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Microsoft’s list of features that have been removed or deprecated from Windows 11. The most noticeable components being removed in 2025 include Location History and Windows PowerShell 2.0. UPDATED 1/2/2026: Microsoft proactively releases new features and improvements for Windows 11 , but sometimes removes features and other components for different reasons. For example, the company removes or deprecates features that are no longer relevant, are underutilized, are no longer compatible, or pose a security risk....

Windows 11 build 22598 rolls out with new features in the Dev and Beta Channels. The preview configures Spotlight as the default option for the desktop. The Get Started app now launches automatically. Build 22598 for Windows 11 also brings a slew of fixes. As part of the version 22H2 development, Microsoft is now making available build 22598 for Windows 11 in the Dev and Beta Channels of the Windows Insider Program....

Windows 11 build 25284 releases in the Dev Channel. The update introduces a new version of the Widgets feature with support for the Windows App SDK 1.2. The flight also fixes a bunch of problems and reveals many issues. Microsoft is rolling out Windows 11 build 25284 for devices enrolled in the Dev Channel of the Windows Insider Program . This is a minor release that brings some visual changes and a bunch of fixes....

Windows 11 receives build 22631.2792 and 22621.2792 (KB5032288) in the Release Preview Channel. This update introduces the first draft of new privacy settings to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the EU. Microsoft is also rolling out new changes for Copilot and Spotlight. In addition, this update brings a slew of fixes and improvements. This update was previously available in the Release Preview Channel as build 22631.2787. UPDATED 12/4/2023: Microsoft is now making available the update KB5032288 for Windows 11 23H2 and version 22H2 on devices enrolled in the Stable Channel as an optional install starting December 4, 2023, with significant changes for users in the European Union, a slew of fixes and improvements....

Are you still worried about unauthorized access to your private files in your PC? With Windows 8.1 you’ll breathe a little easier. In a new report from The Verge said that Microsoft is working to include native fingerprint reader support. Yes, I already wrote about this biometric feature in my previous roundup of new features coming to Windows 8.1 , however what is really interesting is that the software giant is also working on securing individual folders with fingerprint authentication....

Windows Terminal 1.18 is now available as a preview. This new version introduces Broadcast Input, Web Search, and Suggestions UI. The update also brings support for emojis and a slew of fixes and improvements. On Windows 11 , the “Windows Terminal” app is getting a new (preview) update that bumps the version number to “1.19” and brings new features, fixes, and improvements. In version 1.19, the Windows Terminal introduces a new Broadcast Input feature....

Microsoft has just began rolling out the Xbox One February system update , the first update of 2015. The update for February brings tons of enhancements and features. First up, Microsoft is updating the Xbox One controller to connect to the console much faster, there is a new Game hubs, Party chat gets updated, the dashboard gets tile transparency, and live TV gets major update. Xbox One February 2015 system update Controller improvements:...

When you want to speed up Windows 11 , it shouldn’t have to cost a dime. You can significantly improve performance using built-in tools, settings, system tweaks, and maintenance strategies. You don’t need expensive hardware upgrades or third-party “performance booster” software that rarely delivers on its promises. Typically, there are two common reasons your system might feel sluggish. First, if you’re running older hardware, your device may struggle to keep up as software evolves and demands more system resources....

To disable Recall on Windows 11, open Settings > Privacy & security > Recall & snapshots and turn off the “Save snapshots” toggle switch. It’s also possible to disable Windows Recall AI in the Registry, via Group Policy Editor, or by resetting the feature. On Windows 11 , you can disable the Windows Recall feature completely using at least four different methods, and this guide walks you through each option step by step....

Microsoft has already announced a massive overhaul coming with the Xbox One Fall Creators Update (version 1710), including Fluent Design elements, completely redesigned dashboard, new guide, and updates to Avatars, Profiles, and Game Hubs. However, those are just some of the changes we’re expecting, Microsoft has been releasing a number of test versions of the Xbox One upcoming update, which reveal several smaller, but interesting, features and changes coming to the console....

