Microsoft won’t require a subscription to use Windows 12. Windows 12 is on track to be available as a free upgrade for compatible devices. The subscription references found in preview builds belong to another project. On the internet, it has been suggested that Microsoft is contemplating making “Windows 12” an operating system that will require a subscription, but this is not the case. A new report from Windows Central points out that the rumors that have been going around are not true....

Microsoft has launched the Windows Package Manager (winget), a command line tool to download apps on Windows 10. The manager has been designed for developers in mind, but anyone can use it to install apps using simple commands. The purpose of the package manager is to save you time and frustration by automating the process of searching, downloading, installing, upgrading, and configuring a piece of software on your device. If you ever had to set up a new device or reinstall Windows 10, you know how time consuming is to find the links, download, and reinstall all your apps....

Microsoft is preparing a significant Windows refresh for 2024. As part of the roadmap, the release cycle rolls back to one feature update per year. The next major update will focus on integrating more AI innovations and other new features. This release could be branded Windows 12, but it’s yet unclear. Windows is now under new leadership after the departure of Panos Panay , and with new leadership, there’s a new roadmap that will define the shape of the operating system for the next few years, which will include updates for the release cycle, a lot of AI innovations, new features, and visual changes....

If you’re looking to change your desktop wallpaper, you should download the World of Bamboo theme for Windows 10. The theme includes a collection of 20 high-resolution (4K) wallpapers of colorful bamboo constructions, art, and bamboo growing in the wild. These images are to be used as desktop wallpaper only. If the images rotate too quickly on your desktop, after applying the theme on Settings > Personalization > Background , and use the Change picture every drop-down menu to adjust the image rotation frequency....

Microsoft is ending production of the “Xbox One X” and “Xbox One S All-Digital Edition” consoles as the company prepares to launch the Xbox Series X . In a statement (via Engadget ), the company said: “As we ramp into the future with Xbox Series X, we’re taking the natural step of stopping production on Xbox One X and Xbox One S All-Digital Edition.” However, the production of the Xbox One S will continue, and it’ll be sold in all supported markets for the foreseeable future....

Microsoft introduces Visual Search for Bing Chat The feature allows you to upload images to the chatbot for analysis and learn more information. Visual Search is available on Bing Chat desktop and apps. Microsoft announced that Bing Chat is adding support for image search, meaning that you can upload images to Bing Chat and ask for information about them. If you want to use the feature, you have to click the new “Add an image” button in the “Ask me anything” prompt box in Bing Chat, then you can paste the link to the image location, or you can use the “Upload from this device” button to send an image from your computer....

Microsoft released Windows 11 build 26300.7733 (KB5074178) to the Dev Channel as a quality update for version 26H2. The update adds a native System Monitor feature and focuses on fixes and improvements. Microsoft has released Windows 11 build 26300.7733 as the update KB5074178 for version 26H2 through the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider Program. This preview introduces one new feature, fixes, and some changes. In addition, the company is also rolling out Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26220....

Windows 10 Anniversary Update gets cumulative update KB3176925. The new release available for PC and Mobile devices enrolled in the Fast ring, and it brings the operating system build number from 14393.0 to 14393.3. With only a few days left until the official release of the Anniversary Update , and rolling out of an update instead of a new preview builds, also confirms that Windows 10 build 14393 is the version that is being considered “final” or “RTM” (Release to Manufacturing)....

File Explorer with tabs may not be part of the final release of Windows 11 22H2. Instead, the feature and other improvements may roll out in a “moment” update. The first moment update may release in October or November. Although Microsoft has confirmed tabs for File Explorer , the feature may not arrive with the release of Windows 11 22H2. Instead, the company may plan to roll it out through a “moment” update later on....

Microsoft plans to release Windows 8.1 Preview on June 26th and Microsoft’s Michael Niehaus explains at TechEd 2013 that when the preview becomes available , current Windows 8 and Windows RT users will get a Windows Update notification. Then they will be able to read a brief description and processed with the installation if they agree to. Users who opted to install Windows 8.1 Preview will be able to upgrade as well, BUT… apps will get lost during the upgrade, and I am talking about Metro-style apps and traditional desktop applications....

To boot Windows 11 in System Restore, start the computer in WinRE, open Advanced Startup > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore , click “Next,” select the restore point to recover the system, and click “Finish.” On Windows 11, you can use the System Restore feature from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to recover the installation when your computer has problems and won’t boot correctly, and in this guide, you will learn how....

To add shortcuts to the Start menu on Windows 11 and 10, open Settings > Personalization > Folders (or “Choose which folders appear on Start” on Windows 10), and turn on the locations you want to access from the menu. The Start menu on Windows 11 (and 10) shows the profile and Power menus in the bottom rail by default. However, you probably didn’t know that you can also customize the experience to display quick access to folder locations next to the “Power” button....

On Microsoft Edge, themes allow you to personalize the browser’s look and feel and the new tab page with custom colors and background images. Also, if you use multiple profiles , themes can help you to separate the different profiles visually. If you want to personalize the browser, Microsoft Edge supports themes from two sources. You can install them from the Chrome Web Store , including themes with different colors and many with different background images....

Google has now fully implemented its new visual design language framework which we know as Material Design into Chrome . In addition to a new flat and modern interface the company added a new dark theme for its incognito — the mode that allows you to browse more privately without leaving a trail in the computer. Although, a lot of users like the new dark color scheme for incognito mode, many other users feel that new mandatory theme is a bit to “gloomy” and they would like an option to switch to the light theme that was available in previous versions....

On Windows 11 , you can now change the brightness, contrast, and rotation settings and enable or disable Video HDR or Eye Contact for webcams and network cameras, and here’s how. Starting on Windows 11, the Settings app includes a “Cameras” page. In addition to enabling and disabling devices, you can adjust various settings and even troubleshoot and fix problems with different cameras, including traditional webcams and network cameras. You can also enable Eye Contact, a feature that uses AI to adjust your gaze on a video call to appear as if you are looking into the camera instead of the display, and “Video HDR” on compatible devices....

On Windows Terminal , you can change the color scheme to make each console profile (such as for Command Prompt, PowerShell, WSL2 , etc.) more fun and personal using one of the default options or custom schemes. Although the names may be used interchangeably, a “theme” is not the same as a “color scheme.” The Windows Terminal defines a theme as a color system mode, which can be in two states (light or dark), affecting the entire application....

To change the mouse pointer color on Windows 11, open Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch , then select the Custom style and choose a color. You can also choose from predefined styles, such as white, black, or inverted, or create a custom color. Alternatively, open Control Panel > Mouse > Pointers tab to select a pointer scheme that changes color and size. On Windows 11 , you can personalize the mouse pointer by changing its color to improve visibility and match your preferences....

On Windows 11 , the “Quick Settings” flyout is an interface available through the Taskbar (in the System Tray) that gives you quick access to common features, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, VPN, Airplane mode, Night light, and others. This is in addition to the settings to control volume and output devices. If the flyout is missing a specific button (such as Bluetooth, Night Light, etc.) or you want to remove a button, on Windows 11, the flyout includes an option to control the available items....

On any computing device, the processor, also known as the CPU (Central Processing Unit), is the main chip designed to receive and process instructions and return a result for a particular task. Usually, a modern processor can process a trillion or more instructions per second. If you have device running Windows 10 , the processor will play an essential role on how fast the experience will be, and it’ll probably be from one of the two main manufacturers, including Intel or AMD (one can even argue a third player if you count Qualcomm with their ARM processors)....

On Windows 10, you can use “update history” to see a list of updates installed on the device when you want to check if a new update was installed successfully or failed to apply. The Windows 10 update history can also come in handy when you know more about a recently installed quality update. Or one of them is causing issues, and you need to uninstall it. In this guide , you will learn the steps to view the update history of Windows 10 using the Settings app, Command Prompt, and PowerShell....