Windows 11
The latest Windows 11 coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
How Microsoft's Photos App Became Your AI-Powered Image Command Center
Microsoft has transformed the humble Photos app in Windows 11 into a three-in-one powerhouse: a viewer, editor, and cloud-connected library manager, now supercharged with AI tools that were once...
Windows 11's Start Menu Gets Smarter: New Account Flyout Tracks Your Microsoft 365 Subscription
Microsoft shipped a new preview build of Windows 11 to Insiders this week that redesigns the account control flyout in the Start menu. The change puts Microsoft 365 subscription information, security...
Side-by-Side at Last: Teams Opens Message Links in New Windows, Keeps Chats Visible
In July 2026, Microsoft began rolling out an update to the Teams desktop app that lets users open links inside chat and channel messages in a separate window—instead of navigating away from the...
Windows 11 26H2 Will Automatically Back Up Your Settings—Here’s What to Know
Microsoft will turn on Windows settings backup automatically for eligible managed PCs with the upcoming Windows 11 version 26H2. The change, set to roll out first to Windows Insiders in July 2026,...
AMD Delivers a Turnkey Linux Distro for Local AI on Ryzen—Should Windows Users Take Notice?
AMD has started shipping a developer-focused Ryzen AI platform with a custom Debian-based Linux image that promises to run local large language models (LLMs) straight out of the box, as first...
Paul Thurrott Releases Slimmed-Down Windows 11 Field Guide for 2026, Dropping Edge and Embracing Continuous Updates
On July 6, 2026, tech author Paul Thurrott published the latest edition of his Windows 11 Field Guide—a book he promises will stay relevant through a new monthly update cadence. The 2026 version...
Windows 11's Hidden Cloud Rebuild Tool Could Banish Boot Failure Headaches for Good
Microsoft has tucked a powerful new recovery tool into the latest experimental builds of Windows 11. The option, called Cloud Rebuild, lets you reinstall the entire operating system directly from...
Files 4.2 Lands with Native Tree View, Smoother Dual-Pane, and a Rethought Rename for Windows Power Users
The Files app—a third-party file manager that has steadily won over Windows 10 and Windows 11 users—shipped version 4.2 in early July 2026, delivering a native tree view sidebar, faster dual-pane...
Windows 11's Battery Drain Isn't a Mystery—Stop the Background Apps Killing Your Laptop
If your Windows 11 laptop never quite delivers the battery life promised on the box, you've probably encountered a flood of advice: disable animations, turn off transparency, delete Shadow Copies,...
Microsoft Tests Spotify Handoff from Android to PC in Latest Windows 11 Insider Build
Microsoft on August 22, 2025, began testing a new Android-to-PC app continuity feature with Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev Channel, using Spotify as the first supported service. A “Resume alert”...
Microsoft Targets Australian Classrooms with AI-Powered Surface and Windows 11 Ecosystem
Microsoft is making a concerted push to place its Surface laptops and Windows 11 into Australian schools, bundling AI-powered teaching tools and cloud-based device management in a package designed to...
One Click, Three Apps: The Windows Batch File Trick That Streamlines Your Morning Routine
Microsoft hasn’t built a dedicated multi-app launcher into Windows 11, but a technique that’s been hiding in plain sight for decades can get the job done. As first reported by Neowin, you can...