For the art lovers, here is a colorful collection of abstract art. These brushes navigated the canvas to paint the lines in a world of water colors, acrylic and oil paint. The figures will interest you in the many ways your mind will walk you through it. 12 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) images are free to download for Windows 10 in this theme. 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....

Windows 11 KB5065797 (builds 26220.6772 and 26120.6772) adds support for external Windows Hello fingerprint sensors, improves File Explorer dark mode visuals, and blocks internet and local account creation during setup. Microsoft is now rolling out Windows 11 build 26220.6772 (KB5065797) for version 25H2 in the Dev Channel . This update improves the File Explorer dark mode system . Click to Do gets a new object selection experience, Windows Hello now supports external fingerprint sensors, and you can now set the profile folder name during the initial setup....

To change active hours on Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update , click “Change active hours,” turn off “Automatically adjust active hours for this device based on activity,” click “Change,” configure the new time range, and click “Save.” To make active hours automatic, turn on “Automatically adjust active hours for this device based on activity” on the “Change active hours” page. On Windows 10 , it’s possible to configure “active hours” automatically or manually to specify a custom time range to prevent restarts when you’re actively using the computer, and in this guide, I’ll teach how....

Find tranquility in this excellent collection of solitary views found in the “Community Showcase Rural Landscapes 3” theme by a group of talented photographers. Take a little trip around the world by appreciating these new backgrounds of lone roads, clouded skies, and glassy rivers forming perfect scenes. This collection of 21 images is available for free to set as backgrounds on computers running Windows 10 only, and you can get it from the Microsoft Store....

Microsoft is rolling out cumulative update KB3176938 for Windows 10 version 1607. The new release is a test update, and it’s only available for computers and mobile devices enrolled in the Slow and Release Preview rings. KB3176938 bumps the build number to 14393.103, and includes a number of fixes and improvements that will eventually release to everyone running the Windows 10 Anniversary Update . New changes on Windows 10 build 14393....

Mozilla has just made more difficult for Facebook to track your online activities with the “Facebook Container” extension, which creates a special tab that isolates your Facebook session from any other activities. If you’re a Firefox user, you can download the addon from the Mozilla repository . Once installed, the extension deletes any Facebook browsing data and logs you out of the social network. The next time you open Facebook a blue-colored tab will be created, then you can start using the social network normally and non-Facebook link you click will load outside the contained tab, but any Facebook link will open within the isolated container....

The details on these photos give nature and your desktop a token of appreciation. Photographer Duncan Lawler has done a great job putting together an interesting theme that has stunning close-ups from a garden that awakens our curiosity. For example, the amazing reflexions of flowers in tiny droplets, the delicate round turn of leaves in their earliest growth, and more to find in this new collection free for Windows. You can find more great themes in my Desktop Fun section and from the Windows Themes at Microsoft....

To allow app access through Windows 11 firewall, open Windows Security > Firewall & network protection , click the “Allow an app through firewall” option, click the “Change settings” option, allow the app in the firewall, and click the “OK” button. Microsoft Defender Firewall is one of the many security features available on Windows 11 to protect your computer and files from outside threats as well as from inside threats trying to get out....

This guide shows how to configure Windows 11 to sign in automatically and launch directly into the Xbox Full Screen Experience. You’ll learn the steps to bypass the Lock and Sign-in screens, install the required third-party tool, and enable the feature for a console-style gaming environment. On Windows 11 , you can enable the Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) to turn your computer into a console-like experience, but you still have to sign in manually to access your account and load the experience....

You can check your Windows 11 PC uptime using Task Manager, Settings, Control Panel, Command Prompt, or PowerShell. Uptime shows how long the system has been running since the last full restart. Monitoring uptime helps with troubleshooting unexpected shutdowns, performance issues, and system maintenance. Weekly restarts are recommended to clear memory, apply updates, and keep Windows running smoothly. On Windows 11 , you can check your laptop or desktop’s uptime using different methods....