Category: Windows 11

A new hidden Copilot button have been found in the File Explorer application on recent Windows 11 preview builds. The button remains invisible during normal use and only appears when users hover over a specific blank area in the navigation bar. The discovery, initially reported by user @phantomofearth, points to a direct integration with Microsoft Copilot. Internal strings within the preview build reference a feature titled "Chat with Copilot".

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Build 26220.7535 (KB5072046), to Insiders in the Dev and Beta channels. It introduces Copilot-powered image descriptions in Narrator. Also, administrators can now uninstall Microsoft Copilot for specific users via a new Group Policy named RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp in Enterprise, Pro, and Education editions. And more.

Microsoft plans to release Windows 11 version 26H1 this spring. This update will support only devices equipped with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 ARM processors. Several hardware manufacturers have already confirmed the release.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has launched a new personal blog, "sn scratchpad," where he plans to share his thoughts on the future of technology. As expected, the first post is dedicated to artificial intelligence, although Microsoft's progress in this area doesn't look impressive.

2025 marked significant progress for Windows on Arm, Microsoft’s version of the Windows operating system optimized for devices powered by Arm architecture. Many recent Windows devices now feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors. Adobe and other software developers have released native Arm-based applications, improving performance and efficiency for users.

Microsoft has introduced a visual redesign of the classic Run dialog in recent Windows 11 Insider builds. This update replaces the traditional interface with a modernized version that aligns with Fluent Design principles.Here's how to enable it.

Galen Hunt, managing director of Microsoft Azure Sphere and former head of the operating systems development group at Microsoft Research, has unveiled a new research project within Microsoft's CoreAI division. The initiative combines artificial intelligence with traditional algorithms to automate the conversion of Microsoft's extensive C and C++ codebases into Rust.

Microsoft has discontinued phone-based activation for Windows and all its software products. Users who attempt to call the traditional activation number now hear an automated message directing them to visit http://aka.ms/aoh to complete activation online. This change appears recent, as phone activation for Windows 11 remained functional just a few months ago. This is really the end of an era.

The recently released Windows 11 Insider build, 26220.7523 (Dev and Beta channels) includes a new feature. There is now a convenient way to interact with AI agents in the operating system. Users can track task progress without interrupting their current work, right from the taskbar.

The Windows Insider team confirmed on X (formerly Twitter)  that Windows 11 Insider build 26220.7523 for the Dev and Beta channels is the last for the year. The company is pausing the release of new test builds for the Christmas and New Year holidays.