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Windows 11 version 21H2 is reaching end of support soon
If you are still on the original release of Windows 11, you may want to consider upgrading sooner rather than later.
Windows 11 was announced back in June 2021 and began rolling out to the public on October 5 of the same year. Since then, the operating system has received multiple major updates including the Windows 11 2022 Update (version 22H2), and Moment updates in October 2022, February 2023, and June 2023. With numerous versions of Windows 11 now available, Microsoft has announced that it is ending support for the original version of the operating system soon.
Now anyone can put their Android app on Windows 11
Amazon is encouraging Android developers to reach the desktop market through its Windows 11 Appstore support.
Although support for Android apps on Windows 11 was one of the headlining features when the operating system was announced back in 2021, users quickly found out that only a handful of apps in the Amazon Appstore are officially supported in the preview. Even with this limited scope, the associated experience offered by Android apps on Windows 11 wasn't good, and the implementation had a lot of notable issues. However, Amazon and Microsoft have been working out some kinks and the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11 has now hit general availability for developers.
Explaining the Windows Insider Program channels for Windows 11 betas
Microsoft's Windows Insider Program can be confusing if you're new, so here's everything you need to know for testing the Windows 11 beta.
It's been a few years since Windows 11 first launched, and just like Windows 10 before it, the operating system is always evolving. Microsoft has committed to updating Windows 11 every so often with "Moment" updates, which are basically feature drops every few months. The most recent one was the Moment 3 update, with delivered features like seconds on the clock in the Taskbar, as well as tweaks to the widgets experience.
Windows 11 update tracker: Download and install the latest update
Now that Microsoft has released Windows 11 via stable channel, we're tracking all the updates
Keeping Windows up to date will ensure that you’ve got the least buggy version of the OS. When it comes to Windows 11, Microsoft has opted for the "one single annual update per year" formula, albeit the company will continue to make available regular patches and fixes throughout the year to address the known issues. New feature sets, such as the "Moment 3" release, are also being seeded through the Windows Update framework.
Here's how to install Play Store and other Google apps on Windows Subsystem for Android
WSAGAScript is a tool that lets you easily patch the Windows Subsystem for Android to install the Google Play Store.
Windows Subsystem for Android is finally here. What's more interesting is that you can unofficially try it right now — even if you're not enrolled in the Beta channel of Windows 11. In case you're not happy with the mandatory Amazon Appstore integration, you should be happy to hear that the app sideloading process isn't difficult either. It is also possible to install a third-party Google Play Store client, but the lack of Google services in the Windows Subsystem for Android makes it a bit hard to use apps that are dependent on them, as we noted in our hands-on.
Why I like Linux on my Steam Deck but not my desktop
I never wanted to use Linux on my desktop or laptop, but in the hands of a dedicated developer, it becomes an amazing operating system.
I'm not a big fan of Windows. I'd best describe it as janky, with weird bugs that pop up from time to time. This wouldn't be much of an issue, except some require me to go into the registry to clean it up. Windows has a lot of problems, and its chief competition on PCs is Linux, which is often heralded as the OS that gives you freedom in the way Windows doesn't.
How to change or tweak keyboard layouts in Windows 11
The Windows 11 settings app makes it easy to change your keyboard layout in just a few clicks.
Just like macOS, iOS, and even Android, Windows 11 is an operating system that's friendly to many languages. While you already can go into the Windows 11 settings app and add a new language to your operating system, you also can change and tweak keyboard layouts, too. This might be useful if you have an external or internal keyboard that uses a different layout from the standard QWERTY style that's popular in Western and English-speaking countries. And all it takes is a few simple clicks.
How to show hidden icons in Windows 11
Desktop or taskbar looking bare? You can add back the classic Windows icons in a few clicks.
Windows 11 brings plenty of cool features. You can enjoy Snap Layouts to multitask with efficiency, play with Android apps on your PC, and even link your iPhone to your laptop. One thing that's missing from Windows 11, however, is desktop icons. You might have noticed that desktop icons for some classic system features are missing. Even in the taskbar, some icons might be missing for your favorite apps. There's no icon for My PC, for example. Well, it's super easy to bring these hidden icons back.
How to see how much data you've used in Windows 11
Are you on a limited data connection? You can check to see how much data Windows 11 is using up by going to your settings app
Browsing the internet on a Windows 11 PC can be similar to browsing the internet on a phone in that not all internet connections have unlimited data. If you have a great 5G laptop, for example, you might be on a limited data plan. Or, if you're on a more affordable home internet plan, you might have a certain amount of data each month before your connection speeds are throttled. So, if you're concerned about how much data Windows 11 is using, the Settings make it easy to find out which apps are using the most data.
Replacing the Mail app will only make Windows 11 worse for touchscreens
Microsoft wants to use a web-based app to replace the Mail app in Windows 11, but it will take away what makes the current app good.
For the past few years, we've been hearing about a unified Outlook client for Windows desktops, and we finally started seeing it last year, when it entered preview for Microsoft 365 Insiders (formerly Office Insiders). Microsoft plans to replace both the full-fledged Outlook app and the built-in Mail app in Windows 11 with a web-based alternative, which the company has been taking its time to build up. While that may seem like a good thing, I believe that this update, based on the previews we've gotten to try, will just make Windows 11 worse for touchscreens — an area where Microsoft already struggles somewhat.
