Microsoft has introduced Startup Boost, a feature that preloads Office apps in the background to make them launch faster. It will be available to all users by May 2025 but comes with system requirements (8 GB RAM, 5 GB disk space). While users can disable it, updates will reactivate it unless enterprises use Group Policy to permanently turn it off.
Microsoft launches Windows Roadmap website to track new feature rollouts
Microsoft’s feature rollout process for Windows 11 has become increasingly disorganized, with features appearing unpredictably across channels and devices due to A/B testing. This chaos has made it difficult for users, especially IT professionals, to stay informed. To combat this, Microsoft has introduced the Windows Roadmap, a website that categorizes features by their testing and rollout stages. While the underlying unpredictability remains, the roadmap provides much-needed transparency and planning tools, marking a step in the right direction.
Windows 11 Build 26200.5516 (Dev) Improves Narrator, Sharing, and adds new BSOD style
Microsoft has released a new preview of Windows 11, build 26200.5516 (KB5054687), to Insiders in the Dev channel. It is featuring an updated BSOD style,
Microsoft Account Sign-In Page Gets New Design and Dark Theme Support
Microsoft is rolling out a refreshed sign-in experience for personal Microsoft accounts, which users will encounter when accessing services like Outlook, Windows, Xbox, Microsoft 365, and others. This update introduces a modernized design aligned with the Fluent 2 style and adds support for a dark theme, particularly in the Xbox color scheme. The redesign aims to streamline the sign-in process by emphasizing passwordless authentication and improving the overall user experience.
Windows 11 now allows creating ReFS partitions when you setup the OS
The latest Windows 11 Insider build (27823) for the Canary channel comes with a notable change: the Windows installer now offers the option to format partitions using the ReFS (Resilient File System) in addition to the default NTFS. The feature appears to still be in development, as evidenced by the incomplete UI, but it indicates that Microsoft is taking serious the idea to use ReFS widely in the future Windows versions.
Windows 11 24H2 Build 26100.3624 (KB5053656) comes with a huge number of changes
Microsoft has released optional cumulative update KB5053656 (build 26100.624) for Windows 11 version 24H2, which brings with it a lot of bug fixes and various improvements.
Windows 11 Build 27823 (Canary) includes improvements for Explorer and Settings
Windows 11 build 27823 is now avaialble to Insiders in the Canary channel. It includes several fixes for File Explorer, and various improvements made to Settings, login screen, printing, and a few more.
KB5053643 (Build 19045.5679) Preview is now available for Windows 10 22H2
In addition to a preview update for Windows 11, Microsoft today ships KB5053643 to Windows 10 users. The patch is optional, and comes with a small number of fixes and improvements.
KB5053657 Optional Update is now available for Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2
Microsoft has released optional cumulative update KB5053657 (builds 22621.5126 and 22631.5126) for Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2, which brings with it bug fixes and various improvements.
Microsoft starts testing Windows 11 version 25H2
Windows Insiders in the Dev channel have started receiving Windows 11 builds with numbers 26200+, which belong to the ge_prerelease branch. Microsoft says that these builds will include behind-the-scenes changes to the operating system platform. These changes are likely related to the development of Windows 11 25H2 updates, which will be released in late 2025.
