This week’s information recap is right here with massive Begin menu updates (actually massive), Microsoft’s fiftieth birthday, Copilot information, app updates, new consoles, gaming information and opinions, and much more.
Fast hyperlinks:
- Home windows 10 and 11
- Home windows Insider Program
- Updates can be found
- Evaluations are in
- Gaming information
- Offers
Home windows 11 and Home windows 10
Right here, we discuss every thing occurring round Microsoft’s newest working system within the Secure channel and preview builds: new options, eliminated options, controversies, bugs, fascinating findings, and extra. And, in fact, you might discover a phrase or two about older variations.
Allow us to begin with some stats. Though we’re about six months away from the tip of Home windows 10 assist (Microsoft says it’s best to dump your previous Home windows 10 PC and purchase a brand new one), Home windows 11 is catching as much as its predecessor relatively rapidly. In March 2025, the working system climbed to 42.66%, which is a brand new all-time excessive. Home windows 10, alternatively, dropped to 54.23%.
Home windows 11 is doing even higher among the many gaming viewers. Valve experiences that in March 2025, Home windows 11 reached a brand new all-time excessive of 55.34%. As for Home windows 10, it’s now at 40.58%.
Microsoft is lastly rolling out extra AI-powered options to Copilot+ PC customers with Intel and AMD-based computer systems. The newest additions embrace Dwell Captions (your PC generates system-wide captions for any audio), Paint Cocreator (you draw one thing, and Paint completes the image for you), Restyle Picture (reimagine your picture in a special fashion), and Picture Creator (generate an image primarily based in your immediate).
Microsoft had some massive bulletins for enterprise customers. For one, Home windows Hotpatch is now out there in Home windows 11 model 24H2. This function permits deploying essential safety patches without having to reboot shopper techniques because it patches in-memory processes. Nonetheless, Home windows Hotpatch is just out there within the Enterprise version.
Additionally, the Home windows 365 Hyperlink is now out there for buy in numerous nations. In the US, this mini-PC-like machine prices $349.99, and it supplies entry to Home windows 365 (a Home windows set up within the cloud) with a couple of extra options and conveniences. Like Home windows Hotpatch, the Home windows 365 Hyperlink is just out there for industrial clients.
The Home windows 365 Hyperlink is just not the one machine that may entry Home windows 365. This function can also be out there within the new Home windows App, which now out there on Android as nicely (say goodbye to the previous Distant Desktop app).
You could in all probability bear in mind final week’s story about Microsoft pulling the plug on a sure command that allowed organising Home windows 11 with out an energetic web connection and a Microsoft account. Though the “killed” command can nonetheless work with some trickery, customers found that there’s one other official strategy to skip Microsoft’s Web and MSA necessities.
Lastly, Microsoft launched new restoration updates for Home windows 11 and confirmed a brand new Home windows 11 24H2 block on some new computer systems on account of compatibility points with the sprotect.sys driver.
Home windows Insider Program
Here’s what Microsoft launched for Home windows Insiders this week:
| Builds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Canary Channel | Nothing in Canary this week | |
| Dev Channel |
Home windows 11 construct 26200.5518 This construct delivers some much-requested modifications to the taskbar, together with the power to change to smaller taskbar icons. Additionally, there’s improved file sharing, a brand new check bundle for Fast Machine Restoration, and extra. |
|
| Beta Channel |
Home windows 11 construct 22635.5160 (23H2) This construct launched new AI-powered options like speech recap in Narrator, new options for the Copilot app, enhancements for the sharing expertise, fixes for the Begin menu, desktop icons, and extra. |
Home windows 11 construct 26120.3671 (24H2) This construct is just like the one Microsoft launched within the Dev Channel this week. There are new options for the taskbar and Click on to Do, Recall enhancements, new file sharing, and extra. |
| Launch Preview Channel | Nothing in Launch Preview this week | |
Apart from taskbar enhancements, the most recent Dev and Beta builds comprise an enormous Begin menu redesign, which addresses standard suggestions from customers. The up to date model is lastly ditching a two-section design in favor of a single scrollable view. Your pins and proposals sit on high, whereas the All Apps record is true under them—merely begin scrolling, and you might be good to go browse all put in apps, no extra clicking the “All” button.
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.
This week, Microsoft celebrates its fiftieth birthday. To mark the event, the corporate launched some celebratory wallpapers and held a particular occasion the place its CEOs reunited for an unique Copilot interview (Invoice Gates additionally shared a number of the earliest Microsoft code). In the course of the occasion, Microsoft additionally introduced new options for Copilot, reminiscent of Copilot Reminiscence, Copilot Imaginative and prescient for Home windows, Copilot Podcasts, Copilot Search, and Copilot Avatar. Nonetheless, the celebration was briefly disrupted by a protester claiming that Microsoft makes use of AI for warfare and genocide.
There are a couple of updates for numerous Home windows toys. PowerToys, for one, has been up to date to model 0.90. This replace introduced a redesigned PowerToys Run launcher (now referred to as Command Palette), an improved Colour Picker, variables assist for New+, and numerous different modifications.
Wintoys is one other “toys” app, however its function and replace are barely completely different. This Home windows-tweaking utility obtained an enormous replace to model 2.0 with many new options, like the power to drive the traditional File Explorer, gracefully uninstall Edge, a brand new super-user part, and extra modifications. Plus, there’s a very lengthy record of fixes and enhancements.
