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The Windows 11 2025 Update (version 25H2) is being rolled out gradually for compatible computers starting today, according to Microsoft. If you want to install it as soon as possible, Microsoft offers various methods to proceed with the upgrade process. Windows 11 version 25H2 is a minor cumulative update that doesn't require reinstallation on devices already running version 24H2. However, for hardware configurations still running version 23H2, the process will require upgrading to version 24H2 through a reinstallation process before the option to switch to the latest feature update becomes available through the Windows Update settings. Also, if you plan to upgrade from Windows 10, the device will undergo the complete upgrade process. In addition, this new version will roll out gradually in phases, starting with devices known to have a good upgrade experience, which means that not every device will receive the update on day one. You may like Windows 11’s next big update is here early — here’s how to get it Windows 11 version 25H2 has been released, but when will your PC get it? Windows 11 version 25H2 ISOs are now available Windows 11 version 25H2: The facts you must know about the feature update If you don't want to wait, it's possible to manually trigger the upgrade in at least four ways, including using Windows Update, Installation Assistant, Media Creation Tool, and an ISO file. In this how-to guide, I'll outline the steps to upgrade from any previous version to the Windows 11 2025 Update. How to install Windows 11 2025 Update from SettingsThese instructions apply to downloading the 2025 Update on devices running version 24H2. To install the Windows 11 2025 update (version 25H2) through the Windows Update settings, use these steps: Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Open Settings.Click on Windows Update.Turn on the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle switch.Click the "Check for updates" button.Click the "Download and install now" button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Click the Restart now button.Once you complete the steps, the installation process will apply the update to the device without requiring a complete reinstall of the entire operating system. If the option to upgrade isn't available, chances are that the update is still not ready for your system configuration. Also, using a different upgrade method isn't recommended, as it may cause issues and require the device to undergo an unnecessary reinstallation. How to install Windows 11 2025 Update from Installation AssistantThis method is meant to upgrade from version 23H2 or an older version to 25H2. If you use these steps before the new version becomes available, it won't work. To upgrade the system to the Windows 11 2025 Update with the Installation Assistant tool, use these steps: Open this Microsoft support website.Click the Download Now button under the "Windows 11 Installation Assistant" section. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Double-click the Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe file to launch the tool.Click the Accept and install button. (Image credit: Future)After you complete the steps, the utility will download the necessary files and install the new version of Windows 11, preserving your files, settings, and apps. However, this process will perform a complete reinstallation of the operating system. How to install Windows 11 2025 Update from Media Creation ToolThese instructions apply to upgrading a device from an older version to 25H2 when the new version becomes available, not before. Although you can no longer use the Media Creation Tool to perform an in-place upgrade, you can use the tool to create a USB bootable media that you can then use to install the new version of the operating system. This method will perform a complete reinstallation. If upgrading from version 24H2, you don't need to use this method. You should upgrade using the Windows Update settings. To use the Media Creation Tool to create a USB media to upgrade a device, use these steps: Open the Microsoft support website.Click the Download Now button under the "Create Windows 11 installation media" section. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Double-click the MediaCrationTool.exe file to launch the utility.Click the Accept button.Click the Next button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Select the USB flash drive option. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Quick note: You will need a USB flash drive with at least 8GB of storage. Also, this process will erase the storage drive, so make sure to back up any important information on it.Click the Next button.Select the USB flash drive from the list. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Click the Next button.Click the Finish button.Open File Explorer.Click on This PC from the left navigation pane.Open the USB drive with the Windows 11 2025 Update installation files.Double-click the setup.exe file. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Click the Next button.Click the Accept button to agree to the terms.Click the Install button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Once you complete the steps, the Windows setup will proceed with the in-place upgrade to version 25H2 on your computer. How to install Windows 11 2025 Update from ISO fileFinally, you can also download the ISO file of the Windows 11 2025 Update to upgrade the system. To upgrade to the Windows 11 version 25H2 using the official ISO file, use these steps: Open this Microsoft support website.Select the Windows 11 option under the "Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)" section.Click the Confirm button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Select the installation language.Click the Confirm button.Click the "64-bit Download" button to save the ISO file to the computer. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Right-click the image file and select the Mount option.Quick tip: If you don't see the option, it's likely because another tool is managing the ".iso" files.Select the virtual drive from the left navigation pane (if applicable).Double-click the setup.exe file to manually launch the setup. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Click the Next button.Click the Accept button to agree to the terms.Click the Install button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)After you complete the steps, the computer will upgrade to the 2025 Update, preserving your files, settings, and apps. FAQs about installing Windows 11 2025 UpdateThese are common questions regarding the installation of version 25H2. When is the release date of Windows 11 version 25H2?Microsoft officially announced the availability of version 25H2 on September 30, 2025. When will my PC receive the Windows 11 version 25H2 update?The rollout is gradual and happens in phases. Microsoft starts with devices that are known to have a smooth upgrade experience. Not every computer will receive the update on the same day. If your device is compatible, you may need to wait weeks or months before the update appears through the "Windows Update" settings. Do I need to reinstall Windows 11 to get the 2025 Update?If your device is already running Windows 11 version 24H2, the 25H2 update will install as a cumulative update without requiring reinstallation. If you're on version 23H2 or older, you'll need to upgrade to version 24H2 first, which does require a complete reinstall. Can I upgrade directly from Windows 10 to Windows 11 version 25H2?Yes, but the process will perform a complete upgrade installation. This means the system will go through the full setup experience, preserving your files, settings, and apps if you choose, but it will take longer. What are the safest ways to install the update?Microsoft recommends waiting for the "Windows Update" settings to offer the upgrade automatically. If you don't want to wait, you can use the Installation Assistant, the Media Creation Tool (to create bootable media), or download the official ISO file. However, these other methods will require a complete reinstallation. Will the upgrade process delete my files or apps?No, if you upgrade using Windows Update, Installation Assistant, or the ISO setup, your files, apps, and settings should remain intact. However, it’s always recommended to back up your data before starting the upgrade, especially if you're coming from Windows 10 or version 23H2. If you perform a clean installation, the process will delete everything on your computer. Why don't I see the update on my PC yet?If the update doesn't appear, it likely means Microsoft hasn't released it for your device configuration yet due to possible compatibility issues. You can still upgrade manually, but it’s not recommended unless you need the update right away. Can I use a USB flash drive to upgrade?Yes. Using the Media Creation Tool, you can create a bootable USB drive with the Windows 11 version 25H2 installation files. This is only required if you want to perform a clean installation. What happens if I install version 25H2 manually before it’s offered via Windows Update?If you install the update manually, it usually works. However, you may encounter compatibility issues if your hardware or software has issues with the new version. That's why Microsoft rolls out feature updates gradually. If you choose this route, ensure you have a backup in place in case you need to roll back. More resourcesExplore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here: Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

As you might already know, Microsoft pulled support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, potentially leaving 400 million PCs unsupported. It's apparent that the tech giant would prefer users to upgrade to Windows 11 following the demise of its predecessor, which it has made clear through full-screen multipage pop-up ads. However, Windows 10 users can continue using the operating system by enrolling in Microsoft's Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for an additional year of support for free by syncing their PC settings to the cloud via a Microsoft Account, or pay $30 or 1,000 Microsoft Reward points. It's worth noting that the tech giant made access to Windows 10's extended support updates free for regions in the European Economic Area. Still, groups like the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and The Restart Project are less than impressed with Microsoft's ESU, branding it as a last-minute snooze button, which only acts as a band-aid on a bleeding system. You may like Beware: Dangerous clone of Windows 11 bypass tool spreading malware Digital divide widens as Microsoft ends Windows 10 support Microsoft faces backlash "End of Windows 10" Windows look, Linux freedom: Meet WINUX Microsoft has made upgrading to Windows 11 a rather daunting process, especially due to its stringent hardware requirements. Consequently, the company has received backlash from users, who've branded its decision to pull the plug on Windows 10 as programmed (or planned) obsolescence. Over the past year, users have strongly expressed their reluctance to upgrade to Windows 11 across social media platforms, with some suggesting that they are willing to ditch Microsoft's Windows ecosystem for Linux, citing a lack of ads and telemetry tracking as the main incentives for the huge jump. There's also been an increase in popularity for third-party tools that make the transition to Windows 11 a little bit less hectic. For instance, Flyoobe (formerly Flyby11) lets Windows 10 users bypass Microsoft's stringent hardware requirements, including 4GB of RAM, TPM 2.0 chips, UEFI with Secure Boot, and more, making it easier to install Windows 11 in dated PCs. The same can also be said about NTDEV'S Tiny11, which strips down Windows 11 down to the basics, debloating the operating system by getting rid of apps that the common user might not necessarily find useful like Flyoobe (formerly Flyby11) Windows 10 users can bypass like Copilot, the new Outlook app for Windows, and more. Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.But as it seems, YouTube is against such practices, as it recently took down a video from CyberCPU Tech's channel, which demonstrated how to install Windows 11 using only a local account (via Tom's Hardware). In October, Microsoft announced that it was tripling down on its efforts to block users from bypassing signing in with a Microsoft account on Windows 11 when setting up a PC for the first time, making a Microsoft account and internet connection non-negotiables when progressing through the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE). YouTube Might Remove This Channel! - YouTube Watch On Rich, the creator behind the videos and owner of the channel, indicated that he initially thought that the video demonstrating how to log in to Windows 11 using only a local account was taken down because YouTube’s AI algorithm flagged it as a false positive. However, the issue remained persistent after the creator posted another video demonstrating how to bypass Microsoft's stringent requirements for Windows 11. YouTube provided a vague reason, explaining that the videos the creator had posted on his channel violated the platform’s community guidelines. Again, the warning strike you received was issued based on violation of Harmful or Dangerous Content which prohibits content that encourages or promotes dangerous behavior that encourages dangerous or illegal activities that risk serious physical harm or death. YouTube Support SpecialistAccording to Rich: "Ultimately, like I stated before, I understand that this is YouTube’s playground. If they don’t want these types of videos on their platform, then we won’t make those types of videos on their platform. So, yes, I’m irritated that I have to self-censor myself on YouTube…But I’m going to swallow my pride, and I’m going to do what YouTube wants. It would just be nice to know if this is actually what YouTube wants, because again, they’re unwilling to tell me what I did wrong. I have to make assumptions and guess.” Perhaps more interestingly, the YouTube tech enthusiast indicated that he believed Microsoft didn't have anything to do with the videos being taken down, even though he'd already premeditated that his audience would suggest as much. "YouTube must have made a deal with Microsoft," one ot the channel's followers indicated. "I don't think Microsoft had anything to do with it," added Rich. Instead, he shifted blame to Google and YouTube's over-reliance on AI, suggesting that his video was flagged by AI, and even when he made an appeal to have the video restored on a benign topic, the request was denied by AI. He further indicated that customer support was nothing but an AI chatbot made to make him feel like he was talking to a real person. "When computers hold the keys to the kingdom, there's simply no reasoning with a calculator," added Rich. "It's going to believe it's right no matter what you say because it's not programmed to reason." FAQCan you install Windows 11 without a Microsoft account?Until this month, it was possible to bypass Microsoft's requirement to set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account. However, Microsoft shipped a new update that blocks "known" loopholes, intending to make the requirement non-negotiable unless you use "Domain Account" setups on Windows 11 Pro. Why did YouTube flag a video demonstrating how to login into Windows 11 using only a local account?The YouTube creator says that he received communication from a support specialist (suspected to be AI) indicating that the video broke YouTube's community guidelines and policies, further indicating that it could lead to "serious physical harm or death." Is Google and YouTube using AI to moderate content being uploaded online?According to CyberCPU's Rich, Google and YouTube's over-reliance on AI for content moderation and customer support is negatively impacting the platform's user experience, often leading to benign videos being misconstrued as harmful content, leading to a false positive. Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

