Microsoft investigates Windows 11 boot failure following January cumulative update. There reports that the January 2026 security update, released on January 13, has left certain Windows 11 devices unable to boot. Affected systems display a black screen with the message, "Your device ran into a problem and needs a restart. You can restart," accompanied by the stop code "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME." At this stage, the device cannot complete startup and requires manual boot recovery.
Author: Sergey Tkachenko
Microsoft Has Released Out-Of-Band Update For Windows 11, Second This Month
It seems the January cumulative updates for Windows 11 come with a lot of issues. To fix the bugs, Microsoft earlier released a set of new patches, and now we have the second unscheduled update set in the last two weeks. While the first set addressed issues with Remote Desktop and hibernation, the new update aims to fix Outlook and cloud storage.
Microsoft Launches Public Preview of winapp – Windows App Development CLI
Microsoft has released the public preview of the Windows App Development CLI, known as winapp, an open-source command-line tool designed to simplify the development lifecycle for Windows applications. The tool supports a broad range of frameworks and toolchains, including Electron, C++ with CMake, .NET, Rust, and Dart.
Windows 11 Build 26220.7653 (Dev) is finally available
Several days later, Microsoft finally made Windows 11 build 26220.7653 available to Insiders in the Dev channel. It is the same build as the one in the Beta channel released earlier.
Improved Notepad and Paint are now available to Windows 11 Insiders
Microsoft is rolling out updated versions of the Notepad and Paint apps to Windows 11 Insiders on the Dev and Canary channels. Notepad version 11.2512.10.0 adds support for strikethrough and nested lists in Markdown, along with a new welcome dialog. Paint version 11.2512.191.0 introduces the AI-powered Coloring book feature, which generates custom coloring pages from text prompts on Copilot+ PCs. It also includes a fill tolerance slider for the Paint Bucket tool.
Windows 11 Apps Stop Working with 0x803f8001 Error Code
Multiple Windows 11 users report an inability to launch familiar applications. The issue affects both built-in Microsoft utilities, such as Notepad and Snipping Tool, and third-party programs including Armory Crate, Alienware Command Center, and NitroSense. Attempts to open some applications trigger error messages, primarily displaying code 0x803f8001. In some instances, users also encounter a file system error with code -2143322111.
Xbox App is now Available to Arm-Based Windows 11 PCs
Microsoft has announced the general availability of the Xbox app on all Arm-based Windows 11 PCs. The app is out of beta, and now provides access to Microsoft's gaming ecosystem on Arm devices. Users can now download, install and play titles directly from the Xbox PC app game catalog on compatible devices.
NVIDIA ARM-powered Laptops with Windows on ARM are Coming in 2026
Rumors that NVIDIA plans to produce its own ARM processors for Windows on ARM PCs have been circulating for several years. It appears we're finally getting closer to this event. There is now a leak that confirms the first laptops with NVIDIA N1X processors will hit the market as early as the first quarter of 2026.
PowerToys 0.97 Released with Much Improved Command Palette and CursorWrap Tool
Microsoft has released a new version of the PowerToys utility, version 0.97, which brings with it a large number of improvements to the Command Palette, a completely new CursorWrap tool, expanded command-line (CLI) support for some tools, and other changes and improvements.
Chrome 144 released with updated New Tab Page and more AI stuff
Chrome 144 is now available in the stable channel. The Extended Stable branch will remain supported for eight weeks. It brings with it a simplified new tab page design that offers category-level customization instead of individual block dismissal. Also, it expands AI Mode to Linux, enabling natural language queries about page content and multi-tab interactions. The Gemini chatbot now supports image uploads and generation. And more.