Microsoft 365 customers who typically summarize paperwork in Phrase might be glad to know that the app can now summarize a lot bigger paperwork. Like, considerably bigger. Microsoft says that Copilot can summarize as much as 3000 pages in a single file. Additionally, you possibly can choose between three summarization sizes: transient, balanced, and detailed.
Different Workplace updates embrace a better strategy to add photographs out of your cellphone to Microsoft 365 Copilot, elevated costs for all standalone on-premises server merchandise, and a few annoyed IT admins calling the brand new Outlook for Home windows “scorching rubbish.”
On the extra optimistic aspect, Microsoft lastly shared an in depth repair for a six-month-old DLL bug in Outlook and Phrase. Nonetheless, the corporate additionally confirmed an issue with clean calendars and damaged conferences in Outlook, so beware.
Lastly, Microsoft revealed a brand new weblog put up urging customers to drop perpetual Workplace releases and transfer to Microsoft 365. The put up lists a number of key options and upgrades that the subscription offers you.
Every week hardly ever goes by and not using a browser replace. This time, Mozilla dropped an enormous one for Firefox customers. Model 137 is right here (in case you missed it) with some much-requested options like tab grouping, PDF signature assist, and extra. And hey, the tackle bar is now a makeshift calculator.
Mozilla can also be making some modifications to how add-ons and extensions acquire consumer information.
Microsoft launched Edge 135 for all customers and introduced an under-the-hood change to enhance privateness and remove consumer fingerprinting.
What is just not getting any extra updates is the Floor Ebook 3. On April 1, this pc reached its finish of life, which implies there might be no extra driver and firmware updates. You possibly can proceed utilizing it as is, and Home windows will proceed getting new updates; simply no extra new firmware releases for you.
Listed here are different updates and releases you might discover fascinating:
- Apple Music for Home windows now helps Dolby Atmos.
- Rufus has been up to date with ztsd compression assist and different modifications.
- Intel is killing its Unison app that connects computer systems with telephones.
- Proton Drive is now out there natively on Home windows on ARM, and Proton VPN obtained a redesigned app.
- There’s a new benchmark app that may measure the efficiency of all types of Home windows variations, all the best way right down to Home windows 95.
- exFAT obtained a really vital efficiency enhance due to a Sony contribution.
Listed here are the brand new drivers and firmware updates launched this week:
- Intel 32.0.101.6732 non-WHQL with The Final of Us Half II Remastered assist and efficiency enhancements in Name of Obligation: Black Ops 6.
Evaluations are in
Right here is the {hardware} and software program we reviewed this week
Pulasthi Ariyasinghe reviewed South of Midnight this week, providing an in depth have a look at what he referred to as “a must-play beautiful platformer from Xbox.” The sport has an interesting storyline, a lovely world, fascinating characters, and a tremendous soundtrack.
Steven Parker reviewed the HONOR Pad V9, a light-weight Android pill with all of the media assist you want, good construct high quality, and a good price ticket. Should you want an inexpensive Android pill, it’s a good choose, however simply be certain you don’t want a microSD slot or mobile connectivity.
On the gaming aspect
Study upcoming recreation releases, Xbox rumors, new {hardware}, software program updates, freebies, offers, reductions, and extra.
Whereas not likely a Microsoft story, the most important gaming information from this week was the announcement of the Nintendo Change 2. The brand new console is approaching June 5, and it packs a 120Hz show, 256GB of storage, reworked controllers, 4K show output, new social options, and much more for $449. Preorders begin on April 9, however not within the US as Nintendo assesses the potential impression of Trump’s tariffs and “evolving market situations.”
If you’re searching for one thing extra particular than your run-off-the-mill Xbox Wi-fi Controller, 8BitDo’s new Final 3-mode Controller for Xbox may catch your consideration. It incorporates a translucent inexperienced case impressed by the legendary particular version of the unique Xbox and Corridor impact sticks and triggers. The controller is now out there for pre-order.
Minecraft’s visible overhaul is now out there for testing. Mojang launched Vibrant Visuals for beta testers on Home windows and different platforms. Earlier than you head to attempt it, although, remember that the graphics replace is just not appropriate with all gadgets, plus you’re going to get a notable hit on FPS after toggling it on.
Microsoft has introduced an enormous record of latest video games for Xbox and PC Sport Cross subscribers. The newest additions embrace Borderlands 3 Final Version, Wargroove 2, Blue Prince, Hunt Showdown, Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, South of Midnight, and extra. Some video games are additionally leaving the service; try the whole record right here.
Later this month, Grand Theft Auto V will make its grand return to Sport Cross as nicely.
Offers and freebies
The Epic Video games Retailer is freely giving Cat Quest II, so seize it whilst you can if you’re into cute feline adventures. Extra offers, as normal, can be found in our weekly Weekend PC Sport Offers sequence.
Offers
Each week, we cowl many offers on completely different {hardware} and software program. The next reductions are nonetheless out there, so test them out. You may discover one thing you need or want.
- 2TB SanDisk Excessive microSDXC USH-I Reminiscence Card with Adapter – $176.57 | 15% off
- 2TB Seagate Storage Enlargement Card for Xbox Sequence X|S – $199.99 | 44% off
- WD 16TB Parts Desktop Exterior Exhausting Drive – $249.99 | 19% off
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