On this episode of Microsoft Weekly, we take a look at the brand new Floor units, new non-compulsory updates for Home windows 11 and 10, contemporary preview builds within the Insider program, app updates, new Xbox video games getting ported over to PlayStation 5, and extra.

Desk of contents:

1. Floor occasion
2. Home windows 10 and 11 information
3. Home windows Insider Program
4. Updates can be found
5. Critiques are in
6. Gaming information
7. Nice offers to examine

Floor occasion

Right here is the {hardware} that Microsoft introduced this week.

Microsoft had a particular Floor occasion this week the place the corporate introduced the Floor Laptop computer 7 for Enterprise and the Floor Professional 11 for Enterprise. Each units are close to equivalent copies of their Snapdragon-powered siblings, with the most important change being Intel’s new Core Sequence 2 processors. Additionally, the Floor Laptop computer 7 for Enterprise is the primary Floor Laptop computer with non-compulsory 5G connectivity.

As well as, Microsoft introduced the Floor USB4 Dock, a extra reasonably priced docking station that expands the variety of accessible ports and peripherals which you can hook up with your Floor machine geared up with a USB Kind-C port.

If you wish to be taught extra about these units, take a look at our contemporary Specs Attraction articles (right here and right here) evaluating new Floor units intimately to their predecessors.

Home windows 11 and 10

Right here we discuss every part taking place round Microsoft’s newest working system within the Secure channel and preview builds: new options, eliminated options, controversies, bugs, fascinating findings, and extra. And naturally, you might discover a phrase or two about older however nonetheless supported variations.

Home windows 11 and Home windows 10 model 22H2 obtained their first non-security updates in 2025. Home windows 11 24H2 acquired KB5050094 with new taskbar animations and new options (plus a repair for USB audio machine points and Auto HDR points), Home windows 11 22H2 and 23H2 obtained KB5050092, and Home windows 10 obtained the brand new Outlook and some minor adjustments in KB5050081.

Additionally, Microsoft launched new restoration updates for Home windows 11 model 24H2 and Home windows Server 2025.

Shifting from Home windows updates to Home windows stats, we’ve got Statcounter and its newest knowledge for January 2025. In keeping with the findings, Home windows 11 reached a brand new all-time excessive. Proper now, the OS sits at 36.65%, which is a 2.53-point enhance over December 2024. Home windows 10, then again, is declining, and it’s now about to cross the 60% on its manner down.

Lastly, Microsoft posted an in depth weblog submit to clarify intimately what function deprecation means within the Home windows world.

Home windows Insider Program

Here’s what Microsoft Launched this week for testing within the Home windows Insider Program:

	Home windows 11	Home windows 10
Canary Channel	27783	Not Relevant
Dev Channel	26120.3073	Not Relevant
Beta Channel	26120.3073	Not Relevant
Launch Preview Channel		–

Home windows Insiders within the Dev and Canary Channels can attempt the up to date Cellphone Hyperlink pane within the Begin menu. A very powerful change within the newest model is iPhone help. Now, Home windows 11 can work with Apple’s smartphones and show battery ranges, calls, messages, contacts, and even allow you to ship recordsdata. Beforehand, all these options had been Android-exclusive.

1

Updates can be found

This part covers software program, firmware, and different notable updates (launched and coming quickly) delivering new options, safety fixes, enhancements, patches, and extra from Microsoft and third events.

PowerToys, everybody’s favourite set of utilities for Home windows 10 and 11, obtained its first function replace in 2025. Model 0.88 arrived with one new utility, a variety of fixes for present modules, and one eliminated device. The brand new module is ZoomIt (it can enable you with shows), and the eliminated utility is Video Convention Mute. Additionally, a future PowerToys replace will deliver large enhancements to the Superior Paste module.

Home windows Auto Darkish Mode is one other helpful utility for Home windows 10 and 11 customers, particularly these upset in regards to the system’s lackluster darkish mode. Model 10.4.2.29 arrived this week with native ARM help, further picture kind help, and different vital fixes.

Microsoft has some unhealthy information for these utilizing the Dev Residence app on Home windows 10 and 11. In Could 2025, Dev Residence will go six toes below, and most of its options will unfold throughout different components of the working system. Though the concept was neat, builders principally agree that the Dev Residence provides little to no profit to them, and its demise won’t upset a lot of them.

Dev Residence shouldn’t be the one factor Microsoft is killing. Microsoft despatched out emails to Microsoft 365 subscribers to inform them that the built-in VPN service in Microsoft Defender goes away. As an alternative of it, Microsoft guarantees to “spend money on new areas that can higher align with buyer wants.”

Microsoft is now testing a brand new device to assist Edge customers avoid scareware or tech rip-off web sites. The brand new scareware blocker is out there in preview, and it really works by blocking full-screen web sites and displaying you a warning that the web site is probably malicious.

If Microsoft Edge shouldn’t be your cup of tea and you like the ol’ dependable Chrome, bear in mind that Google is killing Chrome Sync on older browser variations. How outdated? In case your Chrome is over 4 years outdated, to start with, what’s improper together with your PC? Second, get able to improve as a result of Chrome Sync will quickly cease working in your machine.

If you happen to use the traditional Outlook app, watch out for a few identified points. Microsoft revealed that Outlook 2016 has some issues with search and supplied a workaround through Home windows Registry. One other bug is expounded to clicks and scrolls when studying emails.

Information, our favourite third-party file supervisor for Home windows 11, obtained a large replace this week. Model 3.9 arrived with a brand new format, enhancements for tags, tabs, archive help, thumbnails, and lots of extra.

