Category: Windows 11

Starting in Build 25169, Microsoft has implemented a new way to enable Spotlight on Desktop. Now you can use a special theme, meant to activate the online desktop backgrounds for you with one click. However, in typical Microsoft's fashion, even this tiny change is under gradual roll-out. So many insiders have no access to it. Here's how to access the new Windows Spotlight theme.

Following the new scheme, Microsoft has released two new builds to the beta channel. The first one, build 22622.440, includes new features, and the second one doesn't have them enabled. Second group folks can activate them with an optional update.

A new Dev channel build includes one more method to quickly enable Desktop Spotlight. There is a new theme option for that starting in today's update. Besides the new personalization option, Windows 11 Build 25169 adds Multi-App Kiosk Mode, and some improvements and fixes.

Microsoft has released a new optional "C" update to everyone. As you may already know, such optional updates have a "Preview" tag, and bring up the most recent changes to the stable branch of the OS. This way, interested users can test the new features and fixes a few days before they land in the Windows Update in form of Patch Tuesday updates.

Microsoft has activated a new account lockout policy in Windows 11 to protect users against password bruteforce attack. The change is already live in Insider builds of version 22H2. The policy will block the user account for 10 minutes if someone is trying to guess the password via RDP and other methods.

A new research shows that Microsoft has updated the sound quality of the Windows 11 startup sound. While they didn't change the melody, the bitrate has been reduced by a half.

Microsoft has released new preview builds of Windows 11 version 22H2, 22621.436 and 22622.436, with KB5015888. The update is now available to the Beta channel insiders. The builds have a different set of features. Also, Microsoft invites Insiders running build 22622.436 to Bug Bash this week. For that, check the Feedback Hub later this week for a variety of Quests for you to try out and give feedback on. The Bug Bash will be running from July 20th to 25th (PDT).

Microsoft has updated its Store policies one more time, and now again allows placing paid open source apps, if even they are available for free somewhere else. Earlier, Microsoft prohibited selling such apps in order to fight scam and fake software. But the change received negative response from developers that used to sell their open source apps for extra donations and income. Paint.NET is one of such projects. So Microsoft has reversed the change.

Here are the steps you need to perform to get the new search in the taskbar on Windows 11 Build 25158. Despite offering this build to the Dev channel (which is supposed to have bleeding edge features), Microsoft rolls out the change to a limited set of Insiders. Let's fix this inconvenience.