
• Skype for Business LTSC 2021
• Visio LTSC 2021
• Word LTSC 2021

macOS users will also have their support for Office 2021 ended on the same date for both the standard version and the LTSC version. If you are still running this version of Office and wish to continue receiving official support and updates, you’ll need to consider migrating to Office 2024, if you prefer perpetual licenses, or Office 365, if you prefer subscriptions.

#EndOfLife #EOL #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #news #office #Office2021 #Office2021LTSC #OutOfSupport #Tech #Technology #update #Windows

Windows 11 24H2 and Windows 10 LTSB 2016 will be EOL on October 13th, 2026.

#Microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #Windows #TechNews #TechUpdates #Computers #Laptops

https://officialaptivi.wordpress.com/2026/01/08/windows-11-24h2-and-other-versions-to-go-eol-from-october-13th/

Windows 11 24H2 and other versions to go EOL from October 13th

Windows 11 24H2 was a major update to this version of Windows that brought in many exciting features, such as changes to Samba file sharing protocol (SMB), Bluetooth LE support, Wi-Fi 7 support, SHA-3 support, and Rust code in the Windows kernel being added. It was first materialized on October 1st, 2024, for a small number of PCs before gradually extending to more and more computers as Microsoft resolved update blocks for this release.

Microsoft, however, has planned to end support for 24H2 this year for Home and Pro users, which means that the fourth quarter of this year will see computers that are still using 24H2 no longer receiving important security updates, unless an upgrade to a newer version of Windows is made.

On October 13th, 2026, Windows 11 24H2 will become end of life.

The other editions that will go out of support this year include Windows 11 Enterprise and Education 23H2, and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise 23H2, which will both go out of support on November 10th, 2026. As for Windows 10 LTSB 2016 and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016, the extended support date will finish on October 13th, 2026.

If you’re running one of those versions, we recommend that you plan a migration to the latest version to continue receiving updates.

#24H2 #microsoft #MicrosoftWindows #news #Tech #Technology #update #Windows #Windows11

The premium range of Dell laptops returns in 2026, as Dell brings its cream of the crop back. https://www.pickr.com.au/news/2026/xps-returns-as-dell-updates-gear-and-fixes-names #computers #microsoftwindows #news #aluminium #ces #ces2026 #dell #gorillaglass #intel #intelcore #oled #windows11

Prezes Microsoftu Satya Nadella nawołuje do nieużywania terminu „slop” jako określenia na zawartość generowaną przez AI

https://kontrabanda.net/r/satya-nadella-microslop-ai/

#Windows :windows: momentan nicht telefonisch aktivierbar | c't Magazin https://www.heise.de/news/Windows-momentan-nicht-telefonisch-aktivierbar-11128240.html #Microsoft #MicrosoftWindows :windows: