Major WSL update brings automatic VHD shrinking, mirrored networking, and more
WSL's September 2023 pre-release update brings a number of exciting features including improved networking, firewall, and automatic VHD shrinking.
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This sweet deal knocks 84% off Microsoft Office Professional for Windows and Mac
A great deal on Microsoft Office Professional for Windows and Mac that knocks it down to just $35.
Microsoft 365 is the best productivity software out on the market, and while there are plenty of alternatives, you just can't be the tools offered in the company's Office suite. While 365 is great, there is a catch, and it's that you need to a subscription to access all the great tools, which means you'll keep paying for it, but will never own it. With that said, if you're tired of paying for a subscription to 365, there is a solution.
Windows and Surface leader Panos Panay is leaving Microsoft after almost 20 years
Microsoft has announced that the head of its Windows and Devices team is stepping down from the company.
Microsoft has announced that Panos Panay, leader of the Windows and Devices division at the company, is leaving, after spending nearly 20 years at Microsoft. He will be succeeded by Pavan Davuluri and others who will be taking on different responsibilities. Panos was responsible for developing and growing the Surface brand prior to also taking the reins of Windows itself.
How to optimize Windows 11 for gaming
If you're a PC gamer, casual, or serious, there are a few settings you can change in Windows 11 to ensure your PC is optimized for gaming.
Windows 11 is a great operating system for productivity, thanks to features like Snap Layouts, Android apps, and WSL. The best laptops and desktop computers out there let you do all kinds of work with Windows 11. But if it's gaming that you're planning on doing, then we have some suggestions for how you can make your PC even better. You can turn on Windows 11's dedicated Game Mode to optimize performance for digital gaming, tweak Windows 11's security measures to free up your CPU and RAM for gaming, and so much more.
How to hide the taskbar in Windows 11
The taskbar can be a useful tool in Windows 11, but at times, it just gets in the way. Here's how to hide it.
Microsoft gave its famous operating system a facelift when it redesigned Windows 11, so you might find the feel to be both familiar and different. One area where Microsoft made a few changes was the taskbar, where the design and positioning of items are slightly different from what you'd find on Windows 10.
Best Surface Laptop 5 accessories in 2023
Did you buy a new Surface Laptop 5? Check out these top accessories for your new Surface device from cases to pens and more!
The Surface Laptop 5 is an excellent flagship laptop from Microsoft. In our review, we found it offered more power, and we enjoyed the fresh color options. But, like when you buy any of the best laptops, no Surface Laptop 5 purchase is complete without accessories, which is why we put together this guide for the best accessories for the device. We looked at monitors, GPU enclosures, docks, mice, and more to determine our top picks. Whether you want to take your Surface Laptop 5 on the go or just want to add more to your desk setup, there's something that can enhance that experience.
Windows 11 features in preview: Everything you can try right now
Windows 11 is on the way, but you can try some of its features right now. These are all the Windows 11 features currently in preview.
Windows 11 first showed its face on June 24, 2021, and became officially available on Oct. 5 of that same year. Today, most laptops sold come with Windows 11 installed out of the box, but the Windows development cycle never stops, and there's always something to look forward to. That's where the Windows Insider Program comes into play, as it lets fans try out new Windows 11 features in preview before anybody else.
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 full specifications revealed in massive leak
The Studio 2 will be unveiled on September 21.
Microsoft is expected to announce a slew of new Surface devices at its upcoming event next week, and the star of the show is likely to be the Surface Laptop Studio 2. It has long been rumored to feature a 13th-gen Intel Core i7 processor alongside RTX 40-series GPUs and 64GB of memory, which would be a first in a Surface product. A massive leak has now seemingly confirmed some of these specifications, as well as revealed the display specs and some other details about the upcoming device.
Windows 11 Photos app gets background blur and motion photo support
The Windows 11 Photos app is getting background blue features, and the Snipping Tool is also getting text actions for Canary and Dev insiders
Microsoft is rolling out two big updates for some core Windows 11 apps. Windows Insiders in the Canary and the Dev Channels can now test background blur in the Windows 11 Photos app. Also up for testing are new updates for the Snipping Tool, which now can allow you to copy text from your screen captures.
Microsoft is making Nearby Share easier to use in Windows 11
A tweak in the latest Windows 11 Dev Channel build is making it easier to use Nearby Share
Microsoft today rolled out a new Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23545 to the Dev Channel. This build is yet again a small one, but it comes with a few changes and one improvement in it is notable. The best example is a tweak to Nearby Share, which makes it easier to quickly give your device a friendly name for sharing. Other than that, it's the usual bug fixes.
Microsoft Edge will soon make it easier to rewrite text with AI
Microsoft is testing a new toggle in the Edge browser to help you better express yourself through writing.
Microsoft is working on a new Bing Chat-powered AI feature for its Edge web browser to tweak your writing to help you express yourself better. While it sounds the same as what Bing Chat can do in the Edge sidebar, the upcoming writing assistance tool will make it even easier to rewrite text.
