#Windows 11 - Page 3
489 Stories
Windows 11 Recall Feature is a Privacy Nightmare; Major Security Flaw Surfaces
Arjun Sha
View quick summary
A security researcher has pointed out multiple flaws in Recall's implementation on Windows 11. The Recall database is stored in a SQLite database inside the AppData folder and it can be accessed by any program. In fact, another user on the same PC can also access the Recall activity data. On top of that, Microsoft has enabled the feature by default which poses a security risk.
A Windows dev has managed to run the headline AI feature called Recall on unsupported Windows 11 PCs. If you have an older ARM PC, you can run Recall without any issues. x86 users can't run Recall yet as Microsoft has not released the ML models for this architecture. However, you can emulate it via a VM, but the experience is painfully slow.
The error code 0x80070570 might occur in both Windows 10 and 11 installations, and it's fairly common. It denotes that Windows cannot process a thing which is corrupted, and some of the ways to get rid of the issue is by restarting your PC, updating it, formatting the media if you're installing Windows, or re-downloading an app.
With the Windows 11 24H2 update, Microsoft has introduced a new Copilot app that brings support for a 'Phone' plugin. It allows the Copilot to interact with your smartphone. You can send messages, retrieve contact details, and find past messages. The feature is currently in the basic form, but more features are expected to land soon.
Force quitting an app is done when an app isn't responding or if you quickly want to force close it using your keyboard. There are many ways to force quit an app on Windows, including using the task manager, a keyboard shortcut, from Windows settings, and using the Windows Terminal.
Microsoft has developed a new Prism layer to run x86 apps on next-gen ARM-based Copilot+ PCs with better compatibility and performance. Microsoft says the new Prism layer offers up to 2x performance jump in single-core tasks. It also translates Windows libraries, game drivers, and x86 binaries for making Windows games playable on Snapdragon X series PCs. In an early report, emulated apps are said to perform even better than native apps running on Intel processors.
You can easily install the new Copilot app on Windows 11, 10, and older builds as well. I have extracted the new Copilot app from the 24H2 build and installed it on my PC running the 23H2 build. The new Copilot app is actually a web-based app and not a native Windows app.
A Microsoft-backed third-party website is maintaining a list of Windows games that can be played on ARM-based PCs. You can find games that run perfectly well, some are playable, and some run with glitches. Intensive titles like Fortnite and PUBG currently don't run on Snapdragon X series PCs.
In a major push to kickstart the new era of AI PCs, Microsoft has announced a new Recall AI feature on Copilot+ PCs. It actively takes screenshots of your PC every few seconds to create a local semantic index. The processing is done locally and the information is encrypted. However, would you be comfortable actively sharing your screen for the Recall feature? We find out.
Microsoft Build 2024 is afoot and I am pretty excited about all the new AI features, Windows 11 announcements, and Snapdragon X Elite laptops expected to be unveiled at the event. One of the most anticipated features, AI Explorer is coming to Windows 11 24H2 build, and it will be unveiled a day before the MS Build 2024 event.
Microsoft is working on a Start Menu Companion feature that will bring Adaptive Cards similar to live tiles on the Windows 11 Start menu. It's currently being tested on the latest Windows 11 Insider Beta build.
Windows 11 Snipping Tool Gets QR Code Scanning and Emoji Support
Abubakar Mohammed
View quick summary
In a new update to Windows 11 Insiders, Microsoft is rolling out new features to the Snipping Tool. Version 11.2404.37.0 of the Snipping Tool now comes with QR code scanning and will let users use Emoji as a markup asset in screenshots. It also brings a bunch of improvements to shapes and color opacity in the tool.
A new tool called Winpilot lets you disable all types of ads on Windows 11 with a single click. The tool uses PowerShell scripts and Registry keys to modify key settings which disable the ads on Windows 11. The tool is free to use and works quite well. You can also use it to debloat your computer.
I Tried Arc on Windows: Likeable but Can It Replace My Current Browser?
Arjun Sha
View quick summary
Arc browser is a new browser with unique UI and features like Spaces, vertical tab navigation, colorful themes, split view, and more. It's still under beta on Windows and some features are missing, but it has the potential to be a good Chrome alternative. Read my piece to understand why.
Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus: What’s the Difference, SKUs, and Benchmarks
Arjun Sha
View quick summary
Qualcomm is all set to redefine the PC ecosystem with its Snapdragon X series lineup. There are a total of four chipsets: three are from the Snapdragon X Elite platform and one is from the Snapdragon X Plus platform. The top-tier Elite variant, X1E-84-100, offers a dual-core boost up to 4.2GHz. The Plus variant offers multithreaded frequency up to 3.4GHz. The Adreno GPU can perform up to 4.6 TFLOPs on the top-end variant, but the rest of the lineup offers performance up to 3.8 TFLOPs. That said, the Hexagon NPU is the same across all chipsets, which delivers performance up to 45 TOPS.