Different notable updates embrace the next:

• Microsoft introduced the outcomes of the second quarter of the 2025 fiscal yr with a $69.6 billion income
• Microsoft is as soon as once more in talks to purchase TikTok’s US operations
• Microsoft Translator Professional is now accessible on iOS
• OpenAI’s o1 reasoning mannequin is now accessible without spending a dime to everybody through Copilot
• Microsoft introduced DeepSeek R1 to Azure AI Foundry and GitHub

And listed here are the latest drivers and firmware launched this week:

• Nvidia up to date its Nvidia app with new show settings and extra
• Nvidia 572.16 with RTX 5090 and 5080 help
• Intel 32.0.101.6557 Non-WHQL and 32.0.101.6262 Non-WHQL with Spider-Man 2, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Civilization VII help
• Floor Guide 3 obtained new firmware with fixes for digicam efficiency points
• Floor Go 3 obtained new firmware with fixes for audio and microphone points

1

Critiques are in

Right here is {hardware} and software program we reviewed this week

This week, we’ve got just one evaluate with a really particular subject. You probably have ever puzzled in regards to the distinction between a clear Home windows 11 set up and an in-place improve in 2025, take a look at this text by Sayan Sen.

On the gaming facet

Study upcoming recreation releases, Xbox rumors, new {hardware}, software program updates, freebies, offers, reductions and extra.

This week’s gaming part kicks off with a serious one: Microsoft lastly acknowledged rumors and introduced the discharge of Forza Horizon 5 on the PlayStation 5. The sport is now accessible for preorder, and it will likely be coming to the PlayStation Retailer someday this spring, with Panic Button liable for porting the sport over to the Japanese console.

As anticipated, Digital Arts revived the primary two authentic The Sims video games. Each titles, together with their DLCs and expansions, are actually accessible for buy with optimizations for contemporary platforms. The primary half prices $19.99, whereas the second is $29.99. {Hardware} necessities are fairly modest, so you may count on to have time even on very outdated {hardware} just like the AMD FX-6300, 4GB of RAM, and a GTX 600 Sequence graphics card.

Larian Studios is lastly including split-screen help to Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox Sequence S. After months of delay and loads of issues about efficiency points, the studio has lastly managed to handle all issues and put together split-screen help for Microsoft’s lower-end console. It can arrive as a part of the sport’s Patch 8 replace.

There may be some excellent news for individuals who miss the nice outdated days of the primary two installments of The Sims. In keeping with a brand new report, Digital Arts and Maxis are on the point of re-release The Sims and The Sims 2 on PC with help for contemporary methods and all the extra content material. There isn’t a phrase about consoles, although.

Nvidia revealed new video games that are actually accessible on GeForce NOW. The most recent titles which you can play within the firm’s cloud embrace Avowed, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Civilization VII and lots of extra.

Lastly, Microsoft launched an replace for the Xbox app on Home windows 10 and 11, including a number of enhancements, akin to the flexibility to run video games from the system tray, session recaps, up to date social widgets, and extra.

Offers and freebies

This week’s Weekend PC Recreation Offers article options varied Lunar New 12 months promotions, a contemporary survival freebie from the Epic Video games Retailer, and a variety of different candy offers so that you can burn some money on PC video games.

Different gaming tales from this week embrace the next:

• Hogwarts Legacy is getting official modding help this week on PC

• PlayStation unique Rise of the Ronin to launch on PC quickly with new options

• Sony revealed PC {hardware} necessities for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

• Warhammer 40,000: House Marine 2 is getting an FOV slider, PVP cross-play toggle, new enemy kind, and extra

• Dino Disaster 1 and a couple of are actually accessible on the GOG retailer with Home windows 10/11 help and enhancements

• No Man’s Sky Worlds Half II expanded its universe with fuel giants, water worlds, and extra

Nice offers to examine

Each week, we cowl many offers on totally different {hardware} and software program. The next reductions are nonetheless accessible, so examine them out. You may discover one thing you need or want.

• 4TB Essential X10 Professional Moveable SSD – $239.99 | 40% off
• 8TB Corsair MP600 PRO XT Gen4 PCIe SSD – $682.49 | 12% off
• JBL Bar 9.1-channel Soundbar System – $569.99 | 52% off
• 13-inch iPad Professional M4 – $1,099 | 15% off
• 55-inch Samsung S85D Sequence OLED 4K TV – $947.99 | 44% off
• 65-inch Samsung S85D Sequence OLED 4K TV – $997.99 | 47% off
• Klipsch R-51PM Bluetooth Speaker – $332.49 | 44% off
• 24TB Western Digital Purple Professional CMR NAS HDD – $499 | 12% off
• 24TB Western Digital Purple Professional Surveillance HDD – $499 | 23% off

• AMD Ryzen 5 9600X – $240 | 14% off
• Sonos Sub 4 – Wi-fi Subwoofer – $679 | 15% off
• Lenovo Tab M11 – $159.99 | 21% off
• 27-inch GIGABYTE AORUS FO27Q3 OLED Gaming Show – $649.99 | 19% off
• 27-inch Samsung ViewFinity S80UD 4K Monitor – $299.99 | 33% off

This hyperlink will take you to different problems with the Microsoft Weekly collection. You too can help Neowin by registering a free member account, or optionally subscribing for further member advantages, together with an possibility of an ad-free tier.

Microsoft Weekly background picture by AJS1 on Pixabay