Microsoft has announced that it's updating and simplifying the way Windows updates are named on Windows 11. The new naming scheme is designed to standardize updates across Windows platforms, and make it clearer to end users what Windows Update is actually downloading. Going forward, each type of Windows update will be distinctly identified during the download and install process. Monthly security patches will be denoted as "Security Update," and driver updates will be denoted as "Driver Update" for example. Microsoft says the new naming scheme is designed to be more intuitive and consistent, easier to read and understand, and focused on the most relevant details pertaining to the update that is being downloaded. The new naming scheme will appear in Windows Update and the Windows Update history page. You may like Microsoft to address negative feedback about Windows 11 update naming scheme Top features and changes coming to Windows 11 with the October 2025 update Windows 11 September 2025 update: 9 new features revealed Windows 11 version 25H2: Everything you need to know Swipe to scroll horizontallyUpdate Type Simplified Title Monthly security updates Security Update (KB5034123) (26100.4747) Monthly preview non-security updates Preview Update (KB5062660) (26100.4770) .NET Framework security updates .NET Framework Security Update (KB5056579) .NET Framework non-security updates .NET Framework Preview Update (KB5056579) Driver updates Logitech Driver Update (123.331.1.0) Previously, update titles in Windows updates were littered with unnecessary information such as platform architecture, OS edition, and more. "The updated titles follow a clear and predictable structure across multiple update types. Each title now refers to the update by a more user-friendly name" Microsoft explains. "It also includes just the most relevant identifiers, such as KB number and build or version. What we omit are the unnecessary technical details like platform architecture or date prefixes." The new naming scheme for Windows updates is already available, and you'll see it when the next driver, .NET, or security update begins rolling out on your PC. The new names apply to the following types of updates pushed through Windows Update: Windows OS quality updates (monthly security and non-security preview updates).NET Framework updatesDriver updatesAI component updatesVisual Studio updatesUnfortunately, the new simplified naming scheme only applies to OS servicing updates and drivers. Feature updates and new versions of Windows will continue to use the "version 2XHX" naming strategy. Where will the new naming scheme for Windows updates appear?The new naming scheme for Windows updates, will appear in Windows Update and the Windows Update history page. It does not show up in the Microsoft Update Catalog website or Windows Server Update Services. Can I turn off the new Windows update naming scheme?No, the new naming scheme is a change made server side and cannot be changed by the end user. Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Hot on the heels of Windows 10's end of support, Microsoft is just over two weeks away from ending support for another active version of Windows. This time, Windows 11 version 23H2 is reaching end of life, with its official end of support date set for November 11, 2025. Windows 11 version 23H2 was first released in October 2023, and as has been the case with all consumer versions of Windows 11 to date, was only ever promised 24 months of support. Two years are now up, and individuals still running this older version of Windows 11 will now need to upgrade to either 24H2 or 25H2 to remain supported. Remaining supported is important if you wish to continue receiving important security updates, as well as bug fixes and new features. If you choose to remain on Windows 11 version 23H2 after support ends, you'll be vulnerable to any security exploits that are discovered in the OS after November 11. You may like Windows 10 support ends in 2025 — here’s how to upgrade to Windows 11 version 25H2 Tiny11 is the lightweight Windows 11 upgrade Microsoft won’t give you Windows 10 is dead, Microsoft confirms Windows 11 version 25H2 is now generally available to install In most cases, Windows 11 will have automatically offered Windows 11 version 24H2 or 25H2 to users on 23H2 months ago, and so you'll need to initiate the upgrade process through Windows Update soon to remain supported if you haven't already. You'll always have the option to upgrade to the latest version of Windows 11, even after support ends. If you don't know what version of Windows 11 you're running, type "winver" into the Windows Search box and hit enter. That window will tell you which version of Windows 11 your PC is running. If it's on version 24H2 or version 25H2, you're safe and fully supported. If it says 23H2, 22H2, or 21H2, you're running on borrowed time. FAQWhen does Windows 11 version 23H2 support end?Microsoft will end support for consumer editions of Windows 11 version 23H2 on November 11, 2025. After this date, PCs running this version will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, or new features. Can I upgrade from 23H2 to 25H2 to remain supported?Yes! PCs running Windows 11 version 23H2 are officially supported on the latest version of Windows 11, and are being offered the upgrade to Windows 11 version 25H2 now. What happens if I stay on Windows 11 version 23H2 after support ends?Users who choose to remain on an unsupported version of Windows 11 will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, or new features. This means your PC will be unsecure against any security vulnerabilities that are discovered in the OS going forward. Your apps and driver should continue to work for the foreseeable future, however. When does Windows 11 version 23H2 support end for commercial editions?Windows 11 version 23H2 is supported until November 10, 2026 on Enterprise and Education editions. Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds! Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Microsoft is officially rolling out a new Start menu for Windows 11, introducing a design that combines the different pages into a single, larger, scrollable layout. Also (and perhaps more importantly), the company is adding a way to hide the "Recommended" section. As a result of these changes, the "Start" settings page is also getting some updates that remove and add some additional settings. You may like Windows 11's new Start menu finally begins rolling out Microsoft prepares major Windows 11 feature drop with new Start menu, Taskbar updates, and more Discover the top new features in Windows 11 Settings for 2025 Top features and changes coming to Windows 11 with the October 2025 update In this guide, I'll highlight everything you need to know about the new Start menu design for Windows 11. Windows 11 new Start menu design for versions 25H2 and 24H2The new design for the Start menu will roll out as part of the November 2025 Security Update, and it'll take some time until it arrives for everyone. Overall designThe new Start menu offers a larger layout that adapts to the screen resolution, but you don't have an option to set its size. Given how large the new design is, I can already hear the complaints about not being able to resize the layout manually. Since this new layout unifies the interface, it only provides one experience divided into three sections, including "Pinned," "Recommended," and "All." (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)You will also notice that if you have a mobile device connected to your computer, then the Start menu will also show a toggle to show or hide the mobile sidebar. Aside from the new design, previously available features, such as the ability to group pins into folders, context menu options, and the search box, remain available. Pinned sectionThe "Pinned" section shows two rows of apps by default. If you have more apps, you can click the "Show more" or "Show less" option from the top-right side. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Also, since this is a larger layout, each row can hold up to eight different pins. Recommended sectionThe "Recommended" section can surface recent files and applications. However, Microsoft also uses it to promote apps from the Microsoft Store, which many argue is advertising (because it is). (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)The good news about this new design is that it's now possible to hide this section from the new Start menu. However, the company isn't adding a dedicated option. Instead, you have to disable a few options, and then the section will be turned off automatically. If you want to turn off the "Recommended" section, from the "Start" settings page, you have to turn off all of the options under the "Recommended" section. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)You may also have to turn off the options to show browsing history and recently added apps. It's important to note that the menu can now hold up to six items for recommendations. All sectionInstead of navigating to another page, Microsoft is bringing the "All" menu to the main interface. However, now, it's possible to change the sorting layout, and the options available include "Category," "Name grid," and "Name list." (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)The default view now is "Category," which groups similar apps into folders. This process happens automatically, and the system must detect at least three apps from the same category to create a new group. Otherwise, the apps will appear in the "Other" group. Start settings page changesSimilar to the previous experience, you can still customize various aspects of the Start menu by opening Settings > Personalization > Start. On the Start page, you'll notice that the layout setting is no longer available, and now there are three main sets of settings, including "Recommended," "All," and "Other." (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)However, the remaining settings are the same as before. Alternative designs Before landing on the refreshed Start menu, Microsoft's design team ventured into several bold prototypes. One early prototype featured a personalized "For You" dashboard with widgets alongside a second column listing all installed apps. Another version adopted the same approach but with softer, rounded corners and a stacked layout. (Image credit: Microsoft)The team also tested layouts with a left-hand navigation pane for switching between sections, a more traditional design reminiscent of the Windows 10 Start menu, and even a full-screen experience. (Image credit: Microsoft)Ultimately, Microsoft moved away from these concepts, settling on a refined Start menu that maintains the familiar structure but introduces a more cohesive and modern design language. Microsoft plans to officially begin rolling out the new menu with the next cumulative update, scheduled for release on November 11, 2025. However, the update is already available as an optional installation by going to Settings > Windows Update, turning on the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle switch, and then clicking the "Check for updates" button. What's your verdict? Do you like the new Start menu design? Let me know in the comments. FAQWhat’s changed in the Start menu?The new Start menu features a single scrollable layout, category and grid views, and Phone Link integration. You can now hide the Recommended section entirely. Which versions get the new Start menu?Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, starting with builds 26200.7019 and 26100.7019. How do I enable it?Install the KB5067036 update. If it doesn’t appear automatically, you can force-enable it using ViVeTool — a safe, open-source utility that toggles hidden Windows features. What are the new layout options?You can switch between Category View (grouped by app type) and Grid View (alphabetical list). The menu remembers your last selection. What’s the Phone Link integration?A new button next to Search lets you expand or collapse content from your connected Android or iOS device — including recent activity and shared files Can I hide the Recommended section now?Yes. You can fully disable it from Settings > Personalization > Start — no more clutter from recent files or app suggestions. Is this rolling out to everyone?It’s a staged rollout, meaning not all users will see it immediately. Wider availability is expected with the November 2025 Patch Tuesday. More resourcesExplore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here: Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to knowWindows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

First Look: Windows 11's new Copilot Powered Taskbar Search Box - YouTube Watch On Microsoft has released the first Windows 11 preview build that includes the company's new upcoming Copilot powered Taskbar search box, which replaces the traditional Windows Search interface with a floating Copilot interface that houses both search results and AI chatbot capabilities. I've had some hands-on time with the new experience, and this early implementation offers some interesting changes that streamline the searching UI while also promoting more Copilot AI use, for better or worse. Let's get into it. The first thing I noticed is a how the new UI feels quite polished in regard to interaction and animations. Clicking on the search box in the Taskbar dynamically shrinks it into an ellipsis animation, and a text box appears floating above the Taskbar where you can begin to type your search or chat query. You may like Microsoft updates Copilot app with cleaner UI, better integration Windows 11’s search box is getting an upgrade — and no, it’s not just another Bing ad Windows 11 makes screen sharing a breeze with new Copilot button How to get started and use Microsoft Copilot on Windows 11 The search box floats above the Taskbar now. (Image credit: Windows Central)The interface itself is very fast and responsive, and typing into the box will begin to immediately surface results like it always has. Unlike the old Windows Search pane however, it doesn't have two columns or the ability to filter between different search categories. It's just one simplified list showing all the relevant things related to your query. That means you no longer get unwanted internet search results in the list, instead prioritizing apps and files at the very top, before suggesting sending the query to Copilot instead of conducting an internet search. In all scenarios, if there's an app or file related to your query, it'll appear above any Copilot chat suggestions. The Copilot chat suggestions are clearly labeled under "Ask Copilot," and clicking them will open the full Copilot app to begin a conversation. This experience is a little clunky, especially if you don't have the Copilot app set to run at startup, as it means you'll have to wait a few beats for the Copilot app to spin up in the background before you see the conversation come to life. The search results look really clean. (Image credit: Windows Central)I would much prefer if the Copilot Chat interface was integrated into this floating pane, with an option to open it in the full Copilot app if desired, as the current implementation of handing off to the main app feels very unpolished. Lastly, I noticed that the new interface always offers the option to hand-off to the old Windows Search pane via a "see more search results" button, which is handy if you want to quickly go back to the old view for whatever reason. Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.When the Copilot search mode is activated, the Taskbar search box gains two new buttons: Vision and Voice. These two buttons act as shortcuts into the Copilot Vision and Copilot Voice chat modes that you've always been able to access via the Copilot app. Clicking on them at any moment will instantly launch into either mode, but frustratingly Copilot Vision will always ask for confirmation about what you want to share on your screen before actually activating. I wish there was an option to just set it to always share your whole screen to help streamline things, because that's usually why I'm even invoking Copilot Vision to begin with. You get two new Copilot Vision and Copilot Voice buttons within the search box. (Image credit: Windows Central)Curiously, you can also enable the old Windows Search pane icon in addition to the new Ask Copilot text box if you want to have both on the Taskbar for whatever reason. I'm not sure if this is a bug, but it's interesting nonetheless. You can also still access the old Windows Search pane by clicking the search box in the Start menu, at least for now. I do hope Microsoft is planning to consolidate these interfaces at some point, as now there are two search interfaces that are easily accessible by the user, which might cause confusion. It's still early in testing, so there's time for Microsoft to fix this, hopefully. For now, the new Copilot search UI is optional, and appears to be an opt-in experience meaning you won't get it automatically unless you turn it on first in the Windows Settings app. You also must have the Copilot app installed for it to function, so if you've uninstalled the Copilot app you won't even see this option presented to you. Clicking this will bring you back to the old Windows Search pane. (Image credit: Windows Central)Unfortunately, the new Copilot search interface doesn't do anything to improve the reliability and consistency of search results. It's still using the old Windows Search pane APIs, which basically means it's as reliable as it always has been, which is to say hit or miss. Overall, this early implementation of a new search UI for Windows 11 is promising, but it's not without issues. There definitely needs to be a focus on improving the hand-off between the search pane and Copilot app, and the hybrid approach offering both new search UI and old search UI at the same time can be confusing. I do much prefer the look of the new UI, but I'd like to be able to access it from more than the Taskbar. I don't normally show the search box on my Taskbar, as I prefer opening Start and typing into there to search instead. Currently, there's no way to access the new Search UI via the Start menu. Is the new Ask Copilot search box optional?Yes, the Ask Copilot search box on the Taskbar is optional and is an opt-in experience. Can I change how many items are shown in the search results list?No, the current version will show up to 7 results, 5 of which are apps or files, and 2 are Ask Copilot suggestions. Does the new Ask Copilot search UI require the Copilot app to be installed?Yes, if you don't have the Copilot app installed, you won't see the option to enable the Ask Copilot search box on the Taskbar. Does the new Ask Copilot Taskbar box require a Copilot+ PC?No, Ask Copilot on the Taskbar will be available to all Windows 11 PCs with the Copilot app installed. A Copilot+ PC is not required. Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

Last week, Microsoft unveiled a new, more simplified naming scheme for Windows updates on Windows 11 which were designed to make it clearer to end users what Windows Update was actually downloading and installing. Now, the company has backtracked on some of the naming changes, saying it will address feedback from customers. In the original announcement, Microsoft said it was omitting unnecessary details such as date prefixes and platform architecture, instead prioritizing simplified titles such as "Security Update" or "Driver Update" with a the version number instead. Feedback from users online suggested that this actually made it more confusing, as now it wasn't clear how new the update even was. "We are actively listening to your feedback and planning further improvements. Thank you for helping us create a better user experience" says the Microsoft blog post in an updated published just a couple of days after the original announcement was made. It sounds like the company is going to address these criticisms and ensure things like the date are included in update names still. You may like Microsoft prepares major Windows 11 feature drop with new Start menu, Taskbar updates, and more Top features and changes coming to Windows 11 with the October 2025 update When you click “shut down,” Windows 11 will finally listen Microsoft recaps new features shipped on Windows 11 in 2025 The new naming scheme applies to OS security and preview updates, .NET framework updates, driver updates, and Visual Studio updates. Below is the formatting for the new update naming scheme, before additional changes are made. Swipe to scroll horizontallyUpdate Type Simplified Title Monthly security updates Security Update (KB5034123) (26100.4747) Monthly preview non-security updates Preview Update (KB5062660) (26100.4770) .NET Framework security updates .NET Framework Security Update (KB5056579) .NET Framework non-security updates .NET Framework Preview Update (KB5056579) Driver updates Logitech Driver Update (123.331.1.0) Microsoft began rolling out the new naming scheme automatically last week, without gathering feedback first from Insiders. This is another example of Microsoft rushing to make a change in production that doesn't immediately go down well with the end users that actually use the products. The good news is Microsoft is going to address the biggest concerns users have with the new naming scheme, ensuring that update titles are as accurate as possible while also being more simplified going forward. What is Microsoft changing about the Windows update naming scheme?Microsoft is simplifying the name of updates as they appear in Windows Update, removing unnecessary details like platform architecture and excessive words. Going forward, update titles will consist of the type of update, date, version number, and KB number if applicable. Is the new Windows update naming scheme optional?No, the new naming scheme for Windows updates is a server side change and cannot be configured by the end user. You'll automatically see the new naming scheme the next time you check for updates on a Windows 11 PC. Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds! Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Thanks for the tip, James!

Microsoft has announced an update coming to its Edge web browser on Windows 11 that introduces support for syncing passkeys to the cloud via your Microsoft Account for use across multiple devices. "We’re thrilled to share that passkeys can now be securely saved and synced across your Windows desktop devices using Microsoft Password Manager in Edge," says Microsoft. Passkeys are a relatively new way of secure way of storing login information for online accounts and apps using the 'Fast IDentity Online 2' (FIDO2) open standard. Passkeys don't require a password, instead relying on your device's built-in security methods such as fingerprint, face unlock, or numeric PIN. It makes signing in quicker, binding login information directly to the device. Frustratingly, most platforms that can handle passkeys don't support syncing them across devices. This means that if you ever lose that device, you lose the ability to sign into that account unless you have a recovery method set up. I've often factory reset my PC and forgot to back up my passkeys, resulting in me losing access to some online accounts. You may like Windows 11 is getting its own Handoff clone for Android Copilot in Microsoft Edge can now analyze your browsing history Best features Microsoft rolled out in 2025 for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 Top features and changes coming to Windows 11 with the October 2025 update That's finally changing with Microsoft Edge, which will now let you sync passkeys using your Microsoft Account. That means you can sign into Edge on any Windows 11 PC, and have your passkeys carried with you across devices so that you never lose access to them, even if you lose access to one particular device. Passkeys will use your device's built-in authentication methods to login to accounts. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)"Passkeys are stored in your Microsoft account and protected by a Microsoft Password Manager PIN, which you’ll setup while creating passkey for the very first time," explains Microsoft. "When you visit a site which supports passkeys, you’ll be asked if you’d like to create a passkey in Microsoft Password Manager. The created passkey gets saved in Microsoft Password Manager and can be used to login to the specific website by simply performing your preferred way of device authentication such as fingerprint, facial recognition, or PIN code." Microsoft says that syncing passkeys with the cloud is just as secure as storing them locally on a device. The passkeys are encrypted in the cloud, and have additional Microsoft Password Manager PIN protection on top. "For unlocking passkeys on a new device, you will have a maximum of 10 attempts to input the correct PIN." You'll be able to manage all of your saved passkeys using the Microsoft Password Manager that's built into the Edge browser. Microsoft says support for syncing passkeys across devices will be coming to mobile and Mac soon, but it's rolling out in waves first on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.What are passkeys?Passkeys are a more secure way of signing into apps and websites without using a password. Instead of a password, you use a device's built-in authentication methods such as face unlock, fingerprint unlock, or PIN number to login to an app or website. Why is Microsoft adding cloud sync to passkeys?Up until now, most platforms store passkeys locally on the device they were setup on. This is more secure, but comes at the risk of losing access to those passkeys if you lose access to the device itself. Being able to sync passkeys to the cloud using your Microsoft Account in Microsoft Edge ensures you never lose access to your passkeys, even if you lose or switch devices without backing them up first. Do I have to sync my passkeys to the cloud?No, you don't have to sync passkeys to the cloud if you'd rather store them locally. Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