Microsoft is now pushing ads in the Windows 11 Start Menu with the April 2024 optional update. If you are seeing promotional ads in the Start Menu, you can disable it from Windows Settings.
A new leak showcases that Microsoft is working on a uniquely-designed cursor for Windows 11. The cursor is linked to an AI Explorer feature called screen understanding. We don't know much beyond that, but new strings related to AI Explorer suggest that AI models will run locally on the device.
Microsoft is continuously improving Windows 11 and upgrading the visual style of many old components. Now, users would be redirected to the Windows 11 Settings app when accessing the Fonts page under the Control Panel. If you don't like this change, you can check out our article for some workarounds.
Safe mode can help you troubleshoot issues with Windows. There are five widely known ways to get into secure boot — click Restart while holding the Shift key, using Settings, using the Command line, forcing Windows into the recovery settings, and using the System Configuration tool. Once into advanced options, you'll need to go to Troubleshoot > Startup Setting > press F4 to boot into Safe mode.
The much-hyped AI Explorer feature which is said to come with the 24H2 update on Windows 11, might be exclusive to Snapdragon X Elite PCs only. A code snippet found in the latest insider build shows the system requirements for the AI Explorer feature to work. The PC must be powered by an ARM64 CPU and Snapdragon X Elite NPU and must have 16GB of RAM, and 225GB of storage.
Beebom Staff
To fix the MSVCP140.dll is missing error on Windows 11, you can try out several ways to fix the issue. The most optimal way to fix the MSVCP140.dll error is to make sure the correct Visual C++ Redistributable package is installed on your PC. The app or game that you are trying to run should have the setup files required to fix MSVCP140.dll is missing error. You can also try System Restore or SFC and DISM commands to fix the issue.
In the build-up to the launch of Snapdragon X Elite, we take a look at the x86 architecture, and how different is the ARM architecture. Can the Snapdragon X Elite fix poor battery life and thermal performance, mostly seen on Windows laptops? We tackle all these questions and try to understand the future of ARM-based PCs.
Subin B
Screen flickering is often an annoying issue that leaves users frustrated. If you are facing screen flickering on your new or old Windows 11 machine, you could try adjusting the refresh rate, reinstalling the display drivers, uninstalling unnecessary apps, and checking the cables of your monitor.
If you use a Windows laptop, you should enable the hibernate mode on Windows 11. It allows you to save your current session and quickly resume the session with all your open apps and files. Hibernation consumes almost no power, as it completely switches off the PC, saving the current state of the session. You can enable it from the Control Panel, Command Prompt, or Registry Editor.
Microsoft Edge has received a new feature to make management of resources much easier. With its latest Edge Canary update, users can set how much RAM the browser can use. Also, it can be enabled always or only when playing games. To enable it right now, users need to install Microsoft Edge Canary and follow steps in the guide.
Windows 11 Intros a New Way to Move Files; Directly Use the Address Bar!
Satyam Kumar
View quick summary
Windows 11 KB5035953 update has been released in the beta channel. It brings a new way to move your files. Basically, with this feature enabled, you can drag and drop files into a specific folder using the address bar, making file management an easier process. Also, the widget bar has gotten a new location and sharing files in Windows 11 via a QR code is possible now!
Microsoft has confirmed an event for May where it will likely unveil the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 with the Snapdragon X Elite chipset. The event is all about Surface devices and Windows 11. The next update for Windows 11 is said to bring many AI features including AI Explorer, AI Super Resolution, on-device live captioning, and more.
Enabling Local Group Policy Editor on Windows 11 Home is possible. Even though Microsoft only includes gpedit.msc for Windows 11 Pro, with the utility made available to download will help you enable Group Policy Editor on a non-Pro Edition of Windows. You simply download the utility, run two files (one being ".exe" setup and the other being a ".bat" file) to install various components. After that, gpedit.msc not found error gets fixed. There are also some troubleshooting steps that we have talked in case the user still cannot launch gpedit.msc after the tutorial.
To fix the install error 0x800f081f, which usually happens when trying to update Windows 11, we have listed some easy solutions. The first is to install .NET Framework 3.5 through Windows Features and also consider disabling & re-enabling it. Next, you can try resetting the Windows Update services & cache. The Windows Update troubleshooter can also help, along with running SFC & DISM commands in CMD.
Microsoft is slowly adding new features to Copilot on Windows 11. Copilot has finally received the file upload capability on Windows 11. You can upload a range of documents including PDF, DOC, XLS, PPT, TXT, and more. Copilot seamlessly ingests the documents and answers from the provided document accurately. From analyzing financial sheets to summarizing PDFs and understanding private code documentation, the feature can be immensely helpful to all kinds of users.