How to enable Windows Copilot in Windows 11 previews
Windows Copilot, a new AI assistant for Windows 11, is now up for testing in the Dev channel of the Windows Insider program. Here's how to enable it.
There's a new feature up for testing if you're a Windows Insider running the Dev channel version of Windows 11. It's Windows Copilot. A bit like Clippy from the good old days, this is a new AI assistant, designed to help make your PC even easier to use. It has a chat-based UI that currently integrates with some Windows features like taking screenshots, enabling dark mode, and even access things from Bing Chat from it.
How to set up voice access on Windows 11
Voice access makes it easier to use your Windows 11 PC using just your voice. Here's how to set up this feature.
Technology is getting more accessible as time goes on, and Microsoft has made accessibility a big point of many of its products. Products like the Xbox Adaptive Controller or the Surface Adaptive Kit help all kinds of users make the most of their devices. And on the software front, Microsoft recently added a big feature to Windows 11: voice access, which made its debut with Windows 11 version 22H2.
Copilot brings AI to the latest Windows 11 preview
Windows Copilot is finally making its debut for Windows Insiders, giving us a first look at AI in Windows 11.
It's taken some time, but Windows Copilot is finally available for Windows Insiders to try starting today. Microsoft is rolling out Windows 11 build 23493 to Insiders in the Dev channel, and the headlining feature is the introduction of the company's new AI assistant, simply called Copilot. We've seen Copilot used for Microsoft 365 and GitHub, but this is the most widespread implementation of it yet. The new build includes a lot more changes, too.
How to enable night light on Windows 11
A step-by-step guide to help you enable night light on your Windows 11 system.
Windows 11 retains plenty of accessibility from Windows 10, with night light being one of them. It was first introduced in Windows 10 in 2017 to lower the amount of blue light on your computer screen, which can cause eye strain if you use your system for hours in dark surroundings. It can even disrupt your circadian rhythm and sleep cycle by lowering the amount of melatonin produced by your body.
New Clippy app gives us a taste of AI in Windows 11
While we wait for Copilot, an unofficial Clippy app has launched for Windows 11, bringing ChatGPT-like features to your desktop.
Remember Clippy? The assistant found in Microsoft Office in the late 90s and early 2000s is making a return, albeit unofficially, with a new app for Windows 11. The new Clippy app brings the idea of a smart assistant to the modern era thanks to the power of AI, specifically leveraging OpenAI's GPT 3.5 large language model.
DeskScapes 11 lets you use video and animations as your Windows 11 background
Stardock's latest customization tool for Windows 11 aims to bring your desktop to life with animated backgrounds.
Stardock is launching yet another customization tool for Windows 11 today. With tools like WindowBlinds and Groupy 2 under its belt, Stardock has just announced DeskScapes 11, an app for finding and managing Windows 11 wallpapers. It's more than that, though, because it also supports animated wallpapers, something Windows 11 can't do.
June preview update for Windows 11 enables Moment 3 features for everyone
Microsoft is rolling out the June preview update for Windows 11 and it's a significant one that enables features from the Moment 3 update for everyone
The June preview update for WIndows 11, version 22H2 is now out. Coming in as KB5027303, build 22621.1928, this release is a pretty big one compared to what we've gotten in the past. It enables features from the Windows 11 Moment 3 update for everyone. Previously some of these things were either turned off, or just in A/B testing. There's also a round of improvements, on top of the usual bug fixes.
Microsoft is planning to put Windows in the cloud for consumers
Microsoft could be working on a version of Windows 365 for consumers, based on what's written in an internal document
According to redacted internal documents released to the public as part of Microsoft's legal battle with the Federal Trade Commission over its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Windows 11 could soon be heading to the cloud for more users. While Microsoft already offers this as a service for enterprise users, dubbed as Windows 365, the documents make it apparent that the Redmond firm is planning to put Windows in the cloud for consumers, too. That means that soon there's a chance that you might be able to stream and use Windows 11 on any device you own.
5 things you can do with a pen on Windows 11
Buying a pen for your Windows 11 convertible or tablet can unlock some fun, new ways to use your device.
Owning a great Windows 11 tablet or a Windows convertible comes with one significant benefit. Some of these devices, like a Lenovo Yoga or HP Spectre, might support pen input. In the case of Surface devices, it's always the Surface Pen, and on other devices, it's either a Wacom EMR pen or an AES pen. And while it's not suggested, you even can use a standard capacitive stylus that mimics using your fingers.
How to extend battery life on Windows 11
If you want to extend the battery life of your laptop, there are a few Windows 11 settings you can change to help with that.
We all want our laptops to last as long as possible without having to be plugged in — after all, that's the whole point of a laptop. While there are many things you can do to extend the battery life of your laptop, such as disabling startup tasks to prevent additional battery consumption. But Windows 11 also comes with a "battery saver" feature that helps you extend the battery life of you're laptop, particularly when it's running low. There are also various settings you can change to help improve battery life on your PC.