Samsung has officially announced that it's bringing its Internet browser app to Windows 11 (and Windows 10) PCs, and users in the United States or South Korea can be the first to try it by signing up for the Samsung Internet beta program. For years, Galaxy phones have shipped with a default web browser simply dubbed "Internet," which over time has become somewhat of a hidden gem amongst Samsung phone users. It's a great browser, complete with extension support, dark mode, and cross device sync with your Samsung account. It even recently gained some AI features such as the ability to summarize webpages, and more. It's very customizable too, letting you change the position of the address bar, tabs, and UI buttons. Now, the app is coming to Windows PCs, based on Chromium. You may like OpenAI reveals its new Atlas browser to challenge Google, Microsoft How to set the default web browser on Windows 11 and Windows 10 Microsoft pushes Edge over Chrome in new Bing ad Windows 11’s taskbar search might finally use Google and Chrome if that’s what you want The new Samsung Internet browser for Windows PCs is a fully featured browsing experience, complete with tab and bookmark syncing, saved passwords, extension support, and even AI features. It features sign-in with Samsung, which will sync your data between Samsung Internet clients too. The browser app looks great. (Image credit: Windows Central)The browser features a familiar "browser" UI, but with more rounded corners that are in-line with Samsung's OneUI design language. It features a cool tab overview page that's very animation heavy and blurs the background with whatever webpage you have open, and it also includes a built-in adblocker and web page dark mode theme option. "Samsung Internet for PC allows users to sync their browsing data, such as bookmarks and browsing history. Personal data is also synchronized with Samsung Pass, helping users sign in to websites or autofill profiles securely across devices," explains Samsung. "Additionally, users will now be prompted to resume browsing when switching between mobile devices and PC, enabling a more seamless, cross-device web experience." The new Samsung Internet is currently in beta, and only available in the United States and South Korea for users who sign up for the Samsung Internet PC Beta. Availability is expected to broaden over the coming weeks and months, and will likely eventually even be pre-installed on Samsung Galaxy laptops running Windows 11. Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Where can I download Samsung Internet for PC?Samsung Internet for PC is currently available in limited beta, and requires signing up for the Samsung Internet PC beta program. This program is only available in the United States and South Korea currently, and you can sign up here. Is Samsung Internet for PC based on Chromium?Yes, Samsung Internet for PC is based on the same foundation as Google Chrome, which is to say it's built on the Chromium framework and is powered by the Blink rendering engine. Does Samsung Internet for PC sync with Samsing Internet on my Galaxy?Yes, if you sign in with the same Samsung account across devices, all of your browsing data and preferences will be synced between your PC and phone. Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

Microsoft has introduced a handy new feature to the online Microsoft Store that lets you create one-click install packs for multiple apps at once. The process makes downloading and installing multiple apps in one go a breeze, compiling them all into a single download that you run once and have the Microsoft Store handle. As of today, when you visit the Microsoft Store in your browser, you'll see a new "Multi-app install" button that brings you to a list of apps that have been categorized for easier viewing. From here, you can select the apps you want to compile into a multi-app install package, and clicking "Install selected" will download an .exe file that you can run on your PC that will hand-off the heavy lifting to the Microsoft Store app. In our testing, the feature is very streamlined. The .exe that is downloaded doesn't even include an interface you have to navigate through. You just run the installer, and the Microsoft Store opens and begins downloading all the apps you've selected. It's very good, and is a clear swing at popular multi-app install programs like Ninite. You may like Streamline your gaming: Play all your PC titles in the Xbox app Best features Microsoft rolled out in 2025 for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 OneDrive is getting a dedicated Windows 11 app Microsoft commits to improve gaming on Arm-based Windows 11 PCs Unfortunately, so far it seems Microsoft's multi-app install packages are only supported by the apps that appear on the multi-app install page on the Microsoft Store website, meaning you can't yet select any old app available in the Microsoft Store. Still, there's 48 of the most popular apps in the Microsoft Store to choose from, including Spotify, Discord, Telegram, and more. Curiously, there's also no way to create a multi-app install package using the Microsoft Store app itself, requiring you to use the online Microsoft Store website instead. These install packages are super handy, especially if you find yourself moving between new PCs often and need to install your frequently used apps on a regular basis. What are multi-app install packs?A multi-app install pack is a package that handles the downloading and installation of multiple apps at once. The end user just needs to run the single installer, and the package will do the heavy lifting and install all the apps that were selected by the user. How does Microsoft's multi-app install package differ from Ninite?Both offer similar functionality in that they allow users to create a single install file that handles the download and installation of multiple apps at once. However, Nanite's installer requires more input from the user, but is more customizable and more easily deployed as an enterprise tool. Microsoft's method simply hands off to the Microsoft Store which will automatically download the apps selected. How do I get started with Microsoft's multi-app installer?Just head to the Microsoft Store website here and begin selecting the apps you want to install all at once. Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds! Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Microsoft has quietly removed the ability to top apps from the Microsoft Store from automatically updating on Windows 11 and Windows 10. In the last couple of months, users have noticed that the Microsoft Store's option to turn off automatic app updates now prompts the user to pause them for up to 5 weeks instead. In the past, the toggle to turn off automatic app updates did just that. It would turn off the Microsoft Store's ability to automatically update installed apps, leaving the ability to check for updates and install them entirely up to the user. Now, when turning off the automatic app updates toggle, the user is presented with a drop down that only allows you to pause it between 1 and 5 weeks. "You may pause automatic updates for a period of time" says the Microsoft Store. Curiously, no changelog for the Microsoft Store's recent updates mentions this change in behavior. You may like When you click “shut down,” Windows 11 will finally listen Chaotic ESU rollout leaves Windows 10 users in limbo as Microsoft pushes Windows 11 Microsoft fixes one of Windows’ most annoying update problems Tiny11 is the lightweight Windows 11 upgrade Microsoft won’t give you This is the prompt you'll see when you try to turn off automatic app updates. (Image credit: Windows Central)This means that if you don't want the Microsoft Store to automatically update your apps, you can no longer stop it from doing so forever. At some point, the Microsoft Store will ensure all your installed apps are up to date. This is the same way Windows Update works, where you can pause it for a number of weeks, but never outright turn it off. Eventually, it will install the latest updates. Now the Microsoft Store will do the same. Of course, this change only applies to apps that you've acquired from the Microsoft Store. Apps downloaded from outside the Microsoft Store won't be impacted by this change, and will continue to rely on their independent update systems. In recent months, the Microsoft Store has really come into its own. I called it "actually great now" in a recent editorial, and I stand by that claim. In regards to catalog and app availability, pretty much all of the apps I'd want to install on Windows are available in there. The ability to update all my apps in one place is also great, and works well now. Unfortunately, the ability to outright disable automatic app updates is a little annoying, especially if you're using a particular version of an app that you don't want to move away from. On the flipside, it's good for security as it means you'll always be using the latest, most secure version of an app available. Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Thanks for the tip, Jameson! Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

Although the Windows 11 2025 Update (version 25H2) doesn't technically introduce any new features, throughout 2025, Microsoft has been rolling out a bunch of new features and improvements each month using its cumulative update mechanism. When you group all of them, you can see that the operating system has received substantial changes during the course of the year. For example, the Taskbar has received several features, such as the ability to show smaller icons, new battery iconography, and a share option for recent files. On the other hand, File Explorer has received several updates, including AI actions and changes to the Home page, among other enhancements. The company then rolled out various completely new features for the operating system, including Windows Recall, Click to Do, Sematic Indexing, and an AI agent for the Settings app for Copilot+ PCs, as well as Quick Machine Recovery (QMR), Cross-device Resume, a camera with multiple stream support, a new sidebar to access mobile features from the Start menu, and more. You may like Top features and changes coming to Windows 11 with the October 2025 update Unlock the top 8 Windows 11 insider previews released this month Microsoft recaps new features shipped on Windows 11 in 2025 9 Windows 11 features arriving for Insiders before the end of October In this guide, I'll highlight the most interesting features and changes that Microsoft has officially made available for Windows 11 24H2. Since both operating systems are identical, these features and changes also apply to version 25H2. Disclaimer This guide highlights some, not all, of the improvements that the company has released in 2025. Also, note that some features, such as Windows Recall, Click to Do, and Semantic Indexing, are only available on supported devices, such as Copilot+ PCs. Best features introduced on Windows 11 during 2025These are the most interesting new features and changes available (or still rolling out) in 2025 for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2. Desktop hardware indicator repositioning Although you can still not change the position of the Taskbar, Microsoft has added a new option to change the location on the screen for the hardware indicators, such as brightness, volume, airplane mode, and virtual desktops. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)The setting is known as "Position of on-screen indicators," and it's available (at the bottom) on Settings > System > Notifications. Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.File Explorer new features In 2025, the company has been pushing various updates for File Explorer, and even though they don't significantly change the design of the file manager, they do try to improve the overall experience. AI actions For instance, if you ask Microsoft, perhaps the most significant addition this year was the introduction of AI actions, which are a new set of options that allow you to interact with your files using AI. The actions will be available depending on the file type. For example, when right-clicking a JPG, JPEG, or PNG image file, you'll find these options: Bing Visual Search: Performs a search for items based on an image.Blur Background: Automatically detects backgrounds in images and blurs them with customizable intensity using the Photos app.Erase Objects: Removes unwanted elements from photos using Generative Erase in the Photos app.Remove Background: Cut out the object from an image with one click using Paint. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)If you are connected with a Microsoft account associated with a Microsoft 365 subscription, when you right-click an Office file in OneDrive and SharePoint, you'll notice the "Summarize action in Copilot" action. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Although you cannot turn off this feature, you can control the options available in the "AI actions" menu from Settings > Apps > Actions. Context menu changes The context menus for File Explorer have been getting various changes. For example, in the "OneDrive" folder, if you get the message to back up your files to the cloud, you can now disable the reminder temporarily or permanently. If you right-click a folder location from the left navigation page, the context menu will now include a new option to create folders without having to access the location. Also, the context menu now includes dividers for the top actions, such as Cut, Copy, and Rename, to make them easier to identify. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)I'm not including the "People" cards because this change is only available for commercial customers, and this guide focuses on consumers. Settings Advanced settings page redesignIn the Settings app, the company has replaced the "For developers" page with the redesigned "Advanced" page, which includes a new logical organization and the same features. However, the developers' specific settings are still available at the bottom of the page. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Also, the File Explorer settings have been relocated to another page, which also includes a new setting for configuring version control. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)The version control feature refers to the ability to track and manage different versions of a file directly within the file manager interface. Usually, you will use this feature with third-party developer tools like Git. Notification Center with full clockThe Notification Center experience now shows the current time with seconds, and you can even add multiple clocks. The option to show the clock is known as "Show time in Notification Center," and it's located in Settings > Time & language > Date & time. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)If you want to show clocks from different time zones, open Settings > Time & language > Date & time, click the "Show time and date in the System tray" setting, and click the "Change" button to configure the clock. You can add up to two more clocks. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Furthermore, the Notification Center flyout will now show on secondary monitors. You can activate this behavior by clicking on the System Tray area on the monitor you want to access the flyout. Change the time server address optionAlthough you have been able to change the time server that the operating system uses to manage the system clock, it was never an option in the Settings. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Alongside a slew of legacy features being ported for the Settings app, in 2025, Microsoft also added a new option to change the time server address from the "Sync now" setting on Settings > Time & language > Date & time. Lock Screen widgets customizationThe Lock Screen settings page, the experience has been updated with a new "Widgets" setting to give you more control over the widgets that appear in the Lock Screen. You can now use these controls to show or hide widgets. You can also add or remove widgets. If a widget supports customization, you can change it using the "Edit" option on the right side. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)The "Suggested widgets for your lock screen" toggle dynamically adds widgets for you when slots are available. Widgets board redesign with multiple dashboardsThe widgets board, which you activate from the Taskbar using the "Windows key + W" keyboard shortcut, has received various changes this year. (Image credit: Microsoft)Some of the most important improvements are the new visual experience that matches the design language of the Copilot app. However, the new design also has to do with the content, which is now curated by Copilot from trusted MSN Premium publishers. In addition, the widgets dashboard now separates your widgets from the Discover widgets. As a result, you'll find a new left navigation page with options to switch between boards, and the Settings option is now conveniently located at the bottom of the pane. Windows Hello with modern designAs part of the design improvements, the development team has updated the visuals of the elements when interacting with Windows Hello. For example, on the Sign-in screen, you'll notice a new animation with updated iconography representing the current sign-in method, making it easier to understand. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Across the desktop experience, Windows 11 updates the Windows Hello prompt when elevation is required or a passkey is needed. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Passkey management using third-party providersIn addition, on Settings > Accounts > Passkeys, there's a new "Advanced options" page that allows you to integrate third-party passkey providers (such as 1Password) to manage your passkeys. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)This means that you can now store and use passkeys from other providers through Windows Hello. Once you enable the extension, after installing the third-party provider on your computer, the next time you have you have to sign in with a passkey or create a new passkey, the Windows Hello prompt will allow to use the other providers. Currently, this implementation works with the beta version of 1Password. Settings app with new AI agentIn 2025, for Copilot+ PCs featuring Qualcomm, AMD, and Intel processors, Microsoft also rolled out a new AI agent for the Settings app, designed to help you find and configure system settings more quickly. The AI agent isn't a chatbot like Copilot. Instead, it's built directly into the Settings app's search box, allowing you to find configuration options by simply describing the issue or change you want to make using natural language. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)The AI agent understands your intent and surfaces the relevant setting or automates the necessary steps to apply the changes. For example, if you ask, "How to control my PC by voice," the agent will offer to enable Voice Access. Clicking the "Apply" button will automatically enable the feature (if applicable). In certain cases, you'll also see the option to undo the changes. Windows Recall new featureAfter a failed first rollout and multiple delays due to privacy concerns, in 2025, Microsoft finally made available the controversial Recall feature for Copilot+ PCs. Windows Recall is an opt-in feature powered by AI, and it's been designed to give your PC a sort of "photographic memory" of everything you do. When enabled, Recall periodically takes a screenshot (called a "snapshot") of your active screen every few seconds when the content changes. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)These snapshots are organized into an explorable visual timeline, using the "Recall" app, which has also received various updates, including a new home page that surfaces and groups recent snapshots. You can use plain, descriptive language to search through the timeline to find virtually anything you've seen before, including a document, a specific moment in a video, a website, a chat message, or an image. For enhanced security, Microsoft added an option to reset the feature to its factory default settings, which includes deleting all data stored by this specific feature on the device and permanently turning off the AI functionality. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Finally, for users in Europe, the company also rolled out an export feature that allows them to share the snapshots with third-party apps and websites. As a result of these improvements, for European users, when setting up Windows Recall for the first time, the system will provide a code to unlock and export the snapshots. Microsoft doesn't store this code, meaning that to generate a different code, the user must reset the feature entirely, deleting all the current settings and data. (Image credit: Microsoft)These last two new features are available in the "Advanced settings" page on Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots. Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) new featureOn Windows 11, Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) is a new feature designed to reduce downtime as a result of boot failures. The QMR feature is an evolution of the Startup Repair feature. In fact, if the Quick Machine Recovery is not enabled, the Startup Repair feature is triggered automatically to try to resolve boot problems. When something happens and the computer cannot boot, the system will automatically connect to the internet and send the diagnostic data to Microsoft, and then if a known fix exists for the issue (especially for widespread outages), the company can deliver a targeted remediation. The computer will download and apply the fix using the Windows update mechanism and reboot. If the fix is successful, it'll boot directly into the desktop. If not, the computer reboots into the recovery environment and tries again. The recovery feature comes enabled by default on Windows 11 Home, but devices running Windows 11 Pro or higher releases will have to configure the feature manually. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)The settings available through Settings > System > Recovery > Quick Machine Recovery. On the page, you can enable or disable the feature, and you can also configure how often the computer continues searching, if a solution isn't available. Taskbar new improvements Although Microsoft is still not making it possible to reposition the Taskbar to the top of the screen, the company has made available a number of changes. For instance, the company added a new option to make the icons in the Taskbar smaller, but the idea isn't to make the bar smaller. Instead, the idea of the feature is to be able to show more icons in the same physical space. The "Show smaller taskbar buttons" is available on Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, under the “Taskbar behaviors” settings, and the options available include “Always,” “Never,” and “When taskbar is full.” (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)In addition, while in the context menu for an app, such as Notepad, you'll notice a new "Share" option that allows you to send a recent file to another person or app using the Windows Share experience. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)In addition, on supported hardware, the System Tray will now show a dedicated button to access the Windows Studio Effects. However, you are still able to access the same features through the Quick Settings flyout. (Image credit: Microsoft)The Taskbar now also includes new iconography for the battery icon to improve the communication of the battery state. For instance, the "green" icon indicates that the battery is charging, and it's in good condition. The "yellow" icon tells you that device is running on battery power and has entered energy saving mode. The "red" icon warns you of a critically low battery, and black or white is the normal state of the of the battery. Windows Backup with transfer to new PC featureIn 2025, Microsoft has also updated the Windows Backup app to offer the option to transfer your files over the local network to a new computer. The feature works by launching the Windows Backup and selecting the "Transfer to a new PC" option and continuing with the on-screen directions to pair your old device with the new one. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)It's important to note that this feature is only available to transfer files during the new device's Out-of-box Experience (OOBE). Also, the option is available only for computers that don't already have cloud backups created. If this is the case, the option won't be available through the OOBE. Windows Search new Semantic IndexingOn Windows 11, the Windows Search feature has also received an update, integrating a new capability known as Semantic Indexing, which uses AI. This allows the search functionality to understand your intent to find files, settings, and other content using natural language. Since this feature requires Natural Language Processing (NLP), it's limited to Copilot+ PCs. On compatible devices, Semantic Indexing doesn't replace Windows Search. Instead, it enhances the feature. The feature is available in the Windows Search box on the Taskbar, File Explorer, and Settings app. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Semantic Indexing supports various file formats, including .txt, .pdf, .docx, .doc, .rtf, .pptx, .ppt, .xls, and .xlsx for documents and .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .bmp, and .ico for images. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)This feature is available for local files and content saved in OneDrive. Windows Share new changesThe Windows Search experience has received several changes during the year. First, in 2025, the Windows Share interface was updated with availity to generate previews of links and web contents. When selecting an image for sharing, the interface now offers an "Edit" feature with several editing tools, including cropping, color, markup, and more. You can use these tools to edit the image before sharing. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Microsoft has also added the ability to pin your favorite apps under the "Share using" section to make easier to select the apps you want to use for sharing a specific file. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Finally, when sharing an image, the Windows Share interface will offer an option to compress the file before sending without affecting the original file. The option include "Original," "Low," "Medium," and "High." (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Click to Do new featureClick to Do was also officially released in 2025, exclusively for Copilot+ PCs, since it requires an NPU to process the AI tasks. The feature works inside and outside of the Recall app, and it surfaces a number of additional actions that you can perform on text and objects found on a snapshot. For example, you can extract text or an object to the clipboard or send the selection to Copilot for additional interaction. Also, depending on the contect, you can perform different actions. For instance, when selecting an object, you can use Click to Do to describe it, perform a visual search, or perform actions such as blur or remove the background. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)If you select the text, you can summarize it, export the selection to a text editor, do a web search, and much more. You can invoke Click to Do from the Start menu, using the "Windows key + mouse-click," or "Windows key + Q" keyboard shortcut, and you can launch it from the Snipping Tool experience. Start menu with new mobile sidebarAs part of the changes for the Start menu in 2025, Microsoft made available a sidebar interface that allows you to access different features from your phone. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)The feature is available after connecting your Android phone or iPhone to use the Phone Link app and Link to Windows app on your mobile device. Once the device is connected, in Settings > Personalization > Start, you'll find a new "Show mobile device in Start" toggle to show or hide the sidebar in the Start menu. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)If you choose to show the new menu, you'll have quick access to make phone call, send text message, and access your recent messages as well as other notifications from your phone, such as battery and Bluetooth. Camera with multiple stream supportAnother change that the company made available on Windows 11 is the ability to stream the same cameras to multiple applications. If you have a camera connected to your computer, inside the "Advanced camera options" from the camera settings on Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras, you can ow allow multiple apps to use the camera at the same time. It's also possible to choose the resolution and frame rate. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Finally, the "Turn on basic camera" option allows you to load the basic functionalities for debugging purposes. Live Captions with AIAlthough Live Captions has been available on Windows 11 for a while, it's not until this year that Microsoft updated the feature with AI to produce live captions and real-time translation. You can always enable Live Captions from Settings > Accessibility > Captions. However, the version that uses AI is only available on Copilot+ PCs. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)This particular AI-powered feature is available in more than 40 languages, including 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 with AI Similar to Live Captions, Voice Access has been available for a long time, but in 2025, Microsoft updated the feature with AI to allow users to interact with their devices using natural language without having to use fixed syntax. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)This improvement is available on Copilot+ PCs, as an NPU is required to process natural queries. Gamepad keyboard layoutAs part of the on-screen keyboard experience, the development team has also rolled out a new Gamepad layout to make it easier to navigate and type using an Xbox controller. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)You can switch layouts from the on-screen settings menu and choosing the "Gamepad" option from the "Keyboard layout" submenu. The layout maps specific buttons, such as X, Y, LB, RB, LT, and others, to standard keys like Space, Backspace, Left and Right, and numbers. Cross-device resumeIn 2025, Windows 11 also gained a new "Cross-device resume" feature, which allows you to resume files you started working on in OneDrive on your mobile device on Windows 11. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)The "Resume" option is available through Settings > Apps > Resume. Once it's enabled, if you're using the same Microsoft account on both devices and recently worked on a Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, or PDF file on your phone, you'll receive a notification on your Windows 11 desktop to resume working on the file. Microsoft Edit new text editor toolWindows 11 now ships with Microsoft Edit, a new command-line tool for viewing, editing, and creating text files. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)The tool is less than 250kB, and it's a simple text editor with mouse support that allows you to work with text files without leaving Command Prompt or PowerShell to use a graphical application, such as Notepad. If you have used VIM or Nano on Linux, this tool will feel familiar, but with the more Windows vibe. While these features and improvement made to the top of the list, throughout the year, Microsoft also rolled out many other changes, including the availability of Windows ML, Wi-Fi 7 support for organizations, improvements to Xbox app, and many more. What has been the best improvement or feature that Microsoft rolled out in 2025? Let me know in the comments. More resourcesExplore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here: Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to knowWindows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