Microsoft is killing off translation features in OneNote for Windows 10
Microsoft is ending support for the translation feature in the OneNote for Windows 10 app later this year. It's recommending the newer app instead.
OneNote on Windows is a bit of an odd duckling. Depending upon your desktop configuration and use, you may have access to two OneNote apps. The first is the OneNote for Windows 10 - which is based on the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) - and has been delisted from the Microsoft Store. The second is the newer unified version based on the classic OneNote desktop app that comes with Microsoft 365. Now, the Redmond tech firm has announced that it is ending support for translation capabilities in the old OneNote app.
Microsoft is one step closer to removing Teams Chat in Windows 11
Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel should notice that Chat is now Microsoft Teams – Free.
Microsoft has released two new Windows 11 Beta channel builds, and the one that's usually all about bringing new features actually removes one. Indeed, Windows Insiders running Windows 11 build 22631.2338 with new features rolling out, should now notice that Microsoft is going one step closer to ditching Teams in Windows 11. In that build, the Chat is now Microsoft Teams – Free. As for Windows 11 Beta Channel build 22621.2338, it's a smaller release with just bug fixes. Both builds are getting a new focus widget.
How to use Dynamic Lighting on Windows 11
Windows 11 has a new feature called Dynamic Lighting to change RGB effects on compatible devices. Here's how to use it.
For the longest time, the only way to change the RGB lighting effects for the peripherals on your Windows 11 PC has been to use the dedicated software from the brand that makes those peripherals. Each of the companies making some of the best gaming keyboards — whether that's Razer, SteelSeries, Corsair, and so on — has its own app, and if you end up buying equipment from different companies, it means you'll also need multiple pieces of software bloating up your device. Thankfully, Windows 11 is finally introducing Dynamic Lighting, a feature that brings together RGB lighting controls to a native Windows 11 interface, so you no longer need all of these apps.
How to update drivers in Windows 11
If you find that a peripheral attached to your PC isn't working right, or a part of your PC isn't working, you'll have to update the drivers.
Drivers are one of the most critical parts of Windows 11. They are what power your laptop and basically any PC. A driver is part of the software on Windows that helps your PC communicate with something that might be connected to it. That could be the display, a USB drive, a keyboard, or even the trackpad.
Microsoft's OneDrive for web will soon work offline
Microsoft is working on a new OneDrive feature that will allow you to perform certain important actions when you are offline.
Microsoft has major plans for OneDrive, with the company announcing many AI features in a dedicated event, set to take place next month. However, the software giant has one more feature in the works for OneDrive to make its cloud storage service more accessible even when you're not connected to the internet.
How to find the specs on your Windows 11 PC
Knowing the specs of your Windows 11 PC can help with troubleshooting, or let you know if you can run certain apps — here's how to find them.
At one point or another, you might need to find the specifications — or specs — of your Windows 11 PC. It can be useful for troubleshooting if you're having issues, or maybe you just want to know if your laptop is compatible with a certain app or able to run a specific game. If you're more tech-savvy, of course, you probably already purchased your PC based on the specs, but that's not the case for everyone.
Best laptops with number pads in 2023
If you're looking for the best laptop with a number pad, there are plenty of options in 15-inch and up laptops, but we have you covered.
As laptops get thinner and lighter, features tend to get sacrificed along the way. The best premium laptops we see these days are often tiny and only have Thunderbolt 4 ports in order to save space inside the chassis, for example. Another thing that's fallen by the wayside over the years is the inclusion of number pads, which many of those best laptops don't have. Those dedicated keys can be hugely important if you work with numbers. All the keys are easily accessible in one position, so number-crunching becomes a lot more efficient and convenient. If you want this convenience, though, you have to look at larger laptops, starting at around 15 inches, and even then, not a lot of models have them. But there are some options if this is a must-have for you.
10 useful Windows command line prompts you should try
While you can always use the Windows 11 Settings app or the Task Manager for common things in Windows, the Command Prompt has nifty tricks, too.
These days, you might be used to diving into the Windows 11 Settings app or the Task Manager for things like checking on your disks and even killing unresponsive apps. But, before we had fancy graphical user interfaces on Windows, you had to use the Command Prompt and a command-line environment.
How to cancel Microsoft 365
No longer need your Microsoft 365 subscription? Here's how to cancel it so it doesn't get renewed.
Microsoft 365 is a subscription service that gives you access to Microsoft's suite of apps like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. While these apps let you make the most out of the best laptops on the market, web apps are available for many of these, and you may want to cancel your membership if you don't need the more advanced capabilities of the desktop apps. Here's how to do it.
The slow and painful death of Xbox Kinect
The Xbox Kinect caused quite a stir when it debuted in 2010, but subsequent versions of the camera failed to make any kind of dent
Back when it was announced in 2009, Microsoft’s Kinect sensor for the Xbox 360 seemed like a worthy rival to Sony’s Move controller and the Wii Remote. Unlike its competitors, Kinect wasn’t just a game controller that could sense your wrist movements; it was a full-blown camera with infrared sensors that was capable of capturing the movements of your entire body. This would enable all kinds of cool ways to interact with games.