Windows 11 Cleanup
The latest Windows 11 Cleanup coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
The Blood of Dawnwalker’s Minimum GPU Drops to GTX 1060, Sparking Hope for Older Rigs
Rebel Wolves has lowered the minimum GPU requirement for The Blood of Dawnwalker from the Nvidia GTX 1070 to the GTX 1060, making the open-world RPG playable on older, more affordable hardware. The revision comes two months after the initial April 2026 spec sheet and reflects optimization efforts aimed at broadening the game’s audience on Windows 10 and 11 systems with DirectX 12. Players with budget or aging PCs can now look forward to experiencing the title at minimum settings, though performance remains contingent on continued developer tuning.
Reclaim Your Windows 11 Start Menu: How to Kill Bing, Restore the Old Right-Click, and Bypass the Lock Screen
Three simple Registry edits can transform Windows 11 into a more familiar and efficient operating system. Disabling Bing web results in Start search, restoring the classic right-click context menu, and skipping the lock screen are quick wins for power users and those upgrading from Windows 10. The tweaks, popularized by How-To Geek, require caution but are easily reversible.
Defender vs. Third-Party Antivirus in 2026: Why Your Windows PC’s Security Depends on Risk, Not Brand
In 2026, choosing between Microsoft Defender and third‑party antivirus is no longer about a single best product but about matching your personal risk profile. Defender has matured into a capable, cloud‑native platform that suits most casual users, while third‑party suites still offer advanced ransomware protection, richer dashboards, and bundled extras that appeal to power users and businesses. The real question Windows security must answer is not which scanner to install, but how to provide smarter, integrated protection against credential theft and automated ransomware without sacrificing performance or user control.
Windows 11’s Input Settings Maze: Why Keyboard, Mouse, and Touchpad Configuration Remains Fragmented in 2025
Windows 11 continues to scatter keyboard, mouse, and touchpad settings across the modern Settings app, legacy Control Panel, and third-party vendor utilities. This fragmentation frustrates users and complicates IT management, with no clear timeline from Microsoft for full consolidation. The article details where to find each setting, the impact on productivity and accessibility, and practical workarounds for power users and administrators.
Windows 11 July 2026 Update Brings Calendar-Based Pause and Point-in-Time Restore
Microsoft's July 2026 Windows 11 update delivers calendar-based update pausing, a quick Point-in-Time Restore for system rollbacks, Screen Tint for eye comfort, plus Bluetooth and accessibility improvements. These features prioritize user control and stability, addressing long-standing community feedback.
Microsoft’s June 2026 Optional Windows 11 Updates Bring Early Accessibility and Recovery Tweaks
Microsoft released optional June 23, 2026 non-security preview updates for Windows 11 24H2, 25H2, and hardware-scoped 26H1. The previews improve Narrator, Voice Access, Eye Control, add BitLocker QR code recovery, and fix VPN and graphics driver issues. IT pros are urged to test before the July 8 Patch Tuesday rollout, especially the 26H1 version restricted to devices with Pluton security processors.
Windows 10 Users Hit by AMD Driver Fiasco: Adrenalin 26.6.2 Cripples Radeon RX 7000 GPUs
AMD's Adrenalin 26.6.2 driver is causing driver incompatibility errors and Device Manager warnings on Windows 10 systems with Radeon RX 7000 GPUs. Users report Code 43 failures and unusable graphics after installation. The recommended fix is to roll back to version 26.6.1 using the AMD Cleanup Utility. AMD has not yet issued a statement, but a hotfix is expected soon.
Microsoft Flags Issue: Windows 11 Preview Update KB5095093 Breaks Office OLE Automation for Third-Party Apps
Microsoft's June 23, 2026 preview update KB5095093 for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 introduces a known issue where third-party applications cannot launch Office apps via OLE automation. The optional update, which pushes builds 26200.8737 and 26100.8737, may disrupt enterprise workflows reliant on programmatic Office control. Until a fix is released, affected users should uninstall the update or avoid deploying it to production environments.
EaseUS Partition Master 20.5 Delivers All-in-One Clean Hub for Windows Storage Overhaul
EaseUS released Partition Master 20.5 with a unified Clean hub that centralizes disk space analysis, junk-file removal, application uninstallation, and data migration. The update turns the partition manager into a comprehensive Windows maintenance suite, directly competing with standalone cleaners and uninstallers.
Microsoft Slips KB5095189 into Windows 11 OOBE: First Boot Now Gets Cloud-Patched for 24H2 and 25H2
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Microsoft Rolls Out KB5103203, Boosting Phi Silica AI on Intel Copilot+ PCs to Version 1.2605.856.0
Microsoft's KB5103203 automatically updates the Phi Silica AI model to version 1.2605.856.0 on Intel-based Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11 26H1. The update enhances local AI tasks with likely performance and accuracy improvements. Users don't need to take any action, as it installs in the background.
Microsoft Ships Long-Awaited Point-in-Time Restore for Windows 11 24H2 and Later
Microsoft has released a built-in point-in-time restore feature for Windows 11 version 24H2 and later, available on all editions. The feature lets users quickly roll back their entire system to a previous state, filling a long-standing gap in Windows recovery options. It uses efficient snapshot technology and integrates with enterprise management tools, providing a major boost in system resilience for both consumers and IT admins.
KB5103204 ships Phi Silica AI v1.2605.856.0 to Qualcomm Copilot+ PCs on Windows 11 26H1.
Microsoft's KB5103204 update upgrades the Phi Silica on-device AI model to version 1.2605.856.0 for Qualcomm Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11 26H1. The automatic update aims to improve AI-powered features like Recall and Cocreate with better performance and accuracy. This reflects Microsoft's ongoing commitment to enhancing local AI capabilities on ARM-based Windows devices.