Microsoft is finally ready to begin shipping its new Start menu for Windows 11 that was first announced earlier this year. As of this week, Microsoft is now testing the next major feature drop for Windows 11, and in it is the new Start menu along with Taskbar and File Explorer updates, and general quality of life improvements. The next feature drop is now in testing with the Windows Insider Release Preview Channel, which is the last stop before a feature drop becomes generally available. That means these new features are expected to begin rolling out to production PCs imminently, possibly as soon as next month if all goes to plan. Microsoft describes the new Start menu as "built to help you access your apps more quickly and smoothly," featuring a redesigned layout that promotes the apps list to the main area, along with a new category view that groups your apps list like the app shelf on an iPad or iPhone. You may like Top features and changes coming to Windows 11 with the October 2025 update Windows 11 insiders are getting a dozen new toys to play with this month Microsoft readies major Windows 11 feature drop 9 Windows 11 features arriving for Insiders before the end of October The new Windows 11 Start menu is a major upgrade. (Image credit: Windows Central)The new Start menu is more customizable too, letting you switch the apps list between the new category view and classic alphabetical list view, as well as letting you disable the Recommended feed and pinning more apps instead. Or, you can outright remove both the Recommended and Pinned areas, and just have your apps list. It also includes an updated Phone Link panel, which exists next to the Start menu and gives you quick access to your smartphone. You can see recent photos and notifications, and jump into replying to texts or viewing your phone screen right from the Start menu. It's an overall major upgrade compared to the old Start menu. Alongside the new Start menu, Microsoft is also preparing to roll out improvements to the Taskbar and File Explorer. The Taskbar is set to gain an updated battery icon that's larger, turns yellow when battery is low, and lets you show your battery percentage on the Taskbar. The new battery icon is available on the Taskbar and lock screen. (Image credit: Windows Central)The Taskbar is also gaining more animations, which will be most notable when you hover over open apps on the Taskbar. Now, their app previews will display with a pretty animation that makes Windows 11 feel a little more complete. This is something previous versions of Windows had, and it's finally been restored on Windows 11. Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.File Explorer is gaining new features too, including a new Recommended feed that shows recently opened or downloaded files, and activity from shared files. You'll also see options to ask Copilot about files as you hover over them in this new feed area. You can check out the full changelog for this next feature drop below, and if you want to install it today, you can enroll into the Windows Insider Release Preview Channel to get it now. Otherwise, the wait should only be a few more weeks at most. There's a lot of goodies here, so be sure to read everything! New features and fixes[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.[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.[Settings] New! The “Email & accounts” section is now called “Your accounts.” You manage all your accounts under Settings > Accounts.[Click to Do]New! 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 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ai/apis/phi-silica. These suggestions are available for text selections in English, Spanish, and French. This feature isn’t currently available in the European Economic Area (EEA) or China.New! You can now translate on-screen text with Microsoft Copilot with Click to Do. When you select text that is in a different language from your Windows display language or preferred language setting, a translation suggestion appears. After selecting the option to translate the text, the translated text will appear in the Copilot app. You can see the supported regions and languages in Microsoft Copilot. This experience is not yet available for customers in the EEA (European Economic Area) or China.New! Click to Do provides unit conversions for length, area, volume, height, temperature, and speed. When you hover over a number + unit, a floating tooltip will show you the conversation. When you select the number + unit, the context menu opens with additional conversation options. You can also access more conversions via the Copilot app. This experience is not yet available for customers in the EEA (European Economic Area) or China.New! By pressing and holding two fingers anywhere on your Copilot+ PC with a touch screen, you can simultaneously launch Click to Do, select the entity under your finger and see relevant actions.New! You can now select objects in Click to Do using Freeform Selection, Rectangle Selection and 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 the 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! Click to Do can now detect tables. You can now highlight any simple table and send it to Excel, copy or share it. With a table in any application, you can press Win + Click to invoke Click to Do, or Win + Q or right swipe and tap to select the table. Once selected, you’ll see the actions you can take like Convert to table with Excel. Just click, capture and continue. This is available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs coming soon. You’ll need the latest Microsoft Excel application installed on your PC to see Convert to table with Excel and a Microsoft 365 Subscription. This change is not yet rolling out to Windows Insiders in the EEA (European Economic Area).New! Live Persona Cards from Microsoft 365 now appears in Click to Do. To view a profile card, press Win + 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 launch Click to Do.Fixed: Click to Do may unexpectedly invoke sometimes when pressing Windows key + P.[File Explorer]New! Recommended files in File Explorer Home are now available in personal Microsoft accounts and local accounts. Recommended files show content such as files you frequently used, have recently downloaded, or added to your File Explorer Gallery. This change is not yet rolling out in the EEA (European Economic Area). If you would prefer not to see the recommended section in File Explorer Home, this can be turned off in File Explorer Folder Options. When turned off, folders pinned to Quick Access will display instead.New! When you hover over a file in File Explorer Home, commands such as Open file location or Ask Copilot 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. This change is not available in the EEA (European Economic Area).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 may 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 may no longer respond to mouse clicks after invoking the context menu.Fixed: Extracting very large archive folders (1.5gb+) may fail with a Catastrophic Error (0x8000FFFF).Fixed: File Explorer may become unresponsive when opening Home.[Taskbar]New! The battery icons are now improved to display colored icons to indicate charging states, simplified overlays that don’t block the percentage bars, and an option to turn on battery percentage. A green battery icon shows that your PC is charging and is in a good state. A yellow icon indicates your battery is less than or equal to 20%. You can also enable the ability to see the battery percentage next to the battery icon in the system tray. To turn on this feature, go to Settings > Power & battery and toggle on the “Battery Percentage”New! When you hover over an open app icon on the taskbar, a thumbnail preview of the app window appears with a new “Share with Copilot” button beneath this preview. Selecting it allows Copilot Vision to scan, analyze, and offer insights on the content displayed by the app at that time. This option can be turned off if preferred under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors, using the checkbox “Share any window from my taskbar”.Fixed: If you hover over an app icon on the taskbar, and then click the window preview, the preview may dismiss and not bring the window to the foreground.[Lock screen] New! The new battery icons, featuring color indicators and battery percentage, now appear in the lower-right corner of the lock screen.[Microsoft 365 Copilot] New! A new Microsoft 365 Copilot page is added to the Get Started experience for commercial devices managed with an active Microsoft 365 subscription. This page helps you discover and engage with Microsoft 365 Copilot more easily.[Windows Setup Experience] New! You can now name your default user folder during set up. On the Microsoft account sign in page, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt. Type the following command: “cd oobe”, press Enter. Then type ““SetDefaultUserFolder.cmd ”. Enter a folder name of your choice and proceed with the MSA sign-in. The folder name cannot be more than 16 characters and only Unicode characters are supported. The custom folder name will be applied if valid. If not, Windows will automatically generate a profile folder name from your Microsoft email address.[Logging into your PC] Improved: Made underlying changes to help improve the performance of loading the taskbar when unlocking your PC after coming out of sleep. This should also help with cases where the password field and other login screen contents didn’t render when transitioning from lock screen to login screen after sleep.[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.[Remote Credential Guard] Fixed: Remote Credential Guard scenarios between the latest Windows 11 builds and Server 2022 (and below) may unexpectedly fail.[Display and Graphics]Fixed: Apps and browsers may have partially stuck onscreen content when other maximized / full screen apps are updating in the background. This is noticeable particularly when trying to scroll the window content, as only some parts update.Fixed: After recent updates, some videos and games may be unexpectedly red.Fixed: If Connected Devices Platform Service has been disabled, Settings may crash when trying to open Settings > System > Display (including if launched using the menu when right clicking the desktop.[Input] Fixed: An issue related to microsoft.ink.dll and relevant APIs can result in pen and handwriting not working correctly in apps or app crashes recently due to unexpected exceptions being thrown.[Open and Save Dialog] Fixed: Certain apps may become unresponsive when launching the Open or Save Dialog.[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.All of these new features are expected to roll out to both Windows 11 version 24H2 and Windows 11 version 25H2 once they reach general availability. We'll keep you posted as to when that happens. In the meantime, what new features are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments. Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

Microsoft has announced wider availability of two new AI-based features for its Edge web browser dubbed Copilot Actions and Copilot Journeys, both of which were first announced earlier this summer. Copilot Actions allows Copilot to take control and interact with the web for you, and Copilot Journeys allows Copilot to remember your browsing history and create 'journeys' that you can pick back up from anywhere. Copilot Actions in Edge compliment the recently announced Copilot Actions for Windows feature, allowing Microsoft's AI to take control of a particular webpage or the browser itself, and conduct a task on your behalf. You can ask Copilot to book you a flight and hotel, or leave a comment under an article, and Copilot will do it for you, instead of guiding you on how to do it yourself. "Trying to curb your shopping habit? Have Copilot go through your inbox and tell it to unsubscribe you from all those tempting shopping newsletters" Microsoft explains as one of the examples made possible with Copilot Actions in Edge. You may like Mustafa Suleyman says Microsoft isn't developing a new browser How to get started and use Microsoft Copilot on Windows 11 Microsoft trialed a revamped Edge UI with Copilot Microsoft updates Copilot app with cleaner UI, better integration Copilot Journey is now available to test for the first time with today's announcement and lets Copilot look into your browsing history and browsing habits and create personalized journeys that you can use to jump back into previous browsing sessions. These appear as boxes on the new tab page that provide a one-click resume into tabs that Copilot viewed as related. (Image credit: Microsoft)"While you browse, Copilot creates a short summary of your page content that captures the essence of what you view." explains Microsoft. "For example, Copilot might summarize a page with a pizza recipe as a "Step-by-step guide to making pizza from scratch, including dough recipes and topping suggestions. That summary, along with related page titles, URLs, searches, and Copilot chats, is used to create a task-focused group called a Copilot Journey. Each Journey reflects a task in progress, so you can pick up quickly where you left off without losing context. " In addition to the Journeys feature, Copilot can also use your browsing data to be more helpful as an AI assistant. You'll be able to casually ask it about something you previously saw online, and Copilot will be able to analyse your browsing history to bring you back to that moment. Microsoft insists that this feature is opt-in and data is only shared if you give it permission. "Your browsing history will never be accessed without your go-ahead – give us your consent via Page Context in Settings and turn off whenever you want." Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Both Copilot Actions and Copilot Journeys are off by default, and need to be enabled by the user before they become active. Additionally, Copilot Journeys is currently only available in the United States, meaning those outside the region will have to wait before they can try the Journeys feature. In addition to the new Copilot features in Edge, Microsoft just announced a handful of new features for the Copilot assistant itself, including a new avatar called Mico, group chat support, and the ability for Copilot to push back against your misplaced assumptions on certain topics. FAQWhat are Copilot “Actions” in Edge?“Actions” are AI-powered shortcuts that let Copilot complete tasks directly — like booking flights, making purchases, or navigating websites — without needing manual input from the user. What are “Journeys”?“Journeys” are curated, multi-step guides that help users accomplish complex goals. For example, planning a vacation, starting a business, or learning a new skill — with Copilot offering step-by-step assistance along the way When is Copilot Journeys available?Copilot Journeys will begin rolling out in preview starting today in the United States, with other regions expected to follow in the coming weeks. Not everyone will see the Journeys feature right away. Is Copilot Journeys an optional feature?Yes, Copilot Journeys is optional, and you don't have to turn it on if you don't want Copilot to access your browsing history. Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