Before Microsoft could announce the advanced Copilot for Windows 11, it seems Samsung spilled the beans via the Galaxy Book4 product page. The new Copilot seems to have deeper integration with Android phones and can read and summarize your messages. You can also ask Copilot to send a text message and set a reminder.
Microsoft is Holding a Surface, Windows & Copilot AI Event Later This Month
Arjun Sha
View quick summary
Microsoft has announced a new event for March 21st where the company is likely to unveil Windows 11 improvements, new Copilot features, and refreshed Surface devices. The company may release refreshed versions of Surface Laptop 6 and Surface Pro 10. Microsoft is also preparing to showcase an advanced version of Copilot with a new feature called "AI Explorer".
Sagnik Das Gupta
In a surprise move, Microsoft has declared that it is ending support for Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA). The feature was first introduced with Windows 11 and allowed users to run Android apps via the Amazon Appstore without taking to third-party emulators. Microsoft is now doing away with it and won't allow users to download new Android apps via Amazon Appstore, starting March 5, 2025. Moreover, from March 6, 2024, users will not be able to search for any new apps on the Appstore. Those that already have Amazon Appstore apps will be able to use it till the support cutoff date.
Microsoft has finally brought the ability to use your phone as a high-quality webcam on Windows 11. The feature is currently available to Windows Insiders only, but it's coming to all users in the next few months. I tried the connected camera feature and was impressed with the streaming quality. Although the streaming is being done remotely, there were no lags or stutters in the video preview. You can use your phone as a webcam in any video conferencing app or within a browser too.
Windows 11 is Getting March 2024 Update: Advanced Copilot, Photos AI, and More
Arjun Sha
View quick summary
Microsoft has announced the March 2024 update for Windows 11, the last update for the 23H2 build. The new update brings several new features including an advanced Copilot with new skills, plugin support, and the ability to resize, dock, and undock the Copilot window. You can also use your Android phone as a webcam on your Windows 11 PC, however, currently Windows Insiders can only access this feature. Besides that, you can erase objects using AI in the Photos app, quickly snap windows with smart suggestions, and more.
Microsoft has released two new AI features to the Photos app on Windows 11 and 10. With Generative Erase, you can remove unwanted objects from images, and the next feature lets you remove the background from images in a single click. Both features are available on all Insider channels. You just have to update the Photos app from the Microsoft Store.
The new Sticky Notes app, integrated with OneNote, is a great tool for users who are looking for a solid note-taking app for Windows 11 and 10. You can dock it on the desktop for permanent visibility, capture screenshots with the source link, color code notes, press the hotkey to quickly open it anywhere in the system, and more. Best of all, you can sync all your desktop notes with your smartphone as well. You can get the new app by joining the Microsoft 365 Insider program in the Beta channel.
Rather unsurprisingly, Microsoft decided to disable the classic "Show desktop" button on Windows 11 to give space for Copilot. This has irked many Windows users who want to instantly declutter everything on screen through the button. If the "Show desktop" button is missing from the Windows 11 Taskbar on your PC, do not worry. You can enable it right away from Taskbar Settings -> Taskbar behaviors -> turn on "Select the far corner of the taskbar to show the desktop" option.
Upcoming Windows 11 Feature Will Let You Scan QR Code for Wi-Fi Connections
Satyam Kumar
View quick summary
Windows 11 insider build 26052 has a new feature to let you scan a QR code for seamlessly connecting to a Wi-Fi network. With this, users can simply open the camera app and quickly connect to an available Wi-Fi network.
Windows 11 could have its very own AI Super Resolution feature soon! A new Auto Super Resolution setting has been found in the Windows 11 insider build version 26052. This is similar to DLSS and FSR features that are present in several games today. The feature can be turned on as a default, but also on a per-game basis as per the Windows Insider member who shared images of the Auto SR feature in action.
In an official Windows Insider Blog, Microsoft confirmed that Windows 11 version 24H2 will be this year's annual feature update. It means Windows 12 is not coming this year, as earlier speculated. You will be getting the Windows 11 24H2 update in September or October this year. Additionally, Microsoft says that Windows 11 will follow an annual feature update cadence, which will be released in the second half of the year.
PowerShell is used by developers and general users alike to automate tasks on Windows 10 and 11. You can use a simple text editor like Notepad to create a PowerShell script. However, for advanced users, PowerShell ISE is recommended as it offers an integrated scripting environment. You can also run the scripts from the GUI interface or from the PowerShell or Terminal window. Bear in mind that you need to change the execution policy to "RemoteSigned" in order to run a local script.