Microsoft has unveiled a handy change coming to Windows 11's Taskbar search box soon that will make searching the internet with copied text easier. The change is dubbed "Copy & Search," and adds a button to the search box that provides the ability to search for what you've copied with one click. "We are introducing Copy & Search, a feature that allows you to search the text in your clipboard with a single click. When you copy text anywhere in Windows, a paste gleam will appear in your search box. Click on this gleam and your copied text will appear in the search field, allowing you to search instantly" explains Microsoft. The new feature is part of the latest Windows 11 preview builds, which means it'll likely begin rolling out to all Windows 11 users in the coming months. It works with any copied text, whether that be from a Word document, webpage, or app. You may like Hands-on with Windows 11's new Copilot-powered Taskbar search box Windows 11 makes screen sharing a breeze with new Copilot button Windows 11’s taskbar search might finally use Google and Chrome if that’s what you want Microsoft Is Building AI Into the Taskbar—Windows 11 Could Soon Have a Built-In Copilot Button Once text is copied, the search box will present the option to search automatically. (Image credit: Microsoft)Once copied, the search box will update with text that says "Search copied text" and next to it will be a clipboard button, which when clicked will automatically paste the text you just copied into the search box. From there, you can hit enter to search the web, or view the results in the search pane automatically. Microsoft just announced a big update coming to the Taskbar search box on Windows 11 next year that will replace the Windows Search pane with Copilot. It'll still be able to search for local apps and files, but it'll be enhanced with the ability to interact with Copilot too. Today's new Copy & Search feature is independent from this new Copilot experience, meaning it works with the current Windows Search pane too if that's what you prefer to use. Of course, this will also use Bing unless you're in a region where Microsoft lets you change the search provider in the Windows Search pane. FAQWhat is Windows 11's new Copy & Search feature?Copy & Search is a feature that streamlines the process between copying text and searching the internet with that text. It's tied to the Windows Search box, and will present a button that automatically pastes in your copied text and searches the web with it. When will Copy & Search be available?Copy & Search is currently only available via the Windows Insider Program, as it's still in testing and development. Microsoft will likely begin rolling out the feature to all Windows 11 users in the coming months. Is this a Copilot thing?Not directly. Copilot lives in the taskbar too, but this upgrade is for the classic search box — the one that’s been quietly underperforming since Windows 10. Will it help me find my files faster?That’s the idea. Microsoft says it’ll better surface apps, settings, and documents. Whether it actually finds the file you need instead of suggesting Edge… remains to be seen. Is this part of a bigger Windows 11 overhaul?Kind of. Microsoft’s been quietly tweaking search, Copilot, and taskbar behavior to make Windows 11 feel more “AI‑powered” — even if most of it still feels like glorified indexing Can I turn it off?You can disable search highlights and tweak what shows up, but the search box itself is baked into the taskbar. If you want it gone, you’ll need to disable it in taskbar settings. Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds! Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You can use many Android smartphones as a webcam on Windows 11 (or Windows 10) simply by connecting them to your PC with a standard USB cable and making a small change in the phone's settings. By default, the "stock" version of Android chooses "charging this device via USB" and tops up your battery, but changing it to "webcam" can offer a significant improvement over the standard webcams built into many laptops. I do it all the time with my Google Pixel, especially when I'm traveling. I can detach the same USB-C cable that was included with the phone from its AC adapter and hook it up to most laptops, and it'll often provide a much better image. On the other hand, some manufacturers, such as Samsung and Motorola, disable the "Use USB for Webcam" feature on their Android devices, which can make the process a little longer. Nevertheless, I can place my smartphone almost wherever I need it (to the limit of the cable's length, at least), which usually delivers a little more of a flattering picture than a tilted-up laptop screen. I've used this method extensively with a Google Pixel 7 Pro, and Phone Link works wirelessly for other manufacturers, so let me show you exactly how it works. How to use a Google Pixel as a webcamIt isn't a complex process, but it isn't the standard mode for your Google Pixel phone whenever it's connected to a Windows PC, either. Here's how it works. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)Connect your Pixel to your Windows 11 PC with a compatible USB cableNavigate to your Notifications panel, usually by scrolling down from the top-center part of your phone's displayTap the USB notification, which usually displays a "Charging this device via USB" messageWithin USB preferences, change the "Use USB for" setting to Webcam Optional: At this point, you can check in Device Manager whether Windows 11 has correctly identified your Google Pixel smartphone as a webcam, and verify that "Android Webcam" appears under the Cameras subsection. Press your Start menu and type "Device Manager" to find this.Open the Camera app in Windows 11, and select Android Webcam by clicking the Change camera button in the top-right area of the app (an icon of arrows rotating around a circle)Anker USB-C 60W 6ft, 2 pack: $9.99 at AmazonAnker's USB cables have always stood the test of time when I travel and are long enough to charge my smartphones or double as a webcam. If you're a Google Pixel user, a spare (or longer) cable can prove essential. Using other Android smartphones as a webcamSome smartphone manufacturers, such as Samsung and Motorola, disable the "Use USB for Webcam" feature on their Android devices, which can make the process a little longer, but it still works with Phone Link, a native Windows app. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)Set up your Android smartphone with the Mobile devices section of the Settings app on Windows 11 by following our guideEnsure "Allow this PC to access your mobile devices" is set to OnClick Manage devices and set "Use as a connected camera" to On for your intended Android phoneOpen the Camera app in Windows 11 to check that it's working, and select Android Webcam by clicking the Change camera button in the top-right area of the app (an icon of arrows rotating around a circle) Check your phone to control which camera (front or rear-facing) is used by Windows 11Don't use a laptop webcam, use your phone! It's a simple switch, but one that makes a huge difference to webcam quality in video calls if you're primarily using a laptop. Some PCs will have better cameras than others, but plenty of us often have incredible lenses attached to the smartphones in our pockets, and that's regularly where they'll stay. Comparing the webcam of this ASUS Zenbook (left image) to my Google Pixel 7 Pro (right image) shows how significant it can be. Today's best Google Pixel 7 Pro dealView Similar No price information Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

On Windows 11, you can use Copilot with the official native app or through integration within other apps, and in this guide, I'll help you get started with the chatbot. Copilot is a personal assistant (similar to Cortana) that uses AI to understand your query using natural language and produce an answer or action. However, unlike other AI features on Windows 11, this chatbot doesn't rely on AI models locally available on the device. Instead, it depends on large language models available through the Microsoft cloud. In addition, Microsoft has been proactively updating this application to further integrate the experience into the operating system with Connector, Vision, file search, and the ability to interact with the assistant hands-free with the "Hey Copilot" voice command. Furthermore, Copilot is available as a separate integration through the different apps, including Notepad, File Explorer, Photos, Paint, Microsoft 365 (Office) apps, and Microsoft Edge. In this how-to guide, I'll outline the steps to get started with the Copilot experience available on Windows 11. How to navigate the Copilot appOn Windows 11, the Copilot app experience is minimal and straightforward. You can access the chatbot in multiple ways and configure a few settings. Sign in accountTo log in to your account (if required), use these steps: Click the Sign in button at the bottom left.Quick tip: If you don't see the option, click the "Open Sidebar" button in the top left corner.Click the Sign in button again. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Complete your credentials to access your account.Once you complete the steps, you can start interacting with Copilot using natural language. Launch CopilotIn addition to using the button in the Taskbar, you can launch the Copilot chatbot in several ways. From Start To launch the Copilot experience on Windows 11, use these steps: Open Start.Search for Copilot and click the top result to open the app. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)You may also find the Copilot button already pinned to the Taskbar. If it's not available, launch the chatbot from the Start menu, right-click the button, and choose the pin option. From Search You can also invoke the chatbot with the Copilot button when performing a query in the Windows Search experience. However, when you click this button, it will access the chatbot website (at Copilot.Microsoft.com) using the Microsoft Edge browser. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)From voice command If the "Listen for 'Hey, Copilot'" is available, you can interact with the chatbot hands-free using the "Hey Copilot" voice command. Customize Copilot app experienceFrom the Copilot settings, you can configure most of the features available with the chatbot on Windows 11. Control Copilot app on startup To customize the experience of Copilot, use these steps: Click the account menu from the top left.Quick tip: If you don't see the menu, click the top-left menu icon to open the sidebar.Click the Settings option.Under the "App" section, turn on the "Auto start on log in" toggle switch to launch the app automatically when the computer starts. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Once you complete the steps, Copilot will start minimizing during startup. If the option is grayed out, open Settings > Apps > Startup, and turn Copilot on or off on startup. Configure file search permissions On Windows 11, you can allow Copilot to access your files to work like Windows Search, but using AI. To enable search permissions in Copilot, use these steps: Click the account menu from the top left.Click the Settings option.Under the "Permission settings" section, turn on the "File search" toggle to allow access to local files.Turn on the "File read" toggle switch to give Copilot permission to analyze the data in the files to answer questions using AI. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)(Optional) Turn off the "Show recent files on home" toggle switch to prevent the app from showing recent files on the main page.After you complete the steps, the assistant will have to search local files stored on your computer. Set up Copilot shortcut You can also control the action for the keyboard shortcut that opens and closes the Copilot app. To manage Copilot shortcut behaviors, use these steps: Click the account menu from the top left.Click the Settings option.Under the "Copilot Keyboard Shortcuts" section, choose what happens when opening and restoring the chatbot using the Copilot or "Windows key + C" keyboard shortcut. For example, a normal full window or compact view.Choose the "Press and hold" action when invoking the shortcut. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Once you complete the steps, the new configuration will apply to the Copilot shortcut behavior. Enable Hey Copilot voice command Microsoft now lets you interact with Copilot hands-free, as you could with Cortana, but the idea is that you'll be able to use natural language to interact with an AI assistant. To enable the Hey Copilot command, use these steps: Click the account menu from the top left.Click the Settings option.(Option 1) Under the "Voice mode" section, turn on the "Listen 'Hey Copilot' to start a conversation" toggle switch. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)(Option 2) Turn off the "Listen 'Hey Copilot' to start a conversation" toggle switch to disable the feature.Although it isn't required, you can also use the "Voice" setting to change the chatbot's voice for conversations. Enable Copilot Vision Copilot Vision lets you share any application with the Copilot app. Once you grant permission, the chatbot can view and make sense of the content on the screen, enabling it to offer help with virtually anything you may need. To enable Copilot Vision on Windows 11, use these steps: Click the account menu from the top left.Click the Settings option.(Option 1) Under the "Copilot Vision" section, turn on the "Highlights" toggle switch to enable the feature. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)(Option 2) Turn off the "Highlights" toggle switch to disable the feature.Once you complete the steps, you'll see a goggle button in the Copilot app. When you click the button, you can select an app to share with Copilot, then interact with it by voice. Change Copilot app privacy settingsTo prevent Microsoft from using your data to train its AI models, use these steps: Click the account menu from the top left.Click the Settings option.Click the Privacy page. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Turn off the "Diagnostic Data Sharing" toggle switch.Turn off the "Model training on text" toggle switch.Turn off the "Model training on voice" toggle switch.Turn off the "Personalization and memory" toggle switch. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)(Optional) Click the Delete Memory to clear the information that the chatbot knows about you.Once you complete the steps, when using Copilot on Windows 11, mobile, or web, you will no longer be sending your data for training and personalization to the Microsoft servers. Manage Copilot's memorySimilar to OpenAI's ChatGPT, Copilot can also store helpful details you’ve shared across conversations so it can offer more personalized support. Usually, you only want to feed facts like your name, preferences, interests, or goals, and then the assistant can use them to tailor its responses to you. To add or remove items from memory, use these steps: Click the account menu from the top left.Click the Settings option.Click the Manage memory page.Quick note: This option is only available if the "Personalization and memory" option is turned on in the privacy settings. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Click the delete button for the information you want Copilot to forget. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)(Optional) Click the "Add to memory" button to bring up the prompt to store more information you want the assistant to remember.After you complete the steps, Copilot will only remember the information left in memory. Configure Copilot ConnectorsCopilot connectors are integration tools that allow the Copilot app on Windows 11 to access and understand external data sources. You can connect Copilot to your personal services, such as OneDrive, Outlook, Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Calendar. To connect external services to Copilot, use these steps: Click the account menu from the top left.Click the Settings option.Click the Connectors page. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Turn on the Microsoft services that you want Copilot to have access to, such as OneDrive and Outlook. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Click the Connect button and continue with the on-screen directions to connect Google services.Once you complete the steps, you can use natural language to ask Copilot anything about the contents on those services. How to interact with Copilot appGetting started with Copilot is straightforward, thanks to the new, warmer, cozy interface that only includes a message box at the bottom of the page. You will also notice that the latest experience no longer includes the option to change the conversation style like before. Text promptTo use text prompts with Copilot, use these steps: Open the Copilot app.(Option 1) Choose the Quick response option for everyday questions. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)(Option 2) Choose the Think Deeper option to allow the chatbot to create answers for more complex topics.(Option 3) Choose the Smart (GPT-5) option if you want the chatbot to adapt automatically for fast, simple tasks and deep for complex ones.(Option 4) Select the Deep Research option allows you to generate detailed reports, comparisons, or multi-source answers. This option is best when you need citations, context, and thorough exploration.Compose your prompt in the "Message Copilot" box and press Enter. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Quick tip: In the box, you can ask anything using natural language. For instance, you can ask questions like "Make me a picture of a serene koi fish pond with lily pads," "Write a story about a dog who lives on the moon," or "Create a five-day itinerary to visit Chicago in November."Copilot understands the context, so you can ask additional questions about the same topic without repeating specific keywords.Click the plus (+) button to upload an image to the AI, and then you can ask it for more information about that piece of content. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Once you complete the steps, it's recommended to check the answer, as AI usually makes mistakes. If you're using Copilot Mode in Microsoft Edge, the "Smart (GPT-5)" option will appear as "Smart," which is also the default configuration. Also, you'll find the "Real talk" mode for honest answers, and the "Study and learn" option is more for guided learning and educational tasks. Voice promptTo start a voice conversation with Copilot, follow these steps: Open the Copilot app.Click the microphone button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Quick note: Although it might be obvious, this feature requires access to a microphone. If your device doesn't have one, you won't be able to use it.Start a conversation using natural language with the chatbot.(Optional) Click the Settings (gear) button to change the chatbot's voice.Click the Close (X) button to open the main interface again.You can ask the chatbot anything and interrupt it like during a normal conversation with another human. Copilot Vision on the desktopCopilot Vision lets you share your screen with the chatbot to get assistance with virtually any activity you're doing. To get started with Vision on Copilot while working on an application, use these steps: Open the Copilot app.Click the glasses button.Click the Share button to request that the AI assist you. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Chat with the chatbot to get assistance with the application.For example, if you're in the Settings app, you can say something like: Can you show me where I can check for system updates? And Copilot will be able to highlight where you need to go to change the settings. It's important to note that the chatbot can guide you through the process, but it can't take actions automatically. Also, even though the technology is impressive, in my experience, it's not very accurate. File Search with CopilotYou can also use Copilot to search for files on your computer instead of using the Windows Search feature, but you have to enable the feature manually. To allow Copilot to search files locally stored on your device, use these steps: Open the Copilot app.Compose your search query using natural language. For example, what files did I work on this week? And the chatbot should be able to surface the files you're looking for. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)If you click the file, the corresponding application will open. You can also click the "View all files" button (if applicable) to open the search result in File Explorer. How to get started with inbox apps Copilot integrationCopilot integrates with various apps, including Notepad, File Explorer, Paint, Photos, and Click to Do. For example, in Notepad, the Copilot integration adds options to modify a text section. For instance, you can write, rewrite, summarize, and change tones and formats. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)In File Explorer, the integration is subtle, with an "Ask Copilot" option in the context menu that lets you send an image or document to the Copilot app to ask any question you have about the file. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)It's worth noting that File Explorer now also includes AI actions, which let you perform various actions on images and Office documents. In the Paint, you'll find a deeper Copilot integration. For example, you can use the AI assistant to create an image using a simple text prompt. You also get an option to remove the background or erase an object within an image with a single click. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Also, if you have a Copilot+ PC, you'll have access to the "Cocreator" feature to turn a hand-made sketch into a polished artwork in real-time. The "Sticker generator" feature lets you create stickers with AI, and the "Restyle" feature enables you to transform the art style of an image already on the canvas. It's one of the new generative AI features being integrated into the app. Finally, on Copilot+ PCs, when using Click to Do, you can access different Copilot actions, including the "Ask Copilot" button to send selected text or objects to the Copilot app. In addition, you will find options to rewrite, summarize, and create bulleted lists from selected text. On the other hand, if you're selecting an object, the options will be slightly different. How to get started with inbox apps Copilot integrationIf you use the Microsoft 365 (Office) apps, you'll also find Copilot on Word, Excel, OneNote, and PowerPoint. To use Copilot in Word, use these steps: Open Microsoft Word.Click the Home tab.Click the Copilot button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Compose the prompt for the task you want the AI to assist you with.For example, you can ask the chatbot to summarize the document, generate an audio overview of the document's contents, or even ask it to create an image based on a text description. The steps to use Copilot in Excel, OneNote, and PowerPoint are virtually the same. The only difference is that your conversation and responses will be tailored to the application you're using. How to manage the Copilot integration on Windows 11On Windows 11, how you manage Copilot depends on the application you're using to access the assistant. For example, if you uninstall the Copilot app, it will remove the app and the "Ask Copilot" integration from most places. However, in the Microsoft 365 apps and Edge, you can only turn off the integration. In the case of Notepad, you only have access to some Copilot AI actions. You cannot chat with the assistant, and if you want to turn off the feature, you have to do so from within the settings page. Remove Copilot integrationIf you want to remove the Copilot integration across the operating system and apps, you will have to perform some extra steps in addition to uninstalling the app, due to how the AI integrates into the different applications. Uninstall Copilot app To uninstall the Copilot app, use these steps: Open Settings.Click on Apps.Click the Installed apps page on the right side. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Open the main menu (three dots) to the right of the Copilot app.Click the Uninstall button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Click the Uninstall button again.(Optional) Open the main menu (three dots) to the right of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app.Click the Uninstall button to uninstall the Copilot app for Microsoft 365 apps..Once you complete the steps, the Copilot app will be removed from your computer. However, you will still see the button inside the Windows Search experience from the Taskbar. Disable Copilot on Microsoft Edge Also, the Copilot feature from Microsoft Edge is independent of the dedicated app available in the operating system. If you want to turn off this feature, use these steps: Open Microsoft Edge.Open the "Settings and more" (three dots) menu and choose the Settings option.Click on Copilot and sidebar. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Click the Copilot setting.Turn off the "Show Copilot button on the toolbar" toggle switch. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)After you complete the steps, the assistant will no longer be available through the web browser. Disable Copilot on Notepad If you don't want to use Copilot in Notepad, use these steps: Open Notepad.Click the Settings button.Turn off the Copilot toggle switch. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Once you complete the steps, Copilot and the profile menu will be disabled from Notepad. Disable Copilot on Microsoft 365 apps You can also disable Copilot from the Microsoft 365 apps with these steps: Open Word, Excel, OneNote, or PowerPoint.Click on File.Click on Options. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Clear the Enable Copilot option. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Click the OK button.Restart the app.After you complete the steps, the Copilot will be turned off on the application, but you will have to repeat the steps on each application for which you want to disable the chatbot. Re-enable Copilot integration At any time, you can always reinstall the Copilot app and re-enable the chatbot and actions on apps. Install the Copilot app To install the Copilot app, use these steps: Open the Copilot app page.Click the "View in Store" button.Click the Get (or Install) button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Once you complete the steps, the Copilot will be available from the Start menu. Re-enable Copilot on Microsoft Edge To enable the chatbot on the browser, use these steps: Open Microsoft Edge.Open the "Settings and more" (three dots) menu and choose the Settings option.Click on Appearance.Click the "Copilot and sidebar" setting under the "Other appearance settings" section.Click the Copilot setting. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Turn on the "Show Copilot button on the toolbar" toggle switch. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)After you complete the steps, the chatbot will be enabled again on the web browser. Re-enable Copilot on Notepad To re-enable the Copilot actions in Notepad, use these steps: Open Notepad.Click the Settings button.Turn on the Copilot toggle switch. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Once you complete the steps, the AI actions will enable one more time in Notepad. How to access Copilot on Microsoft EdgeOn Microsoft Edge, Copilot is a little different, since the assistant offers a more tailored experience for the web. Before getting started, you want to enable "Copilot Mode" in the browser. You can do this from "edge://settings/ai" and turn on the AI mode experience across the browser and the new tab page. Alternatively, you can enable this mode on this Microsoft page. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Once you enable the experience, on the "AI innovations" page, you'll notice a few more options, including Journeys and Actions. You can click each option to enable it. (These last two features are in limited preview at the time of writing.) (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)New tab page with CopilotThe Copilot Mode will transform the new tab page into an AI prompt, identical to the Copilot home on the web. The prompt box is smart enough to understand when you want a web result, open a website, or an answer with AI. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)The default mode is "Smart," which tries to make the best decision about the action intent and uses the GPT-5 model. The "Think Deeper" option allows the chatbot to create answers for more complex topics. The "Deep Research" option allows you to generate detailed reports, comparisons, or multi-source answers. This option is best when you need citations, context, and thorough exploration. Also, you'll find the "Real talk" mode for honest answers, and the "Study and learn" option is more for guided learning and educational tasks. The "Quick response" option is best suited for everyday conversation. Copilot Vision on EdgeThe integration of Copilot on Microsoft Edge also includes Vision to assist with anything you're doing on the web. To get started with Vision on Copilot, use these steps: Open Microsoft Edge.(Option 1) Open a new tab page to access the Copilot prompt.(Option 2) Click the Chat button in the top-right.Click the microphone button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Once you complete the steps, Vision will activate, and you can start asking questions about anything you see on the screen. Chat with Copilot on a web pageYou can also invoke Copilot from any web page using the "Chat" option from the top-right side of the screen. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)While in this experience, you can use the chatbot to ask questions about the content you're viewing. If the default size of the flyout is limited, you can also click the "Pin" button to dock it to the side. The default configuration for the prompt box is "Quick response," which is appropriate for everyday conversations. Copilot JourneysThe "Journeys" feature allows Copilot to analyze your browsing history and habits to automatically group related past browsing projects into specific, task-focused storylines called "Journeys." When you turn on this feature, the assistant will create a summary of each page you visit, and it'll store other details, such as page title, URL, searches, chats, and more. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)This feature not only lets you pick up quickly where you left off, but in a way, it improves the bookmarking experience. Copilot ActionsThe "Actions" is a feature that goes beyond generating text or summarizing information. It enables the AI to take direct action on your behalf to complete tasks. On Microsoft Edge, this feature turns the AI into an "agent" that can interact with websites and the browser itself to complete multi-step tasks. (Image credit: Microsoft)Copilot Actions is a feature that is still in development, but you can use it for actions like booking a restaurant, unsubscribing from email newsletters, and more. Journeys and Actions are opt-in features, and they require confirmation before finalizing an action to ensure security and user permission. Also, it's worth repeating that these features are in preview and limited to users in the United States. FAQs about getting started with CopilotThese are common questions regarding Copilot on Windows 11. What is Copilot on Windows 11?Copilot is a built-in AI assistant for Windows 11 that uses large language models in the Microsoft cloud to understand and respond to natural-language prompts. It can perform actions, generate content, answer questions, and integrate with apps like Notepad, Paint, File Explorer, and Microsoft Edge. How can I open Copilot on Windows 11?You can launch Copilot by clicking the "Copilot" button on the Taskbar, from the Start menu, using the "Windows + C" keyboard shortcut, or saying “Hey Copilot” if voice activation is enabled. Can I use Copilot hands-free with my voice?Yes. If you enable the “Hey Copilot” voice command from the Copilot settings. Once active, you can start interacting with the assistant hands-free using natural language. How do I enable or disable Copilot’s auto-start feature?Open the Copilot app, click your account menu > Settings, and toggle "Auto start on log in." If the option is grayed out, you can manage it from Settings > Apps > Startup. What are Copilot Connectors?Connectors allow Copilot to access and analyze information from your online services like OneDrive, Outlook, Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar. This enables the chatbot to provide more personalized and context-aware responses. Can Copilot search my local files?Yes. You can enable file search from the account menu > Settings > Permissions, then turn on "File search" and "File read" to let the assistant locate and understand your local files when you ask questions about them. What is Copilot Vision?Copilot Vision allows the assistant to "see" and understand what’s on your screen. It can analyze apps, highlight elements, and help guide you through tasks, though it can’t perform actions automatically. How do I control what data Copilot collects?You can manage privacy settings by going to (Copilot) Settings > Privacy and turning off options like Diagnostic Data Sharing, Model training on text and voice, and Personalization and memory. You can also delete any stored data manually. Does Copilot remember my information?Yes, if the "Personalization and memory" feature is turned on. You can view, add, or remove memory items from (Copilot) Settings > Manage memory. This data helps the chatbot provide more personalized answers. How do I uninstall the Copilot app?Open (Windows 11) Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Copilot, click the three-dot menu, and select "Uninstall." You can also uninstall Microsoft 365 Copilot separately. Some integrations in other apps (like Edge or Notepad) must be turned off individually. How do I disable Copilot in Microsoft Edge?Open Microsoft Edge > Settings > Copilot and sidebar, then turn off "Show Copilot button on the toolbar." You can re-enable it anytime from the same menu. What is Copilot Mode in Microsoft Edge?Copilot Mode enables the full AI experience in Microsoft Edge. It turns the new tab page into an AI prompt and adds features like Journeys (browsing history analysis), Vision (screen context awareness), and Actions (task automation). You can enable it from edge://settings/ai. Does Copilot work offline?No. Copilot relies entirely on Microsoft’s cloud-based AI models, so it requires an active internet connection to function. Is Copilot free to use on Windows 11?Yes, the core Copilot experience is free. However, certain features tied to Microsoft 365 (like Copilot for Word or Excel) require a Microsoft 365 subscription. More resourcesFind in-depth guides, troubleshooting tips, and the latest updates on Windows 11 and 10 here: Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to knowWindows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

Microsoft has released the October non-security preview update for Windows 11 version 24H2 and version 25H2 that introduces the long awaited new Start menu, which includes a more customizable layout among other quality of life improvements. The update, known as KB5067036, is available now for users with the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle enabled in Windows Update. Unfortunately, the new Start menu itself is rolling out in waves, meaning not everyone will see it right away once the update is installed. If you choose to skip this update, the new Start menu is expected to roll out more generally with next month's Patch Tuesday update, so it won't be long before everyone has the new Start menu now. You may like Microsoft prepares major Windows 11 feature drop with new Start menu, Taskbar updates, and more Windows 11’s Start menu gets a major redesign in 25H2 and 24H2 — here’s what’s new Top features and changes coming to Windows 11 with the October 2025 update Windows 11 insiders are getting a dozen new toys to play with this month Windows 11's new Start menu has been rebuilt from the ground up with better customizability in mind. The layout is now more dynamic, meaning you can choose to hide certain parts of the interface if you never use them. If you don't want to see pinned or recommended apps and files, you can turn them off. This is the new Start menu on Windows 11. (Image credit: Windows Central)The new layout also promotes the "all apps" list to the main page, and gives you two additional views: grid list and category view. By default, the new Start menu sets your all apps list to the category view, which attempts to automatically group installed apps into buckets similar to the app shelf on iOS or iPadOS. The new Start is also more adaptive, meaning it will appear bigger on devices with larger screens, giving you the ability to show even more pinned apps at once. It also includes an improved Phone Link panel, which now shows more recent activity including recent notifications, missed calls, and text messages. This new update also includes improvements to the Taskbar, including animations for thumbnails when hovering over open app icons, and a new battery icon that supports showing your battery percentage on the Taskbar. Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.How do I get the new Windows 11 Start menu?The new Windows 11 Start menu is rolling out gradually as of the optional non-security preview update for version 24H2 and version 25H2, known as KB5067036. As the feature is rolling out gradually, you might not see it right away. To get KB5067036, make sure you have the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle switched on in Windows Update, and check for updates. Can I turn off the new Start menu?No, once the new Start menu is available on your PC, it cannot be turned off. You can disable some of the new additions however, including the Phone Link panel and new views for the apps list. Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

October is almost done, so it's now a good time to recap the new features and changes that Microsoft has been working on for Windows 11 in all the channels of the Windows Insider Program. In addition to the changes rolled out during the first two weeks of October, in the last two weeks of this month, the company has made available even more previews for versions 25H2 and 24H2. In the case of the Canary Channel, devices received build 27971 and 27975. In the Dev and Beta Channels, the company also rolled out builds 26220.6982 and 26120.6982, as well as builds 26220.6972 and 26120.6972 In this guide, I'll highlight the new changes and features that were released during the second half of October 2025. You may like Unlock the top 8 Windows 11 insider previews released this month Windows 11 Insider: 7 standout features Microsoft is releasing this September 2025 Top features and changes coming to Windows 11 with the October 2025 update 8 new Windows 11 Insider features you can try in August 2025 Biggest improvements from the Windows Insider Program in October 2025These are the most significant changes that Microsoft has unveiled over the last two weeks. 1. Copy & Search new feature (Image credit: Microsoft)Starting with builds 26220.6982 and 26120.6982, Microsoft has introduced an improvement for the search experience known as "Copy & Search." Whenever you copy text from any app, document, or website, a paste gleam appears in the search box available in the Taskbar. If you click the box, the copied text will be used to perform a search. 2. Voice Typing with new timing feature (Image credit: Microsoft)If you use Voice Typing, the settings menu now shows a new "Wait time before acting" setting that lets you adjust the delay between speaking and action. The options available include "Very Short," "Short," "Medium," "Long," "Extended," and "Very Long." 3. Proactive Memory Diagnostics (Image credit: Microsoft)The Proactive Memory Diagnostics implementation isn't a new feature. Instead, it's a new toast notification that will appear when the system detects a Blue Screen of Death or unexpected restart. If the system detects a problem, the notification will suggest running the legacy "Windows Memory Diagnostic" tool at the next reboot to check for memory issues. 4. Windows Search interface change (Image credit: Microsoft)As part of the improvements to Windows Search home, Microsoft is now making the flyout larger to match the size of the new Start menu design for a more seamless experience. 5. About settings page new design (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)On the "About" page, the company is making some changes to improve structure and flow. For example, the cards with technical specifications are no longer available, and the company is adding control that shows the desktop, the current name, and an option to rename the computer. Also, the frequently asked questions section has been renamed "Device insights" and is now a separate section from "Device info." Finally, the "Windows specifications" details are listed under the "This operating system" section. Furthermore, the section with your device information is now called "This Device." Even further, at the bottom of the page, you'll find a new entry to access the "Storage" settings. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Also, with the release of builds 26220.6982 and 26120.6982, the "Device info" card on the Home page now shows better details and improves layout and navigation. Finally, when using the search feature in the Settings app, you'll now notice that the experience will show all the results for a specific query with a scrollbar instead of having to open the results page. 6. File Explorer with dark mode improvements (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)As part of builds 26220.6972 and 26120.6972, the development team has also rolled out improvements for the dark mode experience for the "Folder Options" page in File Explorer. 7. Mobile Device new settings integrations (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)In the Settings app, the ability to manage mobile devices has been available for some time, but now, the settings are integrated into the app, rather than having to open an external page. This means that the next time you connect an iPhone or Android phone, you will be able to control the features and even remove the device from the Settings app. 8. Drag Tray disable option (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)In addition, Microsoft is adding an option to turn the Drag Tray feature on or off from the "Nearby sharing" page. 9. Start menu changes (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)The Start menu doesn't include significant changes, but in the account manager menu, the company added a new "View my benefits" option to open your Microsoft account page, which shows all your subscription benefits. In addition to these preview builds, Microsoft also released builds 27975 and 27971, but neither introduced anything significant. More resourcesExplore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here: Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to knowWindows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

Although your new ASUS ROG Xbox Ally is touted as a handheld gaming device, it's still a full-fledged computer that runs Windows 11 (Home), and this means you can tweak it like a regular machine to ensure you're getting the best experience and performance. The Xbox Ally is a new handheld gaming PC (or "gaming handheld") jointly developed by ASUS's Republic of Gamers (ROG) division and Microsoft's Xbox. It was created with the idea of bringing the power of a gaming PC and the Xbox ecosystem into a portable device. You'll find this device in two models, including the standard "Ally" and the higher-end "Ally X." The "Ally" comes with an AMD Ryzen Z2 A (4 cores, Zen 2 + RDNA2 graphics) and 16GB of memory, while the "Ally X," features an AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (8 cores, Zen 5 + RDNA3.5 + NPU) with 24GB of memory. You may like These changes will make your Xbox Ally X run smoother Here are 6 ways to give your original ROG Ally an Xbox Ally-like glow-up Xbox Ally: How to change TDP settings, and why you should Here's how the new Xbox ROG Ally compares to the original handheld The handheld utilizes the Xbox full-screen mode experience available with the Windows 11 2025 Update (version 25H2), making the device feel more like a dedicated gaming console and offering a more streamlined experience for launching and playing games. However, the full-screen mode is much more than a console-like interface, because it also applies tweaks to reduce the performance overhead of the standard desktop. This feature actively stops several system components from running in the background, which helps free up system resources and reduce power consumption, resulting in improved gaming performance and longer battery life. Now, even with all the optimization that comes out of the box, there are still a few things you can check and configure to get the most out of the experience. In this how-to guide, I'll outline the tweaks you can apply to your ROG Xbox Ally handheld running Windows 11. Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Best tweaks for ROG Xbox Ally running Windows 11Although the "Game Mode" and "Full screen experience" features are turned on by default to provide a gaming-optimized experience, you still have several tweaks that you can apply to your Xbox handheld. 1. Check and download updatesYes. Although it may seem obvious to many, and sometimes feel like a repeated suggestion, Microsoft and manufacturers continually release new updates to enhance the performance of operating systems and devices. As part of the optimization plan, you should check for updates for Windows 11, Armoury Crate SE, AMD, and other apps (when applicable). Check for Windows 11 updates To update Windows 11, use these steps: Open Settings.Click on Windows Update.(Optional) Turn on the "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" toggle switch.Click the "Check for updates" button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Click the Restart now button.(Optional) Open Settings.Click the Advanced options page on the right side.Click the Optional updates setting. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Click the Driver updates setting.Select the available drivers with updates.Click the "Download & install" button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Once you complete the steps, the handheld will download the applicable updates, and you may need to restart the device. Check for Armoury Crate SE updates To update the ASUS Armoury Crate SE software, use these steps: Open Armoury Crate SE.Click the Settings tab.Click on Update Center. (Image credit: Future)Check and download all the available updates. (Image credit: Future)After you complete the steps, the Armoury Crate app and components will be updated to the latest version. Check for AMD software and driver updates To check for AMD software and driver updates, use these steps: Open the AMD Software app.Click the Home tab.Check the "Driver & Software" window on the right side of the screen. (Image credit: Future)If it says there's an update, click the button that appears in this box to install the latest updates. Once you complete these steps, the AMD software will be updated to the latest version. If no updates are available, the "Home" tab won't show any system update button. Alternatively, you can also check for updates by opening MyASUS > System Update, and clicking the "Check for Updates" button. Finally, you can always download the drivers and software manually from the AMD website. Check for app updates To update apps and system components from the Microsoft Store, use these steps: Open Microsoft Store.Click on Downloads.Click the "Check for updates" button. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Click the Update all button (if applicable).After you complete the steps, the Microsoft Store will update all your apps to the latest version, unlocking new features, improvements, and fixes, depending on the update. 2. Disable specific gaming-impacting featuresIf you're experiencing performance issues during gameplay, it may be due to the Memory Integrity and Virtual Machine Platform security features. When optimizing your computer for gaming performance, it's recommended to turn off this feature and then turn it back on after completing your gaming session. Disable Memory Integrity To disable Memory Integrity on Windows 11, use these steps: Open Windows Security.Click on Device Security.Click the "Core isolation details" option. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Turn off the Memory Integrity toggle switch to disable the feature. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Restart the computer.Once you complete the steps, your games should experience a performance boost. Disable Virtual Machine Platform To turn off virtualization on Windows 11, use these steps: Open Settings.Click on System.Click the Optional features page on the right side.Click the "More Windows features" setting. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Clear the "Virtual Machine Platform" option to disable the feature. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Click the OK button.Restart the computer.After you complete these steps, your games should experience a performance boost. It's important to note that Microsoft recommends re-enabling these two features if you're not playing games. 3. Change power modeChoosing the power mode to "High Performance" is often recommended because it aims to maximize the power for components to deliver the best possible experience. To change the power mode on Windows 11, use these steps: Open Settings.Click on System.Click the "Power & battery" (or Power) page on the right side.Click the Power Mode setting. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Choose the Best Performance option for the "Plugged in" and "On battery" settings.You can also change power modes in Xbox Ally’s Armoury Crate software by going to Armoury Crate > Settings Cog > Performance > Operating Mode, and choose the "Turbo" option. (Image credit: Future)4. Enable optimization for windowed gamesThe "Optimizations for windowed games" feature can improve the performance of games running in windowed or borderless windowed mode. This optimization transitions games using older presentation models (such as DirectX 10 and 11's "blt-model") to a more modern "flip-model" presentation, allowing games to bypass the Desktop Window Manager (DWM) for direct display output, similar to how exclusive fullscreen works. This feature should be turned on by default, but you can always use these steps to confirm: Open Settings.Click on System.Click the Display page on the right side.Click on Graphics.Turn on the "Optimizations for windowed games" toggle switch. (Image credit: Future)Once you complete the steps, games should be able to take advantage of this feature. 5. Increase the refresh rateAdjusting the refresh rate on your monitor is one of the most significant ways to enhance your gaming experience. The reason is that the more frequently the display refreshes, the more often it shows new frames, resulting in significantly smoother motion, especially in fast-paced games. It also reduces input latency, and you will see less screen tearing. To set your system to the highest refresh rate, use these steps: Open Settings.Click on System.Click the Display page on the right side.Click the Advanced display setting at the bottom of the page.Select the highest rate using the "Choose a refresh rate" setting. (Image credit: Future)Quick note: In this system, you should be able to choose between 60Hz and 120Hz (recommended).You can also change the refresh rate from the Armoury Crate experience using the Command Center side menu. 6. Enable Variable Refresh RateOn Windows 11, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) is a feature that enables displays to automatically adjust their refresh rate based on the frames generated by the graphics card, thereby increasing frame rates while reducing screen tearing. To enable this VRR on your handheld, use these steps: Open Settings.Click on System.Click the Display page on the right side.Click on Graphics.Click on Advanced graphics settings at the bottom of the page.Turn on the "Variable Refresh Rate" toggle switch. (Image credit: Future)After you complete the steps, the device will adjust the refresh rate based on the frames generated by the graphics card. 7. Disable startup appsIf you have Xbox Ally (or X), you'll probably be using these devices for gaming, so it's unlikely you'll have to manage many apps launching at startup. However, if that's the case, consider that having too many apps launching during startup will cause the handheld to take longer to start, and the background services for those applications will consume more system resources, which can negatively affect gaming performance. To keep startup apps to a minimum, use these steps: Open Settings.Click on Apps.Click the Startup page on the right side.Choose the Startup impact option in the "Sort by" menu.Turn off the most impactful apps running on your system. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Once you complete the steps, depending on the app you had previously configured during startup, you'll notice a boost in gaming performance. 8. Uninstall unnecessary appsAlso, even though you're unlikely to install additional apps since this is a gaming-specific device, it's still important to understand that you always have to minimize the number of unnecessary apps installed on your handheld to prevent bloating and degrading the performance. If you have installed applications other than those that are necessary on the device, it's recommended to remove them to maintain the system's performance. To uninstall unused apps from Windows 11, use these steps: Open Settings.Click on Apps.Click the "Installed apps" page on the right side.Select the app, click the menu (three dots) button, and choose the Uninstall option.Click the Uninstall button again to confirm. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)Continue with the on-screen directions (if applicable).After completing the steps, you may need to repeat them to remove any additional applications. 9. Enable GPU schedulingHardware-accelerated GPU scheduling is a feature designed to improve performance and reduce latency by offloading specific graphics card scheduling tasks from the CPU to the GPU itself. The feature is typically enabled by default, but you can always check and enable it as necessary with these steps: Open Settings.Click on System.Click the Display page on the right side.Click the Graphics setting.Click on Advanced graphics settings at the bottom of the page.Turn on the "Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling" toggle switch. (Image credit: Future)Once you complete the steps, the system should offload graphics tasks from the processor to the graphics processor. 10. Configure GPU-specific settingsOn both versions of the handheld, you can configure various performance features through the AMD software, including Radeon Super Resolution (RSR), AMD Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF), Radeon Anti-Lag, and Radeon Boost. In addition, you can manage the amount of memory the system should allocate for graphics performance. To configure the AMD performance-enhancing features, use these steps: Open Armoury Crate SE.Click on Settings Cog.Click the Performance tab.Click the GPU Settings tab from the left pane.Once you complete the steps, you can proceed to configure the features as outlined below. Memory Assigned to GPU The Xbox Ally uses an Integrated Graphics Processing Unit (iGPU). Unlike dedicated graphics cards, which have their own memory (VRAM), the iGPU shares the computer's main system memory (RAM). In this case, the handheld has a total amount of memory (for example, 16GB). This memory is a single pool used by both the processor for general system tasks and the iGPU for graphics. The "Memory Assigned to GPU" setting allows you to manually reserve a fixed portion of your system memory to be used exclusively as VRAM for the iGPU. Usually, you have to find the balance, as increasing the VRAM allocation takes memory away from the processor and general system tasks. (Image credit: Future)If you have the Ally with 16GB, start with 6GB and only increase to 8GB if a game specifically demands it (for example, crashes at launch). If you have the Ally X with 24GB, start with 8GB and leave it there for maximum performance and stability. Radeon Super Resolution (RSR) This is an upscaling technology that uses the same algorithms as AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR). The feature allows you to run games at a lower-than-native resolution to increase your frame rate (FPS). The driver then uses a high-quality spatial upscaling technique to stretch the image to fit your display's native resolution, resulting in a performance boost with better image quality than standard stretching. AMD Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF) This is a frame technology integrated into the AMD graphics driver. It works at the driver level to insert additional, interpolated frames between the "real" frames rendered by the graphics card. AFMF significantly increases the displayed frame rate, making gameplay appear much smoother. It can be applied to almost any DirectX 11 and 12 game. Radeon Anti-Lag This is a feature designed to reduce input-to-response latency. The Anti-Lag feature controls the queuing of processor work ahead of the graphics card work, ensuring the CPU doesn't get too far ahead of the GPU. By keeping these components in better sync, it reduces the delay between your input and the resulting action appearing on your screen. In other words, this feature makes the game feel more responsive, which is especially important for fast-paced gaming and other scenarios. Radeon Boost This is a dynamic resolution technology. When you are making rapid camera or character movements in a game, the Boost feature temporarily and subtly lowers the resolution of the frame. Because the fast movement makes it difficult to notice the change in quality, this quick resolution drop gives the GPU a temporary burst of extra performance, allowing for higher, more consistent frame rates and more responsiveness. After changing these settings, you may need to restart the handheld to apply the changes. Radeon Chill This is a dynamic, power-saving feature that regulates the device's frame rate. Radeon Chill constantly monitors your gaming activity and adjusts the Frame Rate Target Control (FRTC) between a "Min Chill" and "Max Chill" values. When you are idle or moving slowly, it lowers the frame rate towards the minimum to save power, reduce heat, and lower fan noise. When the action increases, it instantly ramps the frame rate back up to the maximum cap. The Radeon Chill feature can help reduce system power consumption, significantly improving battery life on handheld devices. It also results in a cooler, quieter operating experience without noticeably impacting responsiveness during fast action. Radeon Image Sharpening (RIS) This is a post-processing, contrast-adaptive sharpening algorithm. The Radeon Image Sharpening feature analyzes the finished image and selectively sharpens details and edges in high-contrast areas. It's primarily used to restore clarity and detail that can be lost due to, for example, using lower resolutions for performance gains. The softening or blurring effect of certain Anti-Aliasing techniques. It does this with minimal to no performance impact. 11. Change settings on specific gamesYou can also configure each game with specific settings using AMD Software, and to do this, you have to use these steps: To check for AMD Software updates, use these steps: Open the AMD Software app.Click the Gaming tab.Click the Games tab. (Image credit: Future)Click on the game you want to customize. (Image credit: Future)On this page, you can find AMD-related settings, including Radeon Super Resolution, AMD Fluid Motion Frames, Anti-Lag, Radeon Boost, Radeon Chill, and more. In addition, from this page, it's possible to configure display-related settings, such as AMD FreeSync, Scaling Mode, Display Color Enhancement, and Color Deficiency Correction. 12. Configure global graphics settings with one optionFinally, AMD Software allows you to choose graphics presets that will apply to the gaming experience globally. To choose the best graphics experience, use these steps: Open the AMD Software app.Click the Gaming tab.Click the Graphics tab.Enable HYPR-RX. (Image credit: Future)The recommendation is to choose the "HYPR-RX" since this gives the best gaming configuration. However, you can only use this option on the Xbox Ally X. The base model (Xbox Ally) doesn't let you choose the "HYPR-RX" option, but there is a "Performance" option. On this page, you can also configure other graphics settings that will apply globally. Some of the features include Radeon Super Resolution, AMD Fluid Motion Frames, Anti-Lag, Radeon Boost 2, and more. What tweaks are you making to your Xbox Ally handheld gaming device? Let me know in the comments. More resourcesExplore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here: Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to knowWindows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

Microsoft has today unveiled a major update coming soon to Windows 11 and Copilot that introduces a new, dedicated agentic AI assistant to the platform that understands natural language and can be used to control your PC and complete tasks or actions on your behalf, just by asking for it. The new AI agent is called Copilot Actions, and is part of a new agentic AI framework coming to Windows 11. The feature is off by default, but once enabled, will integrate with the Copilot app and enable you to chat with your PC to ask it to do things for you. Microsoft calls this the first general-purpose agentic AI experience on Windows, giving Copilot permission to act on your behalf and control or interact with the apps and files on your PC. You can command Copilot to complete a task, such as replying to an email or sorting through files, and Copilot Actions will take that task into its own hands and complete it for you, right in front of your eyes or in the background while you work on something else. You may like Microsoft Is Building AI Into the Taskbar—Windows 11 Could Soon Have a Built-In Copilot Button How to get started and use Microsoft Copilot on Windows 11 Copilot in Microsoft Edge can now analyze your browsing history Microsoft updates Copilot app with cleaner UI, better integration You'll have to enable Copilot Actions manually before you can use it. (Image credit: Microsoft)The feature utilizes special agentic user accounts, along with its own desktop environment for the agent, where it can take your task and complete it without getting in your way. You'll be able to view the agents progress inside the Copilot app, and the assistant will prompt you to take action if something requires human intervention, like accessing sensitive information or dealing with an unexpected error prompt. "Simply describe the task you want to complete in your own words, and the agent will attempt to complete it by interacting with desktop and web applications" says Microsoft Consumer Chief Marketing Office, Yusef Mehdi. "While this is happening, you can choose to focus on other tasks. At any time, you can take over the task or check in on the progress of the action, including reviewing what actions have been taken." Alongside the new Copilot Actions framework, Microsoft is also promoting voice as a primary input method on Windows 11. It's introducing a new "Hey Copilot" wake word that launches into the Copilot Vision mode automatically, letting you chat with Copilot about whatever it is that's on your screen at any time, hands-free. It's also more deeply integrating the Copilot experience into Windows 11 by adding Copilot to the Taskbar's search box, combining traditional Windows Search with AI chat capabilities, and making access to Copilot Vision and Copilot Actions just a click away at all times. Microsoft says it wants "to make the taskbar a dynamic hub that helps you accomplish more with less effort." Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. The new Windows Search interface with Copilot enabled. (Image credit: Microsoft)With these new updates, you'll no longer need to navigate to the Copilot app every time you want to use it. You can either invoke Copilot just by shouting "Hey Copilot" and using Windows hands-free, or you can access the assistant right from the Taskbar search box using a keyboard, mouse, or touch. Surprisingly, Microsoft says these new Copilot capabilities are coming to all Windows 11 PCs, and are not just exclusive to Copilot+ PCs. That means everyone running Windows 11 today will be able to use "Hey Copilot" and Copilot Actions to experience agentic AI capabilities on their PC, regardless of NPU compute power. Microsoft is expected to begin rolling out access to these new Copilot capabilities in waves, with some available starting today and others coming in the following months. Hey Copilot is available now, along with Copilot Vision being made generally available in more regions. Copilot Actions and integration with the Windows 11 Taskbar is expected to enter preview soon.

Microsoft has announced a major update coming soon to Windows 11 that will replace the Windows Search box on the Taskbar with a Copilot chat box. The company describes the move one that's designed "to make the taskbar a dynamic hub that helps you accomplish more with less effort, transforming everyday interactions into moments of productivity and delight." For now, the new Copilot integration in the Taskbar search box will be an opt-in experience, and when enabled will replace the Windows Search pane entirely with a new Copilot UI that can do both AI chat and local file and app search. Microsoft says this new experience doesn't automatically grant Copilot access to your apps or files, and utilizes existing Windows Search APIs to surface results. The new Taskbar integration is designed to make accessing Copilot quicker and universal across the OS. No matter where you are in Windows, you'll always have instant access to Copilot, with shortcuts to Copilot Vision and chat right on the Taskbar and always accessible to you. You may like Hands-on with Windows 11's new Copilot-powered Taskbar search box Windows 11’s search box is getting an upgrade — and no, it’s not just another Bing ad Microsoft Is Building AI Into the Taskbar—Windows 11 Could Soon Have a Built-In Copilot Button Windows 11 makes screen sharing a breeze with new Copilot button The new Windows Search pane will be housed in Copilot. (Image credit: Microsoft)These new Copilot integrations on the Taskbar will be coming to all Windows 11 users, meaning it's not exclusive to Copilot+ PCs like some may have assumed. In fact, Microsoft just announced a whole bunch of new Copilot features that are available for everyone, regardless of NPU compute power. It's introducing a new agentic AI assistant built into Copilot, which utilizes Copilot Actions and an agentic AI framework coming soon to Windows that lets Copilot interact with apps and files on your PC on your behalf, enabling Copilot to complete tasks or actions for you. Microsoft says the new Copilot integration on the Taskbar will be coming in preview to Windows Insiders in the coming weeks, meaning it likely won't begin rolling out to all Windows 11 users until sometime in 2026. Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Microsoft has published a new blog post that details a number of new features that are already available or are beginning to roll out on Windows 11 in 2025. The blog post details everything from improvements to Windows Recall to quality-of-life updates relating to UI consistency and ease of use. "We are currently rolling out new features and improvements that make Windows 11 more intuitive, more secure, more accessible and more reliable for everyone" says the Windows team, who are operating under a strategy dubbed 'continuous innovation' which sees new features shipped to Windows 11 on a monthly cadence. The blog post starts with highlighting new features and improvements that have been built for File Explorer, including the new AI Actions menu which appears when you right-click on files on a Copilot+ PC. The File Explorer home page is also now capable of showing activity from people that you've shared files with. You may like Best features Microsoft rolled out in 2025 for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 Top features and changes coming to Windows 11 with the October 2025 update Microsoft readies major Windows 11 feature drop 9 Windows 11 features arriving for Insiders before the end of October AI actions appear in the context menu in File Explorer. (Image credit: Microsoft)The Widgets board has also been given a major makeover, now powered by Copilot Discover and featuring an updated interface that places widgets in a separate dashboard. The new news feed will include stories curated by Copilot, based on your interests and conversations. Widgets are now also available on the lock screen and are much more customizable than before. You can add and remove whichever widgets you want, including third-party ones, and change their position on the lock screen too. Microsoft also highlights improvements to the "craft" on Windows 11, which refers to quality of life improvements and interface consistency updates. The company launched a visual refresh of Windows Hello this year, which updated the design of login methods on the lock screen and when Windows Hello pops up in Windows. Other craft improvements include dividers added to the top-level icons in context menus to make them more pronounced, the ability to move hardware indicators like brightness and volume to the top left or top center of your screen, updated dialogs in the Windows Settings app that are aligned with Windows 11, Taskbar improvements for multi-monitors, and more. Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. The new Recall app includes an overview homepage. (Image credit: Windows Central)Of course, Microsoft has also taken the opportunity to highlight new features and improvements for Copilot+ PCs. Windows Recall received a major update this summer that added a new homepage interface, which curates recent snapshots and highlights apps you might want to jump into based on snapshot activity. There's also a new AI agent for Windows Settings, which makes finding settings to configure easy using natural language, including the ability for the Settings app itself to toggle to setting for you just by asking for it. Microsoft has highlighted even more features that have rolled out or are rolling out to Windows 11 users this year in its blog post, and there's promise of even more to come. We're still waiting for Microsoft to begin rolling out the new Windows 11 Start menu, for example, which is more customizable and a big improvement over the current one. The new Start menu is expected to debut before the end of this year. (Image credit: Windows Central)Overall, although it seems like 2025 has been a quiet year for Windows 11, it has received a lot of attention from Microsoft. Everything from new AI experiences to quality-of-life improvements designed to make the OS more stable and secure have debuted on Windows 11 this year, putting the OS on a strong position as Windows 10 support finally ends. For 2026 and beyond, we're expecting to see the debut of a more consistent dark mode theme, as well as new agentic AI capabilities that were recently announced by Microsoft. All of these new features have debuted or will debut on both Windows 11 version 25H2 and Windows 11 version 24H2.

Meta is officially deprecating its Windows and Mac support for its Messenger app on December 15, potentially leaving millions of users without a convenient way to converse with friends. Once the Messenger app is no longer in service, users who attempt to launch it on a PC running Windows will be redirected to the Facebook desktop app, where the same messaging tools — including desktop calling — continue to live. This move by Meta was first spotted by Apple Insider, which also noted last week that the Messenger app for Mac had already been pulled from the Mac App Store. I did a quick search this morning on the Microsoft Store, where it's also now disappeared. You may like Windows look, Linux freedom: Meet WINUX Microsoft has ended support for Windows 10 — here's what to do next Microsoft faces backlash "End of Windows 10" Beware: Dangerous clone of Windows 11 bypass tool spreading malware Meta says it will begin serving in-app notifications reminding users of the deprecation process, and you still have the time running up to the December 15 cut-off date to back up your chat history. If you've been using the Messenger app up until this point without a full Facebook account, fret not — you'll still be able to log into your account at the official Messenger website. How do I save my Meta PC app chat history?Your chat history in the Meta PC app isn't going to disappear as long as you follow through on a few steps. Meta recommends enabling secure storage and creating a PIN in the Messenger desktop app before the deprecation deadline. This can be achieved via the Messenger.com portal. Once you're signed in on the Messenger webpage, click your profile picture (it should show up in the bottom-left corner of the page). 1. Click Privacy & safety. 2. Click End-to-end encrypted chats. 3. Click Message storage. 4. Click Turn on secure storage. At this point, you'll be asked to pick a security method for secure storage. You can store your backups on the PC only, or you can use a Google or Apple account on mobile devices. If you'd rather do neither, you can create a PIN or a 40-character code in order to restore your secured chats on a different device. Best Meta Messenger alternatives on PC Signal is one of the messaging apps I recommend to replace Meta Messenger on PC. (Image credit: Future | Daniel Rubino)This move by Meta has understandably irked a lot of PC users who have traditionally used Messenger to decouple themselves from the larger Facebook sphere that increasingly seems to be filled with irrelevant junk. If Messenger's PC app was your way to use Facebook without really using Facebook, you can always switch to Android or iOS versions, for which there are no known deprecation plans. Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.However, this might be a good time to make the switch to an entirely different messaging platform. 1. WhatsApp — Keep your comms in the Meta bubbleMeta — or Facebook, as it used to be collectively known — purchased WhatsApp in 2014 for $16 billion. Since then, it has grown the secure messaging platform to include more than 3 billion active users. There's a good chance your Messenger contacts are already using WhatsApp. WhatsApp offers a free desktop version of its app for x86 and ARM-based PCs, which supports voice and video calls, end-to-end encryption, and some social elements like channels and communities. It does, however, require you to link a phone number, and some users might want to completely escape Meta's environment. 2. Signal — The secure, non-profit messengerSignal is my top recommendation for anyone who wants a new messaging app that escapes Meta completely. You can download the Signal app on Windows for free, and as of November 2024, Signal supports ARM-based processors. You need to use a phone number to sign up. Signal is generally known for its dedication to privacy and security, and being an open-source and not-for-profit platform certainly helps. It offers voice and video calls (with conferencing abilities), group texting, and, of course, end-to-end encryption. Its end-to-end security model is so good that the Signal Protocol it uses has actually been adopted by Meta for its messenger platforms. 3. Session — No phone number required for secure messagingSession is an open-source secure messaging app that doesn't require a phone number to use. In fact, it doesn't need any personal information during the sign-up process at all. Messages are encrypted from send to receive, and all messages are routed through an onion network that obscures origins and destinations. Session supports voice and video calls as a beta feature, and it also supports groups and communities. It might not have everything you need yet, as it's still in development, but it's worth a shot to see what it's about. You can download the Session app on PC from the official website. It's also available on Android, iOS, Linux, and Mac. Another popular option as a bonus choice is Telegram, which is also now supported on Arm64. Telegram is feature‑rich but flawed. It’s great for huge groups (like Microsoft's GroupMe, another viable option), bots, channels, and unlimited cloud storage, making it flexible and fast across devices. But most chats aren’t end‑to‑end encrypted by default, meaning your data lives on Telegram’s servers — so it’s powerful for communities, but not ideal for private conversations. Wrapping it upMeta may be pulling the plug on Messenger for Windows, but you’re hardly left without options — and some of them are arguably better. As Messenger disappears from the Microsoft Store and heads toward its December 2025 cutoff, it’s a reminder that no app is guaranteed to stick around forever. Whether you stay in Meta’s ecosystem with WhatsApp, jump ship to Signal for its privacy focus, or experiment with Session’s no‑phone‑number model, there are plenty of ways to keep your conversations alive. Do you have a preferred messaging app and service that we didn't mention here? Let us know in the comments why you recommend it so others can benefit! Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!

The end of Windows 10 might not hurt so bad if Microsoft would quit breaking crucial elements of Windows 11. This time, it's the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) that's been knocked out of commission in Windows 11's KB5066835 build rolled out on October 14, 2025 (via Tom's Hardware). Users attempting to navigate the WinRE on the latest Windows 11 25H2 update with a USB mouse and keyboard will quickly find that neither work as intended And by that, I mean not at all. Microsoft has flagged the bug as a confirmed issue in the update's release health notes, but so far there is no official solution. In the meantime, it seems like wireless and older PS/2 accessories will continue to function normally. You may like Microsoft issues emergency Windows 11 update to fix WinRE tools Windows bug blocks “Reset my PC” feature — here’s how to fix the issue Microsoft faces backlash "End of Windows 10" Beware: Dangerous clone of Windows 11 bypass tool spreading malware The WinRE is a crucial part of Windows that allows users to troubleshoot a PC, offering up repair, reset, restore, firmware, image recovery, terminal, and more options. It's what shows up when a PC fails to boot properly, so it's not like it's something that's tucked away that few users will experience. Recognize this page? It's the Windows Recovery Environment, which is having issues with USB mice and keyboards in the latest Windows 11 update. (Image credit: Mauro Huculak)With this buggy Windows 11 update dropping on October 14 — the same day as Windows 10's End-of-Life date — many of those who just migrated to the newer OS likely got a rude welcome. Microsoft says the fresh WinRE glitch is affecting Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, as well as Windows Server 2025. Bugs and glitches are, of course, a natural part of any operating system, never mind one as complex and diverse as Windows. However, you'd think that Microsoft would be paying extra attention to the quality of its Windows 11 updates as it simultaneously ended support for hundreds of millions of Windows 10 users. This isn't the only bug to crawl out from under the Windows 11 KB5066835 update, either. Microsoft also lists an issue with IIS websites failing to load, which has yet to be resolved: Get the Windows Central NewsletterAll the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Following installation of updates releases on or after September 29 (KB5066835), server-side applications that rely on HTTP.sys may experience issues with incoming connections. As a result, IIS websites might fail to load, displaying a message such as "Connection reset - error (ERR_CONNECTION_RESET)", or similar error. This includes websites hosted on http://localhost/, and other IIS connections. MicrosoftLocalhost is a reserved hostname for your PC, which allows your PC to act as a server and a receiver locally without reaching out to the external internet. It's commonly used by web developers and testers. More impactful for the average Windows user was Microsoft breaking Windows 11's upgrade tool just hours before Windows 10's official End-of-Life date. The Windows Media Creation Tool (MTC) is used to create bootable USBs or DVDs for reinstalling (or freshly installing) Windows 11 on a PC. With so many Windows 10 users scrambling to make the switch to Windows 11, Microsoft's timing once again couldn't have been worse. Microsoft does offer a workaround for the MTC bug, which remains unresolved at the time of writing. It urges users to visit the Windows 11 Installation Assistant page and click on Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices. From there, you can follow the on-screen prompts to work your way through the Windows 10 to Windows 11 upgrade process. Does Windows 10 still work after October 14, 2025?Yes, Windows 10 is still operating normally after receiving its final Patch Tuesday update on October 14, 2025. However, because Windows 10 will no longer receive security updates (barring actions on your part, which I lay out below), your PC will eventually become unsecured. Microsoft has also stopped providing technical support for Windows 10. Can I keep using Windows 10 securely after October 14?Due to pushback from the Windows user base, Microsoft conceded that it couldn't just stop Windows 10 update with no alternative option. This led to the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which is designed to keep Windows 10 secure for an extra year (ending in October 2026). You can enroll in the ESU program for free as long as you don't mind backing up files to OneDrive. Can I still upgrade my Windows 10 PC to Windows 11?Just because Windows 10 has passed its End-of-Life date doesn't mean you can't still update your PC to Windows 11. Assuming your PC is compatible with Windows 11's minimum requirements — including Secure Boot capabilities and TPM 2.0 — you can upgrade to Windows 11 for free from Windows 10. Windows 11 will be automatically activated upon install, also assuming that you were using a legit and activated version of Windows 10. What do I need to do before the end of Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU)?Microsoft will keep Windows 10 running securely until October 2026 for those who have enrolled in the ESU program, but that doesn't mean I recommend forgetting about the problem until next year. In the meantime, you should be looking for either a new PC that can run Windows 11 or an upgrade path for your existing PC. Follow Windows Central on Google News to keep our latest news, insights, and features at the top of